Times wires
Saturday, May 5, 2012

Dodgers 5, Cubs 1

CHICAGO — Chris Capuano pitched seven shutout innings and drove in two runs to help Los Angeles avoid a three-game skid. The left-hander extended his scoreless-innings streak to 182/3 but was more excited by his two-run double in the second, his first RBIs since Aug. 24, 2007. "The first thing I did when I came in was watch my hit about 10 times," Capuano said. "That's the thing we get excited about as pitchers."

Times wires
Saturday, May 5, 2012

BOSTON — Jason Hammel learned a valuable lesson the hard way last year. He has taken that knowledge and turned it into success this year.

The former Ray continued his strong start with 62/3 solid innings and Mark Reynolds hit a three-run homer, helping the Orioles beat the Red Sox 8-2 on Saturday.

"I really decided the end of last year it was really time to make an adjustment," said Hammel, acquired from the Rockies in an offseason trade. "I was getting my teeth knocked in for about four years straight, and I decided it was time to make an adjustment. I went down to the bullpen in Colorado and focused on pitching there, learned how to pitch."

Hammel's ERA actually rose slightly Saturday, from 1.97 to 2.09. "Boy, he pounded the strike zone with good stuff," manager Buck Showalter said.

Baltimore won its fourth straight. Boston lost its fourth straight overall and ninth in 10 at home. "We've just got to come back and play better," DH David Ortiz said. "It's not magical."

By Tom Jones, Times Staff Writer
Saturday, May 5, 2012

tom jones' two cents

We're coming up on the halfway point of the NHL playoffs, but already there has been plenty to love about this year's race to the Stanley Cup. Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens? More like blood drops on noses and whiskers on Coyotes … and Flyers and Rangers. These are a few of our favorite things about this year's Stanley Cup playoffs.

Overtime

Find yourself having trouble getting out of bed in the morning? Nodding off at work in the afternoon? Perhaps you're staying up to watch overtime in the playoffs. See, there's a mantra among hockey fans: You simply cannot go to bed during overtime no matter how tired you are, how late it is and how early you have to get up in the morning. And it seems like every other night we're all abiding by that.

Seriously, is there a more thrilling thing in sports than sudden death overtime in the hockey playoffs?

Of the first 62 games in this year's playoffs, 20 have gone to overtime. Of the eight series in the first round, seven had at least one game go to overtime. The first five games of the Coyotes-Blackhawks series went to overtime.

The winner-take-all seventh game of the Devils-Panthers series in the first round went to double overtime. That right there is an example of what is so awesome about the Stanley Cup playoffs. Two teams whose season hangs on the next goal. Score it and you stay alive. Allow it and your season is finished.

Wednesday, the Rangers and Capitals started at 7:40 p.m. and were still going at it at a quarter after midnight Thursday in the third overtime before the Rangers' Marian Gaborik scored the goal that gave the Blueshirts a 2-1 series lead.

Watching former Lightning stars

For bay area hockey fans, if you can't root for the Lightning in the playoffs, cheering on former Lightning stars is the next best thing. In that regard, most likely are pulling for the Rangers, which features former Lightning coach John Tortorella, left, and forwards Brad Richards and Ruslan Fedotenko. All three hold a special place in Lightning history. Tortorella led the Lightning to its only Stanley Cup in 2004, Richards was the playoff MVP that year, and Fedotenko scored both goals in the 2-1 victory over the Flames in Game 7 of the Cup final.

A few other former Lightning players scattered about, but the interesting name out there is goalie Mike Smith, below, now in Phoenix. Smith was acquired in a trade that sent Richards to Dallas in 2008 and was supposed to become the Lightning's No. 1 goalie, but it never worked out that way. He left for Phoenix last offseason.

As it turned out, the Lightning desperately needed a No. 1 goalie this season, and Smith is the franchise goalie with the Coyotes.

Smith's name is brought up here for a purpose. To suggest he would have had this type of season with the Lightning is misguided. Smith, who left as a free agent, appears to be more the benefactor of Phoenix's defensive system than a goalie who has suddenly found the secret formula for stopping pucks. Think of it this way: Ilya Bryzgalov looked like a way better goalie with the Coyotes from 2007-11 than he has with the Flyers this season.

Seeing every game

For the first time, every game of the playoffs is being televised. NBC, NBC Sports Network and CNBC have picked up the bulk of the games nationally, with the NHL Network carrying a few strays in the first round. It's hard to believe, but in years past, not every playoff game could be seen on television. That had to be frustrating for those in the Tampa Bay area who were, say, a Devils fan or a Kings fan but were forced to find a sports bar to watch their favorite team instead of being able to watch at home. It's always better to order off the menu than to eat what the chef picks for you.

Mike Emrick

A perfect scenario: overtime and NBC's Mike Emrick on the play-by-play. No one makes playoff hockey more exciting than the Hockey Hall of Fame broadcaster. Emrick never makes himself bigger than the game he is calling. But his uncanny sense of timing and right balance of emotion make a dramatic game more dramatic. When it comes to hockey, there's Emrick and then there's everyone else. But while we're talking about "everyone else,'' Lightning play-by-play announcer Rick Peckham has been picked up by NBC for a few games this postseason. In less than 24 hours, Peckham called games in New York and Vancouver, and sounded crisp on each game.

Seeing new stars

Every playoff season seems to bring an unexpected star. This year our favorite is a 22-year-old kid from Lloydminster, Saskatchewan, named Braden Holtby. Unless you're a Capitals fan, you probably had never heard of this goalie before a few weeks ago. Coming into this postseason, Holtby had played 21 NHL games. But that didn't stop him from outplaying last year's playoff MVP, Boston goalie Tim Thomas, in the first round. Meantime, the Rangers' Chris Kreider, who turned 21 on Monday, already has two winning goals in these playoffs. Just last month, Kreider was at the Tampa Bay Times Forum leading Boston College to the national championship in the Frozen Four. Think about it: Kreider could continue scoring goals, lift the Stanley Cup, get his name on the Stanley Cup, then make his NHL regular-season debut in October. Crazy, eh?

