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Chicago Tribune
3 days ago
- Sport
- Chicago Tribune
Andrew Speh makes call, hits homer in 11th inning as Stagg stuns Marist. Destination? ‘Taking it over the wall.'
Senior shortstop Andrew Speh predicted the exact sequence of events for Stagg. Before adding to his personal highlight reel, Speh relayed his thoughts to junior reliever John Skordas — saying exactly how his 11th inning at-bat was going to turn out for the Chargers. 'He threw me a first pitch curveball my previous time up,' Speh said of Marist's pitcher while describing the lead-up to his dramatic ending. 'I've gotten that from lefties the whole year. 'I told John, 'If he throws me a curveball, I'm swinging at the first pitch and taking it over the wall.'' Move over, Nostradamus. Speh followed up his words with action, hitting a two-run homer to lift the host Chargers to a 9-7 upset Thursday in a Class 4A Stagg Regional semifinal in Palos Hills. Senior catcher Brody Jeffers totaled three hits, three runs and two RBIs for the 12th-seeded Chargers (9-27), who play at 10 a.m. Saturday against second-seeded Lincoln-Way West (28-7) for the regional title. Sophomore infielder Dominic Talaga also drove in two runs. Junior starting pitcher Ryan Lawlor knocked in three runs and sophomore outfielder Tommy Hosty hit a two-run homer for seventh-seeded Marist (20-14-1). Batting leadoff, Speh took full advantage of his extended opportunities. He finished 3-for-6 with three runs and three RBIs. On the winning homer, Speh launched that first pitch to center. And he was pumped up afterward. 'How you picture Andrew is how he is,' said Skordas, who pitched the final six innings and struck out nine, offsetting eight hits. 'He got the adrenaline super high for everyone with that home run. 'He's the best teammate imaginable. He's there for you when you make your worst plays and he's there when you make your best plays.' Skordas then struck out the side in the 11th, including the final two batters as Marist stranded runners at first and second. It came after the RedHawks rallied from three different deficits. Jeffers acknowledged the two-run cushion allowed the Chargers to breathe and relax even as Marist, which came back by scoring a tying run in the seventh, was threatening again. 'Seeing the ball fly over the fence in a moment like that was amazing,' Jeffers said of Speh's homer in the top half of the inning. 'He's been one of my best friends for four years now. 'He just has this ability to pick everybody up, even if he's not having his best game.'' It was Speh's fourth homer of the season. 'I never had more than one home run in a season until this year,' he said. 'I've definitely gotten stronger throughout the year. I haven't won a playoff game in all three years I've been on the varsity. This is the coolest moment I've had. 'I couldn't have asked to do it with a better team.' Speh also shared the moment with his younger brother, Evan, a sophomore center fielder. Andrew, a year-round athlete, is a standout hockey player for the Orland Park Vikings. He's set to attend Minnesota, with the goal of playing junior hockey at the club level for two years as the necessary progression to make the Golden Gophers' team. A defenseman in hockey, Speh is the Chargers' defensive anchor at shortstop. 'We had a neighbor who played hockey, so I grew up playing that,' Speh said. 'My parents always said I was better at baseball growing up. 'I could never let go of hockey. It's fast, physical and just so mentally tough.' The mental demands of both sports have paid huge dividends, especially dealing with adversity. Facing the prospect of playing his final baseball game, Speh wasn't going to give an inch. 'Nobody thought we were going to win this game,' Speh said. 'They didn't even throw their best guy against us. You can't beat this, extra innings, at home, and we were the lower seed. 'We just knew we were going to win this game.'
Miami Herald
3 days ago
- Sport
- Miami Herald
Miami University Football Preview 2025: Can the RedHawks Return to Another MAC Title Game?
