Updated 10:39 pm, Saturday, June 23, 2018 window._taboola = window._taboola || []; _taboola.push({ mode: 'thumbnails-c', container: 'taboola-interstitial-gallery-thumbnails-5', placement: 'Interstitial Gallery Thumbnails 5', target_type: 'mix' }); _taboola.push({flush: true}); window._taboola = window._taboola || []; _taboola.push({ mode: 'thumbnails-c', container: 'taboola-interstitial-gallery-thumbnails-7', placement: 'Interstitial Gallery Thumbnails 7', target_type: 'mix' }); _taboola.push({flush: true}); Photo: Orlin Wagner/Associated Press Image 1of/7 CaptionClose Image 1 of 7 Houston Dynamo midfielder Eric Alexander, top left, heads the ball against Sporting Kansas City midfielder Ilie Sanchez, top right, during the first half of an MLS soccer match in Kansas City, Kan., Saturday, June 23, 2018. (AP Photo/Orlin Wagner) less Houston Dynamo midfielder Eric Alexander, top left, … [Read more...] about Sporting Kansas City rallies to defeat Dynamo
Sports
Carlos Correa’s walkoff single in 12th inning lifts Astros over Royals
By Chandler Rome, Houston Chronicle Published 10:18 pm, Saturday, June 23, 2018 Photo: Bob Levey/Getty Images Image 1of/1 CaptionClose Image 1 of 1 HOUSTON, TX - JUNE 23: Carlos Correa #1 of the Houston Astros is hugged by Jake Marisnick #6, Josh Reddick #22,Marwin Gonzalez and Yuli Gurriel #10 after hitting a walkoff single in the twelfth inning for a 4-3 win against the Kansas City Royals at Minute Maid Park on June 23, 2018 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images) less HOUSTON, TX - JUNE 23: Carlos Correa #1 of the Houston Astros is hugged by Jake Marisnick #6, Josh Reddick #22,Marwin Gonzalez and Yuli Gurriel #10 after hitting a walkoff single in the twelfth inning for a ... more Photo: Bob Levey/Getty Images Carlos Correa's walkoff single in 12th inning lifts Astros over Royals 1 / 1 Back to Gallery … [Read more...] about Carlos Correa’s walkoff single in 12th inning lifts Astros over Royals
Amador Valley’s Danielle Williams is softball Metro Player of the Year
By Mitch Stephens Updated 10:42 pm, Friday, June 22, 2018 She arrived with little expected of her. She left having carried her team with her bat and left arm. At every turn, pitching or hitting, Amador Valley-Pleasanton’s Danielle Williams delivered — and she finished with the most impressive flurry of her stellar career. After the the low point to her season — an 8-0 drubbing by crosstown rival Foothill in the East Bay Athletic League playoffs — Williams dominated four North Coast Section Division 1 foes, leading the Dons (23-5-1) to their fourth North Coast Section title. Williams pitched four consecutive shutouts (including a no-hitter), striking out 58 in 28 innings in the process. She also allowed just eight hits, finishing the season with a 21-4 record, 363 strikeouts in 178 innings and a 0.59 ERA. She also hit .411 with 25 RBIs. Her postseason run ended with a 2-0 win over Foothill, a team that started the season ranked fifth … [Read more...] about Amador Valley’s Danielle Williams is softball Metro Player of the Year
Encinal shortstop Osiris Johnson is Metro Player of Year in baseball
By Mitch Stephens Updated 10:42 pm, Friday, June 22, 2018 Beyond being a slick fielder, superb hitter and fleet of foot, Osiris Johnson is a evidently a pretty good mimic. The 6-foot-1, 195-pound Encinal-Alameda senior shortstop did a remarkable job this season of imitating his mentor, second cousin and former National League MVP Jimmy Rollins. In 26 games, Johnson hit .535 with 46 hits, 15 doubles, two triples and six home runs. He also stole 16 bases in 17 attempts, scored 30 runs and drove in 24 for the Jets (19-8-1). Earlier this month he was selected in the second round of the MLB draft (53rd overall) by the Miami Marlins. Rollins, an Encinal alum, was taken in the second round (46th overall) in 1996 by the Phillies. In recognition of his spectacular season, Johnson is The Chronicle’s 2018 Metro Player of the Year. He capped his four-year career with his best season, though his junior campaign (.481, 38 hits, 27 hits, 20 stolen bases) was pretty good also. … [Read more...] about Encinal shortstop Osiris Johnson is Metro Player of Year in baseball
Sharks see potential in first-round draft pick Ryan Merkley
By Ross McKeon Updated 10:10 pm, Friday, June 22, 2018 When Doug Wilson said Monday that the Sharks might take a draft risk Friday, it was as if the general manager knew defenseman Ryan Merkley would be available at No. 21. San Jose selected the 17-year-old from the Ontario Hockey League’s Guelph Storm with their first-round choice. The two-day draft in Dallas continues Saturday, with the Sharks holding two picks in each of the fourth, fifth and sixth rounds. “He’s got high-end talent,” Wilson said of Merkley. “We spent quite a bit of time with him, and we believe in him.” While showing a flair for offense with 122 points in 125 games over two seasons after getting drafted first overall into the OHL at age 16, Merkley’s maturity has come into question following several incidents. In addition to outbursts on the ice and conflicts with former Guelph coach Jarrod Skalde — a former Sharks center — that led to being a … [Read more...] about Sharks see potential in first-round draft pick Ryan Merkley
