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B1 • SUNDAY, MARCH 27, 2011 • THE BAY CITY TIMES • mlive.com

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LAKELAND, Fla. — Spring train-ing is two days from completion. TheDetroit Tigers will leave the palmtrees, beaches, easy pace and minorleague ballparks behind and beginthe games that count Thursday inNew York against the Yankees.

It’s always difficult to decide whatcan be derived from GrapefruitLeague exhibition games. Visitingteams only bringabout three starters;pitchers are runningin the outfield duringgames after comingout; and hitters cantake half the spring tofind a groove.

But we did learnsome things aboutthe Tigers after sixweeks of practice andgames:

1. Miguel Cabrerarequires help andsupervision.

Cabrera initiated anightmare string ofevents on Feb. 16 thattruly were embarrass-ing for him. He alleg-edly caused a ruckusin a Fort Pierce, Fla.,restaurant, threateningto kill people beforespeeding off. Whena St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Depart-ment officer found his SUV brokendown on the side of the road, he wasarrested and charged with DUI andresisting an officer without violence.

So, he is awaiting a court date,and now has a companion to bothencourage and shadow him. RaulGonzalez, a former minor leagueplayer, can be seen running laps withCabrera in the outfield and leav-ing ballparks with him. This kindof mentoring worked with TexasRangers star Josh Hamilton, and theTigers are hoping it puts an end toCabrera’s transgressions.

2. Justin Verlander could be headedfor his first 20-win season.

Verlander has won between 17and 19 games in four of his five sea-sons with Detroit. Not many pitch-ers reach 20 wins these days, but hecould very well do it in 2011.

As good as he already is, havingmade three All-Star teams, Verlanderbecame even more dedicated andintense this offseason and spring.Pitching coach Rick Knapp said thedifference is noticeable and extreme-ly encouraging.

3. There is plenty of talent waitingin the wings.

Starting pitchers Andy Oliver andJacob Turner are close to being majorleague ready, and Oliver is expectedto get the first call should somebody

What weknow aboutthe Tigers

See TIGERS, B5

DetroitTigersseasonpreview,B4-5.

STEVEKornacki

LEE THOMPSONlthompson@bc-times | (989) 895-3542

EAST LANSING — Bay City Western’sstorybook season had it all.

Except the fairy tale finish.After traveling a magical journey to

never-before-seen reaches of the tourna-ment trail, Western met its final destinywith a 53-49 loss to Detroit Southeastern inthe Class A boys basketball state semifinalsFriday at Michigan State University’s Bres-lin Center.

Setting up for a game-tying bucket fromMatt Costello with 10 seconds to play, theWarriors instead saw Southeastern sopho-more Kenyatta Singleton steal the ball andseal the fate of the greatest season in West-ern basketball history.

“It’s easy as an adult to know there arebigger things in life,” Western coach ChrisWatz said. “But to get to the Final Four —coming from a little town that hasn’t gonethis far in basketball — and having a four-point loss in the semifinals, it’s difficult foreverybody to digest right now.”

Southeastern (23-4) met its own end inthe Class A title game with a 46-42 loss toKalamazoo Central on Saturday.

Still, a Western program that had shownno glimpse of greatness for 38 years, leftno doubt that it had blossomed into one ofthe best teams in the state in 2011.

“Since Bay City Western has never beenheard of, nobody expected us to beat goodteams like we have,” Western senior TylerEllis said. “It felt good to show people thatwe belonged here.”

Western (24-3) led for most of the firsttwo and a half quarters, taking a 35-28 leadwith 5:15 left in the third on a 3-pointerfrom Costello, the MSU recruit who tallied19 points and eight rebounds.

But Southeastern rattled off a 15-0 run totake a 43-35 lead near the end of the quarter.

“We’re used to dominating the third quar-ter, and we didn’t dominate this one,” Watzsaid. “We had to respond, and that’s some-thing we haven’t had to do much this year.And this was a bad time to learn how.”

So close ...

EAST LANSING — Statetournament title runs aren’tsomething Mike Thayerprofesses any real expertisein, but the Bay City Westernathletic director certainlyknows the special value theybring to a school and com-munity.

Eleven years ago, in2000, Thayer was the ath-letic director when tiny Mer-rill High School made itsimprobable run to the Class

C state champion-ship game, only tolose to Negaunee.He watched themomentum and sup-port build with eachtournament victory,and marveled as thelittle village in west-ern Saginaw Countyturned into a virtualghost town when theboys basketball team playedat Michigan State Universi-

ty’s Breslin Center.On Friday, Thayer

was able to marvelagain at anotherimprobable run asBay City Westernproved all the nay-sayers wrong andplayed in the ClassA state semifinal forthe first time in its38-year school his-

tory. The Warriors came outon the short end of a 53-49

score to Detroit Southeast-ern, but that’s only a blip inwhat was a magical month ofMarch in the small town ofAuburn.

“You try to preach to thekids — having been throughit before — just how hardit is to get to this point andwhat a great accomplishmentit is,” Thayer said. “It’s beena tremendous opportunity to

Warriors accomplish their goal of shocking the world

PAULNeumeyer

[email protected]

ZACHARY [email protected] | (989) 894-9635

How would Bay City nativeand Vermont Tech star NickSimpson try to guard himself?

“Give him the outside shotand don’t let him post you up,”Simpson said. “Keep him off theoffensive boards — people don’tthink I can post up with the size.Basically, you have to outplayhim with your heart.”

It was a defensive gameplanthat few teams could pull off

against the 6-foot Simpson, whosizzled for Vermont Tech thisyear, setting the school recordfor points in a season while tak-ing the Knights to the UnitedStates Collegiate Athletic Asso-ciation Division II national cham-pionship quarterfinals.

Recently, he capped his whirl-wind season by being named aUSCAA All-American.

Simpson’s stats read like thegreatest hits of a college career.He scored 45 points in his thirdgame of the season, an 80-77 win

over Nashua Community Col-lege. He lit up the scoreboardfor 39 against the College ofSt. Joseph, a 90-79 win Simpsoncalled a “fun game.” He droppedin the game-winning shot againstFisher College.

His 923 points — an averageof 29 per game — smashed theprevious school record of 697points. Along with All-Americanhonors, he was named first teamall-Sunrise Conference and firstteam all-Yankee Small CollegeAthletic Conference.

But Simpson didn’t have theluxury of four years to compilehis point totals; he had to fit itinto one season with the Knights.

“He’s been such a marvelousplayer for us,” Vermont Techcoach John Dyer said. “I knew

All Saints grad Simpson earns All-American honors

Bay City All Saints grad Nick Simpsonmade the most of his one season at

Vermont Tech.MICHAEL RANDOLPH | THE BAY CITY TIMES

MICHAEL RANDOLPH | THE BAY CITY TIMES

Matt Costello puts up a shot around Detroit Southeastern’s Percy Gibson during Friday’sClass A state semifinal at the Breslin Center in East Lansing.

Bay CityWestern fansshow theirsupport ofWarriorsstandoutMatt Costelloduring theClass A statesemifinals atthe BreslinCenter inEast Lansingon Friday.

Western’s dream season ends withsemifinal loss to Detroit Southeastern

See SIMPSON, B3

See NEUMEYER, B2

See WESTERN, B2

Visitmlive.comfor results

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Western’s Tyler Ellis looks for room against Detroit Southeastern during Friday’s Class Asemifinal game at the Breslin Center. Right, Western coach Chris Watz reacts to the loss.

GEOFF KIMMERLYTHE ASSOCIATED PRESS

From the first momentLansing Eastern’s LaDon-tae Henton stepped on thefloor four seasons ago,expectations were mightyin the city that producedMagic Johnson, Jay Vincentand Mr. Basketball winnersSam Vincent, Robert Hen-derson and Marcus Taylor.

This season, he finisheda career that placed himamong those all-time greats.

The 6-foot-7 Hentonbecame the first Lansing-area player since Taylorin 2000 to make a fourthstraight All-State team andis this season’s AssociatedPress Class A Player of theYear.

Henton upped his scor-ing averages every season— from 16.7 to 20.4 to 24.8to 25.6 points per game thiswinter — while keeping aconsistent rebounding aver-age within a few tenths of14.5 per game every seasonthroughout his career.

Henton also was a Mr.Basketball finalist andEastern was 62-28 dur-ing his career after going9-13 the season before heentered high school. Theteam’s CAAC Blue anddistrict titles in 2009-10were its first since 1990-91.The Quakers repeated asdistrict champions this sea-son before falling to No. 3Kalamazoo Central by twopoints in the regional final.

Two more Mr. Basketball

candidates are members ofthe Class A All-State team.

Detroit Southeasternsenior Brandan Kearneyaverages 18.5 points,6.5 rebounds and sixassists per game and hassigned with Michigan State.Southfield senior CarltonBrundidge, who has signedwith Michigan, averaged20.4 points, 8.4 reboundsand five assists per game.

The Detroit area hadfour players on the list,with those two joined bySoutheastern senior PercyGibson and Livonia Steven-son senior Jalen Reynolds.Gibson averages 19 points,10.5 rebounds and twoblocked shots per gameand also has signed withDayton, while Reynoldsaveraged 18.7 points,

14.5 rebounds and5.3 blocks per game andsigned with Xavier.

Lansing Eastern’s finalloss came to a KalamazooCentral team featuringsenior T.J. Buchanan, whoaverages 15.7 points, 9.2rebounds and 3.8 assistsper game and has signedwith Rhode Island. Easternalso lost twice to CAACBlue rival Okemos andjunior Chris Harrison-Docks, who averaged23 points and 2.8 assistsper game and made 633-pointers. He has morethan 10 Division I collegescholarship offers so far.

The Saginaw ValleyAssociation also placed twoon the Class A team. Sagi-naw senior Tommie McCu-ne averaged 16 points and

nine rebounds per gameand has signed with WestVirginia. Bay City Westernjunior Matt Costelloaverages 22.4 points,14 rebounds and 4.3 blocksper game and has commit-ted to sign with MichiganState as a senior.

“We don’t take him forgranted, but to us he’s justone of the guys because wewatch him play every day,”Western coach Chris Watzsaid of Costello. “But thenhe does something likepouring in that triple-dou-ble (in the regional final),and it makes you realizehe’s pretty special.

“And we’re pretty excitedthat he’s wearing our uni-form.”

Costello was recentlyhonored as the Gatoradeboys basketball player ofthe year in Michigan.

Rockford senior RyanMajerle represents theGrand Rapids area on theAll-State first team afteraveraging 24 points pergame in his final seasonbefore joining Toledo.

Coach of the Year DennisStarkey not only led Petos-key from Class B into ClassA this winter, but to a 22-2record that improved hisPetoskey mark to 405-179in 25 seasons — 434-228overall. Petoskey won asecond straight Big NorthConference title and finishedundefeated in the league forthe second straight season aswell and third time in its14-year history.

Western’s Costello named first team All-State in Class A

showcase our school, ourcommunity, our school sys-tem. Everyone came togeth-er from Bay City Central, toHandy to everyone in BayCity. They all got behindus.”

