Sahuaro multisport star Rodney Peete.

Southern Arizona has produced a plethora of talented high school athletes through the years, some who went on to professional and Olympic careers. This list is the best of the best based on their dominance during their high school years.

BOYS

All-around

• Fred Enke, Tucson High, 1940s: Multitalented athlete was the brightest star of the Badgers’ glory years, starring in football, basketball and baseball and leading the Badgers to eight state team titles.

• Joe Batiste, Tucson High, 1930s: Track legend and football star set a hurdles record that stood for years.

• Michael Bates, Amphi, 1980s: Nationally ranked hurdler and sprinter and a Parade magazine All-American in football.

• Rodney Peete, Sahuaro, 1980s: Record-setting quarterback after being all-star wide receiver, point guard on state title basketball team, pitched and won state title game in baseball as sophomore.

• Dannie Jackson, Santa Rita, 1970s: Future world-class decathlete excelled in football, basketball and track for the Eagles.

Baseball

• Sam Khalifa, Sahuaro, 1980s: Picked No. 7 overall by the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1982, he is the highest local prep selection in the draft.

Basketball

• (tie) Sean Elliott, Cholla, 1980s: Two-time All-State pick averaged 24.8 points per game in his career.

• (tie) Lafayette Lever, Pueblo, 1970s: Two-time All-State pick led team to two state titles.

Cross country

• Kyle Cormier, Douglas, 2000s: Cormier won six state championships in cross country and distance events in track and won the 2004 Foot Locker National and West Regional championships before an All-American career running at the University of Arkansas.

Football

• Rodney Peete, Sahuaro, 1980s: Future Heisman Trophy runner-up was a record-setting quarterback as a junior, all-city receiver as a sophomore.

Golf

• Willie Wood, Sabino, 1970s: Future PGA Tour player competed here only briefly but dominated the local scene.

Soccer

• Luis Robles, Sierra Vista Buena, 1990s-2000s: Robles, who spurned the MLS after being drafted by D.C. United to play professionally for Germany’s FC Kaiserslauter, was Arizona’s Gatorade Player of the Year as a junior, a high school All-American and a member of the U.S. under-18 national team while at Buena.

Swimming

• Doug Northway, Sahuaro, 1970s: Won a bronze medal in the 1972 Olympics while still in high school.

Tennis

• Bill Lenoir, Tucson High, 1950s: First Tucsonan to win a national junior title. Arthur Ashe and Stan Smith were among his victims.

Track and field

• (tie) Joe Batiste, Tucson High, 1930s: Set a national hurdles record that stood for more than 40 years.

• (tie) Michael Bates, Amphi, 1980s: Top hurdler, sprinter and football star.

Wrestling

• Eric Larkin, Sunnyside, 1990s: In the galaxy of Blue Devils stars, this three-time state champ is the only one named national high school wrestler of the year.

Boys Volleyball

> Joe Kay, Tucson High, 2000s: Kay earned a volleyball scholarship to Stanford, but he suffered a stroke after being trampled by fans storming the court after a basketball game his senior year. He recovered enough to attend Stanford, although he could no longer participate in athletics.

GIRLS

All-around

• Stacy Engel, Catalina 1980s: First girl to play boys varsity baseball here as well as being a softball, track & field and volleyball standout.

• Julie Reitan, Sahuaro, 1990s: Softball all-star, state long jump champ, cross country standout.

• Tara Erdmann, Flowing Wells, 2000s: Seven time state champion in track, cross country and soccer, including pulling off the track trifecta as a senior winning 5A-II state titles in the 3,200, 1,600 and 800 meters.

Basketball

• (tie) Paula Pyers, Santa Rita, 1980s: Led unbeaten Eagles to state title in 1984 before moving on to play at the University of Southern California.

• (tie) Sybil Dosty, Salpointe Catholic, 2000s: Dosty averaged 27 points and more than 11 rebounds per game during a four-year varsity career that included multiple All-America team selections.

Cross country

• Virginia Pedersoli, Amphi, 1990s: Won three straight Class 5A state titles.

Golf

• Cindy Flom, Sahuaro, 1970s: Future LPGA star played on boys varsity team.

Soccer

• Kelly Walbert, Salpointe Catholic, 1990s: City’s first major star, went on to play at Duke.

Softball

• Kenzie Fowler, Canyon del Oro, 2000s: The 2008 Gatorade National Player of the Year and former Junior Olympian is already a three-time All-American entering her senior season in 2009. As one of the country’s best-ever high school pitchers, the fact she was also one of the state’s best hitters often gets overlooked. Including a streak of four-straight no hitters and two perfect games, Fowler closed out her senior season by leading the Dorados to their fourth-straight state championship game.

Swimming

• Caitlin Leverenz, Sahuaro, 2000s: State record holder in multiple events. Missed qualifying for 2008 U.S. Olympic team by a fraction of a second after a junior year that including winning gold medals at multiple international events.

Tennis

• (tie) Kendra Strohm, Salpointe Catholic, 1990s-2000s: Lost one set in four-year career in which she became Arizona’s first girl to win four-consecutive singles state championships.

• (tie) Kirsten and Tristany Leikem, Flowing Wells, 2000s: Twin terrors became state’s first-ever four-time state doubles champions from 2005-2008.

Track and field

• Carolyn Jackson, Salpointe Catholic, 1990s: Showed tremendous range in the sprints from the 100 to the 400.

Girls Volleyball

• Bre Ladd, Canyon del Oro, 1990s-2000s: The 2001 Gatorade National Player of the Year was also a member of U.S. Junior National team. Selected by Volleyball Magazine as the No. 1 recruit in the nation for class of 2002.

COACHES

Great coaching goes well beyond wins and losses, but trying to list all the Tucson-area coaches who have touched the lives of area youths through the years would be a futile effort. Albeit not all-inclusive, here are some of the area’s most successful coaches through the years:

(* active)

• Sue Clark, Tucson High, girls tennis: From 1959 to 1972, Clark’s teams set a national record, going 213-0 in dual matches, and won 10 state titles.

