travel ball national rankings

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2021 Postseason Rankings

last updated 8/22/2024

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last updated 8/23/2024

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Travel Baseball Rankings – The Best of The Best

Travel baseball teams contain a high level of talent and allow players to compete against other top teams in the area. With a reputation of consistently producing the top players, elite travel teams provide select players with an opportunity to compete at a national level. These top organizations have several players on a yearly basis that commit to the best college baseball programs in the country. With this premier level of talent, it is no surprise that these teams regularly sit at the top of national travel baseball rankings.

Travel teams participate in a variety of competitive tournaments. The tournaments are mostly held throughout the Summer months to limit interference with high school baseball schedules. Having said that, there are some that still take place throughout the Spring and Fall.

Tournaments and Exposure Events

Perfect Game and Prep Baseball Report are probably two of the more recognizable organizations that operate tournaments for travel ball teams. Over the past 20 years, these organizations have built an immense network of high level travel teams, which ensures that every event they operate is extremely competitive.

The hundreds of tournament events that these organizations run are often highlighted by a premier national event. For instance, Perfect game’s version of this is the WWBA World Championship . This event features a collection of the top travel teams across the country and the winner is essential deemed the best travel team in the nation. With a high concentration of the top prospective college baseball players, the tournament attracts over 700 college baseball coaches and scouts. For players that are interested in playing at the next level, this is one of the highest exposure events in all of amateur baseball.

Scouting organizations and a variety of other websites publish travel baseball rankings on a yearly basis. While a team’s performance at these national events are heavily weighted, other tournaments at the regional level are still factored in. With strong performances at some of these events, a team will have a legitimate shot of making the top 50 national ranking.

Here are the top 10 travel teams from 16U through 18U. To find the full rankings from 10U through 18U, you can check out Perfect Game’s ranking page .

18U Travel Baseball Rankings

• Next Level Baseball 18u  |  FL
• Midland Redskins  |  OH
• Okotoks Dawgs 18U Black  |  AB
• Nelson Baseball School  |  GA
• East Cobb Yankees  |  GA
• NEB National  |  MA
• 643 DP Cougars 18U Beasley  |  GA
• eXposure 18U Prime  |  TN
• Mississippi Rays 18u  |  MS
• So Cal Renegades 18U  |  CA

17U Rankings

• Canes National 17  |  VA
• Florida Burn 2020 Platinum  |  FL
• East Cobb Astros 17U Navy  |  GA
• Dirtbags 17U Skrap Pak  |  NC
• Team Elite 17U Scout Team  |  GA
• Rawlings Arkansas Prospects-Menard  |  AR
• Scorpions 2020 Founders Club  |  FL
• San DIego Show  |  CA
• Dallas Patriots 17u Stout  |  TX
• NorCal Baseball Prime  |  CA

16U Rankings

• Team Elite 16U Scout Team  |  GA
• Scorpions 2021 Founders Club  |  FL
• East Cobb Astros 16u  |  GA
• Canes National 16U  |  VA
• Dulins Dodgers 16U Ince  |  TN
• Elite Squad 16U National  |  FL
• Academy Select 16U Ingram  |  TX
• Dulins Dodgers 16U Godwin  |  TX
• Hit Factory PRO  |  FL
• Cangelosi Sparks 2021 Black  |  IL

Is Travel Baseball Right For You?

Players will have to try out or receive an invitation to play for one of these teams As mentioned before, travel baseball teams contain the top talent in the area, which means that every player won’t make the team. Before joining a travel baseball team, a player should understand the level of commitment that is required.

First and foremost, it is a commitment of your time. Travel baseball teams spend a majority of their weekends participating in tournaments, especially during the summer months. Travel and overnight stays are required for some of these events, as they can span across several states. In addition to actual games, these teams practice and train regularly to prepare for the upcoming events.

There is also a significant financial commitment. With travel, tournament fees, practice facilities, and coaching staff salaries, the expenses can stack up pretty quickly. It’s not uncommon for travel baseball costs to be in the thousands of dollars for a single season. The top level organizations are even more expensive. Seeking the best competition in the region/country, these teams require more frequent and longer distance travel. These organizations also have more experienced coaching staffs and higher quality practice facilities, both of which come at additional costs.

