Until one of the superteams goes on a tear, we seem to have settled into a fairly stable situation. The Dodgers and Astros are going to spar for No. 1, as they did again this week, splitting our first-place votes 3-2 to keep the Dodgers atop MLB's pecking order. Then we have the Twins, Yankees, Rays and Cubs jostling for position among the best teams behind our dynamic duo. And then things get really interesting.

That's because we're starting to see some extreme stratification. The Brewers and Phillies might be the best of the rest beyond the big six, and there may not be much hope for the seven decisively bad teams. But even splitting all of them out, you've got 15 different teams bouncing around .500, entertain visions of .500 who can't be counted out yet. Which creates an interesting problem -- whose gains and whose track records seem likely to stick? The Rockies swayed our voters, barely convincing them they belong in the conversation for top 10; on points they're basically tied with the Braves. But go all the way down to No. 23, and the White Sox are just two games under .500.

So on the one hand, almost every team is just a win streak away from shaking things up. But until that happens again, there's a lot of parity reflected in these Power Rankings. Despite no team moving up or down more than two slots this week, this won't stick -- it can't, can it? Somebody's going to get hot and tear through their schedule, and somebody's bid to win is going to come apart at the seams (just like the Mariners' already have). But does that mean shaking up the top 10 even more dramatically than seeing just one team, the Rockies, get there? Or even threatening to unseat the Dodgers or Astros from their perches at the top? We'll have to see.

For Week 10, our panel of voters was composed of Bradford Doolittle, Christina Kahrl, Eric Karabell, Tim Kurkjian and David Schoenfield.

Previous: Preseason | Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3 | Week 4 | Week 5 | Week 6 | Week 7 | Week 8 | Week 9

1. Los Angeles Dodgers

2019 record: 45-21
Week 9 ranking: 1

Our weekly Hyun-Jin Ryu note: He still hasn't allowed more than two runs in a start all season and has allowed zero runs in six of his past seven starts after seven scoreless innings against the Diamondbacks. He lowered his ERA to 1.35. If he can keep this going, he'll be just the fifth pitcher since 1980 to have a first-half ERA under 1.50 (minimum 80 IP). The previous five guys to do it: Zack Greinke, 2015 (1.39); Roger Clemens, 2005 (1.48); Pedro Martinez, 2000 (1.44); Bob Knepper, 1981 (1.15); Jim Kern, 1979 (1.48). Kern was actually a reliever, but pitched 85⅓ innings in the first half (and finished with 143 on the season). -- David Schoenfield

ICYMI: 'MVP! MVP!' A look inside Bellinger's breakthrough

2. Houston Astros

2019 record: 45-22
Week 9 ranking: 3

Finally, the Astros' injury stack left them no choice but to recall power-hitting phenom Yordan Alvarez from Triple-A Round Rock. Alvarez, 22, was hitting .343/.443/.742 in the minors with 23 homers and 71 RBIs in 56 games. A lefty hitter, Alvarez has shown virtually no platoon split this season. If he starts mashing anywhere near the level he was in Triple-A, it will be tough to get him out of the lineup, even on an Astros roster that is over-stuffed when everyone is healthy. -- Bradford Doolittle

ICYMI: Brantley matching his career 2014 season for Astros

3. Minnesota Twins

2019 record: 43-21
Week 9 ranking: 4

Jorge Polanco leads the club in WAR but Eddie Rosario leads in home runs and runs batted in, and he should soar to career-best marks in each category. Rosario has yet to knock in 80 runs in a season; he could be on his way to 130 or so if his pace keeps up. Sure, Rosario has certainly improved against left-handed pitching, but this is also about taking advantage of run-producing opportunities. Rosario should be an AL All-Star. -- Eric Karabell

4. New York Yankees

2019 record: 40-24
Week 9 ranking: 2

The Yankees lost series on the road to Toronto and Cleveland and while they did get Didi Gregorius back (he homered in his second game), they put Domingo German on the 10-day IL with a left hip flexor strain -- he had struggled his last three starts. The revolving day of the Yankees' roster is remarkable: They actually have 49 players on their 40-man roster, as players on the 60-day injured list don't count against the 40-man limit. When/if those players start returning, that means somebody will get bumped and those exposed to the waiver wire, which also limits the flexibility to keep calling up a new pitcher every day. -- Schoenfield

ICYMI: Aaron Judge's absence looms large in clubhouse

5. Tampa Bay Rays

2019 record: 40-24
Week 9 ranking: 5

The Rays were reportedly among the near-missers in the Kimbrel sweepstakes, with The Athletic reporting that Tampa Bay offered the reliever three years for $39 million. While a fully functional Kimbrel would help any team, the Rays carefully monitor their spending, and may have dodged a bullet. As it stands, the Rays' bullpen metrics are all fine. If Tampa Bay was willing to expand its payroll by whatever amount for Kimbrel, the Rays can now focus on using some of that to afford a trade for a bat, preferably a DH type who wouldn't affect Tampa Bay's excellent defense. -- Doolittle

