News sports 2008-04-24 Andanh.com

Cats clip Tops in 2-1 duel Thu, 24 Apr 2008 11:30:44 -0500
After holding the best offense in the Southeastern Conference to just four hits over nine innings Wednesday, it’s easy to think the result would have been positive for Western Kentucky. But unfortunately for the Hilltoppers, the Wildcats’ pitching staff is no slouch. No. 17 Kentucky used five pitchers and held WKU to just six hits to escape with a 2-1 win in front of an all-time record crowd of 3,057 at Nick Denes Field. “That was a heck of a game,” said WKU coach Chris Finwood, whose team also received a gift of $500,000 for a new clubhouse from alumnus Paul Orberson. “We pitched great tonight, and had a couple of chances early but just didn’t get it done - but you’ve got to give their pitchers credit, they’ve got a super ballclub. “We did about everything we could do except get a couple of those big hits.” UK got on the board first in the top of the third inning, when centerfielder Collin Cowgill took a Matt Hightower offering and put it over the right field wall to make it 1-0. The Wildcats added to the lead in the top of the sixth when second baseman Ryan Wilkes hit a solo homer of his own, this time to left field, giving UK the cushion it would need to hang on. The Hilltoppers’ lone run came in the bottom half of the sixth, as J.B. Paxson hit a solo homer to right off Wildcat reliever Tommy Warner to make it 2-1. The loss spoiled a fine pitching performance from not only starter Hightower, but also from relievers Rye Davis, Garrie Krueger, Adam Balcom and Evan Teague, who combined to four-hit a UK squad that led the SEC in 10 offensive categories heading into the evening. But as Hightower said, sometimes making just a few mistakes is all it really takes. “I felt really good going into it,” said Hightower, who took the loss after allowing two runs on just three hits while fanning six over 52/3 innings. “But really it was just two mistakes, both balls left up - the one was a changeup to Cowgill and he hit it real well and the other kid was a fastball in that was left up and he hit it where he was supposed to. “It was two mistakes and that wound up getting us.” As tough as the loss was to swallow for WKU (23-17), Paxson said the team can take a little solace in the fact it played a Top 25 intrastate rival down to the wire in front of a record crowd at home. “The support is growing for us,” Paxson said. “It’s great, and it’s not just our sport it’s every sport here - with football going to (Division I) and everybody else doing well you expect to win games. “We’re not into moral victories and we expect to play them close, and hopefully everybody here liked what they saw and we’ve got two big weekend series left and maybe they’ll come out to see us.” UK coach John Cohen tipped his hat to WKU - saying the entire program has grown since the Wildcats’ last visit to Bowling Green two years ago. “What a great atmosphere and what a great job the coaching staff at Western has done,” Cohen said. “To see how far it’s come since we came here two years ago is just a real credit to those guys and I know how hard they’ve work - with the fundraising they’ve done, how good the yard looks, they’ve just done a phenomenal job. “And I’ll tell you what, the product they’re putting on the field is real good. The Sun Belt is a tough, solid league with tremendous competition and they’ve got a great club.” Warner took the win for UK (31-10) in relief of starter Mike Kaczmarek, who lasted only an inning. Warner allowed one run on five hits while striking out five over five innings. Relievers Brock Baber and Andrew Albers combined to throw 22/3 innings of scoreless baseball before Scott Green came on to throw the final strike of the game to record the save. Finwood agreed with Paxson in saying the team isn’t about moral victories anymore, but said the atmosphere was tremendous and the way the game played out is proof of how far the program has come in just a few short years. “We’re so appreciative of everybody that came out and it was a great atmosphere and a great crowd - it’s the best it’s been here, that’s for sure,” Finwood said. “You hold them down to four hits and a couple solo home runs you think you would have a shot to win, but that’s baseball. “Our guys are really disappointed, there’s no moral victories for us anymore as we play these type of teams a lot now and we’re right there with a good chance to win.” UK 001 001 000 — 2 4 1 WKU 000 001 000 — 1 6 0 WP: T. Warner (3-0); LP: Hightower (3-4); S: S. Green (1)

WKU, Cards near 4-year deal Thu, 24 Apr 2008 11:30:48 -0500
The Western Kentucky and Louisville men’s basketball programs have nearly finalized a four-year series which would begin in Nashville next season and include a game at E.A. Diddle Arena. WKU athletic director Wood Selig said Wednesday the schools are “very close” to completing the deal, and Louisville coach Rick Pitino said in a news conference Wednesday that the two schools would play. After meeting this upcoming season at Nashville’s Sommet Center, Louisville is expected to visit Bowling Green for the 2010-11 season, while WKU would play at Louisville in 2009-10 and 2011-12. “When it comes to our schedule, there’s only two teams that can move the interest needle a gargantuan amount and that’s the University of Louisville and Kentucky,” Selig said. It would be Louisville’s first trip to Bowling Green since 1990 and the schools’ first meeting since 2003, which at the time caused some public friction. The game was originally supposed to be played at Diddle Arena before Louisville bought out of the contract when Pitino arrived. Louisville eventually beat WKU 93-63 in Nashville, in former WKU coach Darrin Horn’s first season “Husbands and wives make up,” Pitino said. Pitino said Louisville approached WKU about beginning a series and cited his relationship with Horn for doing so. Horn left for South Carolina earlier this spring and former WKU assistant Ken McDonald took over this month. “For (Pitino) to consider this series, I think is great,” McDonald said. “I think the tradition in the state is so strong that we all should be playing each other if we can. I think it's good for the fans in Kentucky, period. We hope we can get it done. We're close, but we have to iron some things out. But it seems like we're moving in a direction I'm real excited about.” Selig said adding Louisville to the schedule helps WKU’s goal of beefing up its nonconference schedule. “Darrin Horn and I sat down in the middle of the season said we needed to enhance the strength of our nonconference schedule,” Selig said. “With this series and others that are close, I’m confident we can do that.” Nashville has been a familiar home for the Hilltoppers. It fell 88-82 to Tennessee last season in the nightcap of the Sun Belt Classic in front of 18,071 fans. Middle Tennessee and Memphis played the opener. While Selig said there’s talks of another Sun Belt Classic, the Louisville game wouldn’t be a part of it. “With the premium on tickets, we think that’s a stand alone game,” Selig said. “It’s a little bit special.”

