Atlantic And West Boca Raton Game Postponed

     The Saturday contest between the Atlantic Eagles and the West Boca Raton Bulls was postponed due to a lightning delay. It was played at Boca Raton High School as part of Palm Beach County public schools playing their 2020 seasons at neutral sites. 

     Atlantic(0-0) took a 7-0 lead on a touchdown at the 9:36 mark of the first quarter. The Eagles added another touchdown against West Boca Raton(0-0) at 8:38 and had a 14-point margin. The lightning delay stopped the game for the second time and play was never resumed. 

Palm Beach Gardens Tops Palm Beach Lakes

     The Palm Beach Gardens Gators got by the Palm Beach Lakes Rams 16-8 on Saturday. The season opener for both teams was played at Jupiter High School because all Palm Beach County public school games have been condensed to three locations this season. 

     The Gators got the only points during the first quarter. They were able to kick a 29-yard field goal at the 6:13 mark. 

     In the second quarter, Palm Beach Gardens(1-0) made it 10-0 with 3:39 left. Quarterback Lynden Moss fired the ball to the right sideline and wide receiver Michael Wright III sprinted 73 yards for a touchdown. 

     The Gators extended it to a 16-point margin at 6:28 of the third quarter. Running back Jacory Brown raced around the right end and scored from 36 yards away. 

     Palm Beach Lakes(0-1) finally scored with 6:05 remaining in the fourth quarter. Running back Antonio Outler took a direct snap, busted through the right side of the line and reached the end zone from two yards out. They made the two-point conversion and trailed 16-8. 

     The Rams had one final drive down the field late in the fourth. They were stopped at the Gators two-yard line with no time remaining. 

American Heritage Downs Cardinal Newman

     The American Heritage Stallions breezed by the Cardinal Newman Crusaders 19-0 at Sam Budnyk Field in West Palm Beach on Friday night. Both teams once played in the same district until district play was eliminated for small schools. 

     The Stallions got up 3-0 early in the first quarter. Everest Ferrell was able to boot a 26-yard field goal for them. 

     American Heritage(2-3) made it 10-0 at the 6:53 mark of the first. Quarterback Dylan Rizk tossed an eight-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Mathew Hall on the right side. 

     It became a 13-point margin for the Stallions late in the opening quarter. Owen Flint kicked a 25-yard field goal with 1:20 left. 

     Cardinal Newman(4-3) surrendered another touchdown at 4:38 of the second quarter. Running back Trey Rainey rushed through the middle and scored from 72 yards away to make it 19-0. 

Palm Beach County Public School Football Opens

      Public high schools throughout Palm Beach County will finally open up their 2020 seasons for football this weekend. They are the last schools in the entire state of Florida to have their season openers. Some Broward County public high schools like Dillard, Fort Lauderdale, Stoneman Douglas and Coral Springs started their seasons on Thursday. 

     Three high school campuses will have all Palm Beach County public schools compete on their gridirons. They are Boca Raton, Wellington and Jupiter. 

     Each location will have one game on Fridays over the next month. There will be only three contests tonight. Boynton Beach is at Boca Raton, Royal Palm Beach is at Wellington and John I. Leonard is at Jupiter. 

     All three sites will have Saturday tripleheaders for the next four weeks. The start times will be at 10AM, 2PM and 6PM. 

     Boca Raton will have Atlantic-West Boca Raton and Olympic Heights-Spanish River. Wellington has Park Vista-Santaluces, Glades Central-Palm Beach Central and Pahokee-Dwyer. Jupiter hosts Palm Beach Gardens-Palm Beach Lakes and Village Academy-Suncoast. 

Miami Northwestern At IMG Academy Preview

      The Miami Northwestern Bulls go across the state and challenge the IMG Academy Ascenders. It is rare contest between one of the best South Florida football programs and the top non-FHSAA school in Florida. 

     Miami Northwestern(1-0) have won three consecutive FHSAA state championships and includes the last two Class 5A state title. The Bulls opened up their 2020 season at Traz Powell Stadium last week and edged the Miami Central Rockets 21-14. Quarterback Taron Dickson will look for wide receiver Romello Brinson along with tight end  Khalil Brantley on passing attempts. Running back Siddiq Jackson will get the bulk of the carries. 

     IMG Academy(6-0) has rolled by all of their opponents during the 2020 campaign and remained undefeated. The Ascenders have wins over Venice, Edgewater, Ravenwood, Life Christian Academy, Duncanville and Bishop Sycamore. They have outscored their opponents 291-62 this year. 

St. Thomas Aquinas At DeLand Preview

     The St. Thomas Aquinas Raiders travel north and tangle with the DeLand Bulldogs on Friday night. It is the first time that both schools have faced each other. 

     St. Thomas Aquinas(1-1) had their 16-game winning streak snapped by Cardinal Gibbons 17-10 last week. STA won their home opener against TRU Prep Academy 25-13. Quarterback Zion Turner will lead the Raiders offense. Running back Anthony Hankerson looks to gain yardage on carries. Wide receiver Bralon Brown is expected to be the main target for Turner on pass completions. 

     DeLand(2-0) is undefeated so far this season. They have victories over Deltona 39-0 and Spruce Creek 30-24. Quarterback Aaron Manning leads the Bulldogs offense and his primary target is wide receiver Chuck Bradley. 

American Heritage At Cardinal Newman Preview

     The American Heritage Stallions travel to West Palm Beach and face the Cardinal Newman Crusaders at Sam Budnyk Field on Friday night. Both teams were former district foes several years ago. 

     American Heritage(1-3) are on a two-game losing streak. The Stallions only win this season was against Benjamin. Quarterback Dylan Rizk looks to throw passes to wide receivers Brandyn Butler, Brandon Schabert, Mathew Hall and Matthew Smiciklas down the field. Running back Trey Rainey will get his rushing opportunities. 

     Cardinal Newman(4-2) have won four of their last five contests. The Crusaders are undefeated at home with victories over Doral Academy and St. John Paul II. Running backs Vinkevus Pierre, Domenico Fusco and Sterling Mongo will get the bulk of carries from the backfield. Quarterback Joe Thomas can find wide receivers Denzel Williams and Jason Lovingshimer on pass receptions. 

Cardinal Gibbons At American Heritage Preview

     The Cardinal Gibbons Chiefs challenge the American Heritage Patriots at Heritage Field in Plantation on Friday night. They were district rivals throughout the previous decade as they combined to capture five FHSAA Class 5A state titles over a six-year period. 

     Cardinal Gibbons(3-0) visited St. Thomas Aquinas last week and pulled off a 17-10 upset victory to snap the Raiders 16-game winning streak. The Chiefs began the 2020 season with two home wins over Monsignor Pace and Doral Academy. Their offense will be led by quarterback Brody Palhegyi. Running backs Torrence Miller and Kamari Moulton can get their rushing opportunities. Palhegyi looks to connect passes to wide receivers Troy Stellato, Bryson Williams, Davon Kiser, Luke Dean and Gabriel Morgan. 

     American Heritage(4-1) bounced back with a 41-26 road win over the four-time Class 7A state semifinalist Venice. The Patriots started the 2020 campaign with victories over Chaminade-Madonna, Clearwater and Bartram Trail before losing to Trinity Christian Academy. Running backs Mark Fletcher and Jerry Dinkins look to get carries from the backfield. Quarterback Blake Murphy intends to find wide receivers Orande Gadsden II, Jacolby Spells and Michael Watkins III for pass receptions. 

Stranahan At Deerfield Beach Preview

     Broward County public schools launch their 2020 seasons this week as the Deerfield Beach Bucks take on the Stranahan Dragons on Monday night. It was to be the first high school football game ever held at Inter Miami CF Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, however due to circumstances the contest was moved to Butler Field in Deerfield Beach. 

     High school football was once played at  Lockhart Stadium where Inter Miami CF Stadium currently stands. Stranahan played their home games there until 2012 because their campus does not have a football field. The Dillard Panthers and the Blanche Ely Tigers participated in the annual Soul Bowl in that location until 2016. 

     Deerfield Beach(0-0) has reloaded even though they lost a ton of talent to graduation. They have lost two straight Class 8A state semifinal games to the Columbus Explorers. The Bucks have reached the state semifinals in three of the last four years. Primary targets on pass receptions are expected to be wide receivers Jamarion McDougle and Deion Small. Running back Jaziun Patterson will get the majority of carries from the backfield. 

West Palm Beach Ratings October 2020

     The ratings were issued for West Palm Beach area sports talk format radio stations. The ratings period went from the second week of September to the first week of October. 

     Fox Sports 640 South Florida WMEN-AM moved to a 0.4 after four straight months with a 0.2. The New York Yankees eliminated the Cleveland Indians in the American League Wild Series and then took on the Tampa Bay Rays in the American League Division Series. It will be the last complete period in which Chris Kokell works there as a weekend host and Parker Starson as a sports anchor.

     Sports Radio 1230 The Zone WBZT-AM finished with a 0.0 for the eighth consecutive month. The Miami Marlins defeated the Chicago Cubs in the National League Wild Card Series and challenged the Atlanta Braves in the National League Division Series. It was the first time that the Marlins reached the postseason since 2003. 

Inter Miami CF Lose To FC Dallas

     Inter Miami CF were defeated by FC Dallas 2-1 on Wednesday night at Toyota Stadium. They remain in contention for an Eastern Conference playoff spot. 

     It was just the third time this season that Inter Miami CF played outside of the Eastern Time Zone. They started the 2020 season in Los Angeles against LAFC on March 1 and played Nashville SC in Tennessee on August 30.  

