ATLANTA (AP) — Kyle Schwarber was nervous.

He had played in Game 7 of the World Series, homered for the United States in the World Baseball Classic.

But he had never walked up to the plate in an All-Star Game swing-off.

“That's kind of like the baseball version of a shootout,” he said after homering on all three of his swings, going down to his left knee on the final one, to overcome a two-homer deficit. That held up when Jonathan Aranda fell short on the American League's final three swings, giving the National League a 4-3 swing-off win after a 6-6 tie Tuesday night in which it wasted a six-run, seventh-inning lead.

Schwarber earned the MVP award, going 0 for 2 with a walk as the NL won for the second time in its last 12 tries. He became the first non-pitcher MVP without a hit.

“It will be interesting to see where that goes,” said AL manager Aaron Boone of the New York Yankees. “There’s probably a world where you could see that in the future, where maybe it’s in some regular season mix. I wouldn’t be surprised if people start talking about it like that.”

Concerned about running out of pitchers in an era where no All-Star throws more than one inning,&nbsp;Major League Baseball and the players' association made the change in 2022.

In baseball’s equivalent of soccer’s penalty-kicks shootout, the game was decided by having three batters from each league take three swings each off coaches.

Boone picked Brent Rooker, Randy Arozarena and Aranda on Monday, and Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts picked Eugenio Suárez, Schwarber and Pete Alonso for the NL. Because&nbsp;Suárez was hit&nbsp;on the left hand by a fastball in the eighth inning, the NL turned to its alternate, Kyle Stowers.

Players from both teams stood outside their dugouts, some already in street clothes, jumping and shouting after each long ball from their side. Yankees coach Travis Chapman threw to the AL batters and Dodgers coach Dino Ebel to the NL hitters.

Rooker put the AL ahead by homering on his last two swings, and Stowers hit one. Randy Arozarena boosted the AL lead to 3-1.

Ebel had thrown BP to Schwarber two years ago at the WBC.

“He asked me right before, he was like, where do you want it?” Schwarber recalled “I’m like, just middle. And he’s like, `I gotcha.'”

He took two pitches and deposited the third just over the center-field fence. Schwarber took another, then hit a 461-foot drive over the right-center bullpen. After letting two more go by, he dropped to a knee while pulling the third, craned his neck and held his bat it the air as the ball landed in the fourth row of the Chop House seats.

“I didn’t hit it, obviously, my best, but I was thinking I got enough of it,” Schwarber said. “And I was just kind of down there, hoping, saying: go, go, go. And it went. And it was awesome.”

Aranda followed with a fly well short of the center-field warning track, drove a pitch about a foot shy of the top of the right-field wall and hit an opposite-field pop that dropped in medium left.

Alonso, a two-time Home Run Derby champion, didn't have to bat and patted Schwarber on the head as fireworks went off at Truist Field.

“I felt like a closer like a closer going into a game,” Alonso said, “and then it’s like, wait, the guy in the field got a double play to end the inning. You’re not going in.”

MLB, after consulting with the Elias Sports Bureau,&nbsp;said in 2022&nbsp;that All-Star Games ending in a swing-off would be listed as tied, with a notation of the game being decided in a swing-off. MLB's official postgame notes listed Tuesday's outcome as a 7-6 NL victory.

Ketel Marte’s two-run double in the first had put the NL ahead, and Alonso’s three-run homer off Kris Bubic and Corbin Carroll’s solo shot against Casey Mize opened a 6-0 lead in the sixth.

The AL comeback began when Rooker hit a three-run pinch homer against Randy Rodríguez in a four-run seventh that included Bobby Witt Jr.’s RBI groundout. Robert Suarez allowed consecutive doubles to Byron Buxton and Witt with one out in ninth, and Steven Kwan’s infield hit on a three-hopper to third off Edwin Díaz drove in the tying run.

Paul Skenes, the first pitcher to start the All-Star Game each of his first two seasons, reached 100 mph on four pitches in a perfect first. Jacob Misiorowski,&nbsp;a controversial inclusion&nbsp;after pitching in just five major league games in his rookie season, fired nine pitches of 100 mph or more in a one-hit eighth 34 days after his major league debut. The 23-year-old righty, added to the NL roster by baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred, reached 102.3 mph. There were 21 pitches of 100 mph or more, down from a record 23 last year.

Four of five challenges were successful in the first use of the robot umpire in the All-Star Game

Teams were back in their regular-season club jerseys&nbsp;— whites for the NL, mostly grays for the AL — after four years of special All-Star uniforms that were much criticized. The AL leads 48-45 with two ties.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1752671219886.jpeg" alt="Philadelphia Phillies Kyle Schwarber celebrates after winning the tiebreaker at the MLB baseball All-Star game between the American League and National League, Tuesday, July 15, 2025, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)" />
 <figcaption>Philadelphia Phillies Kyle Schwarber celebrates after winning the tiebreaker at the MLB baseball All-Star game between the American League and National League, Tuesday, July 15, 2025, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)</figcaption>
 </figure>ATLANTA (AP) — Kyle Schwarber was nervous.He had played in Game 7 of the World Series, homered for the United States in the World Baseball Classic.But he had never walked up to the plate in an All-Star Game swing-off.No one had.“That's kind of like the baseball version of a shootout,” he said after homering on all three of his swings, going down to his left knee on the final one, to overcome a two-homer deficit. That held up when Jonathan Aranda fell short on the American League's final three swings, giving the National League a 4-3 swing-off win after a 6-6 tie Tuesday night in which it wasted a six-run, seventh-inning lead.Schwarber earned the MVP award, going 0 for 2 with a walk as the NL won for the second time in its last 12 tries. He became the first non-pitcher MVP without a hit.“It will be interesting to see where that goes,” said AL manager Aaron Boone of the New York Yankees. “There’s probably a world where you could see that in the future, where maybe it’s in some regular season mix. I wouldn’t be surprised if people start talking about it like that.”Concerned about running out of pitchers in an era where no All-Star throws more than one inning,&nbsp;Major League Baseball and the players' association made the change in 2022.In baseball’s equivalent of soccer’s penalty-kicks shootout, the game was decided by having three batters from each league take three swings each off coaches.Boone picked Brent Rooker, Randy Arozarena and Aranda on Monday, and Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts picked Eugenio Suárez, Schwarber and Pete Alonso for the NL. Because&nbsp;Suárez was hit&nbsp;on the left hand by a fastball in the eighth inning, the NL turned to its alternate, Kyle Stowers.Players from both teams stood outside their dugouts, some already in street clothes, jumping and shouting after each long ball from their side. Yankees coach Travis Chapman threw to the AL batters and Dodgers coach Dino Ebel to the NL hitters.Rooker put the AL ahead by homering on his last two swings, and Stowers hit one. Randy Arozarena boosted the AL lead to 3-1.Ebel had thrown BP to Schwarber two years ago at the WBC.“He asked me right before, he was like, where do you want it?” Schwarber recalled “I’m like, just middle. And he’s like, `I gotcha.'”He took two pitches and deposited the third just over the center-field fence. Schwarber took another, then hit a 461-foot drive over the right-center bullpen. After letting two more go by, he dropped to a knee while pulling the third, craned his neck and held his bat it the air as the ball landed in the fourth row of the Chop House seats.“I didn’t hit it, obviously, my best, but I was thinking I got enough of it,” Schwarber said. “And I was just kind of down there, hoping, saying: go, go, go. And it went. And it was awesome.”Aranda followed with a fly well short of the center-field warning track, drove a pitch about a foot shy of the top of the right-field wall and hit an opposite-field pop that dropped in medium left.Alonso, a two-time Home Run Derby champion, didn't have to bat and patted Schwarber on the head as fireworks went off at Truist Field.“I felt like a closer like a closer going into a game,” Alonso said, “and then it’s like, wait, the guy in the field got a double play to end the inning. You’re not going in.”<h2>What was the score?</h2>MLB, after consulting with the Elias Sports Bureau,&nbsp;said in 2022&nbsp;that All-Star Games ending in a swing-off would be listed as tied, with a notation of the game being decided in a swing-off. MLB's official postgame notes listed Tuesday's outcome as a 7-6 NL victory.<h2>In earlier action</h2>Ketel Marte’s two-run double in the first had put the NL ahead, and Alonso’s three-run homer off Kris Bubic and Corbin Carroll’s solo shot against Casey Mize opened a 6-0 lead in the sixth.The AL comeback began when Rooker hit a three-run pinch homer against Randy Rodríguez in a four-run seventh that included Bobby Witt Jr.’s RBI groundout. Robert Suarez allowed consecutive doubles to Byron Buxton and Witt with one out in ninth, and Steven Kwan’s infield hit on a three-hopper to third off Edwin Díaz drove in the tying run.<h2>Heat on the mound</h2>Paul Skenes, the first pitcher to start the All-Star Game each of his first two seasons, reached 100 mph on four pitches in a perfect first. Jacob Misiorowski,&nbsp;a controversial inclusion&nbsp;after pitching in just five major league games in his rookie season, fired nine pitches of 100 mph or more in a one-hit eighth 34 days after his major league debut. The 23-year-old righty, added to the NL roster by baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred, reached 102.3 mph. There were 21 pitches of 100 mph or more, down from a record 23 last year.<h2>Robot umpire debuts</h2>Four of five challenges were successful in the first use of the robot umpire in the All-Star Game<h2>Styling</h2>Teams were back in their regular-season club jerseys&nbsp;— whites for the NL, mostly grays for the AL — after four years of special All-Star uniforms that were much criticized. The AL leads 48-45 with two ties.

Kyle Schwarber's 3 homers in All-Star Game's first tiebreaking swing-off lift NL over AL

ESPN's&nbsp;annual positional rankings are underway, and in the case of interior linemen – which includes both centers and guards – Creed Humphrey stood out among the rest.

Here's what the rankings – which are compiled by a group of anonymous league executives, coaches and scouts – had to say about Humphrey:

"Last year, Humphrey made the case as the best overall center since Jason Kelce. Now, he's the top interior lineman thanks to consistency in the voting. He's the only one to appear on every ballot and was a top-three recipient on the majority of them.

Humphrey's 96.2 pass block win rate last season ranks sixth among all interior offensive linemen. He's the lead communicator for a championship-level offense. And his intangibles are well-known around the league."

Humphrey's lofty standing in the rankings marked yet another accolade in what has been an offseason full of them for the fifth-year center. Humphrey&nbsp;landed at No. 93&nbsp;in the NFL Top 100 rankings, he was&nbsp;Pro Football Focus’ top center&nbsp;in their positional rankings, he&nbsp;earned First-Team All-Pro honors&nbsp;for the first time in his career, and FOX Sports even included him in their&nbsp;“future half-decade team.”

Humphrey is the consensus best in the business, and he'll aim to add to his already impressive resume with another strong season in 2025.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1749557727983.jpeg" alt="Andrew Mather/Kansas City Chiefs" />
 <figcaption>Andrew Mather/Kansas City Chiefs</figcaption>
 </figure>Matt McMullen Chiefs.comESPN's&nbsp;annual positional rankings are underway, and in the case of interior linemen – which includes both centers and guards – Creed Humphrey stood out among the rest.Here's what the rankings – which are compiled by a group of anonymous league executives, coaches and scouts – had to say about Humphrey:"Last year, Humphrey made the case as the best overall center since Jason Kelce. Now, he's the top interior lineman thanks to consistency in the voting. He's the only one to appear on every ballot and was a top-three recipient on the majority of them.Humphrey's 96.2 pass block win rate last season ranks sixth among all interior offensive linemen. He's the lead communicator for a championship-level offense. And his intangibles are well-known around the league."Humphrey's lofty standing in the rankings marked yet another accolade in what has been an offseason full of them for the fifth-year center. Humphrey&nbsp;landed at No. 93&nbsp;in the NFL Top 100 rankings, he was&nbsp;Pro Football Focus’ top center&nbsp;in their positional rankings, he&nbsp;earned First-Team All-Pro honors&nbsp;for the first time in his career, and FOX Sports even included him in their&nbsp;“future half-decade team.”Humphrey is the consensus best in the business, and he'll aim to add to his already impressive resume with another strong season in 2025.

Creed Humphrey Tops ESPN's Interior Lineman Rankings

ATLANTA (AP) — Kyle Schwarber went 3 for 3 in the first All-Star Game home run swing-off to put the National League ahead 4-3 following a 6-6 tie in which the American League rallied from a six-run deficit. In baseball’s equivalent of soccer’s penalty-kicks shootout, the game was decided by having three batters from each league take three swings each off coaches. The change was agreed to in 2022 to alleviate the concern of teams running out of pitchers. Schwarber was named All-Star MVP after going 0 for 2 with a walk in the game.

