Times wires
Monday, July 11, 2011

NEW YORK — Less than two weeks before some training camps are scheduled to open, the NFL remains in labor limbo, with only the lawyers for both sides meeting.

Attorneys met Monday to clarify language from previous discussions and will do so again today. Originally, owners and players were to get together for more negotiations today.

Commissioner Roger Goodell and several owners are expected to negotiate with players association executive director DeMaurice Smith and members of the union executive board this week.

Several issues are close to being resolved, the most significant being the split of total revenue between owners and players. Others are not, including a rookie wage scale, free agency rules and benefits for retired players.

Though the league's negotiators hope they can present a new collective bargaining agreement to all the owners at their July 21 meeting in Atlanta, not striking a deal before then figures to cause the postponement of the start of training camps and probably cancellation of the Hall of Fame game Aug. 7 in Canton, Ohio.

The NFL would need about a week to get the new deal ratified and in place, meaning teams couldn't start signing free agents or draftees, make trades or begin workouts until the end of July.

T.o. pays up: Terrell Owens has paid the child support he owes, so the mother of the child is dropping her attempt to hold him in contempt of court, her lawyer said. Melanie Paige Smith filed court papers June 20 in Atlanta saying the free agent wide receiver had refused to pay the full $5,000 a month he owes.

Bengals: Cornerback Adam "Pacman" Jones might face as long as a year in jail in Nevada for violating a stay-out-of-trouble probation order with his weekend arrest in Cincinnati, Clark County (Nev.) District Attorney David Roger said. Roger said he'll review police accounts of Jones' arrest on resisting arrest and disorderly conduct charges at a bar. Jones was sentenced to one year of probation in February for his role in a 2007 Las Vegas strip club melee that resulted in three people being shot.

Chiefs: Former All-Pro linebacker Mike Vrabel announced his retirement after 14 seasons and said he would become Ohio State's linebackers coach. That job was vacated by his former Ohio State roommate and teammate Luke Fickell, who became head coach after Jim Tressel was forced out May 30. Vrabel, 35, was at Ohio State from 1993 to 1996 and was a two-time Big Ten defensive player of the year.

Steelers: Wide receiver Hines Ward had glassy, bloodshot eyes, smelled of alcohol, fumbled a repetition of the alphabet and couldn't maintain his balance during a traffic stop in Atlanta that got him charged with drunken driving, a police report says. Ward, the Super Bowl XL MVP and reigning Dancing With the Stars champ, recorded a blood-alcohol level of 0.128 percent on a portable breath test, the report says. The legal limit at which a person is considered too impaired to drive in Georgia is 0.08. Ward, 35, refused to take further breath tests and was booked into the DeKalb County jail. He was released on bond. Ward's lawyer, Andrew Ree, said he stood by his earlier statement Ward was not impaired and cooperated with police.

hall of fame presenters: Shannon Sharpe chose his older brother, former Broncos receiver Sterling Sharpe, as his presenter for his enshrinement in the Pro Football Hall of Fame next month. Richard Dent picked Joe Gilliam, his defensive coordinator at Tennessee State. Marshall Faulk and Deion Sanders chose their agents, Rocky Arceneaux and Eugene Parker, respectively. Former Redskins linebacker Chris Hanburger and NFL Films founder Ed Sabol chose their sons. Steve Sabol succeeded his father as NFL Films president. Jon Richter will represent his father, Los Angeles Rams linebacker Les Richter, who is being enshrined posthumously.

Times wires
Monday, July 11, 2011

DRESDEN, Germany — The U.S. women have their quickest turnaround yet at the World Cup, with just two days to prepare for Wednesday's semifinal against France after Sunday's physically and emotionally draining epic against Brazil.

Not only will the Americans, the oldest team in the tournament, play on one fewer day of rest than they've been getting, but France will have had an extra day off.

"It's a big difference, I think," said U.S. midfielder Heather O'Reilly, who played 108 minutes and showed no signs of the strained groin that kept her out of the final group game. "Every hour counts in terms of recovery, but we have a fitness coach here, Dawn Scott, who's really encouraged us even outside the World Cup about recovery strategies. It's part of our culture now."

Down to 10 players for nearly an hour and on the verge of their earliest World Cup exit, the Americans packed an entire tournament's worth of theatrics into 15 minutes by beating Brazil 5-3 on penalties after a 2-2 draw. Abby Wambach tied it with a header in the 122nd minute, the latest goal ever in a World Cup game, women's or men's.

The Americans then buried their penalty kicks and goalkeeper Hope Solo denied the Brazilians again, batting away Daiane's attempt after Cristiane and Marta had converted theirs.

It was the first time in women's World Cup history that a team came back to win after falling behind in extra time. Only Italy (1970 semifinals), Germany (1982 semifinals) and Sweden (1994 quarterfinals) have done it in the men's World Cup.

"I think we're going to do everything possible to get our legs recovered," said Carli Lloyd, one of seven Americans to play the entire game. "Yeah, I'd say it is a little bit of advantage to (France). But they also went into OT (in Saturday's penalty-kick win over England). It's not really about how many days; it's about how fast you can recover. And I think we are going to recover faster, and I think we're going to be ready to go."

The Americans had a light day Monday before their afternoon flight to Dusseldorf. Players who didn't see time in Sunday's game trained while those who did focused on recovery.

"It's just about recovery," said midfielder Shannon Boxx, who also played the entire game Sunday. "Ice bath, pool, making sure we're getting fluids, making sure we're eating right. (Sunday) night, we have our staff walking around making sure, even though we're with our families, 'Did you eat? Did you eat?' Little things like that which you don't really think are too important become very important when you only have two games left."

Women's World Cup

Times wires
Monday, July 11, 2011

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — As she stood on the 18th green drenched in champagne, holding a trophy and wearing a mile-wide smile, there was no doubt about it: So Yeon Ryu is the brightest star on a South Korean golf roster that has more than its share.

The 21-year-old won the U.S. Women's Open on Monday, first with birdie on No. 18 that tied her Korean rival, Hee Kyung Seo, then with a shotmaking clinic over a three-hole playoff to beat Seo by three shots.

It was the latest statement about the pecking order of women's golf in South Korea, where the sport's stars turn into the country's icons and Se Ri Pak is already a legend at age 33.

"When I was started golf, Se Ri Pak won the U.S. Women's Open tournament, so this tournament is really special for me," said Ryu, who won her first major and earned her first LPGA victory.

Starting on the 16th hole, Ryu played the three-hole playoff in 2 under, all but sealing it when she hit three perfect shots to the green on the par-5 17th and made the putt for birdie while Seo drove into a bunker and had to scramble for bogey.