McDonald introduces assistants Thu, 24 Apr 2008 11:30:49 -0500
Along with recruiting players, new Western Kentucky coach Ken McDonald faced a major recruiting job with assistant coaches. Soon after McDonald landed the WKU position earlier this month, he had former Kentucky Wesleyan coach Ray Harper pegged as an assistant. But then Western Illinois was interested in hiring Harper for its head coaching position. Let the recruiting process begin. “Sleep wasn’t happening a whole lot,” McDonald joked. “When that happened, I said ‘Ray, you have to check it out. Because I don’t want you to come here and regret even a little bit that you didn’t check out that opportunity.’ I then went into recruiting mode and called the wife (Shannon) and told her she was going to get a red sweatshirt. But we landed him and Ray was kind of the first recruit we signed.” In the end, Harper stuck with WKU. He and former Binghamton assistant Lawrence Brenneman and former Hilltopper standout David Boyden were formally announced today as McDonald’s coaching staff. “A lot of things went in my mind when putting together the staff and I couldn’t be happier with the three guys that I got,” McDonald said. “I think it was important for me to bring assistant coaches that were good specifically to Western Kentucky.” Both Harper and Boyden bring Kentucky ties. Harper led Kentucky Wesleyan to two NCAA Division II national titles and left Oklahoma City for WKU after winning two NAIA titles. Boyden played at WKU from 2000-03 and reached the NCAA Tournament three times. He finished with 1,167 career points. After graduating from WKU in 2003, Boyden joined former WKU coach Dennis Felton at Georgia in administrative roles before becoming a full-time assistant at Eastern Kentucky the past three seasons. EKU reached the 2007 NCAA Tournament. “It’s bittersweet,“ Boyden said. “Western Kentucky is a place near and dear to my heart that I wanted to be back at. This is home for me, this is my family. But in the last three years, I did develop great relationships with the people at Eastern Kentucky, my co-workers, the players we had recruited. “The hardest thing was telling those guys I was leaving, but at the other end of the stick, I’m super-excited to be back here. At the end of the day, the reasons for coming back were overwhelming.” Added McDonald: “I like the fact that he has won championships on this Hill.” Harper was out of town today, but said in a statement: “Kentucky is home to me, I knew this is where I wanted to be. WKU has had a lot of success in basketball - it’s a special place, I have always kept up with the program. I am happy and excited to be a part of it.” Brenneman, a Kansas native, spent the last eight seasons at Binghamton, but has known McDonald for more than a decade after they first met at a high school tournament. During Brenneman’s stint, Binghamton moved from Division II to Division I. Brenneman also spent four seasons at Seward County Community College. “The difference with Western Kentucky (and Binghamton) is the tradition is here,” Brenneman said. “Ken always eluded that this is a special place. You want to be at a place where you have the opportunity to be at the Sweet 16 and the NCAA Tournament.”

Businessman makes $500K donation for WKU facility Thu, 24 Apr 2008 11:30:50 -0500
After finding success on the athletic field and in the business world, Paul Orberson believes in treating people around him well. That philosophy helped turn Orberson into a multi-millionaire at a relatively young age, and also benefits his alma mater. Orberson, a former Western Kentucky pitcher and founder of the Fortune Hi-Tech Marketing company, has donated $500,000 to the school to be used for a new baseball clubhouse named in his honor. “Western, to me, the institution itself has always been about the people here,” Orberson said. “And when I went into my first teaching job my father told me, ‘Now remember, boy, these kids are going to forget what you teach them - but they will never, ever forget how you treat them.’ “And that translates to Western - it’s a great school and it’s about the people and the spirit of what I found here and what I hope others will, too.” The son of a Danville pastor, Orberson pitched on scholarship at WKU from the spring of 1976 to 1979. From there, he took a teaching position and coached baseball at Warren Elementary School before eventually catching on with the Excel Telecommunications company. After a successful run at Excel, Orberson retired at age 39 in 1997. But he didn’t stay idle, as he missed the relationships he had made in the business world. So his Fortune Hi-Tech Marketing company was born in January 2001 and serves hundreds of thousands of customers in the United States alone. Orberson was brought up in Danville to a working class family - something he said he cherishes to this day. “My mother worked a job, my father was a small country church preacher and a teacher,” Orberson said. “I didn’t think we were poor or rich or whatever - we had what we needed, I had clothes and food and everything was OK. “We pretty much led a regular, ordinary life and I’m very thankful for that.” Oberson said his time at WKU also shaped his future, and he credits several of the lessons learned both on the diamond and on campus. “Western enlarged my vision of the world,” Orberson said. “And I can’t tell you how (exciting) it is to come back - and it’s not about me, I could care less about that, but it’s great to see that there’s a lot going on here. “And I’ve said this many times, that the kingdom will take the characteristics of the king, and this campus looks to me that things are moving along in a very positive way.” With the donation and the new clubhouse - which WKU says will be built and ready before the start of next season - Orberson’s name will be permanent at his alma mater. But he said most important is the positive message he hopes to bring to current and future players - that as long as hard work and determination is involved, a person can accomplish just about anything he or she wants. “This is a great country, and there’s so much opportunity here,” Orberson said. “If you go places people seem to say that there’s no opportunity anymore and it’s all gone - no, don’t believe what you hear, there’s more opportunity now than ever. You know, some of them might not make it in baseball but maybe that’s the best thing for them. “We don’t know if we’ve had a good day or bad day even when it’s over because we don’t know about where we weren’t that day where something really bad could’ve happened.”

