By Greg Auman, Times Staff Writer
Tuesday, March 15, 2011

TAMPA — It will be a long offseason for USF point guard Anthony Crater, whose shoulder injury from the final game will require surgery and sideline him for six months.

Crater, a rising senior, is scheduled to have surgery Friday to repair cartilage in his right shoulder, as well as a small bone fracture. His timeline for recovery has him healthy again in mid October, when preseason practice begins.

The night before his injury, Crater was the hero of USF's Big East tournament win against Villanova, scoring twice in the final 30 seconds, including a length-of-the-court drive with 5.1 seconds left that gave the Bulls a 70-69 upset.

Even before the injury, coach Stan Heath was working the recruiting trail, trying to upgrade his point guard play for next season. USF has no experienced point guards behind Crater. Junior Shedrick Haynes and freshman LaVonte Dority played sparingly last season.

USF is in contention for Chipola College's Sam Grooms, a top junior college target who is also considering national powers like North Carolina, Florida and Kansas. Anthony Collins, a prep point guard from Houston, has visited the Bulls and has USF and Baylor as his top choices.

Heath is in Kansas this week for the national junior college championships. One of the guards he'll be watching is Pierre Jackson, a 5-foot-10 sophomore at the College of Southern Idaho. CSI has a 29-4 record with Jackson averaging a team-best 17.9 points and 4.5 assists.

EXPENSIVE TICKETS: For the first time in six bowl trips, USF's athletic department took a slight loss from its trip to Charlotte for the Meineke Car Care Bowl. Bowl expenses exceeded revenues by about $63,000, or about 5 percent of the $1.2 million bowl budget.

As expected, the cost of unsold tickets was a large part of USF's bowl expenses. The bowl required that USF be responsible for an allotment of 12,500 tickets, which amounted to $867,759 in expenses; USF reported $142,668 in revenue from ticket sales and fees.

The Bulls spent more on unsold tickets than they did to transport, lodge and feed their entire bowl contingent for the stay in Charlotte — a combined cost of $461,775. USF got $1.1 million from the Big East for its bowl appearance, plus $116,600 for mileage.

Bowl trips can be much more costly than USF's. Connecticut's trip to the Fiesta Bowl cost the Huskies about $1.66 million, in part due to $2.67 million in unsold tickets.

THIS AND THAT: USF baseball is 7-9 after Tuesday's 6-5 victory at Central Florida, and poor hitting has played a big role in the slow start. The Bulls were hitting .245 as a team going into the game, down from .289 last season, which has offset solid improvements in pitching. USF's staff ERA (even without injured Andrew Barbosa) was 3.28, after a 4.94 mark last season. … Softball is 15-13, with freshmen playing a huge role. Kourtney Salvarola and Chamberlain's Stephanie Medina have eight of the team's 10 home runs, and Pinellas Park's Sara Nevins has been dominant on the mound, with 97 strikeouts and six walks.

Greg Auman can be reached at auman@sptimes.com and at (813) 226-3346. Check out his blog at tampabay.com/blogs/bulls and follow him at Twitter.com/gregauman.

By Rodney Page, Times Staff Writer
Tuesday, March 15, 2011

PALM HARBOR

Quick quiz: Who is the No. 1 ranked golfer in the world?

Hint: It's not a certain Florida resident who recently had a much-publicized divorce. And it's not a left-handed Californian who won last year's Masters.

Give up?

It is Germany's Martin Kaymer, a low-key 26-year-old who won last year's PGA Championship and the Race for Dubai title as the European Tour's best player.

Most casual golf fans might not know much about Kaymer because he is a full-time member of the European Tour and plays only sparingly in the United States. He doesn't travel with a large posse, and he usually isn't mobbed by autograph hounds.

And that's just fine with him.

"At the moment, I feel very comfortable in the position I'm in," Kaymer said Tuesday at Innisbrook Resort, site of this week's Transitions Championship. "I'm under the radar. Maybe it's good for me that all of the attention is not on me all of the time."

If he keeps playing the way he has the past two years, Kaymer is going to get noticed more often. He won four times in 2010, including his first major when he defeated Bubba Watson in a playoff at the PGA Championship. He has won once this season, the Abu Dhabi Championship in his first European Tour start. And he finished second at the WGC-Match Play Championship three weeks ago in Arizona.

Because of that hot start coupled with last year's success, Kaymer surpassed Lee Westwood as the world's top player. He hasn't given up the top spot in three weeks, and a good showing in his first Transitions Championship will solidify his ranking.

Kaymer is only the second world No. 1 to play at Innisbrook. Vijay Singh was No. 1 in 2004 when he won the tournament. For most of the 11 years a PGA Tour event has been at Innisbrook, Tiger Woods has been the top player. Woods has not played at Innisbrook since it became a PGA event in 2000.

"Always heard this was a fantastic tournament and golf course," Kaymer said. "It suits my game; at least that's what I heard. I didn't want to play the week before Augusta (Masters) because I've done that for three years and never played well there."

Though he is golf's top dog now, Kaymer is a member of the European Tour and is not eligible for some PGA events. He is playing this week on a foreign exemption, one of two given out by the tournament. The other exemption went to Japan's 19-year-old Ryo Ishikawa.

PGA Tour rules stipulate that to be a member of the tour, players must be in at least 15 PGA tournaments. And European Tour players can be in no more than 12 PGA events including majors and World Golf Championship events. Because of that, Kaymer stays on the European Tour.

"It's very difficult if you live in Europe," Kaymer said. "I live in Germany now, and the travel schedule is crazy. If I moved to America, then I can see playing on the PGA Tour. It would make it easier. If I'm not moving to America, it's tougher.

"With the 15 tournaments (rule), it's just too much. If they would move it down to 13, then maybe. But I'm only 26. I don't want to have the burnout. I need to take care of my body as well."

Kaymer has a second home in Scottsdale, Ariz., where he will go after the Transitions, and then he'll head to Augusta the week before the Masters with his father and brother. The tournament is April 7-10.

His ranking will make him a favorite at the Masters. And it makes him a favorite in every tournament he plays. But he doesn't think about that.

"Of course I would like to stay (No. 1) as long as possible," he said. "If I take care of other things, that will happen automatically. You only have to worry about the world rankings if you play badly. If you play well, then you get into tournaments and play wherever you want.

"I never really believed I would become No. 1 in the world. It just happened. To win a major, that was one of my goals. And to win the first major I was in contention for, that was a little lucky as well."

Kaymer said he fully expects Woods to one day take over again as the world's top player. Until then, he's slowly getting used to his kinda, sorta fame.

"My last week in Scottsdale, I was in a steakhouse," Kaymer said. "After dinner I got a free dessert from the restaurant with a note that said, 'Congratulations on being No. 1.'

"Those things are very cool. I get recognized a little more now."

Imada returns: Tampa's Ryuji Imada was a late scratch from last year's Transitions because of a rib injury, but this year he is back to 100 percent and ready to compete. Imada has played in six events and made three cuts. It's not a blazing start, but he says he's getting better.

"I feel pretty good," Imada said. "I'm hitting the ball well, and I can tell I'm getting better and better. I love playing in this tournament. It's one of my favorites all year."

Imada has played in the Transitions three times, and he tied for second in 2008.

Coming down I-4: Eight players from Monday and Tuesday's Tavistock Cup in Orlando are in the Transitions field — Stuart Appleby, Arjun Atwal, Brian Davis, Trevor Immelman, Sean O'Hair, Retief Goosen, Peter Hanson and Justin Rose.

Senior coupons: To clear up confusion, those with Seniors Day coupons for tickets to the rounds Thursday and Friday must redeem them at the will call trailer, near Belcher and Klosterman roads.

