Sports
Jordie Barrett lifts lid on Rieko Ioane's controversial Leinster switch
Rieko Ioane spoke with Jordie Barrett before making the decision to controversially join Leinster next season, according to the All Blacks inside centre. Ioane will make the move to the Irish province after New Zealand’s end-of-year tour, following in the footsteps of his international team-mate. Barrett used his sabbatical to sign for Leinster on a […]


Rieko Ioane spoke with Jordie Barrett before making the decision to controversially join Leinster next season, according to the All Blacks inside centre.
Ioane will make the move to the Irish province after New Zealand’s end-of-year tour, following in the footsteps of his international team-mate.
Barrett used his sabbatical to sign for Leinster on a six-month deal and he has already made a significant impression for the Dublin-based outfit.
Jordie Barrett’s replacement
He will leave at the end of the current northern hemisphere campaign, but the centre will effectively be replaced by another classy midfielder in 2025/26.
It is a surprising switch given Ioane’s history with Irish rugby and his long-running feud with Leinster’s favourite son, Johnny Sexton, following an incident in the aftermath of the 2023 Rugby World Cup quarter-final.
The Blues star therefore sought advice from Barrett before making his decision to sign for the Irish side.
“He sounded me out about 10 days ago and just asked a few questions,” Barrett told Newstalk ZB.
“He didn’t say a whole lot, so I didn’t get a good inkling of where his head or heart was, but look, I woke up on my day off and the news had dropped on my phone.
“It gave me 24 hours without having a barrage of questions at training the morning I went in there, so I got all of them yesterday (Thursday).
“He’ll go great. It’s a great place to develop and he’ll see a lot of improvements up here as a player, and get out of his comfort zone in Auckland and the Blues and [it’s] a chance to grow.
“I think it’s a great challenge for him.”
Israel Dagg thought Rieko Ioane deal was an ‘April Fool’ after X-rated outburst from Leinster’s ‘favourite son’
Usually, current All Blacks take their sabbaticals in Japan but Barrett decided on Leinster and it appears to have benefited all parties.
For the Irish province, they have got a world-class player in the quest to end their silverware drought, while New Zealand could be receiving an improved version of the 28-year-old when he returns home ahead of the mid-year series.
‘Growing my game’
“I reserve that judgment for people watching on the telly, but I feel like I’m growing my game,” Barrett said.
“It was a challenge to come up here, become familiar with another system and different coaches and players in a different culture and environment.
“I feel like my rugby’s improving, which is nice, and, it’s neverending, like any footy player just wants to improve, and I feel like I’m making slight improvements.
“Hopefully we give ourselves another chance and earn the right to make a European final in a few weeks’ time and then push deep into the URC competition.”
Barrett also revealed that All Blacks boss Scott Robertson has kept in touch while one of his star players has been over in Ireland.
“Razor has sent the odd text, which is nice, and it shows he’s keeping an eye on things, and so have the other coaches. Just touching base and making sure things are tracking well and that I’m healthy and playing good footy,” he added.
“I feel like I’ll be ready to go and hopefully take some form into an All Blacks jersey, which is the main reason why I wanted to come up here in the first place.”
READ MORE: Rieko Ioane move exposes New Zealand’s ‘weird obsession’ with Ireland as All Blacks great makes Leinster promise
Sports
Where Is ‘The Summer I Turned Pretty’ House? All About the Filming Locations
NEED TO KNOW The Summer I Turned Pretty was filmed in Wilmington, N.C. The Fisher family beach house is in a private, gated golf course community in Wilmington Season 3 of the hit Amazon Prime Video series premiered on July 16 If The Summer I Turned Pretty leaves you longing for a beach getaway, there’s […]

