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Billy Gonzales’ return to coach UF’s WRs made sense for himself and Gators

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 10:47:31 GMT

Out with his wife and daughter last month at a South Beach mall, longtime receivers coach Billy Gonzales was not job shopping.But when a phone call came in from Billy Napier, Gonzales had a feeling he’d be buying what Florida’s head coach was selling.“My phone rang and it was Coach … I lit up,” Gonzales recalled following Saturday’s practice. “I was so excited about it.”Napier needed to quickly find someone to replace Keary Colbert, who bolted for the Denver Broncos after one season with UF.If anyone knew the lay of the land and expectations in Gainesvilles, along with nuances of the receiver position, it was Gonzales. He did not hesitate to accept the challenge to smoke jump into spring practices and guide the Gators’ wideouts.Wife, Julie, and 17-year-old daughter, Caylynn, didn’t have wait long for Gonzales to rejoin them with a new job in hand.“It was extremely fast,” he said of his decision. “I was rea...

High school roundup: Jimmy Ayers scores six times as St. John’s Prep defeats Acton-Boxboro

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 10:47:31 GMT

DANVERS — During its run to a Div. 1 boys lacrosse championship last spring, St. John’s Prep was dominant in just about every sense of the word. The team coasted throughout the season, ultimately going 22-1.The Eagles’ lone blemish? A loss to Acton-Boxboro nearly one calendar year ago on April 16, 2022.On Saturday, they were able to earn some payback after a stellar performance from senior captain Jimmy Ayers. The Johns Hopkins commit registered a game-high six goals to go with a pair of assists, as St. John’s Prep (2-0) pulled away in the second half to win a statement game, 12-8.“That was a pivotal turning point for us last year,” coach John Pynchon said. “Because they came out, and they got right after us. That was a big (moment) last year. I don’t think we’ve beaten Acton-Boxboro since I’ve been at St. John’s. We played at Beverly a lot, pretty sure we lost to them in the playoffs in the North semis I think, and then we lost last year. I think this is the first win over A-B in s...

Yankees Notebook: Jonathan Loaisiga joins Josh Donaldson on the injured list

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 10:47:31 GMT

BALTIMORE — All signs pointed to Josh Donaldson landing on the injured list Saturday. But the Yankees’ third baseman had company as Jonathan Loaisiga also hit the shelf in a series of roster moves.Donaldson is on the 10-day IL with right hamstring tightness, an injury he sustained in Wednesday’s game against the Phillies. The veteran was not in Baltimore with the Yankees on Friday.Loaisiga, meanwhile, is on the 15-day IL with right elbow inflammation. He and Donaldson are retroactive to April 6.Boone knew something was up with the righty reliever prior to Friday’s game. The manager initially thought it was just a case of soreness, but exams revealed swelling in Loaisiga’s joint. The team sent him back to New York on Friday, where he had an MRI and saw Dr. Christopher Ahmad before receiving an injection Saturday.The good news is that Loaisiga’s ligament is structurally sound. However, the pitcher won’t throw for a couple of weeks, though Boon...

Kodai Senga dominates in Citi Field debut as Mets top Marlins

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 10:47:31 GMT

Citi Field got its first haunting of the season.Kodai Senga dazzled in his Citi Field debut leading the Mets’ to a 5-2 win over the Marlins on Saturday afternoon. The 30-year-old utilized his infamous ghost fork pitch holding Miami to just one run over six innings of work while striking out six.Senga’s second MLB outing was even better than his first — 5.1 IP, three hits and one earned run on Apr. 2 — and it came against the same opponent, the only blip on his outing Saturday being a solo homer served up to Jazz Chisholm in the sixth. The righty — who signed a five-year, $70 million contract with the Amazins in Dec. of 2022 — received plenty of helpPete Alonso slugged his league-leading fifth homer to give the Mets a 3-0 lead in the fifth. Alonso has gotten the power stroke going in the early going as five of his eight hits (batting .235 on the season) have left the yard.A welcome sight for the Amazins came in the bottom of the fifth as Eduardo Es...

After strike, LA school district workers approve labor deal

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 10:47:31 GMT

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Los Angeles Unified School District workers have approved a labor deal following a three-day strike over wages and staffing that halted education for students in one of the nation’s largest school systems.The agreement would increase wages by 30% for workers who are paid an average of $25,000 a year, the Local 99 chapter of the Service Employees International Union said Saturday. It also includes a $1,000 bonus for employees who worked during the COVID-19 pandemic and expanded family health care benefits.The contract still needs to be approved by the school district’s Board of Education. The school district said the board could take it up for a vote at a meeting on April 18. Thousands of workers backed by teachers went on strike last month and rallied outside the school district’s headquarters in downtown Los Angeles amid stalled contract talks. The goal was to demand better pay and increased staffing for the bus drivers, cafeteria workers, teach...

