Weekday Morning Sports – Friday 5/29/15

sportsreport

Sports Radio 1400 WSJM     @wsjmsports     wsjmsports.com     Friday, May 29, 2015

MLB – Major League Baseball
Last Night
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim 12, Detroit Tigers 2
Chicago White Sox 3, Baltimore Orioles 2 – Game 1
Baltimore Orioles 6, Chicago White Sox 3 – Game 2
Cubs were off

Angels 12, Tigers 2 – Iannetta, Angels pound Tigers
Chris Iannetta hit a grand slam as the LA Angels of Anaheim routed the Detroit Tigers, 12-2, to open a four-game series. Albert Pujols hit a two-run home run while Matt Joyce added a solo shot and drove in two for the Angels, who had lost four of five coming in. C.J. Wilson (3-3) allowed just one run on two hits with five walks and seven strikeouts in six innings. Buck Farmer (0-1) was tagged for seven runs on nine hits in just five innings for the Tigers, who have lost four of their last six.

(G1) White Sox 3, Orioles 2, (G2) Orioles 6, White Sox 3 – Orioles, White Sox split doubleheader caused by riots
Chris Sale struck out 12 over 7 2-3 shutout innings to lead the Chicago White Sox to a 3-2 victory Thursday over the Orioles, who rebounded to win the second game 6-3 in a doubleheader caused by rioting in Baltimore last month. The doubleheader was scheduled after games on April 27-28 were postponed because of riots near the ballpark following the funeral of a black man who died of injuries sustained while in police custody. The third game of that series was played without fans in the stadium. A crowd of 18,441 showed up Thursday. The nightcap featured a matchup of rookie right-handers. Chris Beck (0-1) made his major league debut for the White Sox and Mike Wright (2-0) was starting for the third time after scoreless appearances against the Angels and Miami.

Today
Kansas City (Volquez 4-3) at Chicago Cubs (Arrieta 4-4), 4:05 p.m.
Chicago White Sox (Rodon 1-0) at Houston (McCullers 1-0), 8:10 p.m.
Detroit (An.Sanchez 3-5) at L.A. Angels (Santiago 3-3), 10:05 p.m.      WSJM-AM/WCSY-FM 9:40

NBA – Chicago Bulls fire coach Tom Thibodeau, cite lack of trust
Tom Thibodeau has suddenly become one of the most successful former coaches in NBA history. Thibodeau has been fired after five seasons with the Chicago Bulls. He led the team to a 255-139 record and a playoff appearance in each season with the team. Apparent friction with management led to the change, along with a second-round exit in the Eastern Conference playoffs.  Thibodeau’s .647 winning percentage ranks seventh in NBA history among coaches with at least 200 games. He led the Bulls to the top seed in the playoffs his first two seasons and was the NBA’s Coach of the Year in 2011, the same year Derrick Rose became the league’s youngest MVP.

NCAA Softball – Sweet, Betsa lead Michigan past Alabama, 5-0
Lauren Sweet hit a grand slam and Megan Betsa threw a four-hitter help Michigan beat Alabama 5-0 on Thursday night in the Women’s College World Series opener for both teams. Betsa struck out six for the third-seeded Wolverines (57-6). Kelly Christner hit a solo home run in the bottom of the first inning, and Sweet connected off Alexis Osorio in the fourth. The Wolverines only had four hits, but they left just two on base. Michigan has won all three meetings with Alabama this season, holding the Crimson Tide (47-14) to a total of three runs.   Michigan faces UCLA tonight.

NCAA Baseball – College World Series – Regionals
Today
Michigan vs. Bradley, 2:00 p.m.            (Louisville, KY)

NCAA Baseball – Bradley baseball team’s long NCAA wait ends Friday
It’s been almost half a century since Bradley’s baseball team played in the NCAA Tournament but the Braves’ wait ends Friday. Bradley (35-19) made the 64-team field and will play in the Louisville Regional. The Braves first face Michigan (37-23) Bradley hasn’t made the post season since 1968. Coach Elvis Dominguez told The Journal Star in Peoria that former players told him they got goose bumps when they found out the team was in the tournament.

NHL – 2015 Stanley Cup Playoffs – Round 3 – Conference Finals (Best of 7)
Tonight
Tampa Bay Lightning at New York Rangers, 8:00 p.m.                    (Series tied 3-3)

Saturday
Chicago Blackhawks at Anaheim Ducks, 8:00 p.m.                         (Series tied 3-3)

NHL – Ducks, Blackhawks roll into Game 7 in memorable conf. finals
Someday the Anaheim Ducks and the Chicago Blackhawks will relish the stories they’ll be able to tell about playing in a postseason series as good as these Western Conference finals. Not just now, though. They’ve still got to determine whether this tale has a happy ending or a brutal punchline. Two weeks of extraordinarily high-level hockey conclude Saturday night at Honda Center when the Ducks and the Blackhawks play Game 7 for the Campbell Bowl and a trip to the Stanley Cup Final. They’ve traded victories for six tense games across the past two weeks, playing six overtime periods and four one-goal games. Both teams used Thursday for travel and mental preparation for the big finish after Chicago staved off elimination with a 5-2 victory in Game 6.

