District tournament action for high school baseball and softball begins across Kentucky today.

8^th district at Fort Campbell: Baseball has Christian County meeting Fort Campbell at 5:30, followed by Hopkinsville and University Heights. Coverage of both games begins with the Heritage Bank pre game show at 5:15 on News/Talk WHOP and online at whopam.com.

Softball has Hopkinsville playing University Heights at 5:30, followed by Christian County and Fort Campbell.

Fans who are attending the games are reminded to enter through gate 3 at Fort Campbell and present their driver’s license, registration and proof of insurance.

5th district baseball at Trigg County:  Crittenden County meets Lyon County, while Trigg County hosts Livingston Central.

6^th district baseball at Henderson County: Union County meets Webster County.

7^th district baseball at Caldwell County: Madisonville meets Dawson Springs.

13^th district baseball at Franklin Simpson: Todd Central meets host Franklin Simpson and Logan County meets Russellville.

5th district softball at Trigg County:  Trigg County hosts Livingston Central, with Lyon County meeting Crittenden County.

7^th district softball at Dawson Springs: Madisonville meets Caldwell County.

13^th district softball at Russellville: Todd Central meets Logan County, with host Russellville going against Franklin Simpson.

Two local student/athletes are to sign collegiate letters today. Heritage Christian Academy’s Alex Walker is scheduled to sign a letter to play basketball at Mid Continent University at 1 pm, while Christian County’s Jamesha Mosley to sign a letter to play basketball for Cleveland State Community College at 2:30 pm.

College Basketball: The Tennessean reports Murfreesboro Riverdale’s Alexa Middleton has committed to play her college hoops for the University of Tennessee. The 5-9 guard made her decision Sunday night. The senior to be averaged 15.9 points during her junior season leading Riverdale to an undefeated season and the class 3-A state championship.

College Softball: Kentucky advanced to the NCAA Super Regionals for the second time in school history Sunday, defeating Virginia Tech 1-0. Former Christian County standout Griffin Joiner was 1-3 in the game. Kentucky improved to 41-19 and will meet Arizona State in a best of three series next weekend.

Alabama defeated Western Kentucky in the finals of the Tuscaloosa regional 13-1. Western Kentucky finished the season 43-18 in making its first NCAA appearance. Alabama advanced to meet Tennessee in Super Regional play. Tennessee blanked NC State 7-0 in the Knoxville regional.

Austin Peay has announced its five finalists for the position of Athletics Director.

They are Matt Pope, senior associate athletics director at Chattanooga, Bill Lansden, associate athletics director for athletic development at the University of Memphis, Derek van der Merwe, deputy athletics director and chief operating officer at Central Michigan, Chad W. Kimmel, managing group leader-major gifts for the department of intercollegiate athletics at the University of Wisconsin and Julio Freire, senior associate athletics director at Nevada Las Vegas.

The first interviews will take place today as Matt Pope will visit the Austin Peay campus, with Bill Lansden to visit on Thursday. Austin Peay is searching to replace long time athletics director Dave Loos, who recently announced he will step down from the job, but will remain as men’s basketball coach.

Minor League Baseball: The Bowling Green Hot Rods completed a suspended game from May 10^th with West Michigan, losing 5-1, before winning the regularly scheduled game 8-0. The Hot Rods complete their series with West Michigan this evening.

The Nashville Sounds lost at Salt Lake City 8-7 in 10 innings. The Sounds open a four game series this evening at Tacoma.

High School Baseball: Christian County defeated Henderson County 10-5; Ft. Campbell defeated Dawson Springs 11-1; Russellville defeated Hopkinsville High 5-2; Muhlenberg County shut out Grayson County 5-0; Hopkins County Central defeated Union County 8-7 and University Heights defeated Trigg County 7-6.

Today’s games: Lyon County at University Heights. 

High School Softball: Christian County shut out Marshall County 4-0; Dawson Springs defeated Hopkinsville High 3-1; Henderson County shut out Ft. Campbell 15-0; and University Heights defeated Murray 6-4. 