For good measure, Ryu hit her approach on 18 to 4 feet for another birdie.

Great as the moment was, it was her birdie on 18 about an hour earlier that was the defining moment of the tournament.

Trailing by one to an opponent who had closed out her round before darkness stopped play the previous night, Ryu stood behind her ball in the fairway, plumbed her 6-iron to her nose, then closed one eye to take dead aim at the 170-yard shot. She drew the shot uphill, over the lake and landed the ball 6 feet from the hole. Moments later, she slammed the putt home to pull into a tie. She ended up with two birdies in the span of an hour on a hole that yielded only 28 over five days.

"It's never over till it's over, especially in these things," Cristie Kerr said. "People really want it, and that was a gutsy putt."

Kerr also had a chance. She came to the Broadmoor on Monday trailing by two with two holes to play but couldn't convert a 12-foot putt from the fringe on 17 to make things interesting. She finished third at 1 under.

Times wires
Monday, July 11, 2011

autos

kentucky track offers ticket swap

Kentucky Speedway is offering a ticket exchange to fans who were stuck in traffic for hours and missed Saturday's inaugural NASCAR Sprint Cup race at the track.

Speedway Motorsports Inc. president Marcus Smith said Monday that fans can swap their unused tickets for any 2011 race at any of the company's tracks or the 2012 race at Kentucky.

The company also owns the tracks in Las Vegas; Atlanta; Bristol, Tenn.; Sonoma, Calif.; Charlotte, N.C.; Fort Worth, Texas; and Loudon, N.H.

Traffic jams before Saturday's race left fans idling in their cars for hours as they attempted to get into the track. Many fans said once they did get to the gate, they were turned away because the track had no more parking spaces. The state said before the race that the speedway could accommodate about 33,000 vehicles in its parking lots. The track capacity, including the infield, is about 120,000 people.

Republican gubernatorial candidate David Williams, president of the Kentucky Senate, called for legislative hearings to review what happened.

Chief change: Roush Fenway Racing named Matt Puccia crew chief for Greg Biffle beginning with this weekend's race at New Hampshire. Puccia, with the organization since 2004, replaces Greg Erwin, crew chief since May 2007. Biffle is 14th in the Cup standings with five top-10 finishes this season.

colleges

Former Gator Jenkins wants to repair image

Janoris Jenkins is determined to repair his reputation. That's why the former Florida cornerback says he transferred to Division II North Alabama instead of entering the NFL's supplemental draft.

Gators coach Will Muschamp kicked Jenkins off the team in April after his arrest for possession of marijuana in Gainesville. It was his second drug-related arrest in three months and the third of his college career.

Jenkins pleaded no contest to the charge last month. He was ordered to pay court costs and fines totaling $421.

Jenkins said he wasn't tempted to enter the supplemental draft because he "just wanted to come back and rebuild my image." He wound up joining former Florida teammate Bryan Thomas at North Alabama.

Jenkins has spent the past two weeks in Florence working out with his new teammates. North Alabama coach Terry Bowden said Jenkins has fit in well.

Ohio state: ESPN is suing the school, alleging it violated state public records law by denying requests for items related to an NCAA investigation that has led to the ouster of football coach Jim Tressel and the departure of quarterback Terrelle Pryor. The lawsuit, filed in the Ohio Supreme Court, requests the school release the records and pay attorney fees and court costs. Among records sought are correspondences referring to Ted Sarniak, a mentor of Pryor's in the quarterback's hometown, Jeannette, Pa. School spokesman Jim Lynch said the university has followed applicable law.

et cetera

little league: A team from Hamamatsu City, Japan, secured the first entry in the World Series. It defeated a team from Yokohama 14-3 over the weekend to earn the trip to the Series, which begins Aug. 18. Most of the seven remaining international berths will be decided in the next three weeks. The eight U.S. berths will be determined in mid August.

soccer: Lionel Messi set up two goals and host Argentina beat Costa Rica 3-0 to earn a place in the Copa America quarterfinals. It will face the second-place team in Group C, Chile, Peru or Uruguay. … Former Argentine star and coach Diego Maradona sustained minor injuries when his car and a bus collided Monday in the Buenos Aires suburb where he lives, hospital and police officials said. He was to be released from the hospital later in the day.

Times wires

Times wires
Monday, July 11, 2011

SANDWICH, England — Thomas Bjorn will get a chance to redeem himself at Royal St. George's.

Three-time major champion Vijay Singh withdrew Monday from the British Open and was replaced in the field by Bjorn, who threw away a chance at winning the claret jug on this course eight years ago.

Bjorn had a two-shot lead playing the par-3 16th when he put his tee shot into the right bunker, then twice watched his shot roll back into the sand. He made double bogey, bogeyed the 17th to lose the lead and closed with par to finish one shot behind winner Ben Curtis.

Singh, who got into the British Open as an alternate, had been dealing with back problems and had to withdraw from the AT&T National two weeks ago despite still being in contention going into the weekend.

Bjorn might forever be linked with Royal St. George's for the way it ended. He has not played the 16th hole since that day, although Bjorn told Press Association that he has put it behind him — at least for now.

"When I get there, I won't be thinking, 'This is a horror hole.' It's a good hole," Bjorn said. "I just tried to erase it from my memory, but it might just creep into my mind on Sunday if I am playing well."

Bjorn has won 13 times worldwide, including this year at the Qatar Masters. Since losing the Open at Royal St. George's, he had another chance at the 2005 PGA Championship at Baltusrol, losing by one shot when Phil Mickelson birdied the final hole.

U.S. Open winner McIlroy paired with Els: Coming off a record-breaking win at the U.S. Open, Rory McIlroy is paired with Ernie Els and Rickie Fowler for the first two rounds of the British Open.

The 22-year-old from Northern Ireland had a 16-under score last month at Congressional. He's favored to make it two majors in a row at Royal St. George's.

Defending champion Louis Oosthuizen will play the first two rounds with Mickelson and defending PGA champ Martin Kaymer. The world's top-ranked player, England's Luke Donald, is paired Thursday and Friday with Ryo Ishikawa and Sergio Garcia.

Kim's alternate plans: Anthony Kim missed the cut in the AT&T National and set aside the next two weeks to work on his game in what has been the worst season of his young career. His plan was to go to Michigan this week to spend time with his swing coach.

Instead, he spent Monday playing a practice round at Royal St. George's. Kim got into the field as an alternate when Tim Clark withdrew, and he hopes to make the most of it.

"I wasn't sure I would be here after the stretch I've had," said Kim, who has only one top 10 this year and has missed the cut a career-high eight times. "I've just had one or two bad swings that prohibits me from going forward. I was going to Michigan this week, but any time you get a chance in a major, you want to be there."

