Mid-American Conference basketball coaches, both men and women, want changes to the MAC Tournament format.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Mid-American Conference men's basketball regained its footing last season and now looks to build on that success. The men and women's coaches met in Cleveland Monday and both voted for changes to the MAC Tournament format.

Also, with just four days left in the late signing period, recruiting looks to be complete and several men's programs appear to have made significant headway. Overall, 49 new faces are coming to the MAC next season.

If the coaches have any influence with their athletic directors and MAC Commissioner Jon Steinbrecher, there will be a revised format for the MAC Tournament.

Both the men's and women's coaches independently offered new formats for review. The key ingredient for all is getting rid of the double-bye, which penalized teams outside of the top four, forcing them to win five games for a tournament title vs. three for teams with byes to the weekend.

The current format has been in place three seasons, and has seen the top seeds advance to the title game, including league champion Western Michigan this past March. But having seeds No. 5 and lower play two games before a top seed plays one, just is not fair.

In a historically balanced league like the MAC, that format does not fit. It penalizes teams outside of the top four more than it rewards the others. For the men last season there were five 20-win teams and another at 19. According to the coaches, any of the formats put forth by the men and the women are more equitable than what is currently on the books.

In most competitive leagues, particularly on neutral courts, top seeds play the lowest seeds in their first game. In the MAC, where Quicken Loans Arena is a neutral court, the first game for a top seed -- under this format -- is against a tougher higher seed.

In 2013 No. 1 seed Akron pulled out a 62-59 victory over No. 4 Kent State, 62-59, in a game no team led by more than three points the final 10 minutes. This past March, No. 1 seed Western Michigan needed a furious second-half rally to send the game into overtime vs. No. 4 Akron, before the Broncos won, 64-60.

However, the format change is not a done deal as the athletic directors, presidents and commissioner have not yet agreed to change the current format.

So stay tuned.

Browns owner Jimmy Haslam is standing by receiver Josh Gordon, who could be suspended indefinitely for failing a drug test.

CANTON, Ohio -- Browns owner Jimmy Haslam declined to confirm that Josh Gordon failed another drug test and is facing indefinite suspension, but indicated the team will stand by him.

  "Josh is learning and growing and improving as a person,'' Haslam said during a speech to 500 fans at a Pro Football Hall of Fame luncheon club event. "He's learning how to work hard. He's learning how to be a professional. Josh is a smart young man. All of us have made mistakes when we were that age. We're counting on Josh being a good football player for the Browns for a long time to come.

"We spend a lot of time with all of our core players and Josh is obviously one of those. We have all spent a lot of time talking to Josh and I'm not going to comment on the situation but I'll say this, but I've been very pleased with his professional growth over the last year and the way he handles himself.''

ESPN reported Friday that Gordon tested positive recently for marijuana and will be suspended for at least a year. Believed to be in stage three of the NFL's substance abuse program, Gordon faces banishment from the league for a minimum of a year and would have to apply to Commissioner Roger Goodell for re-instatement.

But Gordon's agent, Drew Rosenhaus, will appeal the ruling and try to get the suspension reduced. Monday Morning Quarterback's Peter King speculated in his column Monday that Gordon would likely be banned eight to 16 games.

King was also told by Browns general manager Ray Farmer Saturday night that the Browns were very close to drafting top wideout Sammy Watkins at No. 4.

"We very easily could have turned in the card with Sammy’s name on it,'' Farmer said.

Instead, the Browns traded down to No. 9 with Buffalo and then jumped back up to No. 8 to draft cornerback Justin Gilbert. As the draft wore, they skipped all of the receivers in the draft despite the fact it was the deepest class in years. Instead, they signed four receivers as undrafted free agents.

"We’re confident we have a plan,'' coach Mike Pettine told reporters at the Browns Foundation Golf outing Monday. "The situation didn’t call for panic. That’s something we weren’t going to do. I agree with Ray 1,000 percent that we have to build this team so that no one player drives the ship. …losing players for extended periods of time potentially is part of the game. Successful franchises are the ones that  have enough depth built and enough options that they have from scheme-wise, coaching-wise to account for it.''

Gordon, who led the league with 1,646 yards last season, was also suspended two games last season and docked four game checks for violating the substance abuse policy for at least the second time in the NFL. That time, he said it was for codeine contained in his prescribed cough medicine.

News and notes from Terry Francona's meeting with the media at the Rogers Centre on Tuesday.

TORONTO, Ontario -- News and notes from Terry Francona's meeting with the media at the Rogers Centre on Tuesday.

** Nearly two weeks into his stint on the 15-day disabled list, second baseman Jason Kipnis is beginning to progress toward a return. Kipnis did work in a pool, took dry swings and hit off a tee. Francona said the club is "starting to try to line up a program [for Kipnis] to return to play." Kipnis will need a rehab assignment before he can return to the big league club.

** Asdrubal Cabrera is 3-for-6 with two home runs in his career against R.A. Dickey, who will toe the rubber for Toronto on Tuesday. Cabrera is batting .476 (10-for-21) with a 1.427 OPS over his last five games. For those reasons, Francona said, the skipper slid Cabrera up to the No. 5 spot in the batting order. David Murphy, who is hitting .152 (5-for-33) in May, is batting sixth.

** Francona discussed the ins and outs of managing a knuckleballer, such as Dickey. Francona had Tim Wakefield in Boston. "The biggest thing I learned with Wakefield was you had to be patient," Francona said. "You're going to see passed balls, wild pitches, walks and if you're patient, you'd look up in the seventh, he'd probably still be pitching and you have a chance to win."

** Francona mentioned Phil and Joe Niekro, Tom Candiotti and Charlie Hough as knuckleballers he faced during his career. Against the four, he compiled a .367 average (11-for-30).

A look at Cuyahoga Heights softball player Meredith Chopka, who has emerged as a player of the year candidate.

CUYAHOGA HEIGHTS, Ohio – With the softball season getting starting up this week, this is the time where the top players and top teams start to create some separation from the rest of the pack.

On each Tuesday during the rest of the softball season,  Northeast Ohio Media group high school reporters David Cassilo and Mark Kern will feature a softball player that belongs in the discussion for the cleveland.com player of the year

With all of the debate over top players, who do you think are the top candidates to win player of the year? Nominate a player you think should be in the discussion in the comments. 

There's also a poll at the bottom of the post. But remember, those votes are just for fun and won't determine who wins the award at the end of the season.

With that in mind, here is another look at contender for the player of the year watch, pitcher Meredith Chopka of Cuyahoga Heights.

Year: Senior

Position: Pitcher/second baseman

Stats: 10-3 record with a 1.01 ERA and a strikeout to walk ratio of 8.8:1.

When Chopka started playing softball: It was when I was eight years old. I had some friends that were trying out for a team and they talked me into it. Next thing I know, I am on the team and I instantly became a big fan of the sports.

Personal goals: Before the season I told myself that I wanted to bat .400, while continuing to get better as a pitcher. However, I am more worried about what we can accomplish as a team. We have a very good team that is capable of making a deep run, and I just want to do whatever is necessary for my team to get the win.

Hobbies off the field: I honestly do not do a ton of stuff, but I love hanging out with my friends. We work so hard together playing softball, that sometimes it is great to just get away from the softball field and just enjoy some time off with my friends.

On why she chose Cuyahoga Community College: Our batting coach made a suggestion to me that Tri-C would be a good school for me to consider, so I went up and visited. Once I was there, I instantly liked the school as well as clicked with the coaching staff. Everything just felt like home to me there, and I am glad I made that decision.

On getting ready for the playoffs: This is what we play for. We have had a good regular season, but we understand that we need to play our best softball now. All that hard work has helped us get to this point, so we need to just go out and enjoy it, and leave everything we have out on the field.

Contact high school sports reporter Mark Kern by email mkern@cleveland.com or Twitter (@Markkern11). Or log in and leave a message in the comments section below.

Morgan said his own wrestling persona is Tony Tombstone -- a play off his alter ego, Tony Plush.

TORONTO, Ontario -- Seen and heard around the the Rogers Centre on Tuesday.

Clubhouse confidential: Nyjer Morgan sprinted to one end of the clubhouse and leaned back. Then he bolted to the opposite side and did the same. Finally, he retreated to his starting point, motioned his arms, lifted his left elbow and dropped to the ground.