“Shock the world”became the slogan for theWarriors during the tourna-ment run, and they certain-ly did just that when theyshocked perennial powerSaginaw High, 55-47, in theClass A regional semifinals.That was the same Saginaw

High team Western lost to,60-28, only two weeks ear-lier, and that was the winthat really set the tone forthe Warriors’ run to TheBreslin.

Then Western, with gritand determination and alot of building confidenceand momentum, contin-ued to shock with its 45-37regional championship vic-tory over another perennialpower, Clarkston, to its con-vincing 60-49 victory overOrchard Lake St. Mary’s inTuesday’s quarterfinal.

“I was so happy after wewon the quarterfinal game,because I knew we weregoing to be able to takethe season to the last pos-sible day. We could practice

and spend as much timewith these kids as possible.That’s why this run wasso special,” Western headcoach Chris Watz said.

Tournament runs likeWestern just experiencedare both rewarding andtaxing, physically and men-tally. There are the emo-tional highs and lows eachgame brings, followed bythe tremendous anticipationand nervousness of the nextgame. There are late nights,miles of travel and physi-cal fatigue. There’s school,unless Mother Nature pro-vides a break like she didthis past week.

There are injuries, likethe badly swollen ankleWestern junior star Matt

Costello played the secondhalf with and displayedafter Friday’s loss.

There also is disappoint-ment — for all but fourteams in the four-class boysstate tournament.

Western’s season endedwith disappointment Friday,but that easily is overshad-owed by the tremendousaccomplishments of thisgroup of young men.

Never before has a West-ern boys basketball teamwon a regional, let aloneadvanced to the Final Fourand come within four pointsof making it to the titlegame. Never before has aWestern boys basketballteam captivated its studentbody and community the

way this team did.And never before has a

Western boys basketballteam proved it can playwith the best the state hasto offer, and do so in a waythat will not be forgotten.

“We went from 150 kidsin the gym at our gamesto selling them out,” saidWestern senior Tyler Ellis,who played in front of 8,650on Friday. “ We kept work-ing, and we kept gettingbetter every year. This year,everything just connectedon and off the court.”

Disappointment is OKfor now, but soon that willgive way to perspective.And then to memories. Oh,how many special memo-ries people will recall once

the fog of this tourney runclears.

“When I look at the kidson this team it’s easy for meto know as an adult thereare bigger things in lifethan this,” Watz said. “Butfor them to get to the FinalFour for a little town that’snever seen this before. ...I know it was special andknow they will feel that waywith time. But a four-pointloss in a Class A semifinalis a little difficult to digestright now.

“As long as these guysare alive they will alwaysremember what they didthis year.”

They did what they setout to do. They “shockedthe world.”

From B1 — NEUMEYER The Western boys basketball team set out to ‘Shock the World’ — their team motto — and they did just that with an unprecedented run to the state semifinals

The Warriors did recover,getting a dunk from Costello totie the game at 45-45 with 5:15left in the fourth, then takingthe game into the final minutetied at 49-49.

But that’s where Southeast-ern’s 6-foot-9, 240-pound PercyGibson emerged as the differ-ence-maker. The University ofDayton-bound senior,who delivered a 22-point,11-rebound performance, pow-ered inside to draw a foul, thenhit two free throws for the51-49 lead with 27.9 secondson the clock.

“With his back to the basket,I don’t know if there is a bigfella better than my big guy,”Southeastern coach GeorgeWard said. “He played the lastfour or five weeks like a man.”

But it was Southeastern’slittle fella, sophomore guardKenyatta Singleton, who madethe biggest play. With Westernlooking to Costello for a game-tying shot, Singleton slipped

in from behind, poked the ballloose and fed Darryl Flemister,who iced the game with twofree throws with five secondsto play.

“I didn’t even see it coming,”Ward said of the timely steal.“He’s one of those guys whoseIQ is off the charts, and he uti-lized his defensive intelligenceand saw something he coulddo there.”

For Costello, it was a toughway for a dream season to end.

“(The play) got a little jum-bled and I ended up gettingthe ball at the free-throw line,”he said. “And I just turned andlost it. I’m really disappointedin that.”

As it did throughout its post-season run — highlighted byan upset of No. 4-ranked Sagi-naw High that sprung Westernto its first regional champi-onship in program history— Western got highlights fromthroughout its starting lineup.

Aaron Tithof knocked down

three 3-pointers and finishedwith 13 points, Ellis had10 points and six assists andBrandon Havercamp notchedsix rebounds and three assists.Seniors Ryan Haag and DavidKolanek led the defense thatheld Mr. Basketball final-ist Brandan Kearney to eightpoints.

“Those seniors carried usall season,” Costello said “Wewouldn’t be here if it wasn’t forthem. But we’ll try to regroupand make a push next year.”

The book closed on West-ern’s season, but only afterit was totally re-written. TheWarriors shattered the schoolrecord of 14 wins in a season,won the first district title in20 years and the first regionalcrown ever on its way to thefinal four.

“We had a lot of goals, andwe reached every single one,”Watz said. “I don’t rememberanybody saying we were goingto win a state championship.”

From B1 — WESTERN ‘We had a lot of goals, and we reached every single one’


Western’s Matt Costello goes for the layup during Friday’s semifinalagainst Detroit Southeastern at the Breslin Center in East Lansing.Costello was named to the Associated Press All-State First Team.

KYLE AUSTINFOR THE BAY CITY TIMES

SAGINAW — For all the videowork, practice and preparation lead-ing up to Game 1 of the playoffs,sometimes it all comes down to afortuitous deflection.

With the Saginaw Spirit andGuelph Storm tied, 2-2, in the latterhalf of the third period, Ivan Teleginfired a shot from the corner towardGuelph goalie Brandon Foote.

Vincent Trocheck was in the rightplace.

“I went to the net and he threw itat the net, and the puck hit off myskate and went in,” Trocheck said.

Trocheck’s goal stood up as thegame-winner, as the Spirit took a3-2 victory in Game 1 of the best-of-seven first round series in front of asellout crowd of 5,527 Friday nightat The Dow Event Center.

Game 2 is 2 p.m. today in Guelph.The series moves back to Saginawon Monday night for Game 3.

After the Spirit twice fell behindand twice tied the game — and sur-vived a penalty-riddled, shootinggallery of a second period — a well-placed puck off a well-placed skatehanded the Spirit the 1-0 series lead.

“We came to play and we got alucky bounce on the third goal,” Spiritgoaltender Mavric Parks said. “Some-times in playoffs that’s all you need.”

After giving up a goal three min-utes into the game, Parks recoveredto make 38 saves, including 10 inthe third period, to improve his play-off goals against average to 2.27.

Spirit defenseman Ryan O’Connortied the game early in the firstbefore an all-Guelph second periodnearly undid Saginaw.

The Spirit committed four minorpenalties in a span of 4:21 in themiddle portion of the second periodand spent nearly half the periodplaying with four or three players.

The Spirit were outshot, 18-3 inthe period and gave up a goal toGuelph’s Francis Menard with threeminutes left.

“It was frustrating, our guysalways taking penalties,” Parks said.“We have to learn from it. Luckyenough, it didn’t bite us in the backend there tonight. We have to learnfrom it, that’s all there is to it.”

The Spirit played a penalty-freethird period, put 12 shots on net andnotched the game-tying and game-winning goals.

“(Coach) Todd (Watson) got on

them just to say let’s get it going,take it back, be aggressive, go tothe net, stay out of the box,” Spiritassociate coach John Kisil said. “Theplayers did a great job.”

Josh Shalla, a former Storm for-ward, tied the game with his firstplayoff goal when the Spirit were ona six-on-five, with a delayed penalty.

Parks preserved the lead secondslater with a diving save that deflect-ed off his hip.

“We were saying on the bench,especially when it was tied 2-2 andthe crowd was really into it, we said,‘throw everything on the net andyou get a lucky break,’ ” Kisil said.“And that’s what it takes.”

Trocheck scored the game-winnertwo minutes later.

BRENDEN NEVILLE | FOR THE BAY CITY TIMES

Saginaw’s Josh Shalla moves the puck with Guelph’s Tyler Carroll in pursuit duringFriday’s series opening game at The Dow Event Center. Saginaw won, 3-2.

mlive.com SUNDAY,MARCH 27,2011 B3THE BAY CITY TIMESSPORTS

Spirit rally to win series opener, 3-2Saginaw Spirit

Next: at Guelph, 2 p.m.today - Spirit lead series 1-0Radio: WSGW-FM, 100.5• Visit mlive.com/spirit for morecoverage

Pistons 100, Pacers 88Next: Pistons at Pacers,7 p.m. Wednesday, ESPN• For more coverage, go tomlive.com/pistons

Wings 4. Maple Leats 2Next: Blackhawks at Wings,7:30 p.m. Monday, FSD

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

AUBURN HILLS — Richard Hamil-ton scored 23 points, and the DetroitPistons held off the Indiana Pacers,100-88, Saturday night.

The Pistons went on a 21-3 runduring the third quarter to take an18-point lead.

The Pacers, who are fighting for aplayoff spot in the Eastern Confer-ence, cut the lead to six in the fourthquarter, but Hamilton drove for aneasy layup, then made a nice pass toRodney Stuckey for a layup to makeit 90-80.

Brandon Rush scored 19 points forthe Pacers.

Detroit’s Charlie Villanueva,benched for the Pistons’ loss toCleveland on Friday, didn’t play untilthe fourth quarter Saturday, but heplayed that entire period and madeall five of his shots to finish with 13points.

Hamilton was benched earlier inthe season, but he’s been back in thelineup lately and may have been thebest player on the court Saturday. Heshot 7 of 13 from the field and addedsix assists, although he also had fiveturnovers. Stuckey added 16 points,and Tayshaun Prince scored 13 forDetroit.

Tyler Hansbrough scored 16 pointsfor the Pacers, and Danny Grangercontributed 14. Indiana went 7 of 19on free throws, including a pair ofbig misses by A.J. Price with 1:54remaining and the Pacers down byseven.

The Pistons led, 48-47, at halftime,and the game was tied at 53 whenthey went on their decisive run.Prince started it with a turnaroundfrom 14 feet, and his 3-pointerpushed the lead into double digits at65-54. Austin Daye gave Detroit itslargest lead with a 3-pointer from theright wing that made it 74-56.

Indiana scored the next sevenpoints, but Hamilton halted that runwith a 3-pointer from the right cor-ner.

Hamilton’s shot at the buzzer fromnear midcourt gave Detroit a 26-25lead after the first quarter.

Replays showed Hamilton was atleast close to stepping on the side-line, but officials let the shot standafter a review.

Pistonstop Indiana

Nick was good, but I had noway to anticipate or expectthe kind of year he had. Hewas pretty much unstop-pable all year long.”

A prep standout from BayCity All Saints, Simpsonplayed two years at KirtlandCommunity College andone year at University ofMichigan-Dearborn beforemaking his way to VermontTech. He poured in 2,368points in his collegiatecareer.

