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Springfield native Burba now a veteran minor league pitching coach

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Springfield native Burba now a veteran minor league pitching coach

When Burba, a 1984 Kenton Ridge High School graduate, returned to his hometown to visit his parents Gerald and Linda, who still lived in the Northridge neighborhood where he grew up, he recognized that he had probably thrown his last pitch in professional baseball.

“I just don’t think it’s going to happen,” Burba said then. “I don’t think somebody’s going to call and say, ‘Hey, we need you to come try out for spring training.’ A 39-year-old guy who didn’t even play in the big leagues last year. What do you think? You’ve got a better chance of winning the lottery.”

Even though Burba wanted to keep pitching, he couldn’t complain about what he was able to accomplish in the game. He pitched for six big-league teams, including the Cincinnati Reds and Cleveland Indians (now the Guardians), between 1990 and 2004.

Burba was the winning pitcher in Game 2 of the National League Division Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1995. That remains the last playoff series the Reds have won. He pitched for three playoff teams in Cleveland.

Burba finished his career with a record of 115-87 and 4.49 ERA. He spent the majority of his time early in his career in the bullpen, became a starter with the Reds and Indians, and then finished his career as a reliever.

Burba did make one last attempt to resurrect his pitching career in 2006, signing with the Seattle Mariners in February, but he was released in late March.

The question of what was next for Burba came up in that 2005 interview. He mentioned the possibility of stepping into the broadcast booth. A year later, after not making the Mariners roster, he told the News-Sun he was interested in being a pitching coach.

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That’s exactly what he’s done. Burba is now the pitching coach for the Lansing Lugnuts, the High-A affiliate of the Athletics in the Midwest League. It’s the latest stop in a coaching career that began in 2011.

Burba, 58, returned to Ohio for a recent series against the Dayton Dragons at Day Air Ballpark and once again spoke about a baseball career that has now spanned five decades.

“It’s been awesome,” Burba said. “When I first was done, I didn’t think that I would want to get back into baseball, but my kids started getting to the age where they were in little league, and of course, all the parents found out who I was. And it was, ‘Hey, can you coach?’ I’m not doing anything else. I guess I can. So I started coaching, and I enjoyed it.”

One day, Burba told his wife Star, “Hey, I can’t really be myself around these kids.”

“What do you mean?” Star asked.

“Well, I’m biting my tongue a lot.”

“What are you saying?”

“Well, I’m enjoying coaching, so I think I’m going to try to get back in.”

It took Burba a couple years to find an opportunity. He said he didn’t go about it the right way at first. He talked to people he knew in the game and told them he was interested in coaching. He thought if he talked to enough people eventually he would find a job. They told him they’d get in touch. No one got back to him.

Finally, his agent told him to put a resume together, and an old connection paid off. Burba pitched for the Indians from 1998-2002. John Hart was Cleveland’s general manager at that time. In 2011, Hart helped Burba get a job in the Colorado Rockies organization.

Burba started his coaching career with the Tri-City Dust Devils, a Short Season Class-A affiliate of the Rockies, in Pasco, Wash., in 2011. He spent two seasons there before moving to the Single-A Modesto Nuts in 2013. He coached with the Double-A New Britain Rock Cats in Connecticut in 2015 and stayed in Connecticut the following year as the Rockies moved their Double-A affiliate to Hartford. He has since coached with the Lancaster JetHawks in California and has spent time in the Arizona Complex League.

Burba moved to the Athletics organization last year, staying in the Complex League. Throughout his coaching career, Burba has developed his own style.

“I thought about some of the pitching coaches that I had — the good things that they did and the bad things — and I can remember being a player and saying, ‘I’m never going to do that to a player,’“ Burba said. ”I’m not going to mention names, but back in the day, you could tell who they paid attention to and who they didn’t. I didn’t think that was right. As a coach, you create the right spark, and you never know what could happen.”

Burba has adjusted his methods as the game has changed. He coached through the defensive shift era and has seen the effects of the pitch clock. Technology also has given coaches and players new tools.

“The game has changed a lot,” Burba said. “I didn’t pay attention to it because I was in rookie ball. Well, I knew it was important, but to apply it to a rookie ball pitcher doesn’t make sense. You’re trying to get him to throw strikes. Then they’re like, ‘Hey, you’re going to High-A ball, and you need to know.’ So I did a lot of educating this offseason.”

