HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL
Glenwood Springs—The Glenwood Demons earned their first Western Slope League victories yesterday by sweeping a doubleheader from the Summit Tigers, 3 to 2 and 18 to 3. Chase Nieslanik went the distance on the mound in game one while Willie Salcido pitched all 7 innings in the nightcap.
The Basalt Longhorns defeated the Meeker Cowboys 9 to 6 to hang on to first place in the Western Slope 3A.
BRONCOS TAKE D-TACKLE IN FIRST ROUND
ENGLEWOOD (AP) – The Denver Broncos selected defensive tackle Sylvester Williams in the first round of the NFL draft Thursday, a 313-pounder from North Carolina who gives defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio more of the heft he likes up front.
It’s a position the Broncos upgraded in free agency, when they signed 300-pounder Terrence Knighton and brought back another 300-pounder in Kevin Vickerson.
But Williams, with 20 1/2 tackles for loss and 8 1/2 sacks over his two years at Carolina, was regarded as a top-20 pick in a number of mock drafts and apparently too good a player for the Broncos to pass up. Denver is still in need of a pass rusher to replace Elvis Dumervil (DOO’-mur-vihl) and also seeks help in the defensive backfield and at running back.
ROCKIES LOSE TO D-BACKS
PHOENIX (AP) – Paul Goldschmidt’s two-run home run in the fourth inning powered the Arizona Diamondbacks to a 3-2 win over the Colorado Rockies on Thursday night.
Goldschmidt’s fifth homer of the year followed a single by Martin Prado and snapped a 1-1 tie. Goldschmidt’s towering drive down the left field hit near the top of the foul pole, and increased his team-leading RBI total to 18.
USA PRO CYCLING CHALLENGE STARTS IN ASPEN
DENVER (AP) – The 2013 USA Pro Challenge will kick off Aug. 19 in Aspen and Snowmass Village, then pass through six more Colorado cities before its finale in Denver on Aug. 25. Organizers of the professional cycling stage race announced the route Thursday. The second stage from Aspen to Breckenridge will have riders climbing Independence Pass. The next day, they ascend Rabbit Ears Pass as they head from Breckenridge to Steamboat Springs. In stage four, they go from Steamboat Springs to Beaver Creek. Stage five features an individual time trial in Vail.
In stage six, Loveland and Fort Collins join the race for the first time.
Elsewhere in sports…
NEW YORK (AP) – The NFL draft continues this evening with rounds two and three. Linemen dominated the selections in the first round yesterday. Among the players still up for grabs are USC quarterback Matt Barkley, Notre Dame linebacker Manti Te’o (MAN’-ty TAY’-oh) and West Virginia quarterback Geno Smith.
UNDATED (AP) – The NBA’s playoff schedule tonight features three games. In Boston the Celtics are facing the Knicks, down 2-0 in the best-of-seven first-round series. The Spurs are playing the Lakers in L.A. with the home team trailing 2-0. And in Oakland, the Warriors and Nuggets play Game 3 of their series with things all tied up at 1-1.
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) – There’s some bad news for the Oklahoma City Thunder and their fans. All-Star point guard Russell Westbrook is out indefinitely, facing surgery to repair cartilage in his right knee. The three-time All-Star was hurt in Game 2 of the Thunder’s playoff series against Houston on Wednesday night.
CANONSBURG, Pa. (AP) – The Pittsburgh Penguins are hopeful that Sidney Crosby might be ready to play in the playoffs. The team’s captain, who suffered a broken jaw last month, took part in non-contact drills today, wearing a protective facemask that he’ll likely keep on for the duration of the postseason.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) – A man of his word, Louisville basketball coach Rick Pitino (pih-TEE’-noh) now sports a tattoo. He told his players that if they won the NCAA championship he would get a tattoo. They did and he has, an old-English “L” in red on his left shoulder with the words 2013 NCAA champions, 35-5.