ICYMI: Rays stand in Red Sox's way to return to AL East race

6. Chicago Cubs

2019 record: 37-27
Week 9 ranking: 6

Craig Kimbrel's importance to the Cubs' bullpen will likely come more from the spillover effect of his presence than the actual work he does as a ninth-inning lead protector. Much has been made of the Cubs' 12 blown saves this season, more than all but three other teams in the majors. However, just five of those blown saves occurred in the ninth inning and in two of those instances the Cubs ended up winning the game. Chicago's bullpen metrics have been more average than terrible. Kimbrel, if effective, will make it easier for Joe Maddon to piece together matchups in advance of the ninth. Still, the real validation of the Kimbrel signing will come in October, not before. -- Doolittle

ICYMI: Kimbrel -- Process tough, but glad he's with the Cubs

7. Philadelphia Phillies

2019 record: 37-28
Week 9 ranking: 8

Jay Bruce is certainly enjoying life back in the NL East after a brief sojourn to the AL West, and he should continue to play regularly in left field and supply power numbers after Andrew McCutchen was lost for the season with a knee injury. The Phillies might have initially acquired Bruce for an intended part-time role, but the situation quickly changed, as Bruce seems well on his way to his sixth 30-homer campaign. -- Karabell

ICYMI: Phillies advantaged over Braves at the deadline?

8. Milwaukee Brewers

2019 record: 38-28
Week 9 ranking: 7

The Brewers made the tough call to send down rookie Keston Hiura when Travis Shaw was ready to return to the lineup, after Hiura hit .281/.333/.531 with five homers in 17 games during his first stint in the Show. Since his return to Triple-A, Hiura went 7-for-17 with two doubles and a homer. Meanwhile, Jesus Aguilar floundered through another week. Given the paper-thin margins in the NL Central race, everyone had better produce or else the Brewers will have no choice but to answer the door that Hiura is knocking on so loudly. -- Doolittle

ICYMI: After Kimbrel, moves for the rest of NL Central to keep up with the Cubs

9. Boston Red Sox

2019 record: 34-32
Week 9 ranking: 9

By Game Score, Chris Sale's start last Wednesday was the best of his career: A complete game shutout with 12 K's, no walks and three hits (all singles). Since the start of May -- when Chris Sale panic was at its shriekiest volumes -- the Red Sox ace has a 2.28 ERA, 78 strikeouts in 47 innings, and at least 10 K's in all but one outing. And he's doing it with fastball velocity that's still, even since May 1, about 2 mph lower than last year. -- Sam Miller

10. Colorado Rockies

2019 record: 33-31
Week 9 ranking: 11

Things can certainly change quickly in baseball. After finishing fourth in the NL Cy Young race in 2018, Kyle Freeland struggled to the tune of a 7.13 ERA in 12 starts this year. Meanwhile, the Rockies coaxed seven one-run innings out of Freeland's replacement, Peter Lambert, in a 3-1 victory over the Cubs on Thursday, and the team has gotten five quality starts in nine games from its rotation since Freeland's May 31 demotion to Triple-A. -- Tristan H. Cockcroft

ICYMI: Arenado ranks among too-early All-Star choices

11. Atlanta Braves

2019 record: 36-29
Week 9 ranking: 10

They signed Dallas Keuchel to a one-year deal to help bolster the rotation and he should be ready fairly quickly to join the team. His start on Saturday for Triple-A Gwinnett was rained out, so he'll instead start on Monday for Class A Rome and is slated to throw 75 to 90 pitches. Keuchel said he has been staying in a regular routine and pitching every fifth, although will likely make at least a couple minor league starts before joining the Braves' rotation; Mike Foltynewicz would seem to be the odd man out given his struggles. -- Schoenfield

ICYMI: Does signing Keuchel make Braves NL East favorites?

12. St. Louis Cardinals

2019 record: 31-32
Week 9 ranking: 12

The Cardinals' inconsistency on offense -- as well as in the win and loss columns -- during the past month can be traced largely to the team's struggles at the top of the lineup. Since May 20, the team's .270 wOBA combined from their Nos. 1-3 hitters ranks dead last in baseball, and since that date, Paul DeJong has batted just .109/.234/.218. -- Cockcroft

ICYMI: Moves to help the Cards catch the Cubs

13. Texas Rangers

2019 record: 34-30
Week 9 ranking: 14

The Rangers have given 140 innings to pitchers with ERAs over 6.00 this year -- collectively, those innings have yielded 142 runs -- and yet, if the season ended today, the Rangers would be in the playoffs as the second wild card. -- Miller

ICYMI: Is Rougned Odor's slump the Rangers' biggest disappointment of 2019?

