Baseball pitcher Jeff Burke from Baylor School has been chosen to receive Boston College’s Timothy M. Padulsky Award on April 28 as the sophomore who has “mentored and encouraged other students to develop effective skills in inclusive leadership and teamwork,” according to the school release. Burke, the son of Chattanooga Lookouts owner Frank Burke, is part of a BC program mentoring elementary school students and has traveled the last two years on service trips to New Orleans, helping rebuild homes destroyed by Hurricane Katina. He also is the baseball team’s representative on the student-athlete advisory committee. “When you think of the ‘Ever to Excel’ motto that we have here at BC, [Burke] is someone who exemplifies that better than anyone I’ve ever coached here,” Eagles baseball coach Mike Gambino said. “From his GPA to his community service to how hard he works on the baseball field, he strives to excel in everything he does.” Calling the award “a really nice honor” and “really humbling,” Burke explained that he tries “to make sure I’m as positive as I can be. … Even when I feel like I’m having a tough time or terrible luck, I realize that I’m so lucky and blessed with my opportunities.”
• Scott Gillespie had two doubles and an RBI and scored a run in Covenant’s 6-3 USA South baseball loss to Methodist on Thursday at Wilson, N.C. Perry Rigby tripled in a run and scored for the Scots (20-9, 14-5), who had only five hits in the opener of a three-game series. Steven Kirby of Methodist (18-11, 12-7) broke a 3-3 tie with a sixth-inning home run, his first of the season.
• Zack Sutton was 4-for-5 with a homer, a double, six RBIs and four runs and Jack Whaley went 5-for-5 with a triple, a double, four RBIs and four runs as Sewanee overpowered visiting Rust 25-2 in NCAA Division III baseball Thursday. Then Sewanee won again, 10-1. Michael Walker and Grant Goodson each was 3-for-4 with three RBIs and three runs in the first game for the Tigers (11-19), who outhit Rust 24-5 in support of four pitchers. Tony Dykes and Chris Erdmier each had two RBIs, Nate Barnett was 2-for-3 with three runs and Nathan Warren was 2-for-3 with two runs. In game two, four Tigers pitchers combined on a three-hitter, and Whaley was 1-for-2 with three runs and an RBI, Ben Clune tripled and both scored and drove in two runs and Walker was 1-for-1 with two runs and two RBIs as well. Jackson Cooper was 2-for-3 and scored a rn.
Basketball
• Former University of Tennessee at Chattanooga basketball standout Herbert “Book” McCray and former Auburn star and UTC assistant coach Gerald White have set up middle school all-star basketball games Saturday afternoon at Notre Dame High School between Chattanooga and Atlanta eighth-graders. The City of Champions girls’ game is set up for 1 p.m.; the boys play at 3. “It’s going to be a festive atmosphere, similar to the NBA All-Star weekend,” McCray said, noting that 3-point and free-throw shooting contests will be held and an all-academic team will be announced. Admission costs $5. “Gerald does work with young people in Atlanta and I do work with young people here,” McCray said, “and we have talked many times about making our kids ambassadors for their cities and building relationships. And playing against the best, our best will get better.” Atlanta will host the games next April.