It took until the fourth full day of the 2025 College World Series for one of the defining traits of college baseball’s championship tournament to appear, but once it did, it had an impact.

Rain fell from the sky, lightning illuminated the Omaha, Nebraska cityscape and a CWS game entered a lengthy weather delay.

After the third inning of No. 6 LSU’s game against No. 15 UCLA on June 16, and with the Tigers holding a 5-3 lead, the field was cleared and the NCAA declared a weather delay, with lightning nearby and the greater Omaha area under a severe thunderstorm warning. 

It wasn’t a momentary pause, either. About three hours after the game was stopped, at 11:14 p.m. ET, the NCAA announced that the contest would resume on Tuesday, June 17.

It capped off an eventful Monday night at Charles Schwab Field. LSU and UCLA combined for seven runs in the first inning, with the Tigers fighting back from a 3-0 deficit to take a one-run lead before tacking on another run in the bottom of the third inning, shortly before the game was halted.

Here’s a closer look at the updated schedule for the 2025 College World Series after the LSU-UCLA postponement:

When will LSU vs UCLA College World Series game resume?

With rain and thunderstorms continuing on Monday night near Charles Schwab Field in Omaha, the NCAA announced that LSU and UCLA’s College World Series game will resume on Tuesday, June 17. The announcement came about three hours after the weather delay began.

First pitch is scheduled for 11 a.m. ET.

The contest will pick up where it left off, with the Tigers holding a 5-3 lead entering the top of the fourth inning.

Whoever loses the game will have a jam-packed Tuesday, as they’ll have to take part in an elimination game against No. 3 Arkansas later that day at 7 p.m. ET. 

The other previously scheduled game on Tuesday won’t be impacted by the LSU-UCLA delay, either, with No. 8 Oregon State and Louisville set to begin their elimination game at 2 p.m. ET.

College World Series Tuesday schedule

With the remainder of the LSU-UCLA game pushed back a day, here’s a look at the revised schedule for Tuesday, June 17 at the College World Series:

All times Eastern

• No. 6 LSU vs. No. 15 UCLA | 11 a.m. | TV TBD
• No. 8 Oregon State vs. Louisville | 2 p.m. | ESPN
• No. 3 Arkansas vs. LSU/UCLA loser | 7 p.m. | ESPN

NBA historians, fill up the inkwell and prepare your quill pens.

History is arriving as fast as Oklahoma City’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander fills up a box score.

A couple of teams from small markets are about to do something gigantic. Well, one of them anyway, as the NBA Finals shift back to Indianapolis.

Game 6 is Thursday, June 19, with the Oklahoma City Thunder leading the Indiana Pacers 3-2 in the best-of-seven series. And here’s what you need to know:

OKC is one victory from its first title since the franchise moved from Seattle in 2008. The Pacers are two victories from winning their first championship in franchise history. And before we disclose any championship parade route information, there are some questions to ponder.

Can Tyrese Haliburton and his injured right leg bounce back after a poor showing in Oklahoma City’s 120-109 victory over Indiana in Game 5 on Monday, June 16, in Oklahoma City?

If not, any chance Indiana Fever star Caitin Clark can suit up for the Pacers? (After all, the Fever and Pacers are owned by the same people, play in the same arena and, boy, the Pacers could use a few of those logo 3s if Haliburton is misfiring again.) If not, she’ll have to continue to serve as a good-luck charm.

Regardless of which team wins, city planners should have a dusty map of the parade route ready. After all, the Thunder made it to the NBA Finals in 2012 before losing to the Miami Heat, and the Pacers reached the Finals in 2000 before losing to the Los Angeles Lakers.

But enough about the teams. What about the fans?

The Thunder faithful were color coordinated in their white-and-blue T-shirts during Game 5 and belting out those spirited chants of “OKC!” Everybody, on three, “Awwwww.”

How long are we going to be able to tolerate the chants of “OKC!’’ All joking aside, suck it up, sports fans, because they’ve earned the right to chant as long as they want if they win Game 6 or Game 7.

“Unreal,’’ coach Mark Daigneault said about the Thunder’s home crowd after his team won Game 5. “They’ve been unreal forever, but they just put the wind at our back and we have to give the reason to.’’

Small-market teams do not lack zealous fans. The Pacers faithful at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis on Thursday night are at risk of vocal cord damage if that’s what it takes to propel their team to victory and force a deciding Game 7.

