By Marc Topkin, Times Staff Writer
Wednesday, May 18, 2011

TORONTO — The rugged road trip started well for the Rays. Everyone remembered their passports, they got through Canadian customs hassle-free, and when they arrived at the Westin hotel around 4 Wednesday morning, there were free bottles of water waiting.

Then when they showed up at the Rogers Centre later that night, the Jays handed them a victory.

The Rays obviously had a hand in the 6-5 win, with a two-run homer and a key running catch by rightfielder Matt Joyce, three RBIs from Elliot Johnson, a good-enough start by Jeremy Hellickson and another impressive showing by the bullpen.

But it was just as much a product of all the Jays did wrong: five errors (and at least two other misplays), five walks, two hit batters, a wild pitch and a 2-for-12 night with runners in scoring position.

"There's no such thing," Rays manager Joe Maddon insisted, "as an ugly win."

But playing off one of his go-to lines that not every night produces an oil painting, he conceded, "It was more like a finger-painting."

In part, that's because in mid game the script flipped, and the Rays, suddenly gracious guests, started giving away pieces of what had been a 6-0 third-inning lead.

"You take any win you can get," Joyce said. "We made some mistakes, but fortunately it didn't come back to bite us in the butt."

And as they headed back to the hotel so they could get up this morning and pack for another 4 a.m. arrival in South Florida, the Rays were more relieved than anything. They extended their MLB-best road mark to 14-5, maintained their two-game margin in the AL East by improving to 25-18 overall and stopped the Jays' six-game winning streak.

"I wouldn't call it an ugly win," Johnson said. "It's finding a way to win."

The Rays built the 6-0 lead off Jays starter Jesse Litsch, the Dixie Hollins High grad and former Rays batboy, quickly, with plenty of help.

They got three in the second on one hit, benefitting from two walks, a hit batter, two throwing errors on Johnson's two-run single, and a squeeze bunt by Sam Fuld. They added three runs in the third, two on Joyce's seventh homer, the other when B.J. Upton singled, went to third on Litsch's errant pickoff throw and scored on a sac fly.

But the Rays let the Jays back in, Hellickson appearing to tire coming off his career-high 120-pitch outing and Ben Zobrist making a costly error at second.

The crucial moment came in the seventh, the lead down to 6-4 and the Rays in what Maddon politely called "a bind."

Juan Cruz just walked Yunel Escobar with one out, and Maddon summoned Cesar Ramos to face Corey Patterson, having already decided he was intentionally walking the next batter, the other-worldly Jose Bautista (hitting .700 vs. Rays this year), no matter what, even if it meant loading the bases.

But Ramos struck out Patterson — "He eased my burden," Maddon said — and after Bautista was walked (putting the tying run on first), Joel Peralta got Aaron Hill to hit a fly ball down the rightfield line. The problem was that bench coach Dave Martinez had just shifted Joyce to right-center, but Joyce came running hard and got it, saving two runs.

"I don't know how that works out that way," Joyce said. "It was a long run, but I made the catch."

There was one last challenge in the ninth when Kyle Farns­worth allowed a run, but he ended it, and logged his ninth save, striking out Patterson with Bautista on deck.

Times wires
Thursday, May 19, 2011

Rangers 5, Royals 4

11 INNINGS

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Adrian Beltre hit a two-run single off Jeremy Jeffress in the 11th, lifting the Rangers. Jeffress walked the bases full with one out in the ninth, running the Royals' walk total to 13. Beltre then delivered a solid single.

Times wires
Thursday, May 19, 2011

Twins 4, Athletics 3

10 INNINGS

OAKLAND, Calif. — Trevor Plouffe hit a sacrifice fly in the 10th for his season-high third RBI, helping the Twins beat the Athletics. Pinch-hitter Delmon Young singled to open the inning and advanced to third when Daric Barton threw Alexi Casilla's bunt into the outfield. After Denard Span grounded out, Plouffe hit a flyball to right off Brian Fuentes.

Times wires
Thursday, May 19, 2011

Mariners 3, Angels 0

SEATTLE — Jason Vargas ran his streak of scoreless innings to 16 and denied Jered Weaver another chance at becoming the first pitcher in the majors to reach seven wins. It was the first of 19 meetings this season between the AL West rivals. Jack Cust had two RBI singles and Justin Smoak had an RBI double. Weaver dropped his fourth straight decision and remained tied for the league lead in victories. The Angels have lost six of seven.

Times wires
Thursday, May 19, 2011

BALTIMORE — Robinson Cano doubled in two runs in the 15th, and the Yankees beat the Orioles 4-1 on Wednesday night after Mariano Rivera blew a one-run lead in the ninth.

Alex Rodriguez had a season-high four hits for the Yankees, before the 15th had one unearned run in the fourth.

Rivera gave up a run in the ninth to force extra innings. It was his third blown save in 16 tries.

"Anytime a closer blows a save, you usually don't win that game," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said.