Burba worked with Jim Gott, the pitching coach for the A’s Single-A affiliate, the Stockton Ports, in the offseason. They educated themselves.

“I’m no genius with it,” Burba said, “but I understand how it works.”

Burba has called Arizona home for decades now. This is the first time he has coached in the Midwest. The job in Lansing has allowed him to visit his dad Gerald and sister Jane in Springfield often this year. His mom Linda died in 2021 at 84.

The A’s told Burba they were sending him to Lansing this season. Getting to visit his family is a bonus. He also recently returned to Kenton Ridge. His friend Scott Zerkle, his former KR teammate and a former assistant coach with the program, invited him to visit. Burba threw batting practice for the players while he was there.

Burba was the first of four Kenton Ridge graduates in a three-decade span to make it to the big leagues. All had lengthy careers. All played for longtime coach Tom Randall, who retired after leading the Cougars to a state championship game appearance in 2007.

Burban debuted in 1990 with the Seattle Mariners. Rick White debuted in 1994 with the Pittsburgh Pirates. Dustin Hermanson debuted in 1995 with the San Diego Padres. From 1990-2007, at least one of those pitchers — and often all three — were in the big leagues.

The run of Kenton Ridge pitchers ended when White made his last big-league appearance in 2007. Adam Eaton graduated from Kenton Ridge that same year and made his big-league debut five years later with the Arizona Diamondbacks. Eaton’s 10-year career, which ended in 2021, included a World Series championship with the Washington Nationals in 2019.

“I just think it’s amazing,” Burba said, “not because I’m part of it but because of the fact that there’s four kids from an 800-student enrollment school to spit out four big leaguers and some other professional guys. Then you’ve got Greg Beals coaching (now at Marshall). It’s pretty neat.”

Credit: David Jablonski

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Credit: David Jablonski

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Men’s Basketball Closes Calendar Year at Colgate on Sunday in Non-League Finale

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CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – Harvard Men’s Basketball closes the 2025 calendar year at Colgate University on Sunday, Dec. 28 at 2:00 p.m. (ESPN+) at Cotterell Court in Hamilton, New York in the Crimson’s non-league finale.

