BRIEFS: McNairy hoops coach Steve Forsythe resigns
HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL
McNairy Central boys’ coach Steve Forsythe resigns
Steve Forsythe, the boys’ basketball coach at McNairy Central, has resigned as a coach, but he will remain at the school as a teacher.
Forythe is an alumnus of McNairy Central, and he accumulated an overall record of 85-110 during his eight years has a head coach.
His best record came in 2006-07 when his team was 20-10.
Southern League
Jackson Generals make roster changes
Infielder Patrick Brady and pitcher Stephen Shackleford have rejoined the Jackson Generals.
Brady, a 26-year-old, started the season in Jackson and hit .308. He spent time in Triple-A Tacoma but most recently played with Single-A High Desert.
Shackleford, 25, was reinstated from the disabled list. He is 5-2 with a 3.65 ERA this season.
Second baseman Jack Marder, 24, and pitcher Moises Hernandez, 30, were move to the disabled list.
NBA
Cleveland Cavaliers sign Andrew Wiggins
CLEVELAND (AP) — Andrew Wiggins has an NBA home. Maybe a temporary one.
The Cavaliers signed the No. 1 overall draft pick Thursday, a deal that prevents Wiggins from being traded for 30 days.
Wiggins has been linked to a possible blockbuster trade with Minnesota for All-Star forward Kevin Love. But any deal now involving Wiggins can’t be finalized for at least 30 days.
The Cavs and Timberwolves have had talks about a trade involving Love for months, long before Cleveland selected Wiggins, the former Kansas standout, with the first pick in May’s draft. Those discussions have intensified lately, and the sides can still reach an agreement on a trade but nothing can be finalized until late August.
Now that Wiggins is under contract, the league’s seldom-used 30-day rule is in effect.
The spirit behind the rule is that if a rookie is traded immediately after he signs, it gives the appearance that the acquiring team is the one that is in fact signing him.
Golf
Putnam, Petrovic share lead in Montreal
MONTREAL (AP) — Michael Putnam and Tim Petrovic shared the first-round lead in the Canadian Open on Thursday, shooting 6-under 64 in sunny conditions at rain-softened Royal Montreal.
The 47-year-old Petrovic was the last player to get in the field, grabbing a spot when Benjamin Alvarado withdrew Tuesday.
“I didn’t set my expectations high because I got in late, so this was kind of my practice round,” Petrovic said. “I walked the back nine (Wednesday).
Petrovic shot an eagle on the par-5 12th hole and had four birdies in his bogey-free round. He won his lone PGA Tour title in New Orleans in 2005.
“I was just trying to hit fairways and greens, trying to see the golf course and see if I could make a few putts,” Petrovic said. “I drove the ball pretty good overall.”
The 31-year-old Putnam had six birdies in a bogey-free round, hitting 11 of 14 fairways and 14 of 18 greens in regulation.
MLB
Mariners acquire Kendrys Morales for former Jackson Generals pitcher
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Kendrys Morales is on his way back to Seattle to try and give the Mariners’ struggling offense a boost as they chase a playoff spot.
The Minnesota Twins traded Morales to the Mariners on Thursday for minor-league pitcher Stephen Pryor.
Pryor spent parts of 2011, 2012 and 2014 with the Jackson Generals.
Morales hit 23 home runs and drove in 80 runs for the Mariners last season, but turned down a $14.1 million qualifying offer from Seattle to become a free agent.
Morales sat out the first two months of the season while searching for a new deal, signing a pro-rated $12 million contract with the Twins on June 8. But he hit .234 with 11 doubles, one homer and 18 RBIs in 39 games with the Twins, who have faded from contention in the AL Central.
The Mariners, who started the day with a half -game lead for the second wild-card spot in the AL, are hoping a return to Safeco Field could help Morales rediscover his swing. Seattle has the best ERA in the majors, but the Mariners offense is 14th in the American League in runs scored.