BLUE JAYS WIN STREAK SNAPPED JUST BEFORE HISTORY
The Toronto Blue Jays have been flying high, winning ten consecutive games over the last week and a half. Wednesday night, however, the Chicago White Sox ended Toronto’s streak, one game shy of the franchise record, 11, which was achieved five times, most recently in 2015.
Despite the loss Wednesday, the Blue Jays have won five straight series as Major League Baseball approaches the All-Star Break. Two players will represent the AL East leading Toronto Blue Jays in Atlanta at the 95th annual All-Star Game.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. was selected as a starter for the American League at first base. This is the power hitter’s fifth All-Star selection, becoming the first Blue Jays player to make five consecutive All-Star teams since Jose Bautista made six in a row from 2010-2015. Currently, Vladdy ranks second on the Jays in hits and third in home runs and RBIs.
As a player-elected pick, catcher Alejandro Kirk earns the second All-Star nod of his five year MLB career. In 2022, Kirk represented the Blue Jays at the All-Star Game. Nearing the midway point of this season, the 26-year-old is currently hitting at a .306 clip, and is on pace to become the first-ever Toronto catcher to bat .300
One series remains until the brief pause in the regular season, as Toronto’s team heads West for a three-game series against the Athletics opening tonight at 10:00 p.m.
LOCAL ROCK CLIMBER TO COMPETE AGAINST THE WORLD IN FINLAND
Western New York will be represented in Helsinki, Finland later this month at the 2025 International Federation of Sport Climbing Youth World Championships. 14-year-old Colden Floss of Clarence has qualified for the global climbing competition as a member of Team USA.
Floss competes in the Bouldering division. Bouldering is a discipline in which climbers neither use a rope nor a harness to climb short routes or "problems" on walls no taller than 15 feet.
Last month, Floss placed 4th overall at the USA Climbing Lead Nationals, earning a spot at the Youth World Championships. Since qualifying, Floss has started a fundraiser on GoFundMe to make his dream of participating at the Youth World Championships a reality. With lofty travel expenses, the goal of the fundraiser was set at $6,000. In just over a week, Floss has surpassed his goal, raising more than $6,200 toward his trip to compete in Europe.
The Youth World Championships held in Helsinki, Finland, take place from July 28 - August 3, 2025.
NIAGARA BASKETBALL LEGEND FRANK LAYDEN PASSES AWAY
The Niagara University basketball family is mourning the passing of Frank Layden, legendary Purple Eagles and NBA coach.
Born and raised in Brooklyn, Layden was a 1955 graduate of Niagara University before he returned to Monteagle Ridge in 1968, when he was hired as the men’s basketball team’s Head Coach. In eight seasons at the helm, Layden’s Purple Eagles won 119 games, earning two National Invitational Tournament appearances, and the program’s first-ever NCAA Tournament bid in 1970. Hall of Famer player Calvin Murphy finished his final two seasons at NU under the tutelage of Coach Layden.
In 1976, Layden left Niagara to join fellow-former NU grad Hubie Brown on the Atlanta Hawks coaching staff, where he spent three seasons as an assistant. It was Layden’s next stop that highlighted his professional career.
He joined the New Orleans Jazz in 1979 as General Manager, then doubled as Head Coach after the team moved to Utah. In eight seasons as Head Coach, Layden’s Jazz made the playoffs in five straight seasons, and he was named NBA Coach of the Year and Executive of the Year in 1984. Layden remained as the GM of the Jazz through 1998, drafting and signing franchise cornerstones John Stockton and Karl Malone.
His achievements earned him induction into the New York City Basketball Hall of Fame, the Greater Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame, and the Niagara University Athletics Hall of Fame.
Frank Layden was 93 upon his passing this Wednesday.
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