What to Know

  • Harvard features four double-figure scorers on the year in a group that includes sophomore guard Robert Hinton (16.5 points per game), senior guard Chandler Piggé (13.7), sophomore guard Tey Barbour (11.5), and junior forward Thomas Batties II (10.3).
  • Among the Crimson’s four double-figure scorers, three of them averaged fewer than 7.0 points per game as first-years. Senior Chandler Piggé (1.9 points per game in 2022-23; 13.7 in 2025-26), junior Thomas Batties II (6.8 points per game in 2023-24; 10.3 in 2025-26), and sophomore Tey Barbour (4.8 points per game in 2024-25; 11.5 in 2025-26) have all increased their production over their careers.
  • In the Ivy League rankings, Harvard stands second in free throw percentage (78.5), second in steals per game (7.46), third in scoring defense (68.3), and fourth in field goal percentage (47.0). In the NCAA, the Crimson sits sixth in fewest fouls per game (13.5), ninth in free throw percentage (78.5), and 70th in scoring defense (68.3).
  • Sophomore guard Robert Hinton has averaged 16.5 points, 5.2 rebounds, 1.8 assists, and 1.6 steals per game on the year, while shooting 84.5 percent on free throws. Hinton ranks first in the Ivy League in field goals (79), second in steals per game (1.6), third in points (214), third in free throws (49), third in free throw percentage (84.5), sixth in points per game (16.5), and sixth in minutes per game (31.2). On the year, he has scored in double figures 10 times, netted 20 or more points four times, and eclipsed 30 points twice. He earned Ivy League Player of the Week honors on Dec. 8. Hinton – the 2024-25 Ivy League Rookie of the Year – averaged 14.6 points and 4.1 rebounds per game in 2024-25.
  • Hinton dropped a career-high 35 points on 12-of-22 field goals and 11-of-12 free throws with eight rebounds at UMass (Dec. 3). Hinton poured in 34 points on 13-of-17 field goals, 4-of-5 3-pointers, and 4-of-4 free throws vs. BU (Nov. 22). He totaled 26 points, five rebounds, and five assists at Furman (Dec. 6) and scored 22 points vs. UNH (Nov. 9). Hinton notched 16 points and seven boards vs. Holy Cross (Dec. 20) and contributed 16 points at Army (Nov. 15). He netted 13 points, including the go-ahead free throws with 5.1 seconds left at Marist (Nov. 16) and added 12 points and nine rebounds at BC (Nov. 26).
  • Senior guard Chandler Piggé has posted 13.7 points, 3.6 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 1.5 steals per game on the year. He ranks fourth in the Ivy League in field goals (70), fourth in assist/turnover ratio (2.2), fourth in steals per game (1.5), fourth in minutes per game (32.4), fifth in assists per game (3.5), seventh in points (178), and ninth in points per game (13.7). He has scored in double figures in 10 games on the year. Piggé – an Honorable Mention All-Ivy selection and CSC Academic All-District honoree last season – notched 13.1 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 2.6 assists per game in 2024-25. He has steadily increased his production over his career, averaging 1.9 points per game in 2022-23, 8.1 points per game in 2023-24, and 13.1 points per game in 2024-25.
  • Piggé totaled 23 points and six assists, while shooting 8-of-11 from the floor vs. UNH (Nov. 9). He dropped 21 points with a career-high nine assists at Penn State (Nov. 19). Piggé posted 16 points and seven rebounds vs. Holy Cross (Dec. 20). He registered 14 points against both Army (Nov. 15) and Marist (Nov. 16), connecting on a game-tying 3-pointer with 35.8 seconds left against the Red Foxes. He netted 15 points against both Northeastern (Nov. 11) and Bryant (Nov. 29).
  • Sophomore guard Tey Barbour has registered 11.5 points and a team-high 5.5 rebounds per game on the year, while shooting 41.0 percent from 3-point distance. Barbour ranks fourth in the Ivy League in 3-pointers made (32), fifth in 3-pointers per game (2.5), fifth in minutes per game (31.5), and 11th in rebounds per game (5.5). He has scored in double figures in nine games on the year. Barbour notched 4.8 points and 1.8 rebounds per game on the year in 2024-25.
  • Barbour scored a career-high 18 points with eight rebounds vs. Holy Cross (Dec. 20), hitting 4-of-5 3-pointers. He posted 15 points and nine rebounds at BC (Nov. 26) after scoring 15 points vs. BU (Nov. 22). He posted 14 points, six rebounds, and a career-high four made 3-pointers vs. UNH (Nov. 9) before netting 12 points on four 3-pointers vs. Northeastern (Nov. 11). He compiled 12 points and seven rebounds at Penn State (Nov. 19). Barbour netted 10 points and hit the game-winning 3-pointer vs. Bryant (Nov. 29).
  • Junior forward Thomas Batties II has registered 10.3 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game on the year, while shooting 48.5 percent from the field and 52.4 percent from 3-point distance. He ranks fourth in the Ivy League in 3-point percentage (52.4) and sixth in blocks per game (1.0). He has scored in double figures eight times on the year. In 2024-25, Batties II averaged 11.0 points and 5.0 rebounds per game on the year after registering 6.8 points and 4.2 rebounds per game on the 2023-24 season.
  • Batties II tallied a season-high 17 points, career-high five made 3-pointers, and a career-high six assists at Penn State (Nov. 19). He scored a game-high 17 points against both MIT (Nov. 7) and Army (Nov. 15). Batties II posted 14 points and a career-high six assists vs. BU (Nov. 22) and notched 13 points at BC (Nov. 26) and vs. UMass (Dec. 3). He totaled 12 points and nine rebounds vs. Bryant (Nov. 29).
  • Sophomore guard Austin Hunt has tallied 7.2 points and 3.1 rebounds per game on the year, while shooting 55.1 percent from the field. He ranks sixth in the Ivy League in field goal percentage (55.1). Hunt scored a career-high 19 points on 8-of-9 field goals and 3-of-4 3-pointers vs. Holy Cross (Dec. 20). He notched 13 points, six rebounds, and three assists vs. UNH (Nov. 9) and netted 10 points at Furman (Dec. 6). Hunt averaged 7.8 points and 3.6 rebounds per game in 2024-25.
  • Sophomore guard Ben Eisendrath has notched 5.1 points, 3.0 assists, 1.8 rebounds, and 1.6 steals per game on the year, while shooting 51.1 percent from the field. Eisendrath ranks third in the Ivy League in steals per game (1.6) and 10th in assists per game (3.0). He scored a career-high 15 points on 6-of-7 field goals at Penn State (Nov. 19) and netted 10 points at Furman (Dec. 6). Eisendrath distributed a career-high nine assists vs. BU (Nov. 22).
  • Harvard and Colgate have met 24 times with the Crimson holding a slight lead in the all-time series, 13-11. The Crimson has won the last eight matchups, including a 78-67 home victory last season. 

