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Vianney one win from Class 5 baseball title; Summit falls in semifinal

Vianney senior Mike Altobella (1) celebrates after a triple during a Class 5 semifinal baseball game on Friday, June 5, 2025 at the Ozark Mountain Sports Complex in Ozark, Mo. Paul Halfacre, Post-Dispatch OZARK — Vianney and Platte County advanced to the Class 5 baseball state final with victories Friday in the semifinal round at Ozark […]

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Vianney vs. Marshfield

Vianney senior Mike Altobella (1) celebrates after a triple during a Class 5 semifinal baseball game on Friday, June 5, 2025 at the Ozark Mountain Sports Complex in Ozark, Mo.




OZARK — Vianney and Platte County advanced to the Class 5 baseball state final with victories Friday in the semifinal round at Ozark Mountain Sports Complex. 

Vianney defeated Marshfield 8-3 in the first Class 5 semifinal game, and Platte County downed Summit 6-1 in the second contest in games that were delayed due to scattered thunderstorms. 

Vianney (38-1) and Platte County (28-8) will play at 1 p.m. Saturday in Class 5 final.

The Griffins are in the state championship game for the first time since 2018, when they won the Class 5 title. Platte County is back in the state title game for the first time since winning it all in 2022. 

Summit (26-8) and Marshfield (25-12) will square off in the third-place game at 10 a.m. Saturday.

Here are a few observations from the pair of semifinal games. 

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Vianney vs. Marshfield

Vianney junior Zach Van Hook (3) celebrates after a triple during a Class 5 semifinal baseball game on Friday, June 5, 2025 at the Ozark Mountain Sports Complex in Ozark, Mo.




Big inning carries Vianney

Marshfield nearly wriggled off the hook early against Vianney.

Griffins senior catcher Mike Altobella made sure it couldn’t.

Altobella smashed a two-run triple down the left field line to break open the game in the first inning.

“I went into the box looking for a fastball and knew the lefty didn’t throw that hard, so I was sitting and wanting to be on time for the fastball,” Altobella said. “If he tried to spin something at me, it’s slow, I’ll be on time. Mindset was hit a ball and hit it hard and be on time.”

The Griffins finished the opening inning with five runs on five hits to pounce all over Marshfield. 

This came right after Vianney wriggled out of its own jam, ending a bases-loaded threat with a 4-6-3 double play in the top half of the first.

“As soon as we were in the field with one out and baes loaded, everyone was down a little bit, it wasn’t a good feeling, but we got the momentum back and from there, we were able to work with that,” Altobella said. “That was a huge momentum shift.”

Altobella went 1-for-3 at the plate with those two RBI, while fellow senior Trey Jozwiakowski went 2-for-3 with two RBI for the Griffins. 

It’s the 18th game this season Vianney has scored eight or more runs. 







Vianney vs. Marshfield

Vianney senior JD Dohrmann (12) delivers to the plate during a Class 5 semifinal baseball game on Friday, June 5, 2025 at the Ozark Mountain Sports Complex in Ozark, Mo.




Dohrmann shakes off early woes

Griffins senior starter JD Dohrmann’s final stat line looked sterling, but it didn’t start that way.

With the rain falling around him, the senior struggled through his first two innings.

“I wish I could blame it on the rain, but I was struggling through the first two innings,” Dohrmann said. “I didn’t have my stuff. They came out swinging and props to them for having a game plan and sticking to it.”

Through the first two innings, he gave up two runs on four hits and walked one batter. 

In the final 4 2-3 innings, he gave up a lone hit and struck out six to close out his line of 6 2-3 innings, six strikeouts and two runs on five hits. 

“I kind of thought some things through and got with my catcher and executed a game plan,” Dohrmann said. 

Dohrmann handed the ball off to senior Noah Steffan, who pitched the final third of an inning to send Vianney to the Class 5 championship.

“We’ve got the biggest game of the year, but we’re going to try it like any other day,” Dohrmann said. “We’ll go out, we’re 0-0 now and one game left.”