After Mike Gonzalez gave up Cano's double, he struck Chris Dickerson in the head with a fastball. Gonzalez was ejected, and Dickerson was motionless on the ground for several minutes. He walked to first base before leaving.

"That's the last thing you want to see. It got away from me and I'm sorry it hit him," said Gonzalez, who was surprised at getting ejected.

Mark Teixeira led off the 15th with a single off Jeremy Accardo. Rodriguez followed with a single, and Cano hit a liner to right-center that Adam Jones bobbled, allowing Cano to take third.

Gonzalez then hit Dickerson. With Baltimore out of relief pitchers, Jeremy Guthrie — the scheduled starter today — came in and gave up a sacrifice fly to Brett Gardner.

New York's Hector Noesi worked four innings in his major-league debut, allowing two hits and walking three.

It was the longest game of the season for both teams — 4 hours, 56 minutes.

Baltimore loaded the bases with one out in the 11th against Luis Ayala before Boone Logan struck out Luke Scott and retired Matt Wieters on a fly ball. Wieters was a major-league best 15-for-27 with runners in scoring position before the out.

Noesi worked out of a bases-loaded jam in the 12th, and the Yankees failed to score against Accardo in the 13th after getting runners at the corners with no outs.

Times wires
Thursday, May 19, 2011

D'backs 5, Braves 4

11 INNINGS

PHOENIX — Ryan Roberts scored from third on Justin Upton's grounder with a drawn-in infield as the Diamondbacks scored two in the 11th. Roberts beat second baseman Dan Uggla's throw.

Times wires
Thursday, May 19, 2011

Brewers 5, Padres 2

SAN DIEGO — Yovani Gallardo struck out nine to win his third straight start and Mark Kotsay had three hits and two RBIs as the Brewers, the NL's worst road team, won at Padres. Even with the win, the Brewers are only 8-16 on the road. The Padres dropped to 7-15 at Petco Park, the NL's worst home mark. Kotsay, who was with the Padres from 2001-03, had an RBI single in the fourth and an RBI double in the sixth. Corey Hart also had three hits. Although Ryan Ludwick hit a two-run homer in the fourth, the Padres settled back into their low-scoring ways at Petco Park. This was their first game back after scoring at least six runs six times while going 4-4 on a trip through Milwaukee, Colorado and Arizona.

By Rodney Page, Times Staff Writer
Thursday, May 19, 2011

By RODNEY PAGE

Times Staff Writer

ST. PETERSBURG — There are lakes in Florida where the water is crystal clear, boats zoom from shoreline to shoreline and kids dive in off tire swings. They are usually off the beaten path, far from the hustle and bustle of cities.

Lake Maggiore is not that kind of lake.

Just a few miles south of downtown St. Petersburg, Lake Maggiore is bordered by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Street to the east and the Lake Maggiore Shores neighborhood to the northwest. Boyd Hill Nature Preserve rims the rest of the lake.

There are no tire swings. Swimming is prohibited in the lake. The water looks more like brewed tea than spring water. Only boats with trolling motors are allowed on the lake. But that doesn't mean the lake has no recreational value.

Lake Maggiore is mostly fresh water. There is a channel on the northeast side of the lake that flows into Tampa Bay. The flow is controlled, which means there is some salinity in the water but not as much as in years past.

That makes for some interesting fishing. There are not only freshwater species but some saltwater fish as well.

"We just recently stocked the lake," said Linda Seufert, park operations manager for the city of St. Petersburg. "There's bass and red drum and some snook. And it's one of the few city lakes where we allow cast netting."

There is also good canoeing.

Paddling in the city

Lake Maggiore is 385.4 acres. While the view from King Street isn't spectacular, it is much different once you are out on the lake. On a recent trip with Boyd Hill guide Bambi Collector, we visited secluded parts of the lake accessible only by canoe or kayak.

After putting in at the Lake Shore Park boat ramp off King Street, we quickly discovered the lake is a bird-watchers paradise. On our Saturday morning trip, there were ibis, herons, anhingas, pelicans, roseate spoonbills, hawks and even an eagle atop a pine tree. We were able to paddle close to the birds and watch them in their natural environment.

The most picturesque part of the lake was on the Boyd Hill Nature Preserve side. Lily pads and the invasive hyacinths are starting to choke the area by the Boyd Hill boardwalk. But it is secluded and full of birds, fish, plants and even alligators.

The only difficult part about that side of the lake is paddling through the lily pads, which eventually got to be too hard. Seufert said there is regular maintenance to control the hyacinth and cattails that can choke the lake.

We hugged the shoreline on the west side of the lake and saw plenty of foliage, from sedges to sable palms to natural grasses. There were also a few alligators sticking their heads above the water to check us out. Heading northwest, it was striking to see the alligators pop up from the water with the St. Petersburg skyline and Tropicana Field in the background.

Things used to be different

Lake Maggiore used to be more of a recreational spot than it is now. In 1951, the Southland Regatta speedboat race was moved from the Pier in downtown to Lake Maggiore. It was an annual event until 1988. A speedboat race took place in 1992 but by the late '90s there was no more boating on the lake.

