John Wright, Murray Ledger & Times Journalist Profile

Articles

A Racer legend’s son in Stanley Cup Finals; ‘It’s insane!’; Jones earns second major sports title for his family, makes history

1 week ago | murrayledger.com | John Wright

SUNRISE, Fla. — Someday, a quiz competition game show may offer this question. “Who is the first father-and-son combination to win both an NBA world championship in basketball and the Stanley Cup in hockey?” The answer has Murray State’s hoofprints all over it.
Wright On; Arky’s Wood defines the CWS sprit

1 week ago | murrayledger.com | John Wright

For those of you wondering why a piece like this has not appeared yet (because, by now, you know that I latch onto stuff like this very quickly), there are a few reasons. First and foremost, the aftermath of Monday’s 3-0 loss in the College World Series for Murray State to Southeastern Conference baseball power Arkansas could be best described as chaos. The postgame news conference took about an hour to complete after the game and left me with little time to do anything other than the game story.
Yantko: Skirka will remain as Racers’ head coach

1 week ago | murrayledger.com | John Wright

MURRAY — Most of Racer Nation was, pretty much, resigned to the fact that Murray State Head Baseball Coach Dan Skirka was likely headed elsewhere after guiding the program to the greatest season in its history. Bigger schools from bigger conferences were circling after Skirka’s seventh season in Murray resulted in the Racers’ first-ever run to the College World Series and instant national attention.
Miss Courageous; A year later, Lady Laker Rodgers’ state bronze medal still brings pride

1 week ago | murrayledger.com | John Wright

MURRAY — In early June 2024, the Clark’s Pump-N-Shop Kentucky State High School Class 2A Track and Field Championship bore witness to an amazing story. In fact, it probably should not have even happened. It involved a then-junior high jumper named Alec Rodgers from Calloway County, who was not trying to do anything “real difficult.” All she was trying to do was compete with a recently-diagnosed broken left foot. “I found out three weeks before the (2A Region 1 Championship at Paducah) and State.
Wright On; Everybody here wants to enjoy ‘Baseball Heaven’

1 week ago | murrayledger.com | John Wright

Regardless of the outcome of Monday’s College World Series matchup with Southeastern Conference baseball superpower and tournament favorite Arkansas, Murray State fans were going to enjoy this experience to every last drop.
Murray State in College World Series; Amazing run ends; Arky’s Wood throws no-hitter to eliminate Racers

1 week ago | murrayledger.com | John Wright

OMAHA — It took a pitcher’s best day to end the greatest baseball season in Murray State history today in Omaha. In simplest terms, the Racers could not handle Arkansas pitcher Gage Wood, who entered today carrying an entire fan base’s dreams on his shoulders.
Murray State in College World Series; Racers can’t catch UCLA in late innings

1 week ago | murrayledger.com | John Wright

An almost-capacity crowd of 24,000-plus fans at Omaha’s Charles Schwab Field seemed to be begging for a chance to help College World Series rookie Murray State in Saturday’s baseball contest with UCLA. Racer Nation was loud, but fans of the day’s second matchup between Southeastern Conference superpowers Arkansas and Louisiana State were adding to the decibel level. And that support seemed to give Racers life after a big fourth inning had put the Bruins in command of a six-run lead.
College World Series; Racers can’t catch UCLA in late innings

1 week ago | murrayledger.com | John Wright

OMAHA — An almost-capacity crowd of 24,000-plus fans at Omaha’s Charles Schwab Field seemed to be begging for a chance to help College World Series rookie Murray State in today’s baseball contest with UCLA. Racer Nation was loud, but fans of the day’s second matchup between Southeastern Conference superpowers Arkansas and Louisiana State were adding to the decibel level. And that support seemed to give Racers life after a big fourth inning had put the Bruins in command of a six-run lead.
Decker is not a prototypical cleanup man … but he’s still carrying big stick

2 weeks ago | murrayledger.com | John Wright

MURRAY — Anyone who watched the television coverage of Murray State’s NCAA Baseball Championship Super Regional defeat of host Duke probably heard play-by-play voices Clay Matvick and Gregg Olson talk numerous times about Murray State cleanup batter Dom Decker. And how he has not hit a home run this year. For anyone not familiar with the game of baseball, the “clean-up” spot in the lineup is reserved for the No. 4 batter.
Skirka relishes experiencing Racers’ postseason run with son by his side

2 weeks ago | murrayledger.com | John Wright

MURRAY — Monday night marked the first time in Murray State baseball history that the cameras of sports giant ESPN’s main network had been present for a Racers game. The occasion was worthy — the Racers’ third and deciding game of the NCAA Championship Durham Super Regional on the home turf of host Duke — Jack Coombs Field.