Baseball
Ducks complete Hawaii sweep — J.J. Altobelli went three for four at the plate, drove in two runs and scored another Monday to lead Oregon to a 4-2 victory over Hawaii and a sweep of a four-game series with the Rainbows at Les Murakami stadium in Honolulu. Altobelli’s big game capped an impressive season-opening series for the Ducks’ senior shortstop: He batted .462 (six for 13) and drove in four runs in the four-game set. Reliever Jordan Spencer picked up the win, and Jimmie Sherfy earned his second save. Next up for Oregon (4-0) is a three-game series at home against Loyola Marymount; the opener at P.K. Park in Eugene is set for Friday at 6 p.m.
Beavers win in extra innings — Joey Matthews hit a run-scoring double with one out in the bottom of the 11th inning Monday, giving Oregon State a 5-4 victory over UC Riverside in the final game of the season-opening Palm Springs (Calif.) Tournament. The win improved the Beavers’ record to 4-0 for the first time since the 2007 team won its first seven games of the season. Tyler Painton pitched six innings of scoreless relief for OSU, and Max Engelbrekt earned the win with 2 2⁄3 shutout innings to close on the mound for the Beavers. Kavin Keyes had two of Oregon State’s seven hits, including a leadoff single to start the decisive rally in the 11th inning. Next for the Beavers is a four-game series against San Diego State starting Thursday at 6 p.m. at the Aztecs’ Tony Gwynn Stadium.
Football
Packers release center Saturday — The Green Bay Packers released veteran center Jeff Saturday. General manager Ted Thompson announced the move Monday. Saturday signed a two-year deal with the Packers as an unrestricted free agent in March 2012 after playing 13 seasons with the Indianapolis Colts. Saturday, a six-time Pro Bowl selection in 14 seasons, was benched as a starter with two games left in the regular season in favor of Evan Dietrich-Smith.
Basketball
Pac-12 reprimands Montgomery — California coach Mike Montgomery was reprimanded by the Pac-12 on Monday for shoving one of his own players in the chest during a game. The conference did not announce what specific punishment Montgomery received for his actions Sunday night, although he will not be suspended. The confrontation happened during a timeout early in the second half of Cal’s 76-68 win over Southern California on Sunday night when Montgomery yelled at star guard Allen Crabbe for nonchalant play and then shoved him in the chest with both hands. Montgomery downplayed the run-in immediately after the game but later issued an apology through the school. On Monday, he acknowledged he went too far trying to get his star player out of a funk.
Former coach arrested on tax charges — Former North Carolina State basketball coach Sidney Lowe was arrested Monday and charged with failing to file his North Carolina state income taxes for three years. Lowe didn’t file returns in 2009, 2010 and 2011 — the last three years he coached the Wolfpack, according to the state Department of Revenue. Lowe was paid a base salary of around $210,000 per year. That was boosted to $760,000 with television and radio commitments, and with bonuses and endorsements could have been up to $900,000 a year.
Olympics
USA wrestling formalizes committee — USA Wrestling has formalized plans for a committee charged with restoring Olympic wrestling. The organization announced Monday that the group will be known as the Committee for the Preservation of Olympic Wrestling. As noted by USA Wrestling executive director Rich Bender last week, the committee will be chaired by former world champion Bill Scherr. Leading U.S. wrestling supporter Mike Novogratz will serve as the group’s spokesman. USA Wrestling says the committee’s goals will be to work with FILA, wrestling’s international governing body, and top wrestling nations to restore the sport to the 2020 Olympic program.
Work halted in Rio — The renovation of Maracana, the centerpiece stadium of the 2014 World Cup in Rio de Janeiro, stopped Monday because of a labor dispute. Workers were not on the job and are threatening a full strike beginning next week if demands are not met for higher salaries and better meal vouchers and health plans. Negotiations with the construction companies already have begun. The union says the workers are expected to return today, but a strike could start as early as next Monday if their demands are not taken into consideration.
— From wire reports
