Pistons find new team president – Friday Sports Wrap

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Secondary school

Yesterday in softball …
• Jeffers lost to Westwood 12:1 and 12:7
• L'Anse lost two games to Ishpeming, 11-0 and 15-0.

Gabe Popko and Abi Codere were named Lake Linden-Hubbell High School’s most outstanding athletes this year.

Popko earned 13 varsity letters in 4 different sports during his high school career: football (3), basketball (3), baseball (4), and track (3). In football, he was named to the All-Conference Offensive and Defensive Line in 2023 and 2024. He was All-UP Second Team in 2021 and First Team in 2022. In basketball, he was All-Conference three times and was named to the CMC Elite Team and All UP twice. In track, he was named Outstanding Hurdler in 2023 and Outstanding Thrower in 2024. In baseball, he was named to the All-Conference team twice. He will represent Lake Linden-Hubbell in the UP All-Star football game and the Border Bash basketball game this summer. Gabe will graduate with a 3.71 GPA and plans to attend Michigan Tech to play football and study general engineering. He is the son of Dominic and Tiffany Popko.

Codere earned seven varsity letters in volleyball and track and field in her high school career. She was named a member of the All Copper Mt. Conference volleyball team twice in 2022 and 2023 and was a member of the CMC Elite team in 2023. She was a three-time All State and MHSAA champion in the 100-meter hurdles, twice in the pole vault and twice in the 4×100-meter relay and helped her team to a UP track and field title in 2023. Abi earned a 3.78 GPA and plans to attend Northern Michigan University to study exercise science. Abi is the daughter of Ken and Elisabeth Codere.

University

Grand Valley State continues to dominate the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. At the conclusion of the GLIAC's spring sports schedule, the Lakers easily defeated Saginaw Valley State to win the President's Trophy for the 25th consecutive year. The trophy is awarded to the school with the best overall performance in all sports. Northern Michigan finished fifth in the 10-school conference, Michigan Tech ninth and Lake Superior State 10th.

Players in the five major college sports leagues could soon begin receiving their salaries. In a settlement announced yesterday, the Big Ten, SEC, Pac-12, Big 12 and ACC agreed to a deal that will increase student-athlete salaries by more than $15 billion over the next decade. Another nearly $3 billion will be paid in damages to settle three antitrust lawsuits that are now being dismissed. The deal still has to overcome several legal hurdles and could take several more months to complete.

NHL

In the NHL tournament, Connor McDavid's goal in the second overtime helped the Oilers to a 3-2 victory over the Stars in the opening game of the Western Conference finals last night. The Eastern Conference finals continue tonight when the Rangers host the Panthers. Florida leads that series 1-0.

NBA

In the NBA tournament, the Celtics took a 2-0 lead in the Eastern Conference finals after defeating the Pacers 126-110. Tonight's Western Conference finals continue as the Timberwolves host the Mavericks. Dallas leads this set 1-0.

The Pistons have apparently chosen their new basketball president. The team is reportedly working on a deal with Trajan Langdon, who has been the Pelicans' general manager for the past five seasons. After the worst season in the team's history, owner Tom Gores has stated that the new boss will have the authority to decide the future of general manager Troy Weaver and coach Monty Williams.

MLB

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

The Tigers continue their home series tonight against the Blue Jays. Matt Manning will face Alek Manoah. The broadcast begins at 6:15 a.m. on 99.3 The Lift.

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

Ride a bike

Ride the Keweenaw returns this weekend with a series of events for cyclists. The event kicks off today in Greenland with a guided ride through the Adventure Mine. Tomorrow there will be guided rides on the Michigan Tech Trails in Houghton, the Churning Rapids Trails in Hancock and the Swedetown Trails in Calumet, with a family enduro on the Tech Trails. Sunday's activities will focus on 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 opens its 10th season tomorrow with the Solar System Smackdown Mixer at the Colosseum. Doors open at 5 p.m., skating begins at 6 p.m. Tickets are just $5 and kids under 10 are free.

Local sports broadcasts

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

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