This page may contain affiliate links to legal sports betting partners. If you sign up or place a wager, FOX Sports may be compensated. Read more aboutSports Betting on FOX Sports. UFC Fight Night 284 heads to the Meta APEX this weekend, with a pair of lightweight matchups headlining the Paramount+ card. The main event pits No. 8 Mateusz Gamrot against rising contender Quillan Salkilld. Diego Ferreira meets Billy Quarantillo in the co-main event. Gamrot enters the main event at 26-4 with 9 UFC wins, but faces one of the division's fastest-rising contenders. Salkilld is 12-1 and riding a 12-fight winning streak, with four of his five UFC victories coming by first-round stoppage. In the co-main event, Ferreira and Quarantillo are both looking to snap two-fight losing streaks. Ferreira brings extensive grappling experience into the octagon. Quarantillo is returning to the lightweight division for the first time in a decade after a 20-month layoff. When betting on UFC Fight Night, bettors can look beyond the moneyline and consider method-of-victory, round, fight goes the distance, and player props when available. DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM, bet365, Caesars Sportsbook and more sportsbooks has you covered for the for the action in the octagon. FanDuel Bet $5, Get $200 in Bet Reset Tokens for 5 Days UFC Fight Night Odds *Odds may differ each site* Mateusz Gamrot vs. Quillan Salkilld Carlos Diego Ferreira vs. Billy Quarantillo DraftKings Claim the New User Offer No Promo Code Needed Method of Victory: Gamrot vs. Salkilld *Odds may differ each site* Caesars Sportsbook Sign Up and Claim the Caesars Sportsbook Promo Code Method of Victory: Ferreira vs. Quarantillo *Odds may differ each site* bet365 How to claim bet365 Promo with Bonus Code FOX365. UFC Fight Night 284 MAIN CARD (Paramount+, 8 p.m. ET) BetMGM How to Sign Up and Claim the BetMGM Sportsbook Bonus Code

Joaquin Niemann's dominant week hit its first speed bump but he's still very much in control. The 36-hole leader opened Saturday with a double bogey on the par-4 first, the first blemish on his card all week, before battling back with three birdies on his way to a 1-under 70. He heads into the final round at 14 under, still holding the outright lead at Trump National Golf Club Bedminster. Niemann admitted the start stung but said he was able to reset quickly. "Obviously not the best tee shot coming out to start the round, but it was kind of good to just be back into that moment," Niemann said. "It was a little bit frustrating. I think I was able to handle it pretty good." A weather delay didn't make things easier either. "It was definitely more tricky. Coming out of a little rain delay, a 40-minute delay, made a good birdie there, but pretty tricky tee shot after that one," he said. "I felt like I was able to do it right. I think I can do it better, so hopefully tomorrow we'll have a good day." Asked how he manages the nerves of leading into a final round, Niemann kept it simple: "Just be grateful. I feel like if I just remember the good things that I have around me and the people around me, it's just easy to go back to sleep. I have a good life." Harold Varner III made sure Niemann felt the heat, catching fire down the stretch for a 6-under 65 that pulled him within two shots at 12 under. It's the continuation of a hot run for Varner, who has quietly been one of the most consistent players in the field all week. "I've been playing well the last couple few tournaments and I've been working hard, and I feel like things are just going my way, and you want to just keep it stacking and attacking, and I feel like I'm doing that as well," Varner said. Lee Westwood stayed within striking distance as well, backing up his Friday 65 with a 2-under 69 to sit third at 10 under. The former World No. 1 is looking to become the oldest player to win on any major professional tour at 53 years old. "I'm just pleased to be in good enough shape, my game still be at an elite level where I can compete with these guys that are some of the best in the world," Westwood said. "Joaco (Niemann) is one of the best players in the world, in my eyes. You've got Jon Rahm and Bryson and Tyrrell, and they're not even in contention this week. At 53 years of age, I think it's quite an achievement to still be mixing it with the youngsters. If you go out there and watch us all playing, I'm giving up quite an advantage off the tee. Not all the time, I get the occasional one out there, but in general, I'm playing a different golf course, really." Tom McKibbin rounded out the top four at 7 under after a 1-under 70, while Sergio Garcia cooled off slightly with a 1-over 72 to sit fifth at 6 under. Byeong Hun An, Thomas Pieters and Richard Bland are tied for sixth at 5 under, with Bland's third-round 71 following up his blistering 64 on Friday. Scott Vincent sits alone in ninth at 4 under, and a trio of Lucas Herbert, Paul Casey and Younghan Song are tied for 10th at 3 under. On the team side, Torque GC held onto the top spot at 1 under despite a tougher day on Saturday, with Sebastian Muoz (76) and Carlos Ortiz (76) both stumbling behind Niemann's 70. Legion XIII moved into second at 1 over, powered by Caleb Surratt's 68 and Tom McKibbin's continued strong week. Tyrrell Hatton also chipped in with a 69. Westwood's Majesticks GC sits third at 5 over, with Westwood's individual 69 keeping the English team in the mix. This piece in partnership with LIV Golf.

