LOUISVILLE, Ky. –  Adelphi’s Nicole Camera and Academy of Art’s Brooke Larsen were named the Louisville/Slugger NFCA Division II National Player and Pitcher of the week, respectively. The duo earned the honor for their outstanding play for the week of March 19-25.

Camera swung a red-hot bat for the Panthers last week, going 10-for-14 (.714) at the plate with three doubles, a triple, eight RBI and eight runs scored. The senior second baseman extended her hitting streak to seven games and was perfect on 15 chances in the field, turning a double play.

A Metuche, N.J. native, Camera recorded a season-best 4-for-4 outing (2B, 2 RBI, 3 R) in a 13-5 win over Saint Anselm. She drove in a season-high four runs and was a home run shy of the cycle (3-for-4, 2 R) in an 8-2 victory over Saint Michael’s. The Northeast-10 Player of the Week added two runs and a stolen base in game one versus Saint Michael’s and also swiped a base in game two versus Saint Anselm.

Larsen was dominant in the circle as she keyed Academy of Art to a 7-0 week, including a 5-0 showing in at the Tournament of Champions. Appearing in five games, she posted a 4-0 record with a save, while not allowing a single run and striking out 21 batters over 21.2 innings of work. Larsen, a Sacramento, Calif. native, posted two shutouts, which contributed to her current 27.2 scoreless innings’ streak and limited her opponents to a .118 batting average. Additionally, she hit .400 (8-for-20) with two doubles, seven runs and three RBI.

Larsen opened her week with a four-hit shutout against Humboldt State, striking out 10 and walking one in a 3-0 victory. Larsen, the MVP and top pitcher of the tournament, blanked then-No. 13 Sonoma State, holding the Seawolves to just two hits and fanning seven in the Urban Knights’ second straight 3-0 victory. The PacWest Player of the Week also picked up wins in relief against Cal State San Bernardino and Western Washington, and earned a save versus Cal State Dominguez Hills.

Top Performances

Kylee Smith, North Georgia– 2-0, 0.00 ERA, 26 K, 0 BB, 3 H, no-hitter versus Augusta; Mallory Teunissen, Davenport– 3-0, 3 SHO, 5 H, 2 BB, 32 K, 20 IP; Hayley Tierce, Georgia Southwestern– .429, 12 H, 2B, 5 HR, 12 RBI, 13 R, .500 OBP, 1.000 SLG; Lexie Strasser, Central Washington– 4-1, 0.28 ERA, 11 K, 1 ER, 9 H, 24.2 IP, .102 opp BA; KK Lopez, Lui, Lubbock Christian– 2 GP, .750, 6 H, 2 2B, HR, 9 RBI, 3 R; Mariah Jameyson, Texas A&M University-Commerce– .875, 7 H, 3 HR, 5 RBI, .909 OBP, 2.125 SLG; Callie Nunes, Concordia Irvine– 3-0, 0.31 ERA, 33 K, 2 SHO; Jordan Withrow, Tarleton State– 3-0, 1.68 ERA, 26 K, .145 opp BA; Alison Mitts, Saint Leo– 1-1, 1.17 ERA, 10 K, 1 BB, 3 H, .079 opp BA, perfect game vs Lynn (8 K); Kyleigh Payne, Purdue Northwest– .667, 10 H, 5 2B, 2 HR, 11 R, 10 RBI, 1.400 SLG; Jaycee Craver, Illinois Springfield– 2-0, 0.53 ERA, 5 H, 13 K, 3 BB, SHO, .111 opp BA; Jackie Najera, Chaminade– .542, 19 H, 4 2B, 13 R, 8 RBI; Megan Sansburn, Metro State– .563, 9 H, 2 HR, 13 RBI, 9 R, 3 SB; Beth Cook, Fairmont State– .500, 10 H, HR, 10 RBI, 8 R; Taylor Brandts, UVa Wise- 2-0, SV, 17 K, 17 IP, .190 opp BA.

BURNABY, B.C. — Former New Democrat MP Svend Robinson is attempting a political comeback, nearly 15 years after his theft of an expensive diamond ring brought an end to his decades-long career.