Times wires
Monday, July 11, 2011

NEW YORK — Derek Jeter has his 3,000-hit ball.

Christian Lopez, who corralled the homer off Rays pitcher David Price in the leftfield stands, traded it for Yankees memorabilia and tickets worth $180,000 less because he sees it as the right thing to do.

Lopez, a mobile-phone salesman from Highland Mills, N.Y., returned the ball rather than sell it for as much as $250,000. The Yankees' gifts to him are worth about $70,000.

"Mr. Jeter deserved it," Lopez said at Yankee Stadium after Jeter reached the milestone Saturday. "Yeah, money is cool and all, but I'm only 23 years old. I have a lot of time to make that."

Lopez came away with three bats, three balls and two jerseys signed by Jeter, the Yankees' captain and 28th major-leaguer to have 3,000 career hits.

The bats Lopez got are worth $1,000 to $1,200, the balls sell for $500 and the jerseys are worth $1,500, said Brandon Steiner, CEO of Steiner Sports Marketing Inc., in New Rochelle, N.Y.

The team also gave Lopez four Champions Suite tickets for 31 remaining regular-season home games and any playoff games. The seats are worth $37,000 to $62,000 for the rest of the regular season, according to the Yankees' website.

Some tickets sold for about $200 on the secondary market but Lopez said his girlfriend paid about $65 apiece to buy seats 10 days earlier for his birthday.

A 2010 graduate of St. Lawrence University in Canton, N.Y., Lopez said he jumped on the ball after it bounced off his father's hands. Some fans tried to wrest the ball but Lopez said he had experience recovering fumbles while playing football in college.

Doug Allen, president of Chicago's Legendary Auctions, said last month that the ball might be worth as much as $250,000. And Lopez might also face a tax liability on the worth of the goodies he got from the Yankees, said Paul Caron, a tax professor at the University of Cincinnati law school and author of Tax Prof Blog.

But to Lopez, it was hard to put a price on Saturday.

"It didn't even cross my mind until (the team) asked me what I wanted," he said. "The only thing I could think of was a signed ball would be nice and to meet him. It wasn't about the money, it's about a milestone."

Lopez said he was "star-struck" to meet Jeter and was thrilled about the memorabilia and experiences such as walking through parts of the stadium most fans don't get to see.

"He probably could have gotten more money, but maybe something good will come of it now that he has this relationship with the Yankees and Derek," Steiner said in a phone interview. "Meeting Derek and getting all those things signed is still a pretty cool thing for a lot of people and valuable in its own right."

Times wires
Monday, July 11, 2011

BROWNWOOD, Texas — Shannon Stone loved joking with pals. He loved giving nicknames to his colleagues. And he loved being a fireman, the job he'd wanted since he was a kid.

Yet what he loved most were baseball and his family, especially 6-year-old son Cooper.

So the fact Stone died at 39 while taking Cooper to a Texas Rangers game — and, worse still, while reaching to catch a baseball thrown by the boy's favorite player, Josh Hamilton — was hardly mentioned during his memorial service Monday.

Instead, the focus was on how much joy he brought to so many, and he was laid to rest with all the formality of a firefighter who died in the line of duty.

"They really, really captured the essence of what he was — a really good guy with a good sense of humor," said Johnson County Sheriff's Sgt. Ron Russek II, who knew Stone for more than 20 years and worked with his father and brother. "He cared about people, like a true servant."

More than 1,000 filled the First United Methodist Church, the majority of them firefighters, police officers and other emergency workers from across Texas.

Stone was with the Brownwood Fire Department for 18 years, rising to lieutenant. He was the leader of the 'A' shift, and 10 members of that crew were listed as pallbearers.

Thursday, Stone took Cooper to Rangers Ballpark for a game against the Oakland A's. They even stopped to buy the boy a new glove and sat in leftfield, where Hamilton plays.

In the second inning, Hamilton threw them a foul ball. Stone reached for the ball but fell headfirst through a gap about 20 feet onto concrete, with Cooper watching. Stone was pronounced dead within an hour; an autopsy ruled the cause as blunt force trauma from the fall.

Hamilton, at the All-Star Game in Phoenix, talked about reaching out to Stone's family.

"I haven't thought it all the way through yet," Hamilton said. "Obviously, I want it to be personal, face to face. … The memorial fund, my wife and I plan to do something with that and try to do everything possible."

MARLINS: The club, last in attendance among 30 major-league teams at about 18,000 per game, is closing the upper deck at Sun Life Stadium for the rest of the season.

PHILLIES: Closer Brad Lidge pitched a perfect inning at Double-A Reading while coming back from shoulder and elbow problems.

By John Romano, Times Sports Columnist
Monday, July 11, 2011

PHOENIX — Playing for the American League in the All-Star Game might be an honor, but playing for the Rays in a pennant race is still David Price's job.

With that in mind, the Tampa Bay left-hander made no apologies for declining his spot on the All-Star roster with a sudden case of turf toe. By skipping tonight's game, Price will be available to start against Boston and New York in the first week of the season's second half.

"For a lot of guys, it's kind of a personal decision," Price said. "You can't blame anyone who wants to let their bodies get a little bit of time to heal."

Sixteen players were replaced on the All-Star roster, though most had no choice. Six starting pitchers were ineligible — including Tampa Bay's James Shields — because they pitched Sunday. Six more players are on the disabled list.

Price was among four players — along with Derek Jeter, Mariano Rivera and Placido Polanco — who declined due to nagging health issues. Price and Polanco still went to Arizona to take part in the festivities. Jeter and Rivera skipped the game.

SHARING A MOMENT: They have not been teammates since in the low minors 10 years ago, but Shields made a point of seeking out Josh Hamilton on Monday morning.

Hamilton, a Rangers outfielder, played an inadvertent role in a tragedy in Texas last week. Hamilton tossed a baseball to 39-year-old Shannon Stone in the bleachers, and the Rangers fan fell to his death while reaching over the railing to catch it.

"I just wanted to give Josh a big hug. He's one of the best guys in baseball, and I know this has been hard for him," Shields said. "It wasn't his fault, but of course it's still hurting him. It was just an unfortunate tragedy."

DERBY DAZE: Because he started Sunday against the Yankees, Shields was automatically ruled out of tonight's game. But the rules didn't say anything about the home run derby, and Shields was ready to campaign for a spot.

"I was kind of disappointed because they chose the teams already and I really wanted to talk to David Ortiz about it," Shields said of the AL captain. "I was going to make a case for myself."

For the record, Shields has a .188 career batting average with no home runs in 32 at-bats.