CHICAGO Leaning against the wall in a United Center tunnel Saturday afternoon, Sophie Cunningham reflected on the emerging truth of her existence: Sometimes she seeks the spotlight, and the rest of the time, the spotlight seeks her.Another day, another dollar, welcome to my life, boys and girls, the Indiana Fever guard declared.It should surprise no one, of course, that Cunningham took a hard foul in a 90-86 win over the Chicago Sky and then elected to give as good as she got. The arm-to-the-neck she absorbed from the Skys DiJonai Carrington on a first-quarter layup attempt, which resulted in Carringtons ejection, was just the start.From my point of view, I mean, clearly I think it was unnecessary, Cunningham said after the game.Ive never really spoken to her and have no beef with her. But I guess she has some pent-up stuff. So get your s off. Thats fine. I can take it.Cunningham immediately popped up, pushed Carrington and was restrained by teammate Makalya Timpson while exchanging words. (Im not going to let anyone just do that to me, I think everyone knows that, Cunningham said.) Carrington was assessed a Flagrant 2 foul, but Cunningham wasnt hit with a technical foul for the shove because officials deemed her reaction to the severity of the contact to be acceptable, per a pool report distributed after the game.DiJonai Carrington was assessed a Flagrant 2 and was ejected from the game after this play. pic.twitter.com/WRapu4lqHX ESPN (@espn) August 8, 2026Shortly after heading to the locker room, a post appeared on Carringtons Threads account tagging the Fever with the phrase WHITE PRIVILEGE. (Carrington was not available for comment Saturday.)Oh yeah, we saw it, Cunningham said. I think the league is taking care of that. I mean, this has nothing to do with race. Last year I did the same thing, and I got kicked out, as I deserved to be kicked out. Theres no reason to even play that card.While Fever coach Stephanie White said after the game that she didnt believe Carrington connected with Cunninghams neck intentionally, Cunningham drew a straight line to her own infamous ejection against the Connecticut Sun late last season and not necessarily to the backlash against her recently published comments regarding transgender athletes.In that 2025 game, Cunningham chased down guard Jacy Sheldon, now a member of the Sky, on a breakaway and wound up applying a headlock to Sheldon in the ensuing dust-up. The disconnect for Cunningham is that Carrington wasnt even a member of the Sky last year.She has no reason to be doing any of that, Cunningham said. Like, I dont even know her. She wasnt even on the team when all that was going on. But I do think when people play the Fever, were nationally televised, theres a lot of eyes on us. People just want attention. And thats her just trying to get attention.The ruckus around Cunningham does not appear to be dissipating, in any event. There were more protests and counterprotests regarding transgender athletes around the United Center on Saturday, and Cunningham checked into the game to a mixed chorus of cheers and boos in the first quarter.Not long after, she had not one but two teammates turning her away from another conflagration in the wake of Carringtons foul first Timpson, then veteran Monique Billings.Shes like, Quit being messy, Cunningham said of Billings. Im like, Youre right, Mo. This is time for me to be better.This article originally appeared in The Athletic.Chicago Sky, Indiana Fever, WNBA2026 The Athletic Media Company

Will New York Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart be a fantasy football breakout star in 2026?Perhaps.Sports Illustrateds Michael Fabiano sees Dart as this years version of New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye from last season in fantasy football.Dart is my favorite breakout quarterback for this season. He finished 13th in points as a rookie, but he averaged more than 17 fantasy points in his 14 games (12 starts). A dual-threat quarterback, he rushed for 487 yards and nine touchdowns. Dart also found success as a passer, and he did it without his top option, Malik Nabers. With Nabers and Cam Skattebo back in action, Dart will have plenty of weapons and a terrific shot at being this years Drake Maye.It's reasonable to project Dart flirting with 4,000 passing yards and exceeding 500 rushing yards this coming season.Maye made a significant jump last year, throwing for 4,394 yards and rushing for 450 after posting 2,276 passing yards and 421 rushing yards the previous season. Dart similarly carries boom potential that fantasy football managers may want to capitalize on in drafts this year.This article originally appeared on Giants Wire: NFL analyst: Giants' Jaxson Dart has 'shot' at being this year's Drake Maye

