Norwich — Norwich Sea Unicorns pitcher Jayvien Sandridge has left the team after signing with the Cincinnati Reds on Thursday, the first player to ink a professional contract during the team's Futures Collegiate Baseball League tenure.

Sandridge, a 6-foot-5 lefthander from Hagerstown, Md., pitched for Division II Lynn University in Boca Raton, Fla. He will report to Cincinnati's minor league complex in Goodyear, Arizona.

Sandridge pitched in four games for Lynn during the 2021 season, striking out six in 8.2 innings with a 3.12 ERA.

"Jayvien is a great mature young man and came in here with tremendous potential for a bright baseball career," Sea Unicorns manager Devin Belenski said in a release. "Although his stay was short, it was very worthwhile for the Sea Unicorns and Jayvien. There is a lot he brought to our team and a lot we brought to him to introduce each other to both the college and professional brands of baseball."

Added general manager Dave Schermerhorn, "We're thrilled that Jayvien is moving on to join the Cincinnati Reds organization and look forward to watching his progression as a professional. "Having a talent like Jayvien with us here in Norwich exemplifies the high quality level of baseball that the FCBL showcases and we are happy that he was with us for this step in his career."

In other baseball news:

• The FCBL and Sea Unicorns announced Norwich's Saturday, July 24 game against the Westfield Starfires at Dodd Stadium will be televised live on the New England Sports Network (NESN) at noon. The FCBL and NESN announced a partnership that will be called "Futures League Saturdays on NESN" and will feature four noon games. The Worcester Bravehearts will host the Pittsfield Suns on July 10, the Nashua Silver Knights will host the Brockton Rox on July 17 followed by the Sea Unicorns-Starfires game on the 24th and ending with a game between the Vermont Lake Monsters and New Britain Bees on July 31 at New Britain Stadium.

• Former Lyman Memorial star Colton Bender hit a two-run homer to break a 2-2 tie and lead Norwich to a 4-2 win over the New Britain Bees on Thursday night. Bender (Quinnipiac) was 3-for-4. Michael Torniero (CCSU) was 3-for-4 with three runs scored for Norwich (7-7).

College honors

• Connecticut College senior water polo captain Stephania Lopez has been nominated for the NCAA Woman of the Year Award, an award which honors graduating student-athletes who have distinguished themselves throughout their careers in academics, athletics, service and leadership.

Lopez is one of four players from the New England Small College Athletic Conference to be nominated, joining three swimmers — Amherst's Lindsey Ruderman, Bowdoin's Mary Laurita and Tufts' Amy Socha. NESCAC administrators will select one to move forward for the national award.

Lopez, a Chicago native, graduated with a 3.77 grade point average while earning her degree in behavioral neuroscience. She plans to pursue a master's degree in public health and physician assistant studies.

UConn's Edwards on Canadian team

• UConn women's basketball sophomore Aaliyah Edwards was named to the Canada Basketball Senior Women's National Team roster for the FIBA Women's AmeriCup 2021. In her first season in Storrs, Edwards was named the Big East Sixth Woman of the Year and to the Big East All-Freshman Team. She averaged 10.7. points and 5.7 rebounds per game.

The AmeriCup will run June 11-19. The top four finishers will advance to one of four FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup 2022 Qualifying Tournaments which will take place in Feb. 2022. Canada will compete in Group A along with Brazil, Colombia, Virgin Islands and El Salvador. Group B will consist of USA, Puerto Rico, Argentina, Dominican Republic and Venezuela.