Trailing, 3-2, with a little more than seven minutes to play, the Monsters got goals from Justin Mercier and Dean Strong to claim the victory.

Matt Pawlikowski

Special to The Plain Dealer

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- If the Monsters make the playoffs, they may just owe it to a long lost friend -- the power play.

During the past nine games, Lake Erie converted just three of 30 chances, including 0-for-3 Friday night. But on Saturday night it was a different story as the Monsters came up big, utilizing the man advantage when they needed it most.

Trailing, 3-2, with a little more than seven minutes to play, the Monsters got goals from Justin Mercier off some nice stick handling by Evan Brophy at the 12:30 mark and from Dean Strong at 14:29 to take home an exciting 4-3 win over Rockford.

"Every game is big, but we really needed that one," Monsters coach David Quinn said. "We fought, we clawed, we played like a desperate hockey team and now are in a position to make next week meaningful."

With just two games remaining, Lake Erie must not only continue to play with a playoff intensity and win, but they need some help to be one of the eight Western teams to qualify for the postseason. The Monsters (36-28-3-7) lead ninth-place Milwaukee by two points, but the Admirals have played three fewer games.

• AHL standings through Saturday

After a scoreless first period in which the Monsters had just six shots on goal, Rockford scored 3:48 into the second as Jeremy Morin put one in just past the left post.

Ryan Stanton made it 2-0 with 11:07 left in the period, and just a minute later, the IceHogs' Peter LeBlanc made it a three-goal lead. The IceHogs took advantage of too many Monsters neutral-zone turnovers.

It wasn't until the 17:57 mark of the second that the Monsters' offense could get untracked. On the power play, David Van der Gulik put the Monsters on the board, when his third shot on goal got past Carter Hutton. He was assisted by Patrick Rissmiller and Mike Connolly.

"We just got lazy," Quinn said. "We got the power-play goal that gave us some life, and we played like a team in the third period."

Van der Gulik's goal seemed to energize the team -- not only did it have more opportunities in the third, but it also became more aggressive.

"That sparked us and got us going," Quinn said.

The Monsters are off until Friday and Saturday, when they host the first of their final two games of the regular season against Hamilton and Rochester, respectively.

Matt Pawlikowski is a freelance writer in Parma.

Sure, draft experts have plenty of opinions. But that doesn't mean every one carries the same weight when it comes to assessing talent.

View full sizeDarron Cummings, Associated PressIf NFL Network draft expert Mike Mayock was certain that Blaine Gabbert -- and not Cam Newton -- was the best prospect going into the 2011 draft, Terry Pluto just wants to remind Browns fans that the current hyperventilation over Ryan Tannehill just might be a little more hype than reality.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Has anyone heard about the NFL draft coming up soon? You have? So we're talkin' ...

About drafting quarterbacks ...

1. NFL Network's Mike Mayock is respected and pretty good at rating college talent. But consider that last year, Mayock rated Blaine Gabbert as his top quarterback, and No. 5 overall in his top 30. The next QB on his board was Jake Locker (No. 20). What about Cam Newton? Mayock had the Auburn quarterback at No. 21.

2. Mayock didn't have Andy Dalton in his top 30. Yes, Dalton was a second-round pick by the Bengals, but turned out to be the second-best quarterback in the draft behind Newton. That's why when Mayock and others say the Browns "must" take Ryan Tannehill at No. 4, I wince and wonder how the guy ranked as the No. 3 quarterback in the draft suddenly becomes the No. 4 player overall.

3. I heard the Browns are interested in Tannehill, but probably only if they trade down. They aren't bothered by him having only 19 starts at Texas A&M. He was a high school quarterback, switched to receiver in college and was the team's top pass catcher in 2008. Tannehill went back to quarterback in 2010. He is an honor student and he graduated early. They like him as a person.

4. I'd still be stunned if the Browns took him at No. 4, because he is not NFL ready. That's supposed to be the case with Robert Griffin III and Andrew Luck, the top two quarterbacks. I don't think the Browns' recent support of Colt McCoy is a smoke screen so they can grab Tannehill. I believe they would rather go with McCoy for another year and keep adding strong players on offense and defense with the top picks rather than jump at Tannehill.

5. In his second-round mock draft, ESPN's Mel Kiper has the Browns picking Oklahoma State quarterback Brandon Weeden. My first reaction was ... could be. I hear the Browns like Weeden, and are not scared the former minor-league baseball player will be 29 when the 2012 season opens. They think he's a good prospect. But it wouldn't be a surprise if the Browns passed on Weeden and Tannehill, taking another quarterback lower in the draft.

6. Weeden was drafted in 2002 by the Yankees in the second round and began his pitching career at age 18. In five seasons, he was 19-26 with a 5.02 ERA, and never reached Class AA. He retired and went to Oklahoma State to play football.

7. In 2011, Kiper rated Newton his top quarterback (No. 15 overall) and Jake Locker (25th) was his only other quarterback in the top 25. He had Newton in his mock draft going No. 1. But in terms of pure talent, Kiper's top three were Patrick Peterson, Von Miller and A.J. Green.

8. I can never recall a draft when the third- and fourth-ranked quarterbacks are a converted receiver (Tannehill) and a 29-year-old (Weeden). Makes it interesting ... and dangerous to take either too high. If the Browns stay at No. 4 or even drop down a few slots, I think they will grab one of the following: Alabama running back Trent Richardson, LSU defensive back Mo Claiborne, Oklahoma State wide receiver Justin Blackmon or possibly Southern Cal offensive tackle Matt Kalil.

View full sizeGerald Herbert, Associated PressRegardless of a Wonderlic score, LSU cornerback Morris Claiborne is reportedly nailing his face-to-face quizzes from NFL teams -- including the Browns -- says Terry Pluto.

About Mo Claiborne ...

1. In January, I wrote I thought the Browns would draft Claiborne at No. 4. OK, in the same story, I also thought they'd sign Matt Flynn. I still think Claiborne has an excellent chance to be picked. I've been told he has been very impressive in interviews with several teams, including the Browns.

2. I've also been told teams have known for a long time about Claiborne scoring a 4 out of a possible 50 on the Wonderlic test. Just as they have been aware that LSU knew he had a learning disability when it recruited him. The low score is not a shock to NFL teams, because people with his disability struggle with timed tests.

3. When the Browns and other teams bring in Claiborne, they have him meet with the head coach, the position coach and the coordinator. They do extensive work on the board with Xs and Os. They also can watch tape and discuss what he sees. They have ways to measure football IQ.

4. I hear Claiborne has done very well in interviews and meetings with coaches. One executive told me Claiborne "is an awesome kid, a really good player." I have no direct knowledge, but I believe he's under serious consideration by the Browns -- and it is very appealing for them to have Joe Haden at one cornerback spot, Claiborne at the other. Then they'd work on the offense with the lower picks.

About the Indians ...

1. I hope Casey Kotchman can hit close to .306 with an .800 OPS as he did for Tampa Bay in 2011 because he really is an outstanding first baseman. He saved two runs with his glove in the opener. His ability to dig out throws gives infielders confidence to just throw the ball somewhere near first, and it will be an out. Kotchman, 29, is a career .268 hitter (.733 OPS) with little power, so he needs that high batting and on-base percentage to be a viable regular.

2. That said, I wish the Indians could find a first baseman who can hit at least 25 homers with 90 RBI. Since Jim Thome left after 2002, they have tried the following: Ben Broussard, Casey Blake, Russell Branyan, Ryan Garko, Matt LaPorta and Kotchman. Yes, catcher Carlos Santana also played 66 games at first last season, and will play there at times this season. LaPorta is playing first at Class AAA.

3. Drew Pomeranz will be the Rockies' No. 5 starter, but Colorado will have him at Class AAA early in the season. The Rockies don't need a fifth starter until April 15. Alex White (also part of the Jimenez deal) will be in Colorado Springs' rotation, although it's expected White will eventually be moved to the bullpen.

4. Once the Indians and Asdrubal Cabrera's agent were able to decide upon a time frame for the contract extension, it came together rather easily. Cabrera naturally wanted a long-term, big-dollar deal -- about five years that would have made him one of game's highest-paid shortstops. The Indians wanted to keep the deal shorter -- which makes sense because of injuries. It's also possible Cabrera's stocky body type could lead to a switch of position to second or third base.

5. They kept the $4.55 million deal Cabrera signed for 2012 in place. They added a $6.5 million salary for 2013, and $10 million for 2014. Cabrera could have been a free agent after 2013, so they "bought" an extra year for the $10 million. This is the first contract for any player beyond 2013 for the Tribe.

6. Something the Indians don't talk about is what happens if the team gets off to a terrible start. Fans saw it in 2009, when Cliff Lee and Victor Martinez were traded in the same week -- both were 11/2 seasons away from free agency. The Indians did check in with Scott Boras, the agent for Shin-Soo Choo, about an extension. But Boras usually takes his clients to the free-agent market. That seems to be plan with Choo -- who is a free agent after 2013.

7. In case you're wondering, Justin Masterson can't be a free agent until 2015. I hope the Indians can work a Cabrera-type deal with him.

About pulling Justin Masterson after eight innings Thursday ...

View full sizeChuck Crow, The Plain DealerSecond-guess Manny Acta all you want, but the Indians manager was following standard protocol for starting pitchers early in the season when he pulled Justin Masterson after eight innings on Thursday.

1. No other pitcher went more than eight innings Thursday. Roy Halladay was pulled after eight innings and 92 pitches in the Phillies' 1-0 victory over the Pirates.

