Austin Overn finding success in Minor Leagues thanks to athletic past
This story was excerpted from Jake Rill’s Orioles Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox. ABERDEEN, Md. — During an era in which more kids specialize in one youth sport, Austin Overn is a true multi-sport throwback. The 22-year-old Orioles outfield prospect has done […]
This story was excerpted from Jake Rill’s Orioles Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.
ABERDEEN, Md. — During an era in which more kids specialize in one youth sport, Austin Overn is a true multi-sport throwback. The 22-year-old Orioles outfield prospect has done it all.
Born in Orange, Calif., Overn played football, basketball, baseball and lacrosse while growing up. He played the first three at Foothill High School in Palo Cedro, while also deciding to participate in track and field during baseball season as a senior in 2022.
“That was kind of fun, having to blend those two together,” Overn said.
Then, Overn went to the University of Southern California to play baseball. His multi-sport career was over … until it wasn’t.
In the fall of 2022, Overn was a walk-on for the Trojans’ football team. As a 6-foot, 170-pound wide receiver, he never got into a game. But he still enjoyed being around the program and head coach Lincoln Riley, believing it helped him in his baseball career as well.
COMPLETE ORIOLES PROSPECT COVERAGE
“That mental toughness I took, still to this day, is something that just changed my whole perspective of sports,” Overn said. “Fall camp in football was something — basically 5 a.m. until 11 p.m., 10 p.m., every day for 20 days, I think, straight. That was just something that wears and tears on you. Now, everything else seems like a piece of cake.”
Another cool experience at USC? Catching passes in practice from Caleb Williams, the current starting quarterback for the NFL’s Chicago Bears who won the Heisman Trophy as a sophomore during Overn’s lone season on the team.
“What he shows on the NFL field is nothing compared to what I saw in practice,” Overn said. “He was just slinging the ball 60, 70 yards like it’s nothing.”
Everything Overn has done to this point in his life has helped make him who he is today — Baltimore’s No. 30 prospect (per MLB Pipeline) playing for High-A Aberdeen in his first full professional season after getting selected in the third round of the 2024 MLB Draft.
Overn was set up for success with the Trojans. His head coach was Andy Stankiewicz — who had a seven-year big league career for the Yankees, Astros, Expos and D-backs from 1992-98. Overn credits the 60-year-old for teaching the importance of hustle and the “little things” that make a good baseball player.
After playing 15 games for Single-A Delmarva and another six for High-A Aberdeen last year, Overn is getting an extended run with the IronBirds in 2025. He’s batting .234 with six doubles, three triples, four home runs and 16 RBIs through 56 games, and he has used his 75-grade speed to steal 27 bases.
Although Overn hasn’t been satisfied with his offensive performance in the South Atlantic League — a place where many top O’s hitting prospects have struggled in recent years — his slash line has been trending in the right direction:
April: .186/.279/.373 in 16 games May: .253/.356/.347 in 24 games June: .260/.431/.380 in 16 games
Overn has also grown close to the other members of the Orioles’ 2024 Draft class playing at Aberdeen — fellow outfielder Vance Honeycutt (O’s No. 4 prospect, first-rounder), infielder Griff O’Ferrall (O’s No. 6, No. 32 overall pick) and catcher Ethan Anderson (O’s No. 18, second-rounder).
“He’s always keeping it light. He’s a really athletic player,” Honeycutt said of Overn, who has been his roommate this season. “I think what makes him dynamic is he’s got a lot of speed, but he can also hurt you with some power, too. He’s very talented, and it’s been a pleasure to play alongside him for these last few months.”
With the second half of the High-A season now underway, Overn is hoping to cut down on strikeouts (63 in 224 plate appearances so far) and make better swing decisions. He also hopes to do more damage against fastballs, as he feels like he’s been hitting offspeed pitches much better than heaters to this point.
If Overn continues on this trajectory, though, a promotion to Double-A Chesapeake could be coming as well later this summer.
“That would be awesome,” Overn said. “I don’t have a choice in it, don’t have a say, but for the most part, yeah, it would be awesome to get promoted. Climbing as fast as you can is all you can ask for, but I feel like there’s a plan for everything, and I’m just going to come out here, do my best and see what happens.”
Scarlett Walden aims for Youth Athlete of the Year
Scarlett Walden, 11, aims for Sports Illustrated’s Youth Athlete of the Year with a dream to elevate her sport. LONGVIEW, Texas — An East Texas athlete is tumbling her way toward national recognition, not just with raw talent but with a dream that could shine a light on both her sport and her hometown. At […]
Scarlett Walden, 11, aims for Sports Illustrated’s Youth Athlete of the Year with a dream to elevate her sport.