Rodney Page can be reached at page@sptimes.com.

By Antonya English, Times Staff Writer
Tuesday, March 15, 2011

GAINESVILLE — The Will Muschamp era of Florida football officially begins today. With eight new staff members, the allotted 15 spring practices will be critical. "I can't sit here and tell you what we are going to be because we are not sure," Muschamp said. Here are five goals for Florida this spring.

1 IMPLEMENT A NEW OFFENSE: The Gators are moving away from Urban Meyer's spread offense and into a pro-style offense led by new offensive coordinator Charlie Weis. He has 15 days to see how many players fit into what he wants to do — and whether they have the ability to do it.

2 REBUILD THE OFFENSIVE LINE: Florida lost OLs Mike Pouncey, Maurice Hurt, Carl Johnson and Marcus Gilbert and will return just two — Jon Halapio, top right, and Xavier Nixon, bottom right — who saw significant playing time.

3 GROOM A BACKUP QUARTERBACK: Returning starter John Brantley, right, is battling for his job, but Weis noted he has one advantage over the others: experience. Florida needs Jeff Driskel, Tyler Murphy and Jacoby Brissett to learn the offense as quickly as Brantley and be able to run it effectively. Because as it stands, Brantley is the only QB who can say he has been in the fire in the SEC. Assuming he's the starter, Florida needs someone in a similar role to the one Tim Tebow played behind Chris Leak in 2006. With Florida's schedule, which includes Tennessee, Alabama, Auburn, LSU and Florida State, the Gators want more than one QB who can successfully run the offense.

4 ADJUST TO A NEW DEFENSE COORDINATOR: Dan Quinn is the Gators' second defensive coordinator in as many years. And if you think that change doesn't take time to adjust to, go back and look at some film from last season after the Gators lost Charlie Strong.

5 CREATE SOME CHEMISTRY: The Gators struggled with chemistry issues last season and friction between veterans and underachieving young players looking for stardom too soon. In navigating their way through new coaches and schemes, the players also need to find the bond that championship-caliber teams possess.

SCHEDULE: All practices are closed to the public. The Orange and Blue spring game will be held April 9 at noon. For ticket information, call toll-free 1-800-344-2867.

Antonya English, Times staff writer

By Damian Cristodero, Times Staff Writer
Tuesday, March 15, 2011

TORONTO — There was a time — about three months ago, to be exact — that Mattias Ritola believed his pro hockey career was over.

The inner-ear problem, diagnosed as Meniere's disease, that had so disrupted his season was believed to be exacerbated by pressure changes during plane travel.

"And if I can't fly," Ritola recalled thinking that early December day when he was told, "I can't be in the NHL."

It seemed so long ago Monday, after the Lightning wing scored twice in a 6-2 win over the Maple Leafs at the Air Canada Centre.

Add that it was Ritola's 24th birthday and that he said he hasn't had an attack from the disease since Feb. 3, and you understand his emotional belief in a fresh, and perhaps healthy, start.

"It is," Ritola said, "an unbelievable feeling."

"He certainly has the hands," coach Guy Boucher said. "He's strong physically. He doesn't get bumped off the puck. There's no panic in traffic. Those are a lot of tools. Let's build on that."

Ritola, claimed off waivers in September from the Red Wings, wasn't sure what was wrong in October when he began experiencing sporadic but intense ringing in his right ear, dizziness and headaches.

By a process of elimination, Lightning doctors decide it was Meniere's, which the National Institutes of Health says is caused by a buildup of fluid in the inner ear and a constriction of blood vessels similar to what causes migraines.

Ritola went on several medications, got earplugs to help mitigate pressure changes during flights and started wearing a hearing aid for his right ear, the eardrum of which he ruptured last summer diving into a pool while vacationing in Turkey.

He is deaf in his left ear from a childhood illness.

"When you can't hear anything in the locker room, it's really frustrating," he said.

And stress, he was told, could cause attacks, one of which forced him to be a last-minute scratch from a Feb. 3 game with the Maple Leafs.

"It's been tough, for sure," Ritola said. "But you know what the worst part was? Hearing from all the doctors who had different things to say."

Things changed after his Feb. 9 demotion to AHL Norfolk, where, Ritola said, he began seeing a chiropractor twice a week.

"He said my neck was a mess," Ritola said, adding he hasn't had an attack since.

That makes Ritola believe he never had Meniere's.

Lightning head athletic trainer Tommy Mulligan couldn't go that far but said it is possible chiropractic corrected the problem, or the Meniere's turned dormant.

"It's a real gray area," Mulligan said. "The biggest thing is keeping the symptoms at bay however we can."

And to be safe, Ritola said, "I'll keep taking the pills."

Whatever the situation, it seems Ritola, recalled from Norfolk on March 3, finally can fully concentrate on improving his game, the best of which showed up Monday in his first multigoal game in the NHL.

"Not only did he bury his scoring chances, he did everything else," teammate Nate Thompson said. "He was getting it deep, finishing his checks. He was strong on the boards. He was good all over the ice. It was good to see."

Boucher wants to see it again.

"He gives you just enough to think, 'Oh, my goodness, we've got something here,' and all of a sudden he takes it back," the coach said. "Can he do it on a consistent basis? He hasn't yet, but we see sparks."

"That's the key," said Ritola, 6 feet, 192 pounds, with four goals and eight points in 29 games. "I have to keep building up. I have to keep doing the right things."

His career, after all, is just getting started.

Damian Cristodero can be reached at cristodero@sptimes.com.

Ed Walker, Times Correspondent
Tuesday, March 15, 2011

What's hot: Increasing water temperature has begun to bring many species of gamefish to the bay area, with the fishing action heating up every day.

Offshore: Amberjack are closed to commercial harvest, giving recreational anglers a great opportunity to tangle with some big jacks. Look for the biggest in water more than 100 feet. Freedive trips to 125 feet this week revealed huge schools of amberjack from 15 to 80 pounds or more. Herds followed us Monday at several deep water spots off St. Petersburg. With the water still a bit chilly, we were surprised to find several permit over wrecks as deep as 125 feet off John's Pass. Permit, generally considered a warmer-water fish, are starting to show up. Mangrove snapper, red snapper, and even a few yellowtail snapper also rose into the chum line to feed.

Inshore: Scaled sardines are appearing on local flats. In the late afternoon these can be exchanged for snook in many areas. Small to medium snook are showing up outside residential canals and backwater creeks. Target them during the warmest parts of the day. Cool night temperatures will slow the morning bite, but late afternoon action has been pretty good.

Ed Walker charters out of Tarpon Springs and can be reached at info@lighttacklecharters.com or (727) 944-3474.

By Tom Jones, Times Staff Writer
Tuesday, March 15, 2011

Sports Connection: 11 p.m. on BHSN (Ch. 47). The latest from Gators coach Billy Donovan from the St. Pete Times Forum as his team prepares for the NCAA basketball tournament.

Late Night With Jimmy Fallon: 12:37 a.m. Tiger Woods is not at this week's Transitions Championship in Palm Harbor, but he is scheduled to appear on this show.

By Greg Auman, Times Staff Writer
Tuesday, March 15, 2011

TAMPA — Expectations aren't always what they're supposed to be for Michigan State coach Tom Izzo.

His Spartans, having reached the past two Final Fours, were No. 2 in the national preseason poll, and somehow that wasn't as high as the bar set by his veteran players.

"We'll consider anything less than a national championship a failure," junior Draymond Green said in October, and that was after a long summer of five or six major surgeries to players on this season's team, including star guard Kalin Lucas.

Michigan State (19-14) has fallen short of those high expectations, needing an upset of No. 9 Purdue last week just to lock up an at-large bid in the NCAA field. The Spartans' No. 10 region seed is their lowest in nine years, matching the low during Izzo's 14 consecutive NCAA appearances — only Kansas (22) and Duke (16) have longer streaks intact.