Robinson is expected to be acclaimed as the NDP candidate in the riding of Burnaby North-Seymour at a nomination meeting later this week after serving seven terms in various ridings in the Metro Vancouver city from 1979 to 2004.

Robinson made the announcement today outside his childhood home in the riding.

He says he’s been knocking on doors in the community and even though it’s been 15 years since he left federal politics, people have welcomed him back.

NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh is running in a byelection in the neighbouring riding of Burnaby South and Robinson recently appeared with him at a campaign event.

Robinson pleaded guilty to theft over $5,000 in 2004 after stealing an engagement ring valued at $64,000 from an auction, but he said he suffered from a mental health disorder and received a conditional discharge.

Since leaving politics, the 66-year-old has spent time in Switzerland working with the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria.

Earlier On HuffPost:

CLEMSON, S.C. – John Rittman, a longtime head coach and member of the USA Softball Women’s National Team coaching staff, has been named the first head coach of Clemson softball. Rittman will lead the program in preparation for its first competitive game in February 2020.

“John Rittman is a proven winner and nationally respected coach, and the right person to lead our new softball program at Clemson,” Director of Athletics Dan Radakovich said. “We have 27 months until first pitch, and John has the vision and experience to build a strong foundation and culture for years to come.”

Rittman comes to Clemson after serving as associate head coach at the University of Kansas for the past two seasons. Rittman joined the Jayhawks after 18 seasons as the head coach at Stanford University and 10 years on the United States National Team coaching staff (2001-08, 2016-present).

Under Rittman, the Cardinal recorded 18-consecutive winning seasons, made 16-straight NCAA appearances, notched 13 40-win seasons and produced at least one All-American in 15 of his last 17 seasons. As head coach, Rittman accumulated a 750-351-3 overall mark, coached a national player of the year, 16 All-Americans, earned five Super Regional appearances, two Women’s College World Series appearances and maintained a spot in every regular-season National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Top 25 poll for more than a decade.

“I am thrilled and grateful for the opportunity to build the Clemson softball program,” said Rittman. “I want to thank the Board of Trustees, President Clements and Dan Radakovich for the opportunity. We want to recruit the best student-athletes in the country, and we’ll embrace the Clemson culture and passionate fan base. I can’t wait to get started.”

The past two years, Rittman has served on the staff of USA Softball team which won gold at both the 2016 Women’s Softball World Championship and the 2017 Pan Am Games. He also worked with Team USA from 2001-08, coaching the 2004 Olympic gold medal winners in Athens and the 2008 silver medalists in Beijing. Team USA also won gold medals at the Pan Am Games and the U.S. Cup in 2003.

Prior to being named head coach at Stanford, Rittman spent four seasons as an assistant coach at the University of Washington, focusing on hitting and defense. Rittman helped start the program and, within just four seasons, the Huskies had earned a No. 1 national ranking, won the 1996 Pac-10 Championship, made three NCAA Tournament appearances and notched a runner-up finish in their first trip to the Women’s College World Series. Washington became the first team since Texas A&M (1983) to advance to the championship game in its first appearance at the WCWS. Before his appointment at Washington, Rittman spent two seasons as an assistant at the University of Minnesota. During his second year, the Golden Gophers won the Big Ten Conference with a 20-4 league record. The team batting average jumped from .235 to .269 and the Gophers set team and individual records in almost every offensive category. The Minnesota squad led the nation in hits and total bases en route to a No. 15 national ranking. Rittman also helped produce two Golden Gopher All-Americans. From 1988-90, Rittman was an assistant coach at the University of Oregon. During his stay, the Ducks played in the 1989 Women’s College World Series, set several team and individual offensive records and produced an All-American. Rittman graduated from New Mexico State with a degree in journalism in 1986. He was a three-year letterwinner in baseball as an outfielder at NMSU after transferring from Yavapai Junior College in Prescott, Arizona. 

Rittman and his wife, Lorie, a former softball player at the University of Oklahoma, are the parents of Justin, a senior fullback at UCLA, and Jake, a high school senior.

– Courtesy of Clemson Athletics

DELTA, B.C. — A routine patrol of an alley in downtown Ladner, B.C., gave police pause late Monday evening.

“Police officers don’t scare easily. But imagine you are patrolling down a dark alley and your flashlight hits upon this,” reads a caption to a photo the Delta Police tweeted.

