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NEW YORK — Commissioner Rob Manfred said Wednesday he plans to introduce a proposal to Major League Baseball’s competition committee that would bring the automated ball-strike system to MLB in 2026. Barring a change of heart inside Manfred’s group, ABS appears likely to arrive in the big leagues next year. The league office has enough […]

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Manfred

NEW YORK — Commissioner Rob Manfred said Wednesday he plans to introduce a proposal to Major League Baseball’s competition committee that would bring the automated ball-strike system to MLB in 2026.

Barring a change of heart inside Manfred’s group, ABS appears likely to arrive in the big leagues next year. The league office has enough votes on the 11-person committee — which is also made up of player representatives and one umpire — to push through what it wants.

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Human umpires would still make the vast majority of ball-strike calls, but teams would start each game with two challenges to the umpire’s opinion. Umpires would then rely on a technology system that the league has tested for years in the minor leagues and in major-league spring training this year. Teams retain the challenge if they get the call overturned.

“I do think that we’re going to pursue the possibility of changing that process, and we’ll see what comes out at the end of that,” Manfred said at MLB headquarters. “I think that teams are really positive about ABS. You know, I do have that unscientific system that I use — my email traffic — and my distinct impression is that using ABS in spring training has made people more prone to complain about balls and strike calls via email, to me, referencing the need for ABS. That is undoubtedly true, undoubtedly true.”

“As they have in the past, players will review any proposed rule changes and provide their feedback and on-field experiences through the competition committee,” Kevin Slowey, the Major League Baseball Players Association’s managing director of player services, said in a statement.

The technology used in ABS doesn’t exactly mimic a human strike zone because umpires on average call balls and strikes differently depending on the count: a tighter zone on 0-2, for example, and a wider one on 3-0. Manfred, however, didn’t indicate any outstanding concerns about the system’s operation other than how players will react.

“My single biggest concern is working through the process and deploying it in a way that’s acceptable to the players,” Manfred said. “There’s always going to be things around the edges that we need to work through and whatever, and I want them to feel like we respected the committee process and that there was a full airing of concerns about the system, and an attempt to address those concerns before we go forward.”

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Players on the competition committee have almost universally been opposed to Manfred’s on-field rule changes over time. Owner-player relations are going to get progressively more sensitive next season, with the collective bargaining agreement’s expiration after the 2026 season. But Manfred indicated that he wasn’t going to move gingerly on rule changes because of the impending labor talks.

MLB has long held the power to implement on-field rule changes that it wants, but in the current CBA, which went into effect in 2022, the league received the right to implement changes on shorter notice: 45 days after a proposal.

“We bargained for the right to make these kind of rule changes,” Manfred said. “It was a really important part of the deal from our perspective. Everybody understood what the rules of the road are. … Unlike the prior provision, there’s actually a process that is involved, that you go through, that you kind of have a chance to vet and talk about what should happen with the players. So I’m less reticent about that. 

“In the past, I have been a little squeamish about the year before bargaining. I don’t feel that way right now.”

MLB is also testing a check-swing review system in the minors this season. It’s unclear when that system will be tested by big leaguers. Manfred indicated that system was unlikely to be tested in major-league spring training next year because of the possibility everyone would still be adjusting to ABS.

“We haven’t made a decision about the check-swing thing,” Manfred said. “We do try to think sequentially about what’s coming. I think we got to get over the hump in terms of either doing ABS or not doing it before you’d get into the complication of a separate kind of challenge involved in an at-bat, right? You think about them, they’re two different systems operating at the same time. We really got to think that one through.”

(Photo: Patrick Breen / The Republic / USA Today Network via Imagn Images)

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University of Minnesota Athletics

MINNEAPOLIS — For the first time in program history the University of Minnesota track and field program has a two-time Big Ten Field Athlete of the Year winner. NCAA hammer throw champion Kostas Zaltos added a second yearly conference honor to his trophy case after winning it in 2023, the conference office announced on Wednesday.  Zaltos […]

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MINNEAPOLIS — For the first time in program history the University of Minnesota track and field program has a two-time Big Ten Field Athlete of the Year winner. NCAA hammer throw champion Kostas Zaltos added a second yearly conference honor to his trophy case after winning it in 2023, the conference office announced on Wednesday. 

Zaltos becomes the first Big Ten man to win the honor twice in a career since Chukwuebuka Enekwechi of Purdue did it in 2015 and 2016. This season Zaltos was also named the Big Ten’s Field Athlete of the Championships after the Greek national broke the conference championships record in the hammer throw at Hayward Field in May. Zaltos’ NCAA title-winning throw came on his fourth attempt of the competition where he sent a lifetime best 78.08m (256-2) out to become the first Gopher since Obsa Ali (2018, 3000m Steeplechase) to win an individual NCAA title. Zaltos’ lifetime best throw puts him No. 6 all-time in NCAA hammer throw history as he departs collegiate competition after four First Team All-America finishes. 

