06202018 sports

SPORTS SECTION E

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 20, 2018

‘US OPEN BEING REMEMBERED FOR THE WRONG REASONS’ PAGE E7

TEAM BAHAMAS ‘PREPARED FOR WHOEVER THEY FACE’ IN SURINAME

By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

WHILE they wait to see who their opponent will be, interim head coach Wayde Watson said Team Bahamas will be prepared for whoever they face in the FIBA Caribbean Women’s Cup crossover playoffs today in Paramaribo, Suriname.

Team Bahamas qualified as the number two seed out of Group A after losing by 27 to Cuba in their first game on Monday at the Anthony Nesty Sporthal before coming back and winning by 25 over St Vincent and the Grenadines on Tuesday.

Cuba clinched the top spot after going undefeated, blasting St Vincent and the Grenadines 108-32 in the last game of their group play on Wednesday as the Bahamas watched during an off day.

“We were a lot more upbeat after beating St Vincent and the Grenadines,” said Watson after their 75-50 triumph.

“But I told them it’s not something that we should use as a benchmark, but to be thankful for the win.

“We have to remember that we still have a lot more to accomplished as far as our goals are concerned in this tournament. But I think after we got through our pool, we feel we should be okay against whoever we meet in the playoffs.”

Tougher Despite only having three teams in their grouping, Watson said he feels it was tougher than Group B, which comprised of the Dominican Republic, Suriname, Barbados and Guyana.

“We just have to turn it up a notch. If we are prepared to do so, we can go to the gold medal round,” said Watson of Thursday’s finale, which will determine which two teams will advance to the Centro Basket, scheduled for August 20-24 in Puerto Rico.

At the end of their round robin play, Valerie Nesbitt leads the way offensively with a total of 31 points, five assists and four steals in 60 minutes on the court.

Brea Forbes, in 47, minutes, has scored 23 points with eight rebounds, five steals and three assists. Tracy Lewis, in 35 minutes, has scored 15 points with nine rebounds, three assists and three steals, while Shalonda Neely, in 34 minutes has 13 points, nine rebounds, two assists and two block shots.

Britenique Harrison has played 42 minutes and contributed 12 points, 11 rebounds, six blocks, two assists and a steal and Pamela Bethel, in 30 minutes, has 12 points on her ledger with eight rebounds.

Watson, who is being assisted by Varel Davis and Anton Francis, said they made a slight adjustment in the starting line-up from game one and they still got off to a slow start.

But he admitted that after a practice on their off-day on Tuesday, he had a heart-to-heart team meeting and emphasised to the players the need for them to “leave everything on the line”.

SEE PAGE THREE

RUSSIA BEAT EGYPT TO CLOSE IN ON LAST 16

RUSSIA’S ARTYOM DZYUBA, centre, and his teammates celebrate their side’s third goal during the group A match between Russia and Egypt at the 2018 soccer World Cup in the St. Petersburg stadium in St. Petersburg, Russia, yesterday. Russia are on the brink of the last 16 after a 3-1 victory. (AP) • SEE PAGES FOUR AND FIVE

Mako clinch first swimming title

By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

THE Mako Aquatic Club made their debut in the Bahamas Swimming Federation’s National Championships a spectacular one.

At the end of the fourday meet on Tuesday night at the Betty Kelly Kenning Swim Complex, Mako celebrated as they clinched their first team title with a total of 2,076.50 points to out-distance their nearest rivals, Alpha Aquatics Club, who had 1,073.50.

The Grand Bahama Tritons rounded out the top three with 864.

“It feels great. We set our goals at the beginning of the year and the kids came out and accomplished 100 percent of them,” said Mako’s head coach Travano McPhee. “I can’t be more proud of these kids. They came out and showed up, breaking multiple national records.

“Our 9-10 girls swept three relays with three records, our senior boys all the way to out 9-and-under boys performed very well.

We had some newcomers in their first nationals and they stepped up and performed

THE Mako Aquatic Club celebrate with their trophy after winning the Bahamas Swimming Federation’s National Championships.

PHOTO: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff

very well. I’m very proud of the kids. I can’t ask for anything more.”

At least 44 records were broken during the course of the meet and there were a number of competitors who attained the qualifying standards for some of the

international meets left on the calendar for this year.

The BSF, headed by Algernon Cargill, is expected to release the names of the competitors named to the team in a few days.

One of those top performers from Mako was

Keianna Moss, the high point runner-up in the 11-12 girls division with 59 points behind Barracuda’s Devin Cuffy-Bethel, the winner with 61.

Moss broke three individual records in the 50 back in 32.27 seconds, the 100m

back in 1:11.06 and the 200m back in 2:37.81.

“I was really pleased. I was really trying to break all of the national records and so I am really proud of myself,” said Moss, a SEE PAGE THREE

BAHAMAS DELEGATION HEADS TO NBA DRAFT FOR DEANDRE

DEANDRE Ayton is expected to become the number one pick in the NBA Draft.

By BRENT STUBBS If he doesn’t go first, BahamiSenior Sports Reporter ans are hoping that Ayton could bstubbs@tribunemedia.net end up with the Sacramento

Kings where he could team up with Grand Bahamian Chavano MINISTER of Youth, Sports ‘Buddy’ Hield. and Culture Michael Pintard, Coming out of the University will head a Bahamian delegation of Oklahoma as the Big 12 Conto Brooklyn, New York for the ference Men’s Player of the Year National Basketball Association back-to-back in 2015 and 2016, (NBA) 2018 Draft where BahaHeild was selected with the sixth mian Deandre Ayton is expected overall pick in the 2016 draft by to become the number one pick.

The draft will take place on MINISTER of Youth, the New Orleans Pelicans.

On February 20, 2017, Hield, Thursday at 7pm at the Barclays Sports and Culture 24, was traded to the Kings where Center and will be carried live on Michael Pintard. he was named to the NBA AllTNT. If he gets selected by the Phoenix Suns, Rookie First Team.

Mr Pintard said he’s excited, just as every Ayton would become the second Bahamian taken as the first pick since Mychal Bahamian is, for Ayton and his family as ‘Sweet Bells’ Thompson became the first he embarks on a life changing experience.

“He is clearly one of those athletes, who foreign-born player chosen by the Portconstantly references the Bahamas, the land Trail Blazers in the 1978 draft.

Thompson, who played with the famed 242, and so we are appreciative of him and Miami Jackson’s team before he went on we are committed to him as we do all other to shine for the University of Minnesota, Bahamian athletes operating on the interplayed for eight seasons with the Trail national circuit,” Mr Pintard said as he headed for New York.

Blazers before he was San Antonio Spurs.

“We are cautiously optimistic that he Then, after playing only a half season, he was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers would go number one, but we know that in February, 1987 where he went on to win in many ways, he remembers the future of two consecutive NBA titles in 1987 and SEE PAGE TWO 1988.

PAGE 2, Wednesday, June 20, 2018

THE TRIBUNE

BAHAMAS DELEGATION HEADS TO NBA DRAFT FOR DEANDRE AYTON FROM PAGE ONE the league and we pray for good health for him and that his performance exceeds his own expectations. He represents the cadre of talented young Bahamians who are competing in a number of sports where coaches can come and find talented and disciplined athletes.”

Ayton, 19, is on the threshold of joining a group of Bahamians, who would have already played in the NBA, including Ian ‘Foots’ Lockhart, an Exuma native, who played with the Suns in the 1990-91 season. Lockhart hailed from Nassau Christian Academy and the University of Tennessee.