In fact, there was no more anything on the lake. The lake bottom was filling with mud. Fertilizers and pesticides were washing into the lake from stormwater runoff. Nuisance vegetation was growing wild. Snakes, alligators and rodents were everywhere.

It needed to be dredged.

"There were too many nutrients in the lake," Seufert said. "It created a lot of muck. If we didn't do something, it would've taken over the lake."

A dredging project started in 2004 and lasted three years. It took a 4-foot layer of muck from the lake bottom at a cost of more than $13 million. There is still some muck on the lake bottom, but nowhere near what it used to be.

Hiding in plain sight

As we began our paddle back to our put-in spot around 11 a.m., the lake started to get active. Pinfish jumped periodically. One even jumped into Collector's canoe. A hawk flew overhead with a fresh catch in its talons.

Despite the windy conditions, it was a pleasant two-hour trip. During that time, our six canoes were the only ones on the lake. That started the wheels spinning: There is a stocked lake just on the edge of the city that hardly anyone uses. Next time, the plan is to bring a fishing pole.

By Rodney Page, Times Staff Writer
Thursday, May 19, 2011

ST. PETERSBURG — There are lakes in Florida where the water is crystal clear, boats zoom from shoreline to shoreline and kids dive in off tire swings. They are usually off the beaten path, far from the hustle and bustle of cities.

Lake Maggiore is not that kind of lake.

Just a few miles south of downtown St. Petersburg, Lake Maggiore is bordered by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Street to the east and the Lake Maggiore Shores neighborhood to the northwest. Boyd Hill Nature Preserve rims the rest of the lake.

There are no tire swings. Swimming is prohibited in the lake. The water looks more like brewed tea than spring water. Only boats with trolling motors are allowed on the lake. But that doesn't mean the lake has no recreational value.

Lake Maggiore is mostly fresh water. There is a channel on the northeast side of the lake that flows into Tampa Bay. The flow is controlled, which means there is some salinity in the water but not as much as in years past.

That makes for some interesting fishing. There are not only freshwater species but some saltwater fish as well.

"We just recently stocked the lake," said Linda Seufert, park operations manager for the city of St. Petersburg. "There's bass and red drum and some snook. And it's one of the few city lakes where we allow cast netting."

There is also good canoeing.

Paddling in the city

Lake Maggiore measures 385.4 acres. While the view from King Street isn't spectacular, it is much different once you are out on the lake. On a recent trip with Boyd Hill guide Bambi Collector, we visited secluded parts of the lake accessible only by canoe or kayak.

After putting in at the Lake Shore Park boat ramp off King Street, we quickly discovered the lake is a bird-watchers paradise. On our Saturday morning trip, there were ibis, herons, anhingas, pelicans, roseate spoonbills, hawks and even an eagle atop a pine tree. We paddled close to the birds and watched them in their natural environment.

The most picturesque part of the lake was on the Boyd Hill Nature Preserve side. Lily pads and the invasive hyacinths are starting to choke the area by the Boyd Hill boardwalk. But it is secluded and full of birds, fish, plants and alligators.

The only difficult part about that side of the lake is paddling through the lily pads, which eventually got to be too difficult. Seufert said regular maintenance controls the hyacinth and cattails that can choke the lake.

We hugged the shoreline on the west side of the lake and saw plenty of foliage, from sedges to sable palms to natural grasses. A few alligators stuck their heads above the water to check us out. Heading north, it was striking to see the alligators pop up from the water with the St. Petersburg skyline and Tropicana Field in the background.

Things used to be different

Lake Maggiore used to be more of a recreational spot. In 1951, the Southland Regatta speedboat race was moved from the Pier in downtown to Lake Maggiore. It was an annual event until 1988. A speedboat race took place in 1992 but by the late '90s there was no more boating on the lake.

In fact, there was no more anything on the lake. The bottom was filling with mud. Fertilizers and pesticides were washing into the lake from stormwater runoff. Nuisance vegetation was growing wild. Snakes, alligators and rodents were everywhere.

It needed to be dredged.

"There were too many nutrients in the lake," Seufert said. "It created a lot of muck. If we didn't do something, it would've taken over the lake."

A dredging project started in 2004 and lasted three years. It took a 4-foot layer of muck from the lake bottom at a cost of more than $13 million. There is still muck on the bottom, but nowhere near what it used to be.

Hiding in plain sight

As we began our paddle back to our put-in spot around 11 a.m., the lake became even more active. Pinfish jumped periodically, one landing in Collector's canoe. A hawk flew overhead with a fresh catch in its talons.

Despite the windy conditions, it was a pleasant two-hour trip. During that time, our six canoes were the only ones on the lake. That started the wheels spinning: There is a stocked lake just on the edge of the city that hardly anyone uses. Next time, the plan is to bring a fishing pole.

By Damian Cristodero, Times Staff Writer
Thursday, May 19, 2011

As you may or may not have heard, former Tampa Bay Lightning player Fredrik Modin, in his native Sweden, officially announced his retirement. Clearly, the constant injuries he has endured finally took their toll.

