College World Series Players to Watch The College World Series (CWS) should be regarded as one of the premium events on the baseball calendar, and it is certainly the best single opportunity to see a lot of prospects in action. Until the last few years, the draft happened before the CWS, so it might have […]
The College World Series (CWS) should be regarded as one of the premium events on the baseball calendar, and it is certainly the best single opportunity to see a lot of prospects in action. Until the last few years, the draft happened before the CWS, so it might have been the first opportunity people got to see a player their team had just drafted. The current draft calendar is better, particularly since great performances in the CWS can give players some helium, while poor performances could cause a player to drop, and of course teams do not have to worry about a player they just drafted getting injured (or throwing 120 pitches on three days of rest.)
As of this writing, the field is not completely set; Murray State and Duke will play later today to determine the final spot. But here is the field, along with top-500 prospects (per Baseball America) and a closer look at those who might be targets for the Diamondbacks.
Brendan Summerhill looks to lead the Wildcats to their first title since 2012.Photo by Aaron M. Sprecher/Getty Images
Summerhill is the top-rated prospect for the Wildcats, and will almost certainly be available for either of the Diamondbacks’ first two selections. He doesn’t have any outstanding tools, but is one of the more well-rounded players in the class. He projects to stick in center field, makes good and consistent contact, runs well, and has an average arm and power. White looks to be a late-bloomer; he’s gone from being listed at 5’9” to being listed at 5’11”, and has shown consistent power. There’s a bit more swing-and-miss than would be ideal, which is why he would be in the conversation for the third round or so. He’s slashing .332/.414/.692 this year, and has 19 home runs, the same number he hit last year. Walton is a big outfielder who has taken a big step forward this year; he’ll be in a corner going forward, but is showing some power and has the frame (6’3”, 219) to grow into more. Guzman might have the best arm in the draft; some give it an 80-grade, and while he’s been a defense-first catcher, the bat has come around this year, but his arm gives him a decent floor. McKinney has been starting and Hintz relieving, but Hintz has thrown almost as many innings and with more success. Hintz has been a two-way player, and was a shortstop in high school, and throws from an almost-sidearm slot more reminiscent of a shortstop than a pitcher.
White might be the most likely pick out of the bunch; he’s from Tucson, so the Diamondbacks might have the inside track to signing him at more of a discount. Also of interest: former Diamondbacks’ manager Chip Hale is the head coach of the Wildcats.
Aloy is in the conversation with former Diamondback draftee Aiva Arquette for being the best college shortstop in the class, and if he is available at 18, he won’t be at 29, and I don’t see the Diamondbacks taking him. It’s the pitching at Arkansas that is intriguing. Root transferred from East Carolina into the SEC, and increased his strikeout rate; whoever drafts him is looking for a starter, but his floor (given health) would be a solid reliever. Davalan is an undersized (5’9”, 190) outfielder who has also played second base; he’s a solid hitter who runs well, but doesn’t have a strong arm. Beidelschies transferred in from Ohio State and has been solid. Gage Wood missed two months due to injury (shoulder impingement) but has been excellent when healthy and has big helium. He has three pitches at least average, with his fastball well above-average. Iredale came over from Australia and tore up the JC circuit, and has done well in the SEC, slashing .289/455/.557 but his defense needs work. Foutch is a reliever who has struck out 12.5 per 9 this season.
Coastal Carolina: Caden Bodine (C), Jacob Morrison (RHP).
While Coastal doesn’t have the volume of top draft talent of Arizona or Arkansas, they do have one of the top catching prospects, and possibly the most well-rounded of the bunch. He’s a switch hitter who doesn’t swing and miss and makes good contact, albeit with little power. What power he has is mostly of the gap variety. But he’s above-average defensively both behind the dish and with his arm. Morrison is a giant (6’8”, 245) who has a 2.15 RA/9 and sub-1 WHIP this year, but did miss all of 2024 with Tommy John. Some teams will see it as a plus that he’s already had the surgery and come back better. He’ll likely get the start in the opener against Arizona, and will be looking to improve his record to 12-0. Bodine should be available at 18 but could very well be gone by 29; Morrison should be available for the first three or four picks.
Duke: David Boisvert (RHP), James Tallon (LHP), Owen Proksch (LHP), Tyler Albright (OF), Andrew Healy (LHP).
Boisvert has been injury plagued and hasn’t pitched since April; he’s probably out for the year. Tallon is a high-strikeout lefty reliever, Proksch is another high-strikeout lefty but he has moved into a starting role; his pitching is a large reason why the Blue Devils are at this point, as he’s pitched great against both Oklahoma State and Murray State thus far, and will likely start the first game for Duke if they reach the World Series. Albright is an outfielder who bats right handed but throws left, and has struggled with strikeouts but has also drawn a lot of walks this season. He has good speed, and has stolen 15 bases without being caught, but not a ton of power, although he does have 10 home runs this year. Healy is a big left-handed pitcher who has trended the wrong way throughout his career.