The Spartans open against No. 7 seed UCLA on Thursday at the St. Pete Times Forum.

"You say maybe even though we dropped off the face of the Earth for a while there, everybody else has gone through some struggles and some of those teams are sitting at home," Izzo said. "Instead of complaining about what we didn't do, I'm starting to look forward, to say, 'You know what, we had a lot of things we went through.' We've survived, somewhat."

Izzo's teams have a history of outlasting their seeded expectations — in the past nine seasons, Michigan State has earned a top-four seed just once, yet the Spartans have survived the opening weekend five times, including three Final Fours. So when reminded this week that Green hasn't backed off from his preseason statement, Izzo isn't disappointed by that confidence.

"The guy's been to two Final Fours. We were nobody's pick last year, either," Izzo said. "If he believes that in his heart, he's just got to make sure the other 12 guys believe it."

Lucas, who ruptured his left Achilles' tendon during last year's tournament, had a quick rehab and hasn't missed a game this season, leading the team in scoring, as he did with 30 points in the win against Purdue. Izzo said his program had more surgeries last summer than in the previous three or four years combined. Guard Durrell Summers and forward Delvon Roe were slowed by knee injuries and centers Garrick Sherman (foot) and Adreian Payne (shoulder) spent much of last summer rehabbing.

"You never see a doctor that says everything's perfect. Any time I see them, it's more bad news," Izzo said. "Any time (he) knocks on my door, it's very seldom to say, 'Everybody's healthy and we're ready to go to practice.' "

Green said the team doesn't have the record or seed it had entering past tournaments, but that won't change the Spartans' approach or their confidence.

"We still have the same mind-set. We're going to win a weekend," Green said. "You win a weekend, things start to change."

UCLA has its share of NCAA experience — the past six Final Fours have had either the Bruins or Spartans participating — but Izzo said part of that success is not paying attention to seeds or records or what anyone else expects his team to do.

"UCLA is an incredible foe to start out with, but I'm still going (out) to win the weekend, too," Izzo said. "That's what we do here."

By Rodney Page, Times Staff Writer
Tuesday, March 15, 2011

Tournament information

What: A 72-hole PGA Tour event

When/where: Thursday-Sunday; Innisbrook Resort and Golf Club, Copperhead Course, Palm Harbor

Par/yards: 71; 7,340

Field: 144 players

Purse: $5.5 million (winner's share is $990,000)

Fed Ex Cup points: 500

Defending champ: Jim Furyk

Schedule: Today — Pro-am. Thursday-Friday — first and second rounds, morning and afternoon tee times. Saturday-Sunday — third and fourth rounds.

Tickets: Available at Publix, transitionschampionship.com or (727) 942-5566. Cost is $30 per day (Thursday-Sunday) in advance, $40 at the gate and $89 for a weekly badge. Those 17 and younger and military personnel are admitted free all week.

TV: Thursday-Friday, 3-6 p.m., Golf Channel; Saturday-Sunday, 1-3 p.m., Golf Channel, 3-6 p.m., Ch. 8

