Pairings for the 8^th district baseball and softball tournaments to be played at Christian County High School May 21-23 were announced today.

Baseball:   Monday May 21^st at 5:30 Hopkinsville plays Fort Campbell, with Christian County to meet University Heights at 8 pm.

The championship game will be played Wednesday May 23^rd at 7:30 pm.

Softball: Tuesday May 22^nd at 5:30 Christian County plays Fort Campbell, with University Heights playing Hopkinsville at 7:30 pm.

The championship game will be played Wednesday May 23^rd at 5:30.

Admission for the games is $5 for everyone and fans are asked use the Glass Avenue entrance at Christian County High School for parking.

All games in the 8^th district tournaments will be broadcast on Newstalk 95.3 FM/1230 AM WHOP and whopam.com.

WHOP Sports has learned Hopkinsville High girls basketball player Christy Soldo is slated to announce Monday her plans to play collegiately for Murray State. The Kentucky All Star will make her announcement at 1 pm at Hopkinsville High.

College Basketball: WPSD reports Murray State has offered a basketball scholarship to 6-1 point guard Isaiah Williams of Buford, Georgia. Williams, who will graduate high school in 2013, is reportedly very interested in the Racers. Williams’ high school coach says he also has offers from Ole Miss, Chattanooga, Northeastern, Jacksonville, Coastal Carolina, Fairfield and Boston University.

Kentucky Sports Radio.com reports Kentucky basketball coach John Calipari offered Wright State University transfer Julius Mays a scholarship Tuesday. It was reported Kentucky’s interest in Mays is “high”. Mays said he was honored by the offer, but is also still looking at Purdue, Michigan State, Illinois and Pittsburgh as well.

Major League Baseball this afternoon has Chicago meeting Atlanta, with Cincinnati at Milwaukee. St. Louis plays at Arizona this evening.

Two games in the NBA playoffs tonight have New York at Miami where the Heat lead 3-1 and Memphis hosts the LA Clippers with the Clippers leading three games to one.

One game in the NHL Stanley Cup playoffs has the New York Rangers at Washington where the Rangers lead 3-2.

The Courier Journal reports four time Country Music Association female vocalist of the year Martina McBride will sing the national anthem at this year’s Indianapolis 500. McBride says singing the anthem at Indianapolis Motor Speedway is a huge honor. The race is scheduled for May 27.

Television viewership for the Kentucky Derby was up this year. NBC announced Tuesday Saturday’s race earned a 9.0 rating and a 20 share, which is up 6 percent from a year ago. 15-1 long shot I’ll Have Another got by favorite Bodemeister to win the first leg of horse racing’s Triple Crown. The Preakness Stakes will be held in Baltimore May 19^th.

High School Baseball:   Christian County wrapped up the number two seed for the upcoming 8^th district tournament with its second consecutive 2-0 win over University Heights. Three errors for the Blazers lead to the two Christian County runs, with another stellar pitching performance by John Michael Kelly, who held the Blazers to four hits. Christian County is now 16-17 and wraps up district play 4-2, while UHA is 7-17/2-4 in closing out district play.

Elsewhere: Trigg County over Caldwell County 12-7, Logan County defeated Todd Central 12-2, Dawson Springs won a slugfest over Lyon County 14-10, Crittenden County won over Fort Campbell 12-10, Webster County edged Madisonville 3-2.

High School Softball:   Christian County defeated Livingston Central 11-4, Hopkinsville over Caldwell County 5-3, University Heights edged Murray 5-4, Todd Central over Logan County 9-0, Hopkins Central over Apollo 9-3, Madisonville over Union County 5-0.

High School Tennis:   2^nd region boys play began at Ruff Park Tuesday, with Hopkinsville’s Grey Campbell advancing to the quarterfinals in singles play Thursday, while the Hopkinsville doubles team of Casey and McClain advanced to the quarters as did the UHA doubles team of Gordon Kaye and Blake Edmondson. Action continues with girls play this afternoon.

The 8^th district softball and baseball tournament pairings are being announced this morning in a meeting at Christian County High School. We’ll have full details on this story later this morning.

University Heights Academy basketball player Quadre White signed with Mid Continent University Tuesday. He is the second local basketball player to sign with MCU, joining Darius White of Hopkinsville and his cousin Vontrae Lewis—who played soccer for Christian County who will also head to MCU this fall.

Hopkinsville High junior basketball player Jordan Majors is one of 18 selected to the Kentucky Junior All Star team by the Kentucky Lions Eye Foundation. Majors averaged 16 points in leading the Tigers to the 2^nd region championship last season.   Majors will play for the Kentucky Blue team June 4^th in Lexington against the Kentucky Seniors squad. The Junior team will play a second game against the Kentucky Seniors in Louisville June 6^th, with 12 of the 18 juniors to play Indiana’s Juniors in a two game series June 15-16.

