http://www.annistonstar.com/sports/as-sports.htm Sports headlines from The Anniston Star. StarScraper 1.45 Copyright (c)2008 Consolidated Publishing. All rights reserved. http://www.annistonstar.com/rss/images/as-logo_sports.gif 14450 http://www.annistonstar.com/sports/as-sports.htm Sports en-us 20 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Sun, 11 May 2008 16:18:02 CDT http://www.annistonstar.com/sports/2008/as-college-0511-amuskewitz-8e10x1710.htm JACKSONVILLE -- Jacksonville State ended four years of Ohio Valley Conference softball frustration at the hands of Tennessee Tech on Saturday when it hit four home runs and crushed the Golden Eagles 10-1 in six innings to win its first OVC Tournament title. http://www.annistonstar.com/sports/2008/as-college-0511-amuskewitz-8e10x1710.htm Sun, 11 May 2008 16:18:02 CDT http://www.annistonstar.com/sports/2008/as-college-0511-0-8e10x1923.htm BATON ROUGE, La. — Florida's Mary Ratliff hit a two-out, two-strike grand slam in the sixth inning on Saturday to lift the Gators to a 4-1 victory over the Crimson Tide in the championship game of the Southeastern Conference tournament at Tiger Park on the campus of LSU. http://www.annistonstar.com/sports/2008/as-college-0511-0-8e10x1923.htm Sun, 11 May 2008 16:18:02 CDT http://www.annistonstar.com/sports/2008/as-college-0511-0-8e10w5008.htm Taylor Thompson struck out six and pitched a complete game as Auburn beat Mississippi 11-1 on Saturday. http://www.annistonstar.com/sports/2008/as-college-0511-0-8e10w5008.htm Sun, 11 May 2008 16:18:02 CDT http://www.annistonstar.com/sports/2008/as-college-0511-amuskewitz-8e10x1855.htm JACKSONVILLE -- The Jacksonville State softball team is anticipating a trip to a familiar place when its name goes on the NCAA selection board today. Gamecocks coach Jana McGinnis says she expects her team will get a draw in Tuscaloosa, although a case could be made for either Florida or Tennessee. http://www.annistonstar.com/sports/2008/as-college-0511-amuskewitz-8e10x1855.htm Sun, 11 May 2008 16:18:02 CDT http://www.annistonstar.com/sports/2008/as-college-0511-cstephenson-8e10w4908.htm TUSCALOOSA — Alabama's chance to move into the top half of the Southeastern Conference baseball tournament bracket slipped away in a flurry of Florida stolen bases combined with a mixture of Stephen Locke fastballs and change-ups on Saturday. http://www.annistonstar.com/sports/2008/as-college-0511-cstephenson-8e10w4908.htm Sun, 11 May 2008 16:18:02 CDT http://www.annistonstar.com/sports/2008/as-college-0511-0-8e10x4836.htm ATHENS, Ga. — Jacksonville State finished with a three-day total of 955 to post a top-20 finish at the NCAA Women's Golf East Regional at the University of Georgia Golf Course. http://www.annistonstar.com/sports/2008/as-college-0511-0-8e10x4836.htm Sun, 11 May 2008 16:18:02 CDT http://www.annistonstar.com/sports/2008/as-college-0511-0-8e10w4950.htm JACKSONVILLE — Jacksonville State got a pair of outstanding pitching performances to sweep Tennessee Tech in an Ohio Valley Conference doubleheader on Saturday. The Gamecocks won 12-2 in the opener and 4-0 in the nightcap. http://www.annistonstar.com/sports/2008/as-college-0511-0-8e10w4950.htm Sun, 11 May 2008 16:18:02 CDT http://www.annistonstar.com/sports/2008/as-college-0511-0-8e10v0942.htm TUSCALOOSA — Nick Saban normally spends this time of year on the road evaluating prep prospects and visiting with high school coaches. The Alabama coach is doing a different kind of networking these days — all from the comfort of his