Today's pro-am tee times

Starting on No. 1

7:45 a.m.: Bubba Watson

7:55: Jason Day

8:05: Trevor Immelman

8:15: Geoff Ogilvy

8:25: Ryan Moore

8:35: Kenny Perry

8:45: Jim Furyk

8:55: Stuart Appleby

9:05: Sean O'Hair

9:15: Kevin Na

9:25: K.J. Choi

9:35: Justin Rose

9:45: Vijay Singh

12:30 p.m.: Zach Johnson

12:40: David Toms

12:50: Justin Leonard

1: Stewart Cink

1:10: Rory Sabbatini

1:20: John Daly

1:30: Brian Gay

1:40: Arjun Atwal

1:50: Ryo Ishikawa

2: Charles Howell

2:10: Padraig Harrington

2:20: Alex Prugh

2:30: Retief Goosen

Starting on No. 10

7:45 a.m.: Ryan Palmer

7:55: Charley Hoffman

8:05: Sergio Garcia

8:15: Heath Slocum

8:25: Martin Laird

8:35: Paul Goydos

8:45: Bill Haas

8:55: Carl Pettersson

9:05: Ricky Barnes

9:15: Vaughn Taylor

9:25: Brendon de Jonge

9:35: Nick Watney

9:45: Paul Casey

12:30 p.m.: Brian Davis

12:40: Robert Garrigus

12:50: David Duval

1: Charlie Wi

1:10: Jonathan Byrd

1:20: Matteo Manassero

1:30: Lucas Glover

1:40: Marc Leishman

1:50: Peter Hanson

2: Bryce Molder

2:10: John Senden

2:20: Matt Jones

2:30: Brandt Snedeker

First round — Thursday

Copperhead Course No. 1

7:45 a.m.: Rich Beem, Kevin Stadler, Alex Prugh

7:55: D.J. Trahan, George McNeill, John Senden

8:06: Jeff Maggert, Brandt Jobe, Greg Chalmers

8:16: Billy Mayfair, Harrison Frazar, Matt Jones

8:27: Charley Hoffman, John Rollins, David Toms

8:37: Robert Garrigus, Ryan Palmer, Jerry Kelly

8:48: Michael Bradley, Jonathan Byrd, Geoff Ogilvy

8:58: Arjun Atwal, Cameron Beckman, Vaughn Taylor

9:09: Jason Day, Stephen Ames, Sean O'Hair

9:19: Ryuji Imada, Nick O'Hern, Bryce Molder

9:30: Cameron Tringale, Steven Bowditch, Daniel Summerhays

9:40: Jarrod Lyle, Bio Kim, Brendan Steele

Copperhead Course No. 10

7:45 a.m.: Steve Flesch, Joe Durant, Kris Blanks

7:55: J.J. Henry, Gary Woodland, Ryo Ishikawa

8:06: Kevin Sutherland, David Duval, Josh Teater

8:16: Paul Goydos, Chris Couch, Charlie Wi

8:27: Johnson Wagner, Ryan Moore, Fred Funk

8:37: Rory Sabbatini, Paul Casey, Padraig Harrington

8:48: Nick Watney, Bubba Watson, Martin Kaymer

8:58: Bill Lunde, Kenny Perry, Justin Leonard

9:09: Rocco Mediate, Stewart Cink, K.J. Choi

9:19: Tag Ridings, Webb Simpson, Jeff Klauk

9:30: Tommy Gainey, Chris Kirk, Peter Uihlein-Y

9:40: Zack Miller, William McGirt, Will Claxton

Copperhead Course No. 1

12:30 p.m.: Andres Romero, Shaun Micheel, Troy Merritt

12:40: J.P. Hayes, Chris DiMarco, Jesper Parnevik

12:51: Chad Campbell, Brian Davis, Ricky Barnes

1:01: Charles Howell, Alex Cejka, Marc Leishman

1:12: Carl Pettersson, Derek Lamely, Trevor Immelman

1:22: Zach Johnson, Sergio Garcia, Matteo Manassero

1:33: Mark Wilson, Jim Furyk, Vijay Singh

1:43: Nathan Green, Lucas Glover, Brian Gay

1:54: John Daly, Roland Thatcher, Peter Hanson

2:04: Chris Riley, James Driscoll, Chris Stroud

2:15: Chris Tidland, Keegan Bradley, Jeff Freeman

2:25: Bobby Gates, Joseph Bramlett, Russell Knox

Copperhead Course No. 10

12:30 p.m.: Garrett Willis, Kent Jones, Blake Adams

12:40: Tim Petrovic, Brendon de Jonge, Chad Collins

12:51: John Huston, Spencer Levin, Michael Connell

1:01: Brandt Snedeker, Ben Curtis, Jimmy Walker

1:12: Troy Matteson, Marc Turnesa, Chez Reavie

1:22: Matt Bettencourt, Justin Rose, Retief Goosen

1:33: Bill Haas, Stuart Appleby, Martin Laird

1:43: Heath Slocum, Pat Perez, Mark Calcavecchia

1:54: Woody Austin, Dean Wilson, Tim Herron

2:04: Kevin Na, Jason Dufner, Jamie Lovemark

2:15: Hunter Haas, Fabian Gomez, Jason Kokrak

2:25: Kyle Stanley, Scott Stallings, Travis Hampshire

Y: amateur

Times staff, wires
Tuesday, March 15, 2011

college football

gamecocks qb garcia suspended for first week of spring practice

COLUMBIA, S.C. — South Carolina quarterback Stephen Garcia has been suspended for the first week of spring practice for violating team rules. Coach Steve Spurrier on Tuesday wouldn't specify what the senior and former Jefferson High standout did, saying only it happened "earlier" and he just got around to the discipline. Spurrier said Garcia has "pretty good" this semester. "Hopefully all these guys will understand that if they want to be on our team, just follow the few simple rules we have and everybody will be happy," Spurrier said.

Garcia now has missed at least part of three of his five spring practices. Three run-ins with the law during his first 15 months at South Carolina caused him to miss all offseason practices in 2007 and 2008.

more colleges

Notre Dame fined in student's death

Indiana state regulators fined Notre Dame $77,500 for six safety violations in the October death of a student killed when the hydraulic lift he was on toppled over in high winds while he was filming football practice.

The school failed to maintain safe working conditions and heed National Weather Service warnings on a day wind speeds reached 53 mph, the Indiana Department of Labor said.

Declan Sullivan, 20, a junior from Long Grove, Ill., died Oct. 27. His parents, Barry and Alison, said they appreciated the thorough investigation. University spokesman Dennis Brown said the school had no immediate response because officials were reviewing the report. The school has until April 7 to respond.

auburn: All four football players arrested Friday in connection with a theft at an Auburn, Ala., residence confessed involvement to police, say court documents obtained by the Columbus (Ga.) Ledger-Enquirer. Mike McNeil, Antonio Goodwin, Shaun Kitchens and Dakota Mosley have been dismissed from the team. Mosley and McNeil posted bail. Kitchens and Goodwin remain in jail on $511,000 bond.

baseball: Host Florida (16-1), ranked No. 1 by Baseball America, defeated No. 6 Florida State (14-3) 5-4 in 10 innings.

ET CETERA

arena league: Storm linebacker Cliff Dukes was named defensive player of the week, and Storm receiver Huey Whittaker, a former USF standout, was named Ironman of the week.

iditarod: John Baker won the 1,150-mile sled dog race from Anchorage to Nome, Alaska, in a record time of 8 days, 19 hours, 46 minutes and became the first Alaska Native to win since 1976. Baker, a 48-year-old Inupiat Eskimo, broke Martin Buser's 2002 mark (8:22:46).

soccer: Defending Champions League champion Inter Milan ousted Bayern Munich on away goals in a repeat of last season's final and Manchester United advanced to the quarterfinals by beating Marseille 2-1.

tennis: Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic easily won third-round matches at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, Calif. Kim Clijsters retired against Marion Bartoli with a right shoulder injury. Top seed Caroline Wozniacki got a win that, along with Clijsters' departure, ensured she will retain her No. 1 world ranking.

By Joe Smith, Times Staff Writer
Tuesday, March 15, 2011

PORT CHARLOTTE — OF Desmond Jennings and C Robinson Chirinos could impact the Rays at some point this season.

But they weren't going to make the opening day roster, which is why they were among the 14 players sent to minor-league camp Tuesday as part of the largest cut of the spring.

Manager Joe Maddon said the idea is to get them more playing time to prepare for their upcoming minor-league seasons. The full list of cuts includes SS Tim Beckham, RHPs Chris Archer, Alex Cobb, Dane de la Rosa, Brandon Gomes and Dirk Hayhurst, Cs Nevin Ashley and Stephen Vogt and INFs Russ Canzler, J.J. Furmaniak and Daniel Mayora.

Those on the 40-man roster will eventually be optioned to one of the minor-league affiliates, with the rest reassigned to minor-league camp. The big-league side is down to 40.

With veteran LF Johnny Damon signed in the offseason, Jennings' time will have to wait. The Rays want Jennings to play when he's summoned, not be a reserve (except in September roster expansion). "That kind of guy you don't want to have be a utility player right now," Maddon said.

Chirinos, acquired from the Cubs in the offseason RHP Matt Garza trade, made quite an impression in camp, hitting .429 with two homers, but Maddon said he'd like the converted catcher to work on his defense and be ready in case called upon.

"He's the kind of guy that once you get here, you want him to stay and not shuttle back and forth," Maddon said.

Cobb could be next in line in Triple-A Durham if an injury hits the rotation.

ROUGH DAY: Maddon said RHP Jeremy Hellickson didn't have his "normal stuff" in Tuesday's start, when he gave up one run (a solo homer) and two walks in 12/3 innings (39 pitches). There were a few reasons why, as Maddon said Hellickson had a blister on his right ring finger. Hellickson also fell ill, the reason he was unavailable to the media afterward. But Maddon said Hellickson will be fine for his next scheduled start.

GAME DETAILS: The Rays (7-9-1) had their best offensive game of the spring, routing the Marlins 11-2 in front of 5,544 at Charlotte Sports Park. The 2-4 hitters — Damon, 3B Evan Longoria and DH Manny Ramirez — combined for six hits and seven RBIs, including a two-run homer by Ramirez. CF B.J. Upton also hit a solo shot.

"When that part of your batting order clicks, the rest of the lineup has a pretty good chance and the confidence flows," Maddon said. "I liked the way it looked today, you're going to see a lot of that this summer."

Ramirez is feeling so good, he asked to be in the lineup for today's three-hour road trip to Jupiter to play Marlins. He'll be the DH.

TROP TALK: After a brief change during last year's division series, batted balls that hit Tropicana Field's upper two catwalks are again in play. At the request of Major League Baseball, ground rules regarding the catwalks will return to those used during the regular season.

Balls hitting the A- and B-rings will be in play, meaning a ball caught by a fielder after striking one will be considered an out. In last year's playoffs, balls that hit those rings were ruled dead, with no pitch recorded.

Maddon said the change "made sense to me," understanding it'd help the umpires. "Apparently, they have all their different jobs to do when the ball is hit and the last one is to look up at a ceiling," he said.

BACK AND FORTH: Executive VP Andrew Friedman said it'd still be difficult for LHP Cesar Cabral to make the roster, a requirement as a Rule 5 acquisition from the Red Sox.

But they still claimed him off waivers Monday from the Blue Jays two days after Toronto claimed him from Tampa Bay.

"We figured we'd roll the dice and see if we can figure out a way to get creative and keep him here," Friedman said.

By Joe Smith, Times Staff Writer
Tuesday, March 15, 2011

Quote of the day

"He's scaring me a little bit, he's hitting a little too good right now. I think he talked himself into the lineup (today), that's how good he's feeling."

LF Johnny Damon on DH Manny Ramirez, who went 2-for-2 Tuesday with a homer and is hitting .333 this spring.

Quote of the day 2

"I don't know if Manny knows it's part of the solar system, and it takes a while to get there."

Manager Joe Maddon, joking about Ramirez requesting to join the Rays today on their three-hour bus ride to play in Jupiter.

