Latest news with #Mustangs
Irish Daily Mirror
a day ago
- Automotive
- Irish Daily Mirror
Karen Byrne and Jake Carter step out to launch this year's Retro Cannonball
Dancing with the Stars judge Karen Byrne has stepped out with her fiance Jake Carter to launch Retro Cannonball. The couple – who got engaged in March – are hoping to raise vital funds for the Jack and Jill Foundation at the annual car event. Retro Cannonball will feature 100 classic cars and free family live entertainment as the convoy travels from Little Island, Cork and then coming up through Tipperary, Offaly, Westmeath, Tyrone and finishing at The Cooley Peninsula in Co Louth. Speaking at the launch, Jake and Karen said: "Family is so important to us both and when we were approached by Jack and Jill to help announce its partnership with RETRO Cannonball, it was a no-brainer. "RETRO Cannonball is such a brilliant event, and a true celebration of rare and classic cars that will thrill the whole family. "We hope that people will be inspired to get out onto the high-roads and by-roads along the route to check out this incredible spectacle. "And most importantly, if they have a few euro to spare, please donate it to Jack and Jill, because you'll be making a meaningful difference for families who so rely on Jack and Jill to keep the show on the road at home." The event is hoping to raise money for the children's charity, to bring awareness to its vital in-home nursing and respite care service, which help over 400 families across Ireland. Cannonball has already raised €1,946,432 for Irish children's charities. The event features cars from the 60s, 70s, 80s & 90s from vintage Mustangs to sleek Corvettes, as well as Lamborghini Diablo, Jaguar E-Type, Ferrari 348 GTS, Mercedes-Benz SL Classics and Porsche 911 Carrera. On Friday June 13, the classic convoy will depart from the Radisson Blu Hotel in Little Island, Cork at 10.30am and then roll through the picturesque landscapes of Cork, Tipperary, Offaly and Westmeath stopping for lunch along the way in Kilshane House in Tipperary followed by a coffee stop in Kinnitty Castle in Offaly and the first overnight stay and finish line at The Sheraton Hotel in Athlone. On day two, the convoy travels through Westmeath and on to Tyrone. Cannonballers will have lunch at Corick House in Tyrone before crossing on the ferry from Greencastle to Greenore. The second overnight stay and overall finish line is coming to the Cooley Peninsula for the first time and takes place at Ballymascanlon House just 20 minutes from Carlingford.
Chicago Tribune
a day ago
- General
- Chicago Tribune
Brandon Marano rallies Mundelein like no other. As a hitter, catcher and emotional leader, ‘he anchors us.'
The moment wasn't too big for Mundelein senior catcher Brandon Marano, not by a long shot. The bases were loaded when Marano faced Palatine senior left-hander Toby Peterson, a Kentucky recruit, in the first inning of the Class 4A Palatine Regional championship game on Saturday. 'Walking up to the plate felt very surreal,' Marano said. 'I did my normal routine, took a deep breath and knew to be ready. It was the first pitch, and I saw that it was middle-middle. I didn't swing as hard as I could and was just thinking to get the bat on the ball and it'll go.' In fact, it went all the way to the fence in right-center field for a bases-clearing double. Marano's hit was the first salvo in what became an eight-run inning in Mundelein's 8-4 win. 'As I was rounding first and heading for second, I picked up coach at third and looked back at the fans and saw them going crazy,' Marano said. 'I knew it would get all three in. 'After all the hard work and effort I've put in over the last 12 years, it came down to that moment, making everyone happy and knowing that I did that. I did it for more than just me.' The Mustangs (24-10-2) have been the beneficiaries of the 5-foot-10, 185-pound Marano's good deeds all season as he has developed into a steady offensive force, most often hitting fifth in the lineup, and helped guide a deep, talented pitching staff. 'Pitchers have confidence in his ability to smother pitches in the dirt, and he still keeps improving on the communication side in being able to help navigate the staff through games,' Mundelein coach Randy Lerner said. On Saturday, Marano's defensive prowess accounted for three outs on the base paths. He threw out one runner at second base on a steal attempt, did the same after blocking a ball in the dirt that trickled a few feet away, and back-picked a runner who got caught in no man's land between first and second. 