FRIDAY,AUGUST15,2025
Bahamas 6th in men’s
100 medley relay
New national record
The Bahamas’ swim team closed out their appearance at the second Junior Pan AmericanGamesinAsuncion,Paraguay, with a sixth-place finish in the men’s4x100metremedleyrelay.
ComingofftheirBahamasnational record-breaking performance in the preliminaries earlier in the day at the Paraguay Aquatic Center, the quartet of Nigel Forbes, Emmanuel Gadson, Lamar Taylor and Marvin Johnson clocked three minutes and 45.64secondsinthefinallastnight.
Argentina took the gold in a games’ record-breaking time of 3:36.53 in the event that featured a leg of the butterfly, the backstroke, the breaststroke and the freestyle respectively.
Team Bahamas qualified for the final in their preliminary race with their national record-breaking performance of 3:45.26. They were the third fastest team behind Brazil and Argentina.
But they needed to produce another national record to get on the podium and fell short. It was the second national record for The Bahamas with Taylor lowering his own 100m freestyle mark for the team’s first medal - a bronze - on Tuesday.
Taylor, the 2024 Olympic Games and 2025 World Championship competitor, came back on Wednesday and picked up his second medal - a silver - in the 50m freestyle. The co-flag carrier during the opening
By JONATHAN BURROWS
IN a nail-biting finale at the Andre Rodgers National Baseball Stadium on Wednesday, the Reapers Baseball Club won the New Providence Amateur Baseball Summer League titlewithahard-fought4–2 victory over the Rebels in Game 5 of the championshipseries. The game began as a pitchers’ duel, with both teams tied at 1–1 through fourinnings. However,thefifthinning proved to be the turning point. The Reapers seized their opportunity and mounted a rally, plating
ceremonies of the games with cyclist Kami Roach added his pair of medals to the bronze that judoka Xavon Johnson got on the first day of competition in the men’s -66 kilogramcategory.
Swimming and judo join cycling and archery, which have now finishedtheircompetitionatthegames.
The Bahamas now has two disciplines left to compete. Joshua Higginswillstartcompetinginsailing onSaturday,whilethefourathletesOlympic quarter-miler Zion Miller, javelinthrowerTayshaStubbs,triple jumper Antone Smith and discusshot putter Annae Mackey will start competing on Monday. The games will conclude on Saturday, August 23.
CLAIM AMATEUR BASEBALL TITLE
Track and field team ready for the Junior Pan American Games
BRENT STUBBS
WITH the success so far achieved by the judo and swimming teams at the Junior Pan American Games, head coach Daron Lightbourne said the fourmember track team is eager to go to Asuncion, Paraguay, and make their presencefelt.
Lightbourne will be leaving town today to Paraguay with Olympic quarter-miler Zion Miller, triple jumper Antone Smith, javelin thrower Taysha Stubbs and discus/ shot putter Annae Mackey as they get set for the start of their competition on Monday.
“It’s a fairly young team, which is under-23,” Lightbourne said. “They are some of the top athletes in the country, but they are comingoffalongseason.
“They are also preparing to go to college when thegamesarefinished,soI know they are going to go there and give it their all in their last international meet for the year. So I’m excited for them and will be giving them all of the supportthattheyneed.”
Mackey, the 18-year-old team captain of the CARIFTA team in Trinidad & Tobago where she won a pair of medals, will be competing in the women’s discus where she has a lifetime best of 176-feet, 6-inches or 53.87 metres andtheshotputwith17.14 metres.
She will be heading to the University of Louisvillewhenshe’sdone.
Miller, the 18-year-old member of last year’s Olympic team for the mixed 4 x 400m relay, is entered in the men’s 400m with his best of 46.51. He will go to South Plains College. Smith, a newcomer on the international scene at the age of 19, is competing
in the men’s triple jump with a best of 52-1 3/4 (15.89m). He is off to the UniversityofArizona.
Stubbs, the 17-year-old CARIFTA record holder, is competing in her specialty in the javelin with her best heave of 167-1 (50.94m). She will then head off to the University of Nebraska.
With The Bahamas already on the chart with three medals, two from Olympic swimmer Lamar Taylor in the men’s 50m freestyle with a silver and a bronze in the 100m freestyle and Xavion Johnson with a bronze in judo, Lightbourne said the track team hopes to add to the final tally. “I think they’re
going to go out there and compete for The Bahamas andbeabletobringbacka medal,”Lightbourne.
“They’re veterans in their own rights and so they’re going there with the mindset to represent The Bahamas to the best oftheirabilities.”
Lightbourne said it’s the hope that The Bahamas willendupwithsomequalifiersforthePanAmerican Games that will be staged inLima,Peru,in2027.
The track team will be the last of the Bahamian contingent to compete in Asuncion.
Judo, cycling and swimming competed during the first week of competition. Sailing will be on tap this weekend.