The RedHawks keep rolling MAC programs have it figured out. Despite the transfer portal losses, and a lack of talent compared to the Power Four, these MAC schools know how to keep winning while others need everything to break the right Ohio, and for the most part, Northern Illinois have been in that mix. Miami University has done a better job than most of maintaining that winning consistency under Chuck Martin. It was a rough start, going 5-19 in 2014 and 2015, but since then, there's just been one season with fewer than six wins. There have been three MAC title appearances in the last six years, two championships, and six bowl appearances - 2020 was the only this run might be challenging. The Miami University offense loses almost everyone, the defense has to replace almost all of the top players, and yet all appears to be and his staff were able to bring in a whole new receiving corps, a fantastic veteran quarterback in Dequan Finn, and the depth developed over the last few seasons should step in and not surprisingly, the RedHawks should in the mix for a third straight MAC Championship appearance. Miami University RedHawks Preview 2025: Offense X CFN, Fiu | CFN Facebook | Bluesky Fiu, CFN- Last year's attack wasn't quite good enough. It didn't turn the ball over, and it hit the big shots down the field, but it was 96th in the nation in scoring, 98th in total yards, and went 1-5 when scoring 20 points or fewer. That included the 38-3 loss to Ohio in the MAC Championship, but …- The RedHawks have their quarterback. Dequan Finn was outstanding in his last three years at Toledo, didn't get on the field much in his one year at Baylor, and now he's back in the MAC. When he's right, he's one of the best all-around Group of Five playmakers. - The receiving corps is starting over in the portal. Deion Colzie (Notre Dame) is going into his fifth season, but he only has 21 career catches. He's for the outside, Keith Reynolds (Washington) is for the inside, and Darion Williams (Florida State) is a 6-3 option going into his sixth transfer portal brought in the tight ends, too, in Grant Leeper (Iowa) and Brody Kosin (Indiana) - both are looking for their first college catch.- The fantastic line is undergoing an overhaul. It got whacked by the portal, losing star left tackle Will Jados to Texas Tech. Somewhere up front, transfers Austin Uke (Stanford) and Payton Kirkland (Colorado) will fill in around backups and untested options. There's talent, but it all might need a little bit to come together.- The top running backs are gone, but Jordan Brunson returns after finishing third on the team with 299 yards and four scores. He's a big power back, and so is Kenny Tracy, who's back after missing all of last year hurt. Miami University RedHawks Preview 2025: Defense - The defense came up with a whole slew of takeaways, the secondary was strong, and the team ended up 15th in the nation, allowing just 18.8 points per game. Unlike the offense, the defense isn't doing much through the transfer portal.- The pass rush has to come from somewhere. Getting Bai Jobe from Kansas will help, and Kameron Wilson has five years of backup experience at Cincinnati. They'll be turned loose, and veteran Adam Trick should take on a bigger role after making 37 tackles and 4.5 sacks last tackles aren't big, but Roosevelt Andrews and Nasir Washington will produce. Washington should take a step up as the main man on the line. - All-star tackling machine Matt Slopek is gone, but Corban Hondru made 70 stops in the rotation, and Oscar McWood is a solid veteran on the other side. Malcolm McCain is a big banger who should be a statistical star in the middle.- Saving the best for last, the secondary should be the team's biggest strength. The safety combination of Silas Walters and Eli Blakey were second and third on the team in tackles, respectively, and Luke Evans is a big corner with all-star potential. Koy Beasley (Purdue) is an untested, but promising, option for the other side. Miami University RedHawks Key to the Season Keep running always with Miami, the team wins when it runs well. It went 5-0 when running for yards or more two years ago, and 8-1 when getting to 100 yards. Last season, the team was 8-0 when getting past 110 yards, and only lost to Notre Dame when getting to 100. Miami University RedHawks Key Player Adam Trick, EDGE several key losses came on the D line. The tackles will be okay, but the great secondary will struggle if there isn't any pressure. Trick started to rise up in his third season, but he has to crank up more than 4.5 sacks. Miami University RedHawks Top Transfer, Biggest Transfer Loss Top Transfer In: Dequan Finn, QB good was he at Toledo? In his last three seasons, he