MaxWire National Blog

Officially, score it a 2-1 popout.

What appeared to be a simple popup in front of home plate was anything but routine Monday. In fact, it turned into the play of the day on ESPN's SportsCenter. 

In the Three Rivers League championship game between St. John's Jesuit (Toledo, Ohio) and Ross (Freemont, Ohio), junior catcher Corey Tipton and senior pitcher Joe Robie combined for a web gem of the highest order. The athleticism displayed by both is impressive.

Tipton quickly moved out from behind the plate to catch the ball and nearly collided with the batter. Realizing he wouldn't be able to catch the ball, he dove and tipped it into the air for Robie. An outstretched Robie snared it with his left hand just before it hit the turf in fair territory.

"As a little kid I always dreamed of being on SportsCenter's Top 10 and, what do you know, it came true," Robie told The (Toledo) Blade. "It's one thing to be on there, but it's another thing to be No. 1. I never thought in my wildest dreams that would come true. I saw it on there, and I still don't believe it."

St. John's Jesuit won the game 8-4.

The Miami Heat seem to be clicking at the right time. And when I watch NBA or any pro games I always wonder how they were in high school.

We all got a chance to see LeBron James play as a few of his high school games were televised nationally. But what about this teammate Dwyane Wade. Was he like LeBron?

Wade was not a Top 20 recruit coming out of high school, according to his Marquette player page.

He still averaged 27 points and 11 rebounds per game his senior year.

Have a look at Wade and his playing days with Richards (Chicago).

Alexandra Raisman of Needham, Mass., defended her gymnastics title by winning the all-around championship in the Senior Division of the Secret U.S. Classic over the weekend in Chicago, Ill. It marked the final qualifying event for the upcoming Visa Championships.

Raisman posted an all-around score of 60.350. She also placed first in floor exercise with 15.350.

In the Junior Division, Simone Biles of Spring, Texas, was the all-around gold medal winner with a score of 58.150. In addition, she was the top vaulter with 16.050 points.

Josh Floyd, one of the finest young football coaches in the country, announced late last week that he has been diagnosed with early stages of multiple sclerosis.

The 32-year-old coach has compiled an 89-19 record at his alma mater, Shiloh Christian (Springdale, Ark.), with four state championships in eight years. He also serves as athletic director for the Saints, who will be moving up a notch to Class 5A this coming fall.

Floyd told the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette that he felt a tingling in his left arm and leg early in the week and underwent an MRI, at which time MS was diagnosed.

Though he will seek a second opinion, Floyd related, "The doctor said I'm going to get to live a long, normal life and still coach, exercise, play with my kids and all those things."

Jordan Robbeloth struck out the first 17 batters (only one thereafter) to spark North Harrison (Ramsey, Ind.) to a 10-0 victory over Salem (Ind.) during the first round of the Class 3A baseball sectional. A two-out single in the seventh inning cost him a no-hitter.

More diamond notes throughout the country.

* Palm Desert (Calif.) outlasted Savanna (Anaheim, Calif.) 4-3 in 14 innings during Southern Section Division IV quarterfinals. Jonathan Serven tripled and scored the winning run on a bad relay throw to third base.

Softball

* In one of the most dramatic games of the spring, Liberty (Sykesville, Md.) scored three runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to stun perennial champion McDonough (Owings Mlls, Md.) 3-2 on Friday to claim its first Class 2A state softball crown.

Trailing the five-time state champs 2-0 in the final inning, the Lions quickly loaded the bases on two bunt singles and a walk to eventual hero Sammy Bost. A two-run single by Rebecca Oneto tied the score and left runners on first and second, still with nobody out. 

Natalie Gill missed a bunt attempt, but Bost and Oneto were safe on a double steal. Bost over-slid third and appeared to be tagged out. However, when no call was made she broke for home and was able to score the winning run without a throw to home plate.

Bost told the Washington Post, "I didn't feel a tag. I wasn't going to go back into a tag, so I figured I'd rather get into a rundown or go to score."

* Senior Lauren Cox struck out 20 of a possible 21 batters while pitching La Canada (Calif.) to a 7-0 victory over Mary Star of the Sea (San Pedro, Calif.) during the Southern Section Division V quarterfinals. She yielded just one hit and three walks. Earlier this spring she fanned 23 in a 14-inning game.

* North Medford (Medford, Ore.) nipped Forest Grove (Ore.) 2-1 in 11 innings during the Class 6A state quarterfinals as Maryssa Becker struck out 21. While raising her record to 24-0, Becker yielded only two hits. In a losing cause, Marissa Reichard fanned 14 against a team which has lost just once in 28 outings.

* Holly Springs (N.C.) edged Apex (N.C.) 6-5 in 13 innings as Erica Nunn struck out 22 during the Class 4A state quarterfinals.

* Senior Ashley Cole pitched a perfect game with 18 strikeouts as Carle Place (N.Y.) blanked Oyster Bay (N.Y.) 2-0, It marked her second perfect game and third no-hitter of the season.

* Morgan Foley struck out 18 batters to lead Assumption (Louisville, Ky.) to a 1-0 victory over Fern Creek (Louisville, Ky.) in the district championship game.