The image shows several mannequin heads peeping out of a dumpster that’s slightly ajar. One, with scraggly dark hair, hangs from the lid, beside a metal chain.

The police officer who spotted the heads probably “had a second of ‘Oh my, what have I got here?'” said police spokeswoman Cris Leykauf.

The officer quickly investigated and found a number of mannequin heads in the dumpster, she said, along with even more that filled a garbage bag.

“It seems a little grizzly sounding when you say it like that, doesn’t it?” she asked with a laugh.

There are clothing stores and hair salons nearby, she noted, so police aren’t sure where the heads came from.

No homicides in past 2 years

Leykauf said she’s not sure exactly how the veteran officer responded when he found the heads.

“I emailed and I asked his boss, ‘Did he scream? What happened?’ He never confessed to any of that so I have no idea,” she said.

Earlier in January, a south-Edmonton neighbourhood was taped off for several hours after police discovered what appeared to be a body.

A media inquiry about the investigation led to this response from police: “This is not a human body. It is believed to be some sort of mannequin or doll.”

Leykauf said Delta hasn’t seen any homicides in the past two years, and if these mannequin heads are the most gruesome thing they have all year then they’re doing very well.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Twenty-five student-athletes were recently named as contenders for the 2018 Schutt Sports/NFCA Division III National Player of the Year award, the Association announced.

Reigning Player of the Year Hanna Hull of Virginia Wesleyan, a sophomore, leads the way, and is joined by Marlins senior first baseman Cassetty Howerin on the list.

Texas-Tyler leads all schools with four choices — juniors Colleen Bentke (pitcher), Nicole Garcia (outfield) and Lynsey Mitchell (designated player), and freshman catcher Ashley Perez.

Two other schools have two selections each; Trine with seniors Kaylee Fox (first base) and Erica Robles (outfield), and Williams with senior catcher Lexi Curt and junior pitcher/utility player Mackenzie Murphy. Fifteen other schools have one player apiece.

The West region has the most representatives, with seven, followed by the Atlantic with five, Central with four, East and New England with three each, and Great Lakes, Midwest and Northeast with one apiece. There are 12 seniors, eight juniors, three sophomores and two freshmen being recognized.

The list, which started at 50 prior to the season, will be reduced to 10 finalists when the All-Region teams are selected later this month, with the winner chosen following the completion of the NCAA championship.

Hull also won Schutt Sports/NFCA Division III National Freshman of the Year last season. Texas-Tyler pitcher Kelsie Batten was the inaugural Player of the Year award recipient in 2016.

2018 Schutt Sports/NFCA Division III National Player of the Year Top 25

Colleen Bentke, P, Texas-Tyler

Erin Cressman, 3B, Messiah

Lexi Curt, C, Williams

Jesse DeDomenico, P/OF, Rowan

Kaylee Fox, 1B, Trine

Nicole Garcia, OF, Texas-Tyler

Kassie Howard, P, Berry

Cassetty Howerin, 1B, Virginia Wesleyan

Hanna Hull, P, Virginia Wesleyan

Mallory Klotz, OF, Wis.-Whitewater

Melissa Livermore, 2B, Texas-Dallas

Lynsey Mitchell, DP, Texas-Tyler

Renae Morton, P, Transylvania

Mackenzie Murphy, P/UTIL, Williams

Patty Maye Ohanian, DP, Christopher Newport

Ashley Perez, C, Texas-Tyler

Kaylee Powers, 2B, Montclair State

Maitlin Raycroft, P, Texas Lutheran

Erica Robles, OF, Trine

Madison Sorensen, P, George Fox

Anna Strien, SS, Luther

Lindsey Thayer, P, St. John Fisher

Lorena Ukanwa, P, Amherst

Candace Whittemore, P, Randolph-Macon

Cassie Young, OF, Saint Mary’s (Ind.)

Click HERE to download a high-resolution version of the graphic.

HUMBOLDT, Sask. — Nathan Oystrick has stepped down as head coach and general manager of the Humboldt Broncos.

The 36-year-old Regina native was hired in July, three months after 16 members of the junior hockey team — including former coach Darcy Haugan — were killed when the team’s bus and a semi-truck collided at a rural intersection on the way to a playoff game.