Unexpected stars

Every season a few third- and fourth-line players suddenly sport a red cape and become Superman. They go from being muckers, grinders and pluggers to scoring key goals. Remember last season when then-Lightning Sean Bergenheim went crazy collecting big goals? This season it's players such as New Jersey's Travis Zajac and Phoenix's Antoine Vermette and Mikkel Boedker.

Zajac scored two goals in 15 games during an injury-plagued regular season but had five in his first 10 playoff games. Vermette has five goals in 10 playoff games after scoring 11 in 82 regular-season games. And Boedker scored overtime winners in back-to-back games in the first round after having two winning goals all regular season.

Martin Brodeur

The legendary Devils goalie turns 40 today, and he will be in net for New Jersey as it tries to take a 3-1 series lead against the Flyers. Brodeur won his first postseason game in 1994. Flyers defenseman Sean Couturier, who is facing Brodeur in this semifinal round, was 1 at the time. Brodeur has won 105 playoff games, more than every other starting goalie left in these playoffs combined. Do yourself a favor and watch Brodeur before his postseason ends. This could be his last season. It could be his last run at a Cup. Watch him closely right now so you can always remember the greatest goalie who has ever lived.

Associated Press
Saturday, May 5, 2012

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — I'll Have Another caught Bodemeister down the stretch and pulled away in the final furlong on Saturday to win the Kentucky Derby.

Jockey Mario Gutierrez, riding in his first Derby, guided the 3-year-old colt ahead of Bob Baffert's Bodemeister and a late closing Dullahan to win on a fast track.

It was trainer Doug O'Neill's first Derby victory. He had never finished better than 13th in the Derby with two other horses.

I'll Have Another, the Santa Anita Derby winner, went off at 15-1 in one the deepest and evenly balanced fields in recent years to win by 1½ lengths.

The chestnut colt, owned by J. Paul Reddam, finished the 11/4-mile race in 2:01.83 in front of a Derby-record crowd of 165,307.

The 20-horse field was expected to see a fast pace set by Trinniberg. Instead, Bodemeister rocketed right to the front through impossibly fast fractions. That pace proved his undoing.

Turning for home, Bodemeister, sent off at 6-1, held a clear lead — as much as five lengths — but the closers were starting to find their best ride as he began to weaken. The 9-2 race favorite, Union Rags, was squeezed between horses at the break, later ran into more traffic problems and was not a factor.

I'll Have Another paid $32.60, $13.80 and $9. Bodemeister returned $6.20 and $5.60 and Dullahan paid $7.20.

Times wires
Saturday, May 5, 2012

White Sox 3, Tigers 2

DETROIT — Adam Dunn hit a two-run homer deep to right off Jose Valverde in the ninth inning for Chicago. The Tigers beat the White Sox 5-4 on Friday night when Jhonny Peralta hit a two-run shot with one out in the ninth. There was also one out when Dunn hit a 422-foot drive off Valverde. Detroit's Delmon Young, a former Ray, went hitless in his first game back from a seven-day suspension after his April 27 arrest in New York.

By John C. Cotey, Times Staff Writer


Saturday, May 5, 2012

Tramaine Batten spent his first year in big school playing little league football.

He spent his second blocking for seniors.

He spent his third bursting onto the scene at Dunedin.

His fourth?

"I just can't wait," Batten said. "Senior season, I'm going all out."

Batten developed into one of Tampa Bay's top running backs last season. A 5-foot-10, 190-pound back with 4.6 speed and a nose for contact, Batten ran for 1,194 yards and 10 touchdowns, and had another three touchdowns on receptions.

Friday, Florida came by to take a look at Batten and rising junior linebacker Brenton Allen.

Batten may be too small a fit for the Gators offense, but Batten was thrilled they expressed interest.

"If he keeps progressing like he is, I think he's a BCS player," second-year head coach Max Smith said. "The offers are going to come."

On Feb. 23, a date Batten has memorized, he got his first offer, from Toledo. He has received another, from Massachusetts.

"I was shocked when Toledo offered," Batten said. "I was like, 'Me? Tramaine Batten?' I was kind of doubting myself. But now I want more offers, I want to prove myself."

Batten has lacked for confidence in the past. He grew frustrated with his lack of touches his sophomore season and had a so-so spring last year. He went into the fall of 2011 thinking he might be a 500-yard back.

"When I originally saw him in the spring, I thought he could be the guy," Smith said. "Then in the spring game, he didn't play real well. Shaquille Dixon (Dunedin's other back) actually outplayed him."

But Batten never stopped working out. He spent the summer getting stronger and faster. Smith said Batten is one of his team's fiercest players in the weight room, and his competitiveness is what separates him from the others.

He was pedestrian in the pre-season classic last fall, but the regular season was a different story.

He opened the season with a touchdown catch against Tarpon Springs. He had a 90-yard touchdown run the next week against Robinson, three touchdowns against Middleton and Lennard, and emerged as the Falcons' No. 1 option.

"He had one long run, a great run against Tarpon where he broke a couple of tackles and trucked this one guy in the open field and kept going," Smith said. "I think he finally realized how good he could be. He's so physical for how small he is, but he actually looks for contact. He's a legit 4.6 kid, not a flat-out flier, but he hasn't been caught yet."

After the season, Smith called Matt Campbell, Toledo's new head coach, and tried to convince him Batten was worth a look and the perfect fit for the Rockets' spread offense.

