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TOP STORY
GLF--MASTERS
AUGUSTA, Ga. — Bubba Watson seized control of the Masters with a dazzling second round to lead by three strokes at the halfway point. Defending champion Adam Scott, the ageless Fred Couples and others lurk going into the third round. By Golf Writer Doug Ferguson. SENT: 650 words. UPCOMING: 800 words, photos by 7 p.m.
With:
— AUGUSTA, Ga. — GLF--Masters-Notebook
— AUGUSTA, Ga. — GLF--Masters-Watch. SENT: 330 words.
NEW/DEVELOPING
BOX--PACQUIAO-BRADLEY
LAS VEGAS — Manny Pacquiao has a second chance to prove his superiority over Timothy Bradley. Nearly two years after the unbeaten Bradley edged the Filipino congressman in a much-criticized split decision, the welterweights meet again at the MGM Grand Garden. By Greg Beacham. UPCOMING: 750 words, photos. Main event starts around 11:30 p.m.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL
FBC--NORTHWESTERN UNION
EVANSTON, Ill. — With an impending union vote looming in the background, Northwestern holds its final practice of the spring. The Wildcats have been in the spotlight with former quarterback leading the push to form a union. Players will vote on April 25. By Andrew Seligman. UPCOMING: 600 words by 5 p.m.
FBC--FLORIDA ST-SPRING GAME
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Florida State plays its spring game on Saturday as the nation gets the first glimpse of quarterback Jameis Winston on a football field since the national championship game. The Heisman winner has a busy weekend after playing baseball at Georgia Tech Friday, flying back to play in in the football game before heading back for Sunday's baseball game. By Kareem Copeland. UPCOMING: 600 words with photos. Game starts at 3 p.m.
FBC--OHIO ST-SPRING GAME
COLUMBUS, Ohio — Quarterback Braxton Miller, sidelined after shoulder surgery, will be watching along with thousands of Ohio State fans as the Buckeyes hit the field in their annual spring intrasquad scrimmage. By Rusty Miller. UPCOMING: 600 words, photos. Game starts 1:30 p.m.
FBC--NOTRE DAME-SPRING GAME
SOUTH BEND, Ind. — Quarterback Everett Golson makes his return to Notre Dame Stadium after being suspended for last season as he competes with Malik Zaire for the starter's job during the annual spring Blue-Gold game. By Steve Lowe. UPCOMING: 650 words with photos. Game starts at 12:30 p.m.
With:
— SOUTH BEND, Ind. — FBC--Notre Dame-Artificial Surface. SENT: 130 words. UPCOMING: 350 words by 5 p.m.
FBC--NEBRASKA SPRING GAME
LINCOLN, Neb. — Nebraska will play its spring game in front of 50,000 fans at Memorial Stadium. Instead of splitting the players into Red and White teams, it simply will be offense vs. defense. By Eric Olson. UPCOMING: 500 words, photos. Game starts 3 p.m.
HORSE RACING
RAC--ARKANSAS DERBY
HOT SPRINGS, Ark. — Tapiture, after winning the Southwest Stakes and finishing second at the Rebel Stakes, is the early favorite at Saturday's $1 million Arkansas Derby. The colt faces a top field that includes the Bob Baffert-trained Bayern and D. Wayne Lukas' Strong Mandate. By Kurt Voigt. UPCOMING: 600 words, photos. Post time scheduled for 7:07 p.m.
RAC--KEENELAND-BLUE GRASS STAKES
LEXINGTON, Ky. — Bobby's Kitten is the early favorite for the $750,000 Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland, which awards 170 points toward the Kentucky Derby including 100 to the winner. Fourteen horses will run in the Grade 1 event over 1 1/8 miles. By Gary B. Graves. UPCOMING. 550 words and photos. Post time is approximately 5:45 p.m.
AUTO RACING:
CAR--NASCAR-SOUTHERN 500
DARLINGTON, S.C. — Kevin Harvick will start up front as he seeks his first Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway on Saturday night. By Pete Iacobelli. UPCOMING: 700 words, photos. Race starts at 6:30 p.m.
CAR--INDYCAR
LONG BEACH, Calif. — French drivers Simon Pagenaud and Sebastien Bourdais try to win the pole in Saturday qualifying for the Grand Prix of Long Beach. By Jenna Fryer. UPCOMING: 650 words. Qualifying begins at 4:15 p.m.
MOT--AUSTIN GP
AUSTIN, Texas — Reigning MotoGP world champion Marc Marquez returns to Texas for the Grand Prix of the Americas, the race where he notched his first career victory. By Jim Vertuno. UPCOMING: 500 words, photos by 6 p.m.
NBA:
BKN--SUNS-MAVERICKS
DALLAS — With a win over Phoenix, Dirk Nowitzki and the Mavericks can clinch a playoff spot a year after missing the postseason for the first time since the big German's second season in 1999-2000. By Schuyler Dixon. UPCOMING: 750 words, photos. Game starts 8:30 p.m.
