Forward Mallory Pugh landed with the Red Stars, her third team in three years, in a Christmas Eve trade.

At 22, she has had to face challenges more on-trend with a player at the end of her career than the beginning: trades, nagging injuries and outsider expectations that have hung over her the last year and a half.

Pugh tries to pay it no mind. She knows she plays her best soccer when her mind is free from the pressure.

“The motto I’ve embraced in the last year with trades and everything is that none of us really know what’s going to happen,” she said. “The best way to handle that is to adjust.”

Pugh has understood how to operate outside of her comfort zone since she first started playing at age 4 — always playing up and forcing herself to adjust to challenges. Her desire to pursue the road less traveled is what motivated her to forgo her NCAA eligibility in 2017, leaving UCLA to turn pro before her freshman season, and it’s still motivating her now.

She has made 63 appearances with the U.S. Women’s National Team and has 18 goals, 17 assists and a World Cup title — credentials that explain why she was once regarded as the future of women’s soccer.

But in the last year, that praise has given way to steadily growing pressure. After notching a goal and an assist through three games during the 2019 World Cup championship run, Pugh was noticeably left off coach Vlatko Andonovski’s 2021 Olympic qualifying roster last January.

The USWNT’s depth at forward was an easy explanation for that. But then Pugh’s 2020 season with Sky Blue FC of the National Women’s Soccer League was marked by injuries that sidelined her for all but one game in the Fall Series. Questions about her future began creeping to the forefront.

This year, she’s embracing a new opportunity with the same old mindset: Adjust and advance. Still, three teams in two years is a lot, especially for a player who could have entered the NWSL in this year’s draft class if she’d stayed at UCLA.

“The other day, I stopped and thought, ‘This is my fifth professional season,’ which is crazy to think about,” Pugh said. “When these little setbacks happen, it’s important that I do remind myself that I’m very young and there’s still a lot of soccer to be played.”

Andonovski has been clear that assumptions about his 18-player roster are just that. He plans to have the Olympic roster finalized by the middle of June and has said players such as Pugh and Red Stars teammate Casey Krueger are still in the mix despite not being invited to camp ahead of April friendlies against Sweden and France.

Red Stars coach Rory Dames voiced ahead of the preseason that his team needs players to solidify their run at an NWSL title. Pugh, who was one of those players, reinjured her hamstring in preseason training after first hurting it in camp with the USWNT in January.

Will she be ready for the NWSL’s Challenge Cup tournament? Pugh said she’s day-to-day but doesn’t believe she’ll be ready to go for the opener on April 9.

When she is back at 100%, she’ll join a versatile attack with Kealia Watt, Rachel Hill and a slew of young forwards who will be able to work out of multiple formations and score in many ways.

“I’m excited because there are so many options that we have as a team,” Pugh said. “That’s just dangerous.”

Read More

Since James Wade took over as general manager and coach ahead of the 2019 season, the Sky have gone into WNBA Drafts with the mindset of selecting whom-ever Wade sees as the best available player when they’re on the clock.

That won’t necessarily be the case this time around. The Sky have a glaring need for a backup point guard, which Wade plans to address April 15.

Over the last two seasons, the Sky have struggled to find consistency at that position, at times running the offense through forward Gabby Williams, whose versatility allows her to be whatever the Sky need her to be. Wade signed Sydney Colson last offseason to be an outside reinforcement, but Colson had a delayed start to the season after contracting the coronavirus and didn’t do enough to return for a second season.

After adding Candace Parker in February, the last missing piece is a playmaker to be guard Courtney Vandersloot’s understudy.

Evaluating point guards as they prepare to make the jump to the WNBA can be a tall task. But there are several solid options for the Sky, who have the No. 8 pick in the first round.

“It’s a good year to get a good one, and we feel confident we will,” Wade said.

Here are some of the top point guards available in the draft:

Aari McDonald, Arizona

Averaged 19.3 points, 5.1 rebounds and 4.5 assists in 21 games this past season

McDonald turned down an opportunity to enter last year’s draft and returned to Arizona to “sharpen her game.” She did that — and more — giving a record-setting performance en route to the Wildcats’ first Final Four berth.

