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Junior outfielder Julian Boyd of St. John Bosco has committed to Nevada. Boyd is a top athlete who continues to play football for the Braves. He’s a backup quarterback. In baseball, his hitting skills continue to improve each season. For the latest on high school sports, follow @LATSondheimer on Twitter

Andy Murray has reached nine finals in 2016, winning five of them Andy Murray secured his fifth singles title of 2016 – and 40th of his career – by beating Grigor Dimitrov 6-4 7-6 (7-2) in the China Open final. World number two Murray was seriously tested by his Bulgarian opponent but the Scot ended a near-faultless week in Beijing with the main prize. The British top seed did not…

The Japanese Grand Prix is live on the BBC Sport website and 5 live Mercedes say they are prepared to accept “some collateral damage” from Lewis Hamilton following his controversial behaviour in Japan. Hamilton refused to answer questions in his post-qualifying news conference on Saturday, accusing the media of being “disrespectful” and then walking out. It was in response to some reports of his behaviour in an earlier conference. “Let…

On a sports field, Argentina’s white and blue stripes are unmissable. They have left a mark on the football, rugby and hockey pitches, and have now turned their attention to kabaddi. While the ancient Indian sport was brought to Argentina in 1999, the country will be making their first international appearance at the 2016 Kabaddi World Cup, which is currently underway in Ahmedabad on Friday. “Most of the sports teams in Argentina…

Gareth Bale is three behind Ian Rush in the list of all-time Wales goalscorers after heading in his 25th international goal Wales suffered a setback in their World Cup qualifying campaign as a sloppy display saw them held at home by lowly Georgia. Gareth Bale headed the hosts into an early lead but Georgia, ranked 137th in the world, equalised as an unmarked Tornike Okriashvili nodded in. Wales unravelled from…

Johanna Konta is the first British woman for 32 years to make the world top 10 after reaching the China Open final British number one Johanna Konta was overpowered 6-4 6-2 by world number three Agnieszka Radwanska in the final of the China Open. Konta, 25, was chasing the biggest title of her career but unravelled against the Polish number three seed after a battling first-set display. The 11th seed,…

Good news: The weather is perfect at Charlotte Motor Speedway, which today will host a NASCAR Sprint Cup/XFINITY Series doubleheader. After two solid days of rain in the area, the weather forecast couldn’t be better: zero percent chance of rain, with a high of 72 degrees at the track. The  Bank of America 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race will start at noon ET today, with the Drive for the Cure XFINITY…

The Japanese Grand Prix is live on the BBC Sport website and 5 live Mercedes say they are prepared to accept “some collateral damage” from Lewis Hamilton following his controversial behaviour in Japan. Hamilton refused to answer questions in his post-qualifying news conference on Saturday, accusing the media of being “disrespectful” and then walking out. It was in response to some reports of his behaviour in an earlier conference. “Let…

NASCAR and the Charlotte Motor Speedway did the only sensible thing they could do by postponing tonight’s Bank of America 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race, which will now run Sunday at noon ET. The Drive for the Cure 300 NASCAR XFINITY Series race will then follow 45 minutes after the end of the Cup race. While it’s true that the forecast calls for the weather to clear in the…

The Japanese Grand Prix is live on the BBC Sport website and 5 live Mercedes say they are prepared to accept “some collateral damage” from Lewis Hamilton following his controversial behaviour in Japan. Hamilton refused to answer questions in his post-qualifying news conference on Saturday, accusing the media of being “disrespectful” and then walking out. It was in response to some reports of his behaviour in an earlier conference. “Let…

Lewis Hamilton has not won a race since the German Grand Prix on 31 July On the greatest driver’s track, Nico Rosberg drove a Japanese Grand Prix befitting a world champion, a title with which he looks increasingly likely to end the year. And yet somehow the Suzuka weekend was all about the German’s Mercedes team-mate, who provided drama both on and off the circuit. As Rosberg dominated the competitive…

Throughout his entire career, Gegard Mousasi followed a philosophy that was best described by a famous quote from former president Teddy Roosevelt: “Speak softly and carry a big stick.” Mousasi has never been known for his trash talk or for stirring up trouble on the microphone before or after any of his fights. That all seemed to change on Saturday night after Mousasi demolished Vitor Belfort at UFC 204 and…

MONROE, La. (AP) — Semi-professional sports are returning to Monroe. The Twin City Jazz of the American Basketball Association announced their intention to begin play this month. The Jazz, which is relocating from West Virginia, will be the first semi-pro franchise to play in Monroe since the Bayou Beast indoor football team almost 10 years ago. The News-Star reports (http://tnsne.ws/2daQBUb ) the Jazz plan to play 20 regular season games…

Wow, did NASCAR ever make the right decision in postponing Saturday’s race at Charlotte. About two hours before the scheduled start time, showers and wind continued in the area around Charlotte Motor Speedway. Like many areas along the Atlantic Coast, the track in Concord, N.C., was buffeted by inclement weather caused by Hurricane Matthew. MORE: 10 to watch at Charlotte The one obvious conclusion by anyone who stuck a head…

CHICAGO — As Travis Wood stepped to the plate, Cubs bullpen catcher Chad Noble said, “He’s gonna hit a home run.” This was silly. Wood is a relief pitcher. His last extra-base hit came in 2014, and the last time a reliever hit a postseason home run was 1924. But this is a time of crazy predictions; everybody and his great-grandmother is picking the Cubs to win the World Series. …

Jimi Manuwa has a new knockout to add to his highlight reel. The British light heavyweight showed off some ridiculous power as he crushed Ovince Saint Preux with a second round knockout at UFC 204 in England on Saturday night. It was a huge win for Manuwa as he returned to action for the first time in over a year after suffering a brutal knockout at the hands of Anthony…

Some of the sports stories The Associated Press is covering Saturday. A full Sports Digest will be sent by about 3 p.m. All times EDT: – WASHINGTON – With a 1-0 lead in the NLDS, the Los Angeles Dodgers send Rich Hill to the mound against the Washington Nationals’ Tanner Roark. Game starts 4:08 p.m. – CHICAGO – Kyle Hendricks, baseball’s ERA leader, starts for Chicago in Game 2 of…

Australian-born Konta, 25, was ranked 147 in June last year but won her first WTA title in July and will move into the top 10 when the new list is published in the morning. Radwanska, 27, has won 19 WTA titles but is yet to win a Grand Slam, losing to Serena Williams in her only final to date at Wimbledon four years ago. We’re all set.  Getty Images

NASCAR and the Charlotte Motor Speedway did the only sensible thing they could do by postponing tonight’s Bank of America 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race, which will now run Sunday at noon ET. The Drive for the Cure 300 NASCAR XFINITY Series race will then follow 45 minutes after the end of the Cup race. While it’s true that the forecast calls for the weather to clear in the…

Gegard Mousasi had been gunning for a fight with Vitor Belfort for years. He finally got his chance on Saturday night and Mousasi didn’t waste his opportunity as he hammered Belfort on the feet and on the ground to earn a second round TKO. It was clear from the very start of the fight that Mousasi was going to play the aggressor as he took the center of the Octagon…