COLLEGE WORLD SERIES

THE VANDERBILT COMMODORES WILL HAVE TO WIN THREE GAMES TO BE THE CHAMPIONS OF THE COLLEGE WORLD SERIES IN OMAHA.

VANDY FACES NORTH CAROLINA IN AN ELIMINATION GAME TODAY. THE COMMODORES WON OVER NORTH CAROLINA IN THEIR OPENING GAME OF THE TOURNAMENT, BUT LOST TO FLORIDA 3-1 TUESDAY COMPLETING A SUSPENDED GAME FROM MONDAY NIGHT.

MINOR LEAGUE BASEBALL

THE TRADEWATER PIRATES LOST THE FIRST OF A TWO GAME SERIES TO THE FULTON RAILROADERS 7-2 TUESDAY NIGHT. GAME TWO OF THE SERIES TONIGHT AT SEVEN AT RIVERSIDE PARK IN DAWSON SPRINGS.

ELSEWHERE IN THE OHIO VALLEY LEAGUE: OWENSBORO’S GAME WITH MARION WAS RAINED OUT AND WILL BE PLAYED AS PART OF A DOUBLEHEADER THIS EVENING IN OWENSBORO.

THE NASHVILLE SOUNDS WERE SHUTOUT BY THE OMAHA STORMCHASERS 7-0 AT GREER STADIUM. THE TEAMS PLAY A DOUBLEHEADER BEGINNING AT 5:35 TODAY.

COLLEGE BASKETBALL

FORMER TENNESSEE COACH BRUCE PEARL SAYS HE IS PROUD OF HIS TIME HE SPENT AS COACH OF THE VOLS. PEARL TELLS THE KNOXVILLE NEWS SENTINEL HE PLANS TO KEEP HIS KNOXVILLE HOME FOR THE NEAR FUTURE AND WILL ATTEND THE PILOT ROCKY TOP SUMMER LEAGUE HE ENCOURAGED WHEN HE TOOK THE JOB IN 2005.

PEARL WAS FIRED IN MARCH AMID AN NCAA PROBE THAT PRODUCED MULTIPLE CHARGES AGAINST THE UNIVERSITY. IF THE NCAA APPLIES A SHOW-CAUSE PENALTY ON PEARL—WHICH WOULD HIGHLY DISCOURAGE OTHER SCHOOLS FROM HIRING HIM—PEARL INDICATED HE WOULD LIKE TO DO TELEVISION WORK FOR A MAJOR NETWORK.

LOUISVILLE FORWARD RAKEEM BUCKLES SAYS HIS KNEE REHABILITATION PROCESS IS GOING WELL. THE COURIER JOURNAL SAYS BUCKLES HOPES TO BE ABLE TO PRACTICE BY OCTOBER. BUCKLES HAD SURGERY TO REPAIR A TORN RIGHT ANTERIOR CRUICIATE LIGAMENT. BUCKLES SAYS HE HASN’T THOUGHT ABOUT SITTING OUT THE UPCOMING SEASON, BUT HOPES TO BE READY TO PLAY.

GOLF

HOPKINSVILLE HIGH’S DAYTON JONES WON THE 17-18 DIVISION AT THE PEPSI TOUR STOP AT WOODLAWN SPRINGS GOLF CLUB IN BARDSTOWN. JONES SHOT A 78 GOOD FOR A ONE STROKE VICTORY.

MATCH PLAY BEGAN TUESDAY AT THE WOMEN’S STATE AMATEUR TOURNAMENT BEING PLAYED AT MILLER MEMORIAL GOLF COURSE IN MURRAY.

DEFENDING CHAMPION KARISA AKIN AND NUMBER TWO SEED LYDIA GUMM FROM NORTH HARDIN HIGH SCHOOL WERE AMONG THE WINNERS. THE ROUND OF 16 TAKES PLACE TODAY.

NHL

THE NHL AWARDS GALA IS SET FOR THIS EVENING IN LAS VEGAS AND SEVERAL NASHVILLE PREDATOR PLAYERS, COACHES AND EXECUTIVES ARE NOMINATED FOR AWARDS.

GOALIE PEKKA RINNE IS A NOMINEE FOR THE VERZINA AWARD, DEFENSEMAN AND CAPTAIN SHEA WEBER IS A NORRIS TROPHY NOMINEE, COACH BARRY TROTZ IS UP FOR THE JACK ADAMS AWARD AND GENERAL MANAGER DAVID POILE IS A NOMINEE FOR G-M OF THE YEAR.