Erik Spoelstra Signs Contract Extension

     The Miami Heat have signed head coach Erik Spoelstra to a four-year contract. It will extend his long tenure with the club until the end of the 2023-24 season. He did have one year season left on his current deal with the Heat. 

     Spoelstra has guided the Heat to two NBA titles in 2012 and 2013 along with four consecutive Eastern Conference championships from 2011 until 2014. He has a career record of 523-363 in 11 seasons as the head coach of the Miami Heat. 

Marlins Win Season Finale Over Phillies

     The Miami Marlins completed the 2019 campaign with a 4-3 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies on Sunday at Citizens Bank Park. The Marlins ended the regular season with at least 100 losses for the third time in franchise history.
     The Phillies finished their year with a non-losing season for the first time since 2012. They ended with a .500 record of 81-81 as they did seven years ago.
     Miami(57-105) raced out to a 3-0 lead during the second inning. Starlin Castro homered to right-center field on a 3-2 count. Isan Diaz later smashed a two-run homer on the first pitch to right field with Harold Ramirez on board.
     The Fish put the Phils into a four-run hole in the top of the third inning. Martin Prado lifted a solo round-tripper to left field for his 100th career home run.
     Philadelphia(81-81) cut the deficit in the bottom of the third. Brad Miller powered a solo home run over the center-field wall on a 3-1 pitch.
     In the seventh inning, Miller compiled his second home run of the contest. Cesar Hernandez was able to score in from of him to make it 4-3.

Chargers Leap Dolphins

     The Los Angeles Chargers shook the Miami Dolphins 30-10 at Hard Rock Stadium on Sunday. It was the first time that the Chargers defeated the Dolphins in Miami since the 1981 AFC Playoffs when they were victorious in overtime.
     The Fins have been outscored 153-26 through four games this season. It is the worst four-game point differential to begin a season since 1940.

Phillies Post Marlins

     The Philadelphia Phillies shelled the Miami Marlins 9-3 at Citizens Bank Park on Saturday night. Both clubs will play their final games of the 2019 regular season on Sunday.
     Philadelphia(81-80), who guaranteed that they will not end up with a losing record in 2019, compiled six runs in the first three innings for a six-run margin over Miami(56-105). Cesar Hernandez stroked a lead-off solo home run on a 2-1 count to left during the first inning while Maikel Franco added a two-run shot over the left-center field wall in the second.
     The Phillies put the contest away in the sixth inning as they increased their lead to 9-1. Bryce Harper sliced a three-run homer to left field on a 1-2 pitch for his 35th home run of the season and chalked up his 114th RBI.

Panthers Shut Out Lightning

     The Florida Panthers played their final preseason game and got a 1-0 shootout victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning at Amalie Arena on Saturday night. Vincent Trocheck was able to convert on the only shootout attempt. Florida finished with a 3-4-1 preseason record.
     The Panthers and Lightning met each other in the last three games of the preseason. They will begin the 2019-20 regular season in Tampa Bay on October 3. Both clubs will face each other in the Panthers home opener in Sunrise on October 5.

Deerfield Beach Pounds Boca Raton

     The Deerfield Beach Bucks dominated the Boca Raton Bobcats 49-6 at Butler Stadium in a District 12-8A game on Friday night. Former Boca Raton quarterback Michael Pratt played against his former school for the first time since he transferred during the summer.
     It was the first that both teams faced each other in a district contest. Both squads had recently played in Class 8A in different districts because the Bobcats played district schools in Palm Beach County and the Bucks faced opponents from Broward County.
     Deerfield Beach(4-2, 1-0) scored immediately 36 seconds into the first quarter. Running back Jaylan Knighton rushed in the ball for a touchdown. He had three carries for 80 yards on their first possession.
     Boca Raton(2-3, 0-1) were able to keep up with 4:02 to go in the first. The Bobcats scored on a 10-yard pass play, however they missed on the extra point and were down 7-6.
     The Bucks would put up 42 unanswered points. They made it 14-6 at the 6:18 mark of the second quarter. Wide receiver Deajaun McDougle caught a short pass from Pratt and sprinted in from 82 yards away. One minute later, defensive back Phillip O'Brien intercepted a pass and returned it 63 yards for a score.
     It became a 28-6 lead for Deerfield Beach with 40 seconds remaining in the first half. Pratt connected a 20-yard pass to wide receiver Xavier Restrepo.
     In the third quarter, Pratt found McDougle twice more for touchdowns. He threw a 52-yard pass at 8:48 and a 58-yard strike at the 2:08 mark.

Phillies Outscore Marlins

     The Philadelphia Phillies defeated the Miami Marlins 5-4 in 15 innings on Friday night at Citizens Bank Park. The Marlins are now 2-3 on their current road trip.

St. Thomas Aquinas Downs Carol City

     The St. Thomas Aquinas Raiders rallied by the Carol City Chiefs 45-24 at Brian Piccolo Stadium on Friday night in Fort Lauderdale. The Raiders remained undefeated and face the defending FHSAA Class 8A champion Mandarin next week. The Chiefs look toward competing for a playoff spot in the next couple of weeks.
     Carol City(2-4) got on the scoreboard and took a 6-0 lead at 7:06 of the first quarter. Quarterback Keyone Jenkins found wide receiver De'Andre Stafford for the nine-yard score.
     St. Thomas Aquinas(5-0) made it 7-6 with 2:52 left in the first. Running back Jaedon Henry rambled in from five yards out.
     The Raiders extended their margin to 14-6 with 3:17 remaining in the second quarter. Defensive back Ja'Den McBurrows intercepted a pass and returned it to the end zone.
     STA made it 21-7 early in the third quarter at the 10:32 mark. Quarterback Zion Turner rushed in from 15 yards away. Noah Botsford added a 21-yard field goal with 4:39 to go in the third for a 17-point gap.
     The Chiefs had a punt blocked by McBurrows. Defensive back Philjae Bien-Aime recovered it and brought it back 28 yards for the score and gave Aquinas a 31-6 lead with 3:08 left in the third quarter. Defensive back Blaine Anderson would return a fumble to the end zone just 33 seconds later for the Raiders.
     In the fourth quarter, Carol City reached paydirt quickly at the 11:34 mark. Running back Katravis Geter sprinted in on a nine-yard touchdown run and they trailed 34-12. The Chiefs scored again with 8:19 left as Jenkins connected a 61-yard pass to wide receiver Thaiu Jones-Bell.
     St. Thomas Aquinas capped the scoring with 1:52 remaining and made it 45-24. Running back Travis Dixon busted in on a run from three yards away.

Florida Panthers Announce Radio Network

     The Florida Panthers announced their radio network for the upcoming 2019-20 season on Friday. Doug Plagens returns as play-by-play announcer of all 82 games while Bill Lindsay is back for all 41 Panthers home contests.
     560 The Joe WQAM-AM is the flagship station with the Florida Panthers Radio Network for the upcoming campaign. Fox Sports 640 South Florida WMEN-AM in West Palm Beach, WAXE-AM in Vero Beach and WCTH-FM in Key West all return as affiliates broadcasting Florida Panthers hockey.
     WQAM will be the Florida Panthers Radio Network flagship station for the 10th consecutive season. They did broadcast Panthers games from their first season in 1993-94 until 2006-07.