Dyer saidhe recruitedSimpsonfor histough-noseddefense, butit was thatgame againstNashuawhere Simp-son firstshowed aglimpse thatthis would bea special sea-son for bothhim and theprogram.

“It was thisgame that it became clearthat he was a force to bereckoned with. He wasn’tgoing to be stopped inside,”Dyer said. “It was one ofthose games that Nick justrefused to lose.”

Simpson’s hard work anddedication endeared him tohis teammates. Dyer saidsophomore guard Alex Tyr-rell leaned over at dinnerone night during an earlyseason roadtrip and said,“I love Nick and I love thisteam.”

“He has this joy abouthim because he’s having somuch fun,” Dyer said. “Hisenergy is infectious.”

Off the court, Simpsonhad to adjust to the culturechange of Vermont.

“The most difficult part

was probably leaving Michi-gan, because I haven’t beenaway from the state thislong,” Simpson said. “It’s alot different than I thoughtit would be. It’s not like thecity; they have a lot moresnow than us.”

But Dyer said Simpsonhelped ease the transition,because he spent so muchtime in the gym.

“He’s a gym rat. He livesin the gym from morning

to night,”Dyer said.“It was sortof a seam-less adjust-ment for himbecause somuch of hislife revolvesaround bas-ketball.”

Simpsoncredited Dyerfor helpingease the tran-sition andgetting theguys to knoweach otheras more than

just teammates.“He brings everybody

together and makes every-body play as one,” Simpsonsaid.

Though he has playedhis final game as a Knight,Simpson said he will takethe relationships he hasformed this season withhim.

“It feels like I’m going toknow them forever. They’regoing to be my friends for-ever,” Simpson said.

He’ll soon have at leastone more accomplishmentat Vermont Tech as well.

“I’m about to get a Ver-mont Tech Hall of Famestarted,” Dyer said. “Nick isgoing in the Hall of Fame.I’ve never coached anybodylike him.”

From B1 — SIMPSON Quite a year at Vermont Tech

“I’m about toget a VermontTech Hall ofFame started.Nick is goingin the Hallof Fame. I’venever coachedanybody likehim.”

John DyerVERMONT TECH COACH


EAST LANSING — Detroit Southeast-ern has gone 85 years without a basket-ball championship.

The Jungaleers, who ousted Bay CityWestern from the tournament in Friday’ssemifinal, led 28-16 with five minutes togo in Saturday’s Class A championshipgame. But Kalamazoo Central stormedback to defend their championship with a46-42 victory Saturday at Michigan State.

“I just can’t believe the will these kidshave to win,” Kalamazoo Central coachMichael Thomas said. “I challenged thema little at halftime, and they responded.”

Southeastern (23-4) was trying to winthe championship for the first time sinceback-to-back victories in 1925 and 1926.

The Maroon Giants (25-3) have plentyof experience in championship games.Kalamazoo Central lost to Detroit Persh-ing in the 2009 title game, but beat AnnArbor Huron last season before defeatingthe Jungaleers this season.

Darius Norman scored the first threepoints of the fourth, putting the MaroonGiants ahead, 37-35, and they still held a43-40 advantage with a minute left.

Brandan Kearney’s basket brought theJungaleers (23-4) within one with 36.7seconds left. Norman was then called fortraveling. Landon Gray, though, missed alayup that would have put Southeasternback in front, and Tyler Bell made it 45-42with two free throws.

Kearney who will play for MichiganState next season, missed a tying 3-pointer.

“I just wanted to send the game to over-time, but maybe I cost us the game rightthere,” he said. “I know that one playdoesn’t really cost you a game — thereare a lot of big plays — but that hurt.”

Class B: Lansing Sexton tops MuskegonTyrin Wade scored 18 points and Den-

zel Valentine added 17 as a deep LansingSexton team overran Muskegon Heights,75-60, in the Class B state championshipboys basketball game Saturday at the Bre-slin Center.

Sexton (26-2) led just 30-26 at the half,and then blew open the game with a24-17 third quarter. Anthony Clemmonschipped in with 15 points for the BigReds, and Bryn Forbes added 10.

Deontae Hudson and Juwon Martineach had 16 points to pace the MuskegonHeights attack. Sexton outreboundedHeights by a 39-16 margin.

Class C: Schoolcraft defeats McBainTwo years ago, an eighth-grader sat in

the Breslin Center stands and watchedSchoolcraft lose the Class C champion-ship game to Melvindale AB&T.

On Saturday, Luke Ryskamp, now asophomore at Schoolcraft, led the unde-feated Eagles to a 73-59 victory overMcBain in the championship game atMichigan State.

Ryskamp finished with 19 points and 11rebounds and was congratulated after thegame by Mateen Cleaves, whose NCAAchampionship banner and retired jersey

both hang from the Breslin Center rafters.“He told me I looked like a good player,

but that I needed to live in the gym andkeep working,” Ryskamp said.

Ryskamp ended the story there at thepost-game press conference, but his coachand teammates wouldn’t let it rest.

“Tell the rest of the story,” said Eaglescoach Randy Small.

Only then did Ryskamp admit that hehadn’t known who Cleaves was, havingonly been in the first grade when Michi-gan State won the 2000 national title.

“I’m a Michigan fan,” he added sheep-ishly.

Blake Krum and Tyler Dow, both soph-omores on the 2009 runners-up, added16 each for the 27-0 Eagles, while anothersenior, Kody Chandler, had 13.

Class D: Wyoming Tri-Unity beats FultonWyoming Tri-Unity Christian outscored

Fulton, 27-12, in the fourth quarter,including nine points from Durant Vegaand seven from Mike Boon, and went onto a 67-50 victory Saturday at MichiganState in East Lansing.

Joey Blauwkamp added 16 for theDefenders (25-2), while Walden had 20for Fulton. Both teams thought Tri-UnityChristian’s 15-6 advantage on the offen-sive glass was the key to the game.

“They just killed us on the boards,”Walden said.

“Every time there was a loose ball, theyseemed to get a hand on it and tip it toone of their teammates.”

The Pirates (25-3) only trailed 40-38going into the fourth, and got back within44-42 on Tyler Walden’s 3-pointer with6:25 left.

The championship was Tri-Unity Chris-tian’s third in five title-game appearancessince 2002.

K-zoo Central repeats in Class A

ERIK HOLLADAY | FOR THE BAY CITY TIMES

Kalamazoo Central’s T.J. Buchanan hits a floatingjump shot over Detroit Southeastern’s LandonGray on Saturday at the Breslin Center.

ANSAR KHANFOR THE BAY CITY TIMES

DETROIT — Saturday was a fes-tive night at Joe Louis Arena as fansfrom both sides reveled in the firstmeeting in more than 16 monthsbetween long-time rivals Detroit andToronto.

The Red Wings celebrated a 4-2victory over the Maple Leafs.

But they might have suffered acostly injury in the process as goal-tender Jimmy Howard, on his 27thbirthday, left the game at 6:11 of thethird period. He appeared to hurt hisleft shoulder after Joffrey Lupul fellon top of him.

To add insult to injury, Lupulreached his stick around andknocked the puck into the net to tiethe game at 2-2.

Joey MacDonald replaced Howard,and just 38 seconds later, Jiri Hudlerblasted a shot past rookie goalieJames Reimer to give Detroit a 3-2lead. Todd Bertuzzi scored an empty-net goal with 52 seconds to play.

Henrik Zetterberg and Tomas Hol-mstrom scored power-play goals forthe Red Wings, who killed all fourToronto power plays.

The Red Wings had no immediateupdate on Howard’s condition. Theyalready are missing Chris Osgood,who is not eligible to come off long-term injured reserve until April 8.

The Red Wings ended their three-game winless skid (0-2-1) and snappedthe Maple Leafs’ three-game winningstreak. It was Detroit’s first win overToronto since Dec. 9, 2006 (5-1 at theJoe). The Leafs won the previous threegames between the teams.

Holmstrom snapped a 1-1 tie withhis 15th goal, on the power play, at9:17 of the second period. Stationedin front of the net, he tipped in ablast by Niklas Kronwall.

Red Wings defenseman BrianRafalski was shaken up — heappeared to hurt his right knee — ona check into the boards from DarrylBoyce with four minutes remain-ing in the second period. Rafalskireturned in the third period.

Justin Abdelkader took exceptionto the hit and fought Boyce.

The Red Wings outplayed theMaple Leafs by a wide margin in thefirst period but had to settle for a 1-1tie at the intermission.

Wings beatToronto


2011 Detroit Tigers Preview

STEVE KORNACKIFOR THE BAY CITY TIMES

LAKELAND, Fla. — The heartof the Detroit Tigers’ batting orderpumps for one country. Venezuelais home to each of those All-Starsluggers.

Cleanup hitter and first basemanMiguel Cabrera and second base-man Carlos Guillen hail from Mara-cay. Right fielder Magglio Ordonezis from Caracas and Victor Marti-nez, a designated hitter and catcher,was born in Ciudad Bolivar.

Each city has its own personality.Caracas is the capital and largestcity, while Maracay is separatedfrom the Caribbean by mountainsand Ciudad Bolivar is an historicriver city. But there is one constantto every city in Venezuela. And thatcommon thread is baseball.

It is the only country in Centralor South America where baseball isking and soccer waits in the wings.

“Baseball is way bigger thananything in Venezuela,” Cabrerasaid. “We just love baseball in ourcountry.”

It’s a 12-month love affair withfans following both the MajorLeagues and the Venezuela WinterLeague, which sends a team to theCaribbean World Series that endsone week before spring trainingbegan.

“Baseball is the No. 1 hobby inthe country and there is a passion,”said Augusto Cardenas, a sportswriter for Diario Panorama inMaracaibo. “There has never beena sport with more supporters thanbaseball in Venezuela.

“The stadiums are always crowd-ed in the winter league. And nomatter which teams are in the finals,everybody is watching it. It is notlike soccer. ... There is a passion thatthe Venezuelans feel for this sport;it is a way of life. Baseball makesVenezuelans forget about their prob-lems. It makes our country happy,makes Venezuelans smile.”

Cardenas said his country beganfalling in love with baseball whenpitcher Alex Carrasquel reached themajors with the Washington Sena-tors in 1939, becoming the first Ven-ezuelan to make it. He was 50-39with a 3.73 ERA in 11 seasons spentmostly in relief with the Senators.

“But the first Venezuelan starand idol was Chico Carrasquel,”his nephew, Cardenas said. “SinceChico arrived to the majors, Ven-ezuelans started to follow more themajor leagues and his fellow Vene-zuelans playing there. Chico was thehero of Luis Aparicio and his rolemodel, and then Aparicio opened alot of doors for other Venezuelans.”

Chico Carrasquel, who diedin 2005, was a four-time All-Starshortstop who finished third inAmerican League Rookie of the

Year voting in 1950, when he bat-ted .282 for the Chicago White Sox.He led the league with 477 assistsin 1951, and had the top shortstopfielding percentage in the leaguefour times.

