The University of Hawaii football team was entering the final month of the 2025 regular season, and head coach Timmy Chang was studying performance charts.

The NCAA permitted a player to qualify for a redshirt year if he did not participate in more than four regular-season games. Chang and his staff had to decide whether to hold out redshirt-minded players so they would be available to play in the final one or two games without exceeding the limit. Or the players could burn the redshirt hope by playing in more than four games.

“Those were tough decisions,” Chang said.

On Tuesday, the NCAA Division I Cabinet unanimously approved the so-called “5-for-5” rule. The model calls for a student-athlete to have five years of eligibility during a five-year span. The rule will eliminate the redshirt year and most waivers (for injury, illness or extenuating circumstance, such as caring for a family member).

The eligibility clock would start when a student-athlete enrolls full time in college or at age 19, whatever comes first. The age minimum was set to accommodate student-athletes who spend a post-high school year at a preparatory academy. The clock would pause for active-duty military service or religious mission.

The rule will be implemented ahead of the 2027-28 academic year.

“It does clear up some gray area,” Chang said. “It also puts the age in perspective, from 18 or 19 to 22- to 23- year-olds. I like it because it puts parameters around what college athletics is about.”

The ruling would have been helpful to former UH quarterback Brayden Schager, who petitioned for a waiver that would have allowed him to play as a fifth-year senior in 2025. Schager forfeited a redshirt in 2021 when he was summoned to play in a fifth game as a one-drive replacement for injured quarterback Chevan Cordeiro. Todd Graham, who was UH’s head coach in 2021, wrote a testimonial letter accepting blame and insisting Schager should not have lost the redshirt opportunity.

UH coaches also are seeking further interpretation of the starting date for the 5-for-5 clock. If the rule were in effect last year, kicker Kansei Matsuzawa and punter Billy Gowers probably would not have been eligible. Matsuzawa, who grew up in Japan, was 22 when he enrolled at Hocking College in 2021. If the 5-for-5 rule had been in place, Matsuzawa’s NCAA eligibility would have expired at the end of his first UH season in December 2023. Australia-reared Gowers, a former Australian rules player, was a 29-year-old freshman at the start of the 2025 season. Based on their strong 2025 season, Matsuzawa signed a free-agent deal with the Las Vegas Raiders. Gowers transferred to defending national champ Indiana.

There is little concern about the new starting dates for international basketball players. According to a coach, in this one-and-done era, a player with advanced international experience and, say, two or three years of NCAA eligibility, would be welcomed.

UH baseball coach Rich Hill said he also is seeking fuller interpretation of the new rule. But it appears the rule would provide leverage in negotiations. Players are eligible for the Major League Baseball draft after their junior years. Now drafted players can use the option of returning to school for a fourth or fifth year in contract talks.

UH coaches are hopeful there still will be extensions for players who suffer season-ending injuries or incur family emergencies.

Former UH basketball guard Juan Munoz famously had eight years of NCAA eligibility after suffering two ACL tears and an Achilles injury. He also received a COVID-year exemption. Munoz is starting his second year as the Rainbow Warriors’ director of player development.

As far back as 2006, UH football players have made use of injury exemptions to extend their college careers. That year, running back Nate Ilaoa and safety Leonard Peters were each granted a sixth year because of season-ending injuries.

—

After a week of shakeups to the Florida Panthers’ roster, one thing has been set in stone: their preseason schedule.

The Panthers announced their four-game 2026-27 preseason slate Thursday shortly after acquiring Garnet Hathaway in a trade with the Philadelphia Flyers.

They will start at home against the defending Stanley Cup champion Carolina Hurricanes on Sunday, Sept. 20 at 7 p.m., and then go on the road to face them again on Tuesday, Sept. 22 at 7 p.m., at the Lenovo Center in Raleigh, North Carolina.

Florida will then take on its in-state rival, the Tampa Bay Lightning. The Panthers will be on the road Thursday, Sept. 24 at Benchmark International Arena at 7 p.m., before facing the Lightning again at home Saturday, Sept. 26 at 6 p.m.

Despite the Hurricanes being the ones to hoist the cup, the Panthers fared relatively well against them last season. Florida suffered a 9-1 bashing in their last meeting Jan. 16, but secured victories in the other two contests in December. Florida won 5-2 and 4-3 in those meetings. The pair also faced off in two preseason matchups last season, with Florida securing both wins.

However, against the Lightning, Florida did not hold up quite as well in its 2025-26 campaign, meeting four times in the regular season, with Tampa Bay taking three of the games. Their last meeting was Feb. 5, and the Lightning grabbed a 6-1 rout at home. They also met three times in preseason contests, and Tampa Bay won twice.

The preseason schedule is much lighter than in past seasons. Last year’s consisted of seven matchups with three opponents. The Panthers played an extra game against the Lightning and faced the Nashville Predators twice. In the 2024-25 season, they played another against the Los Angeles Kings.

This year’s preseason contests can be seen on the Scripps Sports South Florida broadcast network and are available to stream for free on PanthersPlus.TV ahead of the regular season. Preseason tickets will go on sale in July through SeatGeek.com.

NASHUA — One save, that’s all Owen Perkins needed.

One save to clinch a state title, and create a moment that would live on for generations, as one of the greatest in the long and storied history of the legendary Pinkerton Academy boys lacrosse program.

“I’m thinking, ‘Just this one!’” said Perkins. “That’s all I need. Just this one. If I can only make one save for the rest of my career, let it be this one.”

That “one” turned out to be one of the most dramatic in the history of New Hampshire high school lacrosse.

With three seconds left in regulation, top-seeded Bedford attacked the net and fired a shot from point-blank range that Perkins somehow turned away with a combination of his body and stick as time expired and the final horn sounded, clinching Pinkerton’s 17-16 win in Saturday’s Division I title game.

“The ball got past me a few times today,” said Perkins, a junior. “But I was confident, and when I stopped it, it was the best moment ever. Then it was just helmets and gloves in the air and it was pandemonium.”

The fans packed into Nashua’s Stellos Stadium may have been holding their breath as the final seconds unfolded, but those in Pinkerton red knew their goalie would stand strong.

“I saw the Bedford kid come down, and the time running out,” remembered Tyler Pinardi. “Then Owen made an unbelievable save. He’s been playing amazing all year, and he’s an All-American goalie. I knew he could do it, without a doubt. He’s been a beast all year.”

Following the save, Perkins was mobbed by his team in celebration, as a fan held up a sign that read, “Perkins = Brick Wall.”

“I saw the first shot get blocked and I thought it was over,” said senior Matthew Gormady. “Then the kid picked up the ground ball and shot it. Owen is such an unbelievable goalie who made an unbelievable save. And I just thought, ‘He did it, and we did it!’ As soon as the buzzer sounded, I made a line for my goalie.”

