It was a full day of winners’ bracket action in the Little League World Series on Monday, Aug. 18.

Every team that took the field in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, sported at least one victory in the 2025 tournament, and those teams squared off during a slate of four games.

The action on Day 6 began with Venezuela, representing the Latin America region, blanking Japan 4-0 in an International bracket game. The second International game featured the same 4-0 scoreline with Chinese Taipei (Asia-Pacific region) beating Aruba (Caribbean region).

In the U.S. bracket, the Mountain region team from Nevada needed an extra frame to beat South Carolina (Southeast region) 1-0 in seven innings. And in the nightcap, a close game early became a huge rout late as Connecticut (Metro region) poured it on to beat South Dakota (Midwest region) 13-1.

The losers of Monday’s games will now come back and play on Tuesday, Aug. 19, while the winners get a day off before their next games.

Little League World Series Day 6 scores

• Game 21 (International): Venezuela (Latin America) 4, Japan 0
• Game 22 (U.S.): Nevada (Mountain) 1, South Carolina (Southeast) 0
• Game 23 (International): Chinese Taipei (Asia-Pacific) 4, Aruba (Caribbean) 0
• Game 24 (U.S.): Connecticut (Metro) 13, South Dakota (Midwest) 1

FINAL: Connecticut 13, South Dakota 1

Luca Pellegrini threw a two-hitter and struck out six, giving up just an unearned run in six innings, while the Connecticut bats turned a 1-0 deficit into a 13-1 rout in the final three innings to remain undefeated in the 2025 tournament. South Dakota took an 1-0 lead in the first inning and held it through three innings before the Fairfield National LL bats came to life with runs in the fourth, fifth and sixth innings. Tommy D’Amura went 2-for-3 with a triple and three RBIs, and Jimmy Taxiltaridis went 2-for-2 with a double and two RBIs to lead Connecticut.

Connecticut turns close game into huge rout

Connecticut ballooned its lead to 13-1 over South Dakota in the top of the sixth inning, using seven singles, a double and five walks. South Dakota recorded the first out of the inning before Fairfield National LL loaded the bases. Tommy D’Amura then drove in two runs with single to right, while Jimmy Taxiltaridis followed up with an RBI single to center.

Things didn’t get any easier for South Dakota after that. Dante Madera and Ben Herbst each hit RBI singles before Boden Dunlap plated two more with a double to right to make it 10-1. The 11th run scored on a bases-loaded walk, and Charlie McCullough plated run No. 12 with a line drive to right before another bases-loaded walk brough home the 13th run. South Dakota used a total of four pitchers in the inning before finally getting the final out

Pellegrini stays under pitch limit

It’s been tough for South Dakota to get through Connecticut starter Luca Pellegrini. If they could just force him out of the game via the pitch count, maybe they’d stand a better chance of winning this game. However, the fifth inning did not go exactly to plan for South Dakota.

Yes, they had two hitters reach base via walks, but Pellegrini is still eight pitches under the limit, meaning he’ll be able to return to the mound for the sixth inning. South Dakota is down to their final three outs as we head to the sixth inning. Connecticut leads 3-1.

Colin Curley’s double doubles Connecticut’s lead

Nursing a one-run lead, Connecticut’s Colin Curley thought his team could use a little more. Curley laced a two-out shot down the left field line, driving in Ben Herbst and extending Connecticut’s lead to two runs. While Curley would not come around to score, a two-run lead in what has primarily been a pitcher’s duel could wind up being the difference maker in this game. South Dakota heads to the plate with six outs to spare and two runs to make up.

Tony D’Amura ties game with a triple

Despite a tremendous effort from Bohde Larson in center field, laying out to try to make the catch, the ball found the ground. The outstretch Larson had a tough time getting up as well, allowing D’Amura to reach third with a triple.

The hit scored Logan Gryga from second base, tying this game up. Immediately afterwards, Jimmy Taxiltaridis would smoke a hard grounder to third. South Dakota third baseman Devin Aukes could not make the play, allowing D’Amura to score the go-ahead run.

South Dakota gets ahead early

The bottom of the first inning was filled with close calls that nearly ended the inning for Connecticut. With two outs, a close play at first nearly ended the inning, but instead, both the ball squirted away from first, allowing runners to advance.

That was followed up with a laser shot to center field from Kenson Henderson, just out of the reach of the diving center fielder, Dante Madera. That scored the first run of the game and put runners at second and third for Landon Vavruska. Although Vavruska would strike out looking on a full count, the damage had been done. South Dakota heads into the second inning up 1-0.

FINAL: Taipei 4, Aruba 0

A tremendous pitching effort from Taipei’s staff practically sealed the deal in this game. All in all, Taipei would record 13 strikeouts, meaning only five outs came from batted balls. It’s tough to score runs when your team doesn’t make contact and Aruba learned that the hard way.

Aruba ended the day with just three hits, which isn’t bad when considering that Taipei only recorded four hits. However, the big difference were the walks. Taipei tallied five walked in the first 3.1 innings alone, while Aruba could only muster two walks all day.

Taipei’s win will match them up with Venezuela for a journey to the international championship match on the line. Aruba, meanwhile, will take on Canada in a win-or-go-home contest tomorrow.

Taipei doubles their lead again

After being held scoreless in the third, Chinese Taipei made sure to tack on two runs in the fourth, courtesy of a single from Lai Yu-Han.

