Anderson

DETROIT — Former Detroit Tigers manager Sparky Anderson was been placed in hospice care at his Thousands Oaks, Calif. home for complications resulting from dementia.

Anderson family's said in a statement Wednesday they appreciate the support and kindness that friends and fans have shown throughout the Hall of Famer's career and retirement.

No further details were released.

Anderson guided the Tigers to a World Series title in 1984 and led them for 17 seasons.

The former Cincinnati Reds skipper was the first manager to win more than 100 games in a season in the American and National leagues. He has 2,194 career wins.

PITTSBURGH — Pittsburgh Pirates left-hander Wil Ledezma has bypassed arbitration by agreeing to a one-year contract.Ledezma was 0-3 with a 6.86 ERA in 27 games, allowing 25 hits in 19X\c innings. He gets a salary of $700,000 in the major leagues next season and $300,000 in the minors.The Pirates also activated opening day first baseman Jeff Clement from the 60-day disabled list Wednesday and assigned him outright to Triple-A Indianapolis. Also sent outright to Indianapolis were right-handers Sean Gallagher and Steven Jackson, left-hander Justin Thomas and outfielder Brandon Moss.Right-handers Ross Ohlendorf and Jose Ascanio and first baseman Steve Pearce also were activated from the 60-day DL. Ascanio spent most of the season recovering from a torn labrum.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — The NCAA dropped a charge directed at Michigan football coach Rich Rodriguez, a person with knowledge of the ruling has