Summit vs. Platte County

Summit freshman Grant Dinges (3) catches the throw down during a Class 5 semifinal baseball game on Friday, June 5, 2025 at the Ozark Mountain Sports Complex in Ozark, Mo.




Summit can’t find the big hit

Summit coach Jason Schneider couldn’t fault his team’s fight. 

The ball just never seemed to find a hole in Platte County’s defense. 

“I thought our guys prepared very well. The hits didn’t show it, that’s for sure, but (Kaden Dinges) hit absolute barrels,” Schneider said. “Just got to keep playing the game the right way and it’ll reward you. It didn’t reward us today and that’s just the way it is sometimes.”

Summit only mustered two hits against a parade of Platte County pitchers. 

The Pirates threw three different pitchers at the Falcons on Saturday, with junior Brooks Hall going the longest over the final three innings. 

Dinges provided Summit’s lone RBI with a sacrifice fly in the sixth inning to break up the shutout. 

Senior pitcher Gabe Sieve kept the Falcons in the game. 

The senior went 5 1-3 innings, giving up two earned runs on five hits and seven strikeouts. 

“He did fine and competed well,” Schneider said. “There were plays that should have been made out there behind him. Congrats to Platte County. They were the better team today. One has to go on the right side of the bracket, and unfortunately, we were on the other side of that today.”



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Minnesota Select, Northern Lights’ top volleyball players lead AAU clubs

“She is a great jumper and has a very good arm swing,” Northern Lights club director Curt Glesmann said. “I would consider her one of the top recruits at that age level.” Northern Lights is stacked with talent in the younger divisions, but all nine players from Minnesota Select’s top 17s group committed to play […]

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“She is a great jumper and has a very good arm swing,” Northern Lights club director Curt Glesmann said. “I would consider her one of the top recruits at that age level.”

Northern Lights is stacked with talent in the younger divisions, but all nine players from Minnesota Select’s top 17s group committed to play Division I volleyball, including Hoecke, Anoka’s Hayden Reader (Arizona), Prior Lake’s Sidney Burley (Kentucky) and St. Thomas commits Bryn Lunski of Chanhassen and Kira Brundage of New Prague. Willmar’s Ellery DeBoer, the team’s setter and only junior, also committed recently to Michigan State.

Last month, Minnesota Select’s ninth-place finish was highest among the local 17U teams in the top division at the AAU girls national championships in Orlando. Vital (22nd), Northern Lights (31st) and Kokoro (45th) were other Minnesota teams to finish in the top 50.

Like Christianson, Hoecke has put her AAU days in the past, but she will play for the U-19 national team in August at the U-21 World Championships in Indonesia.

“She’s worked really hard to find the success she’s having now,” Minnesota Select club director Scott Jackson said. “Elena is a force to be reckoned with, but she’s a really great kid, too. No one has a bad day around Elena.”



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Free events for the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Museum Festival

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KOAA) — Olympic City USA is getting set to celebrate some of America’s greatest athletes this week! The U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Museum Festival kicks off Thursday night and runs through Sunday. The festival features free events, including a movie night at multiple locations, free entry to the museum on Saturday and […]

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COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KOAA) — Olympic City USA is getting set to celebrate some of America’s greatest athletes this week!

The U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Museum Festival kicks off Thursday night and runs through Sunday. The festival features free events, including a movie night at multiple locations, free entry to the museum on Saturday and Sunday, a new interactive exhibit, the chance to meet Hall of Famers, and much more!

THURSDAY MOVIE NIGHT (July 10):

-Weidner Field – Blades of Glory (PG-13) Doors open 8 p.m. with a start time of 8:30 p.m. CLICK TO REGISTER FOR WEIDNER FIELD.

