MLB – Major League Baseball
Yesterday
Detroit Tigers 5, Boston Red Sox 0
Milwaukee Brewers 6, Chicago Cubs 4
White Sox were off
Tigers 5, Red Sox 0 – Jack Flaherty allows 1 hit over 6 2/3 innings and Tigers hit 3 home runs in 5-0 win
Jack Flaherty allowed one hit over 6 2/3 innings, Akil Baddoo, Riley Greene and Gio Urshela hit home runs and the Detroit Tigers beat the Boston Red Sox 5-0. Flaherty carried a no-hitter through 6 1/3 innings and improved to 2-4. His bid was snapped when Boston outfielder Rob Refsnyder singled on a 3-2 pitch. The Red Sox had just two hits. Flaherty struck out nine and threw 66 of his 104 pitches for strikes. He was still featuring a mid 90s fastball before getting taken out with Detroit up 2-0. Boston pitcher Nick Pivetta tied Roger Clemens for the Red Sox record with eight consecutive strikeouts.
Brewers 6, Cubs 4 – Gary Sánchez hits tiebreaking 2-run homer in 8th inning as Brewers defeat the Cubs 6-4
Gary Sánchez hit a tiebreaking two-run homer with two outs in the eighth inning and the Milwaukee Brewers defeated the Chicago Cubs 6-4. The NL Central-leading Brewers won three of four games against Chicago in a series that marked Cubs manager Craig Counsell’s return to American Family Field. Counsell is the winningest manager in Brewers history. He was showered with boos every time he left the dugout this week. Sánchez put the Brewers ahead for good with a 422-foot drive over the center-field wall on a 3-2 sweeper from Tyson Miller.
Today
Cincinnati (Ashcraft 4-3) at Chicago Cubs (Assad 4-1), 2:20 p.m.
Detroit (Maeda 2-1) at Boston (Houck 4-5), 7:10 p.m. News/Talk/Sports 94.9 WSJM 6:45
Chicago White Sox (Fedde 4-1) at Milwaukee (Myers 1-2), 8:10 p.m.
NHL – 2024 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs – Round 3 – Conference Finals (Best of 7)
Last Night
Florida Panthers 3, New York Rangers 2 (FLA leads 3-2)
Panthers 3, Rangers 2 – Panthers beat Rangers 3-2 in Game 5 to move within win of Stanley Cup Final return
Anton Lundell broke a tie with 9:38 left and the Florida Panthers moved within a victory of returning to the Stanley Cup Final, beating the New York Rangers 3-2 in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference final Thursday night. Gustav Forsling and Sam Bennett also scored, and Sergei Bobrovsky made 25 saves to help the Panthers win their second straight in the best-of-series series after losing Games 2 and 3 in overtime. Chris Kreider and Alexis Lafreniere scored for the Rangers, and Igor Shesterkin made 34 saves in another magnificent effort. The Panthers can end the series Saturday in Florida. If a seventh game is necessary, it will be at Madison Square Garden, where the Panthers have won twice this series.
Tonight
Edmonton Oilers at Dallas Stars, 8:30 p.m. (Series tied 2-2)
NBA – 2024 NBA Playoffs – Round 3 – Conference Finals (Best of 7)
Last Night
Dallas Mavericks 124, Minnesota Timberwolves 103 (DAL wins 4-1)
Mavs 124, T-Wolves 103 – Doncic’s 36 points spur Mavericks to NBA Finals with 124-103 win over Timberwolves
Luka Doncic had a 20-point first quarter on his way to 36 points for his high this postseason, and the Dallas Mavericks beat the Minnesota Timberwolves 124-103 to breeze through the Western Conference finals in five games. Kyrie Irving also scored 36 points for the Mavericks. They built a 29-point halftime lead on 61% shooting to deflate the once-energized crowd and went up by 36 in the third quarter. The Mavs have a week to rest before the NBA Finals begin in Boston. Anthony Edwards scored 28 points and Karl-Anthony Towns had 28 points and 12 rebounds for the Wolves. Game 1 of the 2024 NBA Finals is not until Thursday in Boston.
