High School Softball: Christian County is ranked 10^th in the latest Kentucky Softball Coaches Association Top 25 poll, which has Greenwood ranked first again this week. Lone Oak is 4^th, Owensboro Catholic 5^th, Reidland 7^th, Bowling Green 13^th, Madisonville 14^th, Marshall County is 18^th and Livingston Central is 21^st.

MLB: While the Cincinnati Reds are off today, their weekend opponent, the Chicago Cubs close out a series with an afternoon game hosting San Diego, Atlanta closes out a series with Washington this evening, while St. Louis opens a weekend series with the Milwaukee Brewers.

NBA: Thursday's playoff schedule features a pair of crucial Game 6’s. In the Eastern Conference, the Brooklyn Nets will look  to avoid elimination again after earning a
19-point victory in Game 5 when they visit Chicago to take on the Bulls.

In the West, the Golden State Warriors will try to close out their series at home after
failing to do so in Game 5, when the Denver Nuggets muscled their way to a seven-point victory.

NHL: First round action resumes this evening with two games in the Eastern Conference and two in the Western Conference.

Action opens in Montreal, as the Northeast Division champion Canadiens host the Ottawa Senators in Game 1. The other contest will also see a series opener, as the New York Rangers head to the nation's capital to take on the Washington Capitals.

A pair of Game 2’s are on tap in the Western Conference, as the St. Louis Blues look to take a 2-0 series lead as they host the reigning Stanley Cup champion Los Angeles Kings. The other contest has the Detroit Red Wings hoping to bounce back from a Game 1 loss as they will play in Anaheim against the Ducks.

High School Baseball-Wednesday scores: Hopkinsville run ruled Livingston Central 15-1 in five innings, Muhlenberg County over McLean County 7-3 and Ballard Memorial shut out Mayfield 10-0 in 6 innings.

Today’s games: University Heights travels to Caldwell County, Fort Campbell hosts Lyon County, Todd Central hosts a doubleheader against Whitesville Trinity, Trigg County at Marshall County, Hopkins Central is at Madisonville, Crittenden County at Livingston Central, Henderson County goes to Union County, Muhlenberg County at Butler County, Calloway County at Murray, St. Mary hosts Sikeston, MO, Reidland at Lone Oak, Paducah Tilghman hosts Heath, Graves County goes to Carlisle County,

High School Softball-Wednesday scores: Ballard Memorial edged University Heights 4-3, Henderson County defeated Evansville Memorial 9-1.

Today’s games: 8^th district action has Hopkinsville meeting University Heights for the second time this season at Hopkinsville. First pitch is at 5:30, with the Heritage Bank pre game show airing at 5:15 on News/Talk WHOP.

Other games have Christian County at Heath, Todd Central hosts Trigg County in a doubleheader, Dawson Springs goes to Hopkins Central, Russellville at Franklin Simpson, Webster County hosts Owensboro, Muhlenberg County hosts Whitesville Trinity, Crittenden County at Livingston Central, Union County at Henderson County, Calloway County at Graves County, Murray is at Ballard Memorial, Marshall County at Reidland, Paducah Tilghman hosts a doubleheader with Hickman County and Lone Oak, Lone Oak is also at St. Mary.

College Basketball: Kentucky coach John Calipari announced the Wildcats non conference schedule for next season Wednesday. The Wildcats will open with home games against UNC Asheville November 8^th and Northern Kentucky November 10^th.

Other games include Michigan State November 12^th in the State Farm Champions Classic in Chicago, Providence December 1^st in Brooklyn, along with Baylor at Cowboys Stadium December 6^th and North Carolina returns to the schedule in Chapel Hill December 14^th.

Other home dates include Robert Morris—the team that beat Kentucky in the NIT—November 17^th, Boise State December 10^th, Belmont December 21^st, and defending national champion Louisville December 28^th.

The University of Tennessee announced Wednesday Pat Summitt will remain head coach emeritus of the Lady Vols. Summitt agreed to a one year contract worth $85,000. Summitt’s new contract states she wants more time to devote to her foundation, which is dedicated to fighting Alzheimer’s disease. Summitt left the UT bench in April, 2012 one year after announcing she had early onset dementia.