• Bobby DeBerry, Sunnyside, wrestling: From 1996 to this past winter, DeBerry oversaw 13 state wrestling championship teams, including the past 12 straight.

• Bud Doolen, Tucson High, basketball: Won four 5A boys basketball championships between 1943 and 1949 and was runner up in 1940.

• Mike Dyer, Marana, girls basketball: Dyer not only won four state titles at Marana in the 1980s, he initiating a federal lawsuit against the Arizona Interscholastic Association to have the girls basketball season moved from the spring to winter, helping, among other things, spring softball blossom in southern Arizona.

• Hal Eustice, Sahuaro, baseball: Eustice brought three state titles and two runner-up trophies back to Sahuaro in the 1970s and ’80s and also won a baseball championship at San Manuel in 1963.

• Vern Friedli, Amphi, football: Still going strong, Friedli is Arizona’s all-time wins leader with 309 career coaching victories.

• Rollin T. Gridley, Tucson High, football: From 1935-47, Gridley won five state football championships and posted an 88-29-8 record.

• Mary Hines, Catalina, girls volleyball: Her 215-27 career record in 28 years at Catalina, including her 1985 national coach of the year award, are just part of the story. Her coaching tree of former players and assistants branched out across Tucson.

• Juanita Kingston, Rincon/University, volleyball: Her 34-year coaching career, which included an undefeated girls volleyball state championship season at Rincon in 1993, included coaching boys and girls volleyball, softball, basketball and track.

• Don Klostreich, Sunnyside, wrestling: From 1979-88, Klostreich’s Blue Devils squads won nine of 10 state titles, laying the foundation of the state’s greatest wrestling dynasty.

• Roland LaVetter, Pueblo, boys basketball: Coached Pueblo’s great state championship teams in 1977 and 1978 as well as having several coaching disciples move on to coaching success.

• Jeff Lockwood, Sahuaro, cross country: Under Lockwood’s guidance, Sahuaro won four girls and one boys state title between 1980 and 1990.

• Dick McConnell, Sahuaro, boys basketball: Retired in 2007 as Arizona’s winningest boys basketball coach with 714 career victories, 670 of which came at Sahuaro.

• Richard Sanchez, Sunnyside, wrestling/football: Sanchez won five straight state wrestling titles from 1990-94 and has built Sunnyside football into one of Tucson’s best since 1993, winning two titles. He currently has a 10-year streak of at least one playoff win, unmatched by any area coach or program.

• Jeff Scurran, CDO/Sabino/Santa Rita, football: Built Sabino into a decade-long dynasty with three state championships in the 1990s. Upon his return to high school football in 2007, Santa Rita went from 0-11 in 2006 to 23-4 in two seasons with semifinal and championship game appearances.

• Hank Slagle, Tucson High, baseball: Won 10 of Tucson High’s national-record 29 state baseball championships and coached the Badgers to two more title games between 1942 and 1954. Tucson High’s 52-game win streak spanning the 1942-46 seasons still stands as Arizona’s longest.

• Andy Tolson, Tucson High, baseball: Won six of Tucson High’s national-record 29 state baseball championships and coached the Badgers to four more title games between 1930 and 1941.

• “Doc” Van Horne, Tucson High, boys track & field: Van Horne was head coach for 13 state championships form 1927-1953.

• Wolfgang Weber, Salpointe Catholic, boys soccer: The dean of boys soccer in Tucson, Weber is approaching the unprecedented 500 career wins plateau in Arizona, has four state championships, three runner-up finishes and was also one of the founders of the successful Tucson Soccer Academy.

Tucson High star Joe Batiste.

Salpointe girls basketball player Sybil Dosty.

By Geoff Grammer, Michael Schmelzle

Former Arizona Wildcat Annika Sorenstam shot a 2-over-par 74 during the first round of the ADT Championship on Thursday.

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – Annika Sorenstam arrived at the first tee, shook a few hands and got a kiss on the cheek from Donald Trump on Thursday.

Then the former University of Arizona star turned to the gallery and waved.

On Friday, unless she moves a bit up the leader board, she’ll be waving goodbye.

Sorenstam shot a 2-over par 74 in the opening round of the ADT Championship, good for a tie for 23rd in the 32-woman event, her final LPGA Tour appearance before “stepping away” from competitive golf. The field gets trimmed to 16 after Friday’s play, meaning she has some work left just to reach the weekend.

Otherwise, her LPGA Tour career will come to an unceremonious end.

“I was a little nervous. I feel like I’m playing good. I’m excited about the week,” Sorenstam said. “But I’m telling you, nothing went my way today.”

She is six strokes behind leader Katherine Hull (68), who finished one shot better than Ji-Yai Shin and In-Kyung Kim.

Oddly, little attention was paid to the top of the leader board. Most of the star power was off the first page. World No. 1 Lorena Ochoa, a former UA player and the defending champ, was 6 over in one rough eight-hole stretch and is tied for 26th after a 75.

Hayes DQ’s himself

The moment J.P. Hayes looked down at the ball on the floor in his hotel room, he knew there were only two options.

Keep his mouth shut that it was a prototype not approved for Tour play and his chances of playing full time on the PGA Tour next season would stay alive. Or pick up the phone and disqualify himself. He did the latter.

Ten days later, the only thing that seems remarkable to Hayes about that decision is the stir it created. He said he was only doing what any golfer would, although in Hayes’ case, totaling up the cost probably will require six figures.

“It’s blown me away,” Hayes said Thursday about the reaction. “I certainly don’t want to be made out as a hero. I’m just a player that did the right thing. If it’s served to remind people what a good game we’ve got, that’s great. But I’ve moved on.”

Hayes was on the tee at the par-3 12th hole in the first round of the PGA Tour’s qualifying tournament when his caddie flipped him the fateful golf ball.

