Flowers powers U.S. in softball

Tairia Flowers homered, Crystl Bustos hit a two-run double, left-hander Cat Osterman was all but unhittable and the United States beat Japan, 3-0, Monday night in the World Cup of Softball championship game at Oklahoma City.

Flowers drove Hiroko Sakai’s first pitch of the second inning over the center-field fence, giving Osterman all the offense she needed to guide the U.S. to its 22nd win in a row and second consecutive World Cup title.

Japan hit only two balls out of the infield against Osterman (2-0), who gave up three hits and struck out 13, including 10 of the first 13 batters she faced.

Sheena Lawrick singled in two runs in a seven-run third inning, leading Canada to an 8-2 win over China in the third-place game.

GOLF

Ballesteros decides to call it a career

Seve Ballesteros officially retired, ending a career in which he had a record 50 victories on the European Tour, five major championships and a Ryder Cup career that helped Europe shed its underdog image.

He has not been a factor the last decade because of back injuries, rarely playing the last couple of years.

The Spaniard was the youngest Masters champion (23) until Tiger Woods came along.

FOOTBALL

Samuel, Patriots fail to agree on a contract

Cornerback Asante Samuel and the New England Patriots failed to agree on a multiyear contract, setting the stage for a possible holdout.

Samuel, coming off the best of his four seasons, can play only for the $7.79-million tender offer the Patriots made when they designated him as their franchise player. He did not attend the team’s mandatory mini-camp last month and has said he intends to hold out until the 10th week of the regular season.

The NFL announced that Kansas City defensive end Jared Allen had been suspended for the first two games of the 2007 season and fined an additional game check as a result of two drunk-driving arrests.

A University of Miami player was ticketed for careless driving and a highly touted freshman quarterback was among three players injured early Monday after a one-car crash in southwest Florida.

The car overturned several times before stopping on its roof. Alcohol was not a factor, the Florida Highway Patrol said.

Wide receiver Jermaine McKenzie, 18, was ticketed after telling troopers he fell asleep while driving on Interstate 75 near Naples, about 120 miles from Miami’s campus.

Quarterback Robert Marve, 18, was in the back seat. The Miami Herald reported Marve needed surgery on his left -- non-throwing -- hand, citing information from Robert Weiner, Marve’s high school coach.

PRO BASKETBALL

Stevenson finalizes deal with the Wizards

Guard DeShawn Stevenson re-signed with the Washington Wizards, finalizing a deal that had been agreed to last week.

The Wizards would not disclose terms of the deal, but it is reportedly worth $15 million over four years.

The Golden State Warriors said they had signed Italian guard Marco Belinelli, the 18th overall selection in this year’s NBA draft. Terms of the deal were not released.

JURISPRUDENCE

Ex-NBA player Williams gets favorable ruling

The judge presiding over former NBA player Jayson Williams’ retrial in Somerville, N.J., for the shooting of a hired driver in 2002 ruled that portions of a 911 call made by Williams’ brother, Victor, on the night of the shooting will be excluded from the trial.

In April, the state Supreme Court ruled that prosecutors could introduce evidence at the retrial that Williams, 39, tried to cover up the shotgun slaying of Costas Christofi.

The former New Jersey Nets star was convicted in 2004 of trying to cover up the slaying but was acquitted of the more serious charge of aggravated manslaughter. Jurors were unable to reach a verdict on the reckless manslaughter count, voting 8-4 in favor of acquittal.

A state appellate panel ruled in April 2006 that Williams could be tried again for reckless manslaughter, rejecting his attorneys’ claims that a retrial would constitute double jeopardy.

University of Minnesota cornerback Dominic Jones was charged with third-degree criminal sexual conduct after investigators said they found cellphone video that showed him in a sex act with a woman who was “physically helpless.”

Three other Gophers remain suspects in the case, which began in April after an 18-year-old woman said she was raped at an apartment near campus.

HOCKEY

Ducks sign defenseman Rome to one-year deal

The Ducks signed defenseman Aaron Rome, 24, to a one-year contract. He played last season with the Ducks’ minor league affiliate in Portland, Maine, and played one regular-season and one playoff game with the Ducks.

MISCELLANY

MacMillan is hired as UCLA soccer assistant

Shannon MacMillan, a former standout with the U.S. women’s national soccer team, has been hired as assistant coach at UCLA, Coach Jillian Ellis announced.

UCLA hired Derek Freeman as men’s golf coach. He was an assistant coach with the team last season.

The UCLA men’s basketball team will play Davidson on Dec. 8 at the Honda Center in the 14th annual John R. Wooden Classic.

Indianapolis Motor Speedway officials announced a deal with MotoGP to bring the international motorcycle racing series to the track next year.

The Red Bull Indianapolis Grand Prix will be Sept. 14, 2008.