Clemens welcome at event

Roger Clemens is still welcome at a convention of Texas high school baseball coaches.

The group reconsidered its invitation after Clemens was mentioned prominently in the Mitchell Report on steroids.

On Monday, the coaches said they found no reason to prevent the star pitcher from addressing their annual meeting next month in Houston.

“He still wants to come,” said Jim Long, president of the Texas High School Baseball Coaches Assn. “He said he intends on speaking.”

The group’s decision was first reported by Houston television station KRIV.

Clemens’ agent, Randy Hendricks, did not immediately return a telephone call Monday from the Associated Press.

In an interview that is set to air Sunday on “60 Minutes,” Clemens will answer questions about the steroids accusations against him.

Long said his group left its options open depending on what Clemens says in the interview.

“If something else comes up, there may be a possibility he wouldn’t come,” Long said.

“But unless there is some concrete evidence he is guilty or if the media circus would keep him from coming . . . it would be unfair of us not to let him come.”

Right-hander Chin-hui Tsao, who spent last season with the Dodgers, signed a minor league contract with the Kansas City Royals that includes an invitation to spring training.

Tsao was 0-1 with a 4.38 earned-run average in 21 relief appearances for the Dodgers. His season ended in July because of shoulder trouble. He was sent to triple-A Las Vegas in November and became a free agent when he refused the assignment.

--

TENNIS

Davenport wins opener in Auckland

Lindsay Davenport got off to a good start in her first tuneup for the Australian Open, defeating Laura Granville, 6-2, 6-3, in the first round of the ASB Women’s Classic at Auckland, New Zealand.

Davenport won in 66 minutes and looked fit and sharp as she prepares for her first Grand Slam in more than a year, beginning Jan. 14 in Melbourne.

The 31-year-old Davenport spent 11 months away from the tour in 2007 for the birth of her first child, son Jagger. She’s 14-1 since her return, winning two titles.

Tathiana Garbin upset second-seeded Nadia Petrova, 5-7, 7-5, 6-3, in a first-round match at the Australian women’s hardcourt championships at Gold Coast. In other first-round matches, third-seeded Dinara Safina defeated Jarmila Gajdosova, 4-6, 6-1, 6-2, fourth-seeded Patty Schnyder beat Alisa Kleybanova, 6-1, 6-3, and sixth-seeded Amelie Mauresmo beat Olga Savchuk, 6-1, 6-1.

Wild-card entrant Joe Sirianni took advantage of a heel injury to fifth-seeded Radek Stepanek to advance to the second round of the Australian men’s hardcourt championships at Adelaide.

Sirianni was awarded the match when the Stepanek retired while trailing, 7-6 (3), 4-3, and down a break in the second set, citing a right heel problem that flared up in the first set.

SOCCER

Donovan heads U.S. national roster

Landon Donovan heads 26 players picked for a U.S. national team training camp ahead of a Jan. 19 exhibition game against Sweden at the Home Depot Center in Carson.

Three players on the roster are from Scandinavian clubs on winter break: defender Dan Califf, captain of Denmark’s Aalborg; defender Ramiro Corrales of Norway’s Brann; and forward Jeremiah White of Denmark’s Aarhus. White has not played with the U.S. national team.

Houston forward Brian Ching, who suffered a strained calf during the MLS Western Conference final, was omitted from the roster along with Chivas USA defender Jonathan Bornstein, who is also injured.

MISCELLANY

U.S. reaches junior hockey semifinals

The U.S. and Sweden advanced to the semifinals of the world junior hockey championship at Pardubice, Czech Republic.

Colin Wilson had a natural hat trick for the U.S. in a 5-3 victory over Finland.

The Americans automatically gained the semifinals by taking first place in Group B, going 4-0 to earn 12 points.

Sweden defeated the Czech Republic, 4-2, to also go 4-0 and win Group A.

Aqueduct will keep running horse races until at least Jan. 23 under a temporary agreement.

New York lawmakers, however, failed to reach a long-term deal on who will control racing at Aqueduct, Belmont Park and Saratoga. Aqueduct is the only one of the three now running.

The New York Racing Assn. arrangement to operate the three tracks was to expire at midnight. A state oversight board has the authority to keep racing going until a new agreement is negotiated.