In his career Zaltos amassed 40 Big Ten Championships points, 30 NCAA Championships points, he was four-for-four in both top three NCAA finishes and four-for-four in lifetime bests in the NCAA hammer throw final. He was just the third man in NCAA Championships history to win the hammer throw with a mark beyond 78 meters (Balazs Kiss and Ken Flax). Additionally, during the 2025 season, Zaltos sent 54.2 percent of his 48 hammer throw attempts beyond 75 meters. With his first-place finish at Big Tens, he helped the Maroon and Gold finish in a tie for second while at the 2025 NCAA Outdoor Championships his winning performance in the hammer throw helped Minnesota finish seventh overall, the highest finish by the program since 1948 (77 years). 

For more information on the Gophers, continue to check back with GopherSports.com. Keep up with the University of Minnesota cross country and track and field team on Twitter and Instagram (@GopherCCTF) and on Facebook, so you do not miss any content during the season.



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Pulelehua “Hua” Laikona announces commitment to Nebraska volleyball

Nebraska volleyball continues to rack up 2027 commits by landing a libero. Mesa, Arizona native Pulelehua “Hua” Laikona announced her commitment to the Huskers on social media Tuesday. “Mahalo Ke Akua! Thank you, God, you have been so good to me!” she said in her post. “I’m deeply blessed, truly humbled, and extremely grateful to […]

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Nebraska volleyball continues to rack up 2027 commits by landing a libero. Mesa, Arizona native Pulelehua “Hua” Laikona announced her commitment to the Huskers on social media Tuesday.

“Mahalo Ke Akua! Thank you, God, you have been so good to me!” she said in her post. “I’m deeply blessed, truly humbled, and extremely grateful to announce my verbal commitment to the University of Nebraska.”

Laikona plays both libero and outside hitter. The 5-foot-8 recruit totaled 348 kills to average 3.3 per set in 2024 for Mesa High School, earning a .289 hitting percentage. She also added 2.7 digs per set with 291 total digs and recorded 83 assists and 33 aces last season.

She also plays for the Arizona Storm with fellow 2027 Husker middle commit Kendall Omoruyi, freshman outside hitter Teraya Sigler, and middle blocker Kenna Cogill.

Laikona joins the class of 2027 alongside Omoruy, setter Malorie Boesiger, libero Mallory Johnson, and outside hitter Shaye Witherspoon.

Contact/Follow us @CornhuskersWire on X (formerly Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Nebraska news, notes, and opinions.





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First victory when it mattered most, “young sharks” in the World Cup quarterfinals

Photo: Aniko Kovacs/Photo Three defeats in the group, but the right reaction when it mattered most – the young Montenegrin water polo team was better than Germany 11:10 (3:2, 4:4, 2:1, 2:3) in the first knockout match at the World Championship. Aleksandar Aleksić’s men have thus qualified for the quarter-finals of the World Cup in […]

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Photo: Aniko Kovacs/Photo

Photo: Aniko Kovacs/Photo

Three defeats in the group, but the right reaction when it mattered most – the young Montenegrin water polo team was better than Germany 11:10 (3:2, 4:4, 2:1, 2:3) in the first knockout match at the World Championship.

Aleksandar Aleksić’s men have thus qualified for the quarter-finals of the World Cup in Zagreb, where they will face Spain. The clash with the “furies” on the Sava River is scheduled for tomorrow (Thursday) at 17.30:XNUMX PM.

It wasn’t easy against the Germans, but our national team gained a key advantage at the end of the second and beginning of the third quarter, when they went from 6:6 to 9:6 through Srđan Janović, Milan Nikaljević and Nikola Petrović.

The young water polo team of Montenegro
photo: Aniko Kovacs/Photo

Germany did not give up, with two minutes left in the game they reduced the score to 11:10, and even had an attack to equalize, but the “young sharks” managed to defend themselves and place among the top eight in the world.

Nikaljević, Tadija Matijašević and Tim Perov each scored two goals for our team, and Janović, Petrović, Draško Samardžić, Meldin Hadžić and Nebojša Petrović each scored one goal, while Danilo Rajević made 11 saves.

The young water polo team of Montenegro
photo: Aniko Kovacs/Photo

In the other quarterfinal matches, Croatia – Greece, Serbia – USA and Hungary will meet against the winner of the match between Italy and Australia.


