MLB: Bay assured of roster spot
Jason Bay was assured a spot on the Mariners’ opening-day roster when outfielder Casper Wells was designated for assignment yesterday. Bay, 34, will compete for playing time off the bench with veteran Raul Ibanez.
The Royals have added former AL MVP Miguel Tejada to their opening day roster and placed left-hander Danny Duffy on the 15-day disabled list. The six-time All-Star last played in the major leagues in 2011 with the Giants.
The Rays placed designated hitter Luke Scott on the 15-day disabled list with a strained right calf and designated catchers Stephen Vogt and Robinson Chirinos for assignment. The Rays also purchased the minor league contract of former Yankee Shelley Duncan.
COLLEGE HOOPS: Harrow leaving Kentucky
Kentucky coach John Calipari said sophomore point guard Ryan Harrow is transferring to Georgia State. Harrow averaged 9.3 points per game as a freshman at North Carolina State in the 2010-11 season before transferring to Kentucky. He sat out the Wildcats’ 2011-12 national championship season. Harrow averaged 9.9 points in 29 games, including 24 starts, for Kentucky this season.
HOCKEY: Saint Cloud State joins Frozen Four
Joey Benik and Cory Thorson each scored twice and Saint Cloud State earned its first-ever Frozen Four berth with a 4-1 win over Miami (Ohio) in the Midwest Regional title game. The Huskies (25-15-1) from Minnesota, the No. 4 seed in the region, will be in Pittsburgh April 11 to face Quinnipiac, a 5-1 winner over Union (N.Y.) in the Providence Regional final. Matthew Peca recorded the fastest hat trick in NCAA tournament history, scoring three goals in a 3:12 span of the first period for Quinnipiac (29-7-5). Massachusetts Lowell and Yale will meet in the other national semifinal.
ETC.: Bolt bolts to victory in Brazil
Usain Bolt opened his season with a 150-meter win on a track set up at Copacabana beach in Rio de Janeiro. The Jamaican star cruised to victory in 14.42 seconds, falling short of the world-best mark of 14.35 he set on the streets of Manchester in 2009.
Lionel Messi scored in a 19th successive league match as Barcelona maintained a 13-point lead in La Liga despite being held to a 2-2 draw by Celta Vigo.