Travel Baseball Timeline

You might need to decide to join a travel ball team earlier than you think. Most organizations start offering travel baseball teams for players that are turning ten (10U). 18U is the last age segment for travel baseball. Players that turn 19 are typically in their freshman year of college, and at that point will have different opportunities for summer baseball.

To close things out, travel baseball is not only a great opportunity for players to development their skills but it also provides for a high level of exposure to college coaches and professional scouts. Being a part of a travel organization can definitely payoff. A lot of highly recruited D1 players and MLB draft picks will tell you that their travel baseball organizations were a big reason why they were able to become some of the best players in the country..

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Travel Baseball Rankings and Stats

Just like college baseball RPI but for travel ball.  

SBA Futures 9U

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Top 25 national high school volleyball rankings (8/28/2024)

Jeff gardenour | aug 28, 2024.

Things are heating up in the Lone Star State as Volleypalooza nears and two new Texas teams enter the SBLive Sports Power 25 National Girls volleyball rankings.

Byron Nelson High of Trophy Club, a suburb of Dallas-Fort Worth, debuts at No. 4 in our rankings after winning the Ann Kang Invitational in Hawaii and NorthWest ISD Classic in Texas. Dripping Springs comes in at No. 15 and is the No. 1 seed for this weekend’s 2024 Volleypalooza Varsity Travel Tournament, to be held at nine sites in Texas.

Another Texas squad, however, may be the one to watch in Volleypalooza. Number three-ranked Prestonwood Christian Academy (7-1) is the No. 2 seed and the defending TAPPS Class 6A state champion.

In Gainesville, Fla., this weekend’s Nike Tournament of Champions Southeast figures to be a humdinger with the likes of No. 5 Pace Academy (Atlanta), No. 16 Carrollwood Day School (Tampa) and No. 22 Flint Hill (Va.).

Pace Academy, which last year won the Class 4A state championship, is off to an 11-0 start. Carrollwood Day School features one of the best hitters in the country in sophomore Lydia Chinchar.

Meanwhile, California Catholic school power Mater Dei remained at No. 1 and defending SBLive national champion Hamilton Southeastern (Fishers, Ind.) is still at No. 2 as schools head into Labor Day weekend.

The SBLive Power 25 national high school volleyball rankings include teams affiliated with state high school athletic associations in the state they compete in or those allowed to play affiliate high schools in their home state and beyond.

The rankings will be released weekly throughout the 2024 volleyball season. Find the complete breakdown of the preseason SBLive Power 25 below.

The Power 25 rankings are compiled by SBLive freelancer Jeff Gardenour based on research and conversations with an extensive network of coaching and media sources across the nation. Reach Jeff on Twitter @JMarkG1962 or email him at  [email protected] .

1. Mater Dei (Santa Ana, California) (4-0)

Last week: 1  The defending CIF Open Division state champs remained unbeaten with a 3-1 victory against Newport (Beach) Harbor. Senior outside hitter Presley Kiffin, junior middle hitter Addison, senior Libero Sydney Raszewski, and junior setters Sam Capinpin and Soraya Dennis are leading the way for Mater Dei.

2. Hamilton Southeastern (Fishers, Ind.) (4-0)

Last week: 2  SBLive’s defending national champion extended its win streak to 71 matches dating to the second match of the 2022 season with a pair of 3-0 victories against Carmel and Benton Central (Oxford). Leading the Royals are senior outside hitter Lindsey Mangelson (Mississippi State commit), junior middle hitter Bre Morgan (Memphis commit), senior middle hitter Shelby Bryan, senior outside hitter/defensive specialist Kaylyn Christy, and senior setter Ava Hunter (Loyola Chicago commit).

3. Prestonwood Christian Academy (Plano, Texas) (7-1)

Last week: 3 The defending TAPPS Class 6A state champion has recorded six straight sweeps and will try to keep that momentum going this week when it competes in Volleypalooza. The 68-team, two-day tournament, which will be held at nine sites around Texas, features some powerful teams in Dripping Springs, which is seeded No. 1; PCA, No. 2; Grand Oaks, No. 3; and Fulshear, No. 4.

