News sports 2008-07-20 Andanh.com

WC South 11s rally Sun, 20 Jul 2008 15:07:51 -0500
LOUISVILLE — Warren County South 11-year-old manager Jim King said his group enjoys being the visiting team - because that way, they get to hit first. As the visitors in South’s pool-play opener Saturday at the Little League State Tournament, the WCS kids had a blast. Click here for photos from the tourney. South’s first three hitters of the game - Cameron Shyrock, Adam Jones and Everett Taylor - all reached base and scored as WCS blasted Russell-Flatwoods 8-0 at Valley Sports. “They came ready to play,” King said. “This team likes to be the visitor, they like to hit first. And you can see why.” After Shyrock singled to open the game, Jones brought him around to score with an RBI triple. Taylor then doubled to right to bring in Jones, and then scored after a Joseph McIntyre single to make things 3-0 before many spectators could find a seat. From there it was smooth sailing, as South added another run in the second inning when a Shyrock groundout scored Chris House - who doubled to open the inning - to bring the score to 4-0. WCS exploded for four more runs in the top half of the third, sending nine batters to the plate and getting RBI hits out of McIntyre, Lucas Holland and starting pitcher Wes King. The eight-run cushion was more than enough for Wes King, as he was able to fan five hitters over the first two innings before giving way to relief. In the end, King, Shyrock, McIntyre, Jones and Sam Dralle combined to toss a no-hitter, fanning 11 batters in total. “That’s been a fairly common thing for us, the combined no-hitters,” King said. “Pitching’s been a strong point for us, we don’t give up many hits, and when they do put the ball in play we’ve got a pretty solid defense behind them. “They came out really great, I’ll talk to them a little bit for the midgame slowdown, as we probably could’ve pushed through and ended it in four, but they came out, hit the ball, played well ...” Taylor finished 2-for-4 with two doubles and an RBI, while McIntyre went 2-for-3 with an RBI for WCS - which pounded out 10 hits in total. WCS continues pool play against Lexington Western National at 6 p.m. today. King said the early confidence booster for his team will certainly help, but he said he’ll be sure to remind them that their work is far from over. “We don’t know a whole lot about (Western National), but we do know they come out of Lexington, and they wouldn’t be here if they weren’t a good team,” he said. “I think you’re going to have to win at least two to move on (to the semifinals), but that was a good start. “But I’m pretty confident that we can compete with any 10- and 11-year-old team up here, it just depends on how the kids play on any given day.” WCS 314 000 - 8 RFW 000 000 - 0

BG East 9-10 squad surges past Paintsville Sun, 20 Jul 2008 15:07:51 -0500
LOUISVILLE — Although they are youthful, the Bowling Green East 9-and-10-year-olds have developed into a veteran team when it comes to erasing deficits. After falling behind 1-0 early, the BG East 9-10s scored seven unanswered runs to open pool play Saturday in the Little League State Tournament with a 7-1 win over Paintsville at Valley Sports in Louisville. Click here for photos from the tourney. It’s the fourth straight game BG East has climbed out of an early hole. Once again, the team handled it with hardly any trouble. “Coming into today you would have thought we were playing against a 12-year-old team, as big as they were. But coming from behind is something we’ve kind of gotten used to,” East manager Bill Jones said. “We were the home team and we had chances to come back and score and we just played our game. “If we hit it, we hit it, if we don’t, then we just find another way to score.” East faces Richmond National in the second round of pool play at 10:15 a.m. today. After spotting Paintsville the 1-0 lead, the East bats found a way in the bottom half of the third. Griffin Cline and Bobby Dillard hit back-to-back singles to lead off the inning before Cline was brought home on an RBI single by Jackson Gooding to tie the game. After a Jacob Osborne walk, Rob Warren delivered a two-RBI base hit to score both Dillard and Gooding. Osborne also scored on the play due to an error in left field, allowing Warren to move to third and put East up 4-0. The bats stayed hot in the fourth as Gooding singled home Justin Gentry - who singled to open the frame - before Warren delivered another two-RBI base-hit, this time scoring Cline, who singled earlier, and Alex Goff, who pinch-ran after a Chandler Stephanski base hit to put East up for good at 7-1. While the bats might have stolen the show, Jones seemed most proud of his team’s defensive effort; East only made one error. And the error was quickly atoned for as left fielder Reed Begley picked up a muffed fly ball and gunned down a runner at third to record the final out of the game. “Our defense is pretty good,” Jones said. “We made a couple mistakes here and there today, but as a whole, we’re just a really good defensive team. “We make all the plays we should, and sometimes we even make the plays we shouldn’t.” Warren finished his day 2-for-3 with four RBIs, while Cline finished 2-for-3 with a pair of runs scored. Gooding, the starting pitcher, allowed just two hits and one run while fanning seven before being lifted due to pitch count with two outs in the sixth. Jones attributes his team’s ability to come from behind in part to the high level of experience they’ve garnered from playing an extensive amount of summer ball over a short period of time. “There are so many playing travel ball and stuff now, that this is kind of an old habit for them now,” he said. “Pressure doesn’t get to them and they just keep focused and stay in the game and anything can happen. “You’re going to have to play six innings every day now, so you have to keep focused.” PV 100 000 - 1 BGE 004 30x - 7

