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Arizona State started its best pitcher at shortstop and used him in relief. The No. 3 Sun Devils started an outfielder on the mound and moved him to left. Both those moves seemed unusual, but they worked out perfectly in ASU's 6-1 win over No. 14 Wichita State on Wednesday at Eck Stadium. The Shockers couldn't hit either Sun Devil pitcher.

"We had very few level swings," WSU coach Gene Stephenson said. "It's a little frustrating right now. There are a lot of guys in the lineup that are swinging up. There are a lot of guys in the lineup that are taking the good pitches and swinging at the bad ones."

Arizona State coach Pat Murphy had no such complaints. His batters hit the ball hard all night. His lineup machinations, forced by injuries to five pitches, looked like a well-thought-out plan. Lefty Matt Newman, making his first start and third appearance of the season, shut down the Shockers (36-13) on five hits over 6 2/3 innings. Mike Leake, their Friday starter, went 2 for 4 in his first start at short and pitched 2 1/3 scoreless innings for his first save.

"I've got to do something, but we've got good athletes that have fun and like to play the game," Murphy said.

Newman, a freshman, had pitched a total of two innings this season. His outfielders gave him more problems than the WSU hitters. Misplayed fly balls gave the Shockers leadoff doubles in the second and third innings. Newman didn't allow either to score.

Tony Segovia had no choice but to sit back and watch and see where this went.

His Friends softball team didn't have to win Friday night's game to prove something to him. This group was a bunch of winners -- an assertion backed up by a 27-game winning streak entering the night's game -- and regardless of how it ended, that wouldn't change, in his mind.

There had been a 3-8 start to the season that was so impressively overcome. A winning streak started, and it grew and grew and grew. The Falcons set the school record at 19 games, then kept on winning. The chemistry, built by a core of seniors, was unmatched to anything Segovia has had since taking over at Friends in 2005.

The Falcons were the undefeated conference champions -- the third title in four seasons.

A loss to Kansas Wesleyan in the KCAC Tournament semifinals wasn't going to diminish any of that. So when the Falcons fell behind 2-0 in the sixth inning, Segovia did what he could. He gave some words of guidance and motivation and sat back and watched.

Masai Ujiri is confident Ehimen Orukpe will be worth the wait for Wichita State basketball.

"I can tell you Wichita State will be proud of Ehimen," said Ujiri, director of global scouting for the Toronto Raptors. "He's one of those kids that will bring something to the program."

Wichita State's nearly year-long pursuit of Orukpe, a 7-foot center from Nigeria, may be nearing an end. He has an appointment today for an interview at the United States embassy in Lagos. Should he walk out with his student visa, he could be in Wichita soon. Orukpe signed with WSU last May, but has been unable to leave Nigeria.

WSU assistant coach Marty Gross spent four days in Nigeria earlier this month. He watched Orukpe practice twice and play in a game for his club team. He also prepped Orukpe for the interview, which Gross compared to a job interview. Student visas, according to Gross, aren't granted without good reason. Orukpe must persuade someone that leaving Nigeria is a good move academically and athletically, and one that will help the country should he return.

"Cautiously optimistic," Gross said. "The onus is on him. He's got to convince the interviewer."

Dustan Mohr took a deep breath, swallowed his pride and started dialing. He still hadn't fully come to grips with how, after spending much of the previous seven years in the major leagues, he had been unable to find a job.

But he was finally ready to do something about it.

So this winter he called Kevin Hooper, a former Triple-A teammate who had recently signed to play for the independent Wichita Wingnuts. Hooper suggested Mohr join him.

"I said, 'OK, I'll think about it,' " Mohr said. "I gave it some more time and decided I really didn't want to sit at home and wait for the call (from a major-league team). I figured it'd be better for me to be playing than sitting at home."

After talking it over with manager Kash Beauchamp and general manager Josh Robertson, Mohr signed with the Wingnuts on March 13. The team begins its inaugural season against Sioux City tonight at Lawrence-Dumont Stadium.

