SPORTS
Top college athletes clash in NCAA Outdoors today
By BRENT STUBBS Chief Sports Editor bstubbs@tribunemedia.net
THE National Collegiate Athletic Association Outdoor Championships will bring the curtain down on a competitive collegiate track and field season with a number of Bahamians in the spotlight.
The NCAA Division One Championships will be staged in Eugene, Oregon, from today through Saturday with the top competitors who advanced from the west and east regional finals two weeks ago colliding to determine the national champions. Today, the competition for the
men will begin with The Bahamas having a pair of competitors contesting the javelin. Kaden Cartwright, a freshman at Mississippi State, will be the fifth of 12 in the flight one with his
seed mark of 68.78m, while national record holder Keyshawn Strachan will be the 10th competitor in flight two with his seed mark of (76.00m). The best nine competitors will make it to the final on Friday.
On Thursday, the women will be showcased with the marquee event for The Bahamas coming in the 400m with three competitors all completing their collegiate eligibility in their senior campaigns.
Collinique Farrington, representing Texas Tech, will run out of lane nine in the first of three heats of the semifinals. She has a seed time of 51.99 seconds. Heat two will feature the other two competitors with
Javonya Valcourt of Tennessee running in lane six with her seed time of 50.26.
And Quincy Penn competing for Florida in lane eight with her seed time of 50.78.
The top two in each heat, plus the next best three times, will advance to the final on Saturday. On the field, The Bahamas will have one competitor with Calea Jackson, a junior at Miami (Florida) competing as the 11th of 12 in the last of the two flights of the women's discus.
The best nine competitors after the tie breaking will advance to the final on Saturday as well.
‘Jazz’ and Yankees grab 7-5 win over Guardians
By JONATHAN BURROWS
By BRENT STUBBS Chief Sports Editor bstubbs@tribunemedia.net
WHILE there are quite a number of quarter-milers in the pipeline, The Bahamas is also looking forward to the next core of sprinters to regain the country's legacy on the international scene. Camille Rutherford, one of those contenders, is making her case for national prominence. She is now sitting in second place on the 2026 performance list with a time of 11.22 seconds that she posted on May 31 at the Alumni Stadium in London, Canada. She trails Grand Bahamian collegian Shatalya Dorsett, who tops the list at 11.18 she ran on May 16 at the Jaguar Track in Mobile, Alabama. The top five competitors include versatile Anthaya Charlton, who ran 11.29 on May 24 in Bungertstadion, Rehlingen, Germany, followed by junior sensation Jazae Johnson, who clocked 11.30 at the CARIFTA
Games in St George's, Grenada, on April 4 and veteran Anthonique Strachan, who ran 11.36 on May 9 at the National Stadium in Kingston, Jamaica. All five competitors are expected to headline the list of sprinters entered in the Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations National Championships, scheduled for June 19-21 at the Thomas A Robinson Track and Field Stadium. Coming off her latest performance, Rutherford, the daughter of Chad and Demetrie Rutherford
YANKEES second baseman Jasrado “Jazz” Chisholm Jr dives in an attempt to field a ball hit by Guardians’ Jose Ramirez during the third inning Monday night in Cleveland.
KEYSHAWN STRACHAN
JAVONYA VALCOURT
QUINCY PENN CALEA JACKSON
Knicks need quick response from their first loss since April as Spurs try to even series
By BRIAN MAHONEY AP Basketball Writer
NEW YORK (AP) —
The last time the New York Knicks lost a game, they didn't do it again for another month and-a-half.
When they fell behind against Atlanta in the first round of the NBA playoffs, desperation turned into domination. The Knicks won 13 straight games, many of them blowouts, in one of the most impressive postseason stretches in NBA history.
They don't need to do anything so dramatic now. With a 2-1 lead over the San Antonio Spurs in the NBA Finals, a simple 2-2 record the rest of the season would give New York its first championship since 1973.
So after dropping Game 3, the Knicks don't need an overhaul. But they do need to be better.
“We have a veteran group. Nobody is quote-unquote panicking or anything
like that,” Knicks coach Mike Brown said yesterday.
"Everybody is disappointed that we didn’t go out and execute and play to what we feel our standard is.