WKU men’s golf takes 4th at SBC tourney Thu, 24 Apr 2008 11:30:51 -0500
Western Kentucky’s men’s golf team finished fourth Wednesday at the Sun Belt Conference Championships in Muscle Shoals, Ala., landing four strokes off the pace set by champion Denver. Brent Long and Justin Perry each finished in the top five - Long third and Perry tied for fourth. The Hilltoppers posted their best score of the tournament on the final day. The squad carded a 280 to end the championship at 7-under-par 857. Long started the day tied for second but could not overtake eventual champion Johnny Caldwell of South Alabama. Long finished at 8-under-par, including a 1-under 71 in the final round. Perry shot a 65 on Wednesday to finish at 7-under par. He entered the day even-par and knotted at 16th. Adam McDonald rounded out the top 15, tying for 14th at 1-under-par. Neil Horsley posted his best round of the tournament on the final day with a 1-over-par 73 and tied for 45th overall. Alex Yost recorded a three-day total of 240 and finished the event 58th. Additionally, Long and Perry earned all-conference honors from the SBC. Lady Topper golfers finish 9th Western Kentucky’s women’s golf team fired a final round 312 on Wednesday at the Sun Belt Conference Championships, giving the Lady Toppers a cumulative score of 943 (328-303-312) for the three-round event in Muscle Shoals, Ala. After firing the best single-round by a WKU squad since 2005 at Wednesday’s second round, the Lady Toppers finished the tournament almost as strong Wednesday, concluding play with the lowest total score at any three-round event for WKU in more than six years. The finish landed WKU in ninth place overall, just four strokes behind their closest opponent, Arkansas State. The best round of the day for WKU came from junior Victoria Sansom, who fired a 2-over-par 74 to eclipse her previous career-best round by two strokes. Sansom, a Russellville native, is in her first year with the women’s golf program, and concluded the tournament with a total score of 82-78-74-234, good enough to tie her for 23rd place overall. Earning her fifth top-20 finish of the season was Lauren Scholl, who fired a final round 77 to end the tournament in 14th with an overall score of 78-75-77-230. Scholl finished the event with the team’s best score, an accomplishment she has earned at eight of the squad’s 10 events this season. Denver ran away with the team title. Stephanie Sherlock (70-73-65-208) of Denver won medalist honors. Hilltopper softball gets a sweep Western Kentucky took down Belmont by a combined 17 runs in a pair of games Wednesday at Aquinas Field in Nashville. WKU won the first contest 12-2 and followed that up with a 10-3 victory in the nightcap. The Hilltoppers (20-26) were up 4-2 heading into the fourth before they exploded for five runs with two outs. Singles from Brittney Perry, Lindsay Antone and Rebecca Horesky each produced runs before Shelby Smith singled up the middle to score two more and give WKU a 9-2 advantage. Ryan Rogge (12-13) earned the victory, but Lauren Caudill grabbed a save after three innings of work while allowing just one hit. Five Toppers collected two hits each and Smith added three RBIs for the contest. Five of the 10 runs in game two were manufactured by singles from the Toppers. Ashley Contreras, McCauley and Smith each singled home runs while Horesky tallied two singles that each plated a run. Smith also doubled to left center in the first inning to add two more runs. Jennifer Kempf (8-11) was victorious after four innings of work and Caudill collected her second save of the night on three innings to close out the game. WKU returns to Sun Belt Conference play this weekend when it hosts South Alabama for a doubleheader starting at 1 p.m. Saturday at the WKU Softball Complex. Between games, the Hilltoppers will honor lone senior Shelby Smith.

Kentucky Derby Festival miniMarathon Thu, 24 Apr 2008 04:01:00 EST
On Saturday morning, Jim Hans will be running the Kentucky Derby Festival miniMarathon for the second straight year.

Door is closed on Caracter Thu, 24 Apr 2008 04:06:00 EST
Derrick Caracter wants to come back for his junior season. He hasn't hired an agent, still is attending classes at the University of Louisville and sends coach Rick Pitino text messages almost every day.

Caracter case reminiscent of Rod Rhodes Thu, 24 Apr 2008 04:08:00 EST
Like Caracter, Rhodes was that kind of prospect. The two players even arrived from the same state

Samuels receives a national honor Thu, 24 Apr 2008 04:12:00 EST
Already a decorated high school basketball star, University of Louisville signee Samardo Samuels yesterday was named USA Today's National High School Player of the Year.

Cards, Toppers revive rivalry in men's basketball Thu, 24 Apr 2008 03:29:00 EST
Once public combatants in a messy neighborly dispute, the University of Louisville and Western Kentucky University men's basketball teams have agreed to play each other in a four-game series beginning this season.

U of L softball team beats IU 4-0 Thu, 24 Apr 2008 03:30:00 EST
Chelsea Bemis had a two-run double during a three-run sixth, Kristen Wadwell struck out six and the visiting University of Louisville softball team beat Indiana University 4-0 yesterday.

No Louisville players make boys' All-Stars Thu, 24 Apr 2008 03:31:00 EST
There were a few surprises when the Kentucky All-Star boys' basketball team was announced yesterday, but the big news was the end of a 54-year streak.

Krivsky fired; Jocketty hired Thu, 24 Apr 2008 03:34:00 EST
Off to their worst start in five years, the Cincinnati Reds fired general manager Wayne Krivsky yesterday and replaced him with team consultant Walt Jocketty, who built consistent winners during 10 seasons running the Oakland Athletics and 13 with the St. Louis Cardinals.

