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“It breaks your heart. It is designed to break your heart. The game begins in the spring, blossoms in the summer, and fades away in October.”
— Bart Giamatti,
“The Green Fields of the Mind” (1977)
Baseball has always been my favorite sport, though I sometimes have trouble explaining why. It goes back to childhood–to summers spent with a scuffed Rawlings glove and a sandlot brewing by late morning. I played more baseball than anything else as a kid. And I felt better equipped for baseball than for football or basketball. In the ’60s and ’70s, players on the field looked like ordinary American men, not sculpted out of marble or looming like redwoods. Baseball, at least then, felt accessible–something a wiry kid with quick hands and decent instincts could aspire to.
I followed the game fanatically from the time I was 6 years old–the glory years of the Koufax-Drysdale Dodgers–and kept that devotion burning well into the early 1990s. I can still rattle off the starting lineups of most teams between 1967 and 1978 as if they were the cast of some beloved vanished play. In the ’70s, I even played a season of what might generously be called professional baseball in Brazil, a half-forgotten adventure that lives on in fading box scores and warm memories. (I somehow lost my old jersey, a garish yellow-and-black double-knit, a few years ago. I probably donated it to charity in one of my periodic purges.)
There’s a minor-league ballpark not far from my house–Dickey-Stephens Park in North Little Rock, Ark., named in part for Hall of Fame catcher Bill Dickey and his younger brother Skeeter, who had a brief stint in the majors with the Chicago White Sox before settling into a journeyman’s life in the minors. It’s a modest stadium, tucked into the fabric of the Argenta neighborhood like it’s always been there. We take the dogs once or twice a year, sitting up on the berm where they can sprawl and sniff the breeze while we half-watch the game. It’s enough that when we walk them past the park on game nights, they pull at their leashes, ears alert, tails wagging. They recognize the sound of baseball–the hum of the crowd, the crack of a bat–as something joyful, something known.
Baseball rewards that kind of recognition. I think about an old Shirley Povich column where he recounted, pitch by pitch, how every player on the field–not just the pitcher and catcher, but all nine men–adjusts, prepares, reacts. The outfielders creep a few steps in. The shortstop leans toward second. The first baseman repositions for the bunt. On every single pitch, the whole field trembles with possibility. It’s not that nothing’s happening; it’s that you have to know how to look.
That lesson stays with me. Baseball, when you’re really watching, isn’t slow. It’s patient. It’s expectant. Every pitch carries a million tiny movements, a hundred invisible bets being made–this way, that way, just in case. You learn to live inside those pauses, to wait without fidgeting, to see without demanding.
Watching baseball, really watching it, feels closer to Zen meditation than to anything else in modern life. You let go of expecting. You let go of rushing. You stay present. You breathe. You pay attention to what seems like nothing until you realize it’s everything. You understand that a whole world can turn on a hanging curve ball or a lazy pickoff throw–or maybe it won’t turn at all, and that’s fine too.
Sometimes I probably bore my wife by over-explaining the finer points of the game, but I only do it because she asks–because she’s curious, and because she knows I like explaining it. Her memories of baseball go back to winning tickets to Cleveland Indians games for academic performance as a grade schooler, and sitting in the stands with her father on warm Ohio nights. Those lessons become part of the evening too–our own quiet game within the game, a shared way of noticing how much life fits inside what looks, at first glance, like nothing much at all.
When I was young, I devoured the books of John R. Tunis–stories of schoolboy heroes and sandlot dreamers, boys who fought uphill battles more often than they achieved glory. Tunis almost never wrote about winners. His heroes lost, and struggled, and learned something about dignity in the process. Baseball, in his telling, wasn’t just a sport; it was a long, often solitary walk toward becoming a better version of yourself. That mythology clings to the game even now, like dust on an old infield.
Greil Marcus once wrote about American music as a kind of “Old, Weird America,” a landscape haunted by stories half-told and songs half-remembered. I think baseball belongs to that same Old, Weird America–the country that exists somewhere just beyond the outfield fence, where time stretches and doubles back on itself and ordinary people become something more by standing still and paying attention. It’s an antique game at heart–an ancient clock still keeping time not by seconds, but by innings, by outs, by the quiet thrum of expectancy that lives inside every slow heartbeat of the field.