McDonald has scored in double figures in 91 consecutive games, the longest active streak in women’s college basketball. Along with her clutch shooting, the reigning Pac-12 Player of the Year is a pesky defender and vocal leader who thrives in high-stake situations. McDonald could flourish in the WNBA with Vandersloot as her mentor.

Dana Evans, Louisville

Averaged 19.9 points, 2.7 rebounds and 3.9 assists in 29 games this past season

Evans could be an early first-round pick because of her versatility. A native of Gary, Indiana, she’s another two-way player with promise. Her three-point accuracy has dipped slightly from the last two seasons, but she’s still a career 37.2% shooter from behind the arc.

A slight downside to Evans is her size. Like McDonald, she’s 5-6. But some had the same worry about 5-5 Crystal Dangerfield, the 2020 WNBA Rookie of the Year.

Kiana Williams, Stanford

Averaged 14.5 points, 2 rebounds and 3 assists in 30 games this past season

Stanford coach Tara VanDerveer’s program has churned out several WNBA stars over the years, and Williams has the potential to be another. She’s a skillful player with strong court awareness. This season, she helped lead the Cardinal to the Pac-12 tourney title.

One of her biggest improvements has been her perimeter shooting. She also cut down on her turnovers, giving up the ball only 39 times — 30 fewer than the previous season.

Read More

Chicago Blackhawks: Three wild trades to make with the Boston Bruins by Vincent Parise

Next1 of 4Prev post

Use your (arrows) to browse

Chicago Bears (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)

Chicago Bears general manager Ryan Pace and head coach Matt Nagy may not last much longer if the team doesn’t figure out a quarterback solution.

But wait, didn’t they already make a move at quarterback this year?

We are kidding ourselves if we think Andy Dalton is even remotely the answer for the Bears. That was a move to make up for not landing Dalton last year, except Pace and the Bears are still out that fourth-round pick they gave up for Nick Foles in 2020.

This has been a frustrating offseason to say the least, and not just for the fans. After the release of Kyle Fuller, there were reports of the locker room being incredibly upset. Around that same time, there were whispers of Akiem Hicks being on the trade block as well.

The Bears have been going through quite the offseason, especially when you add in the Allen Robinson drama. Fortunately, he signed his franchise tag. But, that doesn’t mean everything is going to end well.

Pace has until mid-July to work out a long-term deal with Robinson, and you know what might help in that regard? A quarterback.

Quarterback is still a problem for the Chicago Bears, and now is the time to go big.

We have seen a monumental trade already take place prior to this year’s draft. The San Francisco 49ers moved up to pick number three, and will likely take the third quarterback in three picks.

That certainly makes things much more difficult for Pace and the Bears, who are desperate at this point.

With three quarterbacks going in the first three picks, the Bears don’t have a lot of options now. Their only course of action is to swing for the fences.

But, how would they end up with one of Trey Lance, Justin Fields or Mac Jones? Well, hopefully they can move up and get one of those first two guys. If it’s Jones, maybe they won’t need to go too high.

For Lance or Fields, though, one of the following couple of deals could get it done.

Next: Trade Number 1

Next1 of 4Prev post

Use your (arrows) to browse

Read More

Logan Hunter loved hats.

He had a Blackhawks hat. He had a Red Wings hat. He had a Blue Jays hat. But his favorite of all was a Pirates hat.

“He always, always would choose the Pirates hat,” said Shauna Nordstrom, Hunter’s mom. “I look back on pictures and there’s always that Pirates hat. He wasn’t a Pirates fan — it wasn’t that. He just gravitated to it.”

Hawks rookie defenseman Ian Mitchell, growing up in the Edmonton suburb of St. Albert, Alberta, never had quite the same hat obsession.

But now, when he reaches over every morning to grab his own Pirates hat — customized with Hunter’s initials and number — he’s reminded that his best friend since sixth grade is still with him.

“I see his initials on the side and think of him and how proud he would be that I’m getting to live my dream right now,” Mitchell said. “For sure, he’s still watching. He’s with me still.”

Tuesday will mark three years since the Humboldt Broncos bus crash on April 6, 2018.

