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LUBBOCK, Texas Sophomore right-hander Cody Deason will start for the Arizona Wildcats in their elimination game Sunday vs. Sam Houston State in the NCAA Tournaments Lubbock Regional. First pitch is scheduled for shortly after noon Tucson time.

Deason (5-2, 2.77 ERA) pitched one inning during Arizonas 6-5, 12-inning victory over Delaware on Saturday. He would have pitched more, but a 2-hour, 18-minute rain delay limited him to that one frame. He faced four batters, striking out three. He threw 19 pitches.

Deason will face sophomore left-hander Seth Ballew (6-3, 3.99). The Bearkats threw a lefty at the Wildcats on Friday, and it worked as Sam Houston won 5-4 to push Arizona into the losers bracket. Coach Matt Deggs said he liked the matchup, and hes going to that well again.

In the wee hours of Sunday morning, after Sam Houston State lost to host Texas Tech 6-0, Deggs predicted a dogfight against Arizona, which has become a familiar foe. Todays game will be the fourth postseason meeting between the schools in the past two years.

I think the two ballclubs are very similar, the way they go about their business, Deggs said. Both play extremely hard, play with a lot of energy, love to play. You can see the passion on both sides.

Neither one of us wants to see our season end. Whoever wins will absolutely have to finish the other guy, I promise you that.

Here's Arizonas lineup:

More here:
Cody Deason to start for Arizona Wildcats in NCAA knockout game vs. Sam Houston State - Arizona Daily Star

GlobalPort's Terrence Romeo glides for a lay-up against Alaska's Calvin Abueva. Richard Esguerra, ABS-CBN Sports

MANILA, Philippines The GlobaPort Batang Pier caught the last bus to the quarterfinals of the 2017 PBA Commissioner's Cup after a thrilling 107-106 victory over the Alaska Aces in a knockout game Sunday at the Mall of Asia Arena.

Terrence Romeo drilled a big-time three-pointer with 8.1 seconds left to put the Batang Pier ahead, 106-104, and GlobalPort held firm defensively in the dying moments of the contest to secure their passage to the playoffs.

GlobalPort will face off with the top-seeded Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings, who are armed with a twice-to-beat edge, in the quarterfinals on Tuesday.

"Today's game is a testament that the boys don't want to go on a break yet," GlobalPort coach Franz Pumaren said after the game. "It's going to be a tough series for us just a one-day rest, and we're playing the No. 1 team, the team that's on a streak."

"Hopefully, we can sustain the run," he added.

Romeo finished with 26 points, five rebounds, and three assists, while Stanley Pringle added 21 points, six boards, and five dimes. Import Justin Harper tallied 32 points and 17 rebounds.

It appeared as though the game was going to be a blowout in Alaska's favor as the Aces ran out to a 26-12 lead in the first quarter, only for the Batang Pier to score 14 straight points bridging the first and second frames to force a tie.

GlobalPort eventually led by as much as nine, 41-32, in the second period, but the two teams found themselves locked into a back-and-forth war in the second half. Calvin Abueva and import Cory Jefferson took turns carrying the load for the Aces, while Pringle, Romeo and Harper starred for the Batang Pier.

Romeo was spectacular in crunch time, drilling a triple that made it 101-100 with 2:12 left, before Chris Banchero's lay-up gave Alaska back the lead. After two charities by Pringle off a Jefferson foul made it 104-102, Abueva hit a crucial lay-up to tie the contest for Alaska with just 20.6 seconds to go.

The Batang Pier, however, showed no panic as they put the ball in Romeo's hands and let him go to work. The former UAAP MVP shook off the defense of Kevin Racal for a step back triple that hit nothing but net, giving GlobalPort a crucial two-point advantage, 106-104, with just 8.1 seconds to go.

"We have to give credit to the guy," Pumaren said of Romeo. "He's really willing to take the shot, and that's why he's Terrence Romeo. In short, makapal ang mukha niya."

