Sports Today: WBC saves us from lull in March Madness, locals still dancing, Ohio State returns, etc.

Credit: Harry How/Getty Images

Credit: Harry How/Getty Images

After a couple of days off, we’re back to survey the sports scene for today. 

I always find this particular week a bit strange.

After the four-day basketball binge, there’s a real feeling of, “Uh, so now what?” on Monday and Tuesday. Yes, the women’s tournament helps fill the void (if you can get past the woefully inadequate way ESPN chooses to cover it), but now that’s only one day of the men’s tournament void.

Last night, baseball returned to save us from having to watch the news or start getting caught up on shows on the DVR or talk to people.

Team USA beat Japan in a semifinal game at Dodger Stadium thanks to a great pitching performance from Tanner Roark and six relievers.

Adam Jones drove in the winning run with a groundout in the eighth inning.

Tonight the USA plays for its first WBC championship. Puerto Rico stands in the way…

The Reds lost 9-1 yesterday to the Angels as two guys you've never heard of and Tony Cingrani combined to give up nine runs in the last three innings.

Far more important in the grand scheme of things was the performance of Cody Reed, who allowed a hit and two walks in 5 2/3 innings of shutout baseball. The lefty lowered his spring ERA to 3.24…

Credit: Jamie Sabau

Credit: Jamie Sabau

When the tournaments resume, there will be a few local connections.

D'Mitrik Trice of Wayne has evolved into a reliable sub for a Wisconsin team that knocked off defending national champion Villanova.

He might be just a freshman, but he has an idea how to deal with the attention from making the second weekend of the NCAA tournament thanks to the experience of his brother, Travis, with Michigan State.

Meanwhile, Middletown grad Vincent Edwards picked a good time to post back-to-back 20-point games in his career as Purdue beat Vermont and Iowa State to reach the Sweet 16.

"Being in this position is unbelievable after going out in the first round my first two years," Vincent said. "Now we're playing in the Sweet 16 against Kansas in Kansas City. For a small town kid from Middletown, I don't think you could ask for much more."

The junior is now hoping to take the Boilermakers to the Elite Eight for the first time since 2000.

In the women's tournament, there will be a Fairmont High School mini-reunion as Ohio State and Makayla Waterman take on Notre Dame and Kathryn Westbeld.

That pair were part of three OHSAA final fours and combined to lead the Firebirds to the 2013 state championship…

Waterman was among the many folks on the internet to share an interesting couple of minutes of video of Connecticut coach Geno Auriemma talking about the importance of body language (and what it says about attitude).

The clip is actually from last year, but it went viral over the past few days…

The tournament came to an early end for Duke, and that means Franklin graduate Luke Kennard has some extra time to determine if he wants to enter the NBA draft or spend another year in Durham.

Our Jay Morrison notes the Blue Devils' leading scorer is listed as the No. 20 prospect on one draft list…

Over the weekend, the Bengals made a couple of moves: re-signing offensive lineman T.J. Johnson and adding free agent linebacker Kevin Minter.

Pro Football Focus rated Minter as the fifth-best linebacker on the market, saying he is coming off his best season after being a second-round pick from LSU in 2013.

Both players are part of areas the team was weak last year, but there’s much more to do before this team is going to look like a real contender this fall.

Here are five positions the team could look to add more veterans before the draft…

Lastly there is Ohio State football in the news today. 

The Buckeyes returned from spring break to resume spring practice this week, and that meant an opportunity for new quarterbacks coach Ryan Day to talk about what he has seen so far from J.T. Barrett.

Hint: It’s pretty good.

Quarterbacks Day has previously worked with include the likes of Matt Ryan, Colin Kaepernick, Blaine Gabbert and Sam Bradford.

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