Sports this 'n' that

With less than a month left in the regular season, the Tri-City Valleycats have made a late surge to get within 1 1/2 games of Stedler Division leader Vermont after taking 2 of 3 from Lowell on the road. The Spinners will return to Troy next week seeking a little payback, but I'd guess that if the 'Cats can make some hay in Little League country (Williamsport, PA) this weekend, and Vermont stumbles, there's every reason to believe the 'Cats could be in 1st come the All-Star game on Tuesday. Just sayin'.

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Speaking of Little League, I'm sure that by now, you've all seen this:

Actually, Jayce Blalock's grand slam in Warner-Robins GA was measured at 375 feet. In a season where the major league Rookies of the Year have been all but decided (Aaron Judge in the AL, Cody Bellinger in the NL), Blalock, 13, could be the next big thing if he keeps this up. We'll see if he's drafted out of high school in about 5 years.
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The Mets dealt outfielder Jay Bruce to Cleveland on Wednesday after their offense did a disappearing act against Texas. So what happens? They go to Philadelphia and beat up the Phillies, 10-0, on Thursday. Ex-Valleycat Vince Velasquez gave up 3 runs in the first on a Wilmer Flores homer, but developed numbness on his pitching hand and was removed after the frame. In this crazy business, I wouldn't put it past the Mets to actually make a modest run, even if it falls short.
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So the Super Bowl champion Patriots lost a pre-season game to Jacksonville. Whatever. If the Jags are on the Pats' regular season schedule, there will be payback with interest. As in, running up the score, college style.

So everyone's assuming Dallas running back Ezekiel Elliott will serve a suspension for domestic abuse. Why the sentence wasn't passed down before this point, I don't know. Some of will shrug, considering where Elliott went to school (Ohio State), and how a student-athlete's sudden celebrity creates scenarios like this like clockwork. Meh. Let's just get this over with, I say.

Update, 12:29 pm (ET): Elliott has been suspended 6 games by the league, pending the inevitable, predictable appeal.
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High school football begins in 3 weeks. Other fall sports begin earlier in the week. Can your heart stand it?