Among the other Bahamians who played in the NBA were Dexter Cambridge, a native of Eleuthera, who played for the Dallas Mavericks in the 1992-093 season via AF Adderley High School and the University of Texas.

Rick Fox, a Bahamian/ Canadian who attended Kingsway Academy, went to Warsaw Community High School in Indiana and then shined at North Carolina before he was drafted with the 24th pick in the first round by the Boston Celtics.

Fox, now a retired movie star and TV commentator for ESPN, played with the Celtics until the 1997 season when he was released and picked up by the Los Angeles Lakers where he won three titles from 2000-2002.

Thompson’s younger son, Klay Thompson, who grew up and played on the 2016 Olympic team for the United States of America,

calls the Bahamas his second home.

Playing alongside Stephen Curry to form what they call the “Splash Brothers” in Golden State, Thompson surpassed his father when he earned his third NBA title this year to go with the crowns they won in 2015 and 2017.

Mr Pintard, who will head the delegation that includes members from the Ministry of Tourism and the Bahamas Basketball Federation, said they hope to make their presence felt when the draft takes place on Thursday at the Barclays Center.

Facilities While in New York, Mr Pintard said he will also be holding meetings with the NBA with the view of having them come down to utilise the facilities at the Kendal Isaacs Gymnasium for practices and away games when they play overseas.

“We also want to discuss their feeder system where they can have some of those games and or practices here,” Pintard said. “So I will be having that type of discussion with them.

“We are also opening up a grass root hub in Grand Bahama, so I will be having some discussions with them on how we can get the NBA involved to assist us in that regard.”

As for where Ayton ends up, Mr Pintard said it would be great if he can team up with Hield in Sacramento, but they like the projection that he will go with the number one pick with Phoenix.

“I think he would be quite happy wherever he goes,” Mr Pintard pointed out.

Jeff Rodgers, a representative from the Ministry of Tourism, will be making the trip, but he’s looking at it from a different perspective. It was during the Jeff Rodgers camp that Ayton was discovered before he headed off to the United States.

“During that time, he was a skinny 6’3 kid running around in the Bahamas Academy Auditorium,” Rodgers said. “We had a chance to talk to his parents to get him enrolled in the camp, but he was more into his friends.

“He was very playful, but once he got into the programme and realised that basketball was something that he liked, he went to the USA and things just started to open up for him.”

Rodgers said he couldn’t recall exactly who scouted him at the time, but there was a lot of interest from a number of persons, including Olympic triple jump bronze medalist Frank Rutherford, who operates a development programme for Bahamian youngsters in Houston, Texas.

“I remember when he played his last high school game and I walked into the gym and he was on the bench,” Rodgers said.

“After the game, he was telling his players that I was the gym that got me started.

He always included me in his interviews.”

In 2016, before he enrolled at Arizona for his rookie season, Ayton came home and played for the Bahamas men’s national

ARIZONA forward Deandre Ayton cuts down the net after winning the Pac-12 title following an NCAA college basketball game against California in March. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri) team at the Centrobasket.

The team was coached

by Mario Bowleg, the first vice president of the Bahamas Basketball Federation.

Bowleg, too, will be a part of the Bahamian delegation in New York for the draft.

“We always felt that Bahamians had raw talent when it came down to sports,” he said. “We

proved that we can compete with anybody in any sport anywhere around the world.

“Deandra Ayton is just a prime example once again for basketball that we have the talent and, once harnessed properly, could reach the highest level.”

Thirty-years after Thompson did it, Bowleg

said it will be another major achievement for the Bahamas to see Ayton get selected with the first pick in the draft.

“To have two Bahamians drafted number one in the NBA is quite a milestone for us,” he pointed out. “It tells us what we can develop in this year, once the talent is harnessed properly.”

MURRAY BACK FROM INJURY, LOSES TO KYRGIOS IN 3 SETS

ANDY Murray of Britain plays a return to Nick Kyrgios of Australia during their singles tennis match at the Queen’s Club tennis tournament in London, Tuesday.

(AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

LONDON (AP) — Andy Murray won the first set on his return from injury after almost a year away from competitive tennis before Australian Nick Kyrgios rallied to win 2-6, 7-6 (4), 7-5 in the first round at Queen’s Club on Tuesday.

Despite the defeat, Murray — who last played 342 days ago at Wimbledon 2017 — will take encouragement from his long-awaited return.

Former top-ranked Murray still had a visible limp and sometimes looked to struggle with side-to-side movement after hip surgery in January, but he had lost none of his competitive spirit.

Kyrgios, who also looked to be struggling with injury, beat Murray for the first time in six attempts after 2 hours, 39 minutes.

Earlier, Novak Djokovic’s first appearance at the Wimbledon warmup

World Cup 2018 results TUESDAY Group A Russia....................................... 3 1.............................................. Egypt Fathy (47’ og), (59’ minutes), Dzyuba (62’) Salah (73’ pen)

Group H Colombia.................................. 1 2............................................ Japan Quintero (39’) Kagawa (6’ pen), Osako (73’) Poland...................................... 1 2......................................... Senegal Krychowiak (86’) Cionek (37’ og), Niang (60’)

tournament in eight years was successful when he put away Australian qualifier John Millman 6-2, 6-1.

Djokovic, entered as a wild card, will play second-seeded Grigor Dimitrov in the second round.

Also, Milos Raonic, runner-up to Roger Federer last week in Stuttgart, won his opener when Indian qualifier Yuki Bhambri retired hurt while trailing 6-1, 3-1.

Djokovic’s comeback from right elbow surgery in January has been gathering pace after reaching the Rome semifinals and French Open quarterfinals.

He leads Dimitrov 6-1 in career matchups.

Dimitrov, the 2014 Queen’s champion, struggled past Damir Dzumhur 6-3, 6-7 (4), 6-3. Dimitrov saved six of eight break points.

THE TRIBUNE

Wednesday, June 20, 2018, PAGE 3

Mako clinch first swimming title

M

SCENES from the Mako Aquatic Club’s celebrations last night.

PHOTO: Shawn Hanna/Tribune staff FROM PAGE E1 12-year-old heading into grade nine at St Andrew’s School, who was extremely pleased with her feat in the 50m back where she lowered her time the most.

Another Mako success story came from Davante Carey, the high point winner of the 15-and-over boys division. Carey, who is heading into grade 12 at Queen’s College, also set national records in the 50m back in 32.27 and 100m back in 58.96.

“Overall, I would say it was a very successful meet. I had four B cuts for the Youth Olympic Games in the 50m backstroke, 100m backstroke, 50m butterfly and 100m butterfly. We had a very strong start for a new club. Hopefully we can continue for multiple years and just stay together as a team.”

Jorge Rodriquez, now in his fourth year here in the Bahamas as the head coach of Alpha, said he was pleased with his team’s second place finish.

“I felt pretty good about the way they performed,” he said. “One of the things we were looking for was for them to be exposed to this experience and eventually the younger kids will get the hang of competing in the nationals. So I think all of them performed very well. They tried to learn from their mistakes.

“I was talking to each of them though their races and they felt comfortable and they were not disappointed. They know what they have to do to improve for the next time they compete in the nationals.”

Jared Frizgerald, one of the top performers for Alpha, said he was happy with his performances.

