Vlhova wins slalom
Petra Vlhova won the first women’s World Cup slalom of 2021 on Sunday in Zagreb, Croatia.
In tough conditions due to fog and rain, the overall leader from Slovakia beat Katharina Liensberger of Austria by five-hundredths of a second. Mikaela Shiffrin was 0.27 behind in fourth. Defending overall champion Federica Brignone skipped the race in order to train for upcoming speed events in Austria.
Heavy rain on Saturday weakened the surface of the Crveni Spust course just outside Croatia’s capital. Course workers added salt that hardened the top layer but also created a lot of bumps.
The race took place five days after a magnitude 6.4 earthquake hit central Croatia. Race organizers said they would donate 10% of the prize money to a relief fund for people whose houses have been damaged or destroyed.
HOCKEY
The Pittsburgh Penguins are betting big on defenseman John Marino.
The team signed the 23-year-old Marino to a sixyear contract extension that carries an average annual value of $4.4 million.
The deal caps a meteoric rise for Marino, who was acquired from Edmonton in July 2019 in exchange for a sixth-round pick. Marino impressed as a rookie last season, scoring six goals to go with 20 assists in 56 games to go with a plus-17 rating. Marino is the sixth rookie defenseman in team history to register 20 assists.
World Junior Championships: John Farinacci scored twice, Spencer Knight made 16 saves and the United States beat Slovakia, 5-2, in the quarterfinals in Edmonton, Alberta.
The Americans will face Finland in the semifinals Monday night. Defending champion Canada will play Russia in the other semifinal. In the other quarterfinals, Finland beat Sweden, 3-2, on a late goal, Canada topped the Czech Republic, 3-0, and Russia beat Germany, 2-1.
BASEBALL
Veteran left-hander Ross Detwiler signed a $850,000, one-year contract with the Miami Marlins, whose primary offseason goal is to upgrade their bullpen.
The Marlins also announced the signing of veteran catcher Sandy Leon to a minor-league contract with an invitation to major-league spring training. Left-hander Stephen Tarpley was designated for assignment.
Detwiler, 34, pitched in 16 games out of the bullpen for the Chicago White Sox in 2020, going 1-1 with a 3.20 ERA in 44 innings. He broke into the majors in 2007 and has a 4.56 ERA in 224 games for seven teams.
LUGE
Julia Taubitz of Germany got her fifth win of the women’s World Cup season in Konigssee, Germany, closing the gap between her and series leader Natalie Geisenberger in the overall women’s standings to four points.
Geisenberger, also of Germany, finished second – her seventh silver medal in seven races this season. Madeleine Egle of Austria took third.
Geisenberger now has 595 points on the season as she seeks an eighth overall title in nine years; she didn’t compete last season after giving birth to her first child. Taubitz, last season’s overall women’s champion, has 591 points.
Emily Sweeney was the top U.S. finisher, placing 10th in her first World Cup of the season. USA Luge rejoined the international circuit last week after sitting out the first half of the season in response to the coronavirus pandemic and concerns about international travel.
NBA
Utah Jazz guard Jordan Clarkson was fined $25,000 by the NBA for making contact with a game official Thursday night in the Jazz’s 106-95 home loss to the Phoenix Suns.
The incident occurred early in the second quarter.
BOXING
Ryan Garcia staggered Luke Campbell with a body blow after coming back from an early knockdown, winning a WBC lightweight title fight on a seventh-round knockout late Saturday night in Dallas.
The 22-year-old California was in control when his left hand to Campbell’s right side sent the English fighter to one knee at 1:58 of the seventh. Campbell couldn’t get up, giving the undefeated Garcia his 18th knockout in 21 fights.
Campbell (20-4) knocked down Garcia with a left hook in the second round, but didn’t land many other punches .
COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Gadiva Hubbard scored 24 points as the Minnesota women’s team outlasted Wisconsin, 88-83, in overtime at the Kohl Center.
Julie Pospisilova had 28 points for the Badgers (3-4, 0-4 Big Ten).