Next Up

Harvard hosts Dartmouth on Monday, Jan. 5 at 7:00 p.m. (ESPN+) at Lavietes Pavilion in its Ivy League opener.
 



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Iowa City Liberty grad Shelby Kimm stars as a Division II volleyball All-American

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NORTH Liberty, Iowa (KCRG) – A former Iowa high school volleyball star has earned All-American recognition at the college level.

Shelby Kimm, a three-time all-state selection at Iowa City Liberty, was named a Division II All-American this year for St. Cloud State University in Minnesota. The junior led her Husky team this season with nearly 3.4 kills per set.

The Huskies have made it to the round of 16 of the NCAA Tournament each of the past two years, which is tied for the best finish in program history.

After winning a state title at Liberty, Kimm wanted to experience college outside of Iowa.

“We had so many people on our team that were probably their best or one of the best on their high school or club team when you put a lot of those players together it can be a little challenging cause they’re not used to maybe not playing as much,” Kimm said. “You definitely have to work really hard and I think I learned that nothing is guaranteed you have to go into college and work your butt off and hopefully your coaches recognize that and that’s why I try to do.”

Kimm says she’s already excited to get back on the court for her senior season next year.

Three other Iowans are listed on the SCSU roster, including Kimm’s Liberty teammate Asta Hildebrand, Grundy Center alum Carlie Willis and Aplington-Parkersburg alum Kinsey Mohwinkle.



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Men’s Volleyball Picked Second In Preseason AVCA Poll

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LEXINGTON, Ky. – The University of Hawai’i men’s volleyball team was picked No. 2 in the AVCA preseason poll, marking the eighth consecutive year it earned a top 3 preseason ranking.
 
The Rainbow Warriors earned seven first place votes and 473 total points, just eight points behind preseason favorite UCLA, who garnered 12 first place votes. Long Beach State was third with five first place votes and 460 points.
 
UH’s schedule features seven teams ranked in the preseason Top 10 and 11 teams in the Top 20.
 
Hawai’i finished last season with a No. 3 final AVCA ranking after advancing to the NCAA Championship semifinal round. The No. 3 ranking marked the eighth consecutive year with a Top 5 national finish. The Warriors completed the year with a 27-6 mark and captured their fourth Big West Championship title, defeating eventual national champion Long Beach State in the championship match.  
 
Head coach Charlie Wade, who became the program’s all-time winningest coach last season, is entering his 17th season at the helm with a career record of 319-131.
 
UH opens the 2026 season with a two-match series against NJIT, Friday, Jan. 2 and Sunday, Jan. 4.
 
 

#HawaiiMVB

 
 



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Gibbs-Lawhorn Named Raising Cane’s Outstanding Rebel Of The Week

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LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) – UNLV men’s basketball junior Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn has been named the Raising Cane’s Outstanding Rebel of the Week, the school announced Friday.

Gibbs-Lawhorn has earned the recognition for the first time this season, while it’s also the men’s basketball team’s second of the year.

The award goes to the student-athlete who turned in the best individual performance during the previous week of competition from Monday through Sunday as voted on by the UNLV Athletics Strategic Communications department.

A native of Lafayette, Indiana, Gibbs-Lawhorn led the Runnin’ Rebels to a Mountain West opening 84-72 win over Fresno State. He scored a career-high 28 points, while grabbing seven rebounds, four assists, three steals, and a blocked shot.

Additionally, Gibbs-Lawhorn shot 9 of 15 from the field, made all four of his free throw attempts and shot 60% on 3-pointers (6 of 10).