2. Justin Verlander was pulled after eight innings, two runs allowed and 105 pitches in the Tigers' 3-2 victory over Boston. In that game, Jon Lester allowed one run in seven innings, leaving after 107 pitches.

3. Johnny Cueto worked seven scoreless innings and left after 95 pitches in the Reds' 4-0 victory over Miami. The score was 2-0 when he was replaced. Mark Buehrle was pulled after six innings and two runs for the losers. In the Nationals' 2-1 victory over the Cubs, both starters allowed only one run -- but neither finished eight full innings.

4. The point is, managers are very careful when taking their pitchers out of the warmth of spring training into the regular season -- and not wanting them to throw too many pitches too early -- even with stars such as Halladay and Verlander. Masterson didn't pitch more than six innings this spring, or throw more than 85 pitches. I had no problem with Manny Acta taking him out with a 4-1 lead. You can argue about Chris Perez and what happened after that, but his handling of Masterson was correct.

5. It's too early to panic about Perez, but the Indians and other teams know his velocity has dropped from an average of 94.5 (2009) to 93.3 (2010) to 90.7 (2011). He was mostly at 90 mph Thursday. His strikeout rate per nine innings also has dropped from 11.2 in 2009 to 5.8 last season. Perez is coming off an oblique injury, so there is a reason to give him a break and say it's one bad game.

6. In Perez's favor is he was 36-of-40 (90 percent) in converting saves in 2011, No. 4 in the AL. He ended the season converting 14 of his last 15. But he does need to regain some of the zip on his fastball to remain effective in that pressure spot.

About the Cavaliers ...

View full sizeJohn Kuntz, The Plain DealerJared Sullinger figures to be a productive pro in the NBA, but may not be a good candidate for the Cavaliers, says Terry Pluto.

1. Like most teams in the lottery, the Cavs will look at Jared Sullinger. The Ohio State sophomore is projected as a power forward. One executive told me: "He can go anywhere between seven to 15. I don't think he will be a great pro, but he could be a solid guy who plays a long time in the league."

2. Sullinger is 6-9, 280. Two concerns are he had some back spasms this season -- NBA teams hate anything that hints of a back injury. They also think he needs to lose some weight -- and he will always have to be careful when it comes to packing on the pounds. They wish he were about 6-11, because he'd be a very good inside player. Some even doubt that he's 6-9, believing he's closer to 6-8.

3. They like his hands and ability to catch the ball in traffic. They believe he can be a reliable mid-range jump shooter, important because he needs more than just an inside game. He comes from a good family. He was coached in defense by Thad Matta. He understands the game and is unselfish. He averaged 17.3 points, 9.1 rebounds and shot 53 percent from the field, 77 percent from the foul line for the Buckeyes.

4. The Cavs have Tristan Thompson at power forward. They also have Anderson Varejao playing center, but he is best suited for power forward. It would be a surprise if the Cavs went for Sullinger.

5. Most pro scouts rate Anthony Davis as the only immediate impact player in the draft. Obviously, the Cavs would love to have him. He'll be the No. 1 pick, and the Cavs will need another dose of Nick Gilbert's "What's not to like?" luck to grab the Kentucky star on lottery day.

6. Like most teams, the Cavs scouted Kentucky often. Michael Kidd-Gilchrist is the best small forward in the draft. While he's not a pure scorer, the 6-7, 228-pound wing man can rebound, defend and understands team basketball. He averaged 12 points and 7.6 rebounds for Kentucky. Remember the Wildcats had so many future pros, most of their players don't have gaudy stats.

7. I wouldn't be shocked if the Cavs took Harrison Barnes, even as the stock for the North Carolina sophomore has dropped. There just aren't too many small forwards in this draft.

The veteran offensive guard still has his fans among Browns supporters.

View full sizeScott Shaw, The Plain DealerIs Eric Steinbach a legitimate candidate to return to the Browns?

Hey, Mary Kay: Is there a chance Eric Steinbach will resign with the Browns or is Tom Heckert just blowing smoke? Also is anyone being groomed to replace Mike Holmgren when he leaves, or will we have to go hire Bill Parcells? -- Bruce Clarke, Avon Lake

Hey, Bruce: According to Browns coach Pat Shurmur, there is a chance that Steinbach returns to the Browns. He has a few feelers out there from other teams though. ... No one is being groomed to replace the Big Show, and from the looks of things, the Big Tuna might end up on the sidelines again.

Hey, Mary Kay: I am hoping the Browns select Bruce Irvin LB/DE in the draft. He will be an asset. Great work ethic, very good locker room guy. Wants to win. He will be a committed football player for the Cleveland Browns. -- Dan Grisso, Clarksburg, W.Va.

Hey, Dan: The Browns would have to look into charges against Irvin last month for destruction of property (he reportedly broke a sign at a sandwich shop). He's overcome a tough background, and interviewed well at combine. He has 22.5 sacks over the past two years.

Hey, Mary Kay: I know people have been talking about the Browns trading down from No. 4, but I was wondering could they trade down a few spots from No. 22 instead and still get a good player and an extra pick? -- Dan Eakin, Bozeman, Mont.

Hey, Dan: I definitely think the Browns will do some wheeling and dealing with their 13 picks. Ideally, they should trade back a few spots from No. 4 and use the extra second to move back up from No. 22 and land another elite player.

Hey, Mary Kay: I have two questions. First, are the Browns going back to brown jerseys at home because white was awful! Also, I hope the Browns pass on Richardson at 4 and opt for Doug Martin in later rounds, who reminds me of Ray Rice. -- Dan Sprouse, Old Brooklyn, Ohio

Hey, Dan: I think the Browns are leaning toward white jerseys at home again because of tradition, but it's still being discussed. The Browns do like Martin and had him in for a visit. He is an option at No. 22 or 37 if they don't draft Richardson.

Hey, Mary Kay: Tom Heckert has been very good at pulling off some good trades since he's been here. Do you see any trades on the way for a veteran receiver or right tackle before or after the draft? -- Matt Jones, Middleburg Heights

Hey, Matt: I don't envision trades for those positions, but I do see the Browns drafting a starting receiver and a starting right tackle. They've looked at Blackmon, Floyd, Wright and others at receivers, and Stanford's Jonathan Martin and Ohio State's Mike Adams at tackle, among others.

Hey, Mary Kay: I know that the Cowboys are looking to trade down to a later spot in the first round. What are the chances the Browns trade with them to obtain Michael Floyd and draft Richardson at 4? -- Zak Fleischman, Beachwood

Hey, Zak: It wouldn't surprise me if the Browns trade back up from No. 22, depending on what happens at No. 4. Seems like a lot of the national experts are leaning toward Richardson for the Browns now.

Hey, Mary Kay: Could you see a trade between the Browns and Bucs (at No. 5) so that we can get Richardson and Blackmon? I wouldn't mind giving them our 22 and first next year to get the best WR and RB in the draft. -- Brandon Giovannone, Warren

Hey, Brandon: No way will the Browns give up their first-rounder next year to move up that high. If anything, they'd move back up a couple spots from No. 22. It's either Richardson or Blackmon, not both.

Hey, Mary Kay: With the two picks in the first round, could you see them taking Blackmon with the fourth and somehow trading up to get Michael Floyd? This would give Colt McCoy two elite receivers to throw to. -- Nick R., Cleveland

Hey, Nick: I don't see the Browns taking two receivers with their top two picks. More likely one receiver and one of the following: cornerback, pass-rusher, running back or right tackle.

-- Mary Kay

As the final month of the season winds down, the long-range plans for the Cavaliers' young players top this week's mailbag.

View full sizeChris Young, Canadian PressTristan Thompson has been playing center out of necessity for the Cavaliers, but team officials believe his future remains as a power forward.

Hey, Tom: Do you see Tristan Thompson ending up as more of a power forward or a center? If he is definitely going to be a power forward, do you think Byron Scott starting him at center instead of power forward (over Antawn Jamison, who probably won't be on the team next year) is a mistake? -- John Vodrey, Shaker Heights

Hey, John: No, I think Byron did what he felt he had to do while the Cavs were still in the playoff race. Semih Erden and the departed Ryan Hollins did not play well enough to merit starter's minutes so Byron turned to his rookie power forward. Look for Thompson to return to power forward when Varejao returns.

Hey, Tom: Why didn't Manny Harris get any playing time Saturday in the loss to the Knicks? Does Byron Scott already prefer Lester Hudson? It was Hudson's first game with the Cavs and he played 24 minutes. -- Dave Denison, Cleveland

Hey, Dave: I think the Cavs are trying to develop a possible back-up point guard for Kyrie Irving and giving opportunities to guys like Donald Sloan and Hudson. It appears they do not believe Harris is in that category. Harris, however, did start at shooting guard Friday night.

Hey, Tom: What are the odds, as this season winds down, that Byron Scott starts Tristan Thompson over Antawn Jamison at power forward and gives Manny Harris or Lester Hudson more playing time than Anthony Parker? -- Zach Johnson, Cleveland

Hey, Zach: I'm not sure if Thompson starts over Jamison even though I advocated for it about a week ago. By the way, nothing against Jamison. The organization wants to see how Thompson and Anderson Varejao, once he returns, play together. I think we'll see lots of it down the stretch. As for Parker, I think he holds onto his starting spot when healthy. He sat out the weekend games with a bruised sternum.

-- Tom

Wonderlic scores don't always tell the story for NFL draft prospects, Bud Shaw writes in his Sunday Spin column.

