COLUMBUS, Ohio – Westlake's baseball team rode the pitching of the Neumann cousins -- starter Ben and reliever Kevin -- and some timely hitting to a 6-2 victory over Massillon Perry on Thursday in a Division I state semifinal at Huntington Stadium. The Demons (24-6) will play the winner of the other semifinal between Grove City and Cincinnati Moeller...

Westlake's baseball team rode the pitching of the Neumann cousins -- starter Ben and reliever Kevin -- and some timely hitting to a 6-2 victory over Massillon Perry on Thursday at Columbus' Huntington Park.

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Westlake's baseball team rode the pitching of the Neumann cousins -- starter Ben and reliever Kevin -- and some timely hitting to a 6-2 victory over Massillon Perry on Thursday in a Division I state semifinal at Huntington Stadium.

The Demons (24-6) will play the winner of the other semifinal between Grove City and Cincinnati Moeller in the state championship game Saturday at 1 p.m. Those two schools, ranked first and second, respectively, in the state, play Thursday night.

Ben Neumann pitched the first four innings and gave up two runs on five hits. Kevin Neumann finished up, holding the Panthers scoreless while working out of a jam in the fifth and sixth innings.

Corey Bowers hit the first home run of the 85th state tournament and also had a run-scoring double. Jonathan Brick also drove in two runs.

Thursday was the first day in a long while that fans could obtain good views of Tiger, even if he's not really Tiger anymore.

View full sizeTony Dejak, Associated PressTiger Woods played his way to the top of the leaderboard during the early hours of Thursday's opening round of the Memorial, but his game -- and reputation -- still doesn't seem all that Tiger-ish, says Bill Livingston

DUBLIN, Ohio -- Cottonwood fluff flew through the air Thursday, looking like what was left of angel wings after they had been run through a shredder. The white tufts sailed toward Eldrick Woods, triggering allergies in the player once known as Tiger.

The sneezes were as loud as almost anything else during Woods' 2-under 70 in the first round of the Memorial Tournament.

Once Woods lived in thunder, acclaimed everywhere, even here, in the heart of it all, at the core of Jack Nicklaus' constituency. In 2000, Woods won three majors and the missing one, the Masters, the next year. That was when he was fist-pumping, cussing and striping a ball in a way conforming to the predator cat nickname.

Woods used to come to Muirfield Village, in the backyard of his idol, Nicklaus, and it wasn't only a tuneup for the U.S. Open, but for history, for forever. Woods won 14 professional majors, four shy of Jack's record, before -- in the hours after Thanksgiving 2009 -- he drove his career into a (a) fire hydrant, (b) tree, (c) the same toxic dump as his reputation, (d) all of the above. The correct answer is (d).

Woods' driving accuracy, distance control, putting and reputation were so transformed by the resultant sex scandal and breakup of his marriage that only the name Eldrick will do now.

Eldrick said anything under par on the first day at the course Jack built would do, too. He was coming off finishes in his last three events of 40th, a missed cut and 40th -- not the red-number savanna to which he once was accustomed.

Thursday, he carded four birdies to offset a double-bogey on 18, a hole that was only the ninth he played since he started on the back nine.

Woods disputed the sounds of silence from the gallery, noting his 8:15 a.m. tee time. "I think everyone was fantastic. They came out yesterday and supported us on the pro-am. Maybe it's just because it's early in the morning and people still have crust in their eyes or something," he said.

After Nicklaus quit tournament competition and became a ceremonial golfer, Memorial was sort of the site were the guard changed. The old king teetered on the throne. The king to be, to the ermine born by a doting father, was on the move. Tiger won Memorial four times, double Jack's total. With seven victories at Akron's Firestone South, Woods seemed to make Ohio his own amusement park. It was not as much fun as his evenings as Don Juan maybe, but still enjoyable.

The comparatively small first-round crowd recalled a tournament 20 miles away before Tiger's rise. In 1995, as a Stanford freshman, Woods played Ohio State's Scarlet Course in the NCAA Championsips on the same weekend as Memorial. Woods had a gallery of dozens, including his late dad, Earl. Surprisingly, Tiger did not win medalist honors. Chip Spratlin of Auburn did.

Thursday was the first day maybe since then that fans could obtain good views of Tiger, even if he's not really Tiger anymore.

"They still came out and supported this event. You know, it doesn't really usually get that loud until the weekend when a little more libations are flowing," Woods said.

Maybe they will raise a flagon of ale to Eldrick if he is still on the leader board on the weekend. But with only one victory in America since 2008, on another familiar track, at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, Woods is no one's chalk pick to win this weekend.

Jack used to forestall the shadows gathering over his career by chirping, "I found a little something on the practice tee."

On a day when greens played slick and Muirfield played hard, Woods, asked to cite a point of improvement, said Jack-like, "Well, I haven't played the par-5s particularly well the last few tournaments, and today was a good example. I played them great. The one on 11 should have been a birdie, as well. I feel very pleased with the way I hit the golf ball all day, and it was nice to actually play the par-5s under par for a change."

The round, he said, was "consistent."

"I'm not sick," he said after sniffling repeatedly in the wake of the opening round. "It's just my allergies are killing me. Is it cottonwood that's flying around here, whatever that white stuff is? Yeah, it's got me pretty good today."