NEED TO KNOW
- The Summer I Turned Pretty was filmed in Wilmington, N.C.
- The Fisher family beach house is in a private, gated golf course community in Wilmington
- Season 3 of the hit Amazon Prime Video series premiered on July 16
If The Summer I Turned Pretty leaves you longing for a beach getaway, there’s good news: Many of its filming locations are places that fans can actually visit.
Based on the bestselling book trilogy by Jenny Han, the Prime Video series follows Isabel “Belly” Conklin (Lola Tung), who spends summers at Cousins Beach and finds herself torn between brothers Conrad (Christopher Briney) and Jeremiah (Gavin Casalegno).
Ahead of the third and final season, which premiered on July 16, Tung told Teen Vogue that fans have become consumed by who her character will ultimately end up with.
“When people have an attachment to the characters, they want to see it come together at the end. I’m so grateful that they care so much, but people get a little scary about it,” she said.
Though Cousins Beach and Belly’s love triangle exist only in fiction, The Summer I Turned Pretty was shot around Wilmington, N.C., plus nearby beaches like Carolina Beach, Kure Beach and Wrightsville Beach.
Here’s everything to know about the Summer I Turned Pretty filming locations, including where the real Fisher family home can be found.
The gas station
Amazon Prime Video
In the show’s pilot, Belly visits a nearby gas station as the family grabs snacks and drinks before arriving at the Fisher family home.
The gas station is located in Wilmington. It was also featured in the Netflix film, Along for the Ride, which is based on Sarah Dessen’s novel of the same name. Both Dessen and Han attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Cousins Beach
Amazon Prime Video
In the book, Cousins Beach was written to be in the Cape Cod area, but for the show, the beach was filmed all around Wilmington and its surrounding beaches.
However, the scene where the “Entering Cousins Beach” sign is shown is not in Wilmington, but instead in the nearby town of Southport. More specifically, it’s near the Wilmington Cape Fear Pilots Association’s old lookout tower.
Dana Hawley/Prime Video
For the filming of the beach and bonfire scenes, the show shot at various locations at Carolina Beach, Kure Beach and Fort Fisher. Most of the night beach shots were at Fort Fisher State Recreation Area, while the path Belly and Jeremiah take from the summer house to the beach in season 1 was filmed at Wrightsville Beach.
“That’s the one with the seashells hanging in it,” location manager Lindsay Fort told PEOPLE. “It has that really pretty romantic vibe that they run down that path.”
Amazon Prime Video
In season 1, episode 3, Belly and Taylor (Rain Spencer) take a walk along the beach near the pier. This particular scene was filmed near the Crystal Pier at the south end of Wrightsville Beach.
Fort told PEOPLE that the iconic scene where Belly and Conrad kiss in the season 1 finale was also filmed at Wrightsville Beach.
Peter Taylor/Prime Video
In season 1, episode 5, Belly and Cam (David Iacono) are seen cycling on the sidewalk right along the beach. This is was shot right near the 1921 Fort Fisher Monument, outside of the parking lot.
Season 2 was filmed at many of the same beaches as season 1. The iconic snow scene between Belly and Conrad was filmed at Fort Fisher State Recreation Area as Wrightsville Beach, which had specific restrictions about the fake snow.
Courtesy of Prime Video
“They have a lot of rules there as far as what you can put on the beach so we had to move that to Fort Fisher to be able to make it snow,” Fort said. “Of course, that was filmed in the middle of summer, so we had to make it look dead.”
The Fisher family’s beach house
Amazon Prime Video/Youtube
The beach house belonging to the Fisher family is located at Porters Neck Plantation, a private, gated golf course community in Wilmington. The home was the filming location for many exterior shots on the show, including when Belly arrives at the house and when the family hosts a backyard party for the Fourth of July.
However, many of the interior shots, including that enviable kitchen, were filmed on sound stages at Screen Gems Studio in Wilmington.
The real home boasts five bedrooms and six bathrooms, an infinity swimming pool, a private dock, a pier and a 33-foot boat slip. As the home is a private residence, fans cannot visit it.
When selecting the iconic Fisher home, Fort told PEOPLE they had several stipulations, including making sure it had a pool, was on the water and adhered to “the romantic Cape Cod vibe.”
“It had to have that cedar shake on it because [Han] wanted that Cape Cod Northeast look,” Fort explained.
Additionally, Fort said they had to remove several palm trees from the summer house and add a “bunch of hydrangeas,” as they are Laurel (Jackie Chung)’s favorite flower.
“Our character Susannah [Rachel Blanchard] loves to garden, and there are always fresh flowers throughout the house,” Teresa Mastropierro, the production designer for season 1, told House Beautiful in July 2025. “Our greens department literally transformed the landscape around the house. I think we bought every last hydrangea plant in the state.”
The country club
Peter Taylor/Prime Video
The Cousins Beach Country Club — where Jeremiah and Steven (Sean Kaufman) work — is actually the Cape Fear Country Club.
Founded in 1896, Cape Fear Country Club is the oldest private club in North Carolina and features an 18-hole golf course. Since the country club is members only, they don’t encourage visitors, however, you can catch a quick glimpse of it as you drive by.
Though some interior shots were filmed there as well, the actual debutante ball was filmed inside St. Mary Catholic School in Wilmington.
The bookstore
Amazon Prime Video
In season 1, episode 2, Laurel has a book party at Whale of a Tale Bookshop. Many of the exterior shots took place at Papercut Books, which is located in downtown Wilmington.
