RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil — The U.S. women likely would have beaten Venezuela for the Pan American Games softball gold, considering how overpowering the Americans have been this year. They never got the chance, but still got the gold.
Organizers decided that the Americans (4-0, with three no-hitters) would be awarded the gold and Venezuela (3-1) would get the silver after Saturday's games were rained out. A steady rain meant the fields, which have been troublesome all week, probably wouldn't be in shape to play today, the final day of the games.
So the U.S. team has its eighth straight title.
Former UA standout Caitlin Lowe led the team with six hits, scoring three runs.
Soccer
U.S. women rout Japan in San Jose
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SAN JOSE, Calif. — The United States women's soccer team cruised past Japan 4-1 in a World Cup warmup match at Spartan Stadium on Saturday night.
Shannon Boxx, Kristine Lilly and Abby Wambach scored for the Americans. The fourth U.S. score came on an own goal by Japan.
● Freddy Adu was given permission by Real Salt Lake to go to Portugal in an attempt to complete transfer negotiations with Benfica. Major League Soccer and Benfica already have agreed to a $2 million transfer fee for the 18-year-old.
Arena football
SaberCats take on Destroyers for title
NEW ORLEANS — The San Jose SaberCats know the regular season won't mean anything when they face the Columbus Destroyers in today's Arena Bowl.
Columbus has been a different team since barely qualifying for the playoffs with a 7-9 regular-season record. The Destroyers come into the game averaging 63 points in the postseason — an improvement of 13 points over their regular-season average — and with playoff victories over Dallas and Georgia, the teams with the best regular-season records.
The SaberCats haven't lost in 3 1/2 months and have won two of the last five AFL titles.
miscellaneous
Knicks center Curry held at gunpoint
BURR RIDGE, Ill. — Three masked robbers broke into the suburban Chicago home of New York Knicks center Eddy Curry on Saturday morning and held his family and an employee at gunpoint. A police spokesperson said the three offenders restrained Curry, his family and an employee with duct tape. No one was injured in the incident, and the robbers made off with cash and jewelry.
● Ryan Silva, an 11-year-old who attends Doolen Middle School, won the midget boys division of the 800 meters Saturday at the USATF National Junior Olympic Track & Field Championships in Walnut Creek, Calif. Silva won in 2 minutes 12.25 seconds, more than 4 1/2 seconds ahead of the runner-up. He runs today in the 1,500.