The snowy fluff is really a survival mechanism for cottonwood trees. They are seeds, released to float far and wide, out of the shadow of the tree that loosed them, into sunny soil in order to survive.

Asked how much they affected him, Eldrick sniffled and said, "Thank God I had a big towel."

On Twitter: @LivyPD

There is something about Kent State baseball, a program that has been to the last four NCAA tournaments.

View full sizeMatt Bliss, KSU Athletic Communications"Guys may not be great players when they get here," says Kent State pitcher Tyler Skulina, who has a 10-2 record for the Golden Flashes this season, "but they improve because we have great coaching."

KENT, Ohio -- At Kent State, expectations are high when it comes to baseball. But not even Golden Flashes coach Scott Stricklin imagined this.

How about a 24-3 record in the Mid-American Conference and a 17-game winning streak heading into Friday's 4 p.m. NCAA tournament opener against No. 17 Kentucky in Gary, Ind?

"Our goal is always to win the MAC," said Stricklin. "But we had four players picked in the top 10 rounds [of the MLB draft] last season. Six signed pro contracts. We lost our top two pitchers, our closer and several power bats."

But there is something about Kent State baseball, a program that has been to the last four NCAA tournaments. There's something about a program acknowledged by the NCAA as among the nation's top 30 academically in 2010 and 2011 -- and is expected to be selected again this season.

"We were one of only seven public institutions picked last year," said Stricklin. "Our team grade point average is 3.05, so we're still in good shape."

Make that great shape, as the Flashes are ranked No. 25 on the field and their 24 MAC victories tie a school record. While the Flashes are likely to have several players selected in the major-league draft, none is expected to be in the first dozen rounds.

There's David Starn, the first ever to win back-to-back MAC Pitcher of the Year. Not bad for a kid from Walsh who had to walk on to the team. No one thought a lefty with an 80 mph creeper of a fastball had the right stuff for major college baseball. But he'll leave Kent with school records in victories, strikeouts and innings pitched. His fastball is now in the 83-86 mph range.

"I hope he gets drafted," said Stricklin. "He deserves it. He's a left-handed pitcher who knows how to win games. He's like Jamie Moyer. He just gets you out."

Starn is now on scholarship, and he'll take the mound in the NCAA tournament with a 10-3 record and 1.77 ERA. He may not throw hard, but he's struck out 112 in 102 innings, walking only 37.

"This season has been a great achievement for us because it wasn't expected," said Starn. "But it's like Coach Birkie [pitching coach Mike Birkbeck] says, 'They know who we lost, but they don't know who we have coming up.' Kent always has good players coming."

Coming home

The remarkable part of the KSU story is nearly all the players are from Northeast Ohio or Western Pennsylvania. Sometimes, northern schools make an impact in college baseball by recruiting junior college players from the southern states, California or Texas.

"I can tell you, there's a lot of talent right in this area," said Tyler Skulina, who was a highly recruited pitcher from Walsh who attended Virginia for a year.

"There, we had players from all over the country," said Skulina. "Things didn't work out for me, so I decided to come home and play for Kent. Our talent is good enough to play with teams like Virginia."

Skulina is 10-2 with a 3.94 ERA this season. He throws in the 91-95 mph range, and is expected to be drafted when he's eligible in 2013.

"Tyler was so highly regarded, that we weren't in the running for him out of high school," said Stricklin. "I do think that sometimes when kids take a second look at our program, it looks better to them."

Strongsville's Ryan Bores (8-2, 3.32 ERA) began his career at Ohio, then pitched at Cuyahoga Community College before coming to Kent State. He has a chance to be drafted. Another player who came home was Nick Hamilton. The son of Tribe broadcaster Tom Hamilton, Nick batted .481 as a senior for Avon Lake. He began his college career at Xavier, but transferred to Kent State.

"I really wanted to play for a winner," he said. "This program has such great tradition."

Hamilton wears hearing aids. On the field, he sometimes needs hand signals or reads lips to cut through the crowd noise. He leads the Flashes with a .377 average.

He's not a power hitter -- one homer, 12 doubles -- "but he's gotten as many clutch hits as anyone on the team," said Stricklin. "It's amazing how he gets his bat on the ball. He's overcome a lot. I love him as a person and for what he's done for the program."

A junior, Hamilton is mostly a designated hitter. He also plays some third base. He has a 3.5 GPA with a double major in business and finance.

"To be in the NCAA tournament, that's my dream," he said. "I batted once last year and struck out. So it's great to get another chance."

Hamilton talked about the pride he felt last year when all the players were announced with their hometowns before the NCAA games in Texas.

"There is a lot of pride in the guys from our area," he said. "You come to our games, and you see the players' families and friends are there. It brings everyone together."

Determination to improve

View full sizeKSU photo"When you have a team like this -- a team that exceeded expectations -- it just shows the character and hard work of the players." -- KSU coach Scott Stricklin.

Skulina said the key to their success "is developing players. Guys may not be great players when they get here, but they improve because we have great coaching."

Consider that Jimmy Rider (Venetia, Pa.) had only one Division I offer -- Kent State. He will leave as the MAC's all-time hit leader.

"He's 5-foot-9, 165 pounds," said Stricklin. "No one else wanted him because they thought he was too small. But we liked his energy, and he can hit."