     Inter Miami CF got the only tally of the first half. Rodolfo Pizarro received a pass beyond the defense at the top of the box, dribbled the ball twice and placed a right-footed shot into the net from nine yards out in the 33rd minute. 

     The second half came and FC Dallas tied the contest 1-1 during the 60th minute. Franco Jara put in a penalty kick into the low left corner of the cage. 

     It became a 2-1 for FC Dallas in the 82nd minute. Ryan Hollingshead gave them their first lead of the game with a one-time shot from seven yards away. 

Adam Shaheen Signs Extension With Dolphins

     Miami Dolphins tight end Adam Shaheen has signed a contract extension with the club. The two-year deal will keep him with the Dolphins through the 2022 season. 

     Shaheen was acquired by the Fins from the Chicago Bears back in July. He has five catches for 58 yards and two touchdowns in six games this season with Miami. 

Miami Ratings October 2020

     The ratings for Miami/Fort Lauderdale sports format radio stations were released. The time span was from the second week of September until the first week of October.

     560 The Joe WQAM-AM was up from a 0.7 to a 1.0 in the month. It helped that the University of Miami Hurricanes had a great start as they won their first three games of the season. The Miami Dolphins began their 2020 season and lost three of their first four contests.

     Sports Talk 790 The Ticket WAXY-AM went from a 0.4 to a 0.6 in the period. The Miami Heat continued their tremendous run in the 2020 NBA postseason as they won the Eastern Conference title over the Boston Celtics and reached the NBA Finals for the first time since 2014. 

     Miami Sports 940 WINZ-AM rose again from a 0.2 to a 0.3 and they have tripled their audience in the last two months. The Miami Marlins reached the Major League Baseball playoffs for the first time since 2003. The Marlins knocked off the Chicago Cubs in the National League Wild Card Series and faced the Atlanta Braves in the National League Division Series. 

Dan Le Batard Show Moving Off ESPNEWS

     The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz will have their final television simulcast at ESPNEWS on November 6. They have been aired on that station since April 2018. Their program along with several other ESPN Radio shows will be shifted to the ESPN+ streaming service. 

     Le Batard had his radio program simulcast on other ESPN channels over the last several years.  The show was on ESPNU from September 2015 to March 2018. They were a temporary noon-hour replacement on ESPN2 for His and Hers from January 2017 until the middle of that year. 

Jack Skille Joins EC Salzburg

     Former Florida Panthers forward Jack Skille has signed with EC Salzburg in the Austrian ICEHL. He has participated in hockey overseas since the 2017-18 season. 

     Skille played with the Florida Panthers for three seasons in the early 2010s. He compiled eight goals and 16 assists in 99 games with the team. Skille was involved in six regular season games for the Chicago Blackhawks in 2009-10 and they went on to win the Stanley Cup title later that season. 

Keriann Worley Leaves Entercom Miami

     Keriann Worley has left her position at Entercom Communications in Miami. She held the position of senior vice president and market manager for the past three years. 

     Worley was responsible for the seven radio stations in the Miami cluster. Two of them had a sports talk format which were 560 The Joe WQAM-AM and Sports Talk 790 The Ticket WAXY-AM. 

     She began her career in radio as an account executive at Clear Channel Miami. Worley was named director of sales at Clear Channel West Palm Beach. She was eventually promoted to market manager at Clear Channel Melbourne and Clear Channel Florida Keys. 

     Worley moved on to Beasley Broadcasting in Miami as director of sales. CBS Radio bought all of the Beasley radio stations in Miami and she became the vice president and director of sales. Worley was promoted to senior vice president and market manager when the sale of Miami stations to Entercom went through in November 2017. 

Palm Beach High School Football Tripleheaders

     Palm Beach County high school football for public schools will begin their seasons this weekend. The three game sites to be used will be the high school campuses of Boca Raton, Wellington and Jupiter. 

     There will be only one game played at night on Fridays. Tripleheaders will be played in all three locations on Saturdays at 10AM, 2PM and 6PM. 

     All Palm Beach County public high school teams will play in four contests. There will be a three-round playoff tournament that will begin on the first weekend in December. 

     The public schools will play most of their games in an assigned location. The teams in southern Palm Beach County includes Atlantic, Boca Raton, Spanish River, West Boca Raton, Boynton Beach. and Olympic Heights will play in Boca Raton. 

     Wellington will host schools in western Palm Beach County. They include Glades Central, Pahokee, Park Vista, Wellington, Palm Beach Central, Royal Palm Beach, Seminole Ridge and Santaluces. 

     Northern Palm Beach County schools will participate in Jupiter. Teams will include Dwyer, Palm Beach Gardens, Jupiter, Suncoast, Forest Hill, John I. Leonard and Palm Beach Lakes. 

     Some schools will travel outside their assigned area. Contests include Village Academy at Suncoast in Jupiter on October 31, Palm Beach Central at Atlantic in Boca Raton on November 7 and Atlantic at Palm Beach Lakes in Jupiter on November 21. 

Hurricanes Outlast Virginia

     The University of Miami Hurricanes battled to a 19-14 win over the University of Virginia Cavaliers at Hard Rock Stadium on Saturday night. The Canes will have a week off and then play North Carolina State on November 6. 

     Miami(5-1. 4-1) jumped out to a 7-0 lead just 28 seconds into the contest. St. Thomas Aquinas grad and wide receiver Mike Harley caught a 43-yard touchdown pass from quarterback D'Eriq King. 

     Virginia(1-4, 1-4) evened it up at the 10:06 mark of the first. Quarterback Brennan Armstrong tossed a two-yard pass to Tony Poljan. 

     Hurricanes got field goals from Jose Boregales during the middle quarters. He hit a 32-yard field goal with 1:02 left in the second and a 20-yard field goal with 3:47 remaining in the third. 

     It became a 19-7 lead for Miami at 12:04 of the fourth quarter. Donald Chaney Jr. carried the ball one yard into the end zone. 

     The Cavaliers tried to catch up with 5:27 to go. Wide receiver Ra'Shaun Henry received a 35-yard pass from Armstrong. 

Inter Miami CF Edge Orlando City SC

     Inter Miami CF beat Orlando City SC 2-1 on Saturday at Inter Miami CF Stadium in the cross-state rivalry. There were people in attendance at a Inter Miami CF home game for the first time this season and it was an estimated 2,500 supporters. Both teams split the 2020 season series 2-2. 

     It became 1-0 for Orlando City SC in the 12th minute. Daryl Dike received a long lead pass outside the 18-yard box and he shot a left-footed shot from 14 yards out.

     inter Miami CF found the net during the 45th minute to tie it 1-1. Blaise Matuidi fired a left-footed, half-volley shot from 11 yards away on the left side that was going wide. It went off the left heel of Robin Jansson outside the six-yard box and landed in the cage of an own goal. 

     In the 89th minute, Inter Miami CF got their first lead of the contest. Lewis Morgan took a corner kick from the right side and Leandro Gonazlez Pirez headed the ball over the goaltender from three yards away. 

Miami Northwestern Holds Off Miami Central

     It was the season opener for two of the top public schools in Dade County as the Miami Northwestern Bulls pulled off a 21-14 victory over the Miami Central Rockets at Traz Powell Stadium on Friday night. The Bulls are the defending FHSAA Class 5A state champions while the Rockets are the defending FHSAA Class 6A state champions. 

     Miami Northwestern(1-0) rolled out to a 7-0 lead at the 10:39 mark. Quarterback Taron Dickson threw to the right sideline and wide receiver Romello Brinson raced down the field for a 78-yard touchdown. 

     The Bulls extended their lead to 14-0 at 8:24. Rockets quarterback Keyone Jenkins fumbled the ball at his own 26-yard line and linebacker Pat Payton brought it back for a score. 

     Miami Central(0-1) bounced back on their next possession. Jenkins capped it as he fired a nine-yard pass to wide receiver Zaylan Reese in the front of the end zone with 5:17 left in the first and trailed 14-7. 

     The Rockets tied it up 14-14 with 3:16 remaining in the opening quarter. Jenkins floated a 36-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Robert McMinn and he avoided a tackle on the right sideline to reach the end zone. 

     There was only one more scoring play for the rest of the contest. Miami Northwestern running back Siddiq Jackson went around the right end and rushed in from 46 yards out during the third quarter as the Bulls reclaimed the lead 21-14. 

Bill Daley Exits Miami Herald

     Longtime Miami Herald high school sportswriter Bill Daley is no longer with the newspaper. He was a part of numerous freelance job cuts made by that organization. 

     Daley had been employed by the Miami Herald for almost two decades. He mainly covered high school sporting events in Dade County and southern Broward County. 

Cardinal Gibbons Upsets St. Thomas Aquinas

     The Cardinal Gibbons Chiefs topped the St. Thomas Aquinas Raiders 17-10 on Friday night at Brian Piccolo Stadium in Fort Lauderdale. It was the first meeting between these Broward County teams since 2010. The loss snapped the Raiders 16-game winning streak. 

     There was no scoring in the first quarter. St. Thomas Aquinas(1-1) broke the scoreless tie with 4:24 left in the second. Quarterback Zion Turner found wide receiver Bralon Brown on the right side of the end zone for a 25-yard touchdown pass. 

     Cardinal Gibbons(3-0) tied it up 7-7 at the 4:52 mark of the third quarter. Running back Kamari Moulton busted up the middle into the end zone from two yards away. 

     Late in the fourth quarter, STA fumbled the ball and the Chiefs recovered it at the Raiders 15-yard line. They ended the drive with an 18-yard field goal for a 10-7 lead with 3:11 remaining.  

