Latest news with #Wofford
USA Today
03-08-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Will LSU baseball move star releiver Zac Cowan to the starting rotation in 2026?
LSU baseball received good news this summer when pitcher Zac Cowan announced his return for the 2026 season. Cowan, who spent the first two years of his career at Wofford, emerged as LSU's top reliever in 2025. After posting a 2.94 ERA and striking out 60 batters in 52 innings, Cowan certainly got the looks of a few MLB scouts. But as Cowan remained on the draft board, it became clear a team would need to pay well over slot value to convince Cowan to turn pro. With Cowan's return, LSU retains a much-needed arm. LSU lost three pitchers to the draft -- Kade Anderson, Anthony Eyanson, and Chase Shores. All three played key roles on LSU's march to winning the national title. With Anderson and Eyanson gone, LSU is down a couple of aces. Casan Evans, who starred as a freshman, is a slam-dunk to take on a full-time role in the starting rotation. But what about Cowan? Cowan has experience as a starter and a reliever. He's proven to be capable in both roles, but in 2026, it will be a matter of where LSU needs him more. Why Zac Cowan could join LSU baseball's starting rotation in 2026 Cowan was one of college baseball's top starters in 2024. In 17 starts, he pitched 110 innings with a 3.35 ERA. The strikeout-to-walk ratio was close to elite, striking out 10.1 batters per nine innings while walking just 2.4. Wofford was even better than the stats suggest with his ERA being inflated by one nine-run outing. Cowan was more than capable of handling the starter workload, tossing over 100 pitches on five occasions in 2024. In his 17 starts in 2024, Cowan only failed to complete the sixth inning twice. Working as a starter in the SEC is more of a grind, and even the league's best pitchers falter, but Cowan has the baseline talent to give LSU competency as a starter. Cowan's level of command plays a role in that. It's easier to pitch deep into games when staying out of three-ball counts. Cowan was called upon to make a start for LSU in the College World Series and delivered. Against one of the best lineups in the country, on the biggest stage, Cowan pitched 5.1 innings and allowed just one run. Why Zac Cowan could remain in LSU baseball's bullpen LSU's bullpen was inconsistent in 2025 -- the only trusted arms were Cowan and Evans. With Evans clearly moving to the rotation, LSU may want to keep a trusted arm in the pen. With the level of hitters in the SEC, it's hard to find relievers of Cowan's caliber. And LSU doesn't have many better options on the team. If Cowan isn't in LSU's starting rotation, he can serve as a Swiss Army knife. He can close some games, get LSU out of jams in others, and make long relief appearances when needed. But if Cowan were a starter, he'd be penciled into a role. And while Cowan has proven it as a starter at Wofford, you don't know what you're going to get facing SEC competition week in and week out. It's a different kind of grind. Cowan was inconsistent down the stretch in 2025, with his command faltering in longer outings. Those issues could appear again if Cowan were a starter. Bottom Line For now, expect Cowan to be a starter in 2025. The upside is too great to keep Cowan in the bullpen another year. Cowan has a chance to be one of the SEC's most effective arms and if that's the case, LSU needs to get more than 60 innings from one of its top pitchers.
Yahoo
02-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Stephen Decatur alum Keve Aluma announced as member of Philadelphia 76ers Summer League roster
The Summer League rosters for NBA teams are beginning to be announced in the aftermath of the 2025 NBA Draft. And for local basketball fans on Maryland's Eastern Shore, there will be a familiar face playing for the Philadelphia 76ers during this year's NBA Summer League. Keve Aluma, a former Stephen Decatur basketball star, was announced as a player on the Sixers Summer League player roster on Tuesday, July 1. This will be Aluma's second year playing Summer League basketball for the Sixers, as he also played and stood out as a member of the Sixers' Summer League team in 2024. More: Three Governors Challenge alums selected in the 2025 NBA Draft Advertisement A former Bayside South Player of the Year during his time at Decatur, Aluma starred at both Wofford and Virginia Tech during his college basketball career, and was an All-ACC player for two seasons at Virginia Tech. After finishing his college career, Aluma has played overseas in Japan and South Korea, and he spent the 2024-25 season playing for the Ryukyu Golden Kings in South Korea. Mar 10, 2022; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Virginia Tech Hokies forward Keve Aluma (22) drives to the basket against Notre Dame Fighting Irish guard Trey Wertz (2) during the second half at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports More: Midway through decade, which Bayside South teams have won state championships in 2020s? The Summer League season for Aluma and the Sixers kicks off later this week in Salt Lake City, with their first game taking place on July 5 at 9 p.m. Eastern Time. Fans can watch the game on ESPN. Advertisement After playing three games in Salt Lake City, Aluma and the Sixers are scheduled to play four more in Las Vegas from July 10-16. This article originally appeared on Salisbury Daily Times: Decatur alum Keve Aluma announced as part of 76ers Summer League roster
USA Today
24-06-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Stay or go: Will Zac Cowan return to LSU baseball in 2026?