Maybe that’s why I love it. Maybe that’s why my dogs, without knowing the score, sense the magic. Maybe that’s why a summer evening at the ballpark–beer in hand, dogs at your feet, sun slipping low–feels like more than just a night out. It feels like practicing something essential. Like remembering how to be alive in the slow, stubborn, joyful way that baseball has always known.
Maybe, too, it’s a small tribute to my father, and the game we shared without needing to say much. Years ago, I titled my first collection of essays “The Shortstop’s Son,” a quiet acknowledgment of where I came from–and the endless, echoing fields that shaped us both.
–––––v––––––
Philip Martin is a columnist and critic for the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. Email him at pmartin@adgnewsroom.com.
Football has earned a rematch with Heart North opponent Grand View University for the right to compete in the NAIA National Championship Game while Basketball hosts Heart newcomer Missouri Baptist University in this week’s edition of the Raven Athletics Weekly Update.
NEXT WEEK
MONDAY, Dec. 8
Women’s Basketball at University of St. Mary – Leavenworth, Kan. – 6 p.m. WATCH | LIVE STATS
FRIDAY, Dec. 12
Track & Field at Bulldog Early Bird (Concordia University) – Seward, Neb.
SATURDAY, Dec. 13
(RV) Wrestling at Heart Duals (St. Ambrose) – Davenport, Iowa – 10 a.m.
(5) Football at (1) Grand View (NAIA FCS Semifinals) – Des Moines, Iowa – Noon WATCH | LISTEN | LIVE STATS | TICKETS
Women’s Basketball vs. Missouri Baptist – Ralph Nolan Gymnasium – 2 p.m. WATCH | LIVE STATS | TICKETS
Men’s Basketball vs. Missouri Baptist – Ralph Nolan Gymnasium – 4 p.m. WATCH | LIVE STATS | TICKETS
NEXT WEEK
WEDNESDAY, Dec. 17
Men’s Basketball vs. Mission University – Ralph Nolan Gymnasium – 7 p.m.
FRIDAY, Dec. 19
Women’s Basketball vs. Northwestern (Iowa) – Ralph Nolan Gymnasium – 7 p.m.
SATURDAY, Dec. 20
NAIA Football National Championship Game – Crowley ISD Stadium, Fort Work, Texas
Men’s Basketball vs. Dordt – Ralph Nolan Gymnasium – 2 p.m.
Women’s Basketball vs. (1) Dordt – Ralph Nolan Gymnasium 4 p.m.
LONG BEACH, Calif. — Long Beach State men’s volleyball added one of the most accomplished recruiting classes in the nation during the November signing window, welcoming five elite prospects who are widely regarded as the top recruiting class in the country. The Class of 2026 features international standouts, national team members, gold medalists, and multiple state champions in Joosep Kurik (Tallinn, Estonia), Lucas Helle (South Carolina), Ben Bayer (Menomonee Falls, Wis.), Owen Weekes (Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada), and Logan Gray (Chandler, Ariz.).
“This Long Beach State men’s volleyball Class of 2026 is comprised of five world-class student-athletes,” said coach Nick MacRae. “We are excited to unite these young men and their families with our Long Beach family. They have immediately bought into our team standards and core values as we work toward maintaining sustainable success for years to come. All five of these young men bleed LB Black & Gold and truly embody our LB Grit.”
With size across the pins, elite ball control, high-level setting, and proven championship experience, the class immediately elevates the Beach across every position group while reinforcing the program’s national and international recruiting footprint.
“I am grateful to have recruited this Class of 2026 alongside Coach McKay Smith,” MacRae added. “Smith is an essential part of our LB family. With their commitment to high volleyball standards, high academic goals and being holistic young men, we are thrilled to announce this recruiting class.”