“I was glad to come home and have some fun after I had a shoulder injury last year,”

said Fritzgerald, who will be transferring from Indiana University to attend the University of Tampa. “It was a lot of fun. It was good to be back with some friends and just having fun in my races.”

Zaylie Elizabeth-Thompson, a 14-year-old preparing for grade nine at St Andrew’s School, was the high point winner for Alpha in the 13-14 girls division with 50 points.

“It was pretty good. I swam some best times and I was able to get a good feel of the water,” said ElizabethThompson. “I felt my club did very well considering how many swimmers we have. It shows that we have the proper techniques and we have quality rather than quantity, so I was very proud of my team and what we have accomplished.”

The Grand Bahama Tritons, according to head coach Andy Loveitt, had their best performance so far with 33 gold out of 71 medals. Nine swimmers won national titles and 16 got medals – Nigel Forbes was a star for their team.

“The level of competition here was very good. We’re getting stronger and stronger as swimming continues to grow,” he summed up.

Forbes, a 12-year-old Sunland Baptist student going into grade eight, was the 11-12 boys high point winner with 63, holding off Freeport Aquatic’s Marvin Johnson, who had 61.

Forbes, however, stood out as a record breaker in the 100m butterfly in 1:03.27; 200m breaststroke in 2:39.42; 400m IM in 5:18.05; 50m butterfly in 27.67; 50m breast-

TEAM BAHAMAS ‘PREPARED FOR WHOEVER THEY FACE’ IN SURINAME FROM PAGE E1 “I’m hoping that they can develop a sense of urgency as we go into the crossover game and that we can get into the gold medal round.

“We could possibly end up playing the Dominican Republic, who seemed to be the top team coming out of their pool.

“Even though they are ranked much higher than us, I believe that we have the team to do it. It’s just a matter of getting the players to believe in themselves and in the system that have been trying to develop over the past few weeks.”

There is a possibility that the coaching staff will

make another adjustment in their starting line-up, but Watson said it will depend on who they end up playing.

If it’s the Dominican Republic, he said they will look at adjusting their team around Harrison, who is the tallest player on Team Bahamas.

“I told them that they can do it,” said Watson, about winning the gold. “I honestly believe that they can do it.

“They just have to go out there and execute.

“I just hope that something that was said by the coaches will resonate in their head and they will go out and leave it all on the court.”

stroke in 32.54 and 100m breaststroke in 1:12.24.

“I thought it was pretty good. I know I worked hard for it and I got it,” he said. “I was shocked that I got the 50, 100 and 200 breaststroke records. I wasn’t expecting to get them. The competition was good. It was close. It helped to push me to get the records.”

The spectators didn’t get to see Arianna Vanderpool-Wallace compete as she

announced her retirement before the meet, but two other elite swimmers made their presence felt.

Olympian Vereance ‘Evis’ Burrows was back in fine form, posting a time of 24.30 to lower his 50m butterfly record.

And University of Texas’ Joanna Evans, coming off her appearance at the Commonwealth Games in Australia, lowered her mark in the 200m freestyle to 2:01.73 and the 200m IM to 2:18.10.

FEDERER STRETCHES WINNING STREAK ON GRASS TO 17 HALLE, Germany (AP) — Roger Federer opened his Gerry Weber Open title defense by seeing off Aljaz Bedene of Slovenia 6-3, 6-4 on Tuesday.

The world No. 1 broke the No. 72nd-ranked Bedene at the first attempt and again for 5-4 in the second set to wrap up the win.

Fresh from winning his 18th grass-court title in Stuttgart on Sunday, Federer dropped just four points on his serve and forced seven break opportunities, taking two. Federer made his comeback in Stuttgart after skipping the entire clay-court season for the second year in a row, and again he looked sharp as he extended his grass-court winning streak to 17 matches including his titles at Halle and Wimbledon last year.

Record

ROGER FEDERER (AP)

The Swiss great is just five match wins away from matching Jimmy Connors’ all-time record of 174 victories on grass. Federer’s winning percentage is better, with 169 wins and 24 loses compared to Connors’ record of 174-34.

Federer is bidding for a record-extending 10th title in Halle, which would be his fourth of the season and 99th overall. Two-time finalist Alexander Zverev was upset by Borna Coric, 6-1, 6-4. The second-seeded German wore a bandage after tearing a muscle in his left thigh during his quarterfinal run at Roland Garros, and he said the injury was holding him back.

“At first I was afraid that I couldn’t play at all in Halle or Wimbledon,” Zverev said.

Also, Stefanos Tsitsipas of Greece upset fifth-seeded Lucas Pouille 6-2, 7-6 (3), and former title winner Philipp Kohlschreiber progressed against Marton Fucsovics.

There were also first-round wins for Andreas Seppi, Florian Mayer, Matthew Ebden, Karen Khachanov and Benoit Paire.

PAGE 4, Wednesday, June 20, 2018

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‘IRANIAN MESSI’ FEELS AT HOME AT WORLD CUP BEFORE SPAIN GAME

JAPAN’S YUYA OSAKO, centre, scores his side second goal during the group H match between Colombia and Japan. (AP)

By SAMUEL PETREQUIN, AP Sports Writer KAZAN, Russia (AP) — It was on a cold night of November two years ago that Iran centre forward Sardar Azmoun displayed his class to the world.

Playing against Bayern Munich in the Champions League with his Russian Premier League club Rostov, Azmoun collected a pass from a teammate on the edge of the area. He continued his run into the box, sent defender Jerome Boateng to the ground with a fine dribble and showed the composure of a seasoned veteran to slot the ball home with a calm finish.

That night, Rostov pulled off a surprise 3-2 win over Bayern, the kind of upset Iran will be looking for when they take on Spain at the Kazan Arena on Wednesday at the World Cup following a 1-0 win against Morocco in their opening game. Spain drew their opening Group B match 3-3 with Portugal last week.

With his excellent dribbling skills, the 23-year-old Azmoun has all the qualities required to become a big star of the game.

Already regarded as one of the best players in the Russian Premier League, Azmoun was impressive during Iran’s unbeaten qualifying campaign for the World Cup, scoring 11 goals.

With 23 goals in 33 international matches, Azmoun is already fifth on Iran’s alltime list, following in the footsteps of the great Ali Daei, who scored 109 goals in 149 appearances with Iran.

“As a child, I used to look up at players like Ali Daei, or Zlatan Ibrahimovic,” Azmoun said. “Watching and studying them told me a lot as a player.”

Azmoun has been nicknamed the “Iranian Messi” although he takes his inspiration from the former Sweden international.

“Ibrahimovic is a great player, and as a fellow forward, he probably is the player I most want to play like.”

Of course, Azmoun is lagging well behind Messi and Ibrahimovic in the soccer greats’ hierarchy, but his potential is huge. At 6 feet 4 inches tall, Azmoun has excellent qualities in the air, but he is also a top goal poacher with finishing skills. His talent hasn’t gone unnoticed and Azmoun has been linked for a move with several big European teams.

The son of a former Iran volleyball player, he has been playing in Russia since he turned professional. Now with Rubin Kazan, he will feel at home against Spain as the game has been scheduled at the Kazan Arena in the capital of the Tatarstan region.

Although Iran are attacking more than at the last World Cup, coach Carlos Queiroz’s team can now focus on defending well as a draw would keep them ahead of the 2010 champions in their quest for a knockout round spot.

Spain’s priority will be not only to win after being held to a 3-3 draw by Portugal, but also to score as many goals as possible in a group where top spot is likely to be decided on goal difference if Spain and Portugal win their last two remaining matches.

