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Dejoun Dennard makes Armwood track and field history

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By Brandon Wright, Times Correspondent
Wednesday, April 13, 2011

SEFFNER

When Armwood's Dejoun Dennard was a little girl, classmates used to poke fun at her unusual name, which phonetically pronounced is Dee-john.

"Oh yeah, I heard it all the time," Dennard said. "They used to call me mustard."

Now it's appropriate to call Dennard something else — historic.

Dennard won the triple jump at last week's Vernon Korhn Hillsborough County Track and Field Championships with a mark of 36 feet, 5.5 inches. And in doing so, she became the first female in Armwood history to capture a county track and field title.

"I had a good day," Dennard said. "But I think I can do better."

And there are plenty of reasons to suggest Dennard's best is yet to come. The sophomore just started learning the intricate event last year when she could barely break the 28-foot mark.

"She's able to take the information she gets and understand it quickly," coach Evan Davis said. "She's made some great progress in a short amount of time."

The triple jump is an event most know nothing about, few understand and even fewer can perform. Triple jumpers run down a long straightaway and successively jump twice off the same foot before using the opposite foot to leap into the sand pit. It requires speed and strength, but also a tremendous amount of timing, rhythm and coordination, to do properly.

"It's a lost art," Davis said. "Most people don't know a whole lot about it."

Because the triple jump is an event that flies so far under America's sports radar, much of the video teaching Davis does comes off YouTube clips.

Dennard, who also plays basketball for the Hawks, said her friends are dumbfounded when she tries to explain the event.

"I show them what I do and they try it and just can't do it," she said "They are like 'Who does this?' "

In her first county championships last season, Dennard jumped nearly 4 feet shorter than her mark at this year's event. Her ability to process the techniques of the triple jump — sometimes on the fly — make Dennard the favorite to take the title at Thursday's district championships.

"Sometimes she can literally be in between jumps and I tell her something and she makes the adjustments," Davis said. "At the Charles Johnson (Invitational), she went from 34 feet to 35 feet to (a personal best) 36 feet, 10 inches just by processing the right adjustments."

Dennard also isn't content with her current status. She is just a half inch away from the school record in the triple jump and an inch away from a Hawks' best in the long jump.

Dennard said she plans on breaking both before the season ends.

"After she jumped 36 (feet) 10 (inches), I asked her if she was happy," Davis said. "Dejoun said no because she wanted to break those school records."

Dennard also takes honors classes at Armwood and carries a 3.7 grade point average. She plans to study psychology in college and Davis thinks Dennard has a good chance of continuing her triple jump career at the next level.

"If she keeps progressing, I think she can definitely jump at the Division I level," he said. "Plus she can also play basketball and has good academics. Really, she is a college coach's dream."

But college can wait. Dennard first has her sights sets on the upcoming district meet. If all goes as planned she'll advance, follow that up by improving on her fifth-place effort at last year's regionals and finish the season at states.

"She's athletic, she's smart, she listens and she wants to get better," Davis said. "Kids like that don't come along very often and it's the reason why I coach."

Brandon Wright can be reached at hillnews@sptimes.com.


Outback Steakhouse Pro-Am news and notes

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By Rodney Page, Times Staff Writer
Wednesday, April 13, 2011

Donny Alston doesn't mind the stares. He welcomes them. Alston will tee it up Friday as an amateur at the Outback Steakhouse Pro-Am at TPC Tampa Bay in Lutz, and he'll be the only player with a prosthetic limb. Alston, 48, lost most of his left leg during a special operations mission with the Army in 1985. He has volunteered at the tournament for several years, and last year he worked for tournament broadcaster NBC on the 17th hole. He chatted with several pros during the week and Outback CEO Chris Sullivan. Alston was prepared to be an honorary observer Sunday, but the round was rained out. As he was leaving, Sullivan stopped him.

"He turns around and says, 'Oh, by the way, we want you to play in the golf tournament next year,' " said Alston, who lives in Tampa. "I'm looking around thinking, 'Did he really say that?' But he really did, and here I am."

Alston's $12,000 amateur fee was picked up by sponsors. He will play 36 holes Friday and Saturday, and 18 more Sunday if his team is in the top 16 after the first two rounds. That he is playing at all is a major feat. Alston was in a deep depression after his injury.

"I didn't want to have anything to do with anybody," Alston said. "I spent four months in my apartment with the lights turned off. I was actually trying to work up the (guts) to kill myself. And if I had any (guts), I'd be dead right now. I sat there every day with my gun in my lap hoping I'd work up the nerve to shoot myself."

Alston's mom showed up at his apartment several times pleading with him to get better. Finally, she asked him to go to the driving range with her. He didn't have a prosthesis, but he took a few swings on one leg before making contact.

"That's all it took," Alston said. "She saved my life that day."