The hot, steamy and sunny early evening wasn’t always easy for Perkins, in what turned out to be the highest-scoring Division I final in New Hampshire history. But with the eyes of the state on him, he delivered in historic fashion, with some big saves throughout the fourth quarter, highlighted by the game-clincher.

And that’s exactly what his coach expected of the two-year starter and three-year varsity player.

“Owen is a junior, and he should be an All-American,” said second-year head man Marty Auger. “He will be an All-American. I don’t get a vote, but anyone that watches us and see how he plays in the big games, it would be a travesty if he isn’t an All-American. He’s the best goalie in New Hampshire, an it isn’t even close. And it’s crazy to me that no one’s signed him up to play in college yet.”

Added Jackson Farrell, who scored the game-winner, “Owen is the greatest goalie in the state. If he’s not an All-American, there’s something wrong with the system. We knew, without a doubt, that he could to it.”

TWITTER: DWillisET

TWITTER: DWillisET

The love for baseball remained, but Joe Gustavson could no longer deny reality — or his growing passion for the sport where he was emerging as a superstar.

Track was his future.

“Since fifth grade I had been playing and training for baseball in the winter, spring, and summer,” he said. “But this winter (in indoor track) I hit a nine-second improvement and school record in the 600-meter, a 13-second improvement and school record in the 1,000-meter, and on one of my first few times running the 800, I finish 13th at New Balance Indoor Nationals. These accomplishments shifted my attention to track instead of baseball.”

That sport switch has paid off in championship — and record-setting — fashion for the Pinkerton junior.

In his debut spring track season, Gustavson took home the New England title in the 800 (1:53.36), the second Astro male to achieve that feat in a running event.

“To be New England champion is amazing,” he said. “I’ve been thinking about the opportunity since the end of the indoor season. I understood it was a large goal and would not be easy to accomplish. Every day in outdoor track my efforts were directed to this title. It’s an honor to be the second boys New England champion as a runner for Pinkerton and I’m beyond excited to have achieved this large goal.”

That after he delivered a thoroughly dominant run through the Granite State the spring.

A week earlier, Gustavson won the New Hampshire Meet of Champions title in an Eagle-Tribune area record 1:52.23, breaking the previous mark set by Phillips Academy great Alex Fleury (1:52.43 in 2019), a North Andover resident who went on to run for Harvard.

Gustavson also won the N.H. Division I title (1:53.42) and anchored the 4x400 relay that won titles at Division Is (3:27.14), Meet of Champions (3:21.05) and the Clipper Relays (3:22.17).

That followed a winter where he scored the 600-meter title at Division Is (PR 1:21.31), placed third at New Englands (1:21.44), took 13th at Nationals in the 800 (1:52.53), ran a 2:32.76 in the 1,000 and also took Division I titles in the 4x400 (3:32.18) and the 4x800 (8:10.88).

And it was that success that led to the sport switch this spring.

“It was a tough decision that was on my mind from the beginning of cross country and through the indoor season,” he said. “I just loved the atmosphere of the track team. It’s very different, and I really enjoy being around them. And I was having so much success in track.”

Gustavson first went out for indoor track and cross country as a freshman, but it was in the winter of his sophomore year when he found the events that fit him perfectly, helping the 4x800 team to the Division I title.

“At the start of my sophomore year, my coach asked me what I wanted to race one day,” he remembered. “I said the 600-meter, and both of my coaches were shocked that I wanted to run a middle distance event. I only ran the 600 maybe twice, but it set me up to be the main 600 runner this year. I enjoy middle distance races because it includes speed, strategy, as well as endurance. With all three of these being in one race, it creates some of the hardest events to run with a chance to show off speed, endurance and grit.

“I also enjoy the thrill and importance of being an anchor on relays. Knowing that I’m the person that the team can rely on to hold a lead or gain more positions is a great feeling. I enjoy the thrill of having an unexpected position in a race and having to make a plan on the spot on how to perform.”

And he isn’t quite done yet. Gustavson will run at Nike Outdoor Nationals this weekend at the legendary Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon.

“I’ve really excited,” he said. “One of my other big goals was to run 1:50 or even under in the 800, but I haven’t accomplished that yet. I’m excited to see what Nike Outdoor Nationals will bring me.”

TWITTER: DWillisET

Shortly after Izaiyah Nelson learned Wednesday night he had been selected by the Magic in the second round of the NBA draft, the University of South Florida senior couldn’t contain his excitement.

On a phone call with team officials, including president of basketball operations Jeff Weltman, Nelson said he planned on driving from Tampa to Orlando on Thursday morning with the intention of beating them into the building for workouts at the AdventHealth Training Center.

“He’s just about the work,” Weltman said about the No. 51 pick in a phone interview following the draft. “He’s a breath of fresh air in that most of the time when you’re looking through the draft lens, you’re looking at younger guys who are really going to need to develop personal routines and habits.

“And Izaiyah comes in really mature, understanding that it’s going to take a lot of work for him to get to where he wants to get, understanding that winning comes before all else,” Weltman added. “I think he’s got a lot of that stuff that he brings with him that you don’t have to kind of wait on and develop and hope that he finds it.”

Orlando entered the second round only with the No. 46 pick, but later completed a three-team trade with Washington and Milwaukee that netted the Magic both Nelson at No. 51 from the Wizards and cash considerations from the Bucks.

As part of the deal, Washington acquired the draft rights to University of Tennessee forward Felix Okpara (No. 46), while Milwaukee acquired the draft rights to Malique Lewis (No. 60), who played for the South East Melbourne Phoenix of the Australian National Basketball League.

Nelson stood out to Orlando because of his ability to impact the game on both ends of the court. The 6-foot-9 forward, who turns 23 on Oct. 1, became the first player in American Athletic Conference history to be named the league’s player of the year, defensive player of the year and newcomer of the year when he transferred to USF after three years at Arkansas State.

The Marietta, Ga. native, who helped the Bulls earn their first NCAA Tournament berth since 2012, recorded the ninth-most double-doubles in the country (18) and ranked 18th nationally in rebounding (9.6 rebounds per game) this past season.

But where does Nelson fit into Orlando’s plans moving forward under new head coach Sean Sweeney? That remains unclear.

While he’s proven to impact the game in more ways than one, he doesn’t help the Magic in a dire area of need: 3-point shooting. As a senior at USF, he shot 14.3% from distance on 1.4 long-range attempts per game.

Still, he led the AAC in field-goal percentage (56.1%), while averaging 15.9 points per contest. Nelson also boasts a massive 7-foot-2 wingspan and has been heralded for playing with a relentless motor by chasing after loose balls, crashing the glass and outworking opponents.

“I think it’s too soon to talk about stuff like that,” Weltman said about Nelson’s fit on the Magic. “Obviously, we’ve got a roster full of talented players and we have to figure out how that’s all going to work with Sean. There’s a long way to go before we kind of get to the end of summer and understand what our team looks like.