4. Byron Nelson (Trophy Club, Texas) (17-1)

Last week: Not ranked  The Bobcats surge into the rankings after winning the Ann Kang Invitational in Hawaii and the NorthWest IDS Classic in Texas. They have won 13 straight after falling to Highland Park (Dallas), 2-1, on Aug. 16. Leading the way are junior outside hitter Kylie Kleckner, sophomore setter Sophee Peterson, and sophomore defensive specialist Kaitlyn Francis.

5. Pace Academy (Atlanta, Georgia) (11-0)

Last week: 6 The defending Class 4A state champ Knights ripped off four more 2-0 sweeps, beating Westlake (Atlanta), Centennial (Roswell), North Atlanta and Sandy Creek (Tyrone). Pace faces its toughest challenge, yet, on Aug. 30-31 when they compete in the Nike Tournament of Champions Southeast. Leading Pace are junior outside hitter/middle hitter Lawson Monroe, junior middle hitter Jolie Litvak, junior Libero/defensive specialist Gabby Emch, junior setter Britton Mcgurn, and junior setter Olivia Siskin.

6. Wayzata (Plymouth, Minn.) (0-0)

Last week: 4 The four-time defending MSHSL Class AAAA state champs open the season this week against Edina and East Ridge (Woodbury).

7. Cathedral Catholic (San Diego, Calif.) (0-0)

Last week: 5 The Dons, who last year fell to Mater Dei, 3-1, in the 2023 CIF Open Division state semifinals, open the season against Canyon Crest Academy (San Diego) on Aug. 29.

8. Alpharetta (Georgia) (16-0)

Last week: 9 The defending Class 6A state champ Raiders continued their torrid start by beating St. Anne-Pacelli, 3-0; and Centennial and Creekview (Canton) by 2-0 scores. Leading Alpharetta are senior outside hitter Brooke Boyles, senior middle hitter Madison McLin, junior outside hitter Stephanie Payne, junior Libero Kailey Leonard and senior setter Abigail Li.

9. Divine Savior Holy Angels (Milwaukee, Wisconsin) (0-0)

Last week: 8 The defending WIAA Division 1 state champs were scheduled to open the season on Friday, Aug. 30, against an opponent to be determined.

10. Mira Costa (Manhattan Beach, Calif.) (6-2)

Last week: 10 The Mustangs defeated Marymount, 3-1, last week but face a tough road ahead with matches against Torrey Pines (San Diego), Harvard-Westlake (Studio City) and top-ranked Mater Dei. Leading Mira Costa are junior outside hitter Audrey Flanagan, sophomore middle hitter Liliana Swanson, senior Libero Taylor Deckert, and junior setter Milly Mcgee.

11. Assumption (Louisville, Ky.) (3-0)

Last week: 10  The defending KHSAA volleyball state champs are off to a good start, recording 3-0 sweeps of Male (Louisville), Presentation (Louisville) and Cathedral (Indianapolis). The Rockets visit Providence (Clarksville, Ind.) on Aug. 29. Leading the Rockets are senior outside hitter Emma Barnett, sophomore middle blocker Carle Hoee, junior setter Jillian Bohannon, senior middle blocker Bailey Blair, junior defensive specialist Emily Kieran, and senior setter Emilee Fuller.

12. Dike-New Hartford (Dike, Iowa) (0-0)

Last week: 12 The Wolverines are coming their first-ever undefeated season and Class 2A state championship – the team’s third title in four years, and 16th overall. D-NH opens the season on Sept. 3 against Columbus (Waterloo) and Denver (Iowa).

13. Mother McAuley (Chicago) (0-0)

Last week: 13 The defending IHSA Class 4A state champ, which has won 17 overall titles, opens its season this week.

14. Cornerstone Christian (San Antonio, Texas) (9-1)

Last week: 14 The Warriors last week beat La Vernia, 3-0. They play Westlake (Austin) this week. Leading the way are senior outside hitters Megan Fitch and Aniya Hall, senior middle hitter Elly Stewart, senior setter Kaia Thiele and senior Libero Ashtan Dodson.

