Dec 15, 2022 3 min read

Wild Things add pitcher

The Washington Wild Things have signed left-handed pitcher Greg Loukinen.

Loukinen pitched four games in the American Association last season with Lake Country before an injury ended his season.

Loukinen pitched at Golf Coast State College as a closer. He transferred to Georgia Gwinnett, which made the NAIA World Series in 2018 and 2019. Loukinen had a complete-game effort in the 2019 Series.

In 2018, Loukinen was 7-1 with a 2.73 ERA in 18 games. In 2019, he was 10-3 with a 3.19 ERA in 18 games.

WVU rifle team gets $1M gift

West Virginia University’s rifle team has received a $1 million gift from a family of longtime supporters of the university’s athletic programs, the athletic department announced Thursday.

The gift from the Hayhurst family, which will go through the nonprofit WVU Foundation, will name the head rifle coaching position in perpetuity as well as assist the rifle team, the department said.

The family was inspired by a speech by former rifle coach Marsha Beasley during her induction into the WVU Sports Hall of Fame earlier this year.

The WVU rifle team has produced numerous Olympians and won 19 NCAA championships, including six under current coach Jon Hammond.

In college football

No. 24 Mississippi State is promoting defensive coordinator Zach Arnett to head coach to replace Mike Leach, who died suddenly of a heart condition earlier this week.

Mississippi State was working to finalize a four-year contract with the 36-year-old Arnett, a person with knowledge of the decision told the Associated Press. Leach, 61, died Monday night.

• When Ryan Walters was a high school quarterback, he wanted to replicate Drew Brees’ trailblazing career path.

One day after the 36-year-old Walters was introduced as Purdue’s new coach, athletic director Mike Bobinski announced Brees would return as an assistant coach to help the Boilermakers prepare for their Jan. 2 Citrus Bowl game against No. 17 LSU.

In baseball

Second baseman Adam Frazier and the Baltimore Orioles agreed Thursday to an $8 million, one-year contract.

Frazier hit .238 with three home runs and 42 RBIs in 156 games last season for the Seattle Mariners and stole a career-high 11 bases. He hit a career-best .305 for Pittsburgh and San Diego in 2021.

• The Detroit Tigers have bolstered their rotation by agreeing to a one-year contract with right-hander Michael Lorenzen.

Lorenzen will make $8.5 million and can earn $1.5 million in performance bonuses based on innings pitched.

• The Chicago Cubs added bullpen help, agreeing to a $2.8 million, one-year contract with veteran right-hander Brad Boxberger.

In the NHL

Jake Oettinger made 45 saves to backstop the Dallas Stars to a 2-1 comeback victory over the Washington Capitals on Thursday night and deny Alex Ovechkin another milestone goal.

Jamie Benn tied it early in the third period, and Colin Miller scored the go-ahead goal on a fluky carom less than 90 seconds later to help the Stars win for the fourth time in five games.

Washington’s winning streak ended at five, and Ovechkin’s run of four consecutive games with a goal came to an end. Ovechkin remains at 800, one back of tying Gordie Howe for second on the NHL career list.