Despite two runs already coming across this inning, there remains only one out with a runner on first for Jian Zih-De.

Taipei pitcher has eight strikeouts through three innings

In the previous game, both starters had double-digit strikeouts. However, their impressive numbers might get blown out of the water if Taipei pitcher Liu Wei-Heng keeps this up. Through three innings, Wei-Heng has struck out eight batters, while surrendering only two hits.

Wei-Heng is also on pace to finish the game at 84 pitches as well, which would be under the pitch limit. While 16 strikeouts would not be the record − 22 by Taipei’s Chin-Mu Hsu, 1971 − it would certainly be a statement figure that should scare every other team in the international bracket.

Taipei extends lead in second

After a strategic run in the first, Taipei leaned on raw power to score their second. With only one out, Chen Shi-Hong lifted a high fly ball to deep left field. The ball was misplayed by the left fielder Emerson Mercado, allowing Shi-Hong to coast into second with a double, and scoring Jian Zih-De.

Delayed steal winds up scoring for Taipei

With runners at first and second and only one out, Taipei made a bold move, having Tsai Yu-Ge steal third on a delay. The throw was close, but Yu-Ge’s leg just barely got in before the tag.

Aruba pitcher Jayderick Wederfoor would end up striking out the batter, but the final strike would get by the catcher, allowing Yu-Ge to score. Without that delayed steal, Taipei would still be tied, but instead, they head to the bottom of the first up 1-0.

FINAL: Nevada 1, South Carolina 0

Nevada knew they needed to outlast Giulietti to give themselves the best chance to win. Finally, in the seventh inning, after Giulietti was forced out, Nevada didn’t just pick up their first hit, they picked up their second and the game-winning run.

With two outs and a runner in scoring position, Cutter Ricafort smacked a single to right field. The ball was misplayed by right fielder Ryder Tillitz, allowing Griffin Vargas to score from second. After six no-hit innings, South Carolina comes up heartbreakingly short, falling 1-0.

Nevada’s next game will be Wednesday, August 20, against the winner of the other U.S. game happening today. Meanwhile, South Carolina moves to the loser’s bracket and will face Hawaii tomorrow.

D’Ambrosio clutches up

After South Carolina bunted the ghost runner over to third to start the top of the seventh, D’Ambrosio faced the tall task of trying to hold that runner. He did just that, striking out both Brody Miller and Ryder Tillitz to end the inning.

D’Ambrosio’s excitement was evident, as he bounced off the mound, shouting the whole way to the dugout. Nevada needs just one run to take this game home. In fact, two sacrifice bunts could win Nevada the game without recording a single hit. Wouldn’t that be something?

We’re headed to extras

Giulietti had just 11 pitches to work with in order to push this game to extra innings. After falling behind 3-1 to the first batter of the inning, Giulietti bounced back to strike out two of the three hitters he faced and was never forced out of the game, meaning we are heading to extras for the first time in the 2025 LLWS.

Giulietti unfortunately may not earn the win despite throwing a no-hitter, but his effort will not go unnoticed. Regardless, this game just became that much more important for South Carolina as a loss would force the team to play several games in the loser’s bracket before Giulietti can return to the mound on Saturday.

D’Ambrosio avoids trouble

With Gallegos out, Luke D’Ambrosio needed to shut the door to give his team a shot at winning before heading into extras. With two outs, South Carolina reached base via an infield single and a walk, putting the go-ahead run in scoring position. D’Ambrosio came through though, striking out Brady Westbrooks to return his team to the dugout with a chance to win.

Obviously, it will be tough to score right now for Nevada. South Carolina pitcher Joe Giulietti still has 11 pitches to work with and has only allowed one baserunner, via a walk. However, if Nevada can waste a few pitches and force Giulietti out, perhaps they’ll gain the advantage they’ve been searching for all game.

Gallegos out, D’Ambrosio in for Nevada

After five and one-third stellar innings for Gallegos, Nevada is swapping pitchers, opting for Luke D’Ambrosio instead.

Gallegos did well to limit this South Carolina squad, tossing 58 of 85 pitches for strikes, and holding the Southeast reps to just five hits and one walk while striking out 12. The game remains scoreless, but Gallegos will be unavailable to pitch until Saturday, which might not be a big issue if Nevada wins here, but a loss in this game could be a big problem as Nevada would be forced to trudge through the loser’s bracket without their ace.

No-hitter still alive for South Carolina’s Joe Giulietti

Giulietti can thank his shortstop, Preston Ware, from not panicking after initially muffing a ball hit to him. Ware calmly gathered the ball and threw to first to beat the runner. No-hit is still alive and Giulietti picked up his 10th strikeout – so now both starting pitchers have over 10 strikeouts in the game. Still scoreless after five innings.

Have a day, Garrett Gallegos

South Carolina has peppered Gallegos for five hits, but none of them have turned into runs yet. Conversely, Gallegos is stopping South Carolina with strikeouts (12 to be exact). We are scoreless after the top of the fifth inning.

Still scoreless between South Carolina and Nevada

South Carolina and Nevada have put together one of the best games of the Little League World Series this year. Through four innings, we are scoreless in large part due to both starting pitchers. Nevada’s Garrett Gallegos has scattered four hits, allowed one walk but more importantly has 10 strikeouts to keep South Carolina off the scoreboard. Meanwhile, South Carolina’s Joe Giulietti has matched that performance with four shutout innings and has allowed only one walk and has struck out nine Nevada batters.