Rosales, Barker help Bats overpower Indians 7-5 Thu, 24 Apr 2008 03:35:00 EST
Adam Rosales had a two-run triple and Kevin Barker a solo home run as the Louisville Bats topped the Indianapolis Indians 7-5 yesterday to regain a one-game lead in the International League West.

Horse Park will be full this weekend Thu, 24 Apr 2008 03:36:00 EST
How big is the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event, which starts today at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington?

Now is the time to get to work Thu, 24 Apr 2008 03:36:00 EST
Only one Kentucky Derby hopeful worked out yesterday -- at Keeneland -- but the next few days will be extremely important for horses whose connections hope to smell the roses.

Korbyn Gold wins Keeneland feature Thu, 24 Apr 2008 03:36:00 EST
Korbyn Gold wore down Last Gran Standing in the stretch to win the $62,760 Roseglade Purse for older horses yesterday at Keeneland.

BOYS'/GIRLS' PREP TENNIS: Elizabethtown girls enter conference tournament with targets on their back Thu, 24 Apr 2008 01:10:06 -0500
ELIZABETHTOWN Most members of the Elizabethtown High School girls’ tennis team wore their customary yellow shirts during a rather warm practice Wednesday at the University Drive Park Tennis Courts.

BOYS'/GIRLS' PREP TENNIS: Central Hardin, LaRue County notch sweeps Thu, 24 Apr 2008 01:10:04 -0500
Results from Wednesday's area high school tennis matches:

PREP BASEBALL: Hornback moves to 5-0 as LaRue County flattens Hart Thu, 24 Apr 2008 01:10:04 -0500
HODGENVILLE Junior right-hander Tyler Hornback didn’t have his best stuff against visiting 18th District rival Hart County on Wednesday.

PREP FOOTBALL: Area coaches weigh in on playoff change Thu, 24 Apr 2008 01:10:05 -0500
LEXINGTON Changes in attitude have equaled changes in latitude for high school football playoff opponents.

COLLEGE TRACK & FIELD: Three North Hardin grads go from wearing Trojan Blue to Topper Red Thu, 24 Apr 2008 01:10:06 -0500
BOWLING GREEN Senior women’s thrower Geri Brown doesn’t think it’s a coincidence that there are three North Hardin High School alumni on the Western Kentucky University track and field team.

Berkman leads Astros to 5-3 win over Reds Thu, 24 Apr 2008 15:30 EDT
CINCINNATI Lance Berkman hit his 18th homer at Great American Ball Park the most by any visiting player and drove in three runs Thursday, leading the Houston Astros to their fifth straight win, 5-3 over the Cincinnati Reds.

Berkman had a two-run homer and a run-scoring double off rookie Johnny Cueto (1-2), whose 96 mph fastball wasnt enough to slow the Astros surging offense or get the Reds out of their slump.

The Astros havent done this well in a whole year.

Houstons last five-game winning streak was April 16-20 last season. Its offense has led the way, scoring 41 runs during the streak. Even right-hander Jack Cassel (1-0) got involved, adding a run-scoring single for his first career RBI.

Cueto, a 22-year-old right-hander facing the Astros for the first time, learned what every other Cincinnati pitcher already knew: No one causes the Reds as much heartache as Berkman.

Bengals looking for help on lines, at receiver Thu, 24 Apr 2008 13:39 EDT
Carson Palmer takes the NFL Draft just as seriously as he takes a game plan for the Pittsburgh Steelers.

"I check out everybody's mock drafts," the Cincinnati Bengals quarterback said. "I kind of make my own mental mock draft. I've researched a lot of players, watched a lot of film and have a good idea who I think are the best guys at each position."

Who would he like the Bengals to pick at No. 9 overall?

"I hope it's Sedrick Ellis," Palmer said. "I hope he's still there."

There's a college connection and a bit of history. Both of them went to Southern California, which is a big plus in Palmer's mind. Ellis also plays one of the positions that coach Marvin Lewis has failed to fill during his five seasons in Cincinnati.

Tyler Smith to return to Vols for junior season Thu, 24 Apr 2008 13:29 EDT
The suspense didn't last long.

Tennessee's sensational forward Tyler Smith thanked his family, his coaches, his teammates and Volunteers fans. The 21-year-old, 6-foot-7 sophomore from Pulaski said his college experience has been "everything it is supposed to be" and that he's wanted to play in the NBA "for as long as I can remember."

But after weighing his options with his mom and Coach Bruce Pearl, he'd made up his mind.

"I have come to the conclusion that I want to be a Volunteer next year," he said Thursday, just seconds into a news conference on his future.

Smith, who averaged 13.5 points a game and led the 31-win Volunteers in rebounds and assists last season, is coming back for his junior year.

UK women hire former AAU coach as assistant Thu, 24 Apr 2008 10:59 EDT
University of Kentucky women's basketball coach Matthew Mitchell has completed his coaching staff by hiring a former top AAU coach.

Matt Insell, son of Middle Tennessee State coach Rick Insell, will replace former assistant Vonn Read. Matt Insell joins Kyra Elzy as the latest addition to Mitchell's staff.

Insell, 25, comes to UK after one season as director of basketball operations at Louisiana Tech. Before that, he coached the Tennessee Flight, a Nike Elite travel team.

During his three years there, 41 of his former players went on to play for Division I programs, including Lexington Catholic star Natalie Novosel (signed with Notre Dame) and current UK player Victoria Dunlap. Insell also coached the Shelbyville Sports Shop 15-and-under team to the AAU national title in 2004.

"Matt has worked several years now to prepare for this opportunity," Mitchell said in a release. "He has developed a network of contacts across the country that makes him a very valuable asset to our recruiting efforts. He also has experience in developing and preparing players, coaching a number of players who have played at the highest level in collegiate basketball."

