High School Sports
Pitching key to Trailblazers' success
PENN LAIRD — Many athletes have a pregame regimen to get motivated before they go out to perform. It could be listening to their favorite workout or hype music, watching old sports highlights, or listening to motivational speeches. Whatever it takes, athletes will do what they can to get in the mode and be game-ready. […]

PENN LAIRD — Many athletes have a pregame regimen to get motivated before they go out to perform.
It could be listening to their favorite workout or hype music, watching old sports highlights, or listening to motivational speeches.
Whatever it takes, athletes will do what they can to get in the mode and be game-ready.
For Spotswood senior pitching aces Carter Lenz and Brady Hoover, neither of them has any go-to superstitions.
That’s because the two simply live for the game, and the excitement and thrill of taking the mound and competing gives them the spark they need before they take the field.
“Honestly, it kind of does itself,” Lenz said. “I love the game of baseball, so every game gets me pretty fired up and gets me going a little bit. … I just live in the moment with my guys.”
Where does Hoover get his energy from as he trots out to the mound?
At least this year, Hoover lets the feeling of knowing it could be his final high school game bottle up inside and gets set to release that adrenaline against whoever steps up against him at the plate.
“I don’t know when it’s going to be my last time playing high school baseball,” Hoover said. “If that doesn’t get you fired up, I don’t know what does.”
Hoover and Lenz have maximized that drive to keep playing high school baseball because, win or lose, they’ll be hanging up the Spotswood blue and white after this weekend.
In the end, the pitching duo could call themselves state champions.
“Carter and Brady are extremely special athletes,” SHS head coach Marcus Davis said. “Anytime they’re on the mound, they give us a chance to be successful. We’re extremely thankful for them. They put in a lot of work behind the scenes.”
Hoover and Lenz have varying pitching styles, making them a phenomenal 1-2 punch for the Blazers pitching staff.
They have differing mentalities on the bump, but Lenz said he and Hoover have a unique bond that pushes them both to be at their best.
“We’re both very similar people,” Lenz said. “We get along great. He’s a great teammate and I love to have him around. We use each other to push each other. Very similar in skill level and we just like to treat every game like a competition in the game. We always try to see who can have the better outing and push each other that way. It’s just a really fun dynamic between us.”
Hoover and Lenz have proven they can go the distance in any game while throwing a high volume of strikeouts, and while that might be similar, their styles are different.
Davis described Lenz as having a “closer” mindset on the mound with excellent velocity and extreme competitiveness.
No matter the situation, Davis said Lenz never wavers and believes he can get the job done.
Spotswood’s Carter Lenz winds up a pitch to Turner Ashby earlier this season.
“His mentality is more of a closer,” Davis said. “He’s going to dominate. That’s his mentality, is ‘I’m going to dominate whoever’s in the box, no matter what.’ … Carter is all-out, all the time, and I love it.”
Hoover is a more traditional pitcher, Davis said, describing him as one who throws a ton of pitches for strikes and understands the role of a starter.
“Brady is more of a finesse guy,” Davis said. “He pitches with some velocity but does a good job spotting.”
Hoover and Lenz have alternated as the starting pitcher essentially every other game this season.
With that amount of activity, Hoover said it’s important for he and Lenz to hold each other accountable, even if it’s the small things such as getting a run in after the game.
“I think we usually keep each other in check,” Hoover said. “After games, we always have [to run], so we always keep each other to that standard of finishing our running and all that. It just keeps us in good shape to be able to come out and pitch the next game and be ready.”
Davis often talks about executing the four phases of the game, with pitching being one of them.
Whether it’s Hoover or Lenz on the mound, the duo both have the confidence in themselves and in each other to check off that box every game.
“When I’m on the mound, I’m like, ‘All right, tonight, we’re getting that pitching box checked off,’” Lenz said. “‘We’re getting that done. I’m going to do my part to help our team win.’”
Hoover has played in his fair share of big-time games at Spotswood, but none will be greater than this Friday’s state semifinal matchup against Kettle Run at Fluvanna County High at 1:30 p.m.
But with the experience of those huge moments over the years, Hoover isn’t shying away from the spotlight this weekend.
“I feel like through all the big games I’ve played in my life, it’s definitely helped me up to this point,” Hoover said.
Hoover and Lenz have thrown some of their best outings in their final season with the Blazers, and the duo will look to do the same this weekend as they aim to notch two more victories and bring home the hardware to Penn Laird.
“It’d mean everything,” Hoover said. “It’d be awesome. … It’s what everyone works for and what everyone lives for.”
Lenz couldn’t find the words to describe what a state championship win would mean.
But one thing he knows for sure, between heartbreak in the playoffs the previous few years and the camaraderie among the players, Lenz knows it would be special.
“It’s something to look back on,” Lenz said. “It’s your last time really playing with the group of guys you grew up with, so it makes it special. Whenever a game is special, everyone is going to put their all into and really go all-out for it.”
High School Sports
Marcus Semien's 250th career homer highlights Rangers' victory over AL West
HOUSTON — Marcus Semien hit his 250th career home run and Adolis García also went deep to back up a strong start by Nathan Eovaldi and give the Texas Rangers a 5-1, series-clinching victory over the Houston Astros on Sunday. Related:Texas Rangers 2025 MLB draft central: Full list of picks, analysis, more Eovaldi (7-3) limited […]