Showing off

The Rays held their annual spring talent show Tuesday night, with C John Jaso (guitar) and 3B Evan Longoria (drums) planning to play in their two-man band. C Nevin Ashley had one request: "As long as (SS Tim) Beckham, above, is not going on the stage again. He's been booed off two straight years. Let him stick to baseball, that's all I'm going to say." How about RHP James Shields? "My talent is throwing changeups," he quipped. "That's about it."

Teeing off

Shields didn't defend his title at the Shelton Quarles Pro-Am at the Transitions Championship Monday but "had a blast" with partner Chris Riley, shooting 8 under, five shots behind the winner. LHP David Price, paired with John Daly, and CF B.J. Upton, paired with Roland Thatcher, were both 9 under. "(Riley) thinks baseball is harder than golf," Shields said. "And I think golf is harder than baseball."

Rays at Marlins

When/where: 1:05; Roger Dean Stadium, Jupiter

Tickets: $15-$27, available at Roger Dean Stadium box office, via Ticketmaster, by calling 1-800-745-3000 or ticketmaster.com

Rays information: Toll-free 1-888-326-7297 (FAN-RAYS)

Pitchers: Rays — Wade Davis, R.J. Swindle, Cory Wade, Brandon Gomes; Marlins — Chris Volstad, Randy Choate, Burke Badenhop, Steve Cishek

Heads-up

Manny Ramirez asked to be added to today's lineup, so he'll serve as DH. C John Jaso, 2B Sean Rodriguez, OF Matt Joyce and SS Reid Brignac are other regulars playing, with RHP Wade Davis starting.

Who is this Ray?

Last season, he hit leadoff more times than any rookie catcher in major-league history. In the offseason, he traveled to the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico, visited Cancun and the ancient Mayan ruins of Chichen Itza.

On deck

Thursday: at Yankees, 7:05. Rays — Chris Bootcheck; Yankees — TBA

Friday: Red Sox, 7:05, Rays — Andy Sonnanstine; Red Sox — TBA

Schedule 20: Orioles

21: Yankees, 7:05

22: at Red Sox, 7:05

23: Phillies

24: at Astros

25: Pirates

26: Orioles

27: at Pirates

28: at Yankees, 7:05

29: at Red Sox

30: vs. Blue Jays at Tropicana Field, 4:10

Who is this Ray answer: C John Jaso

Joe Smith, Times staff writer

Times wires
Tuesday, March 15, 2011

TAMPA — The Yankees' low level of concern about RHP Joba Chamberlain's injured oblique just got a little higher.

Manager Joe Girardi said Tuesday that team doctors in New York were looking over an MRI exam Chamberlain had Monday. He last pitched Friday and is on hold until further notice.

"Whenever a pitcher — or anybody — is dealing with an oblique, there's always concern," Girardi said. "He's been asymptomatic, but he hasn't thrown. … It's one thing to feel okay, and it's another thing to go through the motion and feel okay."

Sergio Mitre, who was scratched from his start Monday because of a similar injury, is ahead of Chamberlain, Girardi said. Mitre did not have an MRI exam, and the Yankees are hopeful he can throw a bullpen session Thursday.

COLON SHARP: RHP Bartolo Colon, competing with RHPs Freddy Garcia, Ivan Nova and Mitre for one of two open spots in the rotation behind LHP CC Sabathia and RHPs Phil Hughes and A.J. Burnett, allowed four hits and struck out seven in six scoreless innings of a simulated game.

"As the time goes by, I feel better and better," Colon said through a translator. "I need to continue to work, and made the decision tough."

Phils: 3B tweaked

DUNEDIN — Phillies 3B Placido Polanco re-injured his surgically repaired left elbow in the first inning against the Blue Jays.

Polanco hyperextended his elbow on a swing in his only plate appearance. He stayed in to play defense in the bottom half but was replaced by Wilson Valdez when the second inning began.

"It's just a day-to-day thing I think," Polanco said. "When I've had it before, I never stopped playing. But since I had surgery, they took me out."

Polanco was limited to 132 games in 2010 while dealing with chronic left elbow pain. He had scar tissue and bone spurs removed from the arm when he had surgery in November.

"It's right where I had the surgery, but it's nothing bad," he said. "I've had it before. I've had it a million times. But the fact that I had surgery on that elbow, we're being safe. We're playing it very safe. We'll see how it feels tomorrow and the next day, take it a day at a time."

LIDGE IMPROVING: Closer Brad Lidge, who was scratched from his scheduled appearance Monday with right biceps tendinitis, played catch and could throw off a mound as soon as Thursday, general manager Ruben Amaro said.

Jays: Fickle finger

DUNEDIN — LHP Ricky Romero has had little good news since being named the Blue Jays' opening day starter.

Saturday, a day after the announcement, Romero walked five and allowed four runs in 32/3 innings against the Pirates. Now a finger that appeared to bother him during that outing will keep him out of his next scheduled start Thursday against the Phillies.

Romero was diagnosed with a slight strain in his left middle finger. He's not expected to miss the season opener.

"There's some minor inflammation in there that's causing that little bit of discomfort, so we'll skip his next start," manager John Farrell said. "He'll still get two more starts in camp. It will get him to 90 pitches which is the goal of every starter. So nothing has changed in terms of the regular season."

LHP Jo-Jo Reyes will start in Romero's place today.

SETBACK: OF Scott Podsednik, who aggravated the plantar fasciitis in his left foot Friday, will be wearing a cast for at least the next 10 days, making it unlikely he'll be ready for opening day, MLB.com reported.

Times wires
Tuesday, March 15, 2011

ST. LOUIS — Cardinals ace Chris Carpenter is set to return from a hamstring injury that sidelined him for a couple of weeks.

The right-hander left his March 1 spring debut in the third inning with a left hamstring strain. He's scheduled to make his second spring start today against the Tigers in Lakeland.

Barring another setback, manager Tony La Russa anticipated Carpenter would have no problem elevating his pitch count in time to start on opening day. Carpenter would get two more spring starts before the March 31 opener against the Padres at home.

"He kept his arm in shape so it's not going to be a traditional first time out there," La Russa said. "If he takes the ball every time he's supposed to, he should be at 100. He's strong."

Also, Lance Berkman is scheduled to play rightfield Thursday for the first time since March 1. He said he's over some left elbow soreness.

Berkman hasn't played regularly in the outfield since 2004.

"It feels good. I wanted to play today but it's super-cautious spring thinking," Berkman said.

Infielder Tyler Greene was absent for a second straight day because of flulike symptoms. Third baseman David Freese, coming off two ankle operations, had the day off after playing on consecutive days.

BAILEY OKAY: The Athletics were relieved to learn that closer Andrew Bailey does not have a serious elbow injury as was first feared. Bailey, who has a strained forearm, will resume throwing once the discomfort subsides.

PITCHER RETIRES: Right-hander Ian Snell decided to retire at age 29 after the Cardinals optioned him to the minors. Snell went 38-53 with a 4.80 ERA in seven full seasons.

ANGELS: First baseman Kendrys Morales, who is recovering from a broken lower-left leg, still isn't running at 100 percent and appears unlikely to be ready for opening day, the Los Angeles Times reported.

NATIONALS: Third baseman Ryan Zimmerman (right groin tightness) and catcher Ivan Rodriguez (left calf) were scratched and are expected to sit out for four or five days. Both are expected to be ready by opening day.

ORIOLES: Tests on right-hander Justin Duchscherer's surgically repaired left hip showed nothing new, and the pitcher will be re-evaluated later this week, the Baltimore Sun reported.

TIGERS: Manager Jim Leyland said second baseman Carlos Guillen and right-handed reliever Joel Zumaya will stay in Florida to continue their rehab work. Guillen is recovering from a deep bruise on his left knee that ended his season in August, and Zumaya is recovering from right arm surgery and hasn't pitched since June.

