Rich Hill, 45, inks minor league deal with Royals to continue baseball odyssey

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8 months ago

May 13, 2025

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Rich Hill, 45, inks minor league deal with Royals to continue baseball odyssey

Rich Hill isn’t ready to hang up his cleats.

At 45 years old, the veteran southpaw signed a minor league deal with the Royals, the team announced on Tuesday.

Hill will reportedly join Triple-A Omaha after reporting to Kansas City’s spring training facility in Florida.

He makes his return to professional baseball after a brief stint with the Red Sox in 2024, tossing 3 ⅔ innings across four outings with a 4.91 ERA.

Boston Red Sox pitcher Rich Hill throws against the Detroit Tigers in the fifth inning of a baseball game, Sept. 1, 2024, in Detroit. AP

Should Hill make it to the majors this season, he will be the oldest player in the league — a title he held in each of the past two seasons as well.

Hill is hoping to extend what has been one of the most unique MLB careers imaginable.

After being drafted in 2002 and debuting with the Cubs in 2005, Hill struggled to get a foothold in the big leagues through his first 10 MLB seasons, bouncing between six organizations.

Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Rich Hill (44) delivers a pitch against the New York Mets during the first inning at PNC Park. USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Con

At 35 years old, Hill signed with the Red Sox – his second stint with the organization – and turned four strong starts into a one-year deal with the A’s, breathing new life into his career.

From 2016 to 2021, Hill was one of the best starting pitchers in baseball when healthy, winning 48 games and posting a 3.22 ERA.

In 386 career games, Hill has gone 90-74 with a 4.01 ERA and 1,428 strikeouts.

If he plays for the Royals this season, they will be the 14th big league team Hill has appeared with, which would tie Edwin Jackson’s record for most teams played for.

Huntington’s Sebek makes Class 3A all-state volleyball third team | Sports

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5 minutes ago

January 4, 2026

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Blue Bell/TSWA Class 2A All-State Volleyball – The Gilmer Mirror

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21 minutes ago

January 4, 2026

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Iola’s McKown player of the year

LONGVIEW – Iola outside hitter Shaylee McKown, who led the Lady Bulldogs to a state championship, was the Class 2A player of the year on the Blue Bell/Texas Sports Writers Association Class 2A all-state volleyball team.
McKown had 17 kills and seven digs in leading Iola (48-5) to a 25-23, 25-16, 25-12 victory over Crawford in the Division II state title match.

FIRST TEAM
Middle Blockers: Kellen Weaver, Beckville, sr.; Camryn Powers, Crawford, jr.; Kennedy Slay, Tioga, jr.
Outside Hitters: Shaylee McKown, Iola, jr.; Keegan Kleiber, Mumford; Rayna Sadler, Leon, jr.
Setter: Rylee Goodney, Iola, sr.
Libero/Defensive Specialist: Averi Bolgiano, Crawford, jr.
Player of the year: McKown, Iola
Coach of the year: Jamie McDougald, Iola

SECOND TEAM
Middle Blockers: Jacie Boles, North Hopkins, jr.; Sy Parker, Nocona; Channing Horne, Leon, jr.
Outside Hitters: Macey Hoelscher, North Hopkins, jr.; Cami Hoyle, Iola, jr.; Ava Johnson, Nocona, sr.
Setter: Landry Zapalac, Schulenburg, sr.
Libero/Defensive Specialist: Jenna Guentert, Schulenburg, soph.

THIRD TEAM
Middle Blockers: Katherine Lindemann, Garrison, jr.; Tatum Miller, Crawford; Camdyn Owen, Italy, sr.
Outside Hitters: Aubrie Kabisch, Nocona, sr.; Katelin Sullivan, Flatonia; Haylee Vacek, Schulenburg, jr.
Setter: Ainsley Anderson, Crawford, soph.
Libero/Defensive Specialist: Ava Bessette, Iola, sr.

HONORABLE MENTION
Middle Blockers: Darriyah Thomas, Omaha Pewitt, sr.; Ary’anna Mealing, Forsan, sr.; Reagan Dusek, Schulenburg, sr.; Christian Geary, Sterling City, jr.; Cadence Money, North Hopkins, sr.; Saylor Smith, Como-Pickton, sr.; Maud Poortvliet, Como-Pickton, sr.; Harlee Sevcik, Shiner, soph.; Kamiah Birmingham, Linden-Kildare, jr.; Whitney Arledge, Hamilton, soph.
Outside Hitters: Preslee Kittrell, Midred, soph.; Ella Connell, Crawford, jr.; Lily Bailey, Hawley, sr.; Kati Calvillo, Como-Pickton, jr.; Kaitlyn Jenkins, Rosebud-Lott, sr.; Camdyn Benton, Riesel, jr.; Greenli VanZandt, Schulenburg, jr.; Charlee Wolf, Windthorst, sr.; Anna Claire Cooper, Hamilton, jr.
Setters: Claytie Free, Leon, soph.; Eden Lewis, North Hopkins, jr.; Vada Kendall, North Hopkins, soph.; Mhia Garcia, Como-Pickton, jr.; Carli Tuttle, Beckville, jr.
Libero/Defensive Specialist: Kylynn Ramirez, Shiner, sr.; Karissa Fillingim, Windthorst, sr.; Avery Futrell, Leon, sr.; Tatum Thompson, North Hopkins, sr.; Journey Brumley, Como-Pickton, jr.; Kaidance Goldbolt, North Hopkins, jr.; Aubree Kleinhans, Nocona, sr.; Emery Parrott, Hamilton, sr.