Zac Cowan settled in nicely to his relief role with LSU baseball after coming in from the transfer portal. The right-handed pitcher, who head coach Jay Johnson labeled as the best reliever in the nation, came in as a successful starter after two years at Wofford. Cowan led the Terriers to a conference championship and NCAA Tournament appearance before leveling up himself. Cowan finished 2025 with a 2.94 ERA and 60 strikeouts through 52 innings. Cowan's last two appearances, both in the NCAA Tournament, were starts. Against Arkansas in the College World Series, Cowan surrendered just one run through 5.1 innings. With mixed use as a starter, bridge, and closer, Cowan proved his abilities consistently and is a big reason why the Tigers advanced to Omaha for the College World Series. Now a national champion, the junior faces a decision. Cowan can either return to Baton Rouge for his senior season or turn professional by entering the 2025 MLB Draft. The case for staying Cowan is not ranked on draft top-200 prospects list. While he'd likely get drafted at some point, Cowan isn't looking at life-altering bonus money. With rev sharing an NIL, a return to LSU could be in the same ballpark as his draft slot. Another year developing under pitching coach Nate Yeskie would give Cowan the opportunity to increase his draft stock to be a first round pick like so many LSU pitchers before him. Cowan could compete for a starting role and put more high-level competition on tape. He struggled down the stretch in the postseason and another year would correct the path. The case for leaving Between Wofford and LSU, Cowan has three years and over 200 innings of collegiate work. The innings are a mix between starter and reliever appearances, meaning he brings a versatile skillset that would be unique to any ball club. Cowan's solid year as a reliever in the SEC could be enough for MLB teams to take a chance on. He reached the mountain top of college baseball with a national championship and ended the season on a high note with his innings against the Razorbacks. We've seen veteran pitchers make quick climbs to the MLB in recent years and teams looking for immediate pitching help could make Cowan a strong offer.
Miami Herald
18-06-2025
- Health
- Miami Herald
Puppy with kidney failure needs a home for his final days. Meet the ‘happy' dog
A puppy has kidney failure, and he will need a place to spend his final days. 'We won't let you sit in a kennel any longer,' a South Carolina animal shelter wrote June 13 in a Facebook post. 'Fletcher, you deserve to live your life in a loving home, where you can run carefree and know a loving embrace outside of the confinements of a kennel.' Fletcher is now out of the shelter and in foster care. The Greenville Humane Society hopes he will end up in a permanent home for however much time he last left. 'He really is SO full of love, he'd make a perfect companion,' Katie Wofford, marketing assistant for the shelter, told McClatchy News via email. 'Even if his life may not be long, he's ready to give all the love he has to his family.' The 10-month-old pup arrived at the humane society sick after he traveled more than 2,000 miles by car. He had been living at a facility in Arizona but was transferred with the hope that the South Carolina shelter could provide treatment for 'multiple birth defects' impacting his life, according to Wofford. The shelter discovered he had only one kidney, which is failing. Surgery would risk his life, so a team reportedly decided to avoid performing any procedures. Though the humane society isn't sure about Fletcher's future, he likely will need medications, veterinary appointments and special food. 'He was in an Arizona shelter since he was just a baby, so he's never truly known what it feels like to live in a home,' Wofford wrote. 'Despite this and his congenital defects, he's a very happy boy. He loves to trot around with a stuffy in his mouth, always wagging and smiling to anyone who will greet him.' As of June 17, the mixed-breed pup was waiting for a permanent home. Anyone interested in adoption is encouraged to send an email to adoptions@ 'He will need a very special home who is willing to put in the extra love and work he needs, but there's no dog in the world that deserves it more than Fletcher,' Wofford wrote.
USA Today
27-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Former Tennessee baseball transfer commit to play in Knoxville
Former Tennessee baseball transfer commit to play in Knoxville Ryan Galanie committed to Tennessee baseball on July 2, 2023. He never played for the Vols after transferring from Wofford. The 2023 Southern Conference Player of the Year was selected by the White Sox in the 13th round of the 2023 MLB draft (No. 389 overall). "To the Tennessee fans that supported me, I appreciate all the love," Galanie said. "There wasn't a fan base in college baseball that could've supported me more with pure class. I know I never got to suit up for the Vols, but I can't say thank you enough." Galanie was assigned to Chicago's Double-A affiliate Birmingham on April 29 from High-A Winston-Salem. The former Tennessee transfer commit will play in Knoxville, Tuesday-Sunday, against the Smokies at Covenant Health Park. More: Former Tony Vitello recruit hits two-run walk-off bunt for Smokies Galanie started 58 games at first base in 2023 for Wofford. He recorded 17 home runs, 88 hits, 66 RBIs, 73 runs, 40 walks, 35 stolen bases and a .383 batting average, earning Southern Conference Player of the Year and All-Southern Conference First-Team honors. Galanie started 59 games at third base for Wofford in 2022. He appeared in 28 games, including nine starts at third base and one start as a designated hitter, in 2021. First pitch for Tuesday's series opener between the Smokies and Barons is scheduled for 7 p.m. EDT. The former Tennessee commit enters the series in Knoxville with a .313 batting average in 22 games with the Barons. He has totaled 25 hits (two home runs, six doubles, one triple), 13 RBIs, 11 runs, six walks and two stolen bases. Follow Vols Wire on Facebook and X (formerly Twitter).