ATLANTA (AP) — Seattle catcher Cal Raleigh successfully used the robot umpire to gain a strikeout for pitcher Tarik Skubal in the first inning of the All-Star Game. He changed an 0-2 pitch to a strike on San Diego’s Manny Machado. Four of five challenges of plate umpire Dan Iassogna’s calls were successful in the first All-Star use of the ABS system, which could make its regular-season debut next year. The players' association is unsure whether the Automated Ball-Strike System is accurate enough. A decision for 2026 use likely will be considered by sport's 11-man competition committee.

GENEVA (AP) — Soccer faces growing challenges from extreme heat, as seen during the FIFA Club World Cup in the U.S. this summer. Rising global temperatures are making summer tournaments increasingly dangerous for players and fans. Scientists warn that continuing to hold events in June and July could lead to severe heat-related illnesses. FIFA introduced measures like extra water breaks and shaded benches but still faced criticism from players. Experts suggest shifting tournaments to cooler months, though this disrupts traditional soccer calendars. With the 2026 and 2030 World Cups scheduled in hot regions, addressing heat risks is becoming urgent as climate change worsens.

OAKMONT, Pa. (AP) — Oakmont is banning former U.S. Open champion Wyndham Clark from returning to the club until he pays for damaging his locker. Golf Digest has obtained a letter that club president John Lynch has sent to Oakmont members. Clark damaged the locker during last month's U.S. Open and a photo was leaked that went viral. Lynch says Clark won't be allowed on the property until he pays for the damage, makes a charity donation to the club's choice and seeks counseling. Oakmont has hosted the most U.S. Opens. The next one is in 2033. That's when Clark's 10-year exemption from winning runs out.

ATLANTA (AP) — Major League Baseball honored late Hall of Famer Hank Aaron by recreating his record-breaking 715th career home run through the use of projection mapping and custom pyrotechnics. The lights went down at Truist Park and fans stood holding their cell phone lights following the sixth inning of Tuesday night’s All-Star Game. The scene from April 8, 1974 at old Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium was projected on the infield and also shown on the video board. Aaron's widow, Billye Aaron, was cheered as she stood and waved following the tribute.

ATLANTA (AP) — Major League Baseball faces a potential lockout in December 2026. Players and management have long clashed over salary cap proposals, a format that union head Tony Clark criticizes as harmful to competition and player salary guarantees. Commissioner Rob Manfred argues the cap could address payroll disparities as MLB also tries to deal with declining revenue from regional sports networks. Teams like the Dodgers and Mets have pushed payrolls to record levels, highlighting disparity. Baseball’s collective bargaining agreement expires in December 2026, and past negotiations have led to nine work stoppages.

LAS VEGAS (AP) — The NBA may finally be one step closer on the long road to expansion. Commissioner Adam Silver said Tuesday that the league has been tasked by team owners to study the issue more formally, which would be the first official move in a long process toward adding franchises. The decision to take a harder look at expansion wasn’t totally unexpected, since the notion of adding clubs has been a talking point for several years. Cities like Las Vegas and Seattle, the long perceived front-runners should the NBA decide to expand past its current 30-team footprint, will surely continue to push to be the eventual picks.

BOSTON (AP) — Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark left Tuesday night’s game in the final minute holding back tears after grabbing at her leg — an apparent injury that would be her third this season. Clark walked back downcourt holding her right groin after assisting on the Fever’s final basket of an 85-77 victory over the Connecticut Sun in front of a sold-out crowd at the TD Garden in Boston. As teammate Aliyah Boston tried to console her, Clark walked to the basket stanchion and banged her head against it before heading to the bench. During the timeout, she covered her head with a towel and appeared to be holding back tears.

NEW YORK (AP) — Caitlin Clark will be in a 3-point contest for the first time in her pro career as the Indiana Fever guard will compete Friday night in the WNBA All-Star competition. She’ll be joined by contest record holder Sabrina Ionescu, who is back in the 3-point contest after a one-year hiatus. Ionescu last entered the contest in 2023 and set a record hitting 25 of her 27 shots in the final round, scoring 37 points. It was the most shots made in a 3-point contest in either the WNBA or NBA. The Liberty’s star guard wanted to make sure she was completely healthy before officially entering the contest. She said she’ll be trying to break her own mark.

The Kansas City Chiefs beat the deadline to sign franchise-tagged guard Trey Smith to a multiyear contract by agreeing to terms on a $94 million deal, according to a person with knowledge of the move. The person tells The Associated Press that the four-year contract includes $70 million guaranteed. His average salary of $23.5 million annually makes Smith the highest-paid player at the position in the NFL. The Chiefs had until 4 p.m. Eastern Tuesday to work out a deal beyond this season after giving Smith the franchise tag in March.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1739459822020.jpeg" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>ATLANTA (AP) — Kyle Schwarber went 3 for 3 in the first All-Star Game home run swing-off to put the National League ahead 4-3 following a 6-6 tie in which the American League rallied from a six-run deficit. In baseball’s equivalent of soccer’s penalty-kicks shootout, the game was decided by having three batters from each league take three swings each off coaches. The change was agreed to in 2022 to alleviate the concern of teams running out of pitchers. Schwarber was named All-Star MVP after going 0 for 2 with a walk in the game.ATLANTA (AP) — Seattle catcher Cal Raleigh successfully used the robot umpire to gain a strikeout for pitcher Tarik Skubal in the first inning of the All-Star Game. He changed an 0-2 pitch to a strike on San Diego’s Manny Machado. Four of five challenges of plate umpire Dan Iassogna’s calls were successful in the first All-Star use of the ABS system, which could make its regular-season debut next year. The players' association is unsure whether the Automated Ball-Strike System is accurate enough. A decision for 2026 use likely will be considered by sport's 11-man competition committee.GENEVA (AP) — Soccer faces growing challenges from extreme heat, as seen during the FIFA Club World Cup in the U.S. this summer. Rising global temperatures are making summer tournaments increasingly dangerous for players and fans. Scientists warn that continuing to hold events in June and July could lead to severe heat-related illnesses. FIFA introduced measures like extra water breaks and shaded benches but still faced criticism from players. Experts suggest shifting tournaments to cooler months, though this disrupts traditional soccer calendars. With the 2026 and 2030 World Cups scheduled in hot regions, addressing heat risks is becoming urgent as climate change worsens.OAKMONT, Pa. (AP) — Oakmont is banning former U.S. Open champion Wyndham Clark from returning to the club until he pays for damaging his locker. Golf Digest has obtained a letter that club president John Lynch has sent to Oakmont members. Clark damaged the locker during last month's U.S. Open and a photo was leaked that went viral. Lynch says Clark won't be allowed on the property until he pays for the damage, makes a charity donation to the club's choice and seeks counseling. Oakmont has hosted the most U.S. Opens. The next one is in 2033. That's when Clark's 10-year exemption from winning runs out.ATLANTA (AP) — Major League Baseball honored late Hall of Famer Hank Aaron by recreating his record-breaking 715th career home run through the use of projection mapping and custom pyrotechnics. The lights went down at Truist Park and fans stood holding their cell phone lights following the sixth inning of Tuesday night’s All-Star Game. The scene from April 8, 1974 at old Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium was projected on the infield and also shown on the video board. Aaron's widow, Billye Aaron, was cheered as she stood and waved following the tribute.ATLANTA (AP) — Major League Baseball faces a potential lockout in December 2026. Players and management have long clashed over salary cap proposals, a format that union head Tony Clark criticizes as harmful to competition and player salary guarantees. Commissioner Rob Manfred argues the cap could address payroll disparities as MLB also tries to deal with declining revenue from regional sports networks. Teams like the Dodgers and Mets have pushed payrolls to record levels, highlighting disparity. Baseball’s collective bargaining agreement expires in December 2026, and past negotiations have led to nine work stoppages.LAS VEGAS (AP) — The NBA may finally be one step closer on the long road to expansion. Commissioner Adam Silver said Tuesday that the league has been tasked by team owners to study the issue more formally, which would be the first official move in a long process toward adding franchises. The decision to take a harder look at expansion wasn’t totally unexpected, since the notion of adding clubs has been a talking point for several years. Cities like Las Vegas and Seattle, the long perceived front-runners should the NBA decide to expand past its current 30-team footprint, will surely continue to push to be the eventual picks.BOSTON (AP) — Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark left Tuesday night’s game in the final minute holding back tears after grabbing at her leg — an apparent injury that would be her third this season. Clark walked back downcourt holding her right groin after assisting on the Fever’s final basket of an 85-77 victory over the Connecticut Sun in front of a sold-out crowd at the TD Garden in Boston. As teammate Aliyah Boston tried to console her, Clark walked to the basket stanchion and banged her head against it before heading to the bench. During the timeout, she covered her head with a towel and appeared to be holding back tears.NEW YORK (AP) — Caitlin Clark will be in a 3-point contest for the first time in her pro career as the Indiana Fever guard will compete Friday night in the WNBA All-Star competition. She’ll be joined by contest record holder Sabrina Ionescu, who is back in the 3-point contest after a one-year hiatus. Ionescu last entered the contest in 2023 and set a record hitting 25 of her 27 shots in the final round, scoring 37 points. It was the most shots made in a 3-point contest in either the WNBA or NBA. The Liberty’s star guard wanted to make sure she was completely healthy before officially entering the contest. She said she’ll be trying to break her own mark.The Kansas City Chiefs beat the deadline to sign franchise-tagged guard Trey Smith to a multiyear contract by agreeing to terms on a $94 million deal, according to a person with knowledge of the move. The person tells The Associated Press that the four-year contract includes $70 million guaranteed. His average salary of $23.5 million annually makes Smith the highest-paid player at the position in the NFL. The Chiefs had until 4 p.m. Eastern Tuesday to work out a deal beyond this season after giving Smith the franchise tag in March.

Wednesday Sports Headlines and Scores presented by Barton Community College

Nickerson High School announced Tuesday the hiring of Trish Wade as the new Head Volleyball Coach, bringing with her an extraordinary legacy of success and leadership in high school athletics. Adding to the excitement, Coach Wade will be joined on the sidelines by her daughter, Teresa Rush, who will serve as the program’s new Assistant Coach.

Coach Wade brings an accomplished resume to Nickerson after a standout 17-year tenure at St. John High School, where she compiled more than 420 career victories and built one of the state’s most dominant small-school programs. Under her leadership, the St. John Tigers captured three Class 1A state championships—first in 2008 with a 43-2 record, then back-to-back 1A Division I titles in 2010 and 2011 with records of 41-4 and 43-2, respectively.

Wade's consistency was just as impressive as her championship runs. In 10 of her 17 seasons, she guided St. John to the state semifinals, demonstrating her ability to build and sustain a high-performing program year after year. Just last fall, she led the Tigers to a 29-15 season and another appearance in the 1A Division I state tournament.

In addition to her coaching success, Wade is a decorated athlete in her own right. She was inducted into the Barton Community College Sports Hall of Fame in 2011, honoring a collegiate career that began with dominance at the NJCAA level. Wade was a two-time All-American for Barton from 1985-86, helping lead the Cougars to a remarkable 111-10 record and back-to-back Top 4 finishes at the national tournament.

She continued her playing career at Florida Southern College, where she earned AVCA Second Team All-America honors in 1987 and was twice named First Team All-Sunshine State Conference. Wade still holds multiple school records, including solo blocks in a match (11), in a season (99), and in a career (182), and remains among the all-time leaders in several statistical categories.

Beyond her own athletic legacy, Wade is also the proud mother of NBA forward Dean Wade, a former Kansas State standout and current player for the Cleveland Cavaliers. Dean made history at K-State as the only player to record at least 1,000 points, 100 3-pointers, 500 rebounds, 200 assists, and 100 steals in a career—testament to the strong athletic roots in the Wade family.

Adding to the legacy is Wade’s daughter, Teresa Rush, who will join her mother on the court this fall as Nickerson’s new Assistant Volleyball Coach. Rush brings her own passion for the game, a shared vision of excellence, and a unique synergy that can only come from a mother-daughter coaching team.

