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More than 4,000 stories covering over 1,000 athletes since 2009!

WRITTEN BY VAN WILLIAMS

Murphy scores biggest victory of pro career at UFC Newark

August 3, 2019

Lauren Murphy

Eagle River's Lauren Murphy won the biggest fight of her professional career with a third-round TKO of Italy's Mara Romero Borella in a fight between top-20 contenders at UFC Newark in New Jersey.

The 36-year-old veteran fighter improved her career record to 11-4, with eight wins coming by knockout.

Saville makes second start in World Junior Summer Showcase

August 2, 2019

Isaiah Saville

Isaiah Saville of Anchorage earned plenty of ice time for Team USA at the World Junior Summer Showcase in Plymouth, Michigan.

The 18-year-old started games against Sweden and Finland during the week-long camp in preparation for the 2020 International Ice Hockey Federation World Junior Championship.

Saville, of West High fame, turned aside 19 shots in a 4-2 win over Sweden. He started well against Finland but things didn't end that way in a 6-5 loss.

Connelly wins bronze at Skyrunning Championships in Italy

Michael Connelly of Chugiak is a world championship bronze medalist.

Representing Team USA, Connelly, 17, placed third in the Vertical Kilometer event at the International Skyrunning Federation Youth World Championships in Fonte Cerreto, Italy.

Michael Connelly

Connelly posted a time of 42 minutes, 22 seconds, trailing only runners from Andorra and Spain in the Youth A Division for 16- and 17-year-olds.

Gavin Block, 17, of Palmer placed 19th among 32 participants in 48:25.

Bonck fans career-high 8, picks up 1st win in West Coast League

August 1, 2019

Nathan Bonck

Nathan Bonck of Ketchikan struck out a career-high eight batters on his way to securing his first win of the summer for the Port Angeles Lefties of the West Coast League.

The 6-foot-5 starting pitcher threw six innings to earn the winning decision in a 6-4 victory over the Bellingham Bells in Washington.

Clair DeGeorge

Anchorage's Clair DeGeorge will be the only Alaskan among the 107 players invited to the Team USA Women's National Festival that will take place this month at the Olympic Center in Lake Placid, New York.

The festival will be used to select players for the annual U18 and U22 three-game series against Canada. Both Team USA U18 and U22 squads will play a best-of-three series against Canada on Aug. 14-17.

Hebard strikes gold in Pan Am finals with Team USA 3×3 in Peru

July 31, 2019

Ruthy Hebard (far right)

Ruthy Hebard of Fairbanks racked up another piece of hoops hardware after helping the Team USA 3×3 women's team win a gold medal at the Pan-American Games in Peru.

The 3-time Gatorade Alaska Player of the Year is on the team with University of Oregon teammate Sabrina Ionescu and two players from the University of Connecticut.

Ostrander 4th, Updike 8th in steeplechase at USA Championships

July 29, 2019

Allie Ostrander

Kenai's Allie Ostrander didn't disappoint in her much-anticipated professional debut at the USA Track and Field Championships in De Moines, Iowa.

The 22-year-old former Boise State University runner finished fourth out of 14 in the women's 3,000-meter steeplechase.

Heun wins by TKO in Japan to earn 14th professional victory

July 28, 2019

Jake Heun

Palmer's Jake Heun used a devastating elbow blow to end in the third round his mixed martial arts fight with Russia's Vitaly Shemetov on the Rizin 17 fight card in Japan.

Six of Heun's 14 professional wins have come by knockout, but this one may have been the biggest as Shemetov hadn't lost a fight since 2010.

The light heavyweight and former University of Hawaii football player has won three of his last four fights and improved his career record to 14-9.

Heun, of Palmer High fame, is now 2-1 in the Japanese mixed martial arts organization created in 2015 by the former Pride Fighting organizers.

Whether it's soccer field or TV show, Lewis plays starring role

July 26, 2019

Aaliyah Lewis

Aaliyah Lewis of Anchorage is used to playing a starring role on the soccer field.

Now she's doing it on TV.

The 24-year-old actor has appeared in two different cable shows this year after quitting her job in marketing and moving to Atlanta (GA) to pursue her dream.

Lasher's 3-point stroke powers monster month in Australia

July 24, 2019

Colter Lasher

Anchorage's Colter Lasher has added a 3-point shot to his game in his second pro season with the Geraldton Buccaneers in Australia.

The former 1,500-point scorer from Houston Baptist University has always been a better post player than perimeter shooter, but that has changed of late.

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The Alaska Sports Blog is hosted by the Alaska Sports Hall of Fame and written by Van Williams, formerAnchorage Daily News sports editor. The goal of the blog is to bring positive attention to Alaskans making good in sports on the international, national and local levels and to provide a forum for public discussion.

We always welcome your input and story ideas!

Thanks,

Harlow

Harlow Robinson

Executive Director

Alaska Sports Hall of Fame

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