We officially have a pitcher’s duel between South Carolina and Nevada

We’ve seen very few baserunners so far today. South Carolina’s Joe Giulietti has faced seven batters and has four strikeouts. Nevada’s Garrett Gallegos has faced nine batters and has four strikeouts. We are scoreless after two innings.

Scoreless after one inning

Nevada’s Garrett Gallegos and South Carolina’s Joe Giulietti each faced four batters in the first inning. Giulietti had to throw 26 pitches though compared to Gallegos’ 16 pitches. No score after one inning.

South Carolina vs Nevada up next in the LLWS

South Carolina (1-0), which defeated last year’s LLWS champion in the Southeast Region, plays its second game in Williamsport while Nevada (2-0) is one of two 2-0 teams.

FINAL: Venezuela 4, Japan 0

Juan Reyes’ unofficial nickname? How about the ‘shutout king’. The Venezuela ace labored through a 26-pitch bottom of the sixth inning but Japan still wasn’t able to score on him despite getting a runner in scoring position. He finished with a complete game three-hitter with nine strikeouts, including three in the bottom of the sixth inning. Venezuela makes some Little League World Series history by becoming only the sixth team to have shutouts in its first three games in the LLWS, according to ESPN. South Dakota in 2021 was the last team to have three consecutive shutouts to start their LLWS journey. That year, South Dakota finished in fourth place. Now, Venezuela stays in the winner’s bracket and moves on to Wednesday’s 1 p.m. ET game against Chinese Taipei/Aruba winner. Meanwhile, Japan drops into the loser’s bracket and will face Mexico at 1 p.m. ET Tuesday in an elimination game.

Venezuela’s Juan Reyes making a case for best pitcher in the LLWS

Reyes has thrown 11 shutout innings so far in Williamsport. He had a complete game four-hitter with nine strikeouts in a 5-0 victory versus Puerto Rico on Wednesday, August 13. He’s blanked Japan for five more shutout innings so far while only giving up two hits but he’s got six strikeouts.

Japan’s Ryusei Hayaski cruises through the fifth inning

Hayaski is keeping Japan’s chances alive by tossing his second 1-2-3 inning. Overall, he’s recorded nine outs (came on in relief in the third) on only 18 pitches. Reminder, the winner of this winner’s bracket game would only need one more win (Wednesday, August 20 at 1 p.m. ET) to make it to the Little League World Series International Championship game on Saturday, August 23 at 12:30 p.m. ET

Venezuela’s Juan Reyes showing why he’s an ace

Reyes has tossed four shutout innings for Venezuela so far today. He’s allowed two hits and one walk but has struck out five batters as his country leads 4-0 after four innings.

Japan’s Ryusei Hayashi slows down Venezuela

Hayashi, who came on in relief in the third inning, tosses a three-pitch inning in the fourth (pop out, pop out and groundout) to keep Venezuela off the bases for the first time today.

Juan Reyes is in a groove for Venezuela

Reyes get a 1-2-3 inning via a strikeout, a fly out and another strikeout and he’s retired eight batters in a row. It is still 4-0 Venezuela after three innings.

Venezuela adds to lead

Venezuela forced Japan to go to its third pitcher of the game and the runs kept coming. Juan Reyes’ RBI-single and Jesus Gomez’s sacrifice fly pushed the lead to 4-0 after the top of the third inning.

Japan goes to its third pitcher of the game

Japan’s manager must have seen something he didn’t like with the way Itsuki Masuyama was throwing because he only faced two batters before being lifted. Masuyama (five pitches) is available on Tuesday, if Japan loses.

Itsuki Masuyama is the new pitcher for Japan

Starter Tensei Yazawa went two and one-third innings before Masuyama took over. If Japan loses, Yazawa (37 pitches) wouldn’t be eligbile to pitch Tuesday. If Japan wins, Yazawa could return to the mound on Wednesday.

Sebastian Lopez with the web gem, Juan Reyes has 6-pitch inning

Reyes got the first two batters to swing on the first pitch, both ended in outs. The second out was a web gem by Lopez, the starting centerfielder. He reached up into the air while backpedaling to make a fantastic catch. Lopez then strikes out the final batter in the bottom of the second inning.

Venezuela can’t capitalize on wild pitch

Venezuela gets its fourth and fifth hit to start the top of the second inning and then a wild pitch by Japan’s Tensei Yazama put two runners in scoring position with one out. However, Yazama got a fly out to end the threat.

Japan has one-out threat

Japan got runners to first and second with one out but Venezuela’s catcher handle a high chopper in front of the plate with ease to get the second out and Juan Reyes struck out the final batter to end the bottom of the first inning.

Venezuela strikes first

Venezuela loads the bases with three straight singles and then gets two runs on a fielder’s choice play followed by a throwing error to first base.

Venezuela vs Japan starts Monday’s LLWS action on ESPN

Two undefeated international teams begin Monday’s games from Williamsport, Pennsylvania. It will be Venezuela (2-0) facing Japan (1-0) at 1 p.m. ET on ESPN.

What time does Little League World Series start today?

The first game on Monday, Aug. 18 starts at 1 p.m. ET with the final game starting at 7 p.m. ET. All games take place in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, in either Howard J. Lamade Stadium or Little League Volunteer Stadium.