15. Dripping Springs (Texas) (22-0)

Last week: Not ranked  The Tigers debut in the rankings after racing to a 22-0 start, dropping only three sets so far. They were scheduled to play in Volleypalooza this week. Leading the team are junior Henley Anderson, senior Eloise Roffers, senior Callie Krueger, senior outside hitter Riley Certain, and senior Lourdes Frontera.

16. Carrollwood Day School (Tampa) (1-0)

Last week: 15 The defending Class 3A state champion Patriots face their first big challenge on Aug. 30-31 when they play in the Nike TOC Southeast. They will compete in the National division, which includes Virginia power Flint Hill and Georgia powerhouse Pace Academy.

17. Grand Oaks (Spring, Texas) (14-4)

Last week: 7  The defending 2023 UIL Texas Volleyball Class 6A state champs have been hot and cold this year, but they are still figuring out their identity after losing 11 seniors from last year’s team. After finishing second in the 48-team Katy/Cy-Fair Tournament, the Grizzlies ripped off seven victories to stand at 14-2 before falling to Lovejoy (Lucas), 2-1, and Colleyville Heritage, 2-0. Grand Oaks this week plays The Woodlands and Midway (Waco) and will compete in Volleypalooza this weekend. The Grizzlies are seeded third.

18. Kamehameha Kapalama (Honolulu) (5-1)

Last week: 16 The defending HHSAA Division 1 state champ Warriors are off to a solid start, losing only to Moanalua (Honolulu). Leading the team are senior middle hitter Alohalani Chun, sophomore outside hitter Ayva-ray Malepeai, junior outside hitter/defensive specialist Aubrey Painter, junior setter Shaye Teves, senior setter Megan Chun, and junior outside hitter Kalaweloilehua Chock.

19. Archbishop Mitty (San Jose, California) (0-0)

Last week: 17 The Monarchs last year lost to Mater Dei in the CIF Open Division state championship match. They open the season on Thursday, Aug. 29, against Los Gatos.

20. Valor Christian (Highlands, Ranch, Colo.) (0-0)

Last week: 19  The defending 5A state champion Eagles, who have won 58 consecutive matches, open the season on Aug. 27 at Palmer Ridge (Monument).

21. Flint Hill (Oakton, Va.) (0-0)

Last week: 20  The Huskies last year repeated as Division I Virginia Independent Schools Athletic Association (VISAA) state champ and won the Independent School League Division AA tournament. The Washington, D.C., area powerhouse will compete in the Nike TOC Southeast this weekend.

22. Lake Catholic (Mentor, Ohio) (4-1)

Last week: 18  The defending OHSAA Division III state champs are getting pushed a little in the early going, forced to three sets in winning two matches and dropped 2-0 in a shocking sweep by Bishop Watterson (Columbus). The Cougars were scheduled to play Cuyahoga (Falls) Valley Christian this week.

23. Benet Academy (Lisle, Illinois) (0-0)

Last week: 21  The Redwings last year finished IHSA Class 4A state runner-up. They open the season this week.

24. Lafayette (Wildwood, Mo.) (0-0)

Last week: 22  The defending Class 5A state champ enters the 2024 season on a 22-match win streak. The Lancers open the season on Aug. 30 at Pattonville (Maryland Heights).

25. St. Francis (Mountain View, Calif.) (0-0)

Last week: 24   The premier California team opens the season on Sept. 3 at Burlingame. The Lancers went 35-6 last year, with four losses coming to national power Archbishop Mitty.

Dropped out:  Northville (Mich.), Immaculate Heart (N.J.)

Honorable Mention:  Immaculate Heart Academy (N.J.), Plant (Fla.), Lovejoy (Texas), St. Mary’s Dominican (La.), O’Connor (Ariz.), Bishop Gorman (Nev.), Notre Dame Academy (Ky.), McGill-Toolen (Ala.), Marist (Ill.), Sierra Canyon (Calif.), Hudsonville (Mich.), Bob Jones (Madison, Ala.), Huntington Beach (Calif.), Lincoln Southwest (Neb.), Puyallup (Wash.), Oconomowoc (Wisc.), Blue Valley North (Overland Park, Kan.), Pope (Marietta, Ga.), Papillion-La Vista South (Neb.), Redondo (Beach) Union (Calif.), Skutt Catholic (Neb.).