'My hit catalyzed the energy we had, but I had one of my best defensive games too,' Marano said. Heading into a Stevenson Sectional semifinal matchup against North Suburban Conference rival Lake Zurich on Wednesday, Marano is hitting .347 with a .445 on-base percentage and a team-best 32 RBIs. The double against Palatine was his 14th of the season, and he also has a triple and two home runs. Marano had a similar batting average last season but far fewer at-bats. He took hold of the starting job in the second half of the season, a positive step that left him wanting much more. 'One big difference from last spring to now is that I felt like I had to prove myself,' Marano said. 'At the end of the day, I wasn't where I wanted to be. I still had to get my extra work in at the gym, and I still had to get extra swings in. 'All of the time, energy and emotion I put into the game is paying off.' Emotion is a big part of Marano's contributions to the Mustangs, not only in how he works with pitchers but also in how he makes sure everyone in the dugout is invested. 'He's kind of our glue guy,' Mundelein senior pitcher Joey Kafka said. 'Even my parents will say that things are completely different when he's not around. He anchors us down as a team.' Emotion came into play in a different way during Mundelein's game against crosstown rival Carmel on May 1. Marano went through his typical game-day routine, going home during a free period to grab his baseball gear. On this day, he was met by his parents, who were sitting on the couch waiting for him. They told him their 12-year-old dog, Wrigley, had to be put to sleep. When Marano returned to school, he learned he would catch for only part of the game. So as he went to the plate with the bases loaded and the Mustangs trailing 5-1 in the fourth inning, he knew it would likely be his last at-bat. 'The first pitch was a curve that he hung, and I hit it over the left-center field fence,' Marano said. 'I think it was the first home run I had hit since I was like 12. 'When I stepped on home, I leaped into Baris Brua's arms and hugged him. I let all the emotion out.' The Mustangs rallied to win 10-6. Not every game has been so noteworthy, but Marano's work with Mundelein's pitchers behind the scenes has had a significant impact on them. 'He didn't start the whole year last year, and I think he took that personally,' Kafka said. 'He's pretty much caught all of us since we were like 8, and he worked his tail off this offseason, catching all of our bullpens twice a week. He recognizes when our pitches are a little off, and he's the first one to tell us.' Marano, who will attend Tennessee, won't play college baseball. He may join a club team but knows it won't be the same as what he has experienced at Mundelein. His constant companion through it all has been his catching equipment. 'I wouldn't be the player I am today without catching,' Marano said. 'If you do something good at catcher, everyone sees it, and it can work against you, too, if you do something wrong. But I love that about the position. 'I'm putting everything I have into the game right now.'
Yahoo
a day ago
- General
- Yahoo
Northport superintendent dies from same ocean incident that killed teen
Jun. 2—The Mustangs played the baseball game for Noah. They lost both. And days later, they lost their coach. The Northport Mustangs, the team representing the town of about 300 people in northern Stevens County, moved forward in the state playoffs last month by beating Riverside Christian High School on May 20 to advance to the quarterfinals of the State 1B Baseball tournament to take on Naselle High School in southwestern Washington. The night before the game on May 24, the team ordered some pizzas, and Coach Don Baribault, who doubles as the Northport School District superintendent, took the team bus to get them, said Erik Stark, who is Northport High School's athletic director. "Some of the kids had never seen the ocean," Stark said. "They swung by the beach" at Long Beach, and some of the players got into the water. The detour unraveled in moments. Noah Heberling, a 15-year-old from Kettle Falls, got carried out by large waves in the cold water. "He kind of got tossed around," said Stark, who was not there but relayed the details of what happened. "A couple of the other kids went out to get him." The other players reached Noah, who held on to them as they worked their way back to the beach. Noah then turned and saw a big wave coming and apparently let go so he could plug his nose as the wave hit, Stark said. "They lost contact," he said. "The coaches went in after him." The coaches were Baribault and Noah's father, Ronnie Heberling. Noah was bobbing, being pulled out to sea, and the cold water began to drain the energy from the coaches trying to reach him, Stark said. "Don went out, and I think he made contact with Noah. But both of them had succumbed to hypothermia and weren't functioning," he said. A local bystander instantly