Bob Putnam, Times Staff Writer
Tuesday, March 15, 2011

INDIAN ROCKS — For the past month, Bishop McLaughlin has been one of the hottest teams in the bay area with wins in seven of its past eight games.

The only glitch during that stretch came two weeks ago in a loss to Indian Rocks Christian.

The Hurricanes got some measure of revenge Tuesday with a 6-2 victory over the Golden Eagles. Bishop McLaughlin is now 5-1 in Class 2A, District 10.

"The difference this time around is we threw strikes," Bishop McLaughlin coach Nick Rodriguez said. "We walked seven batters the first time we played (IRC). You just can't allow that many baserunners."

Andy Olaniel was effective — and economical — for Bishop McLaughlin. He allowed six hits and two runs in six innings of work. Rodriguez allowed him to go six innings because he had thrown 55 pitches through five.

"Andy really has been big for us the past couple of weeks," Rodriguez said. "He's pitched well and ate up a lot of innings for us."

Indian Rocks Christian's Matt Kulaga was making his second start of the season. He threw well but the defense committed three errors, two of which led to runs in the first four innings.

"We just made too many mistakes out on the field and on the bases," Golden Eagles coach Adam Moravick said. "I thought Matt did well out there. But Bishop is a strong team and was able to put some things together."

The Hurricanes (8-4) scored once in the third inning and twice in the fourth. Indian Rocks Christian (4-7) scored a run in the bottom of the fourth to cut it to 3-1. But Bishop McLaughlin added two more runs in the fifth to put the game away.

It was a tough loss for the Golden Eagles, who went from a first-place tie in the district to third.

The Hurricanes, meanwhile, have gotten back on track after starting 0-3.

"We had some injuries to start the season," Rodriguez said. "But we're starting to heal. We should be in much better shape in about another three weeks."

By John Romano, Times Sports Columnist
Tuesday, March 15, 2011

PALM HARBOR — He wakes up in the morning and reads about heartbreak. He returns to his room at night and watches an endless loop of devastation.

He is talented, charming and fabulously wealthy, but Ryo Ishikawa is also a teenager, a virtual kid watching from half a world away as his homeland suffers unspeakable horrors.

At times, the golf course can be a refuge, a haven from the dispatches. But eventually, inevitably, Ishikawa is staring once again at the new reality of Japan.

"I am always watching the news. I can't walk away from it," Ishikawa said through an interpreter after a news conference at the Innisbrook resort on Tuesday afternoon, where he is preparing for the Transitions Championship. "Whether it's Japanese news through the Internet or on American TV, I am always watching or reading.

"It is where my heart is."

He is more fortunate than many. Shortly after he woke up to the news of an earthquake and a tsunami early Friday, Ishikawa, 19, heard from his parents in Tokyo via e-mail. He has since been in fairly regular contact with them, first from the Cadillac Championship at Doral over the weekend and now from Innisbrook.

He initially had thoughts of returning home but has since decided his presence in Japan would serve little purpose. And so he will remain in the States until after the Masters next month.

"It almost pains me that I am out here and the people of Japan are going through this crisis," he said. "I never once felt I was lucky that I'm out here. My heart and soul are with the people of Japan. Even though I am physically here, my mind is there.

"Thousands are struggling over there as I speak here today, and I would like to perform at my best with them in mind."

It is not hubris for Ishikawa to think his performance at the Transitions Championship could have an impact in Japan. Aside from Seattle Mariners outfielder Ichiro Suzuki, polls show Ishikawa is the most popular athlete in his country.

Think LeBron James coming out of high school. Think Stephen Strasburg at an even younger age. Ishikawa is that big. His is a world of entourages and endorsements. Of cameras and ovations.

Ishikawa was the leading money winner on the Japan Golf Tour in 2009 — before he had graduated from high school.

That was around the time he became the youngest player to crack the top 100 in the world rankings. And in case you're wondering, he took that record away from Tiger Woods.

When at age 17 he became the youngest to crack the top 50, he wiped Woods off the books again.

Ishikawa is also chasing some of the paychecks that once might have interested Woods. A Wall Street Journal report estimated he was making $10 million annually in endorsements from such companies as Toyota, McDonald's and Panasonic.

He has not yet caused a stir on the PGA Tour, but Ishikawa is still six months shy of his 20th birthday. Woods was 21 when he made history by winning the Masters.

And don't think Ishikawa isn't aware of those kinds of comparisons. It was Woods' successes that drove Ishikawa as a youngster in Japan, and still pushes him today.

At a private practice range in Japan, he has imported various types of North American grass so he can become more proficient on typical PGA surfaces.

This is why Ishikawa says he can do more for people in Japan at Innisbrook — or at Bay Hill next week or Augusta in early April — than he could by returning home early.

"I would love to win for the people of Japan, but that is a thought I have always carried with me when I represent the people of Japan when playing overseas," Ishikawa said. "Given this type of crisis, my motivation is at the highest it's ever been. There is no negative pressure. I just feel very focused, zoned in.

"If I can produce such a brilliant result, and if I can be in the news following all of the tragic events being reported and lead to news of encouragement or be a source of hope for people in Japan, I would be at my happiest."

He still has friends he has not heard from near areas that were hit most severely. And he understands that many in the country are still dealing with rolling blackouts, shutdowns in transportation systems and fears of nuclear fallout.

It is difficult, he said, to comprehend all that is going on back home.

Still, Ishikawa said, those thoughts will be left behind once the tournament begins Thursday. He may not be able to turn away from news reports in the quiet of his room, but he will not carry that burden with him to the first tee.

"I already decided it is not going to affect my play," he said.

"I'm not going to let it."

Times wires
Tuesday, March 15, 2011

RALEIGH, N.C. — Sidney Lowe had big moments at North Carolina State, from roaming the sideline in a striking red blazer for rivalry wins against Duke and North Carolina to a pair of surprising ACC tournament runs.

He just never figured out how to sustain that momentum or make it to the NCAA Tournament. Ultimately, it led to his resignation Tuesday as the Wolfpack's coach.

Lowe was 86-78 in five seasons but just 25-55 in conference play. N.C. State reached the ACC tournament final in his first year and semifinals in 2010 but managed little else.

He inherited a program coming off five straight NCAA trips under Herb Sendek. But Lowe never finished higher than ninth in the ACC and lost 13 of 16 to archrivals Duke and North Carolina.

In a statement from the school, Lowe, 51, said he had been "truly blessed" by the opportunity to coach the program he led to a national championship as a player in 1983.

"I am thankful for this experience," said Lowe, the starting point guard for the "Cardiac Pack" team that upset Houston on a last-play dunk to win the 1983 title under Jim Valvano.

His resignation came less than a week after N.C. State (15-16) closed with a loss to Maryland in the first round of the ACC tournament.

DUKE: Injured point guard Kyrie Irving (right big toe) could return for the Blue Devils' NCAA Tournament opener Friday against Hampton, Mike Krzyzewski said. The coach said Irving practiced "a little bit" Tuesday.

PURDUE: Sophomore guard Kelsey Barlow was suspended for the rest of the season for conduct detrimental to the team, the school announced.

NEBRASKA: Coach Doc Sadler signed a two-year contract extension through the 2015-16 season.

NIT: Tony Mitchell, Charvez Davis and Trevor Releford scored 12 each as host Alabama (22-11) defeated Coastal Carolina 68-44. … Marshall Moses had 18 points and eight rebounds in host Oklahoma State's 71-54 victory over Harvard. The Cowboys (20-13) scored a season-high 41 points in the first half. … Andrew Goudelock had a career-high 39 points as host College of Charleston beat defending champion Dayton 94-84.