WNBA – Women’s National Basketball Association – Regular Season Openers
Last Night
Seattle Storm 103, Indiana Fever 88
Chicago Sky 83, Los Angeles Sparks 73
Storm 103, Fever 88 – Caitlin Clark scores 20 points, but Jewell Loyd gets 22 to lead Storm over Fever 103-88
Caitlin Clark scored 20 points and had nine assists while playing nearly the entire game but the Indiana Fever continued to struggle in a 103-88 loss to the Seattle Storm. Jewell Loyd had 22 points and Skylar Diggins-Smith added 18 points and nine assists as the Storm (5-3) scored a season high in points to improve to 5-3. Nneka Ogwumike scored 17 for the Storm. Fever forward NaLyssa Smith scored 15 of her team-high 23 points in the first half but as Indiana fell to 1-8. The Storm ripped off a 10-0 run in the first quarter and never trailed after that.
Sky 83, Sparks 73 – Marina Mabrey hits 6 3-pointers, scores 20 as the Sky beat the Sparks for 1st home win
Marina Mabrey scored 20 points and tied a career high with six 3-pointers, Elizabeth Williams had 17 points, 11 rebounds and four blocks, and the Chicago Sky beat the Los Angeles Sparks 83-73 for their first home win of the season. Mabrey gave Chicago a 21-point lead with 6:59 remaining in the third quarter. Los Angeles battled back to within 67-58 entering the fourth. The Sky committed 10 fouls in the third quarter, turned it over six times and allowed 27 points. Los Angeles was within 78-69 with 2:16 left after Rickea Jackson completed a three-point play, but rookie Angel Reese made a shot in the lane on back-to-back possessions to extend Chicago’s lead to 82-69. Los Angeles was slowed by 18 turnovers.
Saturday
Chicago Sky at Indiana Fever, 12:00 p.m.
Golf – Oh, Nelly! Korda makes a 10 on one hole and posts an 80 in U.S. Women’s Open
For Nelly Korda, this was a most imperfect 10. The No. 1 player in women’s golf had a shocker of a start in the U.S. Women’s Open when she made a 10 on her third hole. She wound up with an 80, matching her worst score as a professional. Korda hit into the water three times on the par-3 12th hole. Korda hit her tee shot into a back bunker. Her sand shot went through the green into the water. She dropped on the other side of the stream, and her next two chips rolled back into the water. Korda says "today was just a bad day.”
Golf – Officer who arrested Scheffler criticizes lawyer; has ‘no ill will’ toward golfer
The Louisville police officer who arrested Scottie Scheffler said he has “no ill will” toward the pro golfer for injuries he says he suffered. Detective Bryan Gillis says he hurt his knees and wrist falling to the ground. Gillis sent out a statement about the incident Wednesday night. Charges against Scheffler were dropped Wednesday. Gill wished Scheffler “all the best,” but took issue with comments by Scheffler’s attorney that the golfer was “falsely arrested.” Gillis wrote that Scheffler attorney Steve Romines’ claim of a false arrest was “unfortunate and disturbing” and a challenge to his honesty and integrity.
Tennis – American Peyton Stearns leads unseeded players pulling upsets at French Open
Unseeded American Peyton Stearns’ elimination of No. 10 Daria Kasatkina at the French Open was one of several losses for seeded women on a rainy day filled with matches. Play was still continuing after midnight as Thursday turned to Friday because weather delays kept stopping the action and organizers were determined to complete the second round. It’s a good thing the French tennis federation installed artificial lights on every court at Roland Garros in 2021. Stearns is a 22-year-old from Cincinnati who won an NCAA singles title at the University of Texas. She used 17 forehand winners through the cold, damp and slow conditions to defeat Kasatkina 7-5, 6-2.
NFL – Chicago Bears are set to be featured on ‘Hard Knocks’ for first time
The Chicago Bears are set to be featured on “Hard Knocks” for the first time. HBO and the NFL announced Thursday the founding NFL franchise was chosen for the 19th edition of the Emmy-winning series that first aired in 2001. Chairman George McCaskey had long resisted having the Bears participate in the training camp documentary. The five-episode series debuts Aug. 6, with subsequent episodes airing on Tuesdays through Sept. 3. The Detroit Lions were featured on the series two years ago. The New York Jets were featured last season.
NCAA – NCAA, states reach agreement to allow multiple-transfer athletes to compete
The NCAA and a coalition of states suing the organization have announced a proposed settlement of a lawsuit that would allow athletes to play immediately no matter how many times they transfer. Under the agreement, a preliminary injunction issued by a federal judge in West Virginia allowing multiple-transfer athletes to compete would be made permanent. It comes a month after the NCAA fast-tracked legislation to fall in line with the judge’s December injunction. Under the agreement, athletes who were previously deemed ineligible under the transfer rule since the 2019-20 academic year would be given an extra year of eligibility. Athletes would still be required to meet academic requirements.