Smith had played for Campbell (and with receivers coach Jason Candle) when the three were at Mount Union.

"He kind of put off watching his film. Finally he watches it and texts me like, 'Max, this is kid is freaking awesome.' "

Batten is now part of a strong running attack that Smith hopes pushes the Falcons into the district title mix. That is a tall order, considering Dunedin has to play Gibbs, Lakewood, Robinson and Jesuit, a group with at least 35 college prospects between them.

But a confident Batten is ready to lift himself, and his team, to the next level.

"Coach said my time will come," Batten said. "I plan on playing my hardest to make it happen."

By Gary Shelton, Times Sports Columnist


Saturday, May 5, 2012

TAMPA

On the 100th day of Greg Schiano's new job, he stood quietly in the sun, teaching rookies how to sweat. There in the afternoon heat, he seemed to be doing very well at it.

It was Friday, and a calmer, more patient Schiano was standing on the sideline at the start of the Bucs' minicamp. Schiano's hands were on his hips, and his face was passive for, oh, four minutes or so.

Then Schiano saw something he didn't like, and his voice rose to the point where you worried that the windows at One Buc Place might shatter.

"You're trying to make a team!" Schiano yelled. "You can't make a team running half-a - -!"

Yeah, that's what Schiano sounds like. Loud. Urgent. Demanding. Like a man trying to stuff 75 seconds into every minute.

He is still new, but already Schiano sounds a lot like hope. He looks like a coach, and he acts like a coach, and until further evidence is at hand, it seems as if Tampa Bay is willing to believe he is the coach to solve all the riddles on the roster. So far, you might say, so good. One hundred days in and, yeah, this feels like Schiano's team.

Yeah, yeah. There is a reason they don't give out trophies in May, and fans always like a fresh face who offers a fresh start. I'm sure during Leeman Bennett's first offseason, there were those who thought things were moving along swimmingly, too.

"Not until we go out and play games or work through a training camp will it feel like, 'Hey, we're all doing this,' " Schiano said. "We're learning about each other right now, which is the way it works when you're new. They're learning about me, and I'm learning about them."

As for Tampa Bay, it seems to be learning, too.

Soon enough Schiano will be judged on how many he wins and how many he loses, and whether trophies are involved, just like any other NFL coach. For now Schiano has not run when he should have passed or passed when he should have run or punted when he should have gone for it or lost a game he should have won.

That said, it is safe to say this much: No one around here seems ready to ship him back to Rutgers, do they?

For that matter, no one cares if Chip Kelly of Oregon is ready to reconsider. No one wants to interview Mike Sherman one more time. Put it this way: If being an NFL coach was an elected job, Schiano would carry Tampa Bay.

"I think Buccaneer fans are starting to understand why we went through the entire interview process," general manager Mark Dominik said. "Some people wondered, 'How did you hire Greg Schiano?' I think people are learning why he's been a candidate for the NFL for a while.

"He's organized. Detailed. Disciplined. Structured. Tough. He's a loyal guy. We're very happy about our decision. He's been everything you want him to be."

Let's face it. The Bucs needed a lot of what Schiano has brought to town. They needed structure, they needed direction, they needed urgency. If you don't think so, roll the calendar back to the 100 days before Schiano was hired.

That week, back in October, the Bucs had gone to 4-2. That was when disaster hit. Albert Haynesworth happened. Tanard Jackson happened. Coach Raheem Morris getting fired happened. Along the way, the Bucs lost 10 in a row. They didn't play very hard, or very tough, or very well.

As much as anything, getting rid of last year's taste was the reason the franchise needed Schiano to hit the field running. And he has. Already the Bucs have learned a great deal about what to expect from the new boss.

"I think that's important, especially in this situation," Schiano said. "A lot of times, jobs are open for a reason. The Bucs brought me here to do a job, and I'm going to try to do it to the best of my ability. Part of that is setting the tone and tempo of how we're going to do it."

As much as anything, that explains the way Schiano has attacked this job. He gets in some mornings as early as 5:30. He works some nights until 11. He has watched endless film. He is an intense guy, Schiano, one of those guys who gives off the impression that he would rather be in the next room watching film.

Remember all the questions when Schiano was hired? The announcement was ripped by Sports Illustrated, by CBSSports.com. He was a college coach, the critics said. He was out of his element.

Who knows how this turns out in the end? Eventually the scoreboard will judge Schiano's career. With coaches, it's always that way.

So far, however, it's easy to be impressed with Schiano's start. Haynesworth and Jackson are gone. Vincent Jackson and Carl Nicks are here. Standards have returned. Enthusiasm has returned. When you consider last week's signing of former Rutgers defensive tackle Eric LeGrand, the heart of a franchise may have returned.

For 100 days he has been a hit. Especially compared to the 100 that came before them.

By the way, the Bucs' first preseason game is only 96 days away.

Better hurry.

By Stephen F. Holder, Times Staff Writer
Saturday, May 5, 2012

TAMPA — The Bucs have 89 players on their roster but are eyeing a few more during this weekend's rookie minicamp.

That means moves could be made in the next couple of days.

Teams are limited to 90 players on their offseason roster, up from 80. But unlike in the past, unsigned rookies count toward that number. Several players signed in recent weeks coupled with last weekend's draft leave the Bucs with little wiggle room.

Saturday, coach Greg Schiano said he is intrigued by some defensive linemen.

"It's going to be hard to decide which D linemen we go with because there are some that have done a good job and show promise," Schiano said. "(Saturday night was) a big night, evaluating everything and meeting as a staff, grinding through it and making some decisions."

Ten defensive linemen are participating this weekend. Two from North Carolina, Hilee Taylor and Jordan Nix, were coached by Bucs special assistant Butch Davis. The Bucs have one more workout today and likely will notify players they want to keep before they leave town.

