Van Gundy says he's been told by high-ranking team officials that the center previously asked that Van Gundy be let go. "I know he has. That's just the way it is," Van Gundy says. Howard denies it.

Associated PressStan Van Gundy is in his fifth season as the Orlando coach. The Magic has won at least 50 games in the previous four seasons.

ORLANDO, Florida -- Orlando Magic coach Stan Van Gundy said Thursday he has been told by high-ranking team officials that center Dwight Howard has previously asked that he be fired.

"I know he has," Van Gundy told reporters after the team's morning shoot around in preparation for their Thursday night matchup with the New York Knicks. "That's just the way it is. Again, I've been dealing with that all year. It's not anything real bothersome. You go out and do your job."

Sounds simple, but something that's hard to do in Orlando.

The stay or go drama surrounding Howard has haunted the Magic all season.

After securing Howard's services for at least another season at the trade deadline last month, Thursday brought the latest wrinkle to the saga.

For his part Howard has denied reports that he has asked for Van Gundy's dismissal. He again denied it Thursday.

"Whatever happens at the end of the season is not under my control," Howard told reporters. "I am a player for the Magic. I am not the GM. I am not (owner) Rich DeVos I am not (Magic CEO) Alex Martins. So that's not my job. So you guys should stop ... every other week ... trying to find something, because there's nothing.

"I haven't said anything to anybody about anything. Our main concern is winning. So all the other stuff should stop."

Asked how he was sure of a report that has been circulated and repeatedly denied by Howard and other team officials throughout the season, the 52-year-old Van Gundy said he had been told by "people right in our management, right from the top."

It was a definite change in approach by Van Gundy, who is usually mum when it comes to issues dealing with his job status.

The day before the trade deadline last month Van Gundy himself sidestepped questions about reports that Howard had asked management to jettison both himself and general manager Otis Smith as a condition for him signing a long-term contract extension.

"If they want to fire me please somebody, fire me." Van Gundy said then.

Van Gundy's current contract runs through the end of the season. He has guided the Magic to at least 50 wins in each of his four previous seasons and led Orlando to the NBA Finals in 2009.

Howard and Van Gundy have seemingly always been on cordial terms, though he's sometimes been critical of Van Gundy's direct and vocal coaching style, which he has previously said can be counterproductive to team morale.

Smith and Van Gundy met during the offseason. Van Gundy left the meeting pledging to tone down some of his intensity during games with both officials and players. So far this season he has yet to receive a technical foul.

Asked this week to address the status of Van Gundy and Smith, Martins said only that both he and Smith will undergo end of the season evaluations, as do all Magic employees.

CLEVELAND, Ohio - The Greater Cleveland Football Coaches Association announced Thursday the 80 graduating seniors who will play in the 40th annual Cuyahoga County East-West All-Star game. The game is June 15 at John Carroll. Kickoff is 7 p.m.

Solon receiver Tres Barksdale, making a catch against Mentor last October, is among 80 players selected for the 40th annual Cuyahoga County East-West All-Star game. - (John Kuntz, The Plain Dealer)

CLEVELAND, Ohio - The Greater Cleveland Football Coaches Association announced Thursday the 80 graduating seniors who will play in the 40th annual Cuyahoga County East-West All-Star game.

The game is June 15 at John Carroll. Kickoff is 7 p.m.

The East team will be coached by John F. Kennedy's Scott Wodtly, while Lakewood's Joe Zombek will lead the West team.

The team members are as follows:

East All-Stars

Ari Sobel, Beachwood

Devin Davis, Bedford

Sean Tompkins, Bedford

Andrew Thomas, Brush

Kurt Vidmer, Chagrin Falls

Matt Sarosy, St. Peter Chanel

John Johnson, Cleveland Heights

Christian Cartwright, Cleveland Heights

Anthony Williams, East Tech

Benny Walker, Euclid

DeAndre Rollins, Euclid

Drevan Mbua, Garfield Heights

Tevin Weaver, Garfield Heights

Eric Anderson, Gilmour

Aykee Henderson, Glenville

Xavier Dowdell, Glenville

Chris Spruill, John Adams

Ryan Forts, John Hay

Savion Jefferson, John F. Kennedy

Marcus Martin, John F. Kennedy

Nate Phillips, John F. Kennedy

Chawnte Johnson, Lutheran East

Jeremy Graves, Maple Heights

Arron Pipkins, Maple Heights

Conor Murray, Mayfield

Austin Garcia, Orange

Conner Hall, Shaker Heights

Delmar Henderson, Shaker Heights

Matt Brindza, Shaker Heights

William Woods IV, Shaw

Anthony Small, Shaw

Austin Stock, Solon

Tres Barksdale, Solon

Cory Stuart, Solon

Ryan McSweeney, Trinity

Brendan Thompson, Trinity

Cole Boehmer, University School

Reid Singer, University School

Tim Harrison, Villa-Angela-St. Joseph

Chavian Wilcox, Villa-Angela-St. Joseph

Sonte Gibbons, Warrensville

West All-Stars

Timmy Altieri, Bay

Nathan Noterberardino, Bay

Tyler Mullins, Berea

Zach Sullivan, Berea

Kyle Graham, Brecksville-Broadview Heights

Rody Seballos, Brecksville-Broadview Heights

Travis Burgess, Brooklyn

Khari Dickson, Central Catholic

Kentrell Richard, Central Catholic

Jordan D'Orazio,Cuyahoga Heights

Alex Zander, Cuyahoga Heights

John Doherty, Fairview

John Haney, Fairview

Joe Duff, Holy Name

Jake Schaeffer, Holy Name

Jimmy Kroeger, Independence

DeAndre Brown, John Marshall

James Plummer, John Marshall

Sie Doe, Lakewood

Aturo Morgan, Lakewood

Larry Oldenburg, Lutheran West

Nick Murray, Midpark

Nate Simpson, Midpark

Jake Thomas, Normandy

Pat Moran, North Olmsted

Marc Remy, North Olmsted

Jake Smolik, North Royalton

Bobby Barnes, North Royalton

Zak Baumer, Padua

Rob Wallace, Padua

Johnnie Karban, Parma

Billy Pullman, Parma

Eric Oster, Rocky River

Joe Palange, St. Edward

Zack Ryan, St. Ignatius

Tim Shenk, St. Ignatius

Zak Lors, Strongsville

Justin Griffen, Valley Forge

Kyle Perkins, Westlake

The Cavs finished Wednesday's loss in Milwaukee game with 27 assists on 39 baskets and ran the halfcourt offense more effectively as the game went on.

View full sizeJeffrey Phelps, Associated PressBackup point guard Lester Hudson scored nine points and impressed Byron Scott with his work in Wednesday's loss in Milwaukee. "If anything, the surprise is Lester," Scott said, "because he hasn't been here that long. Everything he's learning is on the fly."

MILWAUKEE -- Before Wednesday's game against the Bucks, new Cavaliers guard Lester Hudson and assistant coach Joe Prunty were huddled in front of Hudson's locker going through a crash course on the offense and defense.

Using a tablet, Prunty tried to teach Hudson the basics without giving him too much information. It is, after all, the third system Hudson is trying to learn this season after signing a 10-day contract on Friday. He also has played in China and in the NBA D-League with the Austin Toros.

"All the coaches and the veterans I've been with, they always tell me I learn quickly," Hudson said.

That will come in handy. Hudson and fellow newcomer Donald Sloan, who also had been playing in the D-League, are now running the Cavs' offense, since rookie sensation Kyrie Irving will be out seven to 10 days with his sprained right shoulder. Daniel Gibson also is out for the rest of the season after surgery on a torn tendon in his left foot.