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Meet the more than 60 Northern Michigan athletes heading to the collegiate ranks

For many high school athletes, one of the main goals over the course of a career is getting noticed and earning the chance to compete at the next level.  That next level can also look very different, or be just another starting block with the chance to move up again. Across Emmet, Charlevoix, Otsego and […]

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June 18, 2025

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For many high school athletes, one of the main goals over the course of a career is getting noticed and earning the chance to compete at the next level. 

That next level can also look very different, or be just another starting block with the chance to move up again.

Across Emmet, Charlevoix, Otsego and Cheboygan counties, over 60 athletes will be heading to the collegiate level out of the Class of 2025. 

They include everywhere from Division I powers Oklahoma State and Michigan State, to just about every other Michigan college program across each level.

As often happens, the cross country and track and field signees around Northern Michigan led the way, this time with 13 signees within the class, highlighted by Johannesburg-Lewiston’s Allie Nowak heading to Michigan State following a state champion career. 

The Class of the 2025 was particularly loaded in a pair of boys sports as well, as nine area athletes signed with collegiate baseball programs and nine more signed to play football at the next level, including six at the Division II level. 

Some athletes will even have familiar faces around on their next team. 

Boyne City volleyball teammates Josie Wilson and Elly Wilcox will each continue at Lake Michigan College for volleyball, Gaylord football’s Keaton Abraham and Connor Byram will each be teammates at Michigan Tech and Petoskey track and field teammates Alison Bailey and Kaiden Boyce will both compete for Calvin University. 

PHS Signing Day 1: Petoskey does signing day big, sends 12 student athletes to the college level

PHS Signing Day 2: Petoskey sends five more student-athletes to college level, now 19 total in 2025 class

Former Charlevoix teammates AJ Speigl and Owen Waha will also reunite at Grand Rapids Community College for baseball. After growing up playing together and helping the Rayders to the state semifinals in 2024, Speigl spent his final season in Petoskey, while Waha graduated from Kearney High School in Nebraska. 

Perhaps the most unique situation comes from Gaylord, where sisters Aubrey and Jayden Jones will again be teammates in Stillwater, Okla., with both joining the Oklahoma State softball program. Aubrey signed out of the 2025 class, while Jayden, part of the 2024 class, took advantage of the transfer portal after competing for Virginia Tech.

The program that led the way for the area was the Petoskey Northmen with 20 members of the 2025 class moving on, while Gaylord featured nine athletes, East Jordan eight and Boyne City, six. 

Below you’ll find all of the known athletes who have signed with a college program to compete in a sport.

Did we miss someone? Let us know: dkochanny@petoskeynews.com 

Emmet County

Korbin Sulitis, Petoskey — Northwood football 

Sulitis: Korbin Sulitis leaves Petoskey football forever changed in Player of the Year season

Haden Janes, Petoskey — Hillsdale football 

Janes: Haden Janes leaves Petoskey career with the good feeling of no regrets

Logan Coutcher, Petoskey — Alma football 

Logan Beer, Petoskey — Lake State track 

Bobby Patrick, Petoskey — Cleary University wrestling 

Sara Hasse, Petoskey — Northern Michigan golf 

Charlie Thomas, Petoskey — Centre College lacrosse 

Austin Klingelsmith, Petoskey — Aquinas College lacrosse 

AJ Speigl, Petoskey — Grand Rapids CC baseball 

Sam Mitas, Petoskey — Grand Valley State track 

Mitas: Record-setting season brings Petoskey’s Mitas PNR Track Athlete of the Year honor

Caitlyn Matelski, Petoskey — Lake Superior State volleyball 

Emma Berg, Petoskey — University of Olivet golf 

Abby Wonnacott, Petoskey — Alma soccer 

Alison Bailey, Petoskey — Calvin University track 

Bailey: Petoskey’s Alison Bailey feeling good as she runs down another finals trip

Kaiden Boyce, Petoskey — Calvin University track

Madeline Loe, Petoskey — Adrian College hockey, track 

Parker Fettig, Petoskey — Northwood track and cross country 

Griffin Ricinto, Petoskey — Adrian College lacrosse 

BreAnna VerCautren, Petoskey — Muskegon CC softball 

Renate Hramiec, Louisville, Colo. (Petoskey) —  Lawrence University (Wis.) soccer 

Andru Vernale, Harbor Springs — Albion College baseball 

Olivia Flynn, Harbor Springs — Western Michigan basketball 

Flynn: Harbor Springs’ Olivia Flynn officially becomes a Bronco ahead of final Rams season

