Sports: Sports digest

Sports digest

By Times wires and staff reports

Problems continue for Little League

With the Little League World Series set to open Friday in South Williamsport, Pa., Little League is investigating allegations the Harlem (N.Y.) team that won the Mid-Atlantic Regional did it with players from outside the league's boundaries.

Newsday reported Wednesday as many as three players -- star pitcher Alibay Barkley, shortstop/pitcher Jeremy "Jeter" Lopez and third baseman/pitcher Andrew Diaz -- live outside the Harlem district, according to neighbors.

Last summer's World Series was dogged by scandal when Bronx, N.Y., pitcher Danny Almonte was discovered to be too old to play. Almonte's team forfeited its third-place finish after officials determined he was 14 instead of 12.

Last week, Little League received anonymous messages claiming three of Harlem's players lived outside team boundaries and several were too old. To be eligible for this year's tournament, players could not turn 13 before Aug. 1. Those charges were investigated and disproved, officials said.

Lance Van Auken, spokesman and a member of the committee that investigates eligibility questions, said new allegations involve different players. Little League is investigating and expects to make a decision soon, he said. For now, the Harlem team remains eligible, playing Saturday against a team from Clemmons, N.C.

COLLEGES: The USF men's soccer team was picked third in C-USA by league coaches. UAB was first, followed by Saint Louis. Senior midfielder Jeff Thwaites and sophomore defender Jared Vock were named to the preseason all-conference team. Last season, USF finished third in C-USA and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament. ... According to agent Jason Levien, former Florida center Udonis Haslem has been offered a contract with a team in Chalon, France, for about $400,000 per season. Several NBA teams, including Golden State and Seattle, invited Haslem to participate in camps, but he has not been offered a guaranteed contract. Haslem is expected to decide by Monday. ... The FSU men's basketball team plays its first eight at home, including the opener against Savannah State on Nov. 24, and matches against Florida on Dec. 6 and Miami, coach Leonard Hamilton's former school, Dec. 8. Duke and national champ Maryland come to Tallahassee on Feb. 2 and Feb. 12, respectively. Florida should announce its schedule Aug. 22. ... Fayetteville State hired Sam Hanger as interim basketball coach, a week after firing Mike Bernard for falsifying academic credentials on his resume.

TENNIS: Jennifer Capriati and Jelena Dokic advanced in the Rogers AT&T Cup at Montreal. ... Marat Safin withdrew from the RCA Championships at Indianapolis with a viral infection. Top seed Lleyton Hewitt advanced. ... Andy Roddick advanced in the Legg Mason Classic at Washington.

GOLF: Bradenton's Aree Wongluekiet won twice in match play at the U.S. Women's Amateur Championships in Scarborough, N.Y. Eustis' In-Bee Park and Tampa's Mallory Code were ousted.

HORSES: Zavata won the $150,000 Saratoga Special in N.Y. ... Freedom's Daughter, the 2-year-old filly who won the Schuylerville Stakes July 24, likely died of Colitis X, a disease of the large intestine.

SOCCER: The United States broke into the top 10 of the FIFA world rankings for the first time, tying Italy for ninth. ... MLS dropped plans for a benefit game Sept. 11 at Giants Stadium (N.J.) between World Cup champion Brazil and an international all-star team because commissioner Don Garber said it was not "the right time for a celebratory match." ... Columbus and Chicago won in MLS.

SWIMMING: Michael Phelps won the 200 butterfly in a meet record 1 minute, 54.86 seconds at the U.S. National Championships in Fort Lauderdale.

-- PETE YOUNG, BRIAN LANDMAN, ANTONYA ENGLISH, TIMES WIRES