By Larry Blue, Times Correspondent
Thursday, February 24, 2011

Coming soon: When my orange tree blossoms and the flocks of robins, blue jays and cardinals appear in my yard, I know king mackerel will be here soon. Already the Spanish mackerel have flooded into Tampa Bay. Huge schools are gathering around the bridge piers and some along the beaches. Soon the king mackerel will be chasing bait just offshore. Generally we consider March 15 the unofficial start of kingfish season here. But with the sudden change from winter into spring we may see the first catches before that. Water temperature is crucial with most fish, and the mackerel are keen on warm water to survive. They favor the 70s and 80s.

What to look for: Watch for diving terns to locate the schools of baitfish, where you will also find the mackerel. Even if you don't see the birds diving, wherever you notice a shower of bait on the surface you can be sure that the king mackerel will be close by.

Larry Blue charters the Niki Joe from Madeira Beach Marina. Call (727) 871-1058 or visit CaptainLarry Blue.com.

By Rick Stroud, Times Staff Writer
Thursday, February 24, 2011

INDIANAPOLIS — First-year coach Ron Rivera isn't sure which player the Panthers will take with the No. 1 overall pick.

But he is certain they need a franchise quarterback, particularly since the Panthers can't win an arms race in the NFC South with the Saints' Drew Brees, the Falcons' Matt Ryan or the Bucs' Josh Freeman.

Which means the Panthers are eyeballing Auburn QB Cam Newton.

"You look at all three of those teams and all three do have franchise-type quarterbacks, and I think if there is something that has to happen, we've got to identify that and come up with our own," Rivera said. "Then I think we've got to prepare ourselves to be ready to take this challenge on."

The Panthers drafted Notre Dame's Jimmy Clausen in the second round last year. As a rookie, Clausen completed 52.5 percent of his passes for 1,558 yards with three touchdowns and nine interceptions.

Newton, the Heisman Trophy winner, will work out Sunday at the NFL scouting combine. Rivera said he is one of about 10 players the Panthers are considering as the first pick.

"As far as skill set goes, the young man has tremendous physical talent," Rivera said. "He's got natural size and the ability to run. He's got a tremendous arm, and he's got a pretty good pocket presence already. I think he's well on his way, but again, we've got to go through that process. We're going to be at his workout, we'll bring him in and visit with him and go through that whole process of trying to get a feel for what he does know and how well he'll learn."

FEELING A DRAFT: GM Mark Dominik says the Bucs are in a prime position (picking No. 20) to be active in trade talks on draft day. Two years ago, Tampa Bay selected 19th overall but traded up two spots to take Freeman.

"We're going to let the draft come to us, kind of like we felt it did the second and third day in Tampa (last year)," Dominik said. "I like where we're at. … It's been an active spot for trades over the years, at that No. 20 range. So I think it will give us the ability to either sit still or … move up or move back. But it's always been a good spot to pull a deal if you like to."

Channeling JOE NAMATH? Jets coach Rex Ryan, whose team has been defeated the past two seasons in the AFC Championship Game, says he's not crying wolf this time.

For the third year in a row, Ryan said his Jets will win the Super Bowl. This time, he guarantees it.

"The fact is I thought we'd win it the first two years," Ryan said. "I guarantee we'll win it this year. … I know we're an excellent football team. … I know the kind of players we have, and I know the kind of players we're going to have represent us."

By Bryan Burns, Times Staff Writer
Thursday, February 24, 2011

TAMPA — Longtime marathon legend Bill Rodgers has competed in more than 1,000 road races during his illustrious career, logging nearly 160,000 total miles he estimates on his heavily traveled legs.

It's understandable then that Rodgers, a four-time champion of the Boston Marathon (1975, '78, '79, '80) and New York City Marathon (1975-79), has trouble recalling how many Gasparilla Distance Classics he has competed in or recounting details from each year.

A couple of images persist.

Like the time Rodgers found himself neck-and-neck near the finish with a woman from Kenya, who kept stopping to bend over and, shall we say, lighten her load.

"It was 10 or 15 years back, and I was still trying to duke it out. I think I was trying to win my age group," said Rodgers, now 63. "She was ahead of me, and I was trying to catch up and pass, but she got sick at the end."

In January 2008, Rodgers had surgery to remove a cancerous prostate gland. By early February he was all set to compete in his first official post-surgery race in Tampa before a disastrous training run changed his mind.

"It didn't go well," he recalled. "I couldn't run 9 miles yet. The surgery hadn't healed internally. … I actually peed blood the night before."

Rodgers will never forget the inaugural Gasparilla Distance Classic in 1978 when he won the 15K in 44 minutes, 29 seconds in the afternoon. Later that evening, he ran 10 more miles in a postrace cool-down session.

"The numbers of runners were so much smaller," Rodgers said. "Prize money was not allowed. Our sport was very backwards. It was still a 19th-century sport. Races like Gasparilla helped change that over the years. Look at the numbers you've got at the race today."

Rodgers, along with about 22,000 runners, will battle shoulder-to-shoulder down Bayshore Boulevard this weekend to compete in one of four events (15K, 5K, half-marathon, 8K) at the 34th annual classic.

"I love running along the bay, just a pretty course and checking out the pretty homes on the other side of the road," Rodgers said. "It's a great celebration for the whole city of Tampa."

Rodgers will run the 15K on Saturday. He says he has retired from marathons — he last went the 26.2-mile distance as a 61-year-old at the Boston Marathon in 2009 — but stops short of saying he'll never run another.

"Runners will never say that. That'll be like saying I can't do it," he said.

In his prime, from the mid 1970s to the early 1980s, Rodgers was arguably the world's top marathoner. He qualified for the 1976 Olympics in Montreal, placing 40th. He was considered a favorite at the 1980 Olympics in Moscow until a U.S. boycott over Russia's invasion of Afghanistan denied him the opportunity to compete.

In those days, Rodgers was routinely running marathons in less than 2 hours, 15 minutes. At his first win in Boston, Rodgers, then a relative unknown, broke the American marathon record in 2:09:55. In 1979, he set an American mark, running 2:09:27 for his third Boston Marathon victory.

Now the Hartford, Conn., native aims for more modest goals.

"Seven-minute mile pace, that's what I'm going for Saturday," he said. "And I want to beat my 74-year-old buddy, Bill Riley. We have a little rivalry."