HOUSTON — Marcus Semien hit his 250th career home run and Adolis García also went deep to back up a strong start by Nathan Eovaldi and give the Texas Rangers a 5-1, series-clinching victory over the Houston Astros on Sunday.
Eovaldi (7-3) limited Houston to five hits and a run with eight strikeouts in 7 2/3 innings for his third straight win.
Houston starter Hunter Brown (9-4) allowed five hits and four runs while striking out eight in five innings as the AL West leaders lost for the fifth time in six games. It was the second straight tough outing for the All-Star, who gave up a season-high six runs in his last start against Cleveland.
Wyatt Langford walked to open the second and the Rangers made it 1-0 when he scored on a triple by Evan Carter. There were two outs in the inning when Carter scored on a ground-rule double by Ezequiel Duran to push the lead to 2-0.
García’s third homer in the last four games put Texas ahead 3-0 with two outs in the third inning.
Carter doubled to start the fourth and Kyle Higashioka singled before Carter scored on a sacrifice fly by Alejandro Osuna to make it 4-0.
The Astros cut it to 4-1 on a home run by Zack Short with no outs in the sixth inning.
Semien’s shot with one out in the eighth inning was his second of the series and gave him 250 in his 13-year career.
Key moment
Texas jumping on Brown for two runs in the second inning to take the lead for good.
Key stat
García’s 20 home runs against the Astros since 2021 are the most of any player in that span.
Up next
The Astros open the second half of the season Friday night at Seattle, and the Rangers host Detroit on the same night.
Find more Rangers coverage from The Dallas Morning News here.
High School Sports
Semien's 250th career homer highlights Rangers' 5
Published Sunday, July 13, 2025 | 1:51 p.m. HOUSTON (AP) — Marcus Semien hit his 250th career home run and Adolis García also went deep to back up a strong start by Nathan Eovaldi and give the Texas Rangers a 5-1, series clinching victory over the Houston Astros on Sunday. Eovaldi (7-3) limited Houston to […]

Published Sunday, July 13, 2025 | 1:51 p.m.
HOUSTON (AP) — Marcus Semien hit his 250th career home run and Adolis García also went deep to back up a strong start by Nathan Eovaldi and give the Texas Rangers a 5-1, series clinching victory over the Houston Astros on Sunday.
Eovaldi (7-3) limited Houston to five hits and a run with eight strikeouts in 7 2/3 innings for his third straight win.
Houston starter Hunter Brown (9-4) allowed five hits and four runs while striking out eight in five innings as the AL West leaders lost for the fifth time in six games. It was the second straight tough outing for the All-Star, who gave up a season-high six runs in his last start against Cleveland.
Wyatt Langford walked to open the second and the Rangers made it 1-0 when he scored on a triple by Evan Carter. There were two outs in the inning when Carter scored on a ground-rule double by Ezequiel Duran to push the lead to 2-0.
García’s third homer in the last four games put Texas ahead 3-0 with two outs in the third inning.
Carter doubled to start the fourth and Kyle Higashioka singled before Carter scored on a sacrifice fly by Alejandro Osuna to make it 4-0.
The Astros cut it to 4-1 on a home run by Zack Short with no outs in the sixth inning.
Semien’s shot with one out in the eighth inning was his second of the series and gave him 250 in his 13-year career.
Texas jumping on Brown for two runs in the second inning to take the lead for good.
García’s 20 home runs against the Astros since 2021 are the most of any player in that span.
The Astros open the second half of the season Friday night at Seattle, and the Rangers host Detroit on the same night.
___
AP MLB:
https://apnews.com/hub/MLB
High School Sports
Old Mill's Tsedeke Jakovics named Capital Gazette 2025 boys track and field Athlete of the Year
Old Mill’s Tsedeke Jakovics, a 10-time state champion, leads the Capital Gazette 2025 boys track and field All-County team as Athlete of the Year. Subscribe to continue reading this article. Already subscribed? To log in, click here. 0