East 11-12s come back again Sun, 20 Jul 2008 15:07:51 -0500
LOUISVILLE — The comeback kids were at it again Saturday at the 11-and 12-year-old Little League State Tournament at Valley Sports in Louisville. Bowling Green East, which rallied for wins in the final games of the Area and District Tournaments, found itself in an early hole before climbing back for a 7-3 victory over St. Matthews of Louisville on the opening day of pool play. Click here for photos from the tourney. East overcame a sluggish start with a bat-around third inning and got solid work from starting pitcher Zach Sibalich and reliever Nacarius Shannon. “It goes back to that confidence they have,” BG East manager Rick Kelley said. “It doesn’t affect us if we get in a deficit, because everybody is going to pick each other up. Like true champions they came back and played well. Zach pitched a great game tonight and Nacarius came in and closed it out.” St. Matthew’s jumped on Sibalich early, with back-to-back doubles by Bobby Jeffrey and Austin Clemons. Both players eventually scored, putting Bowling Green in a 2-0 hole after one inning. “I was very disappointed with our defensive intensity starting out,” Kelley said. “Really, they should not have scored a run the entire game. We’ve got to be more aggressive and active in the defense.” St. Matthew’s added another run on an RBI single by Jeffrey in the second, but BG East rallied one inning later. After St. Matthew’s starter Bobby Graven breezed through the first two innings, East got a leadoff walk from Hunter Sewell and Sibalich reached on an error that scored Sewell, shaving the deficit to 3-1. After a single by Shannon, Zack Borden fouled off several pitches before finally gaining a walk to load the bases. Grey Finwood followed and was hit by a pitch to force in a run. Two batters later, Hunter Rogers laced a two-run double that gave East a 4-3 lead. Bowling Green got a pair of insurance runs on a two-out, two-run single by Devin Hayes that capped off a six-run inning. Kelley said Borden’s at-bat was a key to the big inning. “You have to be so proud of kids that can battle like that,” Kelley said. “I think he wore down the pitcher to a degree. He fought it and finally got a walk. That was a huge moment.” Bowling Green added a solo homer by Finwood in the fifth for the final margin of victory and St. Matthew’s only had two batters reach base over the final four innings. Sibalich went the first four innings, allowing five hits and striking out seven. Shannon didn’t allow a hit and struck out two in two scoreless innings of relief. Bowling Green East faces Lexington East National at 12:30 p.m. today. “I love being in a pool that has a lot of competition,” Kelley said. “I think that helps us prepare. We know that Lexington will be equally as tough, but I like our chances.” SM 210 000 - 3 BG 006 01x - 7

Blann leads Buick at BGCC Sat, 19 Jul 2008 21:52:34 -0500
From the back of Brian Eaton’s golf cart, a little Irish man with a reddish-orange beard, a green suit and a green top hat stares back with a smile. The leprechaun driver cover is supposed to bring Eaton luck. However, Eaton didn’t have much luck in his opening round of the Buick Invitational on Saturday at the Bowling Green Country Club, finishing at 77 and tied for 13th. The score puts Eaton’s chances of winning the Bowling Green City Amateur Championship in jeopardy. Eaton led the points standings by 40 after his victory at the Pickens Amateur Championship earlier this month. “I was disappointed,” Eaton said. “The course was set up in great condition. I just came out and missed a few putts early. I just didn’t hit the shots I needed to today.” Instead, Jordan Blann sits atop the leader board after a 68. John Kirby is in second after shooting 69, followed by Matt Fuqua, who shot a 70. Brent Clark and Seth Blann are tied for fourth at 73, followed by Will Brown and Keith Tooley, who shot a 74 and 75, respectfully. Blann used his experience at the BGCC to help him take the early lead. “I play out here quite a bit and just being out here every day and knowing the terrain helps a lot,” Blann said. “It is a huge advantage, just knowing where all the trouble is and knowing where to hit it is an advantage. But there are a lot of people in this tournament that have played this golf course.” Blann had three bogeys, but made seven birdies to make up for the bad shots. Blann said his best shot came on 18. “I hit it left off the tee and I had to hit a big hook on my second shot,” Blann said. “Only it didn’t hook. It ended up over by the 14th green. And I put into about within about a foot (of the hole) on the next shot. It was pretty exciting.” Eaton’s biggest challenge was his short irons and putting, he said. But Eaton finished the round on a strong note by birdieing No. 18 and making a tough shot on No. 17 to save par. Eaton’s drive left him behind several trees. But Eaton recovered by hitting the ball directly over them and landing on the green within 25 feet of the hole. Eaton had seven birdies, however his three double-bogeys and four bogeys left him a tough spot heading into today. “I think tomorrow I need to come out and shoot about 5 or 6 under par,” Eaton said. “Tomorrow is a new day and hopefully I can come out and put a good round today.” For Fuqua, the back nine cost him the lead. Fuqua shot 32 on the front, but posted a 38 on the back, including a double bogey on 18. “I think a different guy teed it up on the back nine,” Fugua said. “I felt like a couldn’t miss on the front nine, but I shot a 38, but it felt like 50. I was hitting the ball everywhere. I hit by tee shots, I hit bad iron shots, and I hit bad chip shots. I didn’t do anything good on the back. I was lucky to shoot a 38.” Despite the problems, Fuqua still finds himself only two strokes off the lead. “I just lost my head on the back side,” Fuqua said. “I just need to stay in it tomorrow. I still feel like I can win. I hit it good all week. I made a hole-in-one on Monday. Things just went wrong in the end.”