MAC Player of the Year George Roberts (Summerhill, Pa.) was a part-time player in his first two seasons, then led the team in homers (7), RBI (57 in 56 games) and batted .368. There are a lot of stories like that. In the MAC championship game, the final two innings were handled by Josh Pierce (Avon) and Brian Clark (Stow). Ryan Mace (Tallmadge) started that game. Clark had an 0.44 ERA and four saves as a freshman.

"This has been such a special year," said Stricklin. "I'm really happy because when you have a team like this -- a team that exceeded expectations -- it just shows the character and hard work of the players. I'm really proud of them."

"To be able to get out here and mingle with people from Cleveland," he said in an interview between drives, "it's fun to be back."

CONCORD TOWNSHIP, Ohio -- Former Indians' slugger and complex personality Albert Belle was back in Northeast Ohio with a golf club instead of a bat and a smile instead of a scowl.

With a little coaxing by former teammates Kenny Lofton and Carlos Baerga during spring training, Belle, who is retired and raising a family in Arizona, agreed to play in the team's annual charity golf tournament Thursday at Quail Hollow Country Club.

"To be able to get out here and mingle with people from Cleveland," he said in an interview between drives, "it's fun to be back."

Although fans felt burned when Belle left town for $55 million from the Chicago White Sox after the 1996 season -- the first of a series of free-agent losses to other teams -- the former left fielder still recalls the club's golden 1990s, with record sellouts, a string of playoffs and a lineup that struck fear into opposing pitchers.

Belle, who starred with the Tribe from 1989 until he left, was a four-time All-Star. He still stands second all-time in career home runs (242), homers in a season (50) and career slugging percentage (.580).

Belle said the tournament was his first time back in the Cleveland area since joining some buddies for golf a few years ago.

Baerga said convincing Belle to return wasn't difficult.

"I told him 'People loved to watch you play. So they need you back again,'" he said.

Belle is married with three kids, ages 6, 4 and 2, "enjoying the retirement life and trying to decide what I want to do next. Maybe one of these days, I'll get back into baseball, but for now [I'm] just raising a family."

Belle said he would consider becoming more involved with the Indians at some point. He's been working with Bob DiBiasio, the Indians' senior vice president of public affairs, on a Belle bobblehead night and would make the trip to Progressive Field with his family to celebrate.DiBiasio said manager Manny Acta has talked about getting Belle in a uniform in spring training to talk to the team's hitters.

"Albert's a Mr. Mom," DiBiasio said, "so we're going to work on that. He's got a busy schedule."

In the meantime, Belle, who still limps from hip surgery that ended his career in 2001, follows the Tribe on TV.

"The Indians have a pretty good team," he said. "It's going to be better once [Justin] Masterson and Ubaldo [Jimenez] kind of get hot and take the team to the next level. It comes down to pitching. Once they get hot and carry the team, they'll be back in first place."

Never shy about speaking his mind, Belle also got a kick out of closer Chris Perez recently calling out the fans for lack of support.

"I know Perez has kind of stirred up the fans, but I can understand his frustration," he said. "Once we started playing in front of a sellout crowd, it was phenomenal. We took our game to the next level, and when you've got 40,000-plus fans cheering for you, it makes you a totally different player."

Much of Belle's time in an Indians uniform was spent playing for packed houses -- a string of 455 straight sellouts that ended in 2001. While club executives acknowledge factors that contributed to the record turnout are history -- a new ballpark, a healthier corporate ticket base and stronger economy, no NFL team -- Belle believes Cleveland can still be a baseball town.

"That's going to take some time," he said. "There were a couple of stretches of some bad years. They've got a pretty good team together here. Once they get hot and start winning some games, they'll be fine. The fans will come out. They're just waiting for this team to take off."

Happy hunting: Acta and coaches Steve Smith, Dave Miller and Tom Wiedenbauer participated in the outing. Tribe relievers Joe Smith and Jeremy Accardo were the only current players on the scene. Accardo, a 15-handicap, was trying out a new set of Pings.

Asked to grade the team at the season's quarter pole, Accardo said, "You know what, we're hanging in there despite a rough week. We're right in the hunt, and that's where you want to be all the way up until the end."

To stay in contention, the Indians will likely have to keep pace with Detroit and Chicago, which impressed him with its team chemistry.

"I think the Tigers have a lot of the big guns ... but the White Sox kind of all click together," Accardo said. "It almost seems like they've been playing together a long time."

Rewind: The club's celebrity golf fundraiser brings back many familiar faces -- and memories. At one turn, Jim "Mudcat" Grant and Rich Rollins compared memories from their time on the 1965 American League pennant-winning Minnesota Twins. Grant was an ace on the staff. Rollins, a former Cleveland sandlot and Kent State star, played third base.

Barberton's Hal Naragon, who also participated in the outing, was a coach on that Twins team. All three were also former Indians.

With the NBA lottery over and the draft order set -- at least for now -- the Cavs begin the work to determine their choice on June 28. All options are on the table.

View full sizeDavid I. Andersen, The Plain DealerCavaliers GM Chris Grant (right, with coach Byron Scott) has said he expects the team to be aggressive in pursuing all options for the June 28 NBA draft.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Now comes the hard part -- although Chris Grant might say it's the fun part, too.