Two junior-college signees and a midseason addition comprise Kansas State's 2008-09 men's basketball recruiting class. And, based on the penalties from Tuesday's NCAA Academic Progress Rate, more help likely isn't on the way.

K-State received a 880 score, meaning the program will lose one of 13 scholarships next season.

APR is a calculation meant to measure the success of athletes in the classroom and the progress made toward graduation. A team is subject to scholarship penalties if its APR is less than 925 and if an underclassman leaves school the previous school year while in poor academic standing.

Tuesday's formal announcement of the signings of Buchi Awaji and Abdul Herrera -- coupled with the presence of Jamar Samuels, a 6-foot-8 forward who joined the Wildcats in December but redshirted -- suggest K-State's class is complete.

Awaji, a 6-foot-3 guard from Citrus College in Glendora, Calif., and Herrera, a 6-11 center from Hutchinson Community College, slide into the scholarships vacated by senior guards Blake Young and Clent Stewart. And Samuels, who was promised a scholarship for 2008-09, takes the one left behind by freshman Michael Beasley.

If the Wichita State baseball team turned the proverbial corner last weekend in its sweep over Northern Iowa, all of that momentum may have been lost Tuesday night.

Looking overmatched and unenthused at times, the Shockers let the Central Arkansas Bears build a six-run lead after five innings. Despite making a furious comeback attempt in the eighth and ninth innings, they couldn't complete the rally and lost 10-9.

With the wind blowing out, WSU's pitching staff surrendered five home runs, three in the Bears' seven-run second inning. That's not exactly welcome news since tonight's opponent, Arizona State, is 18th in the nation in home runs (66) and seventh in runs scored (437).

"Hey, I don't want to know what these guys are thinking," WSU coach Gene Stephenson said. "All I know is it's eating me up and tomorrow could be a long, long night."

The Shockers' pitching duo of Matt Kemp and Andy Womack labored through the first two innings. Kemp, the starter, struggled from the opening pitch, allowing two hits and a run in the first. He allowed five more runs in the second inning before being relieved by Womack. Womack surrendered three runs in two-thirds of an inning.

As Kapaun Mount Carmel senior JoJo Palko walked off the field Tuesday at Northwest, she received a hug from coach Alan Shepherd.

It was well deserved after Palko finished with a hat trick in a 5-0 victory over Northwest that guaranteed the Crusaders at least a share of their fourth straight City League title. Kapaun can win the title outright with a win at South on Thursday..

"It feels amazing," Palko said. "We worked so hard and just to say we've won it every year... that's pretty amazing."

Kapaun dominated the game through a total team effort, but it was Palko that set the tone.

Sending an early message on Northwest's senior night, Palko scored four minutes into the game off a nice crossing pass from Alison Kryzer. Palko added another goal with 5:54 remaining in the first half with a sliding shot past Northwest keeper Amanda Shook.

WSU -- at Evansville, vs. Bradley.

Mo. St. -- at Northern Iowa

Creighton -- vs. Indiana State.

Northern Iowa -- at Bradley, vs. Mo. State

The Wingnuts' inaugural season opener against Sioux City was postponed on Wednesday because of rain and will be made up as part of a doubleheader on Friday.

Today's game will be played as scheduled at 7:05 p.m. at Lawrence-Dumont Stadium. Friday's doubleheader, featuring two seven-inning games, starts at 5:05 p.m.

Left-hander Brad Davis is still slotted as the opening day starter for Wichita. He spent last season in the Oakland Athletics organization, advancing to Triple-A Sacramento, and owns an 18-8 career minor league record.

Sioux City features former Wichita State infielder Nick McCoola. The Explorers' hitting coach is Hall of Famer Billy Williams, who spent most of his 18 major league seasons with the Chicago Cubs.

Sundays _ Family Fun Days. Four tickets, four hot dogs, four sodas, four inflatable tickets and a program for $44.

Tuesdays _ Temperature Tuesdays. Add a zero on the noon temperature and fans can purchase two lower box seats for that amount. Plus $1 specialty beer.

Wednesday _ $1 hot dogs, coupons on www.wichitawingnuts.com.

