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Professional pickleball to be streamed on Amazon Prime

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:01 GMT

If you've ever wanted to watch expert dinks, precise dropshots and call out faults from the comfort of your couch, now you can. Fans of America's fastest growing sport will soon be able to watch the game's best on the big screen, after Amazon Prime announced it had inked a multiyear deal with the Professional Pickleball Association.Prime Video will have exclusive global streaming rights to four live PPA Tour events per year, including the sport's world championships.Pickleball's expansion across North America has been as surprising as it's been quick. If you haven't played (where have you been?), it's something of a hybrid between tennis and ping-pong. Usually played in a doubles format, the game has grown in popularity because it's easy to learn, affordable and is often hosted in a fun, social atmosphere.The Carvana PPA Tour was founded in 2018 and is one of the nation's top professional tours. It organizes events and rankings for the top male and female pickleball players in the w...

NCS softball playoffs: Wednesday’s first-round results, quarterfinal matchups

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:01 GMT

NEW: PREP SPORTS MAILBAGThe Bay Area News Group is introducing a high school sports mailbag in May. Get your questions in as soon as possible. Our debut edition is an open forum. Got questions about spring sports playoffs, coaching changes, an early peek at football season, etc.? Send them to [email protected]. Please include “mailbag” in the subject line.Division IWednesday’s first roundNo. 1 San Ramon Valley 9, No. 16 San Leandro 0No. 8 Heritage (15-5) at No. 9 James Logan (20-3-1), 7 p.m.No. 4 Freedom 5, No. 13 Monte Vista 4No. 5 Clayton Valley Charter 6, No. 12 Liberty 4No. 2 Granada 13, No. 15 Bishop O’Dowd 2No. 10 Castro Valley 2, No. 7 Amador Valley 0No. 3 California 7, No. 14 Arroyo 1No. 6 College Park 6, No. 11 Vintage 3Friday’s quarterfinalsNo. 8 Heritage (15-5) or No. 9 James Logan (20-3-1) at No. 1 San Ramon Valley (21-5)No. 5 Clayton Valley Charter (17-5) at No. 4 Freedom (17-8), 5 p.m.No. 10 Castro Valley (17-7) at No. 2 Granada (20-5), 5 p.m...

South Carolina moves closer to abortion ban, a Southern trend that puts pressure on Virginia

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:01 GMT

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — South Carolina became the latest state to move toward a near total abortion ban Wednesday with legislation that if enacted would leave Virginia an outlier in the South as a place where women have unrestricted access to abortions amid a rapid rise in restrictions in the year since Roe v. Wade was overturned.South Carolina is among the last bastions in the region for those seeking legal abortions, but that status could end soon. Access would be almost entirely banned after about six weeks of pregnancy — often before women know they’re pregnant — under the bill that now must pass the state Senate, which previously rejected a proposal to nearly outlaw abortions but could give final passage to the new legislation next week.And most abortions after 12 weeks of pregnancy will be banned in North Carolina beginning July 1 after the state’s Republican-controlled Legislature successfully overrode the Democratic governor’s veto late Tuesday.Abortion is banned or severely re...

Arcia HR in 9th as Braves avoid series loss with 6-5 win in Texas

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:01 GMT

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Orlando Arcia hit a tiebreaking solo homer with two outs in the ninth inning and the NL East-leading Atlanta avoided consecutive series losses for the first time this season by rallying for a 6-5 win over the Texas Rangers on Wednesday night. Ronald Acuña Jr. homered in his fourth consecutive game for the Braves, and Eddie Rosario had a two-run shot in the second that ended Texas starter Nathan Eovaldi’s scoreless streak at 29 2/3 innings. Adolis García went deep twice for AL West leader Texas, those solo shots extending his MLB-best RBI total to 46. The Braves won two of three in Texas after getting swept in three games at Toronto last weekend. Atlanta tied the game at 5 in the eighth when Ozzie Albies had an RBI single and Austin Riley drove him home with a double that chased reliever Josh Sborz. Arcia’s fourth homer of the season came off Brock Burke (2-2).Nick Anderson (2-0), the fourth Braves pitcher, worked a scoreless eighth before Raisel I...

Jansen hits game-winning homer in 10th, Blue Jays beat Yankees 3-0

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:01 GMT

TORONTO (AP) — Danny Jansen hit a three-run homer in the 10th inning and the Toronto Blue Jays beat the New York Yankees 3-0 on Wednesday night.Long after Blue Jays starter Chris Bassitt and Yankees ace Gerrit Cole exited a scoreless duel, Jansen’s fourth homer of the season came on the first pitch he saw from reliever Wandy Peralta (2-1).Whit Merrifield reached on shortstop Anthony Volpe’s error to begin the bottom of the 10th as automatic runner Cavan Biggio advanced from second to third.New York moved left fielder Oswaldo Cabrera into the infield, and Alejandro Kirk grounded out to shortstop before Jansen followed with his game-winning drive to left.Toronto closer Jordan Romano (3-2) tossed one inning for the win.Bassitt, who pitched a two-hitter against Atlanta in his previous start, went seven innings to extend his career-best scoreless streak to 27. Bassitt allowed three hits, all singles, walked one and struck out seven.The right-hander hasn’t allowed a run since an April 30 ...

