STORM CLOSES MILL CREEK

BOARDMAN — Mill Creek MetroParks’ North and South golf courses will be out of bounds to golfers for several months as park officials and insurance adjusters assess damage caused by Sunday afternoon’s storm.

Originating in the area of Tippecanoe and Shields roads in Canfield Township, an EF-1 tornado developed and was shortly joined by a macroburst. The storm devastated park-owned property south of Shield Roads and north of U.S. 224 buffered between Lockwood Boulevard and East Parkside Drive.

In addition to two 18-hole championship golf courses, a 1 1/2-mile walking/bicycle trail east of the course has been closed to the public.

MetroParks executive director Aaron Young said the storm struck the heart of the two golf courses.

“We have extensive damage to the course through tree damage, trees falling,” he said. “There’s some damage to the field house. We’ve had cart damage, greens damage, tee box damage. You name it.”

DJOKOVIC BLESSED

LONDON (AP) — Novak Djokovic didn’t dwell on Centre Court after getting dominated by Jannik Sinner in the Wimbledon semifinals.

The 39-year-old Djokovic enjoyed a warm, smile-filled embrace with his 24-year-old opponent at the net after the 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 defeat Friday, quickly packed up his tennis bags and then waved to the boisterous crowd as he held one hand to his chest to show his appreciation as he walked off.

Will the seven-time Wimbledon champion ever be back to play on these hallowed lawns again?

Only time — something that Djokovic is running out of — will tell.

It’s been nearly three years since Djokovic won his record-extending 24th Grand Slam singles title at the 2023 U.S. Open. And despite reaching the semifinals at all four Grand Slams last year and reaching a final and another semi in two of three Slams this year — he acknowledges that’s not enough.

“For 99% of the players, that would be a very good Grand Slam result,” Djokovic said. “For me, it’s good but not good enough, because I’m blessed and cursed to be used to something of a highest degree in terms of results and achievements.

“I always have the highest expectations for myself,” Djokovic added. “So it’s kind of that internal battle really of what I’ve been through for the 20-plus years of my career, what the goals were always, the expectations, and trying to balance it out and really be a little more humble in that sense.”

OHTANI SLOWED

Los Angeles (AP) — Los Angeles Dodgers two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani will miss Tuesday’s All-Star Game in Philadelphia because of continued irritation in his left knee.

Ohtani did his scheduled start on the mound against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Friday night, but will continue to start at designated hitter throughout the weekend.

Ohtani has been dealing with discomfort in his left knee for at least a month. The right-hander had an outing cut short against the Pittsburgh Pirates on June 11 because of inflammation in the knee.

The Dodgers said that after their series against the D-backs ends on Sunday, Ohtani will have some “interventions” done on the knee to get ready for the second half of the season, which will cause him to miss the All-Star Game.

The 32-year-old Ohtani hit his 300th career homer on Tuesday night, a leadoff shot against Colorado’s Michael Lorenzen that made him the first Japanese-born player in the majors to reach the milestone.

LATE ARRIVAL

NEW YORK (AP) — The Boston Red Sox, grounded for nearly 24 hours due to a pair of mechanical issues on their team plane, finally arrived at Citi Field on Friday afternoon, a little more than two hours before the scheduled first pitch of their series opener against the New York Mets.

The Red Sox got to the ballpark at 5:05 p.m. EDT, and the start of the game was pushed back by 35 minutes to 7:50 p.m.

“We’re here,” reliever Garrett Whitlock said, sitting in the dugout and sporting a tired smile.

The Red Sox expected to depart from Chicago on Thursday night, a few hours after they beat the White Sox 2-1 for their sixth straight win. But pitcher Peyton Tolle said the “tug” — which tows the planes around the runway — was malfunctioning.

The Red Sox remained on the tarmac until after midnight, at which point they went to a pair of hotels in Chicago. The team returned to the aircraft Friday morning but was delayed again by what interim manager Chad Tracy described as issues with “switches or light bulbs in the cockpit.”

The Red Sox finally took off a little before 3 p.m. EDT and landed at LaGuardia Airport around 4:30 p.m. Team employees said the roughly 2-mile drive to Citi Field was relatively easy during rush hour.

“Throw it back to travel ball days,” Whitlock said. “Show and go. Go out there and play, have fun.”

BREWERS SIGN WILSON

PITTSBURGH (AP) — The Milwaukee Brewers signed free agent right-hander Bryse Wilson on Friday to help the NL Central leaders’ injury-depleted pitching staff.

Wilson pitched once in relief for Philadelphia and twice for the Chicago Cubs this season, allowing seven runs in 9 1/3 innings. He has pitched for six teams in his nine-year career, including a two-year stint with the Brewers from 2023-24.

Wilson, 28, was released by the Cubs on Tuesday and wasted little time signing with the Brewers, who have 11 pitchers on the injured list.

“As soon as they made an offer, I signed and didn’t talk with other teams,” Wilson said before Milwaukee’s game at the Pittsburgh Pirates. “I’ve had success here. It’s the right fit.”

Right-hander Drew Rom was optioned to Triple-A Nashville and righty Easton McGee was designated for assignment.

The Brewers also sent left-handed reliever Rob Zastryzny to Nashville to begin a rehab assignment. He has been out since May 31 because of a left upper lat strain.

NASCAR CUP SERIES

Quaker State 400

In-Season Challenge – Round 3

Site: Hampton Georgia.

Track: Echopark Speedway.

Race distance: 260 laps, 400.4 miles.

Schedule: Saturday, qualifying, 4:30 p.m.; Sunday, race, 7 p.m. (TNT).

Last year: Aided by teammate Alex Bowman, Chase Elliott made a last-lap pass to win a chaotic race that saw 46 lead changes.

Last race: Chase Briscoe captured his first series victory of the season, fending off a late challenge from Christopher Bell to win the inaugural eero 400 at Chicagoland Speedway.

Next race: July 19, North Wilkesboro, North Carolina.