Michael Bourn's toddler son, Bryson, stared and smiled.

Morgan then dashed to one end of the clubhouse, leaned back, zoomed back toward his starting point, extended his right leg high in the air and dropped to the ground. He turned his body to pin an imaginary opponent, who sprung free from Morgan's grasp before an imaginary referee could count to three. Morgan held up two fingers.

Bryson Bourn received a tutorial about some of Morgan's favorite wrestling moves on Tuesday afternoon. The lesson included demonstrations of The Rock's "People's Elbow" and Hulk Hogan's "Leg Drop." The two discussed potential wrestling names for Bourn, but couldn't come up with a catchy one to their liking. Morgan said his own wrestling persona is Tony Tombstone -- a play off his alter ego, Tony Plush -- and his finishing move is the "T Frog Splash."

Michael Bourn and Nick Swisher jumped in on the wrestling conversation at one point. Both listed the Ultimate Warrior as their favorite wrestler growing up. Morgan opted for Hogan.

For his at-bat music at Progressive Field, Morgan uses the theme made popular by WWE superstar Daniel Bryan.

"My wife and I we were kicking back and watching 'Monday Night RAW' and Daniel Bryan came on and I kind of got a little [hyped] from him," Morgan said last month after he changed his song to that tune.

Morgan said he watched plenty of wrestling in the '90s, but drifted away from it about 10 years ago. A few months ago, his interest in the sport resurfaced.

First time: For the first time, Luis and Maria Carrasco watched their son pitch professionally in person. Carlos Carrasco's parents trekked to Tampa from their home in Venezuela and sat near the bullpen for Saturday's game, during which the right-hander tossed 1 2/3 scoreless innings in a 7-1 loss to the Rays.

"They've never seen me pitch," Carrasco said, "so I felt a little different since I knew my parents were there. They were very happy."

Carrasco said his parents stayed in Tampa while the Indians journeyed to Toronto. This weekend, they will meet him in Cleveland, where they will stay for about a week. Carrasco said they have never been to Ohio. The forecast calls for temperatures in the 50s this weekend beside Lake Erie. Carrasco's parents are accustomed to mid-to-upper 80s in Venezuela.

"Every time we play on a road trip, it's hot," Carrasco said, laughing. "When we come home, it's cold."

Stat of the day: The Indians' pitching staff entered Tuesday action ranked first with 338 strikeouts, on pace for a franchise record.

Cavaliers forward Anthony Bennett is expected to be recovered in time for summer league after having his tonsils and adenoids out on Tuesday at the Cleveland Clinic.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Cavaliers forward Anthony Bennett, the No. 1 pick in the 2013 NBA Draft, is recovering after having his tonsils and adenoids out at the Cleveland Clinic on Tuesday, his second surgery in two summers. It is expected to help relieve his sleep apnea.

Bennett missed last year's NBA combine and summer league because of rotator-cuff surgery on his left shoulder, but the Cavs said he should be fully recovered in time to play in the summer league this year.

After the rotator cuff surgery, the 6-foot-8 Bennett arrived in training camp out of shape and it took him a while to catch up. He finished the season averaging 4.2 points, 3.0 rebounds and 12.7 minutes in 52 games.

Just when he seemed to get comfortable on the floor and showed flashes of the skills he demonstrated at UNLV, he suffered a strained tendon in his left knee and missed 17 games near the end of the season before getting seven points and seven rebounds in 15 minutes during a 114-85 victory over Brooklyn in the last game of the season on April 16.

Earlier Tuesday evening, Bennett tweeted about a ''setback'' and ''2 in 2 years'' but the tweets were later deleted. He said he wasn't talking about coaches and then wished the fired Mike Brown well. He is the only Cavs player to mention Brown directly in a tweet.

MLB's new rule to protect catchers from collision at the plate, but to many the rule isn't being properly enforced and clarity is needed.

TORONTO, Ont. – The expanded use of instant replay has generally been well received in baseball this season except for the review process involving calls at the plate.

MLB announced at the winter meetings that it intended to protect catchers by banning home-plate collisions. While there have been no severe collisions between runners and catchers so far, the second part of the rule, which says catchers cannot block the plate and must offer a lane for runners to slide to, has rarely been enforced.

Former manager Tony La Russa, one of the driving forces behind the new rule, told ESPN in a story Tuesday that changes are coming to clarify that rule, but they have yet to be completed.

"They're trying to clean that up because I don't think it has been enforced to everybody's satisfaction," said manager Terry Francona before Tuesday's game. "The reason behind the original rule is good. You don't want catchers to get concussions or hit.

"But when you put a rule into effect, you have to enforce it and I don't think it has been. "

The ESPN story said that there has been 17 umpire-generated reviews on plays at the plate and only two have been overturned, even though La Russa and other MLB officials feel more should have been. Umpires are the only ones who can request a review of a play at the plate to determine if a runner intentionally targeted a catcher or a catcher was illegally blocking the plate.

"The idea is to keep the catcher safe, not for somebody to win on a technicality," said Francona. "So they're trying to enforce some things that are really hard to enforce."

La Russa said one play umpires have not called is when a catcher originally gives the runner a lane to slide to and then "sticks out his leg to take the plate away.' La Russa was quoted as saying that is a violation and should be called as such.

"I think I remember somebody asking me about this before the season and I said, 'I see a lot of things happening here, because ... there's so much gray area,'" said Francona. "For once in my life I think I was right."

This means WAR: Here are the Indians' leaders in WAR (wins above replacement) for this season through 38 games, according to baseball-reference.com.

Position players: Asdrubal Cabrera .9, Yan Gomes .9, Michael Brantley .9 and Mike Aviles .8.

Pitchers: Corey Kluber .7, Zach McAllister .6, Bryan Shaw .6, Cody Allen .5, Josh Tomlin .5 and Scott Atchison .4.

Last year Jason Kipnis, currently on the disabled list, led the Indians in WAR at 5.9. Carlos Santana was the Tribe's WAR leader in 2012 at 4.0.

MLB's WAR leader last year was the Angels' Mike Trout at 9.2. This year Colorado's Troy Tulowitzki leads at 3.9.

WAR is a single number that represents the number of wins a player adds to his team above what an average replacement player (Class AAA) would add to the team. Baseball-reference's ratings system goes like this: 8 or above is an MVP type player; 5 or above is an All-Star, 2 or above is a MLB starter, 0 to 2 is a reserve and less than 0 equals a replacement player.

In other words, the Indians' roster needs to play a whole lot better than it is right now.

Knuckle this: The Indians got their first look at the knuckleball this season when R.A. Dickey took the mound Tuesday night for Toronto at Rogers Centre.

Leadoff man Michael Bourn had the most success against Dickey, batting .286 (10-for-35) in his career.

Francona managed knuckleballer Tim Wakefield in Boston and hit against knuckleballers Tom Candiotti, Joe and Phil Niekro and Charlie Hough during his playing career.

Wakefield reached 200 wins under Francona and he hit .367 (11-for-30) against the knuckleball as a player.

"I kind of hit it like they threw it, soft and all over the place," said Francona.

Minor matters: Right-hander Adam Plutko, drafted in the 11^th round last year, was named Indians minor league player of the week Tuesday.

Plutko, pitching at Class A Lake County, struck out 13 and threw eight scoreless innings against Bowling Green in a 5-1 victory on Thursday. Plutko, MVP of the College World Series for UCLA, is 2-0 this season with 49 strikeouts in 35 1/3 innings.

Finally: Kipnis, recovering from a strained right oblique muscle, started hitting off a tee over the weekend and came through that. Francona said the Indians are putting together a "return-to-play' program for Kipnis, but he's still a ways away. When Kipnis was placed on the DL May 2, the Indians said he'd be out for "three to five weeks."

Red Sox manager John Farrell selected Terry Francona and Ron Gardenhire to serve as his assistant coaches.

TORONTO, Ontario -- Terry Francona is headed to the All-Star Game.

Red Sox manager John Farrell reportedly revealed prior to his team's game in Minnesota that he asked the Indians' skipper and Twins manager Ron Gardenhire to serve as the American League's assistant coaches for the Midsummer Classic. The Twins will host the exhibition at Target Field on July 15.