Little League World Series Day 6 schedule

Monday, Aug. 18

All times Eastern

• Game 21 (International): Venezuela (Latin America) vs. Japan, 1 p.m. | ESPN
• Game 22 (U.S.): South Carolina (Southeast) vs. Nevada (Mountain), 3 p.m. | ESPN
• Game 23 (International): Chinese Taipei (Asia-Pacific) vs. Aruba (Caribbean), 5 p.m. | ESPN
• Game 24 (U.S.): Connecticut (Metro) vs. South Dakota (Midwest), 7 p.m. | ESPN

Little League World Series 2025: TV, time and how to watch

The Little League World Series began Wednesday, Aug. 13 and concludes on Sunday, Aug. 24. Games will be presented across ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN Deportes and ESPN+. Viewers can also watch with Fubo, which offers a free trial for new users.

• Times: Coverage begins at 1 p.m. ET
• TV: ESPN
• Streaming: ESPN+, Fubo

Watch 2025 Little League World Series in Fubo

Little League World Series Day 5 results

Sunday, Aug. 17

• Game 17 (U.S.): Washington 3, Massachusetts 2
• Game 18 (International): Canada 12, Australia 0
• Game 19 (U.S.): Hawaii 9, Illinois 1
• Game 20 (International): Mexico 2, Panama 1

Little League World Series Day 4 results

Saturday, Aug. 16

• Game 13 (International): Australia 5, Czechia 3
• Game 14 (U.S.): Massachusetts 7, Texas 3
• Game 15 (International): Mexico 11, Puerto Rico 5
• Game 16 (U.S.): Illinois 3, Pennsylvania 2

Little League World Series Day 3 results

Friday, Aug. 15

• Game 9 (International): Venezuela 4, Canada 0
• Game 10 (U.S.): Nevada 5, Washington 3
• Game 11 (International): Aruba 8, Panama 2
• Game 12 (U.S.): Connecticut 5, Hawaii 1

Little League World Series Day 2 results

Thursday, Aug. 14

• Game 5 (International): Japan 12, Czechia 0
• Game 6 (U.S.): South Carolina 13, Massachusetts 0
• Game 7 (International): Chinese Taipei 3, Mexico 0
• Game 8: (U.S.): South Dakota 2, Pennsylvania 0

Little League World Series Day 1 results

Wednesday, Aug. 13

• Game 1 (International): Venezuela 5, Puerto Rico 0
• Game 2 (U.S.): Nevada 16, Illinois 1
• Game 3 (International): Panama 7, Australia 2
• Game 4 (U.S.): Connecticut 1, Texas 0

Mo Vaughn doesn’t allow himself to drive his son home from baseball games.

It’s because he hears his own father’s voice.

“I know what it is to have that parent that’s just constantly leaning on you,” the Boston Red Sox icon says. He chuckles.

“I’m walking out of 1995 when I’m hitting .300, running for the MVP, and he’s still lecturing me,’ he tells USA TODAY Sports. “And I just promised myself I wasn’t gonna do that to my son.

“I would sit in the clubhouse because I would take an 0-for-4. I just didn’t want to go through that conversation with him.”

So much about the major leagues is fresh in his mind – the good, the bad, the painful. At one point, like his left-handed moon shots bound for the Fenway Park seats, his career seemed to be hurtling toward the Hall of Fame.

Then it was curtailed by injury-plagued stints with the Angels and Mets. He had a distaste for baseball until he became a baseball dad to his son, Lee.

He now had a reason to think about how much he loved and missed the game.

“All the things I’ve done, the trials and tribulations, the ups and downs and things that happened, all those thoughts and things about the past fell off,” he says.

Since 2017, he has run Vaughn Sports Academy out of Boca Raton, Florida. About 100 youth teams, stretching up to New Jersey, play under its umbrella.

He coaches Lee, 13, as well as the varsity at a local high school (Olympic Heights).

On Aug. 17, Vaughn, 57, will also be a coach at the Perfect Game All-American Classic (8 p.m. ET, PerfectGame.TV). It’s a showcase of some of the country’s best prep players at San Diego’s Petco Park.

“I’ve had so many people put their mouth on me from college,” he says. “Everybody’s always telling you what you can’t do. The minor leagues telling you what you can’t do. The major leagues are telling you what you can’t do. And sometimes people don’t even have the credentials to make those decisions.

“I look up and I say, man, thank God I ran into one or two guys that really helped me get on the path and be successful. … I know how it feels to struggle, but I also know how to fix it, too.”

Here are his hard rules for success for young athletes:

Being a sports parent starts with putting yourself in position to be ‘productive,’ especially after a game

Vaughn can still see those steps at Edison Field, as the Angels’ home ballpark was known in 1999. It was his first game after signing a six-year, $80 million deal with the Angels. He chased a foul ball toward the first base dugout and tumbled down them, damaging his ankle and knee.

“I’m the guy that never wanted to hang on too long,” he says. “I never wanted to go out as someone said, ‘Man, this guy played too long. He should have left.’ When I knew I couldn’t be Mo Vaughn anymore, it was time to go and it was a tough decision.

“I fell in the dugout after I left the Red Sox. That hurt, too. All of a sudden, five years later, I was out of the game. And that hurt, too.”

He played his last big-league game at 35.  