BG’s Davis to compete in 110K duathalon Sat, 19 Jul 2008 21:52:34 -0500
For someone who “despised” running as a child, 33-year-old Tim Davis will be doing plenty of it next month. The Bowling Green resident has qualified and will participate Aug. 10 in the 30-34 age group of the ITU Long Distance Duathlon World Championships in Geel, Belgium. A duathlon is similar to the more commonly known triathlons, without the swimming. Participants begin with a 20-kilometer run followed by an 80-kilometer bike and capped by a 10-kilometer run. It’s unlike anything Davis imagined doing when he was growing up. He was involved in biking, but didn’t participate in track or cross country. But after competing in his first triathlon in 1999 with some friends, Davis was hooked and has entered duathlons, triathlons and runs ever since. “I hated every step of (my first one) except for the bike,” Davis recalled. “The swim was horrible, the run was hard. I took up running just to do that race. But as soon as we crossed the finish line, it wasn’t five minutes before we talked about the next race. Ever since then, my wife will tell me my habit has gotten worse.” His “habit” has grown to the point that the contest in Belgium will be Davis’ longest single-day event of his career. Davis originally had no thoughts about the world championships, but qualified when he finished high enough in the Powerman Alabama duathlon earlier this year. Now Davis is thinking plenty about it. “I don’t want to say it’s all-consuming, but I pay a lot more attention now,” Davis said. “When you start a workout, you don’t slack off.” Davis estimated his weekly routine consists of biking between 150 and 200 miles and running between 30 and 35 miles. For some, that might not seem fun. “Every day (people ask me why),” Davis joked. “You’ll meet somebody and it will come up that (I’m) a triathlete. You always get that look. I golfed with a doctor the other day and it came up and he said, ‘Do you enjoy that? How on earth can anybody enjoy running? I just don’t understand it.’ ” But others know Davis more than enjoys competing. “(My wife) thinks it’s an obsession,” Davis said. “She always tells me she’s proud.” Last year alone, Davis said he competed in three duathlons and five triathlons, along with other runs and trail races. But the world championships could be a highlight. Davis wasn’t a lock to attend, though. He said travel expenses cost about $6,500. But he looked for sponsors and found some help from businesses. Davis estimated between 300 to 400 competitors will participate in the event. “I’d like to finish mid-pack,” Davis said. “I think that’s a realistic goal. The quality of the field there will be so much better than what I’m used to.” When Davis is done with Belgium, he won’t have much time to relax. One of his lifetime goals was to finish an Ironman Triathlon. The 2.4-mile swim, 112-mile bike and 26.2-mile run comes up Nov. 1 in Panama City, Fla. “I only want to do one and I’ll (told my wife I’d) give two years’ notice because I figured that’s how long it would take to prepare,” Davis said. “Two years ago, I said 2008 is the year I’m going to do it. “Unless I don’t finish, then I’d come back and do another one.”

Outdoors: Archery equipment has changed a lot Sat, 19 Jul 2008 21:52:35 -0500
Weeks have passed since its glossy pages were crammed into my mailbox, and until today I have left it lying on the coffee table unopened, its interior calling at me like the Sirens to Odysseus. Now I sit marveling at the weighty tome, wondering what Fred Bear might be thinking if he sat next to me examining the 2008 archery catalog that comes each summer, signaling the soon-to-arrive opening of bow season. What would the Father of Archery think of this massive assembly of gadgetry and innovation? For me, watching Fred furrow a deeply wrinkled brow while thumbing through the present-day catalog with weathered fingers would be a treat indeed. Most definitely, Mr. Bear would be proud to see that the company he founded in 1947 is still an industry leader and highly respected. On the other hand, would laser bow sights, electronic calls, scent-eliminating clothing and the like be met with the same enthusiasm? Only each individual could speculate as to whether Fred would embrace or spurn some of the technology we see as ordinary today. Above all else, he would surely be pleased to see just how enormous the sport of archery has become and how well the foundation of its future has been laid. This growth certainly hasn’t gone unnoticed by retailers. I would be curious to see what the sum total of every product listed in this year’s magazine was; the amount probably rivals the gross domestic product of some tiny countries. Although I do try to keep up with recent products in the archery world, every year even I sit gawking in astonishment at some of the latest advancements. It really was not too long ago when I received my first compound bow. But even since then, the world of archery has changed dramatically; anyone who needs proof only has to peruse the latest catalog. Mossy Oak has a new pattern, it’s called “Treestand” and it can be had on everything from can cozies to neckties - I may have to get one of those. A few pages further and I see that now three companies offer lighted nocks (the plastic piece at the end of the arrow that attaches to a bow’s string). These battery-operated nocks certainly are handy when videotaping or shooting in low light - just be careful not to lose one, or you’ll need to work an extra shift at work. One of my favorite portions of the catalog is the bow sights, a segment that might have more change from year to year than any other. My first bow had brass pins which I dotted with White-Out to make more visible; now they all have tens of feet of fiber optics, which retain light for those last-minute opportunities. Several models are just shy of the $200 mark, about the same price a good bow cost when I got started, and they come with everything from leveling bubbles to magnifying lenses so that we can keep those arrow groups tight. Making up the middle portion of the catalog are the scouting cameras, and who can resist the urge to dog-ear a page or two in this section and simply dream of having an infrared camera that e-mails the digital photos to your home PC or cell phone via satellite without you actually ever having to go into the woods? Yeah, they’ve got that now, and it’s in the catalog. I remember when deer hunting in rubber boots caught on because they left less ground scent - you wore the same rubber boots hunting that you waded in manure with on the farm. Now there are five pages worth of rubber boots in an array of styles, treads, and insulation ratings. By the time I completely finish with the catalog, after months of examination, the pages are frayed and the weather outside has turned rather cold compared to the time of the periodical’s arrival. No one knows what Fred would do if he were still around, but it is my guess that he’d do much the same as the rest of us; pick up the phone and place an order. — Geordon T. Howell is outdoors columnist for the Daily News. He can be reached by e-mailing highbrasshowell@yahoo.com.