College Softball: For the first time in school history, the Univeristy of Kentucky softball team has been selected as a national seed and host school for the NCAA Softball Tournamnt, which will get underway tonight at 4pm at John Cropp Stadium in Lexington.

The double-elimination regional, which features four teams in Kentucky, Notre Dame, Virginia Teach and Marshall, will run Friday through Sunday. Kentucky's tournament run will start against Marshall at 6:30pm ET on Friday after Notre Dame and Virginia Teach begin the night at 5pm ET.

Horse Racing: Kentucky Derby winner Orb will start from the rail Saturday in the 138th running of the Preakness Stakes. Orb is the solid early favorite in the nine horse field....the smallest since 2007.

NFL: Former UK quarterback Morgan Newton has signed with the NFL's New York Giants as a tight end. Newton is the 5th member of the 2012 UK Football team to get an NFL contract.

Minor League Baseball: Brandon Phillips smacked a tie-breaking sac-fly in the top of the 10th and the Reds went on to a 5-3 win over the Marlins. Jay Bruce doubled in two more runs in the 10th to help the Reds complete their first three-game sweep in Florida since 2004. Aroldis Chapman was credited with his third win, despite giving up a game-tying RBI triple to Marcell Ozuna in the bottom of the ninth. J.J. Hoover logged his third save. The Reds start a three-game series in Philadelphia tonight.

Catch all the Reds action tonight at 5:35pm on NewsTalk 95.3FM & 1230AM as they take on Philadelphia...as well as on Saturday 5/18 at 2:35pm and Sunday 5/19 at 12:05pm.

College Basketball: Kentucky coach John Calipari said during his summer media conference Wednesday in Lexington, this past season’s team had only five good practices all year, compared to the 2012 national championship team which had good practices each day.

Calipari noted with the incoming freshman class, he envisions good, competitive practices and says practice and production will determine which players will play next season and those who will not.

College Football: The Knoxville News Sentinel reports former Wyoming punter Tim Gleeson announced Wednesday he plans to transfer to the University of Tennessee. The Melbourne, Australia native averaged 43 yards a punt as a freshman.

Meanwhile, former UT cornerback Daniel Gray plans to transfer to Utah State. Gray had one start in 2012 as a freshman, but battled injuries and did not impress new coach Butch Jones and his staff in spring practice. Gray is the 7^th player from last season’s team to leave school without making a worthy on field contribution.

College Baseball: Austin Peay looks for its 40^th win of the season this evening, as the Governors open an OVC series against SIU Edwardsville in Clarksville. Murray State also begins its final OVC series of the season this afternoon hosting Eastern Kentucky.

MLB: The Cincinnati Reds look for their 6^th straight win and a series sweep as they play the series finale at the Miami Marlins this evening. Pre game coverage begins at 5:40 on News/Talk WHOP. The St. Louis Cardinals host the NY Mets in an afternoon game, while the Chicago Cubs and Atlanta Braves have an off day.

NBA: Two conference semifinals can come to an end this evening, with the Indiana Pacers and San Antonio Spurs looking to join Miami and Memphis in the next round.

In the East, the Indiana Pacers have a 3-1 lead on the New York Knicks as game 5 takes place at Madison Square Garden. The Spurs and Golden State have gone back-and- forth in the West, with San Antonio holding a 3-2 series lead heading into Game 6 in Oakland.

NHL: Two games are on tap this evening, as the Boston Bruins and New York Rangers open their Eastern Conference semifinal prior to the defending champion Los Angeles Kings and San Jose Sharks resuming their series out West. The Kings lead the series 1-0.

High School Baseball: Lone Oak shut out Christian County 10-0.

Today’s games: Christian County at Henderson County, University Heights at Trigg County, Hopkinsville welcomes Russellville, Fort Campbell hosts Dawson Springs, Todd Central at Edmonson County, Logan County is at Warren Central, Graves County at Marshall County, Paducah Tilghman at Mayfield, Muhlenberg County hosts Grayson County, Murray hosts Fulton City.

High School Softball: University Heights defeated Todd Central 7-3.