Kurik brings elite European club experience and international success to the Beach. The 6-8 outside hitter helped lead Chenois Genève Volley to the 2023 Swiss Supercup championship and was named Swiss League Youngster of the Year for the 2024–25 season. He is also a member of the Estonia U19 National Team.
Lucas Helle | S | 6-5 | South Carolina | Carolina Stars
Helle arrives with one of the most decorated prep résumés in the country. He is a four-time 5A South Carolina State Champion, a two-time 5A State Player of the Year, and both an AAU and JVA All-American. Helle also competes with the USA U19 National Team and plays club with Carolina Stars.
Ben Bayer | OH/L | 6-2 | Menomonee Falls, Wis. | Milwaukee Sting
A versatile outside hitter and libero, Bayer brings elite defensive ability and international championship experience. He helped lead the USA U19 National Team to gold at the 2025 Pan American Cup, earning Best Receiver of the Tournament honors. A multiple-time Open Division All-American and All-Tournament Team selection, Bayer is also a two-time First Team All-State selection, GMC Conference Player of the Year, and a 2025 State Champion.
Owen Weekes | OH/OPP | 6-8 | Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada | University of Manitoba
Weekes joins the Beach as a collegiate transfer and accomplished international competitor. A member of the Canada U21 National Team, he earned silver medals at both the U21 NORCECA Championships and the U21 Pan American Cup. At the University of Manitoba, Weekes was named to the CanWest All-Rookie Team, U SPORTS All-Rookie Team, and earned the school’s All-Sport Rookie of the Year award.
Logan Gray | OH | 6-6 | Chandler, Ariz. | AZ Fear
Gray brings championship experience and national development exposure to Long Beach State. A three-time Arizona State Champion, he competes with AZ Fear and is a member of the USA NTDP program in both indoor and beach volleyball.
With national team experience spanning four countries, multiple gold and silver medalists, state champions, and some of the most decorated prep, club, and collegiate athletes in the country, Long Beach State’s Class of 2026 stands as one of the most complete recruiting groups in program history. The class combines immediate impact potential with long-term stability and development across every position group, positioning the Beach to contend at the highest level for years to come.
“They come to our family ready to unlock their volleyball potential by competing for national championships, performing on the world’s biggest international stages, and pursuing Olympic dreams,” MacRae said. “They bring a wealth of experience from both the USA and international volleyball pipelines, with many of them already competing in major moments.”
Together, this group continues the tradition of elite volleyball and championship expectations that define Long Beach State.
ORLANDO, Fla. – America’s Athletic Classic has been named as one of 17 stops on the inaugural USATF Tour coming next year, the USA Track & Field announced last week.
Professional events at the 116th Drake Relays will serve as the fifth event on the USATF Tour schedule on Saturday, April 25. Tour administration developed the schedule to maximize athlete performance and provide unique competition opportunities for various disciples in the World Athletics ranking system.
“We are excited and eager for another iteration of America’s Athletic Classic,” Franklin P. Johnson Drake Relays Director Blake Boldon said. “The best collegians in the country will have the chance to compete alongside the world’s premier athletes and continue the storied tradition of the Drake Relays.”
The Tour schedule will get underway on March 28 at The Ten in San Juan Capistrano, California and conclude with a double-header, the Ed Murphey Classic in Memphis, Tennessee and Sunset Tour in Los Angeles, California.
Other historic meets like Mt. SAC (April 18) and the Penn Relays (Apr. 25) also occupy positions on the Tour calendar.
As part of the collaboration, USATF will provide all costs associated with drug testing, technical delegates, sanctioning, and insurance. It will prioritize Tour meets when allocating travel funding for tiered athletes and supplement the costs of any additional disciplines to the program if needed. USATF will also support the meets with marketing and media coverage of everything from ticket sales to performance highlights. It also announced today that it will award $50,000 in prize money to the male and female athlete who earn the highest number of World Athletics performance points in their three highest scoring competitions during the series.
While most events will be broadcast live on USATF.tv, events with existing broadcast agreements will remain on those platforms. Ticket, broadcast, and entry information for all meets can be found here.
