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Review: ‘River Bride’ at City Lights Theater digs deep into Amazonian folklore

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 18:14:18 GMT

The Amazon River contains a deep richness that may provide answers to life’s mysteries such as love and longing. For the folks who inhabit a tiny Brazilian fishing village on the river, the lore of the river’s past and present inform every ounce of their being; it’s a body of water each citizen relies on for answers.City Lights Theater Company’s production of Marisela Treviño Orta’s insightfully magical production of “The River Bride” is a delight, bringing forth a narrative that explores pairs of lovers at different moments in their lives. While performances feel like there may be another gear of urgency to be unearthed, it is solid storytelling from a young, fresh-faced ensemble cast.Director John R. Lewis moves the story briskly, although some moments need less slack. It’s a tricky staging, where the action occasionally interrupts and upstages potentially stunning tableaus. Still, in Lewis’ hands, the piece regales in its commitment to Treviño Orta’s lyrical lan...

Douthit scatters four hits, Madron drives in four as Oklahoma routs Army 10-1

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 18:14:18 GMT

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (AP) — Braxton Douthit pitched a complete-game four-hitter, Bryce Madron drove in four runs, and Oklahoma routed Army 10-1 on Saturday in a loser-out game at the Charlottesville Regional.Douthit allowed Ross Friedrick’s sacrifice fly in the sixth inning but otherwise shut down the Black Knights, striking out seven. He walked four and threw one wild pitch.Madron had a two-run triple in OU’s five-run fifth inning. Kendall Pettis had a two-run double in the inning and Anthony Mackenzie added a run-scoring single.Madron also had an RBI-double in the first inning and a sacrifice fly in the third. Oklahoma’s leadoff hitter, John Spikerman, had two singles, stole three bases and scored three runs.No. 3-seed Oklahoma (32-27) advances to a Sunday game against the loser of Saturday’s later game between top-seeded regional host Virginia and No. 2-seed East Carolina.Army’s Mike Ruggieri (9-2) allowed six hits and five runs in four-plus innings....

Huber’s big home run lifts UConn to 9-6 victory over Florida A&M in Gainesville Regional

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 18:14:18 GMT

GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Ben Huber hit a clutch home run, UConn allowed one run over the final four innings, and the Huskies defeated Florida A&M 9-6 on Saturday in an elimination game at the Gainesville Regional.Connecticut led 5-4 heading to the eighth inning, then scored three runs on a sacrifice fly and Huber’s two-run home run. The Huskies added a run in the ninth on a sacrifice bunt by Korey Morton. David Smith had two hits and drove in two runs.Devin Kirby (7-1) pitched four innings in relief, allowing two runs on four hits. Justin Willis pitched a perfect ninth inning for his 12th save.Solo home runs by Ty Hanchey, Jared Weber, Janmikell Bastardo and Joseph Pierini kept FAMU (29-30) close, but the Rattlers managed only four other hits.Zach Morea (4-4) was the losing pitcher in relief.No. 2-seed UConn (44-16) advances to game on Sunday against the loser of Saturday’s later game between top-seeded regional host Florida and No. 3-seed Texas Tech.___AP college sports: ...

Pirates shortstop Oneil Cruz remains upbeat as rehab from broken left ankle nears midway point

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 18:14:18 GMT

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Oneil Cruz slowly made his way on crutches across the Pittsburgh Pirates clubhouse on Saturday toward a locker replete with a massive walking boot that the towering shortstop still uses to protect the left ankle he broke during an awkward slide home in early April.The days when he’ll need to rely on the crutches are numbered. Ditto for the walking boot. The 24-year-old’s recovery remains on track, meaning he could return sometime late this summer barring any setbacks.Given the way Cruz’s left leg rolled up underneath him as he collided with Chicago White Sox catcher Seby Zavala in the sixth inning of what became a 1-0 victory, Cruz will take it. He had surgery the next day and the team optimistically said it expected him to miss four months, a timeline it has not deviated from as his rehab reaches the halfway point.“You never want to get hurt, obviously, but that’s part of the game and it happens to me,” Cruz said through a translator. “I’m just g...

Inter warms up for Champions League final by beating Torino in last Serie A match

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 18:14:18 GMT

MILAN (AP) — Champions League finalist Inter Milan warmed up for the showpiece by beating Torino 1-0 on Saturday in their final match of Serie A.Marcelo Brozović scored in the 37th minute with a potent strike from outside the area after being set up by Romelu Lukaku.Edin Džeko hit the post late on after combining with Lukaku.That was Inter’s 11th win in its past 12 matches and lifted it to second in Serie A, ahead of Lazio’s match at Empoli later.The result also ended Torino’s hopes of qualifying for the Europa Conference League, if Juventus is banned from European competition by UEFA, as it left it behind Fiorentina.Inter faces Manchester City in the Champions League final in Istanbul next Saturday. City beat Manchester United in the FA Cup final earlier Saturday to leave it on course for the treble after also winning the English Premier League.Inter is also on course for a trio of trophies — albeit not quite in the realm of City’s treble bid. Simone Inzaghi’...

