10112017 sports

SPORTS SECTION E

MLB

AL Previews, Page 8

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2017

SAC junior boys rout Kingsway Academy 9-1

By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

THE St Augustine’s College Big Red Machine’s junior boys continued to roll along in the Bahamas Association of Independent Secondary Schools, routing the Kingsway Academy Saints 9-1.

In their return to action yesterday after the break for the holiday weekend, the defending champions St Augustine’s College picked up where they left off extending their record to 3-0, while Kingsway Academy dropped to the other end of the spectrum at

BAISS SOFTBALL home with 0-3. “We didn’t swing as well as I thought we could, but we got the win,” said SAC’s head coach Je’Vaughn Saunders.

“We still have a lot more to improve on as we continue to play.”

But Saunders said he’s confident that at the end of the season, the Big Red Machine will clinch their fourth consecutive title.

Tyler Munroe went the distance, firing a no-hitter but he issued five walks, one of which put Saints’ first baseman Cameron Thompson on base to lead off

the fourth as he went on to score Kingsway Academy’s only run on third baseman Mazio Randall’s RBI ground out. Munroe and the Big Red Machine put five runs on the scoreboard by the end of the third inning and Saunders went to the bench and substituted all but three of their starters as they held on for the win.

Sprinter Otto Laing, one of the substitutes, ripped a two-run single in the four-run fifth inning, stole second and used his speed to continue running to third, but was tagged out on the play.

While SAC had an unearned run from right fielder Justin Miller in the first, Tyler Wallace came through with a big RBI triple and scored one of their three runs in the second.

The Big Red Machine also had a chance for another explosive inning in the third when centre fielder Miguel Foster drilled a shot to centre, but instead of getting an in-the-parker, he was limited to a double.

Foster then tried to score on Munroe’s triple but was tagged out at the plate as Saints’ catcher Chad Cartwright held onto the ball despite being knocked to the ground.

Joshua Rolle eventually gave up seven hits with five walks in suffering the loss.

Rico Seymour, Kingsway Academy’s head coach, said he wasn’t at all disappointed in the loss as a result of the loss. “The score didn’t indicate how they played.

They came out prepared to play today,” he said.“This is a work in progress, so anything could happen.”

He noted that they have had a rough schedule, playing all of the top tier teams so far. But they are licking their wounds and playing much better as they get ready for their final four games and hopefully a shot at making the playoffs.

Bringing home bronze

By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

A

lthough they only got one medal, head coach Dorian Roach said the Bahamas’ four-member team performed exceptionally well at the inaugural Carifta Triathlon in Bridgetown, Barbados.

“I was very proud of everyone, considering that this was the first one,” Roach said.

“We had the smallest team, but we had two people finish in the top 10 with Noah Roach winning a bronze medal, so that was something to be proud of.”

Based on what he saw, Roach said he felt the team’s performances slipped when they made the transition from the water to the bike where he felt countries like Trinidad & Tobago and Barbados were more superior. Guadeloupe, he said, stood out on the run.

“I think we could improve a little more on the bike, which was really our downfall,” he pointed out.

“But individually, I think the competitors all held their own.”

Noah Roach, competing in the boys’ 11-12 aquathlon, picked up a bronze medal on the first day of competition. His time of 10 minutes and 4.54 seconds placed him behind Guadeloupe’s gold medallist Verin Mathis (9:49.31) with Allen Israel of Jamaica taking the silver in 9:57.57.

TEAM BAHAMAS’ CARIFTA triathlon team of (l-r) Benjamin Derbyshire, Oliver Townsend, Noah Roach and Kami Roach.

SEE MORE PHOTOS IN THURSDAY SPORTS In the boys’ 13-15 aquathlon, Oliver Townsend finished 14th out of a field of 24 competitors in 19:22.56.

Barbados got the gold and bronze from Niel Skinner (16:20.50) and McCallum Clarke (16:37.42).

Nathanael Adenet-Louvet of Martinique won the silver in 16:37.01.

In the triathlon competition, Noah Roach had to settle for 12th place in 29:42.30.

Trinidad & Tobago got the gold and bronze with Luke Ferreira (25:08.97) and Justin Boynes

(26:41.19) finishing in that order respectively. Mathis Verin of Guadeloupe won the silver in 26:02.06.

Townsend was eighth in the triathlon in 37:40.63.

Skinner moved up to claim the gold in 35:08.64 with Trinidad & Tobago’s Darian Nimblett taking the silver in 35:41.05 and Barbados’ Eric Lashley getting the bronze in 36:07.71.

Benjamin Derbyshire, competing in the boys’ 16-19 division, was 11th in 1:26:35.12.

Guadeloupe’s Leynce Gossec won the gold in 1:08:33.78 with Dominic Pugliese of the US Virgin Islands taking the

silver in 1:08:39.50 and Ayomide Gilbert-Semper of Trinidad & Tobago carting off the bronze in 1:08:48.71.

And Kami Roach got 11th in the 11-12 girls’ triathlon in 32:25.33. AnhLee Noyon-Mathurin of Guadeloupe was the gold medallist in 27:10.57, while Lyna-Ines Hachimi of Martinique got the silver in 28:10.08 and Amelie Baker of Barbados came through with the bronze in 28:10.08.

The competitors also had some added incentive as they got to compete in the relay competition with different competitors from the various countries.

Townsend headed the team of Ines Tyburn-Pastel, Amy Pounder and Mike Simms that produced the best showing with seventh in 46:52.41.

Derbyshire teamed up with Kaya Rankine Beadle, Andwele Estwick and Liam Trepte for eighth in 46:54.59.

Noah Roach was on the team of Samuel Rudden, Dario Omiss and Kirsten St Omer that finished ninth in 47:37.99. And Kami Riach, along with Leynce Gossec, Fawzi Hachimi and Amerlie Baker was 12th in 48:29.24.

