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Yankees Notebook: Boone talks possible outside review of org following Steinbrenner comments

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 10:17:50 GMT

HOUSTON — Aaron Boone believes an outside review of the Yankees organization, including the team’s use of analytics, would be a “great thing.”The manager said so on Sunday before the Yankees’ series finale against the Astros. Hal Steinbrenner recently told The Associated Press’ Mark Didtler that such an autopsy could be coming in the offseason.“We’re going to take a very deep dive into everything we’re doing,” Steinbrenner said earlier this week. “We’re looking to bring in possibly an outside company to really take a look at the analytics side of what we do. Baseball operations in general. We’re going to have some very frank conversions with each other. This year was obviously unacceptable.”Despite a sky-high payroll, Steinbrenner’s comments came with the Yankees in last place and below .500, the results of poor roster construction, underachieving veterans and injuries. The club is currently fo...

ASFL Pitching Challenge: Athletes get a shot to fight cancer

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 10:17:50 GMT

NORTHBOROUGH – Winning isn’t everything to Brigid Gaffny and the North Andover senior proved it on the field.Competing in the fourth annual A Shot For Life Pitchers Challenge, Gaffny placed first in two of the three games to determine the winner and set the pace early on.Gaffney was first in the nine-hole challenge and her first-place finish in the final bowling pin accuracy challenge earned her the top score of four points to easily take home the bronze glove trophy for 2023.Scoring for the Pitching Challenge is like golf with the lowest score from each game combined for the winning score, as Liana Danubio (Norton) placed second with 10 points and Jaleila Aupont (Bishop Fenwick) rounded out the top three slots (13).Sharlotte Stazinski (Walpole), last year’s Pitchers Challenge winner, was amazing again in fourth place with 17 points while Sara Shaff (Nobles & Greenough) and Sarah Brody (Newton Country Day) tied for fifth with 18 apiece.“I came in with the mindset that it’s not a...

ASFL Softball HR Derby: Silva smashes away

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 10:17:50 GMT

NORTHBOROUGH – The 2023 A Shot For Life Softball Home Run Derby was a different vibe for CEO and founder Mike Slonina, who is known for hosting basketball charity events throughout New England for the past 10-plus years.But regardless of the sport, the results are always rewarding.In the fourth annual ASFL Home Run Derby, Phoenyx Silva of La Salle Academy in Providence took home the engraved bat trophy as the junior outlasted 16 other top competitors from the New England area – with most players heading to or entertaining Division 1 colleges soon – at the New England Baseball Complex.The first round had a shorter fence for bigger total numbers, but the competition gets tough as you move through the three rounds of play and the fence distance moves back as well. First round brings the top eight scorers to the second round.In the second round, it is head-to-head competition with the four winners advancing to the finals to face off against each other. Silva had rounds of 46, 13, and wo...

Jimmy Buffett died after four-year fight with skin cancer

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 10:17:50 GMT

SAG HARBOR, N.Y. — Jimmy Buffett, whose sun-drenched songs celebrated life by the shore, died of a rare, aggressive skin cancer, according to a statement on his website.Buffett, 76, had Merkel cell cancer, according to the statement, which was posted after initial news of his death emerged Saturday. The statement also disclosed where the “Margaritaville” singer died: at his home in Sag Harbor, New York, near the Hamptons.He had been fighting the cancer for four years while continuing to perform, the last time making a surprise appearance in Rhode Island in early July, the statement said.Merkel cell carcinoma, as it’s known in medical literature, is very rare and tends to spread quickly, including to parts of the body beyond the skin, according to the federal National Cancer Institute and the Mayo Clinic. Risk factors include a lot of sun exposure, a weakened immune system, a history of other cancers, and being light-skinned and over 50.Buffett conjured an easygoing...

Coco Gauff is the 1st US teen since Serena Williams to reach consecutive US Open quarterfinals

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 10:17:50 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Coco Gauff is the first American teen since Serena Williams more than two decades ago to reach the U.S. Open quarterfinals two years in a row, so the 19-year-old from Florida knows her way out of trouble on a tennis court.As the second set slipped away against Caroline Wozniacki in the fourth round Sunday at Arthur Ashe Stadium, Gauff needed a chance to think things through after handing over a break with a pair of double-faults and a stumble that left her doing the splits.So Gauff turned in the direction of the near-constant chatter coming from Brad Gilbert, one of her two coaches sitting in a front-row seat, and said, “Please stop.” A couple of minutes later, Gauff said, “Stop talking.”That was while Wozniacki was grabbing four consecutive games to go up a break in the third set. And then, just as the match seemed to be slipping away thanks in part to a slew of unforced errors, Gauff straightened out her strokes and pulled way. She collected the last six games for ...