Modin, 36, was one of the great players for the Lightning from 1999-2006, compiling 116 goals and 229 points in 363 games, including a 32 goals in 2000-01 and 29 during the 2003-04 Stanley Cup season. He also had eight goals and 19 points in 23 playoff games on the way to Tampa Bay's Cup title.

But Modin, acquired by then-GM Rick Dudley from the Maple Leafs for defenseman Corey Cross and a seventh-round draft choice, never seemed to get the recognition he deserved from the media that covered the Lightning or the fans. Perhaps it was his quiet demeanor. Perhaps because he was overshadowed by linemates Brad Richards and Marty St. Louis and teammate Vinny Lecavalier. Whatever the reason, Modin never got his due here and could be the most underrated player the Lightning has seen.

"For us, he wasn't underrated," Lecavalier said. "He was a huge part of our team. He was a great leader and great for us."

He also seemed constantly hurt. Maybe not enough to keep him off the ice but enough so that after games he would be visibly limping or favoring an appendage. Even so, in only one season (2001-02) did Modin play fewer than76 games. His standard line when you asked him how he was feeling? "I'm good." And he'd say it with a smile like everyone was in on the joke.

"He fought through a lot of injuries," Lecavalier said. "He was a guy who always tried to play through it. It was definitely tough for him."

Modin was traded to the Blue Jackets in June 2006 for goaltender Marc Denis, and he still has a house in the Tampa Bay area.

Other stuff from the morning skate: Forward Dana Tyrell skated for the first time without the red no-contact jersey. Tyrell said he is cleared to play and will take warm-ups for Game 3 but said he did not believe he would play. But we'll see. Coach Guy Boucher said Tyrell is a game-time decision. ... Defenseman Randy Jones is averaging only 6:58 in the five playoff games he has played since returning from a high ankle sprain. And Jones didn't sugar coat that he still is feeling some discomfort. "Has it affected me? I don't think you have to be a rocket scientist to notice that," he said. But Jones also is not using the injury as an excuse. "If I'm good enough to be out there, then their are no restrictions or excuses." ... Defenseman Pavel Kubina did not skate Thursday. ... Boucher reiterated what the players said on Wednesday's conference call, that goalie Dwayne Roloson was not to blame for Tuesday's 6-5 loss and he was pulled only to try and give the team a spark. "I know he wanted to stay to battle, but he also understood changing something might change the outcome of the game, and it almost worked," Boucher said. "We certainly didn't lose confidence in Roloson. We left him alone on breakaways and two-on-ones and stuff. It was just about respecting him and seeing how we could turn that game around." ... On the Bruins side, the Patrice Bergeron watch continues. Coach Claude Julien said Bergeron likely will warm up, but would not say if he would play, though it sounded as if he doesn't play in Game 3, game 4 is almost guaranteed. ... Boston is 4-1 on the road in the playoffs. ... In an interesting exchange between the coaches, Boucher first complimented Boston rookie Tyler Seguin, saying, "I think everybody seriously underestimated his speed, and that's the main thing. His speed is obviously a weapon for him and for his team. And being a young guy, having success right away, certainly takes a lot of the nervousness away. We have to be able to keep on him." While Julien enjoyed the compliment, he said he understands what it was. "Well, Tampa has been very good of complimenting our team," he said. "They do a really good job of that. Tampa has got some pretty good speed themselves, St. Louis and those kind of guys, Stamkos. They've got the same kind of players. So, my answer to that would be I think they're pretty well-served on the other side. I don't think they're worried too much about Tyler more than they want to flatter him, and we know that there are mind games that teams play, and right now we're just focusing on what we have to do here. If anything, I would be more tempted to compliment my own players such as St. Louis and those guys that are just as good as Seguin when it comes to speed."

By Derek J. LaRiviere, Times Correspondent
Thursday, May 19, 2011

The Hernando County Recreation Department will host the Horace Copeland Football Camp on July 22 and 23 at Springstead High School in Spring Hill.

Copeland, a former University of Miami and Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver, won two national championships in college and is a former NFL All-Pro. The curriculum for the clinic will be aimed at developing fundamental football skills to enhance individual and team skills at all positions.

The cost is $110 per person, with youths ages 7 to 14 welcome. The times for the camp will be from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. both days. All campers will be provided an official Horace "Hi-C" Copeland camp shirt, a personalized participation certification, lunch daily, and a special autograph session with Copeland and other former pro players at the conclusion of camp.

Register online by visiting horacecopeland.com or at hernandocounty.us/parks_rec/ — where registration and waiver forms may be printed.

Call Harry Johnson or Christie Williams at (352) 754-4031 or send e-mail to recreation@hernandocounty.us.

WEST HERNANDO COUGARS: The West Hernando Cougars youth football and cheerleading program will have registration for the coming season over the next several weeks.

Officials will be at Delta Woods Park on Deltona Boulevard in Spring Hill for signups from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the following dates: Sunday, May 28, June 4, June 11, June 18, and June 25.