With this being the initial Carifta triathlon, Roach

said Barbados should be commended for putting on a great show. He said all of the officials from the other countries are hoping that they can continue to develop the competition and will make a decision

by February where the next event will take place.

He noted that the Bahamas intends to put in a bid to host it. The team was sponsored by The Sports Centre, Powerade, KPMG, Goldenwings Charter, The Holowesko Group, Bahamas Wholesale Agencies, The Bowers Family and a number of other private citizens.

Two big games this weekend for UB Mingoes men’s soccer team

By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net AFTER splitting their first two games in their first trip to play in the United States last month, the University of the Bahamas Mingoes men’s soccer team are off again this weekend.

And head coach Dion Godet said he’s confident that they should be able to improve on their performances when they play against Florida National

Preseason, Page 5

University on Friday and Broward College on Sunday.

“This trip is a climb up the mountain in the sense that we are playing against Florida National University who, up to last night, were undefeated for the season, having also played the Cayman Islands under-23 national team,” Godet said.

“During the pre-season, they played the division one Florida Gulf Coast University, which is also a pretty good team, and they drew them. So this the first game is going to be a climb up the mountain.”

As for Sunday’s game, Godet said they feel they should have a better opportunity to win against Broward College.

But he admitted that a win against Florida National University will be another feather in their cap.

The Mingoes are coming off their first trip last month when they split their two games, losing their opener 3-0 to Florida College but bounced back to take their frustrations out on Johnson University with their 7-0 shutout.

In the latter game, the Mingoes got a goal from Barry Smith, Mario Louis, James Darville,

UNIVERSITY of the Bahamas Mingoes men’s soccer team.

Michael Butler, Denzel Deveaux, Tristian Arnold and Devonte Dean.

Going into the trip, Godet said his Mingoes played a friendly game to prepare for the game and they were able to walk off the field with a 12-2 decision. “We’re looking good. The team is starting

to develop a new attitude where we are in more possession of the ball,” he said. “We are trying to encourage them to pass and kick the ball.”

Godet, assisted by Harvey Munnings, said the more they play in the US against the college teams, they will have to learn to

hold the ball a little more before they go to the net to score.

The Mingoes will have the return of Stuart Hanna to their line-up.

Hanna was their top goal scorer last year and they will also have one of their top defenders back as well.

PAGE 2, Wednesday, October 11, 2017

THE TRIBUNE

THE TRIBUNE

Wednesday, October 11, 2017, PAGE 3

HUNTLEY Christie High School students (running top right) with their physical education teachers.

‘A new beginning’ for students of Huntley Christie High School

By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

WHEN the renovations are done at the Huntley Christie High School in Nicholls Town, North Andros, the students and physical education teachers feel it will definitely have a greater impact on their sporting programme.

Last week when a list of dignitaries came to town, the 365-member school population got the news that through a grant of $200,000 from the Pan American Sports Organisation, the Carl Oliver Track and Field Stadium will finally get the much needed renovations with a new Mondo surface.

Shanika Riley, now in her fifth year back home teaching, said this was something that they have been pushing for a long time. She said when coach John Ingraham guided their track programme, he pushed to

get the repairs done, but she just wished that he was still here to witness the transformation.

Ingraham has since been posted to Grand Bahama, but Riley is hoping to continue the legacy that he left behind.

“The kids are excited.

They are ready to go. This is going to be a new beginning for them so I am sure that we will continue to produce some of the best athletes in the Bahamas with this new track,” she said.

“We’re looking forward to a fast track, so their times will definitely get better.

The Seminoles are going to do very well. My main goal is to see the new surface and the repairs to the gymnasium. We are the number one Family Island now, but we want to make sure that we stay that way.”

Basketball player Tiffany Hanna, now in her second year as a physical education teacher at the school, said they deserve the new

STUDENTS exercise on the Carl Oliver track (inset) in its current state. facility because of the hard work that the student athletes have put in over the years.

“They are excited. They feel that this is something that is long overdue,” she said. “Since I came here, I’ve seen the hard work and dedication and

NFL MAY CHANGE POLICY THAT PLAYERS ‘SHOULD’ STAND FOR NATIONAL ANTHEM

By SCHUYLER DIXON Associated Press NFL owners will meet next week to consider changes to a game manual that says players “should” stand during the national anthem, a guideline the league has left to the discretion of players who kneeled in large numbers after criticism from President Donald Trump.

Commissioner Roger Goodell told club executives yesterday in a memo obtained by The Associated Press that the anthem issue is dividing the league from its fans. He said the NFL needs “to move past this controversy.”

NFL spokesman Joe Lockhart said the guidance will be “front and centre on the agenda” when owners meet in New York next Tuesday and Wednesday.

The movement started by former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick last season over his view of police mistreatment of black males had mostly subsided when Trump told a rally in Alabama last month that owners should get rid of players who kneel during the anthem.

In his memo, Goodell reiterated the league’s belief that everyone should stand for the anthem and outlined plans to highlight efforts of players trying to bring attention to the social issues behind the game-day protests. Goodell said those plans would be presented to owners next week.

“The controversy over the anthem is a barrier to having honest conversations and making real progress on the underlying issues,” Goodell wrote.

“We need to move past this controversy, and we want to do that together with our players.”

Lockhart said he wasn’t sure if players would be included in discussions during the league meetings.

Most teams practice on one or both of those days. Houston and Detroit are the

GOODELL (AP) only teams with byes next week. The NFL Players Association didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.

The game manual says that during the anthem “players on the field and bench area should stand at attention, face the flag, hold helmets in their left hand, and refrain from talking.”

It is the NFL’s only known guidance on the subject.

The manual also says anyone not on the field by the start of the anthem can be fined or suspended.

Lockhart said the league so far has chosen not to discipline any players. He sidestepped a question of whether “should” would be changed to “must” next week.