Marlins Come Back On Mets

     The Miami Marlins overcame the New York Mets 4-2 at Citi Field on Thursday night. Both clubs were able to split the four-game series.
     Miami(56-103) came back from two runs down in the late innings. Tyler Heineman stroked a two-run homer to right and Curtis Granderson homered to right-center field in the eighth inning to take the lead 3-2. In the ninth inning, Austin Dean bashed a solo home run to left field on a 1-0 pitch.

Lightning Get Revenge On Panthers

     The Tampa Bay Lightning topped the Florida Panthers 4-2 on Thursday night in Sunrise. The Panthers beat the Lightning 6-3 two nights ago in the same arena.
     Both clubs will face each other several times in the next 10 days. They will play their preseason game against one another on Saturday in Tampa. Florida will begin the regular season in Tampa Bay on October 3. The Panthers host the Lightning for their home opener on October 5.

Carol City At St. Thomas Aquinas Preview

     The St. Thomas Aquinas Raiders host the Carol City Chiefs on Friday night at Brian Piccolo Stadium in Fort Lauderdale. Both of the two football programs have been highly regarded throughout South Florida.
     The only two wins by Carol City(2-3) this season was against schools from Broward County. The Chiefs beat Deerfield Beach 24-12 in the season opener and edged Chaminade-Madonna 14-13 in Week 4. They have been defeated by powerhouses that included Miami Northwestern 10-0, Miami Central 49-26 and Trinity Christian Academy 42-21.
     St. Thomas Aquinas(4-0) began the campaign in California and handled De La Salle 24-14. They then compiled two straight shutout victories over South Plantation 61-0 and Miramar 36-0. Running back Jaedon Henry can get numerous opportunities to carry the ball. Their wide receiver core will have an impact with Marcus Rosemy, Jahvante Royal and The'Andris Freeman.

Park Vista At John I. Leonard Preview

     The Park Vista Cobras clash with the John I. Leonard Lancers in Greenacres on Friday night. It is a District 11-8A battle between both schools.
     Park Vista(3-2) have been on a rollercoaster this season. After losing the season opener to Cardinal Newman, they piled on victories over Boynton Beach, Wellington and Spanish River. The Cobras fell short at home against Palm Beach Central 29-21 last week. They can go with Riley Klaus or Gio Thomas at quarterback. Running back Markel King will get most of the carries from the backfield. Wide receivers Frantz Derival, Courtney Carter and Woodlife Alminord intend to make pass receptions.
     John I. Leonard(1-4) won their opening game over Spanish River. The Lancers since then have lost four consecutive games to Palm Beach Gardens, Forest Hill, Olympic Heights and Wellington. Quarterback Jadiel Cruz can march the team downfield with passes to wide receivers Jonel Dieujuste, Ahmad Orange and Brandon McCrary. Running backs Kenneth Charles and Henry Dean will get their share of rushing attempts.

Atlantic At Olympic Heights Preview

     The Atlantic Eagles visit the Olympic Heights Lions at Corey Lewis Stadium in Boca Raton on Thursday night. Both schools are part of the new District 12-7A list of teams this season. 

     Atlantic(2-1) were edged last week at home by the two-time defending FHSAA Class 3A state champion Chaminade-Madonna 17-14. The Eagles played their first two contests on the road as they handled Palm Beach Central 40-13 and Glades Central 49-3.  They can go with Guenson Alexis and Jacoby Dorch at quarterback. Their running game will be impacted by running back Montahj Joseph. Wide receivers Jordan Cash and Tyrese Blue look to catch passes down the field.
     Olympic Heights(2-3) rolls into this contest with consecutive wins over John I. Leonard 16-6 and Spanish River 13-6. The Lions began the 2019 season losing their first three games to Lake Worth, Boca Raton and Palm Beach Central as they were outscored 128-7. Quarterback Blake Moreland will guide the team on offense with passes to wide receivers K'amerron Joseph, Christian Ippolito and Juan Gonzalez. 

Mets Beat Marlins

     The Miami Marlins fell to the New York Mets 10-3 on Wednesday night at Citi Field. The Mets were eliminated from playoff contention due to a Milwuakee Brewers victory.
     The Marlins continue with the final game of the four-game series against the Mets on Thursday. The Fish then finish the 2019 regular season against the Phillies in Philadelphia.

Boca Raton At Deerfield Beach Preview

     The Boca Raton Bobcats head five miles south on I-95 and face the Deerfield Beach Bucks at Butler Stadium in a District 12-8A game. It is the first time that both schools will play each other in the same district due to realignment.
     The major storyline in this contest is Bucks quarterback Michael Pratt. He was the starting quarterback for the Bobcats over the last three years. Pratt transferred to Deerfield Beach during the summer.
     Boca Raton(2-2) are 0-2 on the road this season with losses to Glades Central and Treasure Coast. They do have home victories over Olympic Heights and Fort Pierce Central. Running back Tra'Nell Hollis will get the majority of the carries from the backfield for the Bobcats.
     Deerfield Beach(3-2) played four of their first five games against schools from outside Broward County. They fell to Carol City and St. john's on the road to begin the 2019 campaign and bounced back with wins over Blanche Ely, Zachary and Oak Ridge. Pratt is expected start at quarterback and he looks to find wide receivers Bryce Gowdy, Xavier Restrepo and Deajaun McDougle downfield. Their rushing attack will depend on running back Jaylan Knighton.

Mets Stay Alive Over Mets

     The New York Mets came back and topped the Miami Marlins 5-4 in 11 innings on Tuesday night. The Mets were on the brink of being eliminated from playoff contention. 

     The loss ended the two-game winning streak for the Marlins. It was their longest winning streak since two months ago on July 28 and July 29.  

Panthers Stop Lightning

     The Florida Panthers beat the Tampa Bay Lightning 6-3 in Sunrise on Tuesday night. They will play each other in the same venue on Thursday night in another preseason contest.
     Both clubs will clash in the first two games of the regular season. The Atlantic Division champion Lightning will host the Panthers to start the 2019-20 season on October 3. Florida will play their home opener on October 5 against the Bolts.

Marlins Smash Mets

     The Miami Marlins began their final road trip of the 2019 season. They bashed the New York Mets 8-4 at Citi Field on Monday night. The Marlins won two straight games for the first time since July 28 and July 29.
     Miami(55-101) moved in front 1-0 during the top of the second. Jorge Alfaro golfed a solo home run down the left-field line on a 3-2 pitch for his 16th homer of the year.
     The Fish expanded their margin to 2-0 in the third inning. Miguel Rojas singled into shallow center field for Jon Berti to score.
     In the sixth inning, the Marlins pulled away 6-0. Alfaro powered a grand-slam homer over the right-center field on a 1-1 count. It was the first grand-slam home run for Alfaro in his career.
     New York(81-75) matched the Marlins scoring in the same style in the bottom of the frame. Amed Rosario crushed a grand-slam home run to left-center field on a 0-1 pitch to make it 6-4.
     The Marlins added two more runs in the seventh inning. Curtis Granderson and Berti crossed the plate on an infield hit by Harold Ramirez.

Cowboys Roll Over Dolphins

     The Dallas Cowboys defeated the Miami Dolphins 31-6 on Sunday. The Dolphins remained winless after three games this season while the Cowboys stayed undefeated.

