Last Week around the Leagues

This past week the XFL was purchased for approximately $15 million by Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, Dany Garcia and Gerry Cardinale of Red Bird Capital, The New York Empire won its first World TeamTennis Championship, the Detroit Pistons purchased the G League's Northern Arizona Suns from the Phoenix Suns, and the Indoor Football League team in Columbus, Ohio announced it will be known as the Wild Dogs. Highlights from this week are from the XFL, World TeamTennis, Major League Rugby, National Women... Full Story

Billy Cook Walks Loggers Off, Rafters Win 4-3

Wisconsin Rapids, Wis. - The Wisconsin Rapids Rafters once again were victorious on Tuesday hosting the La Crosse Loggers. The Rafters played from behind most of the way, winning on a Billy Cook walk-off double, 4-3. The Rafters struck first on Cellcom Kids Day with a run in the third. Hank Zeisler and Parker Nolan walked to set up Austin Kryszczuk. Kryszccuk knocked in Zeisler with a groundball mishandled by JT Thompson. In a 2-1 deficit, the Rafters tied things in the seventh with Billy Cook at the plate. Zeisler walked and Richie Schiekofer singled to lead off the inning. With one out... Full Story

Big Leaguers Have Spent Plenty of Time at Sahlen Field

In one week, the Toronto Blue Jays will take the field at Sahlen Field to continue their 2020 season against foes from the American League and National League east. Now, we know the majority of the Blue Jays players have already played in downtown Buffalo, having come up through the system. But when Bo Bichette, Vladdy Jr. and Cavan Biggio were Bisons, there were minor leaguers still. What about the guys that played here _as Major Leaguers... as Blue Jays_? For the last seven seasons, the Blue Jays have embraced sending their injured stars to Buffalo for a final tune up in their return-t... Full Story

Laval Rocket to Host American Hockey League All-Star Classic in 2022

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. ... American Hockey League President and CEO Scott Howson announced today that due to the ongoing COVID-19 public health crisis and the adjustment of the 2020-21 season calendar, the 2021 AHL All-Star Classic will not be held. The Laval Rocket, who had been selected to host the event, will instead host the 2022 AHL All-Star Classic during the 2021-22 AHL season. Dates for the 2022 event are yet to be determined. "While we are disappointed that we will not be able to hold our All-Star Classic festivities in 2021, we look forward to continuing the work that is already un... Full Story

• Silvertips Acquire Rights to C Michael Abgrall from Edmonton - Everett Silvertips (WHL)
• Billy Cook Walks Loggers Off, Rafters Win 4-3 - Wisconsin Rapids Rafters (Northwoods)
• Match Preview: Greenville Triumph vs. South Georgia Tormenta FC - Greenville Triumph SC (USL1)
• Match Preview: Legion FC vs. Charlotte Independence - Wednesday, August 5 - Birmingham Legion FC (USL)
• Pareja Shifts Focus to Loons After LAFC Triumph - Orlando City SC (MLS)
• Big Leaguers Have Spent Plenty of Time at Sahlen Field - Buffalo Bisons (IL)
• Cole Fraser Back for 20-21 Season - Allen Americans (ECHL)
• UMass-Lowell's O'Neill Signs with K-Wings - Kalamazoo Wings (ECHL)
• Laval Rocket to Host American Hockey League All-Star Classic in 2022 - (AHL)
• Vinyals, Mayr, Mueller Earn USL League One Honors for Week 3 - South Georgia Tormenta FC (USL1)
• All Today's Minor League News
  

• Indiana Fever assistant coach April Schilling injures Achilles - WNBA Indianapolis Star
• Locomotive again to play without fans Saturday against Colorado - USL El Paso Times
• Calm and consistent, Sebastian Blanco is driving the Portland Timbers' clicking attack - MLS Portland Oregonian
• MLS tournament bubble working. 9,235 tests, no positives - MLS Miami Herald
• Atlanta Gladiators lock up forward Luke Nogard for 2020-21 season - ECHL Gwinnett Daily Post
• Toronto Arrows re-sign four players and add big Argentine international winger - MLR Toronto Globe and Mail
• Reeve wonders if WNBA players can sustain grueling schedule - WNBA Minneapolis Star Tribune
• How Ernst Tanner, José Martínez and others helped the Union grow into a team MLS respects - MLS Philly.com
• The XFL, The Rock, Dany Garcia and $15 million: What we know about the league's sale, 2021 season - XFL ESPN
• New XFL owners "love" having eight teams, and eventually having more than eight - XFL NBC Sports
• All Today's Minor League Headlines

• Last Week around the Leagues by Fran Stuchbury
• Baseball Mexico by Bruce Baskin
• Weekly Sports League and Franchise Report by Dan Krieger
• Last Week around the Leagues by Fran Stuchbury
• Baseball Mexico by Bruce Baskin
• Weekly Sports League and Franchise Report by Dan Krieger

Chicago Fire FC training at SeatGeek Stadium

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. B.C. Lions - Canadian Football League (CFL)
2. Amarillo Sod Dogs - Texas Collegiate League (TCL)
3. Mandan Flickertails - Northwoods League (Northwoods)
4. Amarillo Sod Squad - Texas Collegiate League (TCL)
5. Great Lakes Resorters - Northwoods League (Northwoods)
6. Tulsa Drillers - Texas Collegiate League (TCL)
7. Northern Michigan Dune Bears - Northwoods League (Northwoods)
8. Flying Chanclas de San Antonio - Texas Collegiate League (TCL)
9. K-Town Bobbers - Northwoods League (Northwoods)
10. Fort Worth - National Lacrosse League (NLL)

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

• Baltimore Lightning - National Arena League (NAL)
• Gastonia - Atlantic League (AtL)
• Tampa Bay Tornadoes - National Arena League (NAL)
• Fort Worth - National Lacrosse League (NLL)
• Angel City - National Women's Soccer League (NWSL)
• K-Town Bobbers - Northwoods League (Northwoods)
• El Paso Rhinos - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
• Northern Michigan Dune Bears - Northwoods League (Northwoods)
• Great Lakes Resorters - Northwoods League (Northwoods)
• Kalamazoo Mac Daddies - Northwoods League (Northwoods)

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
ApL, AzFL, AzL, CalL, CarL, EL, FSL, GCL, IL, ML, MWL, NWL, NYPL, PCL, PL, SAL, SL, TL
College Wood Bat Baseball
Northwoods, TCL
Independent Minor League Baseball
AA, AtL, FL, PA, Pecos

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

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

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

LACROSSE
Indoor Lacrosse
NLL
Outdoor Lacrosse
MLL, PLL

OTHER
Other Sports
MLR
Other Women's
NPF, WTT

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