College Hoops finish, Springs Sports underway

Florida, UConn win college hoops titles

The NCAA’s Men’s and Women’s Basketball tournaments have concluded and champions have been crowned.

Florida defeated Houston 65-63 for the Gator’s third title overall and first championship since 2007.

UConn beat South Carolina 82-59 to notch their 12^th title in program history and first since 2016.

Softball in full swing

All four local Softball teams have all gotten to action in the past week despite the weather being less-than-ideal at times.

Assumption has played four games and hosts a 3-1 record as they split a doubleheader with Adams-Friendship. They then swept Sevastopol behind a no-hitter by senior Macy Vollert.

Nekoosa was locked in a pitcher’s dual with Auburndale, but was thwarted 1-0. Port Edwards had a tough start to the season. They lost 15-0 to Almond-Bancroft via a perfect game for the Eagles in four-innings.

Wisconsin Rapids got back to work for the first time since March as they opened Wisconsin Valley Conference play with a 16-1 victory in three innings over Wausau East.

Rapids Baseball honors fallen coach

In the season-opening games of the season on April 4, the Wisconsin Rapids Baseball team honored long-time assistant coach, Dan O’Connell. He passed away in September of 2024.

Despite the outcomes on the field not going the Raiders’ way as they dropped both games of the doubleheader to Chippewa Falls, the Raiders commemorated the day as they gave his wife and children his No. 4 jersey as his wife threw the opening pitch of the first game to their son.

Rapids also played the first inning without a first base coach, the spot O’Connell occupied for many seasons. They also wore a decal on their batting helmets in his honor.

Links

You can find more local sports reporting on Michael Kommer’s website. You’ll also be able to tune in to broadcasting of high school sports on WFHR and WIRI. The call-in sports talk show Playmakers airs every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 5 to 6 PM on 97.5FM / 1320AM.