JEFF GARDENOUR

Jeff Gardenour is a Florida native and long-time resident of the Sunshine State. He is a journalism veteran of more than four decades, having worked in a number of news divisions through the years for multiple media outlets, including Gannett and Tribune Company. A University of Florida journalism graduate, Jeff has covered every level of sports, including MLB, USFL, XFL, WNBA, NCAA, IMSA, high schools and more. He is a former award-winning sports editor of the Sebring News-Sun and current freelance writer for SBLive Sports, PrepVolleyball.com and The Orlando Sentinel. Jeff is married with two children and resides in Oviedo, FL. He can be reached at [email protected] and followed on Twitter @JMarkG1962.

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2024 ohio state football schedule: dates, times, tv channels, scores.

Here is the 2024 Ohio State football schedule, including opponents, TV networks, and game times.

Last season, the Buckeyes finished 11-2 and lost to Missouri in the Cotton Bowl.

2024 Ohio State football schedule: Dates, times, TV channels

SCOREBOARD: See scores from every college football game

Big Ten football standings

Click or tap here to view the latest Big Ten football standings.

Latest college football rankings

Click or tap here to find out where the Buckeyes landed in this week's polls

2023 results

Ohio State lost to No. 9 Missouri in the Cotton Bowl to close out its 2023-24 college football season. The Buckeyes went 11-1 in the regular season en route to earning the No. 7 ranking in the final CFP rankings released on Dec. 3.

Here’s what happened in every game of Ohio State's 2023 schedule:

2023 Ohio State football schedule: Dates, times, TV channels, results

College football schedule: click or tap here for game times, tv channels and scores from every game, when are the college football playoff semifinals.

The CFP semifinals begin Thursday, January 9, 2025, with the Orange Bowl taking place at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida. The following day, Friday, January 10, 2025, the Cotton Bowl Classic will be held at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

BOWL SCHEDULE: Here's a complete college football bowl game schedule

When is the 2024-25 College Football Playoff national championship?

The 2024-25  College Football Playoff national championship game will be Monday, Jan. 20, 2025. The title game will be played at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. This will mark the second time Atlanta will serve as the host of the CFP National Championship Game, making it the first city to host the event more than once. The championship game was previously held in Atlanta in 2018.

Below is a complete history of the College Football Playoff national championship game.

MORE: Programs with the most national championships  

Future CFP national championship locations and dates

2026:  Miami (Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, Florida) - Jan. 19 2027: TBA

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MLB Playoffs standings: Who leads division, wild-card races for 2024 MLB postseason?

Which Major League Baseball teams will earn MLB wild-card berths in the  2024 MLB playoffs ?

Take a look at the MLB wild-card standings for the National League and the American League as the regular season starts to wind down.

In the National League, the  San Diego Padres ,  Arizona Diamondbacks  and  Atlanta Braves  are in position for the final three MLB postseason spots, but several other teams are still in the  MLB playoff picture .

In the American League, the  Baltimore Orioles  are in a good spot for a wild-card bid, while the  Minnesota Twins  and  Kansas City Royals (and Cleveland Guardians) are also in line for postseason positions.

MLB power rankings: Arizona Diamondbacks now 'one of the best teams in baseball'

When do 2024 MLB Playoffs start? Baseball postseason schedule, format, tiebreakers, TV

MLB playoff picture: National League

Division leaders:

• NL West:  Los Angeles Dodgers (80-54)
• NL East: Philadelphia Phillies (79-55)
• NL Central:  Milwaukee Brewers (77-56)

Wild-card teams:

• Wild card No. 1:   Arizona Diamondbacks (76-58)
• Wild card No. 2:   San Diego Padres (76-60)
• Wild card No. 3 : Atlanta Braves (73-61)

Where other National League teams stand in wild-card race:

• New York Mets (70-64) - 3 games back
• Chicago Cubs (68-66) - 5 games back
• St. Louis Cardinals (67-67) - 6 games back
• San Francisco Giants (67-68) - 6.5 games back
• Cincinnati Reds (64-70) - 9 games back
• Pittsburgh Pirates (62-71) - 10.5 games back
• Washington Nationals (61-73) - 12 games back
• Colorado Rockies (50-85) - 23.5 games back
• Miami Marlins (49-85) - 24 games back

MLB strength of schedule rankings: DBacks have harder road than Padres, Dodgers

MLB playoff picture: American League

• AL East:  New York Yankees  (78-56)
• AL Central:  Cleveland Guardians (76-58)
• AL West:  Houston Astros (72-62)

Wild card teams:

• Wild card No. 1:   Baltimore Orioles (77-58)
• Wild card No. 2:  Kansas City Royals (75-60)
• Wild card No. 3:  Minnesota Twins (72-61)

Where other American League teams stand in wild-card race:

• Boston Red Sox (69-65) - 3.5 games back
• Seattle Mariners (68-66) - 4.5 games back
• Detroit Tigers (68-67) - 5 games back
• Tampa Bay Rays (66-67) - 6 games back
• Toronto Blue Jays (66-70) - 7.5 games back
• Texas Rangers (63-71) - 9.5 games back
• Oakland Athletics (58-76) - 14.5 games back
• Los Angeles Angels (55-79) - 17.5 games back
• Chicago White Sox (31-104) - 42 games back

NL MVP odds 2024: Can DBacks' Ketel Marte catch Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani in National League?

Reach Jeremy Cluff at  [email protected] . Follow him on X, formerly Twitter  @Jeremy_Cluff.

Support local journalism: Subscribe to  azcentral.com  today .

We're going to do our best to try and develop an up-to-date ranking for each age group, 8u-13u. Please remember these rankings are NOT definitive. The purpose of these rankings are to 1) provide recognition to high-performing teams, 2) to offer some insight into the level of competition you might be facing in an upcoming game or tournament, or 3) to allow parents and coaches some ability to gauge who some of the best teams are around the state in different regions or age groups. These are meant to be purely fun and informative. If you disagree or think we're missing something in our rankings, let us know! We have also archived our previous rankings for each of the age groups. You can find links to older rankings on the respective age group's current ranking page.

We've begun expanding our rankings to nearby states. Check out below for rankings in the following states as well as our national rankings:

North Carolina

South Carolina

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7 fantasy football best ball players (brian thomas jr.) to target for 2024 drafts, share this article.

The Best Ball format in certain fantasy football leagues has allowed managers to draft a team and not touch it the rest of the year.

That makes for a very different draft experience because — as you may know — the rules of Best Ball involve no bench, no waiver wire and each week, the top-scoring players from your team make up your final score.

That’s it! Set it and forget it.

So with that mind, you’re looking for explosivity and high ceilings in your drafts (last year, it was De’Von Achane who probably won a few leagues). Let’s go over some of those names you should target:

1 WR Brian Thomas Jr., Jacksonville Jaguars

Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. (7) pulls in a pass during drills on the second day of an NFL football training camp practice session Thursday, July 25, 2024 at EverBank StadiumÕs Miller Electric Center in Jacksonville, Fla.. [Bob Self/Florida Times-Union]

He’s a sleeper in regular leagues, but in Best Ball? He’s got all sorts of room to be explosive as a deep threat for Trevor Lawrence.

2 WR Xavier Worthy, Kansas City Chiefs

KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI – MAY 22: Wide receiver Xavier Worthy #1 of the Kansas City Chiefs participates in OTA Offseason workouts at The University of Kansas Health System Training Complex on May 22, 2024 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

Another deep-threat rookie who could have some seriously huge weeks. The week-to-week consistency doesn’t matter as much.

3 RB Blake Corum, Los Angeles Rams

Jul 31, 2024; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Rams running back Blake Corum (22) participates in drills during training camp at Loyola Marymount University. Mandatory Credit: Kiyoshi Mio-USA TODAY Sports

The buzz over how much of a role he’ll play alongside Kyren Williams is too large, and given Williams’ injury history, it’s a good idea to invest in Corum.