14. Oakland Athletics

2019 record: 33-33
Week 9 ranking: 13

Since sweeping the Mariners two weeks ago, the A's stumbled through a 5-8 run against the Angels, Astros and Rangers, and looking much less like a contender with the trade deadline coming into view. If they tear down, relievers Blake Treinen or Joakim Soria are both affordable, effective thirtysomethings under club control through 2020. In happier news, both top prospects A.J. Puk and Jesus Luzardo are going to start rehab assignments, encouraging hopes they may debut later this season. -- Christina Kahrl

15. Cleveland Indians

2019 record: 33-32
Week 9 ranking: 16

During his 10-year career in the majors, Carlos Santana has had to be many things. He has been a leadoff hitter and a cleanup man, and he's played all five corners -- catcher, third and first base, right and left field. The one thing he hasn't done is go to an All-Star Game, but as the AL's OPS leader among first basemen with a considerably longer track record for success than rivals like C.J. Cron or Luke Voit, this might be the year he changes that. -- Kahrl

ICYMI: Indians' Hand among relievers contenders covet

16. Cincinnati Reds

2019 record: 29-35
Week 9 ranking: 17

A rough start to June has seen the Reds drop five games out of six while totaling only 11 runs on offense. May standouts Eugenio Suarez and Derek Dietrich have been as responsible as any of the Reds' hitters; in seven team games the duo has combined to bat .160 (8-for-50) with only one extra-base hit. -- Cockcroft

ICYMI: Reds' Castillo primed for Midsummer Classic invite?

17. San Diego Padres

2019 record: 33-33
Week 9 ranking: 15

Rookie Fernando Tatis Jr. returned to the lineup on Thursday, playing a big part in the team's 5-4 Friday win over the Nats with a home run and a stolen base. He has been a valuable catalyst out of the leadoff spot, as the team is 18-14 in his healthy games on the roster, and winners of seven out of their past eight in which he began the game in that lineup spot. -- Cockcroft

ICYMI: Tatis Jr. going 100 percent in return from injury

18. Arizona Diamondbacks

2019 record: 34-32
Week 9 ranking: 19

Ketel Marte is outslugging Bryce Harper, hit the longest home run in baseball this year, and on Sunday passed his career high for home runs with his 15th. He's also listed at 165 pounds, the fourth lightest hitter in the majors, just behind Billy Hamilton and tied with Terrance Gore. A big moment for little guys, or an indictment of supposed "listed" weights? -- Miller

ICYMI: D-backs get best first-round value in MLB draft

19. New York Mets

2019 record: 32-33
Week 9 ranking: 18

Rookie first baseman Pete Alonso continues to threaten historical marks in terms of hitting for power by a first-year player, but his current home run pace is also well ahead of the organization's overall mark for a season. Carlos Beltran (2006) and Todd Hundley (1996) each hit 41 in a season for the Mets. Nobody has hit more, from Dave Kingman to Darryl Strawberry and Mike Piazza. Alonso is truly special. -- Karabell

ICYMI: Bobby V on 20th anniversary of his dugout disguise

20. Washington Nationals

2019 record: 30-35
Week 9 ranking: 22

Anthony Rendon remains among the MLB leaders with an OPS over 1.000 -- which means he may finally be headed to his first All-Star Game. Let's see why/how that has happened:

2014: 18th in NL in OPS in first half, 13 HR, 53 RBIs; beat out by Todd Frazier, Nolan Arenado and Kris Bryant
2015: Injured (played just 18 games)
2016: Didn't have a good first half (.254, 9 HRs, 33 RBIs)
2017: .304/.407/.552, 16 HRs, 54 RBIs (seventh in OPS); beat out by Arenado, Jake Lamb and Justin Turner
2018: .285/.352/.526, 15 HRs, 45 RBIs; beat out by Arenado and Eugenio Suarez

-- Schoenfield

ICYMI: Sizing up Strasburg's journey from 1 to 100 wins

21. Pittsburgh Pirates

2019 record: 30-34
Week 9 ranking: 21

The Pirates' injury problems on the pitching staff have made it difficult for them to deliver leads to closer Felipe Vazquez, who in the team's past 19 games has just three save chances. Chris Archer's healthy return has helped boost the rotation, though, as he's the winner of back-to-back starts since his activation. -- Cockcroft

22. Los Angeles Angels

2019 record: 31-35
Week 9 ranking: 20

No Angels pitcher boasts more wins than lefty Tyler Skaggs, but the organization likely expected much better than a 4.97 ERA and two quality starts in 11 chances, too. Skaggs, 27 and acquired from Arizona in the winter of 2013, still has yet to finish a big league season with an ERA better than 4.00, and has only once made 20 starts in a season. The Angels remain desperate for rotation improvements. -- Karabell

ICYMI: Draft heist of the century? How Mike Trout fell to the Angels

23. Chicago White Sox

2019 record: 31-33
Week 9 ranking: 23

It's time to start thinking about Lucas Giolito as a Cy Young candidate and stop marveling at the suddenness with which he turned around his early-career inconsistency. Giolito dominated the Royals on Saturday and has won his past seven starts with a 0.88 ERA and .385 OPS allowed during that span. Giolito leads all AL starters with 3.0 fWAR on the season. This week, the White Sox host Giolito's original team, the Nationals, though he's not slated to start. Lucky thing for Washington. -- Doolittle

24. San Francisco Giants

2019 record: 26-38
Week 9 ranking: 24

If relievers end up being the hottest commodity at this year's trade deadline, Farhan Zaidi might be a very busy man in his first deadline as the Giants' head honcho. While the focus is on Madison Bumgarner, the Giants have a quartet of veterans with closing experience in lefties Will Smith and Tony Watson and righties Mark Melancon and Sam Dyson, giving him enough bargaining chips to be a one-stop shop for contenders with bullpen problems. -- Kahrl

