`Ghost runner' in extra innings made permanent by the MLB

Starting extra innings with a runner on second base during the regular season was made a permanent rules change by Major League Baseball on Monday after three seasons of use during the coronavirus pandemic.

Known by some as the “Ghost Runner” and by others as the “Manfred Man” after baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred, the rule was unanimously adopted by the sport's 11-person competition committee.

Use of position players as pitchers also was tightened by the committee. They will be limited to extra innings, when a player's team is losing by eight or more runs or is winning by 10 or more runs in the ninth inning. Last year, a position player could pitch only in extra innings or if his team was losing or winning by six or more runs. WASHINGTON NATIONALS OWNER TED LERNER DIES AT 97 >> Ted Lerner, the billionaire real estate developer whose family bought the Washington Nationals in 2006, has died, the team announced. He was 97.

A Nationals spokesperson said Lerner died Sunday of complications from pneumonia at his home in Chevy Chase, Maryland.

Men's basketball

ALABAMA HOOPS NO. 1 IN AP TOP 25 FOR FIRST TIME IN 20 YEARS >> Alabama is the new No. 1, rising to the top spot in The Associated Press Top 25 men's college basketball poll for the first time in 20 years.

Purdue's loss to Northwestern last week caused a jumble at the top of the AP Top 25 and that helped the Crimson Tide.

NEW MEX ST CANCELS SEASON AFTER SEX, HARASSMENT ALLEGATIONS >>

New Mexico State called off the rest of its men's basketball season Sunday after reviewing a police report that cited three players for false imprisonment, harassment and counts of criminal sexual contact against a teammate.

In a statement, chancellor Dan Arvizu said “this action is clearly needed, especially after receiving additional facts and reviewing investigation reports related to the hazing allegations involving studentathletes on the team.”

Women's basketball UNLV RANKED FOR FIRST TIME IN 29 YEARS >>

UNLV is back in the The Associated

Press Top 25 women's college basketball pollfor the first time since 1994: UNLV entered the poll at No. 23 on Monday.

South Carolina earned the No. 1 ranking for the 34th consecutive week. That is tied for the thirdlongest run atop the poll with UConn. Only the Huskies (51 weeks) and Louisiana Tech (36) have had longer streaks at No. 1.

Soccer UEFA BLAMED FOR NEARDISASTER AT CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FINAL >>

UEFA-appointed investigators have held European soccer's ruling body mostly responsible for chaotic security failures at the 2022 Champions League final in Paris that put the lives of Liverpool and Real Madrid fans at risk.