View full sizeChuck Burton, Associated PressCam Newton didn't come close to acing his Wonderlic, but he owns the 2011 NFL Rookie Of The Year award. Which says something about ... well, drafniks and fans who worry too much about combine testing and pre-draft rumors, says Bud Shaw.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- If you conclude after reading this that I sound like someone who didn't do well on the SATs, then at least one of us is smarter than a fifth grader...

NFL draft prospects are timed, measured, prodded, poked, assessed and, in some cases, mocked in the media for low Wonderlic test results. There's an online test you can take that supposedly approximates the Wonderlic and produces a similarly scaled score. When you finish, it doesn't just give you a number. It shows a football card of a NFL player you beat on the test.

My hasty attempt told me I was smarter than Cam Newton. If true, that's reason to worry. For him.

Of course, nobody is supposed to know Newton's score or any other score for that matter. The Wonderlic results are meant to be nothing more than an indicator, a small piece of information designed to be part of a player evaluation mosaic. But every year, scores are leaked and players reportedly scoring much lower than average get sized for a dunce cap in the media.

It's not simply unfair. Because team officials or coaches or others are leaking the information to satisfy cold-hearted agendas in some cases, it's unconscionable.

When Eldon Wonderlic devised the test, I'm not sure public humiliation was part of his vision. By the way, his 71-year-old daughter was trying to market her own IQ test to supplement her father's work because she didn't believe it accurately satisfies its intent.

If I were an agent and -- through administering sample tests to my client -- I got the impression he wasn't going to fare well, I wouldn't let him take the Wonderlic. Sorry, brain not feeling nimble enough today. Not unless I was guaranteed the results would be kept confidential. And there are no guarantees, not for Wonderlic scores or -- as we've also discovered -- drug test results.

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell is threatening to come down hard on teams leaking Wonderlic scores and other private information. This was in response to reports about LSU cornerback Morris Claiborne scoring a 4 out of 50. Did he take the test seriously? Did he panic? Does he have a reading disability? There's no context, just a score that invites interpretation and ridicule.

League rules already prohibit disclosing the results. "You should be reminded that disclosure of inappropriate private or confidential information concerning draft-eligible players is conduct detrimental to the league and will be met with significant discipline when a violation can be established," Goodell wrote in a memo to all 32 teams.

"Bear in mind that the publicly disclosed information is frequently inaccurate, incomplete or misleading, and often results from an effort of an individual to advance a self-interested goal."

How do we know about the memo? I know what you're thinking.

Somebody probably leaked it.

Call it the Brownderlic Test...

Here's the test I'd administer to draft prospects if I were running the Browns:

1) You show up with strep throat on game day. Do you:

a) call on every ounce of your strength to play and let performance decide how long you go; or

b) call your agent and see what he thinks.

2) You have the game won. On the final play you:

a) play the game out all the way to the end; or

b) call it a day and take your helmet off.

3) Someone suggests you buy a motorcycle commonly known as a "crotch rocket." You:

a) politely decline out of safety concerns; or

b) call your agents, Knievel and Sons, and see what they think.

4) The offense is at the line of scrimmage while you and your defensive teammates are still huddling. Do you:

a) call time out; or

b) call it a day and watch them score the game winner.

SPINOFFS

View full sizeJohn Kuntz, The Plain DealerColt McCoy threw passes to high school receivers -- and some parents dropped the ball.

Colt McCoy's visit to Sacred Heart-Griffin High School in Illinois, where he threw passes to some students, prompted Illinois high school officials to investigate his appearance as an unauthorized football practice.

Ridiculous. With the 2011 Browns season as proof, officials could easily determine without fear of contradiction that McCoy's visit no more resembled a productive football practice than all those Camp Colts did last off-season...

Alex Rodriguez vows to use Facebook to soften his image. "I want my fans to know how much I appreciate them," Rodriguez told ESPN New York. "I have always been pretty private, but I like that I'm getting the chance to interact with my fans on a more personal level."

Nothing says "personal" like things posted by an underling on the Internet. ...

Dwight Howard tried to make himself into the anti-LeBron at the trade deadline by saying he'd stay in Orlando through next year. All the while he's been working behind the scenes to get his coach fired.

He denies it, of course. Not to question that denial, I'm just saying I'm not sure Moe is the most laughable Howard in a starring role these days...

The Louisiana Senate is calling for the NFL to reconsider its bounty sanctions against the New Orleans Saints, who, after all, only lied to investigators and flouted the league's authority after receiving a warning to cease and desist...

Other than that, the Saints are being scapegoated...

The home run structure at the Marlins' new ballpark isn't exactly an attractive piece of art. But let's be fair. It's no harder on the eyes than, say, if the neighbor kids TP'd your house on the same day your wife got you a front yard pink flamingo birthday display...

When former Browns' personnel man Pete Garcia hired Isiah Thomas as head basketball coach of Florida International University in 2009, the FIU athletic director said, "No one thought we could pull this off." Friday, he fired Thomas after a three-year record of 26-65.

Leads you to believe that those "gut" feelings that didn't pan out in Berea from 2000-04 didn't all belong to Butch Davis.

Tiger Woods dropped a 9-iron on the tee after missing the green at No. 16 Friday, then kicked the club. Said CBS's Nick Faldo: "I think we can officially say Tiger has lost his game and his mind..."

Who knew Woods could be boorish?

Baltimore Ravens' safety Bernard Pollard objects to the NFL's crackdown on helmet-to-helmet hits and the like by saying, "This is not powderpuff football, this is not flag football..."

View full sizeAP photoHe was a hit for the Buckeyes during their March dash to the Final Four.

If Pollard can't comprehend the medical concerns associated with a concussion, he should be immediately tested for one...

Warren Sapp filed bankruptcy in Florida, citing $6.7 million in debt. According to court documents obtained by TMZ, Sapp's listed assets include 240 pairs of Jordan shoes, a "large nude women painting" and a lion skin rug.

Not listed for some reason is a copy of Suze Orman's "The Money Book for the Young, Fabulous and Broke."

SEPARATED AT BIRTH

Lenzelle Smith Jr. and the late Bernie Mac -- Todd Flere, McDonald

HE SAID IT

View full sizeAP fileHe scored some points in comedy clubs, and with Danny Ocean's team.

"We're capable of getting through anything. Right now, the leader is being attacked from all angles, and it's my job to stay strong for the team and not allow anything to break my spirit or who I am as a person and a player." -- Dwight Howard after Stan Van Gundy told reporters Howard had gone to the front office seeking the coach's dismissal.

Dwight Howard: the kind of leader a lemming can believe in...

YOU SAID IT

(The Expanded Sunday Edition)

"Bud:

"Spin appears well-suited to the forever frustrated. Would you be able to make necessary adjustments in NY, LA or Boston?" -- Rob M, Solon

I've always said if all three teams here get good at the same time, "Spin" will have run its course and I'd be out of a job. You can imagine the sleepless nights.

"Bud:

"If Frankenstein's monster existed today, would he be a major-league manager, walking to the mound, arms extended, eyes staring straight ahead, saying "Ninth inning ... must ... change pitcher ..."? -- Ron

A fair question. Another one: If Chris Perez had retired the side in order, would the villagers still be waving torches in Manny Acta's direction?

"Bud:

"Asking Chris Perez to finish off a masterpiece by Justin Masterson is like asking 'You Said It' to finish off a masterpiece Spin by Bud Shaw." -- Ignatowski

Actually I thought it was obvious that I model my Spins after Ubaldo Jimenez's 2011 starts.

"Hey Bud:

"Does Jack Nicklaus pop open a bottle of champagne every time Tiger Woods loses a major?" -- J Kiska, Lorain

That sound you hear is Tiger's composure.

"Bud:

"I read that Colt McCoy is embroiled in a scandal because he was throwing to high school receivers. Shouldn't the heat from the scandal be directed to the Browns' front office that drafted them in the first place?" -- Bob H, Pittsburgh (a lifelong Browns fan)

First-time "You Said It" winners receive a T-shirt from the Mental Floss collection.

"Hey Bud:

"Was that giant strand of DNA we saw on the roof of Progressive Field on Opening Day there to show the world that losing is in our genes?" -- Joe Ladd, Cleveland

Repeat winners undergo extensive testing.

"Bud:

"In sharp contrast with Saints' coaches, shouldn't Pat Shurmur's kindness to opposing teams be rewarded with the NFL's first peace prize?" -- Michael Sarro

Repeat winners do not get to make an acceptance speech.

On Twitter: @budshaw

A year after discovering Alonzo Gee, the Cavs are trying to develop a backup point guard for next season.

View full sizeThomas Ondrey, The Plain DealerWith Kyrie Irving slated to get heavy minutes as the Cavaliers' star point guard in 2012-13, the Cavaliers are spending this April auditioning Donald Sloan for a backup role next season.

TORONTO -- Cleveland fans eager to see their losing teams rebuild are consumed by draft news from the NFL and NBA these days. What is Mel Kiper saying about Trent Richardson? Who does Chad Ford have the Cavaliers selecting?

It's hard to keep your RG3s separated from your PJ3s (that's Perry Jones of Baylor).

But as the Cavaliers sink in the standings and their faithful gaze higher up the draft board, the team is attempting to develop prospects in the dying days of the season. An audition to back up rookie point guard Kyrie Irving is well under way. The coaching staff also is looking for depth at the shooting guard position.

It was a year ago at this time the Cavaliers -- long removed from postseason contention -- were supplying opportunity to Alonzo Gee, one of the NBA's most improved players this season. There are few advantages to being out of the playoff race, but one is thumbing through the discount rack that is the Development League to perhaps find someone who can become a rotational player.