25. Toronto Blue Jays

2019 record: 23-42
Week 9 ranking: 25

The Blue Jays had the second-worst May in franchise history; now, they're having their second-worst June. All that's left now is the trading, and closer Ken Giles (1.08 ERA, 1.15 FIP, a free agent after 2020) will be in more headlines over the next month than "Local Man," "Millennials" and "New Research Finds." -- Miller

ICYMI: Blue Jays draft Roy Halladay's son

26. Seattle Mariners

2019 record: 28-41
Week 9 ranking: 26

It was a tough week to be a Mariner outfielder: Mitch Haniger landed on the IL with a ruptured testicle and Braden Bishop with a lacerated spleen. Combined with the Jay Bruce trade, that meant a new outfielder in Mac Williamson. Throw in a couple a new pitchers as well -- former Mariner Andrew Moore and Tayler Scott, who became the first South African pitcher in the majors -- and the Mariners have now used 50 different players. I'm beginning to wonder if Jerry Dipoto has an undiagnosed medical condition that means he can't help but make all these transactions. The MLB record is 64, set by the 2014 Rangers, so the Mariners have a ways to go, but it's still only June 10. Tacoma, Seattle's Triple-A franchise, has used 37 different pitchers (!) and 54 players. -- Schoenfield

27. Miami Marlins

2019 record: 23-40
Week 9 ranking: 29

Since bottoming out on May 15 at 10-31 and making you wonder if a 120-loss season was in the cards, the Marlins have gone on a modest tear, going 13-9 and winning five of seven series. But the stable rotation that has been the platform for that success took its first hit of the season with Caleb Smith landing on the IL with a hip injury. Smith should be back before the end of the month, but his absence and a tough schedule between now and the All-Star break could spell the end of the Marlins' nice run. -- Kahrl

28. Detroit Tigers

2019 record: 24-38
Week 9 ranking: 27

And just when you might despair of Tigers hitting with the Kitties ranking 29th in runs scored per game, JaCoby Jones has started lighting up the scoreboard, going on a .407/.458/.759 tear at the plate with four home runs (among 10 extra-base hits) and four steals since May 24. He's not alone; Christin Stewart has chipped in a .397 wOBA during that stretch as well. -- Kahrl

ICYMI: Greene among key relievers contenders covet at deadline

29. Kansas City Royals

2019 record: 20-45
Week 9 ranking: 28

The Royals are predictably struggling but nobody can blame Adalberto Mondesi. The switch-hitting shortstop continues to show that his breakout 2018 campaign was not a fluke, as nobody in baseball has more triples or stolen bases this season. The Royals could trade Whit Merrifield and other lineup fixtures, but Mondesi figures to stick around awhile. An All-Star berth could be pending. -- Karabell

ICYMI: AL draft recap -- Evaluating Royals' selection of Witt

30. Baltimore Orioles

2019 record: 20-45
Week 9 ranking: 30

If baseball games lasted only two innings, the Orioles would be an OK team. Through one inning they've got a "record" of 20-17 this year; through two innings, that goes up to 25-24. And then... well, from the third inning on they've allowed nearly twice as many runs as they've scored. -- Miller

ICYMI: Takeaways from Day 1 of MLB draft after O's take Rutschman

Results from Hengelo’s FBK Games, plus the BAL, UKWL, Gouden Spike, Racers Track Club Grand Prix and more

After another busy weekend in athletics, links to separate event reports can be found below, followed by a list of other recent highlights.

Adam Hickey and Nicole Taylor win England titles at FASTFriday
Divine Oduduru storms to fast sprint double at NCAA Champs
Sha’Carri Richardson runs record-breaking NCAA sprint double
GB’s Jonathan Albon wins trail world title

FBK Games, Hengelo, Netherlands, June 9

Eilish McColgan improved her own Scottish 5000m record and moved to third on the UK all-time list with 14:47.94 to finish fifth in a race won by Margaret Chelimo Kipkemboi in 14:37.22.

It follows recent performances of a 14:52.40 5000m in Stockholm and a 4:02.29 1500m in Rome by McColgan, who wasn’t even sure if she would be well enough to race in Hengelo after suffering with a cold after Rome.

PB & Scottish record this evening in Hengelo! Picked up a cold after Rome and wasn't going to race… right up until the warm up! Glad I did! ?

Went off bit too hard & paid the price over the last few KMs. But ran a lot of the race alone so I'm happy with a 14.47 for now! pic.twitter.com/4okTTVxND2

— Eilish Mccolgan (@EilishMccolgan) June 9, 2019

Telahun Bekele won the men’s 5000m in 12:57.56 for another sub-13 minute run just three days after his 12:52.98 in Rome.

Sam Kendricks cleared 5.91m to improve the pole vault meeting record set by Sergey Bubka in 1992, while Adam Hague’s 5.41m saw him finish sixth on countback.

Michael Cherry won the 400m in 45.15 and Orlando Ortega the 100m hurdles in 13.27.

Kyle Langford was second in the 800m as he clocked 1:45.87 behind Cornelius Tuwei with 1:45.67, while Guy Learmonth finished sixth in 1:47.20.