Aparicio, the 1956 Rookie of theYear and 1959 MVP runner-up forthe pennant-winning Go-Go WhiteSox, was elected to the Hall ofFame in 1984. He had 2,677 hits,13 All-Star selections, nine GoldGloves and led the league in stolen

bases every year from 1956 to 1964.“Aparicio was the role model of

Dave Concepcion,” Cardenas said.“Concepcion was the role model ofOzzie Guilln and Omar Vizquel, andVizquel has been the role model ofElvis Andrus and other young play-ers.”

Vizquel has won 11 Gold Glovesand is the country’s all-time hitsleader with 2,799, and Guillen nowmanages the White Sox club forwhich he starred. Andrus, enteringhis third season, is one of the bestshortstops in the game for the ALchampion Texas Rangers.

Both Cabrera and Guillen saidConcepcion, the shortstop of theBig Red Machine teams in Cincin-nati, was their favorite player whilegrowing up. Ordonez favored slug-ger Tony Armas, who led the AL in1984 with both 43 homers and 123RBIs for the Boston Red Sox, andMartinez grew up emulating OzzieGuillen.

“Tony Armas was a power hitterand very famous,” Ordonez said.“I met him in training with theCaribes team in our winter league.I did not make the team that year,but got to know Armas. I saw howhard he worked, and he was such arespected guy.”

Ordonez also was a big fan ofAndres “The Big Cat” Galarraga,whose 399 homers are the most byany Venezuelan.

“Davey Concepcion came from ourtown, Maracay,” Carlos Guillen said.“We would watch him play in thewinter league, and we knew about allhe did in Cincinnati. He was a leaderthat the kids all followed.”

Those pioneers influenced youngboys to dream of following in theirfootsteps, and the ever-increasingtalent pool has resulted in more andmore talent flowing to the majors.

According to research by Carde-nas, 27 Venezuelans had appearedin the majors through the 1970s.But 28 more came up in the 1980s,when Ordonez and Guillen weregrowing up, and 62 hit the majors inthe 1990s. In the past decade, begin-ning in 2000, a whopping 140 Ven-ezuelans made big league debuts.

Cardenas said he believes Cabre-ra is now his country’s favoriteplayer, followed by New York Metspitcher Johan Santana, Seattle Mar-iners Cy Young Award winner FelixHernandez and Colorado Rockiesrising star Carlos Gonzalez.

“The kids coming up and sign-ing with major league teams now inVenezuela is unbelievable,” Ordonezsaid. “Yes, it is a great cycle we havegoing. We’re all proud of that. Kidssee us as role models just like wesaw our favorite players.”

Early development is a key inVenezuela.

“They actually have a LittleLeague system like we have here,”said Tigers assistant general manag-er Al Avila. “The Dominican Repub-lic doesn’t have that and other coun-tries down there don’t, either. Thatgives young players in that countrythe opportunity to live at home andstay in school while they play.”

Martinez backed Avila’s state-ment.

“We start young and get a love ofthe game very early,” Martinez said.

And Cabrera’s own experienceillustrated just how early youngVenezuelans get into baseball.

“I was four when I played inLittle League,” Cabrera said. “I haveplayed baseball ever since I canremember.”

The highly competitive VenezuelaWinter League stokes the fire thecountry has for the game.

“It’s getting bigger,” Carlos Guil-len said. “There are televised gamesin the winter league now. Thecrowds are huge. And they watchall the big league games they canget on TV.”

President Hugo Chavez, a friendto Ordonez and many major leagu-ers, is a huge baseball fan, andEmpresas Polar root beer is theprincipal sponsor for the VenezuelaWinter League.

“We get a lot of support fromboth private companies and thegovernment,” Ordonez said. “Theyinvest in baseball.”

Baseball once was king in theUnited States, having since beenpassed by the NFL. But it wears thecrown in Venezuela, where the rev-olution started by the Carrasquelsand Aparicio shows no signs ofslowing.

Important playersDAVID GOLDMAN | THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Slugger Miguel Cabrera is one of four Venezuelan-born players in the middle of the Detroit Tigers’ lineup.

The heart of the Detroit Tigers’ lineup hails solely from Venezuela

Venezuelan TalentExplosion

Number of Venezuelans debutingin Major League Baseball bydecade:1930s: 11940s: 11950s: 41960s: 11Research by Augusto Cardenas,Diario Panorama (Maracaibo,Venezuela)

1970s: 101980s: 281990s: 622000s: 140


LAKELAND, Fla. — JustinVerlander finally decidedto splurge on the eve of hissecond season since sign-ing an $80 million, five-yearcontract.

He bought an eight-bed-room brick home with Colo-nial touches and an eight-cargarage on five acres near hisboyhood home in Goochland,Va. Five of the garages havevehicles inside — includinghis pride and joy.

“I got a Ferrari 458 Italiathis offseason,” said Ver-lander, the highest-paidpitcher in Detroit Tigers his-tory. “As a boy, I had postersof Italian sports cars, includ-ing Ferraris, on my bedroomwalls. I also had posters ofFrank Thomas, Nolan Ryanand Greg Maddux. Theywere my favorite players.”

By joining those threeplayers — two future Hallof Famers and one alreadyin Cooperstown — as a pre-mier player, the Ferrari wassure to follow. Verlander hasattained a successful careerin the big leagues and thecar he always wanted. Andso the daydreaming as a boyhas become reality.

But being an All-Star whois expected to flirt with 20wins every year isn’t enoughfor him. And as good asit feels to get behind thewheel of that red Ferrari,don’t worry about the spoilsspoiling him.

“I was blessed with a greatarm,” said Verlander, who ledthe majors with 269 strike-outs in 2009 and finishedthird in American LeagueCy Young Award voting thatyear. “I can do things withmy arm that others can’t.

“But I want to be the best.I want to go to the Hall ofFame.”

His eyes became intensejust talking about it. Ver-lander has won between 17and 19 games in four of hisfive seasons, and is 83-52 at28. Averaging 18 wins overthe next 10 years definitelywould put his numbers into

Cooperstownconsider-ation.

“But my approach hasto change if I want thosethings,” Verlander said.

I mentioned that justabout everybody on histeam would be surprisedto hear that he needs tochange.

“I know I’ve had success,”Verlander said, “but I needto become more consistentwith my fastball location.And I need to find a quickway to easier outs, eliminat-ing most of those eight- andnine-pitch at-bats. That’swhat Cliff Lee and Roy Hal-laday do.

“And the big thing is thatthis year I want to start upbetter.”

Verlander was a com-bined 2-4 with a 6.14 ERAwhen April ended the pasttwo seasons, but was 15-9with a 3.92 ERA in Septem-ber and October starts in2009 and 2010. He probablywould have a couple 20-winseasons with better firstmonths, and possibly even aCy Young Award.

And that is why Verlandersees a need to change, eventhough few have been bet-ter than him since burstingonto the scene as the A.L.Rookie of the Year andpitching in the World Seriesin 2006.

Once he was establishedin the majors, Verlandersaid his agent set up aphone conversation withNolan Ryan.

“I was just a blubberingidiot when I started talk-ing to him,” Verlander said.“I said, ‘Mr. Ryan, you aremy favorite player.’ Hewas nice, down to earth. Ithought he might say, ‘Pitchsix more no-hitters.’ But hedidn’t say that.”

Verlander, who threwa no-hitter June 12, 2007against the MilwaukeeBrewers at Comerica Park,marvels at the durability apower pitcher like Ryan hadand those seven no-hittershe accumulated.

And the fact that he isin Cooperstown — exactly

where Ver-landerwants hiscareer tolead.

Striving to be the bestVerlander aiming for Hall of Fame

Justin VerlanderPosition: Starting PitcherHt, Wt: 6-foot-5, 225 poundsAge: 28All-Star years (3): 2007, 2009, 2010In a nutshell: One of the game’s most durable powerpitchers.Super stat: Is 7-11 with a 5.06 ERA in career starts inMarch and April, but is 15-9 with a 3.92 ERA in Septemberand October starts.


LAKELAND, Fla. — VictorMartinez signed with the Cleve-land Indians as a 17-year-oldshortstop in Ciudad Bolivar, Ven-ezuela. It had been his dream toplay that position in the majorleagues and follow in the foot-steps of his favorite player andfellow countryman, Ozzie Guillen.

“All my life I was a shortstop,”Martinez said, “and I looked up toOzzie and the way he played thegame. He didn’t mind getting hisuniform dirty and would dive forballs, be aggressive.

“And that is what the Indianssigned me to play in June of 1996.

But that January or February,they moved me behind the plate.”

He paused and the old angerseemed to return just thinkingabout it.

“What were my thoughts?”Martinez said, repeating the ques-tion. “I was going to quit and gohome. I felt like everything fellapart for me at that moment. Ihad never caught and I thought,‘My dream is gone.’

“I wasn’t going to a position Ihad never played.”

So, what changed his mind?“My mom got to me,” Martinez

said.A smile crossed his face as he

recalled plunking change intoa pay phone in Puerto La Cruz,

Venezuela, to call Mom backhome.

“I can remember it like it wasyesterday,” he said. Mom said,‘Give it a try. See what hap-pens. You can’t do anything backhome.’ ”

His mother’s encouragementand pondering a future withoutbaseball convinced him to give ita shot.

It took six years, but at 23 theIndians called him up for the firsttime in 2002. And two years later,Martinez was selected to the firstof four All-Star teams. His careeraverage is .300, and the produc-tive switch-hitter has reached 100RBIs three times while getting atleast 20 home runs four times.

“It was tough,” Martinez, 32,said, but I made it.”

He takes pride in what he hasaccomplished. Yet, when Detroittold him it wanted him primarilyas a designated hitter, catchingsome games to spell Alex Avilaagainst left-handers, Martinezsigned on the dotted line for $50million over four years.

What sold him was a belief thatthe Tigers, who have not beento the postseason since the 2006World Series, had the potential towin it all.

“I don’t know how to lose,”Martinez said. “I just don’t knowhow. I really work hard, and thebottom line is that I want to winthe championship.”

Martinez ready to make this adjustmentVictor Martinez

Position: Designated Hitter/CatcherHt, Wt: 6-foot-2, 210 poundsAge: 32All-Star years (4): 2004, 2007,2009, 2010In a nutshell: A run-producerwho also hits for average. Is gooddefensively and working withpitchers.Super stat: Hits .301 versus right-handed pitchers and .299 versusleft-handers. Bats .302 at home and.298 on the road.

mlive.com SUNDAY,MARCH 27,2011 B5THE BAY CITY TIMESSPORTS

2011 Detroit Tigers Preview

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ALL-STAR GAME(PHOENIX)


LAKELAND, Fla. — Mag-glio Ordoñez is about tobecome the first Detroit Tigerto join an elite group of hit-ters.

Babe Ruth, Ted Williams,Stan Musial and Hank Aaronare in it. But Ty Cobb, Al

Kaline, Charlie Gehringer andHank Greenberg are not.

Ordoñez is bidding to becomethe 24th member of a selectclub: Hitters with 300 home runswho batted .300 for their careersand amassed at least 2,000 hits.