Since then he has tried several prosthetics, trying to get a good fit. He got back on the golf course and got down to a 4 handicap. He plays mostly at Fox Hollow in Trinity. A left-hander, Alston can drive it 250 to 270 yards.

He has talked to hundreds of other people who have lost limbs and felt depressed. "I've made it my mission to help people who have these issues," Alston said. "I know how that feels, and I don't want anyone feeling that way."

Alston was forced to take six weeks off recently due to an infection in the upper part of his left leg. He said he is just now starting to feel comfortable, but he wasn't going to miss this tournament for anything.

"Whether I play well or terribly, it doesn't matter," Alston said. "The main thing is I want to finish. If I can do that, then I've done something positive. It will make a difference to somebody."

Settling in

Part-time Dunedin resident Rod Spittle is getting used to life on the Champions Tour. After two years of Monday qualifying, Spittle earned full playing privileges when he won the AT&T Championship in San Antonio, Texas, last year. The Outback Steakhouse Pro-Am is his sixth tournament this year, more than he played all last year. Spittle has a tie for second and a tie for sixth, both on Florida courses. "It's been better than we could imagine," Spittle said. "We didn't have a set schedule before. This is a whole lot more fun." Spittle, 55, has a different mind-set now that he is a full-time member of the tour. "There were times during that stretch where you hope your game is good enough to get out here," Spittle said. "Now we're trying to see if it's good enough to stay out here." This week has extra meaning for Spittle. He lives in a condo on Dunedin Country Club, but he plays a lot at TPC Tampa Bay. He hopes his course knowledge will help him. "I split my time between Dunedin and here," Spittle said. "I get to sleep in my own bed. I'm only a half-hour away. You just hope that being familiar with everything pays off by the time you get to Saturday and Sunday."

Jinxed?

Scott Hoch has to wonder if the golf gods are against him. He has not played a tournament round since February 2010 because of a series of bad breaks. During his only tournament of 2010, the ACE Group Classic in Naples, Hoch hit a shot fat on the back nine and felt pain in his left wrist. He finished the tournament and wound up third. He had surgery on the wrist afterward and was out of action. Then, while trying to get back into shape at his beach house in Longboat Key, Hoch was run off the road while riding his bike. He broke his collarbone and was out of action again. Then thumb and back injuries further delayed his return. And just for good measure, Hoch was stung by a stingray while swimming in the gulf last summer. "I got really good at working my DVR," Hoch said. "I started watching way too much TV and enjoyed some fine wines. It cost me a lot of money to get this gut." This week's Outback Steakhouse Pro-Am is Hoch's first tournament in 14 months. His best finish in the Outback at TPC Tampa Bay is a tie for second in 2008, when he missed a 2-footer that would have forced a playoff with Tom Watson. Hoch's expectations this year are low. "It's good to be back," he said, "even though I'm not ready."

Perry makes the transition

Kenny Perry makes his 2011 Champions Tour debut this week at the Outback Steakhouse Pro-Am at TPC Tampa Bay in Lutz. He played in two events in 2010 in his tour debut; he doesn't have a win. Perry, 50, has played in six PGA Tour events this season, making two cuts. Though he has more PGA events on his schedule this year, he plans to increase his Champions Tour presence.

"I'm still going to play Colonial, Memorial, Greenbrier, but pretty much other than that, I plan to play (on the Champions Tour)," he said. "I'm still competitive. I'm still living in the past a little bit, and think I can beat those 20-year-olds."

Perry said his contract with the Transitions Championship lasts one more year, so he will attend the PGA Tour event at Innisbrook in Palm Harbor next year. He wasn't sure about after that. He was sure about the difference between the PGA and Champions tours.

"It's stress free," he said of the Champions. "All these guys, I loved, and they made me who I am. I enjoy seeing all these old guys out here playing."

When asked what's different about Champions Tour galleries, Perry quipped, "The color of their hair."

Watson out

Two-time Outback Steakhouse Pro-Am champion Tom Watson, left, dropped out of the tournament Wednesday due to a death in the family. He is replaced by Leonard Thompson. Watson won in 2007 and 2008.

Dr. Remote

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By Tom Jones, Times Staff Writer
Wednesday, April 13, 2011

The Franchise: A Season With the San Francisco Giants: 9:30 p.m. on Showtime. Sort of a knockoff of the HBO show Hard Knocks, this series will follow the defending World Series champions.

Sports Connection: 11 p.m. on BHSN. A preview of the Outback Steakhouse Pro-Am from TPC Tampa Bay.

Late Show With David Letterman: 11:35 p.m. on Ch. 10. Knicks star Carmelo Anthony is a scheduled guest.

Captain's Corner: Kingfish, mackerel drawn to familiar haunts

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By Jay Mastry, Times Correspondent
Wednesday, April 13, 2011

What's hot: Water temperature that kingfish and mackerel like and an abundance of bait have drawn good numbers of those fish to many familiar haunts. We caught a dozen schoolie-size kings Tuesday slow trolling live baits around Markers 9 and 10 in the ship channel. Other top-producing areas this week have included the "parking lot" — a large area of hard bottom in 28-30 feet off St. Pete Beach — the Blinds Pass drop in 20 feet and the St. Pete Beach artificial reef.