Staying ahead of the pack is secondary on Rodgers' mind. An unexpected surgical procedure to rid the body of cancer followed by seven weeks of chemotherapy will do that to a runner. But he has always lived his life to run. And to compete.

And as long as his body allows, he'll continue to do both.

"I do a lot of half-marathons, 15Ks, 5Ks now," he said. "I do too few 5Ks. I need to run more 5Ks. I'm not 28 years old anymore."

By Rodney Page, Times Staff Writer
Thursday, February 24, 2011

Fishing

Wily Sheepshead target species for Tampa event

Saltwater Angler magazine will host its fifth annual Filthy Pelican Sheepshead Invitational fishing tournament Saturday out of the Tampa Harbour Yacht Club (5200 W Tyson St.). The captains meeting is 6:30 tonight at Jimbo's Pit BBQ (4103 W Kennedy Blvd., Tampa). Fishing begins 6 a.m. Saturday. The entry fee is $50 per angler, with a grand prize of $2,500 based on a field of 150. Register online at saltwaterangleronline.com.

Stuart woman sets tilapia records

Pamela Henry of Stuart now owns two recreational fishing records for tilapia. Henry caught a 9.6-pound blue tilapia in August while fishing the south fork of the St. Lucie River in Marion County, surpassing a 9-pound catch in 2003 in Kissimmee. Her bait? A bread ball. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission recently certified her catch as a state record, and the International Game Fish Association issued her the all-tackle world record for the species. Blue tilapia generally have white, flaky meat with a mild flavor and are considered excellent eating.

FWC may boost bonefish protection

The FWC proposed rules that would allow only catch-and-release fishing for bonefish, a premier game fish in Florida. A recent study by the University of Miami estimated the economic value of a single bonefish in the Florida Keys to be $3,500 each year, and nearly $75,000 over a fish's lifespan. The proposed rules would eliminate the one-fish daily bag limit, though, most anglers already release bonefish they catch as a conservation measure.

Rodney Page, Times staff writer

Times staff
Thursday, February 24, 2011

Hall of Game: 7 p.m. on Cartoon Network. Hosted by skateboard legend Tony Hawk, the Cartoon Network hands out its awards for the top sports stars and moments.

Studio 42 With Bob Costas: 8 p.m. on MLB Network. Costas talks to former Cardinals greats Bob Gibson and Tim McCarver about the 1968 World Series.

Friday Night Fights: 9 p.m. on ESPN2. Main event from Tulsa, Okla., is a 10-round featherweight bout between Juan Carlos Burgos (25-1, 18 KOs) and Frankie Archuleta (27-7-1, 14 KOs).

By Tom Jones, Times Staff Writer
Thursday, February 24, 2011

He said it

"This guy is a gas bag. And he erupts every so often. He's not his father. He's one of those sons who inherited everything and accomplished very little on his own but thinks he can talk the talk the way his father, who made something of himself, used to do." Tony Kornheiser, on his ESPN show Pardon the Interruption, talking about Yankees part-owner Hank Steinbrenner, son of late Yankees owner George Steinbrenner.

The ratings game

NBC drew 1.9-million viewers for Sunday's Penguins-Blackhawks game, the most watched non-Winter Classic NHL regular-season game since 2006. That night's Canadiens-Flames outdoor game drew 608,000, the fifth most-watched regular-season game ever on Versus. Monday's Pens-Caps game drew 681,000, the third most-viewed regular-season game on Versus.

By Tom Jones, Times Staff Writer
Thursday, February 24, 2011

Most and least supportive fans

The Cavaliers lost superstar LeBron James. They own the worst record in the NBA at 10-47. They recently lost 26 games in a row to tie the 1976-77 Bucs for the longest streak in modern-day North American professional sports. But their fans (shown above) might be the best in the NBA. The Cavaliers are playing to 98.5 percent capacity, which is more than 20,000 fans a game. It's easy to support a winner, but fans of the Cavs are still cheering what could be the worst team in all of sports. That makes the Cavs fans, arguably, the most dedicated and supportive sports fans in the land. You can't blame fans for not supporting losing teams, and you expect fans to show up for good teams. The true test? Fans who flock to see bad teams or don't show up to watch good ones. With that in mind, here's a look at some attendance figures to determine which fans we consider the most and least supportive right now.

Major League Baseball

Most supportive: It has become nearly impossible to get Red Sox tickets, especially since the team won the 2004 World Series. Despite the team suffering a rash of injuries and missing the playoffs last year, Red Sox Nation still filled up Fenway Park. The Sox drew an average crowd of 37,619 (100.9 percent capacity). Cubs fans also should be praised as the team played to 92 percent capacity despite a losing season. Because Wrigley Field holds more than Fenway, the Cubs actually drew more fans, 37,814 a game.

Least supportive: Tampa Bay fans set records for watching the Rays on television, but the criticism fans get for not showing up at Tropicana Field is deserved. Blame the economy, blame stadium location, blame whatever you want. Bottom line: The Rays had the second-best record in baseball last season but played to only 52 percent capacity. The other teams that played to less than 60 percent capacity last season were the Marlins, Mariners, Nationals, Royals, Pirates, Diamondbacks, Orioles, Indians, A's and Blue Jays. Of those teams, only one had a winning record. And that was the Blue Jays, who finished fourth in the American League East. It also included all six of the majors' last-place teams.

National Basketball Association

Most supportive: After the loss of All-Star LeBron James, it seems as if the Cavaliers fans have defiantly rallied behind the team to show they don't need no stinkin' LeBron. The team is going to go down as one of the worst in NBA history but still is drawing 20,257 per game, third best in the NBA.

Least supportive: The city of Atlanta often is criticized for not showing passion for local teams. Rumors are swirling that the NHL's Thrashers might not last much longer in Atlanta. And the NBA's Hawks are struggling with attendance. They are 11 games over .500 and heading toward the playoffs for the fourth consecutive season. Still, they are playing to only 78 percent capacity and just an average of 14,613 fans.

National Football League

Most supportive: The Cowboys built the swankiest stadium in sports, and fans showed up in droves even though the team was crummy for most of the season. The Cowboys went 6-10 but played before an NFL-leading 87,047 per game. That was 108.8 percent capacity, the highest in all of pro sports over the past year.

Least supportive: Sorry, locals, but again, you have to look at Tampa Bay. The team had a sensational turnaround, going from 3-13 in 2009 to 10-6 last season. Yet all home games were blacked out, meaning the team didn't sell out once. The Bucs officially played to only 75.1 percent capacity. But it often looked as if the stadium was way more than a quarter empty.