He missed the green, chipped on, marked his ball and then realized it wasn’t the one he’d started the day with. Hayes called over an official and took a two-shot penalty, then went back to playing his original ball on the next tee and finished the round with a 74. He shot 71 the next day, leaving him with a chance of moving on to final stage of Q-School, from where the top 25 finishers and ties graduate to exempt status on the PGA Tour for 2009.

“We don’t have refs on the course, so we have to call penalties on ourselves. I’ve done it before, dozens of guys have,” Hayes said.

Daly trails by 4 shots

HONG KONG – John Daly put himself within four strokes of leaders Liang Wenchong of China and South African Richard Sterne, who both shot a 6-under 64 in the first round of the $2.5 million Hong Kong Open.

Mussina

NEW YORK – Mike Mussina took a secret to the ballpark every day this year. Maybe that’s why he was so successful on the mound, so jovial in the clubhouse.

In spring training, he knew this was his final year – even if it meant giving up bids for 300 wins, a World Series ring and a better shot at the Hall of Fame.

The Yankees pitcher walked away from baseball Thursday after his only 20-win season, a month shy of his 40th birthday with a still-potent right arm.

“I don’t have any regrets with what I decided. This is the right time,” Mussina said.

Mussina finished 270-153 with a 3.68 ERA in 18 seasons with Baltimore and New York. A thinking man’s pitcher who relied on sharp control and did more than overpower hitters, he ranks 32nd on the career wins list and 19th in strikeouts with 2,813.

His dad and brother tried to talk him out of retirement and Yankees general manager Brian Cashman called. Instead, “Moose” became the first healthy pitcher to leave on his own accord following a 20-win season in more than a century.

Sandy Koufax left the Dodgers after 1966 because of agonizing elbow pain, Eddie Cicotte and Lefty Williams got tossed in the Black Sox scandal. Henry Schmidt won 22 for Brooklyn in 1903 as a rookie but decided to go back to the Pacific Coast League.

New Steinbrenner at helm

NEW YORK – For more than three decades, George Steinbrenner’s imprints were all over the New York Yankees.

Blockbuster trades, pricey signings, hirings, firings – they all needed his OK. No more.

The omnipresent owner’s colorful 35-year reign of pronouncements, threats and bluster ended Thursday when he passed control of baseball’s most famous and successful franchise to his youngest son, Hal.

“I realize it’s a great responsibility,” said Hal Steinbrenner, who turns 40 on Dec. 3. “My dad is, needless to say, a tough act to follow.”

The elder Steinbrenner, 78, has withdrawn from the Yankees’ day-to-day operations in recent years as his health faded, and brothers Hal and Hank were appointed co-chairmen in April.

• Hal Steinbrenner said pitcher CC Sabathia will have a deadline to accept the Yankees’ contract proposal. “We’ve made him an offer. It’s not going to be there forever,” he said.

New York offered a six-year contract to the pitcher last Friday. The deal exceeds Johan Santana’s $137.5 million, six-year contract with the New York Mets both in total and average.

Postseason rainouts nixed

NEW YORK – There has never been a rain-shortened baseball game in the postseason, and now there never will be.

Commissioner Bud Selig announced the sport will enact a rules change stating that postseason games cannot be shortened because of bad weather.

“All postseason games, All-Star games and that, will be full-length affairs, and the rule will be so written,” Selig said Thursday following an owners’ meeting.

Selig said the change also will apply to tiebreaker games that decide division titles and wild-card berths.

Under baseball’s rules, games are official as soon as the trailing team has made 15 outs.

During World Series Game 5 between Tampa Bay and Philadelphia last month, Selig decided that it wouldn’t be cut short because of pouring rain. Just after the Rays tied it in the top of the sixth, umpires halted play and the game was suspended for 46 hours. Selig said that if the Phillies still led 2-1 when play was stopped, the game would have gone into a rain delay until it could resume – even if that took several days.

Around the league

• Three-time All-Star Chase Utley, who anchored the middle of the lineup for the World Series champion Phillies, will have surgery to repair cartilage damage in his right hip and may not be ready for the 2009 season.

• The Diamondbacks have added an infielder and five pitchers to their 40-man roster. Arizona added the contracts of infielder Pedro Ciriaco; right-handed pitchers Jose Marte, Kyler Newby and Cesar Valdez; and left-handed pitchers Leyson Septimo and Clay Zavada. With the additions, Arizona has 39 players on its 40-man roster.

• Looking to fill one of their most pressing offseason needs, the St. Louis Cardinals were close to a contract deal with left-handed reliever Trever Miller, who was 2-0 with a 4.50 ERA with Tampa Bay last season.

• The Phillies and Texas Rangers swapped former first-round picks Thursday. Texas acquired outfielder Greg Golson from the Phillies for outfielder John Mayberry.

Former NASCAR star says format lacks excitement

Jimmie Johnson does a victory lap after winning the Chevy Rock & Roll 400 NASCAR Sprint Cup race in Richmond, Va., last month. Johnson is in position to become one of three drivers to win three straight Cup titles.

Darrell Waltrip is no fan of NASCAR’s Chase for the Sprint Cup championship format.

“I don’t think it’s fair at all,” the three-time Cup champion said in a telephone interview. “I know why they do it. They’re trying to create some excitement to finish the year off with, something that can keep fans entertained when football season starts. But I don’t think that it’s fair.”

Waltrip, now an analyst for Fox, said the problems he sees are that the 10-race Chase is too long and that the 12 drivers who qualify for the stock car postseason should have a separate points system to make things more interesting.

“Once we get in the 10-race Chase, they use the same points system that they used to get to that point,” Waltrip said. “And we know for a fact that in three, four races you have several guys who were already eliminated. They need their own point system.

“I would shorten the Chase up. It’s just too long and lets somebody get too far ahead. I would shorten it up and make it a little more intense and change the points structure so that you’re never out of it and you’ve got to be on your toes all the way to the last race.”

