SPORTS BRIEFS - University of Virginia

SPORTS BRIEFS

Wednesday, Jun 18, 2008 - 12:07 AM

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AROUND THE STATE

Tech's Tincher, Thomas honored

BLACKSBURG - In the wake of their recent run to Virginia Tech's first appearance in the Women's College World Series, Hokies senior pitcher Angela Tincher and coach Scot Thomas continued to collect honors. The Virginia Sports Information Directors yesterday named them pitcher and coach of the year, respectively.

George Mason's Ashli Breau was named player of the year, and Radford's Shannon Keefe was chosen as rookie of the year. Breau set school records in batting average (.421), home runs (10) and slugging percentage (.752). Keefe ranked second in the Big South in home runs (10) and slugging percentage (.675).

Tincher, the USA Softball national player of the year and three-time All-American, received the state honor for the third straight year. She went 38-10 with a 0.63 ERA in 344 innings.

Thomas guided the Hokies to a No. 8 national ranking and 49-19 season. He's the only coach to receive the state award five times.

U.Va.'s Schwimer earns region honor

CHARLOTTESVILLE - Virginia right-hander Michael Schwimer has been selected to the American Baseball Coaches Association all-Atlantic Region first team. Schwimer went 3-1 with a 1.72 ERA.

State minor-leaguer pleads not guilty

ORLEANS, Mass. - A Cape Cod Baseball League player from Montclair, Va., has pleaded not guilty to drunken driving and other charges after allegedly hitting his teammate with his truck, pinning him underneath.

Ryan Woolley, 20, was charged Monday, a day after the accident that left Barrett Dail, of Raleigh, N.C., in critical condition with head and leg injuries.

Dail is a right-handed pitcher for the University of North Carolina who was drafted by the Baltimore Orioles in the 32nd round of the 2006 draft. Woolley is a right-hander for the University of Georgia.

Both are members of the Brewster Whitecaps.

HORSE RACING

Safety panel calls for steroids ban

LEXINGTON, Ky. - A safety panel created after filly Eight Belles' fatal run in the Kentucky Derby is calling for a steroid ban and other reforms for the sport.

The Jockey Club's panel released its first set of recommendations yesterday. Besides calling for the elimination of steroids, the group also wants to ban toe grabs and change rules on the use of whips by jockeys.

SOCCER

U.S. women beat Brazil

SUWON, South Korea - The U.S. women's team edged Brazil 1-0 in the Peace Queen Cup on a goal by forward Amy Rodriguez. Rodriguez scored in the 41st minute, lifting the Americans to a 2-0 record heading to tomorrow's match with Italy.

In other soccer news:

In Zurich, Switzerland, Italy advanced to the quarterfinals of the European Championship with a 2-0 win over France in a rematch of the 2006 World Cup final the Italians also won. Andrea Pirlo put Italy in front with a penalty kick in the 25th minute, and Daniele De Rossi made it 2-0 with a deflected free kick in the 62nd.

TENNIS

Injured Davenport drops out of tourney

EASTBOURNE, England - Lindsay Davenport withdrew from the International Women's Open with a knee injury, but expects to compete at Wimbledon.

Davenport was to have played in her first event since defaulting from her semifinal match against Maria Sharapova at Amelia Island in April.

HOCKEY

Larionov, Anderson elected to hall

TORONTO - Former Detroit Red Wings center Igor Larionov and ex-Edmonton Oilers star Glenn Anderson have been elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame.

Former linesman Ray Scapinello and builder Ed Chynoweth also made the hall. The induction ceremony will be held on Nov. 10.

ELSEWHERE

In Chicago, former Bears fullback Roland Harper admitted he acted as a front man in a fraud involving a $1.5 million Chicago Public Schools landscaping contract reserved for minority firms. Harper, 55, appeared before U.S. District Judge John W. Darrah and pleaded guilty to one count of mail fraud. Prosecutors are recommending about 16 months in federal prison for Harper.

Clemson's longtime track coach has retired after a season in which he was accused of depositing money from campus track and field events into a personal account. Bob Pollock spent 20 years leading the men's track and field program and will leave the Tigers after the U.S. Olympic Trials early next month.

His final year was marred when he and assistant coach Charles Foster were investigated by the State Law Enforcement Division after accusations they deposited more than $27,000 in personal accounts. Prosecutors said there was not enough evidence to bring charges. Pollock has denied any wrongdoing.

Ambrose "Bud" Dudley, who founded the Liberty Bowl football game in 1959 and oversaw the game for decades, has died in Memphis, Tenn. He was 88.

Johnny Buzhardt, who pitched for the Chicago Cubs and the White Sox among five major-league teams during 1958-68, has died in Prosperity, S.C. He was 71. Mr. Buzhardt had a stroke several years ago and had been in declining health, according to the McSwain-Evans Funeral Home.

Roush Fenway Racing said Drew Blickensderfer has assumed crew-chief duties with the No. 60 Nationwide entry with driver Carl Edwards. Pierre Kuettel assumes crew-chief duties with the No. 17 Nationwide entry to be driven by Matt Kenseth and Jamie McMurray. - From Staff and Wire Reports