“I think there will be a discussion about the entire issue including the policy, including all of the various elements that have been raised over the last four weeks,” Lockhart said. “I’m not going to predict what might happen.”

The anthem issue flared again Sunday when Vice President Mike Pence, a former Indiana governor, left Indianapolis’ home game against San Francisco after about a dozen 49ers players knelt during the anthem.

A few hours later, Jerry Jones of the Dallas Cowboys became the first owner to declare publicly that he would bench any players for what he saw as disrespect of the American flag. Jones’ comments drew a swift response from union Executive Director DeMaurice Smith, who said Jones was contradicting assurances from Goodell that players

could express themselves without reprisals.

Jones said on his radio show yesterday that he considered anthem protests a workplace issue, giving him the right to punish his players. He said he was trying to keep the Cowboys out of the debate by declaring that they would all stand.

“I don’t want our fans to sit there and have angst over those type of issues,” Jones said. “I’m not going to have a situation with the flag that there is a debate over whether we’re respecting it or not. I’m clearing that one up.”

The Cowboys always stand for the anthem while lined up on the sideline.

Two weeks ago before a Monday night game in Arizona, they kneeled armin-arm before the anthem — with Jones — then stood during the singing when the flag was displayed. It was three days after Trump’s comments in Alabama.

Trump tweeted his support of Jones after the owner made the threat to bench players following a loss to Green Bay. They spoke by phone after the game in Arizona.

“We would certainly support the NFL coming out and asking the players to stand, just as the president has done,” White House spokeswoman Sarah Huckabee Sanders said yesterday. “We support the national anthem, the flag and the men and women who fought to defend it.”

Goodell wrote to league executives about “unprecedented dialogue with our players,” saying those discussions helped build the plan that owners will discuss next week. “Everyone involved in the game needs to come together on a path forward to continue to be a force for good within our communities, protect the game, and preserve our relationship with fans throughout the country,” Goodell wrote. “The NFL is at its best when we ourselves are unified.”

determination of the students, so this will be good for them.”

Hanna said although they lost Ingraham, they still have a solid base to work with. Frideline Augustine, better known as Sara, is a 13-year-old ninth grader who has been competing on

the track for the past nine years. Like the others, she’s eager to see the transformation from the tar to the Mondo track surface.

“We want to be able to train better and have better equipment,” said the 400/800 metre specialist. “I feel the new surface

will allow us to train better because it’s soft and we will have the proper gym to exercise in.”

And Tremell Miller, another 13-year-old ninth grader, said the surface is hard and she tries her best to avoid getting injured on it when she’s using her sprints. “I’m looking forward to it. I know it’s going to be different,” said the sprinter who made the CAC Youth team two years ago. “I know that I can get better. I want to compete on the national team again.”

Mondo’s representative Michael Tovan said after reviewing the facilities, he’s going back to the United States to complete the layout of the new facility before it’s approved by the Bahamas Olympic Committee and its partners.

Once that is done, he said they will immediately commence work on the new facility that should take about six months to be repaired.

PAGE 4, Wednesday, October 11, 2017

THE TRIBUNE

Portugal beats Switzerland 2-0 to earn World Cup berth LISBON, Portugal (AP) — European champion Portugal will get a chance to keep its momentum going after qualifying for next year’s World Cup with a 2-0 victory over Switzerland yesterday.

Cristiano Ronaldo’s team got the win it needed in the showdown against the Swiss at a packed Stadium of Light.

Both teams finished with 27 points, but Portugal had a better goal difference.

Switzerland, which had led Group B since the first round, will have to go through a playoff to try to make it to the tournament in Russia.

The Swiss arrived with a three-point lead over Portugal and need at least a draw to earn the automatic World Cup berth.

An own-goal by Swiss defender Johan Djourou before halftime and a goal forward by Andre Silva early in the second half were enough for Portugal, which has won nine straight matches since the opening 2-0 loss to the Swiss in Basel last year.

Switzerland had won all of its nine qualifiers until yesterday’s setback.

Portugal was in control but hadn’t been able to create many scoring chances until Djourou found his own net while trying to clear a cross from the left by Eliseu in the 41st minute. The ball touched Djourou’s right foot after getting past a defender and then Switzerland goalkeeper Yann Sommer.

Silva added to the lead in the 57th with a shot into the open net after picking up a cross from the right by Bernardo Silva.

PORTUGAL’s Andre Silva celebrates after scoring a goal yesterday during the World Cup Group B qualifying soccer match against Switzerland at the Luz stadium in Lisbon.

(AP Photo/Armando Franca)

ANOTHER WIN FOR BELGIUM AS GREECE KEEPS RUNNER-UP SPOT ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Eden Hazard fired Belgium to its fifth straight World Cup qualifying victory, scoring twice for a 4-0 win in Cyprus yesterday, while Greece also beat Gibraltar 4-0 to edge Bosnia and Herzegovina for a place in the playoffs.

Hazard brought Belgium’s goal tally in qualification to 43. He scored in the 12th minute after teammate Youri Tielemans poached the ball off defenders, and was joined by his brother Thorgan with a goal each in the second half.

Romelu Lukaku returned from injury to make it 4-0.

Greece initially displayed weakness in attack, but the visitors eventually tired and conceded three times in the second half for the 4-0 loss, finishing with no points after 10 games in Group H. Bosnia needed a group upset, but stayed behind Greece despite a 2-1 win in Estonia.

FRANCE QUALIFIES FOR BIG DANCE, BUT NETHERLANDS FAILS AGAIN

By JEROME PUGMIRE Associated Press SAINT-DENIS, France (AP) — Antoine Griezmann scored one goal and made the other as France beat Belarus 2-1 to qualify for next year’s World Cup, while a 2-0 home win for the Netherlands against Sweden was in vain as it failed to reach its second straight major tournament.