All of the Duke prospects are pretty low down the prospect lists, and probably Proksch is the only one who is pretty much a sure thing to be drafted.
Louisville: Patrick Forbes (RHP), Matt Klein (C), Tucker Biven (RHP).
Forbes is the biggest prospect of this group by far, a right-handed pitcher (formerly a two-way player) who possesses two plus pitches (fastball and slider) and has struck out 12.9 per 9 across his college career. He’s another pitcher with the floor of a good reliever if he stays healthy, and there is top-tier closer potential. Making it as a starter will likely depend on developing a good third pitch; his changeup is well below-average at this point. The Diamondbacks do have success drafting right handed pitchers from the state of Kentucky, but Forbes would seem to be a long-shot. Matt Klein showed out in the Cape last summer, and has carried that offensive performance over to this year, slashing .327/.456/.551 but he missed two months with injury. Biven is a reliever/mid-week starter who has taken a big step back this year, but put together good strikeout numbers without many walks as a sophomore. He also turned in a great performance against Vanderbilt to help the Cardinals to this point.
LSU: Kade Anderson (LHP), Anthony Eyanson (RHP), Daniel Dickinson (2B), Chase Shores (RHP), Jared Jones (1B), Jacob Mayers (RHP), Conner Ware (LHP), Zac Cowan (RHP).
While Kade Anderson gets the headlines, Anthony Eyanson is another top-tier arm for the TigersPhoto by Stephen Bayog/LSU/University Images via Getty Images
When the season started, there was a decent chance that Anderson would be available at 18. Now, he’s got a shot to be the first overall pick, and he’s definitely not going to be available. Eyanson also has a shot to be a first-round pick, as he throws strikes and has struck out 13 per 9 while moving from the Big West to the SEC. Dickinson transferred from Utah Valley and kept getting on base, although his average and slugging percentage dropped off some; he’s a solid hitter who is limited to second base due to the arm, but has the potential to be very good there. Chase Shores is wild but throws triple digits and is 6’8”, 250, meaning he’d be an imposing presence on the mound and has real closer potential if he can learn some control. Jones is limited to first base, which is likely why he went undrafted last year, but might have the best power of anyone in the class. Mayers is another high-strikeout reliever who transferred into LSU and struck out 15.1 per 9, but also walked 12.6 per 9. Ware has struggled and hasn’t pitched for a while; he may be injured. Cowan is another high-strikeout bullpen arm.
Murray State: No top-500 prospects.
Murray State may lack the top-500 talent, but that hasn’t stopped them from scoring runs in bunches, including 19 against Duke yesterdayZachary Taft-Imagn Images
Oregon State: Aiva Arquette (SS), Gavin Turley (OF), Trent Caraway (3B), Nelson Keljo (LHP), Jacob Krieg (1B).
Arquette has a chance to be the first overall pick, although he’ll probably be taken somewhere in the 2-6 range. If by some miracle he makes it to 18, he’ll be the pick, but that’s not going to happen. Turley is an above-average outfielder with power, but he does struggle with chasing out of the zone. Caraway is a draft-eligible sophomore who has had a disappointing season; it would not be at all surprising if he elected to return to school. Keljo is a lefty who had a disappointing season while attempting to move from the bullpen to the rotation; he was still fine, but lacked the strikeout numbers and doubled his walk rate. He’ll still receive a lot of interest as a reliever. Krieg is a power-first first baseman with a ton of swing-and-miss. Essentially, he has been in college what Ivan Melendez has been in the pros, and while the power is substantial enough to be worth picking him, he shouldn’t be regarded as a major prospect.
UCLA: No top-500 prospects.
Just because neither Murray State nor UCLA has top-500 draft eligible prospects this year doesn’t mean they are devoid of talent. UCLA has the #9 rated prospect for the 2026 class, shortstop Roch Cholowsky. Murray State is a senior-heavy team that should have a few players selected on day three, with a couple possibly going on day two.
Pick to win: Arkansas
Arkansas (seen here after beating Ole Miss in 2019) dogpiled yesterday as they beat Tennessee, and will be looking to do so in Omaha for the first time ever.Photo by Andy Altenburger/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
LSU holds the record with 68,888 jello shots and one would expect them to challenge it, but with the Walmart fortune on the side of the Razorbacks, I think they can spring the upset.
Wait, on the field? Ok, Arkansas there, too.
The biggest part of winning the College World Series is having enough pitching. LSU might be seen to have the edge over Arkansas in that regard, but Arkansas’ pitchers have been performing better right now, and right now is the only time that matters. Coastal Carolina is a well-rounded team that has won 23 consecutive games and they can’t be overlooked. Arizona has a great core of position players. Oregon State is a wild-card; they have star power in Turley and Arquette, but because of their strange schedule it’s hard to gauge them. UCLA, Louisville, and especially whoever wins between Duke and Murray State would be extreme long shots, but the College World Series is the one championship where literally anything can happen.
