Sports briefs for May 11, 2005

Wednesday, May 11, 2005 | 9:46 a.m.

Gagne strong again in win for 51s

Antonio Perez and Brian Myrow hit home runs, and Eric Gagne pitched another strong inning in his rehab assignment as the visiting Las Vegas 51s beat the Memphis Redbirds, 5-4 at AutoZone Park in Memphis, Tenn.

The 51s snapped their three-game losing streak and improved to 15-16, while the first-place Redbirds dropped to 18-13.

After the Redbirds scored three times in the bottom of the first inning, Perez hit a two-out, three-run homer to cap a four-run rally in the top of the second. Myrow's solo shot in the fourth provided an insurance run. Pat Mahomes (2-1) picked up the win, allowing three runs and seven hits in six innings, and Franquelis Osoria gave up one run in the ninth for his fourth save -- but the second rehab appearance by Los Angeles Dodgers closer Eric Gagne was also key in the victory.

Gagne retired the Redbirds in order in the eighth. He struck out John Nelson, induced pinch-hitter Bo Hart to fly out to left field, and fanned Peter Zoccolillo to end the frame. Gagne has struck out five hitters in two innings for the 51s.

New ACC division play generates buzz

Atlantic Coast Conference football coaches and administrators are unanimously enthusiastic about their league's venture into divisional play, which begins this fall and will end with the first conference title game in Jacksonville on Dec. 3.

The ACC's new divisions will be the Atlantic (Boston College, Clemson, Florida State, Maryland, N.C. State, Wake Forest) and the Coastal (Duke, Georgia Tech, Miami, North Carolina, Virginia, Virginia Tech).

Exactly how did the ACC arrive at that those divisions? Depends on who you ask. But the short answer is: competitive balance.

There was some early argument to divide the conference geographically, with Florida State, Miami, Clemson and Georgia Tech all in the same division. That idea was shot down.

"We started with the fact that Miami and Florida State felt like they needed to be in opposite divisions," ACC assistant commissioner Mike Finn said. "For obvious reasons."

The biggest one: For now, the marquee football game in the new ACC is still Florida State-Miami. For the second consecutive year, the teams will play a prime-time opener on Labor Day night.

Nehles earns regional award

UNLV tennis star Henner Nehles has been named the Intercollegiate Tennis Association Mountain Region Senior Player of the Year.

Nehles becomes the fourth Rebel to earn the honor and the first since 2002 when All-American Thomas Schneiter was selected. A national winner of the award, which will be announced later this month, will be chosen from among the eight regional winners.

"Henner was by far the most dominant senior and arguably the best player overall in our region this year," UNLV head coach Owen Hambrook said. "He is a great player and a great person as well and it is nice to see him getting the recognition he deserves."

Nehles will put his 10-match winning streak on the line May 25 when he opens play at the 2005 NCAA Singles Championship at the George P. Mitchell Tennis Center in College Station, Texas.

Progress or not, negotiations continue

Although the NHL and the players' association say they aren't getting closer to a deal, their leaders will stay at the bargaining table longer than expected.

So long that they might not make it to Austria to see the end of the world hockey championships.

NHL commissioner Gary Bettman and union executive director Bob Goodenow will meet Wednesday and Thursday instead of heading to Europe -- a trip that might be canceled altogether.

-- Sun wire services