With an elite coaching pedigree, a Hall of Fame playing background, and a family legacy of excellence, the Wade-Rush duo is set to make an immediate impact at Nickerson. The Panthers are poised for a season defined by competitive spirit, high expectations, and a renewed commitment to success.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1752637565014.jpeg" alt="Photo Credit: Panther Athletics and Activities Facebook Page &amp;&nbsp;Nickerson-South Hutchinson USD 309" />
 <figcaption>Photo Credit: Panther Athletics and Activities Facebook Page &amp;&nbsp;Nickerson-South Hutchinson USD 309</figcaption>
 </figure>Nickerson High School announced Tuesday the hiring of Trish Wade as the new Head Volleyball Coach, bringing with her an extraordinary legacy of success and leadership in high school athletics. Adding to the excitement, Coach Wade will be joined on the sidelines by her daughter, Teresa Rush, who will serve as the program’s new Assistant Coach.Coach Wade brings an accomplished resume to Nickerson after a standout 17-year tenure at St. John High School, where she compiled more than 420 career victories and built one of the state’s most dominant small-school programs. Under her leadership, the St. John Tigers captured three Class 1A state championships—first in 2008 with a 43-2 record, then back-to-back 1A Division I titles in 2010 and 2011 with records of 41-4 and 43-2, respectively.Wade's consistency was just as impressive as her championship runs. In 10 of her 17 seasons, she guided St. John to the state semifinals, demonstrating her ability to build and sustain a high-performing program year after year. Just last fall, she led the Tigers to a 29-15 season and another appearance in the 1A Division I state tournament.In addition to her coaching success, Wade is a decorated athlete in her own right. She was inducted into the Barton Community College Sports Hall of Fame in 2011, honoring a collegiate career that began with dominance at the NJCAA level. Wade was a two-time All-American for Barton from 1985-86, helping lead the Cougars to a remarkable 111-10 record and back-to-back Top 4 finishes at the national tournament.She continued her playing career at Florida Southern College, where she earned AVCA Second Team All-America honors in 1987 and was twice named First Team All-Sunshine State Conference. Wade still holds multiple school records, including solo blocks in a match (11), in a season (99), and in a career (182), and remains among the all-time leaders in several statistical categories.Beyond her own athletic legacy, Wade is also the proud mother of NBA forward Dean Wade, a former Kansas State standout and current player for the Cleveland Cavaliers. Dean made history at K-State as the only player to record at least 1,000 points, 100 3-pointers, 500 rebounds, 200 assists, and 100 steals in a career—testament to the strong athletic roots in the Wade family.Adding to the legacy is Wade’s daughter, Teresa Rush, who will join her mother on the court this fall as Nickerson’s new Assistant Volleyball Coach. Rush brings her own passion for the game, a shared vision of excellence, and a unique synergy that can only come from a mother-daughter coaching team.With an elite coaching pedigree, a Hall of Fame playing background, and a family legacy of excellence, the Wade-Rush duo is set to make an immediate impact at Nickerson. The Panthers are poised for a season defined by competitive spirit, high expectations, and a renewed commitment to success.

Mother-Daugther Duo - Legendary Coach Trish Wade to lead Nickerson Volleyball

ATLANTA (AP) — Southeastern Conference Commissioner Greg Sankey said Monday that despite frequent conversations with Big Ten counterpart Tony Petitti, the two leagues have yet to agree on the College Football Playoff format after this coming season and could leave it at 12 teams.

The disagreement doesn’t stem from a lack of communication. Sankey said he spoke with Petitti four times last week.

“We had a different view coming out of Destin around the notion of allocations,” Sankey said. “The Big Ten has a different view. That’s fine. We have a 12-team playoff, five conference champions. That could stay if we can’t agree.”

The Big Ten, which has won the last two national championships, favors a 4-4-2-2-1 format, giving four automatic bids to the SEC and Big Ten and awarding the ACC and Big 12 two bids apiece. The SEC, originally thought to be on the same page, switched gears at its&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/sec-college-football-playoff-ncaa-58a7b827a7a3c3f73c2beb266f1ced20">spring meetings</a>&nbsp;in Destin, Florida. The SEC favors five conference champions and 11 at-large bids, which would presumably favor the top conferences most seasons.

The CFP announced in May that teams in the upcoming playoff will be seeded strictly on where they are ranked instead of moving pieces around to reward conference champions.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/college-football-playoff-bracket-19ca5f1d2de4d1fb6b724880a2b4331e">Last season’s jumbled bracket</a>, the first with 12 teams, gave byes to Big 12 champion Arizona State and Mountain West champion Boise State, even though they were ranked 12th and ninth, respectively, by the playoff selection committee.

That system made the rankings and the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/live/cfp-playoff-bracket-schedule">seedings in the tournament</a>&nbsp;two different things. The five highest-ranked conference champions will still be guaranteed spots in the playoff.

While the CFP contract from 2026 through the 2031 season requires the SEC and Big Ten to consult other leagues about prospective changes to the playoff system, it also provides them with the ability to impose changes they both want.

Now it's a matter of getting on the same page.

“I think there’s this notion that there has to be this magic moment and something has to happen with expansion and it has to be forced — no,” Sankey said. “When you’re given authority, you want to be responsible in using that authority. I think both of us are prepared to do so. The upfront responsibility in this, maybe where some of the confusion lies, is we have the ability to present a format or format ideas, gather information, see if we can all agree within that room. We don’t need unanimity.”

Sankey stands firm on the 8-game schedule

One of the major complications in the College Football Playoff conversation is the SEC’s schedule. Three of the four power conferences play nine league games. The SEC isn’t one of them.

Sankey isn’t denying the fact that the SEC plays one less league game, but he won’t allow the narrative that it gives his conference an advantage.

“It is absolutely fully 100 percent correct that in the SEC, we play eight conference games while some others play nine conference games — never been a secret,” Sankey said. “It’s also correct that last season, all 16 members of the Southeastern Conference played at least nine games against what you would label ‘power opponents.’”

“I don’t believe there’s anyone looking to swap their conference schedule and its opponents with the opponents played by SEC conference teams in our conference schedule, be it eight or nine.”

A decision on adding a ninth game may be coming soon, but Sankey wasn’t overly eager to reveal a timeline.

“It won’t linger terribly much longer. We have to make decisions about the ’26 season and adjust. If we’re going to go to nine games, then there have to be games moved or rescheduled. If we stay at eight, probably a little easier on that part of the logistics.”

Sankey addressed the media-packed room two weeks after the NCAA settlement officially went into effect, launching a long list of changes, including the introduction of revenue sharing.

Most Power Four institutions have had carefully crafted post-settlement plans in store for months. But according to Sankey, even deep-pocketed, well-resourced conferences have struggled to adapt.

“We’re in the middle of change, and in the middle of anything significant, it will get messy. That doesn’t mean you leave. In a marathon, it doesn’t mean you step off the course because myself, as poorly as I may have felt sometimes after two or three miles, recall that those moments might actually produce the best efforts,” he said.

But in a time when many have been quick to call college sports a dying breed, Sankey begs to differ.

“Let me be clear. From my perspective, college athletics is not broken,” he said. “It is under stress. It is strained.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1752592648715.jpeg" alt="SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey discusses the annual conference highlights with Chief Public Relations Officer for the University of Arkansas Kevin Trainor, sitting right, at the College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta, Monday, July 14, 2025. (Hunter Dawkins/The Gazebo Gazette via AP)" />
 <figcaption>SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey discusses the annual conference highlights with Chief Public Relations Officer for the University of Arkansas Kevin Trainor, sitting right, at the College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta, Monday, July 14, 2025. (Hunter Dawkins/The Gazebo Gazette via AP)</figcaption>
 </figure>ATLANTA (AP) — Southeastern Conference Commissioner Greg Sankey said Monday that despite frequent conversations with Big Ten counterpart Tony Petitti, the two leagues have yet to agree on the College Football Playoff format after this coming season and could leave it at 12 teams.The disagreement doesn’t stem from a lack of communication. Sankey said he spoke with Petitti four times last week.“We had a different view coming out of Destin around the notion of allocations,” Sankey said. “The Big Ten has a different view. That’s fine. We have a 12-team playoff, five conference champions. That could stay if we can’t agree.”The Big Ten, which has won the last two national championships, favors a 4-4-2-2-1 format, giving four automatic bids to the SEC and Big Ten and awarding the ACC and Big 12 two bids apiece. The SEC, originally thought to be on the same page, switched gears at its&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/sec-college-football-playoff-ncaa-58a7b827a7a3c3f73c2beb266f1ced20">spring meetings</a>&nbsp;in Destin, Florida. The SEC favors five conference champions and 11 at-large bids, which would presumably favor the top conferences most seasons.The CFP announced in May that teams in the upcoming playoff will be seeded strictly on where they are ranked instead of moving pieces around to reward conference champions.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/college-football-playoff-bracket-19ca5f1d2de4d1fb6b724880a2b4331e">Last season’s jumbled bracket</a>, the first with 12 teams, gave byes to Big 12 champion Arizona State and Mountain West champion Boise State, even though they were ranked 12th and ninth, respectively, by the playoff selection committee.That system made the rankings and the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/live/cfp-playoff-bracket-schedule">seedings in the tournament</a>&nbsp;two different things. The five highest-ranked conference champions will still be guaranteed spots in the playoff.While the CFP contract from 2026 through the 2031 season requires the SEC and Big Ten to consult other leagues about prospective changes to the playoff system, it also provides them with the ability to impose changes they both want.Now it's a matter of getting on the same page.“I think there’s this notion that there has to be this magic moment and something has to happen with expansion and it has to be forced — no,” Sankey said. “When you’re given authority, you want to be responsible in using that authority. I think both of us are prepared to do so. The upfront responsibility in this, maybe where some of the confusion lies, is we have the ability to present a format or format ideas, gather information, see if we can all agree within that room. We don’t need unanimity.”<h2>Sankey stands firm on the 8-game schedule</h2>One of the major complications in the College Football Playoff conversation is the SEC’s schedule. Three of the four power conferences play nine league games. The SEC isn’t one of them.Sankey isn’t denying the fact that the SEC plays one less league game, but he won’t allow the narrative that it gives his conference an advantage.“It is absolutely fully 100 percent correct that in the SEC, we play eight conference games while some others play nine conference games — never been a secret,” Sankey said. “It’s also correct that last season, all 16 members of the Southeastern Conference played at least nine games against what you would label ‘power opponents.’”He doubled down.“I don’t believe there’s anyone looking to swap their conference schedule and its opponents with the opponents played by SEC conference teams in our conference schedule, be it eight or nine.”A decision on adding a ninth game may be coming soon, but Sankey wasn’t overly eager to reveal a timeline.“It won’t linger terribly much longer. We have to make decisions about the ’26 season and adjust. If we’re going to go to nine games, then there have to be games moved or rescheduled. If we stay at eight, probably a little easier on that part of the logistics.”<h2>Adapting to the new normal</h2>Sankey addressed the media-packed room two weeks after the NCAA settlement officially went into effect, launching a long list of changes, including the introduction of revenue sharing.Most Power Four institutions have had carefully crafted post-settlement plans in store for months. But according to Sankey, even deep-pocketed, well-resourced conferences have struggled to adapt.“We’re in the middle of change, and in the middle of anything significant, it will get messy. That doesn’t mean you leave. In a marathon, it doesn’t mean you step off the course because myself, as poorly as I may have felt sometimes after two or three miles, recall that those moments might actually produce the best efforts,” he said.But in a time when many have been quick to call college sports a dying breed, Sankey begs to differ.“Let me be clear. From my perspective, college athletics is not broken,” he said. “It is under stress. It is strained.”

The SEC and Big Ten are currently at a standstill over the College Football Playoff format

ATLANTA -- At the end of the 2022 season,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.mlb.com/player/663460" target="_blank">Kris Bubic</a>&nbsp;was searching for answers.

Bubic’s ERA ballooned to 5.58 that season on a 97-loss team. As the Royals went through organizational changes, Bubic knew he had to change, too, if he wanted to “have sustained success rather than just trying to survive,” he said.

Less than three years later, Bubic is a different pitcher. He’s an All-Star now, joining Bobby Witt Jr., Carlos Estévez and Maikel Garcia in Atlanta this week as they try to lead the Royals back to the postseason in 2025.

Bubic’s 2.48 ERA this season ranks sixth in the American League. His 3.1&nbsp;fWAR&nbsp;eclipses the 2.9 fWAR he accumulated in the past five years combined.

“It’s been a long journey,” Bubic said. “Not saying I have it figured out now, but I have a better understanding of myself and my strengths.”

Getting there required an honest assessment and an open mind.

Naturally inquisitive, Bubic had a lot of ideas about how to change after 2022. He wasn’t giving up, and the Royals certainly weren’t giving up on him.

