Federer advances to Wimbledon semifinals
WIMBLEDON, England — Roger Federer neutralized Ivo Karlovic’s huge serves Wednesday to reach the Wimbledon semifinals and move a step closer to a record 15th Grand Slam championship.

Sandblasters get win
Three Rivers got back on the winning track in American Legion baseball on Tuesday, beating the visiting Mid Valley Rockets of Albany 18-8 in eight innings.

 Tour de Lance: Seven time champion returns to famed cycling race this week
PARIS — Lance Armstrong believes he can win an eighth Tour de France title, well aware his aging legs are not as strong as they used to be. He is also willing to put such ambitions aside if it means helping teammate Alberto Contador win.

Coach K happy at Duke
Everybody wants to be wanted. And then there’s Mike Krzyzewski.

Bulldogs schedule football training
The North Bend football team has scheduled its summer weight lifting program.

 AL: Orioles rally for improbable win over Boston
BALTIMORE — Terry Francona nearly carved a path into the infield grass at Camden Yards while walking from the dugout to the mound.

 NL: Brewers extend Mets’ misery
MILWAUKEE — The injury-depleted Mets are a mess, and not even Johan Santana could help against a fill-in starter.

Pirates send Hinske to Yankees for prospects
NEW YORK — Eric Hinske can start hoping for another swing in the World Series.

 Detroit fires coach
DETROIT — All or nothing seems to be the formula for coaching the Detroit Pistons. Bring home an NBA championship or hit the road.

NBA free agency starts with air of uncertainty
Some big names will be out there. The big spenders will be harder to find.

 Milwaukee track faces tough times
MILWAUKEE — The Milwaukee Mile’s past includes more than a century’s worth of auto racing’s biggest names, from A.J. Foyt to the Unsers and the Andrettis. Now the track’s promoters are behind on payments to NASCAR and the Indy Racing League, leaving its future uncertain.

Wimmer races to win in All-Star Challenge
OREGON, Wis. — Sprint Cup points leader Tony Stewart runs short-track special events in what little spare time he has. On Tuesday night he walked away from Madison International Speedway with a top-five effort.

George ousted from Indy post
INDIANAPOLIS — Tony George’s tenure as the leader of U.S. open-wheel racing and its biggest stage, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, was marked by tumultuous changes. Now George himself is being replaced — at the behest of a board led by his mother.

Dream team picked for Hall of Fame
NORTHBROOK, Ill. — The Dream Team is still dominating.

Community Sports: Community Scoreboard for June 27
Running

Golf Briefs: Cedar Bend Challenge Cup includes double eagle
Dane Ross and Tyler Ward punctuated their victory in the Cedar Bend Challenge Cup with a double eagle during the second day of the recent tournament.

Fourth of July tourney planned
Bandon Crossings is gearing up for its second-annual Fourth of July tournament, a two-day 54-hole event that starts on July 4.

NB team second at tourney
North Bend’s Little League Rookies All-Star team took second place in a tournament at Reedsport last weekend.

Youth Sports: Winterhawks to hold floor hockey clinic
Local boys and girls in grades 1-8 will have a chance to learn to play hockey Wednesday, July 15, at the Portland Winterhawks Amateur Hockey floor hockey clinic.

Half-marathon draws big crowd to scholarship run
The 15th edition of the South Coast Running Club’s memorial event proved to be a huge success with the addition of the first South Coast Half-Marathon.

 Sandpines: Coast's first renowned links
FLORENCE — Long before Bandon Dunes emerged as a destination resort, the first golf course receiving national headlines on the South Coast made its debut in Florence.

Column, Ron Jackimowicz: A back nine to celebrate
FLORENCE — It’s amazing what a walk past the clubhouse can do for your golf game.

Golf Tip: How much loft should you have on your driver?
If you watched the U.S. Open this past week, you witnessed some amazing play on one of the most difficult courses in America. Bethpage Black certainly tested not only the skills of the best players in the world, but also their equipment. In the equipment world there was a huge buzz created when Tiger Woods switched to a higher lofted driver.