It’ll all be worth writing about, fellow historians, especially if you’re equipped with a quill pen.

(This story has been updated to add a new video).

There was no name-calling, finger-pointing or ugly accusations when the Boston Red Sox front office tried to explain why they traded their biggest star and face of the franchise a day earlier.

Yet, Red Sox president Sam Kennedy and Red Sox chief baseball officer Craig Breslow made it clear during their 40-minute call with reporters that there was one, and only one reason, why Rafael Devers was traded to the San Francisco Giants.

“In the end, I think it’s pretty clear that we couldn’t find alignment with Raffy,’ Kennedy said. “We all worked at it over the last several months, going back to the offseason. We worked at it. We had a different vision for him going forward than he had. And we couldn’t get there. We couldn’t find alignment.

“We reached an inflection point and made the decision to make a big move.’

Simply, once Devers refused to play the field even after first baseman Triston Casas underwent season-ending knee surgery in May, and third baseman Alex Bregman injured his right quad weeks later, the Red Sox knew they had to trade Devers.

Breslow said that Devers, 28, never formally demanded a trade, but his agents made it clear that it would be best for all parties for a fresh start elsewhere. That fresh start began when they informed Devers on the team plane that he was traded to the San Francisco Giants for pitchers Kyle Harrison, reliever Jordan Hicks, outfield prospect James Tibbs III and rookie pitcher Jose Bello. The Giants also agreed to assume the remainder of Devers’ $313.5 million contract – about $260 million.

Breslow acknowledged that the timing stunk considering the Red Sox just won five consecutive games and swept the Yankees, but pushed back on the idea that they are giving up on contending for a playoff berth this season. They opened the night with a 37-36 record, 6 ½ games behind the New York Yankees, just one-half game out of a wild card berth.

“This is no way signifies a waving of the white flag in 2025,’ Breslow said.

Breslow, even after losing one of the game’s finest sluggers, insists they may be a better team without Devers once the smoke clears.

“I understand why the initial reaction would be that it would be tough to sit here and say, ‘When you move a player of Raffy’s caliber, how could I sit here and say that we’re a better team?’’ Breslow said. “I acknowledge that on paper, we’re not going to have the same lineup that we did, but this isn’t about the game that is played on paper. This is about the game that is played on the field and ultimately about winning the most games that we can.

“I do think there’s a real chance that at the end of the season, we’re looking back and we’ve won more games than we otherwise would have.’

The Red Sox, who have won four World Series titles since 2004 – more than any team in baseball – believe that while they may be less talented, Devers’ behavior could bring down the entire team, particularly loaded with young players.

They were incensed originally this spring when Devers, the last remaining member of the Red Sox’s 2018 championship team, refused to switch positions when they signed free agent third baseman Alex Bregman to a three-year, $120 million contract. Devers kept insisting he was their third baseman, and when he finally relented, saying he’d be their DH, he was seething when the Red Sox asked him to return to the field after Casas’ season-ending injury.

“I know I’m a ballplayer, but at the same time,’ Devers said in May, “they can’t expect me to play every single position out there.’

The Red Sox tried to persuade him to change his mind, even with owner John Henry flying to Kansas City with Kennedy and Breslow to meet in person, but Devers refused to budge.

The Red Sox waited for Devers to relent, but he never did. They began engaging with other club, and after weeks of exchanging trade proposals with the Giants, decided it was a move they needed to make. Several GMs were puzzled why the Red Sox didn’t shop him, but Breslow defended the strategy, saying they had conversations with other teams to understand his value.

“We did have conversations with other clubs… ,’ Breslow said. “It’s not that this was the best deal that we could get, because the best deal that we could get may not necessarily be good enough to trade a player like Raffy Devers.

“But when you consider all the factors here, this is the one that made sense.’’

The Giants, whose first-base production is the fourth-worst in baseball, didn’t hesitate, getting a three-time 30-home run hitter who’s hitting .272 with a .401 on-base percentage, .504 slugging percentage with 15 homers and 58 RBI.

“We’re excited about adding one of the best hitters in all of major league baseball to our lineup,” Posey said in a conference call. “We’re obviously taking on a lot of dollars, but there’s a belief that adding a guy like this puts us in a good position keep winning ballgames, get into the playoffs and try to win a World Series, which is our ultimate goal.”