Vaughn Henagan, Harbor Light — Augustana College golf

Jane Manthei, Harbor Light — Cedarville University cross country

Charlevoix County

Ryan Spate, Boyne City — Wayne State football 

Spate: Boyne City’s Spate showing all the tools in his bag for Ramblers in 2024

Brady Bearss, Boyne City — North Central Michigan cross country

Braydin Noble, Boyne City – Michigan Tech soccer 

Josie Wilson, Boyne City — Lake Michigan College volleyball 

Elly Wilcox, Boyne City — Lake Michigan College volleyball 

Landon Bingham, Boyne City — Seton Hill lacrosse 

Brenden Aenis, East Jordan — Calvin College football 

Korbyn Russell, East Jordan — Michigan State baseball

Russell: Big Ten baseball program the next stop for East Jordan’s Russell

June Kirkpatrick, East Jordan — Milwaukee School of Engineering basketball

Logan Shooks, East Jordan — Trine University football

Ty Burks, East Jordan – Trine University golf

Austin Sneed, East Jordan — Ursuline College (Ohio) track and cross country

Jacob Chamberlain, East Jordan — Grand View College (Iowa) track and cross country

Hannah Fortune, East Jordan — Bethel University (Ind.) golf

Ryan Pearl, Charlevoix — Point Park University baseball 

Pearl: Pearl, Charlevoix teammates playing “For Berg” and other Rayder classmates

Hunter Lemerand, Charlevoix — Grace Christian baseball 

Brady Jess, Charlevoix — Michigan State Wrestling

Owen Waha, Kearney, Neb. (Charlevoix) — Grand Rapids CC baseball

Otsego County

Aubrey Jones, Gaylord — Oklahoma State softball

Jones: Not made for the stands: Wrapping the legendary softball career of Gaylord’s Aubrey Jones

Jayden Janes, Gaylord — Oklahoma State softball (2024 grad. Transfer from Virginia Tech)

Jayden Jones: Long live Cowgirls; Jayden and Aubrey Jones set for Stillwater reunion with OSU softball

Kennedy Wangler, Gaylord — Ferris State softball

Zachary Cowper, Gaylord — Illinois State track and field

Keaton Abraham, Gaylord — Michigan Tech football

Abraham, Byram: Gaylord football senior duo Abraham, Byram pledge commitments to Michigan Tech on same day

Connor Byram, Gaylord — Michigan Tech football

Lucas Green, Gaylord — Albion College baseball

Ella Moylan, Gaylord — Alma College track and field

Ava Wells, Gaylord — Lake Superior State volleyball

Jenna Sircely, Gaylord — Alpena CC softball

Daniel Jacobson, Gaylord St. Mary — Mid Michigan CC baseball

Allie Nowak, JoBurg — Michigan State track and field

Nowak: JoBurg’s Allie Nowak goes out on top, wins back-to-back 800-meter state championships

Jeremiah Witt, JoBurg — Lake Superior State track and field

Brittney Fox, JoBurg — Alpena CC basketball and softball

Cheboygan County

Luke Munger, Cheboygan – Northwood football  

Munger: ‘Football is in their blood’: Mungers have had fascinating gridiron journey in Cheboygan

Luke Hoskins, Cheboygan — Hiram College (Ohio) football 

Sean Postula, Cheboygan – Rochester Community and Tech. College (Minn.) baseball 

Aidan Fenstermaker, Inland Lakes – Alma College football  

Fenstermaker: Fenstermaker signs with Alma; Cheboygan teams collide with Elk Rapids

Luke Lovelace, Onaway – Alpena CC baseball  

Charlotte Box, Onaway – North Central Michigan College basketball  

Contact or send game stats/info to Sports Editor Drew Kochanny at dkochanny@petoskeynews.com. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @DrewKochanny, and Instagram, @drewkochanny



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West Orange High girls volleyball coach Matt Jackson joins Michigan State staff as assistant

West Orange High girls volleyball coach Matt Jackson has left his position to become an assistant coach for the Michigan State Women’s Volleyball team. “I am thrilled to be joining Michigan State at such an exciting time with the return of head coach Kristen Kelsay to the program and such an amazing staff,” said Jackson. […]

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West Orange High girls volleyball coach Matt Jackson has left his position to become an assistant coach for the Michigan State Women’s Volleyball team.

“I am thrilled to be joining Michigan State at such an exciting time with the return of head coach Kristen Kelsay to the program and such an amazing staff,” said Jackson. “I am looking forward to joining MSU at a time where things are on the up and can’t wait to see where we can take this program. I would like to thank Coach Kristen for giving me an opportunity to join this staff.

