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AFCON U-17 Tournament begins – Sports Talk Florida

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AFCON U-17 started

AFCON U-17: Morocco, Tunisia & Zambia Off to Big Wins

The 2025 Africa U-17 Cup of Nations (AFCON U-17) is off to a thrilling start in Morocco, with young talents from across the continent making their mark in the tournament’s opening matches. With a total of 34 goals scored across eight games, fans have been treated to an exciting showcase of attacking football.

Sixteen nations—Morocco, Tanzania, Zambia, Uganda, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, South Africa, Egypt, Senegal, Gambia, Somalia, Tunisia, Mali, Angola, Ivory Coast, and the Central African Republic (CAR)—are battling for a chance to qualify for the FIFA U-17 World Cup in Qatar later this year.

Morocco and Zambia Dominate Group A

Host nation Morocco got off to a dream start, crushing Uganda 5-0 in their opening match on Monday. The young Atlas Lions displayed dominance in every aspect of the game, sending a strong message to the rest of the competition.

Meanwhile, Zambia secured a commanding 4-1 victory over Tanzania, making the most of their attacking opportunities to secure three crucial points. With their confidence soaring, Zambia will now look ahead to a tough test against Morocco in their second match.

Drama in Group B as Burkina Faso and South Africa Shine

Group B witnessed two thrilling encounters. Burkina Faso edged past Cameroon 2-1, securing a valuable win in a tightly contested match. The Indomitable Cubs put up a fight but ultimately fell short against Burkina Faso’s resilient performance.

The most dramatic game of the group stage so far came in the seven-goal thriller between Egypt and South Africa, where the latter emerged victorious 4-3. The match showcased incredible attacking football, with both sides exchanging blows in a breathtaking contest. South Africa’s young stars showed impressive composure to come out on top, setting the stage for what promises to be an exciting campaign.

Senegal and Tunisia Impress in Group C

Defending champions Senegal began their title defense with a narrow 1-0 victory over their West African rivals, the Gambia. The match was a tactical battle, with Senegal finding the decisive breakthrough to claim all three points.

Tunisia, on the other hand, put on a dominant display against Somalia, securing a 3-0 win. Their well-structured attacking play and defensive solidity proved too much for the Somali side, who struggled to cope with Tunisia’s intensity.

Ivory Coast’s Haidara Steals the Show in Group D

Group D saw one of the most memorable individual performances of the tournament so far. Ivory Coast’s Alynho Haidara scored four goals in his side’s 6-1 demolition of the Central African Republic (CAR), making an early statement as one of the players to watch in the tournament.

Meanwhile, Mali edged past Angola 2-1, securing three points in a hard-fought battle. The win sets Mali up well for their next challenge as they look to build momentum in the group.

What’s Next? Key Upcoming AFCON U-17 Fixtures

The second round of group stage matches continues on Thursday with some crucial encounters:

  • Group A: Uganda vs. Tanzania, Zambia vs. Morocco
  • Group B: Cameroon vs. South Africa, Egypt vs. Burkina Faso

On Friday, more exciting action follows:

  • Group C: Gambia vs. Somalia, Tunisia vs. Senegal
  • Group D: Angola vs. Ivory Coast, Mali vs. Central African Republic

With the race for knockout-stage qualification heating up, expect more thrilling moments and standout performances as Africa’s best young talents continue to battle for glory.





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Sardja Tosses a Complete-Game One-Hitter as USF Softball Sweeps Memphis

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April 21, 2025

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GOUSFBULLS.COM – Belle Sardja was phenomenal inside the circle for the University of South Florida softball team in the series finale against Memphis on Saturday. Sardja tossed a complete-game one-hitter as the Bulls (36-12-1, 15-5-1) run-ruled the Tigers (16-30, 4-17), 8-0, in five innings inside the USF Softball Stadium.

The Bulls remain 1.5 games out of first place behind the Florida Atlantic Owls after both teams recorded American Athletic Conference sweeps. North Texas stays in third place, a half-game behind South Florida.

Sardja recorded her sixth complete game of the year and produced her second complete-game one-hitter of the season. She improved to 14-4 on the season. She did not give up a hit until one out in the top of the fifth inning. She finished with two strikeouts and had one walk.

Offensively, Alexa Galligani led the Bulls with a 3-for-4 day at the plate with two RBIs and a run scored. She extended her streak of reaching base safely to 14 games. Camille Ortiz-Martinez recorded her ninth home run of the season, which moved her into a tie for 10th on the USF single-season list. Josie Foreman and Ortiz-Martinez drove in two runs each. Olivia Elliott extended her hitting streak to eight games with a single in today’s contest.