Weather patterns: Large schools of bait that attract kings and mackerel will come and go as weather patterns change. Westerly wind from passing fronts will muddy near-shore waters and push bait offshore. A normal pattern of easterly wind will allow water to clear and draw bait back to the beach.

Tips: The Egmont ship channel has long been a popular spot for hunting kingfish. Bait is often attracted to the markers that line the channel, and productive fishing is often dictated by the set holding the most bait. Each set is approximately 11/2 miles apart. I'll often start at 9 or 10 and work my way out until we find fish.

Jay Mastry charters Jaybird out of St. Petersburg and can be reached at (727) 321-2142.

Number of the day

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Times staff, wires
Wednesday, April 13, 2011

Number of the day

0-for-225 Combined record of Jay Haas and John Cook in pro tournaments played in Florida. Haas is 0-for-119 (0-for-19 on the Champions Tour), and Cook is 0-for-106 (0-for-11 on the Champions Tour). Haas tied for second at the 2007 and 2008 Outback Steakhouse Pro-Am at TPC Tampa Bay in Lutz. Cook lost in a playoff to Bernhard Langer at the 2010 Allianz Championship in Boca Raton. Both are in this week's Outback field.

Quote of the day

"They got beat. I blew it."

— Kenny Perry, right, comparing those who fell short on the Masters' final day this year with his runnerup finish in 2009, when he bogied the final two holes and lost to Angel Cabrera.

Tampa Bay Golf Tour

Tampabay.com is a one-stop website for public courses in the Tampa Bay area. Courses in Pinellas, Hillsborough, Pasco and Hernando counties are profiled, with descriptions of each and contact information. There are also video reviews.

Royals 10, Twins 5

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Times wires
Wednesday, April 13, 2011

Royals 10, Twins 5

MINNEAPOLIS — Mike Aviles, who went in 0-for-18, doubled twice and drove in three runs as the Royals roughed up Francisco Liriano. Alex Gordon added two hits and two RBIs for Kansas City, which scored six in the fourth to break it open. "Eighteen at-bats over the course of 500, 600 at-bats really is just a little down period," Aviles said. "It wasn't that big of a deal. I was fine, still am."

Tampa Bay Rays: Sam Fuld amused by publicity, honored by new promotion; B.J. Upton proud of little brother's titanic home run

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By Marc Topkin, Times Staff Writer
Wednesday, April 13, 2011

Rays vs. Twins

When/where: 6:40 tonight; Tropicana Field, St. Petersburg

TV/radio: Sun Sports; 620-AM, 680-AM (Spanish)

Starting pitchers

RAYS: RHP James Shields (0-1, 4.72)

TWINS: RHP Carl Pavano (1-1, 6.00)

Tickets: $9-$210 at Tropicana Field box office, Ticketmaster, raysbaseball.com, team store in Tampa, $3 surcharge within five hours of game.

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

Watch for …

Big Game James: Shields has a much better record at the Trop than on the road, so the rainout was to his advantage. He is 3-1, 5.27 in seven games vs. the Twins.

King Carl: Pavano won 17 games last season but was 0-1, 4.38 in two starts against the Rays. Overall, he is 5-4, 3.84 in 12 starts against the Rays.

Quote of the day

"This is me washing my planet."

OF Sam Fuld joking, given all the Legend of Sam Fuld stuff going around, when asked why he couldn't stop Wednesday's rain.

New giveaway of the day

Adding further to the Legend, the Rays will give away Sam Fuld Superhero Capes on May 29 to the first 10,000 kids 14 and under, replacing the canceled Manny Ramirez bobblehead giveaway. Fuld was flattered, saying it was the first such promotion in his honor. "I was maybe close to getting an Iowa Cub T-shirt giveaway (with the Cubs Triple-A team), but I didn't even make the cut there," he said.

Brotherly love of the day

B.J. Upton, left, was quite proud and excited talking about the massive 478-foot homer his younger brother Justin hit Tuesday for the D'backs. "Oh. My. God," B.J. said. "I called him and before I could say anything he's like, 'Yeah, I did it.' "

Heads-up of the day

Sean Rodriguez can be pretty intense, and he certainly looked that way Tuesday after grounding into a double play when cameras caught him in the dugout pounding himself in the head with his batting helmet. "I hadn't done that one in a couple years,'' he said. Rodriguez there's no set number to the "routine,'' that it's just a product of his frustration. "I've got,'' he said, "a pretty hard head.''

