HIGH SCHOOLS

Fifteen semifinalists have been named for the 2016 Frank J. Gaziano Memorial Offensive and Defensive Lineman Awards.

The awards go annually to the top senior linemen in Maine high school football.

The nine offensive linemen selected as semifinalists are: Nicholas Bartholomew, Thornton Academy; Sullivan Boyd, Brunswick; John “Trey” Fallon III, Falmouth; Parker Gammon, Bonny Eagle; Nathaniel Jordan, Cape Elizabeth; Dakota Joy, Scarborough; Mark Lucy, Orono; Bryce Whittemore, Dirigo; and Dylan Wike, Portland.

The six defensive linemen semifinalists are: Mitchell Del Frate, Oceanside; Nicholas Giaquinto, Portland; Jacob Jordan, Cape Elizabeth; Austin Lufkin, Brewer; David Redmond, Westbrook; and Raffaele Salamone, Deering.

Culled from 25 nominees, the semifinalists will be interviewed by the selection committee to determine three offensive and three defensive finalists. Award winners are chosen based on strong leadership on the field, in the classroom and in the community.

The two winners each will receive a $5,000 scholarship. The four runners-up will get $1,000 scholarships.

BASEBALL

MAJORS: Michel Baez and the San Diego Padres have agreed to a minor league contract with a $3 million signing bonus.

The 6-foot-8, 20-year-old right-hander pitched for Mayabeque and Pinar del Rio in Cuba in 2014 and has spent time since then working on his mechanics.

San Diego has spent just over $38 million on signing bonuses for international amateurs in the signing period that began July 2, including agreements with Cuban left-hander Adrian Morejon, Cuban outfielder Jorge Ona, Dominican shortstop Luis Almanza, Cuban right-hander Ronald Bolanos, Venezuelan shortstop Gabriel Arias, Dominican outfielder Jeisson Rosario, Venezuelan shortstop Justin Lopez and Dominican shortstop Jordy Barley ($1 million).

San Diego owes a tax of about $34.7 million for exceeding its signing bonus pool of $3.35 million.

• The Pirates bolstered their bullpen, agreeing to an $11 million, two-year contract with reliever Daniel Hudson.

Hudson, 29, will make $5.5 million in both 2017 and 2018.

• Shortstop Jimmy Rollins may be headed back to his native Bay Area, agreeing to a minor league contract with the San Francisco Giantsp.

Rollins, 38, batted .221 with two home runs, eight RBI and five stolen bases last season for the White Sox. He was born in Oakland and went to school in nearby Alameda.

CYCLING

NEW ZEALAND: Several hundred cyclists turned out Tuesday for an early morning ride with Lance Armstrong, who is in New Zealand to film a commercial for a local brewery.

Armstrong issued an invitation by social media to join him cycling around Auckland’s waterfront and a crowd of 1,000 turned out.

Armstrong was stripped of his seven Tour de France titles and banned for life from cycling in 2013 after admitting he used performance-enhancing drugs throughout his career.

AUTO RACING

NASCAR: NASCAR’s top series will be called the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series beginning next year.

The change of name from the Sprint Cup Series comes with Monster Energy’s new deal to be the title sponsor of NASCAR’s top division.

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