recognized the danger and called 911, Stark said. According to the Seattle Times, that rescue call was made about 8 p.m. The U.S. Coast Guard crew members raced to the scene on a Jet Ski. They were able to pull Baribault and Ronnie Heberling to shore, but Noah's body has yet to be found, Stark said. "That's our prayer now," that Noah's body is found "for closure," Stark said. But the tragedy continued. "Don was struggling on the beach. They took him to the hospital. Then he was flown to a Portland hospital," Stark said. "That's where he succumbed." Baribault died "peacefully and surrounded by his family on May 26," according to the statement shared by Northport School District. But before that second blow struck, the team had a decision to make. Noah drowned on Friday, May 23. The game against Naselle was scheduled for 1 p.m. the next day. "The kids met with the adults, who asked, 'What do you want to do: Go home or go play this game?' They said Noah wouldn't want them to quit, so they played the game," Stark said as he cried. "They did it to honor their fallen comrade." The Mustangs fell in the quarterfinals game 25-4. "I wasn't there. But I have a feeling it was pretty hard for them," he said. When the players returned to Northport, the locals came out to support the fallen Mustangs and Noah's family. "That Sunday night, after Noah had passed, they had a candlelight vigil on the baseball field," Stark said. "We had over 200 people. We only have 300 people in our whole town. So, it was a big deal." Since the vigil, Noah's aunt, Marci Bair, set up a GoFundMe page to help the family. As of Monday afternoon, some $46,000 had been donated. "I just want to thank everybody who has reposted and donated to Denise and Ronnie," Marcy Bair wrote on the page. "It is a beautiful thing to see how many people care and have helped at this time filled with grief, pain and the of the loss of such an awesome Grandson. "Noah was a gentleman, kind, caring, smart and talented," Bair continued. "Noah will be in our hearts forever and our love for him will never fade." The double tragedy has even further victims. Don Baribault's son, senior Dawson Baribault, was the winning pitcher in the win over Riverside Christian. He allowed only one run on three hits and struck out 13 batters. He pitched a complete game for the Mustang's 8-1 win on May 20. A three-time league MVP, Dawson Baribault was scheduled to pitch against Naselle. But he was with his father at the hospital and missed the game, Stark said. Dawson Baribault is scheduled to graduate with his classmates on Saturday. For the rest of the students, school officials have brought in counselors and have given plenty of latitude for kids to take time to deal with their losses. "I think the high school has been impacted the most," Stark said. "There's been a lot of talking and sharing stories. In English class, they are reading a play to take their minds off of it." The town recently lost a teacher to cancer and a 5-year-old boy to an accident in the past, but the level of pain from Noah's drowning and attempted rescue has rocked the Mustang family like nothing else, Stark said. "I think it's the worst of the worst," Stark said. "Just the fact that you lose two at once, with one who literally died trying to save a kid."
Winnipeg Free Press
2 days ago
- Sport
- Winnipeg Free Press
Tackling expectations
A sense of belonging, confidence and strength. The Manitoba Girls Football Association, founded in 2011, has had some ups and downs over the years, but some things stay the same for the girls who participate in Manitoba's first and only female tackle program of its kind in Western Canada. Currently made up of four teams — the East Side Eagles, St. Vital Mustangs, North Winnipeg Nomads and Falcons Football Club — the MGFA is in full swing a month into the spring season. Dan Nordman Photo The Manitoba Girls Football Association, founded in 2011, is Manitoba's first and only female tackle program of its kind in Western Canada. 'Our league welcomes everybody,' said MGFA co-founder Lisa Cummings. 'Every body shape, every size, there's a place for everybody on the football field. It's not like every other sport. You can be slower, you can be faster, it doesn't really matter. Everybody serves a purpose and is celebrated on a football field for just who they are.' The league began with the goal of giving younger girls the chance to play football, and with support from Football Manitoba and word of mouth, it grew at a steady rate. Over 14 years, the MGFA has seen seasons with as few as three teams and as many as 12, including four junior and eight senior squads. In 2019, the MGFA was at its peak, and was able to host the first-ever high-performance tournament for girls in football, featuring teams from Manitoba and Saskatchewan in the U18 Red River Cup. But just as things were on the rise, the pandemic hit, bringing everything to a standstill and halting the league's momentum. Dan Nordman Photo A successful tackle drill at the Girls Come Try Football Free Camp this spring. Five years later, the six-a-side spring league has worked itself back up with players ranging from grades 9 to 12 on the current four teams. 