IN BRIEF

BASEBALL

A-Rod switching sides in World Baseball event

Alex Rodriguez is switching sides.

The New York Yankees star third baseman will play for the Dominican Republic in the 2009 World Baseball Classic, he said Saturday.

Rodriguez made the announcement in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, while playing at a charity golf tournament hosted by friend David Ortiz of the Boston Red Sox.

"I am 100 percent sure that I will play for the Dominican Republic team," he said. "This time, there will be no doubts, and it is a dream of my mom's that I intend to fulfill."

Rodriguez played for the United States in the 2006 inaugural Classic and largely was criticized by fans in the Dominican Republic and across Latin America. He at first had announced he would play for the Dominican Republic, then said he would not play and ultimately joined the U.S. team.

Rodriguez was born in the U.S., but his parents are from the Dominican Republic.

BOXING

Froch decisions Pascal to claim WBC crown

Carl Froch survived the big right hands of Jean Pascal and a tendency to indulge in a wild-swinging brawl to capture the WBC super middleweight title in Nottingham, England.

In an all-action fight short on finesse, Froch won a unanimous decision over Pascal (21-1) before 7,000 fans in his home city. The judges scored it 118-110, 117-111 and 116-112 for the British fighter.

It was a big win for Froch (24-0), who hopes to persuade undefeated Welsh superstar Joe Calzaghe to drop back to 168 pounds and fight him. Calzaghe vacated his super middleweight belts this year when he fought Bernard Hopkins and Roy Jones Jr. at light heavyweight.

Calzaghe announced his retirement following the Jones fight but has hinted he might return.

MISCELLANEOUS

Champ Elysees wins Hollywood Turf Cup

Champ Elysees beat Obrigado by a half-length to win the $250,000 Hollywood Turf Cup at Hollywood Park in Inglewood, Calif.

Ridden by Jose Valdivia Jr., Champ Elysees covered 11/2 miles on turf in 2 minutes, 27.71 seconds and paid 5.60, $3.20 and $2.60. Obrigado returned $14.40 and $7, and Church Service paid $3.40 to show.

Champs Elysees, eighth in the Breeders' Cup Classic, made $150,000 to increase his earnings to $1.35 million.

Also: Amaury Leveaux broke the men's 50-meter butterfly short-course world record, and Coralie Balmy set a record in the women's 200 freestyle at the French swimming championships in Angers, France.

Leveaux finished in 22.29 seconds, besting the record of 22.50 set in October by Matt Jaukovic of Australia.

Balmy clocked 1:53.18, beating the record of 1:53.29 set by Australia's Lisbeth Lenton in November 2005.

Three-time Olympic gold medalist Ryan Lochte won the 200-yard backstroke in 1 minute, 38.49 seconds at the U.S. short-course championships in Atlanta, giving him four titles in three days. Mary DeScenza won five titles after taking the 200 backstroke and 200 butterfly.

David Beckham didn't score, yet dazzled a crowd of 20,000 New Zealanders in the Los Angeles Galaxy's 3-0 exhibition over Oceania XI in Auckland, New Zealand.

Beckham produced many of his trademark touches as the Galaxy won easily after scoring three goals in the first half.

The nation's longest active high school football winning streak -- and fourth longest ever -- came to an end in Murfreesboro, Tenn., when Hillsboro beat Maryville 10-7 for the Class 4A state championship.

Maryville, which had 74 consecutive wins, owned the active streak for less than 24 hours. South Panola (Miss.) had its winning streak snapped at 89 on Friday night.