The past two champions of the Central Virginia Invitational Golf Tournament couldn’t be more different.

LOS ANGELES (AP) _ Serenaded by a star-studded, Hollywood crowd with the customary and overdone “M-V-P, M-V-P” chants, Kobe Bryant showed why he’s unmatched.

LOS ANGELES — Phil Jackson called it “ridiculous” and “unbelievable.“

For those who questioned whether Liberty University professor and ultra-marathon man David Horton was truly human or really a running machine, he gave a hint at his humanity on Sunday.

SAN DIEGO (AP) — U.S. Open week arrived at Torrey Pines on Monday, when Tiger Woods had to share the city-owned course with fellow competitors and a gallery that grew at every hole.

CLIFFORD — Joe Burke’s approach shot to the 18th green at Winton Country Club was short. The ball settled on spongy fringe, making for a tricky up and down.

Before Big Brown attempts to win the third leg of the Triple Crown of horse racing Saturday in New York, Liberty University ultra-marathon man David Horton will begin his quest to complete the Triple Crown of trail running out West.

As part of its Wednesday night awards banquet, Heritage High inducted the second class of its Athletic Hall of Fame.

As part of its Wednesday night awards banquet, Heritage High inducted the second class of its Athletic Hall of Fame.

One area singles player and two doubles teams will compete in state individual tennis tournaments this week.

PENHOOK — Richard Mandell must always toe a delicate line.

TAMPA - As Golda Marcus walked along the pool deck at the Brandon Sports and Aquatics Center, she could hear people whispering the same thing: “It’s the LZR Racer. That’s the new Speedo swimsuit.“

AMHERST — Steve Isaacs recently walked into his son Kevin’s bedroom and admired the boy’s VISAA wrestling state championship trophy. Kevin, a St. Christopher’s senior, defeated previously undefeated VES senior Guilliano Freeo in the state finals in February, and for a brief moment, Kevin was one up on his old man in terms of state championships this year.

AMHERST — The difference between a pretty good round and a special round for Walt Martin on Tuesday was about the width of a pin point.
Martin struck the ball better than anyone in the field at the VSGA’s Senior Stroke Play Championship at Poplar Grove Golf Club. Had he putted just a little better, no one would be within striking distance.

Amherst’s Jacob Sale pitched a four-hit shutout and Ashton Paige blasted a leadoff home run in the bottom of the first to carry the Lancers past Liberty 1-0 in a Seminole District quarterfinal game Monday. Sale struck out 10 and walked two. Paige was 2-for-2. Amherst will play Jefferson Forest at 5 p.m. in the semifinal at Heritage on Wednesday.

ANNAPOLIS, Md. — Ben Rubeor’s goal with 31 seconds remaining in overtime lifted second-seeded Virginia to an 8-7 victory over No. 8 Maryland on Saturday in an NCAA tournament quarterfinal.

Jefferson Forest’s baseball team overcame an early 3-0 deficit to Amherst with a three-run home run by Ragan Rudisill capping a four-run bottom of the first en route to a 10-4 triumph that clinched its third consecutive Seminole District title outright.

MIAMI - One of five suspects charged in the slaying of Washington Redskins star Sean Taylor has pleaded guilty to charges of second-degree murder and burglary.

BLACKSBURG — The Virginia Tech baseball team wrapped up the non-conference portion of its schedule with a 10-5 win against William & Mary at English Field on Tuesday.

Lynchburg College received an at-large bid to the six-team NCAA South Regional Baseball Tournament, which begins Wednesday at American Legion Memorial Post 325 Stadium at Dan Daniel Park in Danville. The Hornets are the fourth seed and play third-seeded Piedmont College (32-12) in the first round at 7 p.m.

CHESTERTOWN, Md. — Washington College defeated Lynchburg 12-9 in the second round of the NCAA Division III Men’s Lacrosse Tournament on Sunday.

Senior shortstop Dara Sandifer (Holy Cross) had four hits Saturday, including the game-winning double in the eighth inning as the Lynchburg College softball team advanced to the Championship Game of the Methodist University Regional with a 2-1 win over Neumann College (Penn.).

Former Liberty High standout Cari Wooldridge tossed a shutout Friday to lead Winthrop past Radford 2-0 in Game 7 of the Big South softball tournament in Rock Hill, S.C.

ASHBURN - Jason Campbell has so many things running through his head that it is a wonder his helmet is not spinning when he stands behind the center.

Lynchburg College’s softball team is seeded first in one of eight NCAA Division III regional tournaments, hosted by Methodist in Fayetteville, N.C. After receiving a first-round bye, the Hornets (36-5) will meet the winner between fourth-seeded Emory University and fifth-seeded LaGrange College on Thursday at 4 p.m.

Ryan Stinnett crushed his first shot in Sunday’s final round of the Fox Puss Invitational at Boonsboro Country Club, but it sailed right, near a tree about 160 yards away from the pin.

The New Covenant girls soccer team is finishing their spring in a similar way they started it — with success. The Gryphons, who went undefeated (10-0) in the conference this season, edged Christian Heritage in the VACA Southern Division Championship 3-1 on Saturday en route to a No. 1 seed in the state championships.

Steve Liebler and Ryan Stinnett have plenty in common. Both have dabbled in professional golf, only to return to the comfortable rhythm of amateur action.

Liberty starter David Stokes threw his second complete game of the year and three different Flames hit home runs in an 8-3 victory over Charleston Southern on Saturday at Buccaneer Field.

It’s no coincidence that the only two players who broke par in the first round of the Fox Puss Invitational tournament Friday teed off before 9 a.m.