National Hockey League

Most supportive: There's a reason Toronto is considered the epicenter of hockey. It loves even bad hockey. The Maple Leafs have missed the playoffs all five seasons since the 2004-05 lockout and likely will miss them again this season. Still, the Maple Leafs have played to 102.7 percent capacity. The Blackhawks are struggling to get into the playoffs yet are playing to 108.3 percent capacity in the cavernous United Center. Then again, the Blackhawks won the Stanley Cup last season, so interest should be high.

Least supportive: Are we seeing a theme here? Numbers don't lie, and the Lightning is playing to only 85.1 percent capacity even though it is one of the best and most surprising teams of the season. This recent 12-game homestand, tied for the longest in NHL history, didn't do the team any favors. It's hard for fans to spend that kind of money when the games are packed this close together. Still, the Lightning ranks 23rd in attendance capacity and 20th in average attendance.

St. Petersburg Times staff writer Tom Jones offers up his Two Cents on the world of sports.

ESPN's new ombudsman

ESPN and the Poynter Institute announced Thursday the creation of the Poynter Review Project, which will review ESPN content across all platforms and publicly comment on ESPN's work.

Essentially, Poynter is now ESPN's ombudsman, acting as an ethics and standards watchdog for all of ESPN's platforms. Poynter takes over the job held by former TV executive Don Ohlmeyer and previously held by former New York Times sports editor Le Anne Schreiber and former Washington Post sports editor George Solomon.

As with the previous ombudsmen, Poynter's role with ESPN will last 18 months. A rotation of three Poynter professors are expected to write monthly columns as well as other pieces as dictated by breaking issues. The columns will appear on ESPN.com starting next month.

The Poynter Institute, which owns the St. Petersburg Times, is a journalism school located in St. Petersburg.

ESPN executive vice president and executive editor John Walsh said, "The Poynter Institute's reputation in the field of journalism is unmatched, and we welcome the panel's scrutiny in this new format. Our goal is to improve our content through increased accountability, transparency and timeliness.''

Timeliness, of lack of it, plagued the tenure of Ohlmeyer, the weakest of ESPN's ombudsmen so far. Poynter should offer a fresh perspective from the previous ombudsmen with heavy sports backgrounds. However, there are two concerns that are really no different than previous ombudsmen or, for that matter, media critics.

One is if Poynter will ignore the concerns and comments of ESPN's viewers and simply work off its own agenda. The other is if ESPN actually listens to the ombudsman anyway. ESPN began having an ombudsman in 2005 yet has continued to have various conflicts of interest, including the much-criticized LeBron James' Decision show last summer.

Media tidbits

• Matt Reitz of NBCSports.com, reports that after reviewing a USA Hockey report, North Carolina, Georgia, Tennessee and Florida are the "fastest-growing states'' in terms of youth hockey registration.

• NBA television ratings are up 32 percent on ABC, 26 percent on TNT and 15 percent on ESPN. At a local level, TNT's rating are up 50 percent in Boston, 39 percent in Los Angeles and 65 percent in Miami. You would expect LeBron James joining the Heat has something to do with that. But according to USA Today, the biggest jump of all has been in Oklahoma City, where TNT's ratings are up 150 percent.

• With the NFL labor situation heating up, ESPN has hired Andrew Brandt, president of the website National Football Post, to serve as an NFL business analyst. Brandt spent nine seasons in the Packers front office and teaches at the Wharton School of Business. He will continue to write for the National Football Post and teach at Wharton.

By John Romano, Times Sports Columnist
Thursday, February 24, 2011

TAMPA

As plans go, this one seemed simple and sensible. Build not for today, but for a thousand tomorrows.

The Lightning had already tried too many quick fixes and been caught in too many bad deals to risk another stab at turning the franchise around in a hurry. So when Steve Yzerman and Guy Boucher came aboard last summer, they made it clear they were committed to long-term goals.

Sure, there would be road blocks. And, yes, they probably expected adjustments would have to be made.

But who would have guessed that one of their greatest challenges was being too good?

With 22 games remaining in the season, Tampa Bay already has surpassed last year's win total and is currently the No. 2 team in the Eastern Conference. Which means the team that was racing full speed toward the future had to recalculate its GPS somewhere along the line.

"We felt we were achieving a lot of stuff that was difficult to achieve, so I'd say it was around Christmas time when we really started looking at this," said Boucher, who has the team on pace for a record number of victories in his first season in the NHL. "At that point, we felt there was a consistency and a sense of character and success. Not just winning, but success in what you're trying to do.

"That's the criteria. That's when you know you've got something."

And that's when the franchise's focus changed. Oh, the future was still king. The Lightning would make no moves that would significantly trade on its chances for success down the road, but Yzerman was willing to make minor sacrifices in order to capitalize on today.

Which brings us to Dwayne Roloson. And Marc-Andre Bergeron. And Eric Brewer.

In a span of 49 days in January and February, the Lightning acquired three veteran players who will play prominent roles as the franchise heads toward its first postseason since 2007. Those three may not be around for the long term — they may not even be around next season — but this was an opportunity that could not be wasted.

And, best of all, the cost was manageable. The Lightning gave up a couple of nondescript prospects (Ty Wishart and Brock Beukeboom) and a third-round draft pick in trades for Roloson and Brewer. All Bergeron cost was $500,000 or so, and faith that an injured knee was healed.

In return, Tampa Bay has a good chance to win its first playoff series since the Stanley Cup final in 2004.

"It is still my belief that we need our draft picks and as many young prospects as we can get, but the players had played well enough that I wanted to give ourselves an opportunity to go as far as we could without mortgaging the future," Yzerman said. "The prospects we moved, I think we can replace with players already in the system or with draft picks. And losing a third-round pick was something I felt we could live with."

The greatest cost was to owner Jeff Vinik's checkbook. The Lightning took on close to $4 million in prorated salaries, which is one of the reasons backup goaltender Dan Ellis, and his $1.5 million salary, was traded for Curtis McElhinney on Thursday.

The key to all of the moves was getting Roloson from the Islanders for Wishart at the first of the year. At that point, the Lightning was a decent team with a problem in the net. Roloson changed that equation, and that made the subsequent moves more logical.