The Tigers right fielder has289 homers, leaving him 11 shyof joining the list. He has 2,072hits, and the 2007 AmericanLeague batting champion has a.312 career average.

“To join that elite group issomething really special,” saidOrdoñez, who batted .303 with12 homers and 59 RBIs last yearin an injury-shortened seasonof 84 games. “You have to workhard all of your life, and thosenumbers are the gift you get forthat. It takes a lot of work.

“I can’t tell you that one ofthose statistics means more tome than the others. I can’t sepa-rate them — 300 homers, 2,000hits and batting .300. They areall special to me.”

Atlanta Braves third basemanChipper Jones is one of thosealready in the club. He has 436homers, 2,490 hits and is batting.306 for his career.

“There are guys spraying theball around and batting over.300,” Jones said. “And there areguys who club the 30 to 40 homeruns. But there are not manywho can do both. That’s whatmakes you an elite hitter.

“It’s difficult, very difficult, formost players to do that.”

The difficulty can be measuredby the exclusions from the list.Kaline missed it by finishing at.297, and Pete Rose had only 160homers. Barry Bonds ended hiscareer batting .298, while KenGriffey Jr. finished at .284.

Hall of Famers Frank Robin-son, Carl Yastrzemski, MickeyMantle and Reggie Jackson alsofall short.

But Ordoñez is knocking onthe door.

Several of the game’s premierhitters and managers were askedwhat it was that sets Ordoñezapart from most batters.

“Magglio uses the whole fieldwith power,” said Jones. “Theone thing I’ve noticed that Ireally respect is that he will waitan entire at-bat for one pitch— a fastball, slider, changeupor whatever it is he decided hewants.

“He has that kind of disci-pline, and can go from foul lineto foul line while hitting the ballwith authority.”

Minnesota Twins catcher JoeMauer, the 2006, 2008 and 2009A.L. batting champ, said: “Itdoes not surprise me that Mag-glio is leading up to a great mile-stone like that.

“He’s a tough out because hesprays the ball all over. He canturn on it or go the other way,and adjusts really quickly on thefly.”

Recently retired AtlantaBraves manager Bobby Coxtalked about Ordoñez’s ability toadjust.

“The thing Ordoñez does bestis staying on the ball,” Cox said.“You’ll see him inside-outingthe ball with two strikes on him.He’s dangerous with an 0-2 or2-0 count because he goes theother way. And we’ve got him(scouted) as a pull guy late ingames.”

Tigers first baseman MiguelCabrera is impressed with histeammate’s accomplishments.

“That’s amazing that Maggliohas hit for power and average,and for a long time,” Cabrerasaid. “You do that and you arethe consummate player — reallyspecial and really good.

“He just has such a greatapproach at the plate and puts

the ball in play. He’s so smart athome plate, and adjusting to thepitcher is like nothing to him.”

Cabrera said the two of themtalk a lot about who is pitchingand what we can do with him.

“Can you pull this guy? AmI going to wait on that pitch?Should I go the other waybecause pulling is not working?”Cabrera said. “We get more hitsbecause of all the talking we doabout pitchers. The more infor-mation you have, the better.

“We are different hitters buthelp each other a lot. We try toget better and help each other.”

Tigers hitting coach LloydMcClendon said Ordoñez pulledthe ball better in 2010 than hehad the season before.

“His bat speed is definitelyback,” McClendon said. “He’s avery professional guy, and he’s avery special guy. Not many havedone what he’s done. He’s insuch great shape, and that playsa big factor.”

Ordoñez says he’s back at fullstrength after surgery that stabi-lized the broken ankle in 2010,and Leyland noted that he mightbe moving even better than lastyear.

And now he’s about to dosomething only 23 hitters haveaccomplished in 111 seasonsduring the modern era of base-ball, beginning in 1900.

Ordoñez close to joining elite company

Magglio OrdoñezPosition: Right FielderHt, Wt: 6-foot, 215 poundsAge: 37All-Star years (6): 1999, 2000, 2001,2003, 2006, 2007In a nutshell: Hits for power and averagewith one of the game’s sweetest swings.Super stat: Is 11 home runs away frombecoming the 24th player all-time to total300 homers, 2,000 hits and bat .300 orhigher in his career.

in the rotation get hurt orfalter. They are poised, havegreat stuff and seem to growbefore your eyes.

4. Jim Leyland has to producea playoff team.

Leyland is in the final yearof his contract, and did not getan extension late last seasonduring an 81-81 campaign. Themessage was clear: Win if youwant to stay longer.

Leyland, 66, has not takenDetroit back to the playoffssince leading it to the WorldSeries in his first season as

manager of the club. The fanswho adored and almost wor-shiped him in 2006 have, forthe most part, turned on him.

The Tigers generally startstrong and fade late underLeyland. But all that mattersis making it to the postseasonone way or another.

5. Free agents Victor Martinezand Joaquin Benoit will be areal boost to the Tigers.

Detroit’s offense fell apartlast season after MagglioOrdonez broke his right ankleand Brennan Boesch failed to

hold up as a feared No. 5 hitterin the batting order.

Signing Martinez to protectcleanup hitter Cabrera wasessential to assuring the offenseis more consistent. He is aproven run-producer with goodpower, and a career .300 hitter.

Benoit allowed fewer run-ners per inning than anypitcher in baseball last seasonfor the Tampa Bay Rays. Helooked absolutely great in thespring and could combine withall-star closer Jose Valverde toshut down the last two innings.

DAVID J. PHILLIP | THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Detroit Tigers players warm up before a spring training game against the Houston Astros.

From B1 — TIGERS Leyland’s job security could hinge on Detroit making the postseason


LAKELAND, Fla. — Thereweren’t any surprises in the end.

Hard-throwing rookie BrayanVillarreal and veteran EnriqueGonzalez made the Detroit Tigersalong with outfielders Casper Wellsand Brennan Boesch.

Outfielder Andy Dirks andinfielder Danny Worth, both ofwhom hit .333 this spring, andpitcher Adam Wilk were sent to theminors Saturday morning.

The 25-man roster is set forThursday’s season opener in NewYork with the Yankees.

Villarreal, 23, stepped outsidethe clubhouse to give his parents inVenezuela the first call on his cellphone upon getting the good news.

“This is the moment I’ve beenwaiting for for a long time,” Vil-larreal said. “It feels really, reallygood. I can’t say how good I feel.My mom and dad were just sohappy. They said, ‘You deserve it;you worked hard. I am proud.’ ”

Some years, the final cuts arebrutal. They can be the end to acareer, comeback attempt or thatelusive first shot at the show. Butthat wasn’t the case this time forDetroit.

Worth was aware that he’d done agood job, fielding crisply and hittingfor more power, but knew there wasn’t going tobe a place for him when Will Rhymes won thestarting second base job. Ramon Santiago is set

with the utility infield spot that he’salso well-suited for.

“That’s exactly how I feel — likethere just wasn’t a spot,” Worthsaid. “But it’s always hard; youdon’t want to go down. You areso close, and now you are so faraway.”

Wilk, who was 1-1 with a 2.87ERA, showed he could not onlystart but relieve. He was Detroit’sminor league pitcher of the year in2010.

“They said they did not know awhole lot about me when springtraining began,” said Wilk, an11th-round pick in 2009 from LongBeach State. “Now, they were ableto see me on a daily basis. AndI was able to hang around a bigleague clubhouse for six weeks.

“Phil Coke and Brad Penny bothtalked to me a lot and helped me alot. It was really great.”

Dirks packed his bags alongwith Wilk at the back of the club-house. He agreed with Wilk, say-ing the players who helped himwere too numerous to list.

“It’s just a good opportunity,”said Dirks, 25, who was Detroit’sminor league player of the yearin 2010. “It was good to have anopportunity to play in front ofpeople I’d never played in front ofbefore. I had fun. You tried to openeyes, and I hope I did.”

Dirks had five doubles, two triples, one homerand nine RBIs in 57 at-bats. He gave Boesch andWells a run for their money for a while.

Tigers finalize Opening Day rosterOpening Day

RosterInfieldersAlex Avila

Victor MartinezMiguel Cabrera

Will RhymesJhonny PeraltaBrandon Inge

Ramon SantiagoOutfielders

Magglio OrdoñezAustin Jackson

Brennan BoeschCasper Wells

Don KellyRyan Raburn

Starting pitchersJustin VerlanderMax ScherzerRick Porcello

Phil CokeBrad Penny

Relief pitchersJose ValverdeJoaquin BenoitBrayan Villarreal

Brad ThomasEnrique Gonzalez

Ryan PerryDaniel Schlereth


BASEBALLSPRING TRAINING GLANCE

AMERICAN LEAGUEW L Pct

Kansas City 16 10 .615Detroit 19 12 .613Minnesota 16 11 .593Seattle 14 10 .583Tampa Bay 14 12 .538Cleveland 13 12 .520Toronto 13 12 .520Los Angeles 14 13 .519Baltimore 12 13 .480New York 11 14 .440Oakland 12 16 .429Texas 11 15 .423Boston 12 17 .414Chicago 10 17 .370

NATIONAL LEAGUEW L Pct

Colorado 17 9 .654Milwaukee 16 9 .640San Francisco 18 11 .621Atlanta 16 10 .615Philadelphia 18 12 .600Washington 15 12 .556Cincinnati 14 13 .519New York 14 14 .500San Diego 13 13 .500St. Louis 13 14 .481Florida 12 14 .462Chicago 13 16 .448Los Angeles 12 18 .400Pittsburgh 10 18 .357Houston 11 21 .344Arizona 11 22 .333

NOTE: Split-squad games count in thestandings; games against non-major leagueteams do not.

Friday’s GamesFlorida 6, N.Y. Mets 5Minnesota 6, Baltimore 5Tampa Bay 9, Pittsburgh 5Philadelphia 3, Atlanta (ss) 1Arizona (ss) 6, L.A. Dodgers (ss) 3Milwaukee 7, Cleveland 4San Diego 10, Cincinnati 4L.A. Angels 10, Oakland 3Chicago Cubs 6, Seattle (ss) 3Atlanta (ss) 5, Detroit 3Washington 3, St. Louis 2Toronto 11, Boston 8N.Y. Yankees 6, Houston 4Kansas City 15, San Francisco 3Colorado 10, Texas 3Seattle (ss) 6, L.A. Dodgers (ss) 0Chicago White Sox 7, Arizona (ss) 3

Saturday’s GamesFlorida 6, St. Louis 5Detroit 3, Philadelphia (ss) 1Baltimore vs. Tampa Bay at Port

Charlotte, Fla., 1:05 p.m.Washington 10, Houston 0Pittsburgh vs. N.Y. Yankees at Tampa,

Fla., 1:05 p.m.Toronto vs. Philadelphia (ss) at

Clearwater, Fla., 1:05 p.m.Atlanta vs. N.Y. Mets at Port St. Lucie,

Fla., 1:10 p.m.L.A. Angels vs. Chicago White Sox at

Glendale, Ariz., 4:05 p.m.Chicago Cubs vs. Texas at Surprise, Ariz.,

4:05 p.m.L.A. Dodgers vs. San Diego at Peoria,

Ariz., 4:05 p.m.Seattle vs. Milwaukee at Phoenix, 4:05 p.m.Kansas City vs. Arizona at Scottsdale,

Ariz., 4:10 p.m.Cincinnati vs. San Francisco (ss) at

Scottsdale, Ariz., 6:10 p.m.Minnesota vs. Boston at Fort Myers, Fla.,

7:05 p.m.San Francisco (ss) vs. Cleveland at

Goodyear, Ariz., 10:05 p.m.Colorado vs. Oakland at Phoenix, 10:05 p.m.

