Sports briefs
Wild Things add catcher
The Washington Wild Things have signed catcher Melvin Novoa, a former Texas Rangers minor leaguer, to the 2022 roster. Novoa spent six seasons in the Rangers’ farm system and reached Class AA.
Novoa, a Nicaragua native, spent time in 2021 with the Class AA Frisco and hit five home runs with 15 RBI in 28 games. He split time as a designated hitter and catcher and threw out 40% of potential base stealers.
“Melvin brings veteran leadership to our club. He has a lot of experience in international ball as well as in affiliated with Texas,” manager Tom Vaeth said. “He gives us another guy with Double-A experience that we can add to the mix. We look for him to be a catalyst in the middle of our lineup.”
Novoa played in 345 games in six seasons with Texas, hitting .246 with 175 RBI, 75 doubles, three triples and 33 home runs.
The Wild Things will kick off their 20th Frontier League season May 13 at home against the New York Boulders.
In college football
Wisconsin coach Paul Chryst has reached into the pro ranks to hire Bobby Engram from the Ravens as his offensive coordinator.
Engram, 49, has spent the last eight seasons as an assistant coach with Baltimore, starting as a wide receivers coach for five seasons and spending the last three seasons as a tight ends coach, working with All-Pro selection Mark Andrews.
He’s also a familiar face, having worked on Chryst’s staff at Pitt from 2012-13 as the wide receivers coach.
In the NFL
Kirk Cousins will be the Pro Bowl injury replacement for Aaron Rodgers for a third time.
The Minnesota Vikings quarterback was added Monday to the NFC roster. The all-star game will be played Sunday in Las Vegas. Rodgers played much of the season for the Green Bay Packers with a broken toe.
A pair of Tennessee Titans also were added as injury replacements Monday afternoon. Defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons is replacing Chiefs defensive tackle Chris Jones, while left guard Rodger Saffold, a 12-year veteran, is filling in for Quenton Nelson of Indianapolis. This will be the first Pro Bowl appearance for both.
Two WVU football games moved to Thursday
West Virginia’s road games at rivals Pitt and Virginia Tech next season are being moved to Thursday nights.
The Mountaineers announced the changes Monday night in conjunction with the Atlantic Coast Conference.
West Virginia will open the season at Pitt Sept. 1 and travel to Blacksburg, Virginia, to face the Hokies Sept. 22. Both games were pushed ahead two days from Saturday.
“Moving two of our oldest football rivalries to primetime continues to build excitement for the 2022 season,” West Virginia athletic director Shane Lyons said in a statement.
The changes mean West Virginia will play three Thursday night games next season. The Mountaineers already are set to host Baylor Oct. 13. It’s the most weekday games since they played three in 2011 in their final season in the Big East.
In college basketball
Freshman Paolo Banchero scored 21 points, fellow classmate A.J. Griffin added 13 and each had a team-high nine rebounds as No. 9 Duke handed Notre Dame its first home loss of the season in a 57-43 Atlantic Coast Conference rout Monday night.
In the NHL
Sam Reinhart had his fifth career hat trick to lift the Florida Panthers over the Columbus Blue Jackets 8-4 Monday for their fourth straight win.