That’s not taking anything away from San Antonio, but we feel like we can play a lot better than what we did.
“We’re looking forward to going out on the floor and showing it.”
Game 4 is tonight in a series in which the road team has won all three games, only the second time that's happened in the NBA Finals.
The Spurs jumped on the Knicks right at the start and then outplayed them late in their 115-111 victory on Monday. Victor Wembanyama controlled the action on both sides with 32 points, eight rebounds, six assists and three blocked shots.
Showing no fear of a rowdy road environment in the first NBA Finals game in Madison Square Garden since 1999, just as they
didn't in winning a Game 7 on the road against defending champion Oklahoma City in the Western Conference finals, Wembanyama and the Spurs again looked like a team that might be able to win a title without first experiencing the growing pains that other young groups have.
“We will see. But my bet would be yes, it’s possible,” Wembanyama said.
The Spurs thought so even after dropping two games in San Antonio, which means to win the title they would have to become the first team to do so after starting 0-2 in its own building.
It's a belief built from having one of the best players in the world and loads of talent around him, a group so confident that the players didn't think much
of their accomplishment Monday.
“I didn’t want us to get too happy about one win and get satisfied and take our foot off the gas a little bit for the next game,” said guard Stephon Castle, who scored 23 points. “But I think since the end of Game 2 we’ve still been confident that we’re going to win this series, and that’s what we plan to do.”
The Knicks' first loss since April 23 didn't send them scrambling for
solutions, because they were constantly looking for ways to improve even when all they did was win.
“Each game, no matter what the situation is, we’re growing as a team. I think we’re learning and we’re getting better — obviously before last night,” Jalen Brunson said. “No matter what the situation is, we’re going to stick together. We’re going to execute, we’re going to be better.
That’s just how our mindset has to be going forward.”
THE WEATHER REPORT
There are things to fix. Karl-Anthony Towns isn't scoring in the fourth quarter.
Wembanyama has clearly figured out ways to hurt the Knicks in the last 1 1/2 games after struggling by his standards before that. They have to turn the ball over less and defend better without fouling — no matter what Brown thought of the officiating in Game 3. The Knicks did enough of those things well to run off the second-longest winning streak in postseason history. Now they have to recover quickly from a loss, or they'll head to San Antonio for Game 5 with the series tied.
“We have, what, 13 games in a row, 50 days of film to show what it looks like when we’re at our best. So we’ve got good film,” Towns said. “We’ll get back to our fundamentals, what makes us great, what made us great, and get back to work."
KNICKS guards Jalen Brunson (11) and Miles McBride (2) walk to their bench as Spurs head coach Mitch Johnson, left, looks away during second half of Game 3 of the NBA Finals Monday night. (AP Photo/Ross D Franklin)
winning a point yesterday with playing partner Victoria Mboko
their first round doubles match at the Queen’s Club tennis championships. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)
Serena returns: Williams makes a winning comeback in doubles at Queen’s Club
By MATTIAS KARÉN Associated Press
LONDON (AP) — After nearly four years away from professional tennis, Serena Williams showed she still has plenty of power to her game as she made a winning return at Queen’s Club yesterday.
The 44-year-old Williams hit service winners of up to 120 mph and some ferocious winners as she teamed up with 19-year-old Canadian Victoria Mboko to win their opening doubles match at the Queen’s Club grass-court tournament. Williams and Mboko beat third-seeded duo Nicole Melichar-Martinez and Erin Routliffe 7-6 (2), 6-2 in Williams’ first professional match since the 2022 U.S. Open.
Sprinter Camille Rutherford hoping to lead the charge
and the niece of Olympic bronze medallist Frank Rutherford, said she’s right where she wants to be.
“I think it was a good step in the right direction. There’s still another level I know I’m capable of reaching, so I’m encouraged,” Rutherford said.
“The goal now is to keep building, stay consistent, and trust the process.”
As she looks ahead to the rest of the season, the 23-year-old Rutherford, who graduated from Texas A&M with a bachelor of science in AG communications and journalism, said her aim is to continue to get better.