threw for close to 7,000 yards with 63 touchdown passes and 23 picks. He'll add more of a rushing element for the MU attack - he ran for over 1,800 yards and 25 scores with the Rockets. He got in a little work last year at Baylor, but now he'll shine in the RedHawk Transfer Out: Will Jados, OT hard to find left tackles in the MAC. Jados is a 6-8, 307-pound pass protector with three years of starting experience. Now he'll be showing off for the NFL scouts at Texas Tech. Miami University RedHawks Key Game at Ohio, November 4It's a rematch of the MAC Championship that went so very, very wrong for the RedHawks. With Toledo to follow, and a nasty date at Buffalo after that, a loss in Athens could keep Miami from going back to the title game.- 2025 Miami University Schedule Breakdown Miami University RedHawks Top 10 Players 1. Dequan Finn, QB Sr.2. Silas Waters, S Sr.3. Corban Hondru, LB Sr.4. Eli Blakey, S Sr.5. Nasir Washington, DT Sr.6. Dom Dzioban, PK/P Sr.7. Oscar McWood, LB Sr.8. Deion Colzie, WR Sr.9. Luke Evans, CB Soph.10. Malcolm McCain, LB Soph. Miami University 2024 Fun Stats - Field Goals: Miami 27-of-31, Opponents 15-of-21- Passing TDs: Miami 23, Opponents 10- Fumbles: Opponents 20 (lost 10), Miami 13 (lost 6) Miami University RedHawks 2025 Season Prediction, Win Total, What Will Happen The RedHawks won't roll over in the early games, but they'll lose at Wisconsin and Rutgers. The date with UNLV is telling - it's a winnable home game coming off a two-week Kent State and UMass in MAC action is a killer - those would be two layup wins that were on last year's slate - but the conference season isn't bad … until RedHawks will go bowling for a fifth-straight season, but getting back to the MAC Championship will come down to run of at Ohio, Toledo, at Buffalo, and Ball State. They'll be in the title hunt, but to get in they'll have to win two of the three against the Bobcats, Rockets, and Bulls, and they'll come up just The Miami University RedHawks Win Total At … 7.5Likely Wins: at Akron, Lindenwood50/50 Games: Ball State, at Buffalo, Eastern Michigan, at Northern Illinois, at Ohio, Toledo, UNLV, Western MichiganLikely Losses: at Rutgers, at Wisconsin © 2025 The Arena Group Holdings, Inc. All rights reserved.
USA Today
3 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Wisconsin football reveals start times, TV information for 2025 nonconference schedule
Wisconsin football reveals start times, TV information for 2025 nonconference schedule Wisconsin football released start times and television information for the first three games of its 2025 season on Thursday. UW's first contest of the 2025 slate is scheduled for 8:00 p.m. CT on Thursday, Aug. 28, against the Miami (Ohio) RedHawks at Camp Randall Stadium. The game will be broadcast on the Big Ten Network. Wisconsin's second bout, a home matchup against Middle Tennessee, is set to commence at 3:00 p.m. CT on Saturday, Sept. 6, on Fox Sports 1. A week later, Luke Fickell's program will square off against the Alabama Crimson Tide at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, at 11:00 a.m. CT. That nationally-televised game will be broadcast on ESPN/ABC. The opener vs. the RedHawks marks the sixth time in the last eight seasons that UW will start its season with a night game. The program did so in 2024, securing a 28-14 victory over the Western Michigan Broncos in Madison. Most notably, the third contest of the season is a rematch of the Badgers' 2024 defeat at the hands of the Crimson Tide at Camp Randall. Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe captained his squad to a 42-10 blowout victory. Other marquee battles, including at Michigan on Oct. 4, vs. Ohio State on Oct. 18, at Oregon on Oct. 25 and at Indiana on Nov. 15, have yet to receive a start time or television designation. Wisconsin went 5-7 in 2024 in the second full season under Fickell. The team recorded wins over Western Michigan, South Dakota, Purdue, Rutgers and Northwestern. The disappointing output prompted UW's brass to relieve former offensive coordinator Phil Longo of his duties in November. The program then signed former Kansas OC Jeff Grimes following the season's end. With former Maryland quarterback Billy Edwards Jr. now poised to start at quarterback for Grimes and Fickell, Wisconsin will work towards rediscovering its traditional identity on offense. That journey begins against the RedHawks at 8:00 p.m. CT on Aug. 28 at Camp Randall. Contact/Follow @TheBadgersWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes and opinion
Chicago Tribune
24-05-2025
- Sport
- Chicago Tribune
Off the bench, Olivia Nelson scores twice as Andrew tops Marist for ninth straight regional title. ‘Kind of a blur.'
