Chicago White Sox first baseman Tim Elko batted with a runner on second, two outs and the score tied in the seventh inning Saturday at Rate Field.
It’s the type of big spot a player dreams of in their major-league debut.
He hit a grounder up the middle that appeared to be headed to center field for a go-ahead single.
But Miami Marlins second baseman Javier Sanoja made a sliding backhanded stop, got up and fired to first to retire Elko to end the inning.
“I was hoping that would get through and we could get a run on the board there,” Elko said. “Guy made a nice play.”
The Sox were denied the run. And the Marlins carried over the momentum to the eighth when Eric Wagaman drove in two with a two-out triple against reliever Brandon Eisert.
The Marlins held on to defeat the Sox 3-1 in front of 24,364.
The Sox were limited to four hits, including a first-inning home run by designated hitter Andrew Vaughn, while losing for the fifth time in six games.
They wasted a strong outing from starter Shane Smith, who allowed four hits and struck out seven in six scoreless innings. At 11-29, the Sox matched the worst 40-game start in franchise history — sharing the mark with the 2018 club. Last year’s team, which went on to lose a modern-day MLB record 121 games, began 12-28.
The Sox are hopeful Elko can add some sorely needed pop to the offense.
Officially called up before the game, Elko went 0-for-3 in his debut — flying out to center in the third inning, grounding out to third in the fifth and grounding out on the spectacular play by Sanoja in the seventh.
“Felt pretty good about (the at-bats),” Elko said. “I didn’t get a whole lot of great pitches to hit. They were making some good pitches. I feel like I took some balls and swung at some pitches there on the borderline. That’s baseball sometimes.”
As a whole, Elko described the day as “a lot of fun.”
“Getting to the ballpark and playing ball, just seeing all my teammates, meeting some of the new guys I haven’t played with that much yet and seeing guys I have played with,” he said. “Just being able to get out on the field with them and get my first game in was a lot of fun.”
The Sox promoted Elko to the big leagues from Triple-A Charlotte, where he was on a tear at the plate.
White Sox first baseman Tim Elko writes something in the dirt before the start of a game against the Marlins on May 10, 2025, at Rate Field. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune)
“I feel like a lot of hard work came to fruition,” Elko said before the game. “Just excited to get here and start my journey.”
Reports first surfaced of the move on Friday. In Saturday’s corresponding move, the Sox designated infielder Nick Maton for assignment.
Elko is slashing .348/.431/.670 with six doubles, 10 home runs, 23 RBIs and 20 runs in 31 games with the Knights. He leads all of minor-league baseball in OPS (1.101), is tied for the lead in home runs, ranks second in slugging percentage and third in total bases (75).
“Obviously excited about the potential offensively and defensively,” Sox manager Will Venable said before the game. “And he also makes a huge impact in the clubhouse.
“He just is always positive. And works extremely hard. So, absolutely a credit to him for continuing to put in the work and it has paid off.”
The Sox selected Elko in the 10th round of the 2022 draft out of Mississippi. He has a career .293/.348/.495 slash line with 58 doubles, 61 home runs, 218 RBIs and 179 runs in 325 games during four minor-league seasons (2022-25) in the Sox organization.
“The goal was always to become a professional baseball player and play in the MLB,” Elko said. “It was always in the back of my head. But always just try to be where my feet are. I always enjoyed my time at Ole Miss and winning a national championship down there and now it’s time to help the White Sox win some games here.”
White Sox first baseman Tim Elko, walks back to first after grounding out to end the seventh inning against the Marlins on May 10, 2025, at Rate Field. Elko went 0-for-3 in his major-league debut. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune)
Since 2023, Elko ranks first among minor-league leaders in hits (344) and games (301), is second in total bases (578), fourth in RBIs (202) and batting average (.297) and tied for eighth in home runs (56).
“He’s a competitor, he’s played well throughout the minor leagues,” Sox director of player development Paul Janish said during a videoconference call last week. “We talked about earning promotions, and that’s what he’s done throughout the minor leagues.
“Just can’t say enough about the kid, the makeup of the player. And the numbers on the field speak for themselves.”
Elko, 26, spread the credit around.