If Waltrip was in charge of NASCAR, how long would the Chase be?

“I think it should be five (races),” he said. “I love to watch NCAA basketball. Tournament time. One bad game, buddy, you’re done, go home. If you’re going to have it and you’re going to insist on doing it that way, I would make it as intense and as exciting and as nail-biting as I possibly could. And, unless I’m missing something, I don’t see it.”

Waltrip, who got the nickname “Jaws” for his outspoken ways during his driving career, said he doesn’t believe many NASCAR fans are really into the Chase format.

“The Chase is only exciting to those of us that cover it,” he said. “I don’t hear (the fans) talking about it. There’s no excitement. Once you run Richmond, once you know who’s in (the Chase), it’s back to business as usual. There’s nothing exciting about that.”

Heading into Sunday’s race at Martinsville, Jimmie Johnson appears well on the way to joining Waltrip and Cale Yarborough as the only drivers to win three straight Cup titles.

TEMPE – Arizona State senior forward Jeff Pendergraph leaves 10 minutes early for class every day.

The reason? He needs to allow time for the students and faculty members who want to slap him on the back and tell him how much they’re looking forward to the upcoming season.

This is a change from Pendergraph’s freshman year, when basketball players enjoyed a certain degree of anonymity on this sun-splashed campus.

“Walking around campus is definitely more of an experience than it was before,” Pendergraph said at the team’s annual media day on Thursday at Wells Fargo Arena.

“People want to tell me how excited they are about the upcoming season, and how happy they are that me and James (Harden) stayed, and they can’t wait and they bought season tickets, and they’re ready for basketball to start now, and how is the team looking . . . ”

With Harden and Pendergraph returning, the Sun Devils are popping up in preseason rankings. (The Associated Press preseason Top 25 has not been released.)

The rankings won’t mean much when the Sun Devils open the season on Nov. 14 against Mississippi Valley State – an NCAA Tournament team last spring, unlike ASU. But they are a sign of growing respect for the program in coach Herb Sendek’s third year.

The team went 21-13 last season.

Nadal, Federer win

MADRID, Spain – Former champions Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer powered into the Madrid Masters quarterfinals while title hopeful Novak Djokovic bowed out to Ivo Karlovic 7-6 (4), 7-6 (5) Thursday.

Top-ranked Nadal moved closer to clinching the season-ending No. 1 ranking by beating Richard Gasquet 6-4, 6-2.

Second-ranked Federer eased past Australian Open finalist Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 6-4, 6-1.

Three-time Olympian Abdi Abdirahman will lead a group of elite runners Saturday in the fourth annual Get Moving Tucson 10-Miler, beginning and ending downtown.

It starts at 7 a.m.

Prizes will total $3,000 as other champion runners join former University of Arizona All-American Abdirahman, who will use the race as a training run to prepare for November’s New York City Marathon.

The race is produced by the Southern Arizona Roadrunners and will benefit Carondelet Health Network’s wellness programs.

Included are Tucsonan Jason Colavito and ex-UA runner Robert Cheseret. Also expected are Vince Sherry, a former Conference USA champion; Jared Scott, a member of the 2005 University of Colorado NCAA champion cross country team; and Ian Johnson, a former Washington State University runner.

Defending women’s champion and three-time Olympic Marathon Trials participant Paula Morrison will be challenged by Trina Painter, a four-time Olympic trials qualifier and former national 20K record holder. Phoenix’s Suzy Schumacher, a 2008 Olympic Marathon Trials runner, also is expected.

The events also will include a 5K family fun run/walk. The start is at the Tucson Convention Center, with on-day registration starting at 6 a.m.

Expect some road closures and slight delays in the downtown and Fourth Avenue areas from 7:30-9:30 a.m. Saturday.

Among the affected streets are South Main, 19th Street, Second Avenue, 17th Street, South Meyer Avenue, Fourth Avenue, University Boulevard, and Alameda in the downtown area.

Fourth Avenue will be closed from NinthStreet to University Boulevard from 7:30-9:30 a.m. Course maps can be seen at www.azroadrunners.org.

BTE race beneficiary

The Tucson Marathon has announced Better Than Ever will be the official beneficiary of all 2008 marathon-day events. A portion of each race registration will be donated to the BTE research grants at the Arizona Cancer Center.

The event, including a 26.2-mile marathon and 13.1-mile half-marathon, will be Dec. 7 on a paved Oracle-to-Oro Valley course.

Parks fifth in Ironman

Christine Parks claimed the highest Tucsonan age group finish (fifth) last week in the annual Ford Ironman World Championship at Kailua Kona, Hawaii. Parks clocked 10 hours, 12 minutes, 53 seconds in the Women’s 30-34 division; six other Tucsonans finished the race: a 2.4-mile swim, 112-mile bike ride and 26.2-mile run.

Hillary Biscay, 30, finished 35th in the Women’s Pro Division 10:35:10.

Others finishing the race were Diane Dedek, 13th, Women’s 55-59, 14:08:33; Robert Matzner, 17th, Men’s 55-59, 11:24:45; Rodger Bivens, 20th, Men’s 45-49, 16:00:53; Susy Bacal, 47th, Women’s 40-44, 12:31:21; and Colleen Kelley, 58th, Women’s 40-44, 13:34:25.

Cubs center fielder Jim Edmonds can't come up with a hit by the Dodgers' Manny Ramirez during the eighth inning Thursday in the National League Division Series. The Dodgers won 10-3 to take a 2-0 series lead.

CHICAGO – Manny Ramirez and the Dodgers look ready to run the shaky Chicago Cubs out of the playoffs early and extend their championship drought to 100 years.

Ramirez hit a mammoth homer to extend his postseason record, Russell Martin had a three-run double and the Los Angeles Dodgers took advantage of four errors by the clumsy Cubs in a 10-3 victory Thursday night that gave them a 2-0 lead in the best-of-five NL division series.