Golf needs no Tiger for this tale Sun, 20 Jul 2008 01:51:00 EST
Amid all of the hand-wringing over what golf was going to do to capture people's attention in the absence of Tiger, a few suggested the sport's marketers might have to jump the shark. Nobody thought about trotting out The Shark.

Swimming free and easy Sun, 20 Jul 2008 01:51:00 EST
People who have seen Caroline Burckle's smile talk about it as if it were a landmark or a national treasure. Her smile will radiate from 7,000 miles away on Aug. 13 when she competes in the 800-meter freestyle relay at the Beijing Olympics.

Shark circles British Open Sun, 20 Jul 2008 01:35:00 EST
Gusts that approached 50 mph required Greg Norman to manufacture shots from his 53-year-old memory yesterday in the British Open, which he called among the toughest tests he has faced in golf.

Benson captures truck race Sun, 20 Jul 2008 01:38:00 EST
The debut of Randy Moss as a Craftsman Truck Series team owner and Kyle Busch's attempt at making NASCAR history didn't deter Johnny Benson.

Pitchers get it done again for Bats 5-2 Sun, 20 Jul 2008 01:35:00 EST
For the 10th time in the past 13 games the Louisville pitching staff allowed fewer than four runs, and the Bats held off the Charlotte Knights 5-2 last night before 11,508 fans at Louisville Slugger Field.

U.S. women fill team for gymnastics Sun, 20 Jul 2008 01:30:00 EST
Considered all but locks after strong showings at last month's nationals and Olympic Trials, Chellsie Memmel, Samantha Peszek and Alicia Sacramone looked even better last night to earn spots on the U.S. women's gymnastics team.

Szymanski sits but not on his laurels Sun, 20 Jul 2008 01:29:00 EST
Louisville Bats players often speak about the unselfish nature of their team and clubhouse, and outfielder B. J. Szymanski could be their spokesman.

Cards, Cats, Hoosiers target Milwaukee's Davis Sun, 20 Jul 2008 01:24:00 EST
One of Milwaukee Lutheran basketball standout Flavien Davis' first college scholarship offers came last winter from then-Marquette coach Tom Crean. Now Crean's new school -- Indiana University -- plus the universities of Louisville and Kentucky are hot on Davis' trail.

The C-J's Sunday College Basketball Notebook Sun, 20 Jul 2008 01:23:00 EST
UK coach Billy Gillispie has made it clear that Patrick Patterson will be asked to carry the Wildcats in the 2008-09 season.

Paterno, Flutie at head of Hall class Sun, 20 Jul 2008 01:28:00 EST
Penn State coach Joe Paterno helped a lot of players make it into the College Football Hall of Fame. He counts former Boston College quarterback Doug Flutie among them.

Music Note looks perfectly tuned Sun, 20 Jul 2008 01:18:00 EST
Music Note turned in a dazzling performance, beating entrymate Little Belle by 11 lengths yesterday in the $300,000, Grade I Coaching Club American Oaks for 3-year-old fillies at Belmont Park.

California moves to ban steroids Sun, 20 Jul 2008 01:19:00 EST
The California Horse Racing Board has unanimously adopted a regulation that effectively bans anabolic steroids in horses running in the state, paving the way for the Breeders' Cup to be run steroid-free this fall at Santa Anita.

Art Official's world-record pace earns upset Sun, 20 Jul 2008 01:19:00 EST
Art Official set a world record for 3-year-old pacers to narrowly upset previously undefeated Somebeachsomewhere in the $1.1 million Meadowlands Pace last night.

PREP BASEBALL: Elizabethtown upends Central Hardin Thu, 1 May 2008 23:03:08 -0500
ELIZABETHTOWN What a difference two weeks can make.

PREP BASEBALL: John Hardin sweeps North Hardin Thu, 1 May 2008 23:03:06 -0500
RADCLIFF It’s been said that hitting is contagious and the John Hardin Bulldogs certainly had a bad case of it spread through the team Thursday night.

PREP SOFTBALL: Krupinski, Central Hardin shut out John Hardin Thu, 1 May 2008 23:03:06 -0500
CECILIA Having been shut out in their previous two games, the Central Hardin Lady Bruins were in a little bit of a funk.

PREP SOFTBALL/BASEBALL ROUNDUP: Lady Panthers fall; Mayfield moves to 7-1 Thu, 1 May 2008 23:03:07 -0500
The slumping Elizabethtown Lady Panthers lost for the 10th time in 13 games, falling to visiting Warren Central on Thursday, 3-1.