The junior hockey team — based in the small central Saskatchewan town of Humboldt — was en route to a road game when a semi-trailer truck going 60 mph blew a stop sign at a rural highway intersection and struck the bus, killing 16 people and injuring another 13.

On that evening, Mitchell was a freshman at the University of Denver, playing video games in his dorm room when a friend called.

“I just said, ‘I’ll call him back after this game,’ ” he said. “And then I started going through Twitter and saw there was a bus crash. At first, you don’t think anything of it. [You assume] it’s not going to be anything bad. Then I get on the phone with my buddy Dylan, and he’s like, ‘Logan’s not responding.’ “

Mitchell was close friends with three Broncos players. All three had died.

One was Conner Lukan, Mitchell’s teammate from 2014 to 2017 with the Spruce Grove Saints, another junior team in the Edmonton suburbs. Lukan, the Broncos’ second-leading scorer, was a “really funny guy and someone you always wanted to be around,” Mitchell said.

One was Parker Tobin, the goalie on Mitchell’s spring hockey teams and one of two regular Broncos starters. He was “one of the smartest guys I’ve ever known,” Mitchell said. “Kind of a genius.”

And one was Hunter.

Mitchell and Hunter never played organized hockey together growing up, yet were tight friends off the ice.

Their shared competitiveness and love for sports manifested in other ways: They played golf, pingpong and knee hockey. They spent time at the lake. They watched NHL games on TV. They hung out at friend’s houses.

“They were a little bit opposites, I have to say,” Nordstrom said. “Ian is organized, always on time or early. Logan was disorganized, always running a little bit late. But I always enjoyed when Logan said he was going to hang out with Ian. He was a really good influence on Logan.”

Recalled Mitchell: “He was always the life of the party. He always had a smile on his face.”

Courtesy of Shauna Nordstrom

Mitchell returned home immediately after the accident to speak at Hunter’s funeral. The Canadian hockey communities had rallied around the tragedy, eventually raising $15 million through a GoFundMe campaign for survivors and families of the deceased.

“It was good to see everyone and be around, but under the circumstances, it was awful,” Mitchell said. “We talked about like, ‘How many times were you on the bus?’ And nothing bad ever happens. And then what a freak accident.

“That was the biggest impact, psychologically, thinking it could’ve been me. Instead it’s one of your best friends. I don’t know what’s worse.”

That summer, Mitchell visited home again and found one of his and Hunter’s friends wearing a Pirates hat. It quickly became a larger tribute, with the entire group of friends ordering their own hats despite no actual interest in the Pirates baseball team.

Today, Mitchell still wears a Pirates hat with Hunter’s initials and number nearly every day. He’s on his second one now, having worn out the first.

Even based in Chicago — typically hostile territory for the Pirates — he wears the hat on Zoom calls with reporters, team plane rides and elsewhere.

“[It’s] just a cool way to remember him,” Mitchell said.

Said Nordstrom: “Just seeing a little piece of Logan with him . . . it really does put a true smile on my face.”

Ben Pope/Sun-Times

Nordstrom and Mitchell remain close, texting after every game Mitchell plays. They also meet up every summer to share memories of innocent times.

“We’ve had some tears, but we’ve definitely had some good laughs together, because Logan left us so many great, funny stories,” Nordstrom said.

After playing in 32 of the Hawks’ first 34 games, Mitchell will be out of the lineup Saturday for a fifth straight game — the first significant speed bump he has encountered in his pro career. But his future with the team remains bright, especially considering he’s just a few months removed from being the franchise’s far-and-away No. 1 prospect.

When he does re-enter the lineup, his best friend’s spirit will be with him, as usual.

“We watch, and I can hear Logan saying, ‘Mom, Ian is on a defensive pairing now with Duncan Keith,’ ” Nordstrom said, laughing. “I can hear him going, ‘Mom, he just passed the puck to Patrick Kane.’ ”

Read More

Eight people have been wounded in shootings across Chicago so far this weekend.

A man was critically wounded in a shooting Friday night in Roseland on the Far South Side.