'We have a lot of new players this year,' said Julie Sprague, MGFA registrar and former player and coach. 'Lots of teams are getting a lot of experience and developing as players. It's nice because teams also have some leaders from previous years who are helping the new girls fall in love with the sport.' Teams like the Mustangs and the Nomads have been around for a while, the Mustangs since the league's inaugural season, and the Nomads since the league's sophomore year. The Falcons and Eagles are the newer teams this season — though, the Eagles were one of the league's founding teams before the club had to take a few years off. It can be a bit tougher for newer teams to find their footing, as shown in the MGFA standings, where the Mustangs lead the league with a perfect record after four games, followed by the Nomads at 3-1. 'That happens with every sport, it just takes time,' said Cummings. 'Regardless of the wins or losses on the scoreboard, there's all these little individual wins, and our coaches do a great job of celebrating those wins.' Dan Nordman Photo Girls Come Try Football Free Camps, which the MGFA has offered since 2022 for girls ages 11 to 18, have played an important role in building interest. For Sprague, who currently plays on the Manitoba Fearless, which competes in the Western Women's Canadian Football League, says that her time in the MGFA gave her a sense of family and community. 'Our goal with this league is to give girls the opportunity to play a sport where every single person can be supported,' she said. Growing the league is also a priority, but rising competition from spring flag football and rugby, both with overlapping seasons, has made that challenge tougher. 'It's just about finding the right time of year that the girls don't have to make a decision between two different sports,' said Cummings. Thursdays Keep up to date on sports with Mike McIntyre's weekly newsletter. However, initiatives like the Girls Come Try Football Free Camps, which the MGFA has offered since 2022 for girls ages 11 to 18, have played an important role in building interest. Dan Nordman Photo Prepping for a blocking drill at the Girls Come Try Football Free Camp in March. New players have also been introduced to the sport through the Falcons' partnership with Sagkeeng First Nation, which helped the Falcons Football Club establish its first senior girls' team in 2023. Girls from Sagkeeng First Nation bus in three days a week to play football. 'I have seen girls who have started to come out to football, they barely say a word,' said Cummings. 'And by the time they have finished their years in the MGFA, they're completely different people and they've built a community around themselves as well.' The next games go Thursday at 7 p.m. with the Falcons facing off against the Mustangs at the St. Vital Mustangs Football Club field, while the Nomads take on the Eagles simultaneously at the Northwood CC — Frank Whyte Site. Dan Nordman Photo Girls line up for ball carrying drills at the Girls Come Try Football Free Camp this spring.
Winnipeg Free Press
2 days ago
- Sport
- Winnipeg Free Press
Zach Daudet's 11th-inning walk-off home run sends Cal Poly to regional championship round
EUGENE, Ore. (AP) — Zach Daudet's walk-off home run in the 11th inning lifted Cal Poly to a 7-6 victory over Utah Valley on Sunday night and the Mustangs reached the championship round of the Eugene Regional. The Mustangs (43-19) advanced to play Arizona later Sunday night. A win by Cal Poly would force a deciding game on Monday. A win by Arizona would wrap up the regional championship and send the Wildcats to the super regionals. Landon Frei's third-inning grand slam gave Utah Valley a 4-1 lead. Cal Poly responded with five runs in the bottom of the fourth. Cam Hoiland hit a leadoff home run for the Mustangs and Ryan Fenn came through with a two-out RBI single. Daudet scored on a balk and Nate Castellon doubled in two more runs for a 6-4 lead. Utah Valley (33-29) caught up with a leadoff home run by Dominic Longo II in the sixth and an RBI double by Jayden Smith in the seventh. Jaccob Torres (6-4), who came in and got the third out in the ninth inning to leave the bases loaded, got the win for Cal Poly. He did not allow a hit in 2 1/3 innings pitched. Carston Herman (5-4) took the loss after giving up Daudet's home run. ___ AP college sports:
