Florida Sports Wire

COLUMBUS, Ohio ( www.jaxsportsday.com )– Home runs from Charles Leblanc, Austin Allen and Dane Myers were not enough for the Jumbo Shrimp on Friday, as Jacksonville’s rally fell short in a 7-6 loss to the Columbus Clippers at Huntington Park. The Jumbo Shrimp (59-64, 27-22) entered the bottom of the fourth inning ahead 4-3, but Bryan Lavastida led off with a home run off reliever Richard Rodriguez (2-1) to knot the score. Angel Martinez followed with a double before Chris Roller walked. Brayan Rocchio then blasted a three-run home run to give the Clippers (55-66, 22-25) a 7-4 advantage. The lead held until the seventh inning, when Myers laced a solo shot off Columbus starter Zach Plesac (5-4) to trim the deficit to two. Former Jacksonville reliever Nic Enright entered the game for the Clippers with the score still 7-5 in the ninth. Myers led off with a double before scoring on a Griffin Conine single. After a strikeout, Leblanc doubled to put runners on second and third with just one o

 SANTA CLARA, Calif. ( www.jaxsportsday.com )  - Jacksonville University volleyball rallied to win the final two sets, beating California Baptist 3-2 on Friday morning at Mission College Gymnasium. The Dolphins (1-0) saw contributions from a whole host of players on the roster to prevail in the first match of the San Jose State/Santa Clara Tourney. Jenna McNamara set a career-high with 21 kills, with a .395 hitting percentage.Rebecca Rocassin dished out 50 assists, and also added nine digs, four kills and a block. Kristina Nika registered a career-high in digs, with 16 to lead the team. Three players had five blocks each: Lyric Love, Alija Heins and Claire Mrukowski It was the first season-opening win for JU since the 2017 season "This was a complete team win, which is great to see at the start of a season," said Head Coach Maggie Johnson. "I was really proud of everyone's willingness to step into new or different roles at any moment and find success." Kailey Mc

 DURHAM, N.C ( www.jaxsportsday.com ) - The Jacksonville men's soccer team fell 3-1 against the fourth ranked team in the country, Duke, on Friday evening. A thrilling season opener saw the Dolphins square off against nationally ranked and 2022 NCAA tournament quarterfinalists in Duke. The matchup marked the highest-ranked opponent the Dolphins have faced in the program's history. Straight from kickoff, both teams showed strong defensive play, and created an intense first 20 minutes of action that featured back and forth action.As the match began to open up,  The Blue Devils launched a series of free kicks and three striking attempts, testing the Dolphins' defense. Yet, the Dolphins' early 'bend don't break' defense proved unyielding and stood strong against the ACC foe. The match carried on towards the halfway mark, and the Blue Devils seemed to settle into the match. JU sophomore then proceeded to pounce on a Duke mistake with just one minute remaining in

AUGUSTA, Ga. ( www.jaxsportsday.com )  – The Flagler College men’s soccer team was picked to finish in second place in the Peach Belt Conference’s preseason coaches’ poll, released this morning by conference officials. Marc Birkelund, Liam Fisch, and Paul Hansen were all selected to the preseason all-conference team. The Saints fell one point shy of tying preseason favorite Clayton State University. Flagler had 21 while Clayton State tallied 22. Lander University was picked to finish in third place with 19 points. All three teams received two first-place votes. Flagler posted a 10-4-3 overall record in 2022 and went 8-2-2 in PBC play. The Saints finished in second place and was one point short of finishing in a tie for first place. Thomas Coombes, who enters his second season with the Saints, returns 13 players from last year’s club, including five starters. Highlighting the returnees are the three preseason all-conference selections: Birkelund, Fisch, and Hansen. Birkelund is a junior

  ORLANDO ( www.jaxsportsday.com )   – Single-game tickets for all home games of the 2023-'24 Orlando Magic season will go on sale Friday, August 25 at 1 p.m. to the general public. The Magic will open the preseason at home on Tues., Oct. 17 vs. New Orleans and the regular season in the Amway Center tips off at 7 p.m. on Weds., Oct. 25 when the Magic host the Houston Rockets.    Tickets will be available for purchase*: Online at  OrlandoMagic.com/Tickets At the Amway Center box office (located on Church St.) Most credit cards accepted at all purchase points   Returning this season, the Magic will offer the fan-favorite Fast Break Monthly Pass presented by Planet Fitness, which includes three or more games each month for only $49. More details can be found at  OrlandoMagic.com/FastBreak . For more information, log on to  OrlandoMagic.com  or call 407-89-MAGIC.   * All tickets are tax free through Sept. 4, 2023 during the Florida Freedom Summer Sales tax holiday

Sioux Falls, SD   – The Indoor Football League announced that as all fourteen of the returning 2023 IFL teams start building for 2024, another star franchise will be added to the schedule, the Jacksonville Sharks. "To pick up another historic brand like the Jacksonville Sharks, is one of many reasons to tune into the IFL for 2024,” said IFL Commissioner Todd Tryon. “Jacksonville is a first-class organization that will help make everyone better. We are excited to add them to the mix of great IFL franchises as we build for 2024.”   The Jacksonville Sharks have an extensive history of success and powerful indoor football brand. The Sharks were part of the AFL from 2010 to 2016, including a National Arena Bowl championship in 2011.    In 2017, the Sharks moved to the National Arena League where they won league championships in 2017, 2019 and 2023. "We are excited to renew some old rivalries with teams like the Arizona Rattlers and Massachusetts Pirates," said Head Coach Jaso

  NEW YORK  CITY AND MEXICO CITY    –   In a thrilling, penalty-kick victory at GEODIS Park, Inter Miami CF won the inaugural Leagues Cup title over Nashville SC in front of a sellout crowd of 30,109 on Saturday night in Nashville. Following a tremendous, back-and-forth 90-plus minutes that saw the match tied at 1-1 at the end of regulation, Inter Miami emerged victorious, 10-9, in penalty kicks with goalkeeper Drake Callender registering the game-winning strike.   After outlasting 46 clubs from LIGA MX and MLS, Inter Miami won its first official international tournament title and earned an automatic berth into the Round of 16 of the 2024 Concacaf Champions Cup. Nashville SC, as the tournament’s runner-up, and the Philadelphia Union, as the winner of Saturday’s Third-Place Match against C.F. Monterrey, both earned qualification into the 2024 Concacaf Champions Cup Round One.   After a back-and-forth first 20 minutes of the match, Inter Miami star Lionel Messi landed the game’s first bl

J ACKSONVILLE  Miami Marlins’ reliever Tommy Nance will continue an injury rehabilitation assignment presented by H2 Health for the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp on Wednesday for a 6:15 p.m. game at Columbus Clippers from Huntington Park. Nance was originally placed on the 15-day injured list with a right shoulder strain on March 27, 2023 and then transferred to the 60-day IL on April 22, 2023. He has pitched in 10 minor league games this season with Double-A Pensacola, Low-A Jupiter and the Rookie-level FCL Marlins, going 0-1 with a 1.32 ERA. Over 13.2 innings, he has struck out 15 against only three walks and seven hits allowed.   A native of Santa Clara, Calif., Nance was originally signed by the Chicago Cubs as a minor league free agent on February 1, 2016. During the 2016 season, Nance blew through the Cubs minor league system, working his way from Short-Season A Eugene all the way to Triple-A Iowa. In 22 appearances, he went 4-1 with a 2.58 ERA, allowing 12 runs, 11 earned runs on 34

WINNIPEG, Manitoba  – PGA TOUR Canada begins its three-week sprint to the finish line this week at the CentrePort Canada Rail Park Manitoba Open and dozens of players remain in contention to finish among the top five on the Fortinet Cup standings and earn a spot on the 2024 Korn Ferry Tour. There is plenty at stake. The winner of the Fortinet Cup will receive a $25,000 bonus and full status on the 2024 Korn Ferry Tour. The second- through fifth-place finishers earn conditional Korn Ferry status and all five will be exempt into the final stage of the 2023 PGA TOUR Q-School presented by Korn Ferry. “It would mean a lot,” said John Pak, currently No. 4 in the Fortinet Cup standings. “Just that guarantee of being in the final stage of Q-School, that security blanket would be really nice.” Pak won the Elk Ridge Saskatchewan Open presented by Brandt and has three top-25 finishes this season. Pak wants to keep the same steady approach for the final three weeks. “Just keep playing my game,” P

  ALLENTOWN, Pa. ( www.jacksonvillesportsday.com ) –   The Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp offense went just 2-for-11 with runners in scoring position in Thursday’s 2-1 loss to the Lehigh Valley IronPigs from Coca-Cola Park. With Jacksonville (56-60, 24-18) ahead 1-0 in the second, both Scott Kingery and Cal Stevenson singled with two outs against Jumbo Shrimp starter Edward Cabrera (2-1). After Stevenson stole second to put two runners in scoring position, Brandon Marsh doubled in the pair to give Lehigh Valley (62-52, 26-15) the lead at 2-1.   Jacksonville had several opportunities in the game, but were unable to scrape across another run outside of the first inning. In that opening frame, Xavier Edwards led off the game with a double. He scored two batters later on Troy Johnston’s two-bagger for the contest’s first run.   From there, IronPigs starter Nick Nelson (6-2) worked 6.0 innings of one-run ball to earn the win. Tyler McKay pitched a perfect ninth for his second save.   The Jumbo S

JACKSONVILLE ( www.jaxsportsday.com ) – The Jacksonville Icemen announced that former Icemen goaltender Charles Williams has accepted a position with the club as Director of Community Hockey Development and Goaltending Coach.      Williams will help grow the game of hockey in North Florida, working with youth sports teams and organizing events to introduce the game of hockey to local youth, while also promoting both the Icemen and Community First Igloo brand across the region.    Williams will also work with community leaders and groups to gain support with these initiatives. He will also serve as a youth hockey coach at the Community First Igloo.      “We appreciate all of the effort that Charles has given the team as a player on the ice, and now we look forward to him joining our front office,” said Icemen President Bob Ohrablo.    “Charles has been admired by our fan base for the past three seasons, and there is no doubt he will be a great representative of our team in the communit

(File Photo by Jim Brady/Florida Sports Day) JACKSONVILLE ( www.sportsdayjax.com )  –   Coming off a record eight-game winning streak, the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp fell to the Norfolk Tides 13-7 Sunday afternoon at 121 Financial Ballpark. Norfolk (69-44, 21-18) took the early lead in the top of the first.  Connor Norby  doubled off Jacksonville (55-58, 23-16) starter  Devin Smeltzer  (L, 4-7). Two batters later,  Joey Ortiz  doubled home Norby to plate the game’s first run. After a fly out,  Josh Lester  to make it 2-0.    Lewin Díaz  started the second inning off with a double and  Maverick Handley  hit a two-bagger to make it a 3-0 contest.  Shayne Fontana  followed with a single. With runners at the corners, Norby walked to load the bases,  Heston Kjerstad  hit a sac fly to increase the lead to 4-0. An error on the throw home allowed Fontana and Norby to advance to second and third. Ortiz smacked an RBI single and  Daz Cameron  hit a sac fly to push the score to 6-0.   The Jumbo Sh