Sports

Four White Sox minor

Published

4 weeks ago

May 16, 2025

Pope Leo XIV may have been the good-luck charm the Chicago White Sox needed to kick-start their road to 42 (maybe 45?) wins, but most of their minor league affiliates haven’t needed any help. The Birmingham Barons, Kannapolis Cannon Ballers and Charlotte Knights are all hovering around .500, with the Barons atop their division. The only team that’s floundering is the Winston-Salem Dash, which broke camp with possibly the weakest talent (per Top 30 prospects, at least) in all the system. Given the uncommonly decent starts in the system (even if the overall minors record packs more losses than wins), let’s shine the spotlight on a few guys who have been outstanding so far.

Dan Altavilla, Charlotte Knights

Altavilla stands out among the rest of the team in North Carolina. As one of the few relievers who has been effective throughout the entire season, Altavilla has proven to be a reliable reliever. He has a 2.79 ERA and 1.29 WHIP over 19 ⅓ innings, with 18 strikeouts and six saves in his 17 appearances. Despite the presence of more logical candidates to finish games (Adisyn Coffey, Eric Adler, Keone Kela), Altavilla has been the club’s closer from the jump. Outside of a three-run outing against Nashville, Altavilla has only allowed three earned runs.

Altavilla is on the short list of promotion-worthy guys still in Triple-A. Ignore that he had an embarrassing 14.73 ERA last year with the Royals: Altavilla is the best reliever in Charlotte right now, and the Sox are hurting for bullpen pitchers who don’t allow runs.

William Bergolla, Birmingham Barons

There are a lot of noteworthy players in Birmingham, but Bergolla has been the best guy in the lineup. He has a .294 batting average with 16 runs and 12 stolen bases in 15 attempts. Bergolla’s biggest plus is that he has a keen eye and puts the bat on the ball consistently. He’s only struck out 11 times in 109 at-bats. What he lacks in power, he certainly makes up for in contact.

Bergolla is only 20, and he’s batting like a top-notch player. He’s got another year left in the minors until he’s expected to be called up, but he’ll surely be promoted to Triple-A in the second half of the season. Not a bad return in a trade for … Tanner Banks.

Hagen Smith, Birmingham Barons

The hype for Smith never seems to end, and that’s because he hasn’t given anyone a reason to doubt him. Over seven starts, Smith has a 2.10 ERA and 1.21 WHIP in 25 ⅔ innings. He also leads the Barons pitching staff with 42 strikeouts this season, which includes a career-best 10 strikeouts in his first start of the season.

Smith hasn’t disappointed as MLB’s No. 3 prospect (No. 2 South Side Sox prospect) in Chicago’s farm system. The White Sox are going to cap Smith’s workload in 2025, but like Bergolla Smith could get a taste of Triple-A before the season ends.

Braden Montgomery, Winston-Salem Dash

Montgomery has been crushing it the entire season. After slashing .304/.393/.493 with 19 RBIs in just 18 Low-A games, Montgomery leapt to High-A. Since the end of April, his output has only improved. He is now slashing .365/.452/.712 with four home runs and 13 RBIs in 13 games with the Dash.

Between his power hitting and defensive strength (center field speed, right field arm), Montgomery is quickly becoming a fan favorite who Sox fans are cheering for in the minors. He almost assuredly will play for three affiliate teams, with a promotion to Birmingham, if he keeps up this level of hitting.

Sports

Rabbit Barnes Named SCAC Men’s Track Athlete of the Year

Story Links After winning a pair of conference titles and earning his first All-America honor, Colorado College rising senior Rabbit Barnes was named the Men’s Track Athlete of the Year for the 2025 season by the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference (SCAC). Barnes, from Los Olivos, Calif., became Colorado College’s fifth male […]

Published

4 minutes ago

June 12, 2025

Your Sports Nation

After winning a pair of conference titles and earning his first All-America honor, Colorado College rising senior Rabbit Barnes was named the Men’s Track Athlete of the Year for the 2025 season by the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference (SCAC).

Barnes, from Los Olivos, Calif., became Colorado College’s fifth male track athlete to earn All-America honors with a fourth-place finish in the 1,500-meter final at the 2025 NCAA Division III Outdoor Track and Field Championships. Barnes finished the race in 3:50.01, just 1.26 seconds behind the champion.

At the 2025 SCAC Track and Field Championships, Barnes captured a pair of titles, the 800 and 1500, becoming just the first male in league history to win both races at the same SCAC meet twice (won both as a sophomore in 2024). He is the fourth male in SCAC history to win at least three 1,500-meter titles and his time of 1:51.31 in the 800 final was the fastest in SCAC championship meet history.

