Coach dies after being hit in head

Tulsa Drillers coach Mike Coolbaugh died Sunday night after being struck in the head by a line drive as he stood in the first base coach’s box during a Texas League game with the Arkansas Travelers, police said.

The game, in North Little Rock, Ark., was suspended in the ninth inning after Coolbaugh was struck by a hard-hit foul ball off the bat of Tino Sanchez and taken to Baptist Medical Center-North Little Rock.

Phil Elson, spokesman for the Travelers, a double-A affiliate for the Angels, said Coolbaugh was struck by the ball on the right side of his head, or on the forehead -- “I’m getting conflicting reports,” he said -- and fell to the ground immediately.

According to a report posted on the Drillers’ website late Sunday, Coolbaugh was knocked unconscious and CPR was administered to him on the field.

Sgt. Terry Kuykendall, spokesman for the North Little Rock police, said Coolbaugh was alive when he was put in an ambulance for the trip to the hospital but stopped breathing as the ambulance arrived at the facility.

“They tried to resuscitate him, but he was pronounced dead at 9:47 p.m.,” Kuykendall said.

Coolbaugh, 35, played 44 games in the major leagues over two seasons, his last appearance being with the St. Louis Cardinals in 2002. Tulsa is a Colorado Rockies’ double-A affiliate.

The Drillers’ website said Coolbaugh joined the Tulsa team’s staff on July 3.

TENNIS

Nadal rallies in second set for another clay title

Rafael Nadal dropped serve three times and had to sweep five straight games to win the Mercedes Cup with a 6-4, 7-5 victory over Stanislas Wawrinka in Stuttgart, Germany.

The top-seeded Spaniard hadn’t previously dropped serve in the tournament but had to rally from 5-2 down in the second set to claim his sixth title this year and his 93rd win in 94 matches on clay.

Nadal is 23-5 in career finals, the highest winning percentage in the open era.

The 50th-ranked Wawrinka had only won one match in eight attempts heading into the tournament after returning in May from a knee injury.

Top-seeded Anna Chakvetadze won her third WTA Tour title of the year with a 6-1, 6-3 victory over Akiko Morigami in the Cincinnati Open.

Belgian qualifier Steve Darcis won his first ATP title by beating unseeded Werner Eschauer, 6-1, 7-6 (1), in Amersfoort, Netherlands, to become the first Belgian to win the Dutch Open in nearly 50 years.

Agnes Szavay won her first singles title by beating second-seeded Martina Mueller, 6-0, 6-1, at the Palermo International in Sicily.

PRO BASKETBALL

Reports: Feds believe

referee will help probe

Authorities believe former NBA referee Tim Donaghy will cooperate with their investigation that he made calls to affect the point spread in games on which he or associates had wagered, the New York Daily News reported, citing anonymous sources.

Two of the bookies Donaghy allegedly used to place bets are expected to be arrested after he surrenders as early as Tuesday, the newspaper reported.

Authorities do not know whether the gambling scandal extends beyond Donaghy.

The Daily News reported that Donaghy’s name was first heard on a wiretap during probes of the Gambino crime family over the last year. The newspaper reported that Donaghy was threatened into cooperating with the bookies, who allegedly won thousands of dollars with his help.

A law enforcement official told the Associated Press that the bets were made on games during the 2005-06 and 2006-07 seasons. Commissioner David Stern said the league is cooperating with federal authorities in their investigation.

According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Donaghy officiated 68 games in the 2005-06 season and 63 games in 2006-07. He also worked 20 playoff games, including five last season: Detroit Pistons-Orlando Magic on April 23; Golden State Warriors-Dallas Mavericks on April 27; Phoenix Suns-Lakers on April 29; New Jersey Nets-Toronto Raptors on May 4; and San Antonio Spurs-Suns on May 12.

PRO FOOTBALL

Steelers, top pick Timmons reach deal

Outside linebacker Lawrence Timmons, the No. 15 pick in the NFL draft, agreed with the Pittsburgh Steelers on a five-year contract that could be worth as much as $15 million and guarantees him $8.05 million in bonus money.

Timmons became only the third first-round pick in the April draft to reach terms and the first in the upper half of the draft. The deal was reached less than 24 hours before the Steelers become the first NFL team to open training camp.

The Cleveland Browns signed three rookies to four-year contracts, just not the big three.

With the opening of training camp a few days away, the club has not yet reached deals with offensive tackle Joe Thomas and quarterback Brady Quinn -- both first-round picks -- or cornerback Eric Wright, a second-round pick. The team did sign defensive back Brandon McDonald, defensive end Melila Purcell and wide receiver Syndric Steptoe.