4 RB Tank Bigsby, Jacksonville Jaguars

San Francisco 49ers defensive end Nick Bosa (97) hangs on to Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence (16) as he passes the ball to Jacksonville Jaguars running back Tank Bigsby (4) who tipped the pass for an interception during the third quarter of an NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 12, 2023 at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville, Fla. The San Francisco 49ers defeated the Jacksonville Jaguars 34-3. [Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union]

I kind of wonder if he’ll have a bigger role even with Travis Etienne Jr. there. A big sleeper in Best Ball, for sure.

5 TE Taysom Hill, New Orleans Saints

Aug 13, 2023; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; New Orleans Saints tight end Taysom Hill (7) warms up before the game against the Kansas City Chiefs during the pregame at the Caesars Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports

It’s obvious, but Hill is the poster boy for Best Ball. Some weeks? You get one catch for eight yards and three rushes for 10 yards or something. But those big weeks? They’re huge.

6 RB Jaylen Wright, Miami Dolphins

MIAMI GARDENS, FLORIDA – AUGUST 09: Jaylen Wright #25 of the Miami Dolphins runs the ball against the Atlanta Falcons during the third quarter in a preseason game at Hard Rock Stadium on August 09, 2024 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Rich Storry/Getty Images)

He could be one of those players who wins you the latter half of the season if there’s an injury at running back for the Dolphins. And you definitely want his upside in that Miami offense.

7 WR Rashid Shaheed, New Orleans Saints

New Orleans Saints wide receiver Rashid Shaheed (22) scores a touchdown on punt against Green Bay Packers punter Daniel Whelan (19) in the second quarter during their football game Sunday, September 24, 2023, at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wis. Dan Powers/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin.

I think he’s going to be a solid WR2 for the Saints with a bigger ceiling than he had last year. Good idea to grab him.

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Haters came for this ‘disappointing’ national park. It’s fighting back.

A national park created an ad out of visitors’ criticisms after it was ranked “one of the most disappointing U.S. attractions.”

Mammoth Cave National Park is trying to lure tourists by quoting testimonials from some of the more than 550,000 visitors who check out the world’s longest cave system in Kentucky each year.

Nothing cool.

Not enjoyable.

“A world of regret awaits you at Mammoth Cave!” the national park wrote Friday on its Facebook page.

With tongue firmly in cheek, Mammoth Cave National Park leaned into the news that it had been ranked No. 3 on a list of the country’s “most disappointing U.S. tourist attractions.” The Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex in Merritt Island, Fla., and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, topped the list. But unlike those two attractions, the national park tried to harness the dubious honor to highlight its assets.

“Experience what has disappointed millions of people for over 225 years!” the Facebook post begins.

Molly Schroer, a spokeswoman for Mammoth Cave National Park, said a co-worker sent her a link to a WEHT article about the park’s poor showing. The new study, which the TV station said was conducted by gaming website JeffBet , examined websites such as Google and Tripadvisor to home in on one- to three-star reviews and then searched for words like “disappointment” and “subpar” to identify dissatisfied visitors, according to the TV Station. Nearly one in five said they were disappointed with the national park.

Schroer said she immediately recognized the bad ranking as an opportunity to mock the bad reviews. Peppering the post with exclamation points to highlight the dissatisfaction, Schroer and her colleague wrote about “many activities that will leave you unfulfilled!”

“You can be disappointed by a ‘dry hole with very few stalagmites and stalactites’ or discover nothing ‘other than trees’ on over 80+ miles of hiking, biking, horseback riding, and water trails,” she wrote before mentioning some of the reviewers’ criticisms of the Mammoth Cave experience: bugs, bad cell service and stairs.

About 100,000 Facebook users have reacted to the post, some 30,000 have shared it and nearly 9,000 have commented.

“It’s been overwhelmingly positive,” Schroer said.

There’s a long history of organizations leaning into their products’ perceived liabilities. Advertising agency Doyle Dane Bernbach revolutionized the industry with its “ Think Small ” and “Lemon” advertisements for what would become known as the Volkswagen Beetle, according to Medium . The agency did something similar for rental car company Avis, turning its runner-up status to Hertz into ad fodder with the slogan “When you’re only No. 2, you try harder.”

