With Ohtani as a model, pitchers at Little League World Series like hitting

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 12:58:48 GMT

With Ohtani as a model, pitchers at Little League World Series like hitting SOUTH WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. (AP) — You might call them the little Ohtanis.Talk to the players and coaches at the Little League World Series and in the “favorite MLB player” conversation American League MVP frontrunner Shohei Ohtani gets a lot of love. Maybe not coincidentally, the best player on many teams are pitchers who can hit.“Usually at this level, your pitchers are your best players,” Washington manager Christian Sweeney said. “They are usually your best hitters. You look at most of the teams and their best pitchers are probably one of their best hitters, if not their best hitters.”It’s easier to have pitchers hit in Little League – for one thing, they have to. The fielders have always hit in Little League and, as of this year, everyone on the roster gets up to bat.Once pitcher-sluggers reach their teens, pressure builds on players to go one way or the other – on the mound exclusively, or taking another position in the field and focusing on the plate.But there have been a couple ...

Cowboys defensive end Sam Williams is arrested on controlled substance, weapon charges

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 12:58:48 GMT

Cowboys defensive end Sam Williams is arrested on controlled substance, weapon charges FRISCO, Texas (AP) — Dallas Cowboys defensive end Sam Williams was arrested on charges of possession of a controlled substance and unlawful carrying of a weapon, police said Wednesday.Police in the Dallas suburb of Frisco said Williams was arrested Sunday. The department wouldn’t provide further details, saying a public information request had to be filed.Williams was on the practice field again Wednesday after going through a full workout Tuesday, the first of three training camp sessions at the team’s headquarters in Frisco following four weeks in California.While Williams could face discipline under the NFL’s personal conduct policy, owner/general manager Jerry Jones said the club had no plans to sit the 24-year-old.“I don’t anticipate this impacting his time on the field,” Jones said. “I do have all of the details, and there’s some lessons to be learned there for everybody.”It’s the second arrest for Williams this year. In January, the second-...

GOP debate updates: Republican presidential candidates face off

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 12:58:48 GMT

GOP debate updates: Republican presidential candidates face off (NEXSTAR) – Eight presidential candidates are taking the stage Wednesday night at the Republican debate and Donald J. Trump won't be one of them – but there's a good chance the former president will be a popular topic.The debate takes place in Milwaukee from 9 to 11 p.m. EST, with live broadcast coverage on Fox News Channel. Fox News hosts Bret Baier and Martha MacCallum will moderate the debate.The candidates include North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson, former Vice President Mike Pence, South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott and entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy.Burgum, 67, is reportedly using crutches after suffering an Achilles tendon tear during a game of basketball with his staff Tuesday, tweeting Wednesday afternoon, "I've played lots of pick-up games in my day! This isn't the first time one has sent me to the ER. Appreciate all the well-wishes." GOP dr...

Dog rescued after falling into Lakewood storm grate

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 12:58:48 GMT

Dog rescued after falling into Lakewood storm grate LAKEWOOD, Colo. (KDVR) -- A dog was rescued Wednesday after she fell into a curbside storm grate in Lakewood.The dog, Barkley, was on a morning walk with her owner near West 15th Place and Quail Street when she suddenly fell into the ground, according to West Metro Fire Rescue. How pets, livestock are affected by West Nile virus Barkley is a blind Shih-Tzu, who the fire rescue said likes to get outside.She tends to walk close to the curb, but fire rescue said this time she fell down through a storm grate.West Metro Fire Rescue's Tower 2 crew removed the grate, and Lakewood Animal Control climbed down into the storm grate and rescued her.Luckily, Barkley was not injured in the fall, according to the fire rescue.

Helen Mirren portrays Israeli Prime Minister Golda Meir in new biopic

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 12:58:48 GMT

Helen Mirren portrays Israeli Prime Minister Golda Meir in new biopic We’ve seen our fair share of prime ministers, from the likes of Winston Churchill to Margaret Thatcher. But now get ready for the story of Golda Meir, Israel’s prime minister back in the ’70s. In the upcoming biopic, we learn all about the woman who led her country through the Yom Kippur War.Helen Mirren (as Golda Meir): “Today, the Egyptian and Syrian armies launched an offensive against Israel.”Helen Mirren stars as Golda Meir in the film “Golda,” based on the Israeli prime minister who led the country through the Yom Kippur War.Daniel Ben Zenou (as Avner Shalev): “The Egyptians have fired a cruise missile at Tel Aviv.”Helen Mirren (as Golda Meir): “Well, I’m not going to get under the table, but don’t let me stop you.”Director Guy Nattiv says it’s not your average biopic.Guy Nattiv: “You will need probably a nine-part miniseries in order to cover everything that Golda went through.”Hel...