LONGVIEW, Texas — An East Texas athlete is tumbling her way toward national recognition, not just with raw talent but with a dream that could shine a light on both her sport and her hometown.
At just 11 years old, Gilmer’s Scarlett Walden is vying for Sports Illustrated’s Youth Athlete of the Year, hoping to represent Buckeye Nation and shine a spotlight on cheerleading nationwide.
“I like to dance, I do competitive dance and of course, cheer and I do coed stunting,” she said.
She has earned a spot among the top contenders in a competition typically filled with other athletes.
“There are very few cheerleaders that enter the competition,” she said. “It’s mostly like football players, baseball players,” Scarlett said.
Scarlett is now in third place after jumping more than 40 spots in just a few hours. She is one of the only cheerleaders in the running and is proud to represent an often overlooked sport.
“I just really wanted to represent my sport because it’s very underrated,” she said. “People always argue whether cheer is a sport or not, and it’s very controversial.”
Her mother, Whitley, agrees and says the time and effort her daughter puts into training rivals any other youth sport.
“It’s overlooked a lot,” Whitley said.. “She works very hard. There’s a lot of cheer moms out there and cheer dads, and they know how much time and effort these girls and boys both put in the gym.”
Scarlett trains at two gyms and says the physical demands are nonstop.
“Many cheerleaders like me condition and condition and condition till we’re sick or sore,” Scarlett said.
The Sports Illustrated honor also comes with a $25,000 prize — and Scarlett already has big plans for the money.
“We are building a gym in my backyard because we are taking this career very seriously,” she said. “And with the money left over, I would buy all new Rebel sets.”
Now, she and her mom are calling on the East Texas community to help push her into the top 20 before the next voting round begins.
“She deserves to win because of the hard work that she puts in and the passion,” Whitley said.
Alaska’s growing youth golf scene is well-represented at 2025 State Amateur Championship
Anchorage’s Briggs Winfree prepares to fill out his scorecard following his opening round at the Alaska State Amateur Golf Tournament at Anchorage Golf Course on Friday, August. 1, 2025. (Chris Bieri / ADN) Among the nearly 100 golfers who took the greens for the first day of the 2025 Alaska State Amateur Championship at the […]
Anchorage’s Briggs Winfree prepares to fill out his scorecard following his opening round at the Alaska State Amateur Golf Tournament at Anchorage Golf Course on Friday, August. 1, 2025. (Chris Bieri / ADN)
Among the nearly 100 golfers who took the greens for the first day of the 2025 Alaska State Amateur Championship at the Anchorage Golf Course on Friday morning were many of the top youngsters the 49th state has to offer.
The number of high school and college-aged golfers nearly reached double figures, which is an uptick from the small handful that have taken part in the past. That’s a sign that interest from the next generation is growing.
“We have some unbelievable young golfers,” President of Alaska Golf Association Jeff Ranf said. “We’ve had more interest on the youth side than we’ve had in years and I don’t know why.”
He feels like it might be a combination of some of the top golfers coming up, combined with the Alaska Golf Association being recognized as the organization many of them want to play through as potential reasons the sport is becoming more popular among the younger generation.
Another contributing factor is the proliferation of pathways golf is creating for kids to earn scholarships to get their college educations paid for.
“All the young really good golfers have been saying how much they are looking forward to continuing playing after high school and into college and perhaps going pro,” Ranf said. “That’s huge.”
Since golf isn’t one of the sanctioned sports offered through any school districts in the state, many of the top youth golfers either try to get in as much time on the golf courses Alaska has to offer when they can or travel out of state to compete and further develop their skills.
Anchorage’s Briggs Winfree is one of the latter. The 16-year-old spends his winters down in Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, and plays at Junior Players Golf Academy but he loves the chance to come back home and compete.
“It’s a ton of fun,” he said. “The golf up here is second to none. It’s so much fun and a great community.”
Without scholastic programs, many kids in the past were never introduced to golf at a young age.
“It definitely starts at a lower level then works its way up,” Ranf said. “We’re wanting to get more involved with youth golf so we’re working with clubs like Anchorage Golf, Palmer, Fox Hollow and Moose (Run).”
The Moose Run golf course, in particular, approached the AGA about getting help promoting their youth program.
“The more we get involved in those programs, the more the youth are going to take interest in events such as this,” Ranf said.
Just before the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic, their membership and interest in the golf scene in general was starting to wane. After the pandemic hit, it dropped even more precipitously. Tournaments were sparsely attended even when quarantine ended but now they feel like they’re finally back on the rise again thanks to an injection of new blood at the executive leadership level.
