BASEBALL
LITTLE ROCK — PA player makes Team USA
Pulaski Academy’s Blake Wiggins will be the starting third baseman for the 14-under national team that will represent the United States in the Pan Am “A” Championships, starting Sunday in Managua, Nicaragua.
Wiggins, who also plays football and basketball for Pulaski Academy, was selected as one of the 18 best 14-under baseball players in the country by USA Baseball following several tryouts that attracted more than 4,000 players. He was also named a potential pitcher for the U.S. team.
The 14-under national team had its final exhibition Monday, and Wiggins had two hits and an RBI in the 8-7 loss to the 16-under South Charlotte Panthers in Kannapolis, N.C.
In the Pan Am “A” Championships, the U.S. 14-under team will open against Panama on Sunday at 3 p.m. Central. The Americans play El Salvador on July 27, Mexico on July 28 and Honduras on July 29.
For more information, visit USAbaseball.com.
Top pick to miss summer baseball
Hayden Simpson (Magnolia, Southern Arkansas), the Chicago Cubs’ first-round draft pick, will not play this summer because he’s battling mononucleosis, according to Cubs scouting director Tim Wilken.
Wilken was in Boise, Idaho, on Monday with the Class A short-season team, where Simpson was supposed to have reported by this time.
“Maybe this is a blessing in disguise,” Wilken said. “Not for Boise and not for the selfish Tim Wilken, who wants to see him in a game.”
The Cubs planned on having Simpson report to Mesa, Ariz., after he signed June 19 and then report to Boise. The day he signed, Simpson had a side session at Wrigley Field with Cubs pitching coach Larry Rothschild.
The 16th overall selection, Simpson went 13-1 with a 1.81 ERA in 99 1 /3 innings during his junior season.
GOLF
Oxendine leads by five
Russellville’s Julie Oxendine shot an even-par 72 Tuesday and holds a five-stroke lead after two rounds of the Arkansas State Golf Association’s Women’s Stroke Play Championship at Hot Springs Country Club’s Park Course.
Oxendine is 2 under overall. Hot Springs’ Taylor Fisher (74-73) is five strokes back in second, and Lake Village’s Megan Vaughn (UALR) is in third, 12 strokes back.
The final round will be played today.
Sports, Pages 17 on 07/21/2010