"It's Roloson. It's Bergeron. It's Brewer. It was specific needs. It wasn't about going out and buying whatever we could. We filled specific needs," Boucher said. "Goaltender? Perfect, we got one for the right price. Specific need for a power-play guy? Bergeron. Then what do we need? We need a big, shut-down defenseman. Brewer. So they were very smart, specific things Steve was able to do.

"We talk a lot about what we want to do, but this wasn't just words. This was action."

That action was not unnoticed in the locker room. For all Boucher has asked of the players this season, this was essentially the organization's payback. Play well enough in the regular season, and ownership will give you a legitimate chance in the postseason.

"Sometimes you can wait too long to make moves and then you're in trouble because there are 29 other teams that are trying to get the same pieces," said Marty St. Louis. "Our management saw an opportunity, and they jumped on it.

"You get players like that, you become better right away. And that's how we feel. We're better with those guys, for sure."

The other factor no one wanted to address was the relative strength — or weakness — of the Eastern Conference. The Lightning may not be a great team, but I'm not sure a great team exists in that conference. Philadelphia is very good and has more depth than anyone. Pittsburgh can be tough when healthy. A few other teams are just as good, if not better, than the Lightning.

But what Lightning players did in the first two months of the season was put themselves in the conversation.

And in the past two months, it was management's turn to be heard.

By Antonya English, Times Staff Writer
Thursday, February 24, 2011

GAINESVILLE — Chandler Parsons did everything possible to return to Florida's lineup Thursday night, including intensive rehab that lasted into the wee hours of the morning with trainers trying to repair a deep thigh bruise he suffered two weeks ago.

A senior with two home games remaining, Parsons desperately wanted to get back — now. And so he did.

With No. 13 Florida trailing Georgia by seven at halftime, Parsons sparked the Gators with four of his 16 points to open the second half, as Florida rallied for a 71-62 victory in front of 12,013 at the O'Connell Center.

The Gators (22-5, 11-2 SEC) clinched the No. 1 seed in the East in the SEC tournament that begins March 10 in Atlanta, and will win at least a share of the overall SEC title. The Gators have won six consecutive games, and nine of their past 10. And they aren't satisfied, with a game at Kentucky on Saturday up next.

"You know what, we never once talked about winning the East," said Parsons, injured on Feb. 12 in a collision with teammate Alex Tyus. "We have bigger goals than that. We want to win the entire conference, and we understand that we needed to come in here and take care of Georgia, and now we're on to Kentucky.

"It's definitely not going to come easy for us, but we were ready to take on the challenge."

Of the injury, Parsons said: "I couldn't really feel it."

With a 52-51 lead with 7:31 left to play, Florida sophomore guard Kenny Boynton hit three consecutive 3-pointers, then had an assist to Tyus on a fastbreak as part of an 11-2 run that gave the Gators a 63-53 lead. Georgia (18-9, 7-6) couldn't come back.

"After the first one, I knocked down the second, and after the second one, it just felt perfect," said Boynton, who had a team-high 18 points.

Florida scored 23 points off Georgia's 13 turnovers. The Gators had just two turnovers in the second half (five for the game) and shot 45.5 percent from the field.

"Florida just outworked us in the second half," said Georgia guard Travis Leslie, who had a game-high 20 points. "They beat us on the boards, they just fought hard and came back to get the (win)."

For Florida coach Billy Donovan, it was a bonus seeing Parsons return and play a valuable role after struggling with his injury.

"What he did to get himself back was unbelievable," Donovan said. "I would say legitimately he probably got five hours of training a day. He worked around the clock to get himself ready. I appreciate him working that hard because he really helped us."

Antonya English can be reached at english@sptimes.com.

By Marc Topkin, Times Staff Writer
Thursday, February 24, 2011

Stark comparison of the day

ESPN's Jayson Stark came away from Rays camp this week with an entertaining column and an interesting looks comparison of Rays executive VP Andrew Friedman, right, and BYU basketball stud Jimmer Fredette, left. Friedman insisted he didn't see a resemblance. Rays LHP David Price told Stark he did. And also, "They're both good public speakers. That's something that I noticed. That and the hair. The hair is big."

Smartest move of the day

LF Johnny Damon, above, had some fun during a pickoffs and rundowns drill, throwing up his fists in mock defense when RHP Kyle Farnsworth, who has a reputation as one of baseball's tough guys, ran at him. "I was going to trick him that I was going to punch him," Damon said. "Then I realized I better crawl into my hole because everyone knows how tough he is. I saw his eyes light up. I'm like, 'I'm joking.' "

On the run

C Kelly Shoppach, pleased with the baserunning drills overall, had a personal highlight: "Pretty funny that Desmond (Jennings, outfielder) was virtually running backward and I couldn't catch him."

List of the day: Men of steal

The majors' stolen-base leaders from 2008-10:

Michael Bourn Astros154

Juan Pierre White Sox138

Carl Crawford Red Sox132

B.J. Upton Rays128

Jacoby Ellsbury Red Sox127

Source: Rays

Who is this Ray?

He has a younger brother who is a pitcher in the Red Sox organization. He enjoys reggaeton music. He has not played above Class A.

The dish

Today's full-squad workout, the Rays' fifth, starts at 8:30 a.m. at Charlotte Sports Park (2300 El Jobean Road) and lasts about two hours. Admission and parking are free. Driving time from the bay area is 1½-2 hours. Suggested route: I-75 south to Toledo Blade Road, go west 6½ miles to El Jobean Road (SR 776), go right 2 miles, complex is on the left. For more information, call (941) 235-5025.

Heads up

Pitchers for today's 2½ intrasquad game will be: Joel Peralta, Cory Wade, Mike Ekstrom, R.J. Swindle and Alex Cobb. Some of the regulars will get an at-bat.

On deck

Saturday: Exhibition opener, Pirates, 1:05. Rays — David Price; Pirates — Charlie Morton

Sunday: at Pirates (Bradenton), 1:05. Rays — James Shields; Pirates — Kevin Correia

Monday: Pirates, 1:05. Rays — Jeff Niemann; Pirates — Bryan Morris

Tuesday: at Orioles (Sarasota), 1:05. Rays — TBA; Orioles — TBA

Who is this Ray answer: LHP Cesar Cabral

Marc Topkin, Times staff writer

By Marc Topkin and Joe Smith, Times Staff Writers
Thursday, February 24, 2011

PORT CHARLOTTE — Rays LF Johnny Damon can understand why a player such as former Rays and new Red Sox LF Carl Crawford might be a bit uncomfortable being monitored by a team. But Damon said scrutiny is part of the scene in Boston, and he can see the team's point, too.