The shooting happened about 10:05 p.m. in the 10400 block of South Corliss Avenue, according to Chicago police. The 29-year-old man brought himself to Roseland Hospital with a gunshot wound to the shoulder, where he was listed in critical condition, police said.

On Saturday, a 57-year-old man was wounded in a shooting in Park Manor on the South Side.

The man was standing outside about 12:20 a.m. in the 6900 block of South State Street when he heard shots and felt pain, chicago police said. He was struck in the lower back and was taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center, where his condition was stable, police said.

A man was shot at a gas station early Saturday in Ashburn on the Southwest Side.

The 25-year-old was attempting to pump gas at a gas station about 1:20 a.m. in the 7700 block of South Kedzie Avenue when people inside a green-colored SUV began shouting gang slogans and fired shots, Chicago police said.

He was shot in the hand and was taken to Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, where his condition was stable, police said.

Police did not immediately know how many people were inside the SUV.

A 34-year-old man was wounded in a drive-by shooting Saturday in Rogers Park on the North Side.

About 2 a.m., the man was standing next to his vehicle in theh 7200 block of North Clark Street when a silver-colored vehicle drove by him and someone from inside began firing shots, Chicago police said. He was struck on the foot and was taken to Saint Francis Hospital in Evanston in good condition.

A 39-year-old woman was shot early Saturday in West Garfield Park.

The woman was walking in an alley about 2:45 a.m. in the 4500 block of West Madison Street when a male suspect approached her and fired shots, Chicago police said. She was struck in the leg and was taken to Mount Sinai in good condition, police said.

A 29-year-old man was wounded in a shooting Saturday in the Loop.

The man was a passenger in a vehicle about 3:30 a.m. on Lower Wacker Drive when he heard shots and felt pain, Chicago police said. He was shot in the knee and and was taken to Stroger Hospital, where his condition was stable.

A 25-year-old man was critically hurt in a shooting Saturday morning in Cragin on the Northwest Side.

About 5:15 a.m., the man was in the 5000 block of West Deming Place when someone fired shots, Chicago police said. He was shot in the abdomen and was taken to Illinois Masonic Hospital in critical condition.

Police did not immediately have details on the incident.

In the weekend’s earliest reported shooting, a man was seriously hurt in a shooting Friday night in Austin on the West Side.

The 54-year-old was standing near a home about 7:45 p.m. in the 1700 block of North Mason Avenue when he heard shots and felt pain, Chicago police said.

He was struck in the leg and taken to Loyola Medical Center in Maywood, police said. He was listed in serious condition, according to police.

Thirty-six people were shot, 4 fatally, last weekend in Chicago.

Read more on crime, and track the city’s homicides.

Read More

Chicago Blackhawks News: Vinnie Hinostroza is back via trade by Vincent Parise

Next1 of 4Prev post

Use your (arrows) to browse

(Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)

The Chicago Blackhawks are more than likely going to shop some of their upcoming free agents. They are a potential playoff team but they don’t need to be hanging on to these guys. They aren’t a Stanley Cup contender or anything like that so it makes more sense to give young players the minutes. They have performed well this year but the future needs to be the biggest key to their actions.

Kirby Dach just came back into the lineup. It would be good for his development to get him good wingers to help him find his game following an injury. Placing someone like Dominik Kubalik next to him might be a very good idea. It would be good to get someone like Mike Hardman who they just signed in the lineup as well. In order to get these guys going as best as possible, ice time is the key.

The Boston Bruins and Chicago Blackhawks make perfect sense for a trade.

A good team that could use some of these Blackhawks free agents is the Boston Bruins They are good enough to win the Stanley Cup. These two teams have made some deals in the past so they might be compatible to help each other out. The Bruins probably won’t part with a really high draft pick for any of these guys but they have things that can help the Hawks move forward.