Barnes is the third Colorado College male to earn the SCAC Track Athlete of the Year honor, joining Josh Fry (2021) and James Settles (2023 and ’24). Additionally, Barnes was named SCAC Men’s Track & Field Elite 19 Award recipient for 2025.

“Rabbit had a breakout year and is very deserving of this honor,” head coach Katie Bretscher said. “Throughout the season, he demonstrated his versatility by running the 400, 800 and 1500 at a high level. He thrived at the championship competitions this season.”

Barnes set the school record in the 800 (1:49.08) and 1,500 (3:49.04) as well as a member of the 4×400 relay team (3:15.81) this season.

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Sports

Twelve Athletes Selected for Boys U19 World Championship Roster

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (June 12, 2025) – USA Volleyball has selected 12 members of the 2025 Boys U19 National Team to compete at the FIVB U19 World Championship, July 24-Aug. 3, in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. The 12 athletes were chosen from the 28 who participated in a training block June 1-7 at the National Team Training […]

Published

5 minutes ago

June 12, 2025

Your Sports Nation

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (June 12, 2025) – USA Volleyball has selected 12 members of the 2025 Boys U19 National Team to compete at the FIVB U19 World Championship, July 24-Aug. 3, in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.

The 12 athletes were chosen from the 28 who participated in a training block June 1-7 at the National Team Training Center in Anaheim, Calif. The World Championship participants will also attend a training block in Colorado Springs from July 12-17, followed by a European training block in Madrid, Spain, July 18-21.

The World Championship will feature 24 teams divided into six pools, and after the conclusion of pool play, the best four teams in each pool advance. The U.S. will be in a pool with Korea, Brazil, Colombia, Cuba and Finland. The 2023 Boys U19 Team finished fourth at the World Championship, its best finish ever.

Seven athletes return from the Boys U19 National Team that won gold at the 2024 NORCECA Continental Championship: libero Layton Bluth, outside hitters Grant Lamoureux and Aleksey Mikhailenko, middle blockers Roman Payne and Luc Soerensen, and setter Rafa Urbina. Newcomers are outside hitters Noah Douphner and Elan Taylor, opposite William Dryden, setter Lucas Helle and middle blocker Tommy Henige.

Springfield College men’s head coach Charlie Sullivan will lead the team at Worlds, assisted by Jonah Carson (Mountain View Volleyball Club) and Pat Shawaryn (Penn State).

“We are so excited to bring this group to the world championships in Uzbekistan,” Sullivan said. “They have worked really well together. They’re great people, and for them to have the opportunity to play the best competition in the world, it’s going to be a great learning experience.”

2025 Boys U19 National Team World Championship Roster

Name (Pos., Ht., Hometown, School, USAV Region)
1 Layton Bluth (L, 5-8, Gilbert, Ariz., Casteel HS, Northern California)
4 Lucas Helle (S, 6-4, Pauline, S.C., Dorman HS, Palmetto)
5 Elan Taylor (OH, 6-4, San Jose, Calif., Valley Christian HS, Northern California)
8 Myles Jordan (OH, 6-5, Houston, Texas, Ridge Point HS, Lonestar)
10 Noah Douphner (OH, 6-6, Stevenson Ranch, Calif., West Ranch HS, Southern California)
12 Rafael Urbina (S, 6-6, Broomfield, Colo., Legacy HS, Rocky Mountain)
14 Aleksey Mikhailenko (OH, 6-8, Mequon, Wis., Homestead HS, Badger)
16 Luc Soerensen (MB, 6-8, Meadville, Pa., Meadville Area Senior HS, Keystone)
19 Roman Payne (MB, 7-0, Carlsbad, Calif., Carlsbad HS, Southern California)
20 Grant Lamoureux (OH, 6-10, Clemmons, N.C., Pepperdine University, Carolina)
21 William Dryden (OPP, 6-7, Los Gatos, Calif., Archbishop Mitty HS, Northern California)
28 Thomas Henige (MB, 6-9, Glendale, Ariz., Perry HS, Arizona)

Coaches

Head Coach: Charlie Sullivan (Springfield College)
Assistant Coach: Jonah Carson (MVVC)
Assistant Coach: Patrick Shawaryn (Penn State)
Performance Analyst: AJ Ruttenberg (UCLA)
Team Doctor: Dr. Chris Cornell (Coduhi Clinic)
Team Lead: Donovan Martinez (NTDP)

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Sports

Crestview and Baker unveil 2025 volleyball schedules

Crestview and Baker unveil 2025 volleyball schedules | Crestview News Bulletin Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility Home Sports Crestview and Baker unveil 2025 volleyball schedules Thank you for supporting journalism at your local newspaper. This article is available exclusively for our subscribers, who help fund our work at Crestview News […]

Published

24 minutes ago

June 12, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Crestview and Baker unveil 2025 volleyball schedules | Crestview News Bulletin

Thank you for supporting journalism at your local newspaper. This article is available exclusively for our subscribers, who help fund our work at Crestview News Bulletin.

