Briefs
Pitt softball coach leaves for Louisville
Following 10 seasons at the helm, and 15 overall with the University of Pittsburgh softball program, head coach Holly Aprile has accepted an offer to become the next head coach of the Louisville Cardinals.
“I’m extremely thankful to the University of Pittsburgh for the opportunity they’ve given me to be a part of this program over the last 15 years and lead it for the past 10,” said Aprile. “I am so grateful for all of the support I received throughout my years, not only from the administration at Pitt, but the entire city of Pittsburgh and nationwide as well.”
Promoted to head coach in July 2008, after serving as an assistant for five years under former leader Michelle Phalen (1998-2008), Aprile (2009-2018) was named the second head coach in program history.
The 2018 ACC Coach of the Year ended her tenure with the Panthers with a 271-234 overall record (.537) and recently led Pitt to new heights, including the team’s first ACC Coastal Division Championship in 2018 and NCAA Tournament appearance in 2015.
Bucs’ Vazquez named to All-Star game
Washington Nationals slugger Bryce Harper will be in his usual spot for the All-Star Game.
Harper has been voted into the starting lineup for the July 17 game at his home park in Washington. Harper is batting just .218 this season, but he has 21 homers and 50 RBIs.
Nick Markakis and Matt Kemp will join Harper in the NL outfield. Markakis has been a key performer for the surprising Atlanta Braves, and Kemp’s return to the Los Angeles Dodgers has been a smashing success.
Relief pitcher Felipe Vazquez was the lone All-Star representative for the Pirates.
The All-Star rosters were unveiled Sunday night.
The Chicago Cubs will have two starters after catcher Willson Contreras and second baseman Javier Baez each won a close race at their position in fan balloting. Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman, Colorado Rockies third baseman Nolan Arenado and Giants shortstop Brandon Crawford round out the NL starting lineup.
Mike Trout, Aaron Judge and Mookie Betts have been voted into the starting lineup for the All-Star Game, creating a dream outfield for the American League.
Trout is working on perhaps the best season of his stellar career with the Los Angeles Angels. Judge has 25 homers and 58 RBIs for the New York Yankees, and Betts is batting .342 with 22 homers for the major league-leading Boston Red Sox.
The rosters for the July 17 game in Washington were unveiled Sunday night.
Houston Astros second baseman Jose Altuve led the fan balloting with 4.8 million votes. Baltimore Orioles shortstop Manny Machado, Chicago White Sox first baseman Jose Abreu, Cleveland Indians third baseman Jose Ramirez, Red Sox designated hitter J.D. Martinez and Tampa Bay Rays catcher Wilson Ramos also were voted into the AL lineup.
Kim shatters LPGA scoring records
Sei Young Kim became the first player in LPGA Tour history to go lower than 30 under in a performance so dominant in the Thornberry Creek LPGA Classic that she now has the tour scoring records all to herself.
Kim closed with a 7-under 65 on Sunday for a nine shot victory, finishing at 31-under par. That broke by four shots to par the record Kim had shared with Annika Sorenstam.
She also set the 72-hole scoring record at 257, finishing with a par to break the mark by one shot.
The only blemish for Kim all week at Thornberry Creek at Oneida was a double bogey in the second round Friday.