The small independent bookstore specializes in “new and lightly used books as well as collectible vintage books,” per their website.
The boutique
Amazon Prime Video/Youtube
In season 1, episode 2, Belly goes shopping at a boutique with Laurel and Susannah. However, the scene was actually shot at two different locations.
The exterior shots were filmed at Blush Haus of Beauté, located at Wilmington shopping mall Lumina Station. Local dress shop Camille’s of Wilmington — which sells everything from wedding gowns to formal dresses — served as the setting for the interior shots.
The marina
Amazon Prime Video
In season 1, episode 3, Conrad teaches author Cleveland Castillo (Alfredo Narciso) a thing or two about sailing. These scenes were filmed at the Cape Fear Marina near the Hilton Drawbridge in Wilmington.
However, as it’s a gated marina, it is limited to residential and recreational boat use and not easily accessible to visitors.
The bus station
Peter Taylor/Prime Video
In season 1, episode 3, Belly and Jeremiah head to the bus station to pick up her best friend Taylor.
The scene was filmed at Padgett Station in Wilmington, which is easily accessible to visit and snap a quick photo.
Laurel and Susannah’s bar
Amazon Prime Video
In season 1, episode 5, Laurel and Susannah decide to stop at a local bar called The Fat Pelican. While the series makes it seem like the bar is located on the beach, the real Fat Pelican is located just outside the boardwalk in Carolina Beach.
The bar was also the location for Kygo’s “Hot Stuff” music video.
The volleyball court
Peter Taylor/Prime Video
In season 1, episode 6, Belly and the rest of the debutantes host a volleyball tournament to raise money for charity. The volleyball court was filmed at Capt’n Bill’s Backyard Grill & Volleyball Facility in Wilmington, which features 10 different courts and offers leagues for all levels.
Fort noted that they chose the facility because the actual beach could have had too much wind.
“Mother Nature is not always on our side, so Capt’n Bill’s was just the perfect spot to make it look like we were on the beach,” she said. “So you’ll notice a bunch of banners hanging up in the background. That’s just to cover the movie theater just so we can make it look like it was on the beach.”
The pie stand
Courtesy of Prime Video
The pie stand where Belly and Jeremiah make a pit stop during their road trip was filmed at Old River Farms in Burgaw, a rep for Film NC confirmed to PEOPLE.
Belly’s prom
Amazon
Belly and Conrad’s prom scene in season 2 filmed at Porters Neck Country Club in Wilmington.
The boardwalk
Amazon Prime Video
In season 2, episode 4, Belly, Jeremiah and the gang head to the boardwalk. For this episode, the show actually used two different locations: the Carolina Beach Boardwalk for the exterior shots and Jungle Rapids Family Fun Park for the interior ones.
Fort told PEOPLE this was one of the most difficult scenes to film in season 2 as they dealt with unruly weather. “The weather was not on our side. It was very difficult,” Fort explained.
She added that they also had to deal with crowd control, as lots of fans flocked to the set hoping to get a glimpse of filming.
“It was so crazy,” she said. “We did have to implement having set security on season 2 because everybody is super excited to be a part of it. We didn’t want it leaked either because it’s such an iconic scene that we were excited for everybody to see.”
Brown University
Erika Doss/Prime Video
Season 2 includes several scenes at Brown University — but those were actually filmed locally at the University of North Carolina Wilmington.
“It just had that feel that Jenny was looking for,” Fort told PEOPLE.
Fort added that they actually considered filming a scene at Han’s alma mater, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, but “with COVID and timing, it just didn’t work out.”
Laurel’s book club
Amazon Prime Video
In season 2, Laurel hits a bar for a number of book club scenes, which were filmed at Hell’s Kitchen in downtown Wilmington, the eatery confirmed to PEOPLE.
Hell’s Kitchen has a long history with N.C. filming as it was used as the bar where Joey and Eddie worked in season 6 of Dawson’s Creek.
“Hell’s Kitchen has a strong connection to the film industry,” the bar’s owner Eric Laut told PEOPLE. “Originally a film stage for Dawson’s Creek, Hell’s Kitchen has hosted many film sets, from One Tree Hill to Florida Man, Electric Love and more recently The Summer I Turned Pretty.”
Laut added, “In The Summer I Turned Pretty, the artists and production staff transformed the stage at Hell’s Kitchen into a lounge. It was amazing to see the transformation. The location crew, production staff and the artists were so talented and it was such a great experience to be on set and watch the magic of the film industry unfold.”
Steven and Taylor’s date
Amazon Studios
Rooster & The Crow, located in Wilmington, was another filming location for season 2, co-owner Zach Harmon confirmed to PEOPLE. This is the spot where Taylor and Steven go on a date at the end of season 2.
“We get to see filming all throughout Wilmington, but it was even more special to have our place be a part of this show and its amazing cast and crew,” co-creator Zach Harmon told PEOPLE. “We hope the film industry stays strong here because we’ll gladly be a part of this amazing experience again.”
Sports
Assistant Track and Field/Cross-Country Coach in Grove City, PA for Grove City College
Details Posted: 17-Jul-25 Location: Grove City, Pennsylvania Type: Full-time Categories: Coaching Coaching – Cross Country Coaching – Track & Field Sector: Collegiate Sports Grove City College announces an opening in the Athletics Department for an Intern Track and Field/Cross-Country Assistant Coach. Candidates must demonstrate a strong potential for excellence in developing highly motivated student-athletes at […]