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Season Review: Union volleyball fought adversity in 2025 season | Sports

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37 minutes ago

January 4, 2026

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Men’s Ice Hockey Comes Up Short Against Arcadia

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54 minutes ago

January 4, 2026

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FAIRPORT, N.Y. – Arcadia used a stretch of three unanswered goals – two in the first and one in the second – to sneak past the St. John Fisher men’s ice hockey team 3-2 on Saturday evening at the Rochester Ice Center. The Cardinals dropped to 8-6-0 overall, while the Knights improved to 6-5-1.

How it Happened

The Cardinals opened the scoring just more than three minutes into the first period when Brendan Merriman and Mitchell Ferras assisted James Ecans. The Knights answered before the midway point of the period, as Elijah Clow scored to even the game. Bryce Battaglia found the net in the final minutes of the opening frame to give the Knights a 2-1 lead.

Arcadia extended its advantage midway through the second period when Brendan Dicker scored, pushing the Knights’ lead to two goals.

Leyton Pettypiece scored the Cardinals’ final goal of the game late in the second period, cutting the deficit in half off a feed from Cannon Lentz.

Game Notes

St. John Fisher freshman goaltender Marcus Ouellet made 12 saves in his collegiate debut.

Evans recorded a goal for a second consecutive game.

Up Next

The Cardinals face SUNY Brockport at 7 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 16, inside the Rochester Ice Center.

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Mavericks Conclude Cactus Cup with 4-3 win over Yale – Minnesota State University

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1 hour ago

January 4, 2026

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THOUSAND PALMS, Calif. – No. 14 Minnesota State turned its fortune around with a 4-3 win over Yale University to take third place in the 2026 Coachella Cactus Cup at Acrisure Arena on Saturday. Freshman goaltender Max Beckford (London, Ontario) stopped 15 shots for his first career victory as a Maverick.

“The response from game one to game two was needed,” reflected head coach Luke Strand. “There’s another layer to our group that needs to take off as we get back into conference play. We are grateful to UMass Lowell and the Acrisure group for the invitation to the tournament and the setup.”

Freshman forward Jordan Ronn (Champlin, Minn.) notched his second goal of the season at the 10:14 mark of the first period, giving the Mavericks the lead heading into the first intermission. Ronn curled across the blue line and executed a give-and-go with senior defenseman Campbell Cichosz (Albert Lea, Minn.). Ronn wired a wrist shot from the left dot and freshman Reid Morich (Scottsdale, Ariz.) collected the second assist for MSU.

Freshman forward Mason LeBel (South Bend, Ind.) put away his first collegiate goal in the second period for a 2-0 Maverick lead. After an offensive zone faceoff win, junior Fin Williams (North Vancouver, B.C.) fed LeBel at the top off the crease from behind the goal line on the short side at 2:59. Fifty-eight seconds later, junior Luigi Benincasa (Edmonton, Alberta) reversed a pass behind the goal for Alex Zetterberg (Sundvall, Sweden) and the sophomore tucked in the puck for a 3-0 advantage with his fourth of the year.

Donovan Frias cut the lead to 3-1 at 8:42 at even strength with a deflection off the rush for Yale. Owen Forester and Rhys Bentham assisted.

Leading by a pair heading into the third period, junior Ean Somoza (Simi Valley, Calif.) scored his second goal in seven games this season for the Mavericks when he backhanded one in from the low slot at 2:44, assisted by senior Jack Smith (St. Cloud, Minn.).

David Chen responded with a tap-in on the weak side post at 7:54 after the Bulldogs created a 2-on-1 break at the conclusion of a minor penalty.

Beckford kicked out Dylan Hunt’s shot but Owen Forester banged in the rebound to draw the Bulldogs to 4-3 with 5:25 remaining in regulation. Minnesota State withstood pressure with Yale’s netminder pulled in the final minute.

The Mavericks had ten different players with one point on the night and MSU outshot Yale 38-18. The Mavericks finished 0-3 on the power play while the Bulldogs converted 0-4.

Minnesota State (12-5-5, 8-3-3 CCHA) improved to 3-1-1 all-time against Yale (4-10-0, 3-5-0 ECAC), the nation’s longest-tenured college hockey program. It was the first meeting between non-conference foes since Dec. 30, 2008.

The Mavericks host St. Thomas (10-7-3, 7-3-2) next on Saturday, January 10 at 6:07 p.m. CT in a CCHA matchup at Mayo Clinic Health System Event Center. The Mavericks lead the Tommies by four points in the conference standings but UST holds two games in hand.

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Check out the Baton Rouge-area All-Metro Volleyball team | High School Sports

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1 hour ago

January 4, 2026

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Julianne Arruda, University High, So., 349 assists, 270 kills, 195 digs, 50 aces.

Ava Rodrigue, St. Michael, Sr., 348 digs, 79 assists, 46 aces.

Skylar Towner, St. Michael, Jr., 343 kills, 71 blocks.

Bella Bravata, St. Michael, Sr., 339 kills, 303 digs.

Monet Temple, University High, Fr., 351 kills, 207 digs, 56 aces.

Zadi Huggins, Dunham, Jr., 367 kills, 244 digs, 68 blocks.

Addyson Sides, Central Private, Sr., 356 kills, 202 digs, 58 aces.

Yahni Olivier, Episcopal, Fr., 188 kills, 124 digs.

Honorable mention: Rory Forbes, Central Private; Isa Richardson, Dunham; Kennedy Otwell, Parkview Baptist; Marin Price, Parkview Baptist; Marielle Gary, St. Michael; Aubrie Jefferson, Slaughter Community Charter; Hannah LaGarde, Southern Lab; Alleyiah Martin, Southern Lab.

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