Another GB runner-up spot was secured by CJ Ujah as he ran a 10.13 100m on his season debut behind Arthur Cissé with 10.05. Harry Aikines-Aryeetey was eighth in 10.27.

Gouden Spike, Netherlands, June 8

Olympic heptathlon champion Nafi Thiam achieved a 13.62 (-1.4m/sec) 100m hurdles win and a windy 6.65m (+4.1m/sec) in the long jump.

Finette Agyapong won the 200m in 23.39, while Jake Smith and Petros Surafel both achieved European U23 Championships 10,000m qualifying marks with respective PBs of 29:15.08 and 29:22.55. Ciaran Lewis clocked 9:21.54 in the 3000m steeplechase.

Pavel Maslák ran a 20.84 200m before confirming in his post-race interview that he’s not planning on the IAAF World Championships in Doha.

BAL and UKWL, Barnet and Leigh, June 9

Newham and Essex Beagles improved on their second spot in the opening match to win the second British Athletics League Premiership match in overcast drizzly conditions at Allianz Park, north London, Tom Pollak reports.

They were helped to victory by a 46.34 second 400m win by Rabah Yousif.

Britain’s No.1 Scott Lincoln was top performer with a winning 19.29m in the shot while BUCS champion Will Grimsey high jumped a winning 2.15m and Jersey Commonwealth Games thrower Zane Duquemin continued his return to form after injury by winning the discus with 60.22m.

The tightest finish was in the 100m where just five thousandths of a second separated Jahde Williams and David Bolarinwa and they were both given an official 10.51.

Southend won the National 4 match, beating Reading and Enfield and Haringey.

Shaftesbury Barnet won the opening UK Women’s League Division 1 match beating Southampton and Wigan.

They achieved their victory despite pole vaulter Jade Ive failing to clear a height.

At the UK Women’s League Premier Division match, Jessie Knight won the 400m hurdles by two seconds, clocking 56.67 to to take more than a second off her previous best.

Alicia Barrett won the 100m hurdles in 13.27 (1.9m/sec), with Heather Paton breaking the 36-year-old Scottish record with her time of 13.34 in second.

Alisha Rees won the 100m in 11.61 (0.6m/sec) from Rachel Miller with 11.62 and Shannon Hylton in 11.66, with Hylton winning the 200m in 23.74 (-0.3m/sec) from Rees with 23.97 and Miller with 24.13.

Thames Valley Harriers won the match from Trafford.

Racers Track Club Grand Prix, Kingston, Jamaica, June 8

Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce continued her return to top form as she clocked 10.88 to win the 100m. Zharnel Hughes won the men’s race in an equal European lead of 9.97 ahead of Yohan Blake’s 10.01.

Shaunae Miller-Uibo won the 400m in 49.54, while Kendra Harrison won the 100m hurdles in 12.54 as Cindy Ofili ran 13.06 for fifth.

Britain’s Delano Williams ran 20.79 for fourth in the men’s 200m, while Jodie Williams achieved the same position in the women’s race in 23.03.

Golden Roof Challenge, Innsbruck, Austria, June 8

Juan Miguel Echevarría jumped a best of 8.15m (0.2m/sec) to win the long jump, as GB’s Feron Sayers was second with a best of 7.92m (0.0m/s).

Angelica Bengtsson cleared a meeting record 4.61m in the pole vault. Britain’s Charlie Myers cleared 5.51m in the men’s event.

Jena, Germany, June 8

Harry Hughes threw 77.89m to finish fourth in the javelin competition won by organiser Thomas Rohler with 82.56m.

Paralympic champion Hollie Arnold had a strong season opener as she threw 41.94m. Her training partner Rebekah Walton won that competition with a best of 51.35m.

First Competition of the season done and dusted!!! Best ever seasons opener at @jenjavelin today ????? Well done to my training partner @bekah_walton for taking the win today in our comp! Thanks coach @David_T_Javelin for the support! pic.twitter.com/c4lbQAti3v

— Hollie Arnold MBE (@HollieA2012) June 8, 2019

Chania, Greece, June 9

Nick Miller threw the hammer 77.72m, his furthest mark since winning the Commonwealth title last April, to win by two metres and achieve the World Championships and Olympic qualifying standards.

Richard Kilty won the 100m in 10.32 (1.0m/sec).

Alex Haydock-Wilson was second in the 400m with a 46.83 PB.

Portland Track Festival, Oregon, USA, June 8-9 

Josh Kerr ran an 800m PB of 1:46.06 and Charlie Da’Vall Grice clocked 1:46.47 for his best time for three years.

Neil Gourley ran 1:47.11 to just miss his PB.

James West ran 3:37.22 for third in the 1500m.

La Coruna, Spain, June 8

Tom Bosworth clocked 81:23 for 25th in the 20km race walk won by Japan’s Toshikazu Yamanishi in 77:41.

NYRR New York Mini 10km, USA, June 8

Sara Hall produced a strong finish to win the NYRR New York Mini 10km (incorporating the USATF Champs) in Central Park.

The American clocked 32:27 to beat Stephanie Bruce and Sally Kipyego.

Five-time Wimbledon champion Venus Williams has confirmed she will play at the Nature Valley Classic in Birmingham.