Abueva agonizingly missed a field goal in Alaska's next possession, as he saw his lay-up go in-and-out of the basket. However, the Batang Pier left the door open for the Aces when Harper made only one of two charities.

Unfortunately for Alaska, Simon Enciso's triple from the right corner hit iron, and Ping Exciminiano's follow-up was one point too short.

The loss provided a heartbreaking finish to Alaska's campaign in the tournament. The Aces opened the Commissioner's Cup with four straight victories including a 107-79 rout of GlobalPort in their first game but ended it with an eight-game losing streak.

This marks the first time since the 2012 Governors' Cup that the Aces have missed the playoffs, and the first time that they missed the playoffs in Alex Compton's tenure.

Abueva netted a career-high of 31 points, making 12 of his 19 shots, to go along with 13 rebounds and three assists. Jefferson added 32 rebounds and 16 boards, while Banchero scored 16 markers.

However, the Aces allowed GlobalPort to shoot 47% from the field, and including 13 of their 38 three-pointers. In contrast, Alaska mustered only four triples in the entire contest.

The scores:

GLOBALPORT 107 - Harper 32, Romeo 26, Pringle 21, Guinto 8, Cortez 6, Pessumal 5, Anthony 5, Grey 3, Maierhofer 1, Mamaril 0, Forrester 0, Paredes 0, Pennisi 0.

ALASKA 106 - Jefferson 32, Abueva 31, Banchero 16, Manuel 9, Exciminiano 8, Racal 3, Enciso 3, Galliguez 2, Cruz 2, Thoss 0, Pascual 0, Hontiveros 0, Dela Cruz 0.

Quarter scores: 20-26, 52-49, 74-78, 107-106

For more sports coverage, visit the ABS-CBN Sports website.

Originally posted here:
PBA: GlobalPort ekes out thrilling win over Alaska to claim quarterfinals berth - ABS-CBN News

OK. Its never a bad idea to begin by quoting Einstein:

Coincidence is Gods way of remaining anonymous, the white-haired one once said.

So there. Einstein said so.

And hes right. Theres no such thing as a coincidence. And sometimes the great guiding spirit, otherwise known as The Universe, has a delicious sense of humor.

Its no coincidence that, a few weeks after some suits and other blatherers pondered cutting sports in Groton or at least making them pay-to-play that sports and the kids who play them have given the town its most uplifting story in a while.

Bravo, Universe.

Fitch High is one of but three schools in Connecticut (and the only non-school of choice) to have placed its baseball and softball teams in the state semifinals, joining St. Joseph and Holy Cross. Pretty neat story. And the halls of Fitch ought to be buzzing early this week in anticipation of both games.

Once again: Sports are the great uniter.

The softball team, Connecticuts defending Class L champ and No. 1 ranked team, plays Joel Barlow at 4 p.m. Tuesday in West Haven. You would enjoy watching them play. Not because they win all the time (although that helps), but because of their joie de vivre.

I stood behind the bench for the entirety of last Fridays win at Masuk and laughed my way through the game. Everybody had something funny to say at some point. Even the kids who didnt play led the cheers (sophomore Casey Flax is hilarious, by the way). Arielle Cooper, the coach, goes on mid-game streams of consciousness that ought to be recorded.

And so even in this knockout game, there was a sense of amusement emanating from all of them. This is sports. Competition wrapped in fun. The way it should be. Id wager that even the most ardent alarmist in Groton would have enjoyed watching what sports are teaching the kids in town.

Then theres baseball. What a story. Theyre 13-13 and two wins away from the schools fifth state title. Theyll play at the new Dunkin Donuts Park in Hartford against North Haven on Tuesday at 7.

Jeff Joyce, Fitchs wordsmith/coach, spent much of the regular season outside of his normal realm (English) instead opting for math. He was counting wins. Lets see if we beat them and them we might be able to get to eight wins and get into the state tournament.