Iran have proved to be very difficult to break down.

The Persian side were able to produce a clean sheet against Morocco after staying unbeaten in 10 qualifiers. They didn’t concede a single goal in their first nine qualifying games.

“Everybody knows that Spain is one of the greatest teams in football history, and one thing that we can guarantee is that the Spanish team will not have an easy time against us,” Iran goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand said. “Everybody knows that our boys are fighters, and we will fight and we will keep our concentration until the very last second of the match.”

EARLY PENALTY HELPS JAPAN BEAT COLOMBIA 2-1 AT WORLD CUP

By BRETT MARTEL, AP Sports Writer

SARANSK, Russia (AP) — Japan did what no other Asian team had ever done at a World Cup — beat a South American squad on the biggest stage in soccer.

The 2-1 victory over Colombia on Tuesday was another surprising result in an unpredictable tournament.

A costly mistake by Colombia midfielder Carlos Sanchez in the opening minutes led to a red card and a penalty, helping Japan take an early lead. Coming in the third minute, it was the second fastest red card in World Cup history and the first of this year’s tournament.

Yuya Osako won a bouncing ball to begin a sequence that led to the red card and the penalty. Sanchez blocked Shinji Kagawa’s shot with his extended right arm and was ejected.

Kagawa then converted from the spot.

Colombia, who played with 10 men for the rest of the match, scored late in the first half on Juan Quintero’s rolling but accurate free kick, which sneaked inside

DREAM SEQUENCE Osako was instrumental in both goals and sprawled to block a close-range shot

by Colombia midfielder James Rodriguez in the waning minutes.

“To score a goal for me in World Cup has been a dream,” Osako said. “This is World Cup, it’s a huge stage, and I think we started off very well.”

The win provided joy to a country recovering from a deadly earthquake in Osaka a day earlier. Japanese princess Takamado attended the match.

REMATCH REVERSAL Colombia defeated Japan 4-1 when the teams met in group play in Brazil four years ago, and the Japanese also began the game without Shinji Okazaki, a Leicester forward who has been trying to overcome a sore calf.

But it was apparent within minutes, when Sanchez got the red card, that the rematch would not go so smoothly for the Colombians.

Okazaki did get in the game, but not until the 85th minute. the right post. Osako’s gritty determination led to a 73rd-minute header from Keisuke Honda’s corner kick that gave Japan three points in Group H. “He played well in Germany this season,” Honda said of the Werder Bremen forward. “He also couldn’t

PERSONNEL SHUFFLE Colombia started without Rodriguez, the leading scorer at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

The Bayern Munich midfielder has an injured left calf and was on the bench at the start.

He came on in the 59th minute, but his best chances were thwarted by Japan’s desperate defending.

Pekerman also subbed out experienced midfielder Juan Cuadrado earlier than anticipated in response to Sanchez’s red card.

BIZARRE BEGINNING World Cup games are known for starting on time, but not this one.

When the game was due to start, Falcao walked across to Japan’s side of the field and spoke to referee Damir Skomina in a discussion that lasted beyond the official countdown to kickoff.

Moments later, Skomina ordered both teams to change sides, after which the match began.

score last World Cup and I knew he really wanted to score this game. I’m happy he scored.”

Japan became the latest team to pull off an upset at the World Cup, joining Mexico, Switzerland and Iceland in earning unexpected results. The win

was a surprise also because Japan changed coaches shortly before the tournament, and because Asian teams had failed to beat South American opposition in 17 previous World Cup meetings.

“Normally you prepare a match to play 11 players

against 11 and to lose one player in the first three minutes — to lose such a crucial player — that’s not an easy thing,” Colombia coach Jose Pekerman said. “In the second half, Japan adapted its style and managed to score by playing better and taking advantage of their opportunities.”

Sanchez did not speak to reporters after the match.

Japan will next face Senegal on Sunday in Yekaterinburg, while Colombia take on Poland in Kazan on the same day.

“If we had actually won the World Cup, we would have had a parade on the main street of Saransk,” Japan coach Akira Nishino said. “However, it is just one win, three points.

“We’ll save our celebrations.”

Colombia captain Radamel Falcao, who made his World Cup debut after a knee injury sidelined him in 2014, said his team will approach its remaining group games like “two finals.”

“We only depend on what we do from now on,” Falcao said. “We need to be strong, have character and show the power of our team.”

SENEGAL BEAT POLAND 2-1 FOR FIRST AFRICAN WIN AT WORLD CUP

By RONALD BLUM, AP Sports Writer

MOSCOW (AP) — Senegal midfielder Mbaye Niang saw the signal from the referee to re-enter following treatment for an injury and jogged along the centre line. Then Niang noticed Poland’s Grzegorz Krychowiak loft a backpass to Jan Bednarek, who hadn’t realised Niang was back on the field.

Niang outsprinted goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny to reach the ball about 40 yards from the net, knocked the ball forward and tapped it in for Senegal’s second fluky goal of the night. The Lions of Teranga held on for a 2-1 win over Poland and opened the World Cup with a surprising victory — just like in 2002.

“You have to deserve your luck,” Niang said. “We were rewarded today for our work. You have to seize your chances when they are given to you.”

Senegal became the first African team to win at this year’s World Cup after Egypt, Morocco, Nigeria and Tunisia were beaten.

They went ahead in the 37th minute when Thiago Cionek’s attempted block of Idrissa Gueye’s shot deflected and wrong-footed Szczesny, who was picked to start over fellow Arsenal castoff Lukasz Fabianski.

After Niang doubled the lead in the 60th, Krychowiak headed in Kamil Grosicki’s free kick in the 86th minute, ending a streak of five straight scoreless openers for Poland.

“Two goals following our mistakes was something that we were very unhappy with,” Poland coach Adam Nawalka said.

Senegal are tied for the group lead with Japan, who upset Colombia 2-1.

Senegal will play Japan on Sunday, when Poland meet Colombia.

This win set off joy in the streets of Dakar.

“We are not too euphoric because we do know there is going to be a difficult match against Japan,” Senegal coach Aliou Cisse said.

Senegal President Macky Sall was in

SENEGAL’S MBAYE NIANG, second left, celebrates with teammates after scoring his side’s second goal. (AP) the stands to watch the world’s 27thranked team upset the eighth-ranked nation — and bring up memories of the 1-0 win over defending champions France 16 years ago.

“France and Senegal have a history,” said Cisse, who captained the 2002 team. “France was the country that colonised Senegal.”

Poland fans in red and white were about three-quarters of the crowd of 44,190 as their nation returned to the World Cup for the first time since 2006.

Poland kept up their dismal streak of World Cup starts — they have four losses and three draws since beating Argentina in 1974.

Senegal took the lead when Niang went around Lukasz Piszczek on a

flank following a restart and centered to Sadio Mane. The star midfielder passed to Gueye, whose right-footed shot from the arc headed toward Szczesny’s far post. Cionek, near the penalty spot, lifted his right leg and deflected the ball past Szczesny’s other side for the fourth own-goal of the tournament.

Poland shifted to a three-man backline at the start of the second half, and Niang had been off the field after Jan Bednarek stomped on a foot. Referee Nawaf Shukralla of Bahrain, a veteran of two World Cup matches in 2014, waved Niang to come back on the field just as Krychowiak lofted a backpass from the centre circle to Szczesny.