“We have some younger board members than we’ve had in the past,” Ranf said. “We had a lot of guys and women that had been on the board for 10 to 15 years that want to get off and now we have really good young players that are on the board and they want to see the game of golf grow in Alaska.”
He believes the younger generation is the driving force behind the uptick in interest in golf around the state and is excited for the direction the sport in the Last Frontier is heading.
“I love to see it,” Palmer’s Keira DeLand said. “There’s definitely a handful of us which is so cool to see.”
There was a junior golfer as young as 13 on the greens Friday competing in her first ever state championship event.
“Hopefully, we can see more kids following us,” DeLand said.
She believes that getting more camps and tournaments as well as just “publicizing golf more” will continue to drum up interest in sport among younger generations.
“The junior golf is great, especially with the youth on-course program out here,” Winfree said. “You can get a $5 round for 18 (holes) or $3 for 9 (holes). Every course has a junior rate so they really support junior golf which is awesome.”
He started playing competitively two summers ago and won his first junior tournament in town at Fox Hollow Golf Course but fell in love with the sport the first time he played it with his dad on a whim one day.
“Honestly, I just think it’s about making it more fun for the kids with a lot of games and camps,” Winfree said. “There’s definitely more kids coming with their parents too.”
Palmer’s Keira DeLand, who is competing in this weekend’s Alaska State Amateur Golf Tournament, is one of the state’s top young players. The tournament runs from Aug. 1-3, 2025 at Anchorage Golf Course. (Chris Bieri / ADN)
Developing women’s golf is a priority
DeLand is one of Alaska’s most recent success stories as she earned a scholarship to play golf at Lee University, a private Christian university in Cleveland, Tennessee.
She is coming off her freshman year and last summer, swept both the women’s Alaska State Amateur Championship and State Match Play.
“It was awesome,” DeLand said. “It was a great learning experience and super fun to play with girls my age and just be around golf all the time year round.”
[After claiming Alaska’s premier amateur golf titles, Keira DeLand is taking her talents to the next level]
Growing up in Alaska, there weren’t many girls her age to compete against. As a result, she was accustomed to playing with older women and males of all ages so going to play collegiately with and against her contemporaries was a welcomed culture shock.
“It was fun being around people my age who love the game as much as I do,” DeLand said.
The school year went by fast and she was so busy having fun that she didn’t start getting home sick until it was almost time to head back to Alaska for the summer.
“It was awesome to go to a structured practice everyday and be around a great group of girls,” DeLand said. “The whole year was really a highlight.”
She and Abigail Ante, who attends and competes for the University of Missouri-St. Louis, are two of the strongest young female players in the state. Unfortunately, there aren’t many others for them to contend with.
“That’s the one thing I think we lack,” Ranf said. “Other than working directly with the junior program, we haven’t been promoting women’s golf enough.”
That is starting to change as AGA is becoming more involved with the women’s programs such as Anchorage Women’s Golf Association and Wacky Women’s Golf Association.
“I think that will hopefully encourage more young women to play in these events, because we don’t get a lot of women,” Ranf said. “It’s unfortunate, because there are so many good players that we’d love to join us but we haven’t been able to get them yet.”
Takeaways from Day 1’s action
Back in late June, Winfree won 2025 Alaska State Golf Association’s Match Play Championship at Moose Run Golf Course where he bested heavy favorite, Erik Thompson in an 18-hole title tilt and won on the third extra match-play hole.
He didn’t let that recent success go to his head or bloat his confidence heading into this weekend’s action.
“The last tournament doesn’t matter because this is a whole different tournament,” Winfree said. “I came into it with no expectations and just tried to play my best.”
He felt good about his performance on the first day, shooting a 76. He was 1-under through 15 and 5-over through his last three holes.
Even though her home course that she is the most familiar with is out in Palmer, DeLand still managed to shoot a 78 on Day 1 of the state championship tournament.
“It was pretty solid, definitely room for improvement,” DeLand said. “I’m still trying to figure out these greens a little bit but I’m excited for the rest of the weekend.”
Strawberry Festival fills downtown | The Pajaronian
Hannah Bowers (from left), Kim Vestal and Katie Cole share a strawberry shortcake. Vestal is the daughter of famed Pajaronian photographer, Sam Vestal, who helped the paper earn a Pulitzer Prize in 1955.Tarmo Hannula/The Pajaronian) Thousands of people filled downtown Watsonville Saturday on day two of the three-day Strawberry Festival. As the fog broke apart […]
Hannah Bowers (from left), Kim Vestal and Katie Cole share a strawberry shortcake. Vestal is the daughter of famed Pajaronian photographer, Sam Vestal, who helped the paper earn a Pulitzer Prize in 1955.Tarmo Hannula/The Pajaronian)
Thousands of people filled downtown Watsonville Saturday on day two of the three-day Strawberry Festival.