Is it as sexy or profitable as potentially landing Anthony Davis in the lottery? No. But just ask the San Antonio Spurs how good it feels to pluck former Cavs shooting guard Danny Green from the roster of the Reno Bighorns and mold him into a part-time starter.

A record 33 players have been promoted from the D-League this season, including point guard Donald Sloan, who is running the Cavaliers' offense in the absence of Irving, lost to a shoulder injury. Several weeks ago, the Cavs quietly signed Sloan and shooting guard Manny Harris to non-guaranteed contracts for next season. Both likely will play for the Cavaliers' summer league team. Combo guard Lester Hudson, whose 10-day deal expires Sunday, also could be in the mix, particularly after a 23-point, seven-assist outburst Friday in the Cavs' 84-80 win over the Raptors.

The 24-year-old Sloan is averaging 4.6 points and 2.5 assists in 11 games. He's also committing just 1.1 turnovers while playing 19-plus minutes per night. You can bet the coaching staff will ply him with things he must improve upon before training camp as it did with Gee.

"Donald has shown that he can play, he really has," coach Byron Scott said. "He has to get more familiar with our offense, which makes it a little easier to just go out and play.

"Can Donald fill it? Probably so, but the summer is going to be big for him."

Hudson, 27, has appeared in just five games for the Cavs, and made quite the impression. The journeyman is averaging 10 points and four assists.It's hard to imagine the Cavaliers won't extend the penetrating guard for another 10 days or to the end of the season.

"He seems to be getting more comfortable in his role with the team," Scott said.

Ramon Sessions, traded to the Los Angeles Lakers at the March 15 deadline, was a luxury for a team headed back to the draft lottery. Irving, the presumptive Rookie of the Year, probably will average 34 to 36 minutes next season. That means his replacement will earn 12 to 14 minutes per game.

Why not give it to a player making $800,000 rather than $4.5 million?

As the Cavaliers' roster takes shape they want to maintain financial flexibility. Assuming they re-sign Gee, a restricted free agent, the Cavs have just six players on guaranteed contracts next season.

Getting the chance to see Sloan, Hudson and Ben Uzoh, now with the Toronto Raptors, has been valuable. The D-League doesn't have the talent base as the Euro League, but the style of play is more similar to the NBA. Gee is the first to admit he made the right choice in staying in the D-League two years ago rather than taking more money to play in Europe.

It's why General Manager Chris Grant keeps signing players to 10-day deals to see if he can locate another Gee, who's making nearly $500,000 less than Omri Casspi ($1.34 million), the swingman whose starting job he took.

Does it mean the Cavs won't select a point guard with one of their four picks in the upcoming draft? No, not if they see someone who can help them. But with a flawed roster and a need for big-time scoring, the focus will be at the wing and at shooting guard.

It's why the development of Sloan and Hudson remains one of the few intriguing aspects of the Cavs' final games.

The Cavaliers look to extend their winning streak to two tonight in New Jersey as they play the Nets. Get Twitter updates from Tom Reed and Mary Schmitt Boyer @PDCavsInsider. Tip-off is scheduled for 6:00 p.m.

(AP) -- Even without their starting center, the New Jersey Nets are feeling optimistic about the future given their solid recent play heading into their game Sunday against the Cleveland Cavaliers.

APDeron Williams and the Nets look to add another loss to the Cavs' record this evening.

The Nets (20-37) are all but assured of not making the playoffs and barely mathematically alive heading into this contest. Yet, they are playing possibly their best basketball of this compressed season, having won five of eight games following their 110-98 victory Friday over Washington as they shot a season-high 56.3 percent.

"We have been pretty good in this little stretch since the Utah game (105-84 loss March 26)," Nets coach Avery Johnson said.

Deron Williams shook off the flu to have 19 points and 13 assists for his fifth double-double in seven games Friday.

The star point guard thinks the Nets would be even better with a healthy Brook Lopez, who was shut down for the season Friday. Lopez appeared in just five games due to ankle and foot injuries, averaging 19.2 points, after not missing one last season while scoring a team-high 20.4 per game.

"We'd be a playoff team," Williams said when asked about the impact of Lopez's absence. "He is one of our best players, a 7-footer who can score from anywhere, commands lot of attention, double teams and knows how to play the game."

While Lopez has been a spectator most of the season, Williams' supporting cast appears to be finding its groove. Gerald Wallace has averaged 15.5 points in 12 games since being acquired from Portland, Kris Humphries has averaged 16.2 points and 11.8 rebounds in the past five and reserve Anthony Morrow has scored 17.3 per game over the last four.

While the Cavaliers (18-35) also are building for the future, the present doesn't include No. 1 overall pick Kyrie Irving. He missed his second straight game - Cleveland's 84-80 win Friday over Toronto that snapped a 10-game losing streak - due to a sprained shoulder and will not play this game as the Cavaliers monitor his progress.

Lester Hudson has been trying to make the most of his opportunity with Irving and fellow guard Anthony Parker sidelined. He finished with career highs of 23 points and seven assists Friday in a bid to get another 10-day contract from the team since his current one expires after this game.

Hudson hit a pair of game-clinching free throws with four seconds to play.

"The 10 day is almost up so I said to myself, 'If you want to stay, you've got to make these,'" Hudson said. "'Do not worry about the crowd. If you want to stay, you make these.' I made them, so hopefully I can stay."

Hudson will likely get extensive minutes again since Parker is not expected to play due to a bruised sternum, and could get his first career start after Manny Harris went 1 for 8 in a starting role.

"Each day with Lester right now he seems to get a little more comfortable in his role with the team," coach Byron Scott said. "I thought he played great."

Cleveland has won two of three between the teams, including a 105-100 victory at New Jersey in the most recent meeting March 19 as rookie Tristan Thompson had a season-high 27 points and 12 rebounds.

Carlos Santana celebrated his 26th birthday by hitting two homers, while Derek Lowe pitched seven innings in his Cleveland debut.

View full sizeChuck Crow, The Plain DealerCarlos Santana enjoyed his Easter Sunday with a pair of home runs to fuel the Indians' first victory of the season.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- A reporter asked Carlos Santana if his teammates bought him a birthday cake Sunday. They should have.

On his 26th birthday, Santana hit two home runs and Derek Lowe pitched seven good innings as the Indians beat Toronto, 4-3, for their first victory of the season. After two extra-inning losses, the victory kept the Indians from getting swept by the Blue Jays.

Back to the birthday cake. When a reporter asked Santana if his teammates bought him one, Santana said he had a cake waiting for him at home. Then he asked the reporter, "Why didn't you buy me one?"

The reporter said, "What kind do you like, chocolate or vanilla?"

"Both," said Santana, smiling. "Come on, I'll wait. The day isn't done yet."

Santana likes to hit on his birthday. Going back to Class AA Akron in 2009, he's hitting .556 (10-for-18) with five homers and 13 RBI on his last four birthdays. Last year was Santana's first birthday in the big leagues and he went 2-for-5 with two RBI.

The last Indian to hit two homers on his birthday, according to ESPN, was Albert Belle on Aug. 25, 1995 against Detroit.

"We should tell him it's his birthday every day," said closer Chris Perez.

Santana said he'd love to hit every day like he does on his birthday, but "I'd be an old man if my birthday was every day."

Perez earned his first save of the season by getting Jose Bautista, who hit more homers than any player in the big leagues in 2010 and 2011, to pop out to shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera with the bases loaded in the ninth. Cabrera could have ended the game three batters earlier, but dropped an easy double-play grounder by pinch-hitter Ben Francisco for the Tribe's second error of the game.

The Indians and Jays took 28 innings to play the first two games of the series. Toronto won both -- the first lasted 16 innings, the second 12 -- by identical scores of 7-4.

Sunday's game ended in nine and it must have felt like a vacation for Santana, who caught all 37 innings of the series. After Thursday's season opener, Friday was an off day, which gave the switch-hitter time to recover.

"I slept a long time Friday," said Santana. "I need to get my rest."

Santana started the second inning with a leadoff homer to center off Joel Carreno (0-1, 6.00), who was optioned to Class AAA Las Vegas after the game because Toronto won't need a fifth starter until April 21. Aaron Laffey, the former Indian, replaced him.

Jack Hannahan added a two-out RBI single in the second for a 2-0 lead. In baseball terms, that's called a rally, but in Cleveland it's called a rarity. In the season's first 37 innings, the Indians have had only four innings in which they've scored two or more runs.

The Jays used two unearned runs to tie the score in the fourth. Lowe (1-0, 0.00), making his debut for the Indians, pitched around some shoddy infield defense. Kelly Johnson reached on an infield single to second that tipped off Jason Kipnis' glove. Bautista lined out to center and Adam Lind sent a grounder that third baseman Jack Hannahan, shifted to short against the left-handed hitting Lind, botched the flip to second.

Edwin Encarnacion doubled home Johnson and sent Lind to third. Brett Lawrie's sacrifice fly tied the score.

"Our defense tried to get us in trouble a little bit," said manager Manny Acta. "And that came from two of our best defenders [Cabrera and Hannahan]."

Santana put the Indians back on top, 4-2, in the fifth with a two-run homer off the fence on top of Toronto's bullpen in right field. Both Santana's homers came off Carreno.

"Happy birthday, Carlos Santana," said Acta. "I wish it was that easy for everybody. ... You've got to give it to him. He caught every single inning of this series. That's a lot of squatting down.

"The majority of our guys had to go through this grueling series, but it's worth it. That's why we play."