The Bruins need help upfront. The Blackhawks’ players that are on the block are perfect for depth players on a good team. We know about “The Perfection Line” with David Pastrnak, Patrice Bergeron, and Brad Marchand and how amazing it is but they can’t do it all. They are one of the worst teams in the league at scoring even-strength goals so they could use the help. These are three trades they could make to help each other out:

Next: Trade One lands Boston a good depth scorer

Next1 of 4Prev post

Use your (arrows) to browse

Read More

Prairie State Pigskin

• About
• Archive
• Subscribe by Email

Western’s prolific passing game puts Leathernecks among national leaders

Leave a comment

Tweet

By Barry Bottino,
today at 4:05 am

Early in the COVID-19 quarantine, Western Illinois football players weren’t sure if a season would be reality.

“We didn’t know when we were going to play – whether it was going to be in the fall (of 2020) or in the spring (of 2021),” senior wide receiver Dennis Houston said. “We knew we would have to have chemistry whenever that was.”

So Houston joined fellow receiver Tony Tate and WIU quarterback Connor Sampson to prepare for whatever was ahead.

“Me, Dennis and Tony all came back and started working out by ourselves,” Sampson said. “We worked for a few weeks without the team even here. It was just the three of us on a random field we found.”

Sampson threw to his receivers as the group worked on routes and ironed out plays from the WIU playbook.

That preparation has paid dividends in the passing game for the Leathernecks (0-5), who host Youngstown State (1-4) in a Missouri Valley Football Conference game at 7 p.m. Saturday, April 3 (ESPN+).

Sampson leads the MVFC in passing yards a game (288.6) and ranks ninth nationally among FCS quarterbacks with 1,443 yards. His 400 career completions rank eighth all time at WIU. He now owns the top four single-game completion records at Western, including the No. 1 spot, his 40-completion day last weekend against Northern Iowa.

If it holds, Sampson’s current passing yards per game average would be the highest in WIU history by nearly 25 yards.

Houston is 11^th nationally and leads the MVFC in receptions per game (7.6), while Tate is third in the conference (6.7) and junior Dallas Daniels (5.8) ranks fourth.

“They all bring something different,” Sampson said of his top three targets. “Dennis is a downfield guy. Tony is one of the fastest guys in our league, real shifty. Dallas is a guy with strong hands and he’s a great route runner.”

Though Western’s pass game (13^th in FCS at 292.0 per game) has piled up nearly 50 yards more a game than the MVFC’s second-best air attack – South Dakota (243.2) – the Leathernecks’ run game ranks last at 55 yards a game.

“We can do a little bit better in the run game, no doubt,” Sampson said. “Once we get the run game going, it’s going to take our offense to the next level.”

Western also has struggled to put two consistent halves of offense together. Against Illinois State last month, the Leathernecks needed until late in the third quarter to reach 100 total yards of offense.

“That’s definitely the biggest goal, just staying consistent,” Sampson said. “We throw for a lot of yards, but I think we can be more explosive than we are.”

Running it back

Sampson told Prairie State Pigskin he plans to return to play QB for Western in the fall, which will be his sixth season.

“I love everything about Western,” he said. “I love Macomb. I love the coaches. I love the players. Not many people get the opportunity to get a sixth year. I just want that opportunity. I’m extremely comfortable in this offense.”

Houston, also a senior, said he is “leaning toward coming back” in the fall.

News and notes

Tate ranks third in the conference with 115.4 all-purpose yards per game. … Schaumburg’s Mason Laramie, WIU’s junior kicker who transferred from NCAA Division II University of Sioux Falls, has the longest field goal of the season in the MVFC at 53 yards. He is also Western’s scoring leader with 25 points this spring. … Left guard Michael Ross, a junior who played prep football at Illinois powerhouse Montini High School in Lombard, is the team’s leader with 18 career starts, including five in a row. … YSU junior tailback Jaleel McLaughlin rushed for a combined 57 yards in his first two games this season. Since then, the transfer from D-II Notre Dame College has been a workhorse. In the past three games, McLaughlin has rush for 414 yards. His 166-yard game against South Dakota on March 20 is a career high. In each of his two seasons on the D-II level, the shifty McLaughlin rushed for at least 2,400 yards. He finished second in 2019 and third in 2018 in voting for the Harlon Hill Trophy, which is awarded to the nation’s best D-II player. … After scoring seven total points in its first two spring games, the Penguins 22.3 points a game since.