2025-26 Outstanding Rebel of the Week Award Winners
Sept. 3 – Aamaris Brown, Football
Sept. 11 – Jaida Harris, Volleyball
Sept. 16 – Alondra Alarcon, Volleyball
Sept. 23 – Marsel McDuffie, Football
Sept. 30 – Zi Yu Foong, Women’s Golf
Oct. 7 – Kayden McGee, Football
Oct. 14 – Anthony Colandrea, Football
Oct. 22 – Jaida Harris, Volleyball
Oct. 27 – Ilia Snitari, Men’s Tennis
Nov. 5 – Michelle Madrid, Women’s Soccer
Nov. 12 – Jai’Den Thomas, Football 
Nov. 12 – Meadow Roland, Women’s Basketball
Nov. 18 – Issac Williamson, Men’s Basketball
Nov. 26 – Ilia Snitari, Men’s Tennis
Dec. 3 – Jai’Den Thomas, Football

Dec. 10 – Bryson Huey, Men’s Swim & Dive
Dec. 26 – Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn, Men’s Basketball

-UNLV-



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Out of indoor eligibility, Texas A&M’s Hellmuth transfers to LSU beach volleyball program

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COLLEGE STATION, Texas (KBTX) – Texas A&M outside hitter Emily Hellmuth is transferring to LSU to play with the Tiger beach volleyball program, LSU announced on social media Friday.

Hellmuth could not have returned to defend the national championship with A&M this season, as she is out of eligibility in the indoor game. In switching sports, she will gain a year of eligibility and will be able to play two spring seasons for the Tigers while earning a master’s degree.

Hellmuth finished third on the Aggies in kills (316) and kills per set (2.70) this season as a key piece of A&M’s balanced attack. In 2024, Hellmuth tallied a career-high 330 kills, with a 3 kill average per set. The Highland Park native transferred to A&M after spending her first two seasons at Pepperdine.

The Aggies will need to find a significant number of replacements on the attack, returning only outside hitter Kyndal Stowers in their top 6 attackers from the national championship season.

On Dec. 23, A&M added Marquette outside hitter Natalie Ring and Ohio State middle blocker Kaia Ring through the transfer portal, according to releases and social media posts by the program. Friday, A&M announced the addition of Boise State middle blocker Eliza Sharp.

Ring paced the Golden Eagles with 497 kills and a 4.6 kill per set average, while hitting. 274. Castle recorded 200 kills, with seven double-digit kill matches, and 91 blocks last season.

“We value speed at the middle blocker position and it’s rare to see someone with Kaia’s length who can move the way she does,” A&M head coach Jamie Morrison said in a statement. “Beyond the physical tools, she is an incredible human. I truly enjoyed every part of the recruiting process with Kaia and can’t wait to have her here in Aggieland.”

Sharp was the Mountain West Conference freshman of the year after ranking second on the Broncos’ in kills with 250, averaging 2.21 per set. She hit at a .323 clip and tallied 140 blocks.

“It’s hard to win conference awards as a middle blocker and Eliza comes to us as the reigning Freshman of the Year in her conference,” Morrison said in a statement. “She is an elite athlete as both a blocker and an attacker who will continue the lineage of great middle blockers at Texas A&M. From our first phone call, I knew she would be a great fit for our culture, not just as a player, but as a person who embodies the values of Texas A&M.”



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A&M Volleyball’s Lednicky signs professional contract with LOVB Houston | KWKT

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BRYAN-COLLEGE STATION, Texas (FOX 44) – Texas A&M Volleyball’s Logan Lednicky has signed her first professional contract with League One Volleyball (LOVB) Houston, the organization announced Friday.

Texas A&M Athletics says Lednicky joins the Houston based LOVB team after spearheading the Aggies to the program’s first national title. The opposite hitter etched her name in Texas A&M history, as she broke the program rally-scoring record for career kills concluding her four years with 1,686.

The Sugar Land, Texas, native developed a well-rounded game throughout her four years but offensively is where she excelled. She recorded double-digit kills in 94 matches during her career, including 23 straight to conclude the 2025 campaign which led to a national crown.

Texas A&M Athletics says Lednicky showed her versatility during her time in Aggieland, racking up 379 blocks which ranks 11th in program history and secured back-to-back 100-block seasons in her junior and senior campaigns. She also tacked on 808 digs which helped account for 28 career double-doubles.

Lednicky cemented herself as an all-time great for the program and received a pair of AVCA Second Team All-America honors, was a four-time All-SEC and All-Region selection, AVCA Player of the Year Semifinalist, NCAA Tournament Team recipient, NCAA Regional Most Outstanding Player and five-time SEC weekly award winner.  

Texas A&M Athletics says yhe pin hitter got her international career started this past summer, as she received her first senior-national team call up for the United States and was named to the Volleyball Nation’s League roster for the opening two weeks in Brazil and Serbia. She competed in seven of the eight matches over the two weeks, tallying 43 points on 38 kills and five blocks, while adding 26 digs.



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