Details
Posted: 17-Jul-25
Location: Grove City, Pennsylvania
Type: Full-time
Categories:
Coaching
Coaching – Cross Country
Coaching – Track & Field
Sector:
Collegiate Sports
Grove City College announces an opening in the Athletics Department for an Intern Track and Field/Cross-Country Assistant Coach. Candidates must demonstrate a strong potential for excellence in developing highly motivated student-athletes at a Christian liberal arts institution. Preferred candidates will have prior competitive college track and field experience or coaching experience. Responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following: assisting the cross country and track and field head coaches with all facets of the cross country and track and field programs. This would include, but not be limited to, the recruitment of student-athletes locally and nationally, practice planning and setup, coaching of own event group in track and field, film editing and breakdown via HUDL, and all other duties assigned by the head coach or athletic director. The qualified candidate will have a bachelor’s degree and experience coaching high school/college track and field and/or cross-country. Must have a valid driver’s license.
Send a current resume, names of three references, and a letter of interest that includes an explanation of how your Christian faith represents a strong fit with Grove City College’s unique mission as a Christian college see http://www.gcc.edu/Home/Our-Story/Faith-Freedom/Vision-Mission-Values) To: Ms. Jamie N. Kimble, Assistant Director of Human Resources at employment@gcc.edu.
Grove City College is a private educational institution noted for its academic excellence, where scholarship is informed by Christian principles. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, sex, national origin, age, ancestry, non-job-related disability, use of a guide or support animal, or any other basis prohibited by applicable law in the administration of its educational policies, admission policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other college-administrative programs.
About Grove City College
Grove City College was founded in 1876. From our inception we have endeavored to provide our students with an excellent education at an affordable cost and from a Judeo-Christian worldview. The College offers an excellent classical liberal arts education by dedicated faculty who are experts in their field. With over 50 programs of study and a curriculum designed to educate the whole person, students are equipped with both specialized knowledge in their chosen major as well as cultural understanding to be leaders across a diverse range of professional fields and industries. Located in a picturesque Pennsylvania town an hour north of Pittsburgh, our students enjoy a campus life that stretches their thinking outside the classroom by engaging in sports, the arts, clubs and other extracurricular activities. And when they graduate, they became part of a worldwide alumni association that provides close personal and professional relationships for a lifetime. Students also enjoy a thriving spiritual life as part of a community that values freedom to explore faith.?
Connections working at Grove City College
Sports
Portland hosts groundbreaking summit to redefine women's sports
PORTLAND, Ore. (KATU) — Portland’s love for women’s sports isn’t just a slogan — it’s a movement. And this summer, that movement takes center stage with the inaugural Epicenter: Women’s Global Sports Summit, a groundbreaking event set for Friday, July 25, at Nike World Headquarters. The summit is the centerpiece of Epicenter Week, a four-day […]