TheHouston Rocketshave had players donning a total of 52 different jersey numbers (and have one not part of any numerical series for Houston assistant coach and general manager Carroll Dawson) since their founding at the start of the 1967-68 season, worn by just under 500 players in the course ofRockets history.To honor all of the players who wore those numbers over the decades,Rockets Wire is covering the entire history of jersey numbers and the players who wore them since the founding of the team all those years ago right up to the present day.With seven of those jerseys now retired to honor some of the greatestRockets of all time to wear those jerseys, there is a lot of history to cover.And for today's article, we will continue with the 10th of 14 who wore the No. 25, guard Austin Rivers. After ending his college career at Duke, Rivers was picked up with the 10th overall selection of the 2012 NBA Draft by the (then) New Orleans Hornets (now, Pelicans).The Santa Monica, California native played the first 3 seasons of his pro career with New Orleans. He also played for the Los Angeles Clippers and Washington Wizards before he signed with the Houston Rockets in 2019. His stay with the team lasted until he was traded to the New York Knicks.During his time suiting up for the Rockets, Rivers wore only jersey No. 25 and put up 8.7 points, 2.3 rebounds, and 1.9 assists per game.All stats and data courtesy of Basketball Reference.This article originally appeared on Rockets Wire: Houston Rockets jersey history No. 25 - Austin Rivers (2019-20)

Sean McVay Head Coach of the Los Angeles Rams during Rams training camp at Loyola Marymount University on Mondday, August 3, 2026 in Westchester, CA.WOODLAND HILLS, Calif. The Los Angeles Rams returned home Saturday, trading their training camp surroundings at Loyola Marymount University for the familiar confines of their practice facility in Woodland Hills.The change of scenery also brought a change in temperature.Its good. It's a little bit hotter out here, but it's good to be back home, Rams coach Sean McVay said after Saturdays practice.While the Rams were happy to be home, it was their defense that appeared most comfortable on the field. McVay came away particularly impressed with the first-team defense after it forced several turnovers and made life difficult for the offense throughout practice.Oh yeah, defense was outstanding, McVay said. There was great coverage, some great individual plays, disrupting timing and rhythm. It was a great day for the defense. Offensively, they were able to run the football with some success, but throwing and catching was a real struggle. That was a real credit to great defensive play. I was really pleased with the way that our first defense looked.McVay said the offensive struggles didn't frustrate him because he viewed the turnovers and incompletions more as a product of strong defensive execution than sloppy offensive play.Im equally as invested in the defense so I want to see good football, McVay said. A lot of those plays were more of a reflection of great individual plays than necessarily poor execution.Safety Kamren Kinchens delivered one of the standout plays with an interception that caught McVays attention. Kinchens has continued to impress throughout camp with his range and versatility in the secondary.He's been really good, McVay said. He's had great range. He's dropping down in a man coverage and ended up being able to play visual and overlap. It was an outstanding play that he ended up making. You can see he's healthy, he's feeling good. Whether he's playing in the deep part of the field or the intermediate, you feel him, he's flashing. I've been really pleased with Kam.McVay was equally encouraged by the communication and development of the secondary as a whole, saying Saturday might have been its best collective performance of training camp.Today was probably the best day that they had as a whole on the back end and they've had a lot of really good days so that's saying something, McVay said. We want to just continue to take those steps on that upward trajectory and that's exactly what they're doing.The Rams will get a different test next week when they hold joint practices with the Dallas Cowboys. McVay has long valued joint practices as a way to get starters meaningful competitive work against another team without necessarily exposing them to preseason games.We don't gameplan it or anything like that, but just the competition, McVay said. I think when you go against each other as much as we've done up to this point, it's good to be able to just change it up and get a feel to go against different schemes and great players.McVay said the joint practices will essentially supplement preseason game action for many of the Rams' established players. Rookie quarterback Ty Simpson will play during the preseason, while McVay has not yet decided whether Stetson Bennett IV will see game action.Ty definitely will, McVay said. I haven't decided on Stetson yet.One factor that won't influence those decisions is the Rams opening the regular season in Australia. McVay said he hasn't yet addressed the team's plans for the historic trip because he wants the Rams focused on training camp and the preseason before turning their attention to Week 1.Once we get through the preseason just because we