Hudson and Sloan were instrumental against the Bucks on Wednesday, when the Cavs cut a 17-point third quarter lead to six on four occasions in the fourth quarter before eventually losing, 107-98. Sloan, a natural point guard, finished with 12 points and eight assists, while Hudson, a shooting guard who will be playing the point, had nine points and six assists.

The Cavs actually finished the game with 27 assists on 39 baskets and were able to run their halfcourt offense more effectively as the game went on.

"With Donald and Lester, both those guys have grasped a hold of the things we've put in front of them and they've learned pretty quickly," Cavs coach Byron Scott said. "I haven't given them a ton of stuff, so they can just concentrate and focus on a few things. I think it makes the game that much easier for those guys. Then they can try to let their instincts take over. I thought both of them were very good in the fourth quarter, getting to the basket, finding open guys. Again, they gave us an opportunity.

"The 27 assists is an indication of us being very in tune with what we have to do offensively -- moving the ball and not 'playing for me' but 'playing for us.' I thought we did a good job of that. We passed up some shots, but we made a lot of the right plays, and that's a good sign."

Asked if he was surprised by that, given the short length of time the two have been with the Cavs -- five days for Hudson, 19 for Sloan, Scott said, "If anything, the surprise is Lester, because he hasn't been here that long. Everything he's learning is on the fly.

"He makes a couple of mistakes out there when we run certain plays that I know we've given him on that short list. He'll run the wrong way and then all of a sudden he'll get it and go back the other way. It's like, 'You went the wrong way to begin with but you figured it out.' For him to play the way he's played is impressive because he hasn't been here that long."

Hudson said the sessions with Prunty -- before and after practices, shootarounds and games -- have helped. He was asked his comfort level on a scale of 1 to 10.

"I'm not a 10, but I'm almost there," he said on Wednesday. "Probably 7 right now. Once I get in a couple more games I'll be able to learn more of the offense and then everything will start going for me. I try to learn as quick as I can."

Fame-ous friends: Scott and Cavs assistant coach Paul Pressey celebrated the recent selections of Jamaal Wilkes and Don Nelson, among others, to the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame.

Scott and Wilkes were teammates on the Lakers.

"Silk was somebody I admired for so many years because I saw Silk when he was in high school [in Santa Barbara, Calif.]," said Scott, using Wilkes' nickname. "I saw him when he was in college at UCLA. I saw him his rookie year at Golden State when he won rookie of the year. Listening to Chick Hearn talk about the 20-foot layup from the corner for so many years, I felt like I knew him even before I got there."

Pressey was drafted by Nelson when he was in Milwaukee and then hired for his inaugural assistant coaching job when Nelson was in Golden State.

"It's way overdue," Pressey said of the honor. "He's just one of those coaches you know is going to get there. I'm just happy to see he's there. Well deserved."

On Twitter: @pdcavsinsider

Masterson led 4-1 after eight innings, striking out 10 while allowing two hits and a walk, and throwing 99 pitches. Chris Perez relieved him, gave up the lead, and the Tribe lost to Toronto, 7-4, in 16 innings.

Chuck Crow, The Plain DealerJustin Masterson held Toronto to one run on two hits in eight innings, striking out 10, but didn't get a decision as reliever Chris Perez surrendered a 4-1 ninth-inning lead and the Indians lost, 7-4, in 16 innings.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Cleveland Indians lost to the Toronto Blue Jays, 7-4 in 16 innings on Thursday at Progressive Field, in the longest season opener in Major League Baseball history, as reported by The Plain Dealer's Paul Hoynes.

It looked as if the Indians would begin the season 1-0, as they took a 4-1 lead into the ninth inning.

Indians' right-handed starter Justin Masterson had been brilliant. That's not surprising. Masterson pitched outstanding baseball throughout last season -- good enough to win maybe 17 or 18 games -- but due to poor run support, finished with a 12-10 record.

Against the Blue Jays, Masterson pitched eight innings, striking out 10 while allowing just two hits and a walk. He threw just 99 pitches.

Tribe manager Manny Acta then brought on closer Chris Perez in relief of Masterson to open the ninth, and, presumably, close out the Indians' win. Instead, Perez yielded three runs in two-thirds of an inning, as the Blue Jays tied the game, 4-4, to force the extra frames. The Blue Jays won it on catcher J.P. Arencibia's 16th inning, three-run homer off Indians reliever Jairo Asencio.

Should have Acta sent Masterson back to the mound to at least start the ninth inning?

It has become common in baseball over the last couple decades to bring on the closer to open the ninth inning in save situations. The one-inning, three-run-lead save has helped make many a reliever a lot of money.

On the other hand, despite the all-but-automatic (for many managers) wave to the bullpen in such situations, sometimes the best starters are given the chance to walk off the mound at the end of nine innings with a complete game win.

Think of someone carrying a birthday cake and tripping before reaching the table. Not only did the cake go splat, but the entire house caught fire. That's what happened Thursday.

View full sizeChuck Crow, The Plain DealerChris Perez's first appearance of the new season was a disaster, as the Indians' closer wasted a 3-run lead in the ninth inning after Justin Masterson carried a 4-1 lead and a two-hitter through eight innings.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Indians opened their season in a sun-splashed ballpark, with Progressive Field a sea of Wahoo red, white and blue as 43,190 fans packed the stands.

Five hours, 14 minutes and 16 innings later, the sun was down, the lights were on and it appeared at least 35,000 fans were now pretending to be empty green chairs.

And the Indians had lost to Toronto, 7-4. If you say, "Only this happens in Cleveland," you are right. Never has any opener in baseball history -- anywhere -- lasted 16 innings. The old record was 15 innings, in 1926 (Philadelphia A's at Washington) and 1960, a game at Cleveland with Detroit.

Making it even harder for this record home opener crowd (including more than 700 standing room tickets) was that it never should have happened. Not with the Indians leading, 4-1, after eight innings. Not with starter Justin Masterson pitching brilliantly. Not with Jack Hannahan hitting a 3-run homer.

Not with the defense -- especially new first baseman Casey Kotchman -- looking sharp. Not with everyone having so much fun.

For eight innings, it was perfect. There was Masterson, a side-arming 6-foot-6 right-hander who seems to be all arms and legs. He doesn't throw the ball, he whips it from the side as the batter searches for it in the red blur from his high socks and sleeves.

Masterson struck out the side in the first. He stranded a runner on third in the second inning. Had a 1-2-3 third. Think of him in complete command, throwing 99 pitches, fanning 10, walking one and permitting only two hits.

Think of the Indians scoring four runs in the second inning, ready to erase the memories of last year's home opener. That was when the Indians were losing, 14-0, to the White Sox with the season only an hour old. The final score was 15-10.

Thanks to Masterson, this was a surprise party for victory-hungry fans.

Then think of someone carrying a birthday cake complete with candles, and tripping before reaching the table. Not only did the cake go splat, but the entire house caught fire and burned down. That's what happened when Chris Perez came in for the save. Thirty pitches later, the lead was gone. So was Perez, allowing three runs to make the score 4-4 heading into the bottom of the ninth.

"I take the blame," said Perez, who stood there and patiently answered tough questions from wave after wave of reporters. As he said, "It was a 3-run save, the easiest in baseball."

Not on this day. The Indians suddenly went from a victory to a bit of frustrating history. Inning after inning, nothing from those batsmen in gaudy red caps but wasted opportunities. The game ended with them not scoring a run in 14 innings.

The Tribe had a runner on third with one out in the ninth -- and did not score. They loaded the bases with one out in the 12th -- and did not score.

Nothing changed until the top of the 16th when J.P. Arencibia slammed a 3-run homer off Tribe reliever Jario Asencio, who just joined the team last week. At that point, a few fans were chanting "Here we go, Blue Jays" while the few, proud and brave that remained seemed to shuffle down the aisles, shaking their heads, heading out into the chill of the night.