The skipper of each league's World Series representative is awarded the opportunity to manage his side of the All-Star Game. Francona coached the AL in 2005 and 2008 following his two championship seasons in Boston.

Francona and Farrell played together with the Indians in 1988. Farrell also served as Francona's pitching coach in Boston. 

Francona said he spent last year's All-Star break relaxing in Las Vegas.

The Akron Zips men's sports dominate the Mid-American Conference in 2013-14 to win the Reese Trophy, indicative of the best in the league.

University of Akron logo. 

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- For the first time since joining the Mid-American Conference in 1992, the Akron Zips can proudly proclaim, "we're No. 1."

The Zips were awarded the Reese Trophy at the Mid-American Conference meetings Tuesday night as part of the Hall of Fame inductions for Miami's late basketball coach, Charlie Coles, Kent State's former coach and administrator, Judy Devine, and others.

The Reese award is indicative of the top men's athletic program in the league for each season, and was clinched even before the final spring tallies are in. Track and baseball still to be decided. The Jacoby Trophy, for women's sports, will be decided at the end of the spring season.

In a release, Akron athletic director Tom Wistrcill said; "To win this award for the first time -- and to clinch it before the spring season concludes -- is a tremendous statement about the efforts of our student-athletes, coaches, staff and supporters."

"We identified winning our first Reese Trophy as a major goal in IMPACT 2020, the strategic vision for Zips Athletics that was released in December, and we thank everyone who contributed to this success."

Competing in seven MAC-sponsored men's sports, the Zips needed performances from just five to lock up the award, anchored by men's soccer, which won its 10th MAC Tournament title.

A No. 2 finish in cross country, a third-place finish for football in the East Division, a third straight indoor track title, a No. 2 finish in the East in basketball and a No. 2 finish for golf in the recent MAC Championships added to the Zips lead.

See box scores and highlights for boys and girls lacrosse, boys tennis, and boys and girls track and field for Tuesday, May 13, 2014.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Here are box scores and highlights for boys and girls lacrosse, boys tennis, and boys and girls track and field for Tuesday, May 13, 2014.

LACROSSE

Boys

Benedictine 15, Mooney 6

B (12-2): Yormick 5, Gedetsis 3, Judy 2, Wilkins, Vargas, Gilliam, Shenk, Jackiewicz. M (8-7): Joss 5, Weber.

Goalies: B, Musarra (5 saves), Monaco (4); M, Babik (8).

Westlake 11, Hawken 8

WL (11-4): Dechtel 4, Humer 2, Columbro 2, Guay, Fise, Greenberg; HK (6-9): Lair 3, Deck 2, Stilson 2, Weil

Goalies: WL, Freedman (11 saves); HK, Wilde (4)

Girls

Western Reserve Academy 12, Kenston 6

TENNIS

Division I Sectional Singles

At Oberlin

Round 1: Rahman (Valley Forge) d. Jackson (John Marshall) 6-0, 6-1; MacDonald (Avon Lake) d. Clavarella (Normandy) 6-1, 6-4; Savic (Parma) d. Wilson (Rhodes) 6-1, 6-0; Burger (Avon) d. Andre de la Porte (Midview) 6-0, 6-0; Hryszko (Strongsville) d. Klesta (Elyria) 6-2, 6-0; Martinez (Berea-Midpark) d. McGuire (Amherst) 6-0, 6-0; Peterjohn (North Royalton) d. Priore (North Ridgeville) 6-1, 6-0; Woodworth (Parma) d. Padilla (Rhodes) 6-2, 6-0; Digges (North Olmsted) d. Chambers (Midview) 6-1, 7-6 (9); Turung (Avon Lake) d. Perez (Lakewood) 6-3, 6-4; Flors (Normandy) d. Zalac (Olmsted Falls) 6-0, 7-6(3); Shah (Westlake) d. Habecker (Amherst) 6-4, 6-0; March (Elyria) d. Blackmon (John Marshall) 6-3, 6-0; Markowski (Parma) d. Rivera (John Marshall) def.; Reinhard (North Olmsted) d. Poscher (Berea-Midpark) 6-3, 6-2; Baskar (Avon) d. Montgomery (Amherst) 6-0, 6-0; Kharche (Westlake) d. Satayathum (Lakewood) 6-0, 6-1; Clegg (North Royalton) Marflak (North Ridgeville) 6-2, 3-0 (ret); Wasilko (St. Edward) d. Reed (Strongsville) 6-4, 6-2; Arora (Westlake) d. Buckholz (Berea-Midpark) 6-4, 6-4; Bickford (North Ridgeville) d. Perkins (Elyria) 6-1, 6-2; Dubusker (St. Edward) d. Duskey (Avon Lake) 6-0, 6-3; Bringman (Strongsville) d. Rizk (Normandy) 6-1, 6-3; Jereb (North Royalton) d. Kollar (Olmsted Falls) 6-0, 6-1; Dalisky (Lakewood) d. Cleland (Midview) 6-0, 6-0; Malinoski (North Olmsted) d. Winner (Rhodes) 6-0, 6-0.

Round 2: Griffin (St. Ignatius) d. Rahman (VF) 6-0, 6-0; MacDonald (AL) d. Savic (PA) 6-2, 6-0; Burger (AV) d. Hryszko (ST) 6-2, 6-0; Peterjohn (NRO) d. Martinez (BM) 6-2, 6-3; Meyer (STE) d. Woodworth (PA) 6-0, 6-0; Turung (AL) d. Digges (NO) 6-0, 6-1; Shah (WL) d. Flors (NORM) 6-1, 6-0; Hsia (STI) d. March (EL) 6-0, 6-0; Schuette (STI) d. Markowski (PA) 6-0, 6-0; Reinhard (NO) d. Baskar (AV) 1-6, 6-4, 6-3; Kharche (WL) d. Clegg (NRO) 6-1, 6-1; Wasilko (STE) d. Chaya (OF) 6-0, 6-0; Arora (WL) d. Bickford (NRI) 6-1, 6-3; Dubusker (STE) d. Bringman (STR) 6-0, 30-40 (ret); Jereb (NRO) d. Dalisky (LAK) 6-2, 6-1; Mostardi (AV) d. Malinoski (NO) 6-0, 6-0.

Round 3: Griffin (STI) d. MacDonald (AL) 6-1, 6-0; Peterjohn (NRO) d. Burger (AV) 6-1, 6-1; Meyer (STE) d. Turung (AL) 6-0, 6-1; Hsia (STI) d. Shah (WL) 6-1, 6-0; Schuette (STI) d. Reinhard (NO) 6-0, 6-0; Kharche (WL) d. Wasilko (STE) 6-1, 6-1; Dubusker (STE) d. Arora (WL) 6-2, 6-1; Mostardi (AV) d. Jereb (NRO) 6-0, 6-1.

Division I Sectional Doubles

At Oberlin College

Round 1: Molzan/Fedorchuk (Valley Forge) d. Callam/Roll 6-0, 6-0; Jha/Ryan (St. Edward) d. Orantek/McNickle (Elyria) 6-0, 6-0; Yates/Williams (Avon) d. Garcia/Serrano (Rhodes) 6-0, 6-1; Kutsar/Barnett (Normandy) d. Godenswager/Vazquez (Parma) 6-0, 6-1; Gehring/Davis (Parma) d. Dejesus/Otano (John Marshall) 6-3, 6-0; Boerwinkle/Benjamin (North Olmsted) d. Vales/Sychia (Normandy) 6-1, 6-3; Higgins/Haslett (Amherst) d. Fenn/Colon (Rhodes) 6-2, 6-3; Hilfer/Smith (North Royalton) d. Buchta/Wu (Olmsted Falls) 6-1, 6-3

Round 2: Dinchman/Reusser (WL) d. Molzan/Fedorchuk (VF) 6-0, 6-0; Rice/Darkow (AL) d. Hall/Pham (NRO) 6-2, 6-0; Jha/Ryan (STE) d. Kneisel/Machesky (AM) 6-0, 6-0; Nguyen/Klebowski (BM) d. Katz/Bellinger (OF) 6-1, 6-4; Hajorsky/Pixton (NRO) d. Yates/Williams (AV) 6-2, 6-3; Sinha/Heyniger (ST) d. Adkins/Thorton (JM) 6-0, 6-0; Kutsar/Barnett (Normandy) d. Bishop/Specker (MV) 6-2, 6-2; Zuber/Boakye (STI) d. Senger/Bish (LK) 6-0, 6-0; Jhaveri/Craven (WL) d. Gehring/Davis (PA) 6-3, 6-0; Grau/Wynne (MV) d. Emilo/Peggs (EL) 6-6, 6-3, 6-1; Vales/Sychia (NO) d. Oster/Scott (NRI) 6-3, 3-6, 6-2; Figueiredo/Levis (LK) d. Nicklaus/Iwaizumi (AV) 7-5, 6-2; Singh/Rybak (STE) d. Higgins/Haslett (AM) 6-1, 6-1; Meier/Lu (BM) d. Hinckley (STR) 6-3, 6-4; Wilhelm/Sladek (AL) d. Hilfer/Smith (NRO) 6-1, 6-0; Napoli/Fehn (STI) d. Moorea/Brooks (VF) 6-0, 6-0.

