1+ day, 23+ hour ago (338+ words) Aiken's 32nd Fall Steeplechase brought out big crowds, bold fashion, and a full day of racing as spectators gathered early along the rail to claim their favorite viewing spots. Tailgates and a busy schedule of races helped fuel the energy Aiken is known for'marking the final local Steeplechase Association event of the year. Aiken Steeplechase Association President Frank Mullins says the fall meet continues to grow. "It's really wonderful to see it grow every year. This year is no exception. This is going to be the biggest fall race we've ever had," Mullins said. "It's trending. We don't know yet how much more it was than last fall, but it's definitely going to be bigger." While the event brings out thousands of spectators, Mullins says the impact extends beyond the track. The Aiken Steeplechase Association also awards five $5,000 grants each year…...

3+ day, 3+ hour ago (104+ words) Former Paden City High School volleyball coach Fred King, right, is joined by his wife Debby after being inducted into the Ohio Valley Athletic Conference Coaches Hall of Fame recently. King, who currently is beginning his fifth season as the girls basketball coach at St. Marys High School, coached Paden City volleyball for 14 seasons [] Picture This: Fred King inducted into OVAC Hall of Fame Carter Welling helps Clemson take down WVU, 70-67 Mark Kellogg wins 500th game as WVU rolls Devola Turkey Trot slated for Thanksgiving morning WVU prepares for Texas Tech during bye week Mid-Ohio Valley Sports Announcement...

3+ day, 15+ hour ago (1868+ words) With the release of the 2026 BBWAA Hall of Fame ballot earlier this week, we've officially entered Cooperstown deliberation season. There are now two ballots up for consideration. While the writers' process tends to soak up most of the attention, the contemporary baseball era committee ballot -- announced Nov. 3 -- is more urgent and intriguing. The results will be determined by a yet-to-be-named committee just before the upcoming winter meetings in Orlando, Florida, and announced on Dec. 7. Much of the attention has been focused on two candidates: Don Mattingly and Dale Murphy. Heck, the Murphy constituency has its own web site, which among other things features documentaries narrated by country singer Jason Aldean and sportscaster Ernie Johnson. Still, the attention sphere around this ballot should be fixed on two other players, who might just be respectively the best hitter and best pitcher who…...

3+ day, 15+ hour ago (1868+ words) With the release of the 2026 BBWAA Hall of Fame ballot earlier this week, we've officially entered Cooperstown deliberation season. There are now two ballots up for consideration. While the writers' process tends to soak up most of the attention, the contemporary baseball era committee ballot -- announced Nov. 3 -- is more urgent and intriguing. The results will be determined by a yet-to-be-named committee just before the upcoming winter meetings in Orlando, Florida, and announced on Dec. 7. Much of the attention has been focused on two candidates: Don Mattingly and Dale Murphy. Heck, the Murphy constituency has its own web site, which among other things features documentaries narrated by country singer Jason Aldean and sportscaster Ernie Johnson. Still, the attention sphere around this ballot should be fixed on two other players, who might just be respectively the best hitter and best pitcher who…...

5+ day, 14+ hour ago (247+ words) In regards to one group eligible for the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Pittsburgh Steelers legend L.C. Greenwood has made the cut from 182 all the way down to nine. A charter member of the original "Steel Curtain" defensive line that fronted one of the greatest defenses in NFL history, Greenwood was announced Wednesday as one of nine semifinalists from the "Seniors" category of nominees for the 2026 induction class. Greenwood was named to the Pro Bowl roster six times and first-team AP NFL All Pro twice over his 13 seasons with the Steelers. He was part of four Super Bowl-winning teams as well as named to the NFL 1970s All-Decade Team and the Steelers" Hall of Honor. Greenwood, who died in 2013 at the age of 67, is vying to become the 11th player from the 1970s Super Steelers to gain Hall of Fame induction. Fellow Steel Curtain…...

6+ day, 11+ hour ago (847+ words) CLEVELAND, Ohio " On the surface, voting for the Baseball Hall of Fame seems straightforward: pick the best players, mail in your ballot, and wait for the results. But as cleveland.com's Paul Hoynes revealed on the latest Cleveland Baseball Talk Podcast, there's a labyrinth of unwritten rules, philosophical differences, and strategic considerations that go into each ballot. "You get to vote for up to 10 guys," Hoynes explained to host Joe Noga when asked about the seriousness of the process. "As a voter, I try to vote for 10 guys every ballot. I like to give people a chance." That statement alone reveals a fascinating aspect of Hall of Fame voting " some voters deliberately use their ballots to keep borderline candidates in the conversation rather than simply identifying the ten most qualified players. "Sometimes, you know, you vote for a guy just…...

