SPORTS BRIEFS: Gators win Mitchell County youth football league

Gators win Mitchell County league

The Mitchell County Recreation Department’s football league for 7- and 8-year-olds concluded play Oct. 26, with the Gators claiming the championship.

The team members were Wade Collins, Dustin McMillan, Zak Brooks, Max Joyner, Brodie Womack, Ashton Luckey, Justin Luckey, Grant Shiver, Micah Von Glahn, Troy Culpepper, Aubrey Flury, Pace Turner, Logan Hooks, Casey Cook, Colten Womack, Bo O’Neal and Briggs Kelly.

The coaches for the Gators were Kirk Pollock (head coach), Chuck Turner, Van Bass, and Joe Apeler.

Softball players honored

Three Worth County softball players received Player of the Year honors in GHSA Region 1-3A balloting released Wednesday.

Caroline Newton was named Player of the Year. Brinsley Graddy was named Offensive Player of the Year. Taylor Layfield was named Pitcher of the Year.

Cook’s Tomi Rhai Richardson was named Defensive Player of the Year.

Hole-in-one recorded

John Holman made a hole-in-one on the 11th hole Tuesday at Doublegate Country Club.

Holman wound up shooting his age for the round. The witnesses were Usup Choi and Frank Grant.

Inciarte picks up his second Gold Glove

Atlanta center fielder Ender Inciarte picked up his second Gold Glove award Tuesday, joining a list that includes three five-time winners.

Kansas City left fielder Alex Gordon, Chicago Cubs right fielder Jason Heyward and Colorado third baseman Nolan Arenado each won for the fifth time.

Gordon’s teammate, first baseman Eric Hosmer, won for a fourth time, as did a former Royals teammate, current Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Zack Greinke.

No members of the World Series-winning Houston Astros made the squad this year. And no Los Angeles Dodgers, the team with the majors’ best record and the team the Astros beat in the World Series, captured awards.

UCLA’s Ball, teammates arrested in China

Freshman LiAngelo Ball, the younger brother of Los Angeles Lakers rookie Lonzo Ball, and two UCLA men’s basketball teammates were released on bail early Wednesday morning in Hangzhou, China, after being arrested the previous day for allegedly shoplifting.

Ball and freshmen Cody Riley and Jalen Hill remained at a luxury hotel in Hangzhou, a source told ESPN. The three athletes were questioned and arrested by police on Tuesday about allegedly stealing sunglasses from a Louis Vuitton store next to the team’s hotel in Hangzhou, where the Bruins had been staying before leaving for Shanghai on Wednesday.

The trio is being required by local police to stay at the hotel until the legal process is complete while their Bruins teammates traveled to Shanghai for the team’s season opener Saturday (late Friday in the U.S.) against Georgia Tech, according to ESPN. They will not play against the Yellow Jackets.

Almirola introduced as new No. 10 driver

During a Wednesday morning news conference at its Kannapolis, North Carolina, race shop, Stewart-Haas Racing announced Aric Almirola as the driver of the No. 10 Smithfield Ford in 2018.

Almirola, who currently drives the No. 43 for Richard Petty Motorsports, takes over a ride that has been piloted by Danica Patrick for each of the past five full seasons.

Last month, Richard Petty Motorsports announced Darrell Wallace Jr. as the driver of its No. 43 car in 2018, leaving Almirola in limbo for next season — at least publicly. There were widespread rumors of Almirola’s move to SHR, and those whispers were confirmed this morning as the team unveiled the new black-white-and-gold No. 10 that will race in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series next season.