“But most importantly (Wednesday night), it’s about just bringing in talent, character, toughness and integrity, and we’ll figure the rest out as we go,” Weltman added.

As a late second-round pick, it also wasn’t immediately clear which type of contract Nelson will sign with the franchise.

The Magic enter the summer with three standard contract roster spots open and two of three two-way contracts available, but not much room financially to add to the roster through free agency compared to the past. That’s because Orlando has signed key young players, such as Paolo Banchero, Franz Wagner and Jalen Suggs, to large rookie extensions in recent years.

Two-way players go between the NBA and the G League, but they’re limited to being active for just 50 NBA games and can’t play in the playoffs. Nelson wouldn’t face those restrictions if he signed a standard contract.

Orlando signed last year’s second-round pick Noah Penda to a standard contract, but he was picked 19 spots higher (No. 32) than Nelson was Wednesday.

“These days you want to leave yourself as flexible as possible and obviously different commitments have different financial implications. So as we piece together the roster, we’ll make sense of all of that,” Weltman said when asked by the Orlando Sentinel if Nelson would sign a standard contract or a two-way deal. “It all kind of fits together.

“But the most important thing for us is we just want to get him in the gym soon, get him working with our guys and getting to know our organization,” Weltman added.

Nelson will hit the court soon for Las Vegas Summer League, which runs July 9-19 out west. The second-round pick will be joined by last year’s pair of Magic draft picks, Jase Richardson and the French forward Penda, Weltman confirmed.

Regardless of what the future holds for Nelson, it’s clear why the Magic made a move to draft him Wednesday night.

“This guy is a worker,” Weltman said. “He’s tough. He’s a hit-first guy. He’s about self-improvement. He’s about winning above everything else. (A) monster competitor, monster athlete.

“Just the kind of guy you want to bring into an organization.”

Jason Beede can be reached at jbeede@orlandosentinel.com

30 YEARS AGO — 1996

— Brett Paepke and Glen Arnold combine on the first no-hitter in Clinton Lakers history, with Paepke pitching the first five innings and Arnold the last two in an 11-0 win over the Schroon Lake/Crown Point Loons. Earlier in the doubleheader, Mark Leta tossed a one-hitter in a 9-0 Clinton victory.

— Peru's Kim Swarts is named to the CVAC Division I softball All-Star team after striking out 149 batters in 135 innings, going 14-6 with a 0.62 ERA, batting .551 and tossing a no-hitter against Seton Catholic, in which she fans 14.

— Five members of the Bay Club Waves swim team qualified for the 1996 Empire State Games in Buffalo. Michelle Chevalier set new team records in three freestyle victories at the trials, and Meghan Welch, a two-time ESG bronze medalist, won three events.

— Jon Parks won the Blackfly Challenge, a 40-mile mountain bike race from Indian Lake to Inlet, with Charlie Mitchell second and Shawn Breen third.

— The Barracks Golf Club edged K & L Plumbing on a birdie at No. 18 to win the seventh annual Clinton Masonic Golf Classic at the Adirondack Golf and Country Club in Peru. Both teams finished at 12-under 60.

50 YEARS AGO — 1976

— Members of the U.S. Olympic track team took their first workouts at the Plattsburgh State Field House before a crowd of nearly 200 as the squad prepares for the Montreal Games under coach Lee Calhoun. Among the sprinters on hand are 100-meter world-record co-holder Harvey Glance, Steve Riddick, 800-meter runner-up Mark Enyeart and women's 800 qualifier Kathy Weston.

— Stock car veteran Bob Bruno, a five-time local track champion during the 1960s, ended a seven-year retirement to rejoin the field for the Battle of Plattsburgh at Plattsburgh International Raceway, driving a 1970 Nova for owner Vic Wolfe.

— Phoebe Sturm took Class A honors in the Tin Whistle Tournament on Ladies Day at Bluff Point Golf & Country Club. Marion Pafsky won Class B and Carol Gerrant Class C. Phyllis Augustine and Bernice Jennings tied for second in Class C while Pat Whalen took first place in Class D.

— Doug Doran swept four events — the 25-yard butterfly, backstroke, breaststroke and freestyle — in the 10-and-under division at the Northern Pike Closed Invitational Swim Meet at AuSable Valley Central School.

70 YEARS AGO — 1956

— Bucky Roche's ninth-inning home run lifted Gabriels to a 3-2 win over Cadyville in the Adirondack League, throwing the winners into a three-way tie for first place. Roche added two singles for a three-hit day.

— Warren Tessier tossed a three-hit shutout and struck out 11 as Morrisonville routed Saranac Lake, 15-0, in the Adirondack League, knocking Saranac Lake out of first place. Pete Cronin, a former Our Lady of Victory Academy star, went 4-for-4, and Red Burnell added four hits in five trips.

— Howard Maxwell threw a one-hitter as Saxony Hotel beat Champlain Genesee, 4-0, in the Rouses Point Border League with Don Demers' third-inning single being the only hit. Maxwell had also pitched the Genesees to a 13-7 win at Hemmingford, Quebec, the night before.

— Imperial outlasted the Flyers 16-15 in an eight-inning City Softball League slugfest at St. Peter's Field, rallying from a 13-9 deficit on a Clarence Dubuque triple and a Ray Reeves home run.

— Plattsburgh High School handed out its 1956 spring sports awards, with Robert Parrish earning the individual trophy given each year to a senior boy who showed "determination, teamwork and sportsmanship in both a winning and losing way." Ann Lawler received a four-year trophy in girls' athletics.

90 YEARS AGO — 1936

— The Plattsburgh Majors' Ray Ratajczak drove in all four runs with a pair of home runs in a 4-1 Northern League win over Burlington, then was forced from the game and held overnight in a Burlington hospital after being hurt turning a double play. Manager Bill McCorry traveled back the next day to bring him home.

— Eighteen-year-old Len Amodio, a Clinton, New York, high school star, pitched the Plattsburgh Majors to a 6-5 win over the Burlington Barons for their second win in seven starts.

— The undefeated Lafayettes rallied for six runs in the fifth inning to erase a 7-3 deficit and beat Cadyville, 9-7, for their fifth straight win, with Dick Elliott outdueling Gib Darrah.

— Long Lawrence Lucy came on in relief and held Lacolle hitless over the final three innings as the 26th Infantry from Plattsburgh Barracks notched its first win of the season, 8-5, over the Quebec Inter-City League club. O'Neil homered with two aboard in the seventh.

— Cadyville scored six runs in the fourth inning to down Camp A-4 of the Civilian Conservation Corps, 9-5, with Gib Darrah going the distance on the mound.

