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Jewell Second in Lake Placid World Cup

LAKE PLACID, N.Y. (March 3) - U.S. Snowboarding's Tyler Jewell (Steamboat Springs, CO) made it to his second career World Cup podium Monday in sunny Lake Placid. Jewell took home second place in a parallel giant slalom at the Visa U.S. Snowboarding Cup.

"This was great. My family's here and so are my nephews. I wanted to get them here to see this so that they can start snowboarding too," Jewell said. "It's just great to be here on my home turf."

Originally from Massachusetts, Jewell's second place finish moved him up four spots to ninth in the World Cup parallel standings. He was the only U.S. athlete to make it into the quarterfinals. Mathieu Bozzetto of France, who leads the standings, won, and Benjamin Karl of Austria, who sits second in the standings, was third.

"Bozzetto was the winner of the qualifier and he was really strong coming into the finals, and sure enough, watching Tyler, I thought if anyone was going to beat Bozzetto it was going to be Tyler," said Alpine Head Coach Steve Persons. "He had the shot to do it, but he let it get to his head that Bozzetto is a legend in the sport."

Svetlana Boldikove of Russia won the women's races, beating out World Cup leader Nicolien Sauerbreij, who came in seventh. Fraenzi Maegert-Kohli of Switzerland was second and Austrian Heidi Neururer anchored the podium in third. No U.S. women made finals including Michelle Gorgone (Sudbury, MA) who narrowly missed the top-16 finals when she qualified 18th.

It was a big weekend for U.S. Snowboarding athletes at the Visa U.S. Snowboarding Cup. Saturday, Lindsey Jacobellis (Stratton Mountain, VT) and Nick Baumgartner (Iron River, MI) swept the World Cup SBX. Jacobellis came back Sunday to pair with teammate Callan Chythlook-Sifsof (Girdwood, AK) to win an exhibition Team SBX event.

World Cup snowboarding continues March 7-9 in Stoneham, QUE with halfpipe, snowboardcross and parallel giant slalom.

Posted by Thom Cahir  at 10:44 PM to X-sports | Permalink | Comments 0

Division III girls basketball semifinals

Hope 66, Mount Pleasant 50
Fatima 34, Central Falls 28

Posted by Chris Venditto  at 9:19 PM to High School | Permalink | Comments 0

Division III boys basketball semifinals

Juanita Sanchez 77, North Smithfield 65
Moses Brown 62, Johnston 48

Posted by Chris Venditto  at 9:04 PM to High School | Permalink | Comments 0

Girls Hockey Championships

Division I
Bay View 8, Lincoln School/PCD 2
(Bay View wins series, 2-0)

Division II
North Smithfield 8, La Salle 2
(Series tied, 1-1)

Posted by Chris Venditto  at 8:13 PM to High School | Permalink | Comments 0

What you're saying: Give Papelbon the money!

Projo.com readers were asked today whether the Red Sox should give closer Jonathan Papelbon what he wants -- in light of Sean McAdam's story today that quotes Papelbon as saying that he deserves the $800,000 third-year salary of Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard.

Loud and clear, you're saying that Papelbon is worth it. As of 4 p.m., there have been 64 votes in our survey, with 61 saying that the Sox should make Papelbon happy.

Here is a sampling of your comments:

"My Gods YES!!!!! The team needs an Irish Jig Dancer and I don't think that there is a better one in the league."

"When Papelbon comes on the field, the Sox may as well start playing Dirty Water. Give him what he wants He's earned it."

"This guy is a gunfighter, and comes through in the clutch nigh on every single appearance. They'd be nuts not to meet this demand. Look at what the Sox paid Drew to get up there almost all season and strike out every time. They'd get more bang for their buck from a relatively LOW salary such as this."

We also asked you to pick the winners of tonight's Division III girls basketball semifinals.

Eleven out of 19 voters picked Hope to beat Mount Pleasant in the early game, while Fatima and Central Falls, who play at 8, both have nine votes so far.

Click here to vote on the results of all the boys and girls high school semifinal games.

Posted by Mike McDermott  at 3:59 PM | Permalink | Comments 0

RIC, UMD NCAA-bound

Rhode Island College, the Little East Conference men's basketball champion, is heading to Pomona, N.J., for the first round of the NCAA Division III Championship.The Anchormen (22-6) will play the Empire 8 champion, Nazareth College of Rochester, N.Y. (20-7), Friday night at Richard Stockton College. Richard Stockton (20-6) and Immaculata (18-9) will play in the other game at that site. The winners will meet Saturday.