And for five years, the Cornhusker state’s slogan was “Nebraska. Honestly, it’s not for everyone.” John Ricks, director of the Nebraska Tourism Commission, told lawmakers this year that when he started his job in 2016, Nebraska ranked dead last in states that travelers were interested in visiting because it had a reputation as flat and boring, according to the Nebraska Examiner .

One of the ads from the campaign features a half dozen revelers floating down a river under the ad copy “Lucky for you, there’s nothing to do here.”

“The only way we could get their attention, honestly, was by agreeing with them, and then counteracting it,” Ricks said in February.

Schroer said she believes Mammoth Cave National Park’s ranking is just wrong. Most visitors who have a bad experience walk in expecting to breeze into their choice of cave tour only to realize that many sell out, especially in the summer. A visitor expecting a quick tour who ends up enduring a four-hour cave tour is going to be disappointed, Schroer said, adding that she recommends people make reservations on the park’s website before coming.

With a wink and a smile, past visitors leaped into the comment sections to say they had had terrible experiences at the park.

One echoed the criticisms from the post: “I’ve been disappointed in the place since I was 6. 61 years of being let down (pun fully intended). I don’t know why I keep coming back. I’m mean, it just takes forever for anything to change in that hole.”

Another piled on: “What really killed it for us was that there was no WiFi. What are my kids supposed to do when their tablets have no connection? They were forced to be present in the moment and enjoy nature raw and beautiful.”

Even a local was unimpressed.

“I’ve been disappointed on Every. Single. Tour,” she wrote, making sure to punctuate her displeasure with multiple exclamation points. “Can’t ever get enough of the miserable geology, history, and nature right out my back door!!”

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2024 MLB playoff picture: Baseball standings, postseason projections, odds as regular season enters last month

There is still lots of jockeying to do as mlb's best teams try to secure their postseason spots.

September, the final month of Major League Baseball's regular-season calendar, is just around the bend. That means the stretch drive is underway and deserving of our full focus. Speaking of which, the various and sundry playoff races are baseball's leading story right now, and we've devoted this very space to them.

By way of reminder, MLB now grants 12 playoff berths -- a total of six to the division winners and then three wild-card berths in each league. The top two division winners in each league as measured by overall record are rewarded with first-round byes, which means they won't have to play in the best-of-three Wild Card Series that functions as that first round.

As for what hangs in the balance, there's quite a bit of it. The New York Yankees and Baltimore Orioles are still locked in a tight struggle atop the American League East standings. Three teams -- the Cleveland Guardians , Kansas City Royals , and Minnesota Twins -- have designs on the AL Central title. As well, the leaders out west, the Houston Astros and Los Angeles Dodgers , haven't yet buried their competition.

On the wild-card front, the New York Mets remain within range of the Atlanta Braves , who hold the third and final spot in the NL. On the AL side, the Boston Red Sox are hoping to hawk down that third spot, which the Twins presently hold. All of this is to say nothing of all the jockeying for seeding and those aforementioned byes.

Now let's get you caught up on where all these races stand right now as the final weeks of the regular season loom before us. All division and postseason projections referenced in the standings come from SportsLine .

2024 MLB playoff picture

If the season ended today... American League Byes: No. 1 Yankees, No. 2 Guardians Wild Card Series: No. 3 Astros vs. No. 6 Twins, No. 4 Orioles vs. No. 5 Royals

National League Byes: No. 1 Dodgers, No. 2 Phillies Wild Card Series: No. 3 Brewers vs. No. 6 Braves, No. 4 D-backs vs. No. 5 Padres

American League standings

National league standings, mlb wild-card standings, 2024 world series odds.

(As of Aug. 28)

• Dodgers: +350 
• Yankees: +550 
• Phillies: +575
• Orioles: +650
• Astros: +900
• Padres: +1200 
• Diamondbacks: +1200
• Braves: +1400
• Brewers: +1400
• Guardians: +1500
• Royals: +1600
• Twins: +1800

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