Sports briefs for January 7, 2004

Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2004 | 10:57 a.m.

Former New York Yankees Jeff Nelson and Karim Garcia and a Fenway Park groundskeeper pleaded innocent today to assault and battery charges for brawling in the bullpen after a groundskeeper cheered for the Boston Red Sox.

The three were arraigned in Roxbury (Mass.) District Court.

The judge set a Feb. 5 pretrial hearing for the players and a Feb. 24 pretrial hearing for Paul Williams, the groundskeeper.

Attorneys for the two players -- both now free agents -- had no comment today on whether the case could be resolved by Feb. 5.

In December, a clerk magistrate ruled there was probable cause to go forward with charges against the players and there was enough evidence to go forward with a cross-complaint brought by Nelson against Williams, 24, a part-time groundskeeper and middle school teacher from Derry, N.H.

The fight took place in a rowdy Game 3 of the American League championship series Oct. 11 after a bench-clearing melee that started when Garcia was plunked by a pitch from Pedro Martinez.

LVHS lineman commits

Las Vegas High School senior Richie Plunkett, a first-team All-South offensive lineman, has orally committed to Colorado State. A son of former UNLV lineman Art Plunkett, he was also recruited by Oregon State, Louisville and UNLV.

Crumley, Lanehart lead

Justin Crumley of Parsons, Kan., and Katie Lanehart of Eagle River, Alaska, led after the first day of qualifying in the 2004 USA Bowling National Amateur Championships at the Castaways. Crumley totaled 1,175 for eight games to lead Tony Manna Jr. by nine pins. Lanehart, with a 1,810 total, led Melissa Lutz by 69. Competition continues through Saturday with top five men and women qualifying for Team USA 2004.

Clijsters injured

Defending Hopman Cup champion United States defeated France 3-0 at Perth, Australia, today and Belgium's hopes were dealt a severe blow when Kim Clijsters was forced to quit her match after hurting her left ankle less than two weeks before the start of the Australian Open.