Where to find the game

Western hosts Youngstown State at 7 p.m. on Saturday, April 3. The game will air on ESPN+ online, and the radio broadcast is available at Mixlr.com/wiu-athletics.  

Filed under:
Uncategorized

Tags:
Missouri Valley Football Conference, Western Illinois University, WIU Leathernecks

Tweet

• Advertisement:

• Advertisement:

• 
  

  Welcome to ChicagoNow.

  Meet
  our bloggers,
  
  post comments, or
  
  pitch your blog idea.

  Sign in
  Pitch your idea
  Play games

• Meet The Blogger

  

  Dan Verdun

  Blog co-authors Barry Bottino and Dan Verdun bring years of experience covering collegiate athletics. Barry has covered college athletes for more than two decades in his “On Campus” column, which is published weekly by Shaw Media. Dan has written four books about the state’s football programs–“NIU Huskies Football” (released in 2013), “EIU Panthers Football (2014), “ISU Redbirds” (2016) and “SIU Salukis Football” (2017).

• Subscribe by Email

Completely spam free, opt out any time.

Tweets by @danverdunauthor

Tweets by @barryoncampus

Facebook

Latest on ChicagoNow

• Western’s prolific passing game puts Leathernecks among national leaders

  from Prairie State Pigskin by Barry Bottino
  posted today at 4:05 am

• HAPPY EASTER

  from Go Do Good! by citizen john q public
  posted Friday at 9:32 pm

• Like elections, racist laws have consequences

  from I’ve Got The Hippy Shakes by Howard Moore
  posted Friday at 7:48 pm

• The case for reparations

  from The Barbershop: Dennis Byrne, Proprietor by Dennis Byrne
  posted Friday at 5:16 pm

• Improved EIU running game faces stiff test against conference’s top defense

  from Prairie State Pigskin by Dan Verdun
  posted Friday at 5:30 am

Posts from related blogs

• 

  The Big Ten Blog

  Most recent post: Let’s Give Them Nothing to Talk About : Big Ten Football Week 12 Review

• 

  NUF Said: A Northwestern Football Blog

  Most recent post: The Conundrum Of Passing On Sports Loyalties

• 

  Rambler Hoops

  Most recent post: Breaking down Loyola Chicago’s 77-71 victory over Missouri State

More from Sports: Colleges

Read these ChicagoNow blogs

• 

  Cubs Den

  Chicago Cubs news and comprehensive blog, featuring old school baseball writing combined with the latest statistical trends
  • Game Post 4/1
• 

  Pets in need of homes

  Pets available for adoption in the Chicago area
  • Migaloo — Petraits Rescue
• 

  Hammervision

  It’s like the couch potato version of Mr. and Mrs. Smith.
  • Movie Review: Nomadland

Read these ChicagoNow Bloggers

• 

  Candace Jordan

  from Candid Candace:
  We got our first Covid-19 shot and this is what happened
• 

  Dennis Byrne

  from The Barbershop: Dennis Byrne, Proprietor:
  The case for reparations
• 

  LeaGrover

  from Becoming SuperMommy:
  Grieving Love with Intention

Advertisement:

ChicagoNOW

• About ChicagoNow
• •
• FAQs
• •
• Advertise
• •
• Recent posts RSS
• •
• Privacy policy (Updated)
• •
• Comment policy
• •
• Terms of service
• •
• Chicago Tribune Archives
• •
• Do not sell my personal info

©2021 CTMG – A Chicago Tribune website –
Crafted by the News Apps team

Read More

ANAHEIM, Calif. — Yermin Mercedes went 5-for-5 with a double and four RBI in his first career start, Jose Abreu slugged a grand slam, and the White Sox (1-1) held on for a 12-8 win over the Angels for their first victory of the season.

According to STATS, the only other player besides Mercedes in the modern era to have five hits in first career start was Washington’s Cecil Travis, who was 5-for-7 against Cleveland on May 17, 1933. Mercedes, the designated hitter who made the team out of spring training as a third catcher, became the first player in the modern era to go 5-for-5 in first start. Fred Clarke also did it for the Louisville Colonels in 1894.