American Williams, 38, will make her debut at the grass-court event after accepting a wildcard, joining world number one Naomi Osaka and French Open champion Ashleigh Barty in the draw.

Defending champion Petra Kvitova and British number one Johanna Konta are also playing in the tournament.

The tournament runs from 15-23 June.

Former world number one Garbine Muguruza has been forced to withdraw from the event held at Edgbaston Priory Club due to a left leg injury.

Shock on day one of PSA World Tour Finals 
By SEAN REUTHE in Cairo 

The opening day of the 2018-2019 CIB PSA World Tour Finals saw defending women’s champion Nour El Sherbini fall to a surprise defeat against England No.1 Sarah-Jane Perry as the season-ending tournament got under way at Cairo’s Mall of Arabia.

The PSA World Tour Finals is the final tournament of the PSA World Tour season, with the first four days featuring round-robin matches during the group stage. Fixtures are held using a best-of-three games format and Perry marched into first place in Group B as she claimed a 2-0 victory over the World No.2.

It was the Egyptian who started stronger in both of the games, going 8-5 up in the first before losing six points in a row, while she held a 9-3 advantage in the second. But Perry soon whittled down that lead as she found her accuracy and range to devastating effect to make it three wins on the bounce against her opponent after wins at the Hong Kong Open and last month’s Allam British Open.

“I just relaxed and remembered that there wasn’t any pressure on me,” said 29-year-old Perry.

“I remember playing her on this court in Gouna a couple of years ago, and I got an absolute lesson and have had a few of those over the years. It makes it a bit of a bonus being here at the end of the season following my [elbow] operation, so I’m just trying to seize any opportunity that comes my way on the court.

“You can’t afford to have a bad start and you can’t afford to go 9-3 down in any game. I didn’t think about winning that game when I was 9-3 down, I just tried to play my way back in because I knew how important the third game was.”

Perry takes the maximum four points on offer to top Group B, with the other two players in Group B – Nour El Tayeb and Nouran Gohar – set to meet tomorrow.

In Group A, World No.1 Raneem El Welily got her title challenge under way as she stormed to a 2-0 win against Welsh World No.9 Tesni Evans, beating her 11-4, 11-6.

Fresh from winning a quartet of awards at the PSA Awards dinner last night – including the PSA Women’s Player of the Year – El Welily was in dominant form as she swept her opponent aside, with the Alexandria-born 30-year-old moving top of her group.

“As Egyptians we are very lucky to be playing the last tournament at home and not having to travel on a plane,” said El Welily.

“We are very lucky to be able to play in front of our home crowd and to be playing in a tournament where my family and coaches can watch and also playing in a tournament that CIB and Wadi Degla, my own sponsors, are sponsoring.”

France’s Camille Serme sits in second in Group A after she defeated New Zealand’s Joelle King. All three games went to tie-breaks as both played to an intense tempo in Cairo. However, it was the Frenchwoman who was able to hold her nerve and close out as she claimed a 12-14, 12-10, 12-10 victory in 55 minutes. The 2-1 win means Serme takes three points, while King also claims a point as she moves into third place.

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ElShorbagy saves four match balls against Elias

Defending men’s champion Mohamed ElShorbagy overturned four match balls as he defeated Peru’s Diego Elias to take a 2-1 victory, meaning he finishes the day in second place in Group B.

All four of their previous matches had gone the distance to five games, and despite the best of three format, crowds at the Mall of Arabia were treated to a spectacular 63 minute affair which saw ElShorbagy take a nail-biting third game by a 17-15 margin.

“We both had a lot of match balls,” said 28-year-old ElShorbagy. “Matches like this, every time we play each other it always goes down to the wire. He’s a great player and I always say that he is going to beat us all one day and I’m going to try and make it as late as possible, but one day he is a future World No.1 and a future World Champion.”

ElShorbagy sits level on three points with World No.3 Tarek Momen, but has a lower percentage of points won, meaning Momen ends the opening day top of Group B courtesy of a 6-11, 11-3, 11-8 victory over Germany’s World No.5 Simon Rösner.

Meanwhile, World No.1 and last year’s runner-up Ali Farag got off to a winning start in Group A as he toppled fellow Egyptian Mohamed Abouelghar in straight games.

Farag, the reigning World Champion, finished top of the men’s PSA World Tour Finals Leaderboard and is looking to cap off an incredible season that has seen him win six PSA World Tour titles.

He took maximum points on offer as he earned a 12-10, 11-9 triumph to put himself on the verge of securing a semi-final spot, with the top two from each group qualifying for the last four.

“I’m still learning a lot about myself,” Farag said. “Coming into this tournament, I knew I needed a bit of a rest, and I didn’t need to train any more as it has been a long season, and I had to be smart with my head and body. I took a couple of days off by the beach and did some exercises away from squash which was needed, and I think that made me sharp ahead of this tournament.”

The CIB PSA World Tour Finals continues tomorrow (June 10) when the likes of British Open champion Nouran Gohar and New Zealand’s Paul Coll get their tournaments under way. Live action will be shown from 19:00 (GMT+2) on SQUASHTV (rest of world), Eurosport Player (Europe only) and the official Facebook page of the PSA World Tour (excluding Europe & Japan).
 