As the fog broke apart and blue sky took over, people were treated to live music, scads of strawberry-theme food and drinks, carnival rides, arts and crafts, an open-air beer garden and a wealth of stands offering jewelry, clothing, artworks, household goods, Mexican artifacts, textiles and more.
“It’s so nice to see people out enjoying themselves,” said Marty Strickland, owner of FRuit FRTiz Smoothies.
Strickland’s business opened 40 years ago and operated a permanent location in Watsonville Square 25 years ago.
“I love doing the festivals,” he said. “We used to do Reno and LA — all over the place. People love us and we are here for them.”
Kim Vestal drove from the Santa Cruz Mountains with her daughter, Hannah Bowers and friend Katie Cole to her hometown to get a taste of the Strawberry Festival.
“It feels good to be back home,” the Watsonville native said. “The festival looks absolutely amazing.” Vestal’s father, Sam Vestal, was the photographer for the Register-Pajaronian from the 1950s into the ‘80s.
Former Watsonville HIgh principal Murry Schekman said he walked to the event from his home.
“It looks great and well laid out,” he said as he made his way across the crowded plaza with the live music of Los Gallos de Cali filling the air. “I’ve been coming to this for many years. Everybody is having a good time.”
By 1pm huge crowds filled the plaza and streets of downtown. (Tarmo Hannula/The Pajaronian) Watsonville.Thousands of people filled a closed-off Main Street Saturday. (Tarmo Hannula/The Pajaronian)Luis Castro of Salinas claimed first place in a strawberry eating contest. (Tarmo Hannula/The Pajaronian)Alvaro Huantes of Watsonville joins scores of others in painting on of several huge panels as art of a “Collaborative Mural” set up by the Youth Center in an “Everybody Can Paint” project. (Tarmo Hannula/The Pajaronian)A young girl gets a taste if the action during the festival. (Tarmo Hannula/The Pajaronian)The musical group, Los Gallos de Cali, perform at the bandstand in Watsonvile Plaza. (Tarmo Hannula/The Pajaronian)Children enjoy getting off the ground while board a carnival ride. (Tarmo Hannula/The Pajaronian)Teresa Navarro sports her new crocheted hat while touring the festival. (Tarmo Hannula/The Pajaronian)
NBA star Derrick White, Hillside Connection partner for camp | Sports
Campers at Sierra High School locked in on Derrick White as he explained his method for playing defense in the NBA. Nearly 100 kids focused as White held a microphone in his left hand while demonstrating with his right how to disrupt an opposing player from making a basket. It’s one of many lessons White […]
Campers at Sierra High School locked in on Derrick White as he explained his method for playing defense in the NBA.
Nearly 100 kids focused as White held a microphone in his left hand while demonstrating with his right how to disrupt an opposing player from making a basket.
It’s one of many lessons White hoped to infuse in the first through eighth graders who attended the Derrick White Basketball Academy camp Saturday in conjunction with Hillside Connection.
As kids ventured from various drills that included defense, foot work, dribbling, shooting and passing, each had the chance to interact with the Boston Celtics star. The camp is vital for improving kids in the Southeast, but White said he enjoys moments like Saturday more than the children in attendance.
“Coming back to the Springs where it all started for me is special,” White said. “… Camps like this are a great way to play basketball and have fun or meet a new friend. You might learn a new technique you can take home and show your friends. It’s a great way to get out here and meet new people and have fun while doing it.”
White attended Legend High School in Parker before heading to the University of Colorado-Colorado Springs from 2012-15. He then transferred to the University of Colorado Boulder where he averaged 18.1 points, 4.1 rebounds and 4.4 assists as a senior.
Now, the eight-year NBA veteran boasts an Olympic gold medal and an NBA championship. That’s not just a résumé White is proud to have, he believes his success allows others to recognize their capabilities.
“I’m from Colorado and they can see a kid from Colorado made it and say, ‘Why not me?’” White said. “I saw Chauncey (Billups) do it and I know it’s possible. Hopefully one of these kids sees me and what I’ve managed to accomplish and they’ll think it’s possible to reach their dreams, whatever that might be.”
Terrell Brown, Hillside Connection founder and president, said he’s grateful White offered time from his schedule to assist with the endeavor.
