Briefs and highlights

World soccer
The men’s soccer team from Czech Republic will advance to thesemi-finals on Thursday July 1, 2004, where they will take onGreece. Czech Republic beat Denmark 3-0 on Sunday, June 27, 2004.This was the fifth consecutive European Championship finals win forCzech Republic. They are now tied for most consecutive wins, arecord previously shared by France and the Netherlands. Milan Baroswas the top scorer Sunday; he is currently the only player to havescored in each game his team played at the Euro 2004tournament.

Colombia beat Argentina 2-0 at the Orange Bowl, Sunday June 27,2004. The victory was a result of the two goals from Mahler TressorMoreno and Sergio Herrera. The next game for Colombia and Argentinais Wednesday, June 30.

Unfortunate for Italy, they were the first team eliminated fromthe tournament without a loss since group play began in 1980.

Golf: Champion’s Tour/NationwideTour
In Concord, Mass., Craig Stadler had a victorious day Sunday. Aftershooting an 8-under 64 par that won him the Bank of AmericaChampionship, Stadler rushed to the scorer’s trailer to watch hisson, Kevin, earn his first win on the minor league Nationwide Tourin Findley Lake, New York. The elder Stadler said, “I don’t thinkanother win will ever come close to this. I never dreamed of usboth winning on the same day.” Craig Stadler’s win was a victoryfor the Champions Tour; he has also won 13 times on the PGA Tour.Kevin Stadler won $76,500 for his first ever minor league tourvictory.

PGA Tour in Potomac, Maryland
Adam Scott held off Charles Howell III on Sunday at the Booz AllenClassic, part of the PGA Tour. Scott closed at 21-under-par with a263 total. He beat the defending champion, Rory Sabbatini, by sixstrokes. Howell broke the 18-hole record with a 61 on Thursday, buthe was not ‘up to par’ Sunday finishing with a 267 total for secondplace.

LPGA Tour in New York
Kim Saiki shot a 1-under 71 par to grab her first win since joiningthe tour in 1992. Finishing at 14-under 274, Saiki surpassed RosieJones for a four-stroke victory. Jones shot a 74 dropping back intoa tie for second with Mi Hyun Kim of South Korea. Annika Sorenstam(73) finished the tour at a seventh place tie with Candie Kung(73).

Tennis
Tim Henman was the player of choice on People’s Sunday in Wimbledonlast weekend. Henman won a 14-12 fifth-set tiebreaker against PaulHaarhuis during the 1997 people’s Sunday, but he had not yet wonthe title of champion for Britain. As the best tennis player in hiscountry, he deserved the championship title that Britain had notwon since 1936. “They definitely helped me sort of getkick-started,” Henman said. “With their support and noise, thepressure gets greater and greater on my opponent.”

Serena Williams held out and extended her winning streak to 15matches last week in Wimbledon, England. Beating Zheng Jie (6-3,6-1) left Williams with an opening bid for a third straightWimbledon title.

Local football
Saturday, June 26, 2004 was the annual North-South football game,otherwise known as the Les Schwab Bowl. Formerly the Shrine Gameand the Oregon Bowl, it was Oregon’s 57th annual match. RyanKeeling of Thurston High School was the MVP of the game with his 10catches for 110 yards to help the South beat the North 9-6. Keelingis a wide receiver headed to University of Oregon. Starting for theSouth and headed to Portland State, North Medford’s Beau Hovlandcompleted 8 of 15 passes for 143 yards. Oregon State recruit, MattSieverson had 21 carries for 60 yards to aid in South’s win.

North quarterback, Sean Stezer completed 6 of 10 passes for 119yards, and fellow teammate T.R. Smith ran 55 yards.

Baseball
The White Sox hope a friend of Ozzie Guillen can help them reachthe postseason. Chicago got Freddy Garcia and Ben Davis from theMariners on Sunday for Miguel Olivo and a pair of prospects. Garciabecomes a free agent after the season. The Yankees had beenscouting Garcia for several weeks but couldn’t match the WhiteSox’s deal.

Houston Astros lefthander Andy Pettitte, who has been sidelinedwith tightness in his left forearm, will be activated from the15-day disabled list Monday. On the disabled list for the secondtime this season, Pettitte will start Tuesday night’s game againstthe Pittsburgh Pirates. Pettitte, who turned 32 earlier this month,also was on the disabled list from April 10-28 due to soreness inhis elbow.

NASCAR
Jeff Gordon completed the weekend at Infineon Raceway in Sonoma,California with an overpowering victory. Gordon, in his Number 24Chevrolet, drove to his fourth victory and extended his own NextelCup record for road racing wins to eight. “I drove out and got asbig a lead as I could,” said Gordon, “We’ve had some bad finisheslately and we wanted this one real bad.” Gordon has 67 total careerwins.

NASCAR Race Statistics for Infineon Raceway
June 26, 2004

1st – Jeff Gordon 5th – Jimmie Johnson 9th – Jeff Burton
2nd – Jamie McMurray 6th -Boris Said 10th – Elliott Sadler
3rd – Kurt Busch 7th – Casey Mears
4th – Michael Walitrip 8th – Mark Martin