BOYS'/GIRLS' PREP TENNIS RESULTS: Thursday's Matches Thu, 1 May 2008 23:03:07 -0500
Results from Thursday's area high school tennis matches:

John Clay: New three line could be confusing Sun, 20 Jul 2008 03:37 EDT

It'll happen.

It'll happen just the way Billy Gillispie projected it at his news conference last week.

Next college basketball season, some would-be hoops hero is going to drain a shot from the perimeter as the buzzer sounds, then go running to the other end of the floor, grinning, screaming, arms toward the heavens believing he just sank the three-pointer that won the titanic struggle for his team.

Only there will be one little problem.

Iowa storms past Horsemen Sun, 20 Jul 2008 03:37 EDT

The energy, excitement and good vibes vacated Rupp Arena Friday night when Alison Krauss and Robert Plant left the building.

On Saturday night, the Lexington Horsemen reported for duty with a lack of energy. The excitement of a playoff team playing its last regular-season home game was missing.

And the visiting Iowa Barnstormers, 5-9 coming in, clutched whatever good vibes were still around with a 54-44 victory in front of 3,585 fans.

Lexington (9-6) fell a game behind Green Bay in arenafootball2's Midwest Division. The loss could cost the Horsemen a first-round home game because they held the tiebreaker with the Blizzard.

Benson back on top in trucks Sun, 20 Jul 2008 03:37 EDT

SPARTA . Johnny Benson was 110 races into his NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series career before he ever earned the title of series points leader.

The way the veteran driver has been running of late, he may well hold on to that distinction over the final 12 races.

Benson, who led the Truck Series points standings for the first time in his career after Michigan on June 14, reclaimed the overall lead Saturday night when he survived a wreck-filled outing to win the Built Ford Tough 225 before a crowd of 31,308 at Kentucky Speedway.

Benson had a 50-point lead coming off his win in Milwaukee last month but fell to fourth in the overall standings after a blown engine at Memphis left him limping home in 33rd place.

Lexington does it again Sun, 20 Jul 2008 03:37 EDT

The Lexington Legends did something Saturday they haven't done in nearly two months.

Win two games in a row.

Matthew Cusick homered, Jeff Icenogle struck out nine in 52.3 innings, and Lexington took advantage of six Rome errors in a 4-2 victory over the Braves at Applebee's Park.

Lexington beat Rome 5-3 on Friday.

Revere having ride of his life Sun, 20 Jul 2008 03:37 EDT

DAYTON, Ohio . If minor-league baseball is such a grind, with its leg-wearying schedule and tedious bus trips in the heat of summer, why is Ben Revere bubbling with energy and flashing his spectacular smile in his first full year as a pro?

Here's why: Revere, a Lexington Catholic graduate and Kentucky's Mr. Baseball in 2007, has been hitting .400 or better most of the season for the Beloit (Wis.) Snappers, a Class A affiliate of the Minnesota Twins.

With his quick bat, keen eye and fleet feet, Revere has enjoyed stunning success at the plate since joining the Snappers in early May.

.I'm a little bit surprised. I never thought I'd do this well,. Revere said before playing against the Dayton Dragons last Sunday, when he boosted his average to .401, 40 points higher than anybody else in the Midwest League, and the highest average in all of the minors' full-season leagues.

Olympian climbing through Fifth Third qualifying Sun, 20 Jul 2008 03:37 EDT

In a perfect world, Chris Guccione . ranked No. 93 in the world . wouldn't have to win three qualifying rounds just to be in the $100,000 USTA Fifth Third Bank Tennis Championships main draw. But, while preparing to represent Australia in next month's Olympics, he missed an entry deadline for a tournament in Toronto.

.I just want to get one more tournament in before Beijing,. said the 6-foot-7 lefty, who didn't balk at coming to the lower-level Lexington Challenger and getting in the extra work. His untouchable serve carried him to two straight-set victories over Yuichi Ito of Japan and Todd Paul on Saturday at the University of Kentucky's Hilary J. Boone Tennis Center.

If Guccione wins his final qualifying match Sunday, he is expected to be the No. 3 seed in the men's main draw that starts Monday.

Also Saturday, Somdev Devvarman of India showed the never-give-up spirit that carried him to the past two NCAA singles titles with a 6-2, 2-6, 7-6 victory over Lexington's 2000 champ Takao Suzuki of Japan. Canadian Bruno Agostinelli, UK's top player, eliminated Ohio State's Matthew Allare 6-4, 6-2, then was ousted by Alberto Francis, formerly of UCLA, 6-1, 7-5.

Live scoreboard: British Open, 7 a.m. (TNT) Thu, 17 Jul 2008 05:40 EDT

Redskins get Jason Taylor from Dolphins Sun, 20 Jul 2008 22:47 EDT
Jason Taylor wanted out of Miami, and Bill Parcells seemed only too happy to trade the "Dancing with the Stars" defensive end.

So when the Washington Redskins lost a starting lineman to a season-ending injury Sunday, a significant swap quickly got done.

The Redskins gave the Dolphins a second-round pick in 2009 and a sixth-round choice in 2010 for Taylor, who is leaving the only NFL team he's known.

