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CCS softball playoffs: Westmont loses heartbreaker in Division I final – “It was a good run”

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 10:10:16 GMT

SAN JOSE — Westmont’s 10 seniors had their hearts set on winning a Central Coast Section championship.But not all dreams come true.Notre Dame-Salinas, a perennial power in CCS softball, scored two runs after two were out in the bottom of the sixth to break up a scoreless duel, and the Spirits went on to a 2-0 victory in the CCS Division I final Saturday at San Jose City College.“We played a really strong team and we played them zero-zero for six innings,” Westmont coach Bryce Hadley said.  ” I couldn’t be prouder of this group of young ladies. This senior class has been through a ton, covid when they were freshmen. They got to this point in the season twice. Westmont teams have only been here three times and they’ve done it twice. I think that speaks for itself.”Westmont’s Rachel Walker (11) celebrates after hitting a single against Notre Dame-Salinas during the Central Coast Section Division I softball championship at San Jose City Co...

CCS Open championship: Hollister makes adjustments, prevents St. Francis three-peat

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 10:10:16 GMT

SARATOGA – Hollister’s 4-0 Central Coast Section Open Division victory became official on the West Valley College scoreboard at 5 p.m, but the Haybalers won the mental game a few minutes after the 3 p.m. first pitch. It was only one run in the top of the first inning, but when Hollister’s Grace Peffley drove a grounder into right field and a runner across the plate, the Balers got the emotional edge over the St. Francis Lancers.“When they scored the run in the first inning, I could feel the energy drop,” St. Francis pitcher Shannon Keighran said. “As a captain, that’s really hard to see.”It didn’t hurt that Hollister executed a strategy that turned St. Francis’ fearsome bats into popup machines. Starting pitcher Sophia Mariottini pounded the inside part of the plate and dared the Lancers to pull the ball into gaps, something St. Francis was unable to do. “They beat us in every facet of the game,” St. Francis coach Mike Oakland said. “They pitched better, they hit better, they ...

Glad’s own-goal helps Minnesota United in 1-1 draw with Real Salt Lake

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 10:10:16 GMT

SAINT PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Minnesota United didn’t find the net, but an own-goal by Real Salt Lake’s Justen Glad was the final score in a 1-1 draw on Saturday night.Real Salt Lake (4-6-4) took a 1-0 lead in the 28th minute when Jefferson Savarino took passes from Danny Musovski and Braian Ojeda and scored his fourth goal of the season.Minnesota United (5-5-4) evened the score three minutes later thanks to Glad’s own-goal.Dayne St. Clair saved one shot for Minnesota United. Zac MacMatch had two saves for Real Salt Lake.Real Salt Lake was trying to win back-to-back road matches for the first time since 2019.Thirteen of Minnesota United’s 14 matches this season have been decided by one goal or ended in draws. The club was coming off back-to-back 1-0 victories with Bongokuhle Hlongwane scoring both winners.RSL beat Minnesota United 3-0 in August of last season. Neither team has won two straight in a series that Minnesota United leads 5-3-6.Real Salt Lake returns ho...

Donovan scores on passed ball in 10th, Cardinals beat Guardians 2-1

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 10:10:16 GMT

CLEVELAND (AP) — Brendan Donovan scored on a passed ball in the 10th inning after homering in the second, lifting the St. Louis Cardinals to a 2-1 victory over the Cleveland Guardians on Saturday night.Donovan began the 10th on second as the automatic runner, stole third base and came home when third-string catcher David Fry mishandled a pitch by Nick Sandlin (2-2) to Oscar Mercado.“Nick made a good pitch, threw a sinker, and I thought I had my glove right there on the dirt,” said Fry, who entered in the eighth after Cam Gallagher was lifted for a pinch-hitter. “Unfortunately, it went right under my glove to the backstop.”St. Louis, which won for the 14th time in its last 20 games, only managed two hits against Guardians starter Tanner Bibee and four relievers. None occurred after Alec Burleson singled in the third.Ryan Helsley (3-3) pitched 1 1/3 innings for the win and Giovanny Gallegos earned his sixth save with a scoreless 10th. Jack Flaherty matched his longest start of the yea...

Stewart scores 21, lifts Liberty over Sun 81-65

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 10:10:16 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Breanna Stewart scored 11 of her 21 points in the decisive third quarter to lift the New York Liberty to an 81-65 win over the Connecticut Sun on Saturday.Courtney Vandersloot kept the momentum going in the final quarter. She finished with 18 points and 10 assists for the Liberty (2-1). Sabrina Ionescu added 17 points.Tiffany Hayes scored 16 points and DeWanna Bonner added 14 to lead the Sun (3-1), who lost in the WNBA Finals last season.Saturday marked the first regular season game that Jonquel Jones played against her former team. The 2021 MVP was traded in the offseason from Connecticut to New York as part of a three-way deal that sent Liberty guard Rebecca Allen to the Sun.Jones scored the first basket of the game, but didn’t do much after that, finishing with seven points. ACES 93, SPARKS 65LAS VEGAS (AP) — A’ja Wilson had 23 points and six rebounds, Kelsey Plum added 19 and Jackie Young scored 16 points as Las Vegas defeated Los Angeles.Nneka Ogwumike lead the ...