Horse Racing: Orb is the 7-to-2 morning-line favorite for Saturday's 139th running of the Kentucky Derby.  The post-position draw was held Wednesday, and Orb will break from gate 16 in the 20-horse field.  Verrazano is the second choice at 4-to-1 and will occupy post 14.  Goldencents is the third choice at 5-to-1 and will start from gate eight. Louisville basketball coach Rick Pitino is a part owner of Goldenscents.

Minor League Baseball: The Bowling Green Hot Rods lost at Kane County 5-4 in 10 innings. Game two of the series is this evening. The Nashville Sounds lost again at Oklahoma City 4-2, with the series finale this evening.

Golf: The University of Alabama women’s team has been awarded the top seed for the NCAA East regional at Auburn University Club May 9-11. Princeton native Emma Talley—who’s a freshman at Alabama—will play in her first NCAA regional.

This week’s PGA Tour stop is the Wells Fargo Championship, which begins today near Charlotte, NC. A star studded field includes Phil Mickelson, Sergio Garcia, defending champion Rickie Fowler, Rory McIlroy, Bubba Watson and Danville native Josh Teater.

College Basketball: Louisville coach Rick Pitino announced Tuesday seniors to be Russ Smith and Luke Hancock will be the co-captains for the defending national champions next season. Pitino also said junior Chane Behanan will be counted on to be a leader for the team. Pitino also introduced new assistant coach Mike Balado.

MLB: Cincinnati and St. Louis close out their series with an afternoon game at Busch Stadium. Atlanta meets Washington again this evening, while Chicago entertains San Diego.

NBA: Three games are on the playoff schedule this evening. Eastern Conference action has Boston taking on the NY Knicks, where the Knicks lead the series 3-1. Indiana meets Atlanta with the series tied 2-2. Western Conference action has Houston at Oklahoma City where the Thunder lead the series 3-1.

NHL: Two game ones are on the docket this evening. Eastern Conference action has the NY Islanders at Pittsburgh, with Western Conference having San Jose at Vancouver.

Horse Racing: Post positions for Saturday’s 139th Kentucky Derby will be announced later today at Churchill Downs. 23 horses are expected to be in the field for the race.

Trainer Dallas Stewart announced today jockey Robby Albarado will be aboard Golden Soul in Saturday’s race. The Courier Journal reports Stewart dismissed questions this morning about Albarado’s legal troubles before last year’s Derby, where he was arrested on assault charges.

The future of Cardinal Stadium at the Kentucky State Fairgrounds in Louisville seems to have been determined.  A study recently conducted on the 56 year old stadium showed that the grandstand had deteriorated to a point that it is no longer safe. The facility is still being used to host concerts during the Kentucky State Fair.

Fair Board President Rip Rippetoe says they are exploring what to do with the former home of the University of Louisville football program. Rippetoe says demolition is the likely option. A timeline has not been set. Since it is a state operated facility, the money for the demolition must be approved in the budget submitted to the state.  
 

High School Softball-Tuesday scores: Ninth ranked Christian County secured the top seed in the 8^th district tournament later this month at Fort Campbell with an 11-0 win over University Heights.

Hannah Bradshaw had three hits and two rbi to lead the Lady Colonels, while Maggie Glass went the distance allowing just three hits to get the pitching win. Christian County improved to 18-7/3-0 in district play. Two of UHA’s hits came from Makenzi Hamby, while Mackenzie Miles took the pitching loss. UHA is now 16-5/2-1 in district action.

Other games saw Hopkins Central shut out Hopkinsville 2-0, Dawson Springs over Trigg County 12-2 in 6 innings, Todd Central over Russellville 11-1, Franklin Simpson run ruled Logan County 20-0 in 3 innings, Webster County over Caldwell County 7-5, Union County shut out Crittenden County 10-0, Madisonville over Muhlenberg County 6-1, Marshall County shut out Graves County 10-0, Livingston Central run ruled Lyon County 16-0 in 4 innings.

Today’s games:  University Heights goes to Ballard Memorial and Henderson County is at Evansville Memorial.

High School Baseball-Tuesday scores: Hopkinsville over Crittenden County 7-4, Hopkins Central edged UHA 2-1, Trigg County run ruled Dawson Springs 21-2 in 5 innings, Caldwell County defeated Madisonville 4-2, Calloway County edged Murray 7-6, Paducah Tilghman defeated Reidland 6-4.