Athletics 7, White Sox 4, 10 innings

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Times wires
Wednesday, April 13, 2011

Athletics 7, White Sox 4

10 INNINGS

CHICAGO — The Athletics scored three in the ninth and Coco Crisp hit a go-ahead single in a three-run 10th. Crisp was in a 3-for-22 slump before singling off Matt Thornton, who had walked Conor Jackson and Josh Willingham.


Tigers 3, Rangers 2

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Times wires
Wednesday, April 13, 2011

Tigers 3, Rangers 2

DETROIT — After a shaky start, the Tigers finally won a series, and against the defending AL champions. Brandon Inge homered in the ninth for Detroit, which beat the Rangers in its last at-bat for the second straight day and took two of three in the series. "Maybe this can jump-start us and get us going," Inge said. With one out, Inge hit Darren Oliver's first pitch over the leftfield wall.

Blue Jays 8, Mariners 3

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Times wires
Wednesday, April 13, 2011

Blue Jays 8, Mariners 3

SEATTLE — Jose Bautista hit a three-run homer off reliever Chris Ray as part of a six-run eighth, and the Blue Jays avoided a sweep. Bautista unloaded on a 2-and-1 breaking ball that Ray, a former Hillsborough High standout, left in the middle of the plate, hitting it into the Toronto bullpen where Jon Rauch caught it as he was warming up. That snapped a 17-inning scoreless streak by the Seattle bullpen.

Champions Tour Outback Steakhouse Pro-Am fast facts

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Times staff
Wednesday, April 13, 2011

Today: Laser Spine Institute Challenge (pros playing with amateurs), 10 a.m. shotgun start, TPC Tampa Bay

Tee Pros

1A Mike Goodes, Leonard Thompson

1B Ben Crenshaw, Nick Price

2A Dana Quigley, Mark O'Meara

2B Jim Thorpe, Corey Pavin

3 Steve Lowery, David Frost

4 Andy Bean, Loren Roberts

5 Bobby Wadkins, Dan Forsman

6A Don Pooley, Russ Cochran

6B Tom Jenkins, Larry Mize

7 Mark Brooks, Olin Browne

8 Jay Sigel, Mark Calcavecchia

9A Bruce Fleisher, John Cook

9B Peter Jacobsen, Craig Stadler

10A Hal Sutton, Hale Irwin

10B Scott Hoch, Larry Nelson

11A Dave Eichelberger, Jeff Sluman

11B Tom Purtzer, Jay Haas

12 D.A. Weibring, Tom Lehman

13 Wayne Levi, Tommy Armour, III

14A Allen Doyle, Michael Allen

14B Bob Gilder, Tom Pernice, Jr.

15 Vicente Fernandez, Chien Soon Lu

16 Morris Hatalsky, Peter Senior

17 Joey Sindelar, Mike Reid

18A Fuzzy Zoeller, Tom Kite

18B Kenny Perry, Fred Funk

Tampa Bay Lightning veterans educate newbies on playoffs

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By Damian Cristodero, Times Staff Writer
Wednesday, April 13, 2011

PITTSBURGH — With nine Lightning players making their first playoff appearances Wednesday, a primer was in order.

So on Tuesday, on the team bus from the airport to the hotel, players watched a DVD of Tampa Bay's 2004 Stanley Cup run. They watched more on the bus from the hotel to the team dinner.

"It was more for the guys that haven't gone through it to see just how it is, how physical it was," captain Vinny Lecavalier said. "It gave them a feel of the atmosphere and how it's an emotional roller coaster."

"You see the competitiveness and the sacrifices those guys made," C Steven Stamkos said. "It was motivation for everyone. Your best players have to be your best players. I'm excited about the opportunity."

The nine newbies: Stamkos and fellow forwards Teddy Purcell, Sean Bergenheim, Nate Thompson and Dana Tyrell; defensemen Victor Hedman, Mike Lundin and Matt Smaby; and G Mike Smith.

Coach Guy Boucher, too, had never been in an NHL playoff game. He has downplayed the pressure, saying his team has played with the intensity of playoff hockey all season.

"So we don't have to be different," he said. "We just have to be ourselves. We played a certain way for 82 games, and we don't want to change that."

Still, it didn't hurt to see what the team accomplished in 2004 with Lecavalier and Cup teammates Marty St. Louis and Pavel Kubina doing commentary.

"Seeing those guys that went through it and hearing the guys and all the emotions, a lot of emotions run through you," RW Adam Hall said. "It's something you have to believe in your mind's eye for it truly to be possible."

INSPIRING: Wayne Fleming is out of sight but not out of mind.

The Lightning assistant, not with the team after being diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor last week, sent a message that was written on the message board in the locker room.

"Great day for playoff hockey; embrace and savor the moment."

"He's motivating us," Lecavalier said. "We're going to play for him in the playoffs and play hard."

BATTERED: St. Louis was not available after the game because he needed a double root canal on the two teeth loosened by a high-stick to the mouth from Pittsburgh D Zbynek Michalek. St. Louis still had 17:53 of ice time to lead Tampa Bay forwards.