UCF IN POSTSEASON: The Knights (19-11) host St. Bonaventure (16-14) at 8 tonight in the third-tier College Basketball Invitational tournament. The 16-team tournament got underway Tuesday.

Study: Women's teams have edge in classroom

ORLANDO — A study released Tuesday found women's teams in this year's NCAA Tournament graduated their players at a higher rate than their male counterparts.

An annual report by the University of Central Florida's Institute for Diversity and Ethics shows all the women's teams graduated at least 50 percent of their players compared with 76 percent of the men's teams. For the women, 91 percent of the teams graduated at least 70 percent, compared to 48 percent of men's tourney teams.

"I think for women athletes and basketball players the emphasis is on balancing academic and athletic performance," said institute director Richard Lapchick, the primary author of the study.

FLORIDA: The Gators (18-14) will host a WNIT opener against Maryland-Baltimore County (20-11) at 7 p.m. Friday. Tickets are $5 and are available at the ticket office at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, at gatorzone.com or toll-free at 1-800-344-2867, extension 6800.

SEC HONORS: Kentucky senior forward Victoria Dunlap was named AP's SEC player of the year for the second straight season. Tennessee's Pat Summit was named SEC coach of the year.

Andy Villamarzo, Times Correspondent
Tuesday, March 15, 2011

WESLEY CHAPEL — In Tuesday's Pasco County Varsity Baseball Tournament semifinal between Mitchell and Wiregrass Ranch, both teams were armed with solid hitting.

But in a matchup between top aces, it was Wiregrass' John Michael Gant edging Mitchell's Ryan Gilmore and shutting down the Mustangs' hot hitting by striking out eight and pitching a complete game in a 6-3 victory.

"I don't think (Gant) would have come out in the seventh inning even if I tried to take him out," Wiregrass coach Jeff Swymer said. "We battled and put pressure on them early, and that's what we wanted to do was score early to dictate the pace of the game. Great pitching will beat great hitting any day of the week."

Mitchell (10-3) was able to put together a scoring threat in the top of the first inning, when Gant (101 pitches) walked the first two batters. He was able to get Conner Hale to ground into a fielder's choice, and Kevin Games and Gilmore grounded out to end the inning.

The Bulls (9-4) took a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the inning, with junior Joel Marin nailing a towering three-run shot over the leftfield fence. Wiregrass added runs in the second, third and fifth innings, and that's all Gant would need to earn his fourth win of the season.

"On a day like this good pitching will always hold down good hitting," Mitchell coach Scot Wilcox said. "(Gant) pitched really well and our guys just weren't able to make enough adjustments."

In the earlier games, Sunlake defeated Zephyrhills 4-3 and Pasco rolled past Fivay 13-3.

Times wires
Tuesday, March 15, 2011

DAYTON, Ohio — Jerai Grant scored a career-best 22 points and fast-starting Clemson built a double-figure lead and never backed off in beating Alabama-Birmingham 70-52 on Tuesday night in an NCAA Tournament "First Four" game.

In a matchup of No. 12 seeds, part of the expanded tournament's new look, the Tigers went on a 21-2 run in the first half and never let the big lead slip away, as they had in several recent games.

Clemson (22-11) hurried out after the game to catch a flight to a second-round game against East No. 5 seed West Virginia (20-11) on Thursday afternoon at the St. Pete Times Forum in Tampa.

Milton Jennings added 11 points and Tanner Smith and Devin Booker each had 10 for Clemson, picked to finish seventh in the ACC.

Jamarr Sanders had 19 and Dexter Fields 12 for UAB (22-10), regular-season champions of Conference USA.

Ahead 39-27 at the break, Clemson never let the Blazers draw closer than eight points in the second half.

UAB's hopes wilted when, already trailing 61-42, it lost point guard Aaron Johnson.

Johnson, leading the nation in assists at 7.7 per game, was injured while trying to prevent an easy layup by Grant. After lying on the floor for several minutes, he left the court on crutches with a right leg injury.

This is the first year that the NCAA Tournament has had 68 teams, necessitating four first-round games to get the field cut to 64.

UNC-ASHEVILLE 81, UALR 77, OT: Matt Dickey and UNC-Asheville were quite an opening act.

Dickey led a late run that brought overtime, and J.P. Primm hit five free throws and had a decisive steal in the closing seconds, sending UNC-Asheville past Arkansas-Little Rock in a dramatic "First Four" opener.

There wasn't time for a curtain call. The Bulldogs (20-13) quickly headed to the airport for a charter flight to Washington, where they'll play Pittsburgh — the Southeast's top seed — on Thursday. The Bulldogs had never flown a charter before this week, and joked they felt "presidential" on the trip to Dayton.

"We're going to feel presidential again, and we're going to D.C.," Primm said. "So it's going to feel even better."

Dickey, UNC-Asheville's best player, scored 14 of the Bulldogs' last 18 points in regulation, including a 3-pointer with 10.5 seconds to go to tie it. The Bulldogs led for only 51 seconds in regulation,

Dickey, the Big South tournament's MVP, took only two shots in the first half. He and Primm wound up with 22 points apiece.

"I came in at halftime and they kept telling me to keep being aggressive, my shots will start falling," Dickey said.

Alex Garcia-Mendoza matched his career high with 21 points for Arkansas-Little Rock (19-17). Solomon Bozeman, a USF transfer and the Sun Belt's player of the year, scored 18 but fouled out with 55 seconds to go in regulation.

Bryan Burns, Times Staff Writer
Tuesday, March 15, 2011

WESLEY CHAPEL — The playoffs are seven weeks away, but Tuesday's semifinal between Land O'Lakes and Wesley Chapel at the Pasco County Varsity Baseball Tournament already had a postseason feel.

Certainly the Wildcats and the Gators are playoff-caliber teams who could meet again at regionals.

The Gators, though, will be sure to pitch a bit more carefully to Wesley Chapel's Zach White in the rematch.

White unloaded on a fastball down the middle of the plate in the eighth inning, sending a shot over the leftfield fence to give the Wildcats a 5-4, extra-inning victory.

The walk-off home run puts Wesley Chapel in Friday's final opposite Wiregrass Ranch.

It was also the first home run of White's prep career.

"I knew we needed a big hit," said White, a junior. "I just swung at it. It was right down the middle, so I hit it."

That White was even in a position to win it was a minor miracle for Wesley Chapel (11-0). The Wildcats trailed 4-2 going into the bottom of the seventh but scored twice to tie the game and remain undefeated. After leading off with a base hit, Geoff DeGroot came home from second on a Land O'Lakes error to cut the lead to one.

With runners on first and second and one out, the Gators thought they might have a chance to end the game on a double play ball up the middle. The batter, Keegan Tanner, beat the throw from second, though, and pinch-runner Cody Hodgens alertly rounded third and slid into home plate ahead of the throw to tie the game.

"I knew we had it in us to come back," White said.

Both teams scored two runs in the first inning, and the score remained 2-2 until the sixth inning when Land O'Lakes (9-3) grabbed the lead. After loading the bases with no outs, the Gators went ahead 3-2 on a wild pitch from Wesley Chapel starter Brandon Mumaw. The Gators' next batter, Trey McNickle, perfectly executed the squeeze play to make the score 4-2.

The lead, however, wouldn't stand over the final two innings for the Gators.

"Defense was the difference," Land O'Lakes coach Calvin Baisley said. "… I've got no complaints with the way they competed. We just didn't play good enough defense."

Consolation results

Brandon Brosher hit a two-run home run in the first inning to lead Springstead past Ridgewood 7-2.

Eagles starting pitcher Bobby Pasarela went the distance, allowing six hits and no earned runs to get the victory.