Marlins Avoid Sweep To Nationals

     The Miami Marlins avoided a three-game sweet with a 5-3 victory over the Washington Nationals on Sunday at Marlins Park. It was the final home game of the regular season for the Marlins. The Fish finished with a 31-50 home record for the 2019 campaign.

Panthers Pound Stars

     The Florida Panthers blanked the Dallas Stars 6-0 in Tulsa, Oklahoma on Saturday night. The Panthers finished the five-game road trip with a 1-3-1 record.
     Florida will have a three-day break between games. The Panthers will host the Tampa Bay Lightning in Sunrise on Tuesday and Thursday.

Hurricanes Hold Off Central Michigan

     The Miami Hurricanes escaped the Central Michigan Chippewas 17-12 at Hard Rock Stadium on Saturday. The Hurricanes go back to playing ACC games next week.
     Miami(2-2) scored the only points in the first quarter. DeeJay Dallas rushed in on a one-yard run to make it 7-0 at the 9:00 mark.
     Central Michigan(2-2) cut the lead down to 7-2 at 11:14 of the second quarter. Dallas was tackled in the end zone for a safety.
     The Canes extended their margin at the 10:56 mark of the third to 14-2. Quarterback Jarren Williams fired a six-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver K.J. Osborn.
     The Chippewas inched close late in the third quarter. Ryan Tice booted a 55-yard field goal with 1:44 remaining.
     In the fourth quarter, the Hurricanes increased the score to 17-5 with 11:46 to go. Bubba Baxa was able to kick a 22-yard field goal.
     Central Michigan finally reached the end zone with 3:33 left in the game. Quarterback David Moore ran the ball in from one yard away and they trailed 17-12.

Nationals Take Marlins

     The Miami Marlins fell to the Washington Nationals 10-4 in 10 innings on Saturday night. The Nationals put up six runs in extra innings.

Marilns Reach 100 Losses This Season

     The Washington Nationals dropped the Miami Marlins 6-4 on Friday night at Marlins Park. It was a return home for the Marlins as they went 2-4 on their road trip to San Francisco and Arizona.
     Miami(53-100) was able to chalk up their 100th loss of the 2019 season. The Fish had reached the 100-loss plateau in a season twice in their franchise history. Washington(84-68) continues to hold on to the first wild-card spot in the National League.

Cardinal Gibbons Routs American Heritage

     The Cardinal Gibbons Chiefs blanked the American Heritage Stallions 33-0 in Delray Beach at The Corral on Friday night. The Chiefs have won 17 of their last 18 contests.
     Cardinal Gibbons(4-1) jumped out to a 7-0 lead early in the first quarter. Quarterback Brody Palhegyi connected a touchdown pass to wide receiver Troy Stellato.
     The Chiefs increased their lead to 14-0 at the 3:38 mark. American Heritage(2-2) quarterback Zachary Bohannon threw an interception to the left sideline and defensive back Majon Wright returned it 94 yards for a score.
     In the second quarter, Cardinal Gibbons made it a 21-point gap with 46 seconds remaining. Palhegyi found Stellato in the middle of the field and he raced by the secondary for a 50-yard touchdown.
     The second half was the same story as the Chiefs dominated the Stallions. They scored on the first play of the final quarter at the 11:54 mark when wide receiver Davon Kiser caught a 28-yard strike from Palhegyi for a 27-point margin. Palhegyi threw another touchdown pass to Stellato with 9:11 to go in the fourth for a 33-0 lead.

Curtis Stevenson Gone From Entercom

     Former Miami sports radio host Captain Curtis Stevenson is no longer with Entercom Communications and their two local sports talk stations 560 The Joe WQAM-AM and Sports Talk 790 The Ticket WAXY-AM. He was recently working behind the scenes on the Miami Hurricanes Football Radio Network.
     Stevenson was the afternoon co-host on The Ticket with Chris Perkins from August 2017 until August 2019. He was the producer for numerous radio talent in Miami from the late 2000s to May 2017 which included Jim Mandich, Michael Irvin and Joe Rose. Stevenson also was either an on-air sidekick or show co-host with Mandich, Anita Marks, Irvin, Adam Kuperstein and Rose.

Chaminade-Madonna Survives Atlantic

     The Chaminade-Madonna Lions slipped by the Atlantic Eagles 17-14 at Hilltop Stadium in Delray Beach on Friday night. The two-time defending FHSAA Class 3A champion Lions made the trip north to defeat a Class 7A school which is considered one of the best teams in Palm Beach County.
     Chaminade-Madonna(4-1) scored midway through the second quarter at 6:14. Quarterback Thaddius Franklin sneaked in the ball through the middle of the line from one yard out and gave the Lions a 7-0 lead.
     Atlantic(2-1) would turn the ball over on their next possession. Lions cornerback Torrie Cox Jr. made an interception on a Guenson Alexis pass and returned it to the Eagles 21-yard line. Andres Borregales ended the drive on a 30-yard field goal with 3:18 left in the first half.
     The Eagles closed the deficit to 10-6 at the 2:03 mark of the third quarter. Quarterback Jacoby Dorch lobbed a pass into the back of the end zone and tight end Bryson Clark caught it for a three-yard touchdown.
     In the fourth quarter, Atlantic took their first lead with 10:38 remaining. Running back Bry'yon Jones sprinted around the right end and scored from 11 yards away. They made a two-point conversion run and pulled ahead 14-10.
     The Eagles would lose the ball on downs at the Lions 17-yard line with 2:25 to go. Chaminade-Madonna marched down the field and regained the lead 17-14 with 36 seconds left in the contest.

Marlins Keeping Miguel Rojas

     Marlins infielder Miguel Rojas will be staying with the Miami Marlins. He has signed a two-year extension with the club.
     Rojas has played with the Fish for the past couple of seasons. He is currently batting .288 with five home runs, eight stolen bases and a .338 on-base percentage this season.

Miami Marlins Extend Don Mattingly

     The Miami Marlins have given manager Don Mattingly a contract extension. The new deal will be for two more years. His contract with the club was to expire at the end of the 2019 season.
     Mattingly has managed the Marlins for the past four seasons with a 272-364 record. He has the franchise record with 636 games managed. Mattingly previously was the manager with the Los Angeles Dodgers from 2011 until 2015 and won three consecutive National League West Division titles.
     He played with the New York Yankees as a first baseman from 1982 to 1995. Mattingly helped the team to the postseason in 1995 following a 14-year drought.

Palm Beach Central At Park Vista Preview

     The Palm Beach Central Broncos head on the road to face the Park Vista Cobras at the Snake Pit on Friday night. Both Palm Beach County schools look to finish on top of their two different Class 8A districts in 2019.
     After a home-opening loss to Atlantic 40-13, Palm Beach Central(3-1) has rebounded in their last three games. They beat Dwyer 47-18, shut out Olympic Heights 53-0 and topped Wellington 30-7. Quarterback Anarjahe Douriet looks to find his primary target wide receiver Bryan Robinson down the field for the Broncos offense.
     Park Vista(3-1) began the same way like the Broncos as they were upset by Cardinal Newman 13-2 in the season opener. The Cobras bounced back with three straight victories as they blanked Boynton Beach 41-0, took Wellington 21-10 and routed Spanish River 35-3. Running back Markel King is expected to get most of the carries while quarterback Riley Klaus can throw the ball to wide receivers Frantz Derival, Woodlife Alminord and Courtney Carter.