ASSESSMENT: How did Stamkos do in his first NHL playoff game? He had 16:32 of ice time with just one shot on goal.

"All the youngsters were nervous," Boucher said. "He got some speed and a few chances. He'll be better in the next game."

Stamkos has just five goals over his past 29 games and 10 shots over his past seven.

"I need to find a way to score some goals and create some chances," he said.

SEEING CLEARLY: Lecavalier is keeping his visor — for now. He was under doctor's orders to wear one for at least the rest of the regular season after he was hit in the right eye April 3 by a stick blade in Chicago.

ODDS AND ENDS: The Lightning outhit Pittsburgh 44-35. RW Steve Downie had a team-best six hits. … Boucher went with 12 forwards, so three defensemen were scratched, Randy Jones, Marc-Andre Bergeron and Smaby (lower back).

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

Pittsburgh Penguins goalie makes save after save against Tampa Bay Lightning

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By Joe Smith, Times Staff Writer
Wednesday, April 13, 2011

PITTSBURGH — The fans chanted Marc-Andre Fleury's name several times throughout his spectacular shutout performance in Wednesday's Game 1.

But the goaltender's astounding — and often acrobatic — display in a 3-0 win over the Lightning came as little surprise to Penguins fans at the Consol Energy Center, who afterward serenaded him with "M-V-P!"

Fleury, 26, is a Hart Trophy candidate for league MVP for how he helped carry Pittsburgh during the regular season's final 29 games, when it was without star forwards Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin yet tied Philadelphia for first in the Atlantic.

Fleury, who led Pittsburgh to the Stanley Cup in 2009, showed what kind of daunting task the Lightning has in front of it with his fifth career postseason shutout.

"I thought he was outstanding. There's no question about it," Lightning coach Guy Boucher said. "I just saw some of the replays, and I can't believe he made some of those saves. He is going to be tough to beat.

"We have to beat an incredible goalie who has won this before and stood on his head in the playoffs."

Fleury made 14 of his 32 saves in a first-period flurry. Had he not, the Lightning could have been up by a few goals. Tampa Bay center Dominic Moore thought he had scored with about nine minutes left after deflecting a Brett Clark shot.

Fleury, appearing not to know where the puck was, dived backward toward the goal line, and Moore raised his hands in cele­bration. But the puck was still in the crease and bounced to ex-Penguin Ryan Malone. With his back to the play, Fleury flung up his left pad to rob Malone.

"I was looking for the puck for a little while and scrambling around," said Fleury, the top overall pick in 2003 who is in his seventh season.

"At the last second, I thought it was behind me. So I tried to do something I do in practice, and it worked out all right."

The improvisation wowed Malone.

"A reverse double leg stack pad save," Malone said. "It was pretty nice."

"What can you say? It's unbelievable," Penguins defenseman Zbynek Michalek said. "He's so acrobatic, so he can make those saves."

Fleury made another highlight-reel save early in the second period. This time, Vinny Lecavalier, positioned by the post, took a rebound, put it between his skates to his forehand and tried to push it past a sprawling Fleury. But Fleury got his stick down in time.

"I was in hot water once again," Fleury said, smiling. "He made it pretty quick, went around my leg. And that's all I had was my arm, and I just got a piece of it."

Said Penguins wing Alex Kovalev: "He just repeats over and over again how good he is and how well he can play under pressure. He can save this team many times."

Just like Fleury did Wednesday.

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

Pain forces slugger Delgado to retire

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Times wires
Wednesday, April 13, 2011

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — Carlos Delgado officially gave up Wednesday on coming back from a hip injury, announcing his retirement two years after he was sidelined with 473 career home runs.

The former Mets and Blue Jays first baseman announced his decision at a news conference in his native Puerto Rico.

"There comes a moment when you have to have the dignity and the sense to recognize that something is not functioning," Delgado, 38, said. "You can't swim against the current."

The two-time All-Star played 17 seasons and finished with a .280 career average, a .383 on-base percentage and a .546 slugging percentage. He played for the Blue Jays from 1993-2004, went to the Marlins for a season and finished his career with the Mets from 2006-09.

Delgado stopped playing in the majors in May 2009 and had two hip surgeries in nine months.

Dressed in a navy blue suit and a bright green tie, Delgado remained jovial throughout a speech that drew tears from many, including former teammate Carlos Baerga.

The pain that usually struck every training session was too much to endure, Delgado said.

"And this coming from a man who had nine operations," he said. "It is a sad moment as a human being and athlete that some of your abilities aren't what they once were."

HAMILTON CONTRITE: OF Josh Hamilton, out 6-8 weeks with a broken arm suffered on a headfirst slide Tuesday, said he apologized to third-base coach Dave Anderson for how he responded to questions about the play. After Tuesday's game, Hamilton appeared to blame Anderson for sending him home on a popup.

