GREENSBORO, NC — Lander’s Grant Sherrod and North Georgia’s Andrews Opata were named All-Americans by the American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA). Sherrod was named a second-team All-American with Opata named third team. The organization also released its All-Region teams.

Opata earns his second All-America honor this week after being recognized by the D2CCA on Wednesday. Opata finished the regular season ranked fifth nationally in runs (87) and hits (96). Both marks rank as the third-most single season totals in program history in their respective categories. He also ended the year ranked ninth in NCAA Division II in stolen bases with 42 swipes on the year, which ranks as the second-most in a single season in program history. 

A hitting machine with a regular-season batting average of .380, Opata led the team with 31 multi-hit games this year. A menace for opposing pitchers, the Lawrenceville, Ga. native also ranked second on the team in on-base percentage (.450) and slugging (.574).

Opata had 15 multi-RBI games this season which also ranked second on the team. His 62 RBIs ranked among the top 65 hitters nationally. 

The center fielder smacked a career-high 11 home runs in 2025 as well.

Sherrod, a redshirt senior and the Peach Belt Conference’s batting champion, capped off his final collegiate season with a .408 average. He led the Bearcats with 97 hits, 19 doubles, 11 home runs, and 76 RBIs, while compiling a .626 slugging percentage and a .496 on-base percentage—both among the top marks in the region. He finished second in the country in total hits, ninth in hits per game at 1.70, and ranked 38th nationally in batting average. His 1.33 RBIs per game were also good for 23rd in the nation. The Sumner, Washington native was previously honored as the NCBWA Southeast Region Player of the Week on March 10 and now advances to the ABCA All-American ballot.

 

Attendees of this year’s Thomas Lonsbury Scholarship Event in support of J. Warren McClure School of Emerging Communication Technologies students can take part in the traditional golf scramble, but also have the option of participate in a Mario Kart Tournament in the McClure School Esports Arena. 

This is the 23rd year for the event, which was started in 2002 by Thomas Lonsbury, a passionate golfer who was a member of the McClure School advisory board. This year’s event will be held on Sept. 18 and 19. Lonsbury chaired the event until his death in 2012. That year’s tournament was the first to be called the Lonsbury Memorial Scholarship Golf Classic.

“The event has been quite successful in its mission to raise money for scholarships,” said Event Manager and Adjunct Professor Jim Gay. “The events have also attracted many alumni, board members, faculty, students and friends to connect, allowing lasting contacts among Bobcats and friends to be established. We are very fortunate to have a committee of faculty and board members working to plan the 2025 event.”

Event schedule

Thursday, Sept. 18

Welcome banquet

• 5:30-8:30 p.m., Jackie O’s Taproom and Brewery, 25 Campbell Street, Athens
• Event also includes a silent auction

Friday, Sept. 19

Golf outing

• 8:30 a.m. Registration opens
  • Athens Country Club, 7606 Country Club Road 94220, Athens
• 9:45 a.m. Pictures
• 10 a.m. Tournament shotgun start
• 11 a.m. Lunch
  • Open to non-golfers as well
• 2:30-4 p.m. 19th Hole Social and Awards

Ohio University Grand Prix

• 6-8 p.m. Ohio University Grand Prix only (Mario Kart 8 Tournament)
  • Esports room in Scripps Hall

Supporting OHIO students

Last year, 45 people attended the formal dinner and 60 people participated in the golf outing, raising roughly $25,000. 

“In total, the Lonsbury Event has been held 22 times,” said Gay. “It has raised $360,000 for scholarships for McClure School students and has allowed 66 scholarships to be awarded.”

The J. Warren McClure School Advisory Board Thomas Lonsbury Scholarship is available to McClure School students who are active in the field of voice/data networks, have a minimum 3.25 GPA, and have completed at least 12 credit hours in the major.

If you are interested in sponsoring this year’s event, email Jim Gay. 

The McClure School of Emerging Communication Technologies strives to offer the best academic programs in the IT (information technology), game development and virtual reality/augmented reality (VR/AR) industries. The school’s programs and certificates cover numerous aspects of the rapidly changing industries of information networking, cybersecurity, data privacy, game development, digital animation and the academic side of esports.

To make a donation to the Thomas Lonsbury Scholarship, visit this link.

The second annual esports national signing day launched on Friday, with students from the class of 2025 announcing their future plans in the growing competitive-gaming space.

As part of the event, PlayVS and USA TODAY High School Sports—which first partnered in 2022 and since launched the first-ever Super 25 esports rankings—helped celebrate the reveal of several talented students heading to the collegiate level.

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From standouts in “Overwatch 2” and “Super Smash Bros” to “Street Fighter” and “Valorant,” here are a few of the notable commitments from the day:

Northwest Missouri State University is again offering youth an opportunity to play video games with peers during two esports summer camps in July on the University campus.

Northwest will host an Esports day camp for middle school and high school students from Monday, July 14, through Friday, July 18; camp sessions are 9 to 11:30 a.m. each day in the Esports Lab at the J.W. Jones Student Union, and the cost is $75 per person.

The University also will host an overnight camp, beginning with check-in at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, July 23, and ending at 11 a.m. Friday, July 25; the cost is $160 per person. The overnight camp provides participants with an opportunity to experience campus residence halls and dining services while developing skills needed to be recruited as an esports athlete. 

