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2 California hotels ranked among the 'best' in the U.S. by Tripadvisor

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 00:00:50 GMT

Comfortable beds, dining options and plenty of amenities are all factors to consider when searching for the perfect hotel for an upcoming trip.Luckily, for those planning a summer vacation, or staycation, in the Golden State, two hotels were named among the “best” hotels in the U.S. in the latest ranking from TripAdvisor. The list was compiled based on TripAdvisor user reviews and ratings over 12 months. The newest California theme park attractions to check out this summer Montage Laguna BeachThe hotel also offers kid-friendly activities such as, painting and scavenger hunts. (TripAdvisor) Located in Laguna Beach, the luxury seaside resort ranked seventh on the list. At the hotel, guests can enjoy a relaxing trip to the hotel spa, lay out by the pool during sunset, or shop at the nearby boutiques. (Tripadvisor) Located in Laguna Beach, the luxury seaside resort ranked seventh on the list. At the hotel,  guests can enjoy a relaxing trip to the hotel spa, lay out by the pool d...

CCS baseball playoffs: Branham wins classic pitcher’s duel, advances to D-III final

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 00:00:50 GMT

SANTA CLARA — Nolan Rodriguez broke up a classic pitcher’s duel when he doubled to right field in the bottom of the seventh to score Keaton Cooper from first base. The knock gave Branham a 2-1 win over Sacred Heart Prep in a Central Coast Section Division III semifinal game at Mission College.Branham (22-7) advances to play Carmel on Saturday for the CCS championship in a 4 p.m. start at Excite Ballpark.“I went up there just trying to go up the middle to get on base,” said Rodriguez, who also tripled and scored Branham’s first run in the third inning. “All that changed when I got a strike on a check swing and then looked at one down the middle. I didn’t like that. So then I swung and I was a little late, but it landed fair for a double. I was so lucky. And my boy Keaton was on base already and he made the best read I’ve ever seen in my life.”Branham’s Nolan Rodriguez (20) celebrates his triple against Sacred Heart Prep in t...

SF Giants’ bullpen steps up big time to blank Brewers, improve to .500

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 00:00:50 GMT

MILWAUKEE — The Giants said they planned to quickly flush their stinker of a series finale in Minnesota, and they kept their word Thursday, earning a 5-0 win in their first of four games against the Brewers.Winning for the eighth time in their past 10 games, it should come as no surprise that the bullpen played a major part. Wait, you say, that bullpen, the one that was third-worst in the majors over the first month of the season and had blown 12 leads this season? The Giants looked to them to take down a full game for the second time this week and, continuing a string of strong performance, did it immaculately.Even the best bullpen games can resemble a puzzle missing some of its pieces, but the Giants (25-25) put together a stained glass masterpiece to even their record back to .500. Manager Gabe Kapler mixed and matched six arms, who combined to blank the Brewers for nine innings — San Francisco’s fourth shutout of the season.Scott Alexander opened with a 1-2-3 first, and Gi...

4 of wealthiest US counties are in Bay Area: study

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 00:00:50 GMT

(KRON) -- It's no secret that the Bay Area is one of the most expensive places to live in the entire United States. A recent study by SmartAsset shows four of the five wealthiest counties in the country are in the Bay Area -- further showing the high cost of living in the Northern California region. SmartAsset: 10 Wealthies Counties in U.S.Rank/CountyMedian IncomeInvestment IncomeMedian Home ValueOverall Wealth Index1. San Mateo County, CA$136,837$149,818$1,495,191100.002. San Francisco, CA$126,187$134,035$1,272,79596.913. Santa Clara County, CA$140,258$90,292$1,468,20693.544. Marin County, CA$131,008$142,305$1,428,57891.685. Nantucket, MA$116,571$96,756$2,439,42888.026. New York County, NY$93,956$240,895$1,174,53080.907. Teton County, WY$94,498$437,754$1,624,08776.318. Falls Church City, VA$155,071$46,711$957,07572.899. Alameda County, CA$112,017$38,318$1,067,82372.0710. Dukes County, MA$77,392$70,387$1,379,57668.61SmartAsset used a county's "overall wealth index" in its rankings ...

A's rookie on pace to break decades-old record

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 00:00:50 GMT

(KRON) -- Oakland A's rookie center fielder Esteury Ruiz has been a bright spot in a dark season for the team's fan base. Ruiz has shown off elite speed and solid contact skills manning the leadoff spot in 2023. He had 26 stolen bases after Wednesday night's game, putting him on pace for an accomplishment that has not been achieved in 35 years. Billy Hamilton (different from the current speedster with the same name) set the rookie record for stolen bases in 1889 when he swiped 111 bags for the Kansas City Cowboys of the American Association. The team folded the next season, and Hamilton was shipped to the Philadelphia Phillies, where he played the next six seasons of his Hall of Fame career. A’s, Nevada legislative leadership reach tentative agreement for new ballpark In 1985, St. Louis Cardinals rookie Vince Coleman came within one stolen base of tying Hamilton's record. Since that season, Kenny Lofton has the most steals for a rookie with 66 in 1992. Enter Ruiz. The speedy cen...