The Cavaliers' general manager and his staff have spent months -- and in plenty of cases, years -- gathering information on the athletes who will make up the NBA draft class of 2012. At this point, most of that information is in the form of videotapes and statistical breakdowns.

But with the lottery completed, the Cavs will start narrowing their focus on specific players they feel can help the team become a contender again. Right now, all options are on the table.

The New Orleans Hornets won the lottery on Wednesday, and it's a foregone conclusion they will make Kentucky big man Anthony Davis the No. 1 pick. After that, it's anybody's guess. Charlotte finished second in the lottery, followed by Washington at No. 3 and Cleveland at No. 4.

The Bobcats, with so many needs, are thought to be open to trading their pick, while the Wizards, focusing on a shooting guard such as Florida's Bradley Beal, are less likely to make a deal.

The Cavs need help on the wing, so Kentucky's Michael Kidd-Gilchrist or North Carolina's Harrison Barnes might fit that bill, although Charlotte likes Kidd-Gilchrist as well as Kansas power forward Thomas Robinson. But the Cavs also have been accumulating assets in case they want to make a deal. They own the 24th pick in the first round this year, as well as the third and fourth picks in the second round, and multiple picks in the next four years.

The prevailing school of thought is the team will try to address their issues on the wings with the first pick and look to get a big man at No. 24, perhaps someone along the lines of Syracuse's Fab Melo or St. Bonaventure's Andrew Nicholson. But the fact is they're nowhere near making up their minds yet.

That's because they so value the character of those they bring into the program -- or culture, as Grant likes to say. He and his staff are looking forward to the interview process, where they get to know the person behind the jump shot and/or vertical leap.

Because they feel they hit the jackpot last year with Rookie of the Year Kyrie Irving and All-Rookie second-teamer Tristan Thompson, they will be extremely careful about the next pieces they introduce to their lineup.

Kidd-Gilchrist played a year of high school basketball with Irving, and Barnes also is a good friend. Irving and Barnes share an agent in Jeff Wechsler. That may mean nothing in the end, but it's something to keep in mind over the next month.

While fans are atwitter over the ridiculous notion that a conspiracy enabled the Hornets to land the No. 1 pick, the Cavs will try to ensure they make the best pick possible when their turn comes on June 28.

On Twitter: @pdcavsinsider

A new wave of mock drafts since Wednesday night's draft lottery was completed. Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Andre Drummond and Harrison Barnes are among other players mentioned as potential Cavaliers.

Associated PressFlorida guard Bradley Beal is a fine outside shooter who can go to the basket, too. His height, listed anywhere from 6-3 to 6-5, concerns some observers, but he offsets that somewhat with his strength.

Despite the inconsistent results, it's difficult not to see Beal developing into a very good NBA 3-point shooter in time, especially considering his reportedly stellar work ethic and the fact that this has always been the strongest part of his game.

Beal's ball-handling and playmaking skills appear to have improved significantly over the past year or so. Extremely effective in transition, Beal can create for himself and others in smooth and effortless fashion off the dribble with his ability to change speeds and put the ball on the floor with either hand.

While able to get all the way to the rim fairly consistently, Beal still needs to improve on finishing more effectively around the basket, as he lacks a degree of strength and explosiveness in traffic at this stage. He does get to the free throw line at a solid rate to compensate, and makes 78% of his attempts once there.

Beal is generally a good decision maker, showing excellent maturity making the extra pass to an open shooter on the perimeter or feeding his big men inside the post, never looking rushed or flustered, which is impressive considering his age and lack of experience.

The Plain Dealer's Dennis Manoloff and Cleveland.com's Glenn Moore chatted with three of the area's best Tribe bloggers about the season so far and what to look for this summer. Joining Dennis and Glenn were Craig Lyndall from waitingfornextyear.com, Mike Brandyberry from didthetribewinlastnight.com and Lewie Pollis from wahoosonfirst.com.

View full sizeChuck Crow/The PlainDealerDo the Indians have enough to fight through injuries to compete deep into the summer? Dennis Manoloff and Glenn Moore talk with three of the area's best Tribe bloggers about the season so far.

Among other topics discussed:

• Who has been a surprise/disappointment?

• Should the Indians bring up Matt LaPorta?

• Has Manny Acta done a great job with this team?

• What has to happen in order for the Tribe to compete deep into the summer?

Read what D-Man (@dmansworldpd), G-Mo (@GlennMooreCLE), Craig (@WFNYCraig), Mike (@didtribewin) and Lewie (@LewsOnFirst) have to say on Twitter.

Popular Masters champ Bubba Watson grew frustrated by fans taking cell phone pictures, while playing partner Phil Mickelson struggled so much, he withdrew.

View full sizeJay LaPrete, Associated PressA frustrating Thursday turned out to be the only round Phil Mickelson will play in this year's Memorial, as he withdrew after a series of missed putts and fan distractions.

DUBLIN, Ohio -- By the end the frustration was palpable, the most popular pairing during the first round at the Memorial Tournament on Thursday driven batty by the ...

Sir, put your cellphone away.

Anyway, there was little doubt that the play of Bubba Watson, Rickie Fowler and Phil Mickelson was affected by the incessant ... click.