“We’re going to L.A., we need one more win. We’re not there yet,” Ramirez said. “They’re the best team in the National League and anything could happen.”

But unless the Cubs can show some semblance of the team that won 97 games this season, they’re headed to another disappointing finish. Each infielder made an error during the game and the Dodgers scored four unearned runs in the second inning to jump ahead 5-0.

“It wasn’t good baseball,” frustrated manager Lou Piniella said. “It wasn’t fun to watch, I’ll tell you that.”

Chicago became the 23rd major league team to lose the first two games at home in a best-of-five playoff series, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. Only one has come back to win – the 2001 New York Yankees against Oakland.

Of course, that Yankees team was managed by Joe Torre, now in the Dodgers’ dugout.

“When you give extra outs, chances are they’re going to be capitalized on, and that’s what we were able to do,” Torre said.

The series switches to Dodger Stadium for Game 3 on Saturday night. Rich Harden will face Hiroki Kuroda, who pitched a four-hit shutout against the Cubs in Los Angeles on June 6.

“We’re going to come out and try to jump on them again at home. That would be nice,” Billingsley said.

Just a few days ago, Cubs fans were excited about the team’s chances of winning its first World Series title since 1908.

Suddenly, Chicago is on the brink of elimination. The Cubs must win two consecutive games in Los Angeles to get the series back to Wrigley.

Billingsley shut down Chicago’s slumping lineup and Ramirez’s 26th postseason home run landed on the roof of the batter’s eye club in center, at least 450 feet away. It was his second jaw-dropping shot in two nights.

Meanwhile, the four errors by Chicago tied a division series record.

“This is a tough field. You’re probably not going to see as many mistakes at Dodger Stadium because the playing surface is so good,” said Martin, who capped the second-inning rally with three-run double. “The playing surface is the same for both teams. We just didn’t make as many mistakes as them.”

Billingsley allowed five hits and a run in 6 1/2 innings against the Cubs, who haven’t played like the team with the NL’s best record or one that went 55-26 this season in its home park.

After losing 7-2 in Wednesday night’s opener when starter Ryan Dempster walked seven, they played tight, even with ace Carlos Zambrano on the mound. Chicago dropped its eighth straight playoff game overall.

The Dodgers' Manny Ramirez reacts after hitting a home run during the fifth inning Thursday.

ANAHEIM, Calif. – Justin Speier dashed through the Los Angeles Angels’ clubhouse Thursday, wearing a wet suit and toting a boogie board, with his flippers slapping against the carpet.

“Coach, is there practice today?” he yelled to manager Mike Scioscia, who couldn’t help but smile and wave his arm dismissively in the pitcher’s direction.

The rest of the Angels laughed out loud, with Speier’s monkeying around clearly having the desired effect of loosening up a team coming off its record-tying 10th consecutive playoff loss to the Boston Red Sox.

“He probably did just come from the beach, knowing Justin,” Scioscia said, pausing a beat before tossing out his own one-liner.

“I expressed to him the next pair of flippers he wears will be cement flippers.”

With their AL Division Series taking a break Thursday, the Angels had plenty of time to contemplate – or forget – their 4-1 loss in Wednesday’s opener against the same team that swept them in their last two playoff series.

“A lot of guys have to have amnesia and let that go,” said Torii Hunter, who urged his teammates to “get the dog in you.”

In Hunter’s vernacular that means “be a little more aggressive and not be too timid.”

For anyone who still didn’t get the point, Hunter compared the series to a football game.

“We’ve been hit and guys are ready to go,” he said. “We have to be more patient and make the right decisions.”

Especially Friday night against Boston ace Daisuke Matsuzaka (18-3), who was 9-0 on the road in the regular season. The right-hander with the unusual delivery is known for stretching the strike zone with his pitches.

The Angels counter with Ervin Santana (16-7), who didn’t face the Red Sox in the regular season, when Los Angeles won eight of nine matchups. He r is 1-2 with a 5.73 ERA in four career starts against them.

“He’s throwing the ball well and he’s confident,” said catcher Mike Napoli, who will be replaced by Jeff Mathis on Friday since Santana had a 14-4 record and 2.88 ERA when he and Mathis teamed during the regular season.

If the Red Sox can win Friday, they’ll go home knowing ace Josh Beckett remains on schedule to start Game 3 Sunday.

Beckett, originally set to start Game 1, injured a muscle in his side last Friday during a bullpen session. He threw a side session Thursday.

Helton has surgery

DENVER – Colorado first baseman Todd Helton had surgery on his lower back and is expected to be ready for spring training.

Helton, a career .328 hitter, batted just .264 with seven homers and 29 RBIs in 83 games this season. His balky back sent him to the disabled list for the third time in his 12-year career and first since 2006.

Mets to keep Minaya

NEW YORK – Omar Minaya is staying as general manager of the New York Mets. Jerry Manuel is likely to remain as manager. Players, however, could be on the move.

Following the Mets’ second straight September collapse, fans are angry with the team, the front office and the players.

“They all work hard. They all prepare. They all care. All those ingredients are there. So what is it that we lack? What is it that we need to get across that finish line?” Minaya said Thursday when his contract was announced.

“When we bring in personnel into New York, into this environment, are they able to handle the pressures that go with it? Those things do have to be considered.”

Brewers pitcher CC Sabathia allowed five runs and six hits and walked four in 3 2/3 innings Thursday against the Phillies in Game 2 of the NLDS.

PHILADELPHIA – With one more loss to the Phillies, CC Sabathia and the Milwaukee Brewers will have all winter to rest.

Brett Myers rankled Sabathia with a pesky at-bat and dominated the rest of the Brewers from the mound as Philadelphia beat Milwaukee 5-2 on Thursday night behind Shane Victorino’s grand slam for a 2-0 lead in their best-of-five NL playoff series.

“I don’t think starting on three days’ rest had anything to do with it,” Sabathia said. “I just didn’t make pitches when I needed to.”

