Semoball

When the Chicago Bears looked to rebuild their offensive line before the start of last season, the first big move they made was to acquire Joe Thuney from Kansas City. Thuney helped turn a weakness for the Bears into a strength with his stellar pass blocking and he earned the honor of being picked as the top interior offensive lineman in the NFL by The Associated Press.

Jeffery Simmons followed his first All-Pro season by signing a contract that made him the highest-paid defensive tackle ever in the NFL. The Tennessee Titans believe the hefty price that included $100 million in guaranteed money was well worth it and plenty of others agree as Simmons was picked as the top interior defensive lineman in the NFL by The Associated Press.

PHOENIX (AP) — Major League Baseball's new Automated Ball/Strike system was implemented to help players challenge pitches that they feel were not called correctly. There's one big caveat — it only works if it's used. The Arizona Diamondbacks and three-time All-Star Ketel Marte learned that the hard way Friday night when Marte failed to challenge a called strike three by umpire Bill Miller for the final out in a 5-4 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals.

PHOENIX — Rookie JJ Wetherholt hit a solo homer, Iván Herrera had the go-ahead sacrifice fly in the ninth inning and the St. Louis Cardinals edged the Arizona Diamondbacks 5-4 on Friday night. Masyn Winn had a three-RBI night with a two-run single in the first and a sacrifice fly in the eighth. In the decisive ninth, José Fermín led off with a single that deflected off the glove of closer Paul Sewald.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Carter Jensen hit a two-run single to cap a four-run rally in the 10th inning that gave the Kansas City Royals a 7-6 victory over the San Diego Padres on Friday night. Lane Thomas homered early for the last-place Royals, who stopped a five-game losing streak. Jensen and Michael Massey each had three of Kansas City's 13 hits. Ty France launched a solo homer for the Padres with two outs in the ninth, tying the score at 3.

CAPE GIRARDEAU — Owen Henne arrived in Cape Girardeau as a talented college infielder with a projectable frame and big-league dreams. He left as one of the most complete players ever to wear a Cape Catfish uniform. Now, those dreams have become reality. The former Catfish shortstop officially signed with the St. Louis Cardinals on Friday after being selected in the sixth round of the 2026 Major League Baseball Draft, agreeing to a contract worth the assigned slot value of $383,400.

Kyle Hamilton does it all for the Baltimore Ravens defense. The two-time All-Pro safety can play slot cornerback and cover receivers or tight ends. He can play in the box and stop the run. He can drop into zone and play traditional deep safety. He can blitz. Hamilton’s versatility and productivity helped him earn the top safety spot in the NFL as voted by The Associated Press.

Longtime Bluff Impact director Christine Walker takes over Poplar Bluff volleyball, installing a faster offense as her players aim for a resurgent season on the court. The Poplar Bluff volleyball team will have a new voice at the helm in Christine Walker, but she's been a strong presence in the local scene for nine years as the club director for the Bluff Impact.

Trey McBride was the bright spot last season for a dismal team in Arizona. He was the most productive tight end in the NFL, a near-unanimous All-Pro selection and made his second straight Pro Bowl. McBride’s success has also landed him the top spot at tight end in a preseason survey by The Associated Press. He received five first-place votes from a panel of eight AP Pro Football Writers who ranked the top five players at the position, basing selections on current status entering the 2026 season.

CHARLESTON — Every successful baseball team needs a player who sets the tone from the very first pitch. CHARLESTON — Every successful baseball team needs a player who sets the tone from the very first pitch. For the Aycorp Fighting Squirrels, that player is shortstop and leadoff hitter Chase Lawson.