COLLEGES

NCAA upholds its penalty on Fighting Sioux moniker

An NCAA spokesman said Friday that the association won’t change a policy that will penalize the University of North Dakota for keeping its Fighting Sioux nickname.

The statement supports the Big Sky Conference’s objections to the nickname.

North Dakota wants to join the conference next July, but the Big Sky commissioner says the school’s membership may be in doubt because of its continuing use of the nickname.

The North Dakota Legislature has ordered UND to keep using the Fighting Sioux nickname and a logo that shows an American Indian warrior.

MAINE: Junior pitcher Keith Bilodeau has been named to the All-Northeast Region second team. He finished 10-3 with a 3.04 ERA, led the team in innings pitched with 912/3 and struck out 83 batters.

BASEBALL

NECBL: Paul Kronenfeld keyed a four-run first inning with an RBI double to lead the Sanford Mainers to a 5-1 win over the Laconia Muskrats at Sanford.

• Clinton Hartwick went 3 for 4 and drove in two runs to pace the North Shore Navigators to an 8-2 win over the Old Orchard Beach Raging Tide (1-4) at Lynn, Mass.

TWILIGHT LEAGUE: Paul Grazia and Sam Stauber each had an RBI single in the second inning to spur a six-run rally as Patriot Insurance (1-0-1) earned a 6-3 win over Lender’s Network (0-2) at Scarborough.

• Ron Beaulieu & Co. scored three runs in the sixth inning and went on to beat Aero Heating & Ventilating 3-0 at Deering Oaks.

JUNIOR LEGION: Josh Fleming pitched a three-hitter, struck out nine and walked two as Post 14 of Fairfield earned a 6-0 win over Smith-Tobey (1-1), at Fairfield.

TENNIS

UNICEF OPEN: Marcos Baghdatis’ 26th birthday started well with a straight-sets victory over Denis Gremelmayr, but Ivan Dodig cut short his celebrations by beating Baghdatis 7-6 (4), 6-1 in the semifinals in Den Bosch, Netherlands.

EASTBOURNE INTERNATIONAL: Rain washed out semifinal play at Eastbourne, England, with all matches rescheduled for today.

GOLF

EUROPEAN TOUR: Andrea Perrino and Craig Lee shared a one-shot lead at 5 under after the second round of the Saint-Omer Open in Saint-Omer, France.

BASKETBALL

NBA: Owners have relaxed their insistence on non-guaranteed contracts in a new collective bargaining agreement, but players cautioned that it isn’t enough because the league is still seeking a hard salary cap.

HOCKEY

NHL: Mike Yeo, 37, was introduced as the Minnesota Wild’s new coach. Yeo previously coached Minnesota’s AHL affiliate in Houston.

• The Dallas Stars hired Glen Gulutzan to be their next coach, hoping his success with their AHL affiliate will continue in the NHL.

• The New York Islanders signed former Portland Pirates forward Trevor Gillies to a two-way deal.