— Compiled by Contributing Writer Ben Rowe

PITTSBURGH – The Pitt football team will be represented by coach Pat Narduzzi and three standout student-athletes at the 2026 ACC Football Kickoff, which will be held July 15-17 in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Joining Narduzzi for the annual preseason media event are quarterback Mason Heintschel, linebacker Braylan Lovelace and offensive lineman Ryan Baer.

The ACC Football Kickoff annually serves as the league's premier preseason media event, bringing together coaches, student-athletes and media members from across the conference to preview the upcoming season.

The ACC Network will once again provide wall-to-wall coverage of the event, broadcasting live each day.

The Panthers – along with California, Duke, North Carolina, Southern Methodist and Wake Forest – will participate July 17. Additional programming and coverage surrounding Pitt's appearance at the three-day event will be announced at a later date.

The St. Francis University women's volleyball program has quietly built steady momentum in recent years, stringing together three consecutive winning seasons as the program positions itself for its next chapter in the Division III era.

Coach Sara Spielvogel, now entering her 11th season in Loretto, has put together a schedule that will challenge her young roster.

The Red Wolves open the season in New York at the SUNY Morrisville Mustang Tournament Sept. 4-5. They will compete against four New York schools, providing a strong early season measuring stick.

The September calendar also includes road trips to Elizabethtown College, Penn State Altoona and Notre Dame of Maryland. Conference play begins Sept. 23 with a trip to Waynesburg.

Spielvogel's team will return to Loretto for its home opener Sept. 26 against Grove City. The match is also Family Weekend at St. Francis. First serve is scheduled for 5 p.m., following the Red Wolves football home opener.

Grove City won the 2025 Presidents' Athletic Conference championship, its first since 2021. The Wolverines entered the tournament as the fourth seed out of the North Division and went on the road to defeat top-seeded Hiram in the title match. Grove City then advanced to the NCAA Division III tournament, where it fell to Juniata in the first round.

"The upcoming season is all about competitive learning," Spielvogel said. "We are in a new conference with new opponents. Our goals are to learn and grow with every practice and every match while still competing at a high level."

St. Francis returns three players from the team that reached the 2025 NEC championship match in Ava Holden, Elsa Richards and Alexandra Sappia.

Women's volleyball in the PAC was highly competitive in 2025. Three schools recorded 20 or more wins, including Grove City, Westminster and Hiram.

St. Francis will be on the road for two of those matchups, Oct. 10 at Westminster and Oct. 31 at Hiram. The Terriers went 26-3 overall and 15-1 in the PAC before losing the championship match.

Conference play comes to a close Oct. 24 when St. Vincent travels to Loretto.

As it transitions to Division III, St. Francis cannot compete in the postseason during the 2026 and 2027 seasons. The Red Wolves will wrap up the regular season with a match at Pitt-Greensburg.

The 2026 roster includes Central Cambria graduate Allie Dziabo and Conemaugh Township product Madison Roman.

JOHNSTOWN, Pa. – Shortstop Landen Rozich joined the Johnstown Mill Rats a week ago, following his West Chester University baseball team’s amazing run to the NCAA Division II Baseball Championship final series.

Coming off a strong freshman season with the national runner-up Golden Rams, Rozich needed time to adjust to the Prospect League.

PHOTO GALLERY | Johnstown Mill Rats host Lafayette Aviators

“Last week, it was a little hard for me to get on board and I had a tough week,” Rozich said after collecting three hits, including a three-run homer and five RBIs, in the Mill Rats’ 13-9 victory over the first-place Lafayette Aviators Tuesday.

“I just gave up that (memory of) last week and just came up and swung the bat by doing a good thing and put a ball over the fence.”

Rozich’s three-run blast cleared the wall in left-center field, capping a seven-run bottom of the first inning that pumped up a Sargent’s Stadium at the Point crowd of 516.

“It means a lot for us getting back into the win column after a tough last week,” Rozich said.

“I got here last Monday and we left early Tuesday morning for the road trip. It’s hard. It’s a lot of traveling. I got used to it quick.”

Gavin Smith, Ty Marsh

Lafayette Aviators shortstop Gavin Smith (left) applies a late tag as Johnstown Mill Rats’ Ty Marsh slides safely into second base on a two-run double in the bottom of the first inning of a Prospect League game at Sargent’s Stadium at the Point in Johnstown, PA., Tuesday, June 23, 2026.

This past week, the Aviators (17-7) swept three games against visiting Johnstown (13-11).

The teams combined on 26 hits and 22 runs in Tuesday’s 3 hour, 4-minute contest. The teams meet again at 7 p.m. Wednesday at Sargent’s Stadium.

“We lost three to them last week,” said Mill Rats first baseman Caleb Smith, who had three singles and drove in three runs in Tuesday’s win.

“We knew they were coming here, and we needed to win.

“We need to win both, really.

“We stayed focused, had a little more intensity to us and it paid off.”

The Mill Rats sent 10 batters to the plate in each of the first two innings and built what appeared to be a comfortable 11-1 advantage.

Landen Rozich, Cole Kuszak

The Johnstown Mill Rats’ Landen Rozich (right) is congratulated by teammate Cole Kuszak after hitting a three-run home-run in the bottom of the first inning of a Prospect League game at Sargent’s Stadium at the Point in Johnstown, PA., Tuesday, June 23, 2026.

“We did our scouting report on the guy throwing and we knew he didn’t fill it up, so we were just diligent at the plate and stayed patient,” Smith said of Lafayette left-handed starter Tro Fellings. “Then, when it was over the plate, we just banged it.”

Rozich ripped a no-doubt, three-run homer over the wall in left-center field to cap the seven-run, first-inning barrage.

The 386-foot blast put No. 9 hitter Rozich on track for a big night, as he reached base four times. It also continued a banner year for him.

A freshman this past season, Rozich started 49 games at shortstop on a 48-win West Chester team that finished second to University of Tampa in the Division II final series in Cary, North Carolina.

He batted .266 with 15 extra-base hits, including four homers during his college season.

On the mound, Rozich went 3-1 with five saves and a 1.95 ERA in relief.

“It was awesome,” Rozich said of the World Series appearance.

“It was one of the best memories I’m going to keep. I love all those guys so much. Hopefully, we can get back there next year.”

The Mill Rats hope some of Rozich’s Golden Rams magic settles in across the state.

He had plenty of company Tuesday, as Johnstown’s Caleb Rey also had a two-run single and Smith singled in a run in the first-inning rally.

In the second, Smith hit a two-run single, and Rozich singled to drive in a run.

Brock Budacki hit a solo homer in the third inning, and the Mill Rats catcher doubled and scored on Rozich’s infield single in the fifth.

Lafayette tallied single runs in the first and fifth innings, and the Aviators posted three runs apiece in the third and seventh to close within 13-8.

Lafayette’s Zach Pelletier singled in a run in the fifth and had a run-scoring double in the seventh. Gavin Smith drove in a run with a double off the brick wall in the eighth to make it 13-9. Sage Adams had two doubles for the Aviators.