Jonathan India homers twice as Cincinnati Reds beat Chicago Cubs 8-5

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 10:10:16 GMT

CHICAGO (AP) — Jonathan India homered twice and drove in five runs, helping the Cincinnati Reds beat the struggling Chicago Cubs 8-5 on Saturday night.TJ Friedl and rookie Matt McLain each had two hits and scored two runs as Cincinnati won for the fourth time in six games. Tyler Stephenson also had two hits. Buck Farmer (1-3) got five outs for the win, and Alexis Díaz worked a shaky ninth for his 11th save. Farmer, Ian Gibaut, Alex Young and Díaz combined for 4 2/3 innings of one-run ball in relief of Brandon Williamson.“It was really a matter of if we really believed if we could keep it right there after they got out to a lead, that we could chip away at it,” Reds manager David Bell said. “Brandon did a really nice job after giving up some runs in the first two innings of keeping it right there while he was still in.”Dansby Swanson and Ian Happ each had two RBIs for Chicago, which blew a 4-1 lead. Jameson Taillon was charged with four runs and six hits in 4 2/3 innings in a no-deci...

St. Louis City rolls to 3-1 victory over Whitecaps

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 10:10:16 GMT

ST. LOUIS (AP) — St. Louis City got an early goal from Eduard Löwen, a late goal from Miguel Perez and an own-goal from Tristan Blackmon in between en route to a 3-1 victory over the Vancouver Whitecaps on Saturday night.St. Louis City (8-4-1) grabbed the lead in the 10th minute on an unassisted goal by Löwen — his fourth netter this season..Blackmon’s own-goal came in the 45th minute, giving St. Louis City a 2-0 lead at halftime.Vancouver (4-5-5) pulled within a goal when Brian White took a pass from Julian Gressel in the 83rd minute and scored for the fifth time this season.Perez scored unassisted in the fourth minute of stoppage time for his first career goal. The 18-year-old midfielder found the net in his 11th appearance, including five starts.Roman Bürki finished with one save for St. Louis City. Thomas Hasal saved five shots in his first start of the season for Vancouver.The Whitecaps have lost their last two road matches against expansion teams after posting a 3-0-2 ma...

Aces receive championship rings, pummel Sparks 93-65

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 10:10:16 GMT

LAS VEGAS (AP) — While the Vegas Golden Knights were playing an important game less than 2 miles down Frank Sinatra Drive at T-Mobile Arena, the Las Vegas Aces were throwing their own house party at Michelob Ultra Arena.A sellout crowd of 10,191 cheered as the Aces received their championship rings from owner Mark Davis, continued to emit electricity as the team’s new game introduction played on the jumbotron, and roared endlessly as Las Vegas dismantled the Los Angeles Sparks, 93-65, on Saturday night.“It’s a great environment,” WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert said. “To sell out the home opener here for the ring ceremony is great, especially when the Knights are playing down the road. That’s pretty outstanding that they sold out tonight. So we love the fan base here and we love Vegas.”A’ja Wilson had 23 points and six rebounds to lead the Aces, who led 31-13 after the first quarter and 59-28 at halftime. Kelsey Plum and Jackie Young added 19 and 16 points, respectively.For Los An...

Franco’s late goal rallies Dynamo to 2-1 victory over Austin

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 10:10:16 GMT

HOUSTON (AP) — Iván Franco scored his first career goal late in the second half and the Houston Dynamo rallied to beat Austin FC 2-1 on Saturday night.Austin (4-6-4) took a 1-0 lead in the 22nd minute on a goal by Gyasi Zardes with an assist from Nick Lima. It was Zardes’ third netter of the season.Héctor Herrera scored for a third time this season — unassisted in the 37th minute to pull Houston even.Franco used assists from Daniel Steres and Herrera to score the winner in the 87th minute. It was the 23-year-old rookie’s 12th appearance for the Dynamo this season, including seven starts.The home team picked up a victory for the sixth time in seven all-time matches between the clubs. Austin entered play having won back-to-back matches after an eight-match winless streak.The Dynamo snapped a four-match winless streak. When Franco scored it marked the first time Houston has scored more than one goal in its last seven matches. The Dynamo have not conceded more than one goal ...

Dellandrea scores twice in 3rd, Stars stay alive with 4-2 victory over Golden Knights

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 10:10:16 GMT

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Ty Dellandrea scored twice in a 1:27 span midway through the third period and the Dallas Stars beat the Vegas Golden Knights 4-2 on Saturday night to stay alive in the Western Conference Final.The Stars escaped elimination for the second game in a row and head to Dallas for Game 6 on Monday night down 3-2. Dallas is attempting to become the fifth team in NHL history win a series after being down 3-0.Dellandrea had the first multigoal game of his playoff career, and it helped back a 27-save performance from Jake Oettinger. Jason Robertson and Luke Glendening also scored, and Thomas Harley had two assists.Chandler Stephenson and Ivan Barbashev scored for the Knights, and Jonathan Marchessault had two assists to extend his points streak to four games. Adin Hill made 30 saves.Dellandrea scored from the right circle to put Dallas ahead, the puck deflecting off Vegas defenseman Alex Pietrangelo with 9:25 left. Then, Dellandrea scored from the slot with 7:58 remaining for ...