On Tuesday, Crawford said he was "creeped out a little bit" upon hearing the Red Sox monitored him for months on and off the field before signing him as a free agent in December.

"I'm on both sides of the fence," said Damon, who played for the Red Sox from 2002-05. "I know Boston had followed guys before, like Mo Vaughn especially. They wanted to see what he was doing all the time. The Boston fans, they follow you around, too, to see what you're doing. It seems like they're everywhere.

"But when a team's investing $142 million, they probably have a right to know every little bit of your history; ex-girlfriends, how's his family. It's a big investment. You don't like to have that happen, but it needs to. Teams can't afford to take a risk like that for there to be any problems. Teams have to be prepared. A lot of teams signed guys in the past, and they didn't know certain things."

Damon said he's "sure people have looked into everything I have done, too. It's not private. Unfortunately, when (Crawford) plays this game, so many things become public and people know you that way."

WADING IN: Knowing his spot in the rotation is secure, RHP Wade Davis wanted to work on some things in his delivery before facing hitters.

So he waited until Thursday, two days after the other pitchers in his group, to throw his first batting practice. The benefit was obvious as both he and manager Joe Maddon were pleased with his 32-pitch performance, specifically his alignment to the plate.

"I just wanted to see how the ball was basically coming out of his hand, and I thought it was really good," Maddon said. "He looked free. The one thing he's working on is a better alignment to the plate, and he had that going on."

Davis said without having to prove himself to win a job, he can focus on specific issues.

"I feel like it was nice and easy all the way through," he said. "I threw some quality pitches. I'm pretty happy with that. I really want to clean up my line to the plate."

SQUEEZE PLAY: The Rays have had to accelerate their usual schedule with the exhibition season starting Saturday — just the sixth day the full squad will have been in camp. On Thursday they worked briefly on pickoffs and rundowns.

Today it will be bunt plays and bunt defense during a 21/2-inning controlled intrasquad game. And before Saturday's game they'll go over cutoffs and relays.

PITCHING IN: RHP Jeremy Hellickson (strained right hamstring) is targeted to return to the mound by Sunday. … LHP Alex Torres caught Maddon's eye with another impressive session on the mound.

MISCELLANY: Today's workout will be over by 10:30 a.m. so players can head to the team charity golf tournament on the Ritz-Carlton course at Lakewood Ranch. … CF B.J. Upton said he was still sore but not in any way limited after being hit by an Adam Russell fastball on Wednesday. … Tickets remain available for Saturday's opener. … Andrew Hauser was named trainer for Double-A Montgomery after the resignation of Rodger Fleming, and Kris Russell was hired from the Tampa Yankees to replace Hauser at Class A Charlotte. … Ohio State and Western Michigan will play on the stadium field at 2 today. Admission is free.

Times wires
Thursday, February 24, 2011

TAMPA — Yankees LHP CC Sabathia said he feels stronger after losing 25 pounds during the offseason. The ace reported to spring training at 290.

"My stamina, especially coming out of the bullpen and going straight to the mound, I feel good," Sabathia said Thursday after throwing 25 pitches in his first batting practice session. "I just don't get tired. Early in spring training years past, I would get a little gassed in my bullpen (sessions)."

Sabathia doesn't plan on losing more weight.

"I'm good right now," he said. "We'll see how the season goes. I'll try and maintain this and see how it goes."

Catchers: C Russell Martin (right knee) caught Sabathia and did simulated blocking of pitches in the dirt for the first time. He is expected to miss the first three or four games. … DH Jorge Posada (left knee), expected to see limited time at catcher, caught his first bullpen sessions.

Phillies: Strong start

CLEARWATER — 1B Ryan Howard hit a two-run double on his first swing as the Phillies beat Florida State 8-0 in their spring opener.

"We played pretty good for the first time out," manager Charlie Manuel said. "Our pitchers, especially the guys we wanted to see, did fine."

RHP Drew Naylor started and allowed one hit and struck out two over two innings. RHPs Justin De Fratus, Michael Stutes and Michael Schwimer, all in their first major-league camp, combined to allow one hit and strike out five over three innings.

Domonic Brown, an ex-Pasco High standout competing to start in rightfield, went 1-for-3 with a run scored.

"It feels great to get back out there," he said.

Held out: 2B Chase Utley sat because of "general soreness," Manuel said, and might not play until next week. … SS Jimmy Rollins was excused so he could attend a tribute to Motown at the White House as part of Black History month.

Jays: Making his mark

DUNEDIN — RHP Zach Stewart, a contender for the final spot in the Blue Jays' rotation, threw two perfect innings in an intrasquad scrimmage. Facing mostly major-leaguers, Stewart, 24, threw 25 pitches (18 strikes), struck out two and induced four groundouts.

"Zach had great mound presence," manager John Farrell said of Stewart, who spent 2010 at Double A. "He threw the ball over the plate and challenged the hitters, and that was refreshing."

LHP Ricky Romero started for the opposition and retired all six batters he faced. But among his 28 pitches, only 15 were strikes.

"The fact that his breaking ball was up in the zone a little bit just speaks to the timing and the delivery," Farrell said of Romero, who struck out one. "Otherwise, his changeup had very good late action. He threw the fastball to both sides of the plate. It was a very good starting point."

Being careful: 2B Aaron Hill sat because of a tight right quadriceps. He got through pregame drills, and the team said he would have played if it were the regular season. But it decided to be overly cautious.

Times wires
Thursday, February 24, 2011

MARANA, Ariz. — Hotter than his matching pink hat, shirt and shoes, Rickie Fowler led a dynamic charge of the next generation Thursday in the Match Play Championship.

Fowler, 22, made two eagles in three holes to send Phil Mickel­son, 40, to a 6 and 5 loss, his worst in this World Golf Champion­ships event.

Equally impressive was Italy's teen sensation, 17-year-old Matteo Manassero, who hit a 6-iron to 4 feet on the 17th hole and closed out Charl Schwartzel to advance.

Of the 16 players remaining, eight are younger than 30. That includes Nick Watney, 29, who knocked out top-ranked Lee Westwood, making this the third straight year the No. 1 seed did not make it out of the second round.

The highest seed remaining after two wild days was PGA champion Martin Kaymer, 25, who had to go 20 holes to beat Justin Rose.

Mickelson didn't play his best, and it might not have mattered.