Elliott led off the bottom of the first inning with a five-pitch walk. Galligani singled to third base and gave the Bulls two runners on and no outs. Wilkes dropped down a perfect sac bunt and moved the runners up. Josie Foreman notched a sac fly to left field. After Alanah Rivera drew a walk, Galligani stole home on a delayed steal. Ortiz-Martinez battled at the plate and hit the 10th pitch of the at-bat over the right-center wall for a two-run home run. USF took a 4-0 lead into the second inning.


Elliott reached on an error by the shortstop with two outs in the second inning. Elliott stole second and moved into scoring position. Galligani delivered a clutch RBI single up the middle. USF extended its lead to 5-0.


Elliott was hit by a pitch to lead off the home half of the fourth inning. Wilkes drew an eight-pitch walk and moved Elliott into scoring position. Foreman produced an RBI double down the right-field line.


DaNia Brooks doubled down the left-field line to start the bottom of the fifth. She advanced to third on a wild pitch. Karhys Pierce notched a sac fly to center as the Bulls moved closer to a run-rule. Elliott singled to left field to keep things going for USF. Galligani doubled to right center and drove in Elliott to enforce the 8-0 run-rule victory.

Key Stats:

  • The Bulls are 33-0-1 when they record more hits than their opponents.
  • Belle Sardja tossed her sixth complete game of the season and her second complete-game one-hitter.
  • Camille Ortiz-Martinez recorded her ninth home run of the season, which moved her into a tie for 10th on the USF single-season list.

Notables:

  • Alexa Galligani has reached base safely in 14 straight games.
  • Olivia Elliott extended her hitting streak to eight games.
  • Kathy Garcia-Soto collected two assists, moving her season total to 113. She moved into the top 10 in the nation in assists.
  • The Bulls recorded their third conference sweep of the season.

Up Next:
The Bulls play their final midweek game of the 2025 season on Tuesday, April 23. South Florida travels to No. 7 Florida for a 6 p.m. game on the SEC Network+.

Tickets:
Tickets to watch Bulls softball at the USF Softball Stadium may be purchased by calling 1-800-GoBulls or clicking HERE.

Follow us:
To stay up-to-date on the latest USF Softball news, follow the Bulls on social media (X/ Facebook / Instagram).

About USF Softball
The South Florida softball program has been one of the most successful on campus, making 17 NCAA tournament appearances, including a trip to the Women’s College World Series in 2012. Under head coach Ken Eriksen, who enters his 28th season in 2025 and has accumulated 1,117 wins, ranking seventh among active DI head softball coaches, USF has produced 10 NFCA All-Americans, two USA Softball Top 10 Player of the Year, and one NFCA Pitcher of the Year. In 2022, Georgina Corrick became the first player in softball history to earn the NCAA Pitching Triple Crown. She led the nation in ERA (0.51), Victories (37), and total strikeouts (418).

– #GoBulls –





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The No. 1-ranked University of Tampa baseball team sweeps Florida as the regular season soon will be comong to a close.

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April 21, 2025

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The #1 University of Tampa Spartans swept Florida Tech in the doubleheader and the series.

Final: #1 Tampa 9, Florida Tech 2

Final: #1 Tampa 4, Florida Tech 2

Records: #1 Tampa (35-6, 19-2 SSC), Florida Tech (23-21, 13-14 SSC)

Location: Andy Seminick-Les Hall | Melbourne, FL.  

All-Time Series: This was the 169th and 170th meeting between these two programs. The Spartans are 135-35 against the Panthers. 

GAME ONE

HOW IT HAPPENED:

  • Jordan Williams drew a walk to lead off the game. He then stole second and third base. Nico Saladino then followed with a single back up the middle to bring home J. Williams. J.D. Urso then reached on a fielder’s choice and advanced to second on a throwing error by the Panthers’ second baseman. Brayden Woodburn then doubled to left center to bring home Urso. Jhoander Irigoyen then followed, launching a home run to left field for a 2-run shot. Mid 1 | 4-0 Tampa
  • Maddox King drew a walk to lead off the inning. With one out, he stole second and third base. Saladino then grounded out to second base to bring home King. Mid 2 | 5-0 Tampa
  • Woodburn singled to center to lead off the inning. He then stole second and third and came into score on a throwing error by the Panthers’ catcher. Mid 3 | 6-0 Tampa
  • Edgardo Villegas doubled down the right field line to lead off the inning. He then stole third base. Mike Valdez then followed with a single to left field to bring home Villegas. A.J. Graham came in to pinch run for Valdez. Graham then stole second. After Cole Russo walked, King put down a sacrifice bunt to advance Russo and Graham to second and third. With two outs, the two would advance 90 feet and then Saladino would single to right center to bring in Russo. Mid 9 | 9-2 Tampa

