April 17, 2025: Today's Connections Clues & Solutions (Puzzle #676)

Today’s Connections Puzzle Review

Today’s Connections puzzle is simpler than you might think, making it easy to get tripped up by overanalyzing the clues. As someone who often finds these puzzles challenging, I was pleasantly surprised by how straightforward this one is compared to previous ones. While it may not seem as difficult at first glance, context is key for deciphering several of the words involved.

Fortunately, the puzzle isn’t cluttered with numerous words that have multiple meanings, aside from a few exceptions. As usual, you have four opportunities to pair words before making a mistake, so careful consideration is essential. Just like the best strategies for Letter Boxed, spotting unique connections among phrases can simplify the overall puzzle.

Hints for Today’s Categories

Date: April 17, Puzzle #676

I successfully solved today’s challenge by identifying common relationships between various words, particularly those that typically go hand in hand. If you were to assign a theme to today’s puzzle, it would revolve around a night at the baseball diamond, as all the topics relate to baseball. This thematic connection is likely tied to the start of the MLB season for 2025, which kicks off this week with the opening games.

With this in mind, here are some hints to help narrow down the categories in today’s puzzle:

One category focuses on terms related to specific parts of the human body.
Another category revolves around items you might use to assemble a tasty pizza.
A separate category relates to the amount of alcohol one might bring to a gathering.
Lastly, one category pertains to the last names of renowned athletes.

A Deeper Dive Into the Categories

Central Section of the Body

Core	Midriff	Torso	Trunk

This section posed a mild challenge for me because I initially thought of "six-pack" in association with "torso" or "core." After a quick rethink, I recognized that "trunk" and "midriff" also accurately describe areas of your body from the chest to the waist. Once I reorganized those two pairs correctly, this section became much clearer to solve.

Components of a Pizza

Cheese	Crust	Sauce	Toppings

Admittedly, I was feeling hungry while tackling this part of the puzzle, which made it easy to identify crust and cheese as key components of an excellent pizza. Naturally, sauce and toppings fit perfectly, leading me to complete that section rapidly. However, my hunger persisted long after finishing, so who knows if my quick insight was truly a success!

Units of Beer

Case	Forty	Growler	Six-Pack

If you’ve ever hosted a gathering, you’re probably familiar with the necessity of a beer run to keep the fun going. I’ve been called upon to grab a case of inexpensive beer for my friends or a more substantial forty or growler for a large event. Although these terms might seem straightforward together, it’s essential to avoid confusing six-pack with other terms like torso or core when working on this puzzle.

Baseball Greats

Bonds	Mantle	Trout	Young

This category was the trickiest for me, as separating these terms from the others proved challenging. The clarity of the other categories made names like Young and Bonds stand out. After disregarding Trout as a potential match for another pairing, I realized Bonds likely referred to Barry Bonds, the famous baseball player. Recognizing the legendary Micky Mantle, alongside Mike Trout and Jacob Young, led me to the correct solution.