Weekly Sports League and Franchise Report

BASEBALL American Association: The independent American Association started its 2018 season this week with 12 teams aligned in six-team North and South divisions. The Salina (KS) Stockade did not return, but the league added an expansion team called the Chicago Dogs to remain at 12 teams. The league realigned teams from a North, Central and South three-divisional alignment in 2017 to just two divisions in 2018. The league's Texas AirHogs (Grand Prairie) team will feature 30 players from ... Full Story

Former Major Leaguer Tuiasosopo Signs with Bees

(New Britain, Conn.) - The New Britain Bees today announced the signing of outfielder Matt Tuiasosopo. "We're excited to bring Matt on board," says Bees General Manager Brad Smith. "He adds another power bat to our lineup and also brings a veteran presence to our ballclub with five years of big league experience." Matt Tuiasosopo joins the Bees for his first season in the Atlantic League and 15th of professional baseball. The former big leaguer spent last year with Triple-A Gwinnett of the Atlanta Braves organization, appearing in 114 games and posting a .207 batting average with eight h... Full Story

Vlad Jr. Hits Walk-Off Homer to Complete 4-Hit Game

Manchester, NH - Vladimir Guerrero Jr. hit a two-run walk-off homer to give the New Hampshire Fisher Cats a 6-5 win in Game 1 of Sunday's doubleheader, as part of a twinbill split with the Binghamton Rumble Ponies at Northeast Delta Dental Stadium. Game 1: 6-5 Fisher Cats Guerrero Jr. went 4-for-4 with three singles and a walk-off homer as the Fisher Cats won the first game of the double dip. New Hampshire trailed 5-3 entering the final frame, but Jonathan Davis started the bottom of the seventh with a two-bagger and scored on a double by Bo Bichette to make it 5-4. Guerrero then homered... Full Story

Rodriguez Extends Hit Streak, Hens Win Series

TOLEDO, Ohio - Ronny Rodriguez drove in three runs and extended his International League-leading hitting streak to 16 consecutive games as the Toledo Mud Hens defeated the Gwinnett Stripers 5-1 on Sunday at Fifth Third Field. Josh Turley picked up his fourth win of the year for the Mud Hens (28-13), striking out a season-high 10 batters in five innings of work, surrendering an unearned run on two hits and four walks. Paul Voelker added two hitless frames in relief before Caleb Thielbar and Johnny Barbato each pitched a perfect inning. Rodriguez continued to shine at the plate, going 1-fo... Full Story

• Dogs Look to Rebound in First Meeting with Saints - Chicago Dogs (AA)
• Outfielders Added to Roster Mix - Wilson Tobs (Coastal Plain)
• Cade Gotta Named Southern League Player of the Week - Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp (SL)
• Joltin' Joey Named IL Batter of the Week Again - Lehigh Valley IronPigs (IL)
• Rafters Sign Standout Pitchers from Framingham State and Bucknell University - Wisconsin Rapids Rafters (Northwoods)
• Kansas City Comets Under New Ownership - Kansas City Comets (MASL)
• Former Major Leaguer Tuiasosopo Signs with Bees - New Britain Bees (AtL)
• Logan Allen Strikes out 12 in Win over Hounds - San Antonio Missions (TL)
• Former Greely Standout, Twitchell to Join Mainers this Summer - Sanford Mainers (NECBL)
• Argos Sign International OL Chase Farris, OL Isiah Cage and DB Trumaine Washington - Toronto Argonauts (CFL)
• All Today's Minor League News
  

• Snappers slip past Bandits - MWL Beloit Daily News
• Memphis pro football can succeed, former Showboats GM says of AAF - AAF Memphis Commercial Appeal
• San Diego is among cities Alliance of American Football is eyeing - AAF San Diego Union-Tribune
• Season on the line as Komets head west - ECHL Fort Wayne Journal Gazette
• TinCaps rally in 7th as win streak hits 5 - MWL Fort Wayne Journal Gazette
• Brendan Rodgers' Blast Gives Yard Goats A Wild Win, 13-10 - EL Hartford Courant
• Erie SeaWolves blank Reading Fightin Phils to earn split - EL Erie Times-News
• Redbirds catch fire in winning 3 of 4 games at Colorado Springs - PCL Memphis Commercial Appeal
• Chiefs rally, walk off Kane County in 11th, 3-2 - MWL Peoria Journal Star
• Chicago Dogs manager Butch Hobson embracing another season of independent baseball - AA Chicago Daily Herald
• All Today's Minor League Headlines

Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp outfielder Cade Gotta

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. Buffalo Bisons - International League (IL)
2. Salt Lake City - Alliance of American Football (AAF)
3. Orlando SeaWolves - Major Arena Soccer League (MASL)
4. Phoenix - Alliance of American Football (AAF)
5. Minnesota Whitecaps - National Women's Hockey League (NWHL)
6. Chippewa Steel - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
7. Maryland Black Bears - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
8. Stockton Kings - NBA G League (G League)
9. Capital City Go-Go - NBA G League (G League)
10. Milwaukee - American Association (AA)

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

• Madison - United Soccer League Division III (USL D3)
• Phoenix - Alliance of American Football (AAF)
• Minnesota Whitecaps - National Women's Hockey League (NWHL)
• Salt Lake City - Alliance of American Football (AAF)
• Milwaukee - American Association (AA)
• Memphis - Alliance of American Football (AAF)
• Chippewa Steel - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
• Atlanta - Alliance of American Football (AAF)
• Capital City Go-Go - NBA G League (G League)
• Maryland Black Bears - North American Hockey League (NAHL)

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
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