Pistons Find New Team President – Friday Sports Wrap

Click on the highlighted scores for more game details.

High School

In softball yesterday…
• Jeffers fell to Westwood, 12-1 and 12-7
• L’Anse lost a pair to Ishpeming, 11-0 and 15-0.

Gabe Popko and Abi Codere have been named this year’s Outstanding Athletes at Lake Linden-Hubbell High School.

Popko earned 13 varsity letters in 4 different sports: football (3), basketball (3) baseball (4), and track (3) in his high school career. In football, he earned All-Conference Offensive and Defensive Line honors in 2023 2024. He was all second team all-UP 2021 and first team in 2022. In basketball he was all-conference three times and twice named to the CMC elite team and All UP. In track he was named outstanding Hurdler in 2023 and outstanding thrower in 2024. In baseball, he was twice named to the all-conference team. He will represent Lake Linden-Hubbell in the UP all-star football game and the basketball border bash basketball game this summer. Gabe will graduate with a GPA of 3.71 and plans to attend Michigan Tech to play football and major in General Engineering. He is the son of Dominic and Tiffany Popko.

Codere earned seven varsity letters in volleyball and track in her high school career. She was a twice named a member of the All Copper Mt. Conference volleyball team in 2022 and 2023 and a member of the CMC elite team 2023. She was All State and MHSAA champion in the 100m hurdles three times, pole vault twice and 4x100m relay twice, helping her team win a UP track title in 2023. Abi earned a GPA 3.78 and plans on attending Northern Michigan University to major in Sports Science. Abi is the daughter of Ken and Elisabeth Codere.

College

Grand Valley State continues to dominate the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. With the GLIAC’s spring sports schedule completed, the Lakers easily outscored Saginaw Valley State to claim the President’s Trophy for the 25th consecutive season. The trophy is awarded to the school with the best aggregate performance in all sports. Northern Michigan finished fifth, Michigan Tech ninth, and Lake Superior State 10th in the 10-school conference.

Players in the five major college athletic leagues could begin receiving paychecks soon. In a settlement announced yesterday, the Big Ten, SEC, Pac-12, Big 12 and ACC agreed to a deal that would provide more than $15 billion for student-athlete salaries over the next decade. An additional nearly $3 billion would be paid as damages to resolve three anti-trust cases that will now be dropped. The deal still has some legal hurdles to overcome, and could still take some months to finalize.

NHL

In the NHL tournament, Connor McDavid’s goal in the second overtime period lifted the Oilers to a 3-2 victory over the Stars in the opening game of the Western Conference final last night. The Eastern Conference final continues tonight, as the Rangers entertain the Panthers. Florida leads that series 1-0.

NBA

In the NBA tournament, the Celtics took a 2-0 lead in the Eastern Conference final with a 126-110 win over the Pacers. The Western Conference final continues this evening, as the Timberwolves welcome the Mavericks. Dallas leads that set 1-0.

The Pistons have apparently chosen their new president of basketball operations. Reports say the team is working out a contract with Trajan Langdon, who has been general manager of the Pelicans for the past five seasons. After the worst season in team history, owner Tom Gores has said that the new boss will have the authority to decide the futures of general manager Troy Weaver and coach Monty Williams.

MLB

The Tigers’ woes continued with a 9-1 loss to the Blue Jays last night. Jack Flaherty held Toronto to just one run over six innings, but left as the Jays scored twice in the seventh. Alex Faedo gave up three runs in the eighth, and Mason Englert surrendered three more in the ninth. Wenceel Pérez singled home Javier Báez in the sixth for Detroit’s only run.

The Tigers continue that home series against the Blue Jays tonight. Matt Manning will start against Alek Manoah. Coverage will begin at 6:15 on 99.3 The Lift.

The Brewers had yesterday off, and open a series in Boston tonight. Bryse Wilson will start against Kutter Crawford.

Cycling

Ride the Keweenaw returns this weekend, with a number of events for cyclists. The event opens in Greenland today with a guided ride through the Adventure Mine. Tomorrow will feature guided rides at the Michigan Tech Trails in Houghton, the Churning Rapids Trails in Hancock, and the Swedetown Trails in Calumet, with a Family Enduro at the Tech Trails. Sunday’s activities are centered in Copper Harbor, and include the Lake Superior Gravity Series Enduro, along with Art Bike at the Harbor, and live music. For full details and registration information, click here.

Roller Derby

Keweenaw Roller Derby will open its 10th season with their Solar System Smackdown Mixer tomorrow at the Colosseum. Doors open at 5, and skating begins at 6. Tickets are just $5 and children under 10 get in free. 

Local Sports Broadcasts

• Tuesday – Baseball District Tournament – Calumet at Negaunee – 5:45 broadcast on the Voice of the Copper Kings, KBear 102.3.

Email sports news and scores to mornings@up.net.