Diddy teases new R&B album, first solo effort in 17 years, and it’s all about love

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 12:58:48 GMT

Diddy teases new R&B album, first solo effort in 17 years, and it’s all about love Sean “P. Diddy/Puff Daddy” Combs says he’s eager to get back in the music game.It’s been almost two decades since Sean Love Combs has released a solo album … and this time, it’s all about love, baby. He says R&B is alive, which means so are our hips.Diddy is back on the grind!Diddy: “Why am I doing this, you know what i’m saying? Especially with the success that I’ve had, especially where my life is, how stressful and treacherous this music industry is. Why would I just come back in here and have to do something that I don’t have to do?”The rap icon’s heart has been broken, and we’re about to hear all about it on a new R&B album.Diddy: “I still got that question of, like, ‘Am I going to love again?’ (rapping) Sometimes you gotta go through the dark and manifest, sometimes you gotta smile through the eye in the stress. My feet ain’t been on the ground, I’m flying and landing ...

Boston man hopes to break pogo stick world record

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 12:58:48 GMT

Boston man hopes to break pogo stick world record BOSTON (WBZ) — A South Boston man is vying to become the Guinness World Record holder for consecutive pogo stick jumps. His attempt will help homeless veterans in the process.“The hope is that I can push this number so far away that no one will touch it ever again. That’s the hope!” laughs record challenger James Roumeliotis.Roumeliotis has actually held the record several times. He lost it years ago during a bounce-off in Philadelphia against two of the best endurance pogo stick hoppers in the world.“I bounce faster than other people at closer to three bounces a second. At the end, I ended up stopping at 88,000, and gave him a finish line,” tells Roumeliotis.One competitor surpassed his mark which sits just after that 88,000 mark. James first broke the record in 2007 to raise money for medical research. Back then they allowed a five-minute break every hour, but the new record allows for no breaks.“I ended up breaking it by bouncing for 20 h...

Ezekiel Elliott says Patriots are a good fit after signing 1-year deal

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 12:58:48 GMT

Ezekiel Elliott says Patriots are a good fit after signing 1-year deal It’s a “prove it” year for new Patriots running back Ezekiel Elliott as the 28-year-old comes to Foxboro after seven years with the Dallas Cowboys.Elliot signed a one-year deal with the Patriots last week. Speaking in his first interview since the deal, Elliot on Wednesday said the Patriots are a good fit for him. “The transition has been good,” Elliot told reporters. “I’ve been getting along with the team.” “You know, I love the coaches, love this atmosphere, love this program,” he continued. Elliot said he is “having fun,” already enjoying his time as a Patriot. Despite his late start to training camp, Elliot said, he is in a good place both mentally and physically. “I feel good,” he said. “I feel like I’m ready to play.” “I’m still getting in that playbook, trying to know it the way I should,” Elliot said. “But I’m getting there.”Elliot rushed for a career-low 878 yards last season, prompting questions about how mu...

Going Long: Boston has solution to opioid epidemic but it’s years away

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 12:58:48 GMT

Going Long: Boston has solution to opioid epidemic but it’s years away In the ghost town that encompasses a long-shuttered addiction recovery campus on Long Island, city officials see a potential solution to an opioid epidemic that has worsened since the bridge to those services was torn down.The Wu administration took reporters on a tour of the island on Wednesday, pointing out the 11 buildings that could be retrofitted to house a new recovery campus in four years, one that would improve upon the more “fragmented” and “siloed” services that were offered there in the past.“What we’re looking for is to create something that’s truly synergistic with what is available on the mainland,” said Dr. Bisola Ojikuto, executive director of the Boston Public Health Commission. “We want to build a continuum of care for people.”Mayor Michelle Wu said the city is envisioning the new campus as less of an overnight emergency shelter and more of a comprehensive campus that serves the needs of its patients.This could include treatment for someone with substance-use addic...

Mercenary leader Yevgeny Prigozhin is presumed dead after a plane crash outside Moscow

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 12:58:48 GMT

Mercenary leader Yevgeny Prigozhin is presumed dead after a plane crash outside Moscow By DASHA LITVINOVA (Associated Press)TALLINN, Estonia (AP) — Mercenary leader Yevgeny Prigozhin, who led a brief armed rebellion against the Russian military earlier this year, was presumed dead Wednesday after a plane crash north of Moscow that killed all 10 people on board.Prigozhin was on the plane, according to Russia’s civil aviation agency, which cited the airline. The crash immediately raised suspicions since the fate of the founder of the Wagner private military company has been the subject of intense speculation ever since he mounted the mutiny.At the time, President Vladimir Putin denounced the rebellion as “treason” and a “stab in the back” and vowed to avenge it. But the charges against Prigozhin were soon dropped. The Wagner chief, whose troops were some of the best fighting forces for Russia in Ukraine, was allowed to retreat to Belarus, while reportedly popping up in Russia from time to time.The crash also comes after Russian media ...