sports in brief

Topeka Capital-Journal, The, Oct 9, 2008

Local & state: K-State women cagers picked seventh in Big 12

Defending champion Kansas State was tabbed for the seventh spot in the Big 12 women's basketball coaches poll announced Wednesday. Oklahoma was the choice for No. 1, followed by Texas and Iowa State.

The Sooners received seven first-place votes, Texas got one first- place vote and Iowa State earned two. Baylor, the choice to finish fourth, received a first-place vote.

Texas was picked for fifth, Oklahoma State (one first-place vote) was sixth, K-State seventh, Nebraska eighth, and Kansas ninth, followed by Texas Tech, Colorado and Missouri.

Kansas State's Oct. 18 football game at Colorado will be broadcast on Fox Sports Net Kansas City on local cable. Kickoff is at 6 p.m.

The Kansas at Oklahoma game is targeted for either 2:30 or 7 p.m. on ABC.

The Washburn volleyball team swept past Missouri Southern 3-0 Wednesday night at Joplin, Mo., going on an 11-1 run to start the match and ending the third game on a 18-1 tear.

No. 8-ranked Washburn (19-2, 4-2 MIAA) downed the Lions 25-18, 27- 25, 25-13. Mollie Lacy led the Lady Blues in attacks, kills and blocks. Lacy hit .560 with 15 kills and just one error in 25 attempts. She also had six blocks.

Monica Miesner had 10 kills and Molly Smith led the defense with 16 digs.

The Washburn golf team tied for sixth place at the Southwest Baptist Invitational with a final-round 311. A 606 total left the Ichabods 24 strokes behind Central Missouri, which won both MIAA fall points events.

Matt Ewald (71-74--145) tied for fifth place along with Riley Piles (73-72), who was competing as an individual. Nate Sargent (73- 78--151) tied for 19th, Matt Salome (76-76--152) tied for 26th and Matt Lazzo (75-83--158) tied for 50th. Sam Wempe, competing individually, tied for 16th (74-76--150).

Baseball: Yankee Stadiumclosing ceremony called off

Plans for a closing ceremony at Yankee Stadium have been scrapped.

The team had discussed organizing an event featuring Paul McCartney and Bruce Springsteen on the weekend of Nov. 8-9 that would have included remembrances of many of the non-baseball events at the 85-year-old ballpark, such as football and boxing.

George Kissell, a former major league coach who had been with the St. Louis Cardinals organization since 1940, has died following a car accident. He was 88.

Kissell died Tuesday night at Tampa General Hospital, Pinellas Park Police Capt. Sanfield Foreseth said. Police said Kissell's daughter was driving her parents Monday night when she apparently ran a red light and was hit by another car.

Kissell was a major league coach from 1969-75. He was currently a senior field coordinator for player development.

RICH HARDEN'S $7 million option for next year was exercised Wednesday by the Chicago Cubs, one day after a test showed the hard- throwing right-hander had no structural damage in his pitching shoulder.

The Cubs acquired Harden from Oakland on July 8. He was the losing pitcher in Game 3 of the NL division series Saturday night as the Cubs were swept in three games by the Los Angeles Dodgers.

The 26-year-old Harden went a combined 10-2 with a 2.07 ERA.

College football: Auburn fires offensive coordinator after loss

Auburn coach Tommy Tuberville has fired offensive coordinator Tony Franklin seven games into his tenure.

Tuberville said Wednesday he's not satisfied with progress being made on offense and felt it was best to make a change. He said he will take a larger role in working with the offense the rest of the season.

East Carolina suspended receiver Jamar Bryant indefinitely Wednesday for an undisclosed violation of team policy.

Bryant will miss Saturday's game at Virginia.

Basketball: Ginyard out eight weeks for UNC after surgery

North Carolina's Marcus Ginyard will miss eight weeks after having surgery to repair a stress fracture in his left foot.

Coach Roy Williams said on Wednesday it was better to have his most versatile player back in December rather than risk injuring the foot further, but that "we will miss his play on both ends of the floor as well as his leadership."

Indiana Pacers president Larry Bird has settled a lawsuit brought against a couple he claimed used his name without permission to promote a bed-and-breakfast in his former hometown in southern Indiana called the "Legend of French Lick."

Trail Blazers forward Martell Webster fractured a bone in his left foot Tuesday night in a preseason victory over the Sacramento Kings.

Lou Williams scored 27 points and Thaddeus Young added 21 to help the Philadelphia 76ers beat the NBA champion Boston Celtics 98-92 on Wednesday night in the exhibition opener for both teams.

Leon Powe led the Celtics with 12 points.

From staff and wire reports