Getty Images Chase Utley had one of the greatest five-year runs in MLB history for a second baseman and put up enough production the rest of his career to justify becoming a Hall of Famer one day. He won’t make it this year, but he has a chance and he’ll be getting my vote every […]
Chase Utley had one of the greatest five-year runs in MLB history for a second baseman and put up enough production the rest of his career to justify becoming a Hall of Famer one day. He won’t make it this year, but he has a chance and he’ll be getting my vote every year until it happens. I ended up going with Bobby Abreu, who was long underappreciated and deserves a long look. And I stopped at nine. I just can’t get there with Pedroia, Rollins or Wright and those were the closest ones for me. There’s also been a bit a long-standing tradition among voters when they have open spots to throw votes on personal favorites. As a die-hard, life-long Cubs fan, I’m eternally grateful for Ben Zobrist, notably the monstrously clutch hit and MVP in the 2016 World Series. I just didn’t feel like it was right in my first ballot to go with such a homer move when there were justifications for votes for people like Pedroia, Rollins and Wright, so it’s a no. Basically, I believe it is poor enough sportsmanship to try and skirt the rules agreed upon by the players association for individual benefit — to the point that it was risking hurting the team — that I’m willing to withhold my Hall of Fame for those busted. When there weren’t rules in place, it was the wild west, and I’m not worried about the players who were singled out in reports. Andruw Jones might be the single greatest defensive center fielder ever and he also hit 434 career home runs. There’s a domestic violence incident in his background, but it happened after he was done playing. I don’t like it at all, but I’m trying to establish consistency as best I can and I’m sticking to the on-field product here. That means he’s in.
For the first time, I have an official Hall of Fame ballot in my hands. As I write this, I’m about to mail it. I have done a virtual truckload of homework in anticipation of this and it all started when I was a little kid. For my whole story there, I’ve already laid it out. The obvious start is that little PED thing that continues to linger over the ballot. I’ve been saying for years what my stance will be and I’m a man of my word. If a player was caught by MLB to be violating the Joint Drug Agreement and suspended once the system was put into place, he’s a no for me. If a player was alleged to have used or even admitted use before any system for suspension was put into place, I’m not holding it against him, as it was a league-wide issue and the league itself was benefitting while looking the other way (plus, Bud Selig is in the Hall of Fame). As for anything in the realm of off-field behavior, I’ve chosen to ignore. The voting rules can be interpreted in many ways, but they read to me the voting should be based on the “player’s record” and “contributions” to the team, in that we’re only talking about in the baseball world. I could see how there’s an argument against a player who draws a suspension for domestic violence hurting the team, but no one that I strongly considered fits that criteria.
Billy Wagner is one of the greatest closers in baseball history and I’ve been driving this train for 10 years. I’m very pleased to be part of getting him inducted into the Hall in his final try. First things first, I feel compelled to explain my “Big Hall” voting stance. Remember, I’m but one voter of around 400. Players need to get 75% of the vote to make the Hall of Fame. Given that, essentially, one “no” vote nearly cancels out three “yes” votes, I’m going to be lenient with my votes. This doesn’t necessarily mean that I believe every single player I vote for should definitely be in the Hall of Fame. It means I think they are worthy of my vote and we’ll see how the rest of the voting body feels.Specific to this ballot, I’ve done several months worth of work and I’ll link off to everything pertinent as we walk through my selections and non-selections.
This means that I would have been a yes for the likes of Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens, Sammy Sosa and Mark McGwire but also a no for Rafael Palmeiro. I will be a no for players like Ryan Braun and Robinson Canó in the future. Feel free to scroll to the bolded names to find who I’m voting for or even just to the end to see my ballot. In the meantime, I’m going to do some explaining, because part of my process is to be such an open book that I’m accountable for my ballots. What a downer to start on the negative, huh? Let’s get to the YES! votes. Right off the top, we can eliminate Alex Rodriguez and Manny Ramirez, thanks to my PED rule. A-Rod was doing nefarious stuff for years to get around the rules and was handed a 211-game suspension. He has a very complicated case, but I’m comfortable leaving him off. Ramirez’s case isn’t quite as complicated. He was busted twice. He’s out.
The official ballot:I have come to very strongly believe we need to loosen the standards a bit — again, only a bit! — for starting pitchers, given the current climate. That means that I am voting for Mark Buehrle and Andy Pettitte. There’s a PED connection on Pettitte, but keep in mind this happened before there was a testing system in place and he played nine seasons with a testing system and was never nailed. I’m comfortable with a vote for him.Ichiro Suzuki and CC Sabathia, come on down. The only question for Ichiro is if he’s unanimous and while I’m pretty sure he will be, I’m not going to stand in the way. CC’s case is very strong and I’m ecstatic to be part of the movement in his favor.