AT THE PLATE:

  • Woodburn: 2-3, BB, 3 SB’s, 2 R’s, & RBI
  • King: 1-2, BB, 2 SB’s, & R
  • Villegas: 2-4, SB, & R
  • Valdez: 2-4 & RBI
  • Saladino: 2-5 & 3 RBI’s

ON THE MOUND:

  • Skylar Gonzalez started on the mound. He threw 5 innings while striking out 4 and giving up 2 earned runs. Gonzalez received the win and now has improved to 6-1 on the season.
  • Brayden Heidel came in relief for Gonzalez. He threw 2 scoreless innings while striking out 2.
  • Michael Alfonso came in relief for Heidel. He threw 2 scoreless innings while striking out 3.

GAME TWO

HOW IT HAPPENED:

  • Valdez would single to left field, and the Panthers’ left fielder would miss fielding the ball on the play, and the ball would roll all the way to the wall. Valdez would end up at third base on the play. Kevin Karstetter then grounded out to shortstop to bring home Valdez. Mid 5 | 2-1 Florida Tech
  • J. Williams led off the inning with a walk. He then stole second. Saladino followed with a single to left to advance J. Williams to third. Urso then grounded into a double play but J. Williams came into score on the play. Mid 6 | 2-2 Tie
  • Valdez led off the inning with a double to the left field corner. Graham would pinch run for Valdez. After Graham advanced to third on a pass ball, Lenny Ashby singled to left field to bring home Graham. J. Williams then followed with a triple to right center to bring home Ashby. Mid 9 | 4-2 Tampa

AT THE PLATE:

  • J. Williams: 3-3, 2 BB’s, 2 SB’s, R, & RBI
  • Garavito: 2-4 & SB
  • Valdez: 2-4 & R

ON THE MOUND:

  • Jake Stipp started on the mound. He threw 6.1 innings while striking out 2 and giving up 2 earned runs. Stipp finished with a no-decision on the afternoon.
  • Ryan Stefiuk came in relief for Stipp. He threw 2.2 scoreless innings while striking out 1. Stefiuk received the win in his outing and has improved to 3-0 on the season.

UP NEXT: The #1 Spartans will host their final regular season series at home, starting on Friday, April 25th, at 1:00 PM, when they take on Eckerd for a three-game series.







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Minor League Baseball’s Eugene Emeralds Owners Want To Move To Medford

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8 hours ago

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April 20, 2025

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Medford, Oregon officials are in talks to build a stadium for Emeralds’ baseball.

Emeralds ownership wants to build a stadium in Medford, Oregon.

When we last left Eugene, Oregon, Minor League Baseball’s Eugene Emeralds’ ownership group put out a statement. “After four years of extensive efforts to secure a long-term home in Eugene, the Eugene Emeralds have reached a difficult conclusion: the future of professional baseball in the Emerald Valley is coming to a certain end. The organization has explored multiple options, including a proposed stadium at the Lane County Fairgrounds and potential renovations to PK Park.” It would be goodbye Eugene sometime in the future and hello to another town. That other town could be Medford, Oregon. Emeralds’ ownership has pitched the idea of building a stadium, that could cost $90 million, in Medford. Emeralds’ ownership more than likely won’t pick up the entire tab, Medford would have to kick in public money.

The Eugene Emeralds baseball team is a High-A affiliate of the San Francisco Giants organization. The partnership began in 2021. That year, 2021, Major League Baseball reorganized the minor leagues. MLB created an entity called the Professional Development League and cut the number of minor league teams affiliated with MLB to 120. MLB also created a new set of rules for working conditions and team facilities and gave local owners and municipalities four years to either renovate or build new stadiums in that time frame or have a deal in place for a new or renovated facility. The Emeralds ownership and local politicians came up with a plan for a new facility and sent the proposal out for a vote. Eugene residents in May 2024 said no to allocating $15 million in public funding to help pay for the stadium. Emeralds’ ownership wants Medford politicians to make a stadium decision as soon as possible but finding local funding may be a problem for a small community of 85,000 people in an uncertain financial market.

Evan Weiner’s books are available at iTunes – https://books.apple.com/us/author/evan-weiner/id595575191

Evan can be reached at evan_weiner@hotmail.com

Eugene Emeralds





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