Pro baseball
JOILET HAMMERS RAILCATS: Joliet pulled even with the visiting RailCats in the Northern League standings with a 7-3 win over Gary on Friday night at Silver Cross Field.
The two teams, tied for third, play the final three games of the season against each other as they determine seeding for the playoffs.
Joilet pitcher Bear Bay (10-2) struck out nine and allowed five hits in seven innings as he snapped the RailCats' three-game winning streak.
RailCat pitcher Andy Weeks (1-2) got into trouble immediately, yielding a first-inning grand slam to Richard Mercado.
Mike Reese led the RailCats, going 3-for-4. Before the game, RailCat Randall Simon was placed on the disabled list with a hamstring injury. Simon would be eligible to be activated in time for the start of the postseason Wednesday.
Right-hander Nolan Nicholson (5-5) will start for the RailCats at 7 p.m. today against Joliet's Paul Fagan (0-0). The game will be broadcast on The Lakeshore-FM (89.1).
MCCLENDON, SHAFER FINISH MINOR LEAGUE SEASONS: Former Valparaiso University baseball players Bryce Shafer and Bo McClendon recently completed their inaugural minor league seasons. Shafer, who was drafted in the 49th round by the Cubs, finished with a 1.80 ERA with one save in six appearances in the Arizona Rookie League. McClendon, who was drafted in the 39th round by the Detroit Tigers, had a .179 batting average and .347 on-base percentage in 15 games of the Rookie Gulf Coast League. He drew nine walks in 48 plate appearances and had three RBIs.
Pro tennis
VENUS SHINES AT OPEN: Venus Williams easily eliminated 185th-ranked qualifier Mandy Minella of Luxembourg 6-2, 6-1 on Friday night to reach the U.S. Open's fourth round for the 12th time in 12 trips to the tournament.
She said she's had "really no thought at all" about shaking off rust from resting an injured knee.
In the fourth round, Williams will meet 16th-seeded Shahar Peer of Israel, who beat No. 19 Flavia Pennetta of Italy 6-4, 6-4.
Kim Clijsters beat Petra Kvitova and Hurricane Earl with a quick victory before rain briefly suspended play at the U.S. Open. The rain delay lasted 25 minutes.
Clijsters, the defending champion, won the final 12 games in her 6-3, 6-0 third-round victory over the 27th-seeded Kvitova.
Fourth-seeded Andy Murray defeated Jamaica's Dustin Brown 7-5, 6-3, 6-0 to move into the third round. John Isner is still the highest-ranked American man left in the tournament after defeating Switzerland's Marco Chiudinelli 6-3, 3-6, 7-6 (7), 6-4.
Pro golf
JOHNSON LEADS DEUTSCHE BANK CHAMPIONSHIP: Zach Johnson strengthened his Ryder Cup case Friday by rolling in putts from everywhere in easy scoring conditions ahead of Hurricane Earl, giving him an 8-under 63 and a share of the first-round lead with Day at the Deutsche Bank Championship.
Tiger Woods had two bogeys in four holes when the first patch of rain arrived, and it didn't get much better. He had two more bogeys and was in last place until he fought back for a 72, leaving him three shots below the projected cut. If he doesn't make the cut Saturday, Woods will not advance to defend his title next week at the BMW Championship in Lemont.
Men's basketball
VU-PURDUE TO APPEAR ON ESPNU DEC. 7: Valparaiso University's men's basketball game at the Athletics-Recreation Center with Purdue on Dec. 7 will air on ESPNU.
Also, VU will host Butler on the Horizon League Network Game of the Week on Jan. 29.
Men's cross country
VU FINISHES SECOND AT CRUSADER OPEN: Valparaiso University's Joel Hurtenberger placed fifth overall as the hosts placed second overall at the Crusader Open.
Hartenberger finished in 19:50. Notre Dame took the team title with 16 points, while VU scored 61.
Women's cross country
VU THIRD AT CRUSADER OPEN: Valparaiso freshman Grace Shemwell placed 12th overall as the hosts finished third overall at the Crusader Open. Shemwell finished in 19:17. Notre Dame won the team title with 27 points, while the Crusaders finished with 76.
Women's soccer
VU PICKS UP ROAD WIN: Four Valparaiso University players scored in a 4-2 win at IPFW. Luisa Desario, Rachel Hoaglin, Sarah Melhorn and Casey Pedersen scored for the Crusaders (3-0-1).
Women's volleyball
PNC REMAINS UNBEATEN: Purdue North Central remained unbeaten with a 25-20, 25-15, 25-18 win over Moody Bible Institute. Emily Mozwecz (Chesterton) led the Panthers (5-0) with 13 attack kills and 10 digs. Brandi Allen (Washington Twp.) added 26 assists, while Kirah Fifield (Kankakee Valley) had 20 digs.
VU WINS ON ROAD: Katie Britton and Tara Diebler each had 11 attack kills as Valparaiso University defeated USC Upstate 25-12, 20-25, 25-11, 25-12 in Boone, N.C. Jenny Pokorny added six attack kills, 43 assists and 13 digs for the Crusaders (3-1).
Around the horn
The Dunes Volleyball Club is offering Fall Ball to girls in first through eighth grade. It runs every Sunday from Sept. 12 to Oct. 24. For girls in fifth-eighth grade, the cost is $100, and play is from 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. For girls in first-fourth grade the cost is $50, and the volleyball goes from 1:30-3. Fall Ball will take place at the Dunes Operation Center. Please check www.dunes.org to register. ... The tryout for the Hammond Seminoles, a team of players who will be age 15 or 16 as of May 1, 2011, will be held at 5 p.m. Sept. 19. The tryout for the Hammond Chiefs, which is for players 17 or 18 as of May 1, 2011, will be held at 5 p.m. Sept. 26. Both tryouts will be held at Riverside Park in Hammond and are open to all players who live in Lake or Porter counties. For more information go to hammondchiefs.com or call Dave Sutkowski at (219) 852-9461. ... The following student-athletes have signed a national letter of intent to play sports at Prairie State College in Chicago Heights this fall -- Qiana Brooks in women's basketball, Garrett Irvine (Homewood-Flossmoor) in men's golf, Ana Najera (Thornton) in women's cross country and Salvador Alcantar (Marian Catholic) in men's tennis. ... The NWI Sox Fastpitch Travel Softball Program is hosting a Round Robin Tournament on Sept. 26 at Stephen Park in Schererville for 10U and 12U teams with a three-game guarantee. Cost is $200 per team. For more information, contact Rick Baker at (219) 613-1017.