“Historic,” manager Tony La Russa said. “Most of it was outstanding pieces of hitting, deep in the count.”

Mercedes, 28, a Rule 5 draft pick who made his professional baseball career 10 years ago, had one at-bat last season.

A night after their highly regarded pen surrendered a lead in a 4-3 loss on Opening Day, the Sox bullpen — save for a rocky ninth inning from closer Liam Hendriks — bounced back with a strong effort in relief of left-hander Dallas Keuchel, who gave up six runs (three earned) over four-plus innings.

Tim Anderson provided an insurance run with a homer to right center leading off the ninth against Raisel Iglesias, and the Sox tacked on four more runs on two-run doubles by Grandal and Mercedes.

“I just want to cry when I see I’m in the majors right now,” Mercedes said, “because it’s been a long time, a long time. I got a [long] history. It’s about time, but it’s hard for me, just looking around, is this real? I’m here. “

Matt Foster struck out Shohei Ohtani, Mike Trout and Justin Upton in relief of Keuchel in the fifth, but Eaton’s bad miss on a running catch near the line put two unearned runs on the board and cut the Sox lead to 7-6.

Michael Kopech, appearing in his first game since September, 2018, pitched two perfect innings with three strikeouts before walking Mike Trout to lead off the eighth, his third inning.

“I was pleased with how good my stuff was,” said Kopech, who touched 99 mph.

“It felt eerily familiar,” said Kopech, who missed the 2019 and 2020 seasons because of Tommy John surgery and opting out. “I just enjoyed being back out there in competitor’s mode again.”

Evan Marshall replaced Kopech after the walk and recorded two outs and could have had three if third baseman Yoan Moncada (0-for-5, five striketous) hadn’t bobbled Upton’s potential double play ground ball, putting Trout on second. La Russa then put the go-ahead run on first by intentionally walking Albert Pujols and brought in closer Liam Hendriks.

Hendriks got Jose Iglesias on a deep fly to right center, then gave up a two-run homer to Ohtani. Hendriks threw 34 pitches.

The Sox defense, which gave the Angels two unearned runs Thursday thanks to second baseman Nick Madrigal’s throwing error, was shaky a second night. In addition to Eaton’s error, Abreu was charged with one on Ohtani’s smash that went through him and into the corner for three bases in the first. Ohtani scored on Trout’s infield single.

Eaton, who homered on Thursday, drove in a run with a single in the Sox’ four-run fourth. Abreu’s slam was followed by a walk to Luis Robert.

Read More

Moon Alert

After 3:30 a.m. Chicago time, there are no restrictions to shopping or important decisions. The moon is in Capricorn.

Aries (March 21-April 19)

Mercury enters your sign to stay for two weeks. This will be an excellent time to express your POV to others because you will be able to put a great deal of yourself into whatever you have to say. You might also have a strong urge to get out and travel.

Taurus (April 20-May 20)

An unexpected opportunity to travel might fall into your lap. Or perhaps, vice versa, travel opportunities will be canceled. Something unusual will occur that stimulates your sense of adventure! Be smart — get dressed.

Gemini (May 21-June 20)

Double check details with banking, insurance and shared property because something unexpected could affect these areas. (If it means money — stay on top of things.) Meanwhile, you might be more involved with younger people in the next two weeks.

Cancer (June 21-July 22)

A close friend, partner or spouse might surprise you. Therefore, stay off your heels. Meanwhile, for the next few weeks, Mercury will travel across the top of your chart encouraging you to talk to bosses and superiors. You’ll be more serious about making big plans.

Leo (July 23-Aug. 22)

You might have a few surprises today with a pet. Keep your eyes open. Something unexpected might also affect your health or your job. However, it will be minor. (No worries.) You’ll be keen to study and write in the next two weeks. You will also grab any chance to travel. “I’m outta here!”

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22)

Parents should be vigilant because this is a mildly accident-prone day for your kids. (Stay on top of things.) A sudden invitation to a fun event might come your way. Alternatively, a social occasion might be canceled or changed. Expect to focus on shared property, taxes, and debt in the next few weeks.

Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22)

Something unusual might interrupt your home routine. Meanwhile, for the next two weeks, Mercury will be opposite your sign bringing you opportunities to clarify and explain issues to someone. You’ll love to have intellectual conversations and gab to others.

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21)

Keep your eyes open because this is a mildly accident-prone day. However, you will meet new faces, see new places and dream up new ideas that are exciting and different! Expect to be more hands-on in your job in the next few weeks. Time to roll up your sleeves.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21)

Keep an eye on your money and possessions because something might surprise you. You might find money; you might lose money. In the next two weeks, your mind will be more playful! You will welcome opportunities to enjoy sports, fun activities with kids and good times with friends.

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19)

Today the moon is in your sign dancing with unpredictable Uranus, which makes you crave emotional excitement! You want to break free from your daily routine. You want to run away and join the circus. If you’re dealing with a group, you might assume a leadership role.

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18)

Today, you feel restless. (Relax, it’s a fleeting influence.) However, in the next three weeks, your energy to communicate to others as well as write will be heightened! You will meet new people and travel. It’s not the time to settle down and relax. Au contraire! Enjoy your accelerated pace!

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20)

You might meet someone unusual today or someone you know might surprise you for some reason. Meanwhile, with Mercury moving into one of your Money Houses, expect to come up with some money-making ideas in the next few weeks. Ka-ching!

If Your Birthday Is Today

Actor Eddie Murphy (1961) shares your birthday. You are friendly, multitalented and likable. You are also a playful, witty and an excellent raconteur. Lucky you! You have a fun-loving year ahead! Expect increased popularity and warm friendships. Gratitude will be a theme because you will appreciate the everyday joys and beauty around you. This year is the time for an important choice. Choose wisely.

Read More

Coby White obviously has a special relationship with Roy Williams, his former coach at North Carolina, to the point where Williams blew off his weekly radio show to attend a Bulls game when White was slumping as a rookie in 2019.

White set a franchise record with seven three-pointers in the fourth quarter of that November game, finishing with 27 points.

So the news that Williams, 70, was retiring this week after 33 seasons and more than 900 career victories left White in shock.

“It was a surprise,” White said Friday. “I’m happy for him and kind of sad at the same time because he will forever be my coach and forever be that role model, that guy, that figure I can go to in my life. But I’m happy for him — he’s done this a long time, and he’s one of the best ever. So now he gets to enjoy time. He gets to enjoy his family.”

White only played one season at UNC before leaving for the NBA — after Williams encouraged him to — but it was long enough to build a lasting bond.

“I got a chance to talk to him [Thursday],” White said. “What’s crazy is, he called me because he didn’t see me in the box score, so he was making sure that I was OK. He didn’t even call to talk about everything that had happened [with his retirement]. He called to see what was wrong with me.”

Easing up?

The schedule hasn’t been kind to the Bulls since their roster facelift at the trade deadline, but that changes a bit next week when they play a stretch of largely Eastern Conference teams. Some of the games look very winnable.

“Obviously, when the schedule shakes out, we all think we’ll be a little bit better,” forward Thad Young said. “So it’s just a matter of going out there and getting acclimated with each other and making sure that we are doing the right things.

“The schedule is what it is. At the end of the day, we all are men. We all have to step on the court. And we all lace our shoes up and pull our pants up the same way. It’s just a matter of going out there and fighting and seeing who’s a better team at the end.”

After a home game Sunday against the Nets, the Bulls face the Pacers, Raptors, Hawks, Timberwolves and Grizzlies on the road, then host the Magic, Grizzlies and Cavaliers.

The Theis Effect

Big man Daniel Theis already has seen enough in a few games with the Bulls to call on the team to be more physical, both on the perimeter and in the paint. He’s also taking on the responsibility of making it happen.

“Me, Thad [and center Nikola Vucevic], we’re experienced enough — like, we can guide those guys and just tell them we’ve got to be more physical,” Theis said. “As a five, you see the whole court basically the whole time. You’re back there [and] you can talk to everybody, tell them where to go. That was my mindset with the Celtics, too: just be a defensive anchor, be vocal and just talk to everybody. And I think that’s a thing we’ve got to change or just adjust to.”

Read More