Weekly Sports League and Franchise Report

BASEBALL Pacific Coast League: The Las Vegas 51s of the Triple-A PCL announced the team will adopt a new nickname when it moves to a new stadium currently under construction in the suburb of Summerlin. The team was known as the Stars from 1983 through the 2000 season before it took the 51s nickname. The PCL started its 2018 season earlier this month with the same 16 teams as last season aligned into American and Pacific conferences each with four-team Northern and Southern divisions. I... Full Story

Suarez Named Eastern League Pitcher of the Week

(Reading, PA) - The Eastern League has announced that Reading Fightin Phils pitcher Ranger Suarez has been named Eastern League Pitcher of the Week for the week of April 16th - April 22nd. Suarez is the first Fightin Phils pitcher or player to receive recognition from the league this season. Suarez went 1-0 with 12 strikeouts and a 1.20 ERA over his last two starts. On Sunday against the New Hampshire Fisher Cats, he struck out two batters over seven innings while allowing just two runs in Reading's 4-2 loss. This past Monday in Harrisburg, he struck out ten batters in eight innings as he g... Full Story

Dean Named Southern League Player of the Week

KODAK, Tenn. - Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp outfielder Austin Dean has been named the Southern League Player of the Week for April 16-22, announced by the league office on Monday morning. Over the past week in seven games, Dean hit .520 (13-for-25) with two home runs, six runs batted in, three doubles, and six runs scored. "I've been trying to hit the ball hard and make good contact and get on base," said Dean. "That's been my approach this year." Dean in 16 games is hitting .536 (30-for-56), which is the best batting average in all of Minor League Baseball entering Monday's games, and h... Full Story

Griffins Earn Road Split with 5-1 Win

WINNIPEG, Manitoba - On the strength of three-point first periods by Matthew Ford and Ben Street, the Grand Rapids Griffins rebounded from their series-opening defeat to even the Central Division Semifinals with a resounding 5-1 victory over the Manitoba Moose in Game 2 on Sunday at Bell MTS Place. After earning a road split, the defending Calder Cup champions will host as many as three straight games to conclude the best-of-five series, starting with Game 3 on Wednesday and Game 4 on Thursday at Van Andel Arena. Game time each night is 7 p.m. Mirroring the Griffins' fast start from Game... Full Story

• Tiger-Cats Name Robert Lyles Linebackers Coach - Hamilton Tiger-Cats (CFL)
• Bombers Assistants Square off in Crosstown Showdown - Brazos Valley Bombers (TCL)
• Match Preview: Atlanta United 2 vs. Charleston Battery - Atlanta United 2 (USL)
• Monday Night's Game Postponed - Hickory Crawdads (SAL)
• Eagles Great Duce Staley Is Coming to Baseballtown on Saturday, May 5th - Reading Fightin Phils (EL)
• West Virginia Power: Game Notes (April 23) - West Virginia Power (SAL)
• Mitchell Tabbed as South Atlantic League Player of the Week - West Virginia Power (SAL)
• Brett Nicholas Named PCL Player of the Week - El Paso Chihuahuas (PCL)
• Knighthawks Can Lock up a Playoff Berth Saturday - Rochester Knighthawks (NLL)
• Fresno RHP Mike Hauschild Named PCL Pitcher of the Week - Fresno Grizzlies (PCL)
• All Today's Minor League News
  

• Reid Boucher assigned to Comets ahead of Game 3 - AHL Utica Observer-Dispatch
• Yard Goats Infielder Brendan Rodgers Earns Eastern League Player Of The Week Honors - EL Hartford Courant
• Syracuse Chiefs player earns International League award - IL Syracuse Post Standard
• LaFontaine not retained as coach of Muskegon Lumberjacks - USHL Muskegon Chronicle
• Efficient Timbers top New York City FC - MLS Portland Tribune
• TinCaps edge Dragons to claim 2nd straight series - MWL Fort Wayne Journal Gazette
• Sweet leads Tortugas over Blue Jays - FSL Daytona Beach News-Journal
• Martineau's goal huge as Komets end series - ECHL Fort Wayne Journal Gazette
• Steve Klauke reaches 3,500-game milestone with the Salt Lake Bees - PCL Deseret News
• IceHogs steamroll Chicago for commanding 2-0 series lead - AHL Rockford Register Star
• All Today's Minor League Headlines

Rochester Knighthawks celebrate a goal

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. Stockton Kings - NBA G League (G League)
2. Capital City Go-Go - NBA G League (G League)
3. Rochester Kings - American Arena League (AAL)
4. Maryland - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
5. Orlando - Major Arena Soccer League (MASL)
6. Orlando - Alliance of American Football (AAF)
7. San Diego Legion - Major League Rugby (MLR)
8. Seattle Seawolves - Major League Rugby (MLR)
9. Glendale Raptors - Major League Rugby (MLR)
10. NOLA Gold - Major League Rugby (MLR)

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

• Capital City Go-Go - NBA G League (G League)
• Maryland - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
• Stockton Kings - NBA G League (G League)
• Orlando - Alliance of American Football (AAF)
• Ruidoso Osos - Pecos League (Pecos)
• Dominican Republic - Canadian American League (Can-Am)
• Beijing Eagles - National Pro Fastpitch (NPF)
• Orlando - Major Arena Soccer League (MASL)
• Rugby United NY - Major League Rugby (MLR)
• Seattle Seawolves - Major League Rugby (MLR)
• Houston SaberCats - Major League Rugby (MLR)
• San Diego Legion - Major League Rugby (MLR)
• Glendale Raptors - Major League Rugby (MLR)
• Utah Warriors - Major League Rugby (MLR)
• NOLA Gold - Major League Rugby (MLR)

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
Alaska, Cape Cod, Coastal Plain, FCBL, GWL, NECBL, Northwoods, PGCBL, Prospect, TCL, WCL, WMBL
Independent Minor League Baseball
AA, AtL, Can-Am, FL, PA, Pecos

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

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

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

LACROSSE
Indoor Lacrosse
NLL
Outdoor Lacrosse
MLL

OTHER
Other Sports
MLR
Other Women's
NPF, WTT

SOCCER
Indoor Soccer
MASL
Outdoor Soccer
MLS, NASL, USL, USL D3
Women's Soccer
NWSL