Phillies chairman and honorary NL president Bill Giles criticized Jeter for skipping the game just days after his 3,000th hit, but Ortiz, of the Red Sox, backed his longtime Yankee rival.

"He always said yes to the All-Star Game," the Boston slugger said. "I think he has the right to, whenever he needs a break you know, to pull himself together, especially coming off an injury. I think people need to respect that."

IMMIGRATION CONTROVERSY: The Rev. Jesse Jackson is urging All-Stars to speak out against the Arizona immigration law, saying they should follow the example set by Jackie Robinson when he broke the game's color barrier more than a half-century ago.

Commissioner Bud Selig ignored calls by some to move the game from Phoenix in the wake of the controversy over the law known as SB 1070.

"It's obviously too late for them to withdraw from the scene," Jackson said Monday by phone. "I think they should play, and they should speak out, which would be of value."

FOR STARTERS: Phillies ace Roy Halladay and Angels star Jered Weaver got the nod as starting pitchers for tonight's game.

Information from Times wires was used in this report. John Romano can be reached at romano@sptimes.com.

By John Romano, Times Sports Columnist
Monday, July 11, 2011

PHOENIX — He will line up beside them on the field this evening, his name called out among the superstars, the award winners, the future Hall of Famers. And somehow, Matt Joyce will feel a greater kinship with a 27-year-old real estate agent sitting in Section 115.

Yes, Joyce is an All-Star today. And he will be a big-leaguer for many years to come. Yet the Brandon native can still recall all the yesterdays that brought him to this moment.

"People congratulate me and say how wonderful this is," Joyce said Monday, sitting in a ballroom of a luxury hotel. "And I think, 'If only they knew how far I've come and what I had to go through to get here.'

"If they knew, they'd realize how much I really do appreciate it."

If they knew the phone never rang on draft day of his senior year at Armwood High. Or the Division I scholarship offers that never came his way.

Or even the first day of workouts at Florida Southern College when he met a teenager from Orlando named Geoff Strickland. For three years they played together at the Division II school in Lakeland, Strickland at shortstop and Joyce in the outfield.

And when they won the Division II World Series in 2005, it was Strickland who was the first Moccasin drafted, taken 153 picks earlier than Joyce was in the 12th round.

Six years later, Joyce is an American League All-Star.

And Strickland, who will be the best man in Joyce's wedding this winter, is a real estate agent in Tuscaloosa, Ala., after being released following four minor-league seasons.

Maybe Joyce was just more talented. Maybe he was willing to sacrifice more along the way. Or maybe it was just the randomness of this game.

Whatever the reason, the journey is not lost on either.

"People may not believe me, but if it had to be one of us, I'm glad it was him," Strickland said at Chase Field before Monday's home run derby. "He is such a good kid, and he's worked so hard to make it here tonight.

"I'm getting chills and tearing up just thinking about how special this is. I'd love to be out there myself, but I couldn't be happier for him."

• • •

His competition in rightfield was Gabe Gross. And Gabe Kapler, too.

Yet in his first season in Tampa Bay, Joyce could only define himself in comparisons with a pitcher 1,200 miles away.

After his rookie season in Detroit in 2008, Joyce was traded to the Rays in exchange for pitcher Edwin Jackson. Never mind that the Rays wanted to move Jackson's salary, or that they had Jeff Niemann waiting in the wings.

And never mind that the Rays were clear from the start that Joyce was probably heading back to Triple A as soon as spring training ended.

The only truth Joyce could understand was that Jackson was an All-Star three months later, and he was the guy who couldn't get out of the minors.

"It was crushing. It was disheartening. Frustrating would probably be the best word to describe it," Joyce said. "Frustrating to be in the minor leagues after you just got traded for somebody and they're having a lot of success, and you're not getting the chance.

"You have a lot of people looking at you like, 'Why did they trade for this guy?' "

Things only got worse when Joyce was called up from the minors June 25 last season, and that night, Jackson no-hit the Rays at Tropicana Field.

He can laugh about it now. He can tell the story of eating lunch in the clubhouse while Jackson was pitching on TV, and Rays pitching coach Jim Hickey teasing executive vice president Andrew Friedman, who was sitting nearby.

"Yeah, real nice trade you made there," Hickey said.

But at the time, Joyce was eaten up with self-doubt.

"This is why it's always difficult to analyze trades in a vacuum," Friedman says now. "We didn't make that trade necessarily for the 2009 season, although we did take that money (saved) and we reallocated it. But we knew when we made that decision, it was for longer-term benefits."

Two full seasons have passed, and Jackson has been traded twice more.

And now the All-Star comparisons begin with Joyce.

• • •

The guy in the All-Star jersey and Rays hat tonight was once the kid in the bleachers eating the Dippin' Dots out of the miniature Devil Rays helmet.

Joyce was there at Tropicana Field the night Wade Boggs hit a homer for his 3,000th hit. Other nights he would sit near the bullpen and watch the pitchers warm up, as his father teased him about whether he could hit their fastballs.

"I have this vivid memory of sitting next to my dad and him saying, 'That could be you out there someday,' " Joyce said. "It's amazing how far I've come.

"And what a ride it's been."

This is what Joyce has thought about in the days leading up to tonight's All-Star Game. The hours spent in batting cages. The minor-league parties he skipped. The lessons he learned and the impatience he fought.

He is an All-Star, yes. One of baseball's elite.

Yet it is not the honor that defines Matt Joyce, but rather the journey that brought him here.

Times wires
Monday, July 11, 2011

PHOENIX — Robinson Cano outslugged Adrian Gonzalez to win the All-Star home run derby that turned into a Yankees-Red Sox showdown, through his Boston rival made the biggest splash at Chase Field.

Batting last, Cano defeated Gonzalez 12-11 in the final Monday night after they each hit 20 home runs through two rounds.

Again highlighting the dangers of trying to catch a ball at a big league ballpark, a fan standing on a table above the pool deck fell over earlier trying to catch a Prince Fielder homer. The fan was grabbed by his brother before going all the way over, where he could have fallen about 20 feet, and was dangling by his feet when he was pulled back up.

Last week, a 39-year-old fan, Shannon Stone, died while trying to catch a ball thrown into the stands at a Rangers game in Arlington, Texas.

Gonzalez's teammate, David Ortiz, and Brewers slugger Prince Fielder were eliminated in the semifinal round.

Cano and Gonzalez each hit 20 homers to tie for the lead in the semifinal round but Cano hit the two longest homers, both 472 feet. One came in the first round, one in the final.