Thursday _ Thirsty Thursday, $1 beer.

Saturdays _ Postgame fireworks.

Pitching coach: Luke Robertson

Hitting coach: Chris Mileham

When: 7:05 tonight

Where: Lawrence-Dumont Stadium

Radio: KGSO, 1410-AM

It's a sequence that has been all too familiar to Wichita State coach Mike Perniciaro.

The Shockers open up the inning with a runner on base, successfully sacrifice them over to second only to have the next hitters go down swinging.

Hitting with runners on base became a problem for the Wichita State softball team toward the conclusion of the regular season. It will be one the Shockers try to overcome as they open the Missouri Valley Conference tournament today. WSU (32-27), the fifth seed, faces eighth-seeded Indiana State at 11 a.m. today in Carbondale, Ill.

The winner will face fourth-seeded Drake at 4 p.m.

"The hitting has been there," Perniciaro said. "It's just a matter of hitting at the right time. We've been able to get runners on base, we've been able to move people over in scoring position. But we haven't been able to come up with the clutch hits with runners on base."

Wednesday's box score

Still there

WSU starter Tim Kelley turned in his longest outing of the season against one of the nation's best offenses.

At Carbondale, Ill.

Today

Game 1 _ No. 8 Indiana State (19-29-1) vs. No. 5 Wichita State (32-27), 11 a.m. (KGSO, 1410-AM)

Game 2 _ No. 7 Missouri State (25-21) vs. No. 6 Evansville (25-20), 1:30 p.m.

Game 3 _ Game 1 winner vs. No. 4 Drake (26-24), 4

Notes

• Arizona State leads the series 12-7. The Sun Devils won two meetings at Eck Stadium in 2004, 10-9 and 4-3.

• The Sun Devils are 6-5 in road games. They won two of three at UCLA over the weekend. ASU has scored 10 or more runs in five of its past six games.

• Arizona State 1B Ike Davis is not expected to play this week due to a rib muscle strain, according to the East Valley (Ariz.) Tribune. Davis is hitting .401 with 15 home runs and 62 RBIs and he leads the team with four saves. He has missed six straight games.

• Baseball America ranks 3B Brett Wallace as the No. 26 prospect for the professional draft and says he may be the best pure hitter in college baseball. Wallace was tied for the team lead with 15 home runs entering Tuesday's game at Kansas State. His 59 RBIs ranked second behind Davis. CF Jason Kipnis started the week with 11 home runs and 55 RBIs.

Short of being named permanent host of the College World Series, Omaha couldn't have asked for more than the 25-year agreement it reached with the NCAA to keep the baseball championship through at least 2035, Mayor Mike Fahey said.

Fahey said Tuesday that a signed memorandum of understanding with the NCAA guarantees a 25-year contract beginning in 2011. That's five years longer than the initial agreement announced last week.

"Realistically, 25 was as far as we could push them," Fahey said.

The CWS has been played every year since 1950 at Rosenblatt Stadium in south Omaha. Under the new contract, which probably will be signed before the June 14 start of this year's CWS, the event will move to a $140 million, 24,000-seat downtown stadium in 2011.

• Justin Bloxom homered twice and drove in five runs Tuesday as Kansas State upset No. 3 Arizona State 7-6 in Manhattan. Bloxom and Nate Tenbrink went 3 for 4 for K-State (23-25), which posted its second straight win over a ranked opponent. Tyler Ruch (1-0) retired one batter in the sixth ahead of a four-run rally by the Wildcats to earn the victory. Arizona State, which got three RBIs from Ryan Sontag, dropped to 37-9.

Mid-Amateur

At Tallgrass C.C.

Overall champion--Luke Johnson, Overland Park, 70-71--141.

Age group champions

25-34--Gross: Luke Johnson, Overland Park, 70-71--141; Net: Luke Johnson, Overland Park, 71-72--143. 35-44--Gross: Michael Holloway, Wichita, 72-70--142; Net: Mike Schwieger, Overland Park, 73-67--140. 45 and older--Gross: Steve Newman, Wichita, 69-75--144; Net: Scott Richey, Parkville, Mo., 73-70--143.

