Friday's Report: Bacon clinch home games, Russell Henley, Mercer; Falcons/Ulbrich, Braves, UGA, Hawks; WNBA, MLB, soccer, college football/Big Ten, NFL, NCAA, golf, NASCAR
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⚾ ⚾ ⚾ Baseball ⚾ ⚾ ⚾
⚾ ⚾ ⚾ Coastal Plain ⚾ ⚾ ⚾
The Bacon clinched the top seed in the West for the Coastal Plain playoffs, and will be at home on Wednesday at 7 p.m. to open the best-of-three series. They’ll play the winner of Sunday’s Asheboro-Forest City battle of the second and third seeds.
Morehead City and Wilmington are tied for first in the East, 5.5 games ahead of Peninsula. Macon has a 2.5-game lead over Asheboro, and the third-best record in the league.
Macon won its 13th straight game behind 3-hit nights at the bottom fo the lineup from Aiden Zagryn and Sammy Leis, Zagryn driving in three runs. Five pitchers struck out 8, but survived seven walks.
Pro
⚾ ⚾ ⚾MLB ⚾ ⚾ ⚾
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Around/About Central Georgia
Henley off to nice start at Rocket
A couple inches here, a few feet there, and Russel Henley would’ve had a mighty good first round of the Rocket Classic in Detroit.
He still had a nice first round, tying for 27th after a 3-under Thursday at the Detroit Golf Club.
Henley was pretty close to a bogey-free round.
He was just off on a 10-footer for par on No. 6, and had to grind at 17 after teeing off into a bunker. His 30-footer for par was just left, and he tapped in from three feet for the bogey.
But he closed out the day well with a 10-foot birdie on the 480-yard par-4 No. 18, tied for the third-toughest hole of the day.
Taylor amped after first two days of Mercer practice
Around/About Georgia
Wife of Atlanta DC Ulbrich loses battle with cancer
'I met him in the huddle': Recapping Cooper Rush's first hours as an Atlanta Falcon
Falcons release defensive lineman, reunite with former linebacker
Penix Jr. looks good in limited work
Atlanta Falcons CEO Beadles on hosting FIFA World Cup: 'It was fantastic'
Acuña belts first homer since May to spark Braves to comeback win
Former Georgia DT Miller performs act of kindness in New Orleans grocery store
Griffin high on UGA’s impact list
Cavs still chasing Kuminga trade; Hawks interested in Jarrett Allen
A Worthy Read
Swanson: Hall of Famer Joe Torre passionate about going to bat for kids at risk of family violence
MLB/NL
Rushing and Hernández go deep as the Dodgers beat the Mariners
Rookie Susac homers again, Ray wins his 7th straight decision as Giants beat Padres
De La Cruz scores in the ninth as the Reds beat the Pirates
Robert has a 2-run single in the 8th to lift the Mets past the Marlins
MLB/AL
Clemens hits a walk-off grand slam with 2 outs in the 9th to send the Twins past the Royals
Peters’ bases-loaded walk in 11th lifts White Sox over Yankees
Baseball/MLB
Mattingly on Bryce Harper's belief the Phillies need 'help' at deadline: 'Players like being GMs'
WPBL secures media rights deal with ESPN and Scripps Sports Network for inaugural season
WNBA/Women’s Basketball
Storm co-owner suspended; Cunningham comments after fan incident
Collier, Miles, Williams help Lynx beat Tempo for 9th consecutive win
Cardoso scores 18 points in 4th quarter, Sky rallies to beat Sun
College football/Big Ten Media Days
Big Ten coaches praise ‘Babe Ruth’-like Curt Cignetti
Cignetti fires shot at SEC: 'We don't cry a river, whine and complain'
Whittingham wants focus on football, not drama
Braun raring to unveil new OC Kelly's offense
Iamaleava questions SEC's superior depth narrative at Big Ten Media Days
'Their engine': Nebraska QB Anthony Colandrea draws praise at Big Ten Media Days
Day: Ohio State QB Julian Sayin 'has a different look in his eye' going into season
Iowa's Ferentz warns of growing 'imbalance' in college game
Chesney is nothing like his predecessor, and that’s a win for UCLA football
Jorge Masvidal wants Islam Makhachev to choke Ian Machado Garry to sleep
Fitzgerald makes compelling case that Michigan State football is on the rise
College Football/Southeast
Alabama State calls out NCAA for unequal treatment after being hit with probation and fines
North Carolina confirms Michael Lombardi investigation amid leave of absence
Belichick avoids GM comment amid UNC probe
But says Tar Heels adjusting duties with GM on paid leave and under school investigation
Judge grants a restraining order, making Missouri lineman Webb eligible this season
Dabo keeps looking back. The rest of college football isn't
College Football
Big Ten seeking clarity on playoff expansion before addressing its nonconference scheduling policy
Dykes says TCU gets clean start a month before early opener in Ireland vs. UNC
NFL/NFC
Mayfield will play under current contract, become a free agent
Allgeier's decision to leave the Falcons suddenly doesn't look so bad
Saints receiver Chris Olave agrees to a 4-year extension worth up to $132 million
WR Nacua never considered a contract holdout while he rebuilds his reputation with the Rams
Garrett says he won’t try to influence Donald’s ‘difficult’ comeback decision with Rams
Samuel returns to the 49ers on a 1-year deal worth up to $7M
The Jalen Carter contract is a risk the Eagles had to take
Williams wants to make his mark on Cowboys’ new-look defense
Country roads take the Giants far from home for their first camp with Harbaugh
NFL/AFC
Packers all-time leading rusher Ahman Green reveals Parkinson's diagnosis
Steelers QB Rudolph has spent his career trying to prove himself. And so it goes in 2026
Ward brought Titans teammates to Miami to build chemistry before training camp
Jones checks off one goal by returning to full practice work as the Colts open training camp
Raiders hope Linderbaum’s addition and Miller’s return to health boost ailing offensive line
NFL/USFL/UFL/Football
Family: Ex-LB Billy Ray Smith Jr. died of CTE-caused dementia
Packers career rushing leader Ahman Green says he has early onset Parkinson’s disease
Keeler: Broncos would be 'irresponsible' to play Cooper before arraignment, women's rights advocates
College Sports, the changing landscape
NCAA president Baker on Protect College Sports Act: 'Support this bill now'
In NIL stalemate, Cruz insists new $48M cap would be a hard cap. SEC, Big Ten not convinced
College Sports Commission approves reworked NIL deals worth total of $7.5M for 18 Nebraska players
Golf
Malnati shoots 9-under 61, takes early lead in 8th and final Rocket Classic in Detroit
Reusse: Thank you, Scottie Scheffler. And look out for Jackson Koivun.
PGA Tour suspends Mullinax for anti-doping violation
Auto Racing
Busch's family chases the endless potential of son Brexton's racing dreams
Soccer
Argentina trio charged with assault for post-World Cup final brawl
European nations vow FIFA World Cup boycott over Infantino private equity plan as opposition spreads
Concacaf rejects FIFA private investment proposal in another major blow
High school/youth sports
Rumors of controversial coach Rush Propst’s latest job just ‘internet crap,’ supposed new boss says
Pro Football Hall of Fame recognizes Chicagoland coach with Award of Character
Scoreboards