In Brief

SPORTS AND THE LAW

Three more accusers describe
alleged abuse by Sandusky

The prosecution's case in Jerry Sandusky's sex abuse trial in Bellefonte, Pa., neared its conclusion Thursday after just four days of testimony, with three more accusers taking the witness stand, including a young man who said the former Penn State assistant football coach raped him as a teen guest in Sandusky's home.

The eighth accuser to testify told jurors the abuse began with fondling and forced oral sex and led to several instances of rape in the basement of Sandusky's Centre County home, where he spent more than 100 nights and where his muffled screams went unanswered by Sandusky's wife, Dottie, who was upstairs. He said he figured the basement must be soundproof.

"He got real aggressive and just forced me into it," said the young man, now 18 and a recent high school graduate. "And I just went with it - there was no fighting against it."

He said under cross-examination by Sandusky lawyer Joe Amendola that the attacks sometimes left him bleeding but that he never sought medical attention.

"I just dealt with it," he said.

Another accuser told jurors Sandusky called himself the "tickle monster" before embracing him in a shower.

Also testifying was Anthony Sassano, an investigator with the attorney general's office.

Judge John Cleland told jurors there would be no court today and to return Monday.

Also: An attorney for a Montgomery, Ala., man accused of killing three people in a shooting at a party near Auburn University on Saturday said she will ask that his trial be held outside of Lee County, where the school is located.

Those hit hard by the shootings that killed two former football players gathered on a campus lawn Thursday night for a candlelight vigil for the victims. The three dead include two former Auburn football players, and current members of the team attended.

BASEBALL

Rangers agree to terms with
Bishop Gorman product Gallo

The Texas Rangers announced they have agreed to terms with recent Bishop Gorman High School graduate Joey Gallo.

Gallo, a third baseman chosen 39th overall in the first compensation round of the major league draft, received a reported $2.25 million signing bonus from the Rangers. The recommendation for Gallo's slot was $1.325 million.

Gallo had until July 13 to decide whether to sign a professional deal or honor his college signing with Louisiana State.

Gallo was named Nevada Player of the Year by the Las Vegas Review-Journal and Gatorade as a senior after he hit .509 with 21 home runs and 80 RBIs to lead Gorman to its seventh straight Class 4A state title.

Also: Pittsburgh Pirates right-hander Charlie Morton is out for the season after undergoing elbow surgery.

The 28-year-old pitcher went on the 15-day disabled list June 1 with inflammation in his right elbow. He was 2-6 with a 4.65 ERA in nine starts this season.

MISCELLANEOUS

Eligibility system that sets field
for Kentucky Derby revamped

Churchill Downs is revamping the eligibility system that sets the field for the Kentucky Derby.

Track president Kevin Flanery said the Louisville track is scrapping the system of using graded stakes earnings to determine Derby starters. It's being replaced by a point system that Flanery said will be more understandable for fans and horsemen.

The new system will remove some of the guesswork, Flanery said. The 36 races that are part of the point system include key races during the 2-year-old season leading into the 3-year-old season.

Also: The Houston Texans announced contract extensions for general manager Rick Smith and coach Gary Kubiak, rewarding them for taking the team to the playoffs last year for the first time.

Texans owner Bob McNair wanted to maintain continuity with both men in the final years of their current contracts. Smith's extension is for four years, which will keep him with the team through 2016. Kubiak's is a three-year agreement that redoes the last year of his current deal and keeps him under contract through 2014.

Adam Gee of England shot a 4-under-par 67 to share the lead with Simon Wakefield of England and Sihwan Kim of South Korea after the first round of the Saint-Omer Open in France.

Ireland became the first team to be eliminated from the European Championship, losing to defending champion Spain 4-0 in Gdansk, Poland. The loss came a few days after the Irish were beaten by Croatia 3-1 in their first Group C match.

Also, Italy settled for a 1-1 draw with Croatia in Poznan, Poland.