The Wildcats advance to play Louisville at 7 a.m. Tucson time Saturday.

The record-breaking blast came from Stacie Chambers in the third inning. That was the 127th home run of the season for UA, breaking the record held by Arizona’s 2001 team.

“I do not think they give a national championship on home runs,” said UA coach Mike Candrea in a news release. “It is games that you have to win.”

Sarah Akamine (20-6) was the winning pitcher for the Wildcats. She pitched the first three innings and then re-entered in the seventh, allowing a run and four hits in four innings. She struck out three and walked one.

The Wildcats (42-14) had 12 hits, scoring four times in the second and three times in the third.

Senior Jill Malina started in right field in place of freshman Karissa Buchanan, who did not play because of a violation of team rules.

Host Louisville advanced with a 4-1 win over Purdue.

High school sports

At Tempe Diablo Stadium, the Canyon del Oro boys baseball team beat Phoenix Sandra Day O’Connor 6-5 on Friday to advance to Saturday’s Class 4A Division I state championship.

It is CDO’s 10th trip to a state title game. The Dorados have won six, most recently in 2002 with an 8-6 win over Tucson High.

• Tanque Verde will play Bagdad in the finals of the 1A state tournament at Surprise Stadium at 3 p.m. Saturday.

The Hawks defeated Phoenix Valley Lutheran 2-1 on Friday to advance.

VOLLEYBALL: No. 1-seeded Sahuaro advanced to the finals of the 4A/5A Division II finals after beating No. 5 Ironwood Ridge on Friday.

The Cougars won in three games 25-16, 25-15, 25-14 and will play either No. 2 Rincon/University or No. 3 Catalina at Mountain View High School at 1 p.m. Saturday.

GEOFF GRAMMER

and RAYMOND SUAREZ

Braves top D’backs

ATLANTA – Yunel Escobar hit a sacrifice fly with the bases loaded in the bottom of ninth, giving the Atlanta Braves a 4-3 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks on Friday night after blowing a lead in the top of the inning.

With one out in the ninth, Jordan Schafer hit a single to right off Tony Pena (3-1). Pinch-hitter Kelly Johnson walked and Omar Infante singled to center. Schafer, who hesitated between second and third to see if center fielder Chris Young would catch the ball, had to hold at third.

The Associated Press

Tisdale dies at 44

Wayman Tisdale, a three-time All-American at Oklahoma who played 12 seasons in the NBA and later became a top jazz musician, died after a two-year battle with cancer. He was 44.

Tisdale died Friday morning at St. John Medical Center in Tulsa, hospital spokeswoman Joy McGill said.

After three years at Oklahoma, Tisdale played in the NBA with the Indiana Pacers, Sacramento Kings and Phoenix Suns.

The 6-foot-9 forward, with a soft left-handed touch on the court and a wide smile off it, averaged 15.3 points for his career. He was on the U.S. team that won the gold medal in the 1984 Olympics.

The Associated Press

Manny apologizes to team

MIAMI – An “anxious” Manny Ramirez apologized to his Los Angeles Dodgers teammates Friday, the first time he was around the club since being suspended for 50 games for using a banned substance.

Ramirez used the words “I’m sorry,” said Dodgers manager Joe Torre, although many players said the apology wasn’t necessary.

“It was uncomfortable. I’ll give you that,” Torre said. “We spent some time together before we went into the meeting room and he was a little anxious. That’s the human side of this thing.

“He basically went around, shook everybody’s hand. I think guys were happy to see him. I think there was a little uneasiness on both sides.”

The brief meeting took place in a conference room at the team’s waterfront hotel in South Florida before the Dodgers arrived at the Marlins’ stadium to start a three-game series.

The Associated Press

Phelps wins in return

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Michael Phelps still remembers how to win.

The most decorated Olympian ever won two events Friday night in his first meet since Beijing, showing he’s moved on from the embarrassment of being photographed using a marijuana pipe and serving a three-month suspension.

Phelps touched first in the 200-meter freestyle at the Charlotte UltraSwim in a time of 1 minute, 46.02 seconds. He came back less than an hour later to win the 100 butterfly in 51.72.

In both races, Phelps easily broke meet records he set three years ago, and coach Bob Bowman proclaimed him ahead of schedule as Phelps looks ahead to the world championships this summer.

The Associated Press

Preakness up for grabs

BALTIMORE – Calvin Borel has complete confidence his horse will win the Preakness, the kind of certainty expected from the Kentucky Derby-winning jockey.

Except Borel won’t be riding the Derby winner on Saturday.

He made the unprecedented decision to get off Mine That Bird and onto Rachel Alexandra, the spectacular filly who is the 8-5 early favorite for the second leg of the Triple Crown.

“It’s hard to leave a Kentucky Derby winner,” jockey Robby Albarado said. “You’re the only one with the chance of winning the Triple Crown. It’s a hard decision to make.”