College Basketball:   The New York Times reports the NCAA is investigating Kentucky basketball signee Nerlens Noel.   The newspaper reports two members of the NCAA enforcement staff went to Everett High School in Massachusetts, where Noel went his first two years before transferring to the Tilton School in New Hampshire.

Everett High principal Louis Baldi says he met with investigators for about 75 minutes, but did not get into specifics of what was discussed.

The Courier Journal reports Louisville and Indiana may play each other in the 2013-14 season. The teams have not played since 2003, with Indiana holding a 10-6 advantage in the all time series.

The Tennessean reports Vanderbilt has received a transfer from Tulsa. Eric McClellan will sit out this season and have three years of eligibility remaining. McClellan chose Vandy over several schools including Baylor, Texas A & M and Gonzaga. McClellan averaged 8.5 points per game this past season for the Golden Hurricanes.

University of Kentucky women’s coach Matthew Mitchell announced Tuesday the hiring of former Illinois State assistant Danielle Santos. Santos replaces Kyra Elzy, who left the school last month to return to her alma mater Tennessee as an assistant.

College Football: The Bowling Green Daily News reports two of Western Kentucky University's Sun Belt Conference football games this fall will be televised by ESPN U. The first will be October 11th when the Hilltoppers play at Troy University, with air time at 6:30 pm. The second will be on November 1st when Middle Tennessee comes to Bowling Green for a game which airs at 8:15 pm.

The Bowling Green Daily News reports two of Western Kentucky University's Sun Belt Conference football games this fall will be televised by ESPN U. The first will be October 11th when the Hilltoppers play at Troy University, with air time at 6:30 pm. The second will be on November 1st when Middle Tennessee comes to Bowling Green for a game which airs at 8:15 pm.

Game time for tonight’s Christian County-University Heights baseball game at Colonel Field has been changed. The game will start at 5:30 this evening, with the Heritage Bank pre game show at 5:15 on Newstalk 95.3 FM/1230 AM WHOP and whopam.com.

Sources tell WHOP Sports former Warren Central basketball coach Tim Riley is to interview today for the head coaching vacancy at Henderson County. Riley was an assistant coach for Western Kentucky’s women’s basketball program last season after a successful high school coaching career.

Riley won 307 games over 21 seasons. During his 14 seasons at Warren Central, Riley took the Dragons to eight state tournaments, winning the 2004 championship and finishing as runner up in 2005.

Kentucky Sports Radio.com reports when NASCAR comes to Sparta, Kentucky June 29-30, Michael Waltrip plans to drive a car dedicated to Kentucky basketball’s 8^th national championship. The two time Daytona 500 winner will either drive the car in the Nationwide event or the Sprint Cup Quaker State 400.

University of Kentucky athletics director Mitch Barnhart told Kentucky Sports Radio.com for an interview to air later this week on KSTV he is confident there will be a marquee non conference game in Rupp Arena in the 2012-13 basketball season. Last week, Indiana announced it was ending its series with UK, as did North Carolina at least for one season.

Jockey Robby Albarado pleaded not guilty to a domestic violence charge in Jefferson District Court this morning. Albarado was arrested on a warrant Friday morning and was not allowed to ride his mount for the Kentucky Oaks last Friday or any races on Derby Day.

Churchill Downs stewards suspended Albarado indefinitely and he cannot race again until he goes before the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission’s license review committee. A jury trial is scheduled for July 18^th, with Albarado’s attorney telling the Courier Journal he is confident Albarado will be exonerated.

A full slate of games in Major League Baseball this evening includes Atlanta at the Chicago Cubs, Cincinnati at Milwaukee and St. Louis at Arizona.

Four games in the NBA playoffs tonight in which the teams leading the series can wrap them up. Orlando is at Indiana leading 3-1, Boston at Atlanta where the Celtics lead 3-1, Philadelphia takes a 3-1 to Chicago and the LA Lakers host Denver leading 3-1.

One game in the Stanley Cup playoffs tonight has New Jersey at Philadelphia with the Devils leading the series 3-1.

High School Baseball:   Despite rain that lingered throughout the game, Christian County defeated University Heights 2-0. Both starting pitchers were outstanding, as 8^th grader Dixon Craft threw a no hitter and allowed only two Blazer base runners. In taking the loss, Jacob Stevens allowed two runs on three hits and struck out 13.

Christian County is now 15-17/3-2 in district play while UHA falls to 7-16/2-3 in district action. The two teams play again this evening at 6 at Colonel Field, with the Heritage Bank pre game show at 5:45 on Newstalk 95.3 FM/1230 AM WHOP and whopam.com.