Round 3: Dinchman/Reusser (WL) d. Rice/Darkow (AL) 6-2, 6-1; Jha/Ryan (STE) d. Nguyen/Klebowski (BM) 6-1, 6-1; Hajorsky/Pixton (NRO) d. Sinha/Heyniger (STR) 6-1, 6-4; Zuber/Boakye (STI) d. Kutsar/Barnett (NO) 6-0, 6-1; Jhaveri/Craven (WL) d. Grau/Wynne (MV) 6-1, 6-0; Figueiredo/Levis (LK) d. Vales/Sychia (NO) 6-1, 6-4; Singh/Rybak (STE) d. Meier/Lu (BM) 6-3, 4-6, 6-3; Napoli/Fehn (STI) d. Wilhelm/Sladek (AL) 6-1, 6-0.

Round 4: Dinchman/Reusser (WL) vs. Jha/Ryan (STE); Zuber/Boakye (STI) d. Hajorsky/Pixton (NRO) 6-0, 6-0; Jhaveri/Craven (WL) d. Figueiredo/Levis (LK) 6-1, 6-1; Napoli/Fehn (STI) d. Meier/Lu (BM) 6-3, 4-6, 6-3.

Note: Doubles will continue Wednesday at 2 p.m. at the Donald Hunsinger Courts on the campus of Oberlin College. Singles will continue Thursday at 2 p.m. at the Donald Hunsinger Courts on the campus of Oberlin College.

Regular season duals

Beachwood 4, Gilmour 1

Singles: Noall (G) d. Dubin 2-6, 6-1, 6-2; Machtay (B) d. Hilkert 6-3, 6-3; Glassman (B) by ff.

Doubles: Gill/Spector (B) d. Hribar/Reed 6-0, 6-2; Malik/Celleghin (B) d. Piazza/Zhang 6-0, 6-0.

Harvey  5, Euclid  0

Singles:  Orosz d. Conger 6-2, 6-4; Montes d. Schied 7-6(5), 6-4; Zhang d. Ritchey 6-0, 6-1.

Doubles:  Turner/Pacheco d. Drennon/Brooks 6-1, 6-1; Negrete/Reynoso d. Reed/Nevels 6-3, 6-1.

Padua 4, Wickliffe 1

Singles: Mc Intire (P) d. McChesney 6-0,6-2; Konopka (P) d. Lesko 6-0,6-1; Kozak (P) by ff.

Doubles: Burkett/Lanck (W) d. Leigh/Pullar 6-3,6-2; Grimmer/Brachna (P) d. J Moulen/Lewis 6-4, 7-6.

LATE

Lexington 3, Hawken 2

Singles: M. Dragos (L) d. Yadav 6,0, 6-0; S. Ahuja (H) d. Acero 6-0, 6-1; A. Lee (H) d. McCarther 6-0, 6-1

Doubles: M. Youse/T. Barkett (L) d. Lee/McGrae 6-0, 6-1; M. Barkett/J. Webster d. Pollock/Horwath 6-0, 6-0.

Notable: Hawken dropped their first match after 11 straight wins.

TRACK

Boys

Lake Catholic 119, Padua 13

Shot put: Landis (LC) 45-5(1/2). Discus: Pipoly (LC) 135-11. High jump: Mozil (LC) 6-1. Long jump: Turner (LC) 19-8. Pole vault: Ludwig (LC) 15-6. 4x800: LC (Bull, Pritchard, Cicconnetti, Keating) 9:09. 110H: Rassavong (LC) 16.02. 100: Turner (LC) 11.37. 4x200: LC (McDaniel, Hufgard, O’Toole, Alston) 1:34.2. 1,600: Pritchard (LC) 4:51. 4x100: LC (McDaniel, Turner, Hufgard, Ludwig) 44.03. 400: O’Toole (LC) 55.0. 300H: Ludwig (LC) 41.73. 800: Pritchard (LC) 2:06. 200: O’Toole (LC) 24.0. 3,200: Keating (LC) 11:08. 4x400: LC (Alston, Newman, Pritchard, Mozil) 3:57. 

Girls

Lake Catholic 81, Padua 56

Shot put: Milano (P) 28-11. Discus: S. Taraska (LC) 87-0(1/4). High jump: Wallace (P)  4-6. Long jump: L. Taraska 15-5. Pole vault: S. Taraska (LC), Lew (P) 7-6. 4x800: LC (Ward, Domen, Rojeck, Sikiric) 11:03. 100H: Fedele (LC) 17.68. 100: Bull (LC) 13.29. 4x200: LC (Kotoch, Jacobs, Bukovec) 1:57.08. 1,600: Rojeck (LC) 6:09. 4x100: LC (Kotoch, Holy, Ward, Longo) 53.5. 400: Adams 1:06.9 . 300H: Fedele (LC) 53.05. 800: Adams (P) 2:36. 200: Wasco (P) 29.7. 3,200: Domen (LC) 14:00. 4x400: LC (Kotoch, Bukovec, Jacobs, Bull) 4:20.50. 

Chagrin Valley Conference Chagrin Division Championships

How they stand: 1. Harvey 27; 2. Aurora 21; 3. Kenston 19; 4. Perry 17; 5. Orange 14; 6. Chagrin Falls 12; 7. West Geauga 6.

4x800: 1. Aurora (O. Grohe, S. Grohe, Adler, Calder) 9:59.5; 2. Chagrin Falls 9:59.1; 3. Kenston 10:06.2. High jump: 1. Willis (O) 5-0; 2. Lewis (H) 4-10; 3. Keller (A) 4-10; T3. Mims (A) 4-10. Shot put: 1. Pagan (H) 35-11; 2. Sunmonu (P) 34-7; 3. Montgomery (H) 33-6.

Amherst catcher Justin Mott is a contender for NEOMG's baseball player of the year award.

AMHERST, Ohio – When Justin Mott was younger, he looked up to a No. 5. 

The future Amherst catcher loved watching New York Mets third basemen David Wright.

Because before Mott was a catcher and a reliever, he was a third baseman.

Since then, Amherst's No. 5 has grown and evolved into one of the area's best catcher and closers in high school baseball.

Each week, Northeast Ohio Media Group baseball reporters Stephanie Kuzydym and Lexi Pluym will spotlight a player who is a candidate to win cleveland.com's Player of the Year award.

With all of the debate over top players, who do you think are the top candidates to win player of the year? Nominate a player you think should be in the discussion in the comments. 

There's also a poll at the bottom of the post. But remember, those votes are just for fun and won't determine who wins the award at the end of the season.

Last week, we highlighted St. Ignatius’ teammates Nick Fabian and Nick Margevicius.

Justin Mott, Amherst Steele

Year: Senior

Position: Catcher, Closer

Height: 5-foot-8

Weight: 165

Hitting Stats: .316 batting average (25-for-79), five doubles, two home runs, 23 RBI, 10 stolen bases.

Catching Stats: Thrown out 18 of 31 base runners

Pitching Stats: 1-0 with eight saves. In 22.1 innings: 32Ks, 0.63 ERA.

Amherst Record: 17-8.

Time to throw from home to second: 1.94 seconds.

Motto: A famous quote by Babe Ruth: "It’s hard to beat a person that never gives up."