UMass Dartmouth (25-3), which lost to RIC in the LEC final, received a first-round bye and will host either Trinity (21-6), the NESCAC champion, or Coast Guard (21-6), the NEWMAC champ, Saturday night at the Tripp Athletic Center. The Corsairs received the bye based on their No. 5 national ranking and No. 2 regional ranking behind Amherst (23-3), which also received a first-round bye.

RIC could face Amherst in the third round. As long as it keeps winning UMD will play at home until the Final Four at Salem, Va.

This will be RIC's second consecutive NCAA appearance. The Anchormen reached the Elite Eight last year. UMass Dartmouth last played in the NCAA Tournament in 2001.

Posted by Mike Szostak  at 2:26 PM to College Sports | Permalink | Comments 0

Rumors heat up on Moss deal with Patriots

There are a number of reports today that the Patriots are close to a deal with free-agent wide receiver Randy Moss. ESPN is reporting, citing unnamed sources, that the two sides are closing in on a three-year, $27-million deal. The Boston Globe, also citing an unnamed source, says the deal is imminent. We are attempting to confirm the reports and will have the latest information when it becomes known.

Posted by Mike McDermott  at 2:21 PM | Permalink | Comments 0

Davey Lopes has prostate cancer

CLEARWATER, Fla. (AP) - Philadelphia Phillies first base coach Davey Lopes, the East Providence native and former major leaguer, has been diagnosed with prostate cancer.

Team officials say he is expected to make a full recovery.

Lopes (LOHPS) will have surgery later this month and is expected to miss six weeks with the team.

The cancer was found after Lopes went through a routine examination with the rest of the coaching staff on Feb. 12. Lopes is 62 and is entering his second season with the Phillies coaching staff.

Jerry Martin, a minor league outfield and base-running coach in the organization, will take over temporarily as first base coach and outfield coordinator.

Posted by Mike McDermott  at 2:13 PM | Permalink | Comments 0

HotBytes audio: Fishing school on the Cape

The Massachusetts Striped Bass Association's fishing show over the weekend was filled with anglers talking about schools of fish.

Capt. George Doucette, however, was talking about a school of fishing, specifically the Cape Cod Fishing School, an on-the-water learning experience.

Tom Meade spent some time with George to learn more. To hear what the skipper had to say, go to Tom's HotBytes blog.

Posted by Mike McDermott  at 11:44 AM to Fishing | Permalink | Comments 0

Colon throws bullpen session for Sox

Bartolo Colon just finished an 11-minute, 42-pitch bullpen session on the back mound at City of Palms Park.

With Doug Mirabelli catching and pitching coach John Farrell, bullpen coach Gary Tuck and assitant GM Jed Hoyer watching, Colon warmed up for a few minutes, then threw an assortment of fastballs and changeups.

``All was positive today,'' said Farrell. ``For someone who hadn't been up on a mound for a few weeks, he worked both sides of the plate and followed the glove well.''

Though the Sox didn't have a radar gun on, Farrell estimated that a few pitches touched 90.

Next up for Colon will be another bullpen session Wednesday, and yet another Friday. Following two days off, Colon will throw his first batting practice against hitters.

Such a timetable would seem to wipe out any possibility of seeing his first game action March 9, as Colon has indicated last week, but Farrell said a game debut on March 15 -- the Sox' scheduled date all along -- was still within reach.

``He's making very solid progress, as far as the program we's outlined,'' said Farrell. ``In terms of pure arm strength, he's in a very good place. He was able to maintain his power and stamina through 40 pitches.''

-SEAN McADAM

Posted by Mike McDermott  at 10:10 AM to Red Sox | Permalink | Comments 0

Download today's sports cover

On today's sports cover, Carolyn Thornton has the story of Coventry gymnast Casey Lesieur, who has excelled at her sport this year despite essentially losing the use of her right arm. Sean McAdam reports on Jonathan Papelbon's salary demands, Kevin McNamara has the story on PC's dramatic win at Cincinnati, and Shalise Manza Young tells you about the latest free-agent loss for the Patriots.

Click here to download the file in pdf format.

Posted by Mike McDermott  at 9:49 AM | Permalink | Comments 0