How many will the Bucs keep?

"It'll be as many guys as we think can help us win," Schiano said.

GOODE START: LB Najee Goode, drafted in the fifth round, doesn't have a clear role, but the Bucs don't intend to have him sitting around, either.

Goode has been working at weakside and middle linebacker. At West Virginia, he saw time at those positions as well as at strongside linebacker. His ability to play in the middle, where he played as a freshman and senior, might be helpful for the Bucs, who are leaning toward Mason Foster as the starter but have questionable depth behind him.

It's a role Goode takes seriously.

"Being the signal caller, a lot of people look at the (middle linebacker) for leadership," he said. "But coming in as a rookie, I'm trying to come in and earn my stripes just as every other vet did when they were a rookie."

Participating in camp is giving Goode a closer look at Schiano, whom he got to know from afar while playing against his Rutgers teams in the Big East.

"Coach Schiano always gets the best out of his players," said Goode, whose teams never lost to Rutgers. "We noticed that from guys like (former Rutgers stars) Ray Rice and Kenny Britt.

"Even when we played them, they were beating … us early in a game and then we had to flip it around. I know one thing about Coach Schiano: He's going to get the best out of his players. And that's what I like about him."

NOT THERE YET: First-round pick Mark Barron is not being held out of action. But Schiano said it's obvious the safety is still hobbled by January's double-hernia surgery that prevented him from taking part in the scouting combine.

"He's recovered from that," Schiano said. "But you can see he's still not 100 percent."

Stephen F. Holder can be reached at sholder@tampabay.com.

Times wires
Saturday, May 5, 2012

WASHINGTON — Mike Green's power-play goal with 5:48 left in the third period lifted the Capitals to a 3-2 victory over the Rangers on Saturday that tied their Eastern Conference semifinal at two games each.

Alex Ovechkin and Nicklas Backstrom also scored for Washington. The trio, together since 2007-08, scored in the same game for the first time in any playoff game and the first time since Oct. 30, 2010. Washington is 13-0 when it happens.

"People have been talking about how we need to step up," said Backstrom, who had not scored since Game 2 of the first round against Boston. "If you work hard, good things happen to you, somebody told me."

Washington, which lost Game 3 in triple overtime, hasn't lost two straight since March 22-23 and is 3-0 following overtime losses this postseason.

"It's an opportunity lost," Rangers wing Mike Rupp said. "You've got to let it marinate and let it burn and use it to our advantage on Monday."

First Period—1, Wash, Ovechkin 4, 12:43. Penalties—Stralman, NYR (interference), 2:25.

Second Period—2, NYR, Anisimov 2 (Girardi, Boyle), 1:10. 3, Wash, Backstrom 2 (Chimera, Ward), 11:54. 4, NYR, Gaborik 3 (Anisimov, Staal), 16:43. Penalties—Ward, Was (holding), 9:30; Ovechkin, Was (charging), 12:17.

Third Period—5, Wash, Green 2 (Wideman), 14:12 (pp). Penalties—Hagelin, NYR (slashing), 13:45. Shots on Goal—NYR 3-10-7—20. Wash 14-6-6—26. Power-play opportunities—NYR 0 of 2; Wash 1 of 2. Goalies—NYR, Lundqvist 6-5-0 (26 shots-23 saves). Wash, Holtby 6-5-0 (20-18). A—18,506 (18,398).

Flyers-devils: Philadelphia center Sean Couturier likely will sit out today's Game 4 with a leg injury sustained in Game 3.

Predators-coyotes: Nashville coach Barry Trotz said there was a "high probability" wings Alex Radulov and Andrei Kostitsyn would play in Monday's Game 5. Radulov (team-high six playoff points) and Kostitsyn (tied for the team lead with three goals) have sat out two games since missing curfew.

Times wires
Saturday, May 5, 2012

TALLADEGA, Ala. — Last year Jimmie Johnson had a plan that ended with a victory.

In this year's spring race at Talladega Superspeedway, rule changes have forced Johnson to toss the plan.

He still hopes for a win in today's Sprint Cup Aaron's 499. It just might be a little less predictable.

Johnson and Hendrick Motorsports teammate Dale Earnhardt Jr. spent almost the entire spring race last year together in a two-car draft, which at the time was the fastest way to get around the 2.66-mile superspeedway.

NASCAR rule changes in February eliminated much of the tandem racing in the Daytona 500 and brought back more of a large pack to restrictor-plate races. Given the change, Johnson said there is no plan in place this season to work with any particular teammate.

"We had made an agreement in our situation that, especially when the pushing was around, that we will do anything to help each other out," Johnson said.

"Now the racing has changed; we are in the packs now. I don't know if I will be around (Earnhardt), but if he is in front of me, absolutely I'm pushing him. The race unfolded in a certain way last time partly because my car was faster leading than his was."

Johnson's bigger concern in practice was how higher temperatures might affect engines during the 500-mile race.

Part of the rule changes by NASCAR made it more difficult for teams to remain close together for extended periods. Temperatures today likely will surpass 90 degrees, so higher engine temperatures mean two-car tandems will be sporadic.

There is some speculation that even the amount of time spent within a pack could be reduced if engine temperatures spike with the close racing.

"With the elevated temperatures here, those packs could be smaller," Johnson said. "I do know that NASCAR will have a close eye on things."

GORDON ON POLE: Jeff Gordon grabbed the top starting spot for today's race with a lap at 191.623 mph in his Hendrick Chevrolet. It was Gordon's first pole since this race last year and 71st of his career, third on the all-time list. "The biggest positive is just the fact we've had a rough start to the season, not a lot has gone our way other than we've had fast cars but not a lot of results to show for it," said Gordon, 17th in points.