     Turner had a pass picked off on the first play of the Raiders next possession and returned for a 17-yard touchdown with 3:06 to go. The Chiefs increased their lead to 17-7. 

     St. Thomas Aquinas quickly raced the ball down the field on their next drive. It concluded with a 21-yard field goal with 55 seconds left and they trailed 17-10. 

Cardinal Gibbons At St. Thomas Aquinas Preview

     The Cardinal Gibbons Chiefs go across town and tangle with the St. Thomas Aquinas Raiders at Brian Piccolo Stadium in Fort Lauderdale on Friday night. It will be the first time that both schools meet each other on the gridiron since 2010. 

     Cardinal Gibbons(2-0) has not yet played a contest on the road. The Chiefs have victories over Dade County foes Monsignor Pace 28-12 and Doral Academy 35-3. Their offense is built on their passing game with Brody Palhegyi at quarterback. He intends to find wide receivers Troy Stellato, Bryson Williams, Gabriel Morgan, Davon Kiser and Luke Dean. Running back Torrence Miller will get his share of carries. 

     St. Thomas Aquinas(1-0) opened up their season with a home victory over TRU Prep Academy 25-13 last week. STA is currently on a 16-game winning streak. Quarterback Zion Turner looks to bring the Raiders offense down the field with his running and passing ability. Running back Anthony Hankerson is expected to get many rushing opportunities and wide receiver Bralon Brown can be a primary target for Turner. 

Miami Central At Miami Northwestern Preview

     It is a battle between two FHSAA state champions as the Class 6A Miami Central Rockets challenge the Class 5A state champion Miami Northwestern Bulls at Traz Powell Stadium on Friday night. They top a slate of Dade County public schools that open up their 2020 season campaigns this week.

     Miami Central(0-0) won their first state title since 2015 in a high scoring contest over Escambia last year and got their sixth title overall. Running back Amari Daniels is expected to get the majority of rushing opportunities. Wide receiver Yulkeith Brown can make pass receptions down the field. Linebacker Wesley Bissainthe and safety Eddlin Lollar will lead the Rockets defense. 

     Miami Northwestern(0-0) have captured the state title in their last three seasons. They moved down to a lower classification and picked up their seventh overall state championship with a victory over Jones in the title game. Quarterback Taron Dickens will attempt to find wide receiver Romello Brinson and tight end Khalil Brantley on passes. The Bulls defense has talented players that includes safety Tim Burns Jr., safety Kam Kinchens, defensive end Ja'corey Hammett, linebacker Terrence Lewis and cornerback Travis McNichols. 

American Heritage At Venice Preview

     The American Heritage Patriots head across the state and face the Venice Indians on Friday night. It is a rare clash between both schools in different classifications.  

     American Heritage(3-1) won their first three games of the 2020 season against Class 3A state champion Chaminade-Madonna, Clearwater and Bartram Trail. The Patriots lost at home last week to Trinity Christian Academy 3-0 on a mistouched punt return and a field goal during the final 12 seconds of the contest. Quarterback Blake Murphy can connect passes to wide receivers Orande Gadsden II, Michael Watkins III and Jacolby Spells. Running backs Mark Fletcher and Jerry Dinkins will get rushing attempts. 

     Venice(6-1) has appeared in the FHSAA Class 7A state semifinals for the last four years and reached that point last year winning all their playoff games on the road. After a season opening loss to IMG Academy, the Indians compiled six straight wins over Raines, Lyman, Riverview Sarasota, Sarasota, Lakeland and Lakewood Ranch. They have outscored their last six opponents 323-40. Venice can go with running backs Steffan Johnson, Dam'rion Escort, Dylan Turner and Carson Smith on carries. Wide receiver Weston Wolf will be the primary target for quarterback Colin Blazek. 

Chaminade-Madonna At Benjamin Preview

     The Chaminade-Madonna Lions take a trip to Palm Beach County and take on the Benjamin Buccaneers on Friday night in Palm Beach Gardens. A victory by either school can help their status to reach the FHSAA postseason. 

     Chaminade-Madonna(3-1) is the three-time defending FHSAA Class 3A state champions and are more than halfway through their schedule. The Lions have won three of their last four games against Class 2A state champion Champagnat Catholic, Bishop Verot and Clearwater Academy International. Their lone loss was to American Heritage by four points. Running back Thaddius Franklin will get the bulk of the carries from the backfield. 

     Benjamin(1-2) looks to even up their record. Their only victory came at home versus Archbishop McCarthy. The Bucs two losses on the road were to American Heritage and Gulliver Prep. Quarterback Tyler Aronson can guide the Buccaneers offense down the field. 

NHL All-Star Game Postponed

     The National Hockey League has postponed the 2021 All-Star Game. The event was to be held at BB&T Center on January 29 and January 30. 

     The NHL intends to hold the All-Star Game in South Florida sometime in the near future. Sunrise was the host of a previous NHL All-Star Game back in 2003 and it turned out to be the first shootout in National Hockey League history. 

Dmitry Kulikov Signs With Devils

     Former Florida Panthers defenseman Dmitry Kulikov has signed a one-year deal worth $1.15 million with the New Jersey Devils. He was with the Winnipeg Jets for the past three seasons and had 10 points in 51 games during 2019-20. 

     Kulikov spent the first seven seasons of his NHL career with the Florida Panthers. He helped the club win their only two division titles in franchise history. 

Drew Shore Ups With Carolina Hurricanes

     One-time Florida Panthers forward Drew Shore has inked a one-year deal with the Carolina Hurricanes worth $700,000. He spent the last three seasons overseas playing hockey. 

     Shore was with the Panthers in the first two seasons of his National Hockey League career. He compiled eight goals and 12 assists in 67 games with the Panthers. He later had stints with the Calgary Flames and Vancouver Canucks. 

Stan Van Gundy Joins New Orleans Pelicans

     Former Miami Heat head coach Stan Van Gundy has been named the new head coach of the New Orleans Pelicans. He spent the 2019-20 season a game analyst for TNT. 

     Van Gundy was elevated to Miami Heat head coach just prior to the 2003-04 season and took over for Pat Riley. He helped the club reach the Eastern Conference Finals the following season and fell to the Detroit Pistons in seven games. Van Gundy left the post 21 games into the 2005-06 season. Riley replaced him and the club won their first NBA championship in franchise history over the Dallas Mavericks.

     He would eventually return to the NBA sidelines. Van Gundy was the head coach of the Orlando Magic from 2007 until 2012. He followed that with a stint as the Detroit Pistons head coach from 2014 to 2018. 

     

South Florida High School Football Update

     High school football throughout South Florida is almost at full swing this year. It has taken some time for schools in the tri-county area to begin the 2020 regular season. 

     Dade County saw many of their private schools start during September with Champagnat Catholic leading the way on September 11. Public schools will begin this week headlined by Miami Norland and Miami Carol City on Thursday followed by Miami Central and Miami Northwestern at Traz Powell Stadium on Friday. 

     Private schools from Broward County have launched their 2020 regular seasons over the past month. Teams that participated in their first game included Chaminade-Madonna on September 11, American Heritage on September 18, Cardinal Gibbons on October 9 and St. Thomas Aquinas on October 16. Broward County public schools anticipate to start on October 30. It will include Deerfield Beach and Stranahan playing in the first high school football game ever at Inter Miami CF Stadium. 

     Palm Beach County private schools have been playing since September 11. They have included American Heritage, Cardinal Newman, Benjamin, King's Academy, Jupiter Christian, Glades Day, Boca Christian and Berean Christian. Public schools will play their contests beginning October 30 in three high schools locations which are either Wellington, Boca Raton or Jupiter 

     All public and private high schools north of Palm Beach County started their campaigns back on September 11. Martin County schools that included South Fork, Jensen Beach and Martin County began. St. Lucie County high schools like Treasure Coast, Centennial, Port St. Lucie, Fort Pierce Central and Fort Pierce Westwood also started.

Scott Wilson Signs With Panthers

     The Florida Panthers have signed forward Scott Wilson. It is a one-year, two-way contract with the club. 

     Wilson played with the Buffalo Sabres for the past three seasons. He had one goal and one assist in six games with them last season. Wilson previously was with the Pittsburgh Penguins and won a Stanley Cup title in 2016-17.

Chris Kokell Rejoining ESPN West Palm

     Chris Kokell is leaving Fox Sports 640 South Florida WMEN-AM in West Palm Beach. He will move across town and rejoin ESPN West Palm 106.3 WUUB-FM.  

     Kokell has been with Fox Sports 640 since June 2018. He started as a high school football sports website reporter and was elevated to host a weekend show on that station in July 2018. 

     He was employed at ESPN West Palm from in the mid 2010s. Kokell was a weekend co-host for several years and later was promoted to evening co-host alongside Joe Colella from January 2017 until the summer of 2017. 

     Kokell has been involved with South Florida high school football. He was the head coach of the Forest Hill Falcons and Olympic Heights Lions. Kokell held the position as a defensive coordinator with the Jensen Beach Falcons. 

     He did television work for WTVX-TV Channel 34 in West Palm Beach. Kokell was the game analyst of high school football telecasts during the 2014 season. He did announce the 2014 FHSAA Class 3A state championship game for ESPN West Palm with Ken LaVicka. 

Ryan S. Clark Moving To Seattle

     Former South Florida sportswriter Ryan S. Clark is heading for Seattle. He will become the new Seattle Kraken beat writer for the The Athletic Seattle. 