Lowe protected the 4-2 lead through the seventh for his first win since Aug. 31 against Washington. The victory was his first in the AL since he beat Oakland on Sept. 7, 2004 as a member of the Red Sox.

On Twitter: @hoynsie

The upcoming NFL draft has plenty of people talking to themselves, including your intrepid columnist.

View full sizeMark Arnold, Birmingham NewsTrent Richardson is -- so far -- the people's choice for the Browns in the draft's first round on April 26.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The upcoming NFL draft has plenty of people talking to themselves, including me. The Browns have the fourth, 22nd and 37th picks in the first two rounds.

Question: Can the Browns mess up the No. 4 pick?

Answer: Here the No. 4 picks in the last five years:

2011: A.J. Green. An emerging star receiver with the Bengals;

2010: Trent Williams. An offense tackle with Washington who has talent, but also flunked a drug test;

2009: Aaron Curry. Drafted by Seattle, traded to Oakland. Considered a disappointment;

2008: Darren McFadden. A good running back for Oakland, but has battled injuries and has had only one big season (1,157 rushing yards in 2010). He played only seven games in 2011; and

2007: Gaines Adams, a defensive end drafted by Tampa Bay, traded to Chicago and then died of a heart condition in 2010.

Q: Well, aren't you Mr. Sunshine?

A: Just reporting the facts.

Q: So the Browns can mess up the pick?

A: I don't think they will. If they stay at No. 4, they will have a crack at three of these four players: Mo Claiborne, Matt Kalil, Trent Richardson and Justin Blackmon.

Q: Don't most fans want Richardson?

A: The Alabama running back is considered the favorite according to our Cleveland.com poll.

Q: Isn't No. 4 too high for a running back?

A: Here's the list of the rushers who gained more than 1,200 yards in 2011, along with where they were drafted.

1. Maurice Jones-Drew (No. 60, 2006), 1,606 yards; 2. Ray Rice (No. 55, 2008), 1,364; 3. Michael Turner (No. 154, 2004), 1,340; 4. LeSean McCoy (No. 53, 2009), 1,309; 5. Arian Foster (undrafted, 2009), 1,224; 6. Frank Gore (No. 65, 2005), 1,211; 7. Marshawn Lynch (No. 12, 2007), 1,204.

Q: So No. 4 is too high for a running back?

A: I will argue this: If Richardson can run for 1,200 yards, he's worth the No. 4 pick. In 2007, former Browns General Manager Phil Savage was debating between Joe Thomas and Adrian Peterson for the No. 3 pick. He went with Thomas, the All-Pro tackle who is the franchise's best selection since the return in 1999. Peterson went No. 7 to Minnesota, where he became a superstar.

Q: What will the Browns do about Richardson?

A: On my Facebook page, Greg Gotti posted an argument that Richardson is right for the Browns because you must be able to run the ball in the AFC North with all the rugged defenses. Tyler Bates countered with the AFC North defenses beating up Richardson in a few years. I would not be surprised if this same discussion is taking place in Berea.

Q: What is Tom Heckert's recent draft history when it comes to running backs?

A: He picked LeSean McCoy in 2009's second round for the Eagles. He also traded up and took Montario Hardesty in the second round of 2010 for the Browns. So he may look for a back in the second round.

Q: What if they take Matt Kalil at No. 4?

A: I have been whining about not signing a right tackle. Kalil is supposed to be the Joe Thomas of this draft. So he'd put the Browns in a great position up front with Thomas at left tackle, Kalil at right tackle and Alex Mack at center.

Q: Do you think they will take him if he's available?

A: No. They may trade the pick to a team that wants a left tackle.

Q: Trading down?

A: I'm OK if it's a few picks ... but not down into the 20s. They need impact players.

Q: Don't you think fans will go crazy if they trade way down?

A: That's putting it mildly.

Q: Why would they take Mo Claiborne at No. 4? Don't they need offense?

A: They need offense, but my hunch since January has been Claiborne. I still think he's a serious candidate. The Browns love good cornerbacks, it's why they took Joe Haden in the first round in 2010. I can imagine them saying, "With Haden and Claiborne, our secondary can be set for years. These guys can cover and we can then bring heat on the cornerback."

Q: What about Claiborne's low score on the Wonderlic test?

A: Most teams knew for months that Claiborne had a learning disability and would not test well. I believe the Browns and several other teams at the top of the draft will not reject Claiborne because of the test.

Q: What about Blackmon?

A: Evan Shanley posted this on my Facebook page: "We HAVE to take Blackmon. We haven't had a premier wide receiver since we came back. ... Running backs are a dime a dozen IF you have a quality offensive line. We've just been without a quality wide receiver for too long ... we have to try to fill that need."

Q: Do you agree?

A: I have to think about him, but as Dave Metsch posted, I wish Blackmon were closer to 6-5 than his height of 6-1.

Q: How about Ryan Tannehill?

A: I don't want the No. 3 quarterback in the draft at the No. 4 pick -- especially since even Tannehill's strong supporters admit that he's not immediately NFL ready.

Q: What will they do at No. 22?

A: Here's the last five players picked at No. 22:

2011: Anthony Costanzo, tackle;

2010: Demaryius Thomas, a wide receiver with only 54 catches over two seasons for Denver;

2009: Percy Harvin, a wide receiver who has caught 218 passes in the last three years for Minnesota. I'd love to see the Browns find a player with his speed;

2008: Felix Jones, a running back for Dallas who has gained 2,060 yards over the last three years, nothing special;

2007: Brady Quinn, a quarterback and you know that story.

Q: Your point?

A: The reason that so many people keep talking about the draft is that there is so much to talk about.

Josh Tomlin gets his first start of the season Monday night against White Sox lefty Chris Sale.

View full sizeChuck Crow / The Plain DealerIn nearly 900 career plate appearances against the Indians, Chicago's Paul Konerko is batting .275 with 43 home runs and 156 RBI.

Where: Progressive Field.

When: Monday through Wednesday.

TV/radio: SportsTime Ohio; WTAM AM/1100.

Pitching matchups: LHP Chris Sale vs. RHP Josh Tomlin, Monday at 7:05 p.m.; RHP Philip Humber vs. Jeanmar Gomez, Tuesday at 7:05 p.m. and LHP John Danks (0-1, 4.50) vs. Justin Masterson (0-0, 1.13), Wednesday at 12:05 p.m.

Season series: The Indians went 7-11 against Chicago last year. The White Sox lead, 1,035-993, overall.

White Sox update: They outscored the Indians, 91-81, last year. This will be Sale's first start against the Tribe. Last year he struck out 15 in 9 2/3 innings in seven relief appearances against them. Danks and Humber were each 0-1 against the Tribe last year.

Indians update: They lost six of nine last year at home to Chicago. Masterson was 2-2 with a 1.61 ERA. The Indians hit .260 as a team, with Travis Hafner batting .275 (14-for-51) with four homers and nine RBI.

Injuries: Indians -- CF Grady Sizemore (back), LHP David Huff (right hamstring) and RHP Carlos Carrasco (right elbow) are on the disabled list. White Sox -- None reported.

Next: Indians start nine-game trip Friday night at Kansas City at Kauffman Stadium.

Scott knows center Anderson Varejao wants to play again after missing nearly two months with a fractured right wrist, but he isn't guaranteeing a return this week.

View full sizeScott Shaw, The Plain DealerAnderson Varejao (left, with fellow sidelined Cavalier Anthony Parker) is expected to return to practice this week, but Byron Scott isn't promising Varejao's return to the court. "We're not going to rush him," says Scott.

NEWARK, N.J. -- A week ago, Byron Scott allowed point guard Kyrie Irving to return to the lineup after missing only one game with a sprained right shoulder.

It's a move the Cavaliers head coach has admittedly regretted after the presumptive NBA Rookie of the Year re-injured the shoulder against San Antonio. Scott knows center Anderson Varejao wants to play again after missing nearly two months with a fractured right wrist, but he isn't guaranteeing a return this week.

"Just because he's anxious doesn't mean he's ready," Scott said prior to Sunday's game against the Nets. "He told me a couple of weeks ago he was bored and wanted to get out on the court. We're not going to rush him. If he said that thing is a little sore, then we'll wait and continue to do what we've been doing as far as his rehabilitation goes."

A week ago, Scott was optimistic about Varejao's return, saying he might need only one practice before playing him in a game. This week, the Cavs' only practice is Monday as they begin a seven-game in nine-day stretch starting Tuesday against Charlotte.

Varejao accompanied the team on its three-game road trip and took part in a pre-game shoot-around Sunday night in Prudential Center.

Some would argue there's no need for Varejao to come back with the Cavaliers out of the playoff race and risk the chance of re-injuring the wrist -- or damaging the team's draft position.

"We still want to win and he gives us a better chance to win," power forward Antawn Jamison said. "It will be great to have a veteran out there to help these young guys out and compete at a high level."

The Cavaliers were 10-15 at the time of Varejao's injury and in the thick of the playoff hunt. They headed into Sunday's game 8-20 in his absence.

"In my eyes he was an All-Star [at the time of his injury], the numbers he was putting up and the things he was doing. It's hard to replace a guy like that," Jamison added. "It was a big blow. It's tough to replace a guy with the things that he brings to the table. It was the worst blow at the wrong time of the season for us."

Scott has been harping on his team's need to consistently compete down the stretch without having the playoff as a carrot to dangle.

"He brings that automatically," Scott said. "That makes the other guys step up to a different level because they have to match the way he plays. That's one of the reasons it'd be nice to have him the last 5-10 games because he plays the right way."

