SPORTS digest
Team USA advances to championship game
TRURO, NOVA SCOTIA
Tyler Madden scored two goals and Jake Kucharski recorded a shutout as the 2017 U.S. Junior Select Team posted a 5-0 victory over Russia on Thursday to land a spot in Saturday’s championship game at the 2017 World Jr. A Challenge.
Youngstown Phantoms forward Curtis Hall is a member of Team USA. Hall scored a goal in Wednesday’s 3-1 win over Switzerland.
Judge: Racer’s family can sue Tony Stewart
UTICA, N.Y.
A federal judge has ruled the family of a race car driver fatally injured when struck by Tony Stewart’s sprint car can pursue its claims against the former NASCAR star.
In a 28-page ruling issued Wednesday, U.S. District Court Judge David Hurd dismissed Stewart’s counterclaim and said the case was best left to a jury. Hurd concluded it was inappropriate at this early stage of the case to draw factual conclusions from competing evidence in the death of Kevin Ward Jr.
Ward was killed in August 2014 at Canandaigua Motorsports Park after his car crashed into the wall lining the dirt track in upstate New York after a bump from Stewart’s vehicle. Ward exited his sprint car and was walking in the direction of Stewart’s car when he was struck and killed by the veteran driver.
The family claims Stewart caused the collision by improperly maneuvering toward the victim after the race was placed under caution.
Source: Rodney, Twins agree to $4.5M deal
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla.
Right-handed reliever Fernando Rodney and the Minnesota Twins have agreed to a $4.5 million, one-year contract, bringing an experienced, three-time All-Star closer to a bullpen in need of a ninth-inning specialist.
The deal was reached on Thursday during Major League Baseball’s winter meetings, according to a person familiar with the negotiations who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity.
Rodney turns 41 on March 18 and will be in his 16th major league season. Well-known for firing an imaginary arrow to celebrate the final out of wins , he had 39 saves in 45 chances this year for Arizona. He was 5-4 with a 4.23 ERA, striking out 65 and walking 26 in 551/3 innings.
For his career, Rodney is 44-63 with 300 saves in 828 relief appearances.
Marlins trade Ozuna to Cards for 4 prospects
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla.
Miami completed its trade Thursday that sent left fielder Marcell Ozuna to the St. Louis Cardinals, the third All-Star jettisoned by the Marlins this month in an unrelenting payroll purge under new CEO Derek Jeter.
St. Louis dealt four prospects to the Marlins: right-handers Sandy Alcantara and Zac Gallen, outfielder Magneuris Sierra and left-hander Daniel Castano.
Miami traded second baseman Dee Gordon to Seattle last Thursday for three prospects and dealt right fielder Giancarlo Stanton, the reigning NL MVP, to the New York Yankees on Monday for second baseman Starlin Castro and two prospects
Rose fires 10-under 62 to lead in Indonesia
JAKARTA, Indonesia
Justin Rose shot a 10-under 62 Thursday to take a two-stroke lead after the first round of the Indonesian Masters.
Rose, starting on the back nine at Royale Jakarta Golf Club, had five birdies to go out in 31, then birdied four of five holes midway through his final nine and another birdie on his last hole in the $750,000 tournament.
Gunn Charoenkul (64) was in second place and Kim Giwhan and Phachara Khongwatmai (both 65) were tied for third.
Brandt Snedeker shot 72. Ranked 51st in the world, the American is aiming for a strong finish in Jakarta to move inside the top 50 by the end of the year and ensure a spot in next year’s Masters.
From staff and wire reports