Mine That Bird is the co-third choice at 6-1 with Friesan Fire, the Derby wagering favorite who staggered home next-to-last on the first Saturday in May.”

The 12 other horses are going to have to run the race of their life or me fall off or something stupid happen,” Borel said by phone Friday from Louisville, Ky., where he took a break from mowing his lawn to chat. “I just got to point her in the right direction and she’ll get me there.”

If that happens, Rachel Alexandra would become only the fifth filly to win the Preakness. Ten have tried since Nellie Morse in 1924 was the last to wear the winner’s blanket of black-eyed Susans.

The Associated Press

Favre talks to surgeon

MINNEAPOLIS – With the Minnesota Vikings eagerly waiting, Brett Favre has sought the advice of a noted surgeon about his beat-up throwing arm, according to the latest report on the quarterback’s status.

Citing an anonymous source, ESPN.com reported that Favre consulted orthopedic surgeon Dr. James Andrews about options for healing the partially torn biceps tendon that has caused pain in his right shoulder. Andrews is one of the most consulted surgeons in pro sports.

Favre declared his retirement for the second time in February because of the injury, which he blamed for his poor performance in December while the New York Jets missed the playoffs.

The Associated Press

The Citizen staff called area political, business and cultural leaders for their reaction to Friday’s announcement that the Citizen will cease printing a paper. Their comments follow:

“Well, it’s too bad it had to be you guys. I honestly have always thought the evening paper here was far superior to the morning paper.”

Bob McMahon

owner, Metro Restaurants

“It’s a sad day for our region. We’re losing an institution that was a watchdog of our local governments. We’re losing competition between newspapers that led to more aggressive reporting and better information. We’re losing a part of our history and our collective memory. The Citizen and all of Pima County deserved much better from Gannett.”

Ann Day

Pima County supervisor

“The Tucson Citizen is the oldest newspaper in Arizona. It’s a large loss for future readers and for us who have depended on the Citizen every day of our lives.”

Gabrielle Giffords

U.S. congresswoman

“That’s a dark day in Tucson’s history. The Citizen always gave balanced coverage. That has always been very healthy for Tucson. You lose a second voice, a second opinion. Two voices are better than one as far as I’m concerned.”

Jack Camper

executive director, Tucson Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce

“The presence of two daily newspapers in a city guarantees there will be accurate and objective news reporting. . . . The loss of the Citizen puts the responsibility on the Daily Star to do the task well. ”

Glenn Lyons

Downtown Tucson Partnership

“I just think it’s a real blow to the community, a real loss. I think it will diminish the level of balance and independent journalism that we need to keep the community informed.

“I think the Citizen has always done a good job of digging for the facts and making important information accessible. The quality of the local news reporting at the Citizen has always stood out. It’s a real loss.”

Karin Uhlich

City Councilwoman

As a small nonprofit theatre business owner it was writers like you, Rogelio (Olivas), and Chuck Graham that made a tremendous difference to our organization. The Citizen gave all live theatres in town an equal footing. The Citizen was willing to listen to a small organization in the Tucson arts community by covering or critiquing their next production. I for one, as an executive director of a 25-year-old community theatre, whose members worked thousands of hours to bring theatre to Tucson, will miss the Citizen for its support.

Priscilla Marquez

former executive director of Catalina Players

“Even when I was a reporter and anchor, one of the things I always told students was you don’t get all your news from television. I’m truly going to miss the Citizen. I always looked to the Citizen for clear, straightforward reporting of what was happening downtown.”

Nina Trasoff

city councilwoman

“As a Tucsonan, elected official and a proponent of citizen engagement, I am deeply saddened by the closing of our state’s oldest newspaper and will have the working families impacted by the shutdown in my thoughts during these though economic times.”

Rodney Glassman

city councilman

“Anytime you lose an institution in the media like a newspaper that’s been publishing more than 100 years is sad. There’s bound to be a void in the coverage. I understand the feeling of abandonment of employees, but also in the community, not getting information.”

Richard Elías

Board of Supervisors chairman

“The more media outlooks citizens have the better,” Romero said. “It’s really important that we have different perspectives from different newspapers.”

Regina Romero

Tucson councilwoman

Referring to the Web site, which will offer only opinion pieces: “That’s great. I’ll make sure I pay attention to that.”

“More and more people are getting their news online these days.”

Ray Carroll

Pima County supervisor

The team of Brittany Delker (Desert View High), Danielle Higgins (Benson), Cherise Price (Catalina) and Leandra Treusch (Catalina Foothills) already had qualified for the national junior college championships May 21-23 in Hutchinson, Kan.

Monica Honyumptewa (Hopi) won the 10,000 meters in 44:59.47, while Priscilla Urquides (Tucson High) took second in the 400 hurdles (1:08.16). Both qualified for the nationals meet.