State of Texas: House blocks plan to allow public money for private schools

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 10:47:31 GMT

AUSTIN (Nexstar) — The Texas House of Representatives on Thursday voted to prohibit state money from funding private school vouchers or education savings accounts.The move is a setback to one of Gov. Greg Abbott's top priorities to provide "school choice" with state-funded private school tuition subsidies.The House approved State Rep. Abel Herrero's amendment to the state budget on a bipartisan 86-52 vote. The amendment prohibits the budget from funding "a school voucher, including an education savings account, tax credit scholarship program, or a grant or other similar program through which a child may use state money for non-public primary or secondary education.""These are public funds for public schools as is outlined and stated specifically in the Texas Constitution," Herrero said. "And for that, members, please stick with our public school teachers, our neighborhood schools, and our public charter schools and vote for this amendment."Cheers erupted in the Texas House as the am...

Gus Nyquist makes highly anticipated Wild debut after lengthy layoff

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 10:47:31 GMT

Gus Nyquist hasn’t played in an NHL game since suffering a shoulder injury in a Jan. 25 game against the Edmonton Oilers. At the time, he was playing for the lowly Columbus Blue Jackets, who were busy trying to set themselves up with the best odds to draft the generational Connor Bedard.In other words, the fact that Nyquist is now with the Wild and in position to chase a Stanley Cup is something for which he’s very grateful.After being acquired by the Wild at the trade deadline, Nyquist has spent the past month working his way back into playing shape. His highly anticipated Wild debut came on Saturday night at Xcel Energy Center.“We just came to the decision that it’s good enough to go,” Nyquist said before the Wild hosted the St. Louis Blues. “I’m really excited to get in there.”Asked if he’s 100 percent, Nyquist noted how he wouldn’t be playing if he wasn’t at full strength.“We’re at a point where I am a...

Children gather for Francis Park's Easter egg hunt

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 10:47:31 GMT

ST. LOUIS - Sunny skies Saturday for families to enjoy Easter-themed celebrations ahead of the big holiday Sunday. One of the larger Easter egg hunts in the St. Louis area was held Saturday morning at Francis Park in the St. Louis Hills neighborhood. Trending: A Missouri barbecue spot shows up in ‘Ted Lasso’ episodes: This is why Young children, those 9 years old and younger, were able to find eggs filled with candy and prizes. Older children sought gold eggs with $25 gift prizes in them.Of course, the Easter bunny was there for photos with the kids. Many also got to enjoy a petting zoo.

Police search for missing teen who disappeared in Castaic

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 10:47:31 GMT

Police are searching for an at-risk teen who disappeared in Castaic on April 3.The teenager was identified as Milton Eduardo Kingsli Nunez Jr., 18, by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.He was last spotted on the 9600 block of Hunstock Street around noontime, deputies said.Nunez is described as a Hispanic male standing 5 feet 11 inches tall, weighing 200 pounds, with curly brown shoulder-length hair and brown eyes. He has freckles on his cheeks and scars on his hands.He was last seen wearing a black hoodie, jeans, and black shoes.Loved ones said Nunez has made suicidal statements and they are concerned for his well-being.Milton Eduardo Kingsli Nunez Jr., 18, in a 2023 photo from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. Police search for missing teen who disappeared in Orange County Anyone with information on the teen’s whereabouts is asked to call LASD’s Missing Persons Unit at 323-890-5500.Anonymous tips can be submitted to "Crime Stoppers" at 800-222-8477 or online ...

McDavid 6th player to top 150 points, Oilers beat Sharks 6-1

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 10:47:31 GMT

SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) — Connor McDavid became the first player in 27 years to reach 150 points in a season when he had two goals and an assist in the Edmonton Oilers’ 6-1 victory over the San Jose Sharks on Saturday.McDavid now has 151 points with two games remaining in the regular season. He became just the sixth player ever to record 150 points in a season, joining Wayne Gretzky (nine times), Lemieux (four times), Phil Esposito, Steve Yzerman and Bernie Nichols.Zach Hyman, Derek Ryan and Philip Broberg also scored to help the Oilers win their seventh straight game. Edmonton, which began the day three points ahead of third-place Los Angeles in the Pacific Division, closed in on clinching home-ice advantage in the first round of the playoffs. Stuart Skinner made 22 saves.Tomas Hertl scored for the Sharks, who are assured of finishing in the bottom four of the league. James Reimer had 30 saves.PENGUINS 5, RED WINGS 1DETROIT (AP) — Sidney Crosby become the 15th player in NHL history t...