No Photos.

Though he didn't quite come out and say it, Mickelson's decision to cut his Memorial short after a 7-over 79 that finished with bogeys on six of his last seven holes may as well go down as a WD-F (Withdrew-Frustration).

"What is going on out here?"

Those last words were spoken by Mickelson caddie Jim "Bones" Mackay on the eighth tee after a fan's loud "Shh" altered Mickelson's swing on the par three, as he let go of the club with one hand while pulling his shot into a bunker right of the green. He'd backed away from his ball and restarted his routine after a cellphone camera click, saying to himself "Gosh dang it's frustrating," and "I can't even focus now."

A new PGA Tour policy this season allows patrons to take cellphones on the course, but they can't take pictures, they must keep them on silent and they can only use them in designated areas. Many fans seem to have little awareness of those rules.

Argue all day over whether a camera click should affect a millionaire athlete, but this round at the Memorial was one of the starkest examples this season that the new rule can have an effect on a tournament.

"It took Phil out of his game," Watson said. "Phil's a great player and a great champion and it just took him out of his game. It's sad. It's sad that cellphones can make or break a championship."

In following Masters champ Watson in just his second tournament since winning at Augusta, fans had to be admonished on nearly every hole by players, caddies and marshals, and by the end it was clear that had sucked some energy out of the group.

Besides Mickelson's 79, Watson shot a 3-over 75 with four back-nine bogeys and Fowler was at 1-under 71, but was 1 over for the final seven holes.

"Obviously, I shot 3 over so I didn't [deal with it] very well," Watson said while signing autographs after his round. "Since they allowed cell phones, it's been terrible."

While Fowler called the cellphone clicks "a back-handed compliment," and accepted the distractions that accompany popularity, Watson said allowing phones creates an uneven course. He believes it handicaps popular players in groups drawing lots of fans who are then forced to more often admonish fans or back away from shots.

"Marquee groups are going to have more problems, so it kind of puts us at a disadvantage," he said.

He does have his fans. Loping across Muirfield Village like Mickelson's younger brother, each with visors, visor mullets and booming left-handed swings, Watson nodded with pursed lips at almost every "Buh-Buh" shouted toward him, while Mickelson almost always slapped on a smile while running the fan gauntlet between one green and the next tee.

As the group gathered on the first tee, Watson and Fowler discussed the charity Christian rap concert that Watson hosted in Columbus on Tuesday night and Fowler attended, while Mickelson asked, "Was that recently?"

Watson complimented Fowler on his neon green attire with a "nice look," and animatedly talked with both playing partners through most of the round. On the third green, he scratched his back with the head of his putter.

"He's a goofball," Fowler said. "Bubba and I obviously enjoy playing together a lot. We had a good time out there. Unfortunately they weren't our best rounds. Bubba struggled a little bit coming in, but he'll be fine tomorrow."

Watson and Fowler will be out there alone with Mickelson heading home, his official post-round explanation that he was mentally fatigued after playing three straight tournaments and then taking his wife, Amy, to Italy and France for her 40th birthday.

"We had a great time, but I think I probably just went a little overboard last month," Mickelson said. "It has nothing to do with playing poorly, but I do think I need to get rested to play my best for the Open."

He said he may take time this week to check out the U.S. Open setup at the Olympic Club in San Francisco. So he still may play this week.

Just without cellphones.

A close-up look at 18 holes with Bubba Watson.

View full sizeKyle Robertson, Columbus DispatchIt was no surprise to any Memorial fan on Thursday that Bubba Watson was the day's longest driver.

DUBLIN, Ohio -- A close-up look at 18 holes with Bubba Watson.

Summary: Masters champ Watson shot a 3-over 75 Thursday, with a 1 under front nine that included a birdie and eight pars and a 4 over back of four bogeys and five pars. He's tied for 88th. The top 70 players and ties will make the cut for the weekend.

Back in the swing: This is Watson's second tournament since his Masters win, as he took time off to be with his wife, Angie, and new baby, Caleb. Asked how he felt Thursday, Watson said, "rusty."

In the water: Watson was 1 under and in the middle of the fairway on No. 11 after crushing his drive 351 yards. He had 210 yards to the pin and had to be thinking about setting himself up for an eagle, which would have tied him for the lead. Instead he left his iron shot short, and it bounced off a slope short of the green and into a creek. Watson made his first bogey of the day.

"It was just a bad swing," Watson said. "Then I made a couple bad swings on the back nine."

Both Watson and Phil Mickelson hit their tee shots in the water on the par-3 16th, and Watson made bogey and Mickelson made double-bogey.

In awe: When Watson hit his drive left on No. 13, his ball landed softly between two groups of fans. So no injuries. Seven-year-old Claudia Novak, from Lewis Center, Ohio, was in awe as Watson weaved through fans to find his ball. She likes Watson in part because of his hot pink driver.

Her father, Dave Novak, had been awed earlier when Mickelson shouted "Sir" on the 10th hole and then thanked him for bringing his daughter out to the course. Mickelson has two daughters and a son.

"That really touched us," Novak said.

Big Bubba: First on the PGA Tour in driving distance, Watson was first again during Thursday's first round, averaging 307 yards. When he pulled his driver out on No. 18, while his playing partners didn't, fans cheered. Watson's drive of 327 yards was more than 75 yards past Mickelson and Rickie Fowler.