As Arkansas knows, anything can happen even when you’re about to win it all, as in 2018 they found themselves an out away from a title before a pop-up fell in between three players and they lost that game and again the next day. This will be their third trip to Omaha since that day, and they’ve won just one game in their previous two trips, as well as being upset at home as the number one seed in 2021. This is their shot to exorcise those demons.
The Week That Was
The best performance of the week on a team level easily belonged to the Visalia Rawhide, who picked up a sweep over Inland Empire. It was the first six-game sweep in franchise history (and that’s a really long history, even though the six-game series hasn’t been around as long.) Amarillo won their series in Tulsa, 4-2 over the Dodgers’ affiliate. Hillsboro split in Spokane, holding serve in the race for the top spot in the Northwest League during the first half, but blew a late lead on Sunday to end the week on a sour note. Reno also split in Oklahoma City. But while none of the full season affiliates lost their series, there were plenty of missed opportunities. It remains to be seen whether or not the Hops will rue theirs.
Things were not as successful in the rookie leagues. The two teams in the Dominican Summer League both finished the week with losing records (2-3) and with the top prospects not performing as hoped, at least from a statistical perspective. The Pygmy Rattlers of Salt River (although these days, they’re more a full-time rehab squad) also went 2-3 on the week.
Hitters of the Week
This may have been one of the most difficult weeks to select any single player as the hitter of the week, so I’ve definitely fudged and selected multiple hitters.
Rookie League Hitters of the Week
Jorge Lara, DSL Arizona Black (16 PA, .455/.625/.727, 13 TTB)
Juan Alvarez, DSL Arizona Red (19 PA, .438/.444/.813, 14 TTB)
Just last week, I declared that Lara’s third year in the organization would be his final without showing progress. Early results are encouraging, as he’s been one of the best bats in the entire organization over the past week. His five hits include a double and a triple, and he’s walked four times without striking out. His 1.352 OPS was the highest of anyone with at least 15 plate appearances.
Alvarez has three doubles and a home run to his name, for an .813 slugging percentage which is the highest of anyone with at least 15 plate appearances. He’s also repeating the level; in 105 plate appearances last year he collected three extra base hits in total, so he’s already exceeded that number this year. The 19-year-old Cuban is limited to a corner, so he needs to show power to progress.
Full Season Hitters of the Week
Ryan Waldschmidt shows how quickly college stars can progress. Here he scores against Florida in Omaha last year; he could very well spend chunks of the second half this year in AA.Dylan Widger-Imagn Images
Ryan Waldschmidt, Hillsboro (29 PA, .360/.448/.760, 23 TTB)
Jackson Feltner, Hillsboro (23 PA, .333/.478/.722, 18 TTB)
Two members of this trio have been among the top offensive performers at their respective levels throughout the season. Their presence among the top performers isn’t surprising in any way. But Feltner? Going into last week he was slashing .138/.281/.300 with ten walks against 36 strikeouts. And while he still struck out seven times, he walked four times, doubled, and homered twice. But it was the fact that he also managed three singles to go 6-for-18 on the week that really propelled him here.
Waldschmidt had been slumping (by his standards) through most of May. He hadn’t hit a home run since May 1, and in that period he’d slashed .211/.368/.289; quite respectable but not up to his standards. He hit three home runs in Spokane, giving him eight on the year, and he was back to mashing the ball. (His .250 BABIP from May 2-June 1 indicated that he was probably not hitting the ball as hard as he had been.)
It’s probably not reasonable to describe what Tristin English is doing as a breakout season; he’s 28 and he’s had good seasons before, such as 2023. But after a disappointing season last year, he’s torn the cover off the ball this year, including a .400/.424/.636 line since returning from injury. He collected nine hits, three of which were of the extra base variety, and tied for the week lead in RBI with eight. The only bad part of his week was allowing his first run as a pitcher and taking the loss in Saturday’s game, as the Aces were dreadfully short on pitching and he was called upon in a tied game in the ninth inning.
There were outings with more strikeouts (Daniel Eagen and Casey Anderson both fanned seven in their respective starts) but in a week without many quality starts, Sanchez turned in one for the Rawhide. The right-handed pitcher, who will not turn 20 until September, has moved through the ranks steadily thus far, spending a season each in the Dominican and the complex. He’s gained control and while the strikeouts are down a little bit this year, the walks have been cut almost in half and he’s also allowing fewer hits. He’s not appeared on prospect lists, but he might be someone to keep an eye on moving forward.
Relief Pitchers of the Week
Gregori Ramirez, DSL Arizona Red (4.2 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 9 K)
This is the third season Ramirez has spent in the DSL, and with an injury interruption that caused him to miss all of last season, he’s old for the level, as he will be 21 in September. But in his first action since 2023, he struck out half of the batters he faced. Ramirez is a right-handed pitcher with what appears to be a pretty standard delivery, a fastball that sits low 91-92 and hit 95, and what looks like an excellent curve that induces some swing and miss and which he was able (in his first outing, the only one of which there is video) to throw for a strike in addition to getting hitters to miss. He also has what is probably a slider (hard to judge break from the camera angle) which is mid-80s and did not threaten the strike zone in the limited number of times I saw it. Three pitches sounds like a starter’s arsenal, but if Ramirez has a path forward, it is probably going to be from maximizing his fastball/curveball combo and working from the bullpen, where with a velo increase he could be sitting 95 and hitting 98.