“Kris had that demeanor that resembled the good starting pitchers I’ve been around,” general manager J.J. Picollo said. “The way he talked about pitching, the way he worked -- he could explain it all in a very clear way. You just gain belief when you’re around those players.

“Nobody thinks they’re going to fail when they get up here. This game kicks you in the teeth. And it kicked him in the teeth pretty good. But he just kept pushing along.”

To start, Bubic believed he needed a wider repertoire, and one of his strongest convictions was adding a slider. Brian Sweeney agreed; when he interviewed to be the Royals’ pitching coach, he was tasked with breaking down how he would help Kansas City’s 2018 Draft pitchers.

“Why isn’t this guy throwing a slider?” Sweeney recalled assessing Bubic. “He struggles against lefties. Why doesn’t he have something that turns right?”

Bubic was the first pitcher Sweeney met that offseason. Over seafood at Pacific Catch in the Bay Area, they talked for three hours. Sliders were only part of a wide-ranging conversation.

“You have a couple hours of conversation, the trust is earned right from the beginning,” Bubic said. “It made the following conversations about pitch design and my mentality a lot simpler.”

By Opening Day 2023, Bubic was in a great spot, armed with new pitches and a better mentality.

Tommy John surgery can be a devastating interruption, but Bubic flipped that mindset, instead wanting to build on the strides he had made in the offseason.

“Injuries are never fun, and there’s never a right time,” Bubic said. “But I’m thinking to myself, ‘When do you ever get an extended period like that to work on anything?’ I had time to explore different arm actions, different pitch types. I didn’t want it to go to waste.”

A few months post-surgery, Bubic presented a PowerPoint to the Royals’ pitching team, laying out his ideas on pitch design and his delivery.

“It was kind of nerve-wracking going in,” Bubic said. “I had only had one spring and a couple of starts for a sample with these guys. They were probably like, ‘Who the heck is this guy with his PowerPoint?’”

Sweeney loved it. While Bubic didn’t end up implementing everything, it laid the groundwork for when he was able to pick up a baseball again.

He could assess the results when he finally got back on the mound in ‘24.

With some delivery changes, his four-seam had more cut-carry than before. He tinkered with a sinker. He ditched his curveball and relied on the slider. His new changeup grip led to more depth.

“Regardless of who’s in the box, regardless of what team you’re playing, regardless of the kind of stuff you have that day, it’s like, ‘I’m going to get this hitter out. I’m going to throw my stuff in the zone,'" Bubic said.

Bubic returned as a reliever last July because there wasn’t a spot in the Royals’ healthy and humming rotation. His new mentality, paired with better stuff, thrived in short stints, and he emerged as a late-inning threat in a playoff race.

Back in the rotation this season, Bubic made small tweaks to his stuff but feels he benefited from the relief experience, trying to&nbsp;keep the same mindset in every start.

Change was what got Bubic here. Now he understands what will stick.

“I’m so proud of his journey,” Sweeney said. “He needed to go through some of that stuff to be the pitcher he is today.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1747217395170.jpeg" alt="Kansas City Royals starting pitcher Kris Bubic throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the Houston Astros in Houston, Tuesday, May 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)" />
 <figcaption>Kansas City Royals starting pitcher Kris Bubic throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the Houston Astros in Houston, Tuesday, May 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)</figcaption>
 </figure>Anne Rogers MLB.comATLANTA -- At the end of the 2022 season,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.mlb.com/player/663460" target="_blank">Kris Bubic</a>&nbsp;was searching for answers.Bubic’s ERA ballooned to 5.58 that season on a 97-loss team. As the Royals went through organizational changes, Bubic knew he had to change, too, if he wanted to “have sustained success rather than just trying to survive,” he said.Less than three years later, Bubic is a different pitcher. He’s an All-Star now, joining Bobby Witt Jr., Carlos Estévez and Maikel Garcia in Atlanta this week as they try to lead the Royals back to the postseason in 2025.Bubic’s 2.48 ERA this season ranks sixth in the American League. His 3.1&nbsp;fWAR&nbsp;eclipses the 2.9 fWAR he accumulated in the past five years combined.“It’s been a long journey,” Bubic said. “Not saying I have it figured out now, but I have a better understanding of myself and my strengths.”Getting there required an honest assessment and an open mind.Naturally inquisitive, Bubic had a lot of ideas about how to change after 2022. He wasn’t giving up, and the Royals certainly weren’t giving up on him.“Kris had that demeanor that resembled the good starting pitchers I’ve been around,” general manager J.J. Picollo said. “The way he talked about pitching, the way he worked -- he could explain it all in a very clear way. You just gain belief when you’re around those players.“Nobody thinks they’re going to fail when they get up here. This game kicks you in the teeth. And it kicked him in the teeth pretty good. But he just kept pushing along.”To start, Bubic believed he needed a wider repertoire, and one of his strongest convictions was adding a slider. Brian Sweeney agreed; when he interviewed to be the Royals’ pitching coach, he was tasked with breaking down how he would help Kansas City’s 2018 Draft pitchers.“Why isn’t this guy throwing a slider?” Sweeney recalled assessing Bubic. “He struggles against lefties. Why doesn’t he have something that turns right?”Bubic was the first pitcher Sweeney met that offseason. Over seafood at Pacific Catch in the Bay Area, they talked for three hours. Sliders were only part of a wide-ranging conversation.“You have a couple hours of conversation, the trust is earned right from the beginning,” Bubic said. “It made the following conversations about pitch design and my mentality a lot simpler.”By Opening Day 2023, Bubic was in a great spot, armed with new pitches and a better mentality.Then came&nbsp;the elbow injury.Tommy John surgery can be a devastating interruption, but Bubic flipped that mindset, instead wanting to build on the strides he had made in the offseason.“Injuries are never fun, and there’s never a right time,” Bubic said. “But I’m thinking to myself, ‘When do you ever get an extended period like that to work on anything?’ I had time to explore different arm actions, different pitch types. I didn’t want it to go to waste.”A few months post-surgery, Bubic presented a PowerPoint to the Royals’ pitching team, laying out his ideas on pitch design and his delivery.“It was kind of nerve-wracking going in,” Bubic said. “I had only had one spring and a couple of starts for a sample with these guys. They were probably like, ‘Who the heck is this guy with his PowerPoint?’”Sweeney loved it. While Bubic didn’t end up implementing everything, it laid the groundwork for when he was able to pick up a baseball again.He could assess the results when he finally got back on the mound in ‘24.With some delivery changes, his four-seam had more cut-carry than before. He tinkered with a sinker. He ditched his curveball and relied on the slider. His new changeup grip led to more depth.The biggest change of all?Intent.“Regardless of who’s in the box, regardless of what team you’re playing, regardless of the kind of stuff you have that day, it’s like, ‘I’m going to get this hitter out. I’m going to throw my stuff in the zone,'" Bubic said.Bubic returned as a reliever last July because there wasn’t a spot in the Royals’ healthy and humming rotation. His new mentality, paired with better stuff, thrived in short stints, and he emerged as a late-inning threat in a playoff race.Back in the rotation this season, Bubic made small tweaks to his stuff but feels he benefited from the relief experience, trying to&nbsp;keep the same mindset in every start.Change was what got Bubic here. Now he understands what will stick.“I’m so proud of his journey,” Sweeney said. “He needed to go through some of that stuff to be the pitcher he is today.”

Bubic's evolution lands him in Atlanta for All-Star Game

ATLANTA -- The video went viral last week, featuring an 8-year-old&nbsp;Cal Raleigh&nbsp;forecasting what would eventually take place on Monday night. Recorded 20 years ago, on a handheld camera because smart phones did not yet exist, Raleigh offered a premonition that now carries a sense of surreal.

“I’m the Home Run Derby champ!” the Mariners catcher said in that 20-second clip from way back when, which spread like wildfire within the Mariners’ clubhouse, across social media, to national broadcasts and more leading up to the sport’s premier power-hitting event.

And indeed, 20 years later, the Mariners catcher is the champ. And making the night that much sweeter was that his dad, Todd Sr. -- who captured the viral video -- was on the mound, while his 15-year-old younger brother, Todd Jr., was behind the plate.

“The video is crazy,” Raleigh said from Truist Park, where he became the first catcher and switch-hitting winner in Derby history, and joined Ken Griffey Jr. (1994, 1998, 1999) as the only winners in Mariners history.

“I mean, I don't know where they found that thing in the archives. Yeah, just kind of surreal. You don't think you're going to win it. You don't think you'll ever get invited. Then you get invited. The fact that you win it with your family, super special. Just what a night.”

Edging through the first round by -- quite literally --&nbsp;less than one inch, Raleigh comfortably cruised past the early star of the night in Oneil Cruz through the second round, then put a bow on his big night by outlasting Junior Caminero, who made a late run but ran out of the allotted 27 pitches before the bonus period, where he fell short.

Monday’s win for Raleigh also marked a fitting culmination for the MLB’s top power hitter in 2025, who&nbsp;reached the All-Star break&nbsp;with more homers (38) than all but one hitter in the sport’s history (39 from Barry Bonds in 2001).

Raleigh finished the night with 17 homers in the pool round (which set him up as the No. 4 seed of the four remaining), 19 in the second round (over Cruz’s 13) and 18 in the finals (over Caminero’s 15).

&nbsp; The switch-hitting slugger also peppered swings from both sides of the plate but only in his opening act, joining Baltimore’s Adley Rutschman (2023) as the only switch-hitters to&nbsp;bat both righty and lefty in a Derby. And switching over actually nearly cost Raleigh mightily, as he didn’t quite carry over the momentum while batting right-handed and finished in a tie with A’s slugger Brent Rooker in that first round.&nbsp;&nbsp;

And the tiebreaker was arguably the most dramatic moment of the night, because at that point, the player’s longest homer of the round was the separator.

Raleigh’s was 470.62 feet, while Rooker’s was 470.54 feet -- a decimal-point separation of only 0.96 inches that allowed “Big Dumper” to breathe a big sigh of relief. Had the tie taken place in the semifinals (second round) or finals (third), the two would have taken part in a “swing-off” featuring three successive swings until a winner was determined, but swing-offs are not part of the first round.

“My goodness gracious, that's close,” Raleigh said. “It’s just crazy. An inch off, and I'm not even in the final four, which is amazing. So I guess I got lucky there. One extra biscuit.”

It was after Raleigh moved the chains with a metaphorical first down where he truly found a groove. He wasn’t top-spinning balls as much and tapped exclusively into his left-handed swing, with his custom “torpedo” bat from Rawlings -- the balanced one compared to the top-heavy model he uses right-handed.

“I thought the first round was the hardest, honestly,” Raleigh said. “Three minutes is a long time. Regardless, I talked to my dad, obviously, and my brother. I was like, ‘I want to switch-hit.’ I thought it would be cool, regardless if I win or not. Obviously, I was lucky enough to make it to the next round, grooving a little bit more lefty. Since we had a chance to win, I might as well stick to the side that's working a little better.”

&nbsp; Yet for Raleigh, while winning was great, taking part in his first career Derby was more about&nbsp;relishing the moment withhis dad and brother. Todd Jr. (who goes by “T”) is already taller than Cal, at 6-foot-3, and following a similar path on the travel-ball circuit in -- coincidentally -- the Atlanta area. And Todd Sr. is coaching his team, just as he did with Cal over a decade ago.

“When you're a parent, you look at it differently because you want your kids to be happy,” Todd Sr. said. “I can't say how lucky and blessed I am. Everybody that plays baseball, every dad knows, I could have been that guy. Cal could have been that player. To do it as a family has been really special.”

Todd Jr. joked that he had the best seat in the house -- and that he gets to keep all the swagged-out merchandise provided by MLB. And in a more serious response, Todd Jr. spoke of how much he looks up to his big brother.

“Everything,” T said. “His swag, the way he plays, the way he hustles.”

