Castro maintains innocence

Oakland Tribune, Aug 31, 2003 by ASSOCIATED PRESS

MIAMI -- Backup catcher Ramon Castro rejoined the Florida Marlins and declared his innocence Saturday, two days after he was arrested and charged with raping a woman in his hotel room.

Castro gave a brief statement but refused to answer questions.

"I just want to say I apologize to the team, the organization, especially my teammates, and my family," he said. "And that's all I have to say. And I'm innocent."

Asked why he was apologizing if he was innocent, Castro said, "I am innocent" as he was led away by a team official.

A 28-year-old woman accused Castro of assaulting her in the player's hotel room after Wednesday night's game in Pittsburgh, police said.

According to court records, the woman told police Castro threw her on a hotel bed, pulled off her clothes and held her down. The woman tried to push Castro away and told him to stop, but he continued to sexually assault her, the documents said.

The woman went to a hospital early Thursday morning.

Mickelson will stick with golf

TOLEDO, Ohio -- Phil Mickelson won't be trading in his pitching wedge for the pitcher's mound this weekend.

The Detroit Tigers said Saturday they will not offer a minor league baseball contract to the pro golfer.

"We appreciate his competitive efforts and also appreciate the first-class manner in which he has handled himself," Tigers assistant general manager Al Avila said in a statement Saturday.

Mickelson said he was disappointed but understood.

"If I can get my velocity up, we may revisit this," he said. "Golf is my No.1 priority and always will be."

Sosa's 500th HR ball is sold

CHICAGO -- Sammy Sosa's 500th homer baseball sold for $44,823, the highest of eight bids placed through an auction house.

Zach Kirk, a college student, caught the ball at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati on April 4 and decided to sell it to help pay for his education. MastroNet, Inc., began taking bids on Aug. 11.

Phillies activate Williams

NEW YORK -- The Philadelphia Phillies reinstated right-handed reliever Mike Williams from the bereavement list and designated infielder Tyler Houston for assignment.

Ex-All-Star pitcher Passeau dies

LUCEDALE, Miss. -- Claude Passeau, who pitched a one-hitter for the Chicago Cubs in the 1945 World Series, died Saturday at age 94.