Overtime

Minor League Baseball

GreenJackets drop second consecutive

In Rome, Ga., Augusta dropped its second consecutive game to the Braves 2-1 on Wednesday afternoon.

Brian Vericker had an RBI single in the sixth inning, scoring the GreenJackets' only run. Tim Alvarez (0-1) took the loss for Augusta.

College Football

Gamecocks' Rathe denied sixth year

In Columbia, the NCAA Student-Athlete Reinstatement staff denied South Carolina senior quarterback Mike Rathe's case for a sixth year of eligibility.

"We (he and his family) have been waiting for three months so I am disappointed. But we are not dead yet because we have an appeal left," Rathe said in a statement released by the university.

"We will try to keep a positive attitude until the end and hope for the best."

Rathe attended the University of San Diego and Mesa Community College before transferring to South Carolina. He requested the additional year because he missed a full season with a broken finger before he got to South Carolina.

- In New York, Cornelius Bennett Heisman Trophy winner John Huarte and Southern California tailback Anthony Davis are among the 11 players and two coaches that make up the 2005 Hall of Fame class.

Also entering the Hall of Fame are Pittsburgh offensive lineman Mark May, Michigan defensive back Tom Curtis, Penn State offensive tackle Keith Dorney, Ohio State end Jim Houston, Texas fullback Roosevelt Leaks, Oklahoma running back Joe Washington, Stanford defensive lineman Paul Wiggin and Illinois wide receiver David Williams.

Don Nehlen, the winningest coach in West Virginia history, and Pat Dye, who won four Southeastern Conference titles in 12 seasons at Auburn, round out the latest class.

Golf

One week remains for junior entries

In Marietta, Ga., golfers have until May 25 to enter for the 40th Georgia Junior Championship which will take place June 20-22 at Green Island Country Club in Columbus, Ga.

The competition is open to male amateur golfers between the ages of 14 and 17 as of June 20, who are Georgia residents and GSGA members or dependents of members.

This past year, Augusta's Michael Green carded a final-round 68 to win by five strokes.

Entries for the 26th Georgia Girls' Championship, which will be held at Capital City Club-Brookhaven Course in Atlanta, should also be made by May 25th.

Qualified players can register online at www.gsga.org.

Soccer

Ferguson weighs in on Glazer, United

In Manchester, England, Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson understands why fans are so upset that Tampa Bay Buccaneers owner Malcolm Glazer is taking over the team.

Though Ferguson avoided questions about the $1.47 billion takeover, he did say he hoped fans would put aside their anger in time for the team's FA Cup final against Arsenal on Saturday in Cardiff, Wales. Supporters have threatened demonstrations at the match.

"Of course the fans are emotional," Ferguson said. "Given the loyalty they have shown over the years it is understandable. But I'm sure they won't let us down either. It's their game, too. It is their big day as well as ours. They want us to win the Cup."

Ferguson has been Manchester United manager since 1986, leading the club to eight league titles and five FA Cups.

Tennis

Chakvetadze wins, will face Williams

In Istanbul, Turkey, seventh-seeded Anna Chakvetadze defeated fellow Russian Tatiana Panova 5-7, 6-4, 6-1 in the second round of the Istanbul Cup to set up a quarterfinal match against Venus Williams. Williams is looking for her first tournament victory since April 2004.