KNOWLES: LADIES’ TEAM ‘IS LOOKING GOOD’
AS a former veteran playerofthemen’snational team, Renaldo Knowles said he knows that they have assembled a solid women’s national team for the Caribbean Volleyball Championships. Knowles will take over as the head coach for the ladies as they compete in the championships starting this weekend at the Kendal IsaacsGymnasium.
A total of five visiting teams will join The Bahamas to participate in
COACH Glen Rolle likes what he has seen in the Bahamas men’s national team going into the Caribbean Volleyball Championships this weekend.
The Bahamas will play hosttosixotherteamsfrom Jamaica, Suriname, Barbados, Trinidad & Tobago, Curacao and Guadeloupe when the championships get underway at the Kendal
ROWERS REVEL IN BEACH SPRINTS IN THE RUN-UP TO LA’S 2028 OLYMPICS
By AMY TAXIN Associated Press
LONG BEACH, Calif. (AP) — It’s a beach run, a coastal row and a music party rolled into one, and it’s about to become an Olympicevent. On a sunny Southern California morning, nearly two dozen athletes gathered to try their hand at beach sprints at a camp run by USRowing in Long Beach, not far from where the
Manywerelong-timeflatwater rowers who wanted to take a shot at something new. Others were already hooked on the quick-paced and unpredictable race formatandhavebeentrainingwithaneyeonLA28. Two at a time, athletes run to the waterline, hop in aboat,rowaslalomcourse, then turn around and return to shore to jump out and dash across the sand to hitafinish-linebuzzer—all inaboutthreeminutes.
BASKETBALL
BBSF
TOURNAMENT
THE Bahamas Baptist Sports Federation is scheduled to hold a meeting 6pm Thursday, August 28 at its office upstairs in the Bahamas Baptist College, Jean Street, for all churches interested in participating in the 2025 BasketballTournament.
The tournament is scheduled for the
weekend of September 26-27 at the CI Gibson Gymnasium for the 12-and under and open divisions.
Each team will consist of 12 players. Trophies sponsored by AID will be distributed to the champions and runnersup in each category as well as medals for the third-place teams. Interested persons can
AUG. - See Page E3
ANNAE MACKEY
ZION MILLER TAYSHA STUBBS
Photo: Chappell Whyms
MEN’S NATIONAL BASKETBALL TEAM KNOCKS
NICARAGUA
IN BLOWOUT EXHIBITION IN NICARAGUA
EXHIBITION WIN: Dominic Bridgewater is greeted by his team-mates after The Bahamas men’s national basketball team knocked off Nicaragua 95-56 in a blowout exhibition game last night in Managua,Nicaragua. Team Bahamas, coached by Lourawls “Tum Tum” Nairn, is preparing for the FIBA 2025 AmericCup Tournament, which willbestagedfromAugust22-31.
The Bahamas is slated to open play against the United States on August 23.
Rowers revel in beach sprints in the run-up to LA’s 2028 Olympics
ROWING - from page E1
“You don’t just have to be a good rower — you also have to be a good athlete,andwhatthatmeansis you’ve got to be able to be dynamicandadapttowhatever Mother Nature throws at you,” said Maurice Scott, a long-time rower from Philadelphia who moved to Long Beach to prepare for theOlympics.
The next summer Olympics will be held in Los Angelesandnearbycities.
Interest in beach sprints has risen since the International Olympic Committee announced its inclusion, especially since the games will no longer feature a lightweightrowingcategory popular among smaller athletes.
Rowing officials developed the beach sprint formatalittleoveradecade ago hoping to engage spectators in a sport that’s otherwise removed from people watching from the shore. A standard 2,000 metre-flatwater race is typically only visible closer to thefinishline.
In beach sprints, athletes compete close to the crowds in a dynamic and much shorter race that fans can easily track from the sand.
Guin Batten, chair of World Rowing’s coastal commission, said the vision istohaveafun,livelyevent on the beach where spectators can listen to good music,beclosetotheaction and follow their favourite athletes. The entire event runsjustanhour.
“It’s knockout. It’s chaotic,” said Batten, an Olympic rower who helped develop the format. “Until you cross a finish line, anyonecanwinthatrace.”
Many traditional flatwater rowers accustomed to steady strokes on calm
waterways have no interest in the ups and downs of wind and waves. But other long-time rowers are hooked.
Christine Cavallo, a beach sprinter on the U.S. national team, said she loves the unpredictability of the waves, which can humble even the most incredibleathletes.
“You could be the best rower in the world and get flipped by the wave,” Cavallosaid.
Coastal rowing has long been popular throughout the world but different cultures have used different boatsandrules.
Part of the appeal of beach sprints is the boat has been standardised and is provided at competitions, which makes it easier for moreathletestotryit.
The first major international beach sprints competition was at the 2015 Mediterranean Beach GamesinItaly.
Head of the Charles, known for its yearly October flatwater regatta in Massachusetts, hosted its first beach sprints event in July. About 100 rowers, twice as many as expected, participated, said Brendan Mulvey,racedirector.