Monday night featured the latest -- and most epic -- chapter in a storybook season that’s been full of them, with potentially even more to come in the second half of the season and beyond.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1752582448615.jpeg" alt="Seattle Mariners' Cal Raleigh celebrates after winning the MLB baseball Home Run Derby, Monday, July 14, 2025, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)" />
 <figcaption>Seattle Mariners' Cal Raleigh celebrates after winning the MLB baseball Home Run Derby, Monday, July 14, 2025, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)</figcaption>
 </figure>Daniel Kramer MLB.comATLANTA -- The video went viral last week, featuring an 8-year-old&nbsp;Cal Raleigh&nbsp;forecasting what would eventually take place on Monday night. Recorded 20 years ago, on a handheld camera because smart phones did not yet exist, Raleigh offered a premonition that now carries a sense of surreal.“I’m the Home Run Derby champ!” the Mariners catcher said in that 20-second clip from way back when, which spread like wildfire within the Mariners’ clubhouse, across social media, to national broadcasts and more leading up to the sport’s premier power-hitting event.And indeed, 20 years later, the Mariners catcher is the champ. And making the night that much sweeter was that his dad, Todd Sr. -- who captured the viral video -- was on the mound, while his 15-year-old younger brother, Todd Jr., was behind the plate.“The video is crazy,” Raleigh said from Truist Park, where he became the first catcher and switch-hitting winner in Derby history, and joined Ken Griffey Jr. (1994, 1998, 1999) as the only winners in Mariners history.“I mean, I don't know where they found that thing in the archives. Yeah, just kind of surreal. You don't think you're going to win it. You don't think you'll ever get invited. Then you get invited. The fact that you win it with your family, super special. Just what a night.”Edging through the first round by -- quite literally --&nbsp;less than one inch, Raleigh comfortably cruised past the early star of the night in Oneil Cruz through the second round, then put a bow on his big night by outlasting Junior Caminero, who made a late run but ran out of the allotted 27 pitches before the bonus period, where he fell short.Monday’s win for Raleigh also marked a fitting culmination for the MLB’s top power hitter in 2025, who&nbsp;reached the All-Star break&nbsp;with more homers (38) than all but one hitter in the sport’s history (39 from Barry Bonds in 2001).Raleigh finished the night with 17 homers in the pool round (which set him up as the No. 4 seed of the four remaining), 19 in the second round (over Cruz’s 13) and 18 in the finals (over Caminero’s 15).&nbsp; The switch-hitting slugger also peppered swings from both sides of the plate but only in his opening act, joining Baltimore’s Adley Rutschman (2023) as the only switch-hitters to&nbsp;bat both righty and lefty in a Derby. And switching over actually nearly cost Raleigh mightily, as he didn’t quite carry over the momentum while batting right-handed and finished in a tie with A’s slugger Brent Rooker in that first round.&nbsp;&nbsp;And the tiebreaker was arguably the most dramatic moment of the night, because at that point, the player’s longest homer of the round was the separator.Raleigh’s was 470.62 feet, while Rooker’s was 470.54 feet -- a decimal-point separation of only 0.96 inches that allowed “Big Dumper” to breathe a big sigh of relief. Had the tie taken place in the semifinals (second round) or finals (third), the two would have taken part in a “swing-off” featuring three successive swings until a winner was determined, but swing-offs are not part of the first round.“My goodness gracious, that's close,” Raleigh said. “It’s just crazy. An inch off, and I'm not even in the final four, which is amazing. So I guess I got lucky there. One extra biscuit.”It was after Raleigh moved the chains with a metaphorical first down where he truly found a groove. He wasn’t top-spinning balls as much and tapped exclusively into his left-handed swing, with his custom “torpedo” bat from Rawlings -- the balanced one compared to the top-heavy model he uses right-handed.“I thought the first round was the hardest, honestly,” Raleigh said. “Three minutes is a long time. Regardless, I talked to my dad, obviously, and my brother. I was like, ‘I want to switch-hit.’ I thought it would be cool, regardless if I win or not. Obviously, I was lucky enough to make it to the next round, grooving a little bit more lefty. Since we had a chance to win, I might as well stick to the side that's working a little better.”&nbsp; Yet for Raleigh, while winning was great, taking part in his first career Derby was more about&nbsp;relishing the moment withhis dad and brother. Todd Jr. (who goes by “T”) is already taller than Cal, at 6-foot-3, and following a similar path on the travel-ball circuit in -- coincidentally -- the Atlanta area. And Todd Sr. is coaching his team, just as he did with Cal over a decade ago.“When you're a parent, you look at it differently because you want your kids to be happy,” Todd Sr. said. “I can't say how lucky and blessed I am. Everybody that plays baseball, every dad knows, I could have been that guy. Cal could have been that player. To do it as a family has been really special.”Todd Jr. joked that he had the best seat in the house -- and that he gets to keep all the swagged-out merchandise provided by MLB. And in a more serious response, Todd Jr. spoke of how much he looks up to his big brother.“Everything,” T said. “His swag, the way he plays, the way he hustles.”Monday night featured the latest -- and most epic -- chapter in a storybook season that’s been full of them, with potentially even more to come in the second half of the season and beyond.

Young Cal called it! Raleigh's Derby win a family affair, 20 years in the making

Matt McMullen Chiefs.com The folks at ESPN published&nbsp;their annual quarterback rankings on Monday, and for the third year in a row (and the fifth time in the last six years), Patrick Mahomes topped the list.

Here's a portion of what Jeremy Fowler, who compiled the rankings, wrote about Mahomes:

"Mahomes still leads the NFL in virtually every passing category -- from passing yards to touchdowns and yards per attempt -- since becoming the starter in 2018. No quarterback was more efficient on third down than Mahomes last season. He led the NFL in third-down QBR (90.4) with a league-high 53.1% of his passing attempts resulting in first downs."

In the context of NFL history, some players have found immense statistical success while others have piled up impressive postseason resumes. Mahomes has done both. He leads the NFL in passing yards (32,068) and passing touchdowns (245) since 2018 while also compiling the second-most postseason wins (17) of any quarterback in NFL history.

Mahomes has led the Chiefs to&nbsp;at least&nbsp;the AFC Championship Game in each of his seven seasons as Kansas City's starting quarterback, and he's already one of only five quarterbacks in league history to win three Super Bowl championships.

Mahomes is the second member of the Chiefs to earn a No. 1 spot in ESPN's positional rankings so far,&nbsp;joining center Creed Humphrey.

Matt McMullen Chiefs.com The folks at ESPN published&nbsp;their annual quarterback rankings on Monday, and for the third year in a row (and the fifth time in the last six years), Patrick Mahomes topped the list.Here's a portion of what Jeremy Fowler, who compiled the rankings, wrote about Mahomes:"Mahomes still leads the NFL in virtually every passing category -- from passing yards to touchdowns and yards per attempt -- since becoming the starter in 2018. No quarterback was more efficient on third down than Mahomes last season. He led the NFL in third-down QBR (90.4) with a league-high 53.1% of his passing attempts resulting in first downs."In the context of NFL history, some players have found immense statistical success while others have piled up impressive postseason resumes. Mahomes has done both. He leads the NFL in passing yards (32,068) and passing touchdowns (245) since 2018 while also compiling the second-most postseason wins (17) of any quarterback in NFL history.Mahomes has led the Chiefs to&nbsp;at least&nbsp;the AFC Championship Game in each of his seven seasons as Kansas City's starting quarterback, and he's already one of only five quarterbacks in league history to win three Super Bowl championships.Mahomes is the second member of the Chiefs to earn a No. 1 spot in ESPN's positional rankings so far,&nbsp;joining center Creed Humphrey.

ESPN Ranks Patrick Mahomes as the League's Top Quarterback

KUAthletics.com LAWRENCE, Kan. –&nbsp;Kansas baseball infielder/outfielder&nbsp;Brady Counsell, right-handed pitcher&nbsp;Alex Breckheimer&nbsp;and outfielder&nbsp;Derek Cerda&nbsp;were all selected in the 2025 MLB Draft on Monday.&nbsp;The three Jayhawks drafted marks nine players picked from Kansas in the last two seasons. Counsell was chosen in the 10th round by the Arizona Diamondbacks, Breckheimer was a 16th round selection by the St. Louis Cardinals and Cerda went in the 17th round to the Chicago White Sox. "Having guys drafted is one of the many signs of a healthy program and having guys drafted for the first time is a major sign of great development," head coach&nbsp;Dan Fitzgerald&nbsp;said. In the last two years, Fitzgerald and his coaching staff of&nbsp;Brandon Scott,&nbsp;Tyler Hancock,&nbsp;Jon Coyne&nbsp;and&nbsp;Ryan Holland&nbsp;have helped 11 Jayhawks become professional baseball players. The combination of draft picks and free agent signings over the last two years is the most in consecutive seasons in school history. Counsell&nbsp;is the third Kansas player in the last two drafts to be a Top 10 round pick, with&nbsp;Hunter Cranton&nbsp;(third round) and&nbsp;Kodey Shojinaga&nbsp;(sixth round) being chosen in the 2024 MLB Draft. The last time Kansas had players selected in the top 10 rounds of back-to-back MLB Drafts was 2018 and 2019.The 2025 season marked one of the most historic years ever for Kansas. A 43-17 overall record helped KU reach its first NCAA Tournament since 2014. Fitzgerald was named the first Big 12 Coach of the Year in program history and the Jayhawks set program records in regular season wins (42), Big 12 wins (20), conference wins (20), conference series wins (seven), conference series sweeps (five), road wins (20), come-from-behind wins (26) and home runs (104).INF/OF&nbsp;Brady Counsell&nbsp;(Sr.)Round 10, No. 303 Overall, Arizona Diamondbacks. Counsell, an All-Big 12 Honorable Mention pick, became the first Kansas player in school history to win a Rawlings Gold Glove Award in 2025. One of Counsell's greatest strengths was his durability to start every game, the only Jayhawk to do so this past season. "Brady will be a great Diamondback and really checks every box for the type of player you want in your organization," Fitzgerald said. "He can really work and is an incredible teammate. He is a total pro – on the field and in the clubhouse. "One of four Kansas players with double-digit home runs, Counsell finished the year with 12 home runs. He drove in 57 RBIs and scored 54 runs, both of which were the second most on the team. His 57 RBIs were also tied for seventh in the Big 12. Defensively, Counsell posted a .992 fielding percentage with only one error in 121 chances to earn his Gold Glove. Counsell's versatility was on display all season as he started 30 games at third base, 25 games in left field and five games at second base. A native of Whitefish Bay, Wisconsin, Counsell came to Kansas for his final year of eligibility after spending his first three years at Minnesota. Counsell made an emphatic return to Minnesota in 2025 by hitting the third of an NCAA record-tying five consecutive home runs on March 12 at U.S. Bank Stadium.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1752581558049.jpeg" alt="KUAthletics.com" />
 <figcaption>KUAthletics.com</figcaption>
 </figure>KUAthletics.com LAWRENCE, Kan. –&nbsp;Kansas baseball infielder/outfielder&nbsp;Brady Counsell, right-handed pitcher&nbsp;Alex Breckheimer&nbsp;and outfielder&nbsp;Derek Cerda&nbsp;were all selected in the 2025 MLB Draft on Monday.&nbsp;The three Jayhawks drafted marks nine players picked from Kansas in the last two seasons. Counsell was chosen in the 10th round by the Arizona Diamondbacks, Breckheimer was a 16th round selection by the St. Louis Cardinals and Cerda went in the 17th round to the Chicago White Sox. "Having guys drafted is one of the many signs of a healthy program and having guys drafted for the first time is a major sign of great development," head coach&nbsp;Dan Fitzgerald&nbsp;said. In the last two years, Fitzgerald and his coaching staff of&nbsp;Brandon Scott,&nbsp;Tyler Hancock,&nbsp;Jon Coyne&nbsp;and&nbsp;Ryan Holland&nbsp;have helped 11 Jayhawks become professional baseball players. The combination of draft picks and free agent signings over the last two years is the most in consecutive seasons in school history. Counsell&nbsp;is the third Kansas player in the last two drafts to be a Top 10 round pick, with&nbsp;Hunter Cranton&nbsp;(third round) and&nbsp;Kodey Shojinaga&nbsp;(sixth round) being chosen in the 2024 MLB Draft. The last time Kansas had players selected in the top 10 rounds of back-to-back MLB Drafts was 2018 and 2019.The 2025 season marked one of the most historic years ever for Kansas. A 43-17 overall record helped KU reach its first NCAA Tournament since 2014. Fitzgerald was named the first Big 12 Coach of the Year in program history and the Jayhawks set program records in regular season wins (42), Big 12 wins (20), conference wins (20), conference series wins (seven), conference series sweeps (five), road wins (20), come-from-behind wins (26) and home runs (104).INF/OF&nbsp;Brady Counsell&nbsp;(Sr.)Round 10, No. 303 Overall, Arizona Diamondbacks. Counsell, an All-Big 12 Honorable Mention pick, became the first Kansas player in school history to win a Rawlings Gold Glove Award in 2025. One of Counsell's greatest strengths was his durability to start every game, the only Jayhawk to do so this past season. "Brady will be a great Diamondback and really checks every box for the type of player you want in your organization," Fitzgerald said. "He can really work and is an incredible teammate. He is a total pro – on the field and in the clubhouse. "One of four Kansas players with double-digit home runs, Counsell finished the year with 12 home runs. He drove in 57 RBIs and scored 54 runs, both of which were the second most on the team. His 57 RBIs were also tied for seventh in the Big 12. Defensively, Counsell posted a .992 fielding percentage with only one error in 121 chances to earn his Gold Glove. Counsell's versatility was on display all season as he started 30 games at third base, 25 games in left field and five games at second base. A native of Whitefish Bay, Wisconsin, Counsell came to Kansas for his final year of eligibility after spending his first three years at Minnesota. Counsell made an emphatic return to Minnesota in 2025 by hitting the third of an NCAA record-tying five consecutive home runs on March 12 at U.S. Bank Stadium.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Trio of Jayhawks Hear Names Called in 2025 MLB Draft