France won Group A with 23 points, four clear of the Netherlands and Sweden, which advances to the playoffs on goal difference.

Bulgaria finished fourth ahead of Luxembourg and Belarus.

To add to the Dutch disappointment, star winger Arjen Robben announced his retirement from international football after the game.

France was relatively comfortable throughout qualifying, but is not playing as well as when it reached the Euro 2016 final.

This was a functional but uninspiring performance,

punctuated by a brief spell of attacking intensity that produced two goals in quick succession.

After strike partner Olivier Giroud hit the crossbar with a close-range header, Griezmann scored in the 27th minute.

Latching onto midfielder Blaise Matuidi’s short pass, the Atletico Madrid forward burst inside the left of the area and confidently clipped a low shot into the right corner.

Three minutes later, he turned provider for Giroud, who used this strength to compensate for a lack of pace, holding off a defender before slotting the ball into the bottom corner for his 28th international goal.

It meant a lot to Giroud, who has been out of the Arsenal side and was dropped for Saturday’s 1-0 win away to Bulgaria, and he triumphantly raised both arms as he slid on his knees to celebrate.

Belarus was already eliminated and, commendably, played with attacking intent.

After a couple of narrow escapes, France’s sloppy defending was rightly punished just before halftime when striker Anton Saroka was given too much space inside the area and guided a neat shot across goalie Hugo Lloris.

With France giving possession away carelessly, the lively Saroka poked a good chance wide in the last second as France’s nerves frayed.

The Stade de France crowd is known for its impatience, but gave the players a warm send off, singing “We’re going to Russia.”

Standing in front of the fans, and with teammates united behind him, team captain Lloris led the clapping at both ends after the final whistle.

But France will need to up its performance at the World Cup. ROBBEN’S FAREWELL The Netherlands could count on the aging Arjen Robben to deliver one

FRANCE’S OLIVIER GIROUD, left, and France’s Antoine Griezmann fall during the World Cup Group A qualifying soccer match against Belarus at the Stade de France stadium yesterday.

(AP Photo/Christophe Ena) last time — although it proved to be in vain. Robben’s two goals helped the Dutch beat Sweden 2-0 but it was not enough to secure a place in the playoffs, and was followed by the hugely talented winger announcing his retirement from the national team. The Swedes could afford to lose by a

KEENUM DELIVERS WITH BRADFORD OUT TO LIFT VIKINGS OVER BEARS

By GENE CHAMBERLAIN Associated Press CHICAGO (AP) — The Minnesota Vikings know they have an insurance policy if Sam Bradford’s knee remains a problem.

Case Keenum has proven this before and did it again Monday against the Chicago Bears in a 20-17 victory.

“I’ve tried to prepare like I’ve been the starter,” Keenum said. “I think that helps when you’re called upon and need to step in, so you can do the same job as the guy that’s been doing it.

“Be able to see the defence the same way and make the calls the same way. Being prepared like that helps.”

With a game against the Green Bay Packers coming Sunday, the Vikings won’t know Bradford’s status until later in the week.

Bradford failed to make it through his first game back since suffering swelling and soreness in a surgically repaired left knee.

Sacked four times, an obviously immobile Bradford came out just before halftime after a 5-for-11 performance.

CHICAGO Bears outside linebacker Leonard Floyd (94) tackles Vikings QB Sam Bradford (8) for safety Monday night. (AP) “It just got to a point where it was hurting him bad enough where he couldn’t finish,” Vikings running back Jerick McKinnon said.

Keenum came in and led the win by completing 17 of 21 passes for 140 yards and a touchdown. He was 14 for 18 and 119 yards in the second half.

six-goal margin, anyway, and advanced to the playoffs in second place with a superior goal difference.

For the hosts, it continued fall from grace for a side that reached the 2010 World Cup final and the 2014 semi-finals and then failed to reach last year’s European Championship.

Robben turns 34 in January, but he is still as lethal as ever cutting in from the flank and unleashing his blistering shots, as he showed with his second goal after netting the first from the penalty spot.

It took his international tally to 37 goals in 96 matches.

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Wednesday, October 11, 2017, PAGE 5

James returns, Cavaliers debut new 3-MVP starting lineup

By KAREEM COPELAND Associated Press THE King has returned.

LeBron James made his preseason debut last night after missing Cleveland’s first three games with a sprained left ankle. He scored 17 points, but also had eight turnovers in the 108-94 loss to the Chicago Bulls.

It was the first chance for James to play with close friend and former Miami Heat teammate Dwyane Wade as the Cavaliers showed off their new starting lineup. Cavs coach Tyronn Lue brought out his new starting group for the first time now that James is back. He was joined by Wade, Kevin Love and newcomers Derrick Rose and Jae Crowder. Lue announced the lineup, which includes three former MVPs on Monday.

Rose finished with 13 points and Iman Shumpert added 12.

The starting five was expectedly rusty with the group having spent little time together. Wade was just bought out by the Bulls on September 24. Crowder and Isaiah Thomas went to Cleveland as part of the Kyrie Irving trade on August 30. And Love was just recently informed that he’d be moving to center with the unit from power forward. Love and Wade were a combined 2 for 19 yesterday.

BULLS’ Antonio Blakeney (9) prepares to shoot past Cavaliers’ Derrick Rose (1)in the first half.

Rose will move to the bench once Thomas returns from a hip injury expected to keep him out for months.

That second unit will then be a formidable group with a mixture of Rose, J.R. Smith, Tristan Thompson, Iman Shumpert, Kyle Korver and Jeff Green.

As the Cavs manoeuvre a veteran-laden roster, the young Bulls move on from the Jimmy Butler era.

Justin Holiday scored a game-high 28 points and 2017 No. 7 overall pick

Lauri Markkanen poured in 18. Denzel Valentine finished with 14 points, seven rebounds and four assists.