Landon Sims, Amarillo (3 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 7 K)
Sims has taken some time to get comfortable, but has been great for Amarillo for a bit.Photo by John E. Moore III/Minor League Baseball via Getty Images
Sims had his season get off to a dismal start, allowing multiple runs in three of his first four appearances. Since then, though, he’s allowed four runs (three earned) in 16.2 innings. His 1.68 WHIP has still been high as he’s still walked too many and has carried a BABIP against of .390 during that time. But with bullpens shorthanded this week, Sims was lights-out, including a two inning save on Saturday where he struck out five. Part of that is not being at Hodgetown; batters have an .841 OPS against him at home versus .613 on the road, and he has not allowed an extra-base hit on the road while facing 60 batters (he’s allowed three at home while facing 46 batters.) The hope when Sims was drafted was that he could transition to being a starter; that ship has sailed, but he can still be a valuable bullpen piece. In fact, between Sims, Hayden Durke, and Jhosmer Alvarez, the Soddies might have three key pieces of the 2026 Diamondbacks’ bullpen.
Hellos and Goodbyes
Austin Pope (who had been out due to injury) and Andrew Saalfrank (out due to poor decisions) made their respective season debuts. Those two (along with René Pinto) are currently in the complex. Connor Kaiser is back from a stint on the IL. Augie Mojica, a 20-year-old from Florida, was signed and assigned to the complex; he was a high strikeout reliever for San Jacinto Junior College in Texas, and was most recently pitching for the Boise Hawks in the Pioneer League. His first outing on Saturday did not go well, but this is the sort of low-risk signing that teams make. Once in a while, it works out well.
Goodbye (for now) to Aramis Garcia, who has been one of the best hitters on the year at Reno, but due to roster constraints found himself designated for assignment. Even if he clears waivers, he can elect free agency rather than report back to Reno, and with Pinto and Adrian Del Castillo in process of returning, that might be the right decision for him. But for now, we can hold out hope that he will be back with the Aces.
Postseason Races
With the split-season format in the minor leagues, it’s getting close to the time where clubs have their first opportunity to clinch a postseason berth. While it’s a long-shot for most of the affiliates, here is what they need to do over the next couple of weeks.
Hillsboro has the best chance, as they hold onto first place in the Northwest League. The six-team league is the only one south of AAA that does not use a division format. It’s also currently jammed close between all six teams. Last place Tri-City is just 3.5 games back, and the top five teams are all within two games of one another. Prior to last week, the teams closest to the Hops were Spokane and Eugene; they held serve in Spokane and now return home to face Eugene, who is now in fifth place. The final series of the first half will see the Hops return to Pasco, WA, to take on Tri-City, who has been in last place most of the year. There’s no one out of it, and the Hops are missing Jansel Luis as well as getting pitchers called up to Amarillo.
Heading into the month, Visalia would have been regarded as well out of the race in the California League South Division. But first place Rancho Cucamonga has had a dismal start to the month. In fact, they have yet to win this month, and the Rawhide have taken advantage to move into second place and give themselves a chance. It’s not a very good chance, as the Quakes will get to play the Inland Empire 66ers, far and away the worst team in the league, but it is a chance. They sit four games behind entering the week, and will travel to Lake Elsinore before finishing the first half by hosting Fresno. They’ll have to keep winning; Rancho is at Inland Empire and then hosts Lake Elsinore, so it would be hard to see them doing worse than 6-6 over the final two series.
Reno and Amarillo are both essentially out of it. Reno is 8.5 games back and would have to overtake five teams, three of whom have a better run differential. Amarillo sits eight games back of Midland and would need to overtake three teams. They only play one of them, and the other two play each other this week, so it’s extremely unlikely. But Amarillo’s best shot at the postseason has always seemed to rely on getting reinforcements from Hillsboro and winning the second half.
Next Up
As noted, Visalia goes to Lake Elsinore and Hillsboro hosts Eugene. In addition, Amarillo hosts San Antonio and Reno hosts Sugar Land. Avery Short is in line to start twice this week for the Soddies, and Casey Kelly for the Aces, although given the state of the Diamondbacks’ pitching staff, it wouldn’t be out of the question for Kelly to get called up.