The Cougars' season starts July 11, with a 10-game football schedule. The cheerleaders participate in competitions around the Tampa Bay area.

The football registration fee is $195 per child, with flag football $125. The fee includes rental of pads and a personalized jersey to keep. The cheerleading fee is $225 with a full uniform to keep. There is a $10 discount for every sibling also registered.

Call Bobby McFarland at (352) 585-6524 or visit West Hernando Cougars Football and Cheerleading on Facebook.

PHCC CHEERLEADING: Pasco-Hernando Community College will have tryouts for its cheerleading squad at 6 p.m. Wednesday in the fitness center at the West Campus in New Port Richey.

Tryout preparation sessions will be at 6 p.m. Monday and Tuesday. Skills required for the final tryouts will be taught during the preparation period.

Cheerleaders promote school spirit on campus and at all home basketball games. Team members also support additional PHCC athletic programs, host fundraisers and participate in community service projects.

Male and female PHCC students, including incoming freshmen, returning sophomores, and transfer students in good academic standing may try out.

Visit phcc.edu/athletics/cheerleading.

KIWANIS SUPERKIDS TRIATHLON: The third annual Kiwanis SuperKids Triathlon will take place Saturday at Weeki Wachee Springs State Park.

Limited to the first 200 participants, the event has three age groups: 5-8, 9-12 and 13-18. All who participate will receive an award. There will be swimming, biking and running. Helmets are required for the biking portion.

Sign-in is from 5 to 7 p.m. today. Participants should bring their bikes for inspection and overnight securing. The triathlon will begin at 7:15 a.m. Saturday. For information, visit kidssupertriathlon.com.

HYL FOOTBALL: The Hernando Youth League is beginning registration for the 2011 season.

Teams are available for kids ages 5 to 15. Registration will be June 11 at Ernie Wever Park in Brooksville.

Registration forms are available at leaguelineup.com/hylfootball. Forms must be presented at time of signup. The cost is $125, and space is limited.

Call Rick Hankins at (352) 346-0000 or send e-mail to popwarnerhernando@gmail.com.

JEROME BROWN GOLF: World Woods Golf Club, north of Brooksville, is hosting the Jerome Brown Golf Classic on June 4, sponsored by Bright House Networks.

Proceeds will benefit the Jerome Brown Youth Foundation. For an entry fee of $65 per golfer, participants get 18 holes, a cart, lunch and a cap. The format is a four-person scramble.

Registration will be at 11:30 a.m., with lunch at noon. The shotgun start will be at 1 p.m.

Call Dianna Rusk Yoder at (352) 796-2526.

FASTPITCH SOFTBALL CLINICS: The Hernando County Recreation Department is offering fast-pitch softball clinics at Anderson Snow Park in Spring Hill.

The private lessons are for players ages 7 to 16. The clinics will be led by April Pelham, a certified Florida fast-pitch instructor with more than 20 years of experience.

The cost is $20 for a 30-minute hitting or catching lesson. It is $15 for a 30-minute fielding or throwing lesson. Pitching lessons are also available at rates of $20 for 30 minutes, $25 for 45 minutes or $40 for one hour.

Call Penny Oliver at (352) 754-4031 or send e-mail to pennyo@hernandocounty.us.

BRITISH SOCCER CAMP: The First Hernando Youth Soccer Club has teamed up with Challenger Sports to host a weeklong British soccer camp July 18 to 22 at Anderson Snow Park in Spring Hill.

Each child will work with a member of the team of more than 1,000 British coaches being flown to the United States exclusively to work with summer programs. Challenger Sports will hold more than 3,000 camps this summer and coach more than 120,000 children between the ages of 3 and 19.

Space is limited, and parents are encouraged to register their children as soon as possible. To attend for a half day from 9 a.m. to noon, the cost is $117 for the week for ages 5 to 18. For a full day, the fee is $165 for ages 10 to 18. Goalkeepers ages 10 to 18 may attend from 5 to 8 p.m. for a cost of $117.

Each camper will receive a T-shirt, soccer ball, poster and a personalized skills evaluation.

Call Robert Andreu at (813) 283-4523 or send e-mail to robertandreu@bellsouth.net. To register, visit challengersports.com.

KIWANIS GOLF: Brooksville Country Club at Majestic Oaks is hosting the 41st annual Brooksville Kiwanis Golf Invitational on June 1.

The cost is $75 per golfer, which includes golf, cart, dinner and prizes. The shotgun start is set for 1 p.m. The format of the tournament is a four-man scramble. First come, first served. The registration deadline is today.

Cash prizes, door prizes and prizes for closest to the pin and longest drive will be awarded. Sponsorship opportunities are available.

Call Barbara Hitzemann at (352) 442-3412 or visit kiwanisclubofbrooksville.org.

To notify us of community sports achievements or coming events, contact Derek J. LaRiviere at derekjlariviere@gmail.com or (352) 584-6337.