RAPTORS 116, PISTONS 94 The Raptors never trailed as newcomer CJ Miles scored 19 points off the bench, including a 5-for-8 effort from 3-point range.

Ish Smith led the Pistons with a game-high 22 points off the bench as the starting five struggled.

CAVALIERS’ LeBron James (23) shoots past Bulls’ Justin Holiday (7) in the first half last night.

(AP Photos/Phil Long)

NOT SINCE ‘79: WALL, BEAL EYE 50 WINS, EAST FINALS FOR WIZARDS

By HOWARD FENDRICH Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — John Wall is a perennial All-Star. Backcourt mate Bradley Beal might finally get that sort of recognition this season.

What both of the Washington Wizards’ starting guards in their 20s would really love to do is, at long last, really matter in the NBA playoffs — and stick around more than two rounds.

The goals, Wall explained, are simple: “Try to get over 50 wins, get to the Eastern Conference finals, give ourselves a chance to make it to the finals.”

How long has it been since this franchise won 50 games or reached the conference finals?

Nearly 40 years: Washington last did either of those things when it did both way back in 1978-79.

A few moments later, Wall added: “It’s all going to start with

me and Brad.” There’s no doubt about that.

Each guard averaged 23.1 points last season to help the Wizards go 49-33 and earn a No. 4 seed in the East before losing to the Boston Celtics in Game 7 of the conference semifinals.

It’s the third time in four years the team in the nation’s capital exited at that stage (the Wizards didn’t even make the playoffs in 2015-16).

As everyone around them, seemingly, made big moves in the offseason, the Wizards stayed with what they had, not making a single alteration to their starting lineup (Wall, Beal, Otto Porter Jr., Markieff Morris, Marcin Gortat), while also holding onto top reserves Kelly Oubre Jr., Ian Mahinmi and Jason Smith. “We know that we can’t relax,” Porter said, “just because we’re back.”

Aside from giving Wall and Porter new deals, all President

Ernie Grunfeld did to the roster was adjust the bench a bit, bringing in backups Tim Frazier, Jodie Meeks and Mike Scott.

“I don’t care what any other team does. They make change, they make stuff to make their team better,” said Wall, who was second in the league with 10.7 assists per game and tied for first by averaging two steals. “We did what we had to do to make our team better.”

There was a popular story line not that long ago that surmised that Wall and Beal didn’t get along with each other, didn’t enjoy playing with each other, would have trouble sharing the basketball and figuring out how to win with each other.

They scoff at that nowadays.

“I felt like it was funny then, because it kind of just came out of nowhere. I don’t know. I don’t really understand it. We’ve been together, this is six years for me,

eight for him. That’s a long time in this league, especially. ... We still laugh at it today,” Beal said. “We realize that he wouldn’t be where he is without me and vice versa.”

And the Wizards wouldn’t be where they are without the two of them. Now they want go get somewhere they’ve never been.

• Here are other things to know about the Wizards, who open this season at home on October 18 against the Philadelphia 76ers: BETTER START: One key is to get off to a better start than a year ago, when coach Scott Brooks was new to the team and the Wizards opened 2-8. Something that could make that tough, though: Morris is going to sit out the beginning of the regular season after having sports hernia surgery last month.

PORTER’S GROWTH: Porter finished fifth in the NBA last

Offseason overhaul complete, new era begins for Celtics

By KYLE HIGHTOWER Associated Press BOSTON (AP) — Kyrie Irving turned the NBA world upside down multiple times this summer.

It happened the first time after news leaked out that he had asked the Cleveland Cavaliers front office to trade him from the team he helped lead to a championship in 2016.

Then Irving was in the spotlight again as the centrepiece of a league-shaking trade that sent him to the rival Boston Celtics in exchange for a package that included Isaiah Thomas and Jae Crowder.

Now detached from the partnership he created with LeBron James, Irving enters the 201718 season as one jewel of the Celtics’ offseason overhaul, along with Gordon Hayward, who signed as a free agent.

Only four players remain from Boston’s roster from a year ago, when it outfought Cleveland for the East’s top seed, only to fall to the Cavs in five games in the Eastern Conference finals.

Along with Al Horford, the Celtics have a brand new “Big Three” as they continue their pursuit of the Cavs. While Irving maintains his departure

A hip injury he suffered in the playoffs won’t allow Thomas to be on the floor when his new Cavaliers team hosts the Celtics in both team’s season opener on October 17.

But it will make for an interesting on-court reunion for Irving and James.

CELTICS’ KYRIE IRVING, left, has a laugh on the bench with Al Horford during the second half of Boston’s 113-96 win over the Philadelphia 76ers in Monday’s preseason game in Boston.

(AP Photo/Winslow Townson) from Cleveland wasn’t about James, he now has exactly what he says he wanted: the leadership role in building a championship team.

Still, he downplayed the idea that this season is more important than any other during his six-year career.

“Every moment in my life is pretty important,” Irving said.

“I wouldn’t say that it’s the most important. I would say it’s probably the most interesting.”

• Here are some things to watch for with the Celtics this season: EARLY REMATCH One of the byproducts of the deal that brought in Irving was that president of basketball operations Danny Ainge had to part with Thomas, who had become not only a two-time All-Star, but the team’s emotional leader as well.

REUNITED When Hayward entered free agency, Boston was thought to be high on the list to land him because of his previous association with coach Brad Stevens.

Stevens was Hayward’s college coach at Butler, and the pair came within a missed last-second shot by Hayward of winning a national championship.

While Hayward said the ultimate decision to leave Utah for Boston was basketball-driven, he said the connection he had with Stevens was a factor.

“I always had a dream to play in the NBA, but he was the first person to tell me that I could get there some day,” Hayward said.

After growing into a firsttime All-Star with the Jazz, he now will have the chance to play a key role again in a “position-less” system that promises to utilise Hayward’s skills as a scorer and passer.

season with a 43.4 shooting percentage on 3s, a rise of nearly 10 percent from just two seasons earlier.