Overheard: "Oh gosh. Whoops." -- Watson after hitting from a fairway bunker into a greenside bunker on No. 10. He still made par.

Overheard: "Since the first hole, every other hole we've said that." -- Watson, showing the first real signs of frustration after his caddie reminded another fan to put his cell phone away. Watson showed his frustration again on the 17th tee.

Will the Indians try to find more offense from the current 25-man roster or will they have to promote someone from the minors?

View full sizeChuck Crow, The Plain DealerLargely ineffective since joining the team while sharing time in left field, Johnny Damon could get regular work as the DH while Travis Hafner heals from his arthroscopic surgery.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Travis Hafner underwent arthroscopic surgery on his right knee Thursday morning at Cleveland Clinic. The procedure, performed by Dr. Rick Parker and Dr. Mark Schickendantz, took 30 minutes, but the effect on the Indians' lineup are going to be felt much longer.

While the Indians' starting DH will take four to six weeks to recover, the team has a decision to make. Do they try to get by with the hitters presently on the 25-man roster or do they promote someone from the minors?

Their current AL offensive resume is not pretty: They rank seventh in runs (219), ninth in batting average (.248), 11th in slugging (.381) and 12th in homers (41).

They have options at Class AAA Columbus in Matt LaPorta and Russ Canzler, two right-handed hitters who can DH, play first and left field. But it does not appear any immediate moves will be made. For now, the DH spot will be shared by Johnny Damon (.171, one homer, five RBI), Shelley Duncan (.204, four homers, 11 RBI), Jose Lopez (.256, 2, 15) and Lonnie Chisenhall, who just arrived from Columbus.

If and when the Indians make a move, LaPorta and Canzler will be among the hitters they consider. The Indians are badly in need of production from right-handed hitters. They're 4-11 against left-handed starters and .214 (128-for-599) against lefties overall.

Bruce Chen was the latest lefty to beat the Indians, pitching five innings on Wednesday in Kansas City's 6-3 victory. Chen, 5-1 against the Tribe since Aug. 18, 2010, earned the win despite throwing only 58 percent of his pitches for strikes to his impatient opponents.

Overall the Indians have lost five of six games to fall to second place in the AL Central.

Lead the way: While most parts of the offense are struggling, Shin-Soo Choo continues to reach base. Since being moved to the leadoff spot on May 14, Choo is hitting .306 (19-for-62) and has reached base in 31 of his 74 plate appearances.

One to watch: Baseball America, asked those in the know to give them a Top 10 list of baseball's future scouting directors. Chuck Ricci, national crosschecker for the Indians, ranked fifth.

The Orioles drafted Ricci out of high school in 1987. He spent 11 years in the minors and made it to the big leagues with the Phillies in 1995. The Indians hired him as an area scout in 1999.

Empty cupboard: Brad Grant, Indians director of amateur scouting, said the talent pool in the greater Cleveland area lost its best player when Solon High left-hander Matt Smoral suffered a broken right foot.

"He was the elite player in the area, but unfortunately he pitched only three innings this season," said Grant.

Indians scouts have been in town all week getting ready for Monday's draft. Grant said they'll have 850 players posted on their draft board before it the first pick is made.

More air time: Starting Friday, a simulcast of Indians games from WTAM AM/1100 will be carried on WMMS FM/100.7 on the first Friday of every month for the rest of the season. After Friday against the Twins, future simulcasts will be July 6 against Tampa Bay; Aug. 3 against Detroit and Sept. 7 against the Twins.

Finally: Former Indians Carlos Baerga and Candy Maldonado will be in Cleveland this weekend greeting fans. Maldonado will throw out the first pitch Friday. On Sunday, the first 15,000 fans will receive a Baerga bobblehead doll.

On Twitter: @hoynsie

A lobbyist working on Hernandez's behalf said the Indians pitcher formerly known as Fausto Carmona could be back in the United States by early July.

View full sizeChuck Crow, The Plain DealerThe Indians are hoping Roberto Hernandez will not face an MLB suspension after the team and player worked out a reduction in his future salary.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- A lobbyist working on behalf of Roberto Hernandez, the Indians pitcher formerly known as Fausto Carmona, said he could be back in the United States by the All-Star break.

"I think there is a good chance Roberto could be in Cleveland by the All-Star break," said Stephen Payne, a visa expert and lobbyist hired Hernandez's agents.

The All-Star break runs July 9-12. The All-Star Game is in Kansas City on July 10.

Hernandez was arrested on false identity charges in the Dominican Republic during the winter when he applied for a visa under the Carmona name. Dominican authorities said his real name was Roberto Hernandez and that he was 31, not 28, as the Indians listed him in their media guide.

Last week, Juan Carlos Oviedo, formerly Leo Nunez of the Miami Marlins, was granted a visa after being arrested in September for the same offense. MLB suspended Oviedo for eight weeks. He will be eligible to play in the big leagues on July 23.

Hernandez is not expected to serve such a suspension. At the Indians' insistence, Hernandez renegotiated his contract in spring training, taking a big pay cut because the team felt it was duped when they signed him to a four-year, $15 million deal in 2008 because he was playing under a false name.