The six-time Pro Bowl defensive end - who was the 2006 NFL Defensive Player of the Year - fell out of favor in Miami after spending his offseason on a TV show rather than working out with teammates.

The deal came about nine hours after starting defensive end Phillip Daniels was carted away from the practice field at Redskins Park with a season-ending left knee injury on Day 1 of training camp.

Cliff Lee's 11-hitter leads Indians over Seattle Sun, 20 Jul 2008 20:02 EDT
Cliff Lee followed up his All-Star start with his second complete game of the season, scattering 11 hits Sunday in the Cleveland Indians' 6-2 victory over the Seattle Mariners.

Lee became the American League's first 13-game winner and Kelly Shoppach ended an 0-for-13 funk with a decisive, three-run homer off injured starter Carlos Silva in the fourth.

Shoppach tied a career high with four RBIs, helping Cleveland to its second consecutive win following 10 straight road defeats - its longest such skid since 1991.

Seattle flopped to 22 games below .500 at the bottom of the AL West.

The Mariners lost Silva to back tightness immediately after Shoppach's home run, the latest ailment for a sick, injured and ineffective rotation.

Dodgers rally for 5 in ninth to beat Diamondbacks Sun, 20 Jul 2008 20:02 EDT
Andre Ethier hit a go-ahead triple to highlight a five-run ninth-inning rally and the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 6-5 on Sunday.

The Dodgers took two of three from Arizona to pull even with the Diamondbacks in the NL West.

Brandon Webb and the Diamondbacks had staked Brandon Lyon to a three-run lead, but the Diamondbacks closer, pitching in his third straight game, couldn't hold it.

Nomar Garciaparra doubled and James Loney singled. Andruw Jones hit what could have been a double-play grounder to Stephen Drew, but the shortstop bobbled the ball and had to throw to first for the out as Garciaparra scored.

Lyon retired Blake DeWitt on a grounder to short for the second out. But Andy LaRoche singled to right, scoring Loney to make it 4-3, and Matt Kemp doubled to center to score pinch runner Pablo Ozuna and tie the game.

Oh claims first win at State Farm Sun, 20 Jul 2008 19:42 EDT
Ji Young Oh got up and down for par on the first playoff hole Sunday to defeat Yani Tseng and win the State Farm Classic for her first victory on the LPGA Tour.

Oh closed with a three-under 69 to get in at 18-under-par 270.

"I'm really happy. Today I was able to stay calm," said Oh, who collected $255,000 for the win. "I just tried to keep my focus."

Tseng, a playoff winner at the McDonald's LPGA Championship, held the lead on the 18th tee, but knocked her approach over the green and was unable to get up and down for par.

The closing bogey meant the two would head to a playoff at Panther Creek Country Club after Tseng shot a final-round 72.

Without Wie, Oh wins State Farm in playoff Sun, 20 Jul 2008 19:27 EDT
Second-year LPGA golfer Ji Young Oh won her first tournament Sunday, sinking a 6-inch putt for par to win the State Farm Classic in a playoff over rookie Yani Tseng.

A day after the tournament lost its marquee player, Michelle Wie, to disqualification, the sudden-death playoff injected life into what had been an ordinary final round.

Oh and Tseng finished regulation at 18-under par.

Tseng, the leader coming into Sunday, chipped her third shot over the green and into the rough, then pitched her ball to about 6 feet from the cup.

But Oh's third shot, from just inside the rough, left her with the tap-in that gave her the win.

Verdasco captures Croatia Open Sun, 20 Jul 2008 19:27 EDT
Top-seeded Fernando Verdasco rallied to down fourth-seeded Russian Igor Andreev and win the Croatia Open title on Sunday.

Verdasco struggled in the first set, but battled back to take his second ATP singles title in three sets, 3-6, 6-4, 7-6 (7-4). The match lasted 2 hours and 50 minutes.

"It feels amazing to win like this after such a tough battle," said Verdasco. "I lost 7-6 in the third in my last final against Karlovic in Nottingham, so to win it this time in that same way; it's an incredible feeling. It's been a great week and I hope to come back here for many years. I hope to keep playing like this."

The triumph broke a four-year title drought for the 24-year-old Spaniard, who captured his first ATP singles title at the 2004 Valencia Open.

Andreev, 25, advanced to his second straight ATP final following a runner-up finish last week to Victor Hanescu at the Allianz Suisse Open in Gstaad, Switzerland.

Johnson earns first win in Milwaukee Sun, 20 Jul 2008 18:47 EDT
Richard S. Johnson closed with a six-under 64 Sunday to earn his first PGA Tour win at the U.S. Bank Championship in Milwaukee.

Johnson completed the event at 16-under-par 264.

"It's just amazing. You're thinking about it all the time of course when your leading, but it's hard. You try to block the thought, but it keeps popping up there," said Johnson, who collected $720,000 for the win. "It's unbelievable. I've worked very hard this year."

Ken Duke finished second at minus-15 after closing with a five-under 65 at Brown Deer Park Golf Course.

Dean Wilson and Chad Campbell both closed with rounds of 65 for a share of third place at 13-under-par 267. They were joined by former U.S. Ryder Cupper Chris Riley, who carded a 66 in the final round.

German's double lifts Royals over White Sox, 8-7 Sun, 20 Jul 2008 18:32 EDT
Esteban German hit a go-ahead, two-run double in the eighth inning to lead the Kansas City Royals to an 8-7 win over the Chicago White Sox on Sunday.