-Fort Carson, Iron Horse Park – Miracle (PG) Doors Open 8 p.m. with a start time of 8:30 p.m. This event is open to the public. Patrons without active installation access credentials are encouraged but not required to apply for a pass online to speed up processing. Once approval is obtained from the online pass, patrons can enter at any gate with a valid license and the approval text message. Those who do not pre-register must visit the Fort Carson Visitor Center. Valid photo IDs are required for anyone 15 years old and older. All vehicles are subject to search.

-Lulu’s Downtown – The Fire Inside (PG-13) Doors open at 6:30 p.m. with a start time of 7 p.m. CLICK TO REGISTER FOR LULU’S DOWNTOWN

-University Village – The Boys in the Boat (PG-13) Doors open at 8 p.m. with a start time of 8:30 p.m.

FRIDAY NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM FAN EXPERIENCE (July 11):

From 6 to 10 p.m. on Friday July 11, the public is invited to the Museum plaza with live music from Spinphony and Patrick & The Las Vegas Band, plus a comedy set by Joe Hill. There will be food trucks, activities and a chance to meet Olympic and Paralympic athletes. Afterwards, the museum will open its doors for free access to immersive exhibits and athlete stories at about 9:30 p.m.

SATURDAY (Free entry to the Museum all day July 12):

From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. you can go behind the scenes at the Training Center and explore where champions train. Then head to the Museum for a full day of athlete appearances, interactive exhibits, and Olympic-themed activities.

SUNDAY (Free entry to the Museum all day July 13):

Wrap up the weekend with another chance to meet legendary athletes and explore the Museum’s world-class galleries—for free.

On Saturday, the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Hall of Fame Class of 2025 will be recognized:

2004 U.S. Women’s Wheelchair Basketball Team
The U.S. women’s wheelchair basketball team delivered a defining moment at the Paralympic Games Athens 2004, capturing the program’s first gold medal in 16 years.

2010 Four-Man Bobsled Team
Nicknamed “Team Night Train,” the 2010 U.S. four-man bobsled team made history at the Olympic Winter Games Vancouver 2010 with a gold-medal performance.

Allyson Felix
Across five Olympic Games—from Athens 2004 to Tokyo 2020—Allyson Felix won 11 Olympic medals, including seven gold, the most ever by a female track and field athlete.

Anita DeFrantz
Anita DeFrantz made history at Montreal 1976 as a member of the first U.S. women’s rowing team, helping Team USA capture the bronze medal.

Bode Miller
A six-time Olympian and six-time Olympic medalist, Bode Miller is one of the most accomplished and unconventional alpine skiers in U.S. history.

Flo Hyman
Flo Hyman helped lead Team USA to a silver medal at the Olympic Games Los Angeles 1984, the first Olympic medal ever won by the U.S. women’s volleyball team.

Gabby Douglas
Gabby Douglas made history at the London 2012 Olympics as the first Black woman to win the all-around gymnastics title and also the first American to win all-around and team golds during the same Games.

Kerri Walsh Jennings
Kerri Walsh Jennings redefined excellence in the sport of beach volleyball, winning three consecutive gold medals (2004, 2008, 2012) and a bronze in 2016.

Marla Runyan
Marla Runyan, the first legally blind athlete to compete in the Olympics, broke barriers with a career that includes six Paralympic medals—five of them gold.

Mike Krzyzewski

Mike Krzyzewski served as head coach of the U.S. Men’s Olympic Basketball Team, guiding them to gold medal victories at the Olympic Games Beijing 2008, London 2012, and Rio 2016.

Phil Knight
Phil Knight, co-founder of Nike and a lifelong champion of innovation and athlete empowerment, has transformed global sport through his enduring support of Team USA and the Olympic and Paralympic movements.

Serena Williams
With four Olympic gold medals and 23 Grand Slam singles titles, Serena Williams stands among the most iconic athletes in sports history.

Steve Cash
Steve Cash made his Paralympic debut at the Torino 2006 Games, later becoming a Paralympic gold medalist and legend sled hockey goaltender, redefined excellence in adaptive sport.