Today’s games: University Heights host Murray, Christian County at Marshall County, Fort Campbell welcomes Henderson County, Trigg County hosts Caldwell County, Logan County goes to Warren Central, Madisonville at Muhlenberg County, Union County hosts Daviess County, Graves County at Livingston Central, Lone Oak hosts Ballard Memorial, Calloway County at Heath.

Pairings for the 8^th district baseball and softball tournament were announced Wednesday at Fort Campbell High School.

Baseball: Semi final games Monday May 20^th have Christian County meeting Fort Campbell at 5:30, followed by University Heights and Hopkinsville at 7:30. The championship game will be held Tuesday May 21^st at 7:30 pm.

Softball: University Heights meets Hopkinsville Monday May 20^th at 5:30, followed by Christian County and Fort Campbell at 7 pm. The championship game will be played Tuesday May 21^st at 6:00 pm.

Fans who plan to attend the games are asked to enter Fort Campbell at Gate 3 and show your drivers license, registration and proof of insurance.

High School Basketball: The Madisonville Messenger reported Wednesday Webster County girls basketball coach Parker McAllister and assistant Josh Steele have resigned this week. Steele announced his resignation after six seasons Tuesday to spend more time with his family. McAllister resigned Monday also to spend more time with his family. McAllister led Webster County to a 23-6 record, a 2^nd region All A championship and was named 2^nd region coach of the year in his only season as a head coach.

College Basketball: Kentucky coach John Calipari had a summer news conference with media members Wednesday in Lexington. Calipari says the pending arrival of eight heralded newcomers has him able to quickly move on from a 21-12 season that saw the Wildcats lose to Robert Morris in the opening round of the NIT.

Calipari acknowledged the challenge of meshing the skills of the freshman class, which has six McDonald’s All Americans. Kentucky’s recruiting class is the best in school history and many experts have Kentucky as pre season number one next season. Calipari believes the returning veterans, junior Kyle Wiltjer and sophomores Alex Poythress and Willie Cauley-Stein will provide experience and leadership for the rookies.

The Knoxville News Sentinel reports the University of Tennessee and Memphis will continue its basketball series. UT athletics director Dave Hart Wednesday said the two schools have agreed in principle to a four game home and home series. When the teams played January 4^th in Knoxville, the game was deemed to be the last between the two for the foreseeable future. The teams will not play this coming season, however, the series will likely resume in the 2014-15 season.

Horse Racing: Kentucky Derby winner Orb has drawn the rail in Saturday's Preakness and has been installed an overwhelming even-money favorite in the nine-horse race. Mylute is the second choice at 5-1, with Departing the number three choice at 6-1.  
 
Orb will seek to keep alive his bid to become horse racing's first Triple Crown winner since Affirmed in 1978. Orb won the Derby as the betting favorite.  

NFL: The Tennessee Titans announced the signing of two players Wednesday. Linebacker Greg Jones was a 6^th round draft pick in 2011 of the NY Giants and spent 2011 and part of 2012 with the G-Men before ending the season with Jacksonville.

Running back Alvester Alexander was part of the practice squads for the Titans and the Indianapolis Colts last season.

PGA Tour: Jason Dufner defends his title at the Byron Nelson Championship, which begins today in Irving Texas. Franklin’s Kenny Perry is coming over from the Champions Tour to play in this week’s event.

Minor League Baseball: The Bowling Green Hot Rods lost at Fort Wayne 3-0, with the Hot Rods opening a series this evening at West Michigan.

The Nashville Sounds begin a four game series at Salt Lake City this evening, following an off day on Wednesday.

The 8^th district baseball and softball pairings have been announced today by Fort Campbell High School, which will host the tournaments.

Baseball: Semi final games Monday May 20^th have Christian County meeting Fort Campbell at 5:30, followed by University Heights and Hopkinsville at 7:30. The championship game will be held Tuesday May 21^st at 7:30 pm.

Softball: Christian County meets Fort Campbell Monday May 20^th at 5:30, followed by University Heights and Hopkinsville at 7 pm. The championship game will be played Tuesday May 21^st at 6:00 pm.