National Sports Briefs: Cavs stay alive in World Series
Published 12:00 am Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Associated Press
OMAHA, Neb. ó Virginia eliminated second-seeded Cal State Fullerton from the College World Series, chasing ace Daniel Renken in a 7-5 victory Monday.
The Cavaliers (49-14-1) won the elimination game. Fullerton (47-16) has lost five straight in the CWS.
Renken (11-3) was tagged for a season-high six runs.
Virginia took the lead for good in the second inning by scoring four times. Keith Werman, the Cavaliers’ ninth-place hitter, singled home the tying run and Danny Hultzen hit a two-run single past diving right fielder Gary Brown.
– COLUMBIA, S.C. ó South Carolina outfielder DeAngelo Mack is turning pro, signing with the New York Yankees.
The school says Monday that the junior has agreed to terms and will sign a contract the Yankees, who selected Mack in the 13th round of last week’s draft.
Mack hit .361 with 14 home runs and 60 RBIs last season.
Mack will report to the Yankees’ training facility in Tampa, Fla., and likely will start his pro career with the Staten Island Yankees in the New York-Penn League.
COLLEGE HOOPS
CHAPEL HILL ó Roy Williams can add author to his list of accomplishments.
The North Carolina coach of the defending national basketball champions will have an autobiography released in November.
Algonquin Books says “Hard Work: My Life On and Off the Court” ó will feature a forward from novelist John Grisham. It was written with former Sports Illustrated writer Tim Crothers.
Part of the book’s proceeds will go to the Carolina Covenant, which helps low-income students obtain scholarships to the university.
Williams was a longtime assistant to Dean Smith at North Carolina before spending 15 years as head coach at Kansas. He returned to his alma mater in 2003 and has won a pair of national titles in the past five seasons.
– ATLANTA ó Georgia Tech, coming off its worst ACC finish in 28 years, should be well-stocked for a comeback season.
Forward Gani Lawal confirmed on Monday he will return for his junior season and will withdraw his name from the NBA draft. He will be joined by four returning starters and one of coach Paul Hewitt’s top recruiting classes, raising hopes the Yellow Jackets should improve after finishing 12-19 overall last season, including a 2-14 record in ACC games.
– SOUTH BEND, Ind. ó Forward Luke Harangody is withdrawing from the NBA draft and returning to Notre Dame for his senior season.
Harangody averaged 23.3 points and 11.8 rebounds last season to lead the Big East in scoring and rebounding in consecutive seasons.
– LEXINGTON, Ky. ó Kentucky top scorer Jodie Meeks has decided to leave the Wildcats and remain in consideration for the NBA draft.
BOBCATS
CHARLOTTE ó The Charlotte Bobcats have brought in five more prospects ahead of next week’s NBA draft.
Potential first-round picks Chase Budinger of Arizona, B.J. Mullens of Ohio State and Terrence Williams of Louisville auditioned Monday for Bobcats coach Larry Brown.
Alade Aminu of Georgia Tech and Chris Johnson of LSU also participated. Damion James of Texas canceled.
The Bobcats have brought in 35 players as they prepare to make the 12th pick in the June 25 draft. Charlotte also holds two second-round picks at 40th and 54th overall.
The 6-foot-7 Budinger averaged 18 points for Arizona last season. The 7-foot Mullens spent just one season at Ohio State. The 6-foot-6 Williams averaged 12.5 points as a senior at Louisville.
FLORIDA STATE
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. ó The Associated Press and other Florida news organizations sued the NCAA and Florida State University on Monday, charging they schemed to violate open government laws by not making correspondence public about an academic cheating scandal at the school.
NASCAR
INDIANAPOLIS ó Goodyear appears to have resolved some of the problems that plagued last year’s Allstate 400 in Indianapolis.
Nine cars made it onto the track for testing Monday. Kyle Busch’s No. 18 car did the most consecutive laps with 17 early in the afternoon.
During last year’s Allstate 400, tire problems forced race officials to call competition cautions every 10 to 12 laps.
It’s the fourth time Goodyear has returned to Indy for testing this year ó and the sixth since last year’s race.
HURRICANES
RALEIGH ó The Carolina Hurricanes knew they wanted Paul Maurice back after he led them to the Eastern Conference finals. Keeping his staff intact was important, too.
The team said Monday it has agreed to terms on a multiyear contract for Maurice, who took over at midseason and helped the team return to the playoffs for the first time since winning the Stanley Cup in 2006.