NCAA – SEC Commissioner says frustration with NCAA led to committee with Big Ten
Southeastern Conference Commissioner Greg Sankey said frustration over slow decision-making processes by the College Football Playoff and NCAA led him to suggest the SEC and Big Ten try to tackle some issues. Sankey wrapped up SEC meetings in Florida by saying big problems often need smaller groups of people to be solved. He said Division I, with its 352 members bounds together by March Madness basketball, can work. But the smaller schools in Division I need to recognize there are different pressures in the conferences at the top.
NCAA – Schools in basketball-centric leagues face different economic challenges
Schools in basketball-centric leagues face the challenge of generating revenue to pay future players without the lucrative revenues from football. The NCAA and major college conferences approved the settlement of a federal class-action lawsuit on paying athletes. That includes paying $2.77 billion to former athletes over 10 years. But leagues like the Big East, Atlantic 10 and West Coast Conferences depend on basketball, which lags behind football in terms of generating revenue. That could create challenges in keeping up with teams in the power conferences when it comes to the ability to pay future players.
Larry Bird Museum officially opens in Terre Haute
Boston Celtics great Larry Bird addressed a public ceremony for the official opening of the Larry Bird Museum inside the Terre Haute Convention Center. Bird wondered why he has to keep talking on stage in front of thousands of people. He says “it’s because of the love and respect I’ve had for my fans and the love and respect they’ve shown me back.” The ceremony took place a few days after the Celtics advanced to the NBA Finals by sweeping the Indiana Pacers in the Eastern Conference finals. Bird took questions from the media after the ceremony. He jokingly said might it be his last interview.
MWL – Midwest League Baseball
Last Night
West Michigan 6, Great Lakes 5
Lansing 3, Peoria 2
South Bend 6, Quad Cities 4
Tonight
Great Lakes Loons at West Michigan Whitecaps, 6:35 p.m.
Peoria Chiefs at Lansing Lugnuts, 7:05 p.m.
South Bend Cubs at Quad Cities River Bandits, 7:30 p.m.
MHSAA – Michigan High School Athletic Association
Last Night
Girls Soccer – District Finals
Division 2 at Vicksburg
Lakeshore 2, Vicksburg 1
Division 2 at Wayland
Gull Lake 1, Otsego 0
Division 4 at Fennville
Grandville Calvin Christian 3, Fennville 0
Tonight
Softball – District Semifinals/Finals
Division 2 at Dowagiac
Edwardsburg vs. Sturgis, 2:00 p.m.
Niles vs. Three Rivers, 4:00 p.m.
Championship – 6:00 p.m.
Division 4 Centreville
Marcellus vs. Mendon, 1:00 p.m.
White Pigeon vs. Centreville, 3:00 p.m.
Championship – 5:00 p.m.
Girls Soccer – District Finals
Division 2 at Mason
Marshall vs. Mason, 5:00 p.m.
Division 3 at Dowagiac
South Haven vs. Three Rivers, 5:00 p.m.
Division 3 at Hopkins
Allegan vs. GR South Christian, 6:00 p.m.
Division 4 at Bridgman
Our Lady of the Lake vs. Michigan Lutheran, 3:00 p.m.
Division 4 at Kalamazoo Christian (at Kalamazoo College)
Kalamazoo Hackett vs. Kalamazoo Christian, 6:00 p.m.
Girls Tennis – State Finals (two day event)
Division 1 at Midland
Division 2 at Grand Rapids
Division 3 at Kalamazoo
Division 4 at Ann Arbor
MHSAA – Michigan High School Athletic Association (continued)
Saturday
Girls Soccer – District Finals
Division 1 at Portage Central
Portage Central vs. Battle Creek Lakeview, 5:00 p.m.
Baseball – District Semifinals/Finals
Division 1 at Kalamazoo Central
Kalamazoo Central vs. Portage Northern, 10:00 a.m.
Mattawan vs. Portage Central, 12:00 p.m.
Championship – 2:00 p.m.
Division 2 at St. Joseph
St. Joseph vs. Lakeshore, 10:00 a.m.
Niles vs. Berrien Springs, 12:30 p.m.
Championship – 3:00 p.m.
Division 2 at Holland Christian
Holland Christian vs. Hamilton, 10:00 a.m.