Niang let it bounce twice, knocked

the ball past the goalkeeper and then sprinted to catch up as the ball bounced three more times. He tapped it into the open net from about 8 yards.

“Real unlucky situation,” Szczesny said. “Usually they keep him on the sideline for a little bit longer.”

Still, he didn’t fault the referee.

“That’s looking for an alibi for us,” he said. “It was a silly goal from our point.”

Nawalka attributed the goal to confusion, saying players thought a substitute was coming on.

“We simply lacked quality in the first half,” he said. “There were lots of unnecessary mistakes and lack of accuracy, and simply we didn’t play a very fluid football.”

THE TRIBUNE

SUAREZ EYES RETURN TO FORM IN 100TH APPEARANCE FOR URUGUAY

By DEREK GATOPOULOS, Associated Press ROSTOV-ONDON, Russia (AP) — Uruguay coach Oscar Tabarez paid tribute to Luis Suarez as the team prepared for Wednesday’s World Cup match against Saudi Arabia — the 100th international appearance for the Barcelona striker.

“It is a big number, but not just a number.

It means so much more to a player,” Tabarez said Tuesday. “Since he came up from the youth squad, Suarez has always had a pivotal role.”

The 31-year-old failed to shine in the opening match against Egypt, where the South Americans struggled before a late goal from defender Jose Gimenez gave them a 1-0 victory.

“I think there is agreement that (Suarez) did not have his best game against Egypt, but players are not programmable robots. They need support,” Tabarez said. “His potential remains intact.”

Suarez has scored 51 goals for Uruguay and is playing in his third World Cup.

Controversy His participation in 2014 was cut short after he infamously bit Italy defender Giorgio Chiellini. In 2010, he was again at the centre of controversy when he was sent off for using his hand to stop a goal from Ghana in the quarterfinals before Uruguay advanced in a penalty shootout.

Uruguay was the only South American team to win its opening match in a tournament where upsets have been commonplace. Tabarez’s squad is hoping to secure qualification Wednesday, but he said the Saudis would be keen to restore pride after their 5-0 thrashing

by Russia.

“We are not expecting a red carpet,” he said.

“They have fast and competent players. ...

But like everyone here, they have their strengths and weaknesses.”

At his fourth World Cup with Uruguay, the 71-year-old Tabarez is the oldest coach in the tournament, and he reflected on the impact of the game in his home country, a two-time champion with just 3.5 million people.

“There are not many countries that can say football is part of their identity, but we are one of them. Back home, even the monuments have been painted light blue. The pedestrian crossings have been repainted in blue and white,” he said.

“As with 2014, I expect more letters for old ladies who will confide in me that they have always hated football. But when they see us win they run out of the house and hug the first person they find. ...

In Uruguay, football is a religion.”

Wednesday, June 20, 2018, PAGE 5

Hosts Russia on brink of last 16 ABOVE: Russia’s Denis Cheryshev celebrates after scoring his side’s second goal against Egypt.

RIGHT: Russia’s Ilya Kutepov celebrates after the group A match. (AP)

By STEVE DOUGLAS, AP Sports Writer ST. PETERSBURG, Russia (AP) — Two wins, eight goals and almost certainly a place in the knockout stage for first time since the Soviet era.

Russia is enjoying quite the party at its own World Cup — and not even the highly anticipated return of Mohamed Salah could slow it down on Tuesday.

Confounding grim pretournament predictions, the host nation earned a second straight emphatic victory to start the group stage by beating Egypt 3-1. Having already routed Saudi Arabia 5-0, Russia are likely to be celebrating a spot in the round of 16

by Wednesday evening and few could have seen that happening so soon.

“It’s a group of solidarity and cohesion,” said Russia coach Stanislav Cherchesov, who whipped up the crowd by waving his arms in delight on the field after the final whistle. “You mention difficulties, problems. We don’t like these words. We don’t have this in our vocabulary. We had some issues and we dealt with it.”

Like a string of pretournament injuries that ravaged the defence. Like a run of seven winless games heading into the tournament. The Russians started the World Cup as the lowest-ranked team at the tournament at No. 70, but they aren’t playing like it.

Three goals in a 15-minute span early in the second half did the damage against Egypt, with Ahmed Fathi poking the ball into his own net — the fifth own-goal of the tournament

GROUP DYNAMICS The match between Russia and Uruguay in Samara on Monday is likely to determine which teams finish in first and second place in Group A, with Spain and Portugal likely lying in wait in the round of 16.

As for Egypt, a first win at a World Cup at the seventh attempt is the aim when it plays Saudi Arabia in Volgograd on the same day.

KEY TO SUCCESS Russia neutralised Salah in the tense but low quality first half, with Yuri Zhirkov dealing well with the Premier League’s player of the year particularly when he got in front to him to clear a dangerous cross early in the first half.

The Russians then took advantage of Egypt’s defensive mistakes to cruise into a three-goal lead out of nothing. Fathi’s attempted clearance for the first goal was sloppy, as was Ali Gabr’s attempt at closing down Dzyuba for the third goal.

Cheryshev, who entered the World Cup as a fringe player, is proving lethal in front of goal and is surprisingly tied as leading scorer with Cristiano Ronaldo.

SERIOUS STATS The five own-goals at this year’s tournament is only one off the record for a whole World Cup, set in 1998.

— to put Russia ahead in the 47th minute. Denis Cheryshev, with his third goal of the World Cup, and striker Artyom Dzyuba then scored in quick succession before Salah won and converted a consolation penalty in his first game back after 3 1/2 weeks out with a shoulder injury.

Salah needed to produce the type of performance he delivered nearly every week for Liverpool this season, when he scored 44 goals in 51 games, but it was clear from the start that he was staying out of anything too physical on his return from damaged ligaments in his left shoulder sustained in the Champions League final.

Aside from his goal, Salah was quiet in his first ever match at a World Cup,

much to the dismay of the Egypt fans in the stadium who roared every time their star player’s face flashed up on the big screen and when his name was announced before kickoff. Not to mention the 90 million Egyptians back home.

“I was told by the medical staff that he was fit, feeling good,” Egypt coach Hector Cuper said. “He couldn’t prepare with us in the training camp, he had to train alone. Maybe that meant his total physical ability was reduced.”

Egypt’s first World Cup in 28 years could be over in barely five days, while Russia’s place in the round of 16 will be assured if Uruguay wins or draws against the Saudis on Wednesday.

Those two scenarios would also eliminate Egypt.

EGYPT’s Mohamed Salah reacts after Egypt were beaten by Russia. (AP)

RUSSIA’S MARIO FERNANDES, left, challenges for the ball Egypt’s Mohamed Salah, right, during the group A match between Russia and Egypt at the 2018 soccer World Cup in the St. Petersburg stadium in St. Petersburg, Russia.

(AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)

doo THE TRIBUNE 18 24Rad terr 21 22 23 Rud 25 26 23 24 che 24 Mov bac 27 28 25 Tun 25 26 atm FOR YOUR CHANCE TO WIN £100 CASH 26 Ran letters in the highlighted squares to reveal th 27 Cor tO eNter: 27 28 call 0904 161 1603 and leave your ans num to 84915. calls cost £1.50 plus your telephone com 28 at midnight tonight. or send your grid containingAba the CARPE DIEM FOR YOUR CHANCE TO WIN £100 CASH read downmust thebe postmar sutton coldfield B73 9Bt. Entries say 18

PAGE 6, Wednesday, June 20, 2018

JUDGE PARKER

19

23 20

helpline letters in the highlighted squares tonumber. reveal the● mystery The winnerword. will be the first

NEED HELP? call 0904 161 1609 for 5 extra clue tO eNter: call 0904 161 1603 and leave your answer and details, or text DX to 84915. calls cost £1.50 plus your telephone company’s network access cha nAmE at midnight tonight. or send your grid containing the answer in the shaded squar sutton coldfield B73 9Bt. Entries must be postmarked by february 6 at the l ADDrEss helpline number. ● The winner will be the first random correct entry draw NEED HELP? call 0904 161 1609 for 5 extra clues! calls cost £1.50 plus you PostcoDE

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THE DAILY EXPRESS 30-SECON aCross: 1 Dep

Today’s answers: Beginner 37; intermediate 14=Salt and peppe

ADDrEss

MARVIN

25 Waist, 26 News

4 Trebled, 5 Rap CrossdoUB 16 Unsettle, 18 H

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Can you make two common five-letter words from the nine letters given, using each letter only once? you can THE DAILY EXPRESS 30-SECOND CHALLENgE – but only if one letter features in both Today’s answers: Beginnerwords = 37; intermediate = 301; advanced in the squares on the right. = 568.

There’s at least one way to do it, and you have to have the right letter at the crossover – but which one is it? see if you can find the answer within Can you make two common five-letter our target time. if you need help, ring words from the nine letters given, our clue-line below to find out the crossover using each letter only once? you can letter. solution tomorrow.

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call 0907 181 2585 for today’s target solution *Calls cost 80p per minute plus your telephone company’s network access charge.

*SP: Spoke – Helpline 0333 202 3390

CRYPTIC PUZZLE 1 A smoke screen? (6,3) 8 Board has the agreement of the French and German (5) 9 Italian consumer groups may accept such cases (7) 10 This boat may be tied up (6) 11 Illicitly acquired bundle of pound notes (6) 12 Accelerator or choke (8) 15 Goes off in a bad temper? (8) 18 No robe for a king (6) 20 They’re known for insurance, in the main (6) 21 A beautiful woman describes Eastern ways (7) 22 Study on leave in Africa (5) 23 Denis seen to be wanting (9)

Down 2 Mixed paint is unsuitable (5) 3 Three times they initially faced new peril (6) 4 Advanced in a rush, but thought better of it (8) 5 Shoot at nothing but obtain something to eat (6) 6 Persons out - on patrol? (7) 7 Stock-holder (6,3) 11 His clients expect a polished performance (9) 13 Found the answer again, being determined (8) 14 Dad’s turn to indicate name for an office, perhaps (7) 16 Very likely a peculiar boy (4-2) 17 Standard pen has a good point on (6) 19 Begins with writers on love (5)

Yesterday’s Cryptic Solution

Yesterday’s Easy Solution

Across: 1 Turns on, 4 Edged, 7 Bows, 8 Activity, 10 Air hostess, 12 Creche, 13 Timbre, 15 Indecision, 18 Analysed, 19 Mate, 20 Hindu, 21 Dithers.

Across: 1 Morphia, 4 Admit,

Down: 1 Tibia, 2 Reworded, 3 Nicety, 4 Evil spirit, 5 Grip, 6 Daytime, 9 No thank you, 11 Abdicate, 12 Car wash, 14 Behead, 16 Needs, 17 Cain.

Down: 1 Mania, 2 Response,

EASY PUZZLE

Across

7 Nosy, 8 Calvados, 10 Above board, 12 Resume, 13 Fairly, 15 Undercover, 18 Cape Horn, 19 Drag, 20 Lit up, 21 Hosiery.

Across

Down

1 Awareness (9)

2 Unpleasant (5)

8 Reluctance to

3 Ghost (6)

work (5) 9 Sceptically (7) 10 Trapped (6) 11 An edible shellfish (6)

4 Surround (8) 5 Total possessions (6) 6 Approximately (7) 7 True state of

12 Raw cabbage

affairs (5,4)

salad (8)

11 Obsolete (3-2-4)

15 An unguent (8) 18 Actually (2,4)

13 To contest in lawsuit (8)

20 Quit (6)

14 To animate (7)

3 Amazon, 4 At variance, 5 Made,

21 Head toward (4,3)

16 Noticeable (6)

6 Testify, 9 Seamanship,

22 Crisply brief (5)

17 Displease (6)

11 Traverse, 12 Radical,

23 The accused (9)

19 Buffoon (5)

14 Search, 16 Rugby, 17 Spot.

full solution

0907 181 2558

Z

1

*Calls cost 80p per minute 21 plus your telephone company’s network access charge.

2

3

4

22

23

24

● Alternatively, for six

PLay More Crosswords

THE TRIBUNE

Wednesday, June 20, 2018, PAGE 7

US OPEN BEING REMEMBERED FOR THE WRONG REASONS

By DOUG FERGUSON, AP Golf Writer

SOUTHAMPTON, N.Y. (AP) — If the aim of the U.S. Open is to identify the best player, then the last three got it right.

The problem is a tendency to remember what went wrong.

The lasting image from Shinnecock Hills was Phil Mickelson, now 0 for 27 in the U.S. Open, hitting his putt too hard on the 13th hole Saturday.

He moved as swiftly as his 48-yearold legs would allow and swatted the ball back toward the hole while it was still rolling. It was a shocking scene to everyone but Mickelson, who said he meant no disrespect to the game by intentionally violating a rule to either save shots or save a long walk to wherever his ball might have stopped.

Brooks Koepka, meanwhile, delivered a classic U.S. Open performance with discipline, grit and clutch putting. He effectively won by getting up-and-down three times in a fourhole stretch, one of them for bogey, the last one a par on the 14th hole when he first had to get his ball back in play from thick, shin-high grass.

He became the first repeat U.S. Open champion in 29 years, and it’s a wonder anyone remembers he won last year.

Just the mention of Erin Hills brings back memories of wide fairways and record scoring.

There was Koepka posing with the trophy, the large leaderboard behind

during the final round at Oakmont in 2016. There was a discussion on the fifth green on whether Johnson caused his ball to move a fraction of an inch. Equally vivid was the image of two officials telling Johnson on the 12th tee that he might be penalized one shot. Or he might not.

Overlooked is that tough par save from behind the 16th green, and Johnson hitting 6-iron to 5 feet on the 18th hole for a birdie to make the penalty a moot point.

The sign that a U.S. Open is not running smoothly is when Mike Davis, the chief executive of the USGA, is on TV as much as some of the players. The ideal week is when Davis is out of sight until the trophy presentation.

But he had some explaining to do, such as how the wind was stronger than expected on Saturday to the point that he felt good shots were not rewarded, and in some cases punished. He also explained why the rules did not provide for Mickelson to be disqualified.

The severity of Shinnecock in the third round should not take away from this U.S. Open. It’s supposed to be hard. It has a history of being the toughest test, and living on the edge often means crossing the line. Everyone still plays the same course, and Koepka shot 72 that day. That’s why he was in position to win.

If not for Mickelson making a spectacle of himself and the moment, odds are it would be forgotten sooner.

PHIL Mickelson reacts after sinking a putt on the 13th hole during the final round of the U.S. Open Golf Championship, in Southampton, N.Y. Mickelson brought attention to a tough setup on Saturday when he intentionally hit a putt with the ball still rolling and was penalised. (AP)

him filled with more red numbers than had ever been seen at a U.S. Open. He was the third player to win at double digits under par (16 under).

