Published:Monday, April 14, 2008 11:22 AM PDT
Serving the South Coast of Oregon

Sports Briefs: OSU gymnastics team captures regional title
Monday, April 14, 2008 11:22 AM PDT

CORVALLIS — Oregon State and Michigan claimed the top two spots Saturday in the West Regional at Gill Coliseum to advance to the NCAA gymnastic championships.

Oregon State, ranked eighth and the No. 2 seed, finished with a team score of 197.100, while top-seeded Michigan, ranked fifth, was runner-up with a score of 196.375. The championships, hosted by the University of Georgia, will be held April 24-26.

It was the ninth overall regional championship for the Beavers, and the first since 1992.

“It’s phenomenal to be able to bring the West Regional title back to Oregon State University,” Beavers coach Tanya Chaplin said. “This team has worked really hard. The teams before them helped us build to get to where we are at. It’s a really exciting time for our program to have this.”

Oregon State freshman Jen Kesler scored a career-best 9.95 on the uneven bars to earn an individual title. Jami Lanz, ranked first in the nation on the beam, scored a 9.95.

Mandi Rodriguez and Tasha Smith both earned 9.9 scores for the Beavers in the floor exercise. Smith earned a perfect 10 from one judge.

On the vault, Lamb nailed her Yurchenko with a half-twist to score a meet-high 9.925 and match her career-best score. Lanz followed with a vault that scored 9.9.

The other team scores were Michigan State with 195.125, Washington with 194.075, San Jose State with 193.850, and Sacramento State with 193.575.

GOLF

Ochoa qualifies for Hall

MORELIA, Mexico — Lorena Ochoa qualified for the LPGA Tour Hall of Fame, winning the Corona Championship by 11 strokes for her third straight victory and fourth in five starts this year.

The Mexican star became the second-youngest player to qualify for the Hall of Fame, though she still must be a tour member for 10 years — in her case, until 2012 — to be eligible for induction.

The LPGA Tour had previously said incorrectly that Ochoa would be the youngest to qualify at 26 years, 4 months, 29 days. But the youngest was actually Karrie Webb, who was 25 years, 7 months, 2 days when she qualified with a win at the 2000 U.S. Women’s Open.

The LPGA Tour awards one point for every victory and major award and two points for a major victory.

After opening with three straight 7-under 66s, Ochoa closed with a 69 for a 25-under 267 total. She earned $195,000 for her 21st victory on the LPGA Tour.

TENNIS

Americans advance in DavisCup

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — Andy Roddick proved dominant again in the Davis Cup, sending the defending champion United States past France and into the semifinals against Spain.

Behind a blistering serve, Roddick defeated Paul-Henri Mathieu 6-2, 6-3, 6-2 for the deciding victory in the best-of-five quarterfinal. This was Roddick’s second singles victory in three days.

A day after a loss by the No. 1 doubles team of Bob and Mike Bryan kept France’s hopes alive, Roddick was never threatened in giving the Americans an insurmountable 3-1 lead. While he was held to 17 aces, he lost only 13 points on his serve to improve to 10-0 in clinching situations for the U.S.

Sharapova wins title on clay

AMELIA ISLAND, Fla. — Maria Sharapova overcame five double-faults and 33 unforced errors to beat Dominika Cibulkova 7-6 (7), 6-3 in the final at the Bausch & Lomb Championships. The top-seeded Russian became the first player on the WTA Tour to win three times in 2008. She also won the Australian Open and at Doha.

Sharapova improved to 22-1 this year, earned a crystal vase and $95,500, and maybe more important, gained valuable experience on clay. She hopes it carries over to the Family Circle Cup in South Carolina next week and to the French Open in May.

RUNNING

Lel runs to new record

LONDON — Martin Lel set a course record of 2 hours, 5 minutes, 15 seconds to capture his third London Marathon in four years. His victory came despite wind and rain that hit the field late in the race and a slightly altered route because of a gas leak on a road just over Tower Bridge.

Irina Mikitenko of Germany captured the women’s race in only her second marathon attempt, winning by 25 seconds.

While the weather ruined prospects for a world record, this was the first time the top three finished under 2:06. It was also the first time in 4 1/2 years anyone other than Haile Gebrselassie broke that mark. Gebrselassie holds the world record at 2:04:26.

HOCKEY

Boston College wins NCAAtitle

DENVER — Twenty-four hours after missing out on the Hobey Baker award, Nathan Gerbe, the nation’s leading scorer led Boston College to the NCAA hockey championship that had eluded the talent-laden Eagles the past two seasons.

Gerbe scored twice and added two assists in B.C.’s 4-1 win over Notre Dame at the sold-out Pepsi Center on Saturday night as the Eagles finally hoisted the trophy after losing in the title game to Wisconsin in 2006 and Michigan State last year.

United States women win     world championship

HARBIN, China — The United States won its second women’s world hockey championship Saturday, upsetting Canada 4-3 behind two goals from Natalie Darwitz.

Angela Ruggiero and Jenny Potter also scored for the U.S., which had lost to Canada in nine of the past 10 finals. The Americans won the title in 2005.

The U.S. defeated Canada 4-2 in a playoff-round game Thursday to set up the rematch.


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