Allegan vs. South Haven, 12:00 p.m.
Championship – 2:00 p.m.
Division 2 at Edwardsburg
Paw Paw vs. Three Rivers, 9:00 a.m. @Edwardsburg Sports Complex
Edwardsburg vs. Sturgis, 9:00 a.m. @Edwardsburg HS
Championship – 11:30 a.m. @Edwardsburg HS
Division 2 at Otsego
Otsego vs. Hastings, 10:00 a.m.
Gull Lake vs. Plainwell, 12:00 p.m.
Championship – 2:00 p.m.
Division 3 at Bloomingdale
Fennville vs Bangor, 10:00 a.m.
Bloomingdale vs. Black River, 12:00 p.m.
Championship – 2:00 p.m.
Division 3 at Coloma
Schoolcraft vs. Coloma, 10:00 a.m.
Lawton vs. Watervliet, 12:30 p.m.
Championship – 3:00 p.m.
Division 3 at Constantine
Bridgman vs. Cassopolis, 10:00 a.m.
Buchanan vs. Brandywine, 12:00 p.m.
Championship – 2:00 p.m.
Division 3 at Parchment
Comstock vs. Kalamazoo Christian, 10:00 a.m.
Galesburg-Augusta vs. Parchment, 12:00 p.m.
Championship – 2:00 p.m.
Division 4 at Our Lady of the Lake (Eaton Park)
Michigan Lutheran vs. New Buffalo, 10:00 a.m.
Our Lady of the Lake vs. River Valley, 12:00 p.m.
Championship – 2:00 p.m.
Division 4 at Gobles
Kalamazoo Hackett vs. Lawrence, 10:00 a.m.
Kalamazoo Heritage vs. Decatur, 12:00 p.m.
Championship – 2:00 p.m.
Division 4 at Martin
Wyoming Tri-Unity vs. Saugatuck, 10:00 a.m.
GR Sacred Heart vs. Zion Christian, 12:00 p.m.
Championship – 2:00 p.m.
Division 4 at Centreville
Centreville vs. Colon, 10:00 a.m.
Marcellus vs. Burr Oak, 12:00 p.m.
Championship – 2:00 p.m.
Softball – District Semifinals/Finals
Division 1 at Portage Central
Kalamazoo Central vs. Loy Norrix, 10:00 a.m.
Portage Northern vs. Portage Central, 12:00 p.m.
Championship – 2:00 p.m.
Division 1 at Battle Creek Lakeview
Lakeshore vs. Berrien Springs, 10:00 a.m.
St. Joseph vs. South Haven, 12:00 p.m.
Championship – 2:00 p.m.
Division 2 at Lakeshore
Kalamazoo Central vs. Loy Norrix, 10:00 a.m.
Portage Northern vs. Portage Central, 12:00 p.m.
Championship – 2:00 p.m.
Division 2 at Otsego
Vicksburg vs. Plainwell, 10:00 a.m.
Otsego vs. Paw Paw, 12:00 p.m.
Championship – 2:00 p.m.
Division 2 at Holland Christian
Hamilton vs. Saugatuck, 10:00 a.m.
Holland vs. Holland Christian, 12:00 p.m.
Championship – 2:00 p.m.
Division 3 at Watervliet
Hartford vs. Bloomingdale, 10:00 a.m.
Watervliet vs. Coloma, 12:00 p.m.
Championship – 2:00 p.m.
Division 3 at Brandywine
Buchanan vs. Brandywine, 10:00 a.m.
River Valley vs. Bridgman, 12:30 p.m.
Championship – 3:00 p.m.
Division 3 at Parchment
Constantine vs. Bronson, 10:00 a.m.
Lawton vs. Union City, 12:00 p.m.
Championship – 2:00 p.m.
Division 3 at Bronson
Kalamazoo Central vs. Loy Norrix, 10:00 a.m.
Portage Northern vs. Portage Central, 12:00 p.m.
Championship – 2:00 p.m.
Division 4 at Decatur
Decatur vs. Eau Claire, 10:00 a.m.
Michigan Lutheran vs. Lawrence, 12:00 p.m.
Championship – 2:00 p.m.
Track and Field – State Championship
Division 1 at East Kentwood, 10:00 a.m.
Division 2 at Hamilton, 10:00 a.m.
Division 3 at Kent City, 10:00 a.m.
Division 4 at Hudsonville, 10:00 a.m.