Almada, late flurry lift Atlanta United over Rapids 4-0

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:01 GMT

ATLANTA (AP) — Thiago Almada had a first-half goal and Atlanta United scored three times in the final 10 minutes of regulation to cruise to a 4-0 victory over the Colorado Rapids on Wednesday night.Almada staked Atlanta United (6-4-3) to the lead for good with his sixth goal of the season — unassisted in the 29th minute. Almada has contributed to 13 goals this season.Luiz Araújo started the late scoring flurry for Atlanta United in the 80th minute when he took a pass from Brooks Lennon and scored for a third time this season.Tyler Wolff scored his first career goal — unassisted in the 87th minute — to make it 3-0. Wolff’s first goal came in his seventh start and 19th appearance since 2020.Lennon picked up another assist in the final minute of regulation when Giorgos Giakoumakis scored for a sixth time in five starts and nine appearances this campaign.Colorado (2-5-6) suffered its first road loss in its last seven matches (3-1-3). The Rapids beat Atlanta United for the first ti...

In the 2024 Md. Senate race, the Democrat with the most votes last year isn’t favored to win?

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:01 GMT

Conventional wisdom hasn’t yet been set in stone, but it is hardening when it comes to the race for the U.S. Senate seat that Maryland’s Ben Cardin is stepping down from next year.Those watching the Democratic primary see U.S. Rep. David Trone has the most money to spend. Since announcing last week, Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks has come out of the gate strong, racking up endorsements around the state, including from well-known leaders in other counties.In the weeks to come, U.S. Rep. Jamie Raskin, who gained major name recognition for House impeachment hearings during the Trump Administration, is also set to decide if he’ll run as well. He also might remain in the House of Representatives where he’s already gained a leadership role.Though he’s not favored to win, Montgomery County at-large councilman Will Jawando got more votes, by sheer numbers, than Alsobrooks, Trone and Raskin in their respective November 2022 elections.“I actually represen...

Liberatore works 5 shutout innings in season debut, Cardinals down Brewers 3-0

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:01 GMT

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Matthew Liberatore tossed five shutout innings in his season debut and Paul DeJong homered to lead the St. Louis Cardinals to a 3-0 win over the Milwaukee Brewers on Wednesday night.St. Louis has won eight of 10 after a 10-24 start to the season.Milwaukee has dropped two of three following a three-game winning streak.Nolan Arenado added a run-scoring hit for St. Louis, which remains in last place in the NL Central for the 22nd successive day after winning the division last season.Liberatore (1-0), a 23-year-old left-hander, gave up three hits in a 95-pitch stint. He struck out six and left after giving up a leadoff walk to Willy Adames to start the sixth.Liberatore was recalled Tuesday from Triple-A Memphis. He was making his first big league appearance since Oct. 5, 2022, at Pittsburgh.Relievers Andre Pallante, Giovanny Gallegos and Ryan Helsley combined to nail down the seven-hit shutout. Helsley recorded the final four outs for his fifth save in eight chances.Cor...

10-year-old shot on Mother’s Day dies in hospital

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:01 GMT

Monday afternoon, D.C. Police Identify the 10-year-old girl as Arianna Davis. (Metropolitan Police Department)The Metropolitan Police Department announced that Arianna Davis, a 10-year-old girl from Northeast shot Sunday while riding home in the back seat of a car, has succumbed to her injuries and died in the hospital Wednesday.At around 9:14 p.m. on Mother’s Day, officers responded to reports of gunshots at the 3700 block of Hayes Street, Northeast D.C. Police said they found a crime scene but no victims at first.Davis’s family members hadn’t realized that she had been struck in the upper body after hearing the gunshots until she yelled out from the back seat, according to Assistant Police Chief Andre Wright.The police said her family brought Davis to a firehouse around 9:20 p.m. with apparent gunshot wounds. She was transported from there to a hospital, according to a spokesperson from DC Fire and EMS.She was in grave condition when she arrived at the hospital a...

Cambridge’s first two goals lead Charlotte over Fire 2-1

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:01 GMT

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Brandon Cambridge subbed in and scored the first two goals of his MLS career to rally Charlotte FC to a 2-1 victory over the Chicago Fire on Wednesday night.Chicago (3-4-5) took a 1-0 lead on Kacper Przybyłko’s third goal of the season — unassisted in the 29th minute.Cambridge subbed in in the 59th minute and scored the equalizer for Charlotte (5-5-3) nine minutes later. Justin Meram notched an assist on the 21-year-old’s netter in his fourth career appearance — all as a substitute.Cambridge scored the winner unassisted in the 81st minute. Charlotte extended club records with its fourth straight win and its fifth victory in a row at home in all competitions. Kristijan Kahlina turned away ?? shots for Charlotte. Chris Brady had ?? saves for Chicago.Chicago entered play aiming for its second three-match win streak in all competitions since 2018.Charlotte will host Nashville SC on Saturday. Chicago returns home to host Atlanta United on Saturday.____A...