CIB PSA World Tour Finals 2019, Mall of Arabia, 6th of October City, Egypt.

Men’s Group A:
[1] Ali Farag (EGY) bt [8] Mohamed Abouelghar (EGY) 2-0: 12-10, 11-9 (39m)

Men’s Group B:
[2] Mohamed ElShorbagy (EGY) bt [7] Diego Elias (PER) 2-1: 6-11, 11-3, 17-15 (63m)
[3] Tarek Momen (EGY) bt [6] Simon Rösner (GER) 2-1: 6-11, 11-3, 11-8 (44m)

Women’s Group A:
[1] Raneem El Welily (EGY) bt [8] Tesni Evans (WAL) 2-0: 11-4, 11-6 (18m)
[4] Camille Serme (FRA) bt [5] Joelle King (NZL) 2-1: 12-14, 12-10, 12-10 (55m)

Women’s Group B:
[7] Sarah-Jane Perry (ENG) bt [2] Nour El Sherbini (EGY) 2-0: 11-8, 11-9 (23m)

TODAY (June 10) Men’s Group A:
[4] Karim Abdel Gawad (EGY) v [5] Paul Coll (NZL)

Men’s Group B:
[6] Simon Rösner (GER) v [7] Diego Elias (PER)
[2] Mohamed ElShorbagy (EGY) v [3] Tarek Momen (EGY)

Women’s Group A:
[1] Raneem El Welily (EGY) v [4] Camille Serme (FRA)
[5] Joelle King (NZL) v [8] Tesni Evans (WAL)

Women’s Group B:
[3] Nour El Tayeb (EGY) v [6] Nouran Gohar (EGY) 

Report by SEAN REUTHE (PSA PR and Media Manager). Edited by ALAN THATCHER.

Pictures and graphics courtesy of PSA

Record numbers set for July showdown
By DONNA HELMER – Squash Mad Correspondent

A record numbers of players are expected to turn out for the newly merged HEAD National Racketball Championships at Edgbaston Priory Club next month.

The two-day event, which takes place over the weekend of 6-7th July, is expected to lure a huge draw following the amalgamation of the National Racketball Championships and National Squash 57 Championships.

With 29 national titles up for grabs from the Under 13s to the inaugural Over 80s, this accessible tournament enables players of all ages and abilities to come together and play at one of the UK’s finest clubs, whether they’re competing for fun or pursuing a major title.

Year after year, the tournament continues to attract the finest players from around the UK including Tim Vail and Bett Dryhurst – who have triumphed 10 and 31 times respectively.

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Speaking ahead of the tournament, Mark Fuller, UK-Racketball Director said: “I’m very excited about the competition this year – it’s looking likely that this will be one of the biggest events in the sport’s history!

“With the help of England Squash, we have already seen a significant increase in entries.

“The game’s top players including many of last year’s defending champions have already signed up. There has never been a better time to play this event for the first time and fight it out for a national title.

“This is an event for all ages and abilities, so whatever your standard, join us in Edgbaston for a thrilling weekend of action!”

And there’s more than just a trophy on offer for victorious participants this year, with all competitors having a chance to win HEAD prizes and Series points that will count towards their overall finishing position in the 2019 UK-Racketball Series.

To find out more about the event and to sign up, visit UK-Racketball

Pictures courtesy of  UK Racketball and England Squash

For Wales under-20s lock Teddy Williams, a World Rugby Championship match with Argentina was not even his hardest test of the day.

Tackles and mauls were the stress relief for 18-year-old Williams, one of three members of the Wales under-20 side who is balancing the World Rugby U20 Championship with their A-level exams.

Williams, a pupil at Cardiff Welsh medium school Ysgol Glantaf, sat chemistry in the morning, then was driven hastily across the city of Rosario back to the stadium just in time to help his side defeat the hosts 30-25 in a contest that kicked off at 1pm.

"It was a bonus to have him as an option off the bench. Originally we thought he would take the exam in Buenos Aires and would miss the match," head coach Gareth Williams explained.

"We have three players involved with exams - we are balancing it."

The day before the Argentina victory, Williams sat a biology exam. He also took a maths exam along with team-mate Aneurin Owen, 18, before Wales' 32-13 defeat by France.

This week Williams, the son of former Wales international Owain Williams, will sit further exams in chemistry, maths - with Owen - and biology.

Owen suffered a head injury after colliding with a team-mate against Argentina, and while he was not fit enough to play against France he is fit enough for a maths exam.

Their team-mate, Leicester Tigers fly-half Sam Costelow, 18, had to travel even further to do his exams.

Different regulations meant he was forced to travel four hours and almost 200 miles to the capital city of Buenos Aires with a chaperone from the Wales management team in order to sit a geography exam.

Team manager Darren Joy has been responsible for making the arrangements, having contacted each of the respective schools three months ago to begin making plans.

While all the schools were willing to help, Joy endured a lot of red tape obtaining the requisite paperwork to ensure the players did not have to pick between the tournament and their education.

"The work the boys have put in is amazing, especially if you add in the fact that for a lot of them, it is their first time being away from home for a prolonged period," head coach Williams added.

"They have needed to keep their focus on two fronts with the rugby and the exams and that has been really impressive from them.

