Softball: Worth The Wait

BOSTON — Observations and other notes of interest from Wednesday night’s 118-84 NBA playoff loss to the Boston Celtics: – So what did we learn about the 2023-24 Heat? – Not nearly enough. – If anything. – Be it because of Jimmy Butler’s indifference to the regular season. – Or be it because of the injury-depleted state of the roster in the playoffs. – Yes, there were a few feel-good stories along the way, from the development of Jaime Jaquez Jr.

BOSTON — No, they didn’t have enough. No, there wasn’t a next man up. And perhaps most significantly, there was no Playoff Jimmy. So, in the end, a playoff crash and burn for the Miami Heat, their season coming to an end with Wednesday night’s 118-84 loss to the Boston Celtics at TD Garden. In retrospect, coming away even with their single win in the best-of-seven opening-round Eastern Conference playoff series probably was a degree of overachievement. “We’re not going to put this on the fact that we had some injuries,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said.

Roddery Muñoz pitched six strong innings to get his first major league win and the Miami Marlins beat the Colorado Rockies 4-1 on Wednesday night. Making his second major league start, the 24-year-old Muñoz (1-0) gave up one run and three hits while striking out seven and walking two. After allowing two base runners in the first, Muñoz retired 11 straight before Elehuris Montero’s one-out single in the fifth. “This is something I have always dreamed of and thank God, I am accomplishing it,” Muñoz said in Spanish.

UCF continued its impressive showing in the transfer market by landing a commitment from former East Tennessee State cornerback Sheldon Arnold II. Arnold, an All-American with the Buccaneers, becomes the eighth transfer commitment for the Knights since the end of spring camp on April 12. The 6-foot-1, 191-pound defensive back spent three seasons at ETSU, totaling 57 tackles, 2 tackles for loss, 3 interceptions and a forced fumble in 30 games. In 2023, he appeared in 11 games (5 starts) and was third on the team in tackles (53), 2 interceptions, and a forced fumble. East Tennessee State capped off a 3-8 season, including a 2-6 mark in the Southern Conference of the Football Championship Subdivision last season. A native of Loganville, Ga., Arnold was a two-sport star for the Red Devils, excelling in basketball and football.

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Fans of the Miami Marlins and Tampa Bay Rays who watch their teams through Xfinity cable will have to find other options. A dispute between Diamond Sports Group, parent of Bally Sports, and Xfinity parent Comcast has resulted in the removal of all Bally Sports channels from Xfinity cable systems across the country. Among the blacked-out channels are Bally Sports Florida, which broadcasts Florida Marlins games, and Bally Sports Sun, home to the Tampa Bay Rays. The two channels also broadcast Miami Heat and Florida Panthers regular-season games.