KStateSports.com MANHATTAN, Kan. –&nbsp;K-State saw two baseball players selected on the final day of the 2025 Major League Baseball Draft, as shortstop&nbsp;Maximus Martin&nbsp;and left-handed pitcher&nbsp;Jacob Frost&nbsp;heard their names called on Monday. Martin was selected in the 10th&nbsp;round by the Boston Red Sox with the 298th&nbsp;overall pick, followed by Frost, who was taken with the 315th&nbsp;pick by the Los Angeles Dodgers to close out the round. Martin becomes just the second Wildcat ever drafted by the Red Sox, joining Robert Youngdahl (2011), while Frost is the ninth player in program history selected by the Dodgers. Under seventh-year head coach&nbsp;Pete Hughes, K-State has had 12 players selected within the first 10 rounds. In total, Hughes has overseen 91 players selected in the MLB Draft, including eight first-rounders during his 28 seasons as a head coach while he has recruited 145 players who have gone on to play professionally. In his first season at K-State, Martin earned ABCA/Rawlings First Team All-Region honors and was named Second Team All-Big 12. A native of Edgewater Park, New Jersey, he slashed .320/.420/.612, tallying a team-high 18 doubles and 14 home runs – tied for fourth-most in a single season in program history. Martin was one of the league's top offensive performers, finishing the regular season ranked in the Big 12's top 10 in three statistical categories. He garnered both Golden Spikes Award and National Shortstop of the Week recognition. He led the team with 18 games with two or more hits and ranked second with 15 multi-RBI games. Frost caps his second season with the Cats where earned his first All-Big 12 accolade in 2025, striking out 75 batters while holding opponents to a .238 batting average – the eighth-best mark in the league. The St. Louis, Missouri, product was one of two K-State pitchers to record 10 or more strikeouts in a single game this season, notching a career-high 10 against KU. He also led the Big 12 with 22 strikeouts looking in conference play. Across two seasons with the Wildcats, Frost posted a 4-6 record with a 6.49 ERA and totaled 115 strikeouts over 32 appearances and 23 starts, including three quality starts. In 2024, he helped lead K-State to its ninth no-hitter in program history.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1752581361470.jpeg" alt="KStateSports.com" />
 <figcaption>KStateSports.com</figcaption>
 </figure>KStateSports.com MANHATTAN, Kan. –&nbsp;K-State saw two baseball players selected on the final day of the 2025 Major League Baseball Draft, as shortstop&nbsp;Maximus Martin&nbsp;and left-handed pitcher&nbsp;Jacob Frost&nbsp;heard their names called on Monday. Martin was selected in the 10th&nbsp;round by the Boston Red Sox with the 298th&nbsp;overall pick, followed by Frost, who was taken with the 315th&nbsp;pick by the Los Angeles Dodgers to close out the round. Martin becomes just the second Wildcat ever drafted by the Red Sox, joining Robert Youngdahl (2011), while Frost is the ninth player in program history selected by the Dodgers. Under seventh-year head coach&nbsp;Pete Hughes, K-State has had 12 players selected within the first 10 rounds. In total, Hughes has overseen 91 players selected in the MLB Draft, including eight first-rounders during his 28 seasons as a head coach while he has recruited 145 players who have gone on to play professionally. In his first season at K-State, Martin earned ABCA/Rawlings First Team All-Region honors and was named Second Team All-Big 12. A native of Edgewater Park, New Jersey, he slashed .320/.420/.612, tallying a team-high 18 doubles and 14 home runs – tied for fourth-most in a single season in program history. Martin was one of the league's top offensive performers, finishing the regular season ranked in the Big 12's top 10 in three statistical categories. He garnered both Golden Spikes Award and National Shortstop of the Week recognition. He led the team with 18 games with two or more hits and ranked second with 15 multi-RBI games. Frost caps his second season with the Cats where earned his first All-Big 12 accolade in 2025, striking out 75 batters while holding opponents to a .238 batting average – the eighth-best mark in the league. The St. Louis, Missouri, product was one of two K-State pitchers to record 10 or more strikeouts in a single game this season, notching a career-high 10 against KU. He also led the Big 12 with 22 strikeouts looking in conference play. Across two seasons with the Wildcats, Frost posted a 4-6 record with a 6.49 ERA and totaled 115 strikeouts over 32 appearances and 23 starts, including three quality starts. In 2024, he helped lead K-State to its ninth no-hitter in program history.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Two Wildcats Taken on Final Day of 2025 MLB Draft

ATLANTA (AP) — Seattle’s Cal Raleigh won his first All-Star Home Run Derby after leading the big leagues in long balls going into the break, defeating Tampa Bay’s Junior Caminero 18-15 in the final round. The Mariners' breakout slugger nicknamed Big Dumper advanced from the first round on a tiebreaker by less than an inch over the Athletics’ Brent Rooker, then won his semifinal 19-13 over Pittsburgh’s Oneil Cruz, whose 513-foot first-round drive over Truist Park’s right-center field seats was the longest of the night. Hitting second in the final round, the 22-year-old Caminero closed within three dingers, took three pitches and hit a liner to left field.

ATLANTA (AP) — Shohei Ohtani will bat leadoff as the designated hitter for the National League in Tuesday's MLB All-Star Game at Truist Park. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts announced the NL lineup, with Ronald Acuña Jr. batting second and Ketel Marte third. Paul Skenes of the Pirates will start for the NL, while Detroit’s Tarik Skubal will pitch for the AL. Gleyber Torres will lead off for the AL, followed by Riley Greene and Aaron Judge. Skenes and Skubal rank first and second in fastball velocity this season. Skenes has a 2.01 ERA, while Skubal, the reigning AL Cy Young winner, holds a 2.23 ERA.

ATLANTA (AP) — Curveballs are disappearing from Major League Baseball as pitchers prioritize velocity, emphasizing sliders and sweepers. Curveball usage dropped from 10.7% in 2019 to 8.4% this season, with 22,962 fewer thrown in 2024 than five years earlier. Pitchers and coaches say the focus has shifted to harder, faster pitches that generate more swings and misses. Batters are hitting .225 against curveballs this season, lower than fastballs. The game continues evolving toward power and speed.

PORTRUSH, Northern Ireland (AP) — Rory McIlroy is back at Royal Portrush and feeling plenty of love as the Masters champion. It's far different from when the British Open was last held in Northern Ireland. He was overwhelmed by the support and wound up missing the cut. McIlroy says he tried to treat 2019 like another Open. This time he is ready to embrace it. He now has the career Grand Slam. He wants to play well for the home crowd. But he's a lot more at peace and energized about another crack at Royal Portrush. He played 18 holes before bad weather arrived.

San Antonio Spurs star Victor Wembanyama says he expects to play this coming season and has been fully cleared after dealing with deep vein thrombosis in his shoulder for the past few months. Wembanyama made the comments to French newspaper L’Equipe in remarks published Monday. There was no immediate word from the Spurs on the report. Wembanyama was the NBA's rookie of the year two years ago and was the front-runner for defensive player of the year last season when he was diagnosed with the blood clot in his right shoulder in February and was shut down.

Major League Baseball is spotlighting player fashion at the All-Star Game red carpet event on Tuesday. Dodgers pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto, styled by Whitney Etoroma, is expected to make a statement. While Yamamoto isn’t big on fashion, Etoroma hopes he’ll choose an exclusive Thom Browne look. MLB has provided stylists for players like Yamamoto, Cal Raleigh, and Tarik Skubal to elevate the league’s style profile. Skubal plans to incorporate Detroit and Atlanta themes into his outfit, while Raleigh looks forward to a polished look despite calling his style “bland.” The event aims to boost MLB’s fashion appeal among fans.

ATLANTA (AP) — Major League Baseball is testing automated ball-strike systems in the All-Star Game for the first time. The system, used in some minor leagues since 2019, allows teams two challenges per game, retaining them if successful. All-Star starters Tarik Skubal of Detroit and Paul Skenes of Pittsburgh say pitchers often think everything is a strike. Clayton Kershaw believes the system works if it's adjusted for player height, which it does. During spring training tests, teams won 52.2% of challenges.

ATLANTA (AP) — SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey says the SEC and Big Ten have not agreed on a College Football Playoff format beyond this season. Sankey noted frequent discussions with Big Ten Commissioner Tony Petitti but highlighted differing views on playoff allocations. The current 12-team playoff guarantees spots for the five highest-ranked conference champions. Sankey emphasized collaboration but stated changes could proceed without unanimous agreement. The CFP contract allows the SEC and Big Ten to propose and impose changes if aligned.

Less than two weeks after terms of a multibillion-dollar college sports settlement went into effect, friction erupted over the definition of a “valid business purpose” that collectives making name, image likeness payments to players are supposed to have. The new College Sports Commission sent a letter to athletic directors last week saying it was rejecting deals in which players were receiving money from collectives that were created solely to pay them and don’t provide goods or services to the general public for profit. An attorney for the players responded by saying those instructions went against settlement terms and asking the CSC to rescind the guidance.

NEW YORK (AP) — The New York Jets and wide receiver Garrett Wilson have agreed on a four-year, $130 million contract extension. A person familiar with the situation confirmed the deal Monday, though it has not been officially announced. Wilson, drafted 10th overall in 2022, was the AP Offensive Rookie of the Year that season and has surpassed 1,000 receiving yards in each of his first three years. Jets management, including general manager Darren Mougey and coach Aaron Glenn, have focused on building a younger roster.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1739459822020.jpeg" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>ATLANTA (AP) — Seattle’s Cal Raleigh won his first All-Star Home Run Derby after leading the big leagues in long balls going into the break, defeating Tampa Bay’s Junior Caminero 18-15 in the final round. The Mariners' breakout slugger nicknamed Big Dumper advanced from the first round on a tiebreaker by less than an inch over the Athletics’ Brent Rooker, then won his semifinal 19-13 over Pittsburgh’s Oneil Cruz, whose 513-foot first-round drive over Truist Park’s right-center field seats was the longest of the night. Hitting second in the final round, the 22-year-old Caminero closed within three dingers, took three pitches and hit a liner to left field.ATLANTA (AP) — Shohei Ohtani will bat leadoff as the designated hitter for the National League in Tuesday's MLB All-Star Game at Truist Park. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts announced the NL lineup, with Ronald Acuña Jr. batting second and Ketel Marte third. Paul Skenes of the Pirates will start for the NL, while Detroit’s Tarik Skubal will pitch for the AL. Gleyber Torres will lead off for the AL, followed by Riley Greene and Aaron Judge. Skenes and Skubal rank first and second in fastball velocity this season. Skenes has a 2.01 ERA, while Skubal, the reigning AL Cy Young winner, holds a 2.23 ERA.ATLANTA (AP) — Curveballs are disappearing from Major League Baseball as pitchers prioritize velocity, emphasizing sliders and sweepers. Curveball usage dropped from 10.7% in 2019 to 8.4% this season, with 22,962 fewer thrown in 2024 than five years earlier. Pitchers and coaches say the focus has shifted to harder, faster pitches that generate more swings and misses. Batters are hitting .225 against curveballs this season, lower than fastballs. The game continues evolving toward power and speed.PORTRUSH, Northern Ireland (AP) — Rory McIlroy is back at Royal Portrush and feeling plenty of love as the Masters champion. It's far different from when the British Open was last held in Northern Ireland. He was overwhelmed by the support and wound up missing the cut. McIlroy says he tried to treat 2019 like another Open. This time he is ready to embrace it. He now has the career Grand Slam. He wants to play well for the home crowd. But he's a lot more at peace and energized about another crack at Royal Portrush. He played 18 holes before bad weather arrived.San Antonio Spurs star Victor Wembanyama says he expects to play this coming season and has been fully cleared after dealing with deep vein thrombosis in his shoulder for the past few months. Wembanyama made the comments to French newspaper L’Equipe in remarks published Monday. There was no immediate word from the Spurs on the report. Wembanyama was the NBA's rookie of the year two years ago and was the front-runner for defensive player of the year last season when he was diagnosed with the blood clot in his right shoulder in February and was shut down.Major League Baseball is spotlighting player fashion at the All-Star Game red carpet event on Tuesday. Dodgers pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto, styled by Whitney Etoroma, is expected to make a statement. While Yamamoto isn’t big on fashion, Etoroma hopes he’ll choose an exclusive Thom Browne look. MLB has provided stylists for players like Yamamoto, Cal Raleigh, and Tarik Skubal to elevate the league’s style profile. Skubal plans to incorporate Detroit and Atlanta themes into his outfit, while Raleigh looks forward to a polished look despite calling his style “bland.” The event aims to boost MLB’s fashion appeal among fans.ATLANTA (AP) — Major League Baseball is testing automated ball-strike systems in the All-Star Game for the first time. The system, used in some minor leagues since 2019, allows teams two challenges per game, retaining them if successful. All-Star starters Tarik Skubal of Detroit and Paul Skenes of Pittsburgh say pitchers often think everything is a strike. Clayton Kershaw believes the system works if it's adjusted for player height, which it does. During spring training tests, teams won 52.2% of challenges.ATLANTA (AP) — SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey says the SEC and Big Ten have not agreed on a College Football Playoff format beyond this season. Sankey noted frequent discussions with Big Ten Commissioner Tony Petitti but highlighted differing views on playoff allocations. The current 12-team playoff guarantees spots for the five highest-ranked conference champions. Sankey emphasized collaboration but stated changes could proceed without unanimous agreement. The CFP contract allows the SEC and Big Ten to propose and impose changes if aligned.Less than two weeks after terms of a multibillion-dollar college sports settlement went into effect, friction erupted over the definition of a “valid business purpose” that collectives making name, image likeness payments to players are supposed to have. The new College Sports Commission sent a letter to athletic directors last week saying it was rejecting deals in which players were receiving money from collectives that were created solely to pay them and don’t provide goods or services to the general public for profit. An attorney for the players responded by saying those instructions went against settlement terms and asking the CSC to rescind the guidance.NEW YORK (AP) — The New York Jets and wide receiver Garrett Wilson have agreed on a four-year, $130 million contract extension. A person familiar with the situation confirmed the deal Monday, though it has not been officially announced. Wilson, drafted 10th overall in 2022, was the AP Offensive Rookie of the Year that season and has surpassed 1,000 receiving yards in each of his first three years. Jets management, including general manager Darren Mougey and coach Aaron Glenn, have focused on building a younger roster.