German was 3-for-3 with two RBIs and Mike Aviles had three hits for the Royals, who have won five of their last seven games.

Joakim Soria got three outs for his 26th save in 28 opportunities and Ramon Ramirez (1-1) pitched 1 1-3 innings for the win.

Jim Thome doubled in the seventh inning for his 2,000th career hit and Joe Crede hit a three-run homer for the White Sox, who have lost five times in seven games. Nick Swisher also hit a two-run homer for the White Sox.

Trailing 6-5, Thome led off the seventh inning with a double off Ramirez. One out later, Swisher hit his 13th home run of the season to put the White Sox up 7-6.

Miles' grand slam gives Cardinals 4-game sweep Sun, 20 Jul 2008 18:32 EDT
Aaron Miles' grand slam in the ninth inning, the first game-ending hit of his career, helped the St. Louis Cardinals recover from another blown save by Jason Isringhausen in a 9-5 victory over the San Diego Padres on Sunday that wrapped up a four-game sweep.

Troy Glaus' three-run homer off Heath Bell in the eighth gave the Cardinals a two-run lead but the Padres rallied against Isringhausen, who blew his eighth save in 19 chances. He was booed by a sellout crowd after allowing three straight one-out hits, including an RBI double by Edgar Gonzalez.

Isringhausen got the shot at his first save since May 5 because replacement closer Ryan Franklin, who is 14-for-18, needed a day off after a two-inning save on Saturday.

Brad Thompson (2-2) allowed a tying RBI double by Kevin Kouzmanoff before retiring Luke Carlin and Adrian Gonzalez with the bases loaded.

Cha Seung Baek pitched into the seventh and added his first career home run for the Padres, who have lost six in a row and have been swept five times in series of three or more games. Scott Hairston hit his fourth career leadoff homer, three coming this year.

Harrington wins British Open, ends Norman's dream Sun, 20 Jul 2008 18:17 EDT
Padraig Harrington enjoys few moments more than the walk down 18th fairway of a century-old links course, especially with a four-shot lead in the British Open and the engraver putting the final touches on the oldest trophy in golf.

He stopped Sunday to share the moment with Greg Norman, who knows this path all too well.

Celebration for one, sympathy for the other.

"I did say to him coming down 18 that I was sorry it wasn't his story that was going to be told," Harrington said. "I did feel that, but I wanted to win myself. In this game, you have to take your chances when you get them."

Harrington seized his opportunity by smashing a pair of fairway metals into the par 5s that carried him to a 32 on the back nine of blustery Royal Birkdale and made him Europe's first player in more than a century to win the British Open two years in a row.

Harris drives in 5 as Nationals rout Braves Sun, 20 Jul 2008 18:12 EDT
The Washington Nationals, again led by former Braves outfielder Willie Harris, made Atlanta look like a former contender.

Harris drove in five runs and reached base five times, Jesus Flores had five hits and Austin Kearns hit a two-run homer as the Nationals routed the Braves 15-6 on Sunday.

Washington outscored Atlanta 23-8 to win the last two games of the series. The series loss was a crushing disappointment for the fourth-place Braves, who hoped for a strong start after the All-Star break.

The only highlights for Atlanta were two homers by Mark Teixeira, who had three hits and drove in three runs, and a two-run homer by Martin Prado in the fourth off Odalis Perez (3-7).

The Braves didn't play as if capable of making a second-half move in the NL East. They matched their season high with four errors and issued eight walks while.

Montanes rallies to win Dutch Open title Sun, 20 Jul 2008 17:47 EDT
Spain's Albert Montanes rallied to down Steve Darcis of Belgium and win the Dutch Open title Sunday.

Montanes was blitzed in the first set by the third-seeded Darcis, the defending champion, but settled down and came back to take his first ATP singles title in three sets, 1-6, 7-5, 6-3.

Darcis captured his first-ever ATP singles title last year at this event and was trying to become the first player to successfully defend the Dutch Open crown since Balazs Taroczy, who won five straight from 1978-82.

Montanes, seeded fifth, was dominant all week. He had not dropped a set until falling to Darcis in the opening frame on Sunday.

The Barcelona resident was 0-4 in finals coming in and had last reached a title match last year in Casablanca, losing 6-1, 6-1 to France's Paul-Henri Mathieu.

Giants deal Durham to Brewers Sun, 20 Jul 2008 20:12 EDT
Ray Durham wore a Giants uniform for the last time, then packed up his locker and went to join the Milwaukee Brewers on the other side of the ballpark before leaving town with his new team.

San Francisco traded the veteran second baseman to the Brewers for two minor leaguers, with both clubs waiting until after the teams played Sunday to announce the swap. That, in fact, was per Durham's request as he didn't want to suit up for his first game for Milwaukee against the Giants.

"Personally it was out of respect for the guys in this locker room," Durham said, saying his goodbyes in the Giants' clubhouse. "It really was a stipulation I asked for."

An emotional Durham could only stand to be in the Giants' dugout for a few innings during the series finale against Milwaukee, but was prepared to make the switch right afterward and head to St. Louis with the Brewers. The 36-year-old second baseman, in his sixth season with San Francisco and the final year of a two-year contract, had to approve the deal.