He also averaged career highs of 13.4 points, 6.4 rebounds, 51.6 overall field-goal percentage and 83.2 free-throw percentage.

The reward was a $106.5 million, four-year offer sheet from the Brooklyn Nets that Washington matched.

“It made me want to work harder,” Porter said.

BETTER ‘D’: The Wizards have not always been as good at playing defense as they are to paying lip service to its importance. Last season, Washington ranked fifth in the NBA in scoring per game at 109.2 but only 21st in the 30-team league in scoring defense, allowing 107.4 points.

Even worse: They were 24th in opponents’ field-goal percentage, 46.6.

THE TRIBUNE

Wednesday, October 11, 2017, PAGE 7

KYRGIOS WALKS OUT ON MATCH AFTER LOSING 1ST SET AUSSIE OFFICIALS EXPECTING

By SANDRA HARWITT Associated Press

SHANGHAI (AP) — A year after being fined for “tanking” a match at the Shanghai Masters, Nick Kyrgios quit another one altogether.

The temperamental Australian argued several times with the chair umpire during his firstround match against Steve Johnson yesterday. After losing the tiebreaker 7-6 (5), Kyrgios shook hands with Johnson at the net and then with the chair umpire before packing his bags and walking off court.

Serving at 30-30 in the 12th game of the first set, a forehand by Kyrgios was called out. The Australian challenged the call and it was overruled. Kyrgios then hit two balls in anger and was assessed a code violation warning.

At the change of ends in the tiebreaker, Kyrgios was leading 4-2 but was annoyed that fans were being allowed to come into the court. Kyrgios lost

the next point and then started to complain and curse, which earned him an audible obscenity code violation. He was docked a point, which made the score 4-4.

When the set was done, so was Kyrgios. He left the court without explanation, avoided a news conference, and took to Twitter to firstly apologise for his actions then give his reasons.

“I’ve been battling a stomach bug for the past 24 hours and I tried to be ready but I was really struggling on the court today which I think was pretty evident from the first point,” he wrote.

“My shoulder started to hurt in the practice today which didn’t help either and once I lost the first set I was just not strong enough to continue because I’ve not eaten much the past 24 hours.”

The ATP said it was investigating.

Kyrgios added he would decide today whether to play his scheduled doubles.

SERENA TO DEFEND TITLE MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Australian Open officials are hopeful Serena Williams will make her competitive comeback to tennis next January to defend her title at Melbourne Park.

At a news conference yesterday called to announce an increase in prize money for the year’s first major, tournament director Craig Tiley said Williams was planning on playing the January 15-28 Australian Open.

Williams was pregnant last January when she beat her sister Venus in the final. Serena gave birth to a daughter, Alexis Olympia Ohanian Jr, on September 1 and has previously said she plans to return to playing in 2018.

If that’s in Melbourne, she’ll be competing for more money.

The tournament’s overall prize pool increase will be 55 million Australian dollars ($42.7 million), and the men’s and women’s singles

NICK KYRGIOS, of Australia, reacts during the singles final match against Rafael Nadal at the China Open.

(AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)

Last year, Kyrgios was suspended by the men’s tour for tanking a match and insulting fans following a second-round loss to German qualifier Mischa Zverev at the Shanghai Masters. Kyrgios gave little effort during the 6-3, 6-1 loss, even patting easy serves over the net and turning away before his opponent’s serve crossed the net. Kyrgios arrived in Shanghai this time after

losing the China Open final to Rafael Nadal 6-2, 6-1 on Sunday.

Also, John Isner beat Serbian qualifier Dusan Lajovic 4-6, 7-6 (5), 7-6 (6) on a day with temperatures soaring past 32 degrees C (90 degrees F).

“The conditions were brutal,” Isner said. “It felt like Atlanta in August.

That could’ve been the hottest match I played all year.”

THE WEATHER REPORT

5-Day Forecast

TODAY

ORLANDO

High: 88° F/31° C Low: 69° F/21° C

TAMPA

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

SUNDAY

Clouds and sun, a t‑storm in spots

Partly cloudy, a t‑storm in spots

Clouds and sun, a t‑storm in spots

Periods of sun, a t‑storm in spots

Clouds and sun, a t‑storm in spots

Partly sunny, a t‑storm in spots

High: 88°

Low: 76°

High: 87° Low: 77°

High: 89° Low: 77°

High: 88° Low: 77°

High: 88° Low: 76°

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

AccuWeather RealFeel

94° F

83° F

100°-85° F

102°-86° F

101°-85° F

99°-85° F

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: 83° F/28° C Low: 80° F/27° C

8‑16 knots

S

High: 88° F/31° C Low: 77° F/25° C

8‑16 knots

FT. LAUDERDALE

FREEPORT

High: 89° F/32° C Low: 79° F/26° C

E

W S

E

W

WEST PALM BEACH

N

uV inDex toDay

TONIGHT

High: 91° F/33° C Low: 74° F/23° C

High: 87° F/31° C Low: 75° F/24° C

MIAMI

High: 88° F/31° C Low: 78° F/26° C

7‑14 knots

KEY WEST

High: 87° F/31° C Low: 79° F/26° C

Statistics are for Nassau through 2 p.m. yesterday Temperature High ................................................... 91° F/33° C Low .................................................... 76° F/24° C Normal high ....................................... 85° F/30° C Normal low ........................................ 73° F/23° C Last year’s high ................................. 87° F/31° C Last year’s low ................................... 77° F/25° C Precipitation As of 2 p.m. yesterday ................................. 0.00” Year to date ............................................... 31.79” Normal year to date ................................... 30.91”

ELEUTHERA

NASSAU

High: 88° F/31° C Low: 76° F/24° C

Forecasts and graphics provided by AccuWeather, Inc. ©2017

High: 84° F/29° C Low: 79° F/26° C

N

High: 82° F/28° C Low: 78° F/26° C

N

S

E

W

8‑16 knots

S

10‑20 knots

ANDROS

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

tiDes For nassau High

Ht.(ft.)