Since the Olympic announcement, Tom Pattichis, British Rowing’s head coachforbeachsprints,said henowhasathletestraining full-timeintheevent.
Meanwhile, Marc Oria, the USA Beach Sprint head coach, said camps in Massachusetts, New Jersey and Long Beach aim to bring the race to long-time rowers and others who haven’ttriedit.
Athletes find it exhilaratingbecauseitrequiresthem to be agile and adaptive as well as superb rowers, he said.
“It’s growing exponentially in the last four years all around the world,” Oria said. “Our goal for U.S. rowing is to create more events, more opportunities, and to create a good pipelinefor2028.” At the camp in Long Beach, competitors included a teacher, an Olympic rower, a marketing professional who began rowing a few weeks earlier and a high school senior. “I tried it and I really loved it, soIcameback,”saidBridgette Hanson, a 17-year-old rower from Arizona who raced in beach sprints for the first time this year in Florida. “It requires a lot morebruteforce.”
John Wojtkiewicz, coach of the Long Beach Coastal Team, called out to racers to help guide them through thecourse.
He said he’s eager to see how the Olympic venue is set up and hopes spectators can get a good view like theydoatsurfingevents.
“What is great about the beach sprint — and this may have helped its development — is you can watch the entire race,” Wojtkiewicz said. “Anything can happen.”
VERONICA Toro trains at a beach sprints camp organised by USRowing in Long Beach, Calif., Sunday, August 10, 2025.
ATHLETES train at a beach sprints camp organised by USRowing in Long Beach. (AP Photos/Damian Dovarganes)
Pain in youth athletes: What it really means and why it matters
By Dr Kent L Bazard
IN the world of youth sports, pain is often misunderstood — brushed off as a badge of honour, feared as a sign of weakness, or misread as proof of serious injury. But not all pain is created equal. And for young athletes trying to balance school, sports and growth, understanding pain can make all the difference between recovery and regret.
What Is Pain — Really?
Most people think pain meanssomethingisbroken. But science tells us that pain is far more complex. Pain is not just a reaction to tissue damage — it’s a signal generated by the brain, interpreting danger basedonavarietyofinputs.
Sometimes the signal is accurate, like a twisted ankle.Butothertimes,pain lingers even after healing, or shows up in places that haven’tbeeninjured.Thisis why two athletes can have the same injury, but very differentpainexperiences.
Two Types of Pain in Sports Medicine
Doctors typically classify pain into two main categories:
1.Input-DominatedPain
This is the type of pain most people are familiar with. It comes from actual tissue damage — muscle strains, ligament sprains, bruises, or bone injuries. It’s usually short-term and improves with appropriate restandrehab.
2.Centrally DominatedPain
This type is less about the injured tissue and more about how the nervous system and brain process pain signals. It can stick around long after the body has healed and is often made worse by stress, anxiety, poor sleep, or even negative language (like being told your spine is “wornout”).
When left unaddressed, input-dominated pain can evolve into centrally dominated pain — creating a cycle of chronic discomfort andmissedtimefromsport.
When the Pain Isn’t
Where the Problem Is Pain can also be misleading. An athlete may feel hamstringtightness,butthe root cause could be nerve tension from the lower back.
A sore shoulder could be driven by neck dysfunction. This is called referred pain, and it highlights the importance of whole-body assessments — not just treatingwhereithurts.
How Pain Changes Movement
When young athletes are in pain, their bodies naturally try to protect the area. This leads to changes in movement — limping, guarding, or overusing other muscles. Over time, these compensations can create new injuries or slow recovery. This is why effective rehab focuses not just on pain relief, but also on restoringnormalmovement patterns and retraining the nervoussystem.
Tools for Safe and Smart Pain
Management
Managing pain properly doesn’t mean avoiding all discomfort — it means recognising the difference between harmful and helpfulpain.
Herearekeyprinciples:
Assessment First: Accurate diagnosis is crucial. This includes ruling out serious injuries, evaluating nerve involvement, and considering central pain features.
Pain Education: Teaching young athletes how painworksreducesfearand speedsrecovery.
Movement Therapy: Graded exercise, starting belowpainthresholds,helps rewire protective patterns andrestoreconfidence.
Positive Language: Words matter. Avoid labels like “torn,” “worn out,” or “degenerating,” especially with youth. Instead, use empowering phrases that promotehealing.
Supportive Environment: Sleep, hydration, stress management, and mental health support all play a roleinrecoveryfrompain.
When to Seek
Medical Advice
While most minor sports-related pain can be managed with proper guidance,thereareredflagsthat warrantmedicalevaluation:
• Pain that persists or worsensovertime
• Pain accompanied by weakness, numbness, or tingling
•Painthatdisruptssleep ordailyactivity
• Pain following a traumatic injury (e.g., fall, impact)
• Pain with swelling, fever, or unexplained fatigue
The Takeaway Pain is not the enemy —fear,guesswork,andmisinformationare.Byhelping youth athletes understand that pain is a communication tool, not a verdict, we can guide them toward recovery that is not only faster,butsmarter. It’s time we stop telling young athletes to “push through the pain” — and instead, teach them how to listen to it, learn from it, andcomebackstronger.
