Weekly Sports League and Franchise Report

BASEBALL Northern League: The independent pre-professional Northern League, which operated as the summer-collegiate Midwest Collegiate League through the 2021 season, started its 2023 season this week with all six teams now based in northern Indiana. For the 2023 season, the Joliet (IL) Generals relocated to become the Griffith (IN) Generals and the Crestwood (IL) Panthers moved to Highland (IN) as the Indiana Panthers. The league's Chicago American Giants team did not return and was repla... Full Story

McGough, Ginda and Pettway Named OurSports Central USFL Players of the Week

Birmingham Stallions quarterback Alex McGough, Michigan Panthers linebacker Frank Ginda and Stallions tight end La'Michael Pettway earned OurSports Central United States Football League Offensive Player, Defensive Player and Unsung Hero of the Week, respectively, for week eight of the USFL season. McGough earned the honor for the third time this season, completing 24 of 35 passes for 333 yards and three touchdowns, and added 19 rushing yards in Birmingham's 27-24 victory over the Philadelphia Stars. His favorite target, Davion Davis, caught four of those throws for 120 yards and one score. ... Full Story

Kjerstad, Lucas Promoted to Triple-A Norfolk

In conjunction with the Baltimore Orioles, the Norfolk Tides today announced that Orioles top prospects Heston Kjerstad and Easton Lucas are being promoted from Double-A Bowie to Norfolk. According to MLB Pipeline, Kjerstad is ranked #50 on their MLB Top 100 prospect list and #4 in the Orioles Top 30. Kjerstad is also ranked #91 according to Baseball America's Top 100 prospects list, and entered the season ranked #12 in Baltimore's organization. HESTON KJERSTAD (pronounced KERR-stad), 24, was born in Amarillo, Texas and was drafted by the Orioles in the 1st round (2nd overall) of the 2020 M... Full Story

Rise Add Three to Inaugural Roster

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - The Grand Rapids Rise on Monday announced the signings of libero Camila Gomez (ca-ME-la), middle blocker Marin Grote (MAYR-rin GROW-t) and opposite Holly Toliver. Gomez , a Cali, Colombia, native, most recently competed for EC Pinheiros in Brazil during the 2022-23 after playing her rookie pro season for Sesc Flamengo in Brazil in 2020-21. Gomez is a member of the Columbian National Team and has collected 11 medals for her home country, which include a silver medal at the 2022 Pan American Cup. In 2019, she was named the Best Libero at the Pan American Games and the Be... Full Story

• 2023 QMJHL Draft: Under the Microscope: Alex Huang - Moncton Wildcats (QMJHL)
• Hooks Return Home to Battle RoughRiders - Corpus Christi Hooks (TL)
• San Diego Holds on to Beat Tulsa - San Diego Strike Force (IFL)
• Carter Howell Earns Promotion, Player of the Month Honors - San Jose Giants (CalL)
• Comets Ink Defender Ray Lee to 1-Year Deal - Kansas City Comets (MASL)
• Match Preview: Forward Madison FC at Chattanooga Red Wolves SC - Forward Madison FC (USL1)
• Gomez Makes 400th Atlantic League Appearance - Charleston Dirty Birds (AtL)
• San Diego Wave FC Defeats NJ/NY Gotham FC 1-0 at Red Bull Arena - San Diego Wave FC (NWSL)
• Kjerstad, Lucas Promoted to Triple-A Norfolk - Norfolk Tides (IL)
• Spirit Sign Third-Round Selection Carson Harmer - Saginaw Spirit (OHL)
• All Today's Minor League News
  

• FC Cincinnati, Pittsburgh Riverhounds vie for U.S. Open Cup semifinals - USL Cincinnati Enquirer
• FC Cincinnati, Pittsburgh Riverhounds vie for U.S. Open Cup semifinals - MLS Cincinnati Enquirer
• Tides' Joseph Rosa off to hot start after winding path to Norfolk - IL Newport News Daily Press
• Exhibition sets up Sock Puppets' season - ApL Burlington Times-News
• Missoula PaddleHeads surge past Billings Mustangs to complete three-game sweep - PL Missoulian
• How Mike Tollin plans to make the Jackalopes Grand Junction's team - PL Grand Junction Sentinel
• Erie SeaWolves lead way in Eastern League during crucial time of year - EL Erie Times-News
• Florida Everblades look to defend Kelly Cup title against Idaho Steelheads - ECHL Naples Daily News
• Birmingham Stallions fans anticipate potential third USFL season - USFL WVTM
• Scenes from Buffalo Bandits' championship celebration - NLL Buffalo News
• All Today's Minor League Headlines

• McGough, Ginda and Pettway Named OurSports Central USFL Players of the Week by Fran Stuchbury
• Weekly Sports League and Franchise Report by Dan Krieger
• USFL Power Rankings by Fran Stuchbury
• Around the USFL by Fran Stuchbury
• Love, Atkins and Dillon Named OurSports Central USFL Players of the Week by Fran Stuchbury
• Last Week around the Leagues by Fran Stuchbury

Jacksonville Sharks defensive back Marvin Ross and FB/LB Brandon Munoz

See All Today's Images The following minor league and alternative professional sports teams on OurSports Central have been viewed the most over the last seven days:

1. Corpus Christi Hooks - Texas League (TL)
2. Edmonton Elks - Canadian Football League (CFL)
3. Minnesota Lynx - Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA)
4. Colorado Rapids - Major League Soccer (MLS)
5. Charlotte FC - Major League Soccer (MLS)
6. Saskatchewan Roughriders - Canadian Football League (CFL)
7. Fresno Grizzlies - California League (CalL)
8. Edmonton Oil Kings - Western Hockey League (WHL)
9. B.C. Lions - Canadian Football League (CFL)
10. Toledo Mud Hens - International League (IL)

The most recent minor league and alternative professional sports teams added to OurSports Central:

• Wytheville - Federal Prospects Hockey League (FPHL)
• San Diego - Pro Volleyball Federation (PVF)
• Orlando - Pro Volleyball Federation (PVF)
• Spokane - United Soccer League One (USL1)
• Spartanburg - Carolina League (CarL)
• San Diego - Major League Soccer (MLS)
• Oakland - USL Super League (USLSL)
• Jacksonville - USL Super League (USLSL)
• Indianapolis - USL Super League (USLSL)
• Chattanooga - USL Super League (USLSL)

OurSports Central provides coverage of select alternative and minor league professional sports leagues in addition to the top junior hockey leagues and college wood bat baseball leagues:

BASEBALL
Affiliated Minor League Baseball
AzCL, AzFL, CalL, CarL, EL, FLCL, FSL, IL, ML, MLBDL, MWL, NWL, PCL, SAL, SL, TL
College Wood Bat Baseball
ApL, Northwoods
Independent Minor League Baseball
AA, AtL, FL, Pecos, PL

BASKETBALL
Men's Minor League Basketball
BIG3, CEBL, G League, NBL Canada
Women's Basketball
WNBA

FOOTBALL
Indoor/Arena Football
CIF, IFL, NAL
Outdoor Football
CFL, USFL, XFL

HOCKEY
Junior Hockey
NAHL, OHL, QMJHL, USHL, WHL
Minor League Hockey
AHL, ECHL, FPHL, SPHL
Women's Hockey
PHF

LACROSSE
Indoor Lacrosse
NLL, PBLA
Outdoor Lacrosse
PLL

OTHER
Other Sports
MLR, PVF
Other Women's
WTT

SOCCER
Indoor Soccer
MASL
Outdoor Soccer
CPL, MLS, MLS NEXT Pro, USL, USL1
Women's Soccer
NWSL, USLSL