Jan 12, 2019 4 min read

Wild Things add lefty relief pitcher

The Wild Things have signed lefthanded relief pitcher Drew Weston for the 2019 season. He will join returners Kellen Croce and BJ Sabol as left-handed options out of the bullpen.

Weston, an Indiana native, spent a season with both the Detroit Tigers and Chicago White Sox following his senior season at Spring Arbor University in Michigan. Weston’s father, Mickey Weston, played professional baseball for 15 years including five in the major leagues.

The younger Weston’s career numbers in pro ball are highlighted by his 31 strikeouts and only five walks in 48 innings. He had a respectable 4.69 ERA while playing in three rookie leagues.

Joe Gibbs’ eldest

son dies

J.D. Gibbs, eldest son of Pro Football Hall of Fame coach Joe Gibbs, was remembered as the visionary behind the stellar career of several NASCAR stars following his death from complications a long battle with a degenerative neurological disease. He was 49.

Joe Gibbs Racing announced Gibbs’ death Saturday. He died Friday.

Gibbs was co-founder of the NASCAR team that bears his fathers’ name and he largely ran the day-to-day operations of what is now an elite organization. He stepped away from JGR in 2015 when it was announced he was suffering from “conditions related to brain function.” He was president of JGR at the time and is credited with launching the career of Daytona 500 winner Denny Hamlin and spearheading the team’s pivotal move to Toyota.

Jason Dean Gibbs was also a staunch supporter of Tony Stewart and Kyle Busch, who won championships for the organization despite numerous skirmishes on and off the track. Stewart, a two-time champion driving for Gibbs, posted a photo from his 2002 title celebration in New York City alongside Gibbs and then-crew chief Greg Zipadelli.

“Heartbroken for the entire Gibbs family,” Stewart wrote on social media. “J.D. was a great person – a family man who loved sports & racing in particular. He played a big part in my career, both as a driver & as a team owner. When he asked how you were doing, he genuinely cared. I’ll miss that the most.”

College swimming

The Washington & Jefferson College swimming and diving teams dropped nonconference decisions to host Penn State Behrend on Saturday afternoon.

The W&J men’s team lost by a 100-62 score while the women fell by a 118-61 margin.

Leading the way for the men was senior Zach Lauer, who competed in four events. Lauer finished second in the 50 freestyle (23.47) and second in the 100 butterfly (57.82).

On the women’s side, freshman Kimber Randolph led the way with a first place and two second-place finishes. Randolph won the 100 butterfly with a time of 1:07.38. She was second in the 100 backstroke (1:06.77) and 200 backstroke (2:29.03).

In the NBA

Justise Winslow scored 26 points, Dwyane Wade had a huge blocked shot in the final seconds and the Miami Heat beat the Memphis Grizzlies 112-108 on Saturday night.

Josh Richardson and Tyler Johnson each scored 14 for Miami, which reached the midpoint of the season at 21-20.

Bam Adebayo and Derrick Jones Jr. scored 11 apiece for the Heat and Wade had 10, but arguably the two biggest plays of his night came in the final 4 seconds. Wade blocked a potentially game-tying layup by Shelvin Mack, then won a jump ball to help the Heat escape.

• Blake Griffin scored 44 points in his return to Staples Center for the first time against his old team and the Detroit Pistons beat the Los Angeles Clippers 109-104 to snap a four-game skid.