“I never retired. I walked out,” Vaughn says. “I was going to get the hell away from baseball.”

He ran a trucking company. He got into the affordable real estate business and was highly successful.

“People talk about, ‘What do you do in retirement?’” he says. “Man, we don’t know what the hell we’re doing. All we knew is what we wanted to be. So I had no answers.”

All athletic careers come to an end at some point. But we carry the intensity of them, especially if you’ve won an American League MVP.

It’s why Lee rides with his mother, Gail, after her husband is done coaching the team.

“I need to cool down,” Mo Vaughn says. “When we lose, I don’t want to be talking to him about the game. At certain times, I gotta wait, give myself 24 hours, so I can be productive in his path moving forward.”

COACH STEVE: Tips for the postgame car ride. (Hint: Don’t be like Andre Agassi’s dad)

Be present when your kids play, but when you get home, put out a ‘soft landing pad’

Leroy and Shirley Vaughn, who were schoolteachers, were at all of their son’s baseball, football and basketball games, even when Mo attended a boarding high school in upstate New York.

“Having him around, I think about it now, you’ll get involved with some young people and they’ll tell you, ‘Yeah, my parents had to work, they can’t come to the game.’ And I was so lucky,’ he says.

“I think it was important for me and helped me. Now, the whole football coach mentality, I’m not so sure that helped me, but just him being there and showing up … I think having that father-son connection, it’s a great thing.”

Leroy had an imposing frame – 6-3, 220 pounds – that followed Vaughn like shadow. He had been a football coach at a high school in Norwalk, Connecticut, where Vaughn grew up.

When we become parents, we embrace the positive things our moms or dads did for us, but we are allowed to make adjustments.

“My son, what makes my relationship with him successful is that I do actually realize how hard it is to hit a baseball,” he says. “Listen, my dad meant well. My dad always thought that he was helping me, but in the game of baseball, you gotta give people time and the ability to be in a place that when you start talking and making adjustments and doing things that they are fully open to what happened so they receive the information in the right way.”

Vaughn’s parents were around in Boston, New York and California, too, when he became a professional.

We love to look into the stands and see our parents, no matter how old we are. But there’s also a moment when they need to hold back. We feel their support from their presence alone.

“Give space, give time, realize that, ‘Do you think this kid wanted to strike out with the bases loaded and lose the game?’” Vaughn says. “Absolutely not. They already know. You don’t have to reiterate it. You don’t have to make them feel worse.

“Home should be an environment of positivity. You shouldn’t have your son or your daughter playing softball, coming home feeling like, ‘I can’t be myself because I didn’t have a good day today. I didn’t have a good game, or I didn’t get any hits, or I made an error.’ Don’t provide that. Provide a soft landing pad. The game is hard enough as it is.”

‘You don’t have to do this’: We put ourselves out there for our kids’ sports careers, but we also need to adjust with them

When Grace – Vaughn and Gail’s oldest child – took a heavy interest in tennis, the family relocated to Florida, where she could train with a world-class coach. But with the move, Vaughn learned an important lesson about parenting: We have to be able to pull back.

“I used to ask her, ‘Do you want to do this?’” he recalls. “I don’t ever want my kids to feel the pressure they gotta live up to me and I tell them all the time: I’ve already played, I’ve already had my time. I played as well as I could for as long as I can. You are my kids. You don’t have to do this.’

“But you always gotta ask those questions because you never know.”

He found out she didn’t want the everyday grind of becoming an elite athlete. She stopped playing tennis and is now in her third year at Barry University in Miami, studying sports management.

 We get to know our kids better when we allow ourselves to understand what they want.

“We’re trying to figure out what are the right words, what are the right buttons,” Vaughn says. “There’s certain ways I gotta talk to my daughter to get the best out of her. There are certain ways I gotta talk to my son to get the best out of him. We’re constantly playing like this shell game of what those words are as a parent.

“If you think that’s hard, then you shouldn’t be a parent, because that’s what we’re here to do is figure out what makes our kids tick and be successful.”

Fortunately, he feels he doesn’t have to push Lee with baseball.

Even when you’re talented, ‘the magic is in the work’

Vaughn was a 6-1, 250-plus pound first baseman. Lee, who also bats left-handed, plays the middle infield and is lean and quick. His father says he’s gaining confidence and the ability to affect the game with his arm, speed and athleticism.

“I didn’t work as hard as him,” Vaughn says, “and damn sure didn’t look like him.”

Since he was about seven, Lee has done two days per week of strength and conditioning, two days of skill work and two days of hitting with his dad.

“It takes years to develop into a good baseball player,” Vaughn says. “You’re growing, your feet are getting bigger, you’re getting taller. You gotta maintain your motor skills. You gotta get stronger. …

“He’s put in the time and there’s still much more wood to chop but I would tell parents that’s it’s a six- to seven-day-a-week thing.”

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends kids take at least one day off a week and two months off from a sport per year.

Games especially can wear down young bodies. Vaughn believes their impact for kids is minimal. It’s the repetition that builds familiarity with many things we do every day, even when it doesn’t produce immediate results.

“I don’t know what’s gonna happen with my son,” Vaughn says. “But I know one thing: He will have worked. And I think when you teach them that at a young age, they can go off and do anything and be successful.

