Sports briefs 3/10
Steelers get 4 comp picks
Baltimore, Philadelphia and Pittsburgh each were awarded a league-high four compensatory picks in next month’s NFL draft based on their losses and signings in last year’s free agency.
The NFL announced on Monday the 33 compensatory picks for the draft that will be held in Pittsburgh on April 23-25, including a third-rounder for Minnesota after losing Super Bowl-winning quarterback Sam Darnold to Seattle in free agency last offseason.
Picks are awarded to teams in the third through seventh rounds with 32 of the picks based on teams losing more or better free agents than they acquired last offseason and the other given for minorities hired as head coaches or general managers for other organizations.
The Steelers will get comp picks in the third round (99th overall), plus an additional fourth-round pick and two sixths.
College baseball
Washington & Jefferson split a doubleheader with Calvin in Davenport, Fla., on Monday at the RussMatt Invitational. Calvin won the opener 7-3 and W&J won the second contest, 7-0.
Winning pitcher Brendan Cruz and reliever Luke Alvarez combined on a two-hit shutout in the nightcap. Cruz struck out three over six innings.
Carl Wagner hit a three-run homer and Josh Dezenzo went 2-for-2 2 with two runs for W&J (5-2).
Women’s lacrosse
Washington & Jefferson was edged 16-14 by Occidental on Monday afternoon in Los Angeles, Calif., as part of the Presidents’ spring break trip.
W&J’s Mya Bolinda finished with four points (three goals, one assist) to go along with 10 draw controls. Ella Holland tallied four points (three goals, one assist) while playing in her home state.
Anderson qualifies
Washington & Jefferson’s Clair Anderson has qualified for the NCAA Division III Indoor Track & Field Championships that will be held March 13-14 in Birmingham, Ala.
Anderson will compete in the 5,000 meters. She logged a qualifying time with a program-record time of 16:48.20 at the GVSU Holiday Open hosted by Grand Valley State. The senior bested all runners in her heat, finishing first against top Division III talent and Division I runners.
“I cannot say it enough. I’m super proud of Claire and all she has accomplished while at W&J. She never ceases to impress,” said W&J head coach Andy Upton. “Since her phenomenal cross country season in the fall, she has not missed a beat with any of her training and has stayed on that same path and continues to get better every single day she hits the track.”
Anderson will be representing W&J in her second Indoor National Championships appearance in her career.
WBC
Fernando Tatis hit a grand slam and drove in six runs, and the Dominican Republic clinched a spot in the World Baseball Classic quarterfinals with a 10-1 win over Israel on Monday in Miami.
Tatis homered in the second inning on a changeup off loser Ryan Prager, standing at home plate and admiring his no-doubt drive over the left-field wall, then added a two-run single in the seventh. Geraldo Perdomo had put the Dominicans ahead with a bases-loaded walk.
Tatis’ six RBIs tied Adrian González in 2009 for second-most in a WBC game, one behind Ken Griffey Jr.’s record in 2006.
Reynaldo Rodriguez hit a two-run single in a four-run sixth inning for already-eliminated Colombia (1-3 as it beat Panama, 4-3.
South Korea advances on tiebreaker with 7-2 win over Australia.
South Korea moved past the first round for the first time since 2009 by getting four RBI from Bo Gyeong Moon, who leads the tournament with 11.
Ian Lewis Jr. homered with two RBI and Jazz Chisholm Jr. added two hits with three RBI to lead Britain (1-3) to an 8-1 win over Brazil.
In the NBA
Magic City Night in Atlanta is off.
The NBA has canceled the Atlanta Hawks’ plans for a celebration of the city’s Magic City adult entertainment club, saying Monday that it was responding to concerns from many across the league.
The event was supposed to happen next Monday during a game against the Orlando Magic.
Atlanta announced the plan last month, calling it a tribute to an “iconic cultural institution” with food — including the club’s lemon pepper wings, a version of which is named for former Hawks guard Lou Williams — along with music and exclusive merchandise.
“While we are very disappointed in the NBA’s decision to cancel our Magic City Night promotion, we fully respect its decision,” the Hawks said Monday. “As a franchise, we remain committed to celebrating the best of Atlanta — with authenticity — in ways that continue to unite and bring us all together.”