Matt Holliday, Jose Bautista, Rickie Weeks and Matt Kemp were eliminated in the first round. Ortiz and Fielder beat Holliday in a swing-off after the three hit five homers each in the first round to tie for third behind Gonzales (nine) and Cano (eight).

LAST PICK: Arizona catcher Miguel Montero said he was more than surprised when manager Kirk Gibson told him on Sunday that he would be on the NL All-Star team.

"I was in the stadium (in St. Louis) when they asked me to go into the manager's office," Montero said. "He said, 'Hey, congratulations, you're going to the All-Star Game.' I went, 'Oh my God. Are you for real, man? Are you playing with me?'"

Tuesday, July 12, 2011

Neighborhood

Dunedin hosted the 32nd annual Kiwanis Morton Plant Mease Midnight Run over the July 4 holiday weekend.

Christa Stephens was the women's 10K champion. The 27-year-old St. Petersburg resident crossed the finish line in 39 minutes, 58 seconds for the victory.

Clearwater's Sean Gallagher had the fastest time locally on the men's side. Gallagher, 29, ran 35:37 to place third overall and was the top runner in the 25- to 29-year-old age group.

Tampa's Mark Parrish was the men's champion in 33:18.

Pinellas racers who won their age group were: (M13 and under) Joseph Sook, Dunedin, 56:17; (F14-16) Jessica Atkinson, Indian Rocks Beach, 53:55; (M16-17) Tyler Lewis, Largo, 37:16; (F17-19) Rachel Zeron, Oldsmar, 47:44; (F30-34) Whit Lasseter, Palm Harbor, 47:08; (M45-49) Keith Batten, Clearwater, 37:26; (F50-54) Terri Doheny, Clearwater, 46:45; (F55-59) Terry Repp, Palm Harbor, 53:41; (M65-69) Duncan Cameron, Palm Harbor, 46:35; (M70 and over) Jim Patton, Seminole, 1:15:50.

The 10K had 495 finishers.

In the 5K, which had 989 finishers, Katherine McMeekin of Palm Harbor claimed the women's championship. McMeekin, 20, won with a time of 19:36.

Lisa Williams, 32 of Largo, earned a place in the top three and an age group win (30-34) after running 20:09.

Seminole's Jacob Hudak, who came across the finish line in 17:31, was the top local runner on the men's side and the winner of the 16-17 group.

Hudak trailed only Riverview's P.J. Orgass, who was the overall champion in 16:55.

Local age group winners were: (M9 and under) Coleman Inglima, Clearwater, 22:09; (M12-13) Parker Lewis, Largo, 23:15; (M14-15) Hunter McCann, Treasure Island, 17:59; (F14-15) Brianna Paczinski, Clearwater, 21:03; (F16-17) Rachel Hayduke, Seminole, 21:10; (M18-19) Timm Bischoff, Clearwater, 19:34; (F18-19) Alicia Aldridge, Palm Harbor, 23:11; (F20-24) Paige Schmidt, Clearwater, 21:00; (M35-39) Joe Palmer, Palm Harbor, 18:51; (M40-44) Bret Jardine, Palm Harbor, 19:21; (M45-49) Dan Bergeson, Oldsmar, 18:50; (F50-54) Kathleen Robinson, Pinellas Park, 22:43; (F55-59) Jane Siebels, Palm Harbor, 29:48; (M60-64) Dick Christensen, Clearwater, 20:22; (M65-69) James Ladig, Clearwater, 24:51; (F65-69) Jeannette Hill, Palm Harbor, 43:05; (M70 and over) Tod Berken, Safety Harbor, 28:46; (F70 and over) Renee Verel, Clearwater, 45:43.

LUTZ INDEPENDENCE DAY RUN: St. Petersburg's Ali Crabb was the women's champion at the Lutz Independence Day Run 5K.

Crabb, whose time was 17:38, clocked in more than two minutes faster than the rest of the field.

The race had 464 finishers.

On the men's side, Andrew Chandler of St. Petersburg earned a second-place finish after crossing in 16:39. He trailed Tampa's Oscar Orozco by just six seconds. Orozco (16:33) was the overall champion.

The following local runners were tops in their age group: (M15-19) Sam Chandler, St. Petersburg, 16:45; (F25-29) Sarah Huebner, Clearwater, 24:55; (M35-39) Andrew Chandler; (F45-49) Yvonne Bryant, Clearwater, 22:06; (M50-54) Jim Hummel, Tarpon Springs, 20:00; (M60-64) Albert Wieringa, St. Petersburg, 20:04; (F60-64) Linda Schumacher, Palm Harbor, 35:31; (M65-69) Gar Flisek, Tarpon Springs, 23:02; (F65-69) Millie Hamilton, Redington Beach, 27:34.

ST. PETE ROAD RUNNERS: Dr. Matt Fontain, director and head clinician of Tri-Core Performance Therapy, will be the guest speaker at the St. Pete Road Runners' monthly meeting Thursday.

Fontain focuses on conservative sports medicine and rehabilitation and has treated many professional, collegiate and high school athletes. In addition, he has worked with some major-league baseball teams who make their spring training homes in the Tampa Bay area.

The St. Pete Road Runners meet in the Hospice Administration Building on First Avenue S and 31st Street in St. Petersburg. Meetings are open to the general public.

By Stephen F. Holder, Times Staff Writer
Tuesday, July 12, 2011

The Bucs on Wednesday will announce plans to induct former tight end Jimmie Giles into the club's Ring of Honor, according to former teammate Doug Williams.

"Yes it is true! He deserves it," Williams wrote in a text message to the Times' Rick Stroud.

Giles, a four-time Pro Bowl selection, played 13 seasons, including nine in Tampa Bay. A third-round pick of the Houston Oilers in 1977, Giles joined the Bucs in his second season. He went on to record three seasons with 40 or more receptions, despite playing in an era when tight ends were not used as receivers nearly as extensively as today.

His seven touchdown receptions in 1979 helped propel the Bucs to the NFC Championship Game for the first time, where they fell one win shy of the Super Bowl.

The induction will take place during a home game this fall to be announced later.

By Rick Stroud and Stephen F. Holder, Times Staff Writers
Tuesday, July 12, 2011

TAMPA — Former Bucs tight end Jimmie Giles will be the third person inducted into the team's Ring of Honor.

The announcement will be made at a news conference this morning at One Buc Place.

The Bucs did not confirm Giles' induction Tuesday, but former quarterback Doug Williams left little room for doubt about it.

"Yes it is true! He deserves it," Williams wrote in a text message to the St. Petersburg Times.