“Just a lot of help from people around me,” Elko said. “Got (Charlotte hitting coach) Jim (Rickon) and (Knights bench coach Angel Rosario) and (Sox director of hitting Ryan) Fuller and so many people to thank that have helped me along this journey and this year and just kind of getting me locked in on pitch decisions and what sort of pitches to do damage to.”
Elko earned White Sox Minor League Player of the Month honors for March/April after slashing .367/.448/.711 with nine home runs, 20 RBIs and a 1.159 OPS in 25 games. He reached base safely in 23 of those contests, hitting safely in 21.
White Sox first baseman Tim Elko, center, prepares to take the field before making his major-league debut against the Marlins on May 10, 2025, at Rate Field. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune)
That success drummed up strong support online.
“I try to stay off social media as much as I can, but I saw some of the stuff on Twitter — it’s pretty cool, to have support like that’s a pretty cool feeling,” Elko said.
“It’s been pretty fun, just getting texts from friends and family,” Elko said. “Sorry if I haven’t responded to some people. But it’s been awesome. Just thankful for everybody and great opportunity and ready to go.”
The Sox had Elko at first base and in the No. 8 slot of the lineup Saturday.
“Really doesn’t matter to me where I hit,” he said after the game. “I just want to get out there and be productive and do whatever I can to help us win.”
White Sox designated hitter Andrew Vaughn hits a solo home run in the first inning against the Marlins on May 10, 2025, at Rate Field. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune)White Sox designated hitter Andrew Vaughn slaps hands with teammates in the dugout after hitting a solo home run in the first inning against the Marlins on May 10, 2025at Rate Field. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune)
Vaughn was the designated hitter. His home run in the first inning was his second in as many games. Venable said the plan for the two will involve “mixing and matching” between first base and DH.
“There (are also) going to be times where (Miguel) Vargas might be at first base,” Venable said. “So, I think we are going to take this day by day. But you (can) expect to see both Tim and (Vaughn) at first base.”
Venable described Elko’s at-bats Saturday as “solid.”
“He looked comfortable, took some tough pitches,” Venable said. “I thought he constructed good at-bats. Nice play on him up the middle there (in the seventh).
“So a good day for him to get his feet wet and we’ll see what it looks like tomorrow.”
Elko was happy to share the experience with family and friends in attendance.
“To be able to see them and some of my friends who came too, it’s just a surreal moment,” Elko said. “To have them there with me is great.”
Right knee soreness hampers Luis Robert Jr.
Sox center fielder Luis Robert Jr. did not play Saturday as he deals with “some soreness in his right knee,” according to Venable.
“With all these guys, we have a couple of guys banged up,” Venable said. “Kind of what you would expect being at the end of a stretch where it’s been 26 (games) out of 27 (days). Really dense part of the schedule here where these nicks and bruises are part of it. It’s more one of those than anything we are really concerned about.”
Venable said Robert’s situation is a “day-to-day thing. We expect him to be available though.”
COLLEGE STATION, Texas (KBTX) – Just two days after winning a national championship, Jamie Morrison and Aggie volleyball announced the signing of two Division One transfers.
Texas A&M added graduate transfer and All-American Natalie Ring from Marquette and Ohio State’s Kaia Castle.
Volleyball is one of six revenue-sharing sports at Texas A&M, and following the national title match, Morrison acknowledged the university’s financial commitment to recruiting.
“Our administration’s really stepped up and said, hey, we really want you to be competitive on the national landscape. And I couldn’t be more grateful for that,” Morrison said.
Ring led the Golden Eagles to the second round of the NCAA Tournament and landed on the All-America third team. She was also named a unanimous All-Big East selection. She had a career-high 29 kills in a close loss to No. 2 Louisville in the NCAA Tournament.
The Madison, Wisconsin native ranked No. 16 in the nation with 4.60 kills per set.
“We are excited to add Natalie to our Aggie family here in Aggieland,” Morrison said. “She brings a wealth of experience as a well-rounded outside hitter and is a relentless competitor who consistently raised her level against the best competition. The 12th Man is going to love her fire, spirit and the way she plays the game.”
Castle is a redshirt sophomore and averaged 1.94 kills per set as a middle blocker.
“We value speed at the middle blocker position and it’s rare to see someone with Kaia’s length who can move the way she does,” Morrison said. “Beyond the physical tools, she is an incredible human. I truly enjoyed every part of the recruiting process with Kaia and can’t wait to have her here in Aggieland.”