Overland Park's Luke Johnson shot an even-par 71 on Tuesday and edged Wichita's Michael Holloway by one stroke for the Kansas Golf Association Mid-Amateur title at Tallgrass Country Club.

It was the first KGA title for Johnson, who started the final round tied for second. Johnson was the only golfer under par for 36 holes, finishing at 1-under 141.

Johnson birdied the par-3 17th for the second straight day to help him claim the victory. Holloway shot the low round of the day, a 1-under 70, but bogeyed the par-4 18th.

Arkansas City's Trent Brown was third at 142 and first-round leader Steve Newman of Wichita took fourth. He followed his opening-round 69 with a 75.

Holloway claimed low gross honors in the 35-44 age group and Newman was low gross in the 45-and-older group. The tournament for golfers 25 and older was the KGA's season opener.

Despite losing to Northwest in its final City League baseball game of the season, North won its second consecutive league championship. The Redskins finished 14-2 in the league while Northwest finished second at 13-3.

"It's always good when you can win a City League title," North coach Kyle Sanders said.

North's only other loss came at the hands of Bishop Carroll on April 14. Carroll had its own dreams of bringing home the league title but those were thwarted when North defeated the Golden Eagles in the rematch 9-0. At the time Carroll was on a seven-game win streak.

North beat Northwest in their first meeting .

Now with the City League title under their belts, the Redskins must put their focus on the Class 6A regional. North looked headed toward a possible No. 1 seed in the tournament, but with three straight losses -- two to Goddard and the loss to Northwest -- they are looking at a fifth seed with a 16-4 record.

For years, Donna Jean Spaeth could not figure it out.

As a certified AYSO coach, Spaeth applied for job after job only to see the positions go to seemingly lesser qualified applicants.

She came to the realization that she couldn't find a coaching job because of her gender. But her passion for soccer was too strong to keep her from coaching the sport, so Donna Jean Spaeth became DJ Spaeth.

"That's how I got my name," Spaeth said. "I couldn't get a job interview. I kept seeing people get the job that weren't as qualified as me. I was certified and I couldn't get a job and I couldn't figure it out. So the American Civil Liberties Union advised me to use DJ."

DJ Spaeth found a job soon after the switch, taking over as boys soccer coach at North in 1987. Twenty-one seasons later, Spaeth has decided to retire from the school where she has become more than just a coach.

Softball

Carroll 11, South 0

Carroll 12, South 1

Baseball

Regional Pairings

Class 4A

Chapman

Monday--Marysville (8-10) at Abilene (8-8), 6 p.m.; Santa Fe Trail (1-19) at Wamego (13-7), 6; Clay Center (5-11) at Chapman (10-10), 6. Wednesday--Semifinals, Marysville-Abilene winner vs. Smoky Valley (13-5), 2 p.m. Clay Center-Chapman winner vs. Santa Fe Trail-Wamego winner, 4:30. Championship at 7 p.m.

Softball

Regional Pairings

Class 4A

Abilene

Monday--Wamego (3-15) vs. Clay Center (15-1), 4:45 p.m.; Concordia (5-13) vs. Topeka Hayden (15-3), 4:45; Chapman (9-8) vs. Abilene (11-6), 6:30; Smoky Valley (7-13) vs. Marysville (13-5), 6:30. Wednesday--Semifinals, 4:45 p.m.: Chapman-Abilene winner vs. Wamego-Clay Center winner; Smoky Valley-Marysville winner vs. Concordia-Hayden winner. Championship at 6:30.

Campus and McPherson came into Tuesday's baseball doubleheader with dreams of an Ark Valley-Chisholm Trail League Division II title and hosting a regional game.

Neither got exactly what it wanted.

The Colts and Bullpups split, giving both a share of the league title.

"I couldn't think of a better team to have to share the title with than McPherson," Campus coach Bryan Clasen said. "This was big. It keeps us in the hunt to host a region game."