After the game, Manny Acta explained that Masterson was at 99 pitches and had not thrown that many or worked longer than six innings in spring training. It was baseball logic. He said Perez (36 of 40 in saves last season) should be able to handle the ninth. He said hitters such as Asdrubal Cabrera and Kotchman are expected to drive in those runs from third base with fewer than two outs.

Yes, this was only one of 162 games. It just felt a lot longer, and a lot worse than one game ever should to start a season.

Previous columns online: cleveland.com/columns

Opening Day is just another game? "I think we all know that's probably B.S.," says veteran Indians pitcher Derek Lowe.

View full sizeChuck Crow, The Plain DealerBefore he took the field for what became a record-setting Opening Day, Jason Kipnis made the afternoon for some Indians fans seeking autographs along the third-base line.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The wonder of Opening Day that bonds generations could also be found in opposite corners of the Indians clubhouse.

In one was pitcher Derek Lowe, who will be 39 in June. In the other was second baseman Jason Kipnis, who turned 25 on Tuesday. He was all of 10 when Lowe threw his first major-league pitch in 1997.

Lowe, who rented "Major League" after being acquired in an off-season trade with Atlanta, took the field for the first time in an Indians uniform for pre-game introductions of the Indians' 16-inning, 7-4 loss to Toronto.

"We were all kids once," said Lowe, who makes his first start for his new team Sunday. "We all went to Opening Day, we all skipped school, we all did those things, and I think now you're on the flip side there's probably no better atmosphere that you're going to have other than maybe a playoff game.

"When people say it's just another game, I think we all know that's probably B.S., because there's something special about being out there."

Before landing in Cleveland, Lowe won the last three openers for the Braves.

It was a first for Kipnis, too. His first big-league opener, period. The day before, Kipnis said he just wanted to stick to his usual pre-game routine to take his mind off the magnitude of the day. But media questions weren't helping.

"See," he said with a laugh, "it's comments like those that I'm trying not to get caught up in."

His mother, who drove in from Chicago, added to the Opening Day crowd of 43,190, a record for Progressive Field. (His dad, brother and brother's girlfriend were to arrive Friday.)

"It's just cool, it was just cool being able to earn a spot on the team, of being one of the 25 guys, to run through that line when you're name is called," said Kipnis, who hit .272 with seven home runs in 36 games last season after being called up from Columbus in late July. "But the whole kind of thing of it being Opening Day wears off almost as soon as the first pitch is thrown. Then it's just game one of 162 and it's time to play."

Kipnis, batting eighth, was 0-5 with two walks, two strikeouts and a run scored. In his first at-bat in the second inning with the Tribe ahead, 1-0, Kipnis drew a two-out walk and scored on Jack Hannahan's three-run homer off Toronto starter Ricky Romero.

Pretty forgettable, statistically. Personally, one never to forget -- and not just because it was the longest season opener in major-league history, and not just because he made the marathon's final out.

"You know, it is exciting," Kipnis said afterwards. "It's exciting to have the whole city there, basically. It was exciting to have a new start, to get back on the field, where it counts again. But at the same time, the way the game turned out..."

Despite a lost chance at a victory, Justin Masterson found plenty to be positive about after his dynamic eight innings on Opening Day.

View full sizeChuck Crow, The Plain Dealer"It was the right call, Manny bringing in our closer," Indians starter Justin Masterson said after Thursday's 16-inning loss. "The first game you always expect for great things to happen."

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Afterward, when the game finally ended seven innings after it should have, Chris Perez had only one thing he could say to the teammate whose victory he blew.

"I'm sorry," Perez said. "I got your back 15 more times this season."

On Thursday, in Justin Masterson's Opening Day debut, Perez blew the right-hander's dominating eight-inning performance for the Indians. Masterson's sinker was sinking, his fastball was popping.

"The ball was moving great," Masterson said, smiling fondly. "It was really moving great."

It moved so well that he struck out the first three batters he faced. In all, he had 10 strikeouts, and allowed just two hits. The only flaw was a solo home run to Toronto's Jose Bautista in the fourth inning, when he let a slider hang and promptly paid for it with a 361-foot blast to left.

So when he left the game in the eighth inning, with Cleveland holding onto a 4-1 advantage and Perez trotting to the mound, he wasn't worried.

Then Perez began to pitch. As he admitted, he had "a lot of bad pitches." By the end of the Blue Jays' ninth, three runs scored and Masterson's victory in his first Opening Day start had vanished.

Whether Masterson could have pitched the ninth inning, whether he had much left after tossing 99 pitches through eight innings, is something even the 27-year-old couldn't answer.

"I don't know," he admitted. "We'll never know. But it was the right call, [manager] Manny [Acta] bringing in our closer. The first game you always expect for great things to happen. Unfortunately CP got his one of three out of the way. He usually has a couple bad ones throughout the year."

Perez's last bad one that resulted in a blown save came Aug. 23, 2011 against Seattle -- a game Masterson also started.

In his time with the Indians, Masterson has dealt with a lack of run support more than blown victories. He's received two runs or less in 18 of his 34 starts at Progressive Field. In his 12-10 season last year, he pitched just 19 of 216 total innings with a three-run lead or more.

Thursday, he pitched six innings with a three-run lead, and was cruising.

"It was pretty fun," he said. "It was nice just by the movement [of the ball] alone helped keep things off-balance. The sinker was sinking most of the time, so it made for a lot of ground balls. Guys were unsure because the velocity was changing."

Of greater disappointment to Masterson was the Tribe's 7-4 loss, not the no-decision.

"By the end of it, you go, 'OK, the W's not for me but we're still locked in for it, let's get a team victory,'" he said. "That's the way any quality team player goes about it. The fact that, 'hey, you went out and did your job, OK, things didn't work out that well, but we still were in line for a chance to have a victory.' That's what you hope for at the end of it."

At the end, Masterson could only take Perez's apology and some comforting words from Acta.

"Great job," Acta said. "Keep on going. Nothing here is forgotten."

No offense, Indians, but is there anyone who can hit around here?

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Some scribbles in my notebook after Thursday's 7-4 loss by the Indians.

1. Lost in the gnashing of teeth over the failure of the Tribe's Chris Perez to hold a 4-1 lead is this -- the Indians didn't score a run in their final 14 innings. They had three runners as far as third, three to reach second. That's it, in 14 innings. Yes, they had two chances to drive in a run from third with fewer than two outs to win -- but overall, it was a lame approach at the plate.

2. Jack Hannahan not only drove in three runs with a homer, but he was the only Indian with at least two hits. The other RBI went to Casey Kotchman, and he was 0-of-7. In 16 innings, they had three extra-base hits (Hannahan's homer and doubles by Michael Brantley and Shelley Duncan) against eight Toronto pitchers. They were 1-of-9 with runners in scoring position.

3. I would have taken Justin Masterson out after eight innings and 99 pitches. He didn't throw more than six innings and 85 pitches this spring. It's a 4-1 lead in the ninth. Let the bullpen wrap it up. You don't want to risk an arm injury from pushing it too hard, too early. For a little perspective, Masterson is only the third Tribe starter since 1985 to pitch at least eight innings in the opener.

4. As Perez trashed a 4-1 lead, there were two disturbing signs. First, he threw 30 pitches: 16 strikes to 14 balls. He walked only one, but was consistently behind in the count. Also, his fastball was in the 90 mph range. Maybe it's because his spring training was short due to an oblique injury. But he didn't throw well. To his credit, Perez faced reporters and offered no excuses.

5. A year ago, Matt LaPorta and Hannahan were in the Tribe's opening day lineup. Hannahan was supposed to be keeping third base warm until Lonnie Chisenhall arrived in a few months to make it home. LaPorta was supposed to claim first base as his own. How many of us would guess that a year later, Hannahan would still be the starting third baseman -- while LaPorta and Chisenhall would both be back in Class AAA?