Sunday’s GamesBoston vs. Baltimore (ss) at Sarasota,

Fla., 1:05 p.m.Baltimore (ss) vs. Toronto at Dunedin,

Fla., 1:05 p.m.N.Y. Yankees vs. Minnesota at Fort

Myers, Fla., 1:05 p.m.Philadelphia vs. Atlanta at Kissimmee,

Fla., 1:05 p.m.

Florida vs. Washington at Viera, Fla.,1:05 p.m.

Detroit vs. Houston at Kissimmee, Fla.,1:05 p.m.

Tampa Bay vs. Pittsburgh at Bradenton,Fla., 1:05 p.m.

N.Y. Mets vs. St. Louis at Jupiter, Fla.,1:05 p.m.

Texas vs. Seattle at Peoria, Ariz., 4:05 p.m.Chicago White Sox vs. Milwaukee at

Phoenix, 4:05 p.m.Cleveland vs. L.A. Dodgers at Glendale,

Ariz., 4:05 p.m.Arizona vs. Cincinnati at Goodyear, Ariz.,

4:05 p.m.Colorado (ss) vs. Chicago Cubs at Mesa,

Ariz., 4:05 p.m.San Francisco vs. Kansas City at

Surprise, Ariz., 4:05 p.m.Oakland vs. Colorado (ss) at Scottsdale,

Ariz., 4:10 p.m.San Diego at L.A. Angels, 5:05 p.m.

Monday’s GamesPittsburgh vs. Minnesota at Fort Myers,

Fla., 1:05 p.m.Boston vs. Toronto at Dunedin, Fla.,

1:05 p.m.Detroit vs. Baltimore at Sarasota, Fla.,

1:05 p.m.Florida (ss) vs. St. Louis at Jupiter, Fla.,

1:05 p.m.Houston vs. Philadelphia at Clearwater,

Fla., 1:05 p.m.Florida (ss) vs. N.Y. Mets at Port St.

Lucie, Fla., 1:10 p.m.San Diego vs. Milwaukee (ss) at Phoenix,

4:05 p.m.Chicago Cubs vs. Cleveland at Goodyear,

Ariz., 4:05 p.m.Cincinnati vs. Chicago White Sox at

Glendale, Ariz., 4:05 p.m.Milwaukee (ss) vs. Kansas City at

Surprise, Ariz., 4:05 p.m.Colorado vs. Seattle at Peoria, Ariz.,

4:05 p.m.Texas vs. Arizona at Scottsdale, Ariz.,

4:10 p.m.Washington vs. Atlanta at Kissimmee,

Fla., 6:05 p.m.Tampa Bay vs. N.Y. Yankees at Tampa,

Fla., 7:05 p.m.L.A. Angels at L.A. Dodgers, 10:10 p.m.Oakland at San Francisco, 10:15 p.m.

BASKETBALLNBA EASTERN CONFERENCE

Atlantic DivisionW L Pct GB

y-Boston 50 22 .694 —Philadelphia 37 36 .507 13 1/2New York 35 38 .479 15 1/2New Jersey 23 49 .319 27Toronto 20 53 .274 30 1/2

Southeast DivisionW L Pct GB

x-Miami 51 22 .699 —x-Orlando 48 26 .649 3 1/2Atlanta 40 32 .556 10 1/2Charlotte 30 42 .417 20 1/2Washington 17 55 .236 33 1/2

Central DivisionW L Pct GB

y-Chicago 53 19 .736 —Indiana 32 42 .432 22Milwaukee 30 42 .417 23Detroit 25 48 .342 28 1/2Cleveland 15 57 .208 38

NBAWESTERN CONFERENCESouthwest Division

W L Pct GBx-San Antonio 57 16 .781 —x-Dallas 50 21 .704 6New Orleans 43 31 .581 14 1/2Memphis 40 34 .541 17 1/2Houston 38 34 .528 18 1/2

Northwest DivisionW L Pct GB

Oklahoma City 48 24 .667 —Denver 45 29 .608 4Portland 43 30 .589 5 1/2Utah 36 37 .493 12 1/2Minnesota 17 57 .230 32

Pacific DivisionW L Pct GB

y-L.A. Lakers 53 20 .726 —Phoenix 36 36 .500 16 1/2Golden State 32 42 .432 21 1/2L.A. Clippers 28 46 .378 25 1/2Sacramento 20 52 .278 32 1/2x-clinched playoff spoty-clinched division

Friday’s GamesSacramento 110, Indiana 93Orlando 95, New Jersey 85Charlotte 83, Boston 81Cleveland 97, Detroit 91Miami 111, Philadelphia 99Milwaukee 102, New York 96Chicago 99, Memphis 96Oklahoma City 111, Minnesota 103Denver 114, Washington 94New Orleans 106, Phoenix 100Portland 98, San Antonio 96Golden State 138, Toronto 100L.A. Lakers 112, L.A. Clippers 104

Saturday’s GamesNew Jersey at Atlanta, 7 p.m.New York at Charlotte, 7 p.m.Indiana at Detroit, 7:30 p.m.Chicago at Milwaukee, 8:30 p.m.Dallas at Utah, 9 p.m.Toronto at L.A. Clippers, 10:30 p.m.

Sunday’s GamesSacramento at Philadelphia, 12 p.m.San Antonio at Memphis, 6 p.m.Atlanta at Cleveland, 6 p.m.Houston at Miami, 6 p.m.Boston at Minnesota, 7 p.m.Portland at Oklahoma City, 8 p.m.Washington at Golden State, 9 p.m.New Orleans at L.A. Lakers, 9:30 p.m.Dallas at Phoenix, 10:30 p.m.

Monday’s GamesMilwaukee at Charlotte, 7 p.m.Boston at Indiana, 7 p.m.Orlando at New York, 7:30 p.m.Philadelphia at Chicago, 8 p.m.Portland at San Antonio, 8:30 p.m.Washington at Utah, 9 p.m.

CAVALIERS 97, PISTONS 91DETROIT (91)Prince 7-16 1-1 15, Monroe 5-9 1-4 11,

Wilcox 5-8 2-3 12, McGrady 1-5 0-1 2,Hamilton 7-17 1-1 15, Maxiell 0-1 0-0 0,Stuckey 3-11 4-5 11, Gordon 3-5 0-0 8,Daye 4-9 3-3 12, Bynum 2-6 1-2 5. Totals37-87 13-20 91.

CLEVELAND (97)Gee 4-10 0-0 8, Hickson 9-13 6-6 24,

Hollins 5-7 0-3 10, Sessions 3-6 0-06, Parker 2-9 1-1 5, Samuels 3-7 3-49, Gibson 2-7 2-2 7, Davis 6-13 0-0 16,Harangody 3-6 3-4 10, Eyenga 1-4 0-0 2.Totals 38-82 15-20 97.

Detroit 24 27 17 23 —91Cleveland 26 26 23 22 —97

3-Point Goals—Detroit 4-13 (Gordon 2-2,Stuckey 1-3, Daye 1-4, Bynum 0-1, Prince0-1, Hamilton 0-2), Cleveland 6-18 (Davis4-7, Harangody 1-1, Gibson 1-3, Eyenga0-1, Sessions 0-1, Gee 0-2, Parker 0-3).Fouled Out—None. Rebounds—Detroit51 (Wilcox, Monroe 8), Cleveland 55(Hickson 15). Assists—Detroit 19(Stuckey 4), Cleveland 21 (Parker 7).Total Fouls—Detroit 19, Cleveland 19.Technicals—Cleveland defensive threesecond. A—19,907 (20,562).

NCAA TOURNAMENT GLANCEEAST REGIONAL

At The Prudential CenterNewark, N.J.

Regional SemifinalsFriday, March 25

North Carolina 81, Marquette 63Kentucky 62, Ohio State 60

Regional ChampionshipSunday, March 27

North Carolina (29-7) vs. Kentucky (28-8),5:05 p.m.

SOUTHEAST REGIONALAt New Orleans ArenaRegional SemifinalsThursday, March 24

Florida 83, BYU 74, OTButler 61, Wisconsin 54

Regional ChampionshipSaturday, March 26

Butler 74, Florida 71 (OT)SOUTHWEST REGIONAL

At The AlamodomeSan Antonio

Regional SemifinalsFriday, March 25

Kansas 77, Richmond 57Virginia Commonwealth 72, Florida State

71, OTRegional Championship

Sunday, March 27Kansas (35-2) vs. Virginia Commonwealth

(27-11), 2:20 p.m.WEST REGIONAL

At The Honda CenterAnaheim, Calif.

Regional SemifinalsThursday, March 24

Connecticut 74, San Diego State 67Arizona 93, Duke 77

Regional ChampionshipSaturday, March 26

Connecticut (29-9) vs. Arizona (30-7),7:05 p.m.

FINAL FOURAt Reliant Stadium

HoustonNational Semifinals

Saturday, April 2East champion vs. West championButler (27-9) vs. Southwest champion

National ChampionshipMonday, April 4

Semifinal winners

HOCKEYNHL EASTERN CONFERENCE

Atlantic DivisionGP W L OT Pt GF GA

x-Phila. 73 44 19 10 98 233 197Pittsburgh 75 44 23 8 96 216 182NY Rngrs 76 41 30 5 87 218 181New Jersey 74 34 35 5 73 155 187NY Islndrs 75 29 34 12 70 209 237

Northeast DivisionGP W L OT Pt GF GA

Boston 74 41 23 10 92 224 177Montreal 75 40 28 7 87 200 194Buffalo 74 37 28 9 83 220 210Toronto 76 34 32 10 78 201 232Ottawa 75 29 37 9 67 171 228

Southeast DivisionGP W L OT Pt GF GA

x-Wash. 75 43 22 10 96 203 182Tampa By 74 39 24 11 89 219 226Carolina 74 35 29 10 80 209 220Atlanta 74 31 31 12 74 205 242Florida 75 29 36 10 68 184 207

NHL WESTERN CONFERENCECentral DivisionGP W L OT Pt GF GA

Detroit 75 44 22 9 97 242 213Nashville 75 40 25 10 90 198 177Chicago 73 40 25 8 88 238 202Columbus 74 33 30 11 77 199 226St. Louis 74 33 32 9 75 206 216

Northwest DivisionGP W L OT Pt GF GA

y-Vancouver 75 49 17 9 107 243 174Calgary 76 37 28 11 85 230 222Minnesota 74 35 31 8 78 185 207Colorado 73 28 37 8 64 206 258Edmonton 74 23 41 10 56 176 244

Pacific DivisionGP W L OT Pt GF GA

San Jose 75 43 23 9 95 220 198Phoenix 76 41 24 11 93 218 208LA 74 42 26 6 90 203 180Anaheim 74 41 28 5 87 212 216Dallas 73 38 25 10 86 206 206NOTE: Two points for a win, one point forovertime loss.x-clinched playoff spoty-clinched division

Friday’s GamesPittsburgh 1, New Jersey 0, SOBuffalo 4, Florida 2Ottawa 2, Washington 0Vancouver 3, Atlanta 1Carolina 4, Tampa Bay 3

Saturday’s GamesN.Y. Rangers 1, Boston 0Colorado at Los Angeles, 4 p.m.New Jersey at Buffalo, 7 p.m.Washington at Montreal, 7 p.m.Philadelphia at N.Y. Islanders, 7 p.m.Tampa Bay at Carolina, 7 p.m.Detroit 4, Toronto 2Dallas at Nashville, 8 p.m.St. Louis at Minnesota, 8 p.m.Anaheim at Chicago, 8:30 p.m.San Jose at Phoenix, 9 p.m.Calgary at Edmonton, 10 p.m.

