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Yankees ace Cole to return Friday

NEW YORK — The long wait is nearly over for Gerrit Cole and the New York Yankees. Cole is scheduled to return from Tommy John surgery Friday night and make his season debut against the Tampa Bay Rays, his first big league outing in almost 19 months. A six-time All-Star and the 2023 AL Cy Young Award winner, Cole hasn’t pitched in the majors since October 2024 in Game 5 of the World Series versus the Los Angeles Dodgers. “It’s been tough. I mean, I’ve missed it quite a bit,” he said Tuesday at Yankee Stadium. “There’s been some blessings along the way as well. I ...

High School Sports Roundup from May 19

SOFTBALL DISTRICT SEMIFINALS DIVISION II Northeast 3 Green 19, Warren G. Harding 1 — Stats were not provided by print deadline. DIVISION III Northeast 6 Howland 5, CVCA 0 — Makenna Perry allowed just one hit and struck out 14 for Howland in seven innings. Marissa Ray hit a triple and drove in three runs. Brooklyn VanNess added a pair of hits and Madison Schmitz had one hit for the Tigers. DIVISION IV Northeast 1 Niles at Elyria Catholic — Score not available by print deadline. Northeast 5 Hubbard 11, Akron Coventry 10 (8 Inn.) — Hubard scored two runs in ...

Capsules

Gebhardt named Pitcher of the Year INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. —Youngstown State senior left-hander Braden Gebhardt (Howland) was named the 2026 Horizon League Pitcher of the Year as one of six Penguins to collect postseason honors when the league office announced its postseason award winners and all-league teams on Tuesday. Gebhardt was also voted as a member of the All-Horizon League First Team while senior right-hander Jack Messmore and redshirt junior outfielder Brady Shannon (Ursuline) were selected to the All-Horizon League Second Team. In addition, freshmen infielders Alex Jang and ...

Rai leans on humble roots and hard work to become major champion

NEWTOWN SQUARE, Pa. — Aaron Rai stood straight with his arms behind his back, perfect posture, as he waited to be introduced as the latest — and among the most remarkable — winner of the PGA Championship. Next to him on a small table was the Wanamaker Trophy, big and silver and shiny. Rai couldn’t resist a quick glance at the 27-pound trophy and all those names. Jim Barnes won the first two PGA Championships in 1916 and 1919, and there had never been another winner from England until Rai won at Aronimink on Sunday. And there was Tiger Woods, once a mythical figure on VHS ...