PORTLAND, Ore. (KATU) — Portland’s love for women’s sports isn’t just a slogan — it’s a movement. And this summer, that movement takes center stage with the inaugural Epicenter: Women’s Global Sports Summit, a groundbreaking event set for Friday, July 25, at Nike World Headquarters. The summit is the centerpiece of Epicenter Week, a four-day celebration running July 23 to July 26.
Epicenter Week is designed to bridge sport, business, and innovation, bringing together athletes, entrepreneurs, and leaders who are reshaping what’s possible in women’s sports. The summit itself, an invitation-only gathering, is presented by RAJ Sports, the ownership group behind the Portland Thorns and WNBA’s newly launched Portland Fire, with support from major partners including Nike, Front Office Sports, Travel Portland, and Sport Oregon.
This event follows on the heels of major moments that showcase Portland’s unwavering support for women’s athletics. From the electric crowd of thousands at the Portland Fire’s name reveal at the Rose Quarter Commons, to the more than 21,000 fans who packed Providence Park for the Thorns’ Pride Night in June, Portland continues to raise the bar. Now, the city is taking the next step, positioning itself not just as a supporter but as a global leader in advancing women’s sports.
“You look — we have the brands, we have the infrastructure,” said Karina LeBlanc, executive VP of strategic growth & development at RAJ Sports. “When we decided to announce a $150 million practice facility that’s made for women, the athletes, the fan base, the community — the one big thing missing was the events. In speaking to other people around here, this was our opportunity to really cement that and bring people to Portland.”
If there’s a major event in Portland about women’s sports, LeBlanc is likely involved. Her passion is deeply personal and always rooted in legacy, especially for her daughter.
“It always comes down to my daughter,” said LeBlanc. “You used to see me walk around the field with her to wave and thank the fans for coming. She’s so proud to be from Portland. I mean, we were watching the Olympics and she’s like, ‘I’m gonna play for Portland.’ You’re like — you’ve got to explain, well, Portland is not a country, right? But she loves the city like that. That city in her heart is the pride of the city. And I truly believe we are the global epicenter of women’s sports. But to really do that, we have to continue to do big events. And then, it’s for the younger version of myself.”
Throughout Epicenter Week, Portland will become a true hub for elite competition and community celebration. The week will feature international club matches hosted by the Thorns, the Nike Global Premier Cup with top U15 girls’ teams from around the world, the first public activation of Portland’s WNBA franchise, and citywide cultural events that elevate the voices and visibility of women in sports.
This isn’t just about hosting a summit, it’s about making a statement. The future of sports is female, and Portland is building it right now.
Sports
Coach Schulstad on track to reaching goals
New South Wales Institute of Sport (NSWIS) Gen32 Athletics coach Debbi Schulstad described her appointment to the 66-strong Australian team of student athletes competing at 2025 FISU World University Games as an opportunity to help the athletes perform at their best. Schulstad, who competed in the 100m hurdles event at the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games […]