The other two were Tiger Woods, who won by 15 shots at Pebble Beach, and Rory McIlroy, who won by eight at Congressional. Koepka won by four shots, one of seven players to finish at 10 under or better.

The ultimate test was finding enough red numbers to put on all the boards.

“Everyone said Erin Hills was set up for me,” Koepka said. “It was set up for a lot of guys that bomb that

ball. I just happened to play a little bit better.”

No one was better on the back nine when he ran off three straight birdies, and the middle one was exquisite — a chip 8-iron from 155 yards to a back pin. Koepka called it the best shot he hit all week.

Remember that one?

Probably not, and that’s OK. It’s easy to lose track of birdies on a course that allowed a record 140 rounds under par.

Dustin Johnson spent more time talking to rules officials than to Lee Westwood, his playing partner,

Tom Meeks, the predecessor to Davis in setting up the U.S. Open, used to relish such moments. He said in a 2009 interview that the U.S. Open had to be harder than anything else, but still fair, and that was a hard line to find. “If I had any doubt, I would go the more difficult way,” Meeks said.

He also predicted that Davis, if he were to follow the U.S. Open philosophy, would made mistakes at some point.

“It doesn’t happen by design,” Meeks said. “It happens because of the U.S. Open.”

The USGA doesn’t always get it wrong. Its finest moment was Pinehurst No. 2 in 2014, when the U.S. Open delivered a proper test for the men and women in consecutive weeks. The first year two years Davis was in charge, the winning score at Winged Foot and Oakmont was 5-over par, and no one complained.

Lately, however, the U.S. Open has become more about the USGA than the player who gets the trophy. That doesn’t happen at the other majors.

With few exceptions, it’s about the winner, not the golf course. It’s about the player, not the organisation.

And so the memories of Shinnecock are as much about Mickelson as Koepka, and memories of Erin Hills are as much about low scores as the guy who had the lowest one.

Fans can choose what they want to remember. But it would be nice to have a U.S. Open when there wasn’t such a choice.

THE WEATHER REPORT

5-Day Forecast

TODAY

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

SUNDAY

Partly sunny

Partly cloudy

A t‑storm in spots in the afternoon

A t‑storm in spots in the afternoon

Clouds and sun with a thunderstorm

Clouds and sun with a thunderstorm

High: 86°

Low: 75°

High: 87° Low: 78°

High: 87° Low: 78°

High: 87° Low: 77°

High: 87° Low: 77°

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

98° F

82° F

99°-87° F

100°-87° F

99°-85° F

97°-84° F

ORLANDO

High: 93° F/34° C Low: 75° F/24° C

TAMPA

High: 92° F/33° C Low: 80° F/27° C

The exclusive AccuWeather RealFeel Temperature® is an index that combines the effects of temperature, wind, humidity, sunshine intensity, cloudiness, precipitation, pressure and elevation on the human body—everything that affects how warm or cold a person feels. Temperatures reflect the high and the low for the day.

N

almanac

E

W

ABACO

S

N

High: 82° F/28° C Low: 79° F/26° C

4‑8 knots

S

High: 89° F/32° C Low: 74° F/23° C

3‑6 knots

FT. LAUDERDALE

FREEPORT

High: 89° F/32° C Low: 78° F/26° C

E

W S

E

W

WEST PALM BEACH

N

uV inDex toDay

TONIGHT

High: 87° F/31° C Low: 76° F/24° C

MIAMI

High: 89° F/32° C Low: 76° F/24° C

2‑4 knots

KEY WEST

High: 87° F/31° C Low: 77° F/25° C

ELEUTHERA

NASSAU

High: 86° F/30° C Low: 75° F/24° C

Forecasts and graphics provided by AccuWeather, Inc. ©2018

High: 82° F/28° C Low: 79° F/26° C

N

tiDes For nassau High

Ht.(ft.)

Low

Ht.(ft.)

Today

1:55 a.m.

2:39 p.m.

2.9 2.7

8:25 a.m. ‑0.1 8:51 p.m. 0.3

Thursday

2:56 a.m.

3:41 p.m.

2.8 2.8

9:22 a.m.

9:58 p.m.

Friday

3:55 a.m.

4:40 p.m.

2.6 2.8

10:17 a.m. 0.0 11:00 p.m. 0.4

Saturday

4:53 a.m.

5:34 p.m.

2.5 2.9

11:09 a.m. 0.0 11:57 p.m. 0.3

Sunday

5:46 a.m.

6:22 p.m.

2.4 2.9

11:57 a.m. 0.0 ‑‑‑‑‑ ‑‑‑‑‑

Monday

6:35 a.m.

7:07 p.m.

2.3 3.0

12:48 a.m. 0.3 12:42 p.m. 0.0

Tuesday

7:20 a.m.

7:48 p.m.

2.3 3.0

1:34 a.m.

1:24 p.m.

0.0 0.4

0.2 0.0

sun anD moon Sunrise Sunset

6:21 a.m.

8:02 p.m.

Moonrise Moonset

1:27 p.m.

1:18 a.m.

First

Full

Last

New

Jun. 20

Jun. 28

Jul. 6

Jul. 12

CAT ISLAND

E

W

High: 84° F/29° C Low: 79° F/26° C

N

S

E

W

3‑6 knots

S

3‑6 knots Shown is today’s weather. Temperatures are today’s highs and tonight’s lows.

Statistics are for Nassau through 2 p.m. yesterday Temperature High ................................................... 84° F/29° C Low .................................................... 78° F/26° C Normal high ....................................... 87° F/31° C Normal low ........................................ 74° F/23° C Last year’s high ................................. 91° F/33° C Last year’s low ................................... 80° F/27° C Precipitation As of 2 p.m. yesterday .................................. trace Year to date ............................................... 20.87” Normal year to date ................................... 11.81”

The higher the AccuWeather UV IndexTM number, the greater the need for eye and skin protection.

ANDROS

SAN SALVADOR

GREAT EXUMA

High: 83° F/28° C Low: 79° F/26° C

High: 84° F/29° C Low: 79° F/26° C

N

High: 86° F/30° C Low: 78° F/26° C

E

W S

LONG ISLAND

insurance management tracking map

High: 84° F/29° C Low: 79° F/26° C

4‑8 knots

MAYAGUANA High: 84° F/29° C Low: 80° F/27° C

Shown is today’s weather. Temperatures are today’s highs and

CROOKED ISLAND / ACKLINS

tonight’s lows.