Susan Hagel
Susan Hagel, a six-time Paralympian, competed in wheelchair basketball, Para archery, and Para track and field between 1976 and 1996, earning four gold and two bronze medals.

Concerns Rise at Air Force Academy Over Civilian Faculty Cuts

Tom Bewley, the Air Force Academy’s Distinguished Visiting Professor for Mechanical Engineering, has stepped forward to raise alarm about proposed cuts to civilian faculty at the academy. In a recent conversation, he expressed his commitment to the institution’s success and the concerns of many faculty members who remain silent due to their positions in the military or civilian roles.

Concerns Rise at Air Force Academy Over Civilian Faculty Cuts

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Spikes pound Trenton, 18-0 | News, Sports, Jobs

TRENTON, N.J. – The State College Spikes extended their lead in the race for the MLB Draft League’s first-half title, plated a franchise record 12 runs in the eighth inning and notched their most lopsided win ever as they defeated the Trenton Thunder, 18-0, on Sunday afternoon at Trenton Thunder Ballpark. The Spikes (14-10) now […]

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TRENTON, N.J. – The State College Spikes extended their lead in the race for the MLB Draft League’s first-half title, plated a franchise record 12 runs in the eighth inning and notched their most lopsided win ever as they defeated the Trenton Thunder, 18-0, on Sunday afternoon at Trenton Thunder Ballpark.

The Spikes (14-10) now lead second-place West Virginia (13-11) by a full game with five games remaining on the first-half schedule for all six MLB Draft League teams. The Black Bears, who defeated Williamsport on Sunday, do hold the head-to-head tiebreaker against State College with a 2-1 advantage in their first-half matchups.

State College extended what was a 4-0 lead on Trenton (14-13) entering the eighth by bringing 18 batters to the plate.RBI singles from Harrison Didawick and Ryan Rivera combined Landen Johnson’s two-run single to get the inning going before six walks and two hit batsmen with the bases loaded kept the onslaught going.

The dozen runs in the frame bettered the Spikes’ previous record, a 10-run inning against the Batavia Muckdogs in the third inning of a July 4, 2013 matchup at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park. State College’s 18-0 margin was also the largest for any game in franchise history stretching back to 2006.

The Spikes also drew a total of 20 walks for the game, breaking their own franchise record and MLB Draft League record of 17 set back on June 25.

Johnson knocked in a total of four runs, while Rivera extended his hitting streak to 11 games with a 2-for-4 performance that included three walks.

Amidst the offensive explosion, four Spikes pitchers combined on a five-hit shutout. Starter Bobby Olsen (2-0) allowed just two hits, one walk and two hit batsmen while striking out five batters over five innings to earn the win. Brett Dunham then yielded one hits and three walks over two scoreless innings before Ethan Storm and Landon O’Donnell pitched an inning apiece to complete the whitewash.

Trenton starter Joe Ariola (0-1) was forced to depart the game due to an apparent injury after 1 1/3 innings and took the loss.

After an off day on Monday, the Spikes enter the home stretch of their first-half MLB Draft League schedule with a five-game homestand stretching from Tuesday through Sunday. State College will face the Frederick Keys for the opener of a three-game series at 6:35 p.m. on Tuesday.

Fans and their four-legged friends can enjoy Dugout’s 2nd Birthday Paw-ty at Tuesday’s game, as Dugout the Baseball Dog celebrates his 2nd birthday at Bark in the Park II. Dugout, the Spikes’ newest Labrador Retriever mascot, is from the same family tree as the late, great Bob the Baseball Dog, and with his birthday falling on Monday, we’ll get the favors ready for all the humans and canines celebrating with him on Tuesday.

Plus, it’s a Walking Taco Tuesday presented by Bigfoot Country Legends with half-price Walking Tacos at the Salsa concession stand in right field throughout the game.

The Spikes will meet Frederick on Wendesday and Thursday as well before the Williamsport Crosscutters visit on Friday and Saturday. All five games in the homestand begin at 6:35 p.m.