First time he played baseball: Age 4.

"I was hitting a baseball over my house off a tee with my dad," Mott said. "They tried to get me to do everything left handed. Everyone else in my family is left handed, but I couldn't do it.

He put the bat in my right hand. First swing, I took. I sailed it over the house.

"It’s higher than one side than the other. Hit it over. ... I was so young I don’t really remember. That’s pretty much how it all started."

Age he started playing on a 9-year-old travel team: Age 7.

"I played with them until they were 12 and I was 10. Then I started playing with kids my own age after that." 

Earliest memory of playing: Playing t-ball.

"We used to get stars on our hats every time we hit a home run. My hat filled up before the season was over. We started to have to put pins on the Ziploc bag I kept in my baseball bag.

Favorite part of being a catcher: Throwing base runners out at second.

"I like catching and sticking it there for the umpire. I don't like when kids catch it way outside and bring it all the way back. I like just catching it and holding it there."

Best baseball memory: Caba World Series and winning it all with his Northern Ohio Baseball Club with local players like Keystone's Tyler Gullet, Walsh Jesuit's Kyle Holdsworth and St. Ignatius' Nick Fabian.

"It's one of the biggest world series in the country and it was hosted in Cleveland. We won the whole thing. I got a huge ring and I pitched the championship game."

Difference he feels between catching and pitching:  The physicality.

"Catching is a lot more physical on your body. It’s a complete different throw. It’s different on your arm every time. When you catch you have a different arm angle then you would when you pitch.

"Me catching the whole game and then closing the game at the end is totally different. Most people can’t do it and I don’t know how I can do it.

"I’m pretty beat after the game, but I like the pressure. I’m just that type of person people put me in a pressure situation I don’t think I’m going to back down from it and be scared."

College: Bowling Green to study Criminal Justice.

"Then once I’m done going to try to get in with the DEA (Drug Enforcement Administration)."

Life goals: Play four years of college baseball.

"It’d be awesome if I could move onto the next level with the MLB for baseball. I just want to get through college." 

Past honors: 2013 First-team All Southwestern Conference, 2013 Second-team All-Lorain County

What people should understand about him:  

"If someone just saw me playing, they probably wouldn't think anything of me because i’m so small. but I think I present myself much better than most people would assume I do." 

What he heard about being an undersized catcher: Too small. Not big enough. Doesn't weigh enough. Never going to make it in the catcher position.

"I've proved them all wrong."

Contact high school sports reporter Stephanie Kuzydym by email (skuzydym@cleveland.com) or on Twitter (@stephkuzy). Or log in and leave a message in the comments section below.

The Indians fell to 6-13 on the road after a 5-4 loss to the Blue Jays on Tuesday.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Indians played the Toronto Blue Jays in the opener of a three-game series Tuesday. Here is a capsule look from The Plain Dealer reporter Dennis Manoloff:

Game: 39.

Opponent: Blue Jays.

Location: Rogers Centre, Toronto.

Time of day: Night.

Time elapsed: 2 hours, 29 minutes.

Result: Blue Jays 5, Indians 4.

Records: Blue Jays 20-20, Indians 18-21.

GPS required: The Indians are 6-13 on the road.

Bigger welt: Some defeats sting more than others. The Indians lost to a then-sub-.500 team despite having their ace, Justin Masterson, on the mound. Masterson entered on a two-start winning streak and with excellent career numbers against Toronto.

And the Indians lost despite scoring four runs. They slipped to 14-5 when scoring four or more.

Scoreboard watch: Cleveland trails the first-place Detroit Tigers by seven games in the AL Central. The Tigers, shut out for seven innings in Baltimore by former Indian Ubaldo Jimenez, rallied for four runs with two outs in the ninth against closer Tommy Hunter for a 4-1 victory. They are 23-12.  

Since realignment in 1994, a divisional deficit of seven or more games at any point in the season has proven to be difficult to overcome. (Cleveland's largest deficit this season is 7 1/2, most recently on the morning of May 8).

Controversial no-call: With the Indians trailing, 5-4, cleanup batter Carlos Santana led off the eighth inning with a single against lefty Brett Cecil. Santana moved to second on a passed ball. (At this point, Indians manager Terry Francona left himself open to second-guessing by not pinch-running for Santana.)

After Asdrubal Cabrera and David Murphy struck out, Yan Gomes singled sharply to left.

Santana, who had a sizable secondary lead, appeared to be in excellent shape to score as left fielder Melky Cabrera scooped the ball at medium depth. However, The Melk Man threw a seed to catcher Josh Thole, who applied the tag on Santana's leg a split-second before the foot touched the plate. Umpire Jordan Baker emphatically signaled out.

If only it were that simple.

Replays confirmed that Baker had gotten the call correct -- but it didn't mean Baker had done his job well. What he missed was Thole straddling the plate as the throw was on its way. This season, in an effort to eliminate violent collisions at the plate, Major League Baseball instructed umpires to make sure catchers give runners a path, or lane, to the plate before they receive the ball. Otherwise, an out call could be reversed.

Santana is not fleet afoot, and he approached from a wide angle. Regardless, he should have been granted a path to the plate other than through the catcher.

According to Northeast Ohio Media Group's legendary Indians beat reporter Paul Hoynes, "Francona came out to ask plate umpire Jordan Baker if Thole blocked the plate, but the umpires did not initiate a review.'' (Francona couldn't force Baker and his crew to did so; his challenge only could concern the tag.)

Why Baker and his crew refused to initiate a review is a mystery, and it smacks of arrogance. Multiple replays showed that, until less than 10 feet remained of the ball's journey from Cabrera, Thole was straddling the plate -- with Baker directly behind Thole. If anybody should have known immediately that Thole was in violation of the  new rule, it was Baker.

Yet no initiation. If the rule isn't at least going to be tested here, why even have it?

Hoynes reported that Santana, asked whether Thole gave him a path to the plate, said: "Maybe yes, maybe no.''

Why Santana wasn't fuming after the play or after the game is a mystery. His postgame comments focused on Cabrera's throw and Gomes's bat being in his path. Yes, Cabrera made a superb one-hop throw. Yes, Gomes's bat was in Santana's path. But those realities have nothing to do with the fact that Thole pulled one over on Baker and his colleagues.

SportsTime Ohio play-by-play man Matt Underwood calmly and sternly said, repeatedly, that Thole had not provided a lane for Santana. Underwood spelled out how the new rule came to be. Underwood said that, in Thole's defense, the throw took him across the plate -- but whether it was intentional or unintentional didn't matter.

Underwood summed up the entire situation perfectly by saying: "If you're asking the runners essentially to slide almost all the time now, then if you don't give them a lane, there has to be consequences for that. We're not going to run you over anymore, but if you don't give us a lane, there needs to be consequences for you, which is: OK, you're going to be called safe then.''

SportsTime Ohio studio analyst Jason Stanford, a former MLB player, articulated similar points in STO's postgame show.

Underwood and Stanford never blamed the Tribe's loss on the possible Thole plate block. Correctly so: The Indians did not lose because of it. But the play absolutely deserved to receive the attention it got.

Two games in one: Against righty Masterson's first 27 pitches, the Blue Jays were 0-for-9. The average of three pitches per out took him through three perfect innings.

Against Masterson's next 49 pitches, the Blue Jays were 6-for-12 with three walks, one sacrifice fly, five RBI and five runs. He averaged seven pitches per out, exiting after 5 1/3.

Masterson's final line -- 5 1/3 IP, 6 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 3 BB, 4 K -- could have been worse. Lefty reliever Josh Outman inherited runners on first and second and stranded them.

Masterson's 76-pitch performance was his shortest non-injury start, by count, since April 17, 2012, at Seattle (3 2/3 IP, 7 H, 8 R, 71 pitches).

A nemesis re-emerging: Last year, Masterson got a handle on what had been a significant problem: left-handed batters. He held them to a .248 average and .698 OPS en route to a highly productive season (14-10, 3.45 ERA, 193 IP).

In Masterson's eight starts entering Tuesday, lefties were hitting .305 with a .798 OPS. In his ninth start, Blue Jays lefties Jose Reyes, Cabrera, Adam Lind, Juan Francisco and Thole were 0-for-5 the first time through the order but closed 4-for-6 -- all four of the hits for extra bases -- with two walks.