No pine time: Scott has said he wants to see Varejao and Tristan Thompson play together once the Brazilian returns to the lineup. But the coach said he has no plans to start Thompson and bench Jamison.

No feelings: The Cavaliers made their final trip to New Jersey before the franchise relocates to Brooklyn. Scott, who coached here for 3-plus seasons and took the Nets to two NBA Finals, would not share any memories of his time here.

The normally loquacious Scott was asked three times during a pre-game media scrum about his time here (2004) and his feelings about the franchise's move.

"No feelings, to be honest," he said.

Scott was fired in 2004 with his team leading the Atlantic Division. He became just the third coach in NBA history to be let go while leading a division.

Last word: Scott on being ejected just twice in 12 years: "I'm a pretty patient guy. I can take a lot of you know what. But just like anybody else, there's a boiling point at times. Especially the way some of these games get called."

Scott was tossed during Cavs' win Friday in Toronto.

A brilliant approach out of the woods along the 10th hole was the decisive shot for Watson in a playoff over Louis Oosthuizen.

Chicago Tribune

AUGUSTA, Ga. -- Put the green jacket on Bubba Watson, winner of a two-hole Masters playoff against Louis Oosthuizen with a recovery shot unlike any other.

From the deep trees right of Augusta National's 10th fairway, Watson launched a high hooking wedge that somehow found a gap through the branches and landed on the green -- stopping 15 feet from the flagstick.

Oosthuizen came up short of the elevated green with his second shot, then sent a chip to the back fringe. His par save curled off just right of the hole, giving Watson two putts to win.

Watson nearly holed it on his first putt, finally tapping in for the fourth victory of his career -- and certainly the biggest.

"He hit an unbelievable shot there," said Oosthuizen, whose double eagle at No.2 previously had produced the biggest roars of the day. "I don't feel like I played badly. Hats off to him; he deserves it."

Watson never held the sole lead this week until the 74th hole.

Oosthuizen authored the double eagle just two holes into his round -- watching his 4-iron approach roll nearly the entire length of the green and into the cup for a lightning bolt that moved him to the front of the pack.

Watson produced his fireworks along the back nine, recovering from a bogey at the par-3 12th hole with four consecutive birdies to pull even with his playing partner at 10-under.

Two finishing pars completed a 68 for Watson and a 69 for Oosthuizen. Their totals of 10-under 278 were two shots clear of Phil Mickelson (72), Peter Hanson (73), Matt Kuchar (69) and Lee Westwood (68).

Mickelson was undone by a triple bogey at No.4, when his tee shot caromed off a grandstand and into some bushes -- requiring the lefty to take two swings right-handed to extricate himself from the foliage.

No Masters champion has ever won it with a triple bogey on his card.

There has been a Masters champion with a double eagle, though -- Gene Sarazen at the 1935 edition, when his "Shot Heard 'Round the World" forced a playoff with Craig Wood.

The other two double eagles at Augusta National came from Bruce Devlin in 1967 (No.8) and Jeff Maggert in 1994 (No.13).

After retrieving the ball from the cup, Oosthuizen tossed it to someone in the gallery, who later donated it to the club.

Tiger Woods completed his stay with a 2-over 74, unable to record a round under par all week and headed for his worst Masters finish as a professional. It came just two Sundays after the four-time Masters champion cruised to a five-shot romp at Bay Hill.

"I had the wrong ball-striking week at the wrong time," said Woods, adding that he slipped into old swing patterns and couldn't break out nearly in time. He wound up tied for 40th.

Right alongside Woods was Rory McIlroy, who turned in a 77-76 weekend after reaching the weekend just one shot off the lead.

Lester Hudson's 26-point explosion forces OT, but Cavaliers can't hold off the Nets.

NEWARK, N.J. -- Lester Hudson arrived in Cleveland as a 27-year-old journeyman trying to keep his career alive in the Development League. Ten days later, he is the the second-best offensive threat on the depleted Cavaliers.

The combo guard scored a career-high 26 points and forced overtime with a last-second, 3-pointer from the left corner before the Cavaliers fell, 122-117, to the New Jersey Nets in Prudential Center.

On the day his 10-day contract expired, he had 18 fourth-quarter points to rally the Cavaliers from a nine-point deficit. His unexpected heroics led Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert to tweet: "Lesanity!" The performance comes on the heels of a 23-point effort on Friday in an 84-80 win in Toronto.

The Cavs are certain to award Hudson either another 10-day deal or sign him for the rest of the season. Fellow D-League call-up Donald Sloan had a career-high 14 assists, but was 3-of-13 from the field. Antawn Jamison tied a season high with 34 points. Alonzo Gee added 22 points and 11 rebounds.

The Cavs trailed by seven points in overtime, but Hudson had another shot at tying it with five seconds left. The 3-point attempt rimmed out and the Nets salted it away at the foul line. The Cavaliers have lost 13 of the past 15 games.

Gerald Green led the Nets with 32 points.

The Indians can't hit, but their starting rotation sure can pitch. Derek Lowe gave the latest example Sunday against Toronto.

View full sizeChuck Crow, The Plain DealerIn his Indians debut, Derek Lowe recorded 16 of his 21 outs on ground balls. "When he's on, it's really hard for guys to lift the ball," said Tribe manager Manny Acta after Sunday's 4-3 victory over Toronto. "They beat it into the ground."

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Manny Acta, with the exception of hitting the baseball, said the Indians did a lot of things well in their season-opening series against Toronto.

At the top of his list was starting pitching. The Indians lost two of the three games, but their starters went 1-0 with a 1.23 ERA (six earned runs in 23 1/3 innings). They've allowed eight hits on five walks with 14 strikeouts.

Derek Lowe started and beat the Blue Jays on Sunday. He allowed two unearned runs in seven innings with five hits, one walk and one strikeout. He threw 64 percent (61 of 95) of his pitches for strikes.

"Derek followed in the footsteps of Justin Masterson and Ubaldo Jimenez," Acta said. "He was fantastic."

In Thursday's series opener, Masterson allowed one run on two hits in eight innings. He struck out 10 and walked one, but the bullpen blew a 4-1 lead in the ninth and the Indians lost, 7-4, in 16 innings. On Saturday, Jimenez took a no-hitter into the seventh. He allowed two runs on one hit in seven innings. The Jays won, 7-4, in 12 innings.

Lowe prepared for his first appearance at Progressive Field since May 4, 2004 when he pitched for Boston, by watching Masterson's season-opening performance. Masterson is a sinkerball pitcher as well, and Lowe wanted to see how Masterson dealt with the Toronto lineup.

Whatever Lowe saw, worked. He recorded 16 of his 21 outs on ground balls. Masterson, besides his 10 strikeouts, had 11 ground-ball outs.

"Lowe did that in spring training," said Acta. "When he's on, it's really hard for guys to lift the ball. They beat it into the ground.

"He did a great job of getting ahead and then mixing in his slider. He'll give us a lot of innings this year."

Lowe lost 17 games last year with Atlanta. He went 0-5 in September as the Braves fell out of playoff contention in a historic collapse.

"That's a distant memory," he said. "It's funny, some of the fans remembered. I said, 'Man, we're in Cleveland and they're getting all over me.'

"All kidding aside, I told the reporters at the end of last season that there was some things I needed to work on regardless of where I pitched [this year] to get back to throwing the way I feel I should be.

"In spring training, I felt a lot better than I did in September. It was a non-issue."

Batless in Cleveland: After three games, the Indians are hitting .153 and have scored 12 runs. Acta was asked his preference -- a struggling offense or a struggling rotation.

"I'd rather have my offense struggle than my starting pitching," he said. "I'll take that every time.

"I know the offense will come around. Some way you always end up scoring runs here and there during the game. But it's very tough when your pitching -- especially your rotation -- is scuffling."

Yo, Vinnie: The ninth inning Saturday belonged to Vinnie Pestano, who in a 2-2 game gave up a leadoff homer to Toronto's Kelly Johnson.

When the game was over, Pestano made a point of telling Acta that he would be available Sunday. He threw 25 pitches in 1 1/3 innings in Thursday's opener. He threw another 25 in two-thirds of an inning Saturday before Rafael Perez relieved to keep the tie intact.

Pestano entered Sunday's game in the eighth with the Tribe leading, 4-3, with one out and runners on first and second. Acta brought him in to face righties Edwin Encarnacion and Brett Lawrie.

What was Pestano's game plan?

"I'm trying to punch them out," said Pestano. "I didn't want to give them a chance to be a hero."

Punch 'em out he did, striking out Encarnacion and Lawrie.

"I wanted to get back up on the horse again," said Pestano. "That's the best thing about being a reliever."

On Twitter: @hoynsie

The Monsters (36-28-3-7) have two games remaining in their 76-game regular season, both at home: Friday night against Hamilton and Saturday night against Rochester.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Monsters enter the final week of the American Hockey League regular season in eighth place in the Western Conference. The top eight teams in the Western and Eastern conferences qualify for the Calder Cup playoffs.

The Monsters and three other teams -- Milwaukee, Houston and Peoria -- have 82 points. But Milwaukee and Houston have games in hand on the Monsters, and Peoria owns the tiebreaker.

The Monsters (36-28-3-7) have two games remaining in their 76-game regular season, both at home: Friday night against Hamilton and Saturday night against Rochester.

The Monsters can finish as high as fifth in the conference. But they also can fall outside the top eight, even if they play well during the weekend, because their three closest pursuers have games in hand.