Next up, the rules mailed to us say that “voting shall be based upon the player’s record, playing ability, integrity, sportsmanship, character, and contributions to the team(s) on which the player played.” I have two spots left and some of the players in the group I’ve considered are Félix Hernández, Ian Kinsler, Dustin Pedroia, Jimmy Rollins and David Wright. I can see why there would be questions on Carlos Beltrán due to the 2017 Astros sign-stealing scandal. For me, a team-wide operation with the goal of achieving team success by reading catcher signs is a lot less disqualifying for the Hall of Fame than individually juicing despite the possibility of a 50-game suspension. I can understand why mileage would vary here, but I’m just one voter. We aren’t all going to agree and that’s acceptable. With him clearing the hurdle here for me, he’s an easy yes.
5 high school girls water polo players to watch during the postseason
The season-ending Missouri Water Polo girls district tournament kicked off late last week with a play-in game before the final eight teams begin postseason play Monday and Tuesday, with the championship set for May 21 at Kirkwood High. Here are five players to watch in this year’s postseason: Kerber has been dominant again this spring […]
The season-ending Missouri Water Polo girls district tournament kicked off late last week with a play-in game before the final eight teams begin postseason play Monday and Tuesday, with the championship set for May 21 at Kirkwood High.
Here are five players to watch in this year’s postseason:
Kerber has been dominant again this spring after winning Missouri Water Polo girls player of the year honors last season for the undefeated district champion Mustangs. The junior leads all MWP players (male or female) in goals (114) and points (274) this season, already surpassing both of her totals from last year. Top-seed Marquette (21-1), which is 40-1 over the last two seasons, begins defense of its title Monday evening.
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Alexa Matoushek, Oakville
Matoushek was an All-Metro third-team selection last season, and she has had another strong campaign this spring for the team that co-ops with Mehlville and is affectionately known as “The Ville.” The senior is fourth in the area scoring race with 74 goals and fifth with 173 points. The fifth-seeded Tigers (8-13-1) will face No. 4 seed Parkway North (12-5-1) in a quarterfinal game Monday evening.
Margaret McPheeters, Kirkwood
McPheeters has been solid in the cage this season for the Pioneers. The senior has compiled a 10-2-2 record while posting an area-best 6.44 goals against average. Second-seeded Kirkwood (10-6-2), which co-ops with Nerinx Hall, will take on No. 7 seed Ladue (9-11) in quarterfinal action Tuesday.
Ramsey has been an offensive force this spring for the Lancers. The senior leads the area in assists with 64 and is second in both goals (93) and points (250), one year after pacing the area in helpers and finishing sixth in the scoring race. The No. 3 seed Lancers (15-7), who co-ops with Eureka, will square off against sixth-seeded Lindbergh (8-9) in a quarterfinal contest Tuesday.
Mary Wolf-Slinkard, Parkway North
Wolf-Slinkard has ramped up her scoring total this season after finishing in the area top eight last spring. The junior has compiled 58 goals and 24 assists for 140 points, which is good for seventh in the area scoring race. The No. 4 seed Vikings (12-5-1), who co-ops with Visitation, will play fifth-seeded Oakville (8-13-1) in a quarterfinal tilt Monday evening.
Volleyball releases 2025 schedule – Northern Michigan University
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MARQUETTE, Mich. – The Northern Michigan Volleyball team and coach Mike Lozier have announced their schedule for the 2025 season. The slate for the upcoming campaign consists of three tournaments, nine home matches, competitions against teams from nine states, and four clashes with programs the ‘Cats have not seen before. […]
MARQUETTE, Mich. – The Northern Michigan Volleyball team and coach Mike Lozier have announced their schedule for the 2025 season. The slate for the upcoming campaign consists of three tournaments, nine home matches, competitions against teams from nine states, and four clashes with programs the ‘Cats have not seen before.
The Wildcats will open their season at the SpringHill Suites Invitational at the University of West Florida. On September 4, NMU will match up with Wheeling University (Wheeling, WV) for the first time in program history. On the 5th, the ‘Cats will see another new opponent in Spring Hill College (Mobile, AL) early in the day and finish out the day’s doubleheader with Southwest Minnesota State. Northern will wrap up the SpringHill Suites Invitational on the 6th in a first-time bout with host West Florida (Pensacola, FL).