New South Wales Institute of Sport (NSWIS) Gen32 Athletics coach Debbi Schulstad described her appointment to the 66-strong Australian team of student athletes competing at 2025 FISU World University Games as an opportunity to help the athletes perform at their best.
Schulstad, who competed in the 100m hurdles event at the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games (under her maiden name, Edwards), is thriving in the AIS National Generation 2032 Coach Program, an intensive coach development program for aspiring pathway and early career high performance coaches.
“Being with the team in Germany is an opportunity to show how I can operate in these kind of environments as a coach,” she said of being a member of the UniRoos’ coaching staff that’s in Rhine-Ruhr, Germany.
“It’s a chance for me to bring the skills and the experience I have into a high performance environment, and to also help the athletes to perform at their best.
“My role in this team is to be a conduit between the athlete and their personal coach because there’s just not the space to accommodate all of them. So, my role is to be in contact with the coach and ensure a continuity of training into competition.
“I’m not there to change anything. I’ve spoken to the coaches about different cues that they use and what they want worked on with the athletes leading into competition. It’s just a matter of bringing that through – as well as making it an easy comp for the athletes; one where they don’t have to worry about anything.
“Ideally, they’ll just turn up and train, compete, and do their best without any stress.”

Among the Uniroos Athletics squad are NSWIS scholarship holders: Delta Amidzovski (Long Jump & 100m Hurdles), Isaac Beacroft (20km Walk), Luke Boyes (800m), Sam Dale (Long Jump), Lianna Davidson (Javelin), Kristie Edwards (200m), Chris Ius (200m), Hayley Kitching (800m), Alex Kolesnikoff (Shot Put), Connor Murphy (Triple Jump), Desleigh Owusu (Triple Jump), Allanah Pitcher (20km Walk), Erin Shaw (High Jump).
Schulstad, who was a NSWIS scholarship holder in the 1990s, said being in the Gen32 program – which aims to develop world-class coaches in the leadup to the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games – allows her to explore coaching opportunities she’d only dreamt of.
“It’s a great job because this role allows me to focus my attention on developing as a coach, a person and into the coach I want to become,” said Schulstad, who’s ultimate aims to one day coach a high performance hurdle squad along with a development squad.
Schulstad (pictured above), who is a firm believer in the impact the ‘little things’ can have on an athlete’s performances – and career – is a source of tremendous advice that athletes could benefit from, including:
- If I had my time over again as a hurdler?
“I’d change things around the prehab/rehab. I was often injured and it’s interesting to have been in the performance support area for quite a long time [as a soft tissue therapist] and now, in coaching, to see how those areas have changed. The areas of testing strength and prehab and ensuring athletes are physically capable of performing the task that’s required of them is an area where I would’ve benefited.
“The mental side has also improved. When my career ended it came suddenly and it hit me very hard. Having some kind of preparation – conversations even – about post-career whether through choice or not, would’ve made a big difference to my life after athletics.”
- Is what you’re doing a sacrifice or choice?
“It’s an interesting question because I don’t necessarily view it as ‘sacrifices’. I think if this is something the athlete truly wants to do; they’re not necessarily sacrifices but choices.
“I believe athletes choose to go down a certain path. But, I also see athletes as ‘whole’ people, and I want to coach the person, not just the athlete. It’s because of that I think it’s important to take into consideration what other things they have going on. However, if athletes view it as sacrifice, then I believe there’s an element of: ‘I’m missing out on something else’ rather than a case of being all in.”
- Mum was right – ‘everything does happen for a reason!’
“I hated hearing it in the time – ‘everything happens for a reason’. That’s because it was hard to hear because when you’re injured you feel so low and don’t want to hear there’s some big plan. But I believe it 100 percent now!
“As a therapist I acknowledge sometimes when an athlete is injured, something has caused that injury and the time you’re sidelined allows you to correct or fix whatever it was. No time is a good time for an injury, but it can be an opportunity to work on something that will potentially prolong your career and perhaps give you great results in the future.”
- Do the little things well
“Your nutrition, your treatment and strength all contribute to a greater outcome. And you can do the, the technical work, the strength work, all of that – but so does everyone else. So, it’s the so-called ‘little’ areas where athletes can gain advantages over their competitors, whether it be visualisation. It contributes to success.”
- Enjoy the experience
“It can be hard when you’re fighting injuries, but outside of that I’d say ‘yes, I enjoyed every moment.’ I did athletics because I loved it. And I’m a big advocate that athletes should be doing it because they love it . . . being good at something is awesome.
“But if you’re not enjoying it, then getting out of bed every morning, doing the hard sessions, would be really, really tough. And, in that case, even if you were successful, the outcomes wouldn’t . . . couldn’t . . . mean as much. They might mean something different, but you’re probably not going to look back on those with fondness and think that it was a worthwhile time spent.”
Daniel Lane, NSWIS
Sports
Improving Orioles, streaky Rays open second half in Tampa – Field Level Media – Professional sports content solutions
The Baltimore Orioles are remaining confident despite a slow start to the season contributing significantly to their current place in the standings. Mired in the cellar of the American League East, the Orioles will look to continue their slow ascent on Friday when they return from the All-Star break to open a three-game series against […]