Gillispie after top juco player Thu, 24 Apr 2008 09:05 EDT
UK Coach Billy Gillispie was expected to be in Weatherford, Texas, Wednesday night to meet with junior college All-American Roderick Flemings.

Flemings, a 6-foot-7 wing, averaged a double-double -- 20.6 points and 11.7 rebounds -- for Weatherford College last season. He also averaged 2.7 steals and 1.5 blocks while making 56.2 percent of his shots.

Weatherford Coach Mark Osina said Flemings was the best player he had coached in 18 seasons at the school. In that time, Osina has compiled a record of 326-196 and won six conference championships.

"He's a great natural talent," said Osina, who called Flemings a long and athletic player. The coach also noted Flemings' ability to defend and pass.

Flemings was named the conference's Player of the Year and Newcomer of the Year this past season. He became Osina's first junior college All-American.

Astros' 7-run 4th leads to 9-3 win over Reds Thu, 24 Apr 2008 06:32 EDT
Kazuo Matsui sparked Houston's seven-run rally with a two-run single, and the Astros coasted to their fourth straight victory Wednesday night, 9-3 over the unsettled Cincinnati Reds.

Houston has won four in a row for the first time since last May, getting 36 runs out of a lineup producing top-to-bottom.

Ken Griffey Jr. hit his 597th career homer off Chris Sampson (1-2), the only bright moment for the struggling Reds, who changed general managers before the game. Walt Jocketty took over for Wayne Krivsky, a show of impatience by team owner Bob Castellini.

Jocketty watched from an upstairs booth as the Reds lost for the ninth time in 12 games. At 9-13, they're off to their worst start in five years.

If right-hander Bronson Arroyo (0-3) doesn't get turned around, the outlook is dreary.

Reds fire GM Krivsky; Jocketty takes over Thu, 24 Apr 2008 07:40 EDT
With Walt Jocketty, the question was when.

When would the Cincinnati Reds decide to switch general managers and give Jocketty the chance to turn them into winners?

The answer: 21 games into the season.

Off to their worst start in five years, the Reds fired Wayne Krivsky on Wednesday and replaced him with Jocketty, who built consistent winners during 10 seasons running the Oakland Athletics and 13 with the St. Louis Cardinals.

"We've just come to a point where we're not going to lose anymore," Reds owner Bob Castellini said emphatically.

Some bettors flummoxed by Polytrack Thu, 24 Apr 2008 02:04 EDT
Betting totals are down 13.5 percent at Keeneland this spring, and some are saying that's because it's too difficult to pick a winner on the fairly new synthetic track.

"It's not as easy as it once was," agreed Keeneland President and CEO Nick Nicholson. "And I'm not going to criticize the critics. I understand their frustration."

A wide-ranging variety of people have been voicing opinions on Keeneland's betting drop and whether it relates to the mystery of betting Polytrack.

The nation's leading trainer, Todd Pletcher, suggested this week that Keeneland's drop in betting might "reflect that the big bettors don't have confidence in the surface."

Pletcher said he is concerned because "ultimately we all know that that's what generates the purses and we need their confidence in the surface for it to be successful."

Local lefties live up to the hype Thu, 24 Apr 2008 02:04 EDT
Pitching stars Robbie Ross of Lexington Christian Academy and Nick Maronde of Lexington Catholic are baseball rivals, but they are also friends.

They talked on the phone Tuesday night about their much-anticipated showdown Wednesday afternoon. They wished each other good luck, then came up with an ideal scenario about how the game should play out.

"We hoped it'd go 0-0 and then let other people come in and finish it off," Ross said. "We're too good of friends. We want to beat each other, but at the same time we both want to see each other do well."

A goose-egg game was too much to ask for, but Ross and Maronde, rated two of the best left-handers in the nation, both delivered the goods for more than a dozen pro scouts who squeezed into the crowd at Lexington Catholic's cramped facility.

LCA beat the Knights 2-1, thanks to Ross being just a little sharper than Maronde.

Devils have 8th-grader's back Thu, 24 Apr 2008 02:04 EDT
Even the best eighth-grade pitchers are still just in the eighth grade.

Sometimes they lack the maturity, control and mental toughness of their high school counterparts.

Knowing this and knowing that she was going to start eighth-grader Sarah Mathis, Henry Clay Coach Tricia Crowe wanted to make sure the Devils did everything they could to make Mathis feel at home on the mound.

So Crowe asked her players to focus on getting on base and knocking in runs early to ease some of the pressure.

They did just that and led 6-0 after two innings before topping host Bryan Station 10-1 in the Lexington Fastpitch Showcase on Wednesday night.

Walsh to meet with NFL commissioner Goodell about Spygate Thu, 24 Apr 2008 02:15 EDT
Matt Walsh will get his day with the commissioner. What he has to offer is anyone's guess.

The former Patriots assistant will meet with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell on May 13 about New England's videotaping of opposing teams. It took a couple of months, but the league reached an agreement with Walsh on Wednesday.

"Commissioner Goodell will meet with Mr. Walsh ... on May 13, the earliest date that Mr. Walsh, who lives in Hawaii, will be available on the East Coast," the NFL statement said. "The agreement also requires Mr. Walsh to return any tapes and other items in his possession that belong to the Patriots. In return, the NFL and the Patriots have promised not to sue Mr. Walsh. They also will indemnify him for any expenses, including legal fees that he incurs in connection with the interview."

During Super Bowl week, and nearly five months after the Patriots were sanctioned for illegal taping of the New York Jets in the season opener - a $500,000 fine for coach Bill Belichick, a $250,000 fine for the organization, and the loss of a first-round draft pick on Saturday - there were reports of possible other videotaping by the Patriots. Those reports centered on Walsh, who shot videos for the Patriots during his six-year stint with the organization.