Julian Perez went 2-for-3 with a double and two runs scored for Springstead (8-5). Ridgewood (5-7) was paced by Robby McCabe, who went 2-for-3 with a double.

Also, Central won its first game of the tournament after defeating Hudson 7-4.

The Bears rallied twice to defeat the Cobras. Hudson (1-9) held a 3-0 lead after the first inning, but the Bears tied the game in the second.

Hudson scored a run in the third to go ahead 4-3, but Central (5-7) knotted the score again in the fourth and scored three runs in the sixth.

Times wires
Tuesday, March 15, 2011

CHICAGO — Derrick Rose scored 23 in the Bulls' seventh straight win, a 98-79 victory over the Wizards on Tuesday night that moved them into sole possession of first place in the East.

Luol Deng added 20 points and Keith Bogans scored 17 for the Bulls, who moved a half-game ahead of the Celtics.

"What's happening right now is everyone is talking about us," Deng said. "Human nature is that it's easy for us to fall into that trap of thinking we're going to walk out there and win. That's not the case. We have a lot of work to do."

Wizards center JaVale McGee had a rare triple double with 11 points, 12 rebounds and 12 blocks, the most since Toronto's Keon Clark had 12 blocks March 23, 2001.

"It was working for me (Tuesday night)," McGee said. "I was blocking so good in the first half people were starting to hesitate and were more afraid to go up, and it was easier to block shots."

McGee hit his triple double with a dunk with 18 seconds left, after which he received a technical foul for hanging on the rim.

"That was the hardest one point I ever tried to make in my life," McGee said. "It was crazy, but I got it. It was a dunk of relief."

Rookie Jordan Crawford scored 27 for the Wizards, who have lost five straight and fell to 1-30 on the road.

The Bulls have won 10 of their past 11 and are 30-4 at home. Only the Spurs (31-3) have done better on a homecourt.

"We feed off the fans," Rose said. "If it wasn't for them, we wouldn't be playing the way we're playing."

Ref sues AP, writer over tweet: Veteran referee William Spooner filed a federal lawsuit against the Associated Press and writer Jon Krawczynski over a Twitter message suggesting he made a bad call against the Rockets to make up for a bad call against the Timberwolves on Jan. 24. The tweet: "Ref Bill Spooner told (Wolves coach Kurt) Rambis he'd 'get it back' after a bad call. Then he made an even worse call on Rockets. That's NBA officiating folks." Spooner's attorney was advised that the league doesn't think suing a journalist for posting a tweet it deemed incorrect will be productive.

Game highlights: Danny Granger's 17-foot fadeaway with 0.3 seconds left gave the host Pacers a 119-117 win over the Knicks. … Joe Johnson scored 36 for the host Hawks, who romped to a 110-85 win over the Bucks.

Pacers 119, Knicks 117

NEW YORK (117): Anthony 10-20 6-7 29, Sha.Williams 4-7 0-0 10, Stoudemire 7-17 7-9 21, Billups 5-11 4-4 14, Fields 5-10 4-6 17, Jeffries 2-5 0-1 4, Douglas 5-11 3-3 17, Mason 1-4 0-0 3, Turiaf 1-3 0-0 2, Walker 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 40-89 24-30 117.

INDIANA (119): Granger 10-20 4-5 26, Hansbrough 12-17 6-8 30, Hibbert 5-13 5-6 15, Collison 9-13 5-5 24, George 2-5 1-2 5, D.Jones 3-8 0-0 7, Foster 1-1 1-2 3, Rush 0-3 0-0 0, Price 2-5 0-0 4, McRoberts 2-3 1-2 5. Totals 46-88 23-30 119.

New York 27 27 28 35— 117

Indiana 29 28 30 32— 119

3-Point Goals—New York 13-27 (Douglas 4-6, Anthony 3-5, Fields 3-5, Sha.Williams 2-3, Mason 1-2, Walker 0-1, Jeffries 0-1, Billups 0-4), Indiana 4-11 (Granger 2-5, Collison 1-1, D.Jones 1-2, George 0-1, Rush 0-1, Price 0-1). Fouled Out—None. Rebounds—New York 48 (Stoudemire 10), Indiana 56 (Hibbert 12). Assists—New York 21 (Billups, Fields 5), Indiana 26 (Collison 9). Total Fouls—New York 24, Indiana 19. Technicals—Foster. A—14,164 (18,165).

Hawks 110, Bucks 85

MILWAUKEE (85): Delfino 6-10 0-0 13, Mbah a Moute 1-6 0-0 2, Bogut 10-17 1-1 21, Jennings 1-8 2-2 4, Salmons 4-10 2-3 10, Boykins 1-4 0-0 2, Dooling 1-4 0-1 3, Sanders 1-5 3-4 5, Maggette 4-6 2-2 11, Douglas-Roberts 1-4 0-0 2, Barron 4-10 0-0 8, Brockman 2-2 0-0 4. Totals 36-86 10-13 85.

ATLANTA (110): Johnson 13-19 4-4 36, Smith 8-12 1-1 17, Horford 7-12 1-2 15, Teague 2-9 0-0 6, Hinrich 3-3 0-0 6, Crawford 1-4 1-1 4, Pachulia 0-0 0-0 0, Williams 7-9 0-0 16, Collins 0-0 0-0 0, Wilkins 3-3 0-0 6, Powell 0-0 0-0 0, Armstrong 2-2 0-0 4. Totals 46-73 7-8 110.

Milwaukee 17 22 16 30— 85

Atlanta 28 27 29 26— 110

3-Point Goals—Milwaukee 3-10 (Maggette 1-1, Dooling 1-2, Delfino 1-4, Jennings 0-1, Salmons 0-2), Atlanta 11-19 (Johnson 6-9, Teague 2-2, Williams 2-2, Crawford 1-4, Smith 0-2). Fouled Out—None. Rebounds—Milwaukee 37 (Bogut 13), Atlanta 44 (Smith 14). Assists—Milwaukee 22 (Salmons, Barron 4), Atlanta 31 (Crawford 8). Total Fouls—Milwaukee 14, Atlanta 17. Technicals—Salmons, Pachulia. A—13,590 (18,729).

Bulls 98, Wizards 79

WASHINGTON (79): Yi 5-9 4-7 14, Booker 1-2 0-0 2, McGee 5-14 1-3 11, Wall 7-14 2-3 17, Crawford 10-21 4-6 27, Seraphin 0-0 2-2 2, Evans 2-9 0-0 4, Shakur 0-2 0-0 0, N'diaye 1-1 0-0 2. Totals 31-72 13-21 79.

CHICAGO (98): Deng 8-19 2-5 20, Gibson 4-11 1-2 9, Thomas 3-10 1-2 8, Rose 8-21 5-5 23, Bogans 5-10 2-2 17, Brewer 4-5 1-2 9, Scalabrine 0-2 0-0 0, Korver 3-7 1-1 8, Asik 0-2 1-4 1, Watson 1-3 0-0 3, Butler 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 36-90 14-23 98.

Washington 19 27 14 19— 79

Chicago 31 19 25 23— 98

3-Point Goals—Washington 4-13 (Crawford 3-7, Wall 1-1, Shakur 0-1, Evans 0-4), Chicago 12-32 (Bogans 5-10, Deng 2-6, Rose 2-7, Thomas 1-1, Watson 1-2, Korver 1-3, Brewer 0-1, Scalabrine 0-2). Fouled Out—None. Rebounds—Washington 48 (McGee 12), Chicago 64 (Thomas 15). Assists—Washington 14 (Wall 7), Chicago 24 (Rose 7). Total Fouls—Washington 17, Chicago 16. Technicals—Yi, McGee, Bogans. A—22,103 (20,917).