Rhode Island righthander Joe Ciancola died Thursday following a medical emergency during a team preseason conditioning workout.

Ciancola, 20, is a Connecticut product who played his high school baseball and hockey at Amity High in Woodbridge, Conn.

According to a press release from the Atlantic-10 Conference, Ciancola suffered a medical emergency during a team preseason conditioning workout on Monday, Oct. 24.  He was transported to South County Hospital in South Kingstown, R.I., and was later transported to Providence's Rhode Island Hospital. The cause of death had yet to be determined.

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PEORIA, Ariz.—The Arizona Senior Fall Classic kicked off Thursday, bringing hundreds of scouts and college coaches to the spring training complex of the Padres and Mariners. The four-day event features 61 travel and scout teams, primarily from the West.

While coaches and scouts intermingle throughout the 12 fields, there is one event at the tournament geared more for the college coaches: the All Academic Game. The game shines a spotlight on the players with the best grades and test scores, and about 75 college recruiting coordinators showed up to the game Thursday night.

"For a school like us, academics is an important piece," Duke recruiting coordinator Edwin Thompson said. "So having them be able to get the best of the best that are here in one spot helps us out for the rest of the weekend."

Thompson said this All Academic Game is one-of-a-kind.

"It's a benefit for us because instead of looking through all the rosters, you know all these guys have the grades to be able to get into Ivy League or other high academic schools," he said. [...] Continue Reading »

Arizona State will leave Packard Stadium for the new spring training facility of the Chicago Cubs in Mesa, most likely in 2014. Arizona's Board of Regents approved a 30-year deal that has been in the works for several months.

As the Arizona Republic reported, ASU will lease a 3.2-acre parcel of land for parking, and the Sun Devils will retain parking revenues from their own games. Arizona State will not have to pay rent to the Cubs until they make $1.1 million in revenue from parking, tickets and concessions. Additionally, the Sun Devils will spend about $2 million to build their own clubhouse and practice facilities at the new park.

Former ASU coach Pat Murphy long contended that Packard Stadium, opened in 1974, was dramatically outdated and in need of major renovations, even after ASU spent $1 million on a clubhouse and events plaza in 2004. Partnering with the Cubs allows the Sun Devils to move into a sparkling state-of-the-art facility at minimal expense. Current ASU coach Tim Esmay is not yet commenting on the move.

ASU's move comes two months after Arizona announced it was leaving 44-year-old Jerry Kindall Field at Frank Sancet stadium to move into Hi Corbett Field in 2012. The former spring training home of the Colorado Rockies, Corbett FIeld is currently undergoing a number of upgrades, including renovations to the clubhouses and locker rooms and a new scoreboard/video board.