Cardinal Newman At Santaluces Preview

     The Santaluces Chiefs host the Cardinal Newman Crusaders on Friday night. Both schools will attempt to make the FHSAA playoffs later this year.
     Cardinal Newman(2-0) have not yet played a contest on the road. They faced a large school Park Vista and won their season opener 13-2 and also defeated John Carroll 33-31 last week. The Crusaders have a capable backfield with Austin Wallace at quarterback and Chris D'Or at running back.
     Santaluces(1-1) have played in two high-scoring games this season. They fell to Forest Hill 41-26 on the road and prevailed over West Boca Raton 34-21 at home. The Chiefs will by led by their rushing attack with running back Val Carnegie in the backfield.

Canadiens Shoot Down Panthers

     The Montreal Canadiens beat the Florida Panthers 5-4 in a shootout at Bell Centre on Thursday night. Montreal scored on all three attempts during the shootout while Florida converted once. 

     The Habs had defeated the Panthers on Wednesday night in New Brunswick. Florida will play their next preseason game on Saturday night in Tulsa, Oklahoma against the Dallas Stars. 

Caron Butler Radio.com Contributor

     Former Miami Heat player Caron Butler has joined Radio.com as a contributor. He will be part of the Scals and Pals podcast on the NBA.
     He played two seasons with the Miami Heat before being traded to the Los Angeles Lakers for Shaquille O'Neal. Butler has previous broadcasting experience. He has worked as a weekend co-host on Fox Sports Radio from March 2018 to August 2019. Butler will begin his new position as the Washington Wizards game analyst on NBC Sports Washington in October.

Dolphins Get Taco Charlton

     The Miami Dolphins picked up defensive lineman Taco Charlton off waivers Thursday. He will be eligible to play on Sunday against the Dallas Cowboys.
     Charlton, who was waived by the Cowboys, had four sacks and 27 combined tackles in 27 games with Dallas. The Cowboys drafted him during the first round back in the 2017 NFL Draft.

Habs Stop Panthers

     The Florida Panthers fell to the Montreal Canadiens 4-3 on Wednesday night. The game was held at R.C. Irving Regional Centre in Barhurst, New Brunswick.
     The contest was held in the small venue because they were the winning town for Kraft Hockeyville in Canada. The Panthers and Canadiens will play again on Thursday at Bell Centre in Montreal.

Diamondbacks Down Marlins

     The Arizona Diamondbacks got by the Miami Marlins 5-4 at Chase Field on Wednesday. The Marlins had 2-4 on the west coast road trip.

Cardinal Gibbons At American Heritage Preview

     The Cardinal Gibbons Chiefs visit the American Heritage Stallions in Delray Beach on Friday night at The Corral. It is a battle between two small-school football programs.
     Cardinal Gibbons(3-1), the defending FHSAA Class 5A state champions, were shifted to Class 4A for the 2019 season and have won 16 of their last 17 contests. After a season-opening loss to Miami Northwestern 32-0, they have rebounded well. The Chiefs had three straight home victories over Miami Palmetto 23-21, North Miami 50-0 and Fort Lauderdale 41-16. Quarterback Brody Palhegyi will guide the team down the field.
     American Heritage(2-1) looks to make a big playoff push in Class 3A this year. The Stallions almost snapped the long home winning streak of Vero Beach and were edged 7-3 in the season opener. They have dominated in their last two games at home with wins over Coral Springs Charter 42-9 and John Carroll 42-7. Zachary Bohannon will call the signals for them on offense.

Olympic Heights At Spanish River Preview

     The Olympic Heights Lions head across town and take on the Spanish River Sharks in Boca Raton at the Shark Pit on Friday night. Both schools have faced tough circumstances to begin the 2019 season. The Sharks hosted the Lions last year and lost 42-7. 

     Olympic Heights(1-3) were outscored 128-7 in their first three losses to Lake Worth, Boca Raton and Palm Beach Central. The Lions bounced back last week with a 16-6 win over John I. Leonard. Quarterback Blake Moreland can connect passes to wide receivers K'amerron Joseph, Juan Gonzalez, Christian Ippolito and Nicolas Palmenteri. Running back Trotsky Horton is expected to get most of the rushing attempts.
     Spanish River(0-3) lost to John I. Leonard 35-31 in their home opener. They fell to Suncoast 28-0 and Park Vista 35-3 in the last two weeks. Drew Alexandridis gets the start at quarterback for the Sharks. 

Palm Beach Gardens At Glades Central Preview

     The Palm Beach Gardens challenge the Glades Central Raiders on Friday night at Effic C. Grear Field. One school enters the contest with momentum while the other does not.
     Palm Beach Gardens(3-0) has shown their dominance as they have outscored their opponents 119-10. They defeated Suncoast 46-0, John I. Leonard 50-3 and Forest Hill 23-7. The Gators will give the ball to running back Ernest Blackshear to rush through the line. Quarterback Tyler Kolb attempts to find wide receivers Myron Levy and Rafael Vasquez down the field.
     Glades Central(2-2) will play their fifth consecutive home game and has not left Belle Glade since the start of the 2019 campaign. The Raiders beat Boca Raton 41-13 in their home opener and got by Wellington 27-24 in overtime. It has been hard on them for the last two weeks with losses to Palm Beach Lakes 41-13 and Palm Beach Gardens 40-3. They will rely on their passing game with quarterback Marion Moreland along with wide receivers Ja'Vontae Williams, Desna Washington and Romaud Porter.

Chaminade-Madonna At Atlantic Preview

     The Atlantic Eagles host the Chaminade-Madonna Lions at Atlantic Stadium in Delray Beach on Friday night. It is not often to find a Class 3A school face a Class 7A school in the middle of the season.
     Chaminade-Madonna(3-1), the two-time defending FHSAA Class 3A state champions, will make a rare appearance in Palm Beach County. The Lions opened the season with victories over McArthur, Hallandale and Miami Christian. They were edged at home last week by Carol City 14-13. Running back Thaddius Franklin will be the focal point of their offense.
     Atlantic(2-0) has played just one game in the last three weeks and has not yet played a home contest. They took Palm Beach Central 40-13 in the season opener and had a 26-0 halftime. Last week they visited Glades Central and hammered them 40-3. The Eagles have a strong backfield with Guenson Alexis at quarterback and Montahj Joseph at running back.

Marlins Breeze By Diamondbacks

     The Miami Marlins handled the Arizona Diamondbacks 12-6 on Tuesday night at Chase Field. The Fish finish their six-game road trip on Wednesday against the D-backs.

Dolphins Trade Minkah Fitzpatrick

     The Miami Dolphins traded safety Minkah Fitzpatrick, a 2020 fourth-round pick and a 2021 seventh-round pick to the Pittsburgh Steelers for a 2020 first-round pick, a 2020 fifth-round pick and a 2021 sixth-round pick.
     Fitzpatrick was drafted in the first round by the Dolphins in the 2018 NFL Draft. He played in all 16 games in his rookie campaign as he put together two interceptions and 80 overall tackles. Fitzpatrick compiled 12 tackles in the first two games of the 2019 season.
     He attended the University of Alabama for three years. Fitzpatrick helped them win two CFP National Championships in 2015 and 2017.