"To be able to set-up the exams over here in Argentina, we give a lot of credit to team manager Darren Joy.

"He has made it as comfortable as possible for the boys to complete their exams and make sure it doesn't impair on their preparation or performance."

Wales conclude their group matches against Fiji in Santa Fe on Wednesday.

For three of the squad, it will be a test they relish.

The Women's Rugby Super Series tournament will be harder than a World Cup, according to England captain Sarah Hunter.

The top five teams in the world all meet in San Diego, with Grand Slam champions England opening their campaign against USA on 28 June.

Simon Middleton's side then face Canada, France and world champions New Zealand in the round-robin tournament.

"It's incredible for us to have this opportunity," Hunter told BBC Sport.

"In some respects you could say it is harder than a World Cup.

"You probably wouldn't play the top five sides in the world during a World Cup campaign, so it gives us a great chance to actually see where we are at."

England breezed to a Six Nations Grand Slam earlier in the year, but Hunter expects the standard of competition to be significantly higher in California this summer.

"We did have a great Six Nations, and we can only play the opposition in front of us, but now we are going halfway across the world and playing the best teams that there are," she added.

"It's our chance to find out where we are and how we then need to move on in terms of looking at the big picture [at the World Cup] in two years' time."

Middleton has named a 28-strong squad for the Super Series, with Hunter leading a group shorn of some experienced players through injury.

Fly-half Katy Daley-McLean, centre Rachael Burford and wing Jess Breach have all been declared unavailable.

However, centre Emily Scarratt is among those to return, while uncapped pair Chloe Edwards and Clara Nielsen are both named as Middleton looks to build depth into his squad.

"We need to be coming off the summer tour with a really clear picture of what our squad is starting to look like in terms of the World Cup," Middleton told BBC Sport.

"The Super Series will provide us with a perfect platform to see exactly where we are."

England's Super Series matches

Friday, 28 June: England v United States (21:00 BST)

Sunday, 7 July: Canada v England (01:15 BST)

Wednesday, 10 July: England v France (22:15 BST)

Sunday, 14 July: New Zealand v England (21:00 BST)

All matches will be played at the Chula Vista Elite Athlete Training Center in San Diego except the final game against New Zealand, which will be played at San Diego State University's Torero Stadium.

SONOMA, Calif. – Kenny Murillo and Christian Szymczak raced to the overall victory in Sunday’s Pirelli GT4 America SprintX main event at Sonoma Raceway.

The No. 47 NOLASPORT Porsche 718 Cayman CS MR of Jason Hart (SprintX Pro-Am) would lead the field to the green flag for the final Pirelli GT4 America SprintX race of the weekend at Sonoma Raceway.

It was the No. 34 Murillo Racing Mercedes of Murillo and Szymczak (SprintX West Pro-Am) who would grab the headlines however, moving from fifth to first.

Just prior to the green flag, SprintX Race 1 winner Jeff Burton (SprintX West Am) would head to pitlane in the No. 91 Rearden Racing Audi R8 LMS GT4 to change a tire that was losing air pressure.  The team would change the Pirelli rubber and get the car back on track without losing a lap to the leaders.  The team would fight back through the field and finish eighth overall.

Thirteen minutes into the race the No. 51 Panoz of Matt Keegan (SprintX Am) pulled along-side the No. 19 Cameron Racing BMW M4 GT4 of Gregory Liefooghe (SprintX Pro-Am) and would out-brake the BMW at the turn seven hairpin via the outside line for second place.  Keegan would then chase down the leading No. 47 NOLASPORT Porsche and grab the lead at the final hairpin one lap later.

Behind the leaders, the No. 33 Rearden Racing Audi R8 LMS GT4 of Owen Trinkler (SprintX West Pro-Am) would also choose the final hairpin to make a pass over the No. 67 TRG Porsche 718 Cayman CS MR of Kevin Woods (SprintX West Am) to grab seventh position.

During the mandatory pit stops for driver changes, the first and second place cars would pit together early in the pit window, with Preston Calvert getting in to the No. 51 Panoz and Matt Travis in the No. 47 Porsche.  Third place Gregory Liefooghe would stay out in an attempt to over-cut his rivals and pit with 26 minutes remaining, turning the No. 19 Cameron Racing BMW over to Sean Quinlan.  The stop was just a little too quick compared to the minimum required time and the No. 19 would face a drive through penalty for the error.

The No. 34 Murillo Racing Mercedes AMG of Christian Szymczak (SprintX West Pro-Am) would be the fastest car on track after switching drivers, as the bright orange machine would move from fifth to second in just a matter of laps before chasing down the race-leading Panoz.  With 20 minutes remaining the No. 34 would slip stream past the No. 51 at the turn seven hairpin and take the overall lead and victory.

“I was actually going back and forth on racing this weekend, but I knew it was going to be a great time so I had to,” said Szymczak. “The mercedes was really good all weekend.  I’ve been racing with Murillo for years now and the team is great and gave us a great car.”

Half a lap later Colin Mullan (SprintX Pro-Am) in the No. 36 Andretti Autosport McLaren 570S GT4 would pass the No. 47 NOLASPORT entry on the outside of turn one to take over the final podium position.