Sunday’s GamesFlorida at Pittsburgh, 1 p.m.Ottawa at Atlanta, 2 p.m.Vancouver at Columbus, 5 p.m.Boston at Philadelphia, 7 p.m.

Monday’s GamesChicago at Detroit, 7:30 p.m.Colorado at Anaheim, 10 p.m.

OHL PLAYOFFSFIRST ROUND

Thursday, March 24Mississauga 4, Belleville 1Niagara 7, Brampton 1Oshawa 7, Kingston 3Erie 2, Windsor 1

Friday, March 25Oshawa 10, Kingston 1Owen Sound 3, London 2 (OT)Saginaw 3, Guelph 2Plymouth 6, Kitchener 5

Saturday, March 26Mississauga at Belleville, 7:05 p.m.Sudbury at Ottawa, 2 p.m.Owen Sound at London, 7 p.m.Kitchener at Plymouth, 7:05 p.m.Windsor at Erie, 7 p.m.

Sunday, March 27Bellevillle at Mississauga, 2 p.m.Niagara at Brampton, 2 p.m.Kingston at Oshawa, 6:05 p.m.Saginaw at Guelph, 2 p.m.

Monday, March 28Guelph at Saginaw, 7:11 p.m.Plymouth at Kitchener, 7 p.m.Erie at Windsor, 7:05 p.m.

AUTO RACINGSPRINT CUP AUTO CLUB 400After Friday qualifying; race Sunday

At Auto Club SpeedwayFontana, Calif.

Lap length: 2.0 miles(Car number in parentheses)

1. (42) Juan Pablo Montoya, Chevrolet,184.653 mph.2. (11) Denny Hamlin, Toyota, 184.27.3. (20) Joey Logano, Toyota, 184.134.4. (78) Regan Smith, Chevrolet, 184.03.5. (14) Tony Stewart, Chevrolet, 183.988.6. (6) David Ragan, Ford, 183.692.7. (31) Jeff Burton, Chevrolet, 183.622.8. (18) Kyle Busch, Toyota, 183.482.9. (39) Ryan Newman, Chevrolet, 183.463.10. (5) Mark Martin, Chevrolet, 183.449.11. (17) Matt Kenseth, Ford, 183.407.12. (1) Jamie McMurray, Chevrolet, 183.243.13. (9) Marcos Ambrose, Ford, 183.127.14. (00) David Reutimann, Toyota, 183.113.15. (27) Paul Menard, Chevrolet, 182.95.16. (48) Jimmie Johnson, Chevrolet, 182.931.17. (33) Clint Bowyer, Chevrolet, 182.899.18. (99) Carl Edwards, Ford, 182.797.19. (83) Brian Vickers, Toyota, 182.658.20. (43) A J Allmendinger, Ford, 182.519.21. (2) Brad Keselowski, Dodge, 182.51.22. (4) Kasey Kahne, Toyota, 182.366.23. (22) Kurt Busch, Dodge, 182.039.24. (29) Kevin Harvick, Chevrolet, 181.91.25. (13) Casey Mears, Toyota, 181.855.26. (56) Martin Truex Jr., Toyota, 181.809.27. (21) Trevor Bayne, Ford, 181.804.28. (09) Landon Cassill, Chevrolet, 181.694.29. (24) Jeff Gordon, Chevrolet, 181.671.30. (88) Dale Earnhardt Jr., Chevrolet, 181.534.31. (36) Dave Blaney, Chevrolet, 180.936.32. (16) Greg Biffle, Ford, 180.786.33. (66) Michael McDowell, Toyota, 180.605.34. (47) Bobby Labonte, Toyota, 180.338.35. (7) Robby Gordon, Dodge, 180.279.36. (38) Travis Kvapil, Ford, 180.014.

37. (34) David Gilliland, Ford, 179.699.38. (71) Andy Lally, Chevrolet, 178.958.39. (32) Ken Schrader, Ford, 177.94.40. (87) Joe Nemechek, Toyota, 177.659.41. (60) Todd Bodine, Toyota, 176.557.42. (37) Tony Raines, Ford, 175.653.43. (46) J.J. Yeley, Chevrolet.

GOLFPGA ARNOLD PALMER INVITE

SaturdayAt Bay Hill Club & Lodge

Orlando, Fla.Purse: $6 million

Yardage: 7,419; Par: 72Third Round

Martin Laird 70-65-70 —205 -11Spencer Levin 66-70-71 —207 -9Bubba Watson 70-71-68 —209 -7Steve Marino 71-67-71 —209 -7David Toms 74-67-69 —210 -6Rickie Fowler 69-71-70 —210 -6Marc Leishman 73-72-66 —211 -5Trevor Immelman 72-71-68 —211 -5John Senden 71-72-68 —211 -5Charles Howell III 73-65-73 —211 -5Brendon de Jonge 71-71-70 —212 -4Ryan Moore 74-67-71 —212 -4Chris Couch 70-71-71 —212 -4K.J. Choi 72-64-76 —212 -4Charlie Wi 73-74-66 —213 -3Kyle Stanley 74-73-66 —213 -3Heath Slocum 75-70-68 —213 -3Brian Davis 70-72-71 —213 -3Hunter Mahan 69-69-75 —213 -3

LPGA KIA CLASSICSaturday

At Pacific Palms ResortIndustry, Calif.

Purse: $1.7 millionYardage: 6,716; Par: 73

Completed Second Rounda-amateur

Jiyai Shin 70-64 —134 -12Sandra Gal 67-68 —135 -11I.K. Kim 70-69 —139 -7Mindy Kim 74-66 —140 -6Chella Choi 72-68 —140 -6Amanda Blumenherst 66-74 —140 -6Anna Nordqvist 71-70 —141 -5Sun Young Yoo 71-70 —141 -5Paige Mackenzie 71-71 —142 -4Catriona Matthew 70-73 —143 -3Mika Miyazato 70-73 —143 -3Michelle Wie 68-75 —143 -3Shasta Averyhardt 82-86 —168+22

TRANSACTIONSBASEBALL

American LeagueBOSTON RED SOX—Optioned RHP

Scott Atchison, RHP Michael Bowdenand OF Ryan Kalish to Pawtucket (IL).Reassigned RHP Brandon Duckworth,LHP Rich Hill, LHP Andrew Miller and LHPRandy Williams to their minor league camp.

CLEVELAND INDIANS—Optioned LHPDavid Huff, RHP Jeanmar Gomez andOF Ezequiel Carrera to Columbus (IL).Reassigned RHP Anthony Reyes and RHPDoug Mathis to their minor league camp.

DETROIT TIGERS — Optioned INFDanny Worth to Toledo (IL). ReassignedLHP Adam Wilk and OF Andy Dirks to theirminor league camp.

KANSAS CITY ROYALS—Signed 1BMike Sweeney to a one-day minor leaguecontract and announced the retirement ofSweeney. Acquired 1B-3B John Whittlemanfrom Texas for cash. Traded RHP GabyHernandez to the Chicago White Sox forfuture considerations.

NEW YORK YANKEES—Agreed toterms with RHP Kevin Millwood on a minorleague contract.

OAKLAND ATHLETICS—Optioned OFChris Carter to Sacramento (PCL).

TAMPA BAY RAYS—Resassigned RHPCory Wade to their minor league camp.Optioned RHP Rob Delaney to minorleagues.

TEXAS RANGERS—Optioned OF DougDeeds, OF Endy Chavez, C Kevin Cash, IFEsteban German to Round Rock (PCL).

National LeagueARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS—Selected

the contract of INF Russell Branyan fromReno (PCL). Announced the retirement ofLHP Mike Hampton.

CHICAGO CUBS—Announced the retire-ment of RHP Braden Looper.

CINCINNATI REDS — Reassigned CDevin Mesoraco, OF Dave Sappelt and INFChris Valaika to their minor league camp.

HOUSTON ASTROS — Recalled SSTommy Manzella from Oklahoma City(PCL).

LOS ANGELES DODGERS — OptionedRHP John Ely to their minor league camp.Reassigned INF/OF Eugenio Velez to theirminor league camp. Granted LHP RonMahay a release from his minor leaguecontract.

MILWAUKEE BREWERS—Traded OFChris Dickerson to the New York Yankeesfor RHP Sergio Mitre. Optioned C MartinMaldonado to Nashville (PCL) and RHPWily Peralta to Huntsville (SL). ReassignedRHP Zack Segovia to their minor leaguecamp.

NEW YORM METS—Selected the con-tract of LHP Tim Byrdak from Buffalo (IL).

PITTSBURGH PIRATES—Optioned RHPDaniel McCutchen to Indianapolis (IL).Reassigned RHP Sean Gallagher, RHPTyler Yates, C Wyatt Toregas and INFJosh Fields to their minor league camp.Reassigned C Dusty Brown, LHP BrianBurres, INF Andy Marte and OF CoreyWimberly to their minor league camp.

SAN DIEGO PADRES—Released INFKevin Frandsen. Reassigned RHP GregBurke, RHP Scott Munter, RHP LuisPerdomo, C Kyle Phillips and INF JesusGuzman to their minor league camp.

WASHINGTON NATIONALS—Agreed toterms with LHP Oliver Perez on a minorleague contract. Optioned RHP YuneskyMaya to Syracuse (IL).

HOCKEYNational Hockey League

ANAHEIM DUCKS—Recalled LW MattBeleskey from Syracuse (AHL).

COLORADO AVALANCHE—Named JoeSakic executive adviser.

MINNESOTA WILD—Reassigned CWarren Peters to Houston (AHL).

NEW YORK ISLANDERS—Recalled D TyWishart from Bridgeport (AHL).

OTTAWA SENATORS—ReassignedF Roman Wick to Binghamton (AHL).Recalled G Mike Brodeur from Binghamton.

PHOENIX COYOTES—Recalled F RyanHollweg from San Antonio (AHL).

