Saturday's sports briefly 4/20/02

AREA

Otahkians gain sixth player in spring period

Yashika Sidbury, a sophomore with the Trinity Valley (Texas) Community College women's basketball team, has signed a national letter of intent to play at Southeast in the fall.

Sidbury, a 5-foot-11 guard, averaged 10 points and five rebounds for Trinity Valley, which was 32-3 and finished seventh in the national tournament in March. She averaged 10 points and six rebounds a game as a freshman when the team was 28-4.

Sidbury, originally from Washington, D.C., is the sixth player to sign with new coach B.J. Smith during the spring signing period.

Otahks look for continued success vs. Morehead

The Southeast softball team can clinch a spot in the Ohio Valley Conference tournament this weekend in a three-game road series against Morehead State (9-26-1, 5-8-1).

Southeast (10-22, 7-10 OVC) could gain a seed as high as fourth in the tournament with its sweep of the series that begins today with a doubleheader. The teams play again in a single game Sunday.

Otahks stumble early in OVC tennis tourney

Nashville, TENN. -- TENNESSEE TECH ADVANCED TO THE SEMIFINALS OF THE OVC WOMEN'S TENNIS TOURNAMENT FRIDAY WITH A 4-0 WIN OVER SOUTHEAST MISSOURI. BIG UNDERDOGS FACING A ONE SEED, SOUTHEAST WON ONLY FOUR GAMES IN THE LOSS.

THE OTAHKIANS MOVE ON TO FACE EASTERN ILLINOIS IN THE SEMIFINALS OF THE LOSER'S BRACKET. TECH ADVANCES TO FACE FIFTH-SEEDED MOREHEAD STATE TODAY. MOREHEAD ADVANCED WITH A 4-3 VICTORY OVER EASTERN ILLINOIS.

Festus beats the rain, blanks Central

Southern Illinois University signee Tyler Norrick struck out 13 and walked two in seven innings to lead Festus past Central 3-0.

The game was played after an hour rain delay.

John Thies took the loss after going six innings and giving up all three unearned runs. Seth Hudson led the Tigers (4-7) and went 2-for-4.

Long earns medalist title in Kimbeland ladies event

Vikie Long finished as medalist in Kimbeland Ladies Golf Play on Thursday at Kimbeland Country Club. Play of the day was most fairways hit. Winners: Long, championship; Janis Gilbert, A flight; Maggie Niswonger, B flight; Pat Irvin, C flight.

ELSEWHERE

Auto racing

Winston Cup team owner Jack Roush was critically injured when his small plane crashed Friday.

Roush, whose 60th birthday was Friday, was in critical condition at UAB Hospital in Birmingham.

Roush owns the Winston Cup teams of Mark Martin, Jeff Burton, Matt Kenseth and Kurt Busch.

Baseball

Darryl Strawberry admitted violating the rules of his probation and told a court he's willing to accept the consequences even if it means serving state prison time.

The 40-year-old former major league slugger could face up to 18 months in a Florida prison for his 1999 arrest on drug and solicitation of prostitution charges.

Basketball

Sue Bird and her Connecticut teammates extended their dominant season to the WNBA draft.

Bird was picked first by the Seattle Storm, one of four players taken from the unbeaten NCAA champion Huskies in the top six selections Friday. Swin Cash was selected No. 2 by Detroit, Asjha Jones fourth by Washington and Tamika Williams sixth by Minnesota.

Kansas forward Drew Gooden will skip his senior season and enter the NBA draft, where he figures to become an eventual millionaire as a lottery pick.

Gooden led the Big 12 in both scoring and rebounding.

Latrell Sprewell says he has persuaded the New York Knicks to slash his fine for missing a shootaround last weekend from $125,000 to $2,500.

Football

Jeremiah Trotter, a two-time Pro Bowl linebacker, agreed to a seven-year, $36 million contract with the Washington Redskins, leaving him in the NFC East to cause headaches for his former teammates in Philadelphia.

Trotter completes an impressive linebacking corps for new defensive coordinator Marvin Lewis. LaVar Arrington, recent free agent signing Jessie Armstead and Trotter all went to the Pro Bowl last season.

-- From staff, wire reports