SALT LAKE CITY—Utah Volleyball head coach Beth Launiere announced her retirement Monday afternoon, bringing to a close her storied 36-year run as the leader of Utah’s volleyball program.
The program’s all-time winningest head coach (689-439), Launiere retires as the third-longest tenured head coach in the history of Utah Athletics behind only Greg Marsden, who led Utah’s gymnastics program for 40 years (1976-2015), and Don Reddish, head coach of Utah’s men’s swimming program for 37 years. Launiere also is the second-winningest head coach in department history behind Marsden (1,048-208-8).
“After 36 years as the head Volleyball coach at the University of Utah, I have made the difficult decision to announce my retirement,” Launiere said. “While it is not easy to walk away from a lifetime’s work, I am ready and excited to begin the next chapter of my life. Thank you to the hundreds of players whom I have had the privilege to coach, and the many assistant coaches, support staff and administrators who were my daily collaborators to build this program into what it is today. I will miss the daily interactions, but I know our relationships will last a lifetime. It has been an honor to represent one of the greatest universities in the country. I will forever love Utah and will always be a Ute!”
Launiere built Utah Volleyball from the ground up, beginning in 1990, as she turned Utah into a perennial top25 program. Under her watch, the Utes were ranked in the AVCA Coaches Top 25 poll 183 weeks, including twice achieving a program-record 45 consecutive weeks ranked, from 2000-2002 and again from 2019-2022.
“It is nearly impossible to put into words the impact Beth Launiere has made at the University of Utah,” said Utah Athletics Director Mark Harlan. “Her legacy as one of the greatest coaches in the history of Utah Athletics is well-established, and the number of student-athletes, coaches and staff she has influenced in such a positive way stands at the top of her lengthy list of accomplishments. The standard of excellence and winning culture that Beth has created and sustained here for nearly four decades cements her place in Utah Athletics history. She will be greatly missed, but her established standard and culture will carry forward. Please join me in saluting Beth Launiere on her incredible career.”
Launiere led Utah to 20 NCAA Tournament appearances, including back-to-back in her final two seasons.
The 2025 Utes showed grit and determination going 4-1 in their last five matches of the regular season to punch their ticket to dance, including two top25 wins over No. 23 BYU and No. 13 Kansas. In 2024, Utah earned a No. 4 seed and hosted the first and second rounds at the Jon M. Huntsman Center to cap a season in which it ranked No. 23 in the final AVCA poll.
The Utes made four Sweet 16 appearances under Launiere, in 2001, 2008, 2017 and 2019.
With Launiere leading the way, Utah earned six conference championships (2001, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006, and 2008, all in the Mountain West), and notched 20 of the 25 20-win seasons in program history—including a record 28 wins in 2006.
Under Launiere’s watch, 16 athletes earned 24 All-America honors including Kim Turner who was the first Utah Volleyball player to receive the honor in 2003 and is the only Utah Volleyball player with a jersey retired in the Huntsman Center rafters. Turner is joined by Dani Drews who was recognized all four years she suited up for the Utes (2018-21) and is the most decorated Utah Volleyball player in program history, and most recently Kamryn Gibadlo who earned the recognition during 2024’s NCAA Tournament run.
Launiere’s coaching tree is equally impressive, having identified some of the best and brightest up-and-coming talent in the collegiate volleyball world. Most notably, Arizona State’s JJ Van Niel and BYU’s Heather Olmstead served as assistant coaches on Launiere’s staffs over the years.
Van Niel has recently shot up the coaching ranks, being named the Big 12 Coach of the Year two seasons in a row (2024 and 2025) and the AVCA’s Pacific Region Coach of the Year (2024) while leading the Sun Devils to a record of 84-13 since taking over the program in 2022. Van Niel spent three seasons in Salt Lake City with Launiere from 2015-17, two as an assistant head coach and one as associate head coach.
Olmstead has made her own noise with the Cougars, leading BYU to a 279-55 record in 10 seasons at the helm, earning the 2018 AVCA National Coach of the Year, and holding the highest active winning percentage of any NCAA Division I women’s volleyball coach (min. three seasons) at .848.