talk about being present, McVay said. That's important, not looking ahead.McVay also praised the continued development of running back Blake Corum, who is expected to form an important combination with Kyren Williams in the Rams' backfield.He's just getting more and more comfortable, McVay said. He's so conscientious. He does a great job of understanding what we're trying to get done. I think he and Kyren are great complements off one another. I love that running back room and Blake's been great.McVay was also asked about possible NFL discipline involving offensive lineman Alaric Jackson and receiver Puka Nacua. He said the timing of any league decision would depend on the NFL's independent investigation after the legal process plays out.We try to have good communication with those guys to get an understanding, but it is on their timeline, not ours, McVay said.The Rams' return to Woodland Hills also brought renewed questions surrounding one of the greatest players in franchise history.McVay had previously indicated the team's return home could provide a clearer picture regarding a potential return for former Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald. On Saturday, however, there was nothing new to report.No update on that as of right now, McVay said.McVay did offer an expansive explanation of what made the three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year and future Hall of Famer so dominant throughout his career.Where do you want me to start? McVay said. I think number one is his competitive stamina, his work capacity. He never asked anybody to do what he wouldn't do.McVay pointed to Donald's leverage, hand accuracy, quickness, understanding of opposing blocking schemes and ability to process what was happening around him. He recalled discussing a crucial situation with Donald during Super Bowl LVI against the Cincinnati Bengals and being struck by Donald's understanding of how the offensive line was trying to block him.There really werent any weaknesses, McVay said. I think there was incredible self-awareness and just a great feel for the game. I think the greats just have an intrinsic motivation where there's a rage to master and then there's an ability to pick things up really quickly in their domain, and he was checking both those boxes.For now, however, Donald's possible return remains unresolved. The Rams are back home in Woodland Hills, preparing for the Cowboys and continuing through training camp with a defense that, at least on Saturday, gave McVay plenty to be excited about.

The Washington Commanders experienced a brutal injury blow Saturday as they ready for the 2026 NFL season.Left tackle Laremy Tunsil tore his triceps during the Commanders' Aug. 8 practice, NFL Network reported. The injury occurred during one-on-one pass rushing drills, per NFL Network, and Tunsil will "likely require surgery and will miss at least a significant portion of the regular season."Tunsil started 14 games for the Commanders in 2025, his first season with Washington after six years with the Houston Texans that included five Pro Bowl nods. Earlier this offseason Tunsil and Washington agreed to a lucrative contract extension that made him the highest-paid offensive lineman in the sport, per Over The Cap. Washington is looking to bounce back after a disappointing 2025 season. The team plummeted to 5-12 after going 12-5 and reaching the NFC championship game in 2024. Now, Jayden Daniels and Co. will seemingly have to move forward without their stalwart blindside protector. Laremy Tunsil contractIn March, Tunsil and the Commanders inked a two-year, $60.2 million extension. Though other players have more total money on their deals, Tunsil is the highest-paid lineman on a per-year basis with his $30.1 million average. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NFL's highest paid offensive lineman injured at Commanders training camp

Robert Stock could not duplicate his debut, allowing eight runs as the Metsdropped the second game of their series with the Pirates, 9-0, on Saturday night in Pittsburgh.The loss snapped the Mets' four-game winning streak.Here are the takeaways...-Stock immediately pitched into trouble in the first inning. A double, an infield single, which would have been a forceout if Bo Bichette covered third when Francisco Lindor picked it in the hole, and a hit batsman had the Pirates in business with the bases loaded and one out. Stock got Nick Gonzales to hit a dribbler down the first base line, but the groundout pushed across the game's first run. Ronny Simon followed up by hitting an opposite-field double just fair down the left field line to score two more.Stock would avoid another big inning -- allowing one run in the third -- but pitched into trouble again in the fourth. The Pirates pushed across another run after back-to-back hits to start the inning. Stock then walked back-to-back hitters to load the bases with no outs. Stock then threw a wild pitch way out of the zone, allowing the Pirates to get another run.A walk and a double plated two more, knocking Stock out of the game.After tossing 70 pitches in five one-run innings in his debut, Stock tossed 80 pitches (52 strikes) in three-plus innings. He allowed eight runs on nine hits and five walks while striking out four.