Castle recorded 91 blocks this year for the Buckeyes and broke the program’s single-match block record with 15 against Troy.
The Aggies were quick to get to work on building for next season and remaining at the top of the college volleyball landscape.
“We’re going to sit down, and we’re going to enjoy this as much as we possibly can,” Morrison said. “And then we’re going to get to work and go do it again.”
Seventeen Lake Orion High School student-athletes signed national letters of intent on Dec. 17 to their sports careers at the collegiate level. Photo by Joseph Goral
ORION TWP. — Seventeen senior athletes signed letters of intent at Lake Orion High School on Dec. 17 to play sports at the collegiate level.
The athletes represent eight sports – swimming, lacrosse, soccer, football, baseball, cross country, dance and track and field.
“Congratulations to all of you on joining a small group of high school athletes around the country that get the opportunity to pursue their athletic careers while pursuing their education,” LOHS Athletic Director Chris Bell said.
Several coaches joined Bell to introduce the athletes honored last week
Swimming
Briana Hernandez will swim for Wayne State University where she plans to study biochemistry or chemical biology. Hernandez scored a team-leading 218 points this season, finished first 11 times, was a key member of LOHS’s state team, and is fourth all time in school history for the 50-meter freestyle event.
Samantha O’Kronley (left) and Leo Cassell sign letters of intent on Dec. 17 to play college sports. Photos by Joseph Goral
Maddox LaMothe will continue his swimming career at St. Olaf College in Minnesota and study music education. LaMoth will be a sprint freestyle and breast stroke specialist at St. Olaf College. He has scored 149 points, finished first 12 times and is a league champion in the 100-meter breast stroke event at LOHS.
Lacrosse
JC McClung will play lacrosse at Saginaw Valley State University. McClung has been a varsity starter at Lake Orion since her sophomore year, scored 27 points during her junior year, and will be a captain during her senior season.
Brielle Coventry will play lacrosse at Lewis University in Illinois where she will study aviation administration. Coventry has also been a varsity player since her sophomore year, has scored 75 goals, and was named to the all-state third team in 2025 and to the all-OAA Red team.
Curtis Meech will continue his lacrosse career at Lake Erie College, and began playing lacrosse for Lake Orion Community schools 10 years ago. Head lacrosse coach Chris Wood said Meech is a vocal leader and a reliable, lead-by-example defender.
Maddox LaMothe (left) and Brooke Armstrong sign letters of intent to play college sports.
Quentin Rohlfing will play lacrosse for Kalamazoo College. In his three years playing LOHS lacrosse, Wood said Rohlfing established himself as a relentless competitor, a quick learner in the mid-field, and said Rohlfing is a hard-working individual.
Soccer
Brooke Armstrong will play soccer at Michigan Technological University where she will study biochemistry. Armstrong earned district and league honors during the spring and is a fierce competitor that LOHS is thankful to have on their team, head varsity coach Amanda Hutchinson said.
Lilly Brodoski will play soccer for Calvin University where she will study politics, philosophy and economics. She has been on LOHS’s soccer team since her freshman year, earned league honors her sophomore and junior years, along with the OAA Sportsmanship Award, and is a versatile player who can contribute in many positions on the field, Hutchinson said.
Seniors JC McClung (left) and Brielle Coventry are introduced on Dec. 17.
Football
Leo Cassell will play football at Alma College and study biology. A defensive and offensive lineman, Bell called Cassell a smart player who knows the game, and said he works hard, is unselfish, and was willing to play whatever role his team needed.
Brody Thompson will play football for Northwood University where he will pursue a business degree. Thompson predominantly played quarterback for the Dragons, is a threat running and throwing the football and won a leadership award last season, Bell said.
Alex Hensley will also play football at Northwood University. A starting inside linebacker, Bell described Hensley as an old-fashioned, Orion-tough physical football player. Hensley was also a captain last season, led the Dragons in tackles for the last two seasons and was selected to the all-league team and all-region first team this season.
Quentin Rohlfing (right) and Curtis Meech are introduced by boys varsity lacrosse head coach Chris Wood before a crowd at Lake Orion High School on Dec. 17.
Ryan Rocheleau will play football for Western Michigan University. Bell called Rocheleau the best tight end in Lake Orion History. Rocheleau caught 30 passes for more than 500 yards and five touchdowns, was selected to the all-league first team and all-region first team and was a team captain.