Diamondbacks Rattle Marlins

     The Arizona Diamondbacks contained the Miami Marlins 7-5 at Chase Field on Monday night. The Marlins,, who have lost seven of their last eight games, continued their trip of the west coast.

Panthers Lose Doubleheader To Predators

     The Florida Panthers traveled up to Tennessee and faced the Nashville Predators at Bridgestone Arena in the annual preseason doubleheader on Monday. The tradition goes back to September 2011.
     Florida lost the first game 6-3 and fell in the second game 1-0. Nashville swept the doubleheader last year in Sunrise. The Panthers next play the Montreal Canadiens in Canada on Wednesday.

Giants Outduel Marlins

     The San Francisco Giants slipped by the Miami Marlins 2-1 at Oracle Park on Sunday. The Giants took the final game of the three-game series between both clubs.
     In the third inning, San Francisco(72-78) made it 1-0. Maurucio Dubon blasted a solo home run left field on a 1-0 pitch.
     Miami(52-97) brought in their only run in the contest during the top of the seventh. Jon Berti drove in Magneuris Sierra with a base hit into left field.
     The Giants got ahead again in the bottom of the eighth. Mike Yastrzemski was able to score on a wild pitch.

Patriots Dominate Dolphins

     The New England Patriots bashed the Miami Dolphins 43-0 at Hard Rock Stadium on Sunday. The Dolphins have lost their first two games as they were outscored 102-10. The Dolphins became the first team to lose their first two games of the season at home by at least 40 points.

Hurricanes Slam Bethune-Cookman

     The Miami Hurricanes crushed Bethune-Cookman Wildcats 63-0 at Hard Rock Stadium on Saturday for their first victory of the 2019 season. The Canes began with a 0-2 record for their worst start in school history since 1978.

Marlins Strike Giants

     The Miami Marlins stopped the San Francisco Giants 4-2 on Saturday night at Oracle Park. The Marlins are 21-12 in San Francisco since 2010.
     Neither team scored until the seventh inning. Giants starting pitcher Madison Bumgarner surrendered two runs in the top of the frame. Jorge Alfaro smacked a two-run homer on a 0-1 pitch to left-center field with Starlin Castro aboard which gave Miami(52-96) a 2-0 lead.
     San Francisco(71-78) matched it in the bottom half of the inning. Donovan Solano tripled into the right-center field gap and it scored Brandon Crawford along with Maurucio Dubon.
     In the eighth inning, the Marlins compiled two more runs to regain the lead. Miguel Rojas knocked in Magneuris Sierra on a double to deep left field. Lewis Brinson followed with a base hit to right and Rojas crossed the plate.

Alex Donno Joins SLAM Radio

     Alex Donno has joined SLAM Radio on SiriusXM Radio. He will be on every Friday with a two-hour early afternoon program. The program director at SLAM Radio is The Amigo Larry Milian.
     Donno and Milian had worked together previously in the Miami market  Milian co-hosted Dos Amigos on Sports Talk 790 The Ticket WAXY-AM during the late 2000s and Donno was a producer.
     Donno was recently the midday co-host with Josh Friedman on 560 WQAM-AM until the start of August. He still continues to co-host a mixed martial arts program on that radio station.

Giants Hold Marlins Scoreless

     The San Francisco Giants only needed one run to defeat the Miami Marlins 1-0 at Oracle Park on Friday night. It was the beginning of a road trip for Miami(51-96)
     San Francisco(71-77) gathered the only tally in the sixth inning. Buster Posey singled into left-center field to score Stephen Vogt.

Palm Beach Gardens Top Forest Hill

     The Palm Beach Gardens Gators held off the Forest Hill Falcons 23-7 at Mullinax Ford Stadium on Friday night in a District 10-8A contest. It was the first time that the Falcons played in a new district since they were elevated from Class 7A.
     Palm Beach Gardens(3-0, 1-0) put up the first points in the second quarter at the 6:51 mark. Wide receiver Myron Levy received an 18-yard touchdown pass in the front right side of the end zone from quarterback Tyler Kolb. They were able to convert a two-point conversion on a showel pass from the holder for an 8-0 lead.
     Forest Hill(3-1, 0-1) closed the gap to 8-7 with 2:27 left in the first half. Quarterback Jalen Jeter faked an option play and sprinted down the right sideline from 32 yards out.
     The Gators got the only scoring in the third quarter. Norman Blackshear bolted through the middle on a one-yard touchdown run with 1:08 remaining.
     They extended the margin to 23-7 at 5:29 of the fourth. Blackshear wend around the left end and scored from seven yards away.

Dan Sileo Joins Twitch

     Former South Florida sports talk host Dan Sileo will begin a sports program at Twitch on September 19. He was recently an afternoon host on KGME-AM in Phoenix for one week.
     Sileo hosted sports shows on 560 WQAM-AM and 640 WMEN-AM from 2012 to 2013. He moved to San Diego and joined XEPRS-AM as a morning host from February 2014 until December 2017. He was a sports host on KWFN-FM from March 2018 to April 2019.
     He has made numerous stops during his broadcasting career. They included Fox Sports Radio, KNBR-AM in San Francisco, WDAE-AM in Tampa, WEEI-FM in Boston along with WQTM-AM, WFLF-AM and WYGM-AM in Orlando.

Boca Raton Breaks Fort Pierce Central

     The Boca Raton Bobcats were home and outscored the Fort Pierce Central Cobras 6-3 on Thursday night. Both schools play in the same region of Class 8A.
     Fort Pierce Central(1-2) opened up the scoring during the second quarter. They converted on a medium-range field goal.                
     Boca Raton(2-1) overtook the Cobras with a score. Running back Tra'Nell Hollis was able to rush in from eight yards out with 10:12 left in the fourth quarter.

Brewers Sweep Marlins

     The Milwaukee Brewers knocked off the Miami Marlins 3-2 at Marlins Park on Thursday. The Brewers were able to complete a four-game sweep of the Fish.

Atlantic At Glades Central Preview

     The Atlantic Eagles challenge the Glades Central Raiders at Effie C. Grear Field in Belle Glade on Friday night. Glades Central has plenty of competition throughout South Florida in Class 4A while Atlantic is near the top in Palm Beach County for Class 7A.
     Atlantic(1-0) dominated in their only game of the 2019 season with a 40-13 defeat of Palm Beach Central. Guenson Alexis gets to start at quarterback and has a capable backup with Jacoby Dorch. Running back Montahj Joseph is expected to get most of the carries from the backfield. Wide receivers Tyrese Blue and Jordan Cash are the primary threats in the passing game.
     Glades Central(2-0) has the advantage of playing their first four games at home. They beat Boca Raton 41-13 in the home opener and barely survived Wellington 27-24 in overtime. The Raiders can go with Marion Moreland or Zomarion Harper at quarterback. They will mostly throw the ball to wide receivers Desna Washington, Ja'Vontae Williams and Romaud Porter.