Giles, a four-time Pro Bowl selection, played 13 seasons, including nine in Tampa Bay (1978-86). A third-round draft pick of the Houston Oilers in 1977, Giles joined the Bucs in his second season. He had three seasons with 40 or more receptions with them. Giles' seven touchdown receptions in 1979 helped propel the Bucs to the NFC Championship Game for the first time. They fell one win shy of the Super Bowl.

The induction ceremony for Giles, 56, will be at halftime during a regular-season game this fall at Raymond James Stadium.

"In my opinion, he should be in the Hall of Fame," Williams wrote.

Hall of Fame defensive end Lee Roy Selmon and former coach John McKay, who died in 2001, are the others in the Ring of Honor.

Times staff writer Stephen F. Holder contributed to this report.

By Andy Villamarzo, Times Correspondent
Tuesday, July 12, 2011

Former Florida State star Derrick Alexander's plans have changed recently at Bishop McLaughlin. After football coach Matt Nardo stepped down Monday morning, the former defensive standout for the Seminoles and current defensive line coach for Bishop was promoted to head coach.

"It's been a tremendous change of events these past couple of weeks," Alexander said. "I was planning to coach with Nardo, who I thought was a very good coach, but now I find myself as the head man," Alexander said.

Nardo, who compiled a 7-3 record last fall in his first season as Hurricanes head coach, will be taking a coaching position at Marietta (Ohio) College. The Pioneers finished 2-8 in the Ohio Athletic Conference last year.

"The toughest thing was telling the kids that I was leaving," Nardo said. "I've coached these kids the past three seasons and telling them that I'll be leaving was just the toughest thing to do.

"Derrick will be taking over, and he'll do a great job. He has plenty of experience and has all the tools to be a great coach."

Alexander brings an impressive resume as a player. The former defensive end played in 10 games for the Seminoles during his redshirt freshman season in 1992 before bursting onto the scene as a sophomore in 1993. He recorded 100 tackles and eight tackles for a loss, both second most on the team. Alexander had 11 tackles against Nebraska in the Orange Bowl that season to help boost Florida State to the national championship.

As a junior at FSU, Alexander was named ACC Player of the Year.

"I'm going to take everything I've learned (at FSU) from Bobby Bowden, Mickey Andrews and Chuck Amato and instill that knowledge into this program," said Alexander, who was inducted into the Florida State Hall of Fame in 2007. "I plan to not just make Bishop McLaughlin into one of the better programs in Pasco County, but in the tri-county area.

"There are some really good players here at Bishop McLaughlin and we're going to … install some more pro-style (offense) as well."

The 6-foot-4 end entered the NFL draft after his junior season and was chosen 11th overall by the Minnesota Vikings. Alexander played four seasons with the Vikings and spent one season with the Cleveland Browns before retiring. His most productive year came in his final season with the Vikings (1998), when he started all 16 games and recorded 71/2 sacks and 37 tackles.

Wrenn leaves Armwood baseball

Armwood baseball coach Mike Wrenn, who guided the Hawks to consecutive Class 5A state tournament appearances, has resigned to become pitching coach at Hillsborough Community College.

A 2000 Zephyrhills graduate and former Saint Leo player who spent three years in the Minnesota Twins system, Wrenn said he told Armwood athletic director Don Hill of his departure Monday.

"I've wanted to coach college for a long time, and hopefully this will be the move that helps me get to the next step," Wrenn said.

Wrenn, who coached the Hawks for five seasons, guided Armwood to the state tournament in 2009 and '10. Armwood fell to nationally ranked Pace in eight innings in the 5A state final in 2010.

By Greg Auman, Times Staff Writer
Tuesday, July 12, 2011

Without a conference championship in its short history, USF presents a unique challenge when debating its greatest point ever scored, with key plays in several of the biggest upsets that have put USF on the map in the past five years.

The Bulls have beaten higher-ranked opponents, but the win that set in motion USF's great run to No. 2 in the nation in 2007 came on Sept. 8, when the Bulls went into Auburn and shocked the No. 17 Tigers with a 26-23 win in overtime at Jordan-Hare Stadium. The winning score — keeping USF perfect in its history in overtime — was a 14-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Matt Grothe to receiver Jessie Hester Jr.

Quite a first

The touchdown reception was the first of Hester's career, on a play he remembers as "Shin 560 Shin Elbow," something they'd drilled extensively in the days leading up to the Auburn game. "I knew it would be open after reading the coverage," he said. "I knew it would be there. Everything that happened the way it did that night, it was incredible."

Hester was the nearest of three receivers on the left side, and as the outside receivers stopped for short routes, Hester made a cut left to the left corner, pulling away from safety Eric Brock, and Grothe threw a low pass that Hester pulled in for the score, silencing the Auburn crowd.

"It was crazy," Hester said. "You didn't hear a thing, except the USF fans and my teammates."

The image of Hester raising the ball in celebration, passing in front of an official raising his hands to signal a touchdown with a dejected Auburn student section in the background, is one of the most memorable moments in USF's 15-year history. The victory would lead to USF's first-ever national ranking, and the Bulls would win their next four games to rise to No. 2 in the national polls, sparking USF's first sellouts at Raymond James Stadium against West Virginia and Central Florida.

"This win at Auburn," ESPN's broadcasters said that night, "is a program-maker."

Brought to you by …

Former USF coach Jim Leavitt is quick to point out the other major plays that made Grothe-to-Hester possible. Fans certainly remember that kicker Delbert Alvarado missed four field goals in the second half and Leavitt stuck with him as he came through on a game-tying kick with 55 seconds left in regulation. Fans probably remember that cornerback Jerome Murphy had a wild 59-yard kickoff return to set up that field goal after Auburn took a 20-17 lead with less than three minutes left.

But do you remember how the Bulls got to the 14-yard line in overtime? Trailing 23-20, USF was faced with a fourth-and-1 call at the 16-yard line, and Leavitt made the decision to go for it, with Grothe converting with a 2-yard keeper to the left side of his offensive line. Grothe carried the ball on four of USF's first five plays in overtime, another reason why a safety might be slow in picking up a receiver as he watched for a potential run.

Where are they now?

Grothe has fully recovered from the knee injury that ended his USF career early in his senior year in 2009, and he's yet to play in a pro game, despite tryouts and short stints in the NFL, UFL, CFL and Arena football. He recently signed with the Tampa Bay Storm. Between pro workouts, he worked this past season as a substitute teacher at his alma mater, Lake Gibson High School. Hester, who graduated with a degree in criminology, is still in Tampa, working as a manager at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino and hoping to soon enter the police academy and join the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office.

Send your memories of the play to sports@tampabay.com.