Tuesday Sports Headlines and Scores presented by Barton Community College

Anne Rogers MLB.com ATLANTA -- The Royals were always going to eye upside with their first selections of the MLB Draft, and as the picks got closer on Sunday night, they zeroed in on hitters.

With the No. 23 pick in the 2025 MLB Draft, the Royals selected second baseman/outfielder Sean Gamble out of IMG Academy in Florida.

Just five picks later, with their prospect promotion incentive pick at No. 28, the Royals selected infielder Josh Hammond out of Wesleyan Christian (N.C.) Academy.

That gave the Royals two prep hitters –&nbsp;Nos. 26 (Hammond)&nbsp;and&nbsp;27 (Gamble)&nbsp;on MLB Pipeline’s Top 250 Draft prospects list – to begin a busy first day of the Draft on Sunday, with five picks between Rounds 1-3.

And with the prep bats comes a lot of upside and high ceiling, especially with the different skill sets that Gamble and Hammond represent.

“If you think about the type of game we want to play – we want to be athletic,” general manager J.J. Picollo said. “We want to utilize speed. That’s really what our identity is. And when you look at Sean and his ability to run, we look at him as a potential leadoff hitter down the road. And then Hammond, with power, those are two things you covet.”

Gamble, 19, is a Des Moines, Iowa, native, but he left his home state at 14 years old to go to IMG Academy, where he first went for summer camps. Coaches there recognized the talent, though, and offered him a spot for high school. Over the next four years, Gamble excelled – and got a lot stronger along the way.

A smooth-swinging left-handed hitter, Gamble can barrel the ball to all fields and is developing more power as he keeps gaining strength. He controls the strike zone well and makes a ton of contact. His tools also include plus speed and a strong arm, making him a well-rounded player the Royals envision at the top of their lineup one day.

“We look at him as a top-of-the-order-type leadoff guy who can really run,” scouting director Brian Bridges said. “He’s a 70 runner.”

Bridges also mentioned that Gamble has “as much range as anybody I’ve ever seen playing on the infield.” Gamble’s speed and arm allow him to play center field, too, so the Royals value his ability to be an up-the-middle player.

The Royals expect to sign Gamble away from his Vanderbilt commitment.

The same goes for Hammond, a Wake Forest commit. He has two-way experience in high school but hit .471 with six home runs as a senior at Wesleyan Christian.

2025 MLB Draft presented by NikeDay 1 (Rounds 1-3):&nbsp;<a href="https://www.mlb.com/news/2025-mlb-draft-day-1-complete-coverage?t=mlb-draft-coverage" target="_blank">Pick-by-pick analysis</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.mlb.com/milb/news/2025-mlb-draft-day-1-top-storylines-takeaways?t=mlb-draft-coverage" target="_blank">Top storylines, takeaways</a>Day 2 (Rounds 4-20):&nbsp;Monday, 11:30 a.m. ET (MLB.com, MLB.TV)

It’s the plus raw power that got the 18-year-old drafted. Hammond’s 6-foot-1, 210-pound frame generates consistently high exit velocities. The Royals drafted him as a shortstop, but his strong arm and agility could give him a home at third base, too. His fastball hit 96 mph in high school and might have gotten him drafted in later rounds, too.

Kansas City was drawn to Hammond’s athleticism, with evaluators saying he has a chance to be an impact bat in the middle of the order.

“He can really swing the bat,” Bridges said. “He can get to that power. The kid can hit the ball as far as anybody I’ve scouted.

“… The one thing our analytics department liked was his ability to make contact in the zone on several different pitches. There’s stuff there to build with. You hit enough with his strength and power, he’s going to hit homers.”

Anne Rogers MLB.com ATLANTA -- The Royals were always going to eye upside with their first selections of the MLB Draft, and as the picks got closer on Sunday night, they zeroed in on hitters.Their first two picks fit the target.With the No. 23 pick in the 2025 MLB Draft, the Royals selected second baseman/outfielder Sean Gamble out of IMG Academy in Florida.Just five picks later, with their prospect promotion incentive pick at No. 28, the Royals selected infielder Josh Hammond out of Wesleyan Christian (N.C.) Academy.That gave the Royals two prep hitters –&nbsp;Nos. 26 (Hammond)&nbsp;and&nbsp;27 (Gamble)&nbsp;on MLB Pipeline’s Top 250 Draft prospects list – to begin a busy first day of the Draft on Sunday, with five picks between Rounds 1-3.And with the prep bats comes a lot of upside and high ceiling, especially with the different skill sets that Gamble and Hammond represent.“If you think about the type of game we want to play – we want to be athletic,” general manager J.J. Picollo said. “We want to utilize speed. That’s really what our identity is. And when you look at Sean and his ability to run, we look at him as a potential leadoff hitter down the road. And then Hammond, with power, those are two things you covet.”Gamble, 19, is a Des Moines, Iowa, native, but he left his home state at 14 years old to go to IMG Academy, where he first went for summer camps. Coaches there recognized the talent, though, and offered him a spot for high school. Over the next four years, Gamble excelled – and got a lot stronger along the way.A smooth-swinging left-handed hitter, Gamble can barrel the ball to all fields and is developing more power as he keeps gaining strength. He controls the strike zone well and makes a ton of contact. His tools also include plus speed and a strong arm, making him a well-rounded player the Royals envision at the top of their lineup one day.“We look at him as a top-of-the-order-type leadoff guy who can really run,” scouting director Brian Bridges said. “He’s a 70 runner.”Bridges also mentioned that Gamble has “as much range as anybody I’ve ever seen playing on the infield.” Gamble’s speed and arm allow him to play center field, too, so the Royals value his ability to be an up-the-middle player.The Royals expect to sign Gamble away from his Vanderbilt commitment.The same goes for Hammond, a Wake Forest commit. He has two-way experience in high school but hit .471 with six home runs as a senior at Wesleyan Christian.2025 MLB Draft presented by NikeDay 1 (Rounds 1-3):&nbsp;<a href="https://www.mlb.com/news/2025-mlb-draft-day-1-complete-coverage?t=mlb-draft-coverage" target="_blank">Pick-by-pick analysis</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.mlb.com/milb/news/2025-mlb-draft-day-1-top-storylines-takeaways?t=mlb-draft-coverage" target="_blank">Top storylines, takeaways</a>Day 2 (Rounds 4-20):&nbsp;Monday, 11:30 a.m. ET (MLB.com, MLB.TV)With the No. 23 pick in the 2025 MLB Draft, the Royals selected second baseman/outfielder Sean Gamble out of IMG Academy in Florida.Just five picks later, with their prospect promotion incentive pick at No. 28, the Royals selected infielder Josh Hammond out of Wesleyan Christian (N.C.) Academy.That gave the Royals two prep hitters –&nbsp;Nos. 26 (Hammond)&nbsp;and&nbsp;27 (Gamble)&nbsp;on MLB Pipeline’s Top 250 Draft prospects list – to begin a busy first day of the Draft on Sunday, with five picks between Rounds 1-3.And with the prep bats comes a lot of upside and high ceiling, especially with the different skill sets that Gamble and Hammond represent.“If you think about the type of game we want to play – we want to be athletic,” general manager J.J. Picollo said. “We want to utilize speed. That’s really what our identity is. And when you look at Sean and his ability to run, we look at him as a potential leadoff hitter down the road. And then Hammond, with power, those are two things you covet.”<h2>2025 Draft: Sean Gamble, 2B/OF</h2>Gamble, 19, is a Des Moines, Iowa, native, but he left his home state at 14 years old to go to IMG Academy, where he first went for summer camps. Coaches there recognized the talent, though, and offered him a spot for high school. Over the next four years, Gamble excelled – and got a lot stronger along the way.A smooth-swinging left-handed hitter, Gamble can barrel the ball to all fields and is developing more power as he keeps gaining strength. He controls the strike zone well and makes a ton of contact. His tools also include plus speed and a strong arm, making him a well-rounded player the Royals envision at the top of their lineup one day.“We look at him as a top-of-the-order-type leadoff guy who can really run,” scouting director Brian Bridges said. “He’s a 70 runner.”Bridges also mentioned that Gamble has “as much range as anybody I’ve ever seen playing on the infield.” Gamble’s speed and arm allow him to play center field, too, so the Royals value his ability to be an up-the-middle player.The Royals expect to sign Gamble away from his Vanderbilt commitment.The same goes for Hammond, a Wake Forest commit. He has two-way experience in high school but hit .471 with six home runs as a senior at Wesleyan Christian.<h2>2025 Draft: Josh Hammond, 3B</h2>It’s the plus raw power that got the 18-year-old drafted. Hammond’s 6-foot-1, 210-pound frame generates consistently high exit velocities. The Royals drafted him as a shortstop, but his strong arm and agility could give him a home at third base, too. His fastball hit 96 mph in high school and might have gotten him drafted in later rounds, too.Kansas City was drawn to Hammond’s athleticism, with evaluators saying he has a chance to be an impact bat in the middle of the order.“He can really swing the bat,” Bridges said. “He can get to that power. The kid can hit the ball as far as anybody I’ve scouted.“… The one thing our analytics department liked was his ability to make contact in the zone on several different pitches. There’s stuff there to build with. You hit enough with his strength and power, he’s going to hit homers.”

Royals go for offensive upside with Gamble, Hammond on Day 1 of Draft

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Nick Loftin delivered his second game-winning hit in less than a week, driving in Tyler Tolbert from second base with a single in the ninth inning to give the Kansas City Royals a 3-2 win over the New York Mets on Sunday.

Tolbert singled off Sean Manaea, who had been dominant in relief in his season debut for the Mets. And when the speedster stole second base, that gave Loftin the chance to deliver another winner after his deciding single Tuesday against Pittsburgh.

Manaea (0-1), who had been out after straining an oblique in spring training and then developing an elbow issue during his rehab outings, allowed that lone run and five hits while striking out seven in 3 1/3 innings.