Old Mill’s Tsedeke Jakovics, a 10-time state champion, leads the Capital Gazette 2025 boys track and field All-County team as Athlete of the Year.
Subscribe to continue reading this article.
Already subscribed? To log in, click here.
High School Sports
Emmanuel Latte Lath converts stoppage
TORONTO — Emmanuel Latte Lath converted a penalty kick in the 11th minute of stoppage time for Atlanta United on Saturday night in a 1-1 tie with Toronto FC. Latte Lath’s shot from the spot was parried by goalkeeper Sean Johnson near the left post but slipped inside the right post to cap the scoring. […]

TORONTO — Emmanuel Latte Lath converted a penalty kick in the 11th minute of stoppage time for Atlanta United on Saturday night in a 1-1 tie with Toronto FC.
Latte Lath’s shot from the spot was parried by goalkeeper Sean Johnson near the left post but slipped inside the right post to cap the scoring.
Jayden Hibbert, who turns 21 on Aug. 5, made his MLS debut for Atlanta and finished with four saves. Hibbert started in place of Brad Guzan, who underwent surgery Tuesday to repair a fractured cheekbone that occurred in a collision with teammate Luis Abram in last week’s 0-0 tie at D.C. United.
Deybi Flores headed home a corner kick played in by Matty Longstaff to give Toronto a 1-0 lead in the 48th minute.
Toronto (4-11-6) has one win in its last seven games.
Atlanta (4-10-7) is winless in four straight.
High School Sports
No hitter highlights Muskegon Clippers' doubleheader sweep of Copperheads
By Dave HartLocalSportsJournal.com MUSKEGON – For the first time this season, the Muskegon Clippers have control of their own destiny. The Clippers swept a doubleheader against the Southern Ohio Copperheads on Saturday night at Marsh Field and did it with the franchise’s first no hitter in the nightcap. The Clippers won the opening game in sudden […]

By Dave Hart
LocalSportsJournal.com
MUSKEGON – For the first time this season, the Muskegon Clippers have control of their own destiny.
The Clippers swept a doubleheader against the Southern Ohio Copperheads on Saturday night at Marsh Field and did it with the franchise’s first no hitter in the nightcap.
The Clippers won the opening game in sudden death, 6-5, then pulled off a 3-0 combined no-hitter by Maxwell Salas and Winston Delp and won the nightcap.
Muskegon suddenly has the second-best winning percentage in the league with a 17-16 record with just nine games remaining.
The Clippers will travel to play the Xenia Scouts in a three-game series starting on Tuesday. First pitch is slated for 7:05 p.m.
“We tried to pick the right guys to pitch on the right day,” said Clippers’ manager Logan Fleener. “Our staff called a great game and executed.
“We played a high anxiety sudden death game, and then all of a sudden, it’s 20 minutes we need to get hot again. We are humans and we are going to do everything to get ready, but it helped having a guy shove it down their throats.”
Game 1
Clippers 6
Copperheads 5 (Sudden death)
The Clippers jumped out to a 5-0 lead, scoring three runs in the first and two in the third inning.
Muskegon scored on a wild pitch and two-run double by Luke Noack in the first inning.
The Clippers added a pair of runs on RBI singles from Cole Leclair and Aidan Robinson.
The Copperheads responded with two runs in the sixth and three in the seventh inning to tie the contest. Both teams failed to score in the eighth, forcing a sudden death half inning.
In the sudden death ninth inning, Southern Ohio opted to go on offense, which put a runner on first with no outs. If the Coppersheads score, they win. If Muskegon keeps them from scoring, the Clippers win.
The Copperheads advanced their runner to third base, but could not get him home.
Taylor Head and Leclair paced the Clippers with two hits apiece.
Davis Weeks earned the win by shutting down Southern Ohio in the sudden-death inning. Connor Freeman tossed a no-decision, pitching five innings and allowing no runs on five hits while striking out six batters.
Game 2
Clippers 3
Copperheads 0
Six shutout innings by Salas and one by Delp secured the no-hit victory. Salas struck out five and walked two while Delp came on in the seventh inning for the final three outs.
Clippers scored a run in the second, third, and sixth innings.
Weeks had an RBI single; Jack Bakus added an RBI single; and Ashten Wong had a sacrifice fly.
Ethan Delgado, Bakus, Weeks, and Ben Meyers each recorded a hit.
“It feels awesome to do this on this historical field and be a part of the history,” Salas said. “I try to throw as many strikes as possible and see what happens. And I trust the guys behind me.”
It is never easy for a reliever to finish a no-hitter, but Delp had plenty of confidence going into the final inning.
“Max (Salas) did all the hard work, but the hard part is I didn’t want to let him down,” Delp said. “I just tried to fill up the zone and use the team around me.”

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