The Red Sox insist it’s still their goal, too, with Breslow saying they’re a more functional team now with more flexibility, and an environment that will permit their young players to thrive. They didn’t promise they’re going to go out and spend the money this winter on free agent outfielder Kyle Tucker or someone else. This doesn’t mean they’re going to use the money to keep Bregman after the season. They simply said they have a “more functional roster’ and will use the money to address future needs.

Still, no matter what transpires moving forward, the spotlight will be on Breslow. He’s the one in charge. He’s the one responsible for making sure the communication between the players and the front office is strong. And he certainly deserves the bulk of the blame for the relationship between Devers and the organization becoming fractured beyond repair.

“This is not the outcome that we had expected,’’ Breslow said, “and it’s forced me to reflect on the interactions that I’ve had, not just with Rafi, but with other players and opportunities to communicate differently. … I need to own things that I could have done better.

“I don’t know if this outcome would have played out any differently. I think that there’s a decent chance that it wouldn’t have, but I absolutely need to have the humility to think back on the interactions and figure out what I could have done better.’

Still, it’s not as if this is just an isolated case. The Red Sox traded away their biggest star before the 2020 season in future Hall of Famer Mookie Betts, believing they couldn’t sign him. They walked away from All-Star shortstop Xander Bogaerts after the 2022 season when he badly wanted to stay, and likely would have signed for at least $100 million less than the $280 million he eventually received from the San Diego Padres. And now, Devers is gone, too.

“We understand that many fans may be feeling disappointment … ‘ Kennedy said. “As Brez said, maybe we need to look back at things we could have handled better. But it’s definitely a two way street, and we didn’t get to the alignment that we needed in the best interest of the of the Boston Red Sox. So, so we made the decision that we made. …

“We did what we felt was in the best interest of the Red Sox, on and off the field, to win championships, and to continue to ferociously and relentlessly pursue a culture that we want everyone in in that clubhouse to embody.’’

While the Red Sox front office kept reiterating that it was a pure baseball trade, the honest truth is that it was a culture trade. They didn’t believe they could win another championship with Devers. They believed he was the wrong guy to be the centerpiece of the franchise. They didn’t think he would become a leader.

So, he is gone.

And becomes the latest sta to depart Boston.

“It’s ok, this sometimes happens in a long-term relationship,’’ Kennedy said. “We hopefully did the absolute best thing in the best interest of the Boston Red Sox, and in this case, in Rafael Devers. …We just didn’t have the same shared vision for roles in the best interest of the team on the field.’’

Time will tell whether it was a decision that will haunt the Red Sox for years like Betts, or if it was a move that will be instrumental to the club’s future.

For now, it’s an ugly divorce with no winners or losers, just a whole lot of pain.

Follow Nightengale on X: @Bnightengale

This was the first time in his postseason career that he was held without a single point in a first half.

It also marked the first time Indiana Pacers star point guard Tyrese Haliburton — who was slowed by a lower right leg injury, an issue that has lingered since the Eastern Conference finals — failed to make a single basket in an entire playoff game.

His four points matched a career playoff low.

If there was one revelation to come from Game 5 of the NBA Finals on Monday, June 16 — a 120-109 Oklahoma City victory that put the Thunder one win from a title — it’s that the Pacers, simply put, cannot win these NBA Finals if this is the Tyrese Haliburton that they are going to get.

The injury complicates matters further; Haliburton stumbled midway through the first quarter and immediately favored his right calf, the same leg he hurt in the previous round. Haliburton said he wasn’t sure if this injury was related to the previous round’s but acknowledged it was to the same area. Regardless, he insisted he will not miss time.

“It’s the Finals, man,” Haliburton said after the game. “I’ve worked my whole life to be here and I want to be out there to compete. Help my teammates any way I can.

“I was not great tonight by any means, but it’s not really a thought of mine to not play here. If I can walk, then I want to play. … Got to be ready to go for Game 6.”

Haliburton, more than any other player in this postseason, has shined in the clutch, bewildering opponents with his shot making and facilitating. Monday night, however, showed how deep and talented the Thunder are for Haliburton to be relegated a secondary player.

Thunder forward Jalen Williams dropped a playoff career-high 40 points on 14-of-25 shooting and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander — the NBA Most Valuable Player — coasted to 31 points and 10 assists. Backups Aaron Wiggins, Cason Wallace and Alex Caruso have continued to contribute.

The common thread with Haliburton’s issues are slow starts.

Injury aside, Haliburton has started games in the NBA Finals far too slowly — at least with his scoring. Through five games, he is averaging just 5.8 points in the first halves on 11-of-28 (39.3%) shooting.

