National Sports - The Morning Sun

FILE - Major League Baseball umpire Larry Vanover signals an out after a review during a baseball game between the Baltimore Orioles and the Cincinnati Reds in Cincinnati, Sunday, July 31, 2022. Vanover remained hospitalized Thursday, April 13, 2023, after being hit in the head with a relay throw during Wednesday's game between the New York Yankees and Cleveland Guardians. (AP Photo/Aaron Doster, File)

MLB ump Vanover still in hospital after hit in head by throw

Major League Baseball umpire Larry Vanover remained hospitalized after being hit in the head with a relay throw during Wednesday’s game between the New York Yankees and Cleveland Guardians. Vanover … more

By TOM WITHERS | 4/13/23

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) shoots against New Orleans Pelicans guard Trey Murphy III (25) during the second half of an NBA basketball play-in tournament game in New Orleans, Wednesday, April 12, 2023. (AP Photo/Matthew Hinton)

Final NBA play-in matchups: Bulls at Heat, Thunder at Wolves

Chicago played at Miami and Oklahoma City was in Minnesota to open this NBA season. On Friday, the matchups are the same, except two teams will see their seasons end. The Bulls are at the Heat for … more

By TIM REYNOLDS | 4/13/23

FILE - Northwestern offensive lineman Peter Skoronski runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Sunday, March 5, 2023. Skoronski looks like a custom-built NFL offensive lineman. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings, File)

Skoronski stands apart in NFL draft class of legacy players

Peter Skoronski looks like a custom-built NFL offensive lineman. He stands 6-foot-4, weighs 313 pounds and has 10-inch hands. He earned all-Big Ten honors three straight years at Northwestern. He was … more

By MICHAEL MAROT | 4/13/23

FILE - Boulogne-Levallois' Victor Wembanyama celebrates after a dunk against Lyon-Villeurbanne during a basketball game in Levallois, France, Jan. 9, 2023. Wembanyama is now about a month away from finding out which team will win the NBA draft lottery and earn the right to take him with this year's No. 1 overall pick. (AP Photo/Michel Euler, File)

The losing is done, NBA teams now await 7-foot-3 Wembanyama

There are very specific rules that NBA teams must follow right now when it comes to mentioning the name of 7-foot-3 French star Victor Wembanyama. He's got big-man height and elite guard skills and … more

By TIM REYNOLDS | 4/13/23

Frida Kinhult, of Sweden, watches her shot from the seventh tee during the first round of a LPGA golf tournament, Wednesday, April 12, 2023, near Honolulu. (AP Photo/Marco Garcia)

Vongtaveelap, Kinhult share LPGA Tour lead at windy Hoakalei

Natthakritta Vongtaveelap eagled the par-5 fifth and closed with a chip-in birdie in fading light on the par-3 ninth for a 6-under 66 and a share of the first-round lead Wednesday in the LPGA … more

4/13/23

Los Angeles Dodgers' Max Muncy hits a three-run home run against the San Francisco Giants during the sixth inning of a baseball game in San Francisco, Wednesday, April 12, 2023. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

Muncy hits 2 more homers, powers Dodgers past Giants 10-5

Max Muncy hit a three-run homer and a solo shot to finish a three-game set against San Francisco with four homers and 11 RBIs, leading the Los Angeles Dodgers past the Giants 10-5 for a series win. … more

By JANIE McCAULEY | 4/13/23

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Luguentz Dort (5) dunks against New Orleans Pelicans guard Trey Murphy III (25) during the first half of an NBA basketball play-in tournament game in New Orleans, Wednesday, April 12, 2023. (AP Photo/Matthew Hinton)

Gilgeous-Alexander leads Thunder past Pelicans in play-in

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander highlighted his 32-point night with a go-ahead baseline jumper and four clutch free throws in the final 29 seconds, the Oklahoma City Thunder defeated the New Orleans Pelicans … more

By BRETT MARTEL | 4/13/23

Chicago Bulls forward DeMar DeRozan greets Toronto Raptors coach Nick Nurse after the Bulls' win in an NBA basketball play-in tournament game Wednesday, April 12, 2023, in Toronto. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)

Shout it out: DeRozan's daughter goes viral in play-in game

Diar DeRozan wanted to skip a day of school. Her father grudgingly went along with the plan. Turns out, the decision was worth shouting about. The 9-year-old daughter of Chicago guard DeMar DeRozan … more

4/12/23

Toronto Raptors guard Fred VanVleet (23) and forward Pascal Siakam (43) react during the first half of the team's NBA basketball play-in tournament game against the Chicago Bulls on Wednesday, April 12, 2023, in Toronto. (Frank bunn/The Canadian Press via AP)

LaVine scores 39, Bulls beat Raptors 109-105 in play-in game

Zach LaVine scored 39 points, DeMar DeRozan had 23 against his former team and the Chicago Bulls overcame a 19-point deficit to beat the Toronto Raptors 109-105 in a play-in tournament game. The … more

By IAN HARRISON | 4/12/23

Tampa Bay Rays' Yandy Diaz watches his run-scoring sacrifice fly off Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Chris Sale during the fourth inning of a baseball game Wednesday, April 12, 2023, in St. Petersburg, Fla. Rays' Taylor Walls scored on the play. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

Rays win 12th straight to start season, 1 shy of MLB record

The Tampa Bay Rays won their 12th straight game to start the season, one short of the major league record, as Randy Arozarena hit a three-run homer in a 9-7 victory over the Boston Red Sox. The 1987 … more

By MARK DIDTLER | 4/12/23

Coco Gauff returns to Anastasia Potapova during the Miami Open tennis tournament, Saturday, March 25, 2023, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)