In a tweet, Oystrick said: “Despite the extreme stress and constant pressure of working with the organization, I gave them everything I possibly could and am proud of their performance, and mine, this season.”

Neither Oystrick or team shared reason for split

Oystrick said more information would follow.

A statement released by the Broncos Friday said the team and Oystrick have decided to “part ways.”

The organization has named Scott Barney, 39, as interim head coach for the rest of the season. Barney, a former professional hockey player from Oshawa, Ont., was working as an assistant coach alongside Oystrick.

“The Broncos’ wish to thank Nathan for his work with the organization and wish him the very best in all his future endeavours,” said the statement.

Neither Oystrick or the team have said why they have decided to part ways.

The Broncos are fourth in the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League with a record of 21-13-2-1 this season.

Prior to becoming a coach, Oystrick played in the NHL with the Atlanta Thrashers, St. Louis Blues and Anaheim Ducks.

Oystrick was one of more than 50 applicants for the Broncos’ coaching job.

“What I appreciate about Nathan in general is that he is committed to people first” former team president Kevin Garinger said when Oystrick was hired. “And through the commitment to people, comes a commitment then to an organization, a community and ultimately a hockey team.”

Garinger could not be reached for comment Friday.

The team’s 2018-19 season opener was shown across the country on TSN.

The Broncos were chosen as newsmaker of the year and news story of the year in 2018 in an annual survey by The Canadian Press.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – National Pro Fastpitch announced that Rosemont, Illinois, will be the host of the 2018 Championship Series. The Ballpark at Rosemont, home of the league’s longest running affiliate team, Chicago Bandits, will be the site of the Championship held Aug. 16-20.

The announcement marks the first time the Championship event will return to a team’s home venue since Rosemont hosted in 2013.

In addition to the venue, the NPF also announced a change in Championship Series format and qualification. In 2018, for the first time in League history, the Championship Series will feature only the top two finishers from regular season play. The two teams will face off in a best-of-five Championship Series to determine who will raise the Cowles Cup. This is a variance from year’s past where the postseason typically featured the top four finishers from regular season play.

“Our Championship Series is our hallmark event and we continue to try and create the best competitive and fan experience environment possible,” NPF commissioner Cheri Kempf said.  “This season we are trying something we haven’t done before in featuring the top two finishers in a best of five format. In addition to that, we are placing the event in an NPF team home venue that has proven to draw consistent crowds. We are looking forward to this event being the best ever in 2018.”

“The Village of Rosemont is so very excited to have the Championship Series return to the Stadium at the Ballpark at Rosemont in 2018,” Rosemont mayor Brad Stephens said. “We are already planning for the event and promise the teams and NPF fans it will be an experience to remember.”

Two of the five league teams participating in the 2018 season have captured the coveted Championship Series Cowles Cup – the Chicago Bandits with four titles (2008, 2011, 2015, 2016) and the USSSA Pride with three (2010, 2013, 2014).  Those seven combined titles represent over half the 13 awarded Cowles Cups.

As a result of the 2018 Winter Meetings held in January, league management committee representatives overturned a policy that forbade the Championship from being held in affiliate team venues, a policy voted into effect following the award of the Championship to Rosemont for 2012 and 2013. This recent policy change paved the way for the 2018 site award.

The Ballpark at Rosemont opened in 2011 and was built specifically as a home venue for a professional softball team.  Adjoining the Stadium is 140,000 square foot facility known as the Dome at the Ballpark. The combined facilities represent a state of the art venue that in addition to being the home location for the NPF’s Chicago Bandits, is host to tournaments, leagues and individual games for softball and baseball, volleyball, soccer, all sport practices and training.

Although Tuscaloosa, Alabama, holds the NPF Championship attendance record of 7,408, set in 2016, Rosemont owns the single day attendance of Day 3 and Day 4, 1,809 and 1,949 respectively, set in 2013.

The NPF Season will lead off on May 19, when the Aussie Spirit hosts the Beijing Shougang Eagles. The League will celebrate its 15th season in 2018.

— Courtesy of NPF

CALGARY — A Calgary bid for the 2026 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games is destined to die after the majority of voters said ‘no’ to it.