SEAU TRIBUTE: Michael Waltrip, who races today in the No. 55 Toyota he owns, will carry a tribute to the late Junior Seau. Waltrip was a fan of Seau, the former NFL linebacker who committed suicide last week at age 43. Seau also wore No. 55 over his 20 seasons, and Waltrip's car will carry a small sticker in his honor.

By Rick Stroud, Times Staff Writer
Saturday, May 5, 2012

TAMPA — Mark Barron will eventually connect with Bucs fans, but it won't be orally.

A gift for gab is not among his many talents. The former Alabama safety is quiet as church prayer.

In the jaw-jacking world of professional sports, that can be refreshing. But almost as soon as last month's first-round draft pick arrived in Tampa, it was obvious Barron disdains interviews and sees no reason to expand his responses into a few words when syllables will do.

"I am a serious guy. But, I mean, I can have fun," Barron said Saturday, the second day of the Bucs' rookie minicamp. "It ain't to the point where I can't have fun. I will talk. But I ain't the type when I walk into the room where I'm going to talk to everybody."

Though Barron might never be the mouthpiece for the team, he promises to dislodge a few.

The 6-foot-2, 218-pounder was a two-time captain of an Alabama defense that last season finished No. 1 in Division I-A in pass defense — allowing the fewest yards (111.5 average per game) and touchdowns (six) — and run defense — allowing the fewest yards (72.2 per game) and touchdowns (three).

As a sophomore, he led the SEC with seven interceptions. He was on the path to entering the draft after his junior season, during which he had three interceptions, before tearing his pectoral muscle during the final regular-season game.

As a senior, Barron posted 66 tackles but only two interceptions, primarily because he was rarely thrown at.

"At Alabama they just raved about the toughness and the type of mentality he brought to the team," Bucs player personnel director Dennis Hickey said.

Growing up in Mobile, Ala., that toughness was perhaps pounded into Barron during the countless games of football played in his grandmother's front yard. Sometimes, he said, the competition would spill into the streets, where they would play tackle with no pads.

"It was just a thing where we got bored, and we played where ever we could play," Barron said. "If it was out there in the street, that's where we played at. Sometimes you get a little intense, and people want to do this and that. So sometimes it ended up tackle in the streets."

Barron's talent — and reputation as the strong, silent type — was obvious at an early age. He started playing defensive line at age 6, and by the time he reached St. Paul's Episcopal School, he was called "Superman." During his junior year, in 2007, he won state titles in the shot put and triple jump.

St. Paul's coach Mike Bates, who played him at linebacker on defense and running back and receiver on offense, called Barron "the best football player I've ever seen" in 30 years of coaching.

Barron said the fertile recruiting grounds of Mobile produced good players and better competition. He was high school teammates with Alabama quarterback A.J. McCarron and defensive back Diego Barry; Mississippi State defensive back Louis Watson, and Destin Hood, a I-A prospect who chose baseball after being drafted in the second round by the Nationals in 2008.

"I think that just keeps pushing the level of the players that are coming out higher and higher," Barron said.

The Bucs, who allowed a franchise-worst 494 points in 2011 and were last in run defense at 156.1 yards per game, determined they needed more toughness in the middle, particularly in the secondary. Sitting with the No. 5 overall pick of the draft, they passed on LSU cornerback Morris Claiborne, then traded down two spots to draft Barron while picking up a fourth-round pick.

"The player sold himself," Hic­key said. "He is a player against the run and the pass. He brings a toughness. We wanted to become tougher, smarter and be improved tackling. We wanted to be able to get guys down and have a physical presence in the back end.

"And Mark, as we kept doing more and more research on him, he continued to check boxes, so to speak."

Barron's reticence to speak out got him in trouble last year, when he was arrested for hindering prosecution, a second-degree misdemeanor, in March 2011.

When police asked him how his car wound up wrecked and abandoned at 5 a.m. in Mobile, he said a man named "Bull" took it without permission. When police discovered the driver was Barron's cousin and gave him a chance to recant his statement, he clammed up and paid $500 to make bail.

The charge was eventually dismissed.

Communicating on the field has never been a problem for Barron, a two-time BCS national champion who made all the calls in the secondary for the complex schemes of coach Nick Saban.

"You can see it on tape. He's lining up guys," Hickey said. "When it comes to football, he's very communicative."

Sometimes, the talent speaks for itself.

Rick Stroud can be reached at stroud@tampabay.com.

Times wires
Saturday, May 5, 2012

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — For someone playing so close to his house, Webb Simpson has been on edge all week.

The home crowd. Two rounds with Tiger Woods. His name atop the leaderboard at Quail Hollow alongside Rory McIlroy and so many others late Saturday afternoon. It has caused him to try extra hard to block everything out except the shot in front of him.

So far it has worked better than he imagined.

Simpson broke out of a five-way tie for the lead with a 12-foot birdie putt on the 17th hole, and a 3-under 69 gave him 14-under 202 and a one-shot lead over Ryan Moore (68) and D.A. Points (69) going into the final round of the Wells Fargo Championship.

"It seems like when guys on this level do get nervous, it seems like every time they focus a little better, they just tighten up their thoughts a lot better," Simpson said. "Seems like when I'm more nervous, for the most part, I play better. It's not a good thing when we get comfortable out there because you start getting lazy and losing focus on your target."

Ten players are separated by four shots on a course where anything can happen. Two years ago McIlroy made the cut on the number, closed with a course-record 62 and won.

This time McIlroy goes into the final round of the PGA Tour event two shots behind and playing better each day. He can go back to No. 1 in the world by finishing seventh, though what matters more is that trophy. He was among seven players who had a share of the lead at some point before he fell back with a three-putt bogey on the 16th and had to settle for 66.

"I definitely feel like I've left a couple out there," McIlroy said.

