SPORTS digest

Scrappers help Blue win All-Star Game

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.

Mahoning Valley Scrappers players Bryan Lavastida, George Valera and Brayan Rocchio played key roles as the Blue team beat the Red team 7-4 in the New York-Penn League All-Star Game on Wednesday night at Richmond County Bank Ballpark.

Lavastida had an RBI single, Valera doubled and scored and Rocchio walked and scored for the winners.

The start of the game was delayed over and hour by rain.

Aberdeen’s Kyle Stowers homered for the Red team.

Artist to remove tattoos in Larry Bird mural

INDIANAPOLIS

Larry Bird likes the mural but not the tats.

An artist says she’ll remove most tattoos from a large painting of the former NBA star on an Indianapolis multi-family residence. The tattoos include two rabbits mating on his right arm and a spider web on a shoulder.

Artist Jules Muck says she was just trying to be funny. The mural is a replica of Bird’s appearance on a 1977 Sports Illustrated cover when he played college ball for Indiana State.

Bird’s attorney, Gary Sallee, says the former Indiana Pacers executive “needs to protect” his brand and “doesn’t want to be seen as a tattooed guy.”

Muck tells the Indianapolis Star that an “Indiana” tattoo will remain on Bird’s arm in the mural.

Dismissed Arkansas forward heads to WVU

MORGANTOWN, W.Va.

Former Arkansas forward Gabe Osabuohien has transferred to West Virginia.

West Virginia coach Bob Huggins announced the transfer of Osabuohien on Wednesday. He will have two years of eligibility remaining.

Arkansas coach Eric Musselman dismissed Osabuohien from the Razorbacks last week without disclosing the reason.

The 6-foot-8 Osabuohien played in 54 games with eight starts in two seasons with Arkansas. He averaged 2.4 points and 2.5 rebounds per game over his career.

Huggins says Osabuohien “can come in and can make an immediate impact to our team defensively.”

Olesen to face trial on sexual assault charges

UXBRIDGE, England

Danish golfer Thorbjorn Olesen is to face trial after being charged with sexual assault and being drunk on an aircraft.

The 29-year-old Olesen indicated he would plead not guilty to the offenses when he made a brief appearance at a magistrates’ court in Uxbridge, west of London, on Wednesday.

Olesen, who is ranked No. 65 and was a member of Europe’s Ryder Cup-winning team in 2018, was arrested on July 29, immediately after returning to London from a World Golf Championship event in Tennessee.

Olesen, a five-time European Tour winner, has also been charged with assault by beating. He spoke only to confirm his name, address, date of birth and nationality, as well as indicating not guilty pleas. He was granted unconditional bail and is expected to appear at Isleworth Crown Court on Sept. 18.

Olesen has been suspended by the European Tour pending the outcome of the case.

Wisconsin’s Cephus returns to practice

MADISON, Wis.

Wisconsin receiver Quintez Cephus returned to practice Wednesday, though he is not eligible to play in games yet at least in part because he lacks credits after he was expelled this spring amid sexual assault allegations.

The Wisconsin athletic department said earlier this week that Cephus won’t play in games until unspecified “eligibility issues” are resolved.

Coach Paul Chryst said the issues revolve around a lack of class credits. The 19th-ranked Badgers open the season Aug. 30 at South Florida.

Cephus was suspended from the team in August 2018 after he was charged with second- and third-degree sexual assault.

He was acquitted on Aug. 2.

Staff/wire report