Reyes led off the fourth by slashing a 1-2 sinker down and away into left-center for a triple. The next batter, Cabrera, socked a first-pitch sinker deep to center, where Michael Bourn ran it down at the track. Masterson made it too easy for The Melk Man, whose sacrifice fly tied the score, 1-1.

With one out in the fifth, Francisco crushed a 1-0 flat sinker for a homer to give the Blue Jays a 2-1 lead. The ball rattled around in the upper tank in right-center. It was just the fourth homer allowed by Masterson.

Cabrera led off the sixth with a five-pitch walk. Cabrera has been one of the American League's best hitters and enjoys facing Masterson, but Masterson needed to do a better job of at least tempting him to swing.

After an infield single by righty Jose Bautista, Lind stepped in. Lind took a ball, then drove an 85-mph pitch on the outer half for a two-run double to left-center.

As in the case of the Reyes triple, the pitch qualifies as decent because it was (relatively) down and away. But both pitches featured tailing action onto the swing plane, which makes the outer half considerably more manageable when a hitter faces the opposite hand.

Masterson struck out righty Edwin Encarnacion. But Francisco jumped on a first-pitch flat sinker on the inner half and ripped it into the right-field corner for an RBI double and 5-1 advantage. Francisco effectively ambushed Masterson.

Francisco and Lind obviously were determined not to spot Masterson anything, having done their damage in a combined five pitches. Masterson helped them by throwing pitches without much movement and with too much swing room.  

Slip-sliding: One of the reasons Masterson contained lefties last year was a filthy slider that dived under the hands. This season, Masterson's slider has featured more of a Frisbee effect, thereby staying more on plane. While such sliders can continue to work against righties, lefties aren't as threatened because they can see them better. Masterson needs the diving slider to return in order to enhance his ability to stop lefties.

Another issue for Masterson is that his four-seam velocity continues to be down.

Despite not having his best stuff for most of his nine starts, Masterson is 2-2 with a respectable American League ERA of 4.31. Regardless, the Indians need their staff ace to be much better.  

Two games in one, part two: Blue Jays knuckleballer R.A. Dickey's first 90 pitches carried him through six innings. He gave up one run on three hits.

Dickey's next 12 pitches resulted in a single, error, walk and hit-by-pitch. He exited in favor of lefty Aaron Loup without retiring a batter in the seventh.

Loup allowed two of the inherited runners to score. It meant that Dickey's final line read 6 IP, 4 H, 4 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 6 K.

Dickey is known for his hard knuckleball, which he used for the majority of his pitches against the Indians. But he spotted low-80s "fastballs'' and, more importantly, threw some wicked changeups to lefties. Santana (twice) and Bourn struck out swinging against the change piece, which ran hard off the plate away.  

Slow going: Here are the pitch speeds, according to the readings shown on SportsTime Ohio, of the outs recorded by Dickey:

First inning -- 76 mph (FO-7); 74 (K); 77 (PO-4).

Second -- 73 (K); 78 (FO-8); 79 (FO-7).

Third -- 80 (GO 6-3); 83 (GO-3); 73 (FO-8).

Fourth -- 77 (K); 75 (PO-4); 81 (K).

Fifth -- 80 (GO 4-3); 78 (GO 6-3); 73 (K).

Sixth -- 78 (GO 4-3); 79 (K); 71 (FO-8).

Not very Smooth: Indians left fielder Michael Brantley went 0-for-4, ending his hitting streak at 11 games. Brantley normally feasts on any type of pitching in the Rogers Centre.

Brantley did not agree with Baker's zone on several occasions.

With two outs and Lonnie Chisenhall on second in the seventh, Brantley sent a liner up the middle against Loup. Shortstop Reyes, shaded that way, easily made the catch. The Blue Jays remained in front, 5-4.

If Josh Gordon is suspended for a year, it will give him plenty of time to consider if he wants to continue making millions catching a ball, or open a Colorado pot shop with Davone Bess.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The NFL and the Browns have yet to confirm reports that receiver Josh Gordon faces league banishment after testing positive for marijuana.   Gordon's agent has denied the reports.

Don't expect Gordon to be traded to the Doobie Brothers or the state of Colorado for a John Denver "Rocky Mountain High" 8 track and Hunter S. Thompson book to be named later.  Owner Jimmy Haslam  told 500 fans at a Pro Football Hall of Fame luncheon event that the team's "counting on Josh being a good football player for the Browns for a long time to come."

The best fans can hope for is that maybe Haslam, Farmer and Gordon's agent know something that ESPN doesn't.    That maybe the drug test results come with an asterisk and the one year suspension isn't automatic.

What is known is that the NFL's punishments for rule violations routinely fail the equity test.     Players such as Ray Lewis, Ray Rice, Ben Roethlisberger and owner Jim Irsay, have committed or been involved  in far worse offenses than Gordon, and received less punishment.      Given the fact that marijuana is not considered a performance enhancing drug  and is now being legalized in states, the NFL needs to reexamine their pot prohibition or at the very least, the severity of penalties for testing positive.

The inequity and obsolescence of NFL rules and punishment does not excuse Gordon's off field behavior that's been destructive to himself, his team and loyal fans.   He has known what the rules are, fair or not, and the consequences  for violating them.   Haslam is correct in saying we've all done stupid stuff in our twenties.  But if confirmed, this isn't Gordon's  first, or even second known violation with so much at stake.     Out in in the real world, people pay sin taxes on beer and smokes they buy to watch millionaires play on Sundays, before they go back to work on Monday in the factories and offices of companies that employed them only after they passed a drug test.

Jimmy Haslam was certainly well intentioned when he made his recent supportive comments about Josh Gordon and his struggles.    But I fear his declaring that they're counting on Gordon being a Brown for a long time to come, is unintentionally enabling to someone with Gordon's pot haze mindset.

I've never gotten high on marijuana.  So maybe I'm missing something.  Maybe the buzz from a drag on a joint really is worth throwing away a multi-million dollar, record breaking NFL career.    But I'm taking an educated guess that it's not.

If Josh Gordon is suspended for a year, it will give him plenty of time  to consider if he wants to continue making millions catching a ball, or open a Colorado pot shop with Davone Bess.    Hopefully the deep threat receiver will do his deep thinking about his future prospects with a mind that's clear, not high.

The Redskins rejected the Browns offer of a fourth-round pick for Redskins backup quarterback Kirk Cousins, according to Jason LaCanfora of CBS Sports.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Browns apparently tried to trade for Redskins backup quarterback Kirk Cousins during the draft afterall.

They offered Washington a fourth-round pick for Robert Griffin III's understudy, but the Redskins balked, according to Jason LaCanfora of CBS Sports.

Redskins general manager Bruce Allen "absolutely'' would've made the deal had the Browns offered a second-round pick, according to former Redskins tight end Chris Cooley of WTEM-AM in Washington D.C.

Cousins, a third-year pro, would have been reunited with Browns offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan, who coached him in Washington the past two seasons and thinks highly of him.

Shortly after being hired, Shanahan told 92.3 The Fan, "I think Kirk's a hell of a player. " ... He had some good moments, and he had some moments I think he'll learn from, but I think Kirk did a good job for us and really was a good backup player for us out there."

Cousins' lone victory in four starts came against the Browns in 2012, a 38-21 decision in Cleveland when Griffin III was sidelined with a knee injury.

Presumably, Cousins would've been acquired as a backup to Brian Hoyer or their draft choice, which turned out to be Johnny Manziel.

Former Browns LB Scott Fujita knows what it's like to be a Browns fan.

CLEVELAND, Ohio - Former Cleveland Browns linebacker Scott Fujita admits he was not a big fan of the NFL Draft.

Fujita writes on Fox Sports about the so-called hypocrisy of a system that allows the worst team to get the best player, and that best player does not have a say so on where he will land (until he becomes a free agent).

But Fujita was sucked into the hype of this draft.

The reason for my sudden change of heart? The Cleveland Browns.
 

Fujita adds how Jimmy Haslam sounds committed to creating long-term stability, and you couldn't help but think the perpetual dysfunction and organizational overhauls that had plagued the Browns for so long had ended. But then reports of an FBI/IRS probe regarding Haslam's family business sounded awfully messy, creating a new sense of uncertainty around the team. This issue remains unresolved.

