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MICHIGAN DOMINATES CENTRAL REGIONAL
LAWRENCEBURG, Ky. -- Michigan’s Grand Blanc All-Stars completed a sweep of the 15U Senior League Softball Central Regional on Thursday by topping Evergreen Park out of Illinois 8-0.
Grand Blanc outscored its opponents 41-4 in the four games it played.
Gran Blanc will play in the Senior League Softball World Series Aug. 3-9 at the Lower Sussex Little League Complex in Lower Sussex, Delaware. A total of 10 teams qualify for the tournament. Teams from the Philippines, Brazil and San Antonio, Texas have also already qualified.
BUCCOS ADD PITCHER
PITTSBURGH (AP) -- The Pittsburgh Pirates acquired reliever Ron Marinaccio from San Diego on Thursday in exchange for signing bonus pool considerations.
The club, which is part of a congested race for a National League wild card spot as the trade deadline nears, made the move in the hopes of bolstering a bullpen that has faltered in key moments this season.
The 31-year-old Marinaccio went 1-0 with a 4.79 ERA in 33 games this season for the Padres. Pittsburgh will be the right-hander’s third MLB stop. Marinaccio pitched for the New York Yankees from 2022-24.
To make room for Marinaccio on the roster, Pittsburgh designated reliever Dennis Santana for assignment. Santana appeared to be the Pirates’ closer of the future after finishing with a career-best 16 saves last year, but the 30-year-old has struggled this season. He is 2-5 with a 6.05 ERA and two saves in four opportunities.
RAIDERS SIGN TOP PICK
HENDERSON, Nev. (AP) -- Quarterback Fernando Mendoza, the top overall pick in this year’s draft, signed a four-year, $57.27 million contract with the Las Vegas Raiders on Thursday.
The Raiders hold a fifth-year option.
Mendoza was the last of the Raiders’ 10 draft picks to sign.
“I’m excited to get this thing signed,” Mendoza said on the team’s social media post. “I’m excited to be a part of the silver and black. Can’t wait.”
He ran the third-team offense in organized team activities and minicamp, but is expected to take on a larger role in training camp, which begins Wednesday.
Veteran Kirk Cousins, who signed a free-agent contract worth $20 million guaranteed, enters camp as the No. 1 quarterback.
How long Cousins hangs on to that spot will be the main storyline in camp and perhaps into the season.
Mendoza hopes to translate the success he experienced in his final season of college football in which he won the Heisman Trophy and led Indiana to its first national championship.
Also, star pass rusher Maxx Crosby said on his podcast “The Rush” that he would join the rookies for their training camp. Crosby has been working his way back from knee surgery.
ALEX BOWMAN TO RETIRE
CONCORD, N.C. (AP) -- NASCAR driver Alex Bowman will retire from full-time racing following the 2027 season.
Bowman, who had been in the final year of his contract at powerhouse Hendrick Motorsports, signed a one-year extension before announcing his future plans on Thursday.
The 33-year-old Bowman missed four races earlier this season because of vertigo and also was sidelined in 2022 because of a concussion and the following year because of a back injury. He drives the No. 48 Chevrolet for Hendrick and currently sits 29th in points, well below the 16-driver cutline for the postseason.
“I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about what’s next, and this feels like the right decision at the right time,” Bowman said. “The sport asks a lot of you, and I’ve learned it’s important to listen to your body and make the right choices for yourself.”