Today’s games: Hopkinsville hosts Livingston Central, Muhlenberg County hosts McLean County.

Christian County volleyball player Lacy Walker signed a collegiate letter Tuesday to continue her athletic career at St. Catherine University. Walker was captain of the team her senior year and was an all district player in 2011 and 2012 and earned all region honors in 2012. Walker becomes the fifth player from the CCHS program to sign a collegiate letter.

Two more student/athletes will sign collegiate letters Thursday. A news release from Christian County Public Schools indicated Christian County’s Logan Patterson and Hopkinsville’s Gus Sholar would sign letters to continue their athletic careers in baseball, but as per usual did not indicate the schools they would be signing with. Patterson will sign his letter at 2 pm at CCHS, while Sholar will sign at 2:45 at HHS.

High School Basketball: Two members of Hopkinsville’s 2^nd region champion team were named to the Associated Press second team All State Tuesday. Jordan Majors and Jaqualis Matlock were named to the team.

First team members included Kentucky signees Dominque Hawkins of Madison Central and Derek Willis of Bullitt East, with Omar Prewitt of Montgomery County, Darryl Hicks of Trinity and Quenten Snider of Manual also making the first team. Jason Booher of Covington Holmes was named coach of the year, with Dominque Hawkins was named player of the year.

The girls first team consisted of Makayla Epps and Kyvin Goodin-Rogers of Marion County, Becca Greenwell of Owensboro Catholic, China Dow of Louisville Christian and Larryn Brooks of Madison Central. Makayla Epps was named player of the year, with Notre Dame’s Nicole Levandusky named coach of the year.

College Basketball: Austin Peay’s women’s program has signed another guard for the 2013-14 season. The school announced Tuesday April Rivers of Las Vegas will join the program. Rivers played at Bishop Gorman High School where she averaged 15.8 points per game during her senior year. Rivers is the fifth signee for Coach Carrie Daniels team for next season.

Pat Summitt will remain as head coach emeritus of the women’s basketball program at the University of Tennessee. The Knoxville News Sentinel reports the university is working on a one year contract after her current deal expired Tuesday.

College Baseball: Louisville defeated Western Kentucky 6-2, Murray State lost at Arkansas Pine Bluff 8-7.

Minor League Baseball: The Bowling Green Hot Rods shut out Peoria 8-0 Tuesday. The Hot Rods begin a six game road trip this evening at Kane County.   The Nashville Sounds lost again at Oklahoma City 4-2, with game three this evening at Oklahoma City.

NHL: The Tennessean reports the Nashville Predators and forward Patric Hornqvist have agreed to a contract extension. Hornqvist, who was to become a restricted free agent, received a five year deal worth $21.25 million. Injuries held Hornqvist to just 24 games this season, where he scored four goals.

For the first time since 2008, trainer Bob Baffert will not saddle a horse in the Kentucky Derby. Baffert announced Monday Governor Charlie and Code West would not be in the Run for the Roses Saturday. Baffert has trained three Derby winners, the last being in 2002. Baffert will have the fillie Midnight Lucky running in the Kentucky Oaks Friday.

MLB: Cincinnati and St. Louis continue their series this evening at Busch Stadium. Pre game coverage begins at 6:45 on News/Talk WHOP. Other National League games this evening have Atlanta taking on Washington and the Chicago Cubs meet Miami.

NBA: Two games in the Western Conference playoffs are on tap this evening.  The Golden State Warriors will attempt to close out the Nuggets at the Pepsi Center, where Denver went an NBA-best 38-3 during the regular season. In the nightcap, the Memphis Grizzlies will clash with the Los Angeles Clippers at the Staples Center. That series is tied at 2-2.

NHL: The Nashville Predators will have the fourth pick in the NHL Draft on June 30^th. The Colorado Avalanche will have the first pick in the draft after winning the draft lottery on Monday.

NFL: Former Paducah Tilghman standout and one of the newest members of the Tennessee Titans, George Wilson, will be in Paducah Friday as part of the Titans Caravan. Wilson recently joined the Titans after eight years with the Buffalo Bills. The Paducah stop will take place at 5:30 at the Shoe Carnival on James Sanders Boulevard.