sports in brief

Topeka Capital-Journal, The, Apr 12, 2008

Local & state: Beasley sets Monday news conference

Kansas State freshman Michael Beasley will hold a news conference at 5 p.m. Monday to address his future in the NBA, the school announced Friday.

Beasley, who is in Los Angeles for the presentation of the Wooden Award, will be joined by head coach Frank Martin and associate head coach Dalonte Hill. Bill Walker, another K-State freshman with NBA aspirations, wasn't mentioned in the release.

Blue Valley Northwest High School will host the Kansas Barnstorming Tour on Wednesday.

Fresh off a NCAA national championship on Monday, the Kansas seniors will be challenging area Blue Valley seniors to a game starting at 8 p.m. in the high school gym.

KU seniors expected to appear are Jeremy Case, Sasha Kaun, Darnell Jackson, Russell Robinson, Rodrick Stewart and Brad Witherspoon.

There will be an autograph session from 6:30 to 8, with one item per person allowed for signatures. KU merchandise will be available for purchase.

Tickets are $10 and will be sold at the door at 6 p.m.

The Topeka Tennis Association is sponsoring the TTA Adult Spring Opener tournament April 19-20 at the Kossover Tennis Center in Felker Park.

Events will include men's and women's singles and doubles and mixed doubles and junior singles and doubles.

Entry blanks are online at www.topeka.usta.com or at Kossover, Wood Valley Racquet Club, Topeka Country Club courts, YWCA and YMCA, or Dick's Sporting Goods. Entry deadline is Monday. For information, call 273-0030.

Colleges: Georgia Tech player dies, cause undetermined

A member of Georgia Tech's baseball team was found dead Friday.

University officials said pitcher Michael Hutts was found dead in his off-campus apartment. Atlanta police and Georgia Tech police said they had not yet determined the cause of death.

Georgia Tech athletic director Dan Radakovich said he didn't believe foul play was involved in the death of the 21-year-old Hutts.

Jacob Priday set a Big 12 Conference record with four home runs Friday night in Missouri's 31-12 rout of Texas.

Priday, a senior, was 5-for-5 and set school records for homers, RBIs and runs scored in a single game. He had nine RBIs and six runs.

The homer total is third most in NCAA history and gave him 43 for his career.

Missouri starter Aaron Crow gave up five runs in the first inning to snap a streak of 422/3 consecutive scoreless innings. Crow (8-0) allowed nine runs, the most of his career, in five innings.

Four teammates of a Central Florida football player who died last month say he showed signs of distress before collapsing following an intense workout, a newspaper reported Friday.

Ereck Plancher died March 18, about an hour after taking part in the team's "mat drills." A cause of death has not been determined.

Florida forward Jonathan Mitchell has decided to transfer, becoming the second player to leave the team this week.

Missouri linebacker Van Alexander will have surgery Monday after suffering a knee injury in practice.

NBA: Bulls' Gooden to miss rest of season with abdominal strain

Chicago Bulls forward Drew Gooden will miss the remainder of the season because of a lower abdominal strain, interim coach Jim Boylan said.

Gooden, a former Kansas standout, missed his seventh straight game when the Bulls hosted Cleveland on Friday and won't be available for the final three.

The Milwaukee Bucks have hired Detroit Pistons vice president John Hammond as their new general manager. The announcement was made during the Bucks' game Friday at Boston.

General: Blake, Roddick give U.S. 2-0 lead against France

James Blake's perseverance and Andy Roddick's power gave the United States a commanding lead over France in the Davis Cup quarterfinals at Winston-Salem, N.C.

Blake overcame his history of fifth-set woes, fighting off two match points to beat Paul-Henri Mathieu 7-6 (5), 6-7 (3), 6-3, 3-6, 7-5 on Friday to give the U.S. a 2-0 lead in the best-of-five competition.

Roddick ripped 30 aces on the fast hard court in a 6-4, 7-6 (3), 7-6 (5) win over Michael Llodra in the opener.

Kyle Busch beat Carl Edwards out of the pits on their final stop, then held off the defending NASCAR Nationwide Series champion in overtime for his second straight victory Friday night at Phoenix International Raceway in Avondale, Ariz.

A series of late-race caution flags hampered Edwards, who appeared to have a faster car at the end.

Busch dominated, leading 133 of the 202 laps. Emporia native Clint Bowyer finished eighth.

Tim Wilkerson moved into position for his third No. 1 qualifier of the season Friday at Las Vegas, leading the Funny Car field in the SummitRacing.com NHRA Nationals with a quarter-mile pass of 4.850 seconds at 318.24 mph.

In Top Fuel, Tony Schumacher drove to a 4.510 at 328.38 provisional low qualifying effort.

From staff and wire reports