By Greg Auman, Times Staff Writer
Tuesday, July 12, 2011

Without a conference championship in its short history, USF presents a challenge when debating its greatest point ever scored. Key plays in several of the biggest upsets have put USF on the map in the past five years.

The Bulls have beaten higher-ranked opponents, but the win that set in motion USF's great run to No. 2 in the nation in 2007 came Sept. 8, when the Bulls went into Auburn and shocked the No. 17 Tigers with a 26-23 win in overtime at Jordan-Hare Stadium. The winning score — keeping USF perfect in its history in overtime — was a 14-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Matt Grothe to receiver Jessie Hester Jr.

Quite a first

The touchdown reception was the first of Hester's career, on a play he remembers as "Shin 560 Shin Elbow," something they'd drilled extensively in the days leading up to the Auburn game. "I knew it would be open after reading the coverage," he said. "I knew it would be there. Everything that happened the way it did that night, it was incredible."

Hester was the nearest of three receivers on the left side, and as the outside receivers stopped for short routes, Hester made a cut left to the left corner, pulling away from safety Eric Brock, and Grothe threw a low pass that Hester pulled in for the score, silencing the Auburn crowd.

"It was crazy," Hester said. "You didn't hear a thing, except the USF fans and my teammates."

The image of Hester raising the ball in celebration, passing in front of an official raising his hands to signal a touchdown with a dejected Auburn student section in the background, is one of the most memorable moments in USF's 15-year history. The victory led to USF's first national ranking, and the Bulls won their next four games to rise to No. 2 in the national polls, sparking USF's first sellouts at Raymond James Stadium against West Virginia and Central Florida.

"This win at Auburn," ESPN's broadcasters said that night, "is a program-maker."

Brought to you by …

Former USF coach Jim Leavitt is quick to point out the other major plays that made Grothe-to-Hester possible. Fans might remember that kicker Delbert Alvarado missed four field goals in the second half and Leavitt stuck with him as Alvarado came through on a tying kick with 55 seconds left. Fans probably remember that cornerback Jerome Murphy had a wild 59-yard kickoff return to set up that field goal after Auburn took a 20-17 lead with less than three minutes left.

But how many remember how the Bulls got to the 14-yard line in overtime? Trailing 23-20, USF was faced with a fourth-and-1 call at the 16, and Leavitt decided to go for it, with Grothe converting a 2-yard keeper to the left. Grothe carried the ball on four of USF's first five plays in overtime, another reason why a safety might have been slow in picking up a receiver as he watched for a potential run.

Where are they now?

Grothe has fully recovered from the knee injury that ended his USF career early in his senior year in 2009, and he has yet to play in a pro game after tryouts and short stints in the NFL, UFL, CFL and Arena League. He is now trying out with the Tampa Bay Storm. Between pro workouts, he worked this past season as a substitute teacher at his alma mater, Lake Gibson High School. Hester, who graduated with a degree in criminology, is still in Tampa, working as a manager at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino and hoping to soon enter the police academy and join the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office.

Send your memories of the play to sports@tampabay.com.

By Damian Cristodero, Times Staff Writer
Tuesday, July 12, 2011

BRANDON — There was optimism recently the Lightning and RW Teddy Purcell could reach a contract agreement before their arbitration hearing.

But with the hearing July 20 in Toronto (the first day hearings will take place) and the sides not together on the money, perhaps there isn't time to reach a deal.

"It's a possibility," Tampa Bay GM Steve Yzerman said of going to arbitration, though he added, "It doesn't mean we can't get something done a day from now or even the 19th if we have to."

Purcell's agent, Kent Hughes, was traveling Tuesday and could not be reached. It isn't clear what salary the Lightning is offering or what Purcell is asking.

But there is this: Yzerman would not say he will accept whatever salary an arbitrator awards. Teams can walk away, making the player an unrestricted free agent.

"I don't go that far just because we think there's a range in arbitration, and Kent thinks there's a different range," Yzerman said. "What the arbitrator will rule neither of us really knows, so to say absolutely what we will do in the event of it, we can't say with 100 percent certainty."

Purcell, 25, who made $750,000 last season, had a breakout year with career highs of 17 goals, 34 assists and 51 points. He also had five goals, 17 points in 18 playoff games.

GRAND FINALE: Camp finished with C Vladislav Namestnikov confirming his value and RW Brett Connolly earning kudos for improvement.

Namestnikov, 18, drafted 27th overall in June, "is still a young guy and he still has to fill out, but we think we have a good prospect," Yzerman said. "He's a very smart player. He's a very creative player. We're happy with him."

Connolly, 19, drafted No. 6 overall in 2010, was under orders the past year to muscle up.

"He's stronger," Yzerman said. "He's got more quickness. He's going in a positive direction."

"Beyond that," said Al Murray, Tampa Bay's director of amateur scouting, "he does things with the puck elite players do and others wish they could."

SCARY MOMENT: C Philip-Michael Devos, a camp invitee, escaped serious injury during a three-on-three game when the skate blade of RW Seth Griffith caught him under the chin and on the left side of his neck.

"I was a little nervous," Devos said. "I put my hand on my neck and saw blood."

The incident occurred as Griffith drove to the net. He stumbled over Devos' stick, and his left foot came up and clipped Devos, who did not even need stitches.

"They said my beard helped me on that one," he said.

ODDS AND ENDS: C Tyler Johnson's goal with 1:10 remaining gave his three-on-three team, which included Namestnikov, Mark Barberio and Jeff Dimmen, the camp title. … The Panthers prospects camp, which includes the Lightning and Predators, is Sept. 9-14 at Saveology Iceplex in Coral Springs.

Around the league

Text here

Information from Times wires was used in this report.

By Damian Cristodero, Times Staff Writer
Tuesday, July 12, 2011

BRANDON — There was optimism recently that the Lightning and RW Teddy Purcell could reach a contract agreement before their arbitration hearing.

But with the hearing July 20 in Toronto (the first day hearings will take place) and the sides not together on the money, perhaps there isn't time to reach a deal.

"It's a possibility," Tampa Bay GM Steve Yzerman said Tuesday of going to arbitration. "It doesn't mean we can't get something done a day from now, or even the 19th, if we have to."

Purcell's agent, Kent Hughes, was traveling Tuesday and could not be reached for comment. It isn't clear what salary the Lightning is offering and what Purcell is asking.

But there is this: Yzerman would not say he would accept whatever salary an arbitrator awards. Teams can walk away from an award, a move that makes the player an unrestricted free agent.

"I don't go that far just because we think there's a range in arbitration, and Kent thinks there's a different range," Yzerman said. "What the arbitrator will rule, neither of us really knows, so to say absolutely what we will do in the event of it, we can't say with 100 percent certainty."