“We held on. It gives us a lot of momentum going into (Wednesday),” Caleb Smith said.

Mike Mastovich is a sports reporter and columnist for The Tribune-Democrat. He can be reached at 814-532-5083. Follow him on Twitter @Masty81.

COLUMBUS — The Ohio State University national championship-winning football coach Jim Tressel is set to be enshrined on the C-Deck Ring of Honor at Ohio Stadium Sept. 5.

The Buckeyes host Ball State in their season opener at 12:30 p.m. The game will be broadcast on BTN.

Tressel becomes the third coach to be honored at Ohio Stadium, joining Paul Brown (1941–43) and Woody Hayes (1951–78).

He also becomes the first person added to the Ring of Honor since 2014, when one of his quarterbacks and 2006 Heisman Trophy winner Troy Smith was placed on the C-Deck.

Tressel took over in 2001 and continued Ohio State’s legacy as a perennial national contender.

During his tenure, the Buckeyes won at least 10 games in six seasons and reached the BCS Title Game three times, winning the national championship in the 2002 season.

That signature year featured an undefeated 14–0 run, as Ohio State downed top-ranked Miami 31–24 in double overtime for the national title.

Ohio State also played in the BCS National Championship Game twice more during his tenure (2006, 2007).

Across his decade leading the Buckeyes, Ohio State made a bowl each season and played in eight BCS games.

Tressel’s Ohio State teams went 9–1 against Michigan, including a 2010 game that was later vacated by the NCAA.

In addition to Smith’s Heisman Trophy during Tressel’s tenure, he coached 67 NFL Draft picks, including 14 first-round selections, 57 first team All-Big Ten selections, 24 first team All-America selections, and eight Academic All-Americans.

After leading Ohio State to one of the most successful eras in program history, Tressel was President of Youngstown State University, and has served as Lieutenant Governor of Ohio since 2025.

Through the Team Tressel Fitness Challenge, he continues to do what he has always done best — coach young people to become stronger mentally, physically, and emotionally so they can reach their full potential.

Tupelo offensive lineman Antonio Berry has committed to Ole Miss, according to On3/Rivals’ Hayes Fawcett.

Berry, a rising senior, is one of the top prospects in the state. 247Sports’ composite rankings list Berry as the fourth-best prospect in Mississippi – including the second-best offensive lineman – and 96th nationally.

Berry, who stands at 6-foot-5 and 305 pounds, played a big role up front last year for a Tupelo ground attack that rushed for more than 4,600 yards and 59 touchdowns. This year, he’ll be tasked with protecting new quarterback Drew Dean and paving the way for returning running back Kylan Bobo.

The Rainbow Warriors are treating the state’s ultimate individual event like a team thing.

University of Hawaii men’s golfers Joshua Hayashida and Dane Watanabe made quick work of their opponents in the first round of the 117th Manoa Cup at Oahu Country Club on Tuesday, rushing to get off the course only to be in an equal hurry to get to the tee box to cheer on a friend.

They are the only two current Rainbow Warriors in the tournament, but the brackets are littered with former ’Bows like Zachary Sagayaga, who reached the final four in the event the past two years while still competing for the school.

“We are all rooting each other on,” Watanabe said. “It’s good because we are all in different brackets and won’t have to play each other (until the semifinals) if we keep winning. It makes it more fun. They are all my teammates and friends.”

Hayashida, a two-time champion and one of only two past winners in the field, played Alan Wong in the round of 64 for the second straight year and beat his friendly foe 6-up with a par on the 14th hole after topping him 5&3 last year. Hayashida had a 14-match winning streak in the event end to Peter Jung in the round of 16 last year, and with Jung, defending champion Remington Hirano and others not in the field he is probably in the uncomfortable position of being the favorite.

“Just being a local kid and growing up watching it and playing since I was 14, it’s so special,” Hayashida said. “I went through some ups and downs as a teenager playing against the older guys and now I am one of those guys. It’s just a great event you can share with friends.”

The early finish allowed him to rest his legs over the final four holes and Watanabe got an even longer break by dispatching Ryce Maddox Aoki in 11 holes after winning each of the first nine. The time off the links could come in handy on Friday or Saturday after a full week of walking the ancient course’s rolling hills.

“It’s obviously really nice if it ends early,” Watanabe said while clutching his water bottle and trying to remember to sip with all of the excitement around him. “You get to rest some more and recover and stay hydrated because if you keep winning it can become a really long week. The rest and recovery is really important.”

Volleyball Olympian and OCC member Kawika Shoji was all smiles in his return to tournament golf, grinning and kissing babies while falling to Kaho‘okele Helm 4&3. Four-time champion Brandon Kop made it through his 121st round in the event, beating Jordan Nakamura 5&4 to improve to 84-37 all-time in the event dating back to 1978. Kop will play No. 7 seed Coel Berardy in the second round.

Isaac Jaffurs, who reached the final in 2014, fell to Ryan Takeshita and 2018 semifinalist Hunter Hughes lost a battle 3&1 to Dylan Sakasegawa.

Hayashida will play Chance Wilson in the second round and Watanabe gets Maximus Waki, who upset Dean Pagliarini. Top seed Spencer Shishido gets Tensuke Sakurai after a rare bye and fellow medalist Drew Tom faces Caleb Ito after beating Paul Loui 7&5.

The second bracket of the women’s tournament fell into shambles with Samantha Monroe upsetting 2024 champion Jasmine Wong 4&2 and Paige Sur taking out No. 7 seed Lynea Kelsey 2&1.

Another upset on the women’s side came from Kady Matsumoto, who beat fellow Mililani resident Mia Nakaoka 2&1 with a bogey on 16 to the No. 4 seed’s double.

Play resumes today with top seed Shishido against Sakurai at 7 a.m. and favorite Ava Cepeda against Brooke Asao at 9:24 in the women’s quarterfinals.

First-year Rainbow Wahine women’s volleyball head coach Joshua Walker added a middle from New Zealand to his first recruiting class Tuesday in UNC Wilmington transfer Marnie Ursem.

The 6-foot-3 middle blocker will be a junior this season after playing the past two seasons at UNCW. If the NCAA finalizes its move to five seasons of eligibility, it would appear she would have three seasons of eligibility remaining.

Ursem played in 40 matches for the Seahawks and averaged 1.53 kills and 1.01 blocks per set. She started all 26 matches this past season and her average of 1.08 blocks per set ranked second in the Coastal Athletic Association. She led UNCW with 30 service aces.

A projected starting pitcher might be leaving the University of Hawaii baseball team.

Right-hander Brody Martin-Grudzielanek, who recently completed his freshman season with the Rainbow Warriors, confirmed he has entered the NCAA transfer portal.

