Ball in the Family

[8/24/18] Four months after LaVar Ball announced his sons LaMelo and LiAngelo were quitting Lithuania’s National Basketball League with two games left in the season because “I just didn’t get along with the coach,” the BC Prienai club and coach Virjginijus Seskus are firing back — and pulling no punches.

In a press release entitled, “Big Baller Brand tried to destroy the club,” the team claimed “the club and its goals were merely a joke to the BBB, who were there only to breathe life into their dying TV show.”

Yikes. Tell us how you really feel, Lithuania.

Prienai coach Seskus on Ball family: „When our relationship got worse, we saw they were unconcerned. It looked like they were cheering for opposing team. I respect Gelo a lot – he is a good kid. But his father disturbs them to go forward.”

Coach Seskus on LaMelo: "It will be hard for him if somebody won't push him to work. He is a talent, but they're lazy. In Prienai we tried to make them eat well & healthy but they did whatever they wanted. If we didn't watch them closely, they weren't making effort in exercising"

LiAngelo, 19, averaged 12.6 points on 42.5 percent shooting in 21.7 minutes per game, mostly off the bench, over 14 appearances for Vytautas, according to RealGM.com. The 16-year-old LaMelo appeared in just eight games, averaging 6.5 points on 26.8 percent shooting in 12.8 minutes, per RealGM. Prienai finished last and was relegated to the Lithuanian basketball league’s second division last season.

Hawaii wins World Series

SOUTH WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. >> After striking out his 15th batter to end the game, Hawaii’s Aukai Kea pumped his fists and let out a shout for all to hear.

Within seconds, Kea’s teammates sprinted to the pitcher’s mound to congratulate their team’s ace, hugging and pounding on him. Hawaii shut out Georgia 3-0 and Kea’s complete game sealed its berth in the Little League World Series championship.

“I just pitched my heart out,” Kea said. “Did as best I could.”

About 60 feet away, the Hawaii faithful chanted “Hon-o-lulu!” in the stands over the first-base dugout. As his home state dealt with record rainfall from Tropical Storm Lane, Kea took full note of the fans’ energy.

“When I was on the mound, I could hear them and I was like, ‘That’s why we’re here. That’s who we’re playing for. We’re playing for home, playing for Hawaii,’ ” Kea said.

After claiming the U.S championship, Hawaii will face South Korea — which beat Japan 2-1 to win the International championship — at 9 a.m. today in the LLWS championship. The game will be shown live on KITV.

The Honolulu team won the United States championship thanks to Kea’s dominant performance. He struck out 15 and didn’t allow a runner past first base. Kea and Georgia pitcher Connor Riggs-Soper were locked in a pitcher’s duel before the local kids broke through for one run in the fourth on a two-out single by pinch hitter John De la Cruz that plated Hunter Nishina.

Clark Kent defeats Michael Phelps

SALINAS, Calif. — Clark Kent may be Superman, but a 10-year-old boy who shares his name has the powers of Aquaman.

At the Far West International Swimming Championship Sunday, Clark Kent Apuada placed first in all seven events he swam in. But in the 100 meter butterfly, he broke a record set by Olympian Michael Phelps at the same meet back in 1995.

"Most people just call me Clark, but now, when I beat Michael Phelps' record, they start calling me Superman," he said. "I thought to myself yeah if I had positive thoughts, positive things would happen."