New Greenway Planned Along Foley’s Wolf Creek By OBA Staff • July 18, 2025 Foley, Ala. — (OBA) — The City of Foley is moving ahead with plans to expand its pedestrian trail system by adding a new walking path along Wolf Creek. The project, known as the Schreiber Trail, would stretch between the Wilbourne […]
Foley, Ala. — (OBA) — The City of Foley is moving ahead with plans to expand its pedestrian trail system by adding a new walking path along Wolf Creek. The project, known as the Schreiber Trail, would stretch between the Wilbourne Antique Rose Trail and North Poplar Street. It will follow the south bank of the creek…
If you were planning on protecting your peace, Giveon has other plans. American singer-songwriter Giveon Dezmann Evans dropped his second studio album “BELOVED” on July 11. The 14 tracks give listeners 38 minutes of an emotional rollercoaster by holding a magnifying glass to every phase of getting over a breakup. ‘BELOVED’ also pays homage to […]
If you were planning on protecting your peace, Giveon has other plans.
American singer-songwriter Giveon Dezmann Evans dropped his second studio album “BELOVED” on July 11. The 14 tracks give listeners 38 minutes of an emotional rollercoaster by holding a magnifying glass to every phase of getting over a breakup.
‘BELOVED’ also pays homage to ‘70s rhythm and blues, which relied heavily on strong instrumentals and soulful vocals. This is for those who’ve lingered on a dead love for too long before moving on.
The intro reflects the recovery stage of a fresh breakup. “MUD” kicks things off with a magical instrumental that continues throughout the entire album. While the music shines in this intro song, the lyrics cannot go unnoticed. “When you tell your story, it means telling everything about me” speaks the same as Fleetwood Mac’s “you’ll never get away from the sound of a woman that loves you.”
This also touches on one of the main themes in the album: the struggle of finding who you are outside of a relationship. It’s not uncommon to feel like the person you are after a breakup is too reflective of your ex. “RATHER BE” dives into the reality of settling out of convenience despite having someone else on your mind. It’s a waste of time, especially when Giveon knows he’d “rather be with you than the other half of someone who’s not even half of you.”
“TWENTIES” is Giveon realizing he spent too much of his youth with someone who was never going to be the right one. He thought he was growing alongside them, when in reality everything he learned to love was just because his partner loved it.
Like he said, though, he “hung onto you ‘cause I didn’t know better, I just felt like time was running out … I was so young and dumb.” For all the 20-somethings, do you also feel the weight of the world? Why is the success of our personal lives judged side by side with the success of our love lives? Sometimes young love strikes in frantic moments, and that’s why we settle for less.
“STRANGERS” shows the grief and anger before realizing it’s time to move on. I’m sure you’ve also found yourself thinking, “how’d we go from I love you, to how you been?” about someone you thought would be in your life forever.
“NUMB” has that same beautiful instrumental and complementary background vocals. It’s about hitting that rock bottom feeling after a breakup, when you think there’s no coming back from the pain. You “don’t even feel, don’t even fight, don’t know the days and I don’t know the nights.” This in combination with the fact that he’s “running out of things I want ever since she took my love” is like twisting the knife. “NUMB” ties up the theme of not knowing who you are outside of a relationship. “I CAN TELL” flips emotions. It’s a profession of love for someone in a relationship. He knows he can treat them better in every way and “if you let me, I’ma take his place.” This part of the album starts to show toxic themes. “I CAN TELL” is messy and destructive, while “DIAMONDS FOR YOUR PAIN” is emotional and manipulative.
“DIAMONDS FOR YOUR PAIN” is about a connection that just won’t fizz out – because he won’t let it. Giveon uses what this person loves against them to reel them back in. Every time, he’s just going to trade “diamonds for your pain, that’s a beautiful exchange.”
“KEEPER” shows his growth. He’s not the best, but he wants to work for another chance with this person. He’s “tryna be the one that you keep, not just the one who comes back around and drives you crazy.”
“SIX:THIRTY” is just 32 seconds, and I’m a fan of interlude types of songs in albums. It’s a nice buffer between tracks while serving as a palate cleanser in between Giveon’s second chance love story in “KEEPER” and his epiphany in “BACKUP PLAN.”
Now, dare I say “BACKUP PLAN” is the other side of “I CAN TELL” in a way? This is what it’s like to realize your significant other is checked out of the relationship. Giveon said they “used to fight a little longer, now you choose silence over war,” which shows clear as day that things aren’t going to end well.
“BLEEDING” is another ballad about putting someone before you. In a desperate effort to make a connection work, Giveon’s putting the pieces back together of this girl who’s still hung up on her ex, hurting himself in the process. He’s literally bleeding for her love, and it’s not going so well. Things change in “DON’T LEAVE.” Rather than putting all his energy into someone reluctant to replenish with him, Giveon fights for a strong connection that doesn’t want things to end either.
The theme of being better for someone better continues in “AVALANCHE,” one of my favorites by far. Giveon’s feeling butterflies while realizing this is the only girl he needs; he’s “falling hard, and falling for you” after “long calls, playing songs we both love.” It really is just the simple moments. Music is a love language in itself, of course. Speaking of love languages, the last track hits on there being more to a relationship than physical attraction. Like Giveon said, there’s the “GOOD BAD UGLY.” He worries about his relationship, wondering if the commitment is still mutual. Even though he’s wondering if it’s time to leave, he remembers being loved through the good, bad and ugly, and how it’s important to reciprocate that.