By Rick Frazier, Times Correspondent
Thursday, May 19, 2011

Tarpon Roundup: The all-release 77th annual Suncoast Tarpon Roundup, one of the oldest and most prestigious tarpon events in Florida, begins today and runs for 10 weekends through July 23.

After receiving input from numerous anglers, the tournament's board of directors changed the format from previous years. To create a more level playing field, a weekend-only format will be implemented. This year, fishing will begin on Fridays at 5 p.m. and end most Sundays at midnight.

There are eight divisions: regular, junior, women's, landlubber, senior, doubles, adult/junior and jackpot, which is optional.

Since the tournament is all-release, anglers must get a DNA sample to qualify as a release, except in the case of the landlubber division. A release in this division is credited when the leader is touched with a gaff and confirmed by a witness.

Winners will be determined by most releases. Weekly prizes will be awarded, and one angler could win as much as $5,000.

To register, walk-ins can go to Mastry's Tackle (1700 4th St. S) in St. Petersburg or download the form from the event website (suncoasttarponroundup.org) and mail it in. Entry fees are $125 for the regular division and $25 for juniors.

Rick Frazier runs Lucky Dawg Charters out of St. Petersburg and can be reached at (727) 510-4376.

Times staff
Thursday, May 19, 2011

Making news

Trekking couple to conduct Hiking seminar

Backpacker magazine's Get Out More Tour, which endeavors to inspire more people to hike and enjoy the outdoors, arrives at the Bill Jackson Shop for Adventure in Pinellas Park at 6:30 p.m. May 27. Randy and Sheri Propster will conduct a free seminar on trip planning, choosing gear and clothing, and outdoors safety. For information, go to backpacker.com/getoutmore or call (727) 576-4169.

Fishing

Popular inshore event nears

The annual Johnny Ferlita Memorial Fishing Tournament, which benefits the Pediatric Cancer Foundation, is slated for June 4. The captains meeting is 6:30 p.m. June 3 at the Bay Club at Westshore Yacht Club (6001 Westshore Blvd.) in Tampa. This release event targets redfish, snook and trout. The fishing-only cost is $125 per angler. A guided boat option is available for $1,250 and includes up to three angler entries and tickets to social functions. For information, contact Ali Miller at (813) 269-0955 or amiller@pcfusa.org; or fastestcure.org.

Things to do

Today-Sunday: The Gulf Coast Stand-up Paddleboard Championship will be held at the Barefoot Beach Resort (13238 Gulf Blvd.) on Madeira Beach. Registration ends at 5 p.m. today, races begin at 8 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Cost: Ranges from free kids race to $130 for race-day elite event. Information: (727) 260-2362.

June 4: The Pier Aquarium will host a reading of the children's book One Pelican at a Time: A Story of the Gulf Oil Spill written by part-time Clearwater Beach resident Nancy Stewart at 11:30 a.m. The event is part of the June 7 celebration of World Oceans Day. Information: (727) 803-9799.

Solunar table

AM PM major minor major minor

5/20 7:50 1:40 8:25 2:05

5/21 8:55 2:45 9:20 3:05

5/22 9:45 3:35 10:10 3:55

5/23 10:35 4:25 11:00 4:45

5/24 11:25 5:15 11:50 5:35

5/25 0 5:50 12:00 6:10

5/26 12:25 6:30 12:40 6:50

Times wires
Thursday, May 19, 2011

Sprint Cup

What: All-Star race

When/where: Today, practice (Speed, noon), qualifying (Speed, 5 p.m.); Saturday, Sprint Showdown, 7:30 p.m., All-Star race, approximately 9 (Speed, 7 p.m.); Concord, N.C.

Fast facts: The Sprint Showdown is 60 miles (40 laps) with only green-flag laps counting in the final segment. The All-Star race is 150 miles (100 laps) in segments of 50, 20, 20 and 10, with only green-flag laps counting in the final segment. The top two in the Sprint Showdown and a driver selected in fan voting will complete the 21-car All-Star field. This is a nonpoints event. … Daytona 500 winner Trevor Bayne will not race this weekend. Bayne spent a week at the Mayo Clinic being treated for what doctors have called an inflammatory condition. He has not raced since April at Talladega.

Standings: 1. Carl Edwards, 416; 2. Jimmie Johnson, 392; 3. Kyle Busch, 379; 4. Dale Earnhardt Jr., 364; 5. Kevin Harvick, 362; 6. Matt Kenseth, 342; 7. Ryan Newman, 340; 8. Clint Bowyer, and Kurt Busch, 336; 10. Tony Stewart, 328

Nationwide

What: John Deere Dealers of Iowa 250

When/where: Today, practice; Saturday, practice, qualifying; Sunday, race (Ch. 28, 2 p.m.); Newton, Iowa

Fast facts: Kyle Busch, who has five series wins this year, is skipping the race. … Carl Edwards and Brad Keselowski, the 2009 winner, are competing. … Kenny Wallace is making his 500th series start. Jason Keller holds the series record with 519.

