Sports Roundup: Tigers, Verlander on a Roll!

Tigers

Torii Hunter knocked in three runs to help the Detroit Tigers beat the Royals 9-4 inKansas City. Nick Castellanos and Alex Avila each hit a homer forDetroit.  Miguel Cabrera continued to raise his average and knocked in a couple of runs. Cabrera is now hitting .280 after a slow start.  Justin Verlander carried a no-hitter into the sixth inning. He ended up striking out seven in seven innings of three-run ball for the win. Detroitstarts a seven game home stand on Monday against the Houston Astros. Max Scherzer takes the mound forDetroit.  Broadcast time is 6:40 on WBCK-FM.

NHL Playoffs

Pittsburghevened up their best-of-seven set with theNew YorkRangers at a game apiece, winning 3-0. That series shifts toNew Yorkfor Game Three on Monday.

The 'Hawks are out to a 2-0 series lead on the Minnesota Wild after a 4-1 win. The best-of-seven series continues Tuesday inMinnesota.  Also today is the second game between the Anaheim Ducks and Los Angeles Kings. The Kings claimed the overtime win in Game One of that one.

NBA Playoffs

After three Game Sevens on Saturday there was another two on Sunday in the NBA. Paul Pierce's block as time expired sent the Nets to the Eastern Conference semifinals with a 104-103 win against the Raptors at the raucous Air Canada Centre. The Spurs whacked the Mavericks, 119-96 as Tony Parker exploded for 32 points.  Tonight the second round gets rolling. It starts off the Wizards traveling toIndianato face the Pacers in a best-of-seven. The Clippers and Thunder start a best-of-seven series inOklahoma City, after the Clippers overcame adversity to eliminateGoldenState.

Hamlin Wins at Talladega

Denny Hamlin picked up his first win of the year by holding off Greg Biffle to win the Aaron's 499 from Talladega Superspeedway. Hamlin outlasted Biffle during a two-lap shootout to the finish before the race concluded under caution.  This is his 24th win in his 300th career Sprint Cup Series start. Clint Bowyer, Brian Vickers and AJ Allmendinger rounded out the top five. Jeff Gordon tops the standings, three points better than Matt Kenseth. 

Kentucky Derby

California Chrome won the 140^th Kentucky Derby.

 Girls Tennis

Lakeview won the girl’s All-City Tennis tournament for the 9th straight year.  Harper Creek was second.  Battle Creek Central finished third as a squad, St. Philip fourth and Pennfield fifth.

Pro Golf

J.B. Holmes scrambled for a bogey on the final hole of regulation on Sunday, but it was enough to give him a 1-stroke win at the Wells Fargo Championship.

Stacy Lewis fired a 7-under 64 on Sunday and cruised to a 6-stroke victory at the North Texas LPGA Shootout.

Lions

The first round of the NFL draft will take place inNew Yorknext Thursday, followed by the second and third rounds on Friday and rounds four through seven on Saturday. The Detroit Lions pick 10th overall in the first round. They have eight selections in all.

Baseball Trip

Congratulations to Wes Leffert! He is the winner of our Take Me Out to the Ballgame contest! We’re sending Wes and his wife to see any baseball game of their choice this season. We’re providing roundtrip airfare, hotel accommodations, two tickets to the game, and $300 in cash to spend during the trip!  It sounds like Wes, who is a lifelong fan of the St. Louis Cardinals, will be taking his wife to see their favorite team take on the Tampa Bay Rays inSt. Petersburg,Fla.in June.

Battle Creek Coyotes Start Saturday

A new era in minor league football inBattle Creekstarts Saturday.  The Battle Creek Coyotes will host the Lake Michigan Havoc in the first preseason action of the 2014 season. Kickoff is 6:30pm atHarperCreekHigh School. To welcome fans to Coyote Football, the team is offering free admission, however donations are encouraged.