Low

Ht.(ft.)

Today

12:25 a.m.

1:01 p.m.

2.9 3.5

6:36 a.m.

7:33 p.m.

0.4 0.6

Thursday

1:29 a.m.

2:06 p.m.

2.8 3.4

7:40 a.m.

8:39 p.m.

0.5 0.7

Friday

2:38 a.m.

3:13 p.m.

2.8 3.3

8:49 a.m.

9:46 p.m.

0.6 0.7

Saturday

3:48 a.m.

4:18 p.m.

2.8 3.3

9:59 a.m. 0.7 10:48 p.m. 0.6

Sunday

4:52 a.m.

5:18 p.m.

3.0 3.3

11:05 a.m. 0.6 11:43 p.m. 0.4

Monday

5:50 a.m.

6:12 p.m.

3.1 3.2

12:04 p.m. 0.5 ‑‑‑‑‑ ‑‑‑‑‑

Tuesday

6:41 a.m.

7:00 p.m.

3.2 3.2

12:32 a.m. 0.3 12:57 p.m. 0.4

sun anD moon Sunrise Sunset

7:06 a.m.

6:46 p.m.

Moonrise Moonset

none 12:59 p.m.

Last

New

First

Full

Oct. 12

Oct. 19

Oct. 27

Nov. 4

SAN SALVADOR

GREAT EXUMA

High: 81° F/27° C Low: 79° F/26° C

High: 82° F/28° C Low: 78° F/26° C

N

High: 85° F/29° C Low: 78° F/26° C

E

W S

LONG ISLAND

insurance management tracking map

High: 82° F/28° C Low: 79° F/26° C

H

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

CAT ISLAND

E

W

champions will earn $A4 million (about $3.1 million depending on exchange rates), an increase of 20 per cent.

Tiley said Williams was back in training to defend her title.

“Serena will be back,” Tiley was quoted as saying.

“We look forward to welcoming her and again go on that journey of breaking the all-time record for the most number of Grand Slams.”

Williams has won 23 Grand Slam singles titles, one more than Steffi Graf for the Open-era record.

Australian Margaret Court is the all-time leader with 24.

In the men’s field, Tiley confirmed six-time winner Novak Djokovic and fellow former world No. 1 Andy Murray, who have both had injuries this year, would play in Melbourne 2018 along with Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, who contested a classic final last January.

10‑20 knots

MAYAGUANA High: 83° F/28° 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: 79° F/26° C

High: 83° F/28° C Low: 79° F/26° C

GREAT INAGUA High: 85° F/29° C Low: 79° F/26° C

N

E

W

E

W

N

S

S

7‑14 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 NE at 8‑16 Knots ENE at 8‑16 Knots NE at 8‑16 Knots NNE at 7‑14 Knots NE at 10‑20 Knots ESE at 4‑8 Knots ESE at 4‑8 Knots SSE at 4‑8 Knots NE at 10‑20 Knots ESE at 6‑12 Knots ENE at 8‑16 Knots NE at 10‑20 Knots NE at 10‑20 Knots ESE at 4‑8 Knots E at 4‑8 Knots S at 4‑8 Knots NE at 8‑16 Knots S at 4‑8 Knots E at 6‑12 Knots SE at 4‑8 Knots ENE at 8‑16 Knots E at 4‑8 Knots NE at 7‑14 Knots SSW at 4‑8 Knots NE at 10‑20 Knots ESE at 6‑12 Knots

WAVES 5‑9 Feet 5‑9 Feet 1‑3 Feet 1‑3 Feet 4‑8 Feet 3‑6 Feet 3‑5 Feet 2‑4 Feet 5‑9 Feet 4‑8 Feet 2‑4 Feet 3‑5 Feet 1‑3 Feet 1‑2 Feet 2‑4 Feet 2‑4 Feet 1‑3 Feet 1‑2 Feet 5‑9 Feet 4‑7 Feet 2‑4 Feet 1‑3 Feet 1‑3 Feet 1‑2 Feet 3‑5 Feet 1‑3 Feet

VISIBILITY 5 Miles 5 Miles 5 Miles 5 Miles 5 Miles 6 Miles 8 Miles 8 Miles 5 Miles 5 Miles 5 Miles 5 Miles 5 Miles 7 Miles 8 Miles 8 Miles 5 Miles 7 Miles 8 Miles 8 Miles 5 Miles 5 Miles 8 Miles 7 Miles 5 Miles 6 Miles

WATER TEMPS. 82° F 82° F 85° F 85° F 83° F 83° F 84° F 84° F 83° F 83° F 79° F 79° F 85° F 85° F 85° F 85° F 85° F 85° F 83° F 83° F 84° F 84° F 85° F 85° F 83° F 83° F

PAGE 8, Wednesday, October 11, 2017

THE TRIBUNE

Severino, Judge help Yankees top Indians 7-3 to force Game 5

By MIKE FITZPATRICK Associated Press NEW YORK (AP) — Luis Severino, Aaron Judge and the New York Yankees are headed back to Cleveland for a decisive Game 5 — thanks to plenty of help from the Indians.

Severino rebounded from his playoff debacle, Judge delivered a big hit and the Yankees took advantage of shoddy defence by Cleveland to beat the Indians 7-3 Monday night and even their AL Division Series at two games apiece.

“We’ve got a shot now,” said New York manager Joe Girardi, harshly criticised for his Game 2 decisions. “So it’s a totally different feeling than it was the other day, and these guys have picked me up.”

Gary Sanchez homered and a slumping Judge laced an early two-run double for his only hit of the series to go with 12 strikeouts in 15 at-bats.