"I was just frustrated more so for getting injured," Hamilton said. "I apologized to him for letting my emotions get out and getting ahead of myself and letting my emotions show through."

In other Rangers news, the team filed a lawsuit against an entity of former owner Tom Hicks to prevent it from raising prices on more than 11,000 parking spaces surrounding Rangers Ballpark in Arlington.

OBITUARY: Eddie Joost, an All-Star shortstop who starred for the Philadelphia A's in the 1940s and '50s, died Tuesday in Fair Oaks, Calif. He was 94. Mr. Joost played 17 seasons and batted .239 with 134 home runs, 1,043 walks and a .361 on-base percentage.

METS: RHP Chris Young has soreness in his surgically repaired arm, and his next scheduled start was pushed back two days until Sunday.

REDS: RF Jay Bruce sat out with a groin injury that the team described as minor.

RED SOX: LH reliever Dennys Reyes cleared waivers and accepted an assignment to Triple-A Pawtucket.

ROCKIES: RHP Ubaldo Jimenez, out for the past week with a cut on his right thumb cuticle, pitched a simulated game at extended spring training and will return to the rotation on Monday.

Previews of NHL playoff series opening Thursday

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By Tom Jones, Times Staff Writer
Wednesday, April 13, 2011

St. Petersburg Times staff writer Tom Jones breaks down the first-round playoff series that begin tonight.

western Conference

San Jose Sharks (2) vs. L.A. Kings (7)

The skinny: You have to feel bad for the Kings. They were a top-four seed for most of the season, then lost leading scorer Anze Kopitar, who was averaging nearly a point a game, for the season because of an ankle injury last month. They acquired Dustin Penner from the Oilers at the trade deadline, but he's no Kopitar. The Kings' leading healthy scorers are Dustin Brown and Justin Williams, who each had a mere 57 regular-season points, and the team finished ranked 25th in goals. The Sharks are in a familiar position as one of the top seeds in the West, but past postseasons have ended in disappointment. San Jose has collected at least 100 points the past four seasons but reached the conference final once. The Sharks are led by the usual suspects: Joe Thornton, Patrick Marleau, Dan Boyle and Dany Heatley. The top scorers haven't scored quite at the pace they have in recent seasons, but the Sharks appear to have more offensive depth. After Boyle, the defense is a little thin. The teams are fairly even in goal with Los Angeles' Jonathan Quick and San Jose's Antti Niemi, though Niemi did backstop the Blackhawks to the Stanley Cup last season.

What's notable: The teams met six times in the regular season. San Jose won three times in regulation. The Kings won once in regulation and twice in overtime/shootouts.

Prediction: One never feels confident picking San Jose in the postseason, but the Kings will miss Kopitar too much. Sharks in six.

eastern Conference

Philadelphia Flyers (2) vs. Buffalo Sabres (7)

The skinny: Based on the seedings, the Flyers should be favored. But based on recent play, the Sabres might be the favorites. The Sabres are 28-11-6 since Jan. 1; the Flyers lost 16 of their last 25 regular-season games (seven in regulation) and won only one of their final six to barely hang on to win the Atlantic Division. Still, there's a lot to like about the Flyers, who are looking to get to the Cup final for the second year in a row. They led the conference in goals with 252 and had seven players with at least 20 goals. A major concern is the health of defenseman Chris Pronger. He comes into the playoffs after missing a month with a wrist injury, and it's unlikely he's 100 percent. Philadelphia also has to be nervous about handing the playoff reins to rookie goalie Sergei Bobrovsky. If he struggles, the Flyers won't hesitate to switch to veteran Brian Boucher. The Sabres' strength is Ryan Miller, maybe the best goalie in the world. He has battled injuries but should be ready. Buffalo's top scorer, Thomas Vanek, had 73 points, but the next two scorers had only 52. Derek Roy, probably Buffalo's top player and out since Dec. 23 with a leg injury, could return, but he's likely out for the first round.

What's notable: This is the ninth time these teams meet in the playoffs. The Flyers have won five of those series, including the 1975 Stanley Cup final.

Prediction: This smells like an upset, but maybe the Flyers will wake up because it's the postseason. Flyers in seven.

Boston Bruins (3) vs. Montreal Canadiens (6)

The skinny: This is the juiciest of the first-round matchups. These teams already dislike one another, and the rivalry went to another level last month when Boston defenseman Zdeno Chara slammed Montreal's Max Pacioretty into the partition between the player benches. The Bruins have the look of a Cup contender, especially with Vezina (top goalie) and Hart Trophy (MVP) candidate Tim Thomas in goal. The Bruins yielded the fewest regular-season goals in the conference (195), and they were fifth in the league in goals, led by 30-goal scorer Milan Lucic, Nathan Horton (26 goals), Patrice Bergeron (22) and Brad Marchand (21). Montreal averaged 2.59 goals per game, the fewest of any playoff team in the East. Its leading point producer, Tomas Plekanec, had 57 points, and its top goal scorer, Brian Gionta, had 29 goals. Montreal needs goalie Carey Price to steal this series. And he's capable of doing it. He appeared in 72 games and had a .923 save percentage and a 2.35 goals-against average.