CHAMPIONS: Fred Funk shot 3-under 69 in sweltering heat for a share of the second-round lead with Tom Lehman in the Insperity Championship at the Woodlands, Texas. Lehman followed his opening 65 with a 70 to match Funk at 9-under 135 on the Tournament Course. The main attraction was the grouping of Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, Gary Player and Lee Trevino in an exhibition run in conjunction with the tournament. Palmer curled in a 25-foot birdie putt on the final hole, prompting a roar from the massive gallery that followed the greats all day.

LPGA: Pornanong Phatlum of Thailand and Karine Icher of France shot 7-under 66 in the first round of the two-day Brazil Cup in Rio De Janeiro. American Katie Futcher was a shot behind. Tampa's Cindy LaCrosse was tied for 17th at par 73.

Times wires
Saturday, May 5, 2012

GAINVESVILLE — Third-ranked Florida handed No. 1 and defending national champion Northwestern its worst loss in nine years in winning its first American Lacrosse Conference title 14-7 on Saturday.

Freshman midfielder Shannon Gilroy had seven goals for the Gators (17-2), who also achieved two other feats against the Wildcats (17-2), who have won six of the past seven national women's titles. They ended Northwestern's run of conference titles at five and became the first team to beat it twice in a season during Kelly Amonte Hiller's 11 seasons as coach. Florida won 8-7 in Evanston, Ill., on April 21.

"I'm just really proud of this program," said coach Amanda O'Leary, whose program is in its third season.

The loss was Northwestern's worst since 11 goals against Syracuse in the final game of 2003.

The NCAA tournament draw is announced tonight. Florida is likely to be the top seed with Syracuse, Maryland, North Carolina and Northwestern the contenders for the top four.

Football: Top recruit reneges on Ohio State

One of the nation's top linebacker recruits who orally committed to Ohio State last month has told the Buckeyes he will not attend the university amid concern that a convicted sex offender had interactions with players and recruits associated with the program.

Alex Anzalone, of Wyomissing, Pa., was a big catch for coach Urban Meyer's recruiting class, committing during the school's spring game. He told the school Friday he would reopen his recruiting process after being contacted by Charles Eric Waugh, 31, of Ashland, Ky.

In 2008, Waugh pleaded guilty to five counts of possession of underage sexual content. This year, he contacted, via Twitter, several Ohio State coaches, athletes and recruits, including Anzalone. He also posed for photos with some of them.

"Something's just not right at Ohio State," Anzalone's father, Sal Anzalone, told the Reading (Pa.) Eagle newspaper. "It's not for him."

The school said in a statement Waugh is not associated with it in any way and it alerted athletes about him when it learned he had posed for photos with some of them.

Alex Anzalone previously said Florida and Stanford were at the top of his list with Ohio State. He said he also gave strong consideration to Southern Cal, Penn State and Notre Dame.

Baseball: No. 6 Kentucky (37-11, 15-9 SEC) edged No. 5 Florida (35-13, 14-10 SEC) 2-1 to avoid being swept in the three-game series at Lexington. Daniel Pigott homered for the Gators' only run.

Basketball: Arizona State's Trent Lockett, the team's leading scorer last season, said he will transfer to Marquette for his senior season to be closer to his mother, who has cancer. Lockett earned a bachelor's degree in business communication from Arizona State, allowing him to be eligible to play right away.

Times wires
Saturday, May 5, 2012

Boxing

Mayweather withstands game Cotto

LAS VEGAS — Floyd Mayweather Jr. used his speed, accuracy and defense to remain unbeaten, scoring a unanimous decision over Miguel Cotto in their 154-pound title bout early today.

Mayweather improved to 43-0 after winning 117-111, 117-111, 118-110 over Cotto (37-3), who bloodied Mayweather's nose and kept the fight close until late.

Soccer

Rowdies' unbeaten streak halted

The Rowdies' four-match unbeaten streak came to an end as Hans Denissen and Aaron Pitchkolan scored second-half goals in host San Antonio's 2-0 victory at Heroes Stadium.

Denissen converted a penalty kick in the 53rd minute, and in the 66th minute, Denissen's corner kick was headed in by Pitchkolan.

Chelsea wins FA Cup: Chelsea won the FA Cup for the fourth time in six seasons, beating Liverpool 2-1 on a second-half goal by Didier Drogba, who became the first player to score in four finals.

Hockey

U.S. tops Canada at worlds in OT

Jack Johnson scored his second goal of the game 1:47 into overtime to lift the United States to a 5-4 win over Canada at world championship in Helsinki.

Lightning center Nate Thompson, Jim Slater and Patrick Dwyer also scored in regulation for the Americans (2-0-0), who beat Canada at the event for the first time since 2001 and just the fourth time in 42 tries overall.

Also, Lightning defenseman Victor Hedman had an assist as Sweden beat the Czech Republic 4-1, and Russia beat Latvia 5-2.

ET CETERA

Greyhounds: Art Allen, Backwood Alva, Friecracker Gus and Flying Lane Wolf won first-round qualifiers in the $20,000 Gold Trophy Juvenile at Derby Lane in St. Petersburg. Qualifying resumes Wednesday night.

Obituary: Dick Beam, a Bucs assistant and executive for their first five seasons, died of cancer Thursday in the Los Angeles suburb of Corona. He was 75. Mr. Beam was an assistant under John McKay at Southern Cal and followed him to Tampa Bay. He also was the Rams' director of operations from 1981-90.

Tennis: Venus Williams held off a late surge by Simona Halep to win 6-1, 4-6, 7-6 (8-6) in the first round of the Madrid Open. Fifth-seeded Sam Stosur of Tampa also needed three sets to beat Petra Martic 7-5, 4-6, 7-6 (7-5). … Third-seeded Marin Cilic beat Tommy Haas in straight sets to reach the final of the BMW Open in Munich, where he will face 2007 winner Philipp Kohlschreiber.