Noah Cameron delivered another brilliant start for Kansas City, scattering seven hits while matching a career best with eight strikeouts over 6 2/3 scoreless innings. And the rookie left-hander was in line for his fourth win when John Schreiber and Lucas Erceg shepherded a 2-0 lead — courtesy of John Rave's second-inning double — to All-Star closer Carlos Estévez.

Ronny Mauricio led off the ninth with a double off Estévez (4-2). Jeff McNeil followed with an RBI triple off the center-field wall, and fellow pinch hitter Jared Young delivered a sacrifice fly moments later to tie the game.

Clay Holmes allowed two runs and five hits and a walk over five innings for New York.

Tolbert entered the game in the eighth for Jac Caglianone for his defense. It wound up being his offense that mattered, helping the Royals avoid a three-game sweep heading into the All-Star break.

The Mets went 1 for 7 with runners in scoring position and stranded eight in the game.

The Mets will be represented at the All-Star Game in Atlanta this week by LHP David Peterson, RHP Edwin Diaz, SS Francisco Lindor and 1B Pete Alonso. The Royals will have INF Maikel Garcia, Estévez, SS Bobby Witt Jr. and LHP Kris Bubic there.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1752497094197.jpeg" alt="Kansas City Royals' Nick Loftin hits a single to score the game-winning run during the ninth inning of a baseball game. against the New York Mets, Sunday, July 13, 2025, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)" />
 <figcaption>Kansas City Royals' Nick Loftin hits a single to score the game-winning run during the ninth inning of a baseball game. against the New York Mets, Sunday, July 13, 2025, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Nick Loftin delivered his second game-winning hit in less than a week, driving in Tyler Tolbert from second base with a single in the ninth inning to give the Kansas City Royals a 3-2 win over the New York Mets on Sunday.Tolbert singled off Sean Manaea, who had been dominant in relief in his season debut for the Mets. And when the speedster stole second base, that gave Loftin the chance to deliver another winner after his deciding single Tuesday against Pittsburgh.Manaea (0-1), who had been out after straining an oblique in spring training and then developing an elbow issue during his rehab outings, allowed that lone run and five hits while striking out seven in 3 1/3 innings.Noah Cameron delivered another brilliant start for Kansas City, scattering seven hits while matching a career best with eight strikeouts over 6 2/3 scoreless innings. And the rookie left-hander was in line for his fourth win when John Schreiber and Lucas Erceg shepherded a 2-0 lead — courtesy of John Rave's second-inning double — to All-Star closer Carlos Estévez.Ronny Mauricio led off the ninth with a double off Estévez (4-2). Jeff McNeil followed with an RBI triple off the center-field wall, and fellow pinch hitter Jared Young delivered a sacrifice fly moments later to tie the game.Clay Holmes allowed two runs and five hits and a walk over five innings for New York.<h2>Key moment</h2>Tolbert entered the game in the eighth for Jac Caglianone for his defense. It wound up being his offense that mattered, helping the Royals avoid a three-game sweep heading into the All-Star break.<h2>Key stat</h2>The Mets went 1 for 7 with runners in scoring position and stranded eight in the game.<h2>Up next</h2>The Mets will be represented at the All-Star Game in Atlanta this week by LHP David Peterson, RHP Edwin Diaz, SS Francisco Lindor and 1B Pete Alonso. The Royals will have INF Maikel Garcia, Estévez, SS Bobby Witt Jr. and LHP Kris Bubic there.

Nick Loftin hits second game-winner in less than a week, Royals beat Mets 3-2 to avoid 3-game sweep

LONDON (AP) — Jannik Sinner insisted early on at&nbsp;Wimbledon&nbsp;that he put an excruciating loss to Carlos Alcaraz in their epic French Open final behind him. Sinner was sure that one defeat wouldn’t haunt him, wouldn’t prevent a quick recalibration and certainly wouldn’t mean a thing at the All England Club.

Exactly five weeks after the&nbsp;devastating defeat at Roland-Garros&nbsp;against his rival, Sinner reversed the result, beating two-time defending Wimbledon champion Alcaraz 4-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 on Sunday to win his first championship at the grass-court major.

“At the end of the day, it doesn’t really matter how you win or you lose the important tournaments. You just have to understand what you did wrong. Trying to work on that — that’s exactly what we did. We tried to accept the loss and then just kept working,” Sinner said Sunday, his shiny gold hardware in his hands. “And this is, for sure, why I’m holding this trophy here.”

The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/sinner-australian-open-djokovic-zverev-5bac6dd5b82549ba4577cddc0c3c9e8a">No. 1-ranked Sinner</a>&nbsp;earned his fourth Grand Slam title overall, moving him one away from No. 2 Alcaraz’s total as the two no-longer-rising-but-firmly-established stars of the game separate themselves from the rest of the pack in men’s tennis.

Sinner, a 23-year-old Italian, put an end to several streaks for Alcaraz, a 22-year-old Spaniard,&nbsp;who had been 5-0 in Grand Slam finals.

Alcaraz had won their last five matches, most famously across five sets and nearly 5 1/2 hours on the red clay of the French Open on June 8. Sinner took a two-set lead, then held a trio of match points, but couldn’t close the deal.

“Today was important not just because it was a Grand Slam final, not just because it was Wimbledon, and not just because Carlos had won the last five matches against him,” said Darren Cahill, one of Sinner's two coaches, who had planned to leave the team at the end of 2025 but now might stick around. “He needed that win today. So he knew the importance of closing this one out when he had the opportunities.”

Asked during Week 1 at Wimbledon whether what happened in Paris created lingering doubts, Sinner immediately replied: “Why negative feelings? Because I lost in (that) final?”

Then he continued: “No. Look, it’s a new tournament, new Grand Slam, new surface. I’m not concerned about my level I can play. ... I’m not concerned that one loss can influence you for so long a time. I believe that here is a new chance that I can do something good.”

This time, he didn't waver, asserting himself in a match that featured moments of terrific play by both men, but also the occasional lapses — and one memorable, brief, interruption right before a Sinner serve when a Champagne cork came flying out of the stands and settled on the turf.

With&nbsp;Prince William and Princess Kate in the Royal Box, along with King Felipe VI of Spain, Alcaraz stepped into the sunlight bathing Centre Court with a career-best 24-match unbeaten run. He had won 20 matches in a row at the All England Club.

“It’s difficult to lose,” Alcaraz said. “It’s always difficult to lose.”

The last man to beat him at Wimbledon? Sinner, in the fourth round in 2022.

So this served as a bookend win for Sinner, who would be forgiven for at least thinking a bit about his collapse in their last match — especially when facing two break points while serving at 4-3, 15-40 in the fourth set Sunday.

But he calmly took the next four points to take that game, then soon was serving out the win after a chorus of “Car-los! Car-los!” rang out from spectators.

“The things that went his way in Paris," Sinner said, “went my way this time.”

When it ended, he put both hands on his white hat. After embracing Alcaraz, Sinner crouched with his head bowed, then pounded his right palm on the grass.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1752496899282.jpeg" alt="Jannik Sinner of Italy holds the trophy after winning the men's singles final match against Carlos Alcaraz of Spain at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London, Sunday, July 13, 2025.(AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)" />
 <figcaption>Jannik Sinner of Italy holds the trophy after winning the men's singles final match against Carlos Alcaraz of Spain at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London, Sunday, July 13, 2025.(AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)</figcaption>
 </figure>LONDON (AP) — Jannik Sinner insisted early on at&nbsp;Wimbledon&nbsp;that he put an excruciating loss to Carlos Alcaraz in their epic French Open final behind him. Sinner was sure that one defeat wouldn’t haunt him, wouldn’t prevent a quick recalibration and certainly wouldn’t mean a thing at the All England Club.Sure was right about all of that.Exactly five weeks after the&nbsp;devastating defeat at Roland-Garros&nbsp;against his rival, Sinner reversed the result, beating two-time defending Wimbledon champion Alcaraz 4-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 on Sunday to win his first championship at the grass-court major.“At the end of the day, it doesn’t really matter how you win or you lose the important tournaments. You just have to understand what you did wrong. Trying to work on that — that’s exactly what we did. We tried to accept the loss and then just kept working,” Sinner said Sunday, his shiny gold hardware in his hands. “And this is, for sure, why I’m holding this trophy here.”The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/sinner-australian-open-djokovic-zverev-5bac6dd5b82549ba4577cddc0c3c9e8a">No. 1-ranked Sinner</a>&nbsp;earned his fourth Grand Slam title overall, moving him one away from No. 2 Alcaraz’s total as the two no-longer-rising-but-firmly-established stars of the game separate themselves from the rest of the pack in men’s tennis.Sinner, a 23-year-old Italian, put an end to several streaks for Alcaraz, a 22-year-old Spaniard,&nbsp;who had been 5-0 in Grand Slam finals.Alcaraz had won their last five matches, most famously across five sets and nearly 5 1/2 hours on the red clay of the French Open on June 8. Sinner took a two-set lead, then held a trio of match points, but couldn’t close the deal.“Today was important not just because it was a Grand Slam final, not just because it was Wimbledon, and not just because Carlos had won the last five matches against him,” said Darren Cahill, one of Sinner's two coaches, who had planned to leave the team at the end of 2025 but now might stick around. “He needed that win today. So he knew the importance of closing this one out when he had the opportunities.”Asked during Week 1 at Wimbledon whether what happened in Paris created lingering doubts, Sinner immediately replied: “Why negative feelings? Because I lost in (that) final?”Then he continued: “No. Look, it’s a new tournament, new Grand Slam, new surface. I’m not concerned about my level I can play. ... I’m not concerned that one loss can influence you for so long a time. I believe that here is a new chance that I can do something good.”Great, even.This time, he didn't waver, asserting himself in a match that featured moments of terrific play by both men, but also the occasional lapses — and one memorable, brief, interruption right before a Sinner serve when a Champagne cork came flying out of the stands and settled on the turf.With&nbsp;Prince William and Princess Kate in the Royal Box, along with King Felipe VI of Spain, Alcaraz stepped into the sunlight bathing Centre Court with a career-best 24-match unbeaten run. He had won 20 matches in a row at the All England Club.“It’s difficult to lose,” Alcaraz said. “It’s always difficult to lose.”The last man to beat him at Wimbledon? Sinner, in the fourth round in 2022.So this served as a bookend win for Sinner, who would be forgiven for at least thinking a bit about his collapse in their last match — especially when facing two break points while serving at 4-3, 15-40 in the fourth set Sunday.But he calmly took the next four points to take that game, then soon was serving out the win after a chorus of “Car-los! Car-los!” rang out from spectators.“The things that went his way in Paris," Sinner said, “went my way this time.”When it ended, he put both hands on his white hat. After embracing Alcaraz, Sinner crouched with his head bowed, then pounded his right palm on the grass.He has participated in four consecutive major finals, including triumphs at the&nbsp;U.S. Open&nbsp;— shortly after the world learned about&nbsp;a doping case that eventually led to a three-month ban&nbsp;— and the Australian Open.Wearing the same tape job and white arm sleeve to protect his right elbow that he has been using since&nbsp;falling in the fourth round, Sinner never showed any issues, just as he hadn't while eliminating&nbsp;Novak Djokovic&nbsp;on Friday.In the final, Sinner and Alcaraz produced scintillating points, with few, if any, half-measures. They sprinted at top speed and swung away with full force, rarely bending to the other's will.From 4-2 down, Alcaraz took four games in a row. That spurt included a 140 mph ace that sprayed the air with a cloud of white chalk dust and a set-capping, flick-of-a-backhand winner at an impossible angle after barely getting his racket on the ball.As fans rose and roared, Alcaraz pointed to his ear and spun around, then pumped his right fist overhead.Sinner was undaunted, quickly breaking to lead the second set. He returned exceptionally, even as Alcaraz served aggressively, which did lead to 15 aces — but also to a 53% first-serve percentage and seven double-faults.Much like at the French Open, there was often an unrelenting intensity to these three-plus hours, and any slight misstep created problems. It was Alcaraz who had more of those, although Sinner might have had the most memorable, blowing an overhead right after coming up with a behind-the-back, through-the-legs half-volley in the third set.In all, these guys showed why they combined to win the past seven Grand Slam trophies, and nine of the last 12.Fittingly,&nbsp;this marked the first time the same two men&nbsp;faced off in the title matches at the French Open and Wimbledon in the same year since Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal did it in 2006, 2007 and 2008. It hadn't happened for more than a half-century before that trilogy.“I'm just really, really happy about having this rivalry with him,” Alcaraz said about Sinner. “It's great for us, and it is great for tennis.”