Fowler seized control with a tough pitch to close range on the eighth, chipped in from off the green on the 10th, then made two eagles. He ended the match with a 4-iron from 232 yards that rolled so close to the flag that Mickelson conceded the eagle.

"I played great," Fowler said. "And Phil left a couple of doors open that I took advantage of."

Mickelson said Fowler, a native of Anaheim, Calif., is a complete player.

"He doesn't really have a weakness," Mickelson, 40, said. "And he put it together (Thursday). I just couldn't keep pace. I think he's going to do a lot for American golf."

It hasn't been a bad week for Americans. Eight are in the round of 16, the most in five years. The surprise is who they are: not Mickelson or Tiger Woods, Steve Stricker and Jim Furyk (all gone after the first round), but, along with Fowler, Watney, Hunter Mahan, Bubba Watson, Matt Kuchar, Ben Crane, Ryan Moore and J.B. Holmes.

PGA: David Toms got off to a good start in a bid for his first tour victory in more than five years, shooting 5-under 66 for a share of the first-round lead in the Mayakoba Golf Classic at Playa del Carmen, Mexico. Andres Gonzales, Mark Hensby and Kyle Stanley also opened with 66. Defending champion Cameron Beckman was a stroke back in a group with five others.

LPGA: Chie Arimura overcame strong winds to shoot 4-under 68 and take a one-stroke lead after the first round of the HSBC Women's Champions in Singapore. Na Yeon Choi shot 69, and world No. 1 Yani Tseng, seeking her fourth straight title in as many weeks, was in a group of four at 70. Seminole's Brittany Lincicome shot 3-over 75.

Times wires
Thursday, February 24, 2011

figure skating

denney-barrett team ends 3-year run

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — Caydee Denney and Jeremy Barrett, the 2010 U.S. champions, announced the end of their three-year partnership Thursday. Barrett is retiring, but Denney will continue skating.

"I feel I'm just starting to scratch the surface when it comes to what I'm capable of," said Denney, a Wesley Chapel resident who turns 18 in June. "My goal is to find a new partner and begin competing again by next season."

Barrett, who turns 27 in April and is engaged to pairs skater Amanda Evora, plans to coach and do ice shows. He said he is pleased with his accomplishments.

The split is a setback in the long U.S. quest to find a pair to contend internationally. A U.S. pair hasn't won an Olympic medal since Jill Watson and Peter Oppegard's bronze in 1988, and the Americans have made the world championships podium once in the last decade.

That medal, a bronze by Kyoko Ina and John Zimmerman in 2002, came against a watered-down field.

et cetera

tennis: Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic, winners of six of the past eight Dubai Championships, remained on course to play for the title by winning quarterfinal matches in straight sets. Federer next plays Richard Gasquet; Djokovic faces Tomas Berdych. … Vera Zvonareva rallied from 5-3 down in the deciding set to defeat Daniela Hantuchova 7-5, 6-7 (5-7), 7-5 in the quarters of the Qatar Ladies Open. She faces Jelena Jankovic; Caroline Wozniacki plays Marion Bartoli in the other semifinal. … Tampa resident and No. 2 seed Mardy Fish beat Ricardo Mello 6-2, 6-1 in the second round of the Delray Beach International Championships. He next faces qualifier Alejandro Falla, who beat Adrian Mannarino.

autos: With the season-opening Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg a month away, IndyCar driver Tony Kanaan is looking for a new ride. Kanaan had planned to join de Ferran Dragon Racing, but the deal fell through because of lack of sponsorship. Team co-owner Gil de Ferran says the team will likely not participate in the upcoming season. Kanaan finished in the top five in the first five IndyCar races in St. Petersburg and 10th last year.

horses: Garrett Gomez won the George Woolf Memorial Jockey award in a nationwide vote of fellow riders. He outpolled Joe Bravo, Javier Castellano, Corey Lanerie and Gallyn Mitchell.

soccer: FC Tampa Bay loaned midfielder Jonny Steele to the NASL Carolina RailHawks. In 10 appearances last season, he had one goal and three assists. ... David Beckham reported to the Los Angeles Galaxy's MLS training camp, two weeks late after an extended stay to train with Tottenham.

running: Haile Gebrselassie fell and injured a knee while training in Ethiopia, then continued running and injured the other knee compensating for the first injury. He withdrew from Sunday's Tokyo Marathon and will miss about six weeks.

Times wires

By Damian Cristodero, Times Staff Writer
Thursday, February 24, 2011

Times wires
Thursday, February 24, 2011

JUPITER — Cardinals pitching ace Adam Wainwright will have ligament replacement surgery (a.k.a. Tommy John surgery) on his right elbow and miss the season, the team said Thursday.

"It's not a real surprise to us but certainly a disappointment," general manager John Mozeliak said. "We certainly believe we still have a strong starting rotation. Now we're going to have to look to try to fill it in terms of a fifth spot."

Wainwright, who won 20 games last year and was runnerup for the National League Cy Young Award, felt stiffness after Monday's session. He experienced soreness last season (he didn't pitch in September) and had minor issues in 1998 and 2004. "That's a big guy to miss," fellow starter Kyle Lohse said. "We still have to go out there and play. Nobody is going to feel sorry for us."

Cabrera arrives

LAKELAND — Tigers star first baseman Miguel Cabrera made his first appearance at spring training since last week's arrest on suspicion of drunken driving. He said he will undergo treatment set up by doctors administered by team management and the players union.

Cabrera, set to be arraigned March 16, refused to say he is an alcoholic. He said what happened was out of the ordinary and he had been working on his treatment in Detroit and his native Venezuela.

"I have it under control," he said. "It was just a bad decision. I plan to continue with treatment. I made a mistake this time, and all I can do is continue treatment."

General manager Dave Dombrowski said it is up to manager Jim Leyland when Cabrera makes his debut.

Dodgers: Right-hander Vicente Padilla had surgery on his right arm to free a nerve trapped by a muscle. The projected reliever faces three to four weeks of rehabilitation. There is no timetable for his return.

Mariners: Centerfielder Franklin Gutierrez returned to Seattle for tests on his stomach. The issue caused him to lose weight last season, and he has been bothered on and off this week.

Nationals: Manager Jim Riggleman said Bryce Harper, June's top overall draft pick, will make his spring debut Monday against the Mets. Harper, 18, who is moving from catcher to the outfield, is expected to get at least one at-bat.