Since the Super Bowl, Goodell's staff has sought a meeting with Walsh.

Goodell says he will approach Walsh material with open mind Thu, 24 Apr 2008 15:15 EDT
Roger Goodell is fully prepared to crack down again on the New England Patriots if his meeting with Matt Walsh uncovers a tape made of the St. Louis Rams' final walkthrough practice before the 2002 Super Bowl.

"Taping a walkthrough is much different from what I punished them for," the NFL commissioner said Thursday at a meeting of a group representing the Associated Press Sports Editors.

After more than two months of negotiations, lawyers for the league and Walsh, the former New England employee, finally reached agreement Wednesday on terms that will allow him to talk Goodell. They include an agreement by the Patriots not to sue Walsh and to pay his legal expenses and his airfare to New York from Hawaii, where he is now a golf pro.

Walsh's name first surfaced just before the Super Bowl, in which the Patriots were upset by the New York Giants after finishing the regular season 16-0 and winning two playoff games. Among the allegations was that the Patriots illegally taped the Rams' final walkthrough before that title game, when New England, a two-touchdown underdog, upset St. Louis 20-17.

Five months before their loss to the Giants, New England coach Bill Belichick was fined $500,000 and the team $250,000 for taping the New York Jets' defensive signals during the season opener. The Patriots also lost their first-round pick in this weekend's draft.

Kobe's 49 points leads Lakers over Nuggets 122-107 Thu, 24 Apr 2008 08:20 EDT
Kobe Bryant scored big at the start and finish Wednesday night. In between, he set up his teammates for easy baskets. It turned out to be a winning formula. Bryant had 49 points and 10 assists, and the Los Angeles Lakers beat the Denver Nuggets 122-107 to take a 2-0 lead in their first-round playoff series.

Games 3 and 4 will be in Denver on Saturday and Monday night.

Bryant, who was 18-for-27 from the field and finished one point off his career playoff high, scored 20 points in the first quarter to get the Lakers off to a fast start, and 19 over the last seven minutes to keep them safely ahead. He left with 2:02 remaining to a loud ovation and chants of "MVP, MVP" from the capacity crowd of 18,997 at Staples Center.

Bryant was replaced by Coby Karl, the son of Denver coach George Karl. It was the first time in NBA playoff history that a father has coached against his son.

Pau Gasol added 18 points and 10 rebounds and Luke Walton scored 18 points for the Lakers. Lamar Odom, hampered by foul trouble throughout the second half, was held to four points, four rebounds and six assists, but in the end it didn't matter.

Hoffman blows save, Giants rally in 13th to win 3-2 Thu, 24 Apr 2008 02:15 EDT
Trevor Hoffman blew another save and the San Francisco Giants went on to beat the slumping San Diego Padres 3-2 in 13 innings on Wednesday night.

Rookie Emmanuel Burriss doubled leading off the 13th and scored the go-ahead run on Fred Lewis' single. The Giants' rally came four innings after Hoffman couldn't hold the lead for what would have been Greg Maddux's 350th career victory.

It was San Diego's first home game since a 2-1 loss in 22 innings to the Colorado Rockies on Thursday night. The Padres have lost seven of eight and dropped into a tie with the Giants for last place in the NL West.

Burriss, whose contract was purchased from Triple-A Fresno on Sunday, doubled to right opening the 13th off Glendon Rusch (0-2), who also was the loser in Thursday night's marathon. Lewis singled to short center and Burriss beat Scott Hairston's throw home to give the Giants a 2-1 lead. Aaron Rowand singled in Lewis with two outs.

The Padres loaded the bases with no outs in the bottom of the inning against Brian Wilson before rookie Colt Morton hit a sacrifice fly for his first RBI. Khalil Greene flied out to center and Josh Bard walked to load the bases again. Tadahito Iguchi forced Bard to end the game.

Santana uses bat and arm to help Mets beat Nationals 7-2 Thu, 24 Apr 2008 02:20 EDT
Johan Santana hit two doubles and pitched seven solid innings, leading the New York Mets to a 7-2 win over the Washington Nationals on Wednesday night.

Santana (3-2) allowed seven hits, none after the fourth inning, struck out four and walked one. As a batter, he had the second two-hit game of his career.

The Mets improved to 4-0 against the Nationals this season.

New York broke open a 2-all tie in the sixth with only one hit - Carlos Beltran's leadoff single - leaving the infield. After Beltran's hit, Ray King relieved Tim Redding (3-2) and Ryan Church hit a weak grounder to third. Washington's Ryan Zimmerman charged, but his running throw to first was wide. Beltran scored and Church, credited with a single, wound up on third on Zimmerman's throwing error.

Church scored two batters later on an infield single by Angel Pagan. Pagan then stole second and third on consecutive pitches and scored on a groundout by Brian Schneider to give the Mets a 5-2 lead.

Lovable losers?: Cubs get 10,000th win Thu, 24 Apr 2008 02:15 EDT
The lovable losers' 10,000th win was a memorable one. The Chicago Cubs beat the Colorado Rockies 7-6 on Ryan Theriot's RBI single off Kip Wells with two outs in the 10th inning Wednesday night.

Both teams blew ninth-inning leads with their closers, but it was the Rockies who ended up losing their fourth straight game when leading after seven innings.

Theriot's single to right field scored pinch-runner Mike Fontenot from second base as the Cubs joined the Giants as the only franchises in major league history to reach 10,000 wins.

Carlos Marmol pitched a perfect the 10th for his second save in as many chances.