Coco Gauff home for US vs. Austria in Billie Jean King Cup

Coco Gauff has been staying at home with Mom and Dad and her brothers while getting ready for the U.S. team’s Billie Jean King Cup qualifier against Austria that begins Friday in Delray Beach, … more

By HOWARD FENDRICH | 4/12/23

Real Madrid's Karim Benzema scores the opening goal of his team during the Champions League quarterfinal, first leg, soccer match between Real Madrid and Chelsea at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid, Spain, Wednesday, April 12, 2023. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

Vinícius, Benzema lead Real Madrid past Chelsea 2-0 in CL

Karim Benzema has scored again against Chelsea to lead Real Madrid to a 2-0 win in the first leg of the quarterfinals of the Champions League. Substitute Marco Asensio also scored for Madrid after … more

By TALES AZZONI | 4/12/23

FILE - Florida's Trinity Thomas competes on the uneven bars during an NCAA gymnastics meet against Georgia on Friday, Jan. 27, 2023, in Gainesville, Fla. Thomas, the defending NCAA all-around champion, has 27 perfect 10s in her career, one short of the NCAA record. (AP Photo/Gary McCullough, File)

Too perfect? Scores of 10 are everywhere in NCAA gymnastics

Perfection is growing in NCAA gymnastics. There have been 79 perfect 10s awarded during the 2023 season heading into the national championships this weekend. That's more than triple the average of … more

By WILL GRAVES | 4/12/23

Seattle Kraken center Matty Beniers winds up to throw a stuffed salmon to fans after the team's NHL hockey game against the Arizona Coyotes, Thursday, April 6, 2023, in Seattle. The Kraken won 4-2 to clinch a playoff spot for the first time in franchise history. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Beniers grows from rookie to leader for playoff-bound Kraken

Seattle center Matty Beniers was expected to be in the conversation for the Calder Trophy as the top NHL rookie of the year. He has lived up to that expectation. He has also helped Seattle land an … more

By TIM BOOTH | 4/12/23

FILE - Jake Paul, left, punches Tyron Woodley during the second round of a Cruiserweight fight on Dec. 19, 2021, in Tampa, Fla. YouTube sensation Paul will take on former UFC veteran Nick Diaz in a boxing match on Aug. 5, 2023, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara, File)

Jake Paul, Nate Diaz announce August boxing match

YouTube star Jake Paul will take on UFC veteran Nick Diaz in an eight-round, 185-pound boxing match Aug. 5 in Dallas. Paul tweeted that day will a “funeral for Nathaniel Diaz as we send him back … more

By MARK ANDERSON | 4/12/23

Umpire Larry Vanover is attended to by a Cleveland Guardians trainer after being hit by a throw from the outfield during the fifth inning of a baseball game in Cleveland, Wednesday April 12, 2023. Vanover left the game because of the injury. (AP Photo/Phil Long)

Umpire struck in head by relay throw, leaves game

Second base umpire and crew chief Larry Vanover was struck in the head with a throw on during a frightening moment in the sixth inning of the New York Yankees' game against the Cleveland Guardians. … more

By TOM WITHERS | 4/12/23

Scottie Scheffler puts the green jacket on Jon Rahm, of Spain, after Rahm won the Masters golf tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on Sunday, April 9, 2023, in Augusta, Ga. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Masters champ Rahm ready to keep going at RBC Heritage

Masters champion Jon Rahm decided to keep playing at the RBC Heritage despite how tired he was after his four-stroke victory at Augusta National last week. Rahm acknowledged his fatigue, but is … more

By PETE IACOBELLI | 4/12/23

FILE - Ohio State quarterback CJ Stroud, left, talks to Alabama quarterback Bryce Young at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Saturday, March 4, 2023. The Carolina Panthers have been on the clock since making a blockbuster trade last month to acquire the No. 1 overall pick in the NFL draft and get their choice of potential franchise quarterbacks. There is still no general consensus on which QB will go first. Stroud or Young? (AP Photo/Darron Cummings, File)

AP mock NFL draft: CJ Stroud goes to the Panthers

The Carolina Panthers have been on the clock since making a blockbuster trade to acquire the No. 1 overall pick in the NFL draft and get their choice of potential franchise quarterbacks. There’s … more

By ROB MAADDI | 4/12/23

FILE - PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan speaks during a news conference before the start of the Travelers Championship golf tournament at TPC River Highlands, Wednesday, June 22, 2022, in Cromwell, Conn. The PGA Tour on Wednesday, April 12, 2023, announced a fall schedule that will have seven tournaments for players to either retain full status, earn a spot in the Masters or become eligible for some of the $20 million events the following season.(AP Photo/Seth Wenig, File)

PGA Tour has 7 tournaments in the fall to secure full cards

The PGA Tour is offering seven tournaments in the fall with just over $56 million in prize money. Also at stake is a chance for some players to keep their full PGA Tour cards or qualify for two of … more

By DOUG FERGUSON | 4/12/23

This photo shows the Meiji Jingu Stadium in Tokyo on Oct. 19, 2010. The historic baseball stadium in Tokyo where Babe Ruth played could be demolished. It's part of a disputed redevelopment plan harshly criticized by environmentalists. (Kyodo News via AP)

Japan stadium where Babe Ruth played may face wrecking ball

A historic baseball stadium in Tokyo where Babe Ruth played could be demolished. It's part of a disputed redevelopment plan harshly criticized by environmentalists. Ruth played in 1934 at the Meiji … more

By STEPHEN WADE | 4/12/23