6. I understand why Travis Hafner started. It's the home opener. He had a very good spring, hitting .314 (.955 OPS). But the Blue Jays started lefty Ricky Romero, and Hafner has struggled against lefties -- last season, it was .233, and he's .240 over the last three years. Meanwhile, he's a .290 hitter over three years facing right-handers. He was 0-of-2 vs. Romero, and 1-of-2 against two right-handers.

7. Since Coco Crisp was traded after the 2005 season for Andy Marte, the following have opened the season for the Tribe in left: Jason Michaels (2006, 2008), Dave Dellucci (2007), Ben Francisco (2009), Austin Kearns (2010, 2011) and Duncan this season. They are still looking for someone to claim that position.

8. According to USA Today, the Tribe payroll for this season is $78 million. That ranks 21st in baseball. The Tigers are No. 5 at $132 million. The White Sox are No. 9 at $96 million, the Twins are No. 11 at $94 million and Royals are No. 27 at $61 million. The Reds have a payroll of $82 million, but Joey Votto's contract extension doesn't kick in yet. He's at $11 million this season.

9. The average team salary is about $90 million. For the 14th consecutive season, the Yankees are No. 1 at $197 million, followed by the Phillies at $174 million and Red Sox $173 million. At the bottom are the Padres and A's at $55 million.

10. I wrote a story about Strongsville and Kent State product Anthony Gallas last Sunday. He has been assigned to Class A Carolina Mudcats in the Carolina League. Gallas, 24, opened last season at Class A Lake County, where he batted .314 (.910 OPS) and then was promoted to Kinston in Carolina League, where he hit .197 (.596 OPS) in 142 at bats. Gallas wanted another chance to play in the Carolina League, and the Indians are giving him one.

Arena League's offensive player of the week looking for more success in Sunday home game against winless Orlando.

View full sizeJosh Gunter, The Plain DealerGladiators quarterback John Dutton has improved in each game he's played this young season for the Gladiators.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Quarterback John Dutton's first start since tearing his left Achilles' tendon in March 2011 came March 12 in the Gladiators' season opener at Georgia. He played again March 23 against Kansas City.

But he was not really back until start No. 3, last Sunday at Philadelphia.

Dutton followed substandard and serviceable performances with a spectacular one against the Soul. He completed 29 of 39 passes for 305 yards and nine touchdowns in a 68-62 victory. Given the circumstances, it ranks among the best games of his long and illustrious indoor career.

Now comes the tough job of following it up. The Gladiators (2-1) host the Orlando Predators (0-3) on Sunday night at 6 p.m. at The Q.

Dutton's fingerprints were all over the Soul victory. Far from the fastest man on the planet, he ran for a TD -- his second this season. Dutton had thrown a total of five interceptions in the first two games, but he was picked just once at Philadelphia. His rating: 125.53.

It was noticed. Dutton was named the AFL's Offensive Player of the Week, becoming the first Gladiator this season to receive a weekly league honor.

Dutton, in his 12th AFL season, is a combined 78-of-121 for 783 yards and 18 touchdowns. The numbers look even better based on the amount of uncertainty that surrounded him coming out of 2011. Dutton's only other appearance last year was in a playoff loss against Georgia, when he played well off the bench.

Gladiators coach Steve Thonn gambled that Dutton would continue to put in the rehab time over the winter, then return to elite form in the spring. Thonn chose to keep Dutton instead of youngster Kurt Rocco, who had taken over after Dutton was injured.

Dutton's favorite target against the Soul was Dominick Goodman, who caught 11 passes for 121 yards and five TDs. Goodman led the Gladiators in receptions (120) and yards (1,300) last season.

The Gladiators will have payback on their minds against Orlando. In their only meeting last season, the Predators hammered the Gladiators, 56-26, at Orlando.

The Predators' quarterback in that game, Nick Hill, has been replaced by Collin Drafts. Drafts has struggled to generate offense consistently; the Predators are ranked 16th in the league in scoring offense (36.3 ppg).

Orlando's defense, though, has been solid. It ranks second in points allowed (46).

On Twitter: @dmansworld

Shin-Soo Choo, after getting his left thumb broken last year, is not in the mood for chin music.

View full sizeChuck Crow, The Plain DealerA knockdown pitch from Luis Perez in the 15th inning Thursday had Shin-Soo Choo looking for answers and Toronto catcher J.P. Arencibia playing bodyguard for his pitcher. The benches emptied, but no punches were thrown.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Last year, Jonathan Sanchez shattered Shin-Soo Choo's left thumb with an inside pitch. Choo needed surgery and missed nearly six weeks of the season.

It has put the Indians right fielder on high alert this season when a pitcher works inside against him. When Luis Perez knocked down Choo with a head-high pitch in the 15th inning of Thursday's season-opening 7-4 loss to Toronto, Choo was not happy. He took a couple of steps toward the mound and both teams rushed onto the field.

Plate umpire Tim Welke had already issued a warning in the fourth inning, so Choo or Perez could have been ejected. That didn't happen and Choo eventually drew a walk.

"If a pitcher throws at my upper body or lower body, I won't go to the mound," said Choo. "If he goes at the head, it's a different story.

"I was hit by a pitch last year and broke my thumb. Maybe that's why I'm sensitive right now. But I know it's part of the game. Pitchers have to go inside. I understand it."

Toronto starter Ricky Romero hit Choo with a pitch in the third inning. Justin Masterson retaliated by throwing inside against Kelly Johnson, not once, but twice, before striking him out in the fourth. Masterson's pitches drew the warning from Welke.

Early season success: In 13 career April starts, Masterson is 7-3 with a 2.82 ERA. He received a no-decision Thursday, despite allowing one run on two hits in eight innings.

Early arrival: You've heard about the early bird getting the worm. What about the early pitcher getting the job?

Jeanmar Gomez arrived in Goodyear, Ariz., from Venezuela on Jan. 25. He left the desert on April 2 as the Indians' fifth starter.

"I'm happy they gave me the job," said Gomez. "But that was just one step, we need to continue to work hard every day."

Gomez out-pitched Kevin Slowey, David Huff, Zach McAllister and Scott Barnes for the fifth spot. He went 1-1 with 1.37 ERA in six games, including three starts. He allowed three runs on 13 hits in 19 2/3 innings.

He said he arrived in Goodyear almost a month before pitchers and catchers were scheduled to arrive to work on his secondary pitches, especially his slider.

"My slider is much better now than it was two years ago," said Gomez. "It has really helped me with the hitters."

When he made the club, he called his mother and the rest of his family.

"They've happy in Venezuela," said Gomez.

Voice of experience: Toronto put together the best record in the big leagues in spring training. Omar Vizquel, the 44-year-old utility infielder, feels the performance is based in fact.

"The numbers we put up in spring training, I feel are real," said Vizquel. "I saw this kind of attitude, this kind of excitement when I was with the Texas Rangers right before they made it to the World Series. A long time ago, I saw this kind of excitement on the Cleveland team.

"It is a pleasure to see all these guys coming together as a group. I think we're going to get it done on the field now."

Vizquel still doesn't know when he will retire. He's thought about it a lot over the last few years, but keeps coming back.

"I keep saying 'this is my last year, this is my last year,'" he said. "If I go through this year and I put myself in a position where I can reach 3,000 hits, maybe I'll give it another thought about coming back next year. But I don't know if that will happen."

Vizquel opened the season with 2,841 hits.

"There is no way you can hide age," said Vizquel. "They can see you out there. When I take the field, I don't want to look like I am my age. A lot of people see me play and say, 'man, this guy doesn't get tired. He looks like he's 28.'

"It's nice to hear, but at the same time I know I have to do that to compete with these youngsters."

Finally: Thomas Neal cleared waivers and was outrighted to Class AAA Columbus. ... The Indians are 57-54 on Opening Day. They have lost four straight, eight of their last 10 and nine of their last 13.