-On the other side, Bubba Chandler was the opposite of Stock, pitching six scoreless innings. He allowed three hits and one walk while striking out five batters. He lowered his ERA to 4.26.Mets hitters mustered just three hits, all singles (Francisco Lindor, Luis Robert Jr., Francisco Alvarez).-With the Mets down eight runs in the fourth, interim manager Andy Green decided to take Lindor and Bo Bichette out of the game. Brett Baty, starting in right field, moved to third while newly acquired infielder Gabriel Arias came in to play shortstop. Cristian Pache came in to play right field.-Xzavion Curry came out in relief of Stock and pitched three scoreless innings, allowing a hit and four walks while striking out four.Catcher Luis Torrens was arguably the Mets' best pitcher on this night. He allowed a solo homer to Brandon Lowe to lead off the seventh, but then allowed one more hit in his two innings of work.Game MVP: Bubba ChandlerChandler didn't need much, but he shut down the Mets.What's nextThe Mets and Pirates complete their three-game series on Sunday afternoon, with first pitch set for 1:35 p.m.Sean Manaea (3-5, 4.33 ERA) will take the mound against Jared Jones (2-3, 4.02 ERA).

Real Madrid's Turkish midfielder #15 Arda Guler (R) and Ferencvaros' Irish midfielder #47 Callum O'Dowda (C) vie for the ball during the pre-season football match between Ferencvaros and Real Madrid in Budapest, Hungary on August 8, 2026. Real Madrid on August 6, 2026 announced a new six-year deal for star forward Vinicius Junior and the signing of teenage sensation Yan Diomande in a major boost to their quest to end a two-year trophy drought. (Photo by Attila KISBENEDEK / AFP via Getty Images) | AFP via Getty ImagesPlayer Ratings: Ferencvaros 1 2 Real MadridAndriy Lunin 6: Barely called into action and only had to make one save. He was let down by his defenders on the goal conceded.Joan Martnez 7: Strong on the ball and distributed well. Had one giveaway he couldve done better with, but it was an otherwise composed performance.Mario Rivas 8: Two strong clearances defensively and an excellent goal, attacking the cross well and meeting it with his head.lvaro Carreras 5: Poor defensively despite not being tested all that much until the second half.Denzel Dumfries 6: Still finding his feet physically. Lucky not to be called for a handball in the box in the first half. Continues to make positive off-ball runs and should find his rhythm eventually.Fede Valverde 7.5: His run and pass on Real Madrids second goal were brilliant. Had a couple of poor passes, but overall gave the team a good two-way presence in midfield.Eduardo Camavinga 7: Like Valverde, had a couple of poor passes, but also produced some good moments on the ball and did his best to get involved in the build-up. Still needs to do a better job tracking runners.Alexis Ciria 8: What a gem! A fun, explosive, and entertaining dribbler. Produced a great assist for Mario Rivas on Real Madrids opening goal.Brahim Daz 6.5: Relatively quiet, but did produce two key passes in his 45 minutes of action.Arda Gler 9: Undoubtedly the man of the match. Linked play together, constantly showed as an outlet all over the field, played dangerous passes, and his dribbling and touches in tight spaces were a treat.Endrick 7: Solid hold-up play and good, explosive dribbling when he drifted out to the right wing. Instrumental in the build-up to Real Madrids second goal.SubstitutesAntonio Rdiger 5: Fine in possession but lost his marker on the goal conceded.Dean Huijsen 5: His vertical passing can look great, but at times its too risky and leads to lost possession. Had time to recover and clear the cross on Ferencvaross goal but failed to do so.Trent Alexander-Arnold 6: Poor defensively, but helped distribute the ball and spent some time operating in an inverted right-back role.Bernardo Silva 7: Mourinho was critical of his fitness levels after the game, but Silva worked very hard off the ball, and it was refreshing to see his composure in possession. Jos Mourinho: Bernardo Silva is a very important player for us. But poor guy, when he goes on vacayion, he likes to completely disconnect, he doesn't do any fitness work, so he came on a physical level below his usual standards, which means he needs to work hard now. pic.twitter.com/acvdbHetoO Managing Madrid (@managingmadrid) August 8, 2026Carlos Esp 7.5: A great finish for his first Real Madrid goal. Also worked hard defensively.Vincius 4.5: It was his first game back, and it showed. Nothing to worry about, but in a vacuum, he wasnt good today.Jorge Cestero 6: Fourteen tidy touches and a 100% pass-completion rate on his 11 passes.Lamini Fati N/ADiego Lacosta N/A