SOCCERMajor League Soccer

MLS—Fined New England MF ShalrieJoseph for his actions at the team’s hotelon Feb. 20. Fined Chicago assistant coachLeo Percovich $1,000 for inappropriatesideline behavior during the CarolinaChallenge Cup in Charleston, S.C., March5-12.

D.C. UNITED—Re-signed MF BrandonBarklage.

NEW YORK RED BULLS—Signed GAlex Horwath.

REAL SALT LAKE—Signed coach JasonKreis to a two-year contract extension.

SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES—Signed SKRapid Wien and F Matt Luzunaris.

VANCOUVER WHITECAPS—Signed D-MF Kevin Harmse.

COLLEGEHOWARD PAYNE—Named Guy Ament

defensive line coach.NEBRASKA-OMAHA—Announced the

University of Nebraska Board of Regentsapproved the school’s move to the SummitLeague this fall and the school will elimi-nate the football and wrestling program.

SOUTH CAROLINA—Announced juniorbasketball F Murphy Holloway will transfer.

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA—AnnouncedF Nikola Vucevic will enter the NBA draft.

TEXAS A&M-CORPUS CHRISTI—NamedWillis Wilson men’s basketball coach.

VIRGINIA—Named Jim Bauman sportspsychologist.

at HOU*1 pmFSD

at BAL*1 pm

at NYY*1 pmESPN

at NYY1 pm

FSD/ESPN

at NYY4 pm

Ch. 66

Looking ForwardTEAM SUN MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT

CHI7:30 pm

VS

STL7:30 pm

FSD

at NSH3 pmFSD

at IND7 pmFSD+

CHI7:30 pm

FSD

*Spring Training Game#Split Squad Game

SUNDAYAuto Racing

• 12:30 p.m. (12) IndyCar IzodSeries at St. Petersburg.• 2:30 p.m. (66) NASCAR SprintCup: Auto Club 400.

MLB Baseball• 1 p.m. (FSD) PreseasonDETROIT at Houston.• 4 p.m. (WGN-A) PreseasonColorado at Chicago Cubs.Women’s College Basketball

• Noon (ESPN) NCAATournament, Regional Semifinal.• 2:30 p.m. (ESPN2) NCAATournament, Regional Semifinal.• 4:30 p.m. (ESPN2) NCAATournament, Regional Semifinal.• 7 p.m. (ESPN2) NCAATournament, Regional Semifinal.

College Basketball• 2:10 p.m. (5) NCAATournament, Regional Final.• 4:55 p.m. (5) NCAATournament, Regional Final.

NBA Basketball• 8 p.m. (ESPN) Portland atOklahoma City.• 10:30 p.m. (ESPN) Dallas atPhoenix.

Golf• 9 a.m. (GOLF) European PGATour Open de Andalucia.• 12:30 p.m. (GOLF) PGA TourArnold Palmer Invitational.• 2:30 p.m. (25) PGA TourArnold Palmer Invitational.• 7 p.m. (GOLF) LPGA Tour KiaClassic.

MONDAYWomen’s College Basketball

• 7 p.m. (ESPN) NCAATournament, Regional Final.• 9 p.m. (ESPN) NCAATournament, Regional Final.

NHL Hockey• 7:30 p.m. (VS) Chicago atDETROIT.

TUESDAYMLB Baseball

• 1 p.m. (ESPN) PreseasonDETROIT at New York Yankees.Women’s College Basketball

• 7 p.m. (ESPN) NCAATournament, Regional Final.• 9 p.m. (ESPN) NCAATournament, Regional Final.

College Basketball• 7 p.m. (ESPN2) NITTournament, First Semifinal.• 9 p.m. (ESPN2) NIT

Tournament, Second Semifinal.NHL Hockey

• 7:30 p.m. (VS) Chicago atBoston.

WEDNESDAYHigh School Basketball

• 10 p.m. (ESPN) 2011McDonald’s All-American Game:East vs. West.

NBA Basketball• 7:30 p.m. (ESPN) New Jerseyat New York.

NHL Hockey• 7 p.m. (VS) New York Rangersat Buffalo.• 7:30 p.m. (FSD) St. Louis atDETROIT.

Tennis• 1 p.m. (ESPN2) ATP SonyEricsson Open, Men’s &Women’s Quarterfinals.• 7 p.m. (ESPN2) ATP SonyEricsson Open, Men’s &Women’s Quarterfinals.

THURSDAYMLB Baseball

• 1 p.m. (ESPN) (FSD) DETROITat New York Yankees.• 4 p.m. (ESPN) San DiegoatSt. Louis.• 8 p.m. (ESPN) San Francisco atLos Angeles Dodgers.

College Basketball• 7 p.m. (ESPN2) NITTournament, Final.• 9 p.m. (ESPN2) 2011 StateFarm Slam Dunk & 3-PointChampionship. (Same-day Tape)

NBA Basketball• 8 p.m. (TNT) Boston at SanAntonio.• 10:30 p.m. (TNT) Dallas at LosAngeles Lakers.

Golf• 11 a.m. (GOLF) European PGATour Trophee Hassan II.• Noon (GOLF) LPGA Tour KraftNabisco Championship.• 3 p.m. (GOLF) PGA Tour ShellHouston Open.• 6:30 p.m. (GOLF) LPGA TourKraft Nabisco Championship.

NHL Hockey• 7 p.m. (VS) Columbus atWashington.

Tennis• 1 p.m. (ESPN2) ATP SonyEricsson Open, Women’s FirstSemifinal and Men’s Quarterfinal.• 11 p.m. (ESPN2) ATP SonyEricsson Open, Women’s SecondSemifinal. (Same-day Tape)

On Television

Sprint CupToday: Auto Club400 from Fontana,Calif., 2:30 p.m., FOX• For more coverage, goto mlive.com/autoracing

JOHN MARSHALLTHE ASSOCIATED PRESS

FONTANA, Calif. — Aftera series of so-so qualifyingruns the first four weeksof the season, Juan PabloMontoya found somethingat Fontana, earning the polefor his 150th career NAS-CAR race.

So what changed? Don’task him.

“I don’t know, to tell youthe truth,” Montoya saidafter hitting 184.653 mph onthe 2-mile oval at Auto ClubSpeedway. “There was a lotless grip in qualifying thanthere was early in practice,so I don’t know.”

Montoya hasn’t qualifiedparticularly well — his bestwas 13th at Daytona — buthas been good when thegreen drops for the racewith two top-10 finishes,including a third at LasVegas. He’s been decentat Fontana in the past, too,qualifying fifth or betterwhile leading laps in eachof the past four races there,finishing third at the fallrace in 2009.

The former Formula Onedriver will be seeking hisfirst NASCAR win on anoval after winning his firsttwo career races on roadcourses. He’ll start today’s400-mile race on the frontrow with Denny Hamlin,with Joey Logano andRegan Smith right behindthem.

Kyle Busch qualifiedeighth in his backup carafter crashing on the firstlap, which he attributed totrack moisture from recentstorms.

Montoyastarts onpole today

BaseballMike Hampton retires after 16-year career

Veteran left-hander Mike Hamptonretired after 16 major league seasons, end-ing a bid to earn a roster spot with Arizona.

Hampton announced his decision Satur-day, saying in a statement that he had thepassion to continue but that physically “itwas just time to shut it down.”

Astros SS Barmes out 4-6 weeksHouston Astros shortstop Clint Barmes

has a broken left hand and is expected tomiss four to six weeks.

BasketballOhio State’s Sullinger says he will return

Ohio State star freshman Jared Sullingersays he will return to the Buckeyes nextseason rather than enter the NBA draft.

The 6-foot-9 Sullinger, who led top-ranked Ohio State in scoring and rebound-ing, made the announcement right afterFriday night’s 62-60 loss to Kentucky inthe East Regional semifinals.

Hornets forward West out for seasonHornets leading scorer David West has

a torn left knee ligament and is out forthe season, a development that dims New

Orleans’ playoff prospects.West was injured Thursday night in the

Hornets’ 121-117 overtime win at Utah.

Tennessee women top Ohio StateShekinna Stricklen scored 20 points and

touched off a critical 11-3 second-half runto power top-seeded Tennessee past OhioState, 85-75, Saturday in an NCAA region-al semifinal.

FootballPanthers get three compensatory picks

The Carolina Panthers were awardedthree compensatory picks Friday forApril’s draft after losing Julius Peppers tofree agency before last season.

A total of 23 teams were allotted selec-tions, beginning with a third-rounder (97thoverall) to Carolina, which also has the topoverall choice after going 2-14 in 2010.

HockeyMichigan tops Nebraska-Omaha 3-2 in OT

Kevin Lynch scored at 2:35 of overtime,giving Michigan a 3-2 victory over Nebras-ka-Omaha in the West Regional semifinalsFriday.

The Wolverines played Colorado Collegefor a trip to the Frozen Four late Saturday.

Sports Briefs


NEW ORLEANS — Shel-vin Mack scored 27 points,including five in overtime,and Butler returned to theFinal Four with a 74-71 winover Florida on Saturday.

Matt Howard scored 14and Khyle Marshall added10 for the Bulldogs (27-9),who showed again theysimply won’t give in, eras-ing an 11-point hole in thesecond half.

Mack’s 3-pointer with 1:21left in overtime gave Butlerthe lead for good at 72-70.

Kenny Boynton missed along 3 that could have givenFlorida (29-8) the lead witha little under 20 secondsleft. Alex Tyus appeared tohave the offensive rebound,but Howard tied him upand the possession arrowfavored Butler.

Florida had to foul Mackwith 10.6 seconds to go,

and he hit both shots forthe final margin.

Vernon Macklin had acareer-high 25 points forfourth-seeded Florida, thethird-straight higher seedfrom a major conference tobe vanquished by the Bull-dogs.

Now the Bulldogs are onewin away from a secondstraight appearance in thenational title game.

UConn downs ArizonaWith nine pressure-

packed victories in 19 days,Connecticut has been on anexhausting sprint throughthe postseason for nearlythree weeks now.

Turns out Kemba Walkerand his Huskies aren’t slow-ing down until they get toHouston.

Walker scored 20 points,freshman Jeremy Lambadded 19 and Connecticutearned its second Final Four

berth in three years, beatingArizona, 65-63, Saturday towin the West regional.

Derrick Williams andJamelle Horne missed3-pointers in the final sec-onds for Arizona, allowingthe third-seeded Huskies(30-9) to hang on afterLamb, the Huskies’ fearlessfreshman, scored six keypoints down the stretch.

After missing the NCAAtournament entirely lastyear, coach Jim Calhoun’stireless team is headed toUConn’s fourth Final Four.

Williams had 20 pointswhile battling foul troublefor the fifth-seeded Wild-cats (30-8), who led with6 minutes to play. AfterLamb pushed the Hus-kies ahead and Walker hita jumper with 1:13 left,Lamont Jones and Hornethen hit late 3-pointers forArizona, but the Wildcatscouldn’t convert at the end.

Butler, UConn make Final Four

TheBayCityTimesSports3272011

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