Volume 26:16

South Carolina on to the Finals

The South Carolina Gamecocks and UConn Huskies faced each other in the Women’s College Basketball tournament semifinals. This game was a rematch of last year’s finals, in which the Huskies won. UConn came into this game undefeated this season and ranked as the top team in the country. However, that didn’t affect South Carolina. The Gamecocks won to make their fourth title game in five years. UConn’s loss ended their 54-game win streak. The semifinals match started very competitive with UConn taking a 26-24 lead at halftime. South Carolina started the second half by outscoring UConn 16-4 to take a 40-30 lead. But the Huskies didn’t go away– they battled back and eventually made it a 51-47 Gamecocks lead. Then South Carolina went on an 11-0 run to take a 62-47 lead. UConn scored one more point. Ta’Niya Latson led the way for South Carolina having 16 points and 11 rebounds. The Gamecocks won 62-48 and advanced to the championship game.

UCLA Victory

The UCLA Bruins bested the Texas Longhorns to advance to the Women’s College Basketball championship. The first half was very low scoring, with a title game appearance at stake. UCLA led 20-17 halfway through. Texas was eventually able to make it a 29-28 UCLA lead. However, UCLA pulled away, taking a 13-point lead. Texas wasn’t done though, coming back to make it a 47-44 Bruins lead. UCLA ended the game on a 4-0 run to make the score 51-44 final. Lauren Betts had 16 points and 11 rebounds. The Bruins will face South Carolina in the final game.

Men’s Semifinals

The Men’s CBB semifinals recap will be posted tomorrow after today’s semifinal games.

MLB Update

Current Record: 58-50

For Today’s Predictions, read last week’s post.

Sunday:

Orioles over Pirates

Dodgers over Nationals

Yankees over Marlins

Red Sox over Padres

Cubs over Guardians

Brewers over Royals

Twins over Rays

Blue Jays over White Sox

Reds over Rangers

Phillies over Rockies

Astros over Athletics

Mets over Giants

Mariners over Angels

Braves over Diamondbacks

Tigers over Cardinals

19 Year Old Rookie

The Pittsburgh Pirates rookie Konnor Griffin made his MLB Debut. The shortstop was drafted Top 10 in the 2024 MLB Draft. He went 1-3 with an RBI double in his first at bat and a walk.

Monday:

Rays over Cubs

Guardians over Royals

Reds over Marlins

Pirates over Padres

Brewers over Red Sox

Cardinals over Nationals

Blue Jays over Dodgers

Orioles over White Sox

Tigers over Twins

Rangers over Mariners

Astros over Rockies

Braves over Angels

Phillies over Giants

The MLB season almost always revolves around one stat– home runs. The race for most home runs is always closely followed by MLB fans. So far, where are the stars and who are the surprising faces at the top of the race? Surprisingly, it is Shea Langeliers and Chase DeLauter tied for the MLB lead with five HRs each. Langeliers had three HRs in his A’s first two games. He tacked two more on to end March and start April in style. Chase DeLauter had four home runs in his first three games and added another one yesterday versus the Cubs. DeLauter and Langeliers both had two home runs in their team’s first game. Many stars are tied in third with three HRs, including: Corey Seager, Aaron Judge, Kyle Schwarber, Ian Happ, Oneil Cruz, and Elly De La Cruz. However there are even more stars with two home runs: Freddie Freeman, Mike Trout, Bryce Harper, Jose Altuve, George Springer, Eugenio Suarez, Mookie Betts, Yandy Diaz, Corbin Carroll, and Gunnar Henderson. Another surprising home run stat is that Shohei Ohtani only has one HR so far. Ohtani hit his first homerun of the season last night. Even more surprising, last year’s home run-blasting newcomer, Cal Raleigh, is yet to hit a dinger this season. When will he get his first? As for teams, the Atlanta Braves and Los Angeles Dodgers lead the league with 12 HRs hit. The Detroit Tigers are in last place with two.

Tuesday:

Royals over Guardians

Cubs over Rays

Marlins over Reds

Pirates over Padres

Red Sox over Brewers

Cardinals over Nationals

Yankees over Athletics

Dodgers over Blue Jays

Diamondbacks over Mets

Orioles over White Sox

Tigers over Twins

Rangers over Mariners

Astros over Rockies

Braves over Angels

Phillies over Giants

For pitchers, the equivalent of home runs is ERA. So far this season, seven qualifying pitchers (have pitched one inning per team game) are yet to give up a run. Kansas City teammates Michael Wacha and Seth Lugo have each pitched six innings without giving up a run. Yankees pitchers Max Fried and Cam Schlittler have not given up runs yet, each pitching north of ten innings. Eduardo Rodriguez and Jose Soriano have each pitched 12 innings and not given up a run. However, the real star is Sandy Alcantra of the Miami Marlins. Alcantra started the season against the Rockies giving up no runs in a seven-inning outing. He had five strikeouts and walked two in that game. But he turned it on against the White Sox. He went a complete nine innings without giving up a run. He only allowed three hits and walked none, while striking out seven. It is a small sample size against last year’s two worst teams for Alcantra, but he has been nothing short of spectacular. Star pitcher Tarik Skubal has a 0.69 ERA. World Series MVP Yoshinobu Yamamoto has a 3.00 ERA. Due to his disastrous opening day, defending NL Cy Young winner Paul Skenes hasn’t pitched enough to meet the criteria.