Standings: 1. Elliott Sadler, 379; 2. Reed Sorenson, 369; 3. Jason Leffler, 364; 4. Ricky Stenhouse, 363; 5. Justin Allgaier, 361

Trucks

What: North Carolina Education Lottery 200

When/where: Today, practice (Speed, 9:30 a.m.), qualifying (Speed, 4 p.m.), race (Speed, 8); Concord, N.C.

Fast facts: Kimi Raikkonen, the 2007 Formula One champion, makes his debut driving a truck owned by Kyle Busch.

Standings: 1. Matt Crafton, 225; 2. Johnny Sauter, 220; 3. Cole Whitt, 218; 4. Ron Hornaday, 217; 5. Timothy Peters, 212

Formula One

What: Spanish Grand Prix

When/where: Today, practice (Speed, 8 a.m.); Saturday, practice, qualifying (Speed, 8 a.m.); Sunday, race (Speed, 8 a.m.); Barcelona

Standings: 1. Sebastian Vettel, 93; 2. Lewis Hamilton, 59; 3. Mark Webber, 55; 4. Jenson Button, 46; 5. Fernando Alonso, 41

NHRA

What: Summer Nationals

When/where: Today, qualifying; Saturday, qualifying (ESPN2, 5:30 p.m.); Sunday, final eliminations (ESPN2, 7 p.m.); Topeka, Kan.

Standings: Top Fuel — 1. Del Worsham, 547; 2. Antron Brown, 477. Funny Car — 1. Mike Neff, 496; 2. Jack Beckman, 476. Pro Stock — 1. Jason Line, 515; 2. Greg Anderson, 465. Pro Stock Motorcycle — 1. Karen Stoffer, 278; 2. Andrew Hines, 263

IndyCar

Next: Indianapolis 500, May 29, Indianapolis Motor Speedway

Qualifying: Saturday (Versus, 11 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.,); Sunday (Versus, noon)

News: Swiss driver Simona De Silvestro burned both hands during a crash at an Indy 500 practice Thursday, threatening her participation in qualifying. HVM Racing owner Keith Wiggins said there was an outside chance the team would bring in another driver to get De Silvestro's backup car qualified. De Silvestro, 22, lost control of her car, and it slammed into a wall, went airborne and flipped several times before coming to a rest upside down and in flames. She has second-degree burns on her right hand and superficial burns on her left, officials said. In other practice news, Will Power topped the speed chart with about 10 minutes left in the session, turning a lap at 227.778 mph. Alex Tagliani was second at 227.652. … Danica Patrick won't commit to returning to the series next year, saying only that she's focusing on the Indy 500. Patrick, 29, who also has driven in NASCAR's Nationwide series, has been the face of IndyCar since 2005, even though she has just one win.

Standings: 1. Power, 168; 2. Dario Franchitti, 154; 3. Oriol Servia, 110; 4. Mike Conway, 102; 5. Ryan Briscoe, 101

Times wires
Thursday, May 19, 2011

Twins 11, Athletics 1

OAKLAND, Calif. — Justin Morneau homered and had three hits, and Rene Rivera hit his first homer in nearly five years for the Twins, who have won three straight after a nine-game skid. "We've been beat up, and some guys are starting to feel a little bit better," said manager Ron Gardenhire, whose team had a season-best six-run eighth.

Times wires
Thursday, May 19, 2011

Mariners 2, Angels 1

SEATTLE — Nine-time Gold Glove outfielder Torri Hunter lost Carlos Peguero's fly ball in the sun with two outs in the ninth, allowing Jack Cust to score. "I saw it off the bat and ran after it till its highest point and didn't see it anymore. I just battled, tried to find it, stand there as long as I could, put my glove where I thought it would fall in," said Hunter, who two innings earlier robbed Peguero of at least a double with catch and crash into the wall. "You can't catch what you can't see."

Times wires
Thursday, May 19, 2011

CASARES, Spain — Lee Westwood produced a blitz of birdies to defeat Anders Hansen 6 and 5 Thursday on the opening day of the World Match Play Championship, sending a message to two players trying to supplant him at No. 1.

Luke Donald and Martin Kaymer, who could move to the top of the world rankings by winning the tournament, also had opening-round wins at the Finca Cortesin course.

No. 2 Donald defeated Ryan Moore 4 and 3, and No. 3 Kaymer edged Y.E. Yang 2 and 1. Masters champion Charl Schwartzel was routed 6 and 5 by Miguel Angel Jimenez.

Westwood didn't compete in last week's Players Championship, considered by some as the fifth major. He wanted to stay fresh not only for the World Match Play but also a string of tournaments this summer.

"I feel fresh, feel good coming into this week, which is tough and demanding," said Westwood, who credits his stamina and strength to a strict fitness regime he began four years ago. "I had such a busy time in the first part of the year, I was going to need a break at some stage to just sit down and do nothing and recharge."

Westwood plays Aaron Baddeley today in his second group match. Two players from each of eight three-man groups make the last 16.