“The expectation for the rest of the season is simple, continue improving, compete against strong fields, and put myself in contention whenever I race,” she
Chisholm
By JOE REEDY AP Sports Writer
CLEVELAND (AP)
— Cody Bellinger hit a tworun single with the bases loaded in the 10th inning and the New York Yankees defeated the Cleveland Guardians 7-5 on Monday night.
Paul Goldschmidt and Ryan McMahon homered for the Yankees, who won for the first time in four extra-inning games this season.
Angel Martínez connected for a two-run homer in the fifth to give the Guardians a 5-4 lead before Goldschmidt's grounder in the eighth drove in Trent Grisham to tie it. New York had runners at the corners with one out in the eighth when Cleveland shortstop Brayan Rocchio made a diving stop on Jasrado “Jazz” Chisholm Jr's hard-hit grounder up the middle. Rocchio touched second base with his glove, pivoted and then threw out Chisholm at first from his right knee to complete the double play. With Ali Sánchez as the automatic
said. “ I believe my best performances are still ahead of me.”
This year, Rutherford said her goal is to compete at either or, if possible, both the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland, July 23 to August 2 and the Central American and Caribbean Games, set for July 24 to August 8 in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. “I’ve competed internationally
They next face Leylah Fernandez and Laura Siegemund in the quarterfinals.
As if to punctuate that she’s back, Williams served out the first-round match with two aces followed by a service winner.
“It was so fun. I had so much fun playing with Victoria,” Williams said in an on-court interview. “We’ve never played together but it just felt so natural playing with her.” Later, though, Williams gave herself a modest grade in her post-match news conference. “A C-minus,” Williams said, before cutting herself some slack. “With all the elements, considering coming back on grass is probably not the easiest surface. ... Grass, four years. Overall, I think it was decent.”
before at the World Championships, World Indoor Championships, and World U20 Championships, so I understand the level of competition,” Rutherford said.
“My expectation this year is to continue improving, compete confidently, and represent The Bahamas to the best of my ability while chasing faster times and strong performances,” she said.
after being tagged out at second base attempting to steal during the sixth inning of a
Monday, June 8, 2026, in Cleveland.
runner in the 10th, Ben Rice was intentionally walked with one out. Max Schuemann challenged a called strike three on a full count and got it overturned to ball four, loading the bases. The Guardians pulled their infield in, but
Bellinger's base hit to left field off Shawn Armstrong (1-1) drove in Sánchez and Rice. David Bednar (2-3), the seventh Yankees pitcher, struck out three in 1 2/3 hitless innings for the win. He retired five of the six batters
(AP Photos/David Dermer)
he faced. Martínez was mired in an 8-for-61 slump before his two-run shot to right-centre off Paul Blackburn in the fifth. It was Martínez's first homer since May 17 against Cincinnati. After Rice drew a walk in the first, Goldschmidt
Chisholm Jr and Bellinger hit 8th-inning homers to lead Yankees over Red Sox 6-1
NEW YORK (AP)
— Cody Bellinger's tiebreaking homer sparked a five-run eighth inning capped by Jasrado “Jazz” Chisholm Jr's three-run drive, and the banged-up New York Yankees beat the Boston Red Sox 6-1 on Sunday. Bellinger drove a cutter from Justin Slaten (0-3) into the right-centre seats for a 2-1 lead. Trent Grisham added an RBI single and Chisholm Jr went deep on a cutter against Joe La Sorsa. New York (38-26) gained a split of the rain-shortened, two-game series and moved within percentage points of firstplace Tampa Bay (37-25). The Rays have led the AL East since May 10. Tim Hill (3-2) pitched a perfect eighth. New York is missing a trio of regulars who are on the injured list: Aaron Judge (fractured rib), Giancarlo Stanton (calf strain) and Austin Wells (cervical headaches). In five games without Judge, the Yankees are batting .226 with 19 runs. Pitching against the team he rooted for growing
PONY, from Page 10
night. The third baseman launched a two-run homer in the third inning before adding another home run later in the contest as Puerto Rico’s lineup consistently put pressure on Bahamas pitching.
Asked about his team’s success at the plate, Ferebeity credited his hitters’ preparation. “They throw a lot of fastballs,” he said. “We were alive. They know how to throw, so they throw fastballs, but we ready.”
