Sports briefs
Wild Things
sign infielder
The Washington Wild Things have signed infielder Lou Mele to a contract for 2018.
Mele played last year for the Sioux Falls Canaries of the independent Americna Association.
A product of the New York Institute of Technology, Mele batted .247 with two home runs in 96 plate appearances with Sioux Falls.
Mele played four seasons at NYIT, where he had a career batting average of .301 with 17 home runs and 98 RBI.
Mele can play three of the four infield positions.
“We followed Mele’s success with the Canaries and were quite surprised when he became available. His year with Sioux Falls was cut short by injury but he made some significant impacts in the American Association,” said Wild Things general manager Steve Zavacky.
It’s a boy! McCutchen
announces baby Steel
The Pittsburgh Pirates’ star outfielder Andrew McCutchen just became a new father.
McCutchen and his wife welcomed their new baby boy named Steel on Monday morning.
McCutchen says in an Instagram post that watching his wife go through labor has made him “appreciate, love and respect her even more.”
He says mom and baby are both doing well.
It’s been a big month for McCutchen. On Nov. 3, the team exercised their $14.75 million option him.
The 31-year-old, a five-time All-Star and the 2013 NL Most Valuable Player, signed a $51.5 million, six-year deal in 2012 that included the option, which had a $1 million buyout attached.
He signed off on the baby announcement saying “Okay, I gotta go and stare at him some more.”
Mayfield is Big 12’s top offensive player
Oklahoma quarterback Baker Mayfield is the Big 12’s offensive player of the year for the second time in three years, and Sooners defensive end Ogbonnia Okoronkwo shared the defensive honor with Texas linebacker Malik Jefferson.
Mayfield also was the Big 12’s top offensive player in 2015. Oklahoma receiver Dede Westbrook got the honor last year.
The Big 12 awards announced Thursday were based on the votes of the league’s 10 coaches, who couldn’t pick their own players.
Second-year Iowa State coach Matt Campbell was tabbed the top coach. The Cyclones (7-5) will finish with their first winning season since 2009 and make their first bowl appearance since 2012. They had wins over No. 2 Oklahoma and No. 10 TCU, teams that meet in the Big 12 championship game on Saturday.
Pitino sues Louisville
Rick Pitino has sued the University of Louisville Athletic Association for $38.7 million, saying it breached his contract by placing him on unpaid administrative leave without notice and firing him last month with no legally justified “cause.”
The ULAA fired the Hall of Fame coach on Oct. 16, weeks after he was placed on leave when Louisville acknowledged it was being investigated in a federal bribery probe of college basketball. Pitino is not named in the federal complaint and has denied participation in and knowledge of alleged payments to a recruit’s family.
In the NHL
Jonny Brodzinski and Jussi Jokinen each scored in a span of nine seconds, Jonathan Quick made 27 saves and the Los Angeles Kings beat the Washington Capitals 5-2 on Thursday night for their third consecutive victory.