Highlights of the remainder of the week include appearances from the Pirate Parrot, the Pittsburgh Pierogies and the Bucco Brigade at BuccoMania on Friday, July 11, and FIREWORKS on Cancer Survivors Night presented by Penn Highlands Healthcare during the first-half finale on Saturday, July 12.



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NCAA reveals 42 spring honorees for 2024-25 Postgraduate Scholarship program

Story Links The NCAA has awarded $10,000 to 42 extraordinary student-athletes as part of its Postgraduate Scholarship program. These student-athletes, representing spring sports across all three NCAA divisions, have demonstrated remarkable academic achievements, athletic excellence and leadership within their communities.  Each year, the NCAA awards 126 postgraduate scholarships to student-athletes who have […]

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The NCAA has awarded $10,000 to 42 extraordinary student-athletes as part of its Postgraduate Scholarship program. These student-athletes, representing spring sports across all three NCAA divisions, have demonstrated remarkable academic achievements, athletic excellence and leadership within their communities. 

Each year, the NCAA awards 126 postgraduate scholarships to student-athletes who have completed their final year of athletics competition. The scholarships are distributed three times annually — in the fall, winter and spring — providing 21 scholarships each to men and women per season. The award is a one-time, nonrenewable scholarship aimed at funding graduate study at an accredited institution.

Established in 1964, the NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship program promotes and encourages graduate education by recognizing the Association’s most accomplished student-athletes. The program evaluates candidates on their athletic and academic achievements, campus involvement, community service and leadership. An equitable selection process ensures that all nominees, regardless of sport, division, gender or race, are considered fairly.

2024-25 NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship Spring Awardees

Men’s Awardees

  • Pablo Alemany Malea, Memphis, tennis
  • Drake Ballard, Purdue Northwest, baseball
  • Petar Basic Palkovic, Wingate, tennis
  • Jamie Butler, Toledo, golf
  • Morgan Conner, Nebraska Wesleyan, outdoor track and field
  • Mason Cox, Martin Luther, baseball
  • Braeden Duncan, Aurora, golf
  • Reece Farrow, Adelphi, tennis
  • Leo Freeland, Wingate, outdoor track and field
  • Patrick Herrera, Kentucky, baseball
  • Alan Jesudason, Tennessee, tennis
  • Agustin Kalinowski, Hendrix, tennis
  • Bennett Markinson, Northwestern, baseball
  • Nick Melanese, Cal State San Marcos, outdoor track and field
  • Divgurjot Singh, Benedict, tennis
  • Ishaan Tibrewal, Grinnell, tennis
  • Florian Walcher, Wingate, tennis
  • Brandon Walker, Idaho State, outdoor track and field
  • Jeffrey “Kirk” Waller, University of Chicago, baseball
  • Hunter Wallster, South Dakota State, outdoor track and field
  • Spencer Watry, Emory, outdoor track and field

Women’s Awardees

  • Savanna Brooks, Wingate, softball
  • Megan Bunker, Regis (Colorado), lacrosse
  • Avery Decker, Nebraska Wesleyan, outdoor track and field
  • Liz Dierks, Augustana (South Dakota), softball
  • Ella Ford, Nebraska Wesleyan, tennis
  • Elizabeth Hennessey, Colby, lacrosse
  • Leandra Hogrefe, Ohio State, rowing
  • Anna Igims, Slippery Rock, outdoor track and field
  • Janaki Jagannathan, Wooster, tennis
  • Emma Kelley, Washington University in St. Louis, outdoor track and field
  • Kylee Loewe, Texas Tech, golf
  • Lucia Lopez Ortega, San Jose State, golf
  • Phoebe McCowan, Kentucky, outdoor track and field
  • Charlotte Newport, Augustana (Illinois), water polo
  • Lanie Nitsch, Texas, rowing
  • Michaela Pomatto, Stockton, outdoor track and field
  • Jenna Rogers, Nebraska, outdoor track and field
  • Darja Vidmanova, Georgia, tennis
  • Heidi Vortherms, West Texas A&M, softball
  • Jami Watson, East Central, softball
  • Angie Zhou, Pomona-Pitzer, tennis