•DrKentBazard,sports medicine physician at Empire Sports Medicine, specializes in ensuring athletes reach their peak performance safely. With extensive experience and a passion for sports health, Dr. Bazard provides insights and guidance for athletes of all ages - men andwomen.
LAS VEGAS (AP) — Jewell Loyd had 21 points and five 3-pointers off the bench and the Las Vegas Aces beat the New York Liberty 83-77 on Wednesday night for their fifth straightvictory.
It was Las Vegas’ first regular-season win against New York since August 17, 2023. A’ja Wilson had 17 points and 16 rebounds for her 15th double-double of theseason.
contact Sean Bastian at seanbasbastian@gmail.com or call 826-8535 or Brent Stubbs at stubbobs@gmail. com or call 426-7265 for moreinformation.
SPECIAL OLYMPICS
FUN DAY
SPECIAL Olympics
Bahamas is scheduled to hold their annual raffle grill fun day fundraiser on Saturday, August 16 from 11:30am to 6pm at the Stapledon School Grounds on DolphinDrive.Dinnerswill include chicken, steak, fish, hot dogs, burgers, pastries and soft drinks. Domino’s, Connect 4 and basketball gameswillbeplayedduring the day. Interested persons are urged to call 426-0233, 477-0304 or 359-3558 for information on ticket purchases.
BASEBALL NATIONAL TEAM TRYOUT
THE Bahamas Baseball
Association is scheduled to hold its trials for the 15-and-under national team 10am Saturday at the Andre Rodgers Baseball Stadium. Players must turn
Jackie Young added 15 points and Chelsea Gray had 13 for Las Vegas (19-14).
16 after 2025 in order to be eligibletoparticipate.
The trial is to select the national team that will represent The Bahamas at the WBSC Americas U15 Baseball Panam, scheduled forSeptember6-11inSanto Domingo, Dominican Republic.
BAPTIST SPORTS FEDERATION TRACK & FIELD
CLASSIC
THE Baptist Sports Federation is slated to hold its 2025 Track and Field Classic during the Baptist month of activities on Saturday, October 25 at the ThomasA.RobinsonTrack andFieldStadium.
Odd distance events will be staged for competitors in the under-7, under-11, under-15, under-17, under20, under-40, under-60 and 60-and over categories for menandwomen.Therewill also be a Pastors/Ministers category. Trophies will be presented to the divisional champions and medals to the top three finishers in each event. Interested persons can contact Ann Thompson at ann87609@ gmail.com or call 4253667 or Brent Stubbs at stubbobs@gmail,com or call 426-7265 for more information.
Emma Meesseman led New York (21-12) with 24 pointsand10rebounds.
Sabrina Ionescu added 18 points and Jonquel Jones had 11 points, seven rebounds and five assists. Breanna Stewart (knee),
Loyd recorded her 26th career game with at least fivemade3-pointers—tied for third most in WNBA history with her coach BeckyHammon.
Isabelle Harrison (concussion) and Nyara Sabally (knee)didnotplay.
Loyd and Young each made a 3-pointer on backto-back possessions late in thethirdquarter.
New York missed eight straight shots in the fourth quarter until Meesseman’s hook shot in the lane gave them a 69-68 lead with 5:26 left.
Las Vegas grabbed three offensive rebounds on a possession late in the
Young was fouled on her shot and made the free throw for a four-point play to give Las Vegas its first lead, 59-58, since it was 33-31.
fourth, leading to two free throws by Wilson for an 80-74lead.
The Aces scored 22 points in the fourth, 15 comingfromthefree-throw line. Meesseman and Ionescu combined to score all 14 fourth-quarter points for NewYork.
LAS Vegas Aces centre A’ja Wilson (22) drives to the basket around New York Liberty centre Jonquel Jones (35) during the first half Wednesday in Las Vegas.
(Steve Marcus/AP)
COACH ROLLE: ‘THE TEAM IS LOOKING GOOD AND I’M VERY CONFIDENT IN THEM’
Isaacs Gymnasium. Six teams, including The Bahamas, will compete in the men’sdivision.
The opening ceremonies will kick off the championships at 6pm on Saturday, followed by the Bahamas playing the opening against Jamaicaat7:30pm.
The men’s team is comprised of Tyrone Sands, hitter; Kyle Wilson, outside hitter; Eugene Stuart, middle blocker; Donavan Wilmott, outside hitter; Tavin Brown, outside hitter; Brosnan D’Arville, settr; Camaule Coakley,
defensivespecialist; Jamaal Ferguson, libero; Chauncey Cooper, outside hitter; Je’Vaughn Saunders, setter; Gaege Smith, setter and Shonari Hepburn, middle blocker. “The team is looking good and I’m very confident in them,” said Rolle, a former player on the men’s national team. “The guys have been working out. They have been building their unity in the weeks they have been practicingsoIhavealotoffaith inthem.”
As for the defending champions Suriname, Rolle said they will be the team to watch because there is
“THE TEAM IS LOOKING GOOD AND I’M VERY CONFIDENT IN THEM. THE GUYS HAVE BEEN WORKING OUT. THEY HAVE BEEN BUILDING THEIR UNITY IN THE WEEKS THEY HAVE BEEN PRACTICING SO I HAVE A LOT OF FAITH IN THEM.”
– Glen Rolle, head coach of men’s national volleyball team
the mystery of whether they will return with the same line-up or they switch around some of their key players. “Everybody else, from what I’ve seen, have constructed some new
teams,” said Rolle of the other men’s teams in the tournament. “They are going through their developmental process where they are bringing in more youngplayers.”
As for the mindset of TeamBahamas,whichhasa mixture of youth and experience, Rolle said they are focused on representing The Bahamas and eventually being the last team
standingaschampions.“We have veteran leaders in the middle and on the outside,” Rolle said. “But our strength has always been in the middle and we haven’t changedthat.”
The only concern Rolle hasistheir“passingability” and, like everybody else, being “consistent” in their serving. But as the home team, Rolle said there’s a lotofpressureontheline.
“When you are dealing with Bahamians, they don’t likemediocrity,”Rollesaid. “I think they are ready to go and we will put on a show. Hopefully it will be goodenoughtowinitall.”
Head coach Renaldo and ladies’ national team ‘have been practicing hard’ for Caribbean Volleyball Championships
the ladies’ division, along with seven teams, including The Bahamas, in the men’s division.
Knowles, who has retired from playing on the men’s teamandisnowconcentrating on coaching, said The Bahamas ladies’ national team is poised and ready to compete.
“The team is looking good. We’ve been practicinghard,puttinginthetime and building the chemistry, so hopefully it will all come together on the court and we will play well,” Knowles said.
defensive specialist; Raechel Knowles, outside hitter; Chandra Mackey, libero; Leandra Johnson, setter; Khalea Johnson, right side hitter and AbbeannaBrennen,libero.
The Bahamas will open competition on Sunday againstGuadeloupeat8pm.
The other teams in the ladies’ division are defending champions Jamaica, Barbados, Suriname and Trinidad&Tobago.
‘THE TEAM IS LOOKING GOOD. WE’VE BEEN PRACTICING HARD, PUTTING IN THE TIME AND BUILDING THE CHEMISTRY, SO HOPEFULLY IT
WILL ALL COME TOGETHER ON THE COURT AND WE WILL PLAY WELL’
– Renaldo Knowles, head coach of women’s national volleyball team
Knowles said although their ultimate aim is to win the tournament, they have established some goals, including “doing our best, putting on a good showing and playing as hard as we could.” GoTeamBahamas! TEAM - from page E1
Team Bahamas will comprise of Alexandria Strachan, middle blocker; Zarria Rose, setter; La’Tavia Braynen, middle blocker; Egianetter Pierre, right side hitter; Vanessa Sawyer, right side hitter; Anjeniker Joseph,
“I don’t really know the competition, but I know that Trinidad usually has a strong team and Jamaica is the defending champion, but a lot of the teams have changed, so we don’t know what we’re up against,” Knowlessaid.
“We just hope that our teamcomesoutontop.”
Looking at the makeup ofTeamBahamas,Knowles said their defence and their communication and their defenceatthenetshouldbe abletopullthemthrough.
timid or the lights might be too bright for them at this level.”
“We have a lot of young players, players who are playing at this level for the first time,” said Knowles about his only concern for Team Bahamas. “They might be a little nervous or
But the good thing is that theywillbeplayingathome infrontofthehomecrowd.
“I already explained to the ladies that playing at home gives you a different
type of energy, a different type of adrenaline and it makes you feel like you are immortal. “But you have to know how to channel it and use it to your advantage andnotoverplaybecauseof the adrenaline and playing athome.”
In nail-biting finale, Reapers
two unanswered runs that gave them a 3–1 lead.
The Rebels pushed back with one answered run, but it was the Reapers who held firm with a late insurance run in the sixth inning and a timely fly ball out in the seventh that sealed the victory.
Rebels catcher Rashad Martin reflected on the feelings after such a tough loss and the moment when momentum shifted.
“It’s always a heartfelt feeling to lose a game like that. Last game was a good game, we just didn’t execute. We hit the ball, but we just hit them at people, we couldn’t find no holes,” said Martin. “In the fifth inning,
we just had some crucial plays that we missed, for example, I missed a crucial play, and I think it was third who missed a crucial play, but it happens and is a part of baseball,” he added.
Reapers outfielder Tate Isaac, who stepped up as the team’s spokesman this series, shared what it took to win.
“Everyone was putting the ball in play, getting hits and putting base runners on to make a play, and everyone was doing their job,” Isaac said.
Alfred Ferguson, the Reapers’ first baseman and team manager, offered insight into his team’s regular season and how that prepared them for this series. “It was a journey to get here, definitely a journey to get here. This is the first season in almost 20 years so everyone was kind of excited but it was still a bit rocky. Early into the season we were still waiting on guys to commit, everyone wanted to make sure it waslegitbeforetheystarted investing their time into it but once we got everyone to buy in, at that point it was smooth sailing,” Ferguson stated. “A lot of the guys on this team haven’t played baseball in years, but it’s like riding a bicycle - once you do it a couple of times, you’re right back in it,” he added.
Reapers’ pitcher and series most valuable player, Keshon Conliffe, reflected on playing two games, starting and ending as the pitcher.
“I don’t know how I did it, a lot of icy hot, but you just have to go. I play outfield a lot, so I’m used to throwing. My arm hanging, but I got the job done, the team backed me up, and we came out victorious, and that’s all that matters,” said Conliffe.
The Reapers’ road to the title was anything but easy. After the Rebels took an early lead in the series, the Reapers forced a game five by dominating with a 10–0 win in game four.
In the finale though, both teams played hard until the decisive fifth inning swung the championship back toward the Reapers.
With this win, the Reapers are crowned the 2025 NPABL Summer League champions, capping off a long season marked by resilience.
1st Time for Longhorns
Texas is No. 1 in AP preseason Top 25, edging out Penn St; 10 SEC teams ranked
BY ERIC OLSON AP College Football Writer
For the first time, Texas will open a college football season ranked No. 1 in e Associated Press Top e Longhorns hardly have a mandate in the poll released Monday: ey edged Penn State by just five points in sest preseason vote since 1998
Texas received 25 first-place votes and 1,552 points to give the Southeastern Conference the preseason No. 1 team for the fi h straight year. e Nittany Lions got 23 first-place votes and 1,547 points for their highest preseason ranking since they were No. 1 to open the 1997 season.
e Longhorns face a major test right away. eir Aug. 30 opener at defending nation champion and third-ranked Ohio State is a rematch of last season’s College Football Playoff semifinal, a 28-14 Buckeyes win in the Cotton Bowl.
e Buckeyes received 11 first-place votes from the panel of 65 media members who cover college football. No. 4 Clemson got four first-place votes and No. 5 Georgia got one. Notre Dame, Oregon (which got the final first-place vote), Alabama, LSU and Miami round out the top 10
e SEC leads all conferences with 10 teams in the Top 25, one more than a year ago. Four are in the top 10
e Big Ten, which has won the last two national titles, has two of the top three teams in the poll, three of the top seven and six in the Top 25 Four Big 12 teams are ranked, with defending conference champion Arizona State the highest at No. 11. e Atlantic Coast Conference has three, led by Clemson.
HORNS UP
“Arch Mania” is at a fever pitch with Arch Manning now the undisputed starting quarterback at Texas. e Longhorns have been on an upward trajectory since they were 5-7 in 2021, coach Steve Sarkisian’s first season.
No. 1 Texas
Coach: Steve Sarkisian, 5th season.
2024: 13-3, CFP semifinal, No. 4.
Key games: at No. 3 Ohio State, Aug. 30; vs. No. 18 Oklahoma at Dallas, Oct. 11; at No. 5 Georgia, Nov. 15; vs. No. 19 Texas A&M, Nov. 28
Players to watch: QB Arch Manning, RB Quintrevion Wisner, OL DJ Campbell, EDGE Collin Simmons, LB Anthony Hill Jr.
Outlook: It’s been 20 years since the Longhorns won a national championship, and this sets up to be their best shot since they played in the 2009 BCS title game.Texas has the makings for another top-three defense, and the offense has no shortage of weapons around Manning. After the opener at Ohio State, the Longhorns might not be seriously tested again until November.
No. 6 Notre Dame
Coach: Marcus Freeman, 4th season.
2024: 14-2, CFP Championship runner-up, No. 2. Key games: at No. 10 Miami (FL), Aug. 31; vs. No. 19Texas A&M, Sept. 13; vs. No. 25 Boise State, Oct. 4; vs. USC, Oct. 18 No. 7 Oregon
Coach: Dan Lanning, 4th season.
2024: 13-1, CFP quarterfinal, No. 3. Key games: vs. Oregon State, Sept. 20; at No. 2 Penn State, Sept. 27; vs. No. 20 Indiana, Oct. 11; atWashington, Nov. 29 No. 8 Alabama
Coach: Kalen DeBoer, 2nd season.
2024: 9-4, No. 17 Key games: at No. 5 Georgia, Sept. 27; vs. No. 24Tennessee, Oct. 18; at No. 13 South Carolina, Oct. 25; vs. No. 9 LSU, Nov. 8; at Auburn, Nov. 29
No. 9 LSU
Coach: Brian Kelly, 4th season.
2024: 9-4, unranked. Key games: at No. 4 Clemson, Aug. 30; vs. No. 13 South Carolina, Oct. 11; at No. 8 Alabama, Nov. 8; at No. 18 Oklahoma, Nov. 29
ey have won 25 of their last 30 games and reached two straight CFP semifinals. Last year, they were ranked No. 1 four of five weeks from September to mid-October, and they reached the SEC championship in their first season in the conference.
“But this is a new year, new faces, new team, and obviously expectations are high for our program,” Sarkisian said at SEC “I’m not naive to that. I don’t put my head in the sand, and expectations are very high. But I also say we’re the University of Texas, and the standard is the standard here, and that’s competing for championships year in and year out.”
Twelve Longhorns were taken in the NFL dra , including three-first-round picks, but elite recruiting and additions from the transfer portal should alleviate concerns about losses on the offensive line and at receiver. e defense brings back plenty of talent.
Still, Texas received just 38.5% of the first-place votes (25 of 65), the smallest share for a No. 1 team in the preseason poll since Georgia got 33.9% (22 of 65) in 2008
e Longhorns have ended a season No. 1 in the AP poll three times (1963, 1969, 2005) but until Monday had never started a season higher than No. 2 (1962, 1965, 1970, 2005, 2009)
BIG TEN LURKING
e second-ranked Nittany Lions are not only six points from being No. 1, but they are 75 points ahead of the Buckeyes in what might be considered a slight to the national champs.
Penn State will have Drew Allar back under center for what many consider a light schedule ahead of a late September visit
No. 2 Penn State
Coach: James Franklin, 12th season.
2024: 13-3, CFP semifinal, No. 5.
Key games: vs. No. 7 Oregon, Sept. 27; at No. 3 Ohio State, Nov. 1; vs. No. 20 Indiana Nov. 8; vs. Nebraska, Nov. 22
Players to watch: QB Drew Allar; RB Kaytron Allen; RB Nicholas Singleton; DT Zane Durant.
Outlook: The Nittany Lions upgraded their receiving corps through the transfer portal.That will be a huge help to Allar, who won’t have starTETylerWarren to lean on anymore. Allen and Singleton each ran for more than 1,000 yards and are back. New defensive coordinator Jim Knowles has plenty of talent to work with at all three levels.The schedule is favorable. If they beat Oregon at home in late September, they easily could be 7-0 entering a challenging November stretch
No. 10 Miami (FL)
Coach: Mario Cristobal, 4th season. 2024: 10-3, No. 18 Key games: vs. No. 7 Notre Dame, Aug. 31; vs. No. 15 Florida, Sept. 20; vs. Louisville, Oct. 17; at No. 16 SMU, Nov. 1.
No. 11 Arizona State
Coach: Kelly Dillingham, 3rd season.
2024: 11-3, CFP quarterfinal, No. 7. Key games: at Mississippi State, Sept. 6; at Utah, Oct. 11; vs. No. 23 TexasTech, Oct. 18; at No. 22 Iowa State, Nov. 1.
No. 12 Illinois
Coach: Bret Bielema, 5th season.
2024: 10-3, No. 16
Key games: at Duke, Sept 6; at No. 20 Indiana, Sept 20; vs. USC, Sept. 27; vs. No. 3 Ohio State, Oct. 11
No. 13 South Carolina
Coach: Shane Beamer, 5th season.
2024: 9-4, No. 19
Key games: at No. 9 LSU, Oct. 11; vs. No. 8 Alabama, Oct. 25; at No. 19Texas A&M, Nov. 15; vs. No. 4 Clemson, Nov. 29
from Oregon before a Nov. 1 showdown at Ohio State
e Buckeyes, in the preseason top five for the ninth straight year and 12th of the last 13, will have a new look with only five starters back on offense and three on defense.
“ is team has its own identity,” coach Ryan Day said. “It wants to have its own identity, but it also wants to be the first Ohio State team to win back-to-back national championships.” e opener against Texas will give the Buckeyes a good measure of themselves. Julian Sayin or Lincoln Kienholz will be the third new starting quarterback in three years. Whoever gets the job will throw to one of the nation’s top players in Jeremiah Smith.
Day will also have another chance to figure out archrival and preseason No. 14 Michigan, which has beaten the Buckeyes four straight years.
POLL NUGGETS
No. 3 Ohio State
Coach: Ryan Day, 7th season.
2024: 14-2, CFP Championship winner, No. 1.
Key games: vs. No. 1Texas, Aug. 30; at No. 12 Illinois, Oct. 11; vs. No. 2 Penn State, Nov. 1; at No. 14 Michigan, Nov. 29
Players to watch: QB Julian Sayin or Lincoln Kienholz,WR Jeremiah Smith,WR Carnell Tate, S Caleb Downs, LB Sonny Styles.
Outlook: The Buckeyes again have one of the best if not the best, collections of talent. Smith was a revelation as a freshman, Tate is poised to put up huge numbers with Emeka Egbuka now in the NFL, and Downs has been the best safety in the nation for two years and is a projected top-five NFL pick. As with any team, how far the Buckeyes go hinges on the QBs, and the ones auditioning for the job are inexperienced.
No. 14
Michigan
Coach: Sherrone Moore, 2nd
season
2024: 8-5, unranked.
Key games: at No. 18 Oklahoma, Sept. 6; at Nebraska, Sept. 20; at USC, Oct. 11; at Michigan State, Oct. 25; vs. No. 3 Ohio State, Nov. 29
No. 15 Florida
Coach: Billy Napier, 4th
season 2024: 8-5, unranked.
Key games: at No. 9 LSU, Sept. 13; at No. 10 Miami, Sept. 20; vs. No. 1Texas, Oct. 4; at No. 19 Texas A&M, Oct. 11; vs. No. 5 Georgia at Jacksonville, Nov. 1. No. 16 SMU
Coach: Rhett Lashlee, 4th
season 2024: 11-3, CFP first round, No. 12
Key games: vs. Baylor, Sept. 6; atTCU, Sept. 20; at No. 4 Clemson, Oct. 18; vs. No. 10 Miami, Nov. 1. No. 17 Kansas State
Coach: Chris Klieman, 7th
season 2024: 9-4, unranked.
Key games: vs. No. 22 Iowa
State at Dublin, Ireland, Aug. 23; at Kansas, Oct. 25; vs. No. 23Texas Tech, Nov. 1; at Utah, Nov. 22
No. 4 Clemson
Texas will try to become the 12th team to start and finish No. 1 since the AP preseason poll debuted in 1950. e last team to do it was Alabama in 2017
NotreDamecoachMarcusFreeman’steam isinthepreseasontop10forthethirdtime infouryears. eIrishwillhaveanewquarterback,CJCarrorKennyMinchey. etwo playedacombinedeightsnapslastseasonas NotreDamewentallthewaytothe CFPtitlegame.
With Boise State at No. 25, all 12 teams in the 2024 College Football Playoff are ranked in the preseason. e Mountain West’s Broncos are the first team from a Group of Five conference to crack the preseason Top 25 since Tulane was No. 24 in 2023
No. 5 Georgia
Coach: Kirby Smart, 10th season.
Coach: Dabo Swinney, 17th season
2024: 10-4, CFP first round, No. 14
Key games: vs. No. 9 LSU, Aug. 30; vs. No. 16 SMU, Oct. 18; at No. 13 South Carolina, Nov. 29
Players to watch: QBCade Klubnik,WRAntonioWilliams,DL PeterWoods,LBSammyBrown.
Outlook: Few teams can boast of having so much talent across almost all positions. It all starts with Klubnik, a third-year starter who will go down as one of the program’s most prolific passers. Woods is a monster on the defensive front, and you might even see him line up at fullback. The Tigers got in the ACC title game through the back door last year and ended up in the playoff. This team is better than a year ago and will be out to show it in home opener against LSU.
No. 18 Oklahoma
Coach: BrentVenables, 4th
season
2024: 6-7, unranked.
Key games: vs. No. 14 Michigan, Sept. 6; vs No. 1Texas at Dallas, Oct. 11; at No. 8 Alabama, Nov. 15; vs. No. 9 LSU, Nov. 29
No. 19 Texas A&M
Coach: Mike Elko, 2nd
season 2024: 8-5, unranked.
Key games: at No. 6 Notre Dame, Sept. 13; at No. 9 LSU, Oct. 25; vs. No. 13 South Carolina, Nov. 15; at No. 1Texas, Nov. 28
No. 20 Indiana
Coach: Curt Cignetti, 2nd
season 2024: 11-2, CFP first round, No. 10
Key games: vs. No. 12 Illinois, Sept. 20; at Iowa, Sept. 27; at No. 7 Oregon, Oct. 11; at No. 2 Penn State, Nov. 8. No. 21 Ole Miss
Coach: Lane Kiffin 6th
season 2024: 10-3, No. 11
Key games: vs. No. 9 LSU, Sept. 27; at No. 5 Georgia Oct. 18; at No. 18 Oklahoma, Oct. 25;
2024: 11-3, CFP quarterfinal, No. 6.
Key games: at No. 24
Tennessee, Sept. 13; vs. No. 8 Alabama, Sept. 27; vs. No. 15 Florida at Jacksonville, Florida, Nov. 1; vs. No. 1Texas, Nov. 15
Players to watch: QB Gunner Stockton,WR NoahThomas,WR Zachariah Branch, DL Christian Miller, LB CJ Allen.
Outlook: It’s testament to Smart and his staff’s recruiting and portal acumen that the Bulldogs are a top-five team after losing so many players.That includes three first-round NFL draft picks from the defensive side. Don’t expect a drop-off. Stockton is not a typical first-year starter, not after coming on in relief to help beatTexas in the SEC title game and going the distance against Notre Dame in the CFP. .
Coach Steve Sarkisian
August 15 - 23, 2025
MASTER SCHEDULE
MEN TEAMS
WOMEN TEAMS
SCHEDULE OF MATCHES