What's notable: The Canadiens won four of the six games in the season series, but the last time the teams met — March 24, two weeks after the Chara hit on Pacioretty — the Bruins crushed the Habs 7-0.

Prediction: Price is good, but not good enough to stop a team that appears headed to the Cup final. Bruins in five.


Tampa Bay Rays hitters getting more aggressive early in the count

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By Marc Topkin, Times Staff Writer
Wednesday, April 13, 2011

BOSTON — Granted, it was just a couple of wins against the worst team in baseball — which just happens to be the Red Sox — but the Rays feel their hitting is finally starting to come around.

And primarily, it's because they're starting to hit earlier in each at-bat.

Obviously the injury to Evan Longoria and the unexpected "retirement" of Manny Ramirez — taking the Nos. 3-4 hitters out of their lineup — was a huge factor in their anemic early season efforts.

But manager Joe Maddon said analysis showed that opposing pitchers were using the patience of the Rays' hitters against them and were pitching extremely well while doing so.

So Maddon and hitting coach Derek Shelton discussed having their hitters be more aggressive earlier in counts, and the results over the past few days have been noticeable.

"What was happening was we were getting attacked early in counts everywhere we've been from the very first day with (Baltimore opening day starter Jeremy) Guthrie," Maddon said.

"We have a reputation of seeing pitches … and everyone's been trying to get ahead in the count on us, and we've been in a lot of bad counts. So I think our guys finally had enough of that, and we've attacked earlier in the count because we can.

"We have the DNA of working good at-bats — also we're going to strike out a lot, but we're also going to accept a lot of walks. But there's times when you have to just recognize that if the other team is going to try to take that away from you, you have to react to it. And I think we have."

After scoring eight runs in their first six games, and losing all six, the Rays have scored 31 in their past five (including 16 on Monday) and won three.

The counts can make a huge difference. Consider that the Rays' average in at-bats when they are behind in the count is .134 — a considerable dropoff even from their major-league- worst .202 overall mark — and .238 when they are even or ahead in the count.

Also important, Shelton said, was they remained positive and consistent in their approach while struggling and didn't get too frustrated when they were hitting balls well and were still getting out. Being able to relax in the 19-hit virtual festival on Monday helped. And so has the addition of Sam Fuld at the top of the order.

"I think the more we go, the more we'll be getting comfortable," he said, noting that for several hitters, this is the first time, or the first time in a while, they've started a season in the majors playing regularly, among them Reid Brignac, John Jaso, Sean Rodriguez and Dan and Elliot Johnson.

As bad as the Rays were early on, Maddon remained confident by taking the long-term view that every team goes through struggles, and they just happened to be going through it at the start of the season when it's most glaring.

"You just have to be able to identify what's going on and evaluate it properly," Maddon said.

"We just weren't hitting. Our hitting was horrible for 10 days, so that's why we lost games. That's it. It wasn't that there was bad pitching or bad defense or guys not caring or that their effort wasn't good enough or that they weren't prepped. We just weren't hitting."

Marc Topkin can be reached at topkin@sptimes.com.

Sports in brief: Kentucky horse racing officials deny license to Derby-winning trainer

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Times wires
Wednesday, April 13, 2011

Horses

Kentucky denies racing license to Derby-winning trainer Dutrow

FRANKFORT, Ky. — Trainer Rick Dutrow may be running out of places to race. The Kentucky Horse Racing Commission's License Review Committee denied the Kentucky Derby-winning trainer a license to race in the state in 2011.

KHRC executive director Lisa Underwood said Wednesday that the unanimous denial was based on Dutrow's "consistent disregard for the rules of racing." He can appeal.

Dutrow won the Derby and Preakness in 2008 with Big Brown but has had trouble since. New York racing officials suspended him twice for hypodermic needles in his barn and for a winning horse's positive test for a banned painkiller at Aqueduct last year.

Kentucky officials cited a half-dozen concerns about Dutrow, whose license was suspended for 30 days in 2009 after a horse tested positive for a breathing stimulant.

Big Brown never violated a drug rule, but Dutrow acknowledged the horse had the then-legal steroid stanozolol in his bloodstream during his Derby and Preakness victories. Kentucky and most other states have since banned stanozolol.

More Horses

Saturday favorites eye Kentucky Derby

The Factor is the solid 7-5 choice to win the $1 million Arkansas Derby in Hot Springs on Saturday and move on to the Kentucky Derby in three weeks as one of the favorites.

Trained by three-time Kentucky Derby winner Bob Baffert, The Factor drew the No. 3 post in a field of 13 3-year-olds going 1 1/8 miles. The Factor needs a strong effort to move on to the Derby on May 7.