“I’m just exploring my options as of now,” Martin-Grudzielanek told the Honolulu Star-Advertiser. “There is a chance I come back (to UH).”

Martin-Grudzielanek was projected to be in the starting rotation, possibly as the series-opening pitcher, if he pitched for the ’Bows in 2027.

This past season, Martin-Grudzielanek was 0-5, but he pitched to a 4.02 ERA and 1.31 WHIP while averaging 8.8 strikeouts per nine innings. Left-handed batters hit .182 against Martin-Grudzielanek. His fastball topped at 97 mph.

Instead of playing summer ball, Martin-Grudzielanek opted to train this summer.

“Just lifting, as of now, and trying to gain some weight,” he said.

Of his year in Hawaii, he said, “I loved it. I feel I made a big jump in my career. I’m grateful for the opportunity Hawaii gave me. I won’t ever take that for granted. That was the best place I could have been at.”

While expressing gratitude for Martin-Grudzielanek’s contributions this past season, UH coach Rich Hill said the focus is on the “windshield and not the rear-view mirror, exclamation point.”

Right-handed pitcher Hekili Robello, who was named to the 2026 All-Big West second team, and left-hander Grant Garman have indicated they will remain with the ’Bows if they are not selected in next month’s Major League Baseball draft. Hill said the ’Bows will seek players through the portal.

“The transfer portal provides awesome opportunities for us at the University of Hawaii,” Hill said. “We have thrived in this environment in years past, and see no reason we shouldn’t do so this year. All will be revealed.”

Hill also is seeking replacements for Keith Zuniga, the associate head coach/pitching coach who accepted a position with USC, and hitting coach Dave Nakama, who is pursuing other endeavors. Connor Harrison, who was the director of pitching development, was promoted to associate position coach. Harrison, who is a candidate for pitching coach, will remain with the ’Bows no matter the outcome of the nationwide search.

“It’s an exciting time for Rainbow Warrior baseball,” Hill said. “I’m not at liberty to make any staff announcements at this time, but the fans of Hawaii are going to be pleasantly surprised. We’re reorganizing the entire staff, looking at more of a pro model that utilizes coaches’ strengths and really focuses on a lot more of the analytics side. I’m very excited about it.”

After two seasons and a national championship at Hawaii, Finn Kearney is ready for a bigger on-court role.

The now former UH outside hitter announced last week on social media he will transfer to rival Long Beach State for the upcoming 2027 season.

Kearney, who is 6 feet 5, was a fan favorite during his time at UH. Injuries to other players allowed him to play a key role late during his freshman season, when he had double figures in kills in seven straight starts to help Hawaii win a Big West championship and advance to the NCAA semifinals.

He played in all but one match as a sophomore but was mostly used as a serving substitute, playing behind Adrien Roure and Louis Sakanoko, who both return next season, on the left side.

“First and foremost, it was a super cool opportunity to play at UH. Two years of my life that I have no regret in coming there at all,” Kearney said in a phone interview Tuesday. “It was a really good decision. Two years well spent, I got a lot better, and I think now it was time to find a bigger role somewhere else and (Long Beach State) was my clearest path to the court.”

A 2024 graduate of Sandra Day O’Connor High School in Phoenix, Kearney was a member of the United States U19 National Team and a highly prized recruit. He was the starting opposite hitter for the U.S. in the U19 Pan American Cup in both 2022 and ’23 and in ’22 was selected the tournament’s best opposite and best server.

He came to UH as part of a recruiting class that included opposite hitters Kainoa Wade, a captain on the current USA U21 National Team, and Kristian Titriyski, who will not return next season after turning pro in his home country of Bulgaria.

Roure, who was named a second-team All-American this year, was also in that recruiting class, and UH already had returning sophomore Sakanoko, who was named a first-team All-American this season.

With so much talent in front of him, Kearney struggled to get on the court. He knew it would be just as tough coming back for his sophomore year, but he didn’t want to make a quick decision to leave after his freshman season.

“At that point it was a little bit early,” Kearney said. “I didn’t want to make an emotional decision after my first year, and then the plan was kind of if that didn’t go well, then to get out. My full intention up until this last year was always to stay at UH, because it’s definitely a special place. The only thing that was kind of holding me back was a chance to get a bigger role, which I am able to get somewhere else.”

Kearney said he knew he would get some blowback when it was announced he would head to UH’s biggest rival school in the Big West.

He’s already begun to think about what it will be like to play in the Stan Sheriff Center next season wearing a Long Beach State uniform. The Beach are scheduled to play twice in Hawaii during the regular season.

“I can’t wait to put that game on the calendar when the schedule comes out,” Kearney said. “I’ve seen some comments on some (social media) posts and you know I heard it from everyone I broke the news to. I really hope (the Hawaii fans) are forgiving, but we will see. They have always been good to me ever since I first got there.”

In talking with the coaching staff at Long Beach State, Kearney said he expects to primarily play opposite next season.

“Professionally, I would want to end up on the left,” he said.

As for telling his former teammates, one of the harder conversations was with UH floor captain Tread Rosenthal. The two played together coming up in the USA Volleyball system before they were teammates at UH.

“I mean more importantly he’s a great teammate, but most importantly he’s a great friend and just to keep that relationship good was priority No. 1 for me,” Kearney said. “He wants the best for me and obviously it would have been cool for him if I stayed, but he handled it well. It was just great to experience what we did with a super special group that I spent two years with, and it felt like 10 years with those boys. Special group and really special fans.”

Mitchell Croft, a 6-foot-9 pin hitter/middle blocker who spent one season at UH, announced Tuesday he will transfer to Purdue Fort Wayne. Outside hitter Thatcher Fahlbusch, who also spent one year with the ‘Bows, has already announced he is transferring to UCLA.

Next month, New Mexico could very well be picked to win the Mountain West for the first time in program history.

But at least in one virtual estimation, they’re not quite at the top of the league.

UNM was given a 76 overall rating in the initial release of team ratings from EA Sports College Football 27, landing in a tie for the second-highest rating of Mountain West teams in the wildly popular college football video game.

With an offensive rating of 77 and defensive rating of 76, the Lobos had the same overall rating as Hawaii (76) ahead of the game’s release on July 9. UNLV (78) led the Mountain West while future Pac-12 member Boise State (80) received the highest rating of any Group of Six program.

New Mexico is a 76 overall (77 OFF/76 DEF) at launch, tied with Hawaii for the second-best rating of any MW team. https://t.co/24m8A43Dmn

— Sean Reider (@lenaweereider) June 23, 2026

Oregon claimed the game’s highest overall rating at 91. Reigning national champion Indiana and Ohio State tied for second at 90; the latter team is listed by multiple sportsbooks as the favorite to win a national championship.