RAGGED ISLAND High: 83° F/28° C Low: 81° F/27° C

High: 84° F/29° C Low: 79° F/26° C

GREAT INAGUA High: 87° F/31° C Low: 79° F/26° C

N

E

W

E

W

N

S

S

4‑8 knots

4‑8 knots

marine Forecast ABACO ANDROS CAT ISLAND CROOKED ISLAND ELEUTHERA FREEPORT GREAT EXUMA GREAT INAGUA LONG ISLAND MAYAGUANA NASSAU RAGGED ISLAND SAN SALVADOR

Today: Thursday: Today: Thursday: Today: Thursday: Today: Thursday: Today: Thursday: Today: Thursday: Today: Thursday: Today: Thursday: Today: Thursday: Today: Thursday: Today: Thursday: Today: Thursday: Today: Thursday:

WINDS SE at 3‑6 Knots S at 6‑12 Knots S at 3‑6 Knots S at 4‑8 Knots SSE at 3‑6 Knots SSE at 3‑6 Knots SE at 4‑8 Knots ESE at 4‑8 Knots SSE at 3‑6 Knots S at 4‑8 Knots ESE at 4‑8 Knots SW at 6‑12 Knots SE at 3‑6 Knots SSE at 4‑8 Knots E at 4‑8 Knots ENE at 3‑6 Knots ESE at 3‑6 Knots SSE at 3‑6 Knots SE at 4‑8 Knots SE at 4‑8 Knots SSE at 4‑8 Knots S at 4‑8 Knots E at 4‑8 Knots S at 3‑6 Knots SE at 4‑8 Knots SSE at 3‑6 Knots

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VISIBILITY 10 Miles 5 Miles 5 Miles 5 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 8 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 5 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 8 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 8 Miles 10 Miles 5 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles 10 Miles

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PAGE 8, Wednesday, June 20, 2018

GATORS SINK TEETH INTO TEXAS RIVALS OMAHA, Nebraska Associated Press

JACKSON Kowar struck out a career-high 13 in 6 2/3 innings, Jonathan India hit a three-run homer and defending national champion Florida eliminated Texas from the College World Series with a 6-1 win on Tuesday.

Kowar (10-5) held the Longhorns scoreless on five hits, mixing his changeup with a fastball still touching the mid-90s deep into his season-high 121-pitch afternoon.

The Kansas City Royals’ first-round draft pick struck out the side in the third and sixth innings and broke his previous high of 11 Ks he set against TCU in the CWS last year. He became the first pitcher with 13 strikeouts in a CWS game since 2010 and, according to ESPN, the first in 40 years to do it in fewer than seven innings.

India, the No 5 overall pick by the Cincinnati Reds, singled to make it 1-0 in the first inning and he broke the game open with his threerun homer in the sixth.

Texas starter Blair Henley (6-7) struggled with his control and lasted only 2 2/3 innings, the second-shortest of his 22 career starts. He gave up four hits, walked four and threw a wild pitch.

Florida (48-20) came into the game after a 6-3 loss to Texas Tech in its CWS opener. The Gators played error-free against the Longhorns, and their offence had ten hits.

Kowar didn’t allow a base runner past second until the seventh, when Jake McKenzie singled leading off and ended up at third on Masen Hibbeler’s double with none out. Kowar struck out Tate Shaw and Ryan Reynolds and left to applause from both Florida and Texas fans. Jordan Butler came on and struck out David Hamilton.

THE TRIBUNE

Dazzling dozen for Astros HOUSTON Associated Press

ALEX Bregman hit a game-ending two-run double with one out in the ninth inning and the Houston Astros beat the Tampa Bay Rays 5-4 Monday night to match a franchise record with their 12th straight win.

Houston trailed 4-0 after three innings but cut the lead to one entering the ninth. Sergio Romo (1-2) walked Marwin Gonzalez to start the ninth, then allowed a single to Max Stassi. Tony Kemp’s sacrifice bunt moved both runners up, and Houston loaded the bases when George Springer reached on interference by catcher Wilson Ramos.

Bregman then drove a ball that bounced off the wall in left-center. He lifted both arms as he trotted into second base, and teammates mobbed him in the infield.

Collin McHugh (2-0) struck out two in a scoreless ninth for the win on a night Gerrit Cole walked a career-high five to help the Rays build the early lead.

Nationals 5 Yankees 3, 1st game Yankees 4, Nationals 2, 2nd game Aaron Hicks’ go-ahead two-run homer sparked chants of “Let’s go, Yankees!” on the road and helped New York beat Washington in the second game of an unusual semidoubleheader, after pinch-hitter Juan Soto’s tiebreaking two-run shot for the Nationals won the opener. These games originally were scheduled more than a month ago, and Game 1 resumed after being suspended because of rain in the middle of the sixth — so technically, Soto managed to homer in a game played before he made his major league debut. Huh? The 19-year-old Soto was called up from the minors for the first time five days after Game 1 started on May

HOUSTON Astros’ Alex Bregman celebrates after hitting a game-winning double to score two runs against the Tampa Bay Rays during the ninth inning of a baseball game on Monday. The Astros won 5-4.

Photo: David J. Phillip/AP 15; it picked back up at 3-all and the Nationals about to bat in the bottom of the sixth. After Bryce Harper — who had a full beard back on May 15, when the game began, but was clean-shaven this time — struck out, and Anthony Rendon singled, Soto drove a 97 mph fastball from Chad Green (4-1) to the back of the second deck in right field.

Rangers 6, Royals 3 Bartolo Colon earned his 244th win, passing Hall of Famer Juan Marichal for the most by a pitcher born in the Dominican Republic, and Texas beat skidding Kansas City. Adrian Beltre hit a threerun homer for the Rangers, who won their third straight game. The 45-year-old Colon (4-4) allowed three runs and nine hits in six innings to break a tie with Marichal on the career wins chart.

Indians 6, White Sox 2 Trevor Bauer shut out Chicago for seven innings before a rain delay ended

his night, and Jason Kipnis homered to lead Cleveland over the sliding and sloppy White Sox. Bauer (6-5) allowed just three hits, struck out eight and was in line to potentially pitch his first shutout. However, the game was halted by rain in the seventh inning for 35 minutes, and manager Terry Francona pulled the right-hander following the delay and 100 pitches.

Mets 12, Rockies 2 Brandon Nimmo homered twice during a huge night at the plate, including an insidethe-park shot to begin the game, and New York finally gave Jacob deGrom some run support in a victory over.

Wilmer Flores and Devin Mesoraco also went deep for New York, which won its their third straight. Nimmo had four hits and set a career high with four RBIs — one night after his go-ahead, tworun homer with two outs in the ninth inning staved off defeat for the Mets and rallied them to a win at Arizona.

Phillies 6, Cardinals 5 Left fielder Marcell Ozuna dived for and missed Aaron Altherr’s two-run double with two outs in the 10th inning, allowing Philadelphia to rally past St Louis. Tommy Pham hit a solo homer in the top of the 10th, one inning after a wild pitch on a strikeout kept the game going. But the Phillies rallied. Rhys Hoskins hit a bloop single to start the bottom of the 10th off Matt Bowman (0-2). Altherr then hit a sinking liner that appeared to skip off Ozuna’s glove before bouncing to the wall.

Pirates 1, Brewers 0 Trevor Williams pitched one-hit ball over seven innings and two Pittsburgh relievers closed out a twohitter against Milwaukee.

Williams (6-4) struck out seven and walked two for his first victory in a month.

Jordy Mercer drove in the lone run with a seventhinning double, and the Pirates won for the fourth

time in five games.

Diamondbacks 7, Angels 4 Paul Goldschmidt hit an early two-run homer and Zack Greinke pitched seven-hit ball into the seventh inning of Arizona’s 12th victory in 16 games in June.

Ketel Marte and Nick Ahmed also homered and Jeff Mathis had a two-run double for the Diamondbacks, who opened a two-game interleague set with their ninth win in 11 games.

Marlins 5, Giants 4 Miguel Rojas followed Lewis Brinson’s RBI single with a go-ahead base hit as Miami rallied in the ninth inning and overcame an early four-run deficit to beat San Francisco.

Tayron Guerrero (1-2) pitched the eighth before Kyle Barraclough closed out the 2-hour, 47-minute game for his third save as Giants fans booed the home team.