Each of these organizational facelifts are the kinds of things that may happen to a club every 5-10 years, if ever, writes Fujita.

More Browns and NFL news

Extending Joe Haden is good on several levels (Cleveland.com).

Owner Jimmy Haslam expects Josh Gordon to remain with the Browns for years (Cleveland.com).

The Browns are saying the right things about Johnny Manziel (Cleveland.com).

Undrafted free agents can boost a roster (Cleveland.com).

Tight end Jordan Cameron hires a new agent (Ohio.com).

Browns prayers rest on Johnny Football and Jimmy Haslam (CantonRep.com).

The Pittsburgh Steelers uphold their philosophy in the draft (Post-Gazette).

The Baltimore Ravens make the grade following the draft (Baltimore Sun).

Michael Sam should take a page out of Tim Tebow's book (Yahoo.com).

New NFL drug policy would reduce marijuana punishments (CBSSports.com).

"I am used to coaches coming out for every one of my spring practices," Waller said. "All I can do is try to perform the best that I can to show the coaches what they want to see."

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Tom Herman is going to be a busy man Thursday. 

He'll be trying to find Ohio State a quarterback from California. 

Not only is the Buckeyes' offensive coordinator scheduled to watch Sheriron Jones Jr. of Moreno Valley (Calif.) Rancho Verde, Herman will also drop in on three-star quarterback Travis Waller of Anaheim (Calif.) Servite. 

Neither of them have an offer from the Buckeyes. 

Both hope that'll change Thursday. 

"It's really exciting because I never really imagined Ohio State would come out to see me because I am pretty sure they don't usually set out to see Southern California quarterbacks," Waller told Cleveland.com in a phone interview. "I just want to make sure I stay focused and have a good day." 

Ohio State is in an interesting situation after missing on four-star quarterback Brandon Wimbush, who committed to Penn State last week. 

Though the Buckeyes are still hoping to land four-star quarterback Torrance Gibson of Plantation (Fla.) American Heritage, they can't afford to wait until he takes all five of his official visits in the fall before announcing in November or December. 

So coach Urban Meyer and Herman are evaluating more quarterback options. And because Ohio State won't offer a quarterback without seeing them throw - whether that's during spring practice or while hosting summer instructional camps - Herman is hitting the road to sunny California. 

The Buckeyes will likely take two quarterbacks in the 2015 class, but that doesn't mean they'll be lax with their quarterback offers. Ohio State probably won't offer Waller and Jones, so they're competing with each other, even if they don't know it. 

"I am used to coaches coming out for every one of my spring practices," Waller said. "All I can do is try to perform the best that I can to show the coaches what they want to see." 

Rated by Rivals.com the No. 16 dual-threat quarterback in the 2015 recruiting class, Waller said he has been in regular contact with Meyer and Herman. When on the phone with Meyer this week, Waller said Meyer told him he's impressed with his film and is excited about his future. 

Waller is even more excited to see Ohio State getting seriously involved in his recruitment. 

Though the 6-foot-2, 195-pounder has scholarship offers from Arizona, BYU, California, Mississippi, Northwestern, Penn State, Vanderbilt, Washington and others, he's hoping to add a powerhouse like Ohio State to his list.

What if the Buckeyes offer?

"It would definitely mean a lot," Waller said. "They are easily one of the top programs. If they were to offer, that would be great. They'd be right at the top."

But first it's time for Waller to do his part - perform. He already has the relationships with Ohio State down. 

"I think it's one of the best relationships I have with all the coaches I talk to," Waller said. "I talk to them almost every day. I talk to Coach Meyer about every other day. Things are just going really good right now. 

"Now it is going to be really good when I see Coach Herman. I just have to show out, be patient and don't get too hyped up. It is a big-time program coming out to see me throw, so I just have to stay relaxed and just do me." 

Peter Knab is a high school baseball announcer for Benedictine baseball.

CLEVELAND, Ohio – Peter Knab knew one thing for certain. He wanted to be a broadcaster.

He never asked for an audio recorder. Never even thought of asking for it for his 16th birthday, but there it was, a present from his dad.

Since then, Knab hasn’t stopped.

He’s recorded sound bite after sound bite.

“From Nobby Ballpark on the campus of Case Western Reserve …”

“The three-two pitch …”

“A fantastic diving stop by the left fielder …”

“A called third strike. I’m not sure if that was a strike. Honestly I don’t think that was a strike. I’m not sure on what planet that is a strike.”

Peter Knab is a 17-year-old student at Benedictine who calls baseball games. Nobody’s asked him to call the games, yet most games he sits in his wheelchair behind the backstop fence, recorder in his right hand, baseball lineup in his left.

The batter can hear him. The pitcher can hear him. The umpires can definitely hear him. So can the coaches and the fans.

He calls each pitch, a real Bengals’ play-by-play guy. And all he’s hoping for is to call one that goes yard, call it just like his favorite play-by-play man, Indians’ announcer Tom Hamilton.

“Deep right field, awaaay back. Gone!”

The problem is that Benedictine plays at Nobby Ballpark at Case Western, a college-size field for the high school baseball team. The Bengals did hit two home runs this season, but both of them were at away games, which Knab doesn’t travel to.

Decked out in a Benedictine hat and a Benedictine hockey shirt with his name on the back (he plays sled hockey), Knab watched as his classmate Collin Pecoraro pitched from the mound.

“The two-two pitch,” Knab said in a normal tone. The pitch was delivered and his voice boomed, “Strike three called.”

The next batter walked up and a few pitches in, Knab was back to his Hamtilon calls with a “juuust a bit outside.”

After the game, Pecoraro will be one of Knab’s biggest supporters, but the thought passes that maybe the junior doesn’t want his every move verbalized. If so, Pecoraro never lets it show.

The inning ended and Knab begins to talk about prom the night before and a new internship he landed with the Indians where he’ll spend the summer conducting fan surveys.

“Not a bad first job if you ask me,” he said. “I get to spend the summer around the Cleveland Indians organization and its fans.”

He hopes too that maybe in a hallway, he’ll get to meet the Voice of the Indians.

The next inning started. All conversation stopped. A pitch cannot be missed.

“The payoff pitch, swung on and missed. Strike three.”

That’s their favorite. The boys on the baseball team say they actually love that Knab comes to their games. Pecoraro said during school Knab will ask when he's going to hit that home run.

Pecoraro said: "I said, 'I don't know Pete.' And he'll go, 'Yeah because I need to say, 'Deep drive to left field.'

"I'm like, 'I got you man. I got you.'"

Unanimously they agree, their favorite call is when he calls the “payoff pitch.”

It isn’t Knab’s favorite call. His favorite comes at the end of the ball game, in which he hopes, with a Benedictine winning score, he can also shout ‘Ballgame.’

That’s right, just like Hamilton.

Knab didn’t know that many people listened to what he was doing. Of course, he goes back through the tape and dissects it for mistakes and tone emphasis.

He’s not perfect. He’ll admit that openly. At points, he gets the score mixed up or the number of outs.

Knab even said, “My biggest thing I need to work on is when the ball comes off the bat. I have trouble keeping an eye on where the ball is going. If I was up higher, if I could describe the flight of the ball …”

His voice trailed off. Then in a youthful tone he added, “I’ll just do what I can.”

It’d probably help if he had a table to sit at to help keep a play-by-play and a higher perch so he could actually see. The black fence he sat behind didn’t make his viewing options the easiest.

Knab does this, though, to learn. He doesn’t want dead air.

When a player’s parent offers him a bottle of water in the middle of an inning, it’s clear the Benedictine fans don’t want dead air either.

“Hey, quit messing with the radio announcer,” the fan said, laughing.

Fans like John Szuch, whose son Jonathan plays for Benedictine, enjoy hearing Knab’s play-by-play.

“He gets a kick out of it,” Szuch said. “It’s nice. Everyone seems to enjoy it.”

Said Mary Keiper, mother of Bengals junior Ben: “(Peter’s) a fun kid. Very inspirational. He loves to take photos too. He’s very supportive.”

Knab knows he has more to learn about how to call the game, how to change his tone in certain moments. Those moments, like most play-by-play announcers, are what he sits through monotonous innings for.