Sports

Both the Crestview and Baker volleyball programs have unveiled their 2025 volleyball schedules.

The Gators open their season with a road match against Freeport on Aug. 26 before back-to-back home games against Northview and Choctaw.

Carleigh Krumnow and the Gators are looking to get back to the state final four.

The remainder of this article is available only for our website subscribers, who help fund our mission of keeping you updated on news you want and need to know. You can become a subscriber for as little as $5.67 a month.

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Windermere High welcomes new volleyball coach

Windermere High welcomed a new girls’ volleyball head coach. Jadyn Russ, a native to Florida, accepted the role as head coach beginning this summer. Windermere High is holding a meet-and-greet event on Monday, June 16, in the gym of the high school from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. The meet-and-greet will include information about summer […]

Published

45 minutes ago

June 12, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Windermere High welcomed a new girls’ volleyball head coach.

Jadyn Russ, a native to Florida, accepted the role as head coach beginning this summer.

Windermere High is holding a meet-and-greet event on Monday, June 16, in the gym of the high school from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m.

The meet-and-greet will include information about summer workouts, tryouts, athletic clearance and more.

The meeting is for students only, though a parent meeting also will be scheduled once tryouts are complete.

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Sports

Women’s Basketball Adds McKinley Kruger for 2025-26

Story Links OTTAWA, Kan. – The Ottawa University women’s basketball program is pleased to announce the signing of McKinley Kruger for the 2025-26 season. She is from Silver Lake, Kan. and is a transfer from Washburn University where she was a member of the Ichabods softball team. Kruger attended Silver Lake […]

Published

51 minutes ago

June 12, 2025

Your Sports Nation

OTTAWA, Kan. – The Ottawa University women’s basketball program is pleased to announce the signing of McKinley Kruger for the 2025-26 season. She is from Silver Lake, Kan. and is a transfer from Washburn University where she was a member of the Ichabods softball team. Kruger attended Silver Lake High School.

As a member of the Washburn University softball team, Kruger appeared in nine games. She hit .500, scored two runs, had a .500 slugging percentage, and tallied one assist.

Kruger lettered in basketball, volleyball, softball, and golf at Silver Lake High School. She was a member of the Student Council and the National Honor Society. In 2024, she helped the Eagles to a Kansas Girls Basketball 3A State Championship with a record of 26-0 and a second place finish at the Kansas Softball 3A State Tournament. Kruger helped SLHS to a finish fourth at the 2023 Kansas Girls Basketball 3A Tournament and a third place finish at the 2022 Kansas Girls Basketball 3A Tournament. She led the softball team to a second place finish at the 2021 Kansas Softball 3A State Tournament.

Kruger played the 2024 KBCA All-Star Game and the NEK All-Star Game. She averaged 15.5 points, 3.5 assists, and 1.5 steals per game. Kruger is fourth on the SLHS all-time scoring list (1,272 points) and shot 50 percent from behind the 3-pt line, making 80 3-pt field goals her senior season.

“We are so excited that McKinley is joining our program,” said OU head women’s basketball coach Hunter Bondurant. “Her high school accolades speak for themselves having helped Silver Lake win a state championship and being selected to the all-state team multiple times. She brings a year of college athletic experience with her which will help our program both on and off the court!”

Kruger is the daughter of Teuka and Shannon Kruger and plans to major in biology. She played travel ball for Southwest Elite under coach Dylan Evans.

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Sports

Long Beach State Men’s Water Polo Players Will Compete For Five Different Nations At The World Aquatics Men’s U20 Water Polo Championships

Published

57 minutes ago

June 12, 2025

Your Sports Nation

6/12/2025 8:30:00 AM | Men’s Water Polo LONG BEACH, Calif. – Long Beach State will be represented by five players at the World Aquatics Men’s U20 Water Polo Championship, held in Zagreb, Croatia, at the legendary pool of SP Mladost from June 14 to June 21. Artur Diaz is set to represent the Brazilian National Team during the tournament, while Ash Keshvara will play for the New Zealand team. Harper Stewart will play for Australia, and Corbin Stanley will once again represent Team USA. Incoming freshman Zalán Nagy will represent Hungary before arriving at the Beach. Nagy was part of the…

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