Set to earn $7 million this year, Hernandez's salary was cut to $2.5 million. The Indians held a $9 million club option on Hernandez for 2013, which was reduced to $6 million.

The Indians have petitioned the U.S. State Department that the salary cut should serve as punishment enough. It's believed MLB and the players association feels the same.

The last word from the Indians is that Hernandez was still throwing simulated games at their baseball academy in the Dominican.

Compton is one shot behind leader Scott Stallings after the first round of the Memorial Tournament, with Tiger Woods and Ben Curtis among those four off the lead.

View full sizeJay LaPrete, Associated PressErik Compton wasn't happy with a missed birdie chance on the 18th hole, but he didn't have many other misses in posting a 4-under 68 Thursday at the Memorial.

DUBLIN, Ohio -- Erik Compton, a PGA Tour rookie who four years ago received a heart transplant from a Central Ohio native killed in a motorcycle accident, played one of the best rounds of his career Thursday and sits just one shot out of the lead after the first round of the Memorial Tournament.

Compton's 67 tied his low round of the year and put him behind only 27-year-old Scott Stallings, who has made just three cuts in 14 events this season. Spencer Levin is tied with Compton, with seven other players three shots off the lead in fourth.

Among the nine players four shots off the lead after shooting 70 are Tiger Woods, Adam Scott, Ernie Els and Kent's Ben Curtis.

Curtis, who played at Kent State and grew up about 40 minutes from Muirfield Village in Ostrander, certainly has his share of fans at the Memorial every year. He considers the event his fifth major because of how important it is to him. In nine previous starts here, his best finish was a tie for eighth in 2004.

But Compton, 32, should have his share of fans as well.

"I know there's a lot of people that are in town that may be familiar with the story, so that's obviously cool to play in front of people that are rooting for you," he said.

Compton was born with an enlarged heart and had his first heart transplant at age 12. He received his second heart in 2008 and in 2009 made his second cut since that transplant at the Memorial.

"For me, it's a special place," Compton said. "For me there's not a day that goes by that I don't think about my donor."

Stallings has one career PGA Tour win, at the Greenbrier Classic last year, while Compton is looking for his first. Only twice in the 36-year history of the Memorial has a first-round leader gone on to win, while this year in 22 tour events the first-round leader has won just twice.

After the course played fast and firm Thursday, rain is in the forecast Friday. Among those stalking the lead, weather permitting, should be U.S. Open champ Rory McIlroy, who recovered to shoot a 1-under 71 Thursday despite taking quadruple bogey on the par-3 12th on his way to shooting 39 over his first nine holes. He responded with a 32 on his second nine that got him back on track.

"I was just like, here we go again," said McIlroy, who missed the cut in his last two events. "But I hung in there well, and I'm proud of myself for the way I just fought back."

San Antonio still leads 2-1 heading into Game 4 on Saturday night in Oklahoma City.

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — After a month and a half of dominance, San Antonio Spurs  coach Gregg Popovich suddenly had a reason to question his team's passion and desire.

San Antonio still leads 2-1 heading into Game 4 on Saturday night in Oklahoma City.

"They played like it was a closeout game, both offensively and defensively," Popovich said. "They were very active, physical, they moved the ball well on offense. They did all those things better than we did. They beat us good."

Sefolosha threw a wrench in the Spurs' well-oiled offense at the start, getting four steals in the first 3 minutes. The Spurs ended up committing a postseason-worst 21 turnovers and scoring their least points all season.

San Antonio had been averaging 109.4 points during its month-and-a-half winning streak and had been held to double digits only twice.

"We just played a good basketball game," Thunder coach Scott Brooks said. "We played with a lot of force, we played with good energy but we played defensive-minded basketball.

"That's who we are. That's how we win."

Tony Parker and Stephen Jackson led the Spurs with 16 points apiece. Tim Duncan had 11 points on 5-for-15 shooting, taking 11 of San Antonio's first 25 shots as the offense went through the All-Star center instead of Parker.

"It's not about Tony," Popovich said. "It's about our team, and we played much more poorly tonight than we have and I thought they played fantastic basketball in every way."

The Spurs, who already set an NBA record for the longest winning streak carried over from the regular season into the playoffs, were trying to match the league mark for most wins to start the postseason. The Lakers won 11 straight to start the 1989 and 2001 playoffs, getting swept in the NBA finals the first time and winning it all the second.

The Spurs hadn't lost since April 11 against the Lakers at home.

"We are a prideful team. It's no fun being down 0-2. It's no fun," Brooks said. "But we weren't looking at the game thinking, 'Oh my gosh, we have a chance to be down 0-3.' We were looking at the game that we have a chance to be 1-2 after this game, and I give our guys a lot of credit. They believe in each other and they always play hard for each other."

Parker and Duncan didn't play in the final 15 minutes, and Popovich pulled the plug after a series of three straight turnovers allowed the deficit to reach 23 points early in the fourth quarter.

Sefolosha had a right-handed dunk off a lob pass from Russell Westbrook, who followed with his own two-handed jam on an alley-oop pass and Sefolosha followed with a reverse layup on another turnover-fueled fast-break chance to push the lead to 86-63 with 9:48 left.