After losing the opener 9-6, Campus (15-3, 8-2 AV-CTL II) won the second game 4-0. Jonathan Murray remained undefeated, stifling the Bullpups on a three-hitter. It was Murray's third straight shutout after earlier blanking Newton and Valley Center.

Baseball

Northwest 15, North 0

Andover 10, Circle 0

Dale Earnhardt Jr. posted consecutive top-five finishes once last season. Mark Martin accomplished that feat when he finished fifth and third in the past two races -- as a part-time, 49-year-old driver.

So much for the demise of Dale Earnhardt Inc.

"I think that goes a long way in quieting any naysayers that there might have been," Martin said. "I'm very proud to be a part of the program."

Martin was relaxed at Lowe's Motor Speedway on Tuesday. He briefly sat in a U.S. Army helicopter parked in the track's infield during a news conference promoting NASCAR's tribute to American troops during the Coca-Cola 600. Then before climbing in his car for a testing session, he talked about his success replacing Earnhardt in the No. 8 Chevrolet despite driving in only seven of 10 races.

"I don't think anybody else has got a deal like mine," Martin said of being able to work with a full-time crew. "They're kind of hard to put together. Whether we win or not, we've managed to do it and get really close several times. I don't think the trophy makes the difference. I think we've proved that it can be done and I'm proud of that."

Kansas State senior Jordan Bedore is one of 42 players named to the 2008 Rimington Trophy spring trophy watch list. The trophy goes to the nation's best center.

• The tandem of running backs that helped Indianapolis win its first Super Bowl title in 2006 -- Joseph Addai and Dominic Rhodes -- has been reunited after Rhodes agreed on a one-year deal Wednesday to return to the Colts.

• Offensive tackle David Diehl signed a two-year extension with the New York Giants that will keep him under contract with the Super Bowl champions through the 2013 season.

Diehl, who had four years left on an extension he signed in 2005, will earn $31 million under terms of the new deal.

• Former Patriots video assistant Matt Walsh sent the NFL eight videotapes that show New England violated league rules by recording opposing coaches' playcalling signals.

A&M -- at Nebraska, vs. Texas.

NU -- vs. A&M, at Missouri.

OSU -- vs. Texas Tech, vs. OU.

MU -- at KU, vs. NU.

The trainer of Eight Belles is certain the filly was never on steroids, and has ordered tests to prove it.

Larry Jones said Tuesday he wanted to dispel any suggestion the Kentucky Derby runner-up was on performance-enhancing drugs. Eight Belles was euthanized after breaking both front ankles Saturday, a quarter-mile after the finish at Churchill Downs.

"I guarantee there were no steroids ever on the horse," Jones said at a news conference at Delaware Park, site of the filly's first win.

Eight Belles' owner, Rick Porter, said the preliminary necropsy result showed the death came as a result of the fracture of the filly's two front cannon bones.

Jones was adamant that the necropsy will show no use of performance enhancing drugs, and hoped it would uncover any previously undiscovered "soundness issues."

Britney Spears will have expanded visits with her sons following a child-custody hearing that went off without a hitch Tuesday in Los Angeles, capping a three-month period of relative calm and stability for the troubled pop star and mother of two.

The longer visits are "recognition of the progress that has been made, a progress in structure and stability," said Mark Vincent Kaplan, lawyer for Spears' ex-husband Kevin Federline. At a post-hearing news conference, Kaplan said Federline retains custody of 2-year-old Sean Preston and 1-year-old Jayden James, but that Spears would be allowed to see them for longer periods.

"We are so pleased with Britney's progress and we are very appreciative of the court's recognition of this progress," Spears' parents, Jamie and Lynne Spears, said in a statement read by court spokesman Allan Parachini.

Fan convicted of stalking Thurman

Jack Jordan, a 37-year-old out-of-work lifeguard and pool cleaner, on Tuesday was convicted by a jury of stalking and harassing actress Uma Thurman. Jordan, who was tried in New York State Supreme Court, faces up to a year in jail. The judge ordered a psychiatric exam before Jordan's sentencing hearing.

