The Seminoles (54-12), who have never won the national title, are headed back to college baseball's biggest stage for the 13th time in coach Mike Martin's 29 seasons.

BOXING

Holmes highlights ring inductions

CANASTOTA, N.Y. - With a precise, powerful left jab, Larry Holmes reigned as heavyweight champion for more than seven years, successfully defending his crown 20 times - the second longest title run in heavyweight history.

But yesterday, the "Easton Assassin" needed a moment to compose himself before accepting his induction into the International Boxing Hall of Fame along with 11 other champions and ring personalities.

"I'm sorry. I'm choked up a little bit. Why not?" Holmes said, receiving a sustained ovation from the crowd of nearly 1,000.

Holmes headlined the 2008 induction class, which also included junior welterweight champion Eddie Perkins and late middleweight Holman Williams. All three are in the hall's modern-era category.

Middleweights Len Harvey and Frank Klaus and welterweight Harry Lewis were honored in the old-timer category, and 19th-century Irish heavyweight Dan Donnelly in the pioneer class.

Also inducted as non-participants or observers were trainer Bill Gore, promoters Mogens Palle and Frank Warren and journalists Dave Anderson and Joe Koizumi.

SOFTBALL

U.S. shuts out China

OKLAHOMA CITY - Stacey Nuveman homered and Jennie Finch threw a one-hit shutout as the United States beat China 7-0 in an exhibition game stopped after five innings because of the run rule.

Nuveman gave the U.S. a 4-0 lead with a three-run shot to left-center field in the second inning, and the Americans tacked on three more runs in the fourth inning off Chinese starter Li Qi.

TRACK AND FIELD

Bekele runs fourth-fastest 10,000

EUGENE, Ore. - Ethiopian great Kenenisa Bekele failed in his world record bid at the Prefontaine Classic but came through with one of the greatest 10,000-meter runs ever.

The 25-year-old Olympic and world champion - in his first race outdoors in the United States - ran the last 12 laps by himself after the two pacesetters dropped out and finished in 26 minutes, 25.97 seconds, the fourth-fastest of all-time.

From the early going, he was slightly off the pace that resulted in his world mark of 26:17.53 he set three years ago in Brussels, Belgium.

Meanwhile, defending world champion Brad Walker broke an eight-year-old American record, clearing 19 feet, 9¾ inches. Walker topped the mark held by Jeff Hartwig at 19-9¼.

WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

Jones leads Sun past Mystics

UNCASVILLE, Conn. - Asjha Jones scored 16 points, and the Connecticut Sun opened the second half with a 19-0 run en route to an 87-79 victory over the Washington Mystics.

The Sun (7-1) won its fourth straight game and took a half-game lead over Detroit atop the Eastern Conference.

Monique Currie scored a career-high 28 points to lead the Mystics (2-6).

SWIMMING

Japan's Kitajima sets world mark

TOKYO - Double Olympic champion Kosuke Kitajima of Japan set a world record in the men's 200-meter breaststroke. Kitajima finished in 2 minutes, 07.51 seconds at the Japan Open, taking almost a second off the previous mark set by American Brendan Hansen in 2006.

FISHING

Starks earns first BASS win

DECATUR, Ala. - Jeremy Starks won the Bassmaster Elite Series' Southern Challenge at Wheeler Lake for his first series victory, hauling in 21 pounds, 15 ounces yesterday to hold off Kevin VanDam.

Starks, from Charleston, W.Va., finished with a four-day total of 78-10. VanDam, Kalamazoo, Mich. had a catch of 78-2. Starks earned $100,000. - From Wire Reports