The following weekend, the Green and Gold will head to St. Cloud State for the Huskies Volleyball Classic. The Wildcats will face Minnesota Duluth on September 11, followed by Barry (Miami Shores, FL) and host St. Cloud State on the 12th. NMU will conclude the tournament on the 13th against Adelphi University (Garden City, NY) in yet another first-time clash.
Conference play begins the following weekend when the ‘Cats remain on the road for matches against Davenport on September 19 and Ferris State on September 20.
The home opener takes place on September 26 when the Wildcats welcome the Rangers of Parkside to Vandament Arena. That will be followed by a contest against Roosevelt on September 27.
Four away matches come after, with the Northern making stops at Saginaw Valley State on October 3 and Lake Superior State on October 4. The following weekend, NMU will be at Michigan Tech on October 9 and then travel down to Purdue Northwest for an October 11 match.
A brief break in conference play will follow, with the annual Midwest Crossover Tournament taking place on October 17 and 18.
A return to GLIAC play will see a three-game homestand. NMU plays Grand Valley State on October 24 and Wayne State on October 25. Michigan Tech then comes to the Vandament on October 28.
Northern will then hit the road for the final time with stops at Roosevelt on Halloween night and Parkside on the first of November.
The regular season will finish with a four-game homestand. NMU will first play Ferris State on November 7 and Davenport on November 8. The final weekend of the regular season will take place on November 14-15, with matches against Lake Superior State and Saginaw Valley State.
High Point Track & Field Travels to UNC Asheville for Big South Championships
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ASHEVILLE, N.C. – The Big South Conference will host the 2025 Big South Outdoor Track & Field Championships in Asheville, North Carolina at UNC Asheville’s home track. All Big South schools will compete at the Karl Straus track from Monday, May 12 through Wednesday, May 14. Individual champions will be […]
ASHEVILLE, N.C. – The Big South Conference will host the 2025 Big South Outdoor Track & Field Championships in Asheville, North Carolina at UNC Asheville’s home track. All Big South schools will compete at the Karl Straus track from Monday, May 12 through Wednesday, May 14. Individual champions will be crowned throughout the week for their respective events ahead of the team championship ceremony on Wednesday following the conclusion of the meet.
BIG SOUTH OUTDOOR TRACK & FIELD CHAMPIONSHIPS KARL STRAUS TRACK | MAY 12-14 MEET INFORMATION | MEET SCHEDULE | ESPN+ | LIVE RESULTS | MEN’S HEAT SHEETS | WOMEN’S HEAT SHEETS
Monday, May 12th | 3:30 p.m. | Watch
Tuesday, May 13th | 5:00 p.m. | Watch
Wednesday, May 14th | 3:30 p.m. | Watch
Admission will be free of charge. Food trucks will be available throughout the meet. For more information on the food truck schedule and menus, click HERE.
Competing Teams
Charleston Southern
Gardner-Webb
High Point
Longwood
Radford (women’s only)
UNC Asheville
USC Upstate
Winthrop
High Point History at the Big South Championships
The Panther men and women have swept the outdoor conference championship titles for the last four years and will look to five-peat. Both the men and women won their first Big South titles in 2021 and have kept the trophy in High Point since. A season ago, High Point crowned 11 individual champions from the men’s team and 11 individual champions from the women’s team which was the most crowned by each team in program history.
To stay up to date with live updates follow our social media pages on Instagram (@hputrackxc) and on X (@HPUTrack)
HPU Marks Holding Up in Regional Standings
Several High Point athletes have posted marks through the outdoor season that are ranked in the top 48 in the NCAA East region. The top 48 marks at the end of the regular season will qualify for the first round of the NCAA Championships. As a team, High Point ranks 10th in the region for the men and 18th for the women.
Sirens dominate in BOV Water Polo Women’s Winter League
Photo : Sirens BOV Water Polo Winter League Champions Tista’ taqra bil- Malti. The Sirens Water Polo Women’s Team have once again demonstrated their dominance by clinching the BOV Water Polo Winter League title for the fourth consecutive year since its inception in 2022 and is the only team to win this competition since its […]
Photo : Sirens BOV Water Polo Winter League Champions
Tista’ taqra bil- Malti.
The Sirens Water Polo Women’s Team have once again demonstrated their dominance by clinching the BOV Water Polo Winter League title for the fourth consecutive year since its inception in 2022 and is the only team to win this competition since its inception.
The team’s stellar performance throughout the winter Water Polo season saw them winning all their games in the BOV Water Polo Winter League, showcasing their skill, teamwork, and strategic prowess and setting a benchmark for excellence in Women’s water polo.
Ernest Agius, Chief Operations Officer at Bank of Valletta and Karl Izzo and Randolph Cauchi, President and Vice President respectively of the Aquatic Sports Association of Malta presented Sirens with their BOV Championship Trophy.
Water Polo is not just a sport in Malta, but a tradition, cherished for decades. Bank of Valletta is proud to collaborate with the Aquatic Sports Association of Malta in the organization of the local water polo competitions – a combination of athleticism, strategy, and teamwork.
NEW HAVEN, Conn. – The Brown track and field programs competed at the Ivy League Heps Outdoor Championships hosted by Yale this weekend. The men’s team finished seventh with a total of 34 points, while the women’s team was tied for sixth with 37 points. Joseph Oduro won the triple jump title, while Elle Riley broke […]
NEW HAVEN, Conn. – The Brown track and field programs competed at the Ivy League Heps Outdoor Championships hosted by Yale this weekend. The men’s team finished seventh with a total of 34 points, while the women’s team was tied for sixth with 37 points. Joseph Oduro won the triple jump title, while Elle Riley broke the school record in the 100 meter hurdles.
MEN Saturday
The Bears scored 10 points in the men’s long jump event, as sophomore Mubaraq Aderogba and junior Frank Monahan-Morang earned podium finishes. Aderogba finished third with a personal record of 7.43 meters. That mark tied him for eighth all time in Brown history. Monahan-Morang wasn’t far behind, finishing fourth with a mark of 7.41 meters. That PR pits him 10th in school history.
Sophomore Keith Daigneau earned a fifth place podium finish in the men’s hammer throw with a mark of 60.08 meters. In the javelin throw, junior Cole Nesselson garnered one point for his team with a sixth place javelin throw finish on a mark of 52.05 meters.
Sunday
Junior Joseph Oduro became an Ivy Champion once again in the triple jump with a leap of 15.32 meters. His first place finish earned 10 points for Brown. Junior Jason Estrada performed well in the 400 meter dash, securing the fourth best time in school history of 47.15. He finished third and gained six points for the team.
The men’s 4×100 meter relay squad was excellent, finishing fourth with a time of 40.76. That earned four points, as the team consisted of Frank Monahan-Morang, Trevor Wilder, Elias Archie and Estrada. The 4×400 team of Estrada, Link Lignell, Aaron Caveney and Wilder finished sixth. Their time of 3:14.20 earned one point.
WOMEN
Saturday
Jada Joseph set a personal record in the long jump, placing fourth with a mark of 6.29 meters. The podium finish earned her team four points and tied her for second best in school history.
Chidinma Agbasi finished third in the hammer throw, scoring six points. Her mark of 58.38 meters was a personal record while remaining third best in school history. Julia’Belle Reyfman also scored points, finishing fifth in the javelin throw with a mark of 41.23 meters.
Elle Riley improved on her ninth best time in school history in the 400 meter hurdles, finishing in 1:01.26. Alyssa Jackson improved to a tie for second in school history in the 100 meter dash with a time of 11.86.
Sunday
On Sunday, the women’s side re-wrote the record book on several occasions. Elle Riley broke her own school record in the 100 meter hurdles with a time of 13.74. The fifth place finish earned two points.
Kareema McKenzie finished fourth in the 400 meter hurdles with a time of 59.34. It moved her to second in school history and earned her team four points. Olivia Fraga continued to dominate in the 3000 meter steeplechase, finishing fourth. Her time of 10:36.71 garnered four points for the Bears.
The 4×400 relay team consisted of McKenzie, Maddelynn Brooks, Alyssa Jackson and Riley. They finished fifth with a time of 3:44.18 and set the seventh fastest time in school history. The podium finish earned two points.
Delaney Seligmann and Jada Joseph were excellent in the triple jump. Joseph finished second with a mark of 13.15 meters. She is now tied for second best in school history. Seligmann finished seventh with a mark of 12.58 meters, which places her ninth in school history for the event.
In the women’s high jump, Nene Mokonchu placed fourth and earned four points with a mark of 1.68 meters. Michelyn Appiah remains 10th in school history, improving on her personal best in the discus with a throw of 45.61 meters.
Rosie Volpintesta finished in fifth place in the heptathlon competition. She earned two points for the Bears with a personal record score of 4923 points. It puts her in fourth in school history.
UP NEXT
Some Bears competitors will head to NCAA Regionals, which will be held in Jacksonville, Florida at the end of May.
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UCLA men’s volleyball to battle for championship 3-peat with ‘hearts of champions’
All roads lead to the national championship. But before a team can secure the title, it must fight for the right to continue down the path to glory. And now that the Bruins are here, there’s only one route forward. After sweeping No. 2 seed Hawai’i in the semifinal, No. 3 seed UCLA men’s volleyball […]
But before a team can secure the title, it must fight for the right to continue down the path to glory.
And now that the Bruins are here, there’s only one route forward.
After sweeping No. 2 seed Hawai’i in the semifinal, No. 3 seed UCLA men’s volleyball (22-6, 10-2 MPSF) will face No. 1 seed Long Beach State (29-3, 8-2 Big West) on Monday in the NCAA tournament final at the Covelli Center in Columbus, Ohio. A victory would give the Bruins their third consecutive and 22nd national title.
“I’m going to give my 110% and go die on the court with my brothers,” said redshirt junior outside hitter Cooper Robinson.
Redshirt junior outside hitter Cooper Robinson prepares to dig the ball. Robinson finished with nine kills and a .304 hitting percentage Saturday. (Leydi Cris Cobo Cordon/Daily Bruin senior staff)
The Southern California rivals played each other twice in the regular season, with UCLA falling both times and picking up just one set in the process – the team’s only back-to-back defeat from the same opponent this year.
Across both duels, UCLA posted a .300-plus hitting percentage, combining for 82 kills across seven sets. However, the team struggled defensively to stymie Long Beach’s serve and attack, underperforming in digs and garnering three times as many reception errors as its counterpart across the net.
“We’ve been preparing for it all year,” Robinson said. “We have a lot of stats on them. We played them twice, and it obviously didn’t go our way, but we’re so fired up and we cannot wait to play.”
In UCLA’s 2025 season finale, the squad said it will uphold a mindset that treats each and every point with the same importance – whatever the score may actually be.
“A big part of our endgame this week is that 0-0 mentality,” said junior setter Andrew Rowan. “We’ve blown a lot of leads in the past.”
Junior setter Andrew Rowan stands on the hardwood at Pauley Pavilion. Rowan posted 34 assists and six digs against No. 2 seed Hawai’i in the NCAA tournament semifinals. (Andrew Diaz/Daily Bruin)
Since the squads last faced off in February, both the Bruin and Beach lineup has shifted. On the former’s side of the court, redshirt sophomore David Decker – who contributed 14 kills in two games against Long Beach – has seen his opposite hitter spot overtaken by junior outside hitter Zach Rama, leaving space for freshman outside hitter Sean Kelly to also join the fray.
Likewise, redshirt junior middle blocker Matthew Edwards has found less time on the court and more on the bench in favor of fellow redshirt junior middle blocker Sean McQuiggan – who had been on and off the court for months nursing a shoulder injury.
But the Beach has also seen some shuffling, with injuries sidelining outside hitter Sotiris Siapanis and opposite Daniil Hershtynovich, who haven’t played since early March and mid-April, respectively.
The former, a two-time All-American, and the latter, who made this year’s All-American honorable mention list, spearheaded Long Beach’s offense against UCLA, combining for 36 kills through both games.
While only time will tell if their absences will impede the Beach’s performance against the Bruins, a constant remains for them in Long Beach setter Moni Nikolov.
Moni Nikolov, who became the second freshman to earn AVCA Player of the Year behind his brother Alex Nikolov, has paved the way for a team that dropped just three matches this season, all to top-five schools.
But Long Beach coach Alan Knipe indicated that it took some time for the whole squad to accept Moni Nikolov as the team’s ace.
“Whether everyone wants to agree with it or not, all great teams have a great player, and Moni’s our great player. That doesn’t mean that we don’t have other really, really good volleyball players on the court,” Knipe said. “But to be able to reduce or eliminate the ego and not be in conflict with your guy who is your guy is part of the maturity of the team.”
Coach John Hawks’ squad, on the other hand, takes a different approach. Hawks credited multiple players on the team, including Kelly and McQuiggan, for success in the semifinal match against Hawai’i – a philosophy in line with former UCLA coach John Speraw’s pride in a deep bench.
“We’re a family right now,” Robinson said. “Our leaders are stepping up in the right ways and just all clicking at the same time.”
No men’s volleyball program other than UCLA has ever broken into three-peat territory. Since 2012, six consecutive programs have earned back-to-back titles but have failed to win thrice.
But in his first year at the helm, Hawks has the chance to contribute to the legacy of three-title streaks established by former head coach Al Scates in the 1970s and 80s.
“I mean, shoot, it’s the stuff that dreams are made of,” Hawks said.
Hawks knows where the road in front could take them. And on Monday, his squad can take it.
“They have hearts of champions, and you can see it in just the way we play,” Hawks said.