Aramis Ramirez hit a two-run homer off struggling Colorado closer Manny Corpas with one out in the ninth to put the Cubs ahead 6-5, but Ryan Spilborghs tripled home the tying run off Kerry Wood with two outs in the bottom half.

Titans agree to swap Pacman to Dallas Thu, 24 Apr 2008 11:14 EDT
The Tennessee Titans finally washed their hands of suspended cornerback Adam "Pacman" Jones on Wednesday, agreeing in principle to trade him to the Dallas Cowboys.

Cowboys spokesman Rich Dalrymple confirmed the teams had an agreement, but no terms had been filed with the NFL office, which already had closed for the day.

The Titans also confirmed the deal, adding that terms had to be finalized. The team had no further comment beyond a two-sentence e-mail.

Dalrymple declined to discuss specifics of the trade.

"What I can confirm is that we have agreed in principle with the Tennessee Titans on a trade that will bring Adam Jones to the Cowboys," Dalrymple said.

Chiefs trade All-Pro defensive end Jared Allen to Vikings Thu, 24 Apr 2008 02:10 EDT
Four years ago this week, Jared Allen was an unknown defensive lineman at Division I-AA Idaho State projected to be little more than a long snapper in the NFL.

On Wednesday, the former fourth-round draft pick became the richest defensive player in the league, and is viewed as one of the missing pieces that could propel the Minnesota Vikings into the NFC's elite.

Allen, the All-Pro defensive end who led the league in sacks last season with 15 1/2, was traded from Kansas City to Minnesota in a blockbuster deal, making the Chiefs one of the major players in this weekend's NFL draft and the Vikings a serious contender in the NFC.

"I have chills right now," Allen said after signing a six-year deal that includes $31 million in guaranteed money and could be worth more than $74 million if he reaches certain incentives. "It's just starting to sink in. As a player it's cool because it shows appreciation for what you have done. But at the same time, personally, I look at it as a new challenge."

Kansas City gets Minnesota's first-round pick, No. 17 overall, and both of the Vikings' third-round selections. The teams also swapped sixth-rounders in the deal announced Wednesday.

Xavier gives coach Sean Miller 10-year contract extension Thu, 24 Apr 2008 02:10 EDT
Xavier coach Sean Miller has agreed to a 10-year contract extension.

The 39-year-old Miller led the Musketeers to a 30-7 record and an NCAA Elite Eight appearance last season. He repeatedly has been a subject of speculation about major coaching vacancies.

Athletic director Mike Bobinski said Wednesday that it's the third extension Miller has received since he was hired in 2004 and the longest given a Xavier head coach. The new deal runs through the 2017-18 season.

Dodgers beat D'Backs 8-3, Haren has worst outing since '06 Thu, 24 Apr 2008 02:04 EDT
James Loney had a pair of RBI singles, Chin-lung Hu singled home two more runs and the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 8-3 Wednesday night to hand Dan Haren his first loss of the season.

Derek Lowe (2-1) pitched just five innings for the victory, allowing a run and three hits with two strikeouts and a walk. The right-hander was removed for precautionary reasons because of tightness in his elbow, but is expected to make his next scheduled start.

Reliever Chan Ho Park allowed a walk and a double by Justin Upton to open the seventh.

Lefty Joe Beimel gave up an RBI single to Chris Snyder, trimming the Dodgers' lead to 6-2. But Jonathan Broxton struck out Chris Young with the bases loaded after walking pinch-hitter Miguel Montero, then retired Eric Byrnes on a popup with the potential tying run at the plate.

Takashi Saito relieved Broxton with two on and two outs in the eighth and gave up an RBI single to Stephen Drew, but managed to get four outs for his second save.

Orioles rally past Mariners 3-2 Thu, 24 Apr 2008 02:04 EDT
Forgetting helped Nick Markakis. Too much thinking doomed the Mariners.

Markakis struck out twice looking early but tied the game with a ground out and then hit a tie-breaking home run in the eighth inning to make Daniel Cabrera a winner in the Baltimore Orioles' 3-2 victory over Seattle on Wednesday night.

Markakis hit the first pitch he saw from left-hander Ryan Rowland-Smith (0-1), a high fastball, five rows into the bleachers beyond right field. Mariners manager John McLaren had summoned Rowland-Smith to relieve Sean Green, who had allowed only a walk in 1 1-3 innings, because left-handers were 3-for-17 against him.

Make that 4-for-18.

Cabrera (2-0) allowed five hits and two runs in eight inning while using a slow curve the Mariners continually chased in vain. Cabrera struck out five and retired his final 11 batters. The man who led the AL with 108 walks last season walked none.

Sweeney has successful return for A's Thu, 24 Apr 2008 02:04 EDT
Mike Sweeney has long maintained the motto of controlling what he can. That's why he refuses to worry about whether the Oakland Athletics might sign Frank Thomas and send him out.

Sweeney returned to the starting lineup for the first time in six games and ended a 39-game homerless streak spanning 140 at-bats with a solo shot in the eighth inning, helping Oakland to a 3-0 win over the Minnesota Twins on Wednesday night.

Sweeney also had an RBI single and scored Oakland's first run.

His drive into the left-field seats on the first pitch from Matt Guerrier was his first home run since last June 8 for Kansas City against Philadelphia - the longest home run drought of his 14-year career.

Chad Gaudin (2-1) went seven innings and retired 11 straight and 18 of 19 during one stretch on the way to his second straight victory. The right-hander was efficient, too, throwing only 84 pitches. He struck out four and didn't walk a batter for the first time in four starts.

Mussina leads Yankees over White Sox Thu, 24 Apr 2008 00:30 EDT
Mike Mussina pitched seven strong innings and moved ahead of Bob Gibson on the career wins list, and the New York Yankees won again without Alex Rodriguez, beating the Chicago White Sox 6-4 on Wednesday night.