John I. Leonard At Olympic Heights Preview

     The John I. Leonard Lancers face the Olympic Heights Lions on Friday night at Corey Lewis Stadium. Both schools attempt to bounce back from their 2018 campaigns.
     John I. Leonard(1-1) edged Spanish River 35-31 in the season opener and were hammered by Palm Beach Gardens at home 50-3. The Lancers have an efficient passer in quarterback Jadiel Cruz and he can connect passes to wide receivers Ahmad Orange, Jonel Dieujuste and Brandon McCrary. They will split the carries between running backs Kenneth Charles and Henry Dean.
     Olympic Heights(0-3) has allowed 128 points in their first three games. OH lost to Lake Worth 46-7, Boca Raton 29-0 and Palm Beach Central 53-0. The Lions have Blake Moreland at quarterback and Trotsky Horton at running back. The wide receiver crew consists of Juan Gonzalez, K'amerron Joseph, Christian Ippolito and Nicolas Palmenteri.

Spanish River At Park Vista Preview

     The Spanish River Sharks visit the Park Vista Cobras as the Snake Pit on Friday night. Both schools make a fast turnover because they had contests on Monday night.
     Spanish River(0-2) battled it out to the end in their home opener and fell to John I. Leonard 35-31. They lost on Monday at home to Suncoast 28-0. Quarterback Drew Alexandridis looks to guide the Sharks on offense. They will sometimes line up five defensive linemen to put pressure on their opponents offense.
     Park Vista(2-1) started out slow with a 13-2 road defeat to Cardinal Newman. They clobbered crosstown rival Boynton Beach 41-0 and then handled Wellington 21-10. The Cobras have made adjustments on offense. They will rely on running back Markel King in the backfield along with the passing game of quarterback Riley Klaus to wide receivers Frantz Derival, Woodlife Alminord, Courtney Carter and Joseph Niemotka.

Brewers Bounce By Marlins

     The Miami Marlins lost to the Milwaukee Brewers 7-5 on Wednesday night at Marlins Park. The Brewers will attempt to sweep the Marlins on Thursday.

American Airlines Arena No More

     The home of the Miami Heat will no longer be called American Airlines Arena. The arena off Biscayne Boulevard will soon have a new name.
     American Airlines Arena opened up on January 31, 1999 with a performance by Gloria Estefan. The Miami Heat moved into their new home from Miami Arena and had their first game at American Airlines Arena on January 2, 2000 against the Orlando Magic. It was the first game played of the National Basketball Association in the 21st century. The Heat have won three NBA titles in 2006, 2012 and 2013 since they have resided there.

Brewers Get By Marlins

     The Milwaukee Brewers slipped by the Miami Marlins 4-3 at Marlins Park on Tuesday night. The Marlins left the tying run on third base during the ninth inning.
     In the second inning, Milwaukee(76-68) moved ahead 2-0. Hernan Perez powered a two-run homer to left field on a 2-2 pitch with Cory Spangenberg on board.
     The Marlins answered back in the bottom of the frame. Isan Diaz hit a ground-rule double to right-center field for Jorge Alfaro to score.
     The Brewers expanded their margin to 3-1 in the third. Yasmani Grandal ripped a double into deep right field and Chase Anderson scored.
     Miami(51-93) pulled the gap to 3-2 in the fourth inning. Diaz lined a base hit to right which brought in Starlin Castro.
     The Fish evened the contest up in the bottom of the eighth. Castro was given the green light and cracked a solo home run to center field on a 3-0 count.
     Milwaukee regained the lead in the ninth inning. Tyler Austin hit a sacrifice fly to center and Grandal crossed the plate.

WEFL-AM Keeps Spanish Language Sports Talk

     WEFL-AM 760 in West Palm Beach will keep their format of Spanish-language sports talk as Deportes Radio 760. They will use a combination of two national networks with TUDN Radio and Unanimo Deportes. WMYM-AM 990 in Miami was launched as the Unanimo Deportes flagship station on Monday.
     The history of WEFL-AM goes back 16 years. They were known as ESPN Radio 760 from March 2003 until September 2013 with English-language sports talk. It was flipped to ESPN Deportes in September 2013 and lasted until this past Sunday.

Brewers Mix Up Marlins

     The Miami Marlins lost to the Milwaukee Brewers 8-3 on Monday night at Marlins Park. The Marlins have lost seven of their last 10 games.

Suncoast Stops Spanish River

     The Suncoast Chargers topped the Spanish River Sharks 28-0 on Monday night at the Shark Pit. The contest was rescheduled from last week due to Hurricane Dorian.
     Suncoast(1-2) made it 6-0 with 58.3 left in the first quarter. Wide receiver William Wells caught a 24-yard touchdown pass on the right side of the end zone.
     The Chargers extended their margin to 13-0 at 2:58 of the second. Running back Aaron Adams raced through the middle for a score from eight yards away.
     In the third quarter, Spanish River(0-2) quarterback Drew Alexandridis fumbled the ball in his own end zone and it was recovered by Suncoast linebacker Fradley Joseph at the 1:36 mark. Adams returned a fumble 91 yards for a touchdown early in the fourth quarter.

Dan Sileo Gone From Phoenix

     Dan Sileo is no longer with KGME-AM in Phoenix as their afternoon host. He hosted four shows with the radio station last week.
     They recently acquired the radio rights of the Arizona Coyotes. The hockey club apparently did not like past comments made by Sileo on social media.
     Sileo previously worked for 560 WQAM-AM and 640 WMEN-AM as a sports host from 2012 until 2013. He was in San Diego at XEPRS-AM as a morning host from February 2014 to December 2017 and KWFN-AM from March 2018 to April 2019.

WMYM-AM Becomes Unanimo Deportes

     WMYM-AM in Miami became Unanimo Deportes 990 on Monday. ESPN Deportes Radio was broadcast on that station until Sunday when it signed off and went out of business.
     Unanimo Deportes Network will use WMYM-AM 990 as their flagship radio station for their national broadcasts. Good Karma Brands had used ESPN Deportes on WEFL-AM 760 since September 2013 and it may continue with a Spanish-language sports format.

Ravens Wipe Out Dolphins

     The Miami Dolphins opened up the 2019 NFL season and they were dominated by the Baltimore Ravens 59-10 at Hard Rock Stadium on Sunday. Former Boynton Beach Tigers quarterback Lamar Jackson returned to South Florida and threw five touchdowns for the Ravens.
     It was the largest regular season defeat of the Dolphins in franchise history.The Fins did fall to the Jacksonville Jaguars 62-7, which was Dan Marino's final game, during the 1998 AFC divisional round.
     Baltimore(1-0), who set a franchise record for most points in a game, jumped out to a 7-0 lead at 10:38 of the first quarter. Running back Mark Ingram rushed to the right side for a one-yard touchdown.
     Jackson found Chaminade-Madonna grad Marquise Brown for a 47-yard strike at the 8:46 mark. It was the first career touchdown for Brown. They connected again with 4:28 left in the first when Brown caught an 83-yard touchdown pass from Jackson behind the secondary for a 21-point gap.
     In the second quarter, Miami(0-1) got on the scoreboard on a 54-yard field goal by Jason Sanders at 10:43.
     The Ravens expanded their lead to 42-3 on two scores. Jackson threw a five-yard pass to wide receiver Miles Boykin in the back of the end zone at the 6:56 mark. Ingram added a touchdown on a run from two yards away with 1:46 to go.
     The Dolphins cut it down to 42-10 with 18 seconds left in the second. Quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick tossed a six-yard pass to wide receiver Preston Williams.
     Jackson threw his fifth touchdown pass at 7:58 of the third quarter to wide receiver Patrick Ricard. Justin Tucker would boot a 34-yard field goal with 29 seconds remaining in the third and Baltimore led 52-10.