6+ day, 23+ hour ago (463+ words) Last year, the National Baseball Hall of Fame added to its ranks one of the greatest players in Seattle Mariners history. Former Mariners MVP, 10-time All-Star and two-time American League batting champion Ichiro Suzuki was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2025 and was one vote away from being the second-ever unanimous selection in MLB history. Suzuki's number was retired by the organization after his Hall of Fame induction. And Suzuki could soon be joined by several other Seattle players that will be on the HOF ballot in 2026. Starting pitcher Felix Hernandez, shortstop/third baseman Alex Rodriguez, shortstop Omar Vizquel and infielder Edwin Encarnacion are on the ballot for 2026. The 2026 ballot will be Hernandez's second year on the ballot. He and Suzuki were both on the 2025 ballot for the first time. Hernandez earned 20.6% of votes from the Baseball Writers' Association…...

1+ week, 47+ min ago (164+ words) The Baseball Writers Association of America unveiled the 2026 Baseball Hall of Fame on Monday and a few Atlanta Braves players will try to make it to Cooperstown. The Baseball Writers Association of America unveiled the 2026 Baseball Hall of Fame on Monday and a few Atlanta Braves players will try to make it to Cooperstown. Andruw Jones returns to the ballot for his ninth year on the ballot. Last year, he finished with 66.2% of the 75% needed to get elected. He will only have two more attempts to make the hall on the BBWAA ballot or it will be up to the Era Committees. Former Braves outfielders Matt Kemp and Nick Markakis are among the 12 newcomers to the ballot. Pitcher Cole Hamels is also on the ballot for the first time. He only played one game in a Braves uniform in the…...

1+ week, 5+ hour ago (528+ words) Former Cubs starting pitcher Cole Hamels is among the newcomers on the Baseball Hall of Fame ballot. COOPERSTOWN, N.Y. " Cole Hamels, Ryan Braun and Matt Kemp are among 12 newcomers on the Baseball Hall of Fame ballot released Monday, and Carlos Beltr'n heads 15 holdovers after falling 19 votes shy in 2025 balloting. Howie Kendrick, Daniel Murphy and Rick Porcello also are among the first-time eligibles, joined by Shin-Soo Choo, Edwin Encarnaci'n, Gio Gonz'lez, Alex Gordon, Nick Markakis and Hunter Pence. Beltr'n received 277 of 394 votes for 70.3% in the 2025 balloting, when Ichiro Suzuki, CC Sabathia and Billy Wagner were elected. A nine-time All-Star, Beltr'n hit .279 with 435 homers and 1,587 RBIs over 20 seasons with Kansas City (1999-2004), Houston (2004, "17), the New York Mets (2005-11), San Francisco (2011), St. Louis (2012-13), the New York Yankees (20014-16) and Texas (2016). He received 46.5% support in his first ballot appearance in 2023, then rose to 57.1% in his second. Beltr'n was…...

1+ week, 5+ hour ago (322+ words) The Baseball Writers Association of America announced the candidates for the Hall of Fame Class of 2026. 12 new candidates were announced on Monday, along with 15 holdovers from last year's ballot, including former Mariners F'lix Hern'ndez, Alex Rodr'guez, Omar Vizquel, Shin-Soo Choo, and Edwin Encarnaci'n. Hern'ndez, known as "King F'lix,' spent 15 years with the Mariners, averaging per season a 2.83 ERA, 228 innings, and 221 strikeouts. He made baseball history on August 15, 2012, throwing a perfect game against the Tampa Bay Rays, the 23rd perfect game in MLB history and first for a Mariner. This will be his second appearance on the Hall of Fame ballot after his first selection in 2025, where fellow teammate Ichiro Suzuki was inducted into Cooperstown. Hern'ndez received 20.6% of the votes in his first ballot appearance. Former Mariners Alex Rodr'guez (5th year of eligibility) and Omar Vizquel (9th year of eligibility) were also named to…...