Track: Usain Bolt won the 100 meters in 9.82 seconds at the Jamaica International Invitational, winning his first 100 of the year in the world's fastest time this year. American Carmelita Jeter won the women's 100 in 10.81, the best time in the world this year.

Don Jensen, Times correspondent; Times wires

Times wires
Saturday, May 5, 2012

Mets 4, Diamondbacks 3

NEW YORK — Johan Santana won for the first time in 20 months, and New York snapped a four-game losing streak. Mike Nickeas and Andres Torres hit two-run singles to back Santana, who toughed out seven innings for his first victory since he had shoulder surgery in September 2010. The Mets had scored four runs in his first five starts this season.

Times wires
Saturday, May 5, 2012

Giants 5, Brewers 2

SAN FRANCISCO — Madison Bumgarner shut down Milwaukee for seven innings and added an RBI double to win his eighth straight home start, helping San Francisco snap a season-worst four-game losing streak. Buster Posey and Brett Pill added RBI hits in a three-run sixth inning against Randy Wolf.

Times wires
Saturday, May 5, 2012

ANAHEIM, Calif. — Albert Pujols, stumbling through the longest home run drought of his 12-year career, was not in the Angels' starting lineup Saturday for the first time this season.

The three-time NL MVP wasn't happy about it. When reporters approached his locker, he said: "Go ask the manager, not me, guys. I don't make the lineup."

Mark Trumbo, who moved from first base to third then the outfield after the Angels signed Pujols, started at his original position against the Blue Jays. It gave Pujols a chance to contemplate his .194 batting average and five RBIs through his first 27 AL games.

"It's good that he has a day off," Angels RF Torii Hunter said. "He knows it. But I know he doesn't want to be out of the lineup.

"Albert shouldn't be happy about it. He's a competitor, man. He's just like me. I don't want to be out of the lineup. I wouldn't be happy about it, but I know it would probably be beneficial. Sometimes you just need a mental break."

Manager Mike Scioscia informed Pujols on Friday night that he was going to rest him. Pujols has gone 33 games and 137 at-bats without a home run since late last season.

"Sometimes you're grinding, and nobody grinds harder than Albert," Scioscia said.

In other Angels news, reliever Kevin Jepsen was demoted to Triple-A Salt Lake to make room for RHP Ernesto Frieri, acquired Thursday from the Padres.

BELL OUT AS CLOSER: One day after blowing his fourth save this season, Marlins closer Heath Bell was demoted from that role. Manager Ozzie Guillen said he couldn't wait for the right-hander to correct his problems.

LEE NEARLY READY: Phillies LHP Cliff Lee, who has missed three starts because of a strained oblique, had a successful bullpen session and was expected to return to the rotation Wednesday.

High School HIRES EX-CATCHER: Winter Haven High School named 1992 World Series MVP and Lake Wales native Pat Borders as its head baseball coach, effective at the season's end.

BREWERS: SS Alex Gonzalez injured his right leg while stealing second base in the second inning and was sent for an MRI exam. … CF Carlos Gomez went on the 15-day disabled list with a strained left hamstring.

CUBS: LHP Travis Wood was scheduled to start today in place of former Rays RHP Matt Garza, scratched for a second straight game because of a virus.

PADRES: Closer Huston Street strained the lat muscle in his right (pitching) shoulder during Friday night's game against the Marlins and went on the 15-day disabled list.

RED SOX: RHP Aaron Cook needed 11 stitches after being spiked just below his left knee by Orioles 1B Chris Davis while covering home plate in the second inning.

Times wires
Saturday, May 5, 2012

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Shackleford is back.

On Saturday's Kentucky Derby undercard, last year's Preakness Stakes winner won the seventh race, the Grade I Churchill Downs, for his first victory since holding off Animal Kingdom and winning at Pimlico Race Course by a half-length.

The chestnut colt trained by Dale Romans and ridden by Jesus Castanon covered seven furlongs in 1 minute, 21:06 seconds and battled Amazombie to the end.

"He gave me a heck of a move right from the gate," Castanon said. "I sat right off them, and when I asked him to pick it up, he was game. … You couldn't ask for better."

SO CLOSE: Losing the Derby was bad enough. Letting down his son was worse for Bob Baffert.

Bodemeister, the bay colt named after the trainer's 7-year-old son, led but couldn't hold on and was overtaken by I'll Have Another.

"He was there," Baffert said. "He just got tired."

Baffert teared up in the paddock when he thought about his son's disappointment.

"I was watching my little son, Bode, I feel so bad for him," said Baffert, who named his boy after his skiing pal, Bode Miller.

BELIEVE IT: Believe You Can got extra attention as trainer Larry Jones' newest star filly after Friday's Kentucky Oaks win. "She's wanting treats and she thinks she deserves some reward," Jones said. "She gets all kind of peppermints, carrots, sweet potatoes, you name it. Whatever she wants, she's pretty well going to get."

And Rosie Napravnik, who became the first female jockey to win the Oaks in the race's 138 years, was back at Belmont Park in Elmont, N.Y. "It's just been a whirlwind. I haven't had a chance to sit down and relax yet," she said. "After the (Oaks) I had over 100 text messages, along with voice mails, Twitter, Facebook messages. We've been getting tons of support."

CELEB SIGHTINGS: As usual, many celebrities and sports figures made it to the Derby.

One was Bucs defensive tackle Amobi Okoye, a former star at Louisville who signed with Tampa Bay last month.

Other sports stars included Patriots coach Bill Belichick, Kentucky basketball coach John Calipari and Louisville counterpart Rick Pitino, and former tennis stars Andre Agassi and wife Steffi Graf. Olympic skier Lindsey Vonn trod the red carpet leading into the historic track wearing 6-inch heels.

