Prospect All-Star Game shortenedInclement weather forced an early end to the Prospect League All-Star Game Wednesday in Kokomo, Ind.The West led the East 3-2 when lightning and rain ended the night.The BlueSox had three players see action.Will Schneider went 1-for-2 with an RBI, Tyler Sullivan went 0-for-2 and pitcher Alex Wagner tossed a perfect second inning for the East.

New York governor prohibits Duke gameDURHAM, N.C. — Duke has an opening on its men’s basketball schedule because of the state law that impacts LGBT people.The Blue Devils were supposed to play Albany on Nov. 12 as part of the Hall of Fame Tipoff tournament but there’s no opponent listed on that day in Duke’s schedule.Holly Liapis, spokesman for the State University of New York system that includes Albany, says that game won’t be played because of New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s executive order banning publicly funded, non-essential travel to North Carolina.Cuomo’s order is in response to a North Carolina law that opponents say can allow discrimination against LGBT people.Liapis said SUNY and its campuses continue to support Gov. Cuomo “on taking this stand.”

New Year’s Eve may lose playoffsHOOVER, Ala. — The College Football Playoff will consider moving future semifinals off New Year’s Eve if it can help increase viewership.Executive director Bill Hancock told reporters at Southeastern Conference Media Days the conference commissioners who make up the playoff management committee are open to changing future schedules, starting in 2019 when the semifinals are set for New Year’s Eve.The first College Football Playoff after the 2014 season drew record television ratings for ESPN when the semifinals were played on New Year’s Day. The first game, the Rose Bowl, kicked off around 5:30 p.m. TV ratings dropped 36 percent for the semifinals played after last season when the games kicked off at similar times on New Year’s Eve.

Baylor taps Rhoades as athletic directorWACO, Texas — Baylor has chosen Mack Rhoades from Missouri as its new athletic director.Rhoades replaces Ian McCaw, who resigned on May 30, less than a week after he was put on probation as part of Baylor’s response to a scathing report about its failure to properly respond to allegations of sexual assaults. That report also led the departure of football coach Art Briles.