Baseball
Ozzie Schons will play baseball at Alpena Community College where he will study mathematics. Head varsity baseball coach Andy Schramek said Schons chose Alpena Community College for its culture.
Riley Bendle will play baseball at Kellogg Community College and pursue a career as a doctor. Schramek said Kellogg Community College will give Bendle the chance to develop as a player for two years before transferring to a university.
Dance
Samantha O’Kronley will dance at Alma College where she plans to study sports medicine. O’Kronley has been in Lake Orion’s dance program since seventh grade, and was described as always dependable and hardworking by a teammate.
Lilly Brodoski signs a letter of intent to play soccer for Calvin University.
Cross country and track and field
Max Houvener will be running cross country and competing in track and field at Oakland University. Houvener qualified for the state finals in the 3,200-meter relay his freshman year, and finished no lower than 10th in any race over the last two years, except for at the state finals, varsity coach Andrew McDonald said.
Mikaela Redman will be competing in track and field at Northwood University. McDonald called Redman a very versatile athlete, and a leader in the school’s track-and-field program for the last four years.
Mikaela Redman signs a letter of intent on Dec. 17 to compete in track and field at Northwood University.
Utah State women’s volleyball head coach Rob Neilson has been hired by BYU, ending his six-year tenure with the Aggies. BYU announced the hiring on social media Tuesday afternoon.
Neilson is an alum of BYU, having played for the Cougars’ men’s volleyball team from 2003-06 as a setter. He also spent 10 years as an assistant coach for the men’s team at BYU, even serving as its interim coach in 2011.
Utah State hired Neilson in 2020, following a 2019 season where the Aggies had gone a program-worst 2-28. USU went 5-10 in Neilson’s first season but then went on to win Mountain West titles in three straight seasons from 2021-24.
This season the Aggies not only won both the Mountain West regular season and conference tournament titles, they went undefeated in conference play and in the conference tournament, capping off what was ultimately a 22-game winning streak with a first-round upset victory in the NCAA Tournament against Tennessee.
Neilson ends his tenure at Utah State with an overall record of 112-59, winning three regular season Mountain West championships, two conference tournaments and winning MW Coach of the Year three times. He also took USU to four NCAA Tournaments with a record of 1-3 in those games.
In a statement, Utah State Director of Athletics Cam Walker expressed thanks to Neilson for his tenure.
“I am grateful for Rob’s leadership of our volleyball program, including multiple conference championships and NCAA Tournament appearances,” Walker said. “The profile of Utah State volleyball has been elevated and we expect that standard to continue under new leadership. We will be efficient and aggressive in our pursuit of the next leader of Utah State volleyball and will begin an immediate national search.”
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Florida volleyball announced the addition of setter Bri Denney to the Gators’ 2026 roster.
After earning her BBA in business management from Baylor, Denney will join the program as a graduate transfer in spring 2026 and pursue her master’s in business entrepreneurship.
“In our search for a setter, Bri jumped off the page as the perfect fit for us,” said Florida Head Coach Ryan Theis. “She is a great teammate, great student with starting and coming off the bench experience in high level power 4 volleyball. We are excited to get her in the gym in January.”
“I chose the University of Florida because of the program’s history of national success, outstanding facilities and resources and the opportunity to compete in the SEC,” Denney said. “The coaching staff is exceptional and I’m excited to continue to grow as a student athlete and a person under their leadership. Campus is beautiful and I have the opportunity to be near my brother. It truly felt like the perfect fit. Grateful for this next chapter, go Gators!”
Denney is the fifth newcomer to join the Gators for the 2026 campaign. Florida previously signed incoming freshman opposite/outside hitter Nadi’ya Shelby and announced the addition of three transfers last week: outside hitter Kamryn “Kami” Chaney, middle blocker Brianna “Bri” Holladay and outside hitter Selena Leban.