On Twitter: @hoynsie

De La Torre sharp in Akron victory, Lake County rallies to nip Fort Wayne.

AAA Columbus Clippers

Bats 5, Clippers 4: Louisville scored a run in the top of the ninth inning off of Chris Ray to win the International League game in Columbus.

Outfielder Ezequiel Carrera had two RBI for the Clippers, and third baseman Lonnie Chisenhall went 2-for-4.

AA Akron Aeros

Aeros 4, Mets 0: Jose De La Torre pitched three shutout innings in relief and Matt Langwell got the save in the Eastern League victory in Binghamton.

Center fielder Tim Fedroff had three hits for Akron.

A Lake County Captains

Captains 4, Tin Caps 3: Luigi Rodriguez tripled home pinch runner Todd Hankins in the top of the ninth inning to give Lake County a come-from-behind victory in a Midwest League victory in Fort Wayne, Ind.

Captains starter Felix Sterling allowed two runs on two hits in five innings, walking two and striking out four. Francisco Valera pitched two innings, allowing one run on two hits, walking one and striking out two. Mason Radeke (1-0) got the win, pitching two scoreless innings, striking out two.

Shortstop Francisco Lindor went 1-for-4 with one run scored and a stolen base for Lake County.

What a difference some decent weather has made around western Lake Erie, where the walleye fishing has been good to outstanding.

View full sizePeggy Turbett, The Plain DealerLake Erie made for some foggy fishing for Thomas Longworth, Jimmy Longworth, Chris Schultz and Craig Schultz recently on Whiskey Island in Cleveland.

The catches of trophy walleye on the western Lake Erie reefs have been sensational at times, especially around the reef complex off the Davis-Besse nuclear power plant. Steelhead trout season is winding down, stocked trout are a bonus for Cleveland Metroparks anglers and inland lake fishermen are feasting on bluegill and crappie. Trout will be released Wednesday at Hinckley Lake.

Lake Erie: What a difference some decent weather has made around western Lake Erie, where the walleye fishing has been good to outstanding. Trophy walleye have been luring anglers from across Ohio and the country to the reef complex off Camp Perry and the Davis-Besse power plant. Trolling with Reef Runner lures just off the reefs and targeting the top 10 to 15 feet of water have produced big walleye. Walleye are also being caught on lead-head jigs while drifting over shallower reefs.

The night bite for walleye has begun to light up the shoreline fishing off Cleveland and Lorain. Pier and shore anglers are casting Husky Jerk lures after dark, while boat anglers are trolling Reef Runners and Husky Jerks close to shore.

Yellow perch fishing has been slowed by brisk northerly winds, but schools of big perch are waiting. Good catches had been noted earlier in the week off Cleveland, Lorain and Marblehead. Smallmouth bass are moving to shallow spawning areas off Cranberry Creek, Vermilion and Lorain and are hitting tube jigs and drop shot rigs.

Rivers and streams: Steelhead trout fishing is still happening and no one knows how long it will last, as the big trout wrap up the spawning season. Some fresh fish have been caught this week from the upper reaches of the Grand River, which has the best water levels along Ohio's North Coast. Other rivers are low and clear, with rain needed to lure more trout from Lake Erie. Anglers have focused on the deeper pools, finesse fishing with pink egg patterns on light 4- to 6-pound fluorocarbon leaders, as well as ultralight jigs with hair skirts that are tipped with maggots or waxworms. As the water warms, aggressive steelhead will chase spinners and spoons as they drop back to Lake Erie.

Lower stretches of the rivers have been giving up fair numbers of lake-run smallmouth bass on tube jigs in dark olive or brown worked along the rocky bottom.

Another stocking this week of 650 pounds of rainbow trout has sweetened the East Branch of the Rocky River between Royalton Road and Wallace Lake. Stockings will continue through the end of the month. Footlong trout are taking PowerBait molded on a hook or tiny jigs and maggots, both worked under a float, as well as small spinners and spoons. Small diving plugs have also caught stocked trout.

Maumee and Sandusky rivers walleye fishing has been fair to good, with few spawning white bass showing up yet. Wading to popular Bluegrass Island is possible.

Inland lakes, reservoirs: Wallace Lake in Berea is still a good location for stocked rainbow trout, as well as Ledge Lake in the Hinckley Reservation. As its waters continue to warm, Hinckley Lake will be good for largemouth bass on the drop-offs and points, as well as sunfish. Rainbow trout are being released in Hinckley Lake on Wednesday.

Chilly nights have moved panfish and bass away from the shoreline, but they're still biting. Bass are hanging around the rock piles, drop-offs and points, where Rat-L-Traps, big jigs and trailers and minnow-style jerk baits will work best. Good bass lakes this week should be Mosquito, Pymatuning and West Branch reservoirs.

Bluegill and crappie are biting everywhere, but they have moved slightly deeper to 3- to 4-foot depths. Float a small jig around likely structure and tip with maggots or waxworms for bluegill and minnows for crappie. Good panfish reports are coming from Turkeyfoot and Mud reservoirs in the Portage Lakes. Berlin Lake has been a crappie hot spot. Crappie are still biting around the harbors and bays of Lake Erie.

Wading anglers have been doing well at Pymatuning Reservoir, where Espyville Outdoors reports good catches around the north end of the reservoir while casting floating and countdown Rapalas in the evenings. Daytime fishermen are catching walleye in 10 to 12 feet of water on jigs tipped with minnows. Cool nights have slowed the crappie and yellow perch fishing.

Fishing tournaments

Lake Erie Walleye Trail: (Lake Erie at Fenwick Marina): 1. Virgil Tent and Bill Miller, 52.29 pounds; 2. Charlie Robinson and Todd Rainigh, 46.55 pounds; 3. Francis Ball and Ronald Bradway, 45.77 pounds.

Electric Elite Invitational Spring Bass Open: (Mogadore Reservoir): 1. Matt Heater and John Heater, five bass, 19.40 pounds, $850; 2. Ray Halter Jr. and Ray Halter Sr., five bass, 16.34 pounds, $315; 3. Dave Duchnowski and Dan Erker, three bass, 11.84 pounds, $150. Big Bass: Halter and Halter, 5.18 pounds.

Lots of walleye have been caught in and around the Western Basin reef complex in recent weeks, a reversal from the wet, windy weather and miserable walleye fishing last spring.

View full sizeSpecial to The Plain DealerFishermen from all around the region are taking advantage of the surprisingly early walleye fishing around the Western Lake Erie reefs. Fishing guide Jerry Abele of Marblehead adds another walleye to the cooler.

Lots of walleye have been caught in and around the Western Basin reef complex in recent weeks, a reversal from the wet, windy weather and miserable walleye fishing last spring. Fishing guides and party fishing boats are busy. A phenomenal load of walleye weighed at last Sunday's Lake Erie Walleye Trail tournament, delayed a day because of big winds, dazzled the crowd.

Cleveland fishing guide Virgil Tent and partner Bill Miller, of Rocky River, lowered a limit of five walleye on the tournament scales that weighed 52.59 pounds to win. The team also took home big-fish honors with a 12.19-pound walleye. The weight just missed the all-time lake record for five walleye, a 53.20-pound catch boated in 2002 during a Professional Walleye Trail tournament by Ted Takasaki, of Brainerd, Minn.

Keeping no secrets, Tent said they were targeting walleye near "D" Can, off Camp Perry. The hot lure was a Barbie model Reef Runner with a purple head and chartreuse body. They slowed their trolling speed to about 1 mph and put out lures and 25 feet of line before attaching on-line planer boards.

The short lines, Tent said, made the minnow-style plugs run only about 10 feet below the surface, where walleye were aggressively feeding.