office. http://www.annistonstar.com/sports/2008/as-college-0511-0-8e10v0942.htm Sun, 11 May 2008 16:18:02 CDT http://www.annistonstar.com/sports/2008/as-college-0511-0-8e10v0910.htm NEW ORLEANS — Even though he's only 37 and in good health, Nathan Davis has already made out his will. In it, he bequeaths money to the University of Alabama athletic department and his ashes to Bryant-Denny Stadium. http://www.annistonstar.com/sports/2008/as-college-0511-0-8e10v0910.htm Sun, 11 May 2008 16:18:02 CDT http://www.annistonstar.com/sports/2008/as-prepsports-0511-nbirdsong-8e10x1619.htm ALEXANDRIA — After defeating Hamilton 6-3 in Game 2 of in the second round of sub-state play in the state softball playoffs, The Valley Cubs dove on the dirt in front of third base and piled on top of one another in celebration. http://www.annistonstar.com/sports/2008/as-prepsports-0511-nbirdsong-8e10x1619.htm Sun, 11 May 2008 16:18:02 CDT http://www.annistonstar.com/sports/2008/as-outdoors-0511-cjohnsoncol-8e10u2333.htm One of the most under-utilized pieces of equipment on a boat is the fish locator. Actually, the proper name is depth finder. These electronic sonar units offer many features that anglers and boaters do not use to their fullest potential. http://www.annistonstar.com/sports/2008/as-outdoors-0511-cjohnsoncol-8e10u2333.htm Sun, 11 May 2008 16:18:02 CDT http://www.annistonstar.com/sports/2008/as-outdoors-0511-0-8e10u2359.htm EUFAULA — The Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (ADCNR) will have an advisory board meeting at 9 a.m. on Saturday at the Eufaula Community Center. http://www.annistonstar.com/sports/2008/as-outdoors-0511-0-8e10u2359.htm Sun, 11 May 2008 16:18:02 CDT http://www.annistonstar.com/sports/2008/as-golf-0511-0-8e10x3304.htm PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. — Paul Goydos would love to say he saw this coming, but he's too honest. He had never broken 70 in nine previous appearances at The Players Championship, yet a 2-under 70 on Saturday made him the only player to break par all three days on the TPC Sawgrass and gave him a one-shot lead over Kenny Perry. http://www.annistonstar.com/sports/2008/as-golf-0511-0-8e10x3304.htm Sun, 11 May 2008 16:18:02 CDT http://www.annistonstar.com/sports/2008/as-racing-0511-0-8e10x1752.htm DARLINGTON, S.C. — Kyle Busch won the battle of attrition Saturday night as NASCAR's least popular driver overcame a pit-road penalty and several scrapes with the wall to win at Darlington Raceway. http://www.annistonstar.com/sports/2008/as-racing-0511-0-8e10x1752.htm Sun, 11 May 2008 16:18:02 CDT http://www.annistonstar.com/sports/2008/as-racing-0511-0-8e10x1812.htm INDIANAPOLIS — With fans shouting her name and crew members hustling to put away her equipment, Danica Patrick shook her head and reflected on the opportunity that had just slipped away — winning the Indy 500 pole. http://www.annistonstar.com/sports/2008/as-racing-0511-0-8e10x1812.htm Sun, 11 May 2008 16:18:02 CDT http://www.annistonstar.com/sports/2008/as-racing-0511-0-8e10x4857.htm DARLINGTON, S.C. — The romantic in Jim Hunter would love to see the Southern 500 back at his beloved Darlington Raceway. The pragmatist in NASCAR's chief spokesman is certain why it shouldn't. http://www.annistonstar.com/sports/2008/as-racing-0511-0-8e10x4857.htm Sun, 11 May 2008 16:18:02 CDT http://www.annistonstar.com/sports/2008/as-pros-0511-0-8e10v1013.htm FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — When asked to summarize his first official practice as an NFL player, Atlanta Falcons rookie tackle Sam Baker could only think of four short words. 