“That’s the thing in your life: How hard we gotta work each day. You know, we’re working, we’re running, we’re lifting, we’re hitting, and all of a sudden we (attain) that one thing, and we’re like, man, it was all worth it. … The magic is in the work. There’s no secret button for success. You gotta work, and know how to work. …

“When you’re coaching young kids, you only got about 20 minutes, then you gotta move on because their mind’s on something else. My little guys, it takes me 3-4 months for them to understand. Those same drills I do with high school kids they get it in a week.”  

COACH STEVE: When can teenagers start lifting weights? What about a private coach?

‘Open your mind up to listening’: That means you, too, Coach

Vaughn likes to have coaches on his team who are dedicated to specific areas like pitching, catching and middle infield.

“I’ve always known that’s the only way to do it right,” he says. “You can never be a master of everything. I’ve had my own struggles at the big-league level, had to make changes, had to open my mind up to listening.”

A lot of successful adults don’t like to be wrong, especially if they’re corrected by teenagers. But the best coaches, Vaughn says, will pay attention to what you’re saying if they see a player is dedicated to getting better.

If we don’t know the answer as coaches, we can always consult others and get back to kids and their parents.

“Challenge your coaches,” Vaughn says. “If you know something is being done wrong, you gotta challenge it. If you’re having success, you gotta challenge it. And if there’s a coach out there that’s not able to bring you into a practice facility and show you what they’re teaching, the reason why they won’t do is because they don’t know what they’re talking about.”

Don’t rely on slivers of yourself on social media; provide a full picture to coaches

Near the end of his career, Vaughn said he injected his knee with human growth hormone. According to former U.S. Sen. George Mitchell’s report on peformance-enhancing drug use in baseball, which was released in 2007, former Mets clubhouse employee Kirk Radomski said he sold HGH to Vaughn.

HGH was added to Major League Baseball’s list of banned substances in 2005 but MLB prohibited the use of any prescription medication without a valid prescription in 1971.

“I haven’t said a word to them about (the HGH use) but also they haven’t asked me,” Vaughn says about his players. “I would do anything to get back on the field. I don’t even consider it really anything factual that it’s a testament to what I did in the game, do for the game and in the game. It’s just a part of time, in my opinion.”

What we do consistently throughout our experiences, he believes, provides a full picture of who someone is.

“Anybody can make a reel of greatness,” he says about athletes promoting themselves on social media. “We can show our home runs, we can show off our diving plays, we could look like Ken Griffey Jr. What people want to see is: How do you react when things are going wrong? What type of teammate are you? Do you support your people? Those are the things that coaches are looking for.

“It’s easy to do things when everything’s going right … When it’s hard tells all about you.”

The All-American Classic – where Vaughn is coaching along with other former All-Stars, including fellow baseball dads Ryan Klesko and Tom Gordon – provides another chance this weekend. Maybe your son or daughter has a big sports tournament somewhere, too.

Vaughn loves the Red Sox, but like all of us, he roots for his kids first.

“I get to sit around these guys that are trying to get to where I was and give ’em information and talk and encouragement and knowledge and those things,” he says. “And I don’t think (there’s) a better opportunity.”

Steve Borelli, aka Coach Steve, has been an editor and writer with USA TODAY since 1999. He spent 10 years coaching his two sons’ baseball and basketball teams. He and his wife, Colleen, are now sports parents for two high schoolers. His column is posted weekly. For his past columns, click here.

Brian Robinson has been a key part of the Washington Commanders’ rushing attack since the team selected him in the third round of the 2022 NFL Draft. That could change ahead of the 2025 NFL season.

Fox Sports’ Jordan Schultz reports the Commanders are ‘shopping’ Robinson to teams around the league.

Robinson (6-1, 228 pounds) is coming off a season that saw him post career-highs in rushing yards (799), rushing touchdowns (8) and yards per carry (4.3). The big-bodied bruiser served as the leader of Washington’s backfield-by-committee approach, which also featured Austin Ekeler, Jeremy McNichols and Chris Rodriguez Jr.

The Commanders retained all four of those backs for 2025 and also added seventh-round rookie Jacory Croskey-Merritt to the mix. Robinson is entering the final year of his rookie contract, worth a base value of just over $3.4 million, so Washington might be attempting to trade him to thin a crowded running back room and retain value for the free agent-to-be.

Will the Commanders be able to find a taker for Robinson? Here’s a look at a few teams that could hold interest in the 26-year-old running back.

San Francisco 49ers

The 49ers have a great lead back in Christian McCaffrey, but they could use depth behind the 29-year-old star. Projected backup Isaac Guerendo and fifth-round rookie Jordan James are both dealing with injuries that could impact their early season availability.

Robinson’s mix of size and power would complement McCaffrey – a more elusive runner – well. Commanders general manager Adam Peters also used to work in the 49ers’ front office, so perhaps that could help get a deal done.

Dallas Cowboys

The Cowboys are projected to rely on a committee of Javonte Williams and Miles Sanders at running back early in the season. The two combined for 718 yards and six touchdowns on 194 carries last season; by comparison, Robinson totaled 799 yards and eight touchdowns himself on 187 carries.

As such, Robinson would represent a big upgrade for the Cowboys. But would Washington be willing to trade one of its leading rushers to a divisional rival? The Commanders would probably like to send Robinson somewhere else if they trade him, but if Dallas has the best offer, they could consider it.