Terrell Brown, founder and president of Hillside Connection, speaks to the young basketball players during the Derrick White Youth Basketball Camp with the local nonprofit Saturday, Aug. 2, 2025, at Sierra High School in Colorado Springs. About 100 kids attended the camp. Hillside Connection is a nonprofit founded by Terrell Brown that serves more than 1,000 kids every year teaching them basketball and life skills. (The Gazette, Christian Murdock)
Christian Murdock
Throughout the years, Brown and Hillside Connection have hosted various camps for Southeast Colorado Springs kids and, in 2024, saw the culmination of the repaving of courts at Memorial Park. Brown said this camp, featuring White, is more than just basketball.
“It’s about instilling hope in the youth, families and the community we serve,” Brown said. “I have the utmost respect for Derrick White and Marcus Mason for following through with their word. The NBA accolades are impressive, but it’s Derrick’s character, humility and resilience that make him a true icon for future generations to look up to.”
Former Norwin standouts Gianni Rizzo, Luke Levendosky bring youth, energy to Knights coaching staff
By: Bill Beckner Jr. Saturday, August 2, 2025 | 11:06 AM Brandon Reed | Duquesne Athletics Gianni Rizzo is a former linebacker at Duquesne. Luke Levendosky is a former Norwin quarterback. Previous Next As players, Gianni Rizzo and Luke Levendosky left different marks on the Norwin football program. Rizzo was a run-smothering linebacker and fleet-footed […]
As players, Gianni Rizzo and Luke Levendosky left different marks on the Norwin football program.
Rizzo was a run-smothering linebacker and fleet-footed wide receiver, while Levendosky powered the offense as a pinpoint quarterback.
As coaches, they could have a lot to offer their alma mater.
Both were added to Mike Brown’s staff this season as offensive assistants.
Rizzo, who has been spotted at junior varsity basketball games around the WPIAL as a PIAA-certified referee, played college football at Duquesne and is about to embark on a pro career in Italy.
Levendosky played three years at Saint Vincent College but will not be on the Bearcats’ roster in 2025.
A speedster, Rizzo ran a leg of the Knights’ PIAA Class AAA winning 1,600-meter relay team in 2017. He went on to be a disruptive Division I linebacker after beginning his college career at Youngstown State.
In 34 career games at Duquesne, he made 141 tackles, 21.5 for loss. He was an All-Northeast Conference second team selection last season.
“I’m looking to bring fresh college experience to the team,” Rizzo said. “A young guy they can look up to and relate to. It’s good to have coaches like that. I’ll bring the kids to the field Saturdays and run 1-on-1s against them and stuff like that so they get good extra work, too.”
Rizzo, a production manager at JP Roofing, pursued professional playing opportunities and signed with the Lazio Marines of the Italian Football League and will head to training camp in January.
“What excites me most about coaching is being able to give back to the kids in Norwin,” Rizzo said. “It’s something I have always wanted to do and something that I had in high school when Alex Dennison came and coached us.
“At the time it was a youthful coach that I was able to look up to. Especially for the potential we have this year returning so many starters, getting the kids the best coaching is our main focus.”
Levendosky, a PAC Sportsmanship Team selection last year, played in 18 career games at the Division III level. He returned kicks and punts before seeing limited time at quarterback in 2024.
“I’m looking forward to bringing energy and helping to create a competitive atmosphere for our players,” he said. “It was evident in my first day that coach Mike (Broan) and our staff have a strong foundation already built into the program, and I’m really excited to help contribute to that environment in any way I can.”
Levendosky will graduate from Saint Vincent in December. He is a student teacher at Hempfield’s Wendover Middle School.
“I try to emphasize process and all the small things that result in bigger events, goals (etc.),” Levendosky said. “That is a big reason why I found a passion in education. In general, though, it is just cool to coach where I once played.”
Levendosky has two years of eligibility remaining but is not sure if he will use at least one. He endured a concussion last season, which played a part in his decision not to play this year.
“I am also interested in playing overseas because an old teammate of mine is playing in Poland and he loves it there so maybe down the line I’d look into it,” he said.
Bill Beckner Jr. is a TribLive reporter covering local sports in Westmoreland County. He can be reached at bbeckner@triblive.com.
Kelly Pierce left behind a legacy of championships but friendships and memories stay with her
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(Andy Morales/AllSportsTucson) (Andy Morales/AllSportsTucson) Kelly Pierce passed away on the night of August 1. No services have been mentioned yet. I met Kelly Pierce sometime in the summer of 2013. I knew she had won two state championships playing soccer […]
(via @arenasporttv/TT)