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Malta U-16 beaten by Georgia in European Waterpolo Championsnhips

MALTA           8 GEORGIA     11 (0-1, 5-3, 0-5, 3-3) The Malta waterpolo U-16 national team were beaten by Georgia in their opening match of the European Championships that are currently being held in Istanbul, Turkey. Anthony Farrugia’s boys were far from their best, and although they managed to keep abreast with their opponents for much of […]

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MALTA           8

GEORGIA     11

(0-1, 5-3, 0-5, 3-3)

The Malta waterpolo U-16 national team were beaten by Georgia in their opening match of the European Championships that are currently being held in Istanbul, Turkey.

Anthony Farrugia’s boys were far from their best, and although they managed to keep abreast with their opponents for much of the match, their fate was sealed late in the third session when Georgia scored four goals without reply to put themselves on the brink of victory.

The first session turned out to be a hard-fought affair with Georgia taking a slender one-goal lead through a Davit Landia strike.

But in the second quarter, the Maltese fought back and managed to score five times through a hat-trick from Matthew Soler, and further goals from Max Lanzon, and Benjamin Lewis to take a 5-4 lead when the ends were changed.

But in the third session, the Maltese seemed to lose their way as goals from Georgi Surmava, Lado Raminishvili, Landa, and Saba Abuladze put them 8-5 ahead.

The Maltese tried to rescue the match in the final session but the Georgians held off their efforts.

The final session ended three-all with Malta’s goals coming from Giulio Massa, Sebastian Van Wyk and Lewis as the Georgians held on for an 11-8 win.

Malta face a tough second match when they take on the Netherlands on Tuesday.

MALTA: L. Gatt, M. Lanzon 1, L. Camilleri Bowman, S. Van Wyk 1, J. Colombo, M. Soler 3, G. Massa 1, A. Buhagiar, J. Zammit, B. Lewis 2, G. Schembri, T. Schembri, Z. Schranz.





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Best newcomers to Illinois

In June, the Illinois Division of Intercollegiate Athletics announced the Illinois newcomer of the year for both men’s and women’s sports.  Men: J.C. Davis, football The New Mexico transfer made a name for himself during his first year as an Illini. Davis started in all 13 games the Illini played in 2024 and was a […]

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Best newcomers to Illinois

In June, the Illinois Division of Intercollegiate Athletics announced the Illinois newcomer of the year for both men’s and women’s sports. 

Men: J.C. Davis, football

The New Mexico transfer made a name for himself during his first year as an Illini. Davis started in all 13 games the Illini played in 2024 and was a key part for their offensive line. His arrival coincided with the Illini’s best season in recent years. 

Davis earned All-Big Ten third team honors from the coaches and an All-Big Ten honorable mention from the media.

Davis was the left tackle who played a huge role in protecting Illinois quarterback Luke Altmyer all season. 

Additionally, also played a key role in Illinois’ victory over South Carolina in the Citrus Bowl by allowing zero pressures.

According to the PFF, he ranked seventh for pass-blocking tackles.

Women: Abria Smith, track and field

The Illinois native continues to add to her growing list of accomplishments. She was a two time All-American for the indoor and outdoor season for the shot put event. 

At the indoor Big Ten Championship, Smith took home fourth place and a new school record of 17.87m. However later in the indoor season, she was also a NCAA qualifier and placed seventh for the shot put. With her 17.99m throw, she set the new program record.

Smith only continued to raise the bar as the outdoor season progressed. She was the Big Ten Champion for the shot put event. She then became a qualifier for the NCAA championship where she was the runner up with a throw of 18.85m. 

Her silver medal marks the highest finish in the event in Illinois track and field history.

David and Smith are two examples of newcomers to Illinois who made huge success and were assets to their teams.

@lauram0131

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