In other matches, No. 5-ranked Graeme McDowell, last year's U.S. Open champion, defeated British Open champion Louis Oosthuizen 3 and 1, and Rory McIlroy beat Retief Goosen by a hole.

PGA: David Toms and Chez Reavie shot 8-under 62, matching the tour's lowest 18-hole score this season, to share the first-round lead at the Colonial in Fort Worth, Texas. The duo, who also shot the lowest first-round score on the tour this year, matched a score shot five other times this year. Rickie Fowler shot 63, missing a chance to tie the tournament record of 61 after his approach on his final hole, the 407-yard No. 9, hit the green and spun back into the water. He closed with double-bogey 6 in a round that included an eagle, eight birdies and a three-putt bogey from 61/2 feet at the par-3 16th. Stewart Cink was in a group of five at 64, and three were tied at 65.

LPGA: Top seed Na Yeon Choi won 3 and 2 over Catriona Matthew to advance to the second round of the Sybase Match Play Championship at Gladstone, N.J. No. 3 seed Cristie Kerr beat Amanda Blumenherst 3 and 2, and defending champion Sun Young Yoo had to go 21 holes to beat Grace Park. In the day's biggest upset, No. 2 seed Jiyai Shin lost to No. 33 Meena Lee 2-up. Seminole's Brittany Lincicome, seeded 15th, lost 5 and 3 to No. 46 Wendy Ward. "Hit the ball ok," Lincicome posted on her Twitter account. "Couldn't putt to save my life!!!"

Times wires
Thursday, May 19, 2011

broadcasting

book about ESPN: 'partying is a varsity sport'

NEW YORK — A book about ESPN due for publication Tuesday mixes a detailed corporate history of the 24-hour-a-day sports network with off-camera gossip and after-hours tales about the personalities there.

Some copies of Those Guys Have All the Fun: Inside the World of ESPN were distributed Thursday.

Weighing in at well over 700 pages, the tome is an oral history, with co-authors James Andrew Miller and Tom Shales saying in the introduction that they interviewed more than 550 people for it.

Miller and Shales also say that, at ESPN, "partying is a varsity sport."

cycling

Armstrong used drugs, cyclist says

NEW YORK — Tyler Hamilton, a former teammate of Lance Armstrong, told 60 Minutes that he used performance-enhancing drugs with the seven-time Tour de France winner to cheat in cycling races, including the tour.

Hamilton said Armstrong took the blood-booster EPO in the 1999 Tour and before the race in 2000 and 2001. Armstrong won the race every year from 1999-2005.

The interview was broadcast Thursday.

Armstrong has denied doping and has never failed a drug test. His attorney, Mark Fabiani, said Hamilton is seeking to make money by writing a book: "Greed and a hunger for publicity cannot change the facts: Lance Armstrong is the most tested athlete in the history of sports: He has passed nearly 500 tests over 20 years of competition."

Et cetera

nfl: Tim Tebow joined a dozen Broncos teammates for an informal offseason workout in Centennial, Colo. The second-year quarterback from UF said he looks forward to a competition with Kyle Orton to start: "You hope he does good, because the better he does, hopefully the better I'll do, and vice versa. I've always relished the opportunity to compete." … The Browns, concerned about the labor dispute, asked for a $25,000 break on their $225,000 rent on about 5,000 parking spaces on docks near their lakeside stadium. The team also wants a $20,000 discount for each home game lost.

tennis: Andy Roddick and Juan Carlos Ferrero withdrew from the French Open after failing to recover from right shoulder injuries. … Mardy Fish and John Isner, both Tampa residents, lost their matches as the United States fell to Argentina in the semifinals of the World Team Cup in Duesseldorf, Germany. Juan Monaco edged Fish 7-6 (7-4), 7-5. Juan Ignacio Chela beat Isner 6-1, 7-6 (7-1). The other finalist will be decided today among Germany, Serbia, Russia and Spain.

boxing: Nathan Cleverly will defend his WBO light heavyweight title against Aleksy Kuziemski on Saturday in London after Tony Bellew failed to make weight. On a bizarre day, Cleverly was declared champion after Juergen Braehmer was stripped of the title when he pulled out of the bout with an eye injury. Bellew became the challenger but failed to make weight and was replaced by Kuziemski.

Times wires

Times wires
Thursday, May 19, 2011

Pirates 5, Reds 3

CINCINNATI — James McDonald pitched into the seventh and Neil Walker doubled home two for the Pirates, who have won five of six over the Reds this year. "It just goes to show you, anyone can beat you no matter where they are in the standings," Reds manager Dusty Baker said.

Times wires
Thursday, May 19, 2011

Cardinals 4, Astros 2

ST. LOUIS — First-year starter Kyle McClellan became the National League's first six-game winner and backup catcher Gerald Laird hit a two-run double as the Cardinals jumped a half-game ahead of the Reds atop the Central. McClellan allowed two runs in eight innings and had five strikeouts. None of the 29 Astros batters he faced had a three-ball count. "He was hitting his spots," the Astros' Clint Barmes said. "If you took any pitches, it seemed like you were down 0-2."