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Twins catcher Ryan Jeffers puts new swing into action

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 12:37:37 GMT

Ryan Jeffers didn’t initially set out to revamp his whole swing this whole season. The beginning of the process was more an assessment of what he did well and how he could build around that.The result, though, was major changes through hours and hours of work this offseason with hitting coach David Popkins, who was on the other side of the country, over FaceTime. Jeffers hasn’t had a chance to show off much of his new swing, but he’s produced in a limited sample size, going 4 for 11 to begin the season with a home run.It started early this offseason, about a month and a half earlier than normal. It began with tee work. At nights sometimes Popkins would FaceTime from Southern California and Jeffers, in North Carolina, would head to his garage, grab a broomstick and test out different things with Popkins offering feedback.They talked so frequently that if there was a day where Jeffers didn’t send video of himself, Popkins would text asking, ” ‘Hey, where’s my video?’...

Timberwolves top Pelicans to claim No. 8 seed in play-in, will meet Lakers on Tuesday

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 12:37:37 GMT

In a turbulent game during which a number of things went wrong for the Timberwolves, Anthony Edwards reminded everyone what an eraser of mistakes he can be.The star guard tallied a number of massive defensive plays and rebounds while also scoring 24 points to power Minnesota to a 113-108 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans at Target Center.The win gives the Timberwolves the No. 8 seed in the play-in tournament. They will need to win just one of two play-in games to go back to the playoffs. The first of those will come Tuesday, when they travel to play the Lakers in Los Angeles. A win there means Minnesota will be the No. 7 seed.A loss there, and the Wolves will play Friday at home with a chance to be the No. 8 seed.Edwards’ loudest play Sunday came in the closing minutes, when Pelicans guard CJ McCollum appeared to be free to walk into the lane for an easy dunk. But Edwards came over help side and met the guard at the rim, sending the ball away.Edwards did turn the ball over...

Lynx have No. 2 pick in WNBA draft Monday with eye to future

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 12:37:37 GMT

The Lynx enter Monday’s WNBA draft in a different position with a different philosophy.Minnesota will pick No. 2 — its highest selection in years — and has an eye more toward the future than the immediate future.So while Minnesota’s current roster may look like one that would require a center or a point guard, making next year’s team as competitive as possible isn’t the primary concern.The Lynx are building toward the future.“You pick who is the best available,” ESPN analyst Rebecca Lobo said. “Even if Minnesota doesn’t necessarily have the need for that position this year, if that’s what’s best available, I would expect that’s what they take. And I think it’s also important when you look at teams and drafts, as much as you look at the needs for what they have this year, you also have to look at when contracts expire and what their needs might be in the immediate future.”And that appears to be the approach. Minnesota has long been a te...

PHOTOS: Easter Sunday services at Zion Baptist Church in Denver

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 12:37:37 GMT

Easter Sunday services took place at Zion Baptist Church on Sunday in Denver.Organized by former slaves on Nov. 15, 1865, Zion Baptist Church is the oldest black congregation in Colorado and the Rocky Mountain West. Since 1913, the church has occupied its Romanesque Revival building at 933 East 24th Ave in Five Points, which was originally built in the early 1890s for Calvary Baptist Church.Long one of the central institutions in Denver’s black community, Zion Baptist celebrated its 150th anniversary in 2015 and has now been serving its communtiy for 158 years.Get more Colorado news by signing up for our daily Your Morning Dozen email newsletter.

PHOTOS: 76th Easter sunrise service at Red Rocks Amphitheatre

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 12:37:37 GMT

The 76th Easter sunrise service at Red Rocks Amphitheatre took place on Sunday in Morrison.The annual event is sponsored every year by the Colorado Council of Churches. The doors opened at 4:30 a.m. but people arrived much earlier to get parking and seats both are available on a first come first served basis. Event organizers expected around 10,000 people. The service represents 13 Christian denominations and more than 800 churches across the state. Rain, snow or shine the service is rarely cancelled.In the past 10 years it’s only been cancelled three times. In 2016 it was cancelled due to weather and due to the pandemic it was cancelled in 2020 and 2021. The highest attendance was in 2015 when around 15,000 people turned out for the service. The Most Reverend Father Pablo Burson gave the sermon. The Blood Brothers 303 performed.Get more Colorado news by signing up for our daily Your Morning Dozen email newsletter.