Houston Texans

Joe Mixon’s status for Week 1 is uncertain as he deals with a foot injury. Houston signed Nick Chubb in free agency, but it isn’t clear whether he will be able to handle a full workload as he continues to come back from a catastrophic knee injury that limited him to a career-worst 3.3 yards per carry last season.

The Texans could rely on Dameon Pierce and rookie fourth-round pick Woody Marks to help support Chubb, but acquiring a proven runner to support C.J. Stroud might be the better move.

Kansas City Chiefs

The Chiefs made it to the Super Bowl last season despite Isiah Pacheco and Kareem Hunt averaging 3.7 and 3.6 yards per carry, respectively, during the season. Pacheco might bounce back as he gets further removed from a broken leg, but adding Robinson as insurance wouldn’t be a bad move for the Chiefs.

Robinson’s hard-nosed running style would fit the mold the Chiefs have sought in running backs in recent seasons. He’s also bigger than both Pacheco and Hunt and could help keep the more explosive Pacheco fresh as part of a rotation.

Los Angeles Chargers

Is Najee Harris healthy after he suffered an eye injury in a fireworks accident? Are Jim Harbaugh and Greg Roman willing to trust Kimani Vidal and Hassan Haskins to play in tandem with first-round rookie Omarion Hampton until Harris can return?

If the answer to either of those questions is no, the Chargers might look to add a veteran running back to provide extra depth in their run-heavy offense. Robinson would be a great, like-for-like replacement for his former Alabama teammate Harris and could allow Los Angeles to slow-play the 2021 first-round pick’s return.

INGLEWOOD, Calif. — Los Angeles Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh didn’t have much to say a day after the NCAA announced Michigan’s sign-steal punishment.

Following the Chargers’ preseason matchup with the Los Angeles Rams, Harbaugh was asked about the punishment and his reaction. He declined to entertain the questions.

‘Like I said to you last year, not engaging. Not engaging,’ he said.

The NCAA fined Michigan $50,000, in addition to 10% of the football program’s budget, handed Michigan head coach Sherrone Moore a two-year show cause order and suspended him the first game of the 2026 season, and put Michigan on four years probation, the NCAA announced on Aug. 15.

Michigan already self-imposed a two-game suspension for Moore for the 2025 season.

The fine for the Wolverines also includes a sum equivalent to the anticipated loss of all postseason competition revenue sharing from the 2025 and 2026 seasons, as well as 10% of the cost of scholarships awarded in the football program during the 2025-26 academic year. According to ESPN, the total from all of the fines is expected to exceed $20 million.

The NCAA gave Harbaugh, who coached the Wolverines from 2015-2023, a 10-year show cause, which will take effect Aug. 7, 2028, when the four-year show cause he was given from a separate NCAA investigation ends.

‘The scouting scheme and recruiting violations in the football program demonstrate that Harbaugh violated the principles of head coach responsibility. Harbaugh did not embrace or enforce a culture of compliance during his tenure, and his program had a contentious relationship with Michigan’s compliance office, leading coaches and staff to disregard NCAA rules,’ the NCAA said in its infractions decision. ‘For the scouting violations that occurred during the 2021 and 2022 seasons, Harbaugh failed to demonstrate that he adequately promoted compliance or monitored his program. Harbaugh is also automatically responsible for the scouting and recruiting violations that occurred after Jan. 1, 2023.’

The announcement also said Harbaugh ‘failed to cooperate’ during the investigation.

Connor Stalions, the former Michigan staffer at the center of the sign-stealing scandal, was levied an eight-year show cause. Stalions resigned from his position at Michigan in November 2023 and has been out of college athletics in an official capacity since.

• The All-Pro pass rusher was given permission to seek a trade earlier this year and is now reportedly back on the block.
• Hendrickson is due $16 million in 2025, the final year of his contract with Cincinnati.

The inability of Trey Hendrickson and the Cincinnati Bengals to strike a new deal … may lead to an entirely different type of deal.

Hendrickson is due $16 million in 2025, his contract set to expire next March. However the financial market for top-tier defensive ends and outside linebackers has changed drastically, T.J. Watt, Myles Garrett, Danielle Hunter and Maxx Crosby all signing extensions averaging at least $35 million annually over the past six months. Watt and Garrett are both at a $40 million-plus-per-year threshold, and Dallas Cowboys superstar Micah Parsons is expected to exceed that at some point in the near future.

Hendrickson, 30, hasn’t expressed a desire to reset his positional compensation scale but does want long-term security and a raise commensurate with his performance – Bengals owner Mike Brown even admitting last month that the four-time Pro Bowler has earned one.

Hendrickson led the NFL with 17½ sacks last season, and the 35 he’s racked up since 2023 also pace the league over that period. According to Pro Football Reference, his 54 pressures were seven more than any other player in 2024 – that production occurring for a decidedly subpar Bengals defense that ranked 25th overall last season, when Cincinnati came up one win short of the playoffs.

After a brief holdout to start training camp, Hendrickson reported July 30 but has been holding in as his standoff with the team continues.

‘I can’t do any more at this time to rush the passer on Sundays,’ he said last month. ‘The hay is in the barn. It’s just whether we agree or not.

‘Moving forward, we’ll see what transpires.’

And maybe that’s a trade. Hendrickson was given permission to pursue one last March – which happens to be when Bengals wideouts Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins got massive extensions – but nothing materialized before the draft. Notably, per Over The Cap, the team has more than $80 million in projected cap space between this year and next, which would seemingly be more than enough to find some middle ground with Hendrickson.

