SPORTS DIGEST || Poland softball wins opening state game

Poland softball wins opening state game

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Poland’s 11-12 Little League softball team defeated Tallmadge 8-0 in the opening game of the state tournament on Saturday.

Alaina Francis threw a complete-game shut out, allowing only three hits.

Francis, Alaina Scavina and Mary Brant had multi-hit games in the win.

USA’s Mattek-Sands needs surgery on knee

london

Top-ranked women’s doubles player Bethanie Mattek-Sands needs surgery after dislocating her right kneecap and rupturing her patella tendon during a singles match at Wimbledon.

“One of the most painful injuries that I’ve had,” the 32-year-old American said on Facebook Live on Saturday, “and I’ve had a few in my career.”

Wearing a black brace on her right leg, Mattek-Sands teared up and took some moments to gather herself as she appeared for about 10 minutes , speaking about what she called “an emotional and painful roller-coaster the past few days.”

Mattek-Sands arrived at Wimbledon bidding for a non-calendar-year Grand Slam in doubles with playing partner Lucie Safarova. The duo had won three major tournaments in a row and five overall.

In singles, Mattek-Sands is ranked 103rd and received a wild-card entry from the All England Club. Facing Sorana Cirstea of Romania in the second round on Thursday, Mattek-Sands fell to the grass when her right knee buckled as she moved toward the net in the third set’s opening game.

She immediately clutched her knee and, down on the turf, wailed loudly, imploring for someone to “Help me! Help me!”

Rockets sign Harden to NBA’s richest deal

las vegas

The Houston Rockets have signed star guard James Harden to a four-year, $228 million contract extension, the richest contract in NBA history.

The Rockets said Saturday the extension will run through 2022-23 season but will not kick in until 2019. That means it will not affect their salary cap this season, so the Rockets are free to continue their roster upgrade. They added Chris Paul earlier this summer.

Rockets owner Leslie Alexander says Harden’s “incredible work ethic, desire to win, and passion to be the best” make him “the perfect leader in our pursuit of another championship.” Harden says “Houston is home for me.”

He averaged 29.1 points and led the NBA with 11.2 assists last season.

NBA fines Embiid over Instagram video

new york

Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid was fined $10,000 by the NBA on Saturday for directing an obscenity at LaVar Ball on social media.

Embiid directed the obscenity at Ball, the father of Los Angeles Lakers rookie Lonzo Ball, in an Instagram Live video this this week.

Earlier, Embiid tweeted about LaVar and Lonzo Ball to 76ers teammate Ben Simmons, saying: “Please dunk on him so hard that his daddy runs on the court to save him.”

Premier League star busted for house party

beverly hills, calif.

British soccer star Romelu Lukaku is in trouble for raucous partying in Beverly Hills.

Police said Saturday that Lukaku was arrested after officers warned him five times to turn down party music.

The 24-year-old plays for Everton in the Premier League, but Manchester United is reportedly trying to sign him to a $97 million deal.

It’s not clear why Lukaku was in the Los Angeles area. Manchester United plays the LA Galaxy in a friendly match next weekend. Sgt. Jay Kim says Lukaku was not handcuffed or booked July 2 for the misdemeanor of excessive noise.

The striker had 25 goals last season and was the second-highest scorer in the Premier League.

Lukaku is scheduled to appear in Los Angeles Superior Court on Oct. 2.

Staff/wire report