On the men’s side, Jeremiah Korn (Sahuaro) earned a regional title in the men’s hammer throw of 151-7 and a spot in nationals.

Korn qualified for the national meet earlier this season in the shot put.

Matt Lundstrom (Mountain View) took second in the 10,000 meters (33:25.48) to also qualify for nationals.

Both Pima squads were in third place going into Thursday’s final day of Region I competition.

Howard Stewart of AGM Container Controls in a room full of wheelchair lifts.

AGM Container Controls Inc. was named the Small Business of the Year for 2009 by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

The award, presented Tuesday, honors the Tucson-based manufacturer for being a leader in the community, demonstrating intelligent business judgment, and showing a true commitment to its employees and customers.

“There is no secret to AGM Container Controls’ success,” Thomas J. Donohue, U.S. Chamber president and chief executive, said in a release. “They continue to provide quality products and first class service. AGM encompasses the attributes that any company needs to succeed in a tough economy – business judgment, customer service, and a commitment to their employees.”

AGM produces items used to protect missiles in transit or storage, and its Ascension division produces vertical and portable wheelchair lifts.

“We are highly diversified for a small company,” CEO Howard Stewart said in a 2007 interview with Tucson Business Edge. “It is hard to be good across a wide spectrum, but we do it much better than our competitors can or would.

“We are constantly asking ourselves how we can achieve more,” Stewart said.

In 1970, his father was given the opportunity to buy part of what was Arizona Gear Manufacturing. Howard Stewart became president of the family-owned business in 2000.

The business is 34 percent employee-owned, and AGM has serious roots in the community.

“To move would tear the social fabric of this business,” Stewart said. “There is a social contract between myself and my employee-owners and it would be selfish to move. It just wouldn’t make much sense.”

U.S. Chamber of Commerce Small Business of the Year Award presented to AGM Container Controls President Howard Stewart (center) by U.S. Chamber Chairman Don Shepard (right) and Sam's Club CEO Brian Cornell.

Dozens of local companies will be on hand from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. to meet with prospective employees. Register online and find more information on the companies at jobing.com.

Parking at the TCC, 260 S. Church Ave., costs $4 to $5.

Postal Service letter carriers in southern Arizona will collect the donated food and deliver it to the Community Food Bank, 3003 S. Country Club Road.

“The letter carriers’ food drive is especially important this year as the number of local families seeking our assistnce is increasing every month,” said Bill Carnegie, the food bank’s president and CEO.

Food should be in non-breakable containers and should be put out before your regular mail delivery.

Last year, the food drive collected more than 334,000 pounds of food in southern Arizona.

The Pima Association of Governments will accept public comments on $1.5 million in regional improvements scheduled to start construction or design in the next five years.

The improvements are part of the federally mandated Transportation Improvement Program, or TIP.

The plan is scheduled to be presented for final PAG approval at its meeting on May 28.

The draft TIP document and comment sheets are available for public comment at PAGnet.org or at the following locations:

• PAG offices, 177 N. Church Ave., Suite 405

• Tucson, South Tucson, Marana, Oro Valley, Sahuarita city engineers’ offices

• Pima County Department of Transportation, 201 N. Stone Ave., seventh floor

• Pascua Yaqui and Tohono O’odham tribal offices

• All branches of the Pima County library system

For more information, call 792-1093.

The public is invited to a release party at 6 p.m. at the Cellar Bistro, on the underground level of the Student Union Memorial Center at the University of Arizona.

The 12-page journal contains essays, interviews and articles from UA students and Tucson residents, according to a news release from the Native American Journalists Association.

The journal was founded by Candace Begody, a UA journalism senior and former Tucson Citizen intern.

The free event, from 9 a.m. to noon, includes talks on the history of the Miracle Mile and Oracle Road gateways to Tucson, tours of historic motor courts designed for automobile travelers, classic cars and motorcycles, music, entertainment and refreshments from area restaurants.

Two shuttle buses will run loops through the tour area.

Headquarters for the event, hosted by the Oracle Area Revitalization Plan Citizen Steering Committee and the Gateway Business Alliance, is College Place, 1601 N. Oracle Road. For more information, call Rebecca Ruopp, Tucson Department of Urban Planning and Design, at 837-6973.

The accidental fire at the rear of the home caused $20,000 of damage, said Tucson fire Capt. Tricia Tracy.

Numerous 911 calls came in about 10:30 reporting smoke and flames from a duplex in the 3000 block of North Sycamore Boulevard, near North Alvernon Way and East Fort Lowell Road.

Firefighters found the man dead inside.

A woman residing there was not injured.

Two dogs and one cat were rescued by firefighters. A frightened Dalmatian bit a police officer and a firefighter.

Tracy said the woman and the pets will stay with family members.