The Baltimore Orioles are remaining confident despite a slow start to the season contributing significantly to their current place in the standings.
Mired in the cellar of the American League East, the Orioles will look to continue their slow ascent on Friday when they return from the All-Star break to open a three-game series against the host Tampa Bay Rays.
Baltimore limped out of the blocks by losing 34 of its first 50 games, a stretch that included the dismissal of manager Brandon Hyde. The Orioles, however, slowly have turned it around with interim manager Tony Mansolino at the controls.
“Right now, the biggest thing for me is to make sure this thing continues to go well,” Mansolino said.
“We were in the national media every day for all the wrong reasons the first three weeks of doing this, and now it seems like we’ve been in the national media for the right reasons because we’re playing well. We’ve got good players.”
One of those “good players” is Cedric Mullins, who leads the team in homers (13) and RBIs (41). However, he is just 3-for-25 with eight strikeouts against Tampa Bay this season.
Promising second baseman Jackson Holliday has hit safely in seven of his last eight games overall.
Baltimore’s Charlie Morton (5-7, 5.18 ERA) will take the mound against Tampa Bay’s Taj Bradley (5-6, 4.60) on Friday in a battle of right-handers.
Morton has reversed course from a dismal beginning to the season, answering a 0-7 start with a 5-0 record and 2.76 ERA over his last eight starts.
Included in the latter stretch was a strong effort versus the Rays on June 19 when the 41-year-old allowed one run on six hits with seven strikeouts in six innings of a 4-1 victory.
A two-time World Series champion, Morton sports a 5-3 record with a 2.78 ERA in 55 innings over nine career starts against Tampa Bay.
Bradley, 24, struggled in a pair of outings against Baltimore last month, permitting a total of 12 runs (11 earned) on 14 hits in 6 2/3 innings. He received a no-decision on June 18 and a loss on June 29 to drop to 1-3 with an 8.65 ERA in 26 innings over six career starts versus the Orioles.
The Rays resided 11 games above .500 before losing 11 of their last 14 contests. A tough patch to be certain, but not one that is expected to derail the season in the eyes of Tampa Bay’s All-Star first baseman Jonathan Aranda.
“We’ve had our ups and downs, but I’m still happy with the way we’ve played. The streak that we are in right now, it’s part of baseball, so that’s how I see it,” Aranda said. “I think the break is going to help just (have a) fresh mind when we come back. It is what it is right now, but I’m very confident that we can come back from that.”
Tampa Bay rookie Chandler Simpson is riding a 16-game hitting streak. He is 4-for-10 with two runs this season against Baltimore.
–Field Level Media
Sports
A glimpse at some of the professional baseball players with Hudson Valley roots
Jul 6, 2022; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Washington Nationals starting pitcher Josiah Gray (40) follows though on a pitch against the Philadelphia Phillies during the fifth inning at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports Sportsbook Wire Washington Nationals starting pitcher Josiah Gray Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports Jul 4, 2025; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota […]


Jul 6, 2022; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Washington Nationals starting pitcher Josiah Gray (40) follows though on a pitch against the Philadelphia Phillies during the fifth inning at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports
Sportsbook Wire

Washington Nationals starting pitcher Josiah Gray
Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports

Jul 4, 2025; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Twins left fielder Harrison Bader (12) celebrates his solo walk-off home run against the Tampa Bay Rays during the ninth inning at Target Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-Imagn Images
Matt Krohn, Matt Krohn-Imagn Images

Jul 13, 2025; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Twins outfielder Harrison Bader (12) makes a diving catch against the Pittsburgh Pirates during the fifth inning at Target Field. Mandatory Credit: Nick Wosika-Imagn Images
Nick Wosika, Nick Wosika-Imagn Images
Jun 14, 2025; Seattle, Washington, USA; Seattle Mariners starting pitcher George Kirby (68) pitches the ball during the third inning against the Cleveland Guardians at T-Mobile Park. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Ng-Imagn Images
Kevin Ng, IMAGN IMAGES Via Reuters Connect