Elsewhere Monday:   Hopkinsville’s game at Union County was rained out, Fort Campbell defeated Lyon County 8-4, Logan County over Warren East 6-1, Hopkins Central edged Ohio County 6-4.

Today’s games:   Fort Campbell goes to Crittenden County, Todd Central at Logan County, Caldwell County travels to Trigg County, Dawson Springs entertains Lyon County and Madisonville at Webster County.

High School Softball: Dawson Springs over Hopkinsville 9-7, Logan County edged Hart County 2-1, Hopkins Central slid by Henderson County 9-8, Madisonville over Whitesville Trinity 14-2 in 5 innings, Lyon County over Mayfield 8-1.

Today’s games: Christian County hosts Livingston Central, Hopkinsville travels to Caldwell County, University Heights at Murray, Todd Central at Logan County, Dawson Springs at Crittenden County, Russellville at Warren East, Madisonville hosts Union County, Hopkins Central hosts Apollo.

High School Tennis:  Rain halted play at the 2^nd region tournament Monday at Ruff Park. Several girls matches did finish, but the remainder of the girls tournament will be played Wednesday. The boys tournament will begin as scheduled today, with semifinal and final matches to be played Thursday.

A third former local high school baseball standout will join the roster of the Ohio Valley League’s newest addition, the Hoptown Hoppers. Kyle Barbee, who played for University Heights, joins former Blazer teammate Matt McGowan and Christian County’s Kyle Spencer on the roster. Barbee is playing collegiately for Spaulding University in Louisville.

The Hoppers open the season June 1^st, with the first home game against Fulton June 6^th. Season tickets are still on sale for $75. Visit hoptownhoppers.org for more information on the team and to reserve your season tickets.

College Basketball:   The Tennessean reports Vanderbilt assistant Dan Muller is leaving to be the head coach at Illinois State. The 36-year-old Muller returns to his alma mater where he played for Vanderbilt coach Kevin Stallings. Muller had been on the Vandy staff for the last 12 seasons.

Florida International head coach Richard Pitino has agreed to a six year contract, one more year than the sides originally agreed on when he was hired last month. The contract was amended and restated a week after Pitino was hired. Pitino’s base salary of $250,000 remains unchanged.

The Big East Conference is searching for a new commissioner. The league announced Monday John Marinatto stepped down after less than three years on the job. League presidents called for Marinatto’s resignation Sunday. The Big East has lost several schools to other conferences under Marinatto’s watch.

NHL: The Nashville Predators season came to an end Monday night, falling to Phoenix 2-1 in game five of the Stanley Cup Western Conference semi finals. Colin Wilson had the lone goal for the Predators in the loss.   The Coyotes move on to face the Los Angeles Kings in the Western Conference finals.

A third former local high school baseball player is on the roster of the Hoptown Hoppers of the Ohio Valley League. Kyle Barbee, who played in high school for University Heights, joins former UHA teammate Matt McGowan and Christian County’s Kyle Spencer. Barbee is playing collegiate baseball for Spaulding University in Louisville.

The Hoppers begin their season June 1^st, with the first home game June 6^th. Season tickets are still on sale for $75, call the Christian County Chamber of Commerce at 885-9096 or visit hoptownhoppers.org for more information.

There will be a new commissioner of the Big East Conference. The league issued a statement this morning saying John Marinatto is stepping down. Sources tell CBS Sports.com league presidents asked Marinatto for his resignation Sunday. Joseph Bailey will serve as interim commissioner of the league.

Former University of Tennessee quarterback Matt Simms has signed a free agent contract with the New York Jets, according to the Newark Star-Ledger. Simms is the son of former New York Giant quarterback Phil Simms. The younger Simms played in the junior college ranks last season.

Three time Masters champion Phil Mickelson heads the field of inductees into the World Golf Hall of Fame in St. Augustine, Florida later today. Joining Mickelson in being inducted include two time major winner Sandy Lyle, three time US Women’s Open champion Hollis Stacy, legendary golf writer Dan Jenkins and British broadcaster Peter Alliss.

Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Cole Hamels says he threw at Washington Nationals rookie Bryce Harper in the first inning of last night’s game on purpose. Hamels said he basically did it to welcome the rookie to the big leagues. Harper had the last laugh as he stole home later in the inning after taking third on a single.

A full state of games in Major League Baseball this Monday including the St. Louis Cardinals at Arizona, Atlanta is at Chicago this evening and Cincinnati opens a divisional series at Milwaukee.

Two games in the NBA playoffs this evening have San Antonio at Utah leading the series 3-0 and Memphis at the LA Clippers where the Clippers lead the series 2-1.

Stanley Cup playoff action has the New York Rangers hosting Washington with the series tied at two and the Nashville Predators in Phoenix trailing 3-1 in the series. Coverage of the game at 9 on Newstalk 95.3 FM/1230 AM WHOP.