"He's a veteran guy that can come in here and help our club," Milwaukee general manager Doug Melvin said. "We're trying to add as many good players as we can. We're trying to win this thing."

Wozniak wins at Stanford for first career title Sun, 20 Jul 2008 22:17 EDT
Canada's Aleksandra Wozniak bested France's Marion Bartoli to win the $600,000 Bank of the West Classic tennis event on Sunday.

Wozniak succeeded in winning her first career title by defeating Bartoli 7-5, 6-3 on the hardcourts at Taube Family Tennis Stadium.

"It's great," Wozniak said. "I think I made history at home. Everybody was watching the match. I'm just proud of being Canadian."

In the second set, Wozniak had a 2-1 lead before Bartoli asked for a trainer during a changeover. After that, Wozniak broke for a 3-1 lead as Bartoli was limping badly while clutching her left hip and eventually lost the match.

"It's really disappointing for me," Bartoli said. "I was able to play some really great tennis to be able to be in the final. I thought I really had a shot to win a Tier II event. But each day is different."

Kotchman's 2-run double lifts Angels over Red Sox Sun, 20 Jul 2008 21:27 EDT
Casey Kotchman hit a two-run double to cap a three-run rally in the eighth inning, and the Los Angeles Angels beat the Boston Red Sox 5-3 Sunday for their fifth straight victory.

With another late comeback, the Angels completed their first three-game sweep of Boston in seven years. Los Angeles scored four runs in the seventh Saturday for a 4-2 win.

The Angels became the first team in the majors to win 60 games, and the victory was their fifth in six meetings with Boston, enabling them to clinch their first season series against the Red Sox since 2001.

The AL West-leading Angels, 39-18 against teams with winning records, are a season-high 22 games over .500 and lead second-place Oakland by nine games. None of the other five division leaders has more than a two-game cushion.

The Red Sox held a 3-2 lead and knuckleballer Tim Wakefield (6-7) had retired 17 of 19 batters before Juan Rivera and Howie Kendrick hit back-to-back doubles to start the eighth and tie the score.

Knost fires 62 for second win of season Sun, 20 Jul 2008 20:22 EDT
Needing a low score to protect his lead, Colt Knost fired a 10-under 62 on Sunday to complete a wire-to-wire victory at the Price Cutter Charity Championship, his second victory of the season.

The 23-year-old rookie, who led by one shot overnight, outpaced a leaderboard that was bunching up behind him by making back-to-back eagles to start the back nine, then three birdies on his last six holes.

Knost scorched the back nine at Highland Springs Country Club for a seven- under 29, finishing the tournament at 26-under-par 262 for a four-shot win over Webb Simpson.

He claimed his first win at the Fort Smith Classic in May after also winning the U.S. Amateur Public Links and U.S. Amateur last year. Knost turned pro after those amateur victories, losing his exemption into this week's British Open, as well as the Masters and U.S. Open.

But he's made the best of that decision.

Eaks cruises to win at 3M Championship Sun, 20 Jul 2008 20:22 EDT
Playing on two bad knees, but with renewed hope for the state of his game, R.W. Eaks fired a seven-under 65 on Sunday to cruise to a six-shot win at the 3M Championship.

Eaks claimed his third Champions Tour victory in near-record fashion, finishing three sparkling rounds at TPC Twin Cities with a 23-under-par 193.

Only three players have ever scored lower in a Champions Tour event.

Eaks' six-shot win over Bernhard Langer and Gary Hallberg was also a season- high for the Champions Tour -- and it came from a 56-year-old man playing on two bad knees.

In fact, Eaks was sure he needed two new knees until a company contacted him and said it had braces he could wear at night that would fix the problem.

Brewers complete season sweep of Giants Sun, 20 Jul 2008 20:12 EDT
Ryan Braun hit a three-run homer and drove in a career-high five runs, pitcher Manny Parra had an RBI single en route to winning his eighth straight decision and the Milwaukee Brewers completed a season sweep of the San Francisco Giants with a 7-4 victory Sunday.

Corey Hart added a solo shot for the Brewers, who took all six meetings with the Giants this year and are off to a nice start after the All-Star break - seemingly poised to challenge the Chicago Cubs and St. Louis Cardinals for the rest of the way in what is shaping up to be an entertaining NL Central race.

And, Milwaukee acquired second baseman Ray Durham after the game from the Giants for two minor leaguers to help the Brewers make a playoff push. The club won for the fifth time in six road games.

But not without a scare in the ninth, when Jose Castillo hit a two-run double off Brian Shouse. Manager Ned Yost turned to closer Salomon Torres, who recorded the final out for his 17th save in 20 chances.

Tim Lincecum (11-3) struck out eight in his first start since missing last Tuesday's All-Star game and being hospitalized in New York with the flu and dehydration. His 121 pitches were the second most of his career behind the 122 he threw on April 24 against the San Diego Padres.

Sports Briefs Sun, 20 Jul 2008 04:42 EDT

College Football

Paterno, Flutie headHall of Fame inductees

Penn State Coach Joe Paterno helped a lot of players make it into the College Football Hall of Fame. He counts former Boston College quarterback Doug Flutie among them.

.We made Flutie. I told him that 10 times,. Paterno said Saturday evening at a news conference before the pair and 18 others were enshrined in South Bend, Ind. .He came to our place and nobody knew who he was and he ended up throwing for 400 yards.

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