Seattle Mariners pitcher George Kirby pitches in the first inning against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park on Saturday, July 12, 2025 in Detroit.
Rick Osentoski, Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images

Isaac Mattson #72 of the Pittsburgh Pirates celebrates with Henry Davis #32 after the final out in a 5-0 win over the St. Louis Cardinals during the game at PNC Park on July 2, 2025 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin Berl/Getty Images)
Justin Berl, Getty Images
Henry Davis of the Pittsburgh Pirates connects for an rbi single against the Mets during a game at Citi Field Aug. 14, 2023. Davis, drafted No. 1 overall in 2021, is a graduate of Fox Lane High School in Bedford.
Seth Harrison/The Journal News

Pittsburgh Pirates right fielder Henry Davis hit a double in his first MLB at-bat.
Charles LeClaire, USA TODAY Sports
Jason Vosler receives the Viking cloak from Jonathan India after hitting a home run in the fourth inning against the Chicago Cubs April 4, 2023, at Great American Ball Park.
Sam Greene/The Enquirer

South Bend Cubs’ Jason Vosler (21) whips the ball to first for an out against the Lansing Lugnuts, Thursday May 14, 2015 in South Bend. SBT Photo/BECKY MALEWITZ
Cincinnati Reds first baseman Jason Vosler (32) looks on from first in the ninth inning of the MLB National League game between the Cincinnati Reds and the Philadelphia Phillies at Great American Ball Park in downtown Cincinnati on Thursday, April 13, 2023. The Reds won 6-2.
Sam Greene/The Enquirer

Detroit Tigers relief pitcher Brendan White (52) throws a pitch during the fourth inning at Target Field in Minneapolis on Sunday, June 18, 2023.
Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports

Detroit Tigers pitcher Brendan White poses for a photo during picture day of spring training at TigerTown in Lakeland, Fla. on Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2025.
Junfu Han, Detroit Free Press

Daytona Tortugas shortstop Sammy Stafura (3) grabs a hard grounder during the first game of a doubleheader against the Palm Beach Cardinals, Wednesday, June 12, 2024, at Jackie Robinson Ballpark in Daytona Beach.
David TuckerNews-Journal

Daytona Tortugas Sammy Stafura trots to home plate to score during a game with the Palm Beach Cardinals at Jackie Robinson Ballpark in Daytona Beach, Friday, June 27, 2025.
Nigel Cook/News-Journal

Daytona Tortugas Sammy Stafura (3) and Diego Omana (25) talk as the team gets ready for a doubleheader against the Palm Beach Cardinals, Wednesday, June 12, 2024, at Jackie Robinson Ballpark in Daytona Beach.
David TuckerNews-Journal
Cincinnati Reds pitcher Joe La Sorsa throws a pitch in the seventh inning of the MLB National League game between the Cincinnati Reds and the Arizona Diamondbacks at Great American Ball Park in downtown Cincinnati on Saturday, June 7, 2025. The Reds won, 13-1.
Sam Greene/The Enquirer

Tyler Renz, a 2024 Fox Lane graduate, is photographed after signing his contract with the Milwaukee Brewers. The pitcher was drafted as a 17-year old in the 18th round of the 2024 MLB Draft.
Provided By Fox Lane High School Baseball
Aaron Sabato University of North Carolina Baseball v UNC-Wilmington, UNC-W NCAA Tournament Boshamer Stadium Chapel Hill, NC Friday, May 31, 2019
JEFFREY A. CAMARATI, JEFFREY A. CAMARATI
Aaron Sabato attended school in the Blind Brook School District, before attending high school at the Brunswick School (Conn.) where he developed into an all-state player and one of the nation’s top high school recruits.
UNC Athletic Communications

Boston College batter Joe Vetrano celebrates with teammates after hitting a homer against Troy University at Sewell-Thomas Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Ala., Friday June 2, 2023, in the first round of the NCAA Regional Baseball Tournament. Vetrano hit two homers in a losing effort.
Roll Tide Wire
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