Among national sportsbooks, UNM is listed as the consensus favorite to win its first-ever Mountain West title under second-year head coach Jason Eck. The Lobos finished 9-4 last season, tying with three other teams for first place in the league.22

EA Sports College Football 27 ratings: Mountain West

-UNLV (78 overall; 80 offense, 77 defense)

-UNM (76 overall; 77 offense, 76 defense)

-Hawaii (76 overall; 77 offense, 76 defense)

-North Dakota State (75 overall; 75 offense, 75 defense)

-Air Force (74 overall; 76 offense, 72 defense)

-Nevada (73 overall; 73 offense, 73 defense)

-Wyoming (73 overall; 73 offense, 72 defense)

-San Jose State (72 overall; 73 offense, 70 defense)

-UTEP (72 overall; 73 offense, 71 defense)

-Northern Illinois (70 overall; 72 offense, 68 defense)

Committed

The Lobos’ blistering recruiting month has led to another commitment.

Offensive line prospect Ilias Williams committed to UNM on Monday night via social media, setting the Lobos up with their fourth commitment in the last week and ninth overall in June.

Go Lobos!!!!! @Coach_Eck @Coach_CBooth @Coach_Galliano @UNMLOBOS @BrandonHuffman @247Sports pic.twitter.com/oYhVwewOYF

— Ilias Williams (@IliasW21239) June 23, 2026

“Go Lobos!!!!!” he posted via X with a commitment graphic attached.

A 6-foot-4, 260-pound incoming senior at San Jacinto (California) High School, Williams represents the Lobos’ 14th commitment in the class of 2027.

Rule change

Tuesday, the NCAA Division I Cabinet voted unanimously to approve an age-based eligibility policy – better known as the “5-for-5” rule – before an announcement that the rule would be formally adopted Wednesday.

The rule stipulates that athletes will have five years to compete immediately after their high school graduation or 19th birthday. The clock would start for athletes on the earliest of those two occasions.

Eck has been a fan of the policy since it was first floated earlier this spring.

“I kind of like the idea of getting rid of the waivers and just saying, ‘hey, you got five years,’” he said in April. “ … I do think it would be good legislation and I’m hoping for it.”

Sean Reider covers college football and other sports for the Journal. You can reach him at sreider@abqjournal.com or via X at @lenaweereider.

Jun. 23—SIOUX FALLS — A pair of Venom softball programs picked up bracket titles at the Denny Redmond Memorial Softball fastpitch tournament from June 19-21.

The 18-and-under Venom won the Open Division, capped with a 4-3 victory over Columbus (Neb.) Havoc, winning a rematch of pool play after the teams tied. The Venom went 4-0-1 for the weekend, also posting wins over Volga Venom (12-0 and 16-4), Southwest (Minn.) Storm (8-2), and the Oakland (Neb.) Rockets (11-4).

Venom players include Addison Cushard-Feddersen, Brooklyn Schlimgin, Icis Muilenburg, Jacey Schoenrock, Jersey Kampshoff, Kendra Endorff, Kenna Magee, Makenna Termeer, Kinsley Herges, Lexi Schoenfelder, Malia Reitzel, Mallory Miedema, Reese Amick and Rylee Jennings. The team is coached by Travis Walz, Hailey Walz and Matt Engelland.

In the 10-and-under division, the Venom Sting squad went 6-0 for the weekend and won the division title. In bracket play, the Sting defeated the Brandon Valley Chaos 14-2, the Hartford Diamondbacks 12-6, and won the title round 7-0 against the South Dakota Braves 9U. The Sting have a 26-3 record this season and won first place at the Sioux Empire Summer Showdown earlier this season.

Team members include Camryn and Haddie Amick, Roslyn Beaver, Haley Haigh, Makaia Hetland, Aspen James, Mya Kampshoff, Bentlee Kitto, Tenley Odens, Carlayna Waters and Emery Wenande. Coaches include Darin Amick, Christina Odens and Josh Odens.

Also in the Redmond tournament, the Mitchell Storm won the 10U Rec bracket title, capped with a 9-1 win over the Volga Storm. The 14-and-under Mitchell Renegades won the Silver bracket title, capped with a 12-8 win over the Southwest Storm. (A full list of the teams' players was unavailable.)

The Venom 14U MVP team was 2-2 at the Redmond tournament. Players include Jordyn Cushard Clark, Claire Hill, Makenna Pryor, Bethany Baker, Mia Sonne, Lili Pata, Camie Johnson, Kira DeJong, Ellie Holmberg, Hallie Baker and Iris Ackman.

The Venom 14U Elite team took second in its pool and finished 1-3 for the weekend. Players include Brooke and Megan Steidl, Sutton Goldammer, Jocelyn Degen, Reese Flanagan, Ella Chenoweth, Adley Crago, Katelyn Rauscher, Emmy Warnke, Leighton Backlund and Dixie Selhorst.

Jun. 23—RENNER, S.D. — Palace City 14-and-under teener baseball picked up a split in a road doubleheader on Tuesday afternoon with Renner Post 307. Palace City won 10-9 in the first game and dropped the second game 9-7 in a shortened, two-inning contest.

In the first game, PCB scored the game's first six runs before Renner scored seven times in the bottom of the fourth inning to take the lead 7-6. From there, Palace City answered back in the fifth with four runs of its own to seal the win despite having six defensive errors for the game.

Kristopher Hatwan led Palace City on offense, going 4-for-4 with three RBIs and a run scored, while Preston Maeschen added three hits, three RBIs and two runs scored. Keniel Padilla tallied three hits, two runs scored and one RBI, as James Klinger had two hits and one run scored for PCB, who outhit Renner 13-5 in Game 1.

Gavin Auch earned the win on the mound for Palace City, pitching five innings and allowing seven runs (zero earned) on four hits with two strikeouts and five walks issued. Deyton Puetz made an appearance in relief for the final three outs, surrendering two runs on one hit with one walk allowed to secure the victory in Game 1.

In the second game, Renner tallied three runs in the bottom of the second inning to take the win in the condensed two-inning game. Renner held a 6-4 lead heading into the top of the second frame before Palace City scored three runs to hold the lead at 7-6, highlighted by an RBI-double from Padilla. Despite outhitting Renner 5-4, PCB had three defensive errors and issued seven walks between Klinger and Carter Buschbach on the mound.

Palace City was paced offensively by Padilla's 2-for-2 performance at the plate with two RBIs and two runs scored, while Maeschen, Auch and Puetz tallied one hit apiece in the Game 2 loss.

Palace City (8-14-1) is next in action on Wednesday for a 5 p.m. doubleheader against Sioux Falls Post 15 in Sioux Falls.

Jun. 23—LETCHER, S.D. — For the first time in decades, the community of Letcher is being represented by an American Legion baseball team in 2026.