HAMILTON The numbers stretch across the board overlooking West Side Little League, reminders of teams and players who came before.Twenty-three Ohio championships. Five trips to Williamsport.At most Little League programs, those numbers would represent a history worth celebrating. At West Side, they also establish the expectation for whoever comes next.The latest group gets its opportunity beginning Saturday.West Side returns to the Little League Baseball Great Lakes Region Tournament in Whitestown, Indiana, where the Ohio champion will face Michigan champion Greater Bay Little League at 10 a.m. Saturday at the Little League Central Region Complex on ESPN+.The five-team tournament runs through Wednesday, with the champion advancing to the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pennsylvania.Like you guys all see, our board up there with all our state titles, everybody expects to win here, West Side manager Tim Nichting said. We have a very competitive regular season. Weve got competitive coaches. And our kids all know the history of West Side Little League. They just want to fill the shoes of all the kids before them.That history began long before the current players or even their coaches arrived.West Side held its first opening day in 1952 and has spent more than seven decades as part of Hamiltons baseball identity. The league competes in Ohio District 9 and operates from its Eaton Avenue complex.Nichting has been around for much of the programs modern history.He began helping his father coach a Little League team in 1983, starting a coaching run that has stretched more than four decades. Before that, he spent two years as a batboy and three years playing Little League.His connection to West Side is essentially lifelong.You get older, you realize what youve done as a person, Nichting said. Having Kenny and me and him just going at it year after year, I think thats obviously the consistency.Were kind of keep saying it all the time were a little nuts in the head, but we love making kids better in Hamilton and baseball. My dad started that for me, and I just go from that. I had a good teacher.Kenny is longtime West Side coach Ken Coomer, another central figure in the programs sustained success.Nichting and Coomer have traded roles during some of West Sides biggest runs. Nichting managed West Sides 2007 Little League World Series team with Coomer as a coach. Three years later, Coomer managed and Nichting coached when Hamilton returned to Williamsport.West Sides five World Series appearances came in 1991, 1993, 2007, 2010 and 2021. Little Leagues historical records show Hamilton has accounted for five of Ohios 12 appearances in Williamsport.The most recent trip became the deepest.West Side reached the 2021 Little League World Series championship game before falling to Taylor North, Michigan, 5-2. It was the first time the Hamilton program reached the World Series final.Five years later, Williamsport is again within reach.Its special every time you go because the kids change, Nichting said. Fresh as a daisy, man. Want to do it again.Its kind of like the end of the rainbow. Even for me, trust me, its awesome taking kids and just helping their dream come true. But its pretty neat for me too, I aint gonna kid you.Looking for redemptionThere is another number that matters to this West Side team.Nine-four.That was the final score of last years Great Lakes Region championship game, when Clarendon Hills, Illinois, ended West Sides season one victory short of Williamsport.Hamilton had looked dominant before the championship. West Side beat Kentucky 7-0 in its opener, defeated Michigan and then routed Clarendon Hills 11-1 to advance directly to the title game. Illinois fought back through the elimination bracket and beat West Side 9-4 in the rematch.Two members of this years team Boone Treadway and Bobby Frazier experienced it.They have not forgotten.Theres no doubt Bob and Boone, they both work at it hard, Nichting said. Theyre both great kids. I get the feeling them two really have a little bad spot in their stomach about last year, as we all do.Treadway has tried to turn that experience into something useful for teammates entering the regional stage for the first time.Just stay focused. Be calm, Treadway said. Theres a lot of fans there. Just play the way you play usually.Were probably going to see faster pitching in regionals. Weve been busting the machine up to like 70 miles per hour, so thatll help us a lot in regionals.Frazier has delivered a similar message.His teammates have asked what the regional experience is like and what reaching Williamsport could feel like.I told them that its really fun, and of course its good to win, Frazier said. Theyve asked what it would be like if we were to win. Id say itd be great. Itd be a nice accomplishment of ours. Win it for Ohio.West Side earned another opportunity with a state tournament run that finally tested a team accustomed to overwhelming opponents.Hamilton opened state play by beating Ironton 13-1 in five innings and followed with a 16-0, four-inning victory over Olentangy. Then came Canfield.Josiah Infante homered in three of West Sides four state games before beating