For his second studio album, Giveon can give himself a pat on the back. He’s placing his name at the top of R&B’s resurgence while fine tuning his own craft along the way. “MUD,” “STRANGERS” and “AVALANCHE” will live on my playlists for a long time, but I can’t not mention leading singles “RATHER BE” and “TWENTIES.” Every track in “BELOVED” has a different take on common storylines in modern romance, from the young and naive to the mature and yearning.
Yoon Hee-sook, chairman of the People’s Power Innovation Committee, criticized the party’s leadershi..
사진 확대 Yoon Hee-sook, chairman of the People’s Power Innovation Committee, enters the main office of the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, on the 17th. [Photo source = Yonhap News] Yoon Hee-sook, chairman of the People’s Power Innovation Committee, criticized the party’s leadership on the 21st, saying, “I think it is very important to express […]
Yoon Hee-sook, chairman of the People’s Power Innovation Committee, enters the main office of the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, on the 17th. [Photo source = Yonhap News]
Yoon Hee-sook, chairman of the People’s Power Innovation Committee, criticized the party’s leadership on the 21st, saying, “I think it is very important to express solidarity with Na Yoon Jang-song (Na Kyung-won, Yoon Sang-hyun, Jang Dong-hyuk, and Song Eon-seok), but they are not afraid of the people’s eyes and the people’s evaluation at all.”
Chairman Yoon said on CBS Radio’s ‘Kim Hyun-jung’s News Show’ earlier in the day, “I am very sorry about the will to innovate. I’m very sorry for the two weeks I’ve been feeling,” he said.
“It’s okay to criticize me for protecting Na Yoon-jang-song,” he said. “I don’t see the seriousness of thinking about the innovation plan at all or that there should be some discussions for the future of our party, and how do I hold out before the convention?”pointed out that.
He continued, “I saw him trying to drag his feet by only nitpicking very meaningless. So it’s a daguri (concealment) for the innovation plan, he said. “I even feel that these people (the emergency committee) do not sympathize with any crisis situation in our party at all.”
He said, “I received a letter of appointment on the 9th, and the first reform plan came out on the 10th, and I made and reported the 2nd and 3rd on the 11th. And after that, it was a time for the emergency committee, he explained. “When I went a week later, there was no meaningful discussion at all.”
Yoon Hee-sook, chairman of the People’s Power Innovation Committee, holds a press conference at the central headquarters in Yeouido, Seoul, on the 16th on reform measures such as human renewal. [Photo source = Yonhap News]
Chairman Yoon said, “We don’t need to apologize anymore. How long are you going to apologize. And martial law was justified.’ These debates are held in the party, and the leadership has not said much about it,” he said. “The ultimate goal is for our party to cut off from the past and cross the sea of impeachment, and there is a flow that continues to connect the past and keep our party in the sea of impeachment.”
He also said, “Isn’t it being named as far-right while Kang Sung and water polo are making remarks. That is the best enemy of our party. So, it was taken with Na Yoon Jang-song, he said. “These are the people who are most in danger of the party right now.”
“If the emergency committee and the medical gun do not show different appearances, it is not a matter of the innovation committee. “This is a problem for the party,” he said, adding, “From the people’s point of view, ‘There (the power of the people) is that the entire lawmaker is a water polo force.”
Regarding the joining of Jeon Han-gil (real name Jeon Yoo-kwan), a former Korean instructor who led the “opposition” to former President Yoon Suk Yeol’s impeachment and dismissal, he said, “During the debate, martial law was a decision of saving the country.” Then, what on earth has the leadership disciplined for that?”
He added, “Our party is now caught up in all that paternalism or factionalism and is caught up in such logic as ‘If I discipline these people, the other faction will be more advantageous’ and cannot move forward now.”
Penn volleyball appoints Tyler Hagstrom as new head coach
Hagstrom was named Patriot League Coach of the Year in 2024 after a historic 13-3 record in the league. By Justin Lee 6 hours ago Tyler Hagstrom was named the new women’s volleyball head coach in an announcement on July 16. (Photo courtesy of Penn Athletics) It’s the start of a new era for Penn […]
Hagstrom was named Patriot League Coach of the Year in 2024 after a historic 13-3 record in the league.
By Justin Lee
6 hours ago
Tyler Hagstrom was named the new women’s volleyball head coach in an announcement on July 16. (Photo courtesy of Penn Athletics)
It’s the start of a new era for Penn volleyball.
Nearly a month after former head coach Meredith Schamun’s resignation from the Red and Blue, Tyler Hagstrom has been named the new head coach of the program, Penn Athletics announced Wednesday. Hagstrom previously served as head coach at Bucknell — a position he held since 2020 — with his five years of coaching bringing the Bison volleyball program to new heights.
“Tyler has led winning teams at similar high-academic institutions during his time as a head and assistant coach. Penn volleyball is a team on the rise in the Ivy League, and we are confident that Tyler is the leader to get us to the next step in the program’s evolution,” 1996 College graduate and T. Gibbs Kane, Jr. W‘69 Director of Athletics and Recreation Alanna Wren said in a press release announcing the decision.
