Kurek’s grand slam leads Hickory over Mid Atlantic

Cody Kurek hit a third-inning grand slam to lift Hickory past Middle Atlantic champion Marlton, NJ., 4-3, on Friday night in the Cal Ripken World Series in Aberdeen. Kurek also pitched all six innings for the win, giving up four hits, walking four and striking out 10. “I felt really good. Ten strikeouts is probably the most I’ve ever had before, and it felt good to pitch a complete game on opening night,” Kurek said. Kurek’s grand slam erased a1-0 deficit after Marlton took the lead in the top of the inning on back-to-back doubles. Marlton scored its other two runs in the fourth on two walks and a single from Jackson Edelman. Kurek retired the next seven batters to secure the win. Hickory’s next game is Sunday at 10 a.m. at Nationals Field against Southeast champion Atlantic Beach, Fla. Maryland state champion, Bel Air will play Saturday at 3 p.m. at Cal Sr.’s Yard against Southwest champion Florence, Ala. lotte Hounds (7-5) next Saturday night in the regular-season finale. Chesapeake trails the firstplace Lizards (8-4) by a half-game and leads the Ohio Machine (7-5) and Hounds by a half-game. Lizards midfielder Dave Lawson was suspended by MLL for one game Friday for his unsportsmanlike conduct personal foul during Thursday night’s game. MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER: With time running out before the transfer and trade window closes, D.C. United acquired Nigerian forward Kennedy Igboananike from the Chicago Fire for targeted allocation money and a 2019 third-round draft pick. In two seasons, Igboananike, 27, has 11 goals and four assists in 49 league appearances (38 starts). This year, after scoring four times in his first eight matches, he has gone scoreless in 10 straight for the league-worst Fire. LAUREL PARK: Riding for the third day at Laurel Park since returning from injury, jockey Sheldon Russell earned his first victory of the summer meet aboard Charles L. Biggs’ Two Charley’s in the first race Friday. Russell, 28, had been out since tearing his labrum and fracturing his shoulder in two places in a training accident in November before returning last Saturday at Laurel. He picked up his first win back with Moss Code on Thursday at Delaware Park. A six-time meet riding champion at Laurel and Pimlico Race Course and Maryland’s leading rider in 2011, Russell kept Two Charley’s in the clear on the outside in midpack before rallying down the center of the stretch to edge past even-money favorite The Great Ronaldo late and win by a length in 59.75 seconds for 5 furlongs over a fast main track. MINOR LEAGUE BASEBALL: The Bowie Baysox will open their 2017 season on the road, then play their first home game April 13 at 6:35 p.m. against the Harrisburg Senators. —