Haliburton is a player who often defers to his teammates, passing up open looks to get others going. While the injury might have impacted Haliburton’s aggression in Game 5, his six shot attempts are also a career postseason low, after he had averaged 14.5 attempts per game over the previous four games in the Finals.

Granted, Haliburton has excelled in second halves, but it’s difficult at times — especially against a historically good defensive team — to find a rhythm late in games.

Monday night was a perfect example of the problems that arise when a player like Haliburton is forced to catch fire late in a game in which he had been quiet.

Thanks largely to the play of backup point guard T.J. McConnell and forward Pascal Siakam, the Pacers closed the deficit to two points with eight-and-a-half minutes left. Normally, that would be the time when Haliburton would take over.

In 9:00 in the fourth, however, Haliburton didn’t attempt a single shot, though he did convert a pair of free throws.

Turnovers are another problem. Haliburton led the NBA during the regular season in assist-to-turnover ratio (5.61), but has averaged four turnovers per game in the Finals. He committed three of Indiana’s 23 on Monday night.

The Thunder, to be clear, are a dominant defensive team. Haliburton often draws the toughest assignments, with Thunder stopper Lu Dort usually tasked with guarding Haliburton.

McConnell, who scored 13 of his 18 points Monday night in the third quarter, has been stellar in lifting Indiana when Haliburton has struggled to score. Backup forward Obi Toppin (12 points) has also provided a spark. Siakam has been Indiana’s best offensive player.

The problem for the Pacers is that Haliburton at times has been third- or fourth-best on the team.

The immediate concern now turns toward Haliburton’s potential availability for Game 6 on Thursday, June 19.

“He’s not at a hundred percent,” Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said after Game 5. “It’s pretty clear. But I don’t think he’s going to miss the next game. We were concerned at halftime, and he insisted on playing.

“I thought he made a lot of really good things happen in the second half. But he’s not a hundred percent — there’s a lot of guys in the series that aren’t.”

Carlisle added that the Pacers would “evaluate everything with Tyrese” and would continue to monitor him. With Indiana’s season hanging in the balance, however, it’s difficult seeing Haliburton sitting, barring some major setback.

But, even if he plays, Indiana won’t just merely need him to be on the floor; for the Pacers to have a shot to tie the series and set up a Game 7, they will need him to shine.

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The Stanley Cup will be in the building in Sunrise, Florida, for Game 6 on Tuesday, June 17, as the Florida Panthers try to wrap up a second consecutive NHL championship.

If the Edmonton Oilers win, the players, coaches and the trophy will make the trip to Alberta for winner-take-all Game 7.

Once the championship is determined and the players go through the handshake line, the presentation ceremonies begin. The Conn Smythe Trophy is first awarded to the MVP of the entire playoffs. Then the Stanley Cup is carried onto the ice to be officially awarded by NHL commissioner Gary Bettman. Players, one-by-one, celebrate on the ice by lifting and skating with the trophy.

Here’s what to know about the Stanley Cup:

How much does the Stanley Cup weigh?

The Stanley Cup weighs 34.5 pounds.

How tall is the Stanley Cup?

The Stanley Cup is 35.25 inches tall.

How old is the Stanley Cup?

The original bowl, which sits in the Hockey Hall of Fame, was donated in 1892 by Sir Frederick Arthur Stanley, Lord Stanley of Preston, to be presented to ‘the championship hockey club of the Dominion of Canada.’ The trophy has been given solely to NHL champions since 1926. Bands, engraved with the names of players and others from the winning team, have been added over the years to give the trophy its current look. Older engraved bands are retired to make room for new bands.

Who is presented the Stanley Cup?

Unlike most other major sports, where the championship trophy is handed to the team owner, the Stanley Cup is handed to the team captain, who gets to lift it first. One notable exception: Colorado Avalanche captain Joe Sakic accepted the Stanley Cup and handed it to star defenseman Ray Bourque for the first hoist.

Who is the Keeper of the Cup?

Phil Pritchard, the curator for the Hockey Hall of Fame, is known as the Keeper of the Cup. His social media handle is @keeperofthecup. He helps bring out the trophy for the presentation ceremony and is known for his white gloves.

Other Hall of Fame employees also travel with the Stanley Cup. The trophy is carried in a nondescript case.

Who gets to celebrate with the Stanley Cup?

Each member of the winning team gets a day with the trophy.