Launiere leaves the Utes as a four-time AVCA West Region Coach of the Year (2001, 2006, 2008, 2019), a three-time Mountain West Conference Coach of the Year (2004, 2006, 2008), a Pac-12 Coach of the Year (2019) and a five-time Don Reddish Award winner (1998, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2005).
FOLLOW THE UTES
For an inside look at the Utah Volleyball program, including tournament, roster and news updates, fans can follow the Utes on social media (Twitter: @UtahVolleyball | Instagram: @utahvolleyball).
DOWNLOAD THE OFFICIAL MOBILE APP OF THE UNIVERSITY OF UTAH TODAY – UTAH 360
Story by Joe Alberico, Blinn College Sports Information
Blinn Cross Country Head Coach Jesse Parker (Joe Alberico)
The Blinn College Athletics Department is excited to invite former Buccaneer track and field and cross country athletes and coaches to the first Blinn College TFXC Alumni Reunion.
Blinn men’s and women’s cross country head coach Jesse Parker will host former Bucs coaches and runners at 3 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026, inside the Multi-Purpose Room at the Kruse Center on the Blinn-Brenham Campus. Refreshments and entertainment will be provided.
The event will coincide with the Blinn women’s and men’s basketball doubleheader beginning at 2 p.m. at the Kruse Center.
To RSVP, please visit www.blinn.edu/athletics-forms/xctf-rsvp.html. For more information, please contact Jesse Parker at jesse.parker@blinn.edu.
In the late 1980s and early 1990s, Blinn’s track and field programs were considered national powerhouses across all levels of collegiate athletics. The Buccaneers captured a combined 18 indoor and outdoor NJCAA men’s track and field national championships, winning nine consecutive titles in both indoor and outdoor competition between 1987 and 1995. Blinn also won back-to-back NJCAA men’s cross country national championships in 1993-94. Numerous Buccaneers also made appearances in the Olympic Games.
Blinn relaunched cross country in the fall of 2024, fielding both men’s and women’s programs. Since the relaunch, the Buccaneer men and women have made two appearances in the NJCAA Division I Men’s & Women’s Cross Country Championships and two appearances in the NJCAA Division I Men’s & Women’s Half Marathon Championships.
This Week’s Events Saturday, December 13
Women’s Basketball hosts Niagara – 2:00 p.m. {BUY TICKETS – all tickets $8.88} 80’s Weekend :: $1 Hot Dogs // KidZone // Postgame Layups on the Court (age 12 & younger) Sunday, December 14
Men’s Basketball hosts Oakland City – 2:00 p.m. {BUY TICKETS} 80’s Weekend :: $1 Hot Dogs // KidZone // Postgame Layups on the Court (age 12 & younger)
Viking of the Week Izabella Zingaro, Women’s Basketball
Averaged 17.5 points per game – shooting 83-percent from the floor on the week – while also averaging 7.0 rebounds per contest.
Women’s Basketball
-The Vikings return home for one game this week, hosting Niagara on Saturday.
-Saturday’s game will be played in Woodling Gymnasium, where the Vikings are 3-0 this season.
-Last time out, Cleveland State started Horizon League play, going 1-1 including a 72-55 victory at Oakland.
Men’s Basketball
-The Vikings will have a single game this week, hosting Oakland City on Sunday.
-Sunday’s game will mark the second inside Woodling Gymnasium for the Vikings, a place where they picked up a 109-56 victory over Waynesburg earlier this year.
-Last time out, Cleveland State started Horizon League play, with Jaidon Lipscomb averaging 19.0 points and the duo of Priest Ryan and Josiah Harris averaging 9.0 rebounds through the first two #HLMBB games.
Track & Field
-Cleveland State opened the 2025-26 indoor season with three school records.
-The Vikings are now off until the Falcon Early Bird Open on Friday, Jan. 9.
-Natalie Keller set the 5000 mark with a time of 17:54.57 at the YSU Open.
-Olivia Todd and Madison Morris followed it up with school records in the 300 at the Tom Wright Open.