Jason Taylor Continues At Westwood One

     Former Miami Dolphins defensive end Jason Taylor began another NFL season with Westwood One. It is the third straight season that he will announce on Sunday night football games with play-by-play Kevin Kugler.
     Taylor continues as a defensive coach for St. Thomas Aquinas. He played 13 seasons in the NFL and compiled 139.5 sacks for seventh all-time. Taylor was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2017.

Marlins Take Royals

     The Miami Marlins shut out the Kansas City Royals 9-0 at Marlins Park on Sunday. The Marlins were able to avoid a three-game series sweep.

North Carolina Surprises Hurricanes

     The North Carolina Tar Heels shocked the Miami Hurricanes 28-25 on Saturday night in Chapel Hill. The Hurricanes begin the season with a 0-2 record for the first time since 1978.

Deerfield Beach Pounds Blanche Ely

     The Deerfield Beach Bucks blasted the Blanche Ely Tigers 42-0 in the sixth annual McDougle Bowl held at Richard L. Williams Stadium on Saturday night. The Bucks have outscored the Tigers 173-11 in their last four meetings against each other.
     Deerfield Beach snapped a two-game losing streak while Blanche Ely lost their first contest of the season. The Bucks have topped the Tigers six straight times since the game has been designated the McDougle Bowl.
     The Bucks piled up 35 points in the first half. Running back Jaylan Knighton rushed in from six yards away for the first score. Quarterback Michael Pratt threw a swing pass to Knighton and he reached the end zone for a 14-0 lead.
     The Tigers fumbled on the ensuing kickoff and Deerfield Beach(1-2) capitalized on it. Pratt fired a 47-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Deajaun McDougle on the first play of the drive. Blanche Ely(1-2) surrendered another touchdown and trailed 28-0 when Knighton sprinted in from 43 yards out.
     Knighton added another score on a five-yard touchdown run before the end of the second quarter and the Bucks led 35-0. A running clock was used during the second half of play.

Royals Sack Marlins

     The Kansas City Royals outraced the Miami Marlins 7-2 on Saturday night at Marlins Park. The Royals look for the three-game sweep against the Fish on Sunday.

Deerfield Beach At Blanche Ely Preview

     The Deerfield Beach Bucks challenge the Blanche Ely Tigers at Richard L. Williams Stadium in the sixth annual McDougle Bowl on Saturday night. The rivalry has been one-sided as the Bucks have outscored the Tigers 131-11 in their last three meetings. Deerfield Beach won 46-0 at home last year after they retired Denard Robinson's number 16 jersey.
     Deerfield Beach(0-2) has lost their first two contests of the 2019 season. They were upended by Carol City 24-12 in the season opener at Miami and fell to St. John's 52-30 in Washington D.C. last week. The Bucks will rely on their rushing attack with running back Jaylan Knighton in the backfield. They can go with either Michael Pratt or Derohn King in the quarterback position. Wide receivers Xavier Restrepo, Deajaun McDougle and Bryce Gowdy look to make pass receptions down the field.
     Blanche Ely(2-0) won their first two games on the road this year. The Tigers shut out Northeast 32-0 and they handled Coral Glades 36-17. They moved out of a district that had them tangle with St. Thomas Aquinas and Fort Lauderdale for the last four years. Blanche Ely is now in a district with three different Palm Beach County schools that consists of Atlantic, Olympic Heights and West Boca Raton.

Kelly Saco In Marlins Radio Booth

     Fox Sports Florida Miami Marlins sideline reporter Kelly Saco is in the radio broadcast booth for the three-game series against the Kansas City Royals this weekend. She fills in for lead play-by-play announcer Dave Van Horne on the Marlins radio broadcasts alongside Glenn Geffner.
     Saco becomes the first woman to announce Marlins games on the radio. She once worked as a game operations stadium host at Marlins Park and was elevated to Fox Sports Florida Marlins sideline reporter a couple of years ago.
     The Marlins organization has used different people over their franchise history to fill in for radio broadcasts. Director of team travel Bill Beck was used during the first 20 years. Marlins Radio Network studio host Kyle Sielaff and former player J.P. Arencibia have seen time in the radio booth calling games this season.

Royals Shut Out Marlins

     The Miami Marlins were blanked by the Kansas City Royals 3-0 at Marlins Park on Friday night. It is a rare meeting between both clubs.
     Kansas City(52-90) took a 1-0 lead in the top of the third. Whit Merrifield knocked in Meibrys Viloria on a base hit to right field.
     The Royals made it 2-0 in the seventh inning. Ryan O'Hearn doubled to left field which brought in Alex Gordon.
     Miami(50-90) gave up one more run in the eighth. Hunter Dozier smacked a solo home run to center field on the first pitch.

West Palm Beach Ratings August 2019

     The monthly ratings appeared for the West Palm Beach market. ESPN West Palm 106.3 WUUB-FM, which is not registered with any ratings service, acquired the rights to the University of Miami Hurricanes football broadcasts.
     It will be the last time that the brand 640 The Hurricane is used by WMEN-AM. They moved up from a 0.3 to a 0.4 in the month. The New York Yankees rose to the best record in the majors.
     Sports Radio 1230 The Zone WBZT-AM made it an entire year with a 0.0. They are on the opposite end with their broadcasts of Miami Marlins contests and having no audience.

North Miami At Cardinal Gibbons Preview

     The North Miami Pioneers face the Cardinal Gibbons Chiefs at Dr. Bud Tight Field on Friday night. Both schools look to contend for the postseason.
     North Miami(1-0) is in the same district as recent playoff teams Doral Academy and Mater Academy. The Pioneers started the season with a 20-0 shutout home victory over South Miami.
     It will be the third straight week that the reigning FHSAA Class 5A state champions Cardinal Gibbons(1-1) will take on an opponent from Dade County. They were blanked by Miami Northwestern, the two-time defending Class 6A state champions, 32-0 at Traz Powell Stadium. The Chiefs edged Miami Palmetto 23-21 last week at The Furnace. They will have Brody Palhegyi at the quarterback position on offense.

West Broward At Plantation Preview

     The West Broward Bobcats visit the Plantation Colonels at PAL Field on Friday night. It will be a non-district game between both Broward County schools.
     West Broward(0-2) has struggled to begin the 2019 season in their first two home games. They were walloped by Coral Springs 38-6 and lost to Everglades 20-6.
     Plantation(1-0) has a major challenge this year. They move down to Class 7A into a district that includes St. Thomas Aquinas, Fort Lauderdale and South Plantation. The Colonels are led on offense by quarterback Gerard Nesbitt. He will try to get the ball to wide receivers Jacolby George, Carlson Armstrong and Devin Howard along with wingback Mark Anthony Clark. Plantation was able to win the season opener at Taravella 43-3.

Marlins Shut Down Pirates

     The Miami Marlins stopped the Pittsburgh Pirates 10-7 at PNC Park on Thursday night. It was the first time that the Marlins won a road series since they beat the White Sox in Chicago back in late July.