San Antonio has 81 points in 72 games, Rochester has 81 in 73 games and Charlotte has 79 in 72 games. All three have games Tuesday.

Because Milwaukee, Houston, Peoria, San Antonio and Charlotte play Sunday, the Monsters will likely not know their fate until after their regular season ends.

Fields led Mater Dei to the California 1AA state title last month as a senior and was named a McDonald's All-American. She has signed with UCLA.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- So your kid wants to be a star, and you don't want to pay for college. To what lengths would you go to make that happen?

About four years ago at their home in suburban Montreal, Nirra Fields and her mother had that conversation and came to a difficult, but to them, obvious conclusion. She left town -- and her country, her mother and six brothers behind. She embarked on what would become a 3,600-mile, four-year basketball journey.

"I wanted a challenge," she said.

She lived in Euclid while attending Regina High her first two years of high school. After Regina closed in June 2010, she was a boarder at Oak Hill Academy in Virginia for a year. She now lives with the family of Los Angeles Lakers coach Mike Brown, who is her legal guardian.

Fields led Mater Dei to the California 1AA state title last month as a senior and was named a McDonald's All-American. She has signed with UCLA.

All along the way, she set specific goals on a "to-do" list, and counted her blessings.

"It was worth it," Fields said Monday in a phone interview from Los Angeles. "I'm going to a great high school academically and athletically, and I got to have a great senior year, and I'm going to UCLA.

"I have no regrets."

View full sizeLeonard Ortiz, The Orange County Register"My time in Cleveland was a good one," says former Regina standout Nirra Fields, who eventually relocated with former Cavaliers head coach Mike Brown's family to Los Angeles and is an McDonald's All-American at Mater Dei High School. "I had ups and downs and it was a learning process (at Regina). It was time well spent."

Which is not to say she didn't make sacrifices. Fields also is away from home during the summer, playing for the Canadian junior national team.

"I sacrificed a lot," she said. "Leaving home at a young age, I didn't get to see my family very much. I didn't get to see my nieces grow up."

This is not the right path for everyone, and the basketball landscape is littered with the shattered dreams of players and families who sacrificed just as much. Because she was successful does not make her a role model. But the way Fields handled the journey is worth noting. Her maturity and consistent work ethic at each stop helped her excel following some dramatic life changes.

During her sophomore year, Regina's season ended in disappointment when an eligibility issue resulted in the Royals being kicked out of the playoffs. Fields was a starting guard on a team some picked to win the state championship.

"My time in Cleveland was a good one. I had ups and downs and it was a learning process," she said. "It was time well spent."

That summer, in 2010, Fields transferred to renowned basketball school Oak Hill and averaged 26 points. It was a brief stop.

After leaving Canada, her legal guardian also was her AAU coach, Michael Duncan, of Ohio Basketball Club. One of his players was Elijah Brown, son of then-Cavs coach Mike Brown. The Brown family got to know Fields during her time at Regina. When Brown took the Lakers job last year, he invited Fields to move with the family. It was an opportunity she couldn't pass up and Brown and his wife, Carolyn, became her legal guardians.

"I'm like their only daughter," Fields said with a chuckle. The Browns have two boys.

Fields has only been to a couple of Lakers games and said she does not rub shoulders with players or celebrities. The Browns hired a personal trainer to work with her, according to The Los Angeles Times, which last week named Fields its girls Player of the Year. Fields averaged 22.4 points and 7.1 rebounds.

Fields returned to Cleveland on Monday night for spring break to visit friends and family. None of her relatives live here, but she considers Duncan "like a father."

"None of this is really a surprise," Duncan said of Fields' success. "She loves basketball, and her dreams became a reality -- to win a state title and sign with a Division I school. She has sacrificed a lot. It's been a very rough road. But it was the best thing for her and it all paid off."

On Twitter: @TimsTakePD

A Sporting News story on Urban Meyer's tenure at Florida was interesting, but it shouldn't change the view of any Ohio State fan that understands college football.

AP fileUrban Meyer at Florida in 2010

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- In a Sporting News story published Monday on Ohio State coach Urban Meyer's tenure at Florida, the program Meyer left winds up sounding a lot like the program he inherited. And none of that should be of particular surprise.

The only problem is for anyone viewing Meyer above or below the spectrum of successful major college football coaches, for good or bad. He's no more a saint or a sinner than most two-time national championship coaches who recruit at a high level, bring in talent, battle in a super competitive environment like the SEC or Big Ten and have the wins, losses, complaints and praise to go with it.

The Sporting News paints a picture of Meyer catering to his star players over his final years and leaving a roster in Gainesville that led to Florida's disappointing 7-6 season in the first year under Will Muschamp in 2011.

Jim Tressel's decision to treat quarterback Terrelle Pryor differently than other players helped lead to the turmoil and NCAA violations that upended the Ohio State program, cost Tressel his job and led to a disappointing 6-7 season in 2011. Meyer has spoken again and again about the talent deficit on the OSU roster he inherited, whether it be at the offensive skill positions, in the offensive line depth, or at linebacker.

That's kind of how it goes.

New guy comes in, points out the problems, makes comments that either directly or indirectly blame the previous staff, goes about trying to fix them. The difference, and this is a big difference, is that Ohio State's problems included serious NCAA violations. None of that is alleged in the Sporting News story on Meyer.

In the shadowy world of major college athletics, the difference between those caught breaking major rules and those not caught breaking major rules has to remain a dividing line. There are familiar recruiting questions from Meyer's entrance into the Big Ten mentioned in the story, but unless Meyer is caught breaking similar rules, keep that in mind.

If players are entitled, or coaches let the best players have a longer leash ... that isn't a unique problem.

The Sporting News also writes of former Florida safety Bryan Thomas, saying he was given a medical hardship to clear a scholarship spot. Running players off is something that absolutely must be monitored, and the Big Ten does that. The new plan with most major schools offering multi-year scholarships is another step toward protecting players from these situations. I have questioned Meyer about his roster management at Ohio State and will continue to keep tabs on the players who leave and the circumstances under which they depart, but Meyer's reputation in this area is not one of a coach who constantly oversigns at the expense of current players who are following the rules but not producing. Some other SEC coaches have a problem with that.

There is another part of the story in which it is alleged that three Florida stars sat out a season opener with what Meyer called injuries when in fact they were suspended for a failed drug test. I reported years ago that Tressel did the same thing with an OSU player before a bowl game, saying he was hurt when in fact he was suspended.

The story also mentions the number of arrests of Florida players under Meyer, and there were a lot. Too many. Tressel had a run of arrests in his tenure as well before those numbers went down. Certainly the OSU administration was aware of that when Meyer was hired, and it again is a real issue and a number worth monitoring.

The attempt here is only to provide context as readers decide how to interpret the Sporting News story, not to question the story or make excuses for anything that happened at Florida. But a main point of the story is that what happened made the Gators lose games, during and after Meyer left.

Keep in mind that maintaining a high level of success at any program is difficult, even the best ones. Meyer won two national titles in six years, and in year five went 13-1 with his only loss in the SEC title game to eventual champ Alabama. There certainly was a dropoff to 8-5 in Meyer's final year, after he resigned and then came back to the program for a final season.

Look around.

After reaching the BCS Championship at the end of the 2009 season, Texas has gone 5-7 and 8-5 the last two seasons. If coach Mack Brown would have been forced out or decided to retire, it could have been pointed out how he left a program that had just played for a national title in shambles.

At Florida, basketball coach Billy Donovan, one of Meyer's best friends, missed the NCAA Tournament two straight years after winning back-to-back national titles in 2006 and 2007. If he had left Gainesville then, the story would have been how he got out when things were down after they'd just been on top.

It's hard to go out on top. Muschamp didn't inherit a national championship roster at Florida, just like Meyer didn't inherit one at Ohio State. But both are great programs, with tradition and talent bases and resources that should allow them to get back on top with good coaching, good leadership and, most importantly, good players.

The coaches will have to bring in that talent and manage it. It's not always easy. It is always important to do it within the rules. There will be players who love their coaches and players who don't. The Sporting News story made some points about Meyer's final years at Florida. They are worthwhile for Ohio State fans to know. But I'm not sure it should change the thinking, or add to the worries, of anyone who had a realistic view of college football, Urban Meyer and Ohio State.

The Indians had to work overtime against Toronto. That explains why Manny Acta's starting lineup had a different look Monday. Watch video

View full sizeTony Dejak, Associated PressJason Donald got some early action at third base in his first start of the season, fielding this grounder by Chicago's Alex Rios in the first inning Monday night.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- What did it take to get Jose Lopez, Aaron Cunningham, Jason Donald and Lou Marson in the starting lineup at the same time this season?

The Indians had to cram a little over four nine-inning games into three official games against Toronto from Thursday through Sunday at Progressive Field. When it came to Monday night's series opener against Chicago left-hander Chris Sale, Lopez was at first, Cunningham in center, Donald batting at third and Marson catching.

"It's a combination of playing a lot of innings and facing a lefty," said manager Manny Acta. "Mostly it's because of the amount of innings we've played. When you leave Arizona or Florida, you don't prepare these guys to 28 innings in the first two games and 37 in the first three.

"It was a grueling series. It also has something to do with facing a guy [Sale] who can be very tough on some of our left-handers."

Lopez, who hit his way onto the club in spring training, was anxious for the chance.

"I'm ready," he said before the game. "I came in to spring training fighting for a spot. I had an opportunity, but I had to fight for my spot. I won a spot and I'm playing my first game."

