SPORTS DIGEST | 14 locals named to All-State softball teams

14 locals named to All-State softball teams

Three West Branch and three Champion softball players highlighted 14 locals who were named to the OHSAA Softball Coaches Association.

Bailey Byers and Grace Heath were both named to the Division II First Team All-State while Kylie Coffelt was the third West Branch player placed on the Honorable Mention All-State team.

Champion’s McKenzie Zigmont and Megan Turner each made the Division III First Team All-State while Molly Williams was named Second Team All-State.

Other first team locals include Hubbard’s Addy Jarvis (Division II) and Lisbon’s Autumn Oehlstrom (Division IV).

Other second team locals include Lakeview’s Tori Wells (Division II), South Range’s Caragyn Yanek (Division III) and Mackenzie Graham (Mathews).

Other local honorable mentions include Lakeview’s Avrey Steiner (Division II), Brookfield’s Bailey Drapola (Division III) and Jackson Milton’s Sierra Pierce (Division IV).

Creighton’s McDermott not coming to OSU

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Creighton coach Greg McDermott says he is staying with the Bluejays after a report he was offered the job at Ohio State.

ESPN first reported Wednesday night that McDermott met with Ohio State officials on Wednesday and was offered the job, which opened Monday when Thad Matta resigned.

McDermott tweeted Thursday, “I’m blessed and honored to be the coach at Creighton.....and am looking forward to many more great years in Omaha!”

US Soccer wins 2-0 behind Pulisic’s double

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Christian Pulisic rescued the United States with a pair of second-half goals, and the Americans beat Trinidad and Tobago 2-0 on Thursday night to move into third place at the halfway point in the final round of World Cup qualifying.

Pulisic, an 18-year-old phenom from Hershey, Pennsylvania, ended a frustrating start for the U.S. offense with a goal in the 52nd minute, then added another in the 62nd. He has seven goals and five assists in 15 international appearances, including four goals and three assists in his last four contests.

After crashing to an 0-2 start in the hexagonal of the North and Central American and Caribbean region, the U.S. is back among the top three, which earn berths at next year’s tournament in Russia. Mexico leads with 10 points.

The U.S. is at Mexico on Sunday.

NBA’s Game 3 ratings up 22 percent

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Game 3 of the NBA Finals drew 20.5 million viewers on ABC, an increase of 22 percent from last season. Golden State’s 118-113 victory over Cleveland was the closest game of the series and the most-watched Game 3 ever on ABC, according to Nielsen numbers announced Thursday. The overall ratings for the series, the first time the same two teams have played in three straight Finals, are the highest since 1998, when Michael Jordan won his last championship. It is averaging 20 million viewers, up 11 percent from 2016.

Cubs’ Russell disputes wife’s abuse allegation

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Major League Baseball is looking into a domestic violence accusation against Chicago Cubs shortstop Addison Russell. His wife, Melisa, posted a photo Wednesday on Instagram with a caption suggesting he was unfaithful to her. In another post, a user named (at)carlierreed — described by Melisa as a close friend — accused Russell of “mentally and physically abusing her.” The posts have been deleted.

Russell issued a statement Thursday that said: “Any allegation I have abused my wife is false and hurtful. For the well-being of my family, I’ll have no further comment.”

Spokesman Patrick Courtney says MLB is looking into the situation. Chicago Police Department spokesman Anthony Guglielmi says the department “does not have any current investigation” into Russell or allegations of domestic violence.

Staff/Wire reports