Hagstrom’s first full season with the Bison in the fall of 2021 culminated in a 3-13 finish in the Patriot League. However, he would soon go down in program history as the coach with the highest winning percentage.
In 2022, he brought the Bison to championship contention with an 8-8 finish in the Patriot League, the program’s first non-losing conference record since 2010. Hagstrom continued this streak: for the next two seasons, the Bison contended for the championship title in the Patriot League, finishing 11-5 in 2023 and 13-3 in 2024.
The 13 wins in the 2024 season marked a new program record, with the team also setting records in points, assists, kills, opponent hitting percentage, and digs.
Hagstrom was named Patriot League Coach of the Year in 2024 for setting a .808 winning percentage, the highest in team history. Hagstrom stepped down from the helm with a 59-48 overall record, having coached 10 all-league players, two Patriot League Liberos of the Year, and the Eastern College Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Year.
“I am incredibly grateful to Bucknell University for the opportunity to lead the volleyball program over the last five years,” Hagstrom said in a Bucknell annoucement. “From record-setting seasons to developing a strong team culture, I’m so proud of all we’ve accomplished together. The future of Bucknell Volleyball is undeniably bright, and I’ll be cheering them on every step of the way.”
The Daily Pennsylvanian is an independent, student-run newspaper. Please consider making a donation to support the coverage that shapes the University. Your generosity ensures a future of strong journalism at Penn.
STANFORD, Calif. – Stanford was honored with 19 student-athletes on the 2025 Association of Collegiate Water Polo Coaches (ACPWC) All-Academic Team. The Cardinal’s 19 honorees were its most since 23 players qualified in 2022. Student-athletes are awarded Outstanding status for carrying a GPA between 3.71-4.00, Superior status for a GPA between 3.41-3.70 and Excellent status for […]
STANFORD, Calif. – Stanford was honored with 19 student-athletes on the 2025 Association of Collegiate Water Polo Coaches (ACPWC) All-Academic Team.
The Cardinal’s 19 honorees were its most since 23 players qualified in 2022.
Student-athletes are awarded Outstanding status for carrying a GPA between 3.71-4.00, Superior status for a GPA between 3.41-3.70 and Excellent status for a GPA between 3.20-3.40.
Day 13 Schedule Classification 7-8 Match 45. 16:00. Classification 3-4Match 47. 17:35. Classification 5-6Match 46. 20:00. Classification 1-2Match 48. 21:35. Overview In classification matches, China reversed the result of last year’s Doha play-off, beating New Zealand 10-6. Great Britain defeated France for the second time after day-one round play, to take out 11th position. Match […]
In classification matches, China reversed the result of last year’s Doha play-off, beating New Zealand 10-6. Great Britain defeated France for the second time after day-one round play, to take out 11th position.
Match Reports
Classification 9-10
Match 40, CHINA 10 NEW ZEALAND 6 (4-2, 2-1, 0-1, 4-2)
In Doha last year this match was also for ninth classification and the Kiwis won 16-15. Today China held sway for all of the match and finished with a flourish despite a multitude of Kiwi goals on target or hitting the frame.
China almost swam away with the match in the first quarter such was the ferocity of its attack. Yan Siya and two Zhou Shang forward goals had China at 3-0 by 4:46. It took two Morgan McDowall goals — the first off the left-post position on extra and the second on counter — and an Emily Nicholson centre-forward backhand at 3:06 to level the score, However, a VAR review showed the ball was still in hand at the buzzer and the goal disallowed. It did slow the China charge, however. With eight seconds remaining, Zhang Yumian nudged the score to 4-2. ZhangYumian started the second quarter from the top left. Nearly three minutes later, McDowall scored off the left post on extra again for 5-3. Yan Siya hit the crossbar on penalty at 1:09 but found a gap at 0:30 for 6-3 at halftime.
A Kiwi timeout at 5:48 yielded several shots at goal with McDowall picking up the rubbish and muscling in her fourth goal. As the thunder ripped through the city and rain and intruded the media tribunes, New Zealand had a challenge disallowed. Straight after the ball was stolen and Morgan went on the charge, gaining a penalty foul. China challenged — amazing since Angie Winstanley-Smith and Miki Oca, the respective coaches, chatted in the stands for a long period before the match. The challenge was lost and Millie Quin hit the right post. Tough defence denied both teams a goal before the final break.
The last period was excellent for China sneaking in two goals before McDowall stopped the trend with her four-metre strike. Shao Yixin countered for 9-5 and Emmerson Houghton converted a penalty after a violent action was challenged as two Chinese players left the water clutching their eyes. Wang Huan sent in a slider from well outside for 10-6 at 2:15, which proved to be the winner.