Canfield twice to advance to the Great Lakes Region. Through four state tournament games, Hamilton has outscored its opponents 39-9.I was just focused on seeing the ball, Infante said. And I saw it three times.Canfield came through the elimination bracket and pushed West Side to the final outs. Hamilton entered the bottom of the sixth trailing 3-2 before Caiden Trent delivered a two-run, walk-off double for a 4-3 victory and West Sides 23rd Ohio championship.It was West Sides fourth state championship in the last six tournaments 2021, 2022, 2024, 2025 and now 2026.The latest title also continued an extraordinary recent run in which West Side has repeatedly placed itself one tournament away from Williamsport.Yet Nichting saw something valuable in the way this championship was won.His team had to respond to pressure.Infante felt it, too.Going into state, we were just focused on trying to get a bunch of runs to start the game, Infante said. Going through, we had a whole bunch of fun. Coming out on top, we just kept the energy up the whole time and tried our hardest.Frazier called the tournament very energetic.It was great for us because we got pushed, Frazier said. Pushed our limits.That might matter in Whitestown.Last year it broke our hearts, Nichting said. We hope to be a little bit more ready for that situation this time.More than baseballThe West Side players had just won an Ohio championship.They had returned to Hamilton after a long week of baseball in Boardman. There was finally an opportunity to rest.Several players had another idea.We got home, lets say seven oclock at night, Nichting recalled. Like seven of them said, Are we practicing tonight?No, well take tonight off.Nichting laughed at the thought.God love them for their love of the game of baseball.That might explain this particular West Side team better than its home runs, pitching or another state championship.The players want to be together.The biggest part of this group, they all like each other, Nichting said. They all get along. They all want to hang out with each other. They dont want to go home from practice. The coaches want to go home before they want to go home, which is a crazy thought.Some players knew each other before the All-Star season. Others came together through West Side.Infante, for example, played basketball with Walker Osborne. That connection eventually brought him to West Side winter workouts, Nichting said, and one thing led to another.West Sides website announced another significant change before this season, welcoming players from the Hamilton-Fairfield Little League footprint under a ONE Hamilton message as registration opened for 2026.Nichting wants more children from the Hamilton and Fairfield area to see West Side as an opportunity.Kids wanna go to the Little League World Series, Nichting said. I wish we could get more kids from the Hamilton-Fairfield area that would wanna come over here and play more baseball at West Side and get a trip or at least a chance to go to the Little League World Series.Infante said the friendships formed quickly once the All-Star team came together.Everybody just came together, started talking, helping each other out, Infante said. Thats how we just kept on going on bonding.Just having fun and playing with friends, added Treadway.Generations of players have grown up staring at West Sides championship history. Some eventually returned as coaches. Others brought their own children through the program.Nichting has watched that cycle for decades.He has also watched 12-year-olds learn things that have nothing to do with throwing strikes or turning double plays.The teams that went to the World Series, the longer we have them, the more their kids, I feel like, become more disciplined, more understanding about just everyday life, Nichting said. Without a doubt, we are teaching kids more than baseball.The current team has already added its own number to the wall.Twenty-three.Nichting noted that the total places West Side among the countrys most accomplished programs at the Little League Major level.But another number remains untouched.Five.Five West Side teams have reached Williamsport. The 2026 group has a chance to become No. 6.Ask Infante what comes to mind when he hears Williamsport, and the answer arrives immediately.I really want to make it there, he said with a smile. Thats what my teammates are trying to make, too.Frazier thinks of Pennsylvania and getting all the cool stuff.Treadway knows what stands between Hamilton and all of it.Stay focused. Stay calm. Play baseball, he said.And when Nichting was asked what people should know about the 2026 West Side Little League team, the longtime coach needed only five words.Man, we like to win.The 2026 West Side Little League 12U All-Star team consists of Boone Treadway, Bobby Frazier, Caiden Trent, Josiah Infante, Hudson Vonderheide, Zach Hilton, Leo Feltner, Bryson Williams, Finn Dykes, Jack McAdams, Xander Kinkade and Walker Osborne.West Side is managed by Tim Nichting and assisted by Ken Coomer, Chris Hilton and Chris Craft.