Weekly Sports League and Franchise Report

BASEBALL Arizona Complex League: Major League Baseball's pure rookie-level Arizona Complex League, which was known as the Arizona League prior to the 2021 season and plays at MLB spring training complexes in Arizona, recently started its 2024 with 15 teams aligned in five-team East, Central and West divisions. The league had 17 team last season with the Arizona Diamondbacks and San Francisco Giants each operating two separate teams but both returned to operating only one team. The 2024 season... Full Story

El Paso Locomotive FC Appoint Wilmer Cabrera as New Head Coach

EL PASO, Texas - El Paso Locomotive FC announced today that Wilmer Cabrera has been appointed as the club's new Head Coach effective immediately. With the appointment, Cabrera becomes the fourth Head Coach in Locomotive history. "On behalf of our ownership, all our Locomotive fans and supporters, and our entire organization I'd like to welcome Wilmer to El Paso," MountainStar Sports Group President Alan Ledford said. "We're proud to have someone with Wilmer's extensive playing and coaching background and a proven record of success everywhere he has been as our Locomotive Head Coach, and we ... Full Story

Charleston Dirty Birds Sign Atlantic League Home Run King Courtney Hawkins

(Charleston, WV) - The 14-8 Dirty Birds have signed ALPB veteran Courtney Hawkins. The outfielder's signing comes after two Dirty Birds players had their contracts purchased by MLB teams. Hawkins, a right-handed power hitter, has accumulated over 200 home runs in his 12-year playing career. 48 of those home runs were hit in 2022, when he tied the league season home run record. He previously played in Lexington in 2021 and 2022 where he was named the Atlantic League Player of the Year in 2022. He also received All-Star Post Season honors both seasons. "I had the privilege of being around Cou... Full Story

Firebirds Score Three Unanswered Goals to Sweep Reign

For the second straight season, the Coachella Valley Firebirds are headed to the Western Conference Finals. The Firebirds defeated the Ontario Reign on Sunday at Toyota Arena by the final score of 3-2 to complete the three-game sweep. Kole Lind scored twice to help the Firebirds comeback from a 2-0 deficit and win the best-of-five series 3-0. Ontario scored twice in the opening period on goals from Alex Turcotte and Tyler Madden, putting Coachella Valley in an early hole to begin the game. After being outshot 5-0 to begin the second period, forward Kole Lind lasered a shot over the shoulder... Full Story

• Battery Host MLS Club Atlanta on Tuesday in U.S. Open Cup - Charleston Battery (USL)
• Argos Sign American WR Makai Polk - Toronto Argonauts (CFL)
• Stamps Sign D-Lineman Hamilcar Rashed Jr. - Calgary Stampeders (CFL)
• Aces Homestand Continues with Tuesday Tilt vs. Phoenix - Las Vegas Aces (WNBA)
• El Paso Locomotive FC Appoint Wilmer Cabrera as New Head Coach - El Paso Locomotive FC (USL)
• Stefan Chirila Earns MLS NEXT Rising Star Honor for Matchweek 10 - FC Cincinnati (MLS)
• Fever Welcome Connecticut Sun to Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Monday Night - Indiana Fever (WNBA)
• FC Cincinnati's Miles Robinson Called up to USMNT June Training Camp Roster - FC Cincinnati (MLS)
• IceHogs 2023-24 Team MVP Brett Seney Re-Signed by Blackhawks - Rockford IceHogs (AHL)
• Mets Promote Two-Way Prospect Nolan McLean to Double-A Binghamton - Binghamton Rumble Ponies (EL)
• All Today's Minor League News
  

• Top prospect Nate Danielson could make Griffins debut Monday - AHL WOOD
• UL-Lafayette owed more than $30,000 after Arena Football League team folds - AFL3 Louisiana Illuminator
• DL Hall starts rehab stint, Timber Rattlers hold on to win 5-3 - MWL NewsBreak - Rockford
• Adirondack Thunder playoff takeaways: Record-setting goalie, road warriors and more - ECHL Glens Falls Post-Star
• The New England Revolution are at a crossroads - MLS Boston Globe
• Arena Football League moves forward, but still feels wobbly - AFL3 NBC Sports
• Argonauts sign veteran QB Arbuckle as preseason opener approaches - CFL TSN
• Chad Kelly, Shawn Lemon situations are a horrible look for troubled CFL - CFL Sportsnet
• Battlehawks clinch playoff sport with 26-21 win over DC - UFL FOX2
• Firebirds advance to the Western Conference Finals with series sweep over Reign. - AHL KESQ
• All Today's Minor League Headlines

• Weekly Sports League and Franchise Report by Dan Krieger
• Courage Withstand Utah to Remain Perfect at Home by Fran Stuchbury
• Inside the UFL by Fran Stuchbury
• OSC Weekly Live Event Listings by Chris Blackmar
• Martinez, Payne and Santoso Named OurSports Central UFL Players of the Week by Fran Stuchbury
• Last Week around the Leagues by Fran Stuchbury

Rockford IceHogs forward Brett Seney

See All Today's Images The following minor league and alternative professional sports teams on OurSports Central have been viewed the most over the last seven days:

1. Edmonton Elks - Canadian Football League (CFL)
2. Corpus Christi Hooks - Texas League (TL)
3. Minnesota Lynx - Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA)
4. Colorado Rapids - Major League Soccer (MLS)
5. Charlotte FC - Major League Soccer (MLS)
6. Saskatchewan Roughriders - Canadian Football League (CFL)
7. Fresno Grizzlies - California League (CalL)
8. South Bend Cubs - Midwest League (MWL)
9. Edmonton Oil Kings - Western Hockey League (WHL)
10. Columbia Fireflies - Carolina League (CarL)

The most recent minor league and alternative professional sports teams added to OurSports Central:

• Eau Claire - The Arena League (TAL)
• North Platte 80s - Pecos League (Pecos)
• Westchester SC - United Soccer League One (USL1)
• Elmira Aviators - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
• Hot Springs - The Arena League (TAL)
• Minnesota Mallards - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
• Eugene - United Soccer League One (USL1)
• Athens Rock Lobsters - Federal Prospects Hockey League (FPHL)
• Buffalo Pro Soccer - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
• Kansas City Goats - The Arena League (TAL)

OurSports Central provides coverage of select alternative and minor league professional sports leagues in addition to the top junior hockey leagues and college wood bat baseball leagues:

BASEBALL
Affiliated Minor League Baseball
AzCL, AzFL, CalL, CarL, EL, FLCL, FSL, IL, ML, MLBDL, MWL, NWL, PCL, SAL, SL, TL
College Wood Bat Baseball
ApL, Northwoods
Independent Minor League Baseball
AA, AtL, FL, Pecos, PL

BASKETBALL
Men's Minor League Basketball
BIG3, CEBL, G League
Women's Basketball
WNBA

FOOTBALL
Indoor/Arena Football
AFL3, IFL, NAL, TAL
Outdoor Football
CFL, UFL

HOCKEY
Junior Hockey
NAHL, OHL, QMJHL, USHL, WHL
Minor League Hockey
AHL, ECHL, FPHL, SPHL
Women's Hockey
PWHL

LACROSSE
Indoor Lacrosse
NLL
Outdoor Lacrosse
PLL

OTHER
Other Sports
MLR
Other Women's
NWLS, PVF

SOCCER
Indoor Soccer
MASL
Outdoor Soccer
CPL, MLS, MLS NEXT Pro, USL, USL1
Women's Soccer
NWSL, USLSL