Myers allowed two runs and two hits in seven innings, pulling the Phillies within one win of the NL Championship Series. Ryan Madson and J.C. Romero worked the eighth, and Brad Lidge had a suspense-free ninth for a change.

Pitching on three days’ rest for the fourth consecutive start, Sabathia had his worst outing since joining the Brewers in a trade with Cleveland on July 7.

The burly left-hander allowed five runs and six hits – all for extra bases – in 3 1/2 innings. He walked four, his second-highest total of the season.

“When you’ve got a guy like CC on the ropes you’ve got to take advantage,” Victorino said.

Now, Sabathia might have to wait six months for his next start. And, that might be in a different uniform. The 28-year-old will be one of the most sought-after free agents at the end of the season.

The Phillies are closing in on their first trip to the NLCS in 15 years. Game 3 is at 3:30 p.m. Saturday in Milwaukee, with 45-year-old Jamie Moyer (16-7) pitching for the Phillies against Dave Bush (9-10).

Sabathia was 11-2 with a 1.65 ERA in 17 starts for Milwaukee, almost single-handedly leading the wild-card Brewers to their first postseason berth since 1982.

But he struggled in the playoffs – again. He’s lost his last three postseason starts, including two against Boston in last year’s ALCS. Overall, Sabathia is 2-3 with a 7.92 ERA in the playoffs.

“I just didn’t finish at-bats, finish innings,” Sabathia said.

Myers kept the third inning going in the third by working a walk. Digging in, choking up and crouching, Myers drew cheers for fouling off a 1-2 pitch after wildly missing the first two pitches.

Myers, who batted .059 (4 for 58) this season with four walks, made Sabathia throw 10 pitches his second time up. During the at-bat, a fan reached over the railing down the right-field line and caught a foul ball with his cap. The guy got a standing ovation. So did Myers after he flied out.

The Rays' Evan Longoria is congratulated by Cliff Floyd (15) after hitting his second home run Thursday against the White Sox.

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – Cool and calm, or so it seemed.

Evan Longoria and the Tampa Bay Rays appeared perfectly at home in the playoffs with a Game 1 victory over the Chicago White Sox. The rookie said looks can be deceiving, though.

“I was nervous,” he said. “I think if you’re not nervous in this situation, you’re really not soaking in the moment.”

The All-Star third baseman homered in his first two at-bats and the surprising AL East champions were a big hit in their postseason debut, beating the White Sox 6-4 Thursday in their AL playoff opener.

“He’s always got this way about him. He’s not going to be overwhelmed by the situation. And that speaks beyond his skill level,” manager Joe Maddon said. “Obviously, his skills are very good . . . and he likes these moments in a non-cocky way. He’s just very confident.”

After 10 seasons as baseball’s doormat, the Rays took AL East division with the best home record (57-24) in the majors. A lack of postseason experience was not a factor as they kept winning at Tropicana Field behind James Shields’ effective start and Grant Balfour’s testy, bases-loaded escape.

“It feels like you’re in a dream,” said Carl Crawford, who at 27 is the longest-tenured player in team history. “I’m just glad we got this first win out of the way. It was real special.”

Tampa Bay ranked near the bottom of the attendance charts this year, but The Trop rocked on this day with a sellout crowd of 35,041. Rays season-ticket holder Dick Vitale joined in the fun, waving a “We Love Longoria” placard from his first-row seat next to the visitor’s dugout.

Game 2 is at 3 p.m. Friday, when Tampa Bay’s Scott Kazmir (12-8) faces Mark Buehrle (15-12).

“We want to win both of them now. We have such an advantage at home,” Longoria said.

Chicago beat Minnesota in the AL Central tiebreaker Tuesday, and took a 3-1 lead on Dewayne Wise’s three-run homer in the third inning. But Chicago starting pitcher Javier Vazquez, who has a history of flopping in big games, could not hold it.

Longoria became the second player to homer in his first two postseason at-bats, joining one of his former minor league hitting coaches, Gary Gaetti, who did it with Minnesota in 1987.

Cardinals receiver Steve Breaston (15), tackled by 49ers safety Michael Lewis, has four catches in three games.

VIENNA, Va. – Steve Breaston and Jerheme Urban know their chances are coming, they just don’t know when or how often.

Such is the life of the third and fourth receivers playing behind one of the better duos in the NFL.

So far, the Cardinals haven’t called upon Breaston or Urban much to supplement the production provided by Anquan Boldin and Larry Fitzgerald. Breaston, the third receiver, has four catches in three games, while Urban has more pass completions (one) than receptions (zero).

“I think we’re working through that process,” quarterback Kurt Warner said. “The thing you have to realize is those two guys just haven’t played much at this level. I didn’t realize they only had four catches, and I think we’re going to have to get more catches out of them as the season goes along to be as successful as we want to be.”

The situation isn’t new to the Cardinals, but no one had many concerns about the third receiver in recent seasons. That’s because the club had Bryant Johnson, a former first-round pick who had proved to be a solid No. 3 over his five years with the team.

But Johnson left via free agency for the 49ers this offseason, leaving Breaston, in his second year, and Urban, in his fifth, as the leading contenders for the job.

Coaches felt comfortable with that duo, especially when Breaston showed great improvement throughout the offseason. It’s not as if Breaston and Urban performed poorly in the first three games, it’s just that they didn’t get many chances.

If Fitzgerald and Boldin stay healthy, the other receivers on the team are never going to post astounding numbers. Breaston and Urban know that.

“No, it’s not like that, especially in this offense,” Breaston said. “You have talented running backs and you need to get them the ball. On top of that you have good tight ends who can catch the ball. You just take the few catches you get, take advantage of opportunities. And the best thing you can do is make yards after catch.”

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. – Brett Favre walked with only a slight limp Thursday as the New York Jets quarterback continued to recover from a twisted left ankle.

The 38-year-old Favre, injured Monday night in New York’s loss at San Diego, had his ankle tightly wrapped and appeared to walk comfortably through the locker room before practice.

