Devil Rays
Rays peck away to top Texas
Down 4-1, Tampa Bay strings together a four-run rally in the seventh en route to a 7-4 win.

Rekar set to test back on mound
ARLINGTON, Texas -- Bryan Rekar's stiff back felt better Friday. Good enough, in fact, that he is scheduled to start tonight against the Rangers.

Any All-Star ideas?
The Devil Rays are not going to have any players elected starters for the July 11 All-Star Game. And they don't have any obvious choices among their pitchers. That means it's going to be up to AL manager Joe Torre and MLB officials to pick the Rays All-Star -- or Stars.

Motorsports
Working out faster stops
Nutritionists, weight training, specialization, video review, practice. A football team? No, a NASCAR pit crew.

Softball
Richardson regroups from snub to find place on field
She hit the winning HR in the '96 Games for the U.S. softball team -- which took its time asking her back.

Lightning, NHL
Expected for months, deal took Weekes
Lightning sends No. 5 pick to Islanders for goalie Kevin Weekes and a young defenseman.

With No. 8 pick, expect a forward
CALGARY -- Assuming the Lightning and Islanders consummate their deal, the question becomes, what does Tampa Bay do with the No. 8 pick?

Expansion draft picks
Players taken Friday by the Columbus Blue Jackets and Minnesota Wild:

Bierk, Gardiner taken by Minnesota, Columbus
The Lightning loses a goaltender and a forward as the Wild, Blue Jackets fill their rosters.

Colleges
Tampa lands ACC basketball tourney
The men's event will be held in Florida for the first time in March 2007, at the Ice Palace.

Et cetera

• McGhee right where she belongs
  To be honest, when the Orlando Miracle's season ended in August, Carla McGhee was sure she was saying goodbye to the city with the Magic Kingdom.
• State not open to a lesser plea
  Former Florida State All-America placekicker Sebastian Janikowski hasn't played his first down for the Raiders, let alone signed a contract, but his first NFL action might be in the league's drug program.
• Job fusing perfectly
  Miami is winning under colorful coach Ray Hudson, who shares a kinship with his players but would rather not be coaching them.
• Arena duo: friends now opponents
  Andre Bowden and Les Barley, on the same side for so long, are set to battle.
• Middle school coach takes over at Bogie
  Harry Elifson might not have been a legend at Boca Ciega, but he was well on his way to such status.
• Lightning records shutout in opener
  The Countryside Lightning under-14 girls team won its first match at the Southern Regionals in Plano, Texas, 1-0 over the North Carolina Champions, the Charlotte Soccer club.
• Little League
  TAMPA -- More than 130 District 6 and District 13 Little League baseball and softball teams are preparing for their double-elimination all-star tournaments, which will be played today through July 9.
• Around the county
  Basketball
• Pinellas Park National wins pair of titles
  Pinellas Park National beat Cross Bayou 11-0 Tuesday to win the District 5 Senior Baseball Tournament of Champions. Matt McGee got the win as Kip Perry and Ross Gerber each provided key hits and two RBI.
• Around the County
  The Clearwater Bullets 12-and-under softball team won the NSA National Qualifier tournament in Sarasota recently by defeating Pembroke Pines 8-0. The Bullets won six games by a combined score of 54-3. Kelly Betts pitched a no-hitter for the Bullets while Samantha Becker and Dani Hofer combined for a perfect game.