From the nonsports realm, country music star Miranda Lambert, actor Terry O'Quinn from TV's Lost and Miss America Laura Kaeppeler appeared.

By Joey Knight, Times Staff Writer
Saturday, May 5, 2012

JACKSONVILLE — In the waning weeks of her junior year, 6-foot-1 Riverview star Faith Woodard says basketball remains her college sport of choice. But she acknowledges her speed and hops could translate to a track scholarship.

She's sure to have a few springtime suitors.

On a scorching, frenetic Saturday at the University of North Florida, Woodard won the girls high jump at the Class 4A state meet, matching her personal-best effort at 5 feet, 8 inches.

Even as preliminaries in the 100 and 400 meters diverted her attention, she never missed a jump until the bar was raised to 5-10. Homestead South Dade's Barbra Vilson, who edged Woodard for the 4A title in 2011, also cleared 5-8, but she had a miss along the way.

The multiple events "kept my legs warm and kept me moving and stuff like that," Woodard said. "I was not fresh, but I was pretty warm."

By day's end, Woodard had added a medal for her sixth-place finish in the 400. Just like that, her track future seemed brighter than the gold glistening at the end of the lanyard around her neck.

"(Jumps coach Jason Munsch) has really been on me this year to step it up and really, really concentrate on track," Woodard said. "Normally … I'm just focusing on basketball. So this year I was like, 'I got second last year, so why not try to win it all?' "

The girls pole vault competition produced a Pinellas County medal trifecta. Clearwater senior Courtney O'Donoghue (10 feet, 6 inches), Pinellas Park senior Abby Vivlamore (10-6) and Countryside sophomore Mary Margaret Mason (10-0) placed third, fourth and sixth, respectively.

Collectively, the trio, which trains together with the 727 Track & Field Club, has amassed five career state medals. O'Donoghue, who owns a career-best vault of 11 feet, has three.

"I'm pretty happy with what I did," O'Donoghue said. "I would've liked to have (hit a personal best) though."

Pinellas Park senior Jenna Sperna was the only competitor from her county to reach the medal stand twice, placing sixth in both the shot put (36-1/2) and discus (110-11). Patriots teammate Jasmine Laska was eighth in the discus (105-7).

St. Petersburg senior David Jones finished seventh in the long jump (22-43/4) and ninth in the triple jump (44-51/4), missing the medal stand in the latter event by 3 inches.

By Joe Smith, Times Staff Writer
Saturday, May 5, 2012

ST. PETERSBURG — With the bullpen taxed, having to soak up 81/3 innings Saturday, RHP Brandon Gomes had to fall on the sword.

Gomes was optioned to Triple-A Durham after the 4-3, 12-inning loss to the A's as the Rays needed a fresh reliever, with a corresponding move expected before today's game.

But Gomes' teammates and manager Joe Maddon appreciated his gutsy, 42-pitch outing Saturday, in which he was booed but battled his way out of a huge jam in the 10th.

Maddon did not want to use veteran RHP Joel Peralta or RHP Wade Davis — "arm preservation" — which is why he had nobody warming up even after Gomes threw 14 of his first 17 pitches for balls in the 10th, loading the bases on two walks and a hit batter.

The Tropicana Field crowd grew restless with Gomes, letting him hear it, before he escaped the inning by getting Brandon Inge on a strikeout and Jemile Weeks on a groundout to thwart the threat.

Gomes then tossed a 1-2-3 inning in the 11th.

"Outstanding job," Maddon said. "He's not had enough work, he's facing a very difficult moment, a pretty good crowd getting on him a little bit. And he showed you why he's as tough as he is. That wasn't lost on me or the players, everyone really appreciated what he did (Saturday)."

Gomes had struggled Friday night, too, allowing four of the six batters he faced to reach safely in his first appearance since April 26. Maddon blamed himself for not using Gomes often enough to keep him sharp.

But the Rays got the most out of Gomes this weekend.

"I really liked how Gomes battled through his inning and gave us a chance," Ben Zobrist said.

Early exit: RHP Jeremy Hellickson was "not pleased at all" after struggling with command in his shortest start of his career Saturday, lasting just 32/3 innings.

Hellickson allowed three runs, two earned, but threw just 59 of his 102 pitches for strikes, allowing five hits and three walks. Hellickson got into eight full counts, with Maddon saying his stuff and velocity were good, just lacking in fastball command.

"I felt good, I've just got to throw more strikes," Hellickson said.

It was the shortest start of the season by a Rays pitcher. Hellickson's previous shortest regular-season start was 41/3 innings on Aug. 11 against the Yankees.

OLD SCHOOL: LHP J.P. Howell gave the Rays a big lift, soaking up 21/3 innings after Hellickson's exit. He allowed one hit and struck out one in his longest relief appearance since Aug. 30, 2008, when he tossed 22/3 innings against Cleveland.

Howell's last two-inning appearance came May 29, 2009.

HOT CORNER: INF Will Rhymes, who made his third big-league start at third base, said he's getting more comfortable there. But he had a rough day Saturday, picking up a throwing error and misplaying a popup in the second that led to a single.

LOOKING UP: Maddon liked what he saw out of CF B.J. Upton in the second spot in the order Friday and had him there again Saturday, with plans on potentially sticking with it for a while. "He looked good right there," Maddon said. "It's something I've been thinking about, we've talked about since spring training. Just talked about maybe the right time to try to get it done. … Maybe it's the right time; we'll find out."

MISCELLANY: 1B Carlos Peña's solo homer in the fifth was his first homer since collecting his 1,000th career hit with a home run on April 24 against the Angels. … Maddon managed his 1,000th game with the Rays.

Joe Smith can be reached at joesmith@tampabay.com.