He took part in warm-up jogs and moved side to side well, and dropped back and threw with no noticeable discomfort in the half-hour of practice the media are allowed to watch. Favre took one awkward step on a handoff and appeared to grimace, but seemed fine afterward.

“He was able to get a little bit of action (Wednesday),” coach Eric Mangini said before practice, “and I think it will be a little bit more today.”

When asked if that included 11-on-11 drills, Mangini said: “Yeah, there’s a little bit of that and we’ll progress as he progresses.”

Favre wasn’t available to the media before practice, but said Wednesday that he was “doing everything I can to get ready” for the Jets’ game against Arizona on Sunday.

Favre has started 256 straight regular-season games, an NFL record for quarterbacks, and neither he nor Mangini has seemed concerned the iron man streak was in jeopardy.

Huard tired of losing

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Kansas City’s 12-game losing streak “is taking a toll on everybody,” says the weary-looking quarterback who’ll try to end the slide this week.

“It gets old. It’s tough,” said Damon Huard. “All we need is one win. You start with one.”

For the second time in three games, Huard will start at quarterback for the winless Chiefs on Sunday against the high-scoring Denver Broncos (3-0).

A career backup who’s had both good games and bad in a well-traveled 12-year career, Huard was benched last week while Tyler Thigpen got his first NFL start against Atlanta. But after three interceptions in a lopsided loss, Thigpen goes back to the bench and Huard gets elevated once again.

In the meantime, regular starter Brodie Croyle is not expected to return from an opening-day shoulder injury until mid-October and Huard admits he’s never been involved in such an unsettled signal-caller environment.

MONTREAL – Patrick Roy will have his No. 33 retired by the Montreal Canadiens on Nov. 22 before the team’s game against the Boston Bruins.

Roy, who earlier had his number retired by Colorado, is the NHL’s only three-time winner of the Conn Smythe Trophy, awarded to the MVP of the Stanley Cup playoffs.

“It’s a great day, it’s a great honor to have the chance to come back with the organization and the family of the Montreal Canadiens,” Roy said Thursday. “I think when you talk about the Canadiens, you have to put the word family in front of it.”

A fiery competitor, Roy parted ways with the team on bad terms during the 1995-96 season, forcing a trade after he was left in goal by head coach and former teammate Mario Tremblay during a blowout loss to Detroit on Dec. 2.

During Wednesday’s news conference at the Bell Centre, Roy welcomed the opportunity to turn the page on the events that brought about the trade, and hopes the team’s fans will do the same.

“It was more difficult than people might think to leave Montreal,” Roy said. “Yes, I would have liked to leave on a different note but there is nothing you can do today and the message that I want to send is it’s time for me to move on, and I hope it is the same for them.”

A four-time Stanley Cup winner, Roy led the Canadiens to his first title as a 20-year-old rookie in 1986. He won his second Cup and second Conn Smythe Trophy in 1993 as Montreal won a record 10 straight overtime games in the playoffs.

“I always have been proud of my 10 years in Montreal,” said Roy, who starred in goal for the Canadiens from 1985 to 1995. “I learned a lot. This is where I learnt to be a winner.”

Big Brown races Saturday

For trainer Rick Dutrow Jr., every day presents a new challenge with Kentucky Derby and Preakness champion Big Brown.

“It’s not like every time you wake up in the morning, Big Brown is ready to roll,” he said. “I mean, you got issues there. He’s got probably five or six quarter cracks since I’ve had him.”

With an eye toward having the nation’s premier 3-year-old as fit and ready as possible for the $5 million Breeders’ Cup Classic, Big Brown will return to his roots by running on turf in the Monmouth Stakes on Saturday at New Jersey’s Monmouth Park.

Dutrow sees many advantages to the decision.

Foremost among those is the large amount of time it gives him to prepare for the Oct. 25 Classic, which will be contested for the first time on a synthetic surface at Santa Anita in Arcadia, Calif.

“I understand a whole lot more when we get to do it like that,” he said of the interval between races. “I’d love it if I could train every one of my horses that way, every one of them coming up to big races five or six weeks (away) is what I like.”

USA TODAY

TEMPE – Arizona doesn’t have just two pass rushers honing in on opposing quarterbacks from both ends of the defense. The Cardinals have four.

Not at the same time, of course, but the team has four players who can split time at positions where pressuring quarterbacks from the edge is a prime objective.

The team brought in Travis LaBoy and Clark Haggans as free agents this season to join Bertrand Berry and Chike Okeafor as a formidable pass-rushing force.

“Travis said it yesterday,” coach Ken Whisenhunt said. “He considers Bert and himself the same guy – both No. 1s. We feel very good about that position. It’s one of our strong points.”

In last week’s 23-13 victory over San Francisco, Berry knocked the ball out of quarterback J.T. O’Sullivan’s hands and had a sack. Late in the game, LaBoy sacked Sullivan, then recovered the quarterback’s fumble. It was one of two sacks for LaBoy.

In Arizona’s defensive scheme, LaBoy and his backup, Berry, are defensive ends, while Okeafor and backup Haggans are labeled linebackers.

LaBoy was arguably the team’s biggest signing in a mostly unremarkable offseason. He came to the Cardinals after four seasons with Tennessee. Haggans signed with Arizona after eight seasons with Pittsburgh, the last four as a starter.

Berry, meanwhile, accepted a considerable pay cut to stay with the team after missing most of the past three seasons with injuries. He made the Pro Bowl in his first season with the Cardinals in 2004.

Okeafor, signed as a free agent in 2005 after two years with Seattle and four with San Francisco, missed all of last season because of a biceps injury.

So all four were essentially new to the defense this year.

They give the Cardinals a chance to rest players at a crucial position so they are fresh when it counts the most.

“The depth of our outside backers really helps us,” Whisenhunt said after the team practiced Thursday in preparation for Sunday’s home opener against Miami. “We saw evidence of that in the game (against San Francisco) because the guys were really fresh.