Giants fall to Padres, hurt by defensive breakdowns
By John Shea Updated 10:12 pm, Friday, June 22, 2018 The Giants aren’t a team that can afford to make many defensive mishaps. They don’t have the big boppers to blow out opponents, so defense can make or break them on any given night. Friday night, it broke them. A couple of costly breakdowns in the sixth inning - one after a tremendous diving stop by Buster Posey -- doomed the Giants in a 6-2 loss to the Padres. Posey, the five-time All-Star catcher who was making his 10th start at first base, would have robbed Cory Spangenberg of a hit had pitcher Chris Stratton been quicker to cover first base. Spangenberg slid headfirst across the bag and initially was called out, but a review lasting a mere 32 seconds correctly showed he was safe. Instead of two outs and the bases empty, Stratton had to pitch from the stretch to Freddy Galvis, who singled Spangenberg to third. The defensive woes continued when a pitch bounced off catcher Nick Hundley, who retrieved it … [Read more...] about Giants fall to Padres, hurt by defensive breakdowns
Ice Cube, Clyde Drexler bring BIG3 vision to Toyota Center
By Parth Upadhyaya Published 11:13 pm, Friday, June 22, 2018 window._taboola = window._taboola || []; _taboola.push({ mode: 'thumbnails-c', container: 'taboola-interstitial-gallery-thumbnails-5', placement: 'Interstitial Gallery Thumbnails 5', target_type: 'mix' }); _taboola.push({flush: true}); window._taboola = window._taboola || []; _taboola.push({ mode: 'thumbnails-c', container: 'taboola-interstitial-gallery-thumbnails-10', placement: 'Interstitial Gallery Thumbnails 10', target_type: 'mix' }); _taboola.push({flush: true}); window._taboola = window._taboola || []; _taboola.push({ mode: 'thumbnails-c', container: 'taboola-interstitial-gallery-thumbnails-15', placement: 'Interstitial Gallery Thumbnails 15', target_type: 'mix' }); _taboola.push({flush: true}); window._taboola = window._taboola || []; _taboola.push({ mode: 'thumbnails-c', container: 'taboola-interstitial-gallery-thumbnails-20', placement: 'Interstitial Gallery Thumbnails 20', … [Read more...] about Ice Cube, Clyde Drexler bring BIG3 vision to Toyota Center
Elsik DE Rason Williams pledges to UH
By Joseph Duarte, Houston Chronicle Updated 10:55 pm, Friday, June 22, 2018 Photo: Wilf Thorne/For The Chronicle Image 1of/1 CaptionClose Image 1 of 1 Major Applewhite picked up a commitment from Elsik defensive end Rason Williams on Friday. Major Applewhite picked up a commitment from Elsik defensive end Rason Williams on Friday. Photo: Wilf Thorne/For The Chronicle Elsik DE Rason Williams pledges to UH 1 / 1 Back to Gallery The University of Houston added to its recent recruiting haul Friday night with a commitment from Rason Williams II. Williams, a 6-3, 230-pound defensive end from Elsik, is the Cougars' third commitment for the class of 2019 this week and the seventh overall. "For the past six months, this school has been the only ones there from the beginning," Willams wrote on Twitter. "They've seen … [Read more...] about Elsik DE Rason Williams pledges to UH
Astros’ bats go cold in shutout loss to Royals
By Chandler Rome, Houston Chronicle Updated 10:50 pm, Friday, June 22, 2018 window._taboola = window._taboola || []; _taboola.push({ mode: 'thumbnails-c', container: 'taboola-interstitial-gallery-thumbnails-5', placement: 'Interstitial Gallery Thumbnails 5', target_type: 'mix' }); _taboola.push({flush: true}); window._taboola = window._taboola || []; _taboola.push({ mode: 'thumbnails-c', container: 'taboola-interstitial-gallery-thumbnails-10', placement: 'Interstitial Gallery Thumbnails 10', target_type: 'mix' }); _taboola.push({flush: true}); window._taboola = window._taboola || []; _taboola.push({ mode: 'thumbnails-c', container: 'taboola-interstitial-gallery-thumbnails-15', placement: 'Interstitial Gallery Thumbnails 15', target_type: 'mix' }); _taboola.push({flush: true}); window._taboola = window._taboola || []; _taboola.push({ mode: 'thumbnails-c', container: 'taboola-interstitial-gallery-thumbnails-20', placement: 'Interstitial Gallery … [Read more...] about Astros’ bats go cold in shutout loss to Royals
World Cup: Last gasp Shaqiri seals Swiss win over Serbia in Group E
A last-minute Xherdan Shaqiri breakaway goal handed Switzerland victory on Friday (Jun 22) as they came from behind to defeat Serbia 2-1 in Kaliningrad. Switzerland's Xherdan Shaqiri celebrates beating Serbia 2-1 in a group E match at the 2018 soccer World Cup in the Kaliningrad Stadium in Kaliningrad, Russia on Jun 22, 2018. (Photo source AP: Victor Caivano) The win puts Switzerland in pole position to make it out of a tough Group E that contains five-times winners Brazil but they were pushed all the way by the Serbs. It was a sweet victory for Shaqiri and fellow Swiss goalscorer Granit Xhaka, who along with team-mate Valon Belrami were booed relentlessly by Serbia's fans throughout. Shaqiri, Xhaka and Belrami trace their roots to Kosovo, a former province of Serbia, a fact which had stoked tensions before the match. Both Shaqiri and Xhaka pointedly celebrated their goals by making a 'double eagle' with their hands representing the Kosovo flag, viewed as a symbol of … [Read more...] about World Cup: Last gasp Shaqiri seals Swiss win over Serbia in Group E