Cleveland starter Trevor Bauer struggled on three days’ rest and was chased in the second inning. But it was on the wet Yankee Stadium field where the Indians really flopped, committing a season-high four errors that marked a franchise record for a postseason game and led to six unearned runs.

The defending AL champions made only 76 errors all season, the lowest total in the league. “The whole night, we made it hard on ourselves to win,” manager Terry Francona said.

After preventing a threegame sweep with a 1-0 win Sunday night, the wildcard Yankees will start CC Sabathia against his original team in Game 5 today.

Indians ace Corey Kluber gets the ball in a

rematch from Game 2, when he was hit hard by New York.

“It’s hard to imagine giving it to somebody better,” Francona said.

“We’re looking forward to it.”

The winner faces Houston in the AL Championship Series after the Astros finished off Boston in four games Monday to win their ALDS. “We’ve got a young team and they’re hungry,” Severino said.

Simply taking two in a row to send the series back to Cleveland was no small feat for the Yankees.

The last time the Indians lost consecutive games was August 22-23 at home against Boston, just before starting their AL-record 22-game winning streak.

From that point on, Cleveland had gone 35-4 before arriving in the Bronx for Game 3 of the ALDS. Minus injured slugger Edwin Encarnacion, the Indians have scored three runs in two games since.

Severino got only one out in the wild-card game against Minnesota last Tuesday, but was bailed out by his teammates as New York advanced with an 8-4 victory. This time, the 23-year-old ace was determined to come through, and he did.

“I think he was able to relax a lot more. He was able to control his adrenaline,” Girardi said. “He was able to channel things down and make his pitch, as opposed to just trying to power his way through it.”

Handed an early 5-0 lead and showing lots of emotion on the mound, the fired-up righty struck out nine in seven innings.

With the crowd of 47,316 chanting his name, Severino threw 113 pitches

YANKEES pitcher Luis Severino reacts at the end of the top of the seventh inning against the Cleveland Indians in Game 4 of the American League Division Series on Monday.

(AP Photo/Kathy Willens) and gave up four hits — including Carlos Santana’s two-run homer and Roberto Perez’s solo shot.

“I told him after the game, he grew up a lot today,” Girardi said.

Tommy Kahnle relieved a wild Dellin Betances in the eighth and got six straight outs — five on strikeouts — for his first save of the season as New York improved to 3-0 when facing playoff elimination this year.

“There’s a lot of confidence in that room,” Girardi said.

Sanchez hit his second home run of the series off Bryan Shaw in the sixth to make it 7-3.

A rainy day in the Big Apple prevented both teams from taking batting practice on the field.

But the tarp was pulled and play started right on time, with fans in hooded ponchos bunched below the overhangs seeking cover from a heavy drizzle.

Showers dissipated in the bottom of the first, though a few puddles remained

on the slick warning track all night. The first of two costly errors by normally sure-handed third baseman Giovanny Urshela, a .224 hitter in the lineup for his defence, was a painful one.

Starlin Castro’s sinking line drive in the second struck him just above the left ankle and caromed away.

Shaken up, Urshela was checked by a trainer but stayed in the game.

With two outs, Todd Frazier pulled a 78 mph curve to deep left and it landed smack on the foul line for an RBI double. A frustrated Bauer gestured with his hand when he didn’t get a strike-three call on a checked swing by Aaron Hicks, who soon singled home a run.

Brett Gardner singled and, after a mound visit from Indians pitching coach Mickey Callaway, Judge had a gritty at-bat.

The rookie slugger was 0 for 11 with nine strikeouts in the series before fighting back from 0-2 to a full count and lining a two-run double to the left-field wall

on one hop. “Just had to grind it out,” Judge said.

After pulling in at second base, he clapped and pointed to the Yankees dugout.

Bauer managed only five outs after tossing two-hit ball with eight strikeouts over 6 2/3 innings during a 4-0 win in the series opener last Thursday. All four runs he allowed were unearned.

“I thought my stuff was better than Game 1,” Bauer said. “Just a couple of little things went their way instead of mine.”

Urshela’s two-out throwing error with the bases loaded in the third made it 5-0.

Frazier reached on pitcher Danny Salazar’s two-base throwing error to start the fifth. He scored on Gardner’s shallow sacrifice fly to centre fielder Jason Kipnis, a second baseman moved to the outfield late this season. Kipnis began the year on the disabled list with a shoulder problem.

“As a team, we didn’t play the greatest defence tonight,” Bauer said.

NLDS GAME 4 RAINED OUT, SET FOR TODAY

By JAY COHEN Associated Press CHICAGO (AP) — Game 4 of the NL Division Series was postponed by rain yesterday, giving Chicago Cubs pitcher Jake Arrieta another day to rest his troublesome right hamstring and putting ace Stephen Strasburg in play for the Washington Nationals.

The Cubs and Nationals took batting practice and the grounds crew got the field ready before bringing out the tarp. The rain started to fall about a halfhour after the game was supposed to start at Wrigley Field. With more showers in the forecast, Major League Baseball then called it off.

Chicago leads 2-1 in the best-of-five series going into Game 4, now scheduled for today at 4:08pm EDT. There is rain in the forecast for early in the day.

Cubs manager Joe Maddon said the World Series champions will stay with Arrieta. Nationals manager Dusty Baker left open the possibility of using Strasburg, who started the opener, instead of Tanner Roark.

If the Nationals win today, Game 5 would be Thursday in Washington.

The winner of the NLDS takes on the Dodgers in the next round, scheduled to begin Saturday in Los Angeles.

Chicago won 2-1 at home Monday.

Arrieta has pitched just 10 1/3 innings since August 30. The 2015 NL Cy Young Award winner hurt his right hamstring during a loss at Pittsburgh on September 4.

He returned late last month and made a couple starts down the stretch, but lasted just three innings in a loss at St Louis on September 26.