Floirda Panthers Announce Television Schedule

     The Florida Panthers reveled their local television schedule for the 2019-20 regular season. Fox Sports Florida will broadcast 81 of 82 games during the campaign.
     The Panthers may have one game broadcast on national television at NBC Sports Network. Several Florida games will be transmitted throughout Canada on Hockey Night In Cananda. That would include the retirement of the Roberto Luongo number 1 jersey against the Montreal Canadiens on March 7.
     Steve Goldstein returns as Florida Panthers play-by-play announcer while Randy Moller is elevated to game analyst and replaces Denis Potvin. Craig Minervini and Jessica Blaylock will split duties as studio hosts for home games. Katie Gaus has been named their new sideline reporter.

South Plantation At Coral Springs Preview

     The Coral Springs Colts host the South Plantation Paladins on Friday night. It is a non-district contest between both schools.
     South Plantation(1-1) has not made the FHSAA playoffs in quite some time. They were shifted from Class 8A to Class 7A for this season and are in the same district at St. Thomas Aquinas, Plantation and Fort Lauderdale. The Paladins played their first two games at home as they topped Cypress Bay 24-14 and lost to Coconut Creek 41-14.
     Coral Springs(2-0), who no longer has to deal with Deerfield Beach in the same district after over a decade, look to capture a district title in northern Broward County. The Colts began the 2019 campaign with two straight wins. They routed West Broward 38-6 in the season opener and then won last week at home against Nova 26-20.

Pirates Walk Off Marlins

     The Miami Marlins fell to the Pittsburgh Pirates 6-5 at PNC Park on Wednesday night. The Fish have lost 15 of their last 16 road games. Bryan Reynolds looped a base hit into shallow left field in the ninth inning which scored Erik Gonzalez and Adam Frazier for the walk-off victory.

Miami Ratings August 2019

     The Miami/Fort Lauderdale ratings were released for the region. There were more lineup changes during this ratings period between the two top market competitors in their 15-year rivalry.
     Sports Talk 790 The Ticket WAXY-AM got knocked out of first place after seven months. 560 WQAM-AM finished on top alone by themselves for the first time since December. 

     The Ticket dropped from a 0.8 to a 0.6. It was the final period that the Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz will be part of that station after a 15-year tenure. Brett Romberg was let go as they shifted Jonathan Zaslow and Amber Wilson from morning drive to middays. Brendan Tobin, Leroy Hoard and Brian London made their way from middays to mornings. They ended the afternoon show with Captain Curtis Stevenson and Chris Perkins. 

     WQAM went from a 0.6 to a 0.7 during the month. Their brand was changed from Miami Sports Radio 560 to 560 The Joe. They dropped their midday show with Alex Donno and Josh Friedman. The afternoon show with Marc Hochman and Channing Crowder would be simulcast on the station and have the afternoon shift on 790 The Ticket. 

     Miami Spots 940 WINZ-AM remained at a 0.3 for the fourth consecutive month. They still remain consistent even with the Miami Marlins broadcasts. 

     640 The Hurricane WMEN-AM held a 0.1 for the seventh straight month. The New York Yankees moved up to the best record in baseball and they have been boosted by their broadcasts. 

     

Panthers Sign Troy Brouwer

     The Florida Panthers have signed forward Troy Brouwer to a professional tryout offer. He will have to earn a spot on the roster for the upcoming 2019-20 season.
     Brouwer played last season with the Florida Panthers. He compiled 12 goals and nine assists in 75 games. Brouwer won a Stanley Cup title with the Chicago Blackhawks in 2010. He has also previously been with the Washington Capitals, St. Louis Blues and Calgary Flames.

Thomas Drance Joins The Athletic Vancouver

     Former Florida Panthers public relations executive Thomas Drance has joined The Athletic Vancouver. He will be the Vancouver Canucks beat writer for that organization.
     Drance recently left his position as vice president of communications and public relations of the Florida Panthers on July 26. He joined the Panthers back in January 2017. Drance previously wrote for The Score, Rogers Sportsnet and Triumph Publishing. He was the editor-in-chief of Nation Network in Canada before he arrived in Sunrise.

Marlins Snap Road Losing Streak

     The Miami Marlins stopped a franchise record 15-game road losing streak with a 5-4 victory in 10 innings over the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park on Tuesday night. The last time the Marlins won a road game was on July 24 against the Chicago White Sox. Miami was officially eliminated from playoff contention.
     Pittsburgh(60-78) struck fast in the first inning. Adam Frazier lifted a solo home run to center field on a 2-1 pitch.
     The Marlins overtook them during the top of the third. Jon Berti and Starlin Castro were able to score on a throwing error by Colin Moran.
     In the fifth inning, Garrett Cooper doubled to deep center field which brought in Castro for a 3-1 lead. The Bucs tied it up 3-3 in the bottom of the frame. Frazier drove in Jacob Stallings and Erik Gonzalez.
     The Pirates would regain the lead in the eighth inning. Martin reached home on a wild pitch and Pittsburgh moved ahead 4-3.
     Miami(49-88) saved themselves with two out in the ninth. Miguel Rojas smacked a solo homer to center field on a 2-1 count. The Fish got a run in the 10th inning when Cooper clocked a home run to left-center field on a 1-0 pitch.

Kevin Wheeler Leaves WXOS-FM

     Former University of Miami Hurricanes baseball player Kevin Wheeler is no longer with WXOS-FM in St. Louis. He was employed there as a midday sports talk host since 2013.
     Wheeler first worked in radio nationally as an overnight host at One-On-One Sports in the mid-1990s. He stayed with that organization in the overnight shift when they changed their name to Sporting News Radio in the early 2000s.
     He moved on to St. Louis and joined KMOX-AM in 2006. Wheeler worked as an afternoon sports anchor, evening sports host, St. Louis Cardinals studio host and St. Louis Blues studio host.

Miami Dolphins Release John Denney

     The Miami Dolphins have released long snapper John Denney on Monday. Taybor Pepper will takes his position on the team.
     Denney had the longest current reign with the Dolphins going back to 2005. He never missed a contest as he played in 224 consecutive games. Denney was selected to the Pro Bowl twice in 2010 and 2012.

Marlins Swept By Nationals

     The Washington Nationals picked up a 9-3 victory over the Miami Marlins on Sunday at Nationals Park. The Marlins have lost 15 consecutive road games.

Dolphins Trade Kiko Alonso

     The Miami Dolphins have traded linebacker Kiko Alonso to the New Orleans Saints for linebacker Vince Biegel. It was the second trade that the club had made in the past day.
     Alonso was acquired from the Philadelphia Eagles prior to the 2016 season. He played 73 games for the Dolphins in the last three seasons and compiled 354 tackles along with five interceptions.

Dolphins Deal Kenny Stills and Laremy Tunsil

     The Miami Dolphins traded wide receiver Kenny Stills, offensive lineman Laremy Tunsil, a 2020 fourth-round pick and a 2021 sixth-round pick to the Houston Texans for a 2020 first-round pick, 2021 first-round pick, 2021 second-round pick, offensive lineman Julien Davenport and defensive back Johnson Bademosi.
     Stills was with the Dolphins for the last four seasons. His best season with them was in 2017 with 58 catches for 847 yards He trailed off with 37 catches for 553 yards and six touchdowns last year. Stills played in 94 games with Miami after he was acquired from the New Orleans Saints.
     Tunsil was drafted by the Fins during the first round in 2016 as the 13th overall pick. He started 44 games in the last three seasons.