Trenton Gill: Among various media outlets connected with the Chicago Bears, the prevalent thought is that Gill will be the team’s new punter when the regular season starts on September 11 against the San Francisco 49ers. On Saturday, Gill suited up for the Bears for the first time against the Kansas City Chiefs in its preseason opener. Playing on a surface at Solider Field that garnered criticism from the National Football League Players Association, Gill averaged 42.6 yards on seven punts. USA Today reporter Alyssa Barbieri said that Gill “played like a seasoned veteran.” Gill had a coffin corner punt that pinned the Chiefs inside at their own 3-yard line. In addition, Gill had three punts downed inside the 20-yard line. It could have easily been four, but the Bears didn’t down the ball before it tumbled into the end zone. Gill is also serving as the team’s holder on field goals and extra points for placekicker Cairo Santos. The Bears will play its second preseason game against the Seattle Seahawks on Thursday night at Lumen Field.
Bryse Wilson: On Friday night, Wilson started for the Pittsburgh Pirates against the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park. Wilson, opposed by the Giants’ Carlos Rodon, suffered the loss as the Giants won 5-3. In five-and-one-thirds innings, Wilson gave up four runs off six hits. He struck out one and walked one. It was Wilson’s 13th start of the season. He is now 2-7 with a 5.93 ERA. Leading up to the start against the Giants, Wilson had thrown 32.1 innings and compiled a 3.34 ERA.
Mia Davidson: In week three of Athletes Unlimited softball, Davidson played for Team McCleney during a three-game series at Parkway Bank Sports Complex in Rosemont, IL. In the opening game on Friday, Team Jaquish defeated Team McCleney 7-2. Davidson had three walks in the game. Under the Athletes Unlimited format, players are awarded eight points for a walk and ten points for every inning their team won. Davidson earned 34 points on the night. On Saturday, Team McCleney defeated Team Chidester 10-1. Davidson went 1-4 with an RBI single to right field in the second inning. Davidson came away with 120 points (10 for the single, 50 as a member of the winning team, 60 points for winning six innings). On Sunday, Davidson had a pop-up double down the right field line as Team McCleney came from behind to defeat Team Mulipola 9-6. Davidson finished 1-for-3 with a double. She scored two runs and finished the night with 110 points (20 for the double, 50 for the win and 40 inning point). Currently, Davidson is 18th in the individual standings with 782 points. On Monday night, Davidson was drafted to Team McCleney once again. She will play on Friday night against Team Jaquish at 6:30.
Kayla Hodges: Hodges, who transferred to Virginia Commonwealth after playing four years for the Elon women’s soccer team, played during the Rams’ 2-0 exhibition win over Old Dominion last week. Virginia Commonwealth will start its regular season at James Madison on Thursday night. This will be James Madison’s first game in any sport as a member of the Sun Belt Conference after jumping from the Colonial Athletic Association during the summer.