Meanwhile, Santiva leads a field of 12 3-year-olds for Saturday's $750,000 Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland in Kentucky. The bay colt will start from the No. 3 post as the 3-1 morning-line favorite. The winner will have enough graded stakes earnings to qualify for the Derby.

Swimming

Open-water safety measures proposed

A commission appointed by USA Swimming recommended limits on water temperatures, adequate rescue personnel and other improvements in open-water swimming, coming nearly six months after the death of American Fran Crippen.

For 5-kilometer and longer races, the water temperature cannot be above 87.8 degrees Fahrenheit, and the combined water and air temperature can't exceed 145.4 degrees. The race must also be postponed if the water temperature is below 60.8 degrees or the combined water and air readings total less than 86 degrees.

ET CETERA

Soccer: Cristiano Ronaldo's 40th goal of the season gave Real Madrid a 1-0 victory at Tottenham that moved the Spanish club into the Champions League semifinals vs. Barcelona. Defending champion Inter Milan was eliminated with a 2-1 loss at Schalke, which will next meet Manchester United. It is the first time the German club has advanced this far in Europe's top club event.

Tennis: Rafael Nadal began his bid for a seventh straight Monte Carlo Masters title with a 6-2, 6-2 win over Jarkko Nieminen. The top-ranked Spaniard, who next plays Richard Gasquet, did not face a break point and extended his winning record at the claycourt event to 33 matches.

Times wires

New Tampa Bay Storm QB Brian Zbydniewski has ties to current players

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By Brandon Wright, Times Correspondent
Wednesday, April 13, 2011

TAMPA — The Storm's game programs just got a bit tougher to read.

Tampa Bay signed QB Brian Zbydniewski on Wednesday, and he is expected to back up Grant Gregory on Friday at Philadelphia.

"He's a kid that we have been looking at and had some communication with," Storm coach Dave Ewart said. "It took some coaxing to get him out here, but we're happy to have him."

Zbydniewski, 29, has some AFL2 experience and appeared in one game last season for Arena League champion Spokane. He played at the same college as LB Eric Ortiz (NAIA Belhaven) and with WR Huey Whittaker and DL Richard Clebert in Spokane.

"I know Huey gave him a call," Ewart said. "He's from Fort Walton Beach, so a few of the guys are familiar with him."

Ewart said it will take Zbydniewski some time to become acclimated with the offense. He said Zbydniewski likely will see five or six plays against the Soul.

More offensive moves: The Storm also signed OL Alfred Peterson on Wednesday. To make room, it released QB B.J. Hall and placed WR De'Cody Fagg on injured reserve.

Bolstering the defense: The defensive side of the ball gets a boost this week with the return of Ortiz and lineman Tim McGill.

Ortiz dislocated his elbow in the season opener against New Orleans and has been on injured reserve. Ewart said Ortiz will start on defense and be used in the "heavy" package on offense.

"He doesn't like wearing the apparatus they gave him," Ewart said. "But he'll be ready to go."

McGill, a first-team All-Arena selection in 2010 and a finalist for defensive player of the year in 2008, re-signed Friday.

"Tim is going to make our defense better," Ewart said. "He's still working his way into shape, but he'll get the start Friday."

A new dimension: The Storm will face something Friday it has seen little of so far this season: a scrambling quarterback.

Ryan Vena took over for an ineffective Justin Allgood and got his first start of the season last week. In a 53-46 loss to Orlando, he rushed three times for 47 yards and two touchdowns.

"He likes to tuck and run it a bit," Ewart said. "We have to be ready for him to handle it around the goal line."

Vena has 12 rushes for 59 yards and six touchdown for the season. In 2010 for Iowa, he ran for 272 yards and 22 touchdowns on 80 carries.

"We're going to have to keep our passing lanes tighter against him," Ewart said. "We have to keep him in what we call the can and not let him get loose outside."

Marlins 5, Braves 1

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Times wires
Wednesday, April 13, 2011

Marlins 5, Braves 1

ATLANTA — Josh Johnson took a no-hit bid into the eighth inning for the Marlins before rookie Freddie Freeman doubled with one out. After Freeman doubled down the line past third baseman Greg Dobbs, Florida manager Edwin Rodriguez immediately pulled his ace, who threw 109 pitches. Chipper Jones homered in the ninth off former Ray Randy Choate for the Braves' other hit. That gave Jones 1,500 career RBIs.

Padres 3, Reds 2

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Times wires
Wednesday, April 13, 2011

Padres 3, Reds 2

SAN DIEGO — Orlando Hudson hit a bases-loaded opposite-field single with two outs in the ninth as the Padres avoided a three-game sweep. Hudson hit the first pitch he saw from Nick Masset over third baseman Juan Francisco's head. Pinch-hitter and former Ray Brad Hawpe started the winning rally with a one-out walk.

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