BASEBALL
Will Vergantino’s three-run homer capped a tie-breaking five-run rally in the seventh inning for the Winnipesaukee Muskrats, who beat the Sanford Mainers 10-6 in a New England Collegiate Baseball League season opener Friday night at Goodall Park.
The Muskrats managed just five hits but were aided by four Sanford errors, seven walks and four hit batters.
Dominic Freeberger and Pierce Gallo each had two hits for Sanford, and Calvin Hewett hit a two-run single.
MINOR LEAGUES: Nick Banks drove in three runs, Corbin Joseph went 2 for 4 with two RBI and Carson Teel allowed just four hits in seven innings as the Harrisburg Senators cruised to an 8-1 win over the Portland Sea Dogs, in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.
Joey Meneses launched his fifth home run of the season for the Sea Dogs in the sixth inning.
• Tyler Zombro, a pitcher for Triple-A Durham in the Tampa Bay Rays organization, was kept overnight at a hospital and remains in stable condition after being struck in the head by a line drive Thursday night – a frightening scene that prompted the suspension of Durham’s game.
Zombro was hit by a sharp line drive from Norfolk’s Brett Cumberland in the eighth inning. Zombro crumbled awkwardly to the ground, lay motionless for a moment face down, then began to convulse uncontrollably as teammates and a trainer rushed toward the mound.
BASKETBALL
NBA: Joel Embiid’s status for Game 1 of Philadelphia’s second-round playoff series against the Atlanta Hawks is still unknown because of a cartilage tear in his knee.
The 76ers center remained day to day, and Coach Doc Rivers said no decision has been made on the All-Star’s availability for Game 1 on Sunday afternoon.
Embiid has small lateral meniscus tear in his right knee. He did not participate in live drills during Friday’s practice.
FOOTBALL
NFL: The Seattle Seahawks and punter Michael Dickson reached agreement on a $14.5 million, four-year contract extension, according to a person with knowledge of the deal.
Dickson is entering the final year of his rookie contract after being drafted in the fifth round =in 2018. He was a first-team All-Pro and Pro Bowl selection as a rookie when he averaged 48.2 yards per punt. Dickson was even better last season, averaging a career-best 49.6 yards per kick, with 32 kicks downed inside the 20. His net average of 44.4 was also a career best.
TRACK AND FIELD
ROLLINS-MCNEAL SUSPENDED: Olympic hurdles champion Brianna Rollins-McNeal was banned for five years in a doping case, possibly ruling her out of this year’s Tokyo Games and the 2024 Paris Games.
The Athletics Integrity Unit said the American’s ban was for “tampering within the results management process” of doping control samples.
However, Rollins-McNeal has started an appeal that could allow her to run in the 100-meter hurdles at next month’s Tokyo Olympics.
The Court of Arbitration for Sport made an interim decision to freeze her ban so she can run at this month’s U.S. Olympic trials, the AIU said. The full appeal will be heard before the Tokyo Olympics open on July 23.
Rollins-McNeal missed the 2017 season to serve a one-year ban for missing doping tests. Her career-best time of 12.26 seconds makes her the fourth-fastest woman in history in the event. She also won the 100-meter hurdles title at the 2013 world championships in Moscow.
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