Sports Update Monday: Dolphins Draft, Heritage Rallies & Heat Look To Bounce Back
On this week’s Sports Update Monday, I will be giving you a weekly sports round-up. I will spotlight the major stories or events that happened last week in South Florida sports. (Pictured: Jessie Brown/Photo credit J. Patrick Rice)
Dolphins Draft Fills Needs But Will It Succeed?
There are various opinions on the Dolphins’ first draft under new general manager Dennis Hickey. Miami filled several needs such as right tackle with first-rounder Ja’Wuan James and guard with third-rounder Billy Turner. The Dolphins also added depth at several positions such as cornerback, wide receiver and linebacker. The Dolphins have been criticized for taking too many small-school players. Five of Miami’s eight selections game from non-Division I schools. Will all these players be able to make the jump to the NFL level? The Dolphins desperately need an immediate impact from their rookie class.
Heritage Softball Wins State Championship After Furious Rally
Down eight runs early, the Patriots got things together and rallied for an 11-10 victory over Belleville to win the Class 5A state championship at Dodgertown. The Patriots, who beat the Rattlers for their previous title three years ago, trailed 5-0 after the first inning and 8-0 after the second. Yet almost three hours after the game began, the Patriots were state champs. Heritage (25-6) came into the fourth down seven, but scored five runs to get back into the game. Melissa Rini had a bases-loaded single to score two runs before Sydney Grobman, Jessie Brown and D’kota Cassady also drove in runs. Down one coming into the seventh, the Patriots got a game-tying RBI double from Lauren Newmark before Jenna Goodrich’s suicide squeeze bunt scored pinch-runner Emily Rini from third with the game-winning run.
No Need To Panic After Heat’s First 2014 Playoff Loss
The Heat does not seem overly concerned that Brooklyn won here Saturday to make Miami’s second-round series lead 2-1, and why would it be overly concerned? The Heat has the earned arrogance of a championship pedigree, twofold. Resolve in place of panic, solutions in response to questions — that has been the DNA of the Big 3 era Heat. You don’t panic over one loss, a loss on the road, a loss on a night when your opponent enjoyed the aberration of a club-playoff-record 15 three-point baskets. You don’t panic over one loss when you are the reigning champ, and when you have the best player in the world no matter what the latest MVP vote said. You don’t panic. You just don’t. Especially because you have been here before.