Orioles: Second baseman Brian Roberts missed a second day of workouts because of a stiff neck. X-rays were negative, and he said he hoped to return today.

Rangers: Starting pitcher Omar Beltre had surgery for a narrow spine. Assistant general manager Thad Levine said it "went as well as could be expected" but the righty is at least six weeks from resuming baseball activities.

Rockies: Right-hander Aaron Cook will miss his first scheduled start of the spring due to tightness in his right shoulder and a stomach ailment. There is no timetable for his debut.

Times staff, wires
Thursday, February 24, 2011

TAMPA — Ken Eriksen had waited 15 years for a new ballpark, and USF's softball coach got a grand opening to be proud of Thursday night as the Bulls one-hit Central Connecticut State in an 8-0 win to introduce USF Softball Stadium.

"I had to bring (the players) down. They were so jacked up, I was afraid they might burn out in the first or second inning," said Eriksen, who didn't get the green light from a fire marshal inspection to play in the stadium until mid afternoon. "I think the experience of our coaching staff kind of kept them in a cool position to play the whole game on an even keel."

In front of 785 fans, sophomore Lindsey Richardson took a no-hitter into the fourth before allowing only a single down the rightfield line. Freshman Sara Nevins closed out a perfect fifth to clinch the win. A pair of freshmen led the way at the plate for the Bulls (6-5). Shortstop Kourtney Salvarola and first baseman Stephanie Medina had three RBIs each.

"It was kind of terrifying," Richardson said of earning the stadium's first start. "We're not used to this amazing facility, and with everybody here and screaming, you can't hear anything out there. It was crazy to finally have it done, and I think everybody had an amazing time."

UF baseball records: Sophomore left-hander Brian Johnson retired the first 17 batters, setting a school record of 27 straight (he retired the final 10 USF batters Friday) in a 4-0 win over Boston College. UF set a school record with its 19th straight home victory, breaking the mark set March 16-May 13, 1963, and Feb. 10-March 31, 1998. Bryan Augenstein retired 23 straight vs. Cincinnati on Feb. 11, 2006.

Miami ad leaving? Hurricanes athletic director Kirby Hocutt is having serious discussions with Texas Tech about replacing retiring AD Gerald Myers. The Lubbock Avalanche-Journal reported that Hocutt was offered the job, and the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reported he will take it, though it was unclear when. The job would give Hocutt, 39, a chance to return to his home state and likely a sizable raise.

Football

UF-georgia: The Georgia athletic board put a hold on a proposed $10 price hike for tickets to the annual game against Florida in Jacksonville. The hike recently was approved by UF's athletic board. Georgia athletic director Greg McGarity said the increase proposed by UF would be reconsidered for the 2012 game. Tickets are $40 and $70.

Pay updates: The Tulsa World reported that Oklahoma's Bob Stoops got a $1 million raise to bring his yearly salary to $4.875 million, the third-highest paid coach behind Alabama's Nick Saban ($5.16M) and Texas' Mack Brown ($5.1M). … LSU officials will seek a $700,000-per-year contract for new offensive coordinator Steve Kragthorpe and raises for other assistants.

USC: The team hired longtime Nebraska assistant Ted Gil­more as receivers coach. Gilmore, 43, who was also the Cornhuskers' recruiting coordinator, was dumped in a staff shakeup last week. He replaces John Morton, who left last month to join Jim Harbaugh's staff with the 49ers.

Information from Times wires was used in this report.

Times wires
Thursday, February 24, 2011

Up next | Races on major circuits

Sprint Cup

What: Subway 500

When/where: Today, practice (Speed, 2:30-4 p.m., 6 p.m.); Saturday, qualifying (Speed, 3:30 p.m.); Sunday, race (Ch. 13, 3 p.m.); Avondale, Ariz.

Fast facts: The Phoenix International Raceway track will be resurfaced after the race. … Carl Edwards won the November race at the track to end a 70-race losing streak. He also won the Nationwide race. … Five-time defending series champion Jimmie Johnson has a record four victories at the track. … Forbes magazine's annual rankings show that Hendrick Motor­sports is the most valuable team in NASCAR for the third consecutive year. Forbes' report shows NASCAR's top team is worth $350 million. But the report finds the average team value declined 5 percent over the past year because of declining sponsorships. Roush Fenway Racing is again ranked second at $224 million. Forbes says the average team is valued at $136 million and generated an average of $89 million in revenue last year.

Standings: 1. Carl Edwards, 42; 2. David Gilliland and Bobby Labonte, 41; 4. Kurt Busch, 40; 5. Juan Montoya, 39; 6. Regan Smith, 38; 7. Kyle Busch, 37; 8. Paul Menard, 36; 9. Mark Martin and A J Allmendinger, 34; 11. Bill Elliott, 32; 12. Tony Stewart and David Ragan, 31

Nationwide

What: Bashas' Supermarkets 200

When/where: Today, practice (Speed, 1-2:30 p.m., 4 p.m.); Saturday, qualifying (Speed, 2 p.m.), race (ESPN2, 5:30 p.m.); Avondale, Ariz.

Fast facts: Daytona 500 champion Trevor Bayne is driving the No. 16 Ford for Roush Fenway Racing. He finished 10th in last week's Nationwide opener at Daytona. … Danica Patrick is coming off a career-best 14th-place finish in the series.

Standings: 1. Landon Cassill, 41; 2. Reed Sorenson, 39; 3. Jason Leffler, 38; 4. Ricky Stenhouse, 36; 5. Trevor Bayne, 35

Trucks

What: Lucas Oil 150

When/where: Today, practice (Speed, 11 a.m.), qualifying (Speed, 5 p.m.), race (Speed, 8 p.m.).

Standings: 1. Clay Rogers, 42; 2. Miguel Paludo, 40; 3. Jeffrey Earnhardt, 37; 4. Ricky Carmichael, 37; 5. James Buescher, 37

NHRA

What: Winternationals

When/where: Today-Saturday, qualifying (ESPN2, 11 p.m. Saturday, taped); Sunday, final eliminations (ESPN2, 7 p.m., taped); Pomona, Calif.

Fast facts: This is the opener for the 60th season in the series. … John Force won his NHRA-record 15th Funny Car season championship last year. Larry Dixon won his third Top Fuel championship, and Greg Anderson took Pro Stock. … Antron Brown raced to the qualifying lead Thursday in Top Fuel, and Johnny Gray and Erica Enders also clocked fast times. Brown powered his dragster to a leading run of 3.804 at 319.98 mph. Gray moved to the top of the Funny Car order with a 4.079 at 306.33 mph in a Dodge Charger. Force was third in his Ford Mustang with a 4.093 at 305.84 mph. Enders led Pro Stock with a performance of 6.553 at a track-record speed of 211.69 in a Chevy Cobalt.