     Clark once was a sports reporter for the South Florida Sun-Sentinel in the previous decade. He is finishing up a two-year tenure as the Colorado Avalanche beat reporter for The Athletic Denver. 

Parker Starson Joins Onside Radio

     Local sports radio producer Parker Starson has joined the staff of Onside Radio. He will be working in a producer capacity. 

     Starson spent time as a sports producer at 640 WMEN-AM. He also occasionally was called on to announce sports updates for that station. Starson did work behind the scenes at their sister-station 850 WFTL-AM. 

Ian McCoshen Goes To Minnesota

     Former Florida Panthers defenseman Ian McCoshen agreed to a deal with the Minnesota Wild. It is a one-year contract at $700,000. 

     McCoshen played for three seasons with the Florida Panthers and composed seven points in 60 games. He was traded by the Panthers to the Chicago Blackhawks for Aleksi Saarela in October 2019. 

Jayce Hawryluk Heads To Vancouver

      Former Florida Panthers forward Jayce Hawryluk has signed a contract with the Vancouver Canucks. It is a one-year deal worth $800,000. 

     He was drafted by the Panthers back in 2014. Hawryluk played parts of two seasons with the Cats and compiled eight goals and seven assists in 57 games. He was claimed off waivers by the Ottawa Senators on February 17. 

Panthers AHL Affiliate Sign Players

     The Charlotte Checkers, the AHL affiliate of the Florida Panthers, has signed two players to one-year deals that were Panthers draft picks from 2019. They are forwards Greg Meireles and Matthew Wedman.

     Meireles was selected by the Panthers in the sixth round of the 2019 NHL Draft. He was with the Kitchner Rangers of the Ontario Hockey League in 2019-20 and put up 31 goals and 34 assists in 48 contests. 

     Wedman was taken by Florida during the seventh round of the 2019 NHL Draft. He spent last season with the Kelowna Rockets of the Western Hockey League and compiled 17 goals along 19 assists in 35 games. 

Antwan Staley Joins Tallahassee Democrat

     Former local sportswriter Antwan Staley has joined the Tallahassee Democrat. He will be a beat writer on Florida State University athletics and contribute to the website of that newspaper. 

     Staley spent six years covering the Miami Dolphins as The Dolphins Wire writer for USA Today until February 2019. He was also a guest co-host on the evening show at Sports Talk 790 The Ticket WAXY-AM from 2015 to 2019 alongside primary hosts Josh Friedman, Greg Likens and Zack Duarte. Staley covered the Florida Panthers on a freelance basis from 2014 to 2016. 

     He has written college football stories for Athlon Sports. Staley, an East Carolina University grad, was a Baltimore Orioles beat reporter for MLB.com during the early part of the 2019 baseball season. He did report on the Carolina Panthers for the past year. 

Dolphins Shut Out Jets

     The Miami Dolphins blanked the New York Jets 24-0 on Sunday at Hard Rock Stadium. It was the first shutout of the 2020 season by any team. The Jets are now the only club without a victory in the National Football League. 

     The Dolphins were to play in Denver this week, however the National Football League revised the schedule. The Fins will take their bye next week and return in two weeks hosting the Los Angeles Rams.

     Miami(3-3) moved out to a 7-0 lead with 6:55 to go in the first quarter. Quarterback Ryan Fitzpartick tossed a four-yard pass to tight end Adam Shaheen. 

     In the second quarter, the Dolphins extended the lead to 14-0. Fitzpatrick found wide receiver Preston Williams on a three-yard throw.  

     New York(0-6) surrendered another score with 1:53 left in the first half. Tight end Durham Smythe caught a four-yard pass from Fitzpatrick. 

     The Dolphins expanded it to a 24-point margin with 3:49 left in the final quarter. Jason Sanders was able to kick a 24-yard field goal. Miami rookie quarterback Tua Tagovailoa made his NFL debut with 2:27 remaining in the game. 

Michael Hill Gone From Marlins

     Miami Marlins president of baseball operations Michael Hill is no longer with the team. The club will begin a search to fill in his position. 

     Hill joined the Marlins in 2002 and the team won their second World Series the following year. He was named the Marlins general manager in September 2013. Miami has make two postseason appearances during his tenure and it includes reaching the playoffs in 2020. 

Montreal Impact Trap Inter Miami CF

     Inter Miami CF fell to the Montreal Impact 2-1 on Saturday night at Red Bull Arena in Harrison, New Jersey. It was the first loss in the last four games for Inter Miami CF. 

     It was a quick start by the Montreal Impact as they got ahead 1-0 during the sixth minute. Bojan Krkic took a right-footed shot from 33 yards away that one-hopped by the goaltender into the bottom right corner of the cage. 

     Inter Miami CF tied the contest 1-1 in the 33rd minute. Brek Shea blasted a left-footed shot from 19 yards out that deflected off a defender and into the net. 

     Montreal reclaimed the lead 2-1 late in the second half in the 80th minute. Maxi Urruti was able to tap a shot with his right foot from seven yards away.  

Hurricanes Take Pittsburgh

     The University of Miami Hurricanes beat the University of Pittsburgh Panthers 31-19 at Hard Rock Stadium on Saturday. It was the Hurricanes first home game in three weeks. 

     Miami(4-1, 3-1) got the only points during the first quarter. Quarterback D'Eriq King connected a 35-yard pass up the middle to running back Cam'Ron Harris at the 5:48 mark. 

     The Hurricanes made it 14-0 at 6:44 of the second quarter. Tight end Will Mallory caught a six-yard touchdown pass from King. 

     Pittsburgh(3-3, 2-3) cut into the deficit late in the second. Alex Kessman kicked a 33-yard field goal with 2:43 remaining and booted a 24-yard field goal with eight seconds left. 

     In the third quarter, the Canes expanded their lead to 21-6. King tossed a 38-yard pass to former St. Thomas Aquinas wide receiver Mike Harley in the end zone at 13:13.

     The Panthers responded with a couple of scoring plays. After Kessman got a 36-yard field goal at the 11:20 mark, quarterback Joey Yellen threw a short one-yard pass to tight end Daniel Moraga at 9:20. 

     Miami then took a 28-12 left with 5:40 to go in the third. King connected a 45-yard pass to Mallory for another score. 

     Pitt got a 30-yard field goal from Kessman with 31 seconds left and trailed 28-19. Jose Borregales converted on his only field goal of contest from 37 yards during the fourth quarter at 4:13. 

St. Thomas Aquinas Handles TRU Prep Academy

     The defending FHSAA Class 7A state champion St. Thomas Aquinas Raiders beat TRU Prep Academy 25-13 at Brian Piccolo Stadium in Fort Lauderdale on Friday night. The game started extremely late and was held up for 2 hours and 40 minutes due to a weather delay. 

     St. Thomas Aquinas(1-0) extended their winning streak to 16 games and they have not lost a contest since the 2018 state championship game. TRU Prep Academy(3-1), who have many players who transferred from University School, lost their first game as a high school football program. 

Trinity Christian Academy Slips By American Heritage

     The Trinity Christian Academy Conquerors barely got by the American Heritage Patriots 3-0 on Friday night at Heritage Field in Plantation. The contest surprisingly turned out to be a low scoring game. American Heritage had their three-game winning streak snapped. 

     Trinity Christian Academy(4-1) compiled the points during the fourth quarter against American Heritage(3-1). Christian Ellis recovered a loose ball from a punt at the Patriots 12-yard line with 12 second left. Seth Bialek later booted a 22-yard field goal with no time remaining. 

Cardinal Gibbons Breeze By Doral Academy

     The Cardinal Gibbons Chiefs defeated the Doral Academy Firebirds 35-3 at Dr. Bud Tight Field in Fort Lauderdale on Friday night. The contest at The Furnace was held up for over one hour due to a weather delay. 

     Cardinal Gibbons(2-0) got up 7-0 at the 7:24 mark of the first quarter. Quarterback Brody Palhegyi tossed a swing pass to wide receiver Gabriel Morgan on the right side for an eight-yard touchdown. 

     The Chiefs scored on their next possession with 2:08 left in the first. Palhegyi connected an 18-yard pass on the left hash marks to wide receiver Bryson Williams. 

     Early in the second quarter, Cardinal Gibbons had a 21-point margin. Wide receiver Davon Kiser went up the middle untouched from 12 yards out after catching a pass from Palhegyi. 

     Doral Academy(1-2) surrendered another touchdown with 1:08 remaining in the second. Palhegyi found wide receiver Troy Stellato on the right side of the zone from 14 yards away. 

     The Cardinal Gibbons defense scored a touchdown on the third play of the third quarter. Firebirds quarterback Keyonvis Bouie fumbled the ball and linebacker Josh Oliver returned it 25 yards to the end zone. A running clock was used once the Chiefs had a 35-0 lead. 

     The Firebirds broke the shutout with 1:51 left in the third. Joshua Lopes was able to kick a 31-yard field goal to make it 35-3. 

Tito Benach Back In South Florida

     Tito Benach has returned to the local region and started as a producer and sports anchor for Onside Radio. He recently left his position in the digital video department at ESPN in Connecticut. 

     Benach was employed at 560 WQAM-AM prior to leaving Miami in December 2018. He worked as both a producer and board operator for that station. Benach also occasionally reported on several local sports teams. 

Onside Radio Launches

     A new sports talk radio format has been launched called Onside Radio. The audio feed appeared on the InterMiamiCF.com website on Friday. Onside Radio will have an audio stream on their on website Onside Radio.com on Monday. 

