Julia Clukey to host camp registration, reunion
AUGUSTA, Maine — Julia Clukey, a member of the U.S. luge team, will host a camp registration and reunion event with the Kennebec Valley YMCA from 1-4 p.m. Saturday at the KV YMCA at 31 Union St. in Augusta.
The event will be a reunion for Julia Clukey’s Camp for Girls and Camp KV and an opportunity for parents to register their children for this year’s KV YMCA camps. The event is free and open to the public. To learn more or to download a camp brochure visit clukeyluge.com/camp.
This June marks the third year of Julia Clukey’s Camp for Girls. During the past two years, the camp has received national attention and attracted nearly 200 young girls, ages 8-12.
Clukey, 28, will be at the event before heading to Lake Placid, N.Y., to complete in the final luge competition of the season on March 14-16.
Ruth watch sells for $717,000
Babe Ruth’s pocket watch from the 1923 World Series sold at an auction in New York on Saturday for $717,000.
The pentagonal 14-karat gold watch was purchased by a telephone bidder, according to ESPN.com. Heritage Auctions, which administered the auction, said the buyer requested anonymity.
The timepiece was part of a set given to the Yankees after they beat the New York Giants in the 1923 World Series.
Ruth batted .368 and hit three home runs in the series. It was the first of the Yankees’ 27 World Series championships.
The watch is engraved with a picture of a pitcher, hitter and catcher, and a ball in flight. It is inscribed, “Presented by Baseball Commissioner to George H. Ruth.”
MLB’s new rule to cut down home plate collisions
NEW YORK — An experimental rule aimed at averting dangerous home plate collisions has been adopted for the upcoming Major League Baseball season, MLB and the Players Association jointly announced on Monday.
The rule prohibits a baserunner from deviating from his direct pathway to the plate in order to initiate contact with the catcher, while the catcher will not be allowed to block home plate before catching the ball.
Baserunners found to have gone out of their way to initiate contact will be called out, and will be called safe and awarded a run if home plate is blocked by a defensive player without possession of the ball.
The rule will be reviewed after the season for possible application in 2015.
“We believe the new experimental rule allows for the play at the plate to retain its place as one of the most exciting plays in the game, while providing an increased level of protection to both the runner and the catcher,” Players Association chief Tony Clark said in a statement.
Yankees sign Gardner to four-year deal
The New York Yankees announced Monday that they signed outfielder Brett Gardner to a four-year contract extension.
The new deal begins in 2015 and includes a club option for 2019.
The Yankees did not release financial terms but it has been reported that the deal is worth $52 million. It buys out the first four years of his free agent eligibility. The club option is reportedly worth $12.5 million.
Gardner, 30, had a .273 batting average with 33 doubles, an American League-best 10 triples, eight home runs, 52 RBIs, 81 runs and 24 stolen bases in 2013.
Florida takes over top spot in basketball poll
Florida took over the top spot in the Associated Press top 25 poll for the first time since repeating as NCAA champions in 2007.
The latest poll was released Monday.
Florida (25-2) moved up from second after Syracuse lost twice last week. The Orange (25-2) fell from first to No. 4.
Wichita State (29-0), the only unbeaten team in Division I, moved up from third to No. 2. Arizona (25-2) climbed from fourth to No. 3.
Florida received 47 first-place votes. Wichita State picked up 14 top votes and Arizona got the remaining four.
Syracuse was No. 1 for three weeks but lost to Boston College and Duke last week.
Kansas (21-6) jumped from eighth to No. 5. Duke, Louisville, Villanova, Creighton and Saint Louis rounded out the top 10.