“We talk about being able to close out games, especially if we’re up on a team and a team has to throw the ball, we feel like we can get pressure off the edge.”

Berry said the situation benefits everyone.

“During a given game you’re going to play 60 to 70 plays. That’s too much to ask to be relentless out there on the field. You have to get that you can come out refreshed and you know the guy behind you is going to do the same thing,” Berry said. “So it’s a good situation to be in. I think we’ll be better for it as a team.”

Titans’ Young not ‘depressed’

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Titans quarterback Vince Young insists he never wavered in his commitment to football.

All that concern over his mental state? He says he was upset as he dealt with his first serious injury, and he didn’t realize he had to tell his mother where he was going anymore.

Then the media went overboard.

Young spoke publicly Thursday for the first time since Titans coach Jeff Fisher called police for help in locating the quarterback Monday night because of concerns over his emotional well-being.

His mother, Felicia Young, also told a local newspaper that the quarterback had indicated he didn’t want to play football anymore because of all the negativity he faced.

“I was never depressed,” Young said.

He took questions from reporters for 16 minutes after watching his teammates practice. His message? Don’t question his commitment.

“Football, this is my life. This is my dream. All I did all these years growing up to get to this point and never had an injury like this before in my life,” he said.

“It’s a hard time because I’m a competitor, and I definitely want to be out on the football field with my teammates.”

Jaguars’ Porter could play

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Receiver Jerry Porter is expected to make his Jacksonville debut Sunday, and it might come at a good time for the Jaguars.

Former Arizona Wildcat Dennis Northcutt (back injury) and Troy Williamson (thigh) missed practice Thursday, leaving the Jaguars with just three healthy receivers – Matt Jones, Reggie Williams and Mike Walker – heading into Sunday’s home opener against Buffalo.

Porter, meanwhile, has practiced on his surgically repaired hamstring without any setbacks the past two weeks.

That’s a good sign for a team desperate to find a deep threat to prevent opponents from stacking the line of scrimmage against running backs Fred Taylor and Maurice Jones-Drew.

Haynesworth going slow

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – All-Pro defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth missed a second straight practice because of a mild concussion as the Tennessee Titans stay cautious with his recovery.

Julie Coin of France upsets No. 1 seed Ana Ivanovic.

NEW YORK – Even for the mathematics major from Clemson, it just didn’t add up: How could someone who recently struggled so badly she wanted to quit tennis stay on the court with the No. 1 player in the world?

Ana Ivanovic probably wondered the same thing.

In one of the biggest upsets in the sport’s history, the top-seeded Ivanovic was ousted from the U.S. Open, stunned by 188th-ranked Julie Coin 6-3, 4-6, 6-3 in the second round Thursday.

“Obviously, if you would ask me at the moment if I’m playing like a No. 1, probably not,” Ivanovic said. “It’s very frustrating because I know I can play so much better.”

Never before in the Open era that began in 1968 had the No. 1 woman lost this early in the tournament. All the favorites had been breezing at Flushing Meadows.

The French Open champion seemed to be rallying in the third set when Coin suddenly recovered to win 10 straight points. The 25-year-old French math whiz screamed when Ivanovic’s last shot sailed out, then hopped for joy and hit an extra ball high into the stands.

“I don’t know how I’m going to sleep tonight,” Coin said. “I don’t know when I will realize everything.”

Even after Ivanovic struggled in the first round with an injured right thumb that limited her practice time, there was no way to see this coming.

Coin spent much of the year playing in minor league events and nearly got knocked out of the qualifying event to merely make it into the Open. She recently played so poorly she thought about giving up the sport and relying on her degree.

“I was thinking, ‘Am I really made to play tennis?’ ” she said.

Ivanovic quickly gathered her gear and left the court, her hopes of another Grand Slam championship dashed. She smiled after the match, simply happy to be pain-free, and did not appear upset by the upset.

“I think what I experienced so far is girls, when they play against higher-ranked players, they have nothing to lose, so they go for their shots,” she said. “Many times they play matches of their life. Not only in women’s tennis, also in men’s.”

Still, Coin couldn’t have figured on it. Asked whether she’d thought such a win was possible, she gave a direct, honest answer.

“No,” she said.

And when did she believe it might happen?

“I guess when it was over,” she told the crowd at Arthur Ashe Stadium, drawing a huge ovation.

If there was any suspicion that Coin was wavering, she steadied herself by rallying in the third set. It was Ivanovic who looked jittery, hitting shots directly into the net or way out.

Top-seeded Rafael Nadal avoided a similar fate on the men’s side, beating Ryler De Heart 6-1, 6-2, 6-4.

Venus Williams and sister Serena won earlier in the day. James Blake, David Ferrer, Andy Murray and Dinara Safina joined them in moving into the third round. No. 14 Ivo Karlovic posted the stat of the day while beating Florent Serra in straight sets – he finished ahead in aces 42-0.

The Ivanovic-Coin match was originally scheduled for the smaller Louis Armstrong Stadium, but was moved to the main Ashe stage to give the crowd a treat. The fans hardly knew what really was in store.

Tentative at times, Ivanovic seemed to regain her edge midway through the third set. She led 40-0 in the fifth game and was about to break Coin’s serve when suddenly the momentum shifted.

Coin came back to hold, starting her decisive streak.

Ivanovic tried to stave off Coin in the final game, but it was too late for the 20-year-old Serbian star. Coin won on her third match point – quite a result for someone playing in her first tour-level event.

Coin had tried to qualify for the Australian Open, French Open and Wimbledon and never made any of them. She certainly wasn’t anything bankable going into this match – she’d earned less than $100,000 lifetime as a pro, and was facing someone who’d won nearly $6 million.

Next up for Coin in the third round is No. 32 Amelie Mauresmo, who beat Kaia Kanepi 2-6, 6-4, 6-0.