     Longtime South Florida sports talk host "The Big O" Orlando Alzugaray is the station manager for Onside Radio. He will be the midday host of The Big O Show from 11AM to 1PM. He will continue as the studio co-host for Inter Miami CF audio broadcasts. 

     The lineup will include several Miami broadcasters. Ethan Skolnick, owner of 5 Reasons Sports Network, will host a one-hour program from 10AM to 11AM. Skolnick has worked as a beat reporter of the Miami Heat for almost 25 years. 

     Alex Donno will be the afternoon host for Man Of The Match from 1PM to 5PM. He is currently a studio co-host on Inter Miami CF audio broadcasts and recently filled in for Channing Crowder as an afternoon co-host on 560 The Joe WQAM-AM. 

     The Athletic Miami writer Manny Navarro will host The Miami Insiders from 6PM to 8PM. He continues as the University of Miami beat reporter for The Athletic Miami. 

     The crew of Lemon City Live will host the morning show called The Morning Juice from 8AM to 10 AM. Inter Miami CF television sideline reporter Kaylyn Kyle hosts Inside Futbol from 5PM to 6PM. 

Doral Academy At Cardinal Gibbons Preview

     The Doral Academy Firebirds face the Cardinal Gibbons Chiefs on Friday night at Dr. Bud Tight Field in Fort Lauderdale. Both schools look to get some traction and get into the FHSAA postseason. 

     Doral Academy(1-1) has split their first two games of the season. They lost on the road to Cardinal Newman 28-19 and blanked Everglades Prep Academy 38-0 at home last week. The Firebirds offense will be led by their quarterback Keyonvis Bouie. 

     Cardinal Gibbons(1-0) opened up their 2020 season last week and defeated Monsignor Pace 28-12. Quarterback Brody Palhegyi will take charge of their offense down the field. They are dangerous on special teams with punt returns for touchdowns by Davon Kiser and Luke Dean last week. 

Champagnat Catholic At American Heritage Preview

     The Champagnat Catholic Lions make the long trip up north to Palm Beach County. They challenge the American Heritage Stallions at The Corral in Delray Beach on Friday night. 

     Champagnat Catholic(3-2), the defending FHSAA Class 2A state champions, have played a competitive schedule so far this season. After a season opening loss to Class 3A state champion Chaminade-Madonna, the Lions compiled wins over Somerset Academy Silver Palms, Dade Christian and Monsignor Pace. They fell to TRU Prep Academy 47-29 last week. Running back Donovan Jones will get the majority of carries from the backfield. Quarterback Tyrous Taylor calls the signals for the team on offense. 

     American Heritage(1-1) had their game cancelled last week when the American Collegiate team failed to show up due to bus trouble. They Stallions will host their third game of the campaign. The Stallions lost to Bishop Verot 19-0 and prevailed over Benjamin 24-3. Quarterback Dylan Rizk intends to find wide receivers Bradyn Butler and Brandon Schabert on pass receptions. Expect running back Trey Rainey to get some rushing opportunities. 

TRU Prep Academy At St. Thomas Aquinas Preview

     The St. Thomas Aquinas Raiders open up their 2020 season as they host the TRU Prep Academy Saints at Brian Piccolo Stadium in Fort Lauderdale on Friday night. Both teams are top South Florida high schools that can contend for a state championship. 

     TRU Prep Academy(3-0) have already played in three contests this season. They have impressive victories over Akelynn's Angels Christian Academy 44-6, Palm Glades Prep Academy 61-0 and defending Class 2A state champion Champagnat Catholic 47-29. A good portion of players on their roster had transferred from University School. Quarterback Nick Vattiato can guide the Saints down the field on offense. His primary targets on passes are wide receivers Brandon Inniss and Vincent Pagano. Running back Max Balthazar will get most of their carries from the backfield. 

     St. Thomas Aquinas(0-0) is the defending FHSAA Class 7A state champions and begin a tough schedule for this year. STA is currently on a 15-game winning streak and have not lost a contest since the 2018 Class 7A state title game against Lakeland. The Raiders offense will be led by quarterback Zion Turner. He can run out of the pocket at anytime and can throw the ball to any place on the field. Running back Anthony Hankerson is expected to get his share of rushing opportunities. 

Evgenii Dadonov Leaves For Ottawa Senators

     Evgenii Dadonov will not be back with the Florida Panthers for the 2020-21 NHL season. He has signed a three-year contract with the Ottawa Senators worth $15 million. 

     Dadonov had played the past three seasons with the Panthers as he compiled 81 goals and 101 assists. He put up 25 goals and 22 assists in 69 games during 2019-20. 

Inter Miami CF Tie Atlanta United FC

     Inter Miami CF tied Atlanta United FC 1-1on Wednesday night at Inter Miami CF Stadium in Fort Lauderdale. It snapped a franchise record two-game winning streak for Inter Miami CF. 

     After a scoreless first half, Inter Miami CF got their only goal during the 79th minute. Brek Shea received a long crossing pass by Lewis Morgan from the right side and he half-volleyed in a left-footed shot from six yards out that went to the near post. 

     Atlanta United FC responded quickly and evened it up 1-1 in the 83rd minute. Jake Mulraney got a square pass in the middle of the field and one-timed a right-footed shot from eight yards away into the low left corner of the cage. 

Panthers Ink Philippe Desrosiers

     The Florida Panthers have re-signed goalie Philippe Desrosiers. It is a one-year, two-way deal worth $700,000. 

     Desrosiers played last season with the Panthers American Hockey League affiliate in Springfield. He compiled a 16-10-2 record with a 3.05 goals-against-average and a .916 save percentage in 29 regular season games. 

Rich Herrera Returns To Tucson

     Former Miami sportscaster Rich Herrera is leaving San Diego. He is rejoining KCUB-AM in Tucson as a program director and afternoon host. Herrera held those same two positions when that station flipped to a sports talk format in 2001. 

     Herrera has been in the San Diego media market since early 2017. He worked as an assistant program director at KWFN-FM and as the San Diego Padres Radio Network senior executive producer and studio host. 

     He once was employed in South Florida. Herrera was a weekend host on Sports Talk 790 The Ticket WAXY-AM for one year until December 2016. He did work in Tampa prior to that as a talk host on WHFS-AM and the director of radio operations/radio studio host for the Tampa Bay Rays. 

Miami Heat History

     The Miami Heat added on to their franchise history with an incredible chapter during the 2019-20 NBA season. The club completed their season on Sunday as they fell to the Los Angeles Lakers in six games for the NBA championship. 

     The Heat made their sixth appearance in the NBA Finals and won their sixth Eastern Conference championship. The team now have a series record of 3-3 in the NBA Finals. Miami has won NBA titles in 2006, 2012 and 2013. The Heat got the Southeast Division title and now have topped a division 14 times. 

Lucas Wallmark Signs With Blackhawks

     Lucas Wallmark agreed to a one-year deal with the Chicago Blackhawks. He was acquired by the Florida Panthers from Carolina Hurricanes for Vincent Trocheck in a five-player deal back on February 24.  

     Wallmark had one goal and one assist in seven regular season games with Florida. He was involved in two games during their Stanley Cup Qualifier Series against the New York Islanders. Wallmark did not receive a qualifying offer last week and became an unrestricted free agent. 

Lakers Top Heat And Win 17th NBA Title

     The Los Angeles Lakers captured the NBA title with a 106-93 victory over the Miami in Game 6 of the NBA Finals on Sunday night at AdventHealth Arena in Lake Buena Vista. The Lakers won the best-of-seven series 4-2 and tied the Boston Celtics with the most NBA championships in league history with 17. 

     It is the first title for the Lakers since 2010. The Heat made their first appearance in the NBA Finals since 2014. Miami is now 3-3 in the NBA championship round during their franchise history. 

     Los Angeles went on a 15-7 spurt at the end of the first quarter and were up 28-20. The Lakers rolled through with a 29-11 run late in the second quarter and expanded the gap to 64-36 by halftime. It was the second largest halftime lead at in NBA Finals history. 

     Miami was unable to chop down the deficit and trailed 87-58 after three quarters. The Heat outscored the Lakers 35-19 in the final quarter. 

     Bam Adebayo led Miami with 25 points along with 10 rebounds for a double-double. Jimmy Butler added 12 points while Jae Crowder dropped in 12 points. 

     LeBron James, who won his fourth NBA championship with his third different team, got a triple-double with 28 points, 14 rebounds and 10 assists for Los Angeles. Anthony Davis had a double-double of 19 points and 15 rebounds. Rajon Rondo scored 19 points while Kentavious Caldwell-Pope placed in 17 points. 

Dolphins Smash 49ers

     The Miami Dolphins made the trip to the west coast and blasted the defending NFC champion San Francisco 49ers 43-17 at Levi Stadium on Sunday. The National Football League have reworked the Week 6 schedule and the Dolphins will host the New York Jets next week. 

Dolphins Games Rescheduled

     The National Football League had to make changes to schedules that effect several NFL clubs. The Miami Dolphins will have three of their future contests changed on the 2020 regular season. 

     The Dolphins will host the New York Jets next Sunday at Hard Rock Stadium instead of Week 10. The Fins away game at the Denver Broncos for Week 6 will be rescheduled to Week 11. The Dolphins will host the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 7 instead of Week 10

Former Florida Panthers Move On

     Some of the unrestricted free agents that were on the Florida Panthers 2019-20 team roster signed on Saturday with other clubs in the National Hockey League. Eight players from the Panthers became available to the entire NHL on Friday. 