Bahamas starter Travonte Saunders worked 3 1/3 innings, allowing seven hits and six earned runs while striking out three and walking three. Logan Rolle came on in relief and surrendered four runs over 1 1/3 innings. Puerto Rico starter Sergio Pagon was dominant from the opening pitch. He tossed a complete-game one-hitter over five innings, striking out six and walking none.
The lone hit for The Bahamas came off the bat of Rolle, who finished 1-for-2. Despite the lopsided scoreline, Bahamas head coach Donovan Cox said
up, Yankees starter Cam Schlittler dropped his ERA to 1.87 with his ninth start allowing no runs or one.
He gave up an RBI double with two outs in the sixth to his last batter, Willson Contreras. Schlittler's four-seam fastball averaged 97.5 mph, down from 99.6 mph on May 4 but up from 96.8 mph in his previous start Tuesday against Cleveland. José Caballero doubled in the fifth.
And he scored when Paul Goldschmidt lofted an opposite-field RBI single to right just in front of Wilyer
the result did not reflect the quality of his team throughout the tournament.
“We wanted the gold, man. We wanted to put on for the country,” Cox said. “Unfortunately, we came up short. We just got beat by a better team tonight.” Cox believes his team never found its rhythm offensively against Pagon.
“We didn’t come out and show exactly what kind of talent we are. We didn’t hit,” he said. “Probably on another day, I’m pretty sure we beat them if we hit. But I got to tip my cap to Puerto Rico. They were dominant.”
Abreu, who nearly made a sliding, backhand grab.
Boston starter Ranger Suarez, who is 0-1 in six starts since April 27, gave up one run and six hits in 6 1/3 innings.
With Wells sidelined, catcher Ali Sánchez started and went 0 for 2 in his Yankees debut.
Boston second baseman Anthony Siegler had a double and a walk in his Yankee Stadium debut.
He was drafted 23rd overall by New York in 2018 and was allowed to become a free agent after the 2024 season.
The Bahamas struggled to generate offence throughout the contest, striking out six times and failing to advance a runner into scoring position.
“The pitcher was pretty good,” Cox said. “The guys had a few tight calls go against us, but we just got to fight. We got to swing the bat. You can’t leave the bat on your hands.”
Although disappointed with the championship game result, Cox praised his players for the effort they displayed during the tournament. “These boys fought all tournament, man,” he said.
connected on a cutter from starter Gavin Williams and drove it into the left-field bleachers. Goldschmidt has hit safely in 11 of his last 12 games, batting .314 (16 for
51) with three homers and 13 RBIs during that span. McMahon led off the fifth with a shot to left on a low curveball to put the Yankees up 4-3.
“I think they’re pretty good. If you asked me before the last game, I think we were the best team in the tournament. We just came out flat in the last game and it happens. That’s baseball.”
The Bahamas finished the tournament with a silver medal, falling one win short of advancing to the World Series. Cox said improving the pitching depth of the programme will be critical moving forward.
“Definitely pitching,” he said when asked what the team must improve to win future championships. “I think that’s where we fell
short in the last game. They showed they were a better hitting team and a better pitching team. Sometimes that’s how baseball goes. They just out-hit us tonight.” While the championship trophy belongs to Puerto Rico, The Bahamas’ run to the final showcased a talented group that battled through the field and earned a place on the podium in front of the home crowd at the Andre Rodgers National Baseball Stadium. T The Bahamas Host 14U group finished up the tournament in fourth place overall.
NEW York Yankees’ Jazz Chisholm Jr. collides with Cleveland Guardians shortstop Brayan Rocchio
baseball game,
SHATALYA DORSETT
ANTHAYA CHARLTON
JAZAE JOHNSON
ANTHONIQUE STRACHAN
Jazz Chisholm Jr., left, reacts after hitting a single during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Athletics, Saturday, May 30, 2026, in West Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Scott Marshall)
YANKEES’ Jazz Chisholm Jr. reacts after hitting a threerun home run, leading Trent Grisham and Anthony Volpe to also score, during the eighth inning against the Boston Red Sox, Sunday, June 7, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Pamela Smith)
SERENA Williams celebrates
during