Ukiah Daily Journal from Ukiah, California • Page 7

SPORTS FRIDAY, MARCH 18, 2005 A-7 LOCAL SPORTS CALENDAR PREP BASEBALL NBL Rancho Cotate at Ukiah, 3:30 p.m. NCL III Potter Valley at Anderson Valley, 3:30 p.m. Non-league Deep Valley Christian at Cloverdale, 3:30 p.m. Frosh at Rancho Cotate, 3:30 p.m. PREP SOFTBALL Non-league Sonoma at Ukiah, Deep Valley Christian at Cloverdale, 3:30 p.m.

NCL III. Potter Valley at Anderson Valley, 3:30 p.m. PREP BOYS TENNIS NBL Rancho Cotate at Ukiah, 3 p.m. MARCH 19- JC BASEBALL BVC Mendocino at Contra Costa College, I p.m. PREP SOFTBALL Ukiah at Petaluma, 1 p.m.

LAKEPORT SPEEDWAY Hillside Honda Perpetual Trophy Race (Winter series awards presented after this race) listings are culled from the most recent schedules provided hy the schools and organizations in our coverage area. Please report schedule changes or Incorrect listings to The Daily Journal Sports Department at 468-3518. COMMUNITY SPORTS DIGEST 21st annual Whale The 21st annual Whale is slated for Saturday, March 19, at the Point Qabrillo Light Station (located off Point Cabrillo Drive, six miles south of Fort Bragg and two miles north of Mendocino). Offered will be a 10K run, 5K run, 5K competitive walk and a 5K fun walk. The start time Allow 30 minutes to park and walk to the start line.

The Whale is one of the more prestigious events of Fort Bragg 's Whale Festival weekend, which celebrates the 'annual migration thousands. of gray whales- as they pass the shores, heading north from Mexico to summer home in the Arctic. The new course has both level and hilly segments on a paved road. Early registration guarantees participants a t-shirt and the $3 parking fee (collected at the site) entitles runners and walkers to participate in all of the Whale Festival activities taking place that day at the Point Cabrillo -Lighthouse. The race is sponsored by Soroptimist International of Fort Bragg, part of a global service organization.

All race proceeds the' registration' is $25; $15 if 18 years old and younger are used for local scholarships, community organizations and Project Sanctuary. Entry forms may be picked up in Fort Bragg at the Chamber of Commerce. Call the Chamber ((707) 961-6300 or (800) 726-2780). Racers pan also register online at theschedule.com. For more- information, call (707)962-0211.

UHS dance team tryouts the Ukiah High School dance team is holding tryouts March 21-23 at the school's cafeteria. For.more information, calj Terrry Hasner'at City men's softball league Ukiah City League men's softball is coming soon, League play is slated to begin the week of May 2. Team fees are $450 for the sponsor fee 'and, $30 per player (cheeky payabje to the city Ukiah). Registration, forms are available atlthe IWah Civic? Center AnnexM4i'l West Clay The priority, registration deadline for returning teams is, March 24 deadline" is April fees first game. Register earjy is Hoiked.

information, caJJ, See DIGEST, Page STEROID SCANDAL McGwire refuses to say if he took steroids Ex-slugger's testimony marks day of baseball intrigue on the Hill By HOWARD FENDRICH and RONALD BLUM The Associated Press WASHINGTON On Capitol Hill instead of a baseball field, wearing business suits instead of uniforms, they walked into the room, stars all, forced by subpoena to testify before Congress about whether they cheated by using steroids. Heads turned, strobes flashed and necks craned to get a glimpse of baseball's humbled heroes on a day of extraordinary theater. Five current and former players, three of them among the 10 leading home run hitters in history, bemoaned steroids as a problem for their sport but denied the drugs are widely used. Mark McGwire hemmed and hawed, his voice choked with emotion, his eyes nearly filled with tears. Time after time Thursday, he refused to answer the question everyone wanted to know: Did he take illegal steroids when he hit a then-record 70 home runs in 1998 or at any other time? No matter how hard the congressmen tried, McGwire wouldn't say.

Jose Canseco whose best-selling book, "Juiced," drew lawmakers' attention said anew that he used performance-enhancing drugs as a player, Baltimore Orioles teammates Sammy Sosa and Rafael Palmeiro said they haven't. McGwire in the past has defiied using steroids but under oath repeatedly declined to respond directly. Peering at lawmakers over reading glasses, his goatee flecked with gray, McGwire was pressed to say whether he had taken performance-enhancing substances or whether he could provide details about use by other players. He responded repeatedly, "I'm not here to talk about the past." Asked by Rep. Elijah Cummings, whether he was asserting his Fifth Amendment right not to incriminate himself, McGwire said: "I'm not here to talk about the past.

I'm here to be positive about this subject." Asked whether use of steroids was cheating, McGwire said: "That's not for me to determine." Earlier, he said he knew that steroid use could be dangerous and pledged to discourage young athletes from using them. All of the players offered condolences to the parents of two young baseball players who committed suicide after using steroids. The parents testified, too, along with medical experts who talked about the health risks of steroids; "Players that are guilty of taking steroids are not only cheaters you are cowards," said Donald Hooton of Piano, Texas, whose son, Taylor, was 17 when he hanged himself in July 2003. During a hearing that lasted more than 11 hours, lawmakers questioned baseball's new drug-testing plan, See STEROIDS, Page A-8 Amy Dally Journal Mendocino College's Brand! Want (sliding) heads into third base Thursday. She was called out on the play.