Match Heroes McDowall was the best in water by far with her dynamic play, gutsy intervention and power shooting, netting her five of the Kiwis’ six goals. She finished the tournament with 19 goals. Emmerson Houghton, who scored the penalty was second with 14. For China, Zhang Yumian, Zhou Shang, Wang Huan and Yan Siya scored twice each. Yan was best for China with 15 goals and Shao Yixin, one today, took 10. Goalkeeper Shen Yineng stopped eight today and 50 for the week.
Turning Point The opening three goals.
Stats Don’t Lie China may have only scored one from three on extra but denied the Kiwis nine times from 11. China missed its one penalty shot and New Zealand one from two. China stole 11 to eight and shot 31 to 27.
Bottom Line Two classy teams with a point to prove and both played strongly.
What They Said
Classification 11-12
Match 39, FRANCE 9 GREAT BRITAIN 14 (1-2, 3-4, 2-4, 3-4)
These two teams were meeting for the second time in Singapore with Great Britain having beaten France 12-9 on the first day of competition in their round clash. Today, it was a similar score at 14-9 but with a different dimension that included two French red cards. Whereas Britain was 2-1 ahead after the first period today, last week, France held the edge at 4-3. Tiziana Raspo opened for France from centre forward with Lily Turner on penalty and Katie Brown from the top deciding the period in Britain’s favour. Turner had her penalty attempt blocked at the top of the second quarter with Ema Vernoux making sure of her penalty chance at the other end. Anya Clapperton on extra from the top; Turner from the outside left and Kathy Rogers off a cross pass to the right post on extra rocketed Great Britain to 5-2. Vernoux converted another penalty foul for 5-3, much like in that first match. Valentine Heurtaux sent in France’s third penalty goal and Rogers dragged down a cross pass to the left post from the right on extra for 6-4 — the exact score as on day one. One of the keys to British supremacy was the nine saves from goalkeeper Sophie Jackson.
Toula Falvey scored on extra off the right-post position on the first British attack of the second half and Vernoux finished a clinical extra-player movement for 7-5. Brooke Tafazolli speared one down the left and Amelia Peters turned at the left post to goal at 4:33. Camille Radosavljevic pulled one back for France, although Izzy Howe finished an extra-player movement from top right on double extra at 0:23. A chance for France to narrow that margin failed when Heurtaux bounced into the crossbar on penalty, five seconds from the buzzer. At 10-6, it almost mirrored the first encounter when Britain led 11-6. Pasiphae Martineaud Peret had 11 saves for France at this stage and Jackson was on 12.
Controversy reigned in the final quarter as, after three and a half minutes when Heurtaux scored form the top, Vernoux was adjudged, with the use of VAR, to have allegedly kicked an opponent in the head in an earlier movement. Heurtaux’s effort was scratched, Vernoux sent from the pool deck (reluctantly) and Great Britain on a player up. It was Peters who scored, not on extra, for 11-7 and Radosavljevic made a penalty conversion. Soon after Arianna Banchi was red-carded (Ed: reason unknown), joining team-mate Vernoux in the “naughty box”. Another shot at extra attack yielded nothing and France called a timeout at 2:57, still in with a chance. Lou Jean-Michel converted extra for 11-8 and Turner put away another penalty shot. Britain called a timeout and Brown converted double extra. Emma Duflos did not wish to leave Singapore without a goal, so scored from centre forward at 0:52. Captain Rogers shovelled in a rebound off the second British shot at 0:14 and Britain had grasped 11th place.
Match Heroes Britain’s Turner (18 in total) and Rogers (8) scored three each. Falvey scored once today for 10. Goalkeeper Jackson made 12 saves for 38 in Singapore. France’s Vernoux scored three for 15 and Radosavljevic three. Heurtaux, who scored one from nine today, was second best with 10 goals. Martineaud Peret also made 12 saves for 49 in all.
Turning Point Britain coming from one down to 6-4 ahead at halftime and then 10-6 at the last break.
Stats Don’t Lie Britain scored eight from 15 on extra and stopped five of seven. On penalties, France went four from five and Britain two from three. On steals, Britain made nine to eight and shot 37-34.
Bottom Line Great Britain, with three wins here, was 11th in 2024 and France 14th, so one team advanced its position.
:format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/26023047/2204383432.jpg)
:format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/26023050/2217835012.jpg)
:format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/26023057/usa_today_26410335.jpg)
:format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/26023059/1149632760.jpg)
:format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/26023085/usa_today_23579624.jpg)
:format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/26023093/2207719565.jpg)
![Yoon Hee-sook, chairman of the People's Power Innovation Committee, enters the main office of the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, on the 17th. [Photo source = Yonhap News]](https://wimg.mk.co.kr/news/cms/202507/21/news-p.v1.20250721.4354ae1948824d5a8a94194d8732f0ba_P1.jpg)
![Yoon Hee-sook, chairman of the People's Power Innovation Committee, holds a press conference at the central headquarters in Yeouido, Seoul, on the 16th on reform measures such as human renewal. [Photo source = Yonhap News]](https://wimg.mk.co.kr/news/cms/202507/21/news-p.v1.20250721.e346d6a27165405a99d0ce19f0d3d204_P1.jpg)