Junior forward Olivia Nelson has been a bit of a secret weapon off the bench all season for Andrew. Before she gets into the game, however, Nelson does her studying. And when her opportunity comes, she's ready. 'I'm monitoring the people up top in my position, especially Jules London, who I play the same spot as,' Nelson said. 'I check out the other team and see what they do and think about what we need to do to break through their defense. 'I try to keep the energy high on the bench and make it positive energy. When I get in, I want to use every moment I can on the field and I definitely want to take advantage.' Nelson made the most of her chances Friday night. She recorded the first multigoal game of her high school career, scoring twice to lift the Thunderbolts to a 4-1 win over the host RedHawks in the Class 3A Marist Regional championship game in Chicago. Emily Crotty added a goal and an assist, London scored a goal and Grace McGlynn chipped in with an assist for third-seeded Andrew (15-5-2), which won its ninth straight regional title. The Thunderbolts will take on second-seeded Lincoln-Way Central (16-3) at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday in a Joliet West Sectional semifinal. The Knights won both regular-season games between the two. Addison Woodward scored off an assist from Bridgette Kennedy for fifth-seeded Marist (11-9-2). Nelson scored the first two goals of the game and earned rave reviews from Crotty. 'Coming in and banging in two goals is not easy against a strong defensive line, but she made it look easy,' Crotty said. 'She made great runs. She was great off the ball. 'It was just great play overall.' Nelson got Andrew on the board in the 27th minute, tracking down the ball following a scramble off a throw-in and ripping in a shot from 20 yards. 'It was kind of a blur,' Nelson said. 'There was a lot of chaos, and sometimes I blank out in the moment, but we had some great connections down there. I definitely connected on the ball and finished.' Nelson scored off an assist from Crotty just under 10 minutes later, knocking a shot off the inside of the far post and in from 15 yards. That was Nelson's sixth goal of her varsity season. And what a time for her first two-goal game. 'It's very much perfect timing,' Nelson said. 'I was really excited. It means the world to me. This season has been an experience I've absolutely loved, and scoring to start us off in this game was incredible. 'Getting that first goal set us off. The adrenaline kicked up and we definitely took control.' The Thunderbolts, who led 3-0 at halftime, are looking to make another deep playoff run after winning a sectional title last year. 'We try to hit our peak toward the end,' Crotty said. 'I think, in practice, we're dialed in. We're getting to that point. I'm excited to see what this team brings us.' As for Friday's game and Nelson's heroics, it all went according to plan for Andrew coach Loren Zolk. 'I really like what 'Liv' does coming off the bench,' Zolk said. 'That's been her role all season. When the other team is starting to wear down a little bit and you bring in somebody that is that aggressive, strong and fast, it lifts our team a little bit. 'She does have a knack for scoring goals.' In addition to her prowess at finding the net in soccer, Nelson is adept at hitting balls over the net as a tennis player. 'I think tennis has helped me with footwork for soccer and vice versa,' Nelson said. 'I love doing both. I love the excitement of new teams, new teammates, new coaching and even the after soccer or after tennis stuff, just hanging with teammates. 'I love that team dynamic.'
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Brett Gabbert, Miami RedHawks quarterback, signs with NFL's Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins announced Thursday the signing of quarterback Brett Gabbert, who played the past six seasons for the Miami University RedHawks. Last season, Gabbert passed for 2,921 yards and 21 touchdowns in 14 games while leading the RedHawks to the Mid-American Conference title game, which they lost to the Ohio Bobcats. Gabbert led MU to a 43-17 win against Colorado State in the Arizona Bowl. Advertisement The RedHawks announced in December 2023 that Gabbert would return for a sixth season after suffering a season-ending leg injury against Toledo. Brett Gabbert with the Miami RedHawks Gabbert's brother, Blaine, played 12 NFL seasons for six teams from 2011 to 2023. This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Brett Gabbert, Miami RedHawks quarterback, signs with NFL's Dolphins