Bri Denney
Position: Setter
Class: Graduate Student
Height: 6-0
Hometown: San Marcos, California
Previous Teams: Baylor
High School: Santa Fe Christian School
At Baylor Honors:
2023 Academic All-Big 12 First Team
2025 (Redshirt Junior): Played 50 sets across 15 matches with five starts … Opened the season with a career-high 31 assists in a 3-1 win over South Alabama (8/29) … Followed up with 29 assists in a 5-set win over No. 10 SMU (8/30) … Tallied 20 assists win a 3-1 road win at LSU (8/31) … Returned from injury to distribute 15 assists at No. 8 Arizona State (10/8) … Had 16 assists against No. 12 Purdue in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
2024 (Redshirt Sophomore): Traveled with the Bears and played in the Foreign Tour matches in Austria, Hungary, Italy and Slovenia in June 2024 … Came into the match against No. 22 TCU to set (10/6).
2023 (Sophomore): Saw action in three matches on the season … Played in two sets against No. 7 Minnesota in the Big Ten/Big 12 Challenge … Played against No. 19 Ohio State … Saw action in one set against Stephen F. Austin … Did not see action for the rest of the season due to injury, redshirted.
2022 (Freshman): Her first season with the Bears … Dealt with injury for the first part of the season … Saw action in three sets across two matches.
High School: Bri grew up in San Diego, CA where she played volleyball since the age of 10 at Southern California’s top two clubs; Wave and Coast. She played on their 1s teams every year with the exception of 11s & 14s, when she played on the 2s. Her teams always played in the highest divisions at the USA National Championships, placing 1st in the National division on her 13-1s team and 5th in the Open division on her 15-1s team. Bri has been trained by top club coaches and was privileged to train closely in her high school years with Fiapo Guilherme Tenius, (7x Olympic medalist coach for Brazil, US & Canada). She graduated from Santa Fe Christian School in 2022. In high school, she was First Team All-League, won second place in Division I, named Varsity Invitational Classic All-Tournament Team, and was Team Captain… In 2019 she and her team finished third in the Coastal League and second in DI postseason; in 2021, they finished second in the league and sixth in DI Postseason … Bri was named National Honors Society, Principal’s Honor Roll, California Scholarship Federation Gold Seal Bearer and an Academic Letterwinner. In addition, she was a member of Fellowship of Christian Athletes while dedicating a lot of her time to volunteering.
Personal: First name is Brianna but goes by “Bri” … Daughter of Monica and Robb Denney … Father, Robb, played rugby at the national level for the Old Mission Beach Athletic Club (OMBAC) on their Super League Team. She has one older brother, Colin, who played baseball at Biola University his freshman year, as a catcher, then graduated from Liberty University after transferring and is now an Investment Advisor in Tampa, FL.
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Gray’s Creek’s Taylor Baggett’s senior season was one for the record books.
The Bears’ outside hitter and defensive specialist capped her high school career with a dominant final season that helped Gray’s Creek get to put together a ground-breaking year as the first high school volleyball team in school and county history to make it to an NCHSAA Final Four.
CLEVELAND, Ohio – St. Olaf College recorded its second-highest-ever finish in the fall standings of the Learfield Directors’ Cup by placing 15th out of 429 NCAA Division III institutions, as the standings were announced on Tuesday by the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA).
St. Olaf accumulated 241.0 points – its second-highest total ever in the fall – to rank 15th out of the 178 NCAA Division III institutions who earned points this fall. The initial release of the standings included all of the fall results except for the championship game of the NCAA Division III Football Championship. Neither of the institutions competing in the football title game can surpass St. Olaf regardless of the outcome of that game.
The Learfield Directors’ Cup is a program that honors institutions maintaining a broad-based athletics program, awarding points based on each institution’s national finishes in the NCAA Championships. This fall, St. Olaf’s men’s cross country, women’s cross country, men’s soccer, and women’s volleyball teams contributed to St. Olaf’s point total.
Men’s soccer earned 83 points by advancing to the national semifinals for the second time in program history. Men’s cross country collected 63 points thanks to its 13th-place finish at the NCAA Division III Cross Country Championships. Volleyball added 50 points with its second-round appearance in the NCAA Division III Women’s Volleyball Championship, while women’s cross country picked up 45 points after placing 29th nationally.
This year marked the sixth consecutive fall that St. Olaf has finished among the top 30 institutions in NCAA Division III, with the 15th-place finish being one spot shy of the t-14th finish in 1996-97 for the highest in school history. It was also St. Olaf’s sixth top-20 and eighth top-25 fall finish in the history of the Learfield Directors’ Cup, which first included NCAA Division III in 1995-96.