NHL:
HKN--SMILING STARS
DALLAS — When Dallas ended a five-season playoff drought, Lindy Ruff didn't look like a coach with 16 years of experience and a trip to the Stanley Cup finals. He looked like a giddy first-year boss building something new. And that's what he is for the Stars. By Schuyler Dixon. SENT: 600 words, photos.
HKN--SABRES-BRUINS
BOSTON — The Boston Bruins can clinch the top spot in regular-season points in the NHL when they wrap up their home season against the Buffalo Sabres, who have the fewest points in the league. By Howard Ulman. UPCOMING: 700 words, photos. Game started 12:30 p.m.
HKN--DUCKS-KINGS
LOS ANGELES — Ryan Getzlaf and the Anaheim Ducks face the Los Angeles Kings in the final Freeway Faceoff of the regular season. Both clubs are playoff-bound, and Anaheim could clinch the top spot in the Western Conference with a victory. UPCOMING: 750 words, photos. Starts 10:30 p.m.
BASEBALL
BBN--PIRATES-BREWERS
MILWAUKEE — The Brewers go for their eighth straight win when they host the Pittsburgh Pirates in the middle game of a three-game set. Milwaukee's Yovani Gallardo faces Edinson Volquez. UPCOMING: 700 words, photos. Game starts 7:10 p.m.
BBO--TIGERS-PADRES
SAN DIEGO — A night after Detroit was one-hit by San Diego's Andrew Cashner, Justin Verlander takes to the mound against Ian Kennedy and the Padres. By Bernie Wilson. UPCOMING: 750 words, photos. Game starts at 8:40 p.m.
SOCCER
SOC--SOUNDERS-FC DALLAS
FRISCO, Texas — FC Dallas, the only unbeaten MLS team, plays the first of consecutive home games when it hosts Seattle. UPCOMING: 150 words, photos. Game starts 7:30 p.m. CT
SOC--EURO RDP
LONDON — Arsenal reaches the FA Cup final by beating second-tier Wigan, Barcelona tries to bounce back from its Champions League exit, and Roma puts pressure on Juventus. UPCOMING: 500 words by 6 p.m.
NCAA CHAMPIONSHIPS
GYM--NCAA CHAMPIONSHIPS
ANN ARBOR, Mich. — After leading Michigan to a team title Friday, Sam Mikulak returns for individual finals in four events, including the parallel bars, which he won last season. By Noah Trister. UPCOMING: 650 words, photos. Event starts at 7 p.m.
HKC--NCAA CHAMPIONSHIP
PHILADELPHIA — Minnesota plays Union in the NCAA hockey championship game. The liberal arts college of 2,200 students that offers no athletic scholarships is trying to knock off powerhouse Minnesota, one of the country's largest universities, with more than 50,000 undergrads. UPCOMING: 550 words, photos. Game starts at 7:30 p.m.
___
Saturday's Time Schedule
BASEBALL
Boston at N.Y. Yankees, 1:05 p.m.
Tampa Bay at Cincinnati, 1:10 p.m.
Cleveland at Chicago White Sox, 2:10 p.m.
Kansas City at Minnesota, 2:10 p.m.
Chicago Cubs at St. Louis, 2:15 p.m.
Colorado at San Francisco, 4:05 p.m.
Miami at Philadelphia, 7:05 p.m.
Toronto at Baltimore, 7:05 p.m.
Washington at Atlanta, 7:10 p.m.
Pittsburgh at Milwaukee, 7:10 p.m.
Houston at Texas, 8:05 p.m.
L.A. Dodgers at Arizona, 8:10 p.m.
Detroit at San Diego, 8:40 p.m.
N.Y. Mets at L.A. Angels, 9:05 p.m.
Oakland at Seattle, 9:10 p.m.
NBA
Sacramento at L.A. Clippers, 3:30 p.m.
Philadelphia at Charlotte, 7 p.m.
Milwaukee at Washington, 7 p.m.
Miami at Atlanta, 7:30 p.m.
Boston at Cleveland, 7:30 p.m.
New Orleans at Houston, 8 p.m.
Phoenix at Dallas, 8:30 p.m.
Utah at Denver, 9 p.m.
NHL
Buffalo at Boston, 12:30 p.m.
Philadelphia at Pittsburgh, 3 p.m.
N.Y. Rangers at Montreal, 7 p.m.
Toronto at Ottawa, 7 p.m.
Columbus at Florida, 7 p.m.
Chicago at Nashville, 8 p.m.
San Jose at Phoenix, 9 p.m.
Vancouver at Edmonton, 10 p.m.
Anaheim at Los Angeles, 10:30 p.m.
MLS
Real Salt Lake at Philadelphia, 4 p.m.
Colorado at Toronto FC, 4 p.m.
Chicago at Montreal, 4 p.m.
Houston at New England, 5 p.m.
New York at D.C. United, 7 p.m.
Seattle FC at FC Dallas, 8:30 p.m.
Chivas USA at Portland, 10:30 p.m.
Vancouver at Los Angeles, 10:30 p.m.
COLLEGE HOCKEY
NCAA Championship
Union (N.Y.) vs. Minnesota, 7:30 p.m.
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