on May 22 his spot was skipped due to two days off. San Diego took

The Toronto Maple Leafs "stumbled on" Connor Brown a few years ago and are pleased with their discovery. The Erie Otters captain was named the Ontario Hockey Leagues most outstanding player for 2013-14 on Tuesday. Brown led the league in scoring and set a franchise record with 45 goals and 83 assists in 68 games. Chosen near the bottom of both his OHL and NHL drafts, the 20-year-old Toronto forward has played himself into a strong pro prospect. He was the 251st pick out of 301 players four years ago in the OHL draft. The Leafs chose him in the sixth round, 156th overall, in 2012. His buddy Matt Finn, captain of the Guelph Storm and a fellow Leafs prospect, recently said "With Connor, its always been about proving people wrong." But Brown says his motivation is more about the pursuit of his dream than spite. "I definitely dont think much has come easy, being late picks in both drafts," he acknowledged during a conference call. "Its just more incentive to work hard. "I think I wanted to work hard not to prove people wrong, but I know I needed to work harder to have a shot at signing an NHL contract and having a shot at making the NHL one day." Brown has signed a three-year, entry level contract with the Leafs. He caught their eye in 2011 when scouts went to Erie, Pa., to evaluate Leafs prospect Sondre Olden. "Each time we went down to watch this Maple Leaf pick, wed stumble on Connor Brown," Leafs director of player Jim Hughes said. "Erie was having a difficult year and the scores, the deficits, never changed Connors desire, never changed his moods during the course of the game. "He was always focused and it didnt matter if he was winning 5-1 or losing 5-1, his personality never changed. He always played for the love of the game. He always played with passion. We obviously have big plans for Connor moving forward." Brown led Erie to the best season in its 18-year history with 52 wins and 106 points. The Otters lost this years Western Conference final to Guelph in five games. Brown had eight goals and 10 assists in 14 playoff games. The five-foot-11 170-pound right-winger is currently practising with Torontos American Hockey League team -- the Marlies -- at the MasterCard Centre. He intends to spend most of the summer there building strength and working on his skating skills with former Canadian pairs figure skater Barb Underhill. Hughes says Brown needs time to develop "man-strength." "Come September, I think my game and my physical state, I think Ill be ready to play with better and stronger players," Brown said. Brown is the first Otter to win the OHL scoring title and the second to earn the Red Tilson Trophy as league MVP after Brad Boyes in both 2001 and 2002. The trophy is named in honour of Albert (Red) Tilson, who was a former Oshawa General killed in action during the Second World War. Brown led the league in power-play points with 54 and carried a plus-minus of plus-44 through the regular season. In a poll of Western Conference coaches, he was voted the best in a shootout, second in penalty killing and third in the smartest player category. "Whoever is preparing to play hockey anywhere, will not outwork Connor Brown and his will to prepare," Otters general manager Sherry Bassin said. "Whatever work ethic is necessary, whatever that measurement is, hell do more." Media members vote on the award and Brown was the clear winner with 321 points tabulated from 80 ballots. Oshawa Generals centre Scott Laughton was the runner-up with 120 points and top NHL draft prospect Sam Bennett of the Kingston Frontenacs was third with 68. Previous winners include New York Islanders forward John Tavares (Oshawa, 2007), Nashville Predators defenceman Ryan Ellis (Windsor, 2011) and Florida Panthers defenceman Brian Campbell (Ottawa, 1999). Vincent Trochek, the centre who won the award last year with the Plymouth Whalers, split this past season between the Panthers and their AHL team in San Antonio, Texas. Brown is the OHLs candidate for the Canadian Hockey Leagues player of the year. Hell be up against Sam Reinhart of the Western Hockey Leagues Kootenay Ice and Anthony Mantha of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey Leagues Val-dOr Foreurs. The winner will be announced May 24 during the MasterCard Memorial Cup in London, Ont. Arizona Diamondbacks Gear . -- The Toronto Maple Leafs are tightening the race for second place in the Atlantic Division. Arizona Diamondbacks Store . - In about six minutes, the Memphis Grizzlies had allowed their 23-point lead to be cut to seven. https://www.cheapdiamondbacksjerseys.us/ . PETERSBURG, Fla. Wholesale Diamondbacks Jerseys . Watch the game live on TSN and TSN GO at 9pm et/6pm pt. Serge Ibaka returned to the Thunder lineup from a calf injury that was supposed to sideline him for the remainder of the postseason and the results were sparkling. Fake Diamondbacks Jerseys .And although FIFAs investigators are preparing to release the findings of a World Cup corruption probe, Hassan Al Thawadi dismissed any chance of Qatar losing the showpiece event.SAN DIEGO -- Andrew Cashner was back on the mound for the San Diego Padres, who found just enough offence late in the game to beat the Washington Nationals. Yonder Alonso homered with two outs in the ninth inning to tie the game and Cameron Maybin hit an RBI bloop single with two outs in the 11th to give the Padres a 4-3 victory Saturday night. Chase Headley started the winning rally when he singled to left with two outs off Craig Stammen (0-2). Alonso walked before Maybin singled in front of right-fielder Jayson Werth. Headley easily beat the throw home. "I managed to get just enough bat on it," Maybin said. "It feels real great. Were grinding, man. It was bigger to get a win tonight. Weve been scuffling but weve been battling every night. For me it was huge because we have a chance to win the series tomorrow." Joaquin Benoit (2-0) pitched a perfect 11th for the win. Alonso tied the game at 3 in the ninth when he homered into the Jack Daniels party deck atop the right-field wall on a 1-1 pitch from Rafael Soriano. It was Alonsos fifth homer and Sorianos second blown save in 14 opportunities. Alonsos shot denied Washington rookie Blake Treinen his first big league win. Treinen was on track for the win after Ian Desmond hit a 432-foot, two-run home run with two outs in the seventh inning to give the Nationals a 3-2 lead. Cashner left with a 2-0 lead after six innings in his return from the disabled list. The tall Texan allowed only two hits, struck out five and walked one on 70 pitches. Out since mid-May with a sore right elbow, Cashner retired his final 16 batters and lowered his ERA to 2.13. "Its good having him back out there," Maybin said. "Hes a bulldog. Were confident whenever that guys out there." Cashner got in trouble in the first inning when the Nationals had runners on second and third with one out. But catcher Rene Rivera threw out Kevin Frandsen when he strayed too far off third and Ryan Zimmerman forced Adam LaRoche at second to end the inning. "It was fun to get back," Cashner said. "First inning there was a little trouble, buut it was a big throw by Rene getting that out there.dddddddddddd I think my fastball had the most movement Ive had in a long time." Nick Vincent replaced Cashner and surrendered the lead in a span of five batters. LaRoche doubled with one out and scored on Ryan Zimmermans double to right. With two outs, Desmond homered well over the 396 sign in centre field. The Padres had the potential winning run on second after Rivera doubled off the left-field wall with one out in the 10th. Chris Denorfia struck out and Everth Cabrera flied out to left. Rivera was stranded at third in the eighth after he doubled to left and was sacrificed by pinch-hitter Denorfia. Cabrera flied out to centre and Carlos Quentin, pinch-hitting for left-hander Will Venable against righty Tyler Clippard, struck out. Treinen was making his third career start. He allowed two runs and five hits in six innings, struck out one and walked one. After his last start on May 22 his spot was skipped due to two days off. San Diego took a 2-0 lead against the rookie in the fourth on RBI doubles by Headley and Maybin. "I felt good physically," Treinen said. "I felt like I was getting myself in trouble by getting behind in counts. But I made pitches when I needed to and then in that one inning I threw some pitches out over the plate." NOTES: The Padres drafted Johnny Manziel, the Cleveland Browns quarterback and 2012 Heisman Trophy winner while at Texas A&M, in the 28th round of the MLB draft, the 837th player taken. ... The Nationals drafted Ryan Ripken, the son of Hall of Famer Cal Ripken Jr., in the 15th round. ... Nationals 3B Anthony Rendon sat out with a sore right hand. He was struck trying to field Carlos Quentins smash in the fourth inning and committed a throwing error. He committed a fielding error the next inning. Manager Matt Williams said Rendons hand was swollen and "pretty sore." ... To make room for Cashner, LHP Jason Lane was designated for assignment. ... The series concludes Sunday when RHP Jordan Zimmermann (4-2, 3.59) is scheduled to start against lefty Eric Stults (2-6, 5.03). ' ' '