MATCHDAY: Italy and Spain finish seasons with relegation fights

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 18:14:18 GMT

A look at what’s happening in European soccer on Sunday:ITALYHellas Verona and Spezia are playing for survival on the final day of Serie A. The teams both have 31 points and Verona visits AC Milan, while Spezia travels to Roma. If both are still level, under new rules, there will be a playoff to decide which one remains in the top-flight. There will be a special ceremony before the match at San Siro to bid farewell to veteran Milan forward Zlatan Ibrahimović. There will be even more festivities earlier in the day, in Naples, where Napoli finally gets its hands on the Serie A trophy, which it won with five rounds to spare. The league trophy — its first in 33 years — will be presented after the match against Sampdoria, while Luciano Spalletti and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia will be given their coach and player of the year awards before kickoff. Juventus travels to Udinese in its final match of a troubled season, while Atalanta hosts Monza and Lecce welcomes Bologna.SPAINThe league reaches i...

Mariners put lefty Marco Gonzales on IL with forearm strain

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 18:14:18 GMT

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — The Seattle Mariners placed left-hander Marco Gonzales on the 15-day injured list Saturday with a left forearm strain.Manager Scott Servais said he didn’t have any details on Gonzales’ injury. The 31-year-old didn’t make the trip to Texas.Right-hander Bryan Woo was set to make his major league debut in Gonzales’ spot in the rotation against Texas on Saturday.Woo was brought up from Double-A Arkansas, where the 23-year-old was 3-2 with a 2.33 ERA. He was a sixth-round draft pick by the Mariners out of Cal Poly in 2021.Seattle made room for Woo on the roster by transferring right-hander Easton McGee to the 60-day IL. McGee has been out since April 30 with a right forearm strain.Servais has said Gonzales felt discomfort after throwing 5 2/3 innings last Sunday at home against Pittsburgh. He still wasn’t feeling right during a bullpen session a few days later.Gonzales allowed one run on three hits against the Pirates after giving up ...

Verstappen takes pole at Spanish GP ahead of Sainz; Alonso 8th

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 18:14:18 GMT

MONTMELO, Spain (AP) — Max Verstappen stormed his way to pole position at the Spanish Grand Prix on Saturday while his top rivals struggled on the damp track and will start well behind the two-time defending champion.Verstappen didn’t even need to use all of his time in qualifying after he set an untouchable flying lap. Red Bull brought him back to the garage while his rivals fought for the rest of the spots.“I knew there was quite a bit of potential in the car and that I could push it to the limit, and it was pretty quick,” Formula One’s points leader said. “Then I went out again for the second one, and it would have been even better, but I think the (team) got a bit excited and told me to abort.” Red Bull teammate — and Verstappen’s top challenger — Sergio Pérez will start Sunday’s race from 11th place on the grid. Last weekend, Pérez crashed in qualifying for Monaco and had to start from the back.Verstappen and Pérez have swept all six races this season. Verstappen leads Pérez by...

Gundogan delivers again for City in FA Cup final but tight-lipped on new contract

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 18:14:18 GMT

LONDON (AP) — Moments before Ilkay Gundogan raised aloft the FA Cup trophy to fireworks inside Wembley Stadium, the Manchester City captain leaned over the podium and had a brief word with club chairman Khaldoon Al-Mubarak.City fans will be hoping the topic of the conversation was a new deal for a player who continues to produce when it matters most for manager Pep Guardiola.As it stands, Gundogan’s final game for City will be the Champions League final in Istanbul next Saturday, when the team will attempt to beat Inter Milan and clinch an English Premier League-FA Cup-European Cup treble.How, though, can City let the Germany midfielder go after his latest match-winning display in the 2-1 victory over Manchester United on Saturday?Gundogan delivered again, like he has for much of the final weeks of this season. Like he did in the final game of last season, when scoring two late goals to clinch the Premier League.And like he has done for pretty much the whole of Guardiola’s time at C...

Teen Coco Gauff rallies past 16-year-old Russian Mirra Andreeva at the French Open

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 18:14:18 GMT

PARIS (AP) — Not all that long ago, Coco Gauff was always the kid on the court, the unknown underdog, younger and less experienced than every opponent she faced on a big stage.Now, still just 19, Gauff is well-versed in the professional tennis tour, already a Grand Slam runner-up in singles and doubles, and seeded No. 6 at this French Open. On Saturday at Roland Garros, the American was the veteran in Court Suzanne Lenglen under the cloudless sky, the one with the steady hand and steady head, in an all-teen showdown against Mirra Andreeva, a 16-year-old qualifier from Russia who is ranked 143rd and was making her debut appearance at a major tournament.After a tight-as-can-be first set, one Gauff was two points from winning but eventually ceded, she grew her game and proved to be the better player. She pulled away to reach the fourth round in Paris with a 6-7 (5), 6-1, 6-1 victory over Andreeva, who was warned by the chair umpire for unsportsmanlike conduct after smacking a ball into...