Jorge Posada had four hits, including a career-high three doubles, and drove in two runs. A sore right arm prevented him from starting at catcher for two weeks, but he was behind the plate for the second straight game.

While Rodriguez missed his second game because of a strained quadriceps and the birth of his second daughter, the Yankees matched a season high with their third straight win and Mussina earned his 252nd victory on his third try. That gave him sole possession of 42nd place on baseball's wins list and put the Yankees in position for a three-game sweep of the AL Central leaders.

They'll need Phil Hughes to get on track after four rough starts, which is what Mussina (2-3) did after losing two straight to Boston. The 39-year-old allowed two runs and four hits while striking out three and walking one in his longest outing this season, and his ERA dropped from 5.75 to 4.94.

After getting a go-ahead grand slam by Bobby Abreu in the seventh and a three-run shot by Johnny Damon in the eighth during Tuesday's 9-5 win, the Yankees went with the same lineup in consecutive games for the first time this season and knocked out Javier Vazquez (3-2) during a three-run sixth.

Allergic reaction sidelines Hamm Thu, 24 Apr 2008 00:00 EDT
Morgan Hamm dropped out of a key gymnastics meet Wednesday night after an allergic reaction that restricted his breathing, meaning he'll have to file paperwork to stay on the path toward his third Olympics.

Hamm planned on competing in four of six events in the qualifier for next month's national championships, but dropped out after only two - before he had accumulated enough points to guarantee himself one of the 14 spots up for grabs.

"I was on the floor, just gasping for air, trying to get some oxygen," he said, his voice still hoarse nearly an hour after he pulled out of the meet.

Hamm, in his first true competition since tearing his pectoral muscle last fall, said he felt his throat tightening after warm-ups and was having trouble breathing and starting to cramp. His coach, Miles Avery, pulled him from the meet and got him to the doctor at the Olympic Training Center, who gave him medicine.

"I saw him suffering out there," Avery said. "I was just yelling, 'Be smart, be smart.' We didn't want him to force anything and make things worse."

Getting even: Pistons even series with Game 2 rout of 76ers Thu, 24 Apr 2008 02:30 EDT
Rasheed Wallace had another good game against the Philadelphia 76ers. Unlike the series opener, a few Detroit Pistons starters helped him out.

Wallace scored 11 of his 16 points in the first quarter and Detroit went on to beat Philadelphia 105-88 in Game 2 on Wednesday night to even the first-round series.

The Pistons had four scorers in double figures as it took a 17-point halftime lead, while the 76ers had only Andre Miller, who scored 11 of his 14 points in the first half.

In their 90-86 Game 1 loss, the Pistons blew a 15-point they built midway through the third quarter.

Detroit refused to let the young Sixers rally again.

Celtics beat Hawks 96-77 to go up 2-0 in series Thu, 24 Apr 2008 02:30 EDT
Rajon Rondo outplayed Mike Bibby and helped the Boston Celtics silence Atlanta and its blustery point guard. Kevin Garnett had 19 points and 10 rebounds, and Rondo added 12 points, eight assists and six rebounds to lead Boston to a 96-77 victory over Atlanta on Wednesday night and a 2-0 lead in the first-round series.

Paul Pierce returned from a first-quarter knockdown to score 14 points, and Kendrick Perkins added eight points and nine rebounds for the Celtics.

Josh Smith, who helped take Pierce down and appeared to land on him and roll over his head, had 13 points and eight rebounds for Atlanta. But it was Bibby, who called the locals fair-weather fans during the week, who drew the ire of the sold-out Boston Garden crowd.

Bibby was booed at every touch from the opening introductions. As he sat on the bench in the fourth quarter and the game out of reach, the fans chanted "Where is Bibby?" and "Rondo's better." In the first two games of the series combined, Bibby is 4-for-17 from the field with two assists.

Fair-weather or not, the Celtics earned the right to play in front of their home fans with the NBA's best record in the regular season.

A's bring back Thomas Thu, 24 Apr 2008 15:40 EDT
The Big Hurt is back in the Bay Area - and it's as if he never left.

The Oakland Athletics agreed to terms Thursday with designated hitter Frank Thomas, who was released Sunday by the Toronto Blue Jays to become a free agent after getting frustrated with his lack of playing time.

Thomas was in the lineup for the A's in their series finale against the Minnesota Twins, batting cleanup as the DH. He will be the team's new regular designated hitter just as he was while a catalyst in Oakland's 2006 playoff run and AL West championship that year.

Thomas, with his larger-than-life personality and 6-foot-5, 257-pound frame, was back in the green and gold and wearing No. 35 as he began his second stint in Oakland sporting that big grin that's such a part of him.

"It feels nice to be in the batter's box," Thomas said. "It's great to be back. It's been crazy with the travel and five hours' sleep. I'm ready to go. This is where I want to be."

Red Sox "curse" jersey fetches $175,100 in charity auction Thu, 24 Apr 2008 15:29 EDT
The Boston Red Sox jersey secretly buried under the new Yankee Stadium in a failed curse attempt sold Thursday for $175,100 in a charity auction.

The bid from Kevin Meehan, the owner of Imperialcars.com in Mendon, Mass., was the highest of 282 for the battered No. 34 David Ortiz jersey.

"I actually thought it was going to sell for more money," said Meehan, who bid only in the final moments of the weeklong eBay auction that ended at 12:30 p.m. "I have three young boys that I take to the games and they would have killed me if I didn't buy the shirt."

The Yankees jackhammered the jersey out from under two feet of concrete earlier this month, then donated it to the Jimmy Fund, the Red Sox's official charity that is affiliated with Boston's Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.

Mike Andrews, The Jimmy Fund chairman and former Red Sox second baseman, said the charity was "absolutely thrilled."

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