Hunting regulations set: A few deer zones have been changed, the liberal antlerless permits have been restricted in southeast Ohio and hunters will have extra time to report their deer under new 2012-13 hunting regulations approved by the Ohio Wildlife Council.

To help hunters who shoot a late-day buck or doe, they now have until noon the following day to report their success.

Moving from Zone A to more restrictive bag limits in Zone B are Auglaize, Darke, Mercer, Miami, Montgomery, Preble and Shelby counties. Madison County will move from Zone B to Zone A. Lower-priced $15 antlerless deer permits were allowed during the 2011 gun season in southeastern Ohio's deer country to trim deer herds. This year, the special permits will be valid through Nov. 25 in all Ohio.

The deer seasons for 2012-13 are:

Archery, Sept. 29-Feb. 3; early black powder, Oct. 15-20; youth deer gun, Nov. 17-18; gun season, Nov. 26-Dec. 2 and Dec. 15-16; and statewide black powder, Jan. 5-8.

The small-game seasons are:

Squirrel, Sept. 1-Jan. 31; grouse, Oct. 13-Jan. 31; fall turkey, Oct. 13-Nov. 25; youth small game, Oct. 20-21 and Oct. 27-28; rabbit, Nov. 2-Feb. 28; pheasant, Nov. 2-Jan. 6; quail, Nov. 2-25; and fox and raccoon, Nov. 10-Jan. 31.

Out and about: The Ohio Chapter of Safari Club International will have its banquet and reverse raffle at American Legion Post 211 in Avon Lake, said Mike Samsel (216-241-0333). . . . The Ottawa County chapter of Ducks Unlimited will have its annual banquet April 14 at Camp Perry, said Eric Zgodzinski (419-265-2484; tickets $55). . . . The 45th annual Invitational Winner's Trial, the season championship for the All-Breed Hunter's Trial Circuit, is April 14 at the Wayne Coon Hunters Association grounds in Wooster.

Lake Erie forecast: The fisheries experts with the Ohio Division of Wildlife have rated the Lake Erie season as "positive," with a "diversity of fishing opportunities."

Walleye catches will be dominated by the 2010 year class -- which will just be reaching the 15-inch size limit this year -- and the 2007 and 2003 hatches. The 2007 class of yellow perch will be plentiful, with good numbers of 7- to 13-inch fish.

The smallmouth bass fishing has been rated fair, while the steelhead trout fishing should be great from Vermilion to Conneaut. The white bass fishing should provide excellent seasonal action this spring on the Maumee and Sandusky rivers and on the big lake in the summer.

Rolling hills and gentle breezes must take a back seat to one of the more fascinating juxtapositions of issue and solution that one writer has ever witnessed.

View full sizeMatt Slocum, Associated PressBilly Payne, the chairman of Augusta National, ran headlong into an old debate during a Wednesday press conference. But in avoiding discussion about the club's long-held exclusionary practices, he came off second best to another golf figure who has long battled a far more personal challenge.

Bill Dwyre

Los Angeles Times

AUGUSTA, Ga. -- Oh, how badly I wanted to walk and see and smell and write about whatever it is that makes the Masters masterful.

For we first-timers, on this first day of the tournament, it is almost mandatory. Craft an entire column that attempts to explain how there are golf tournaments, there is the Masters and never the twain shall meet.

Sportswriting allows so few similar opportunities. Where else can you tell readers about a place that is color coordinated in the greens of grass, the whites of sand and the blues of sky; where putting greens are more like green-carpeted gymnasium floors, after the water pipes below them have burst?

Where else can you chronicle a vast expanse of rolling land that looks like the way you'd imagine a Civil War battlefield site; a place where the chirping birds stop in golfers' backswings? Where gentle breezes kick up on humid days as if they were on air-conditioner timers and simultaneously, you feel the sweat form and the breeze kick up?

John Feinstein once wrote a book about the pressures and difficulties of the pro golf tour. He titled it "A Good Walk Spoiled." He meant everywhere but at the Masters.

But rolling hills and gentle breezes must take a back seat today to one of the more fascinating juxtapositions of issue and solution that we have ever witnessed. It all happened here Wednesday, and it has taken a day to digest and fully comprehend its wonderful timing.

Wednesday morning, the chairman of Augusta National Golf Club, Billy Payne, met the press for his annual state of the union talk. Payne and the Masters brotherhood -- note the gender of that word -- like the briefing to stay within the boundaries of putting surfaces and trees that have been trimmed. This year, the boundaries were crossed.

Augusta National has no female members. It doesn't have a written rule against it, and during the year many women play the course as guests. Still, the active, but not official, ban on females is an issue that stirs the pot of exclusion. Augusta National says it is a private club and as such, can admit whomever it wants. Critics say that doesn't work when the same club is hosting the most public of events and benefiting from that financially and intangibly.

The issue stirred previously in 2003, when women's activist Martha Burke challenged Augusta National to be inclusive. Payne's predecessor, Hootie Johnson, responded that he would not be brought to a decision "at the end of a bayonet." The tournament ended and the issue went away.

It returned Wednesday, when reporters pressed Payne on whether Augusta National would admit the new chief executive of IBM, Virginia Rometty. IBM is a top sponsor of the Masters. In the past, IBM CEOs have been members. In the past, they have been males.

Payne's response was that this was the private domain of the members and he wouldn't violate that privacy. He was asked the question half a dozen different ways: How would you explain this to your granddaughter, etc. He didn't budge, thereby fanning the flames.

We flash forward about seven hours to the annual Golf Writers Association of America banquet. It is a night of awards, attended by around 400. One of the awards is named for Ben Hogan and honors somebody in golf who has overcome injury or illness to succeed.

Sophie Gustafson of Sweden came forward. She is 38, three-time player of the year on the European women's tour, with a total of five LPGA titles and 26 total pro titles. In September in the Solheim Cup, which matches Europe against the United States, she led Europe to victory with a 4-0 record.

It was announced that, instead of giving an acceptance speech, she had made a tape. If you didn't know what was coming, you were jolted out of your chair.

LPGA pro Sophie Gustafson's 2011 Golf Channel interview

Gustafson stutters. Badly. Each sentence finds its way to a bumpy stop. She spent her career avoiding interviews, even folding near the end of tournaments when she was in contention, some say, so she wouldn't have to make an acceptance speech.

When she won the LPGA Chick-fil-A event in 2000, she stepped to the microphone, said "Thank you," and then handed a speech she had written just in case to tour mother figure Nancy Lopez, who read it.

They ran the film, one that she did with her own camera, alone in a room. It ran 6 1/2 minutes. According to The New York Times, it took her eight hours to make.

It was like nothing you've ever seen before.

It was gut-wrenching and uplifting, depressing and inspirational. If you didn't get chills, you weren't alive. The player who stands over the final putt on the 18th hole of the Masters on Sunday, no matter what the result, cannot exhibit the amount of guts Gustafson did in this film.

Her "Thank you" was sprinkled with conviction and humor -- try doing one-liners when you stutter. She said children who stutter should aim to do anything they want, "but I would advise against phone sales."

She is strong, stubborn. Ron Sirak wrote recently in Golf Digest about having dinner with her in an Indian restaurant. She ordered papadum. Sirak says you are not to help, no pointing at the menu. The waiter waits and waits -- she demands that and she gets it out.

When her film ended, the standing ovation was spontaneous. There were several more special speeches, but Gustafson had stolen the show. She would have stolen any show.

Which brings us back to Billy Payne. Had he been paying attention, a perfect solution to his problem was at hand.

Make Sophie Gustafson, a world-class player with a world-class story, the first female member of Augusta National.

MENTOR, Ohio — After earning nearly every individual award available with no premeditation, Mentor's Justin Fritts agonized over the only prize he failed to achieve. "My only regret is that we didn't win a state championship in my senior year," said the 6-1 guard, who has been named as The Plain Dealer's Boys Basketball Player of the Year. "I...

