Shortstop Stephen Drew, the 15th overall pick in the June draft, might have another chance to lead Florida State to an elusive College World Series title.
Drew, 21, has been unable to reach a contract agreement with the Arizona Diamondbacks and enrolled on Thursday for what would be his senior year. If he attends his first class Tuesday, the Diamondbacks will lose their rights to him and would have to settle for a compensatory pick between the first and second rounds of the 2005 amateur draft.
"It totally changes the look of our baseball team," FSU coach Mike Martin said. "Stephen is obviously one of the top players in the country and to get him back and put him back in the middle of the lineup makes everyone better."
Drew hit .344 with 17 home runs and 56 RBIs last season and, just days before the draft, was expected to go No. 1 overall. But San Diego was fearful of the asking price - perhaps nearly $10-million - and dealing with Drew's adviser, Scott Boras. Boras represents one of Drew's brothers, former FSU star J.D., who was selected second overall in 1997 by Philadelphia, refused to sign and a year later went fifth overall to St. Louis.
"It's just unbelievable," said Martin, who had some scholarship money available. "It's not a done deal, but we are confident Stephen Drew will be with our baseball team."
- BRIAN LANDMAN, Times staff writer
TENNIS: Blake out of U.S. Open
Tampa's James Blake pulled out of the U.S. Open, citing illness, the third straight Grand Slam tournament he'll miss. Blake, ranked 76th, was not specific about why he withdrew, tournament referee Brian Earley said. He missed the French Open and Wimbledon after hurting his neck and spine in May when he slammed into a net post while chasing a shot during practice after the Italian Open.
TANNER ARRESTED: Roscoe Tanner , who taught at Westchase and at the Treasure Island Tennis and Yacht Club, was arrested in Laguna Niguel, Calif., on a fugitive warrant stemming from his failure to pay more than $82,000 in child support. Tanner, 52, was wanted on a New Jersey warrant issued this month and forwarded to the Orange County Sheriff's Department. In 2003, he was booked into the Pinellas County Jail on charges of grand theft and writing a worthless check.
PILOT PEN: Former Gator Lisa Raymond powered into the semifinals in New Haven, Conn., beating Daniela Hantuchova 6-4, 6-3. Defending champion Jennifer Capriati lost 6-4, 7-5 to eighth-seeded Nathalie Dechy. Russians Elena Bovina and Elena Dementieva advanced. Bovina, seeded seventh, defeated wild-card Mashona Washington 6-3, 6-2, and Dementieva, seeded second, ousted Jelena Jankovic 6-1, 6-4. TD WATERHOUSE CUP: Former Wimbledon and U.S. Open winner Lleyton Hewitt cruised to a 6-1, 6-4 victory over Michael Llodra to advance to the quarterfinals in Commack, N.Y. The win was the 13th in the last 14 matches for the 23-year-old Australian.
NBA: Piston has surgery
Detroit center Ben Wallace had an emergency appendectomy Wednesday night at Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center in Richmond. Team doctor Ben Paolucci said Wallace is doing well and is expected to be discharged today or Saturday.
HEAT: Miami signed second-round pick Matt Freije, a 6-foot-10 forward who was Vanderbilt's all-time scorer.
ET CETERA
SKIING: Former world champion Matti Nykanen and his wife, Mervi Tapola, were arrested on suspicion of attempted homicide after a stabbing in southern Finland. Nykanen, 41, won 19 medals at Olympic and world championship events from 1982-90, the most ever by a ski jumper. He was voted Finland's athlete of the year in 1985.