Zap2it

The CW is turning its eyes to its daytime programming with an afternoon block featuring a court series and two comedies.

The network is teaming up with Warner Bros. Domestic Television Distribution to add the court series "Judge Jeanine Pirro" and a one-hour comedy block of "The Wayans Bros." and "The Jamie Foxx Show." The new afternoon block will run from 2 to 4 p.m. each weekday, beginning Sept. 22.

"This lineup was created to better serve the programming mix of our stations with first-run and off-network programming that will increase ratings, revenue and flow," says The CW's John Maatta.

"We are excited to be in business with The CW on 'Judge Jeanine Pirro.' Jeanine has the unique breakout qualities that all great judges of court shows possess. Although some think the genre is overcrowded, we believe viewers will flock to Jeanine, who is a fresh face with a distinctive voice," added network executive Ken Werner.

The Wichita River Festival opens Friday with the promise of a weekend jam-packed with activities.

Friday night's opening concert features pop singer Colbie Caillat, who came to fame after her site on the social network MySpace generated millions of hits as fans went to it to hear her songs, most notably the hit "Bubbly." Her concert will start at about 8:50 p.m. on the West Bank Stage. Admission is $10 and a River Festival button.

On Saturday, the '70s band Three Dog Night will perform at 8:30 p.m. on the West Bank Stage. Known for hits such as "Joy to the World," "Mama Told Me Not to Come" and "Shambala," the band still tours with several of its original members. A River Festival button is required for admission to the concert.

Sunday's concert at West Bank Stage will feature the '70s funk band War, taking the stage at about 6:30 p.m. The band's hits included "Low Rider," "Spill the Wine" and "Why Can't We Be Friends." A festival button is required.

The weekend will also feature the 49th Annual Art, Book and Craft Fair, at Kennedy Plaza and inside Century II Exhibition Hall. Hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. A festival button is required for admission.

Thanks to CGI animation, the "Stars Wars" saga is coming back to theaters this summer -- but George Lucas said fans shouldn't get their hopes up about any future films that take the epic beyond the point of Darth Vader's death at the end of "Return of the Jedi."

"Whatever it is that happens afterward," the 63-year-old filmmaker said, "that isn't the core 'Star Wars' story that I like to tell."

The stories that do interest Lucas are the ones that take place before Anakin Skywalker dons the ebony mask of Darth Vader, which is why he and his 5-year-old Lucasfilm Animation venture will add a seventh feature film to the "Star Wars" canon Aug. 15 with "The Clone Wars."

The movie has been produced with state-of-the-art computer-generated animation and voice actors, including Samuel L. Jackson, reprising his Mace Windu character, and Anthony Daniels as the familiar voice of C-3P0.

That Daniels is back raises the idea that this new approach could provide a digital fountain-of-youth for other original trilogy actors, such as Harrison Ford, Mark Hamill and Carrie Fisher, who haven't been in the universe of the Jedi since they frolicked with the furry Ewoks on the forested moon of Endor at the end of "Return of the Jedi" in 1983.

Time for another edition of Movie Maniac Mailbag: Dear Movie Maniac: Could you please tell me how short actors like Dustin Hoffman and Tom Cruise are made to look taller than they really are? --Larry

Dear Larry: Talk about short subjects! Filmschoolrejects.com reports that Cruise is 5 feet 7.75 inches tall, while Hoffman clocks in at a whopping 5 feet 5 inches.

There are several ways to make an actor appear taller onscreen. He could wear specially designed shoes that add a couple of extra inches to his height.

Or the actor could stand on a platform or "apple box" (an empty crate).

Or the shot could be at a high or low angle so there is nothing in the background to distinguish how short the actor is. Or, really, you could just hire taller ones in the first place.

What made the cover

• "Oprah to Rachael Ray: 'You make me sick!' " (National Enquirer)

• "Scientology boot camp for Katie (Holmes)!" (Star)

She likes watching men beat each other to bloody pulps

• "Mandy (Moore) crushing on hit man" (Star)