     Forward Dominic Toninato joined the Winnipeg Jets on a one-year, two-way contract worth $700,000 and forward Dryden Hunt agreed to a one-year, two-way contract with the Arizona Coyotes. Defenseman Mark Pysyk inked a one-year, $750,000 deal with the Western Conference champion Dallas Stars. 

Clemson Pounds Hurricanes

     The Clemson University Tigers routed the University of Miami 42-17 on Saturday night in Clemson, South Carolina. The Tigers were ranked first in college football entering the contest. 

     Clemson(4-0, 3-0) scored on their first two possessions. Quarterback Trevor Lawrence tossed a 24-yard touchdown pass to tight end Braden Galloway at the 9:50 mark of the first quarter. 

     The Tigers scored six seconds into the second quarter to lead 14-0. Running back Travis Entienne rushed the ball to the right side from two yards out. 

     Miami(3-1, 2-1) broke the shutout at 3:53 of the second and they trailed 14-3. Jose Borregales connected with a 42-yard field goal. 

     Clemson scored again and had an 18-point lead with 1:14 left in the quarter. Lawrence found Galloway on the left side and he got into the end zone from 11 yards away. 

     The Hurricanes would block a field goal with no time remaining in the first half. D.J. Ivey returned the ball 48 yards for a touchdown and they were down 21-10.

     The third quarter was controlled by the Tigers. Entienne sprinted on a 72-yard touchdown run at 7:56 and Lawrence rushed into the end zone on a three-yard run with 2:31 to go for a 35-10 lead. 

     In the fourth quarter, Miami quarterback D'Eriq King would scramble out of the pocket and score from seven yards away at the 8:31 mark. It was the first time in 10 years that the Hurricanes scored an offensive touchdown against the Tigers. 

     Clemson capped the game with 4:32 remaining to make it 42-17. Tight end Davis Allen caught a 22-yard touchdown pass from Lawrence. 

Inter Miami CF Blanks Houston Dynamo

     Inter Miami CF shut out Houston Dynamo 1-0 at Inter Miami CF Stadium on Saturday night in Fort Lauderdale. The club has won two straight games for the first time in franchise history. 

     The goal of the contest happened during the 57th minute. Lewis Morgan make a penalty kick with his left foot into the low right corner of the cage. 

Heat Survive Lakers In Game 5

     The Miami Heat avoided elimination with a 111-108 win over the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 5 of the NBA Finals on Friday night at AdventHealth Arena in Lake Buena Vista. Both clubs will meet each other on Sunday night for Game 6. 

     Miami had a slight 25-24 advantage at the end of one quarter. The Heat scored the first six points of the second quarter and they led 60-56 by halftime. 

     Los Angeles kept it close and trailed 88-82 after three quarters. The Heat had a 11-point lead early in the fourth quarter, however the Lakers went on an 17-3 run to go up 99-96 with 5:28 left. The Heat came back with five straight points to begin a 15-9 spurt. Jimmy Butler made two free throws with 16.8 seconds left and Miami led 109-108. 

     Butler compiled a tripled as he led Miami with 35 points, 11 assists and 12 rebounds. Duncan Robinson poured in 26 points while Kendrick Nunn added 14 points. Bam Adebayo got 13 points and Tyler Herro had 12 points. 

     James put together a double-double of 40 points, 13 rebounds and seven assists for Los Angeles. Anthony Davis also had a double-double with 28 points along with 12 rebounds. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope was able to drop in 16 points.

Cardinal Gibbons Stops Monsignor Pace

     The Cardinal Gibbons Chiefs opened up their 2020 regular season with a 28-12 victory over the Monsignor Pace Spartans at Dr. Bud Tight Field in Fort Lauderdale on Friday night. The Chiefs will be home at The Furnace next week against Doral Academy. 

     Cardinal Gibbons(1-0) got their first score on special teams. Davon Kiser returned a punt 47 yards for a touchdown at the 8:24 mark of the first quarter. 

     In the second quarter, the Chiefs reached the end zone again on a punt return at 11:12 to make it 14-0. Luke Dean caught the ball, ran to the right sideline and scored from 44 yards away. 

     Monsignor Pace(0-2) responded on defense to stay in the contest. Defensive back Joshua Guerin intercepted a pass and returned it for a 63-yard touchdown with 8:35 left in the second and trailed 14-6.

     Cardinal Gibbons answered back on their next possession with 4:11 remaining in the first half for a 15-point margin. Running back Torrence Miller rushed around the left end and scored from two yards out. 

     The Chiefs expanded their lead to 28-6 at 9:27 of the third quarter. Quarterback Brody Palhegyi ran to the right side untouched and scored on a four-yard touchdown. 

     The Spartans got six points with 39 seconds to go in the third. Running back Jaquise Wright angled toward the right sideline and raced in from three yards away. 

Monsignor Pace At Cardinal Gibbons Preview

     The Cardinal Gibbons Chiefs host the Monsignor Pace Spartans on Friday night at Dr. Bud Tight Field in Fort Lauderdale. Both teams opted in and are eligible to make the 2020 FHSAA postseason. 

     Monsignor Pace(0-1) started their regular season last week. The Spartans were defeated by the defending FHSAA Class 2A state champions Champagnat Catholic 35-0. Quarterback Adrian Posse can throw the ball all over the field to his wide receivers. Defensive end Shemar Stewart can have an impact against the run.  

     Cardinal Gibbons(0-0) have their season opener at The Furnace. They are one of many high school football programs in South Florida that began training camp very late. The Chiefs still have some players on the roster who played on their 2018 FHSAA Class 5A state championship team. Quarterback Brody Palhegyi leads the Cardinal Gibbons offense and his primary target will be wide receiver Troy Stellato. 

Florida Panthers Sign Free Agents

     The Florida Panthers signed several free agents on Friday. It was the first day to sign free agents throughout the National Hockey League. This moment is usually on July 1 on the NHL calendar, however the coronavirus pandemic has pushed back the yearly schedule. 

     The Panthers were able to sign defenseman Radko Gudas to a three-year deal worth $7.5 million. Gudas spent last season with the Washington Capitals where he compiled 15 points in 63 games. He had previous stints in his eight-year NHL career with the Tampa Bay Lightning and Philadelphia Flyers. 

     Florida Panthers general manager Bill Zito continued with his Columbus Blue Jackets roots. He signed center Alexander Wennberg to a one-year, $2.25 million contract. Wennberg has been with the Blue Jackets for his entire six-year NHL career. He put out five goals and 17 assists in 57 games during the 2019-20 campaign. 

     The Panthers signed center Vinnie Hinostroza to a contract for one season worth $1 million. Hinostroza played the last two seasons with the Arizona Coyotes as he collected 21 goals in 140 games during that time span. He spent his first three seasons in the NHL playing for head coach Joel Quenneville and the Chicago Blackhawks. 

     The Cats also inked center Carter Verhaeghe to a two-year, $2 million deal. He was with the Stanley Cup champion Tampa Bay Lightning in 2019-20. Verhaeghe participated in 52 regular season contests and compiled nine goals and four assists. He did appear in eight playoff games and had two assists on their championship run. 

     Florida agreed to a two-year contract with forward Ryan Lomberg. He did play in a combined 11 games with the Calgary Flames during the 2017-18 and 2018-19 seasons. Lomberg spent last season with the Stockton Heat of the American Hockey League and compiled 20 points and 21 games.  

Rat Trick 25th Anniversary

     One of the biggest moments in Florida Panthers franchise history was celebrated on Thursday. It was the 25th anniversary of The Rat Trick. 

     The Florida Panthers played their home opener at Miami Arena on October 8, 1995 against the Calgary Flames. A rat appeared in the Panthers locker room prior to the start of the contest. Panthers right wing Scott Mellanby smacked the rat across the room with his hockey stick and it bounced off one of the walls. 

     Mellanby ended up scoring two power-play goals in the game. Panthers goalie John Vanbiesbrouck spoke to the media in the locker room following the 4-3 victory and called it a rat trick. 

     That moment lead to several great circumstances during the 1995-96 season. Fans started throwing plastic rats on the ice whenever the Panthers scored a goal. The club made the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time, won three postseason series. captured the Eastern Conference title and reached the Stanley Cup Finals against the Colorado Avalanche. It would become known at the Year Of The Rat. 

Marlins Eliminated By Braves In Game 3

    The Miami Marlins ended their 2020 season as they were defeated by the Atlanta Braves 7-0 in Game 3 of the National League Division Series on Thursday at Minute Maid Park in Houston. The Marlins were held scoreless by the Braves in the last 19 innings of the series.

     It was the first time in franchise history that the Marlins lost a postseason series. They won all their playoff series on their way to World Series titles in 1997 and 2003. 

     Atlanta rushed out to a 4-0 lead in the top of the third. Marcell Ozuna knocked in Ronald Acuna Jr. with a base hit through the right side. Travis d'Arnaud doubled into right-center field for Freddie Freeman and Ozuna to score. Two batters later, Dansby Swanson hit a sacrifice fly to right field which scored d'Arnaud. 

     It became 5-0 for the Braves in the fourth inning. Freeman lined a a single into center field and Acuna crossed the plate. 

    The Braves made it a seven-run margin in the fifth inning. Swanson drove in Ozzie Albies on a single to right field. Adam Duvall followed with a double into center field and Swanson scored. 

Panthers Trade For Markus Nutivaara

     The Florida Panthers acquired defensman Markus Nutivaara from the Columbus Blue Jackets for forward Cliff Pu. Florida Panthers general manager Bill Zito previously worked for the Blue Jackets and is familiar with him. 