In a plebiscite asking citizens if they want to host a Winter Games again after the 1988 Winter Olympics in the city, 56.4 per cent of those who went to the polls cast a dissenting vote Tuesday.

“I believed in what the Olympic Games could do for our community, for our province and for our country,” bid corporation chair Scott Hutcheson said.

“I’m disappointed in the outcome, but I certainly respect the democratic process.”

Out of 767,734 eligible voters, 304,774 voted and 171,750 said “no.”

“Today, I have to say, Calgarians won,” said Coun. Sean Chu, who was against a bid.

The plebiscite’s result is non-binding on city council, which has the final say on whether Calgary proceeds with a bid.

The results won’t be declared official until Friday. Council is expected to address the results Monday.

‘Funding will not be forthcoming’: No campaign

A firm ‘no’ vote paves the way for a divided and nervous council to scuttle a bid.

“I think it’s a very strong message,” said Daniel Gauld of the No Calgary Olympics organization. “I think city council is going to have to listen to that.

“The provincial and federal funding will not be forthcoming with this decision today. I think it would be political suicide if they didn’t shut down this bid, so I expect we’ll be seeing that, hopefully.”

Bid supporters and bid corporation Calgary 2026 people gathered at restaurant near the Saddledome to await the results Tuesday.

Several athletes there were devastated when the result was announced.

“I feel really heartbroken and disappointed,” said Helen Upperton, a silver medallist in bobsled. “I have a daughter who would be eight in 2026. I did this for her. My question to Calgary is now what? What is the big dream, what is the big idea?”

A bid was nearly over before the plebiscite.

Ten votes out of 15 on council were required Oct. 31 for a motion to pass on abandoning the plebiscite. Eight voted in favour of that motion which would have generated a cascade of other motions shutting down the bid.

Funding from province conditional on plebiscite

Calgary mayor Naheed Nenshi voted for continuing with a bid, saying the proposed host draft plan and budget was a good deal for the city.

The Alberta government made its funding of a bid conditional on a plebiscite and provided $2 million to pay for it.

“Today was a success because Calgarians were given the opportunity to have their say on whether to proceed with an Olympic bid,” Alberta Minister of Culture and Recreation Ricardo Miranda said in a statement.

“This decision was never an easy one. Calgarians were provided the information they needed to make an informed choice and we respect their decision.”

Watch: Why Kaillie Humphries wants Calgary to host the 2026 Winter Games. Story continues below.

Calgary 2026 was led by Mary Moran, who came from Calgary Economic Development, and Hutcheson, a commercial real estate entrepreneur and former national-team skier.

The bid corporation’s mandate was “to promote a responsible bid.”

Calgary 2026 was hampered by the tardiness of what the cost-sharing agreement would be between the federal and provincial governments and the city.

An agreement that was supposed to be ready for public consumption mid-August wasn’t clear until Oct. 30.

“I have to work with city council every day and have for the last nine years and getting governments aligned is always a big challenge,” Moran said. “I wish we did it sooner, but we did the best we could with what we were dealt.”

“We always knew we had a short runway, but everybody knows we came out with a pretty solid budget on Sept. 11 and we always said a couple of numbers would change and they did. It’s just unfortunate it was complicated.”

In the estimated $5.1 billion price tag to host the games, the public investment ask was $2.875 billion and down from an initial $3 billion.

The province committed $700 million, while the Canadian government said it would provide $1.45 billion.

The city of Calgary was asked for $390 million, and was credited with the $150 million already committed to improving an area that would be a games hub.

Games revenues — tickets, merchandising, television rights, corporate sponsorships — would cover the remaining costs.

While no order of government offered to be a guarantor against debt, Calgary 2026 built $1.1 billion in contingency funds into its budget to mitigate financial risk.

“I think building a dream and articulating that with our social-media type of environment today and a populist movement makes it more challenging,” Hutcheson said.

“With the right dream and with the right city and with the right program, the Olympics should bring lasting memories to a community and we weren’t able to do it this time.”

The International Olympic Committee invited Calgary, Stockholm and a joint Italian bid from Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo to be candidate cities for 2026.

The IOC will accept bids in early January. The election of the host city is in Lausanne, Switzerland, in June.

Lauren Krugel contributed to this story.