Lopez hit .327 (17-for-52) with seven runs, five doubles, two homers and 10 RBI in spring training. Before reporting to Goodyear, Ariz., Lopez hit .310 (52-for-168) in winter ball in Venezuela. What remains unanswered is whether Lopez, 28, is still the same player who hit 25 homers and drove in 96 runs for Seattle in 2009.

"Yeah, I'm same guy," said Lopez. "I'm waiting for my opportunity. ... I don't want to show it in the clubhouse, I want to show it on the field."

That's all well and good, but Lopez made the Indians as an extra infielder.

"Given the opportunity, he might become the guy he was two or three years ago," said Acta. "That's not the case here, but we envision him as the guy who could be very valuable to us as a guy coming off the bench against left-handers and giving a guy a breather here and there.

"Hopefully, he can do that. Last year was the first time he started as a backup guy. It's a tough role to handle, but he knows that's what's in front of him here."

Lopez's first at-bat of the season ended in a strikeout.

Cunningham had three at-bats against the Blue Jays. Monday, he singled in his first at-bat. At the moment, he's the Tribe's fourth outfielder.

"I've got to accept it," he said. "I'm always going to keep pushing. Eventually, I want to get in that starting lineup sometime this year. Right now, I've got to take what I'm given and take advantage of it."

The Indians acquired Cunningham in an off-season trade with San Diego.

Lopez, Cunningham, Donald and Marson are all right-handed hitters. They were facing Sale, who was making his first big-league start after 79 relief appearances.

Birthday boys: Carlos Santana was the fifth Indians' player, according to STATS Inc., to hit two homers on his birthday. Santana did it Sunday against the Blue Jays.

The four other players were Hall of Famer Earl Averill, May 21, 1934 against the Yankees; Ray Boone, July 27, 1951 against Boston; Joe Azcue, Aug. 18, 1963 against Boston and Albert Belle, Aug. 25, 1995, against Detroit.

In MLB history, 46 players have hit two or more homers on their birthday.

Switch: In spring training, the Indians said No.5 starter Jeanmar Gomez would make his first start of the season Wednesday. That has been moved to Tuesday with Justin Masterson starting Wednesday.

Long ball or nothing: Through the first three games, nine of the Indians' 12 runs have been generated by home runs. They were tied for third in the AL with five homers after Sunday's 4-3 win over Toronto. They ranked ninth in runs.

Finally: Acta's advice to Donald, hitting in the leadoff spot: "We don't ask anybody to change their approach. Just get on base."

On Twitter: @hoynsie

Josh Tomlin gave up three runs in the first inning Monday night and that was enough to guarantee the Indians a 4-2 loss to Chicago.

Josh Tomlin gave up three runs in the top of the first inning Monday night in the April cold at Progressive Field.

It's never recommended behavior for a starting pitcher, but at the same time it shouldn't guarantee defeat. After all, the home team still has nine innings left to swing the bats. Overcoming three runs in that time shouldn't be compared to scaling the north face of Mount Everest.

Except, of course, if the pitcher's team happens to be averaging 3.5 runs per game. Then that pitcher is in trouble. Which brings us to Trouble City and the Indians, who lost to the White Sox, 4-2.

Manager Manny Acta's team has played four games this year. They're 1-3 and they need a lot of help in the run department.

Monday night they didn't score until Shin-Soo Choo narrowly escaped refracturing his left thumb in the sixth inning when he was hit by a pitch from left-hander Chris Sale. This time the only thing that fractured was Choo's thumb protector. He took first base, stole second and scored on Carlos Santana's single to make it 4-1.

"It was a big scare," said Acta, referring to Choo, who had his left thumb shattered last year courtesy of a Jonathan Sanchez pitch in San Francisco.

There was only silence the rest of the night until Jose Lopez, making his first start, lined a homer off the left-field foul pole to start the ninth inning to make it 4-2. The next three Indians went down in order as Hector Santiago recovered for his second save.

Acta threw his right-handed hitting lineup against Sale (1-0, 1.35), who was making his first big-league start after pitching out of the Chicago bullpen the past two seasons. Give the decision to Sale, who allowed one run on three hits in 6 innings. He struck out five and walked two on 100 pitches.

"If he stays healthy and keeps the ball around the plate, he's going to be tough on a lot of people regardless of whether he pitches out of the pen or starts," said Acta. "He's got a very deceptive delivery . . . a low arm slot. He can run it up there in the mid-90s with sink."

Monday night was Tomlin's first start against the White Sox and he won't remember it fondly.

Alejandro De Aza and A.J. Pierzynski, both left-handed hitters, homered off him in the first for a 3-0 lead. De Aza opened the game with a homer over the wall in right field for Chicago's first leadoff homer since Scott Podsednik hit one Oct. 2, 2009.

Tomlin struck out the next two batters, but Paul Konerko reached on an infield single that shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera couldn't bend over to field and Pierzynski homered over the right-field wall for a 3-0 lead.

"When you fall behind in the count big-league hitters will make you pay," said Tomlin.

De Aza hit a 2-1 pitch and Pierzynski hit a 2-0 pitch.

"Those two lefties kind of ambushed him," said Acta. "After that, Josh pitched well."

Tomlin (0-1, 7.20) allowed four runs on nine hits in five innings. He tied a career high with seven strikeouts, but was gone after five innings because he threw 95 pitches.

After the first, Chicago didn't score again until the fifth. Brent Morel singled off Lopez's glove at first to score De Aza from second. Tomlin retired the first two batters in the inning, but De Aza doubled to right.

"I've got to catch that ball," said Lopez.

De Aza came into Monday's game hitting .395 (15-for-38) against the Indians over the past 11 games.

Tomlin was the first Tribe starter not to go at least seven innings this season. Justin Masterson, Ubaldo Jimenez and Derek Lowe allowed three earned runs in 22 innings in the first three starts of the year.

Acta's plan to get the offense going?

"You have to stay positive and encourage the guys," he said. "Four games will not define the offense of the ballclub.

"We'd rather have six or seven runs every day on the board, but it hasn't happened. We're pitching well and that gives us time to wait until the offense gets going."

The Indians are hitting .153 (23-for-150) as a team.

Walsh Jesuit remained undefeated in the North Coast League and Michael Marsinek remained undefeated in the past two seasons. Marsinek, a senior left-hander, pitched a four-hitter and struck out 10 in leading the Warriors to a 6-2 victory against Benedictine. It was the Warriors' third straight win in the NCL Blue Division, which it joined this year.

Walsh Jesuit remained undefeated in the North Coast League and Michael Marsinek remained undefeated in the past two seasons.

Marsinek, a senior left-hander, pitched a four-hitter and struck out 10 in leading the Warriors to a 6-2 victory against Benedictine. It was the Warriors' third straight win in the NCL Blue Division, which it joined this year.

Marsinek, an Eastern Michigan recruit and last year's Pitcher of the Year in the now-defunct Cuyahoga River Baseball Conference, raised his record to 4-0 with six solid innings and extended his winning streak to 12 straight games during the past two seasons. First baseman Zack Leonatti had three hits and drove in one run in support of Marsinek.

Brecksville-Broadview Heights 9, Parma 1: Junior Vladimir Kovacevic pitched a three-hitter and senior Kyle Graham drove in two runs with a pair of hits as the Bees raised their record to 7-1 with a nonleague win on the road.

Central Catholic 15, Glenville 0: Junior Jeremy Motley pitched a five-inning no-hitter with 14 strikeouts and drove in two runs with a double. Teammate Larry Owens drove in two runs on two doubles as Central won for the first time this season.

Avon 4, Elyria Catholic 0: Avon ran its winning streak in the West Shore Conference to 16 straight games as senior Anders Mahon struck out nine while limiting the Panthers to four hits and senior Don Kelly knocked in two runs with a sixth-inning double. The Eagles improved to 8-0 overall.

Willoughby South 12, Waterford (Wis.) 1: In Orlando, Fla., Kurtis Morehead scattered seven hits and the Rebels pounded out 12 hits in five innings. Steve Scaccia went 3-for-4 with two RBI and Morehead, Cameron Knott and Jake Hall had two hits each as South improved to 5-1.

Solon 11, Shaker Heights 6: The Comets scored four times in the top of the seventh in a nonleague game at Kent State. Solon's Chris D'Amato and Shaker's Jacob Shick each drove in five runs, as Shick had an inside-the-park grand slam home run and D'Amato had three singles. Jesse Circelli and Michael Dunn had big hits for Solon in the top of the seventh. The loss was the first of the season for Shaker, while the Comets improved to 4-2.

Softball

Medina 3, Strongsville 1: Junior catcher Maria Vanadia hit her fourth home run of the season and senior Bobbi Langlios struck out five batters during the final four innings as the Bees improved to 9-0 overall with a Northeast Ohio Conference Valley Division victory.

Elyria 4, North Royalton 1: The Pioneers snapped the Bears' winning streak at five games when junior Caitlin Minney struck out 10 and Alanna Williams went 3-for-4 and had an RBI in a Northeast Ohio Conference Valley Division game.

Willoughby South 3, Georgetown, S.C. 2: In Myrtle Beach, S.C., a single by freshman Lauren Blasinsky drove in junior Mackenzie Burk from third in the bottom of the seventh inning as South improved to 6-0. Burk tripled to open the seventh and eventually make a winner of senior Nicole Motuza, who struck out five.

Midpark 5, Olmsted Falls 4: Sarah Gualtier hit a three-run home run in the bottom of the sixth inning to spark the Meteors to a come-from-behind victory in a Southwestern Conference game. Gualtier went 2-for-2 and had all five RBI for Midpark, which improved to 4-2.