Times wires
Thursday, February 24, 2011

HARTFORD, Conn. — Darius Johnson-Odom scored nine of his 17 points in overtime Thursday night to lead Marquette to a 74-67 victory over No. 14 Connecticut, which played without coach Jim Calhoun on the bench.

Jimmy Butler added 16 points for the Golden Eagles (17-11, 8-7 Big East), who tied it at 59 with 5.3 seconds left on a drive by Johnson-Odom.

Kemba Walker led the Huskies (20-7, 8-7) with 27 points, but the guard missed four shots and committed a turnover in overtime.

Calhoun left Wednesday to be with his family in New Hampshire after his sister-in-law died.

This was the 15th game for which associate head coach George Blaney replaced Calhoun on the bench (UConn is 7-8).

The Huskies opened the second half with a 26-7 run to wipe out an 11-point halftime deficit. The Golden Eagles pulled within 51-49 with 6:55 to play. There were two lead changes and three ties from there, including Johnson-Odom's drive that tied it with 5.3 seconds left.

no. 4 pitt 71, west va. 58: Lamar Patterson scored the first five points of the second half, sparking a key run for the host Panthers (25-3, 13-2 Big East). Pitt freshman forward Talib Zanna will miss three to six weeks with a broken right thumb.

last winless team wins: Centenary, the last winless team in Division I, ended its 33-game losing streak with a 73-60 victory over visiting Western Illinois. The Gentlemen (1-28), located in Shreveport, La., were within one loss of tying the Division I record set by Sacramento State from 1997-99. "We have been waiting on this day for a very long time,'' coach Adam Walsh said.

fau 77, troy 60: The host Owls (20-9, 12-3 Sun Belt) achieved their first 20-win season in 18 seasons of Division I play.

georgetown: Starting point guard Chris Wright is expected back for the NCAA Tournament after having surgery for a broken bone in his nonshooting hand.

oklahoma stATE: Guard Ray Penn was suspended indefinitely for failing to follow team policy.

Mississippi State: Guard Jalen Steele will miss the rest of the season with a left knee injury.

Women: Miami beats FSU with 18-0 run

CORAL GABLES — Shenise Johnson had 25 points and No. 12 Miami defeated No. 14 Florida State 84-68, pulling away with an 18-0 run late in the game.

Miami and Duke remained tied for the ACC lead, with FSU falling a game back.

The Hurricanes (25-3, 11-2) close out the season Sunday at Georgia Tech.

Courtney Ward led FSU (22-6, 10-3) with 19 points.

vols win rain-abbreviated game: No. 4 Tennessee was awarded a 66-39 win at Mississippi when storms sent water through air vents in the roof and onto the floor with 5:24 left. "I'm just glad nobody got hurt," Vols coach Pat Summitt said. "Now I hope we can get home."

No. 2 Stanford 73, Oregon St. 37: The host Cardinal (25-2, 16-0) clinched a share of the Pac-10 title and can win it by beating Oregon on Saturday.

No. 9 Duke 71, Virginia 48: Jasmine Thomas had 18 points and the visiting Blue Devils (25-3, 11-2 ACC) held the Cavaliers without a field goal for almost 16 minutes in the first half.

ohio st. 54, no. 10 mich. st. 53: Jantel Lavender scored 24 for the Buckeyes, her free throw with 1:50 left the final scoring. The Spartans (24-4, 12-3 Big Ten) had a 20-game home winning streak end, but they clinched the outright conference title when Penn State lost to Purdue.

No. 11 UCLA 74, Arizona 70: The Bruins (23-3, 13-2 Pac-10) tied a school record with their 11th road victory of the season.

GA. Tech 64, No. 13 UNC 57: Alex Montgomery scored 15 of her 22 in the first half for the visiting Yellow Jackets. The Tar Heels (22-6, 8-5 ACC) had 22 turnovers.

No. 17 Wisc.-Green Bay 75, Valpo 48: The host Phoenix (26-1, 15-0) wrapped up the outright Horizon League championship. Green Bay has won outright or shared the regular-season crown for 13 consecutive years, the longest streak in the nation.

No. 15 Maryland 61, Va. Tech 48: Alyssa Thomas scored 15 and the host Terps (22-6, 8-5 ACC) needed a late 21-7 run to beat the conference's last-place team.

No. 20 Kentucky 55, Ark. 54: A'dia Mathies made the winning layup with 4.4 seconds left, the first time the host Wildcats (21-7, 10-5 SEC) led in more than 12 minutes.

Auburn 63, No. 22 Georgia 58: Alli Smalley scored 22 and the visiting Tigers beat the Bulldogs (20-8, 10-5 SEC).

UF postponed: The Gators' game at Vanderbilt scheduled for Thursday was postponed until 6 tonight because of storms.

Derek J. LaRiviere, Times Correspondent
Thursday, February 24, 2011

BROOKSVILLE — Pitching depth looks like a plus for Hernando after the Leopards received their second consecutive two-hit shutout Thursday night.

Dylan Bedwell, Hernando's third starter, led the home team to a 12-0 victory over Sunlake only two days after a similar win over Springstead.

The night got off to a rocky beginning for Bedwell when two errors and a walk loaded the bases in the top of the first for Sunlake (1-2). Following the example of what ace Brett Maggard did on Tuesday, the senior composed himself and induced a double play to get out of the jam.

He completed the remainder of the contest with just more than 60 pitches, surrendering no more walks and striking out four.

"Dylan did a good job of controlling the game," Hernando coach Tim Sims said. "(Pitching coach) Bert Snow works diligently with our pitchers to make sure they pitch and don't just throw. It paid off tonight."

The bats didn't get going right away for Hernando (5-0), but when they did, the carousel around the bases didn't stop. After Sunlake starter Lane Ketterer pitched a scoreless first inning, he surrendered a double to Hernando's Jake Johnson to lead off the second and was quickly pulled.

From there, the Leopards scored off every hurler to enter for the Seahawks, including Travis Doyel, Joe Young and Rae Diaz. Ian Townsend's two-run double in the second broke it open initially, but before the contest ended, every member of the lineup reached base.