Rockies rally for wild, 7-6 win over the Nationals, gain series split

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 12:37:37 GMT

Sunday afternoon’s game at Coors Field offered a smorgasbord of walks, hit batsmen, home runs and lead changes.Classic baseball it was not.In the end, the Rockies prevailed, 7-6, riding solo home runs from Elias Diaz and Jurickson Profar, and staging a four-run rally in the sixth inning. Ryan McMahon, the ninth hitter in the inning “drove in” the go-ahead run by drawing a bases-loaded walk off of Hobie Harris.Center fielder Yonathan Daza closed out the game with a diving catch to rob CJ Abrams of an extra-base hit that likely would have tied the game.The Rockies, who have not lost a home series to Washington since 2017, managed a split in the four-game series.Colorado relievers Jake Bird and Brand Hand made a mess of the sixth inning when the Nationals scored three runs to take a 6-3 lead.  Bird plunked Lane Thomas to open the inning and gave up singles to Victor Robles and Alex Call, loading the bases. Bird struck out Jeimer Candelario for the second out before gi...

2 killed in rollover crash in Anaheim; DUI suspected

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 12:37:37 GMT

The drivers of two vehicles were killed following a head-on crash in Anaheim early Sunday morning.The crash happened around 12:30 a.m. near the intersection of South Nohl Ranch Road and East Serrano Avenue.Anaheim police officers responded to the scene and found an overturned Toyota Prius and Lexus sedan with major front end damage.Two damaged vehicles that were involved in a fatal collision are shown in Anaheim on April 9, 2023. (County News Service)The drivers of both vehicles were pronounced dead at the scene and two passengers were transported to the hospital. It was unclear which vehicle the passengers were riding in at the time of the crash.An official for the Anaheim Police Department said drugs or alcohol is believed to have played a role in the crash, but did not specify which vehicle was at fault.The roadway was closed for several hours as part of the investigation.

Montana Republicans aim to change election rules — for one key Senate race

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 12:37:37 GMT

Republicans in Montana are trying to change the rules for next year’s Senate primary to make it easier to defeat Sen. Jon Tester (D-Mont.) and win back the Senate majority.A bill moving through the statehouse in Helena would change the structure of the election from the party primary system currently in place to a jungle primary in which the top two vote-getters advance to the general election regardless of party. The move would essentially box out Libertarian candidates.The thinking among Republicans is that this would, theoretically, push those would-be third-party voters toward the GOP candidate and give the party a leg up against Tester, the three-term Senate Democrat who they are pining to take down this year. Perhaps most galling to Democrats is the provision that the law would sunset in 2025 and not be applicable to congressional races — meaning that it would only affect Tester’s race. The bill passed the state Senate on Tuesday and is expected to pass the stat...

Motorcyclist killed in fiery crash on 405 Freeway

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 12:37:37 GMT

A motorcyclist was killed early Sunday morning following a collision on the 405 Freeway near Culver City.The crash happened just before 1 a.m., according to the California Highway Patrol.CHP officers responded to the scene alongside members of the Culver City Fire Department. A motorcyclist died after being involved in a crash on the 405 Freeway near Culver City on April 9, 2023 (ANG News)Officials say the motorcyclist was involved in a crash with another vehicle. The rider was ejected from the bike and died at the scene; the other vehicle became engulfed, but the driver was able to escape without injuries.All lanes of the northbound 405 Freeway were closed for several hours due to the crash. The roadway reopened to traffic around 4:30 a.m., CHP said.The crash remains under investigation.

Michael Conforto’s eighth-inning home run completes Giants’ comeback over Royals

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 12:37:37 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO — A single would have sufficed, but Michael Conforto went deep anyways.In the biggest moment of his young Giants career, Conforto blasted a two-run homer to break a tie in the eighth inning and lead his team to a 3-1 win over the Kansas City Royals on Sunday afternoon at Oracle Park.Conforto got a hanging breaking ball over the center of the plate from Royals lefty Ryan Yarbrough and cranked it 429 feet over the right-field wall.Signed to a two-year, $36-million deal this offseason and asked to hit in the middle of the Giants order, Conforto hasn’t disappointed. His home run Sunday was his third of the year to go with 6 RBIs through his first nine games.The Giants trailed the entire game until the eighth, when speedy outfielder Bryce Johnson got on board with a single, then scored all the way from first base on a liner down the third-base line, sliding into home just under the tag for the game-tying run.Conforto stepped up next and hit the two-run blast.Tyler Rog...