During both camps, attending boys and girls will participate in fun, team-oriented gaming activities while learning skills related to communication, team development, problem-solving and best online practices.

“It gives students a great opportunity to connect with like-minded peers,” Andrew Murphy, Northwest’s esports director, said. “The issue sometimes with gaming is that when you’re playing from home, it’s really hard to connect with people, even if you’re playing with people online. The camp offers an opportunity to play games together and do things together.”

Click here to register for esports summer camps at Northwest.

To learn more about esports at Northwest, call 660.562.1759, email esports@nwmissouri.edu or visit www.nwmissouri.edu/esports/.

Octoplay has taken a significant step forward in its European expansion strategy with the announcement of a new partnership with Danske Spil, Denmark’s state-owned gambling giant. The agreement will bring Octoplay’s entire catalog of high-performance gaming content to one of the most influential operators in the Danish market, reinforcing the developer’s standing across the Nordic region.

Danske Spil Integration Marks Key Regional Milestone

The collaboration marks another pivotal achievement for Octoplay as it continues to cement its role within Europe’s regulated gaming landscape. With the addition of Danske Spil to its roster of partners, Octoplay is making its full portfolio available to Danish players—though the specific launch date for its titles on the platform has not yet been disclosed.

Ralitsa Georgieva, Director of Business Development at Octoplay, highlighted the strategic importance of the deal: “Partnering with Danske Spil, Denmark’s most established and trusted gaming brand, represents a significant milestone in our European expansion. This aligns perfectly with our approach of securing direct partnerships with leading operators in each market we enter. With their deep roots and nationwide recognition, Danske Spil provides an exceptional platform to showcase our premium content to Danish players.”

Danske Spil now joins a growing list of state-backed and market-leading operators across Europe that have integrated Octoplay’s games, further demonstrating the demand for its content.

Strengthening Presence in Regulated European Markets

The deal with Danske Spil follows a string of notable partnerships that have driven Octoplay’s European growth. These include collaborations with Sweden’s government-run Svenska Spel, Dutch heavyweight JACKS.NL, and UK-based Rank Group. Earlier this year, Octoplay also signed a supply agreement with JOI Gaming to deepen its footprint in the Netherlands.

Simon Hoffmann Riis, Senior Games & Analytics Manager at Danske Spil, welcomed the new relationship: “We are delighted to welcome Octoplay as a trusted partner whose premium portfolio has consistently proven itself across European markets. Their data-driven approach to creating quality content aligns perfectly with our commitment to offering Danish players the most engaging and responsible entertainment experience possible.”

Momentum Driven by Rapid Expansion and Market Strategy

With gaming licenses in 10 regulated European markets—including the UK, Malta, Sweden, Italy, Romania, and Belgium—Octoplay has been actively expanding its reach. The company has averaged five new integrations per month throughout 2024 and concluded commercial agreements with more than 80 operators.

This steady pace of growth in Europe complements Octoplay’s efforts in North America. The company recently secured provisional licenses in Michigan and New Jersey, marking its entry into the U.S. regulated market. By pursuing parallel growth across both continents, Octoplay continues to demonstrate its commitment to building a strong presence through direct partnerships and consistent game innovation.

The Danske Spil deal serves not only as a testament to Octoplay’s rising profile but also as a key move in its broader international expansion strategy.

Source:

“Octoplay secures a partnership with Danske Spil in Denmark, Expanding Nordic Market Presence”, Press Release. May 28, 2025

The deal will further enhance BGaming’s position as one of the leading game providers in the Latin American market. Betcris is a pioneer within the region, owning over 100 walk-in shops and providing its online casino platform worldwide. 

The operator, best known for its sports betting service, has been in business since 2006, demonstrating a clear understanding of the demands of Latin American players.

Betcris customers will now have instant access to BGaming’s dynamic slot portfolio, which includes titles like Wild Cash X9990, Wild West Trueways, Alien Fruits, and more. 

Following the certification of its games for the Brazilian market in January, BGaming has established strategic partnerships with key LatAm operators such as Pixbet, PlayGreen, and Timeless Tech.

Olga Levshina, Chief Commercial Officer at BGaming, said: “Latin America is a major focus for BGaming in 2025, and by partnering with industry-leading operators like Betcris, we can cement our position as one of the most creative content providers in the region. 

Betcris is one of the most respected names in Latin America, and this partnership is a statement of intent for our ambitions on the continent.” 

Diana Navarro, Casino Coordinator at Betcris, commented: “At Betcris, we are always looking to partner with the best new names in the region. BGaming is a developer that has been on our radar for some time, and it has already made waves within LatAm. We can’t wait to join them on their journey and see how our players react to their titles.”

BGaming is a fast-growing iGaming content provider converting gambling into gaming. Thanks to an expert team and a player-driven approach, the studio creates innovative and engaging products featured on reputable platforms and 2,000+ online casinos worldwide.

The company is the world’s first to support cryptocurrencies and offer Provably Fair games. Today the brand’s portfolio includes 200+ products with HD graphics and a clear user interface for every device. The studio is also known for its brand exclusives created in partnerships with leading operators in the industry.

Source: GMB