     Nutivaara had three goals and six assists in 37 regular season games with Columbus last season. He has played in 244 games for the Blue Jackets in the last four seasons. 

Florida Panthers Unrestricted Free Agents

     There are several Florida Panthers players who were with team last season that will be unrestricted free agents. The free agency period for the National Hockey League to sign players will begin at noon on Friday. 

     Several names that were part of the Panthers roster who are now unrestricted free agents include right wing Mike Hoffman, right wing Evgenii Dadonov, center Brian Boyle, center Erik Haula and defenseman Mark Pysyk. Right wing Dominic Toninato, center Lucas Wallmark, left wing Dryden Hunt did not receive qualifying offers from the Panthers earlier this week and became unrestricted free agents. 

Inter Miami CF Drops New York Red Bulls

     Inter Miami CF got by New York Red Bulls 2-1 at Red Bull Arena in Harrison, New Jersey on Wednesday night. It was a better performance by them after being routed by New York Red Bulls 4-1 in Fort Lauderdale back on September 23.     

     New York Red Bulls got the first goal in the 53rd minute. Omir Fernandez was able to get his team on the scoreboard as he tapped in a right-footed shot from three yards. 

     It was evened up by Inter Miami CF 1-1 during the 55th minute. Matias Pellegrini got his first goal in league competition as he half-volley a shot with his left foot from 11 yards out. 

     Inter Miami CF took a 2-1 lead in 81st minute. New team captain Gonzalo Higuain scored his first Major League Soccer goal as he made a direct kick from 25 yards away that rose to the top right corner of the net. 

Panthers Made Qualifying Offers

     The Florida Panthers made qualifying offers to several of their restricted free agents. This was the final day to make offers prior to the free agency period to begin on Friday. 

     The Panthers made offers to several players. They included forward Henrik Borgstrom, defenseman MacKenzie Weegar, forward Aleksi Saarela, defenseman Emil Djuse, goalie Sam Montembeault and forward Mason Marchment. 

     Some players did not receive a qualifying offer and will become free agents on Friday. Center Lucas Wallmark was the most well known player after being acquired in the Vincent Trocheck trade. Others players included forward Dominic Toninato, forward Dryden Hunt, defenseman Brady Keeper and goalie Phillippe Desrosiers. 

Braves Knock Off Marlins In Game 2

     The Atlanta Braves took a 2-0 lead in the best-of-five National League Division Series with a 2-0 win over the Miami Marlins at Minute Maid Park on Wednesday. The Marlins are one defeat away from losing their first playoff series in franchise history. 

     Atlanta got out to a 1-0 lead in the second inning. Dansby Swanson delivered a solo homer to left-center field on a 1-2 count. 

     The Braves made it 2-0 in the top of the fourth. Travis d'Arnaud lifted a solo home run to left field on a 2-1 pitch. 

Panthers Complete 2020 NHL Draft

     The Florida Panthers finished the 2020 NHL Draft on Wednesday. The draft consisted of players selected from the second round to the seventh round. 

     The Panthers took left wing Emil Heineman in the second round with the 43rd overall pick. Heineman has played for Leksands IF in Sweden for the past two seasons. He had two assists in 11 games during the 2019-20 season and currently has participated in four games for them this season. 

     Florida decided on forward Ty Smilanic and forward Justin Sourdif in the third round. Smilanic was with the United States National Team Development Program U-18 club and is expected to play for Quinnipiac in college hockey. Sourdif played with the Vancouver Giants of the Western Hockey League and compiled 26 goals with 28 assists in 57 games played. 

     The Panthers went with University of Denver defenseman Michael Benning and Merrimack College defenseman Zachary Uens in the fourth round. Benning is the son of former Florida Panthers defenseman Brian Benning, who played for Florida during their first two seasons as an NHL franchise. Uens had four goals and 14 assists in 34 contests with Merrimack College during the 2019-20 season. 

     The Cats selected defenseman Kasper Puutio during the fifth round. He split his time last season between the Swift Current Broncos and the Everett Silvertips in the Western Hockey League. Puttio compiled 28 points in 56 games in 2019-20 and joined Karput in Sweden for the 2020-21 campaign.

     In the seventh round, Florida picked center Elliot Ekmark and goalie Devon Levi. Ekmark has played eight games so far for Linkopings HC in Sweden this season. Levi had a 1.47 goals-against-average in 37 games with Carleton Place last season. 

NHL Targets Regular Season Opener

     National Hockey League commissioner Gary Bettman announced on national television prior to the 2020 NHL Draft when the 2020-21 regular season is targeted to begin. The upcoming regular season will start on January 1. 

     It is expected to be the annual Winter Classic. The teams who will participate and the venue was not mentioned. Bettman expects individual teams will play 82 regular season games for the 2020-21 season. The Tampa Bay Lightning completed the 2019-20 season winning the Stanley Cup on September 28. 

Lakers Climb Over Heat in Game 4

     The Los Angeles Lakers got by the Miami Heat 102-96 in Game 4 of the NBA Finals on Tuesday night. The Lakers lead the best-of-series 3-1 being played at AdventHealth Center in Lake Buena Vista. 

     The Lakers are one victory away for winning their first NBA title in 10 years. They would tie the Boston Celtics with the most NBA championships in league history with 17. 

     Los Angeles moved out to a 27-22 lead at the end of one quarter and held a slight lead 49-47 at halftime. Miami fell behind by seven points and trailed 75-70 after three quarters. The Lakers went on a 17-8 run and led 100-81 with 39.5 seconds remaining in the fourth. 

     The Heat were led by Jimmy Butler who had 22 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists. Tyler Herro put together 21 points and seven rebounds. Bam Adebayo scored 17 points and Duncan Robinson had 15 points.   

     LeBron James compiled a double-double for the Lakers with 22 points, 12 rebounds and eight assists. Anthony Davis had 22 points and nine rebounds while Kentavious Caldwell-Pope dropped in 15 points.

Florida Panthers 2020 NHL Draft

     The 2020 NHL Draft had its first night for the Florida Panthers and the 30 other National Hockey League clubs on Tuesday. It consisted of just the first round of selections. 

     It was held as a virtual event at NHL Network headquarters in Secaucus, New Jersey as teams made their picks from their team operations centers. It has been held on the floor at an NHL arena with hockey operations personnel from all NHL teams since 1980.

     The Panthers selected center Anton Lundell with the 12th overall pick in the first round. He played with HIFK in Helsinki, Finland last season and compiled 10 goals along with 18 assists in 44 games. He has one goal and one assist in three games during the 2020-21 campaign. Lundell won two world junior championships with Finland in 2018 and 2019. 

Braves Speed By Marlins In Game 1

     The Atlanta Braves dashed by the Miami Marlins 9-5 in Game 1 of the National League Division Series. The Braves lead the best-of-five series 1-0 over the Marlins. Both teams met each other in the National League playoffs back in 1997. 

     The entire series is being played at a neutral site which is Minute Maid Park in Houston. Unless previous playoff series, all contests will be played on consecutive days without any one-day breaks for travel. 

     Atlanta wasted no time to go ahead in the first inning. Ronald Acuna Jr. smacked a leadoff solo home run to right-center field on a 0-1 pitch. 

     Miami evened it up 1-1 in the top of the second. Miguel Rojas powered a solo homer to left field on a 1-0 count with none out. 

     The Marlins captured the lead in the third inning. Garrett Cooper lined a double down the left-field line to score Magneuris Sierra and Jon Berti. Brian Anderson followed with a base hit into left-center field which brought in Cooper for a 4-1 lead. 

     The Braves got a rally in the bottom of the frame to close the gap. Acuna was hit by a pitch and went to first. Two batters later, former Marlins player Marcell Ozuna drilled a double through the left side to the left-field fence and Acuna scored. Travis d'Arnaud then drove in Ozuna with a double into left field to make it 4-3. 

     In the seventh inning, Atlanta overtook the Marlins with six runs. Ozuna knocked in Austin Riley on a single to left field. It was followed by a three-run homer to center field on a 2-0 count by d'Arnaud with Freddie Freeman and Ozuna aboard. Two batters later, Dansby Swanson cracked a two-run home run to left-center field on the first pitch and Ozzie Albies scored in front of him to pull ahead 9-4. 

     The Fish picked up one run in the eighth inning and trailed 9-5. Matt Joyce knocked in Anderson with a base hit to left field. 

Kevin Wheeler Rejoins KMOX-AM

     Former University of Miami Hurricanes baseball player Kevin Wheeler has rejoined KMOX-AM in St. Louis as their evening sports host and afternoon sports anchor. He held the same role along with begin the St. Louis Cardinals and St. Louis Blues studio host in a previous stint from 2006 until 2013. 

     Wheeler, a University of Miami 1994 grad, was last heard in 2019 as a late morning host and midday host at WXOS-AM. He was an overnight host at One-On-One Sports and Sporting News Radio prior to his arrival in Missouri. 

New York Jets Cut Kalen Ballage

     The New York Jets have released running back Kalen Ballage. He joined the club as a free agent and played in three games for them in 2020. 

     Ballage was with the Miami Dolphins two seasons and compiled 74 carries for 135 rushing yards in 12 games during 2019. He was first traded by the Dolphins to the Jets in August, however the deal was called off due to a failed physical by Ballage. 

Heat Defeat Lakers In Game 3

     The Miami Heat made it a closer series with a 115-104 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 3 of the NBA Finals on Sunday night. The Heat are now down 2-1 in the best-of-seven series. The contest was played at AdventHealth Arena outside of Orlando. 