NHL – NHL: Stanley Cup Final begins Wednesday
The Stanley Cup Final will open on Wednesday with Game 1 in New York, Tampa or Anaheim. The NHL announced Thursday that Game 1 will be at Madison Square Garden if the Rangers beat the Lightning in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference final on Friday night. If the Lightning win, they’ll have home-ice advantage in the Cup final if the Blackhawks beat the Ducks in Game 7 of the West final. If the Ducks and Lightning win, Anaheim has home ice. Game 2 will be held on June 6, with games on June 8 and June 10. If necessary, Game 5 will be June 13, followed by games on June 15 and June 17. It’s the first time since 2000 and third time in NHL history that the two conference finals went seven games.

NCAA Football – Ex-Notre Dame player Hardy makes it official: He’s a Falcon
Former Notre Dame safety Eilar Hardy will play his one remaining year of college eligibility at Bowling Green. Hardy, who played in 15 games the last two years for the Fighting Irish, had asked for and been granted his release from Notre Dame after last season. He had said he was transferring to Bowling Green, but the decision wasn’t officially announced until Thursday. Hardy, a native of Reynoldsburg, Ohio, who recently graduated with a degree in sociology from Notre Dame, started two games in 2013. He totaled 35 tackles in his career with the Fighting Irish. He missed the first eight games of the 2014 season while the university investigated him and four other players for possible academic dishonesty.

Tennis – French Open – Two No. 1’s advance
Top-seed Serena Williams has advanced to the third round of the French Open, but she needed three sets to do it.  Williams rallied to beat German Anna-Lena Friedsam 5-7, 6-3, 6-3.  Joining Williams among the Day 5 winners is men’s top-seed Novak Djokovic, who beat Gilles Muller 6-1, 6-4, 6-4 despite playing with a right leg injury. Djokovic took a medical timeout before the last game of the second set, getting his upper leg and lower back massaged by a trainer.  Also advancing are sixth seed and nine-time winner Rafael Nadal, No. 3 seed Andy Murray and women’s fourth seed Petra Kvitova. Women’s fifth seed Caroline Wozniacki was upset by Germany’s Julia Goerges  6-4, 7-6.

MWL – Midwest League Baseball
Last Night
Lake County 4, West Michigan 3, 10 innings
Dayton 5, South Bend 4
Lansing 4, Bowling Green 2
Great Lakes 1, Fort Wayne 0 – Game 1
Great Lakes 2, Fort Wayne 1 – Game 2

Today
South Bend at Lake County, 6:30 p.m.
Lansing at Dayton, 7 p.m.
West Michigan at Fort Wayne, 7:05 p.m.
Great Lakes at Bowling Green, 8:05 p.m.

AHL – American Hockey League – 2015 Calder Cup Playoffs – Conf. Finals (Best of 7)
Last Night
Utica Comets 4, Grand Rapids Griffins 1                                     (UTI leads 2-1)

Tonight
Utica Comets at Grand Rapids Griffins, 7:00 p.m.                        (Game 4 – )

MHSAA – High School Sports
Last Night
Girls Soccer Districts
Division 2
St. Joseph 1, Three Rivers 0 – Shootout
St. Joe outshot Three Rivers 17-2, but neither team was able to find the back of the net through 100 minutes of play.  In the shootout, St. Joe keeper Tyler Newman’s save helped give the Bears a 4-3 edge in the penalty kick round for a 1-0 win over the Wildcats to send St. Joseph into Saturday’s District championship game.  Sarah Corbe, Corel Carmichael, Dominique Thomas, Audrey Fillippo scored in the shootout for St. Joe.

Lakeshore 1, Mattawan 0 – 2 OT
Carley Dubbert scored the only goal of the game in the first overtime as Lakeshore defeated Mattawan 1-0 in the District Semis.  Dubbert’s second goal of the playoffs was assisted by Rachel Edinger.  Lakeshore outshot Mattawan 11-3.  Kyra Van Antwerp made 3 saves to get the win.  Haley Poloskey stopped 10 of 11 Lancer shots in the loss.  Lakeshore improves to 18-2-1 on the season and will travel to St. Joseph for the District Championship game Saturday at 10:00 a.m.

Division 3
Parchment 6, Coloma 2
Paw Paw 9, Buchanan 1

Division 4 at New Buffalo
Lake Michigan Catholic 2, Michigan Lutheran 0
Lake Michigan Catholic advances to Saturday’s District Championship game after defeated rival Michigan Lutheran 2-0 in the Division 4 District Semifinal at New Buffalo.  Brianna Watts scored both goals for LMC in the first half.  Sarah McCoy and Ally Sullivan assisted on Watts’ goals.  The Lakers outshot Lutheran 12-2.

Brandywine 3, Bridgman 0

Division 4 at Lawton
Lawton 2, Bangor 1 – Shootout
Holland Black River 8, Hartford 0

Division 1 at Okemos
Okemos 3, Kalamazoo Central 1

MHSAA – High School Sports
Saturday
Girls Soccer Districts
Division 2 at St. Joseph
Lakeshore vs. St. Joseph, 10:00 a.m.