Eagles explode in wins over Napa Mendocino erupts for a total of 40 runs in doubleheader sweep The Daily Journal UKIAH College exploded offensively, striking for 40 runs and a sweep of a doubleheader with visiting Napa Valley College Thursday afternoon. "I was real impressed with the way the girJs hit the ball," said Mendo interim coach Kevin Koch. "We probably had over 30 hits on the day and we were real solid in the field." Stacey Ljnd finished the twin bill going a combined 6-for-8 to lead the victorious Eagles. She had a double and a triple on her ledger. Jennifer Carroll went 5-for-8 with a pair of triples and Brandie McRae was 4-for-5 with a two- bagger.

Every Mendocino player there are 11 active players on the roster collected a hit Thursday. The Eagles improved to 5-10 overall with the win and travel to Laney College for a 1 p.m. doubleheader Tuesday. AT MENDOCINO COLLEGE Napa Valley 00000 0 Mendocino 430 12 19 WP Corle Wachler. Note: Five-run rule shortened game.

AT MENPOCINO COLLEGE Napa Valley 200 00 Mendocino 849 Ox WP Erin Heilmeyer. Note: Five-run rule shortened game. 2 21 JC BASEBALL Eagles leave 'em loaded in loss to Napa NAPA Mendocino College dropped its fifth straight game, losing 65 in junior college baseball action at Napa Valley College Thursday afternoon. See ROUNDUP, Page A-8 YOUTH SWIMMING Dolphins compete atHSC Invite By DIANE JOHNSON Ukiah Dolphins Coach Seven Ukiah Dolphin swimmers traveled to Eureka this past weekend for a Short Course Invitational meet sponsored by Humboldt Swim Club. The two-day event was held at College of the Redwoods indoor swim facility and featured swimmers from eight Northern California swim clubs.

With many local seasoned swimmers currently participating in the high school swim season, the Dolphins' were proud to have a representation at this meet. Both days were filled with various events where participants vied for better times and new time standards with fields as large as 25 entries. Swimmers could earn points for their teams by placing sixth or higher in their respective events. Following are the highlights and individual accomplishments by local swimmers who earned points for the Ukiah Dolphin swim team. 7-AND8-Y'EAR-OLDBOYS Cooper Johnson (7) achieved one new time standard and placed fifth in 50 free event.

Chesney Johnson (9) bettered three of her times and placed third in the 100 fly. 9-10 BOYS Chayton Johnson (10) achieved two new time standards and racked up a number points for Ukiah. He placed third in the 100 back, fourth in See DOLPHINS, Page A-8 NCAA TOURNAMENT UW-Milwaukee pulls off first tourney upset The Associated Press CLEVELAND Wisconsin- Milwaukee pulled off the first upset of the NCAA stunning Alabama 83-73 on Thursday in the Chicago Regional. Joah Tucker and Ed McCants scored 21 points apiece to help 12th- seeded Milwaukee (25-5) win its first NCAA tournament game in its second try. Two years ago, the Panthers nearly knocked off Notre Dame, losing 7069.

The Horizon League champions finished the job this time, outplaying one of the Southeastern Conference's top programs and continuing a trend of No. 12s beating No. 5s in March. That first-round matchup has produced an upset in 16 of the past 17 tournaments, the only exception being in 2000. CLEVELAND (AP) Jared Dudley had 18 points to lead fpurth- seeded Boston College.

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) Dee Brown scored 19 points, and Luther Head added 13 to lead top-seeded Illinois (33-1). (AP) Kevinn Pinkney scored 15 points and ninth- seeded Nevada rallied to beat eighth- seeded Texas. BOISE, Idaho (AP) Channing Frye scored 13 of his 17 points in the second half and had 10 rebounds for third-seeded Arizona. BOISE, Idaho (AP) Marvett McDonald had 21 points and hit five 3-pointers, and llth-seeded Alabama- Birmingham used its stingy defense tq, pull off another upset. AUSTIN REGIONAL INDIANAPOLIS (AP) Kelerina Azubuike and Chuck Hayes each scored 16 points and second-seeded Kentucky dominated the middle, to hold off sfate rival Eastern Kentucky.

INDIANAPOLIS Maxiell had 22 points, nine rebounds, blocked shots and a pair of steals for seventh-seeded Cincinnati (25-7). TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) Andrew Bogut had 24 points, 11 rebounds and four blocks to lead sixth-seeded Utah (25-8). TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) Drew Lavender scored 17 points for third- seeded Oklahoma.

ALBUQUERQUE REGIONAL BOISE, Idaho (AP) Brandon Roy had 17 points and Tre Simmons added 15 to pace top-seeded Washington, which won an NCAA tournament game for the first time' since reaching the round of 16 in 1998. BOISE, Idaho (AP) Christian Maraker came back after slamming his heaci to the floor in the first half and 17 points, including a late helped clinch it for the eighth-seeded Tigers (27-3). CLEVELAND (AP) Chris Paul scored 20 points in his return from a one- game suspension and second-seeded Wake Fprest shook off a horrible first. CLEVELAND (AP) Tyrone Sally blocked Nate Funk's 3-point attempt, then raced downcourt for a fast-break dunk with 2.9 seconds to go, leading seventh-seeded West Virginia past Creighton, TUCSON, Ariz, (AP) Adam Morrison scored 27 points to lead third-seeded Gonzaga (26-4) past 14th-seeded Winthrop. TUCSON, Ariz.

(AP) Ronald Ross scored 28 points and sixth-seeded Texas Tech shot a season-high 62 percent..