Jackson, a former Ocoee High and UCF club player, led the Lady Warriors to the Class 7A, District 5 title, the West Metro Conference Championship and a 16-5 record in 2025. The UCF graduate also served as a club coach at Winter Park Volleyball Club since 2014. 

 



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Home Weekend against Oregon, Oregon State Highlights Vikings’ 2025 Volleyball Schedule

Story Links 2025 PORTLAND STATE VOLLEYBALL SCHEDULE PORTLAND, Ore. — For at least one weekend this fall, the eyes of the volleyball world in the state of Oregon will be focused squarely on Viking Pavilion as the Portland State volleyball team hosts Oregon and Oregon State, Sept. 19-20. The in-state weekend provides […]

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2025 PORTLAND STATE VOLLEYBALL SCHEDULE

PORTLAND, Ore. —

For at least one weekend this fall, the eyes of the volleyball world in the state of Oregon will be focused squarely on Viking Pavilion as the Portland State volleyball team hosts Oregon and Oregon State, Sept. 19-20. The in-state weekend provides a clear highlight for the Vikings’ 2025 schedule, which the program released Wednesday.
 
It’s only the second time in the past 15 years that the Vikings will host both Oregon and Oregon State in the same season. They also hosted both programs in 2022 as part of the Hotel Vance Rose City Showdown. The Vikings’ match against the Ducks at that tournament brought a record crowd to Viking Pavilion. They then set another attendance record this past fall when 1,340 fans came to see the Vikings host then-No. 12 Oregon.
 
That record figures to be under threat again this fall. The Vikings will host the Ducks at 7 p.m. on Sept. 19, while their match against the Beavers will begin at 5 p.m. on Sept. 20.
 
That weekend will close out a road-heavy non-conference schedule for the Vikings. Portland State will host an exhibition against Corban on Aug. 18. After that, they’ll play on the road for the first three weekends of the season before hosting the Ducks and Beavers.
 
The road-heavy start to the season figures to test what will be a youthful Viking team in 2025. The Vikings will have only one true senior in Tyra Schaub this fall, while two-thirds of their team will be made up of underclassmen.
 
That youth will need to get their feet wet in a hurry, then, as the Vikings begin on the road at a tournament at Air Force. The Vikings will play neutral-site matches against Jacksonville State and Seattle U, both on Aug. 29, before facing host Air Force on Aug. 30.
 
The next weekend will see the Vikings play Long Beach State and San Francisco at USF’s home tournament on Sept. 4 and 5, respectively. The Vikings will stay in the Bay Area for a match against Cal Baptist on Sept. 6 that will be played in Santa Clara, Calif.
 
The Vikings will face Cal Baptist again the following weekend when they head to CBU’s home tournament, Sept. 11-13. The Vikings open the tournament against New Mexico on Sept. 11. They’ll face host Cal Baptist on Sept. 12 before closing out the tournament against Cal State Fullerton on Sept. 13.
 
The home weekend against Oregon and Oregon will precede the start of Big Sky play. The Vikings open their conference schedule with a split weekend, hosting Idaho State at Viking Pavilion on Sept. 25 before hitting the road to play Montana State in Bozeman on Sept. 27.
 
The Vikings return to Viking Pavilion to host Sacramento State on Oct. 3 before hitting the road again to play at Northern Arizona (Oct. 9) and Northern Colorado (Oct. 11).
 
Four straight home matches will give the Vikings a chance to find a groove. The Vikings host Montana State and Montana on Oct. 16 and 18, respectively, then stay home to host Eastern Washington and Idaho on Oct. 23 and Oct. 25.
 
The Vikings play at Weber State (Oct. 30) and Idaho State (Nov. 1) the following weekend but then return to Viking Pavilion to close out their home schedule against Northern Colorado (Nov. 6) and Northern Arizona (Nov. 8).
 
Three straight road matches will wrap up the regular season for the Vikings as they play at Sacramento State (Nov. 14), Idaho (Nov. 19) and Eastern Washington (Nov. 21).
 
The Idaho-Eastern Washington road trip will be played a day earlier than a usual conference weekend. The Vikings will face them on Wednesday and Friday, rather than the usual Thursday-Saturday schedule during Big Sky play. That’s due to a change in the Big Sky tournament schedule this year. Instead of playing over Thanksgiving weekend, the Big Sky Conference will host its tournament Monday to Wednesday before Thanksgiving. Northern Colorado will host the tournament, having earned the right as last year’s regular-season champion.
 
Tickets and other information regarding the Vikings’ 2025 volleyball schedule will be released at a later date.
 



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