Moving forward, it remains to be seen if Cincinnati blinks at the negotiating table with its lone defensive star or potentially lower its asking price on the trade market, especially since most teams in the league have much less flexibility in August than springtime to consummate what is effectively a trade-and-sign, which would presumably require both draft compensation ahead of actual compensation for Hendrickson.

But let’s play along anyway as this saga continues to unfold. Here are seven potential teams to monitor that might have the need and wherewithal to make a move for Hendrickson:

Detroit Lions

The NFC’s failed No. 1 playoff seed last season, the Lions were undermined by a defense that was crippled by the loss of DE Aidan Hutchinson in Week 6 and never recovered. Pairing Hendrickson and Hutchinson would instantly give Detroit the league’s best couplet of quarterback hunters – the similarity of their last names would surely launch a nickname and marketing campaign, too – and at a time when the team could use a boost given the murderers’ row the NFC North currently is and as this organization tries to recover from the loss of coordinators Ben Johnson and Aaron Glenn to head coaching jobs elsewhere. But is pursuing Hendrickson truly realistic? He might just be the player who could finally get this club over the Lombardi hump. However GM Brad Holmes’ 2026 budget is already underwater, and his most pressing roster issue for the immediate future should be extending Hutchinson, whose rookie contract balloons to fifth-year option paychecks 13 months from now.

Houston Texans

Do they need a player like Hendrickson? He’d surely be a luxury given the presence of Hunter and fellow DE Will Anderson, who combined for 23 sacks in 2024. But no one else on this roster had more than five last season and deepening the rotation – both Hunter and Hendrickson are 30 – is an option any defensive coordinator wants, not to mention the ability to have such a talented trio on the field during obvious passing downs. The Texans would have to move some money around in all likelihood to make it work, but GM Nick Caserio has been especially aggressive over the past 18 months in a bid to optimize his roster while QB C.J. Stroud remains on his rookie contract. Caserio also owns an extra second- and fourth-round pick in next year’s draft, giving him extra wiggle room to consummate a deal with Cincinnati that few other teams have.

Indianapolis Colts

They ranked near the bottom of the NFL with 36 sacks last season (among many other major defensive deficiencies) and hired a new coordinator, Lou Anarumo, this offseason – and he just happens to be the same guy under whom Hendrickson flourished over the past four years in Cincy. Indy has ample financial bandwidth to make an offer that would approximate what Crosby and Hunter are making. The Colts also have several young edge players – notably Kwity Paye and Laiatu Latu – who might greatly benefit from watching a master craftsman like Hendrickson. And while he doesn’t play quarterback, perhaps supercharging the defense is an appropriate way to ease some pressure on whomever the Colts tab to be their QB1 in 2025.

Los Angeles Chargers

They have $116 million in projected cap room between this year and next, most in the league. Khalil Mack, 34, is the Bolts’ best pass rusher, and the team hopes Tuli Tuipulotu can fill the void after Joey Bosa became a cap casualty in March. Hendrickson would certainly add what’s probably a needed shot of adrenaline to this defense – especially if the Chargers hope to compete for a divisional throne that’s long been the property of Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs.

Philadelphia Eagles

Never discount EVP/GM Howie Roseman, who’s built three Super Bowl rosters over the past eight seasons – two of them earning rings – and may have another on his hands with or without Hendrickson. Roseman was rumored as a suitor for Garrett when the Browns superstar requested a trade earlier this year before taking a pile of money to remain in Cleveland. While Philly doesn’t seem to be in desperate need of another defensive weapon, it did lose Josh Sweat and Milton Williams to free agency and Brandon Graham to retirement during the offseason. Youngsters Nolan Smith and Jalyx Hunt are projected to start on the edge, and both have flashed the promise that led Roseman to draft them. But neither has the production or experience of Hendrickson, who’d probably be a more realistic potential target here anyway than Garrett ever was.

Seattle Seahawks

The NFC West is shaping up to perhaps be the most tightly packed division in the league, so a major acquisition would figure to make a difference for any of its members. The Seahawks are projected to have nearly $90 million in cap space (counting 2026) and haven’t been shy about overhauling their roster despite a 10-7 finish in 2024 that fell a tiebreaker short of postseason qualification. Yet the ‘Hawks are also hoping to apply pressure with players like DeMarcus Lawrence, Boye Mafe, Uchenna Nwosu and Derick Hall – a group pockmarked with injury and inconsistency concerns that have never been an issue for Hendrickson over the past five seasons. And if anyone knows what he brings to the table, it’s HC Mike Macdonald, who saw Hendrickson wreck shop frequently while serving as the Ravens’ defensive coordinator.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Hendrickson would have to adapt to a base 3-4 scheme but standing up isn’t a huge ask of a veteran. Meanwhile, GM Jason Licht would have to deviate from the draft, develop and extend philosophy that’s worked so well for this organization. But the perennial NFC South champs could certainly use more production off the edge as they try to hold off would-be challengers like the Falcons and Panthers, and Licht has the funds to fit Hendrickson under the cap – even after taking a $14 million flier on soon-to-be 31-year-old Haason Reddick for the upcoming campaign. Tampa would also represent something of a homecoming for Hendrickson, who hails from nearby Apopka, Florida.