'It was a blur,' he said. That simple sentence was seconded by some other young Falcons stars Saturday morning, as the team held its first mandatory team mini-camp since last month's NFL draft. http://www.annistonstar.com/sports/2008/as-pros-0511-0-8e10v1013.htm Sun, 11 May 2008 16:18:02 CDT http://www.annistonstar.com/sports/2008/as-pros-0511-0-8e10w2724.htm BALTIMORE — He's got plenty of free time and still is being paid handsomely by the Baltimore Orioles, so there's really no limit to what Leo Mazzone can do this spring. http://www.annistonstar.com/sports/2008/as-pros-0511-0-8e10w2724.htm Sun, 11 May 2008 16:18:02 CDT http://www.annistonstar.com/sports/2008/as-pros-0511-0-8e10w2748.htm PITTSBURGH — Tom Gorzelanny shook off Mark Teixeira's two-run homer in the first inning to shut out Atlanta during the rest of his 7 1/3 innings, Bay homered and the Pittsburgh Pirates extended the Braves' road woes with a 5-2 victory Saturday night. http://www.annistonstar.com/sports/2008/as-pros-0511-0-8e10w2748.htm Sun, 11 May 2008 16:18:02 CDT http://www.annistonstar.com/sports/2008/as-pros-0511-0-8e10w2811.htm NEW YORK — Bronson Arroyo pitched eight dominant innings to win a matchup of struggling pitchers and Jeff Keppinger had a career-high five hits, lifting the Cincinnati Reds over the New York Mets 7-1 Saturday for a split of their day-night doubleheader. http://www.annistonstar.com/sports/2008/as-pros-0511-0-8e10w2811.htm Sun, 11 May 2008 16:18:02 CDT http://www.annistonstar.com/sports/2008/as-pros-0511-0-8e10w2836.htm ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Scott Kazmir pitched six scoreless innings and the Tampa Bay Rays beat the Los Angeles Angels 2-0 on Saturday night to hand Joe Saunders his first loss of the season. http://www.annistonstar.com/sports/2008/as-pros-0511-0-8e10w2836.htm Sun, 11 May 2008 16:18:02 CDT http://www.annistonstar.com/sports/2008/as-pros-0511-0-8e10x3324.htm CLEVELAND — LeBron James scored 21 points on another off-shooting night, but Delonte West scored 21, Joe Smith had 17 and the Cavaliers raced to a large, early lead in Game 3 in a 108-84 victory Saturday night over the road-challenged Boston Celtics to pull within 2-1 in their playoff series. http://www.annistonstar.com/sports/2008/as-pros-0511-0-8e10x3324.htm Sun, 11 May 2008 16:18:02 CDT http://www.annistonstar.com/sports/2008/as-pros-0511-0-8e10x3422.htm Rookie Max Scherzer has been the talk of baseball since retiring 13 consecutive Astros, including seven via strikeout, with ridiculous ease in his big-league debut for the Diamondbacks on April 29. http://www.annistonstar.com/sports/2008/as-pros-0511-0-8e10x3422.htm Sun, 11 May 2008 16:18:02 CDT http://www.annistonstar.com/sports/2008/as-pros-0511-0-8e10x3353.htm John Smoltz hopes to persuade the Atlanta Braves' medical staff to allow him to resume throwing as early as today. Smoltz has been sidelined for two weeks because of biceps and rotator cuff problems in his right arm. A starter when the season began, Smoltz will go into the bullpen once he returns. http://www.annistonstar.com/sports/2008/as-pros-0511-0-8e10x3353.htm Sun, 11 May 2008 16:18:02 CDT http://www.annistonstar.com/sports/2008/as-pros-0511-0-8e10v1103.htm OWINGS MILLS, Md. — The Baltimore Ravens are doing more than merely fighting for jobs at their first mandatory minicamp under new coach John Harbaugh. They're fighting each other, too. http://www.annistonstar.com/sports/2008/as-pros-0511-0-8e10v1103.htm Sun, 11 May 2008 16:18:02 CDT