Purcell, 25, who made $750,000 last season, had a breakout year with career highs of 17 goals, 34 assists and 51 points. He also had five goals and 17 points in 18 playoff games.

GRAND FINALE: Prospect development camp finished at the Ice Sports Forum with C Vladislav Namestnikov confirming his value and RW Brett Connolly earning kudos for improvement.

Namestnikov, 18, drafted 27th overall in June, "is still a young guy, and he still has to fill out, but we think we have a good prospect," Yzerman said. "He's a very smart player. He's a very creative player. We're happy with him."

Connolly, 19, drafted No. 6 overall in 2010, was under orders the past year to muscle up. "He's stronger," Yzerman said. "He's got more quickness. He's going in a positive direction."

"Beyond that," said Al Murray, Tampa Bay's director of amateur scouting, "he does things with the puck elite players do and others wish they could."

SCARY MOMENT: C Philip-Michael Devos, a camp invitee, escaped serious injury during a three-on-three game when the skate blade of RW Seth Griffith caught him under the chin and on the left side of his neck.

"I was a little nervous," Devos said. "I put my hand on my neck and saw blood."

The incident occurred as Griffith drove to the net. He stumbled over Devos' stick, and his left foot came up and clipped Devos, who did not even need stitches.

"They said my beard helped me on that one," he said.

ODDS AND ENDS: C Tyler Johnson's goal with 1:10 remaining gave his three-on-three team, which included Namestnikov, Mark Barberio and Jeff Dimmen, the camp title. … The Panthers' prospects camp, which includes the Lightning and Predators, is Sept. 9-14 at Saveology Iceplex in Coral Springs.

Around the league

Coyotes: Former Thrashers head coach John Anderson was hired as an assistant. Anderson was fired by Atlanta in April 2010 after going 70-75-19 over two seasons.

Devils: New Jersey, the only team without a coach, will have one "in the very near future, but not this week," GM Lou Lamoriello said.

Information from Times wires was used in this report.

By Derek J. LaRiviere, Times Correspondent
Tuesday, July 12, 2011

BROOKSVILLE

Hernando County has a long history when it comes to Dixie League baseball, including multiple World Series championships. But the county has never played host to a Florida Dixie championship tournament.

That all is changing this week as Ernie Wever Youth Park in Brooksville is the site of the Florida Dixie Double-A Machine Pitch State Tournament for 7- and 8-year-olds.

With 16 teams from all over the state, the tournament provides the county with a boost in tourism as well as a worthy exhibition of baseball for spectators. The winner will advance to the Dixie regional tournament in Mulberry on July 30.

"We're excited about the opportunity," West Seminole American coach Euell Stallings said. "(Regional) is the World Series in (the players') minds. That's a far as they can go."

Last season, the host team, Avon Park, emerged with the title in the Double-A Division. Since the team isn't back to defend the crown, a new winner is guaranteed.

Quarterfinal games were scheduled for Tuesday night, and the final six teams in the double-elimination format included Paxton and West Seminole American, both of which were undefeated. Bartow and Okeechobee were to square off with one loss each, a rematch of first-round game won by Bartow, 10-9. Bushnell and Sebring, which also had one loss each, were also to meet.

The Hernando County Tourist Development Bureau has projected that more than 700 visitors will come to Hernando during the week. The Days Inn and Quality Inn in Ridge Manor West have been full of teams all week. In addition to the lift the tournament gives local hotels and restaurants, the down time for players, coaches and parents should translate into an economic boost for other businesses in the area as well.

"With an estimated 240 players, we're pretty excited," tourism development coordinator Tammy Heon said. "This event will play a role in helping the whole community. It brings revenue to the parks, the league, the hotels, the restaurants, local businesses and more."

There has been talk that Ernie Wever Youth Park might not survive this year's county budget discussions. The home to Hernando Youth League Dixie baseball for years, the park's closing would help the county balance its 2011-12 budget.

But with an event like this one drawing so much exposure, some people question the wisdom of closing the park.

"(Ernie Wever Youth Park) is huge," assistant tournament director Ed Ritter said. "It's not only big for what we do out there in our league, but we host a district tournament or more every year. That brings in a couple hundred kids from out of the area. They eat at our restaurants. They buy our gas.

"You just have to wonder what happens to those kids if they close this park."

Ritter has been a volunteer with HYL for more than 10 years, and although this is his son's final season in the organization, he plans to continue his service for years to come.

In the meantime, the fields are in immaculate condition for this week's tournament.

Visitors and volunteers alike have raved about the upkeep of the diamonds, saying that this is the best they have looked in years.

"The coordination between tourist development, HYL and the sports marketing committee (of the tourism bureau) really clicked," tournament director Mike Walker said. "The county stepped up, and there was good communication between everyone. It just shows us as a community what we need to do."

As for the actual tournament, the competitiveness has been stellar, even with the young age of the competitors. HYL was knocked out after going 1-2. Entitled to a spot in the bracket because the league was hosting the event, Brooksville fell in the first round to Franklin County, 12-11.

In the consolation bracket, the team got one victory by eliminating Blountstown, 8-6. But the thrill was short-lived as West Volusia National dispatched HYL by a tally of 15-6.

West Seminole American and Paxton have thrived on the fact that they were the final two unbeatens.

Led by the hitters such as Tyler Hawkins (with a .700 batting average from the leadoff spot), Blake Keegan and catcher Maverick Stallings, West Seminole American has dominated at the plate.

In a 16-6 win over Bushnell, Stallings had a bases-loaded triple to put the game out of reach.

"We watched Paxton play after our win (over Bushnell)," Euell Stallings said. "They certainly have some boys that can play. There are some real good teams in this tournament. On any given night, anyone could win."

By Doug Hemmer, Times Correspondent
Tuesday, July 12, 2011

What's hot: Docks, trees and bridges will have shade and lower water temperatures. Most snook, redfish and trout will move into cooler water, and trout will move away from the shallows and stay in water 4 to 6 feet deep. Redfish schools like to hang under the shade of mangroves and will move there when the tide is high. Snook will move to the passes. Strong tide movement will pull cooler water from the gulf into the pass. You can target bridges that have deeper water. In residential canals, docks will provide shade for most of the game fish.

Tips: The best times to fish are early and late. Dock lights and bridges with lights will hold plenty of fish. Docks have snook, trout and redfish along the shadow line, and bridges have cobia and tarpon to target. They will look like long, dark shadows moving through the light.

Staying cool: A large beach umbrella that fits in a rod holder will help make it feel 5 to 10 degrees cooler.

Doug Hemmer charters out of St. Petersburg and can be reached at (727) 347-1389.