Mentor's Justin Fritts: “My only regret is that we didn’t win a state championship in my senior year.” - (Allison Carey, PD)

MENTOR, Ohio — After earning nearly every individual award available with no premeditation, Mentor's Justin Fritts agonized over the only prize he failed to achieve.

"My only regret is that we didn't win a state championship in my senior year," said the 6-1 guard, who has been named as The Plain Dealer's Boys Basketball Player of the Year. "I thought we had a good chance."

Those chances ended with a three-point loss to Warren Harding in a Division I regional semifinal but the awards kept coming for Fritts, who led the Cardinals to a 22-3 record. He was given the state's most prestigious award -- Mr. Basketball -- after earning All-Lakes district and All-Ohio honors.

Fritts, who averaged 27.2 points in becoming the school's second all-time leading scorer with 1,691 points, said it was never his intention to win any of the accolades that have come his way.

"The only goal I set after my junior year was to work hard every day in the off-season and become the best player I could be," he said. "Champions are made in the summer. If you work hard in the off-season, all those accolades will take care of themselves."

Fritts raised some eyebrows when he signed with Division II Wheeling Jesuit, as many people felt he was capable of playing at a higher level. There was a reason. Also an honor student and an outstanding baseball player -- he is pitching and playing first base this spring -- officials at Wheeling Jesuit said he could play both sports.

"I've been playing both sports all my life and I couldn't imagine giving either of them up," said Fritts, who throws left-handed. "I like basketball better, I like the pace of the game, but I think I have a chance to go farther in baseball."

If he accomplishes as much on the diamond as he did on the hardwood, you could be reading a similar story in a couple of months.

To reach this Plain Dealer reporter: trogers@plaind.com; 216-999-5169

On Twitter: @TimRogersPD

PLAYER OF THE YEAR: JUSTIN FRITTS Mentor

Tyree Gaiter, Cleveland Heights

PLAYER OF THE YEAR: JUSTIN FRITTS

Mentor

Senior guard

College: Wheeling Jesuit.

Notable: The Mr. Basketball winner averaged 27.2 points in 20 regular- season games, the highest average in the area, but his contributions ran much deeper. His 5.7 rebounds were second on the team and his 4.1 assists and 3.8 steals also led the 22-3 Cardinals, who were ranked first in The Plain Dealer Top 25. He was able to get the ball into the basket in a variety of ways, whether it was a twisting, off-balance drive or a long-distance jump shot. He made 59 percent of his 2-point attempts, 39 percent of his 3-points shots and came close to making 90 percent of his free throws.

TYREE GAITER

Cleveland Heights

Senior guard

College: Undecided.

Notable: One of the most entertaining players in the area, the point guard played much bigger than his 5-6 frame until he broke his wrist in the 17th game. That may have cost the Tigers a trip to the Division I state semifinals. Averaged 19.1 points, nearly four rebounds, 4.4 assists and 3.8 steals. Made 48 percent of his 2-point shots and 38 percent of his 3-point attempts, while connecting on 75 percent of his foul shots. Tigers were 15-2 with Gaiter and 3-2 without him.

MYLES HAMILTON

St. Edward

Senior guard

College: Kennesaw State.

Notable: Became one of the few 1,000-point scorers in school history, finishing with 1,008. Three-year starter averaged team-leading 17.1 points, 3.2 assists, three steals and 5.1 rebounds per game -- second-highest on the team -- while leading Eagles (18-8) to the Division I state semifinals. He was a 56 percent shooter on 2-point shots and 31 percent from 3-point range while making 76 percent of his free throws.

TERRY ROZIER

Shaker Heights

Senior guard

College: Louisville.

Notable: A superlative performance in a summer event earned him a scholarship to one of the most elite programs in the country. Led the Raiders to a 21-3 record, the Lake Erie League championship and a spot in the regionals for the first time since 2002. Averaged 25.6 points, 6.5 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 4.7 steals, while shooting 57 percent on field-goal attempts, 33 percent on 3-point attempts and 75 percent from the free-throw line.

DAVID WALKER

Stow

Senior guard

College: Northeastern.

Notable: Regarded as one of the best in school history, he averaged a team- leading 25.6 points and 5.5 rebounds, as well as 4.8 assists and was regarded as the team's best defender. Shot 66 percent on 2-point attempts, 36 percent on 3-point attempts and 88 percent from the free-throw line. Walker (6-7) led the Bulldogs (18-5) to Division I district semifinals. Set a single-game school record with 19 consecutive free throws, which is believed to rank fourth in state history.

COACH OF THE YEAR: MARK CHICONE

Lake Catholic

Notable: His Cougars had a season of firsts. They went undefeated (10-0) in North Coast League Blue Division play for the first time in school history. Their 23 victories -- against three losses -- were the most in school history and they won the first regional title in school history. All without a starter taller than 6-5. Chicone just completed his 24th season as a head coach and his fifth at Lake Catholic. His teams have compiled a 443-143 record.

TWINSBURG, Ohio — A mark of a champion is the ability to repeat and Twinsburg senior center Malina Howard did one better. Not only did the Maryland recruit lead her team to a second consecutive Division I state title, she's also The Plain Dealer's Girls Basketball Player of the Year for the second straight season.

Malina Howard: “One championship isn’t better than the other because it’s just an amazing feeling to win it twice.” - (Allison Carey, PD)

TWINSBURG, Ohio — A mark of a champion is the ability to repeat and Twinsburg senior center Malina Howard did one better.

Not only did the Maryland recruit lead her team to a second consecutive Division I state title, she's also The Plain Dealer's Girls Basketball Player of the Year for the second straight season.

"It was tougher winning it this time because we had a target on our back," said Howard, who averaged 13.5 points, 14 rebounds, 2.5 blocked shots and two assists in the state semifinals and final. "Every team brought their A-game every time they played us but we were able to stay focused.

"One championship isn't better than the other because it's just an amazing feeling to win it twice."

It was a goal Howard and her teammates zeroed in on even after starting the season with two out-of-town losses.

"We never lost hope when some people from the outside did," said Howard. "We had our ups and downs this season and got complacent at times but I think every team which is coming off a state championship season goes through that.

"I think we handled it well, because we had a great team, and that's what great teams do when they're down. I'll always remember it as being enjoyable and fun because this team was my second family.

"We were a close-knit group and that's what I'm going to miss the most."

To reach this Plain Dealer reporter: bfortuna@plaind.com, 216-999-4665

On Twitter: @BobFortuna

PLAYER OF THE YEAR: MALINA HOWARD Twinsburg

Lydia Corle, Green

PLAYER OF THE YEAR: MALINA HOWARD

Twinsburg

Senior center

College: Maryland.

Notable: Banner season included first-team All-Ohio and Ohio Gatorade player of the year awards. Howard (6-4) was selected to play in McDonald's and Women's Basketball Coaches Association All-American games. Averaged 17.3 points, 10.2 rebounds, two steals, 1.5 assists and 1.5 blocked shots per game in leading the Tigers to a second consecutive Division I state championship.

OTHER ALL-STARS

LYDIA CORLE

Green

Senior forward

College: Undecided.

Notable: Stands 5-9 but played taller, averaging 19.5 points, 10.2 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 3.1 steals. Her team was the Suburban League runner-up and reached a Division I district semifinal. Had a healthy season after battling back problems her sophomore and junior years.

ASHLEY MORRISSETTE

Twinsburg

Junior guard

College: Undecided.

Notable: All-Ohio special mention honoree was the go- to player when Malina Howard was being double- and triple-teamed. The 5-9 playmaker averaged 15 points, five assists, four rebounds, three steals and one blocked one shot per game.

VANESSA SMITH

Hathaway Brown

Junior forward/guard

College: Undecided.