Now the Falcons are in the semis, taking a most arduous route. Youve heard of the road not taken? Theyve taken them all. First round: Meriden, 128 miles round trip. Second round: New Canaan, 180 miles. Third round: New Fairfield, 218 miles. Thats 526 miles. Its virtually the same distance as if the Falcons took a road trip to play in Ottawa. Thats Canada.

So much for fatigue.

Its worth noting Joyce and Cooper are both Fitch alums. They were educated in Groton schools, played sports (for free) there and now impart their wisdom to their own players. Theyre not all that much older than their players, either. Have you any idea, all you non-sports people, the power and influence coaches have on their kids?

Anna Quindlen wrote this once: It's not the prom picture. Adolescence is that tenuous time between parental protection and personal responsibility.

I cant think of any group of adolescents in better hands than the boys and girls at Fitch, whose participation in sports has led them to Cooper and Joyce, who teach all the right things with equal parts earnestness and gentle humor.

This is what sports engenders.

Maybe by this time next week, two new banners go up in the Fitch gym. Two sources of pride not just for the school, but for town seeking an identity, forever trying to meld the vagaries of Groton Town, Groton City, Noank, Groton Long Point, Mystic, the military and everyone else.

Funny how sports are always there to unite. The village green.

Think about that next time someone advocates cutting them.

This is the opinion of Day sports columnist Mike DiMauro

See the article here:
Fitch teams are bringing pride to Groton when it's needed the most - theday.com (subscription)

Heres a look at the rest of the nights action featuring USL clubs.

Rochester Rhinos (USL)vs. GPS Omens (Mass.): The Rhinos will look to repeat their Second Round success at Capelli Sport Stadium at 7 p.m. ET when they welcome GPS Omens to upstate New York. The Rhinos cruised to a 3-0 victory against FC Motown in the previous round, and would visit the New England Revolution with a victory.

Jacksonville Armada (NASL) vs.Charleston Battery (USL): In a rematch from the Third Round a season ago at Southern Oak Stadium in Jacksonville, Fla. at 7 p.m. ET, the Battery will look to turn the tables on the Armada. Charleston currently tops the USLs Eastern Conference, and is tied for the conference lead with 21 goals as Romario Williams sits second in the league with eight tallies this season. Jacksonville took a 2-1 win after overtime a season ago.

Reading United AC (PDL) vs.Harrisburg City Islanders (USL): Reading and Harrisburg will meet for a fourth time in the Open Cup at Don Thomas Stadium, with kickoff set for 7:30 p.m. ET. The City Islanders needed a penalty shootout to advance in the Second Round, while Reading knocked off the New York Cosmos 3-2 in one of the tournaments major upsets so far. Harrisburg holds a 2-1-0 edge in the previous meetings between the teams in the tournament.

North Carolina FC (NASL) vs.Charlotte Independence (USL): North Carolina and Charlotte will meet for a third successive season at this stage of the Open Cup, with kickoff at Sahlens Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park set for 7:30 p.m. ET. Both sides have taken a victory apiece in the previous two meetings, setting up the third encounter between the clubs nicely. The Independence enter having won three of their past four league contests, including a 3-1 road win against Orlando City B on Saturday.

Miami FC (NASL) vs.Tampa Bay Rowdies (USL): The Rowdies visit South Florida to face Miami at FIU Stadium for a 7:30 p.m. ET kickoff. The winner earns the right to take on Orlando City SC in the Fourth Round. Tampa Bay sits second in the USLs Eastern Conference, and will be looking to reach the Fourth Round for a second consecutive year. Miami, meanwhile, was defeated at home last season at this stage, and will be wanting to give a better account of itself in this years competition.

Tulsa Roughnecks FC (USL)vs.San Antonio FC (USL): The Roughnecks and San Antonio FC meet at the Hurricane Soccer & Track Stadium in Tulsa, Okla. for an 8 p.m. ET kickoff with SAFC still undefeated this season, and the Roughnecks showing some strong home form of late. San Antonio has gone undefeated in 11 games to start the USL season, in part thanks to a stingy defense that has recorded five consecutive shutouts in league play. The Roughnecks have won all three of their most recent home games, scoring 10 goals in the process, and the side also knocked in five goals in the Second Round of the Open Cup to defeat the Premier Development Leagues OKC Energy FC U23.

Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC (USL)vs.OKC Energy FC (USL): One of the USLs better rivalries over the past two seasons resumes at Weidner Field at 9 p.m. ET as Energy FC and the Switchbacks look to advance to the Fourth Round again this season. Wednesdays game is the first time the teams have met in the Open Cup, but if its anything like the last time the teams met in a knockout game when Energy FC won in a penalty shootout in the 2015 USL Cup Playoffs we could be in for another outstanding contest for the right to visit the Colorado Rapids in the next round.

See more here:
USL Clubs Set for Open Cup Opportunity - USL Soccer

After falling in the day game 9-2 to TCU, Texas Longhorns baseball (37-21) took down the Horned Frogs in a must win Big 12 semi-final knockout game 9-3 on Saturday night.

The Longhorns had some wiggle room going into Saturday: the Horns had a 2-0 record in the Big 12 tourney and were in the winners bracket, while TCU was 2-1 and facing elimination.

Texas just needed one win over TCU, while the Horned Frogs needed to beat the Longhorns twice.

The Horned Frogs got the best of the Longhorns in game one, taking advantage of a poor performance by Texas starter Kyle Johnston and an overall weak defensive effort by the Horns. Despite a leadoff homer by Patrick Mathis in the first, TCU countered with four runs in the bottom of the inning and really never looked back.

The Horned Frogs had 14 hits on the afternoon, including a double and three triples.

The night game was a different story.

Texas started freshman Blair Henley (Morgan Cooper had some arm soreness), and the youngster delivered his best ever collegiate game.

Texas jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first on a sac fly and two RBI singles to give Henley a cushion against the electric TCU offense.

The Horns allowed two unearned runs in the second after an RBI single scored two including a man who reached base due to a rare David Hamilton error. (All in all, Texas had an uncharacteristic five errors across todays two games).

The Longhorns, however, blew open the scoring in the top of the fifth when Michael Cantu launched his sixth homer of the year; a three run blast to the deepest part of the ball park.

TCU continued to unravel as the Horned Frogs had to dig deeper into their bullpen. In the eighth, Texas added two more runs on bases loaded walks to make the score 8-2.

Despite not having Cooper available, the Horns pitching depth showed in how steady the Horns held up. Henley exited after six complete innings, and Chase Shugart continued right where Henley left off, delivering three scoreless innings to close the game out.

Texas will now face Oklahoma State (29-25) tomorrow at 1 pm CST. The Longhorns beat the Cowboys in both games the two teams played on April 28, by a score of 5-4 and 7-0.

Oklahoma State, however, is in desperation mode as Josh Hollidays team needs to Big 12 championships automatic bid in order to even make the NCAA tournament. The team is peaking at the right time, and will not go down easily tomorrow.

The Cowboys have burned through their most productive starters, but also have had the advantage of playing one less game than the Horns thus far in the tourney. Oklahoma State has gone 3-0 in the tournament and never needed to play in a knockout game.

If Morgan Cooper is still experiencing arm soreness tomorrow, expect Texas to start Connor Mayes (5.06 ERA) at pitcher. The junior has had an up-and-down season, but has historically been a clutch performer in the Big 12 tournament throughout his career.

For the Longhorns, a Big 12 championship win would give them a case for hosting a regional in the NCAA tournament, albeit a small one. I still expect Texas to be a firm two seed, even if they take care of business tomorrow.

Still, the tournament has allowed Texas to bump its resume from a three seed to a two. Perhaps more importantly, the Horns are riding a wave of momentum that could make them a dangerous team in the NCAA tournament.

You can catch Sundays game on Fox College Sports at 1 pm CST tomorrow. This is your open thread. Hook em!

More here:
Texas Longhorns beat TCU 9-3, advance to Big 12 championship - Burnt Orange Nation