     Miami began the game on a 22-9 run and were in front 26-23 after one quarter. Los Angeles still trailed 58-54 at halftime. 

     The Heat scored the first 10 points of the second half and led 85-80 at the end of three quarters. The Lakers went on an 11-4 spurt in the first three minutes of the fourth quarter to go up 91-89. They never held the lead for the rest of the game as Miami outscored Los Angeles 26-13 down the stretch.

     The Heat was led by Jimmy Butler as he compiled a triple-double of 40 points, 13 assists and 11 rebounds. All three categories by him were all game-highs figures. Tyler Herro and Kelly Olynyk both contributed 17 points each for the team. Duncan Robinson was able to drain in 13 points. 

     LeBron James had a double-double with a team-high 26 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists for the Lakers. Kyle Kuzma and Markieff Morris both dropped in 19 points each. Anthony Davis was held to 15 points and five rebounds. 

Seahawks Fly By Dolphins

     The Seattle Seahawks dropped the Miami Dolphins 31-23 on Sunday at Hard Rock Stadium. The Seahawks have not played in Miami for eight years. 

     Seattle(3-1) got on the scoreboard at the 10:00 mark of the first quarter. Chris Carson rushed up the middle for a three-yard touchdown. 

     Miami(1-3) put up some points to close the gap. Jason Sanders kicked a 41-yard field goal with 2:33 remaining in the first. 

New York City FC Outlast Inter Miami CF

     Inter Miami CF were outscored by New York City FC 3-2 at Inter Miami CF Stadium in Fort Lauderdale on Saturday night. Inter Miami CF has lost their last two home games and three games overall.

     It was a quick start for New York City FC. They scored during the fourth minute of play with a goal by Alexandru Mitrita as he half-volleyed a shot into the top half of the net from seven yards away. 

     Inter Miami CF evened it up 1-1 in the 27th minute. Lewis Morgan blasted a 14-yard shot with his right foot from the right side toward the far post. 

     New York City FC reclaimed the lead 2-1 in the 35th minute. Anton Tinnerholm gave his club the lead as he fired a left-footed shot from 23 yards. 

     Morgan took a one-time right-footed shot from 21 yards out into the top right corner of the cage during the 38th minute to tie the contest for Inter Miami CF 2-2. 

     The scoring was completed by New York City FC in the 44th minute to make it 3-2. Mitrita scored his second goal of the contest on a deflected 17-yard shot with the right foot. 

Francisco Cervelli Retires

     Miami Marlins catcher Francisco Cervelli retired on Saturday. He made his announcement to end his 13-year Major League Baseball career. His last contest was when pitcher Sixto Sanchez made his major league debut on August 22. 

     Cervelli signed a one-year contract with the Marlins earlier this year. He was used as a backup catcher on the Miami roster behind Jorge Alfaro.

     He did help the Marlins make their first postseason appearance since 2003. Cervelli played 16 games of the shortened 60-game regular season. He compiled three runs, seven runs batted in and a .245 batting average. 

     Cervelli made stops with the New York Yankees, Pittsburgh Pirates and Atlanta Braves. He contributed to the Yankees winning their last World Series in 2009. 

Jake Rudock Joins Dolphins Practice Squad

     Quarterback Jake Rudock has joined the Miami Dolphins practice squad. He has been moved on and off the team roster several times in the past year. Defensive back Javaris Davis was released by the Fins.

     Rudock signed with the Dolphins in January 2019, was placed on the practice squad and did not play a game during the entire 2019 NFL season. He signed a new deal in January 2020 and was released by the club on July 26. Rudock was brought back again by Miami in August and was cut again on September 14. 

     Rudock was with the St. Thomas Aquinas Raiders and won the 2010 FHSAA Class 5A state title along with the 2010 national high school championship. He played college football with the University of Iowa and the University of Michigan. 

Michael Irvin Launches Podcast

     Michael Irvin added duties as a podcast host. He launched The Michael Irven Podcast at PodcastOne on October 1.

     Irvin played high school football with the St. Thomas Aquinas Raiders. He attended the University of Miami and helped the Hurricanes win a national title. Irvin later was with the Dallas Cowboys and captured three Super Bowl championships. 

     He went into broadcasting as an NFL studio analyst and panelist on The Best Damn Sports Show Period at Fox Sports Net. He joined ESPN as an NFL studio analyst and also co-hosted a midday sports show on KESN-FM in Dallas. He moved on to his current job at NFL Network has worked as a studio analyst. 

     Irvin finally returned to South Florida and hosted a midday show on 560 WQAM-AM from July 2010 until July 2012. He recently was with Radio.com as a football insider. 

Kyle Berger Returns To Broadcasting

     University of Miami grad Kyle Berger has returned to the broadcasting airwaves. He is announcing high school sporting events for D11Sports.com in eastern Pennsylvania. 

     Berger was a play-by-play announcer and sportscaster for WNPV-AM in Lansdale, Pennsylvania since 2003. The radio station stopped broadcasting their signal and went off the air on April 30. Berger did broadcast at WVUM-FM in Coral Gables while he was in college before leaving Florida. 

Lakers Hold Off Heat In Game 2

     The Los Angeles Lakers topped the Miami Heat 124-114 in Game 2 of the NBA Finals on Friday night at AdventHealth Arena in Lake Buena Vista. The Lakers are now ahead 2-0 in the best-of-seven series. 

     Los Angeles got out in front 29-23 after one quarter and extended their lead to 68-54 by halftime. Miami was able to cut the deficit down late in the third quarter and trailed 103-93. The Heat could not get closer than nine points 108-99 with 10:01 in the final quarter.  

     Jimmy Butler got a double-double with 25 points, 13 assists and eight rebounds for Miami. Kelly Olynyk contributed 24 points along with nine rebounds and Tyler Herro dropped in 17 points. 

     LeBron James fell short again of a triple-double with 33 points, nine assists and nine rebounds for the Lakers. Anthony Davis compiled a double-double of 32 points and 14 rebounds while Rajon Rondo had 16 points and 10 assists. 

Marlins Eliminate Cubs In Game 2

     The Miami Marlins stopped the Chicago Cubs 2-0 in Game 2 of the National League Wild Card Series on Friday at Wrigley Field. The Marlins captured the best-of-three series 2-0,

     The Marlins  remain the only Major League Baseball franchise in history to not lose a postseason series. They will take on the Atlanta Braves in a National League Divisional Series on Tuesday in Houston. 

     Miami waited until the seventh inning to score with a two-out rally. Garrett Cooper lifted a solo home run to left field on a 2-2 pitch. 

     Matt Joyce then doubled to left-center field and Miguel Rojas was intentionally walked. Magneuris Sierra came up next and drove in pinch-runner Lewis Brinson on a base hit into right field.

West Palm Beach Ratings September 2020

     The ratings for sports format radio stations in the West Palm Beach region was issued. The time span when from the second week of August to the second week of September. 

     Fox Sports 640 South Florida WMEN-AM remained at a 0.2 for the fourth straight month. The New York Yankees were in contention for an American League playoff spot as they were in first place or second place in the American League East. 

     Sports Radio 1230 The Zone WBZT-AM stayed at a 0.0 for the seventh consecutive period. It was general surprise considering that the Miami Marlins continued their great start and placed themselves among contenders for the National League playoffs. 

Florida Panthers Trade Josh Brown

     The Florida Panthers have traded defenseman Josh Brown to the Ottawa Senators for a 2020 fourth-round pick. The 2020 NHL Draft will be held next week. 

     Brown has been on the Florida Panthers roster for the past two seasons. He compiled three goals and five assists in 56 games in 2019-20. Brown was in two games during the Stanley Cup Qualifier Series against the New York Islanders. 

Doral Academy At Cardinal Newman Preview

     The Doral Academy Firebirds make the long trip to West Palm Beach and take on the Cardinal Newman Crusaders at Sam Budnyk Field on Friday night. It is a rare circumstance that both those schools face each other because they are in different classifications. Doral Academy is in Class 7A while Cardinal Newman is in Class 3A. 

     Doral Academy(0-0) will be participating in their first contest of the 2020 regular season. They have been delayed due to the late start of their training camp because of the coronavirus pandemic. The Firebirds have usually ended up in the FHSAA playoffs over the four years. Quarterback Keyonvis Bouie will lead their offense down the field. 

     Cardinal Newman(1-1) looks to have another season with a winning record as they play their first home game of the year. The Crusaders were blanked in their season opener at Fort Lauderdale by Calvary Christian Academy19-0. After a week off, they were able to defeat King's Academy 35-14. Cardinal Newman can move the ball on the ground with running backs Domineco Fusco and Vinkevus Pierre. Wide receivers Denzel Williams and Jason Lovingshimer can make catches from quarterbacks Matthew Shannon and Joe Thomas. 

2020 NHL Draft For Panthers

     The dates have been set for the 2020 National Hockey League Draft. The first round will be held on October 6. The second round through the seventh round will occur on October 7. It will be the first time that the NHL Draft will not be held over a weekend since 1994. 

     The Florida Panthers will select 12th overall in the first round of the draft. The Panthers have one pick in the second, two picks in the third round, and two picks in the fourth, one pick in the fifth and one pick in the seventh. 

Marlins And Cubs Game 2 Postponed

     Game 2 of the National League Wild Card Series between the Miami Marlins and the Chicago Cubs has been postponed due to inclement weather. The contest will be made up Friday afternoon at Wrigley Field in Chicago. 

     The Marlins topped the Cubs 5-1 in Game 1 yesterday. It was the Marlins first postseason game and victory since 2003.