AP PhotoSan Antonio Spurs' Tony Parker (9), of France, Stephen Jackson (3) and Gary Neal (14) walk downcourt for the next play against the Oklahoma City Thunder during the first half of Game 3 in their NBA basketball Western Conference finals playoff series, Thursday, May 31, 2012, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

"You're not going to beat this team by playing one-effort basketball," Brooks said. "You're going to have to have two, three, four, even five. And they make you do that because they pass the ball so well, they spread the floor so well."

Popovich said the Thunder played harder and smarter than the Spurs.

"They did definitely play with a lot more energy, a lot more passion than us tonight," said Parker, who committed five turnovers.

The Spurs wiped out a 24-point deficit in Game 3 against the Clippers in Los Angeles in the last round, but they weren't recovering in this one.

San Antonio managed only 24 points in the paint after averaging 46 through the first two games of the series and 47.8 through the playoffs.

Oklahoma City already held a 28-8 scoring edge in the paint while taking a 54-41 halftime lead and it never got better for San Antonio, which couldn't get any closer than 11 points in the second half.

"We wanted to bounce back after two losses like that. We had to play better and we did that tonight," Sefolosha said. "We played with energy, we played with passion in front of our home crowd. They did a great job giving us a lift."

The Thunder scored the game's first eight points, feeding off Sefolosha's steals, but San Antonio recovered in time to take the lead with more than 5 minutes left in the opening period.

Oklahoma City took the lead early in the second quarter and there was no looking back.

Sefolosha set up Ibaka's two-handed dunk and hit a 3-pointer during a 13-1 run, with San Antonio's only point coming on a free throw by Ginobili after Durant was called for a technical foul while arguing a call from the bench.

Oklahoma City's lead ballooned to 15 when Kendrick Perkins grabbed Westbrook's airball and dunked it with two hands.

Notes: Duncan did have five blocks to surpass Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's NBA playoff record of 476 by one. ... Rapper Lil Wayne tweeted before the game that he planned to attend but "was denied by the team to be in their arena." Thunder spokesman Dan Mahoney said the rapper's representatives demanded front-row seats but none were available. "We'd love to have him at a game, but like anyone else, he needs a ticket," Mahoney said. ... Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin presented TNT analyst and former NBA All-Star Charles Barkley with a pair of boots, a steak and an order of lamb fries — a dish that leaves out the otherwise undesirable part of the anatomy out of its name — during the pregame show.

Highlights include Minnesota at Indians, second-round play at the Jack Nicklaus-hostedMemorial Tournament, and Gladiators at the Iowa Barnstormers.

Chuck Crow, The Plain DealerSecond baseman Jason Kipnis and the Indians host the Minnesota Twins tonight at 7:05.

Indians have a total of 506 plate appearances this season by players batting right-handed, last in the American League by a healthy margin. Other AL teams have averaged more than 1,000 plate appearances by righty hitters so far this season.

Chuck Crow, The Plain DealerMajor league veteran infielder Jose Lopez, signed by the Indians to a minor league contract during the last off-season, has given the Tribe some of its best offense from the right side of the plate.

Walleye fishing has been good to outstanding all along the Ohio shoreline of Lake Erie this week, and anglers can credit the wonderful spring weather.

View full sizeD'Arcy Egan/The Plain DealerRyan Buddie of Lakewood checks his sonar and global positioning system units after catching a walleye, checking the water depth and marking the spot so he can return to fish the productive area again.

Lake Erie walleye fishing around Cleveland is as good as it gets, with surprising numbers of trophy walleye caught from Avon Point to Wildwood State Park and beyond. Yellow perch fishing is still slow, but a few jumbo perch are being caught off East 72nd Street, Bratenahl and Euclid. Largemouth bass fishing is heating up on inland lakes, crappie are moving deeper, bluegill are on the shallow beds and catfish are biting everywhere.

View full sizeSpecial to The Plain DealerYellow perch fishing is still slow, but a few jumbo perch are being caught off East 72nd Street, Bratenahl and Euclid.

Will Greg Little finish among league leaders in dropped passes in 2012?

The Plain DealerBrowns wide receiver Greg Little.

Cleveland wide receiver Greg Little finished second in the league in dropped passes last year with 12. Little came into OTAs about 11 pounds lighter. It's not known if that will translate into catching more passes remains to be seen.

But will Little have more or less drops this coming season?

In an NBA Draft where anything can happen, there's reason to believe Michael Kidd-Gilchrist could still be there for Cleveland on June 28th.

View full sizeMarvin Fong / The Plain DealerKentucky guard Michael Kidd-Gilchrist could still be there at No. 4 for the Cavaliers.

Former Indians slugger Albert Belle returns to Northeast Ohio and reflects on his time here during his golf appearance Thursday. Watch video

Concord Township - Former Cleveland Indians slugger Albert Belle took a few moments during the team's annual charity golf outing at Quail Hollow Country Club on Thursday to reflect on his time in Cleveland, his impressions of the current team and what occupies most of his time these days in Arizona (his wife and kids).

"Maybe one of these days, I'll get back into baseball," he said, "but for now (I'm) just raising a family.''

Asked what it takes to be a good dad, he said, "Patience. A lot of patience."

A patient Albert Belle . . . we both had to smile at that.

Meanwhile, a Belle bobblehead night at Progressive Field is in the works. Stay tuned.