SLIPPERY ROCK — Becky Mezyk, an eight-time All-PSAC-West selection and three-time all-region performer as a pitcher and utility player at California (Pa.) University, was hired as assistant softball coach at Slippery Rock University.

Mezyk concluded her career with the Vulcans in 2006, earning second-team all-region honors as a utility player from the National Fast-Pitch Coaches Association.

She ranks among the top 10 in Vulcans history in several career offensive and pitching categories.

SLIPPERY ROCK — Infielder Anthony Heaps, catcher-outfielder Mitchell Monas and catcher Blake Shortall signed national letters of intent to play baseball for the Slippery Rock University program.Heaps batted .404 and had 10 home runs, 45 RBI, a .523 on-base percentage and a .783 slugging percentage in his three-year career at Avon Grove High School. he also went 4-0 with three saves and a 0.85 ERA as a pitcher.Monas hit .481 with four homers as a junior at Waynesburg High School and .381 for the Carmichaels American Legion team last year.Shortall, from Bethlehem who played at Freedom High School, earned Lehigh Valley and Northampton County American Legion all-star honors and has been selected to play this summer in the Dodgertown World Series in Vero Beach, Fla.

San Diego charged through the NFL season, putting up the league's best record at 14-2. No wonder five Chargers made The Associated Press All-Pro team.Running back LaDainian Tomlinson was a unanimous choice, and was joined by tight end Antonio Gates, fullback Lorenzo Neal, defensive tackle Jamal Williams and linebacker Shawne Merriman on the elite squad.First-team guard Alan Faneca was the lone Pittsburgh Steeler to make the list.

GLENDALE, Ariz. — Florida didn't have to lobby to win this vote. The Gators are No. 1 in a landslide.For unbeaten Boise State, No. 5 will have to do.The Gators finished atop The Associated Press Top 25 after upsetting Ohio State 41-14 in the BCS national championship game Monday, a matchup Florida lobbied hard for late in the regular season when it looked as if the Gators would be left out.The Buckeyes had been No. 1 since August and were looking to become the third team to hold the top spot in the media poll from preseason through the bowls. .Instead, Ohio State finished No. 2. LSU was third, and Southern California and Boise State rounded out the top five.Penn State finished 24th.