SPORTS UPDATE 3/4/13

High School Basketball

Girls regional tournament play continues this evening across the Commonwealth.

2nd region at Caldwell County: The opening semi final game at 6 has Madisonville meeting Henderson County, with University Heights playing Webster County in the nightcap. Coverage of the UHA game begins around 7:30 on Newstalk WHOP and online at whopam.com.

1st region at Murray State: Graves County meets Murray with Marshall County going against Paducah Tilghman in the nightcap.

4th region at WKU: Todd Central meets Allen County Scottsville, with Bowling Green playing Russell County in the second game.

3rd region at Owensboro Sports Center: Owensboro Catholic meets Meade County in the championship game.

Tickets for Hopkinsville’s game in the Boys Sweet 16 Wednesday night against South Oldham go on sale to the public this afternoon at 1:30 at Hopkinsville High’s Tiger Gym. Tickets are $9 each.

A reminder you can hear the Hoptown game, along with the game between 1st region winner Graves County and 3rd region winner Ohio County Wednesday night beginning at 5:15 on Newstalk WHOP.

College Basketball: Kentucky coach John Calipari’s weekly call in show airs at 5 this evening followed by Big Blue Weekly at 6 on Lite 98.7. Games tonight include 10th ranked Louisville taking on Cincinnati.

College Football: The Lexington Herald Leader reports UK athletics director Mitch Barnhart as sending out a message on Twitter this morning that 30,999 tickets have been acquired for Kentucky’s Blue-White Spring game scheduled for April 13th at Commonwealth Stadium.

Former Florida State coach Bobby Bowden says he doesn’t see an end to Nick Saban’s runs to national championships at Alabama. Al.com reports Bowden made the comment during the Over the Mountain Touchdown Club’s annual dinner Sunday in Birmingham where Saban was presented with the club’s Coach of the Year award. Saban has won three national titles as Alabama’s coach in the last four years.

NFL: Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco will sign his new contract today. The Super Bowl MVP agreed to the new deal  last  Friday. Terms have not been disclosed, but reports have indicated it to be worth $120.6 million over six years, making him the highest-paid player in NFL history. 

MLB: Cactus League action this afternoon has Cincinnati meeting Arizona and the Chicago Cubs play Cleveland. Grapefruit League action has St. Louis meeting Minnesota and Atlanta plays the NY Mets.

The Los Angeles Angels are renewing the contract of reigning American League Rookie of the Year winner Mike Trout.  The outfielder's deal for 2013 is for 510-thousand-dollars, 20-thousand over the league minimum.  The 21-year-old slugger hit .326 with 30 home runs and 83 RBI last season.  He finished second in the American League MVP vote.

NHL: The Nashville Predators play at the LA Kings this evening, with coverage from the Staples Center at 9:30 on Newstalk WHOP.