During the summer of 2022, summer baseball programming in the town of approximately 160 residents, located 15 miles northwest of Mitchell, was revived with the introduction of two teener baseball teams. Four years after the debut of the Letcher Hawks at the 14-and-under and 16-and-under levels, the program has progressed to now field a varsity-level Legion team.

Andy Ettswold, a coach for the Hawks' Legion team who was also involved with getting the teeners teams up and running in 2022, said that Letcher had not had a Legion team since at least he was in high school as a class of 2000 graduate. He estimated that the absence dated back to the early 1990s, if not longer.

"It just feels good that we can give the kids a place to continue playing because they want to continue after the junior level, and this is kind of the last step," Ettswold said. "We talked with the Letcher Legion and Woonsocket Legion, and they were both on board, so we got it going."

Officially representing both Letcher Post 93 and Woonsocket Post 29, the Hawks' roster is primarily composed of rising seniors and recently graduated class of 2026 seniors from Sanborn Central and Woonsocket High Schools. Many members of the inaugural Hawks Legion have been with the program since the inception of the teener teams in 2022.

The introduction of a Legion team was particularly impactful for Bryce Larson and Payton Uecker, both 2025 graduates who haven't yet aged out of Legion eligibility. Without elevating to the Legion level, the pair of super seniors wouldn't have been able to play their final season of baseball for the Hawks this summer.

"I just love seeing the community come out and support us," said Bryce Larson, an original member of the Hawks 14U team from 2022. "Letcher is a tiny town, but the lights shine just as bright there. People are always talking about going to the games and how good the burgers are at the field. We always have a good turnout, and the community truly shows up for this team."

In their debut season, the Hawks are off to a 1-5 start, but given that the lone win to date is the program's first ever in the Legion ranks, the 13-7 triumph over familiar foes from Wessington Springs on June 17 made for a special moment.

In almost all other sports, Sanborn Central/Woonsocket and Springs maintain a rivalry, and for the football season each fall, they come together as the WWSSC program. That complex relationship added to what was going to be a memorable occasion, regardless of the opponent.

"It's always fun to play against your friends and so many people you know. It's one of those games where if you get a base runner against them, you're talking the whole time," Larson said. "To get the first win against them was really cool."

On top of being a first-year Legion outfit, the Hawks aren't afforded the head start to the summer baseball season that having a high school baseball team provides. Though the team hasn't quite kept pace with their preseason goal to challenge for a winning record in the early stages, Larson said the Hawks feel like they are improving as the year progresses and hope to pick up their success as July approaches.

"We always say that we might not be the best baseball team, but we definitely have the most fun," Larson said. "Just getting out and playing baseball with this group of guys makes it enjoyable."

According to Ettswold, the Hawks have embraced all the challenges of being a new program while looking to raise their level of play, and the future of the program is likely to benefit from this first-year team's efforts.

"We didn't really set any expectations in terms of winning and losing. Would we like to make the state tournament? Yeah, of course, but we know it's going to be tough," Ettswold said. "Our kids are there to have fun, and they want to compete, too. There's no give-up in those kids. They'll battle to the very end. We just want to be competitive through to the regions and see what happens."

Above all, Larson and his teammates are most proud that they've helped establish a path toward playing varsity-level baseball for up-and-coming younger players in the area.

"Watching the little kids grow and the numbers of players that go out for baseball grow, I think that sits in all of our minds," Larson said. "It's really, really cool to know that we kind of started something and just see the program where it's at now."

Monday’s second-inning at-bat provided excellent insight into Chicago White Sox rookie outfielder Braden Montgomery’s approach at the plate.

The switch-hitter, batting from the left side, squared off against Cleveland Guardians starter Gavin Williams with a runner on first base and two outs in a scoreless game.

“The guy’s got a powerful fastball, he’s a powerful arm,” Montgomery said after the game. “You always want to be ready for the heater.”

Montgomery swung and missed on the first pitch, a 98.3 mph two-seam fastball.

“I feel like that first pitch he threw was a really good heater,” Montgomery said. “I’m late on it, so knowing that, I know there’s a chance I’m going to get another one. And so I’m dang sure I’m not going to miss the next one.”

The next pitch was a 98.5 mph four-seam fastball in the upper part of the strike zone. Montgomery displayed a nice piece of hitting, driving the ball to left field for a run-scoring double.

“I got something over the plate and did something positive with it and was excited to be able to make that happen,” Montgomery said.

It was the first of two doubles on Monday for Montgomery in the 6-5 victory at Rate Field. Montgomery went 2-for-3 with two runs and a walk.

He entered Tuesday’s game against the Guardians with five hits in his last 10 at-bats.

“After the first couple of games (in the major leagues) were so good for Braden, they started attacking with the fastballs,” manager Will Venable said on Monday. “And he’s made a really good adjustment.”

Montgomery had four hits in his first two big-league games, including the walk-off two-run home run in the ninth inning of his debut on June 9 against the Atlanta Braves. He was 2-for-23 over the next seven games. He’s rebounded with the five hits in the last three games.

Montgomery came into Tuesday slashing .262/.311/.452 with five doubles, one home run, five RBIs and seven runs in 12 games. He’s had four multi-hit games.

A big moment on Monday came when he showed patience in the ninth inning. The Sox were on the ropes after giving up the lead in the top of the ninth. Trailing by a run with one out, Montgomery faced Guardians closer Cade Smith.

“Another power arm,” Montgomery said. “Give yourself the best chance to be successful. Breathe. Eliminate everything except for wanting to hit a strike and wanting to take where he’s wanting to get you to chase.”

Montgomery took a strike but then laid off the next four pitches out of the zone to draw a walk.

“He’s got some really powerful pitches,” Montgomery said. “You’ve got to be able to lay off the splitter down, heater up, and then you’ve got to be able to get a good swing off on time once he comes to see you because he’s got power stuff.

“That’s kind of the mindset. Let’s get something to deal with and not expand to help him out. With power stuff like that, any time you’re leaving the zone that puts you in that much more of a hole.”

Representing the tying run, Montgomery quickly advanced to third on Tristan Peters’ check-swing double. Both Montgomery and Peters scored on Sam Antonacci’s two-out, game-winning single to center field.

It was the sixth walk-off victory of the season for the Sox, tied with the Seattle Mariners for the most in the American League.

“It’s falling back on your preparation,” Montgomery said of the team’s late-inning performances. “You have done your best to give yourself the best chance at success in moments like those. You don’t panic.

“We play a lot of games. You either execute or you don’t. And so you really just put your best foot forward and live with the results and be convicted in what you’re doing.”

Montgomery is enjoying doing his part to contribute.

“Even having a couple of good games, you’ve still got to show up to the ballyard the next day and put your work in and prepare for whatever you might see because all you can do as a hitter is do with what you’re given from the pitchers,” Montgomery said.

“The past couple of days I’ve been given pitches that I could handle and put a swing on, but that’s no guarantee that something similar would happen tomorrow.”