“I love how baseball can change dramatically,” he said. “It can change at any moment. A team can get a hit and I’ll be pretty calm or tranquil but then someone picks up that runner — it’s so exhilarating.”

It’s how his voice goes nearing the end of the game. He calls back-to-back third-call strikes and he’s a bit excited but when the final batter comes up to the plate, he calms his tone.

Then the final out is put away and he yells what he’s been waiting to shout for multiple innings.

“BALLGAME!”

Just like Hamilton.

After the game, Benedictine coach Brian Sliwinski will pat him on the back, rib him about how much Knab threw Coach Slew under the bus. Knab does have one question that he couldn’t seem to get answered during the game. Why was Pecoraro taken out after two innings? The coach and the analyst talk privately.

Fans of Benedictine and the away team place their hand on Knab’s back when they tell him good job. The opposing coach even comes over and congratulates him.

Western Reserve Academy is up to play a game on the field after. One of their coaches remembers hearing Knab call a game between Bene and WRA: “Nice job broadcasting. I listed to you when you called our game. You did a nice job.”

By now, Knab’s Zoom H1 recorder and his Sony headphones are tucked away, ready for the next game.

People talk about what this means to Knab, to learn now and prepare himself for a future.

Said Bengals parent Fritz Keiper: “He’s Benedictine’s Tom Hamilton.”

For right now, for this season, that’s enough. Benedictine’s ballplayers are hoping to knock one over the fence for Knab so he can finally make that home run call.

Knab knows one more thing for certain now. He does his best to model his calls after Hamilton, but nobody can do that perfectly.

Knab is hoping that one day, maybe this summer, he’ll be able to put a handshake to the voice from his beloved Indians’ games.

Now that would be a ballgame.

Carlos Santanta, representing the tying run, gets thrown out at the plate with two out in the eighth inning.

TORONTO, Ont. -- The knuckleball is not only hard to hit, it's unpredictable.

For six innings Tuesday night at the Rogers Centre, R.A. Dickey and the knuckler looked like a sure thing. The Indians couldn't hit it, while Dickey and the Blue Jays built a 5-1 lead. Then things turned, well, unpredictable.

The Indians still lost, 5-4, but they added a touch of drama to what otherwise would have been a dull defeat.

Dickey (4-3, 4.53) started the seventh with a four-run lead, but didn't retire a batter. Just like that the Indians were back in the game and if left fielder Melky Cabrera didn't throw out Carlos Santana at the plate they still might be playing.

Asrdrubal Cabrera opened the seventh with a single, and David Murphy reached on Brett Lawrie's error at second. Yan Gomes walked to load the bases and Dickey hit Lonnie Chisenhall with a pitch to make it 5-2. Lefty Aaron Loop relieved and retired Mike Aviles on a fly ball to right that was too shallow to score Cabrera.

Michael Bourn followed with a single to make it 5-3 and Nick Swisher added a sacrifice fly to right to make it a one-run game at 5-4.

With the chance to tie or take the lead, Michael Brantley lined out to short. A furious Brantley slammed his bat to the turf as he walked toward left field.

Santana, in a 9-for-63 hole, opened the eighth with a single. He took second on a passed ball, but lefty Brett Cecil retired Cabrera and Murphy. Gomes, however, lined a single to left. Santana made a nice turn at third, but Cabrera's throw to catcher Josh Thole cut him down at the plate to end the inning.

Before the game Francona was talking about MLB's plans to clarify the rules regarding home plate collisions and what catchers can and when it comes to blocking the plate.

"I thought the ball was going to hit Carlos," said Franona. "I think Carlos was more having to dodge the bat than anything. I think the throw took Thole toward it there."

As for why he went to the plate to talk to Baker, Francona said, "I just wanted to make sure that he got it right. There's no reason to not ask."

While Francona talked to Baker, he got the high sign from his dugout that replays showed Santana was out.

"The bat was in the middle (of the baseline)," said Santana. "I couldn't try to slide inside or outside the line and do a slap tag because the bat was in the middle."

Asked if Thole gave him a path to the plate, Santana said, "Maybe yes, maybe no. Cabrera made a great throw. I tried to be safe. It was a big time in the game and a big play. Next time I'll try to do better." 

Justin Masterson (2-2, 4.31) and Dickey pitched like they had late dinner reservations in the early innings. Masterson retired nine straight with his two-seam sinking fastball, while Dickey opened with seven straight outs.

The Indians, who beat Dickey twice last year, stopped the parade of outs in the third. Aviles singled to center with two out. Bourn walked. Swisher lined a single to right that dropped just before Jose Bautista could make a sliding catch for a 1-0 lead.

First-base umpire Jerry Meals ruled Bautista trapped the ball. Toronto manager John Gibbons talked to Meals, but didn't ask for a review. Replays showed the ball skipping into Bautista's glove.

The easy outs stopped for Masterson in the fourth. After he knocked down Jose Reyes with an inside pitch, Reyes dusted himself off and hit a triple to the fence in left center. Cabrera, who came into the game hitting .556 (15-for-27) against Masterson, tied the game with a sacrifice fly.

Masterson retired the next two batters, but the spell was broken.

Juan Francisco put the Jays ahead, 2-1, with a long homer into the second deck in right center field with one out in the fifth. Lawrie followed with a single, but Masterson ended the inning without further damage.

The Jays made it 5-1 in the sixth. Adam Lind hit a two-run double to left center after Masterson walked Cabrera and gave up an infield single to Bautista to start the inning. Masterson struck out Edwin Encarnacion, but Francisco got him again as he made Swisher skip-rope at first base with a double to score Lind.

Masterson was done for the night as Josh Outman relieved. Masterson allowed five earned runs, matching a season high, on six hits in 5 1/3 innings. He struck out four and walked three.

"It came down to them making some adjustments and I didn't combat them very well," said Masterson. "I should have mixed it up a little more, kept them on their toes a little."

Four of the six hits Masterson allowed were by lefties, who came into the game hitting .305 against him.

It was just the Indians fourth loss in their last 11 games.

One encouraging thing was a scoreless seventh inning by John Axford, who was taken out of the closer's job Saturday. Axford, back home in Canada, retired the top of the Rays' lineup in order.

"If I could sum it up in one word, I was relaxed," said Axford. "It wasn't because of the situation, it was because I was forcing myself to make sure I was relaxed. I had fallen into that habit before and I'd get a little stiff out there in my delivery and start rolling forward."

Watch Sports Insider today at 11:30 a.m. as our crew will talk Indians, Cavaliers and Browns.

Watch Sports Insider at 11:30 a.m.

Watch Sports Insider today at 11:30 a.m. as our crew will talk Indians and Browns.

Cleveland.com's Glenn Moore and Chris Fedor will be talking Tribe, Browns and Cavaliers. Can the Indians turn it around? Who will be the next Cavaliers head coach? Will Johnny Manziel start the season opener for the Browns?

Click play to watch live at 11:30 a.m. If you only hear audio, click on “best” and choose a lower quality stream. Click here to watch on a mobile device. Post your questions and remarks in the comments section below.

About the show: Sports Insider airs live every Thursday at 11:30 a.m. Co-hosted by cleveland.com's Glenn Moore and Chris Fedor, the show features a timely and lively discussion of the biggest sports topics of the day and gives readers a chance to interact directly with sportswriters, columnists and pro athletes.

Viewers have to the opportunity to ask questions and post comments in a live chat room during the show. They can also email their video questions during the week.

Fans who miss the live show can watch the archive, available a short time later. 

The Cleveland Indians played their best game of the season last night in Toronto, beating the Blue Jays, 15-4.

CLEVELAND, Ohio – The Cleveland Indians played their best game of the season last night in Toronto, beating the Blue Jays, 15-4.

The Tribe scored 15 runs on 22 hits. Two players (David Murphy and Lonnie Chisenhall) had five-hit nights. Carlos Santana hit another home run, his fifth of the season. Pitcher Corey Kluber struck out nine Blue Jays' batters. And everyone in the starting lineup recorded a hit except for Nick Swisher.

It was a memorable, exciting night, and one that probably won't be duplicated for a while. In a season that has been disappointing so far, it's exactly what the team and the fans needed. People shared their excitement on social media as the Indians were hammering the Blue Jays.