Wednesday:

Padres over Pirates

Royals over Guardians

Brewers over Red Sox

White Sox over Orioles

Mariners over Rangers

Blue Jays over Dodgers

Astros over Rockies

Giants over Phillies

Cardinals over Nationals

Braves over Angels

Cubs over Rays

Reds over Marlins

Athletics over Yankees

Diamondbacks over Mets

Tigers over Twins

Nothing is more important in any sport than the standings. There is one division that is looking extremely competitive. They have the best regular season team from a year ago already back on top. The preseason favorites are in last place. There is a pair of exciting young teams trying to slug their way to the postseason. And there is an overpreforming bottom feeder. I am talking about the NL Central. The Milwaukee Brewers are 5-1 and leading the division already. Milwaukee is a very strong team and is hoping to replicate last season. The Pittsburgh Pirates, St. Louis Cardinals, and Cincinnati Reds are tied for second. The Cardinals are expected to falter soon due to a weak-looking roster. However, the Pirates and Reds are expected to be the main teams in the race for a wild card position. The Reds made an exciting offseason addition in Eugenio Suarez, who hit 49 home runs last season. The Pirates added Brandon Lowe, who already has two homeruns. The Pirates are also led by the strong Oneil Cruz, who is expected to have alot of home runs, and star pitcher Paul Skenes, who is once again a Cy Young contender. The Reds look strong and still have two of their stronger starting pitchers out with injury in Hunter Greene and Nick Lodolo. When they return, this Reds team could be even better. The Cubs were the preseason NL Central favorites but haven’t lived up to the expectations yet. When they get going, they could be scary.

Thursday:

Reds over Marlins

Yankees over Atletics

Tigers over Twins

Mets over Diamondbacks

Royals over White Sox

Padres over Rockies

Friday:

Cubs over Pirates

Reds over Angels

Phillies over Diamondbacks

Marlins over Tigers

Orioles over Giants

Blue Jays over Twins

Mets over Atletics

Yankees over Rays

Braves over Guardians

Royals over White Sox

Brewers over Nationals

Red Sox over Cardinals

Padres over Rockies

Astros over Mariners

Dodgers over Rangers

Saturday:

Phillies over Diamondbacks

Marlins over Tigers

Cubs over Pirates

Blue Jats over Twins

Reds over Angels

Athletics over Mets

Royals over White Sox

Yankees over Rays

Brewers over Nationals

Braves over Guardians

Orioles over Giants

Red Sox over Cardinals

Padres over Rockies

Dodgers over Rangers

Mariners over Astros

NBA Playoff Race

The NBA season is coming to a close. With the playoffs ahead, there are many questions. Today I will go over storylines for the top three NBA playoff teams from the Eastern Conference.

Detroit Pistons 56-21

Can The Pistons keep their success going?

Playoff basketball is different from the regular season. The Pistons played great in the regular season but can they keep going in the postseason? The Cavaliers were the top seed last year but lost in the second round. This team also does not have a lot of experience. Their core is young and many of their players only tasted playoff basketball for the first time when they were quickly eliminated. The Celtics, Knicks, and Cavaliers behind them have much more experience and that could spell trouble for Detroit.

Boston Celtics 52-25

Can Tatum fully return to form?

The answer to this question seems to be, “yes.” But Jayson Tatum, the Celtics star, returned last month. He had a short recovery from his achillies injury. The Celtics need their star to play well. And he has. In his last two games, he has looked like his past self. They just need consistency from what is possibly the East’s deepest roster.

New York Knicks 50-28

Can they finally get over the hump?

The Knicks were so close to reaching the NBA Finals last season. They were eliminated by the Indiana Pacers. The Knicks proved they can get to the postseason. But in the last few years, they haven’t proved they can win in the playoffs. The Knicks have been sent home early each of the last three years. Can this finally be their year?

Cleveland Cavaliers 48-29

Atlanta Hawks 45-33

Philadelphia 76ers 43-34

Toronto Raptors 43-34

Charlotte Hornets 42-36

Orlando Magic 41-36

Miami Heat 40-37

NHL Playoff Race

Stay tuned tomorrow for an NHL update. It will come with the Men’s CBB semifinals recap.