'I'm still trying to cope': Family member of South Elgin teen killed in crash speaks out

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 10:17:50 GMT

SOUTH ELGIN, Ill. — Balloons floated in the sky over South Elgin High School on Sunday as family and friends of 17-year-old Kamorra Campbell continued to cope with their grief."It's devastating it's very hard. It's unexpected," Campbell's sister, Sierra Webster said. "I'm still trying to cope and, like really, it's still unbelievable." 2 South Elgin High School students killed in crash identified During Sunday's memorial, Sierra Webster spoke about her sister, the second sibling she has lost in a short period of time."I went from losing my oldest brother, my big brother, my only big brother, my oldest sibling. To losing my baby sister," Webster said.Loved ones say Campbell, who was an avid basketball player, had big dreams and teammates say she was the heart of the team. The shooting guard, who sported the number 4 on her jersey, hoped to make it big someday."She wanted to, you know, go to college and play basketball, hopefully, make it to the WNBA one day," Webster said. 2 Sout...

11-year-old boy shot in the leg in Washington Heights

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 10:17:50 GMT

CHICAGO — An investigation is underway after an 11-year-old boy was hospitalized after being shot in Washington Heights, according to Chicago police.Officers say the shooting happened just before 5:30 p.m. on Sunday in the 9100 block of South Racine Avenue. ‘I’m still trying to cope’: Family member of South Elgin teen killed in crash speaks out According to police, the shooting took place during a gathering inside a home in the area. The young boy told officers that he heard a loud noise and then realized that he had been shot in the leg.A family member took the victim to an area near West 87th Street and South Aberdeen where they were met by EMS, who then transported the victim to the hospital. Authorities say the victim was initially reported in good condition. 3 teens charged in 7 robberies on Saturday across Chicago Currently, it is unclear what led to the shooting and police say an investigation is ongoing.Officers say no arrests have been made in connection to the shooting.

'Coffee, Hip Hop & Mental Health' hosts brunch to raise money for therapy

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 10:17:50 GMT

CHICAGO — The coffee shop 'Coffee, Hip Hop & Mental Health' is now not only feeding the mind with healing, but also now the body with food. "The goal is to make this a safe space for people — not just a coffee shop," said Christopher Lemark, the founder of Coffee, Hip Hop & Mental Health.The shop is a way to bring free therapy to parts of the city often overlooked and is now hosting a brunch as a fall fundraiser to expand their efforts. The cafe manager, Kristen Prodehl, says their goal is to bring their services to Englewood, which is where the owner is from."I feel I found my purpose with my job here," Prodehl said. ‘It means a lot to the people’: Annual Labor Day Parade moves to Pullman Prodehl said they are attempting to raise $220,000 to send to people going through therapy. It has been a little more than a year since the café opened its doors to a permanent home on Belmont and Seminary, where they work on a donation model — order what you want and pay what you can. "...

2 dead after apparent shooting in Chicago Heights, police say

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 10:17:50 GMT

CHICAGO HEIGHTS, Ill. — Two people are dead after an apparent shooting in Chicago Heights early Sunday morning, according to the Chicago Heights Police Department (CHPD).Police said officers were called to the 500 block of West 14th Place around 4 a.m. on multiple reports of shots fired. When officers arrived on scene, they found two people with apparent gunshot wounds.The Chicago Heights Fire Department took them both to a local hospital, where the two later died as a result of their injuries. 3 teens charged in 7 robberies on Saturday across Chicago According to police, this was an isolated incident, and there is no on-going threat to members of the community.The investigation remains on-going and is being headed up by CHPD and the South Suburban Major Crimes Task Force. CHPD asks anyone with information on this incident to call 708-756-6422.

Thousands attend celebration of LGBTQ+ families at The Salt Shed

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 10:17:50 GMT

CHICAGO — People gathered on Sunday at The Salt Shed for a celebration of LGBTQ+ families after the original festival date was rescheduled.5,000 people RSVP'd to attend the inaugural Queer Fam Pride Jam. Family, Friends honor life of 13-year old boy with Wiffle ball tournament "I think Chicago does an incredible job showing up for LGBT people and today is a perfect example," Kristen Kaza, the founder and producer of Slo 'Mo Party, said. "It's all about joy, it's all about fun and it's for everyone."Kaza and Keewa Nurrullah, the owner of Kido, came together to organize the event and create a space for LGBTQ+ families to feel seen and celebrated."During this time when our rights are being threatened, where there is outward violence and book bans and all of that, it was so urgent and imperative to bring families together and be visible to show everyone we're here, we deserve everything to have all the joy and opportunities just to live," Nurullah said. Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson s...