Florida Sports Wires

Special to Florida Sports Wires JACKSONVILLE (www.jaxsportsnews.com)  – Miami Marlins right-handed pitcher Anthony Bender is scheduled to join the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp on Tuesday to begin an injury rehabilitation assignment with the club’s 7:45 p.m. ET first pitch at the Memphis Redbirds from AutoZone Park. Bender was placed on the injured list on June 30 with a right shin stress reaction. He had pitched in 35 games for Miami prior to his injury, going 1-1 with a 2.62 ERA. Over 34.1 innings, the 31-year-old had yielded only 21 hits and 12 walks while striking out 41.  A native of Petaluma, Calif., Bender was originally drafted by the Kansas City Royals in the 20th round of the 2016 draft out of Santa Rosa Junior College (Calif.). He reached as high as High-A Wilmington in the Royals’ organization before getting released during Spring Training in 2019.  Bender latched on with independent Sioux City of the American Association, pitching in two games before signing a m...

By Jeff Moeller, Florida SportsWire (www.jaxsportsday.com) - It was important to see the Jaguars mount their comeback against the Saints and pull out a 24-20 victory. The game certainly can serve as a motivator as well as ignitor for the rest of the preseason. However, this is preseason where the outcome of the games really doesn't matter. Instead, it’s the old-time adage on how you got there. For the Jaguars, hopefully, it is a true indicator and not just one based on facing second- third-, and fourth-stringers. What the Jaguars need this summer is to establish their running game. Against the Saints, they may have taken the first step. Behind rookie, free agent J’Mari Taylor, the Jags ran for 118 yards on 36 carries. Taylor paced the field with a workmanlike 78 yards on 22 carries.  When you look at 118 yards, it doesn’t seem like much. But the 36 carries are the difference. The heavy-pass offense Jags threw just 25 times behind the backup core of Nick Mullens, Joey Aguilar, and ...

Special to Jax Sports News JACKSONVILLE (www.thefloridasportswire.com) – The Syracuse Mets rallied in the eighth inning to defeat the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp 4-3 Saturday night at VyStar Ballpark in front of 7,435 fans.  MJ Melendez (14) slugged a solo homer off Jacksonville (59-58, 17-26) reliever Jack Ralston (L, 5-2) with one out in the top of the eighth to give Syracuse (58-60, 20-23) the lead for good.  Syracuse opened the scoring in the top of the first against Jumbo Shrimp starter Karson Milbrandt after Melendez walked and Ronny Mauricio (14) slugged a two-run home run to center field to give the Mets a 2-0 lead.  Johnny Olmstead (8) cut the deficit to 2-1 in the second with a solo homer off Syracuse starter Kevin Herget. Jacksonville knotted the score at three in the sixth with a two-out rally. Cam Cannarella singled and Deyvison De Los Santos (17) launched a two-run homer to right. Once Syracuse retook the lead, Chris Devenski (SV, 1) earned his first save wit...

Special to Jax Sports News FORT LAUDERDALE (www.thefloridasportswire.com) - The Sporting JAX women’s team made a season-opener statement against Fort Lauderdale United FC with a 1-0 win, taking the lead in the 89th minute after a scoreless first half. The late game-winning goal came from Baylee DeSmit, one of Sporting JAX’ stars in their inaugural season. “It feels great,” said DeSmit. “I hope it’s just the beginning, but obviously it feels great to get that win under our belt to start off, and be able to provide for the team like that.” DeSmit had a strong start to her professional career in the 2025/26 season, where she made 25 appearances with 12 goals and two assists. Her 12 goals brought her even with teammate Ashlyn Puerta, the 2025/26 Player of the Year recipient, for the most goals on the team. The women will head back to Hodges Stadium for their home opener against another familiar in-state rival, Tampa Bay Sun FC.  Sporting JAX has gone 7-0-2 against their Sunshine State...

Special to Jax Sports News JACKSONVILLE (www.thefloridasportswire.com) The Sporting JAX men’s team put up a strong fight against Eastern Conference rival Indy Eleven on Saturday, but ultimately fell, 1-0, after the visitors took the lead in the closing minutes. Jackosonville h ead coach Liam Fox after the match: “We probably weren’t as ruthless as I would like us to be in the final third. We probably didn’t create enough chances, but some of the football was really, really good. And it’s difficult for me to say that at the moment, say that was positive because we’ve come away with a cheap goal at the end from a team that we know are very dangerous at set pieces, and ultimately that cost us tonight.” “Every week we’ve got an opportunity to bounce back. As has been the message all throughout the season, we’ll get back in to work and we’ll look forward to the next one.” Saturday’s match served as Sporting JAX’s first home match in nearly a month, with fans returning to Hodges Stadium to c...

  ARLINGTON, Texas (www.thefloridasportsday.com) Dallas Renegades tight end Baylor Cupp and Orlando Storm running back Tre Stewart have signed with the Arizona Cardinals of the National Football League, the team announced today. The signings bring the total number of 2026 UFL players who have earned NFL contracts to 51.  Since August 1, 47 UFL players have signed with or worked out for NFL teams, participating in a combined 57 NFL workouts during that span. Overall, 83 UFL alumni are currently under contract with NFL teams and participating in NFL training camps, continuing the league's role as a development pathway for professional football players. Cupp (6-6, 243, Texas Tech) appeared in nine games for the Renegades in 2026, recording eight receptions for 73 yards, including a 20-yard reception. He joins the Cardinals following his first season in the UFL. Cupp entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent with the Kansas City Chiefs in 2024 after completing his collegiate car...

By Don Coble, Florida Sports Wire (www.jaxsportsday.com) There were so many player swaps, especially on the offensive line, during Thursday’s joint practice with the New Orleans Saints that head coach Lian Coen said he couldn’t keep up with the changes. He also said to expect that to continue when Jacksonville opens its preseason schedule against the Saints Saturday, August 15, at the Mercedes Superdome. Kickoff is scheduled at 4 p.m. on ESPN Unlimited. “I couldn’t even tell you who was in at the end, honestly,” Coen said after Thursday’s workout. “It was just a lot of rotating in there, whether it's because of trying to get guys work at different spots in these settings or because we had some guys cramping and had to mix it up.” Coen also plans to step back and observe the entire operation from the sidelines. Coen normally calls the offensive plays, but he will give that headset to Offensive Coordinator Grant Udinksi. That way, the second-year coach can also pay attention to the d...