Notable: All-Ohio second-team pick was a big reason the Blazers won their fourth straight Division II state championship. Smith (6-1) averaged 16.6 points, 6.4 rebounds, three assists, two steals and one block while playing one of the toughest schedules in the state.

RACHEL THERIOT

Midpark

Senior guard

College: Nebraska.

Notable: All-Ohio first team selection and two-time Plain Dealer All-Star can score but is known more for her crisp, accurate passing. Theriot (6-0) averaged 16.6 points, 11.1 assists, 5.9 rebounds, four steals and 1.8 blocked shots in leading the Meteors to a third straight Southwestern Conference title.

COACH OF THE YEAR: JULIE SOLIS

Twinsburg

Notable: Former Doylestown Chippewa High and Hiram College point guard brought success to the programs at Cloverleaf and Solon before bringing her intense, aggressive and knowledgeable style to Twinsburg three years ago. This is the second consecutive season Solis has been awarded PD Coach of the Year. This season her Tigers not only won their second straight Division I state championship, they beat six state-ranked teams, including four-time Division II state champion Hathaway Brown and No. 1-ranked Reynoldsburg, to stretch their two-year win streak over Ohio schools to 46 games.

Arkansas football coach Bobby Petrino was placed on paid administrative leave Thursday night, less than a week after he and a 25-year-old female athletic department employee were involved in a motorcycle crash, athletic director Jeff Long announced.

AP PhotoBobby Petrino is on administrative leave after not revealing all of the facts surrounding his motorcycle crash.

Arkansas football coach Bobby Petrino was placed on paid administrative leave Thursday night, less than a week after he and a 25-year-old female athletic department employee were involved in a motorcycle crash, athletic director Jeff Long announced.

Shortly before Long spoke at a press conference, Petrino apologized for the events surrounding his wreck while also admitting to a “previous inappropriate relationship” in a released statement.

Petrino at first did not tell the school that Jessica Dorrell, a former Arkansas volleyball player and current Razorback Foundation fundraiser, was his passenger in a wreck that sent the coach to the hospital. That information was only revealed earlier Thursday when the official police report was released.

Long said he had no timeline in determining Petrino's future with the Razorbacks.

"I'm at the beginning of the review. I don't know what I'm going to find," Long said.

Long said he was disappointed that he didn't hear about Dorrell being a passenger until a police report was released Thursday.

Petrino, who is married with four children, didn't mention he had a passenger during a news conference on Tuesday, two days after Sunday's accident, and a school statement that day quoted Petrino's family as saying "no other individuals" were involved. In a video posted by KFSM-TV, Petrino was asked following that news conference if he had another passenger with him.

"Hey coach, you said you were alone on the bike, right?" the reporter asked.

"Yeah," Petrino said before continuing to walk away.

Petrino said then that he had spent Sunday with his wife, Becky, at a lake and was going for an evening ride.

"When I came out of the ditch, there was a lady there that had flagged down a car," Petrino said Tuesday, nursing four broken ribs and wearing a neck brace to support a cracked neck vertebra. "The guy that was in the passenger's seat said, 'Get in, we'll just take you right to the hospital instead of waiting,' and so I got in the car and they headed toward Fayetteville."

In Thursday's statement, Petrino admitted that he had kept quiet about Dorrell.

"My concern was to protect my family and a previous inappropriate relationship from becoming public," he said. "In hindsight, I showed a serious mistake in judgment when I chose not to be more specific about those details. Today, I've acknowledged this previous inappropriate relationship with my family and those within the athletic department administration."

He added: "I will fully cooperate with the university throughout this process and my hope is to repair my relationships with my family, my athletic director, the Razorback Nation and remain the head coach of the Razorbacks."

Dorrell, who did not return a call seeking comment, was hired March 28 by Petrino as the student-athlete development coordinator. She is in charge of organizing the recruiting process for the football team, including initial eligibility for each incoming player.

Long said he had not decided whether to suspend Dorrell.

The police report said Petrino was riding with Dorrell when he lost control of his motorcycle. Dorrell said in the report that she wasn't sure what caused the accident, during which Petrino was unable to maneuver a turn and laid the motorcycle down on its left side while sliding off a rural, two-lane highway about 20 miles southeast of Fayetteville.

Petrino said in the report that wind and sun caused the accident. The police report said Petrino and Dorrell were taken by a passer-by from the scene of the accident to a shopping center in southeast Fayetteville, where a state police officer took Petrino to the hospital.

The police report said Dorrell wasn't taken to a hospital, and that she was dropped off at her vehicle at the shopping center.

State police spokesman Bill Sadler said Petrino didn't try to hide Dorrell's part in the accident when questioned on Tuesday.

"Coach Petrino was as cooperative as anybody that we could ever hope to encounter following the traffic crash," Sadler said. "He was very forthcoming with information when approached by the trooper who made the initial contact Tuesday afternoon."

Petrino, who wasn't wearing a helmet, was hospitalized, but has since returned to practice. He will not be cited for the accident that occurred near the small town of Crosses on a road popular with motorcyclists. Petrino has said he has been an avid rider since he was 10, and the Helena, Mont., native said several years ago that he owned a Harley-Davidson and four other motorcycles.

Petrino signed a new seven-year contract in December 2010, after completing his third regular season at Arkansas.

The contract, which was for an average of $3.53 million annually, had a clause in it that would allow Arkansas to dismiss Petrino for "engaging in conduct, as solely determined by the university, which is clearly contrary to the character and responsibilities of a person occupying the position of head football coach or which negatively or adversely affects the reputation of the (university's) athletics programs in any way."

Petrino just completed his fourth season with the Razorbacks, who have developed into a national contender under his watch. He's 34-17 in four seasons at the school, 21-5 over the last two, and the Hogs finished last season ranked No. 5 after losing only to national champion Alabama and runner-up LSU.

Petrino is a former NFL coach, leaving the Atlanta Falcons after 13 games in the 2007 season to join the Razorbacks. He endured plenty of criticism on his way out of Atlanta, from fans and former players alike, for leaving midseason.

He was a college head coach at Louisville before that, guiding the Cardinals to a 41-9 record from 2003-07.

The Tribe and the Blue Jays will regroup and play again on Saturday.

And now, the two teams will rest.

After playing the longest Opening Day game in history on Thursday, the Cleveland Indians and the Toronto Blue Jays are off today and will resume action on Saturday.

On MLB.com:

And it will have some interesting storylines of its own. The Indians will start Ubaldo Jimenez, who is appealing a five-game suspension for hitting former teammate Troy Tulowitzki with a pitch in a Spring Training game, and the Blue Jays will counter with Brandon Morrow.

Cleveland acquired Jimenez in a blockbuster trade last summer, and manager Manny Acta is hoping that the right-hander can team with Justin Masterson to anchor the staff. The Indians, who lost on a three-run homer Thursday, are basing their pennant hopes on pitching.

MLB.com reporter Spencer Fordin writes Ubaldo Jimenez, meanwhile, will be looking to re-establish himself for the Tribe. The 28-year-old was an All-Star and finished third in the National League Cy Young Award balloting in 2010, but he started slow last year and endured a rocky transition to the American League after the trade.  

More Tribe news

Toronto manager John Farrell has Cleveland connections (Toronto Sun).

The Blue Jays prevail over the Tribe in long game (The Globe and Mail).

Loss can't take the sheen off Justin Masterson's start (Cleveland.com).

Chris Perez says injury had nothing to do with meltdown (Ohio.com).

There's something special about Opening Day (CantonRep.com).

Plenty of memorable moments  for the Tribe on Opening Day (Cleveland.com).

Justin Masterson finds himself in another no-win situation (The News-Herald).

Opening Day first for the Tribe and the Blue Jays (The Chronicle-Telegram).

Opening Day opens brightly and ends in the dark (Cleveland.com).