Conforto goes 4 for 4 with a homer, Giants use six pitchers to blank Brewers 5-0

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 00:00:50 GMT

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Michael Conforto went 4 for 4 with a homer, and six San Francisco pitchers combined on a four-hitter as the Giants beat the Milwaukee Brewers 5-0 on Thursday night.In a designed bullpen game, Scott Alexander, Taylor Rogers, Jakob Junis (3-2), Sean Manaea, Tyler Rogers and John Brebbia teamed up to strike out 13 and walk two.Conforto reached on each of his five plate appearances with three singles, a solo homer and a walk. LaMonte Wade Jr. went 3 for 5 with an RBI and Casey Schmitt was 2 of 4 with two RBIs and two runs scored.The Giants’ triumph spoiled the return of Brewers starter Julio Teheran, who allowed only one run over five innings in his first major league appearance since April 2021, with the Detroit Tigers.Teheran, an All-Star selection with the Atlanta Braves in 2014 and 2016, had been pitching for the San Diego Padres’ Triple-A affiliate in El Paso, Texas. He opted out of the minor league contract with the Padres and agreed to terms with the Brewers on T...

Loudoun Co. middle school students host ‘fight clubs’ with help from parents

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 00:00:50 GMT

A fight among students at Loudoun County, Virginia’s, Lunsford Middle School led administrators to the alarming discovery of elaborate fight clubs, some involving betting and tournament-style brackets, according to the school’s principal.In a message to parents, Lunsford Principal Carrie Simms said many parents were aware of their child’s participation in the fight clubs and hosted bouts in their garages or basements.The fights spilled over to the hallways and bathrooms of Lunsford, Simms said, leading administrators to discover social media activity that revealed more information about the fight clubs.“We cannot tell you how to parent, but when your children create TikToks and Instagram pages using Lunsford’s name and then attempt to hold these fights in our hallways and bathrooms, we will take action,” Simms said in her message.The fighting prompted a “reset” last Friday morning. Students were not allowed 20 minutes of free time to w...

Faedo fans a career-best 10, helping Tigers to a 7-2 win over White Sox

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 00:00:50 GMT

DETROIT (AP) — Alex Faedo struck out a career-high 10 batters in six innings and the Detroit Tigers beat the Chicago White Sox 7-2 on Thursday night.Faedo (1-2) has 22 strikeouts and one walk in four starts this season. The 27-year-old right-hander allowed two runs on three hits against the White Sox.“He was incredible,” Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said. “He had a good fastball, a good slider and he mixed in some changeups late. He got into a lot of chase counts and attacked guys.”Faedo, who started the season in Triple-A, won for the second time in 16 career starts.“This felt really good,” he said. “That’s the best slider I’ve had since I’ve been back up here and (Eric) Haase did a great job of calling pitches.”Lucas Giolito (3-4) matched a career-high with seven walks and was tagged for four runs in 3 2/3 innings. He allowed six hits, including a home run, and struck out four. He was also called for two pitch-clock violations.In all, the White Sox walked 11 hitters...

Riley, d’Arnaud lead Braves to 8-5 win over Phillies in rematch of 2022 playoffs

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 00:00:50 GMT

ATLANTA (AP) — Austin Riley hit a pair of monstrous homers and pinch-hitter Travis d’Arnaud came through with a tiebreaking, two-run single in the eighth inning that carried the Atlanta Braves to an 8-5 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies on Thursday night. D’Arnaud, sent up for slumping Michael Harris II with the bases loaded, lined a one-out single to left field off Gregory Soto (1-4). Matt Olson added a sacrifice fly.In the first meeting between the NL East rivals since the Phillies’ upset victory in the 2022 divisional round, both teams displayed plenty of power to open a four-game series.Bryce Harper hit a mammoth homer for the Phillies, and Alec Bohm connected on a two-run shot. Marcell Ozuna went deep for the Braves, who became the first team in nearly four years to hit three homers off Aaron Nola.There was no doubt about either of Riley’s long balls — both carried to nearly the same spot way up in the left-field seats. A two-run shot in the first m...

Isaac Wilson, brother of Jets QB Zach Wilson, commits to play at Utah

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 00:00:50 GMT

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Isaac Wilson is taking his sibling rivalry to the college football field.Wilson, the younger brother of New York Jets quarterback Zach Wilson, has committed to play the same position at Utah — an in-state rival of his big bro’s BYU program. The four-star quarterback out of Corner Canyon High School in Draper, Utah, announced his intention Wednesday to play for the Utes. Lisa Wilson, his mother, posted several pictures of Isaac in Utah gear on her Instagram Stories on Wednesday night.Mike Wilson, the father of Isaac and Zach, has direct ties to Utah — he played defensive line for the Utes from 1993-94.Isaac Wilson threw for 3,774 yards and 40 touchdowns in 14 games last season as a senior. He also ran for 695 yards and five TDs. Zach Wilson threw 56 TD passes in 30 games over three seasons at BYU before being the No. 2 overall pick in the 2021 NFL draft by the Jets. He mostly struggled in his first two professional seasons and is slated to be the backup to...