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Southern seeks HOFers
SALINEVILLE -- The Salineville-Southern Local Athletic Hall of Fame is accepting nominations for the Class of 2026.
Induction of new members will be held the weekend of Sept. 11-12.
Nomination forms are available on the school web site www.southern.k12.oh.us.
The deadline to nominate someone is June 1. Nomination forms should be mailed to Deborah Boyd, 5893 St. Rt. 164, Leetonia, OH 44431.
Cutch opens with Rangers
Former NL MVP Andrew McCutchen will open 18th MLB season on Rangers' roster after 3 weeks with team
By STEPHEN HAWKINS
Associated Press Writer
ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) -- Andrew McCutchen will be on the opening day roster for the Texas Rangers, who expect the 39-year-old former MVP outfielder to split some time at designated hitter, maybe play a few games in the field and be a mentor to their young, talented outfielders.
Chris Young, the team's president of baseball operations, said Monday that McCutchen, who joined the team on a minor league contract less than three weeks ago, will be part of the 26-man squad when the Rangers begin the season Thursday at Philadelphia. The 2013 National League MVP and five-time All-Star more than a decade ago with Pittsburgh won a roster spot over Mark Canha, another veteran outfielder also in camp on a minor league deal.
"I was wrote off in a lot of places, honestly told to retire. But I knew deep down there was something in me that told me that there was still more in the tank and that I could continue to keep playing," McCutchen said. "For them giving me the opportunity … I'm going to make sure that it's worth it from both of our ends."
The right-handed-hitting McCutchen, who will make $1.5 million playing in the majors this season, batted .444 (8 for 18) in seven spring training games, with three doubles, a home run and seven RBIs.
"There were a number of factors that went into it, but ultimately we felt like Cutch earned it just with his performance," Young said.
McCutchen is a .271 career hitter with 332 homers and 1,152 RBIs in 2,262 games over 17 big league seasons, all but five of those with the Pirates. He spent the past three seasons back in Pittsburgh, batting .239 with 13 homers and 57 RBIs last year when 120 of his 135 games were as the DH.
"This is the beginning of for me to continue to keep doing what I've been doing since I got here. And understanding that just because I'm here doesn't mean that I'm here to stay," McCutchen said. "I have to remind myself of that every single day that I'm out here and that I am on the field. Even the days that I'm not starting, always knowing that there's a way to improve, and for my peers and teammates, there's something that I can do to be able to help them."
The Rangers have rising standouts Wyatt Langford in left field and Evan Carter in center, with veteran newcomer Brandon Nimmo in right after they acquired him from the Mets in a trade that sent second baseman Marcus Semien to New York.
Carter was limited to 63 games last season because of injuries. Left-handed-hitting DH Joc Pederson missed about two months because of a broken hand after getting hit by a pitch.
Pittsburgh drafted McCutchen in the first round in 2005 and promoted him in 2009 for his major league debut. McCutchen played his first nine years with the Pirates, making five straight All-Star teams from 2011-15. He played for San Francisco, the New York Yankees, Philadelphia and Milwaukee from 2018-22 before reuniting with the Pirates.
"He came in and performed well right away. He fit right in in the clubhouse, can still play the outfield at times," new Rangers manager Skip Schumaker said. "I don't think you'll see him all the time out there, but if we need him, he'll play out there. But just a really valuable piece to either come off the bench in a high-leverage spot or also potentially start against left-handed pitching."
Izzo gave Hurley advice
EAST LANSING, Mich. (AP) -- Tom Izzo has turned down multiple opportunities to coach in the NBA, including with the Cleveland Cavaliers and Atlanta Hawks.
When the Los Angeles Lakers were willing to give UConn coach Dan Hurley a $70 million, six-year contract in 2024, Hurley asked Izzo for advice.
"I told him to seriously look at it because I could see where college basketball was going," Izzo told The Associated Press on Monday. "But I said, I would hate to lose him because I think he's all that is right about college basketball. He cares about the kids. He cares about the game. He has to care about the game because of his dad."
Bob Hurley Sr. won more than two dozen state championships at St. Anthony High School in Jersey City, New Jersey, developing dozens of Division I college players.
Izzo and third-seeded Michigan State will face Hurley and the second-seeded Huskies in Washington on Friday night in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament.
The 53-year-old Hurley, who is in his eighth season at UConn, won consecutive national championships in 2023-24. He is 17-5 in the NCAA Tournament, winning 77.3% of games to rank No. 1 among active coaches and fourth all time among coaches with at least 15 games.
The 71-year-old Izzo has earned a record 28 consecutive bids to March Madness and won an NCAA title in 2000 -- the last by a Big Ten team -- in one of his eight Final Four appearances during his Hall of Fame career.