Division 2 at Plainwell
Gull Lake vs. Middleville Thornapple-Kellogg, 12:00 p.m.

Division 3 at Otsego
Otsego vs. GR South Christian, 11:00 a.m.

Division 3 at Comstock
Paw Paw vs. Parchment, 1:00 p.m.

Division 4 at New Buffalo
Lake Michigan Catholic vs. Brandywine, 10:00 a.m.

Division 4 at Lawton
Holland Black River vs. Lawton, 2:30 p.m.

Division 1 at Okemos
Portage Central vs. Okemos, 11:00 a.m.

MHSAA – High School Sports
Saturday
Baseball
Division 1 at Mattawan
Kalamazoo Loy Norrix vs. Mattawan, 10:00 a.m.
Portage Northern vs. Gull Lake, 12:00 p.m.
Championship 2:00 p.m.

Division 2 at South Haven
Coloma vs. Benton Harbor, 10:00 a.m.
St. Joseph vs. Lakeshore, 12:00 p.m.
Championship 2:00 p.m.

Division 2 at Niles
Niles vs. Dowagiac, 10:00 a.m.
Paw Paw vs. Edwardsburg, 12:30 p.m.
Championship 3:00 p.m.

Division 2 at Otsego
Vicksburg vs. Three Rivers, 10:00 a.m.
Plainwell vs. Cosmtock, 12:00 p.m.
Championship 3:00 p.m.

Division 2 at Hopkins
Hamilton vs. Allegan, 10:00 a.m.
Wayland vs. Middleville Thornapple, 12:00 p.m.
Championship 2:00 p.m.

Division 3 at Gobles
Gobles vs. Kalamazoo Hackett, 10:00 a.m.
Schoolcraft vs. Lawton, 12:00 p.m.
Championship 2:00 p.m.

Division 3 at Bangor
Watervliet vs. Bangor, 10:00 a.m.
Fennville vs. Saugatuck, 12:00 p.m.
Championship 2:00 p.m.

Division 3 at Bridgman
Berrien Springs vs. Bridgman, 10:00 a.m.
Constantine vs. Buchanan, 12:00 p.m.
Championship 2:00 p.m.

Division 4 at River Valley
Lake Mich. Catholic vs. New Buffalo., 10:00 a.m.
Michigan Lutheran vs. River Valley, 12:00 p.m.
Championship 2:30 p.m.

Division 4 at Decatur
Lawrence vs. Byron Center Zion Chr., 10:00 a.m.
Decatur vs. Holland Calvary, 12:00 p.m.
Championship 2:00 p.m.

Division 4 at Kalamazoo Christian
Kalamazoo Christian vs. Cassopolis, 1:00 p.m.
Kalamazoo Heritage vs. Marcellus, 3:00 p.m.
Championship 5:00 p.m.

Softball
Division 1 at Mattawan
Portage Central vs. Portage Northern, 10:00 a.m.
Mattawan vs. Kalamazoo Loy Norrix, 12:00 p.m.
Championship 2:00 p.m.

Division 2 at South Haven
St. Joseph vs. Lakeshore, 10:00 a.m.
Coloma vs. Benton Harbor, 12:00 p.m.
Championship 2:00 p.m.

Division 2 at Niles
Paw Paw vs. Edwardsburg, 10:00 a.m.
Niles vs. Dowagiac, 12:00 p.m.
Championship 2:00 p.m.

Division 2 at Otsego
Plainwell vs. Cosmtock, 10:00 a.m.
Vicksburg vs. Three Rivers, 12:00 p.m.
Championship 3:00 p.m.

Division 2 at Hopkins
Wayland vs. Middleville Thornapple, 10:00 a.m.
Hamilton vs. Allegan, 12:00 p.m.
Championship 2:00 p.m.

Division 3 at Gobles
Schoolcraft vs. Bloomingdale, 10:00 a.m.
Gobles vs. Kalamazoo Hackett, 12:00 p.m.
Championship 2:00 p.m.

Division 3 at Bangor
Fennville vs. Saugatuck, 10:00 a.m.
Watervliet vs. Bangor, 12:00 p.m.
Championship 2:00 p.m.

Division 3 at Bridgman
Constantine vs. Buchanan, 10:00 a.m.
Brandywine vs. Bridgman, 12:00 p.m.
Championship 2:00 p.m.

Division 4 at River Valley
Michigan Lutheran vs. River Valley, 10:00 a.m.
Lake Mich. Catholic vs. New Buffalo., 12:00 p.m.
Championship 2:30 p.m.

Division 4 at Decatur
Decatur vs. Martin, 10:00 a.m.
Lawrence vs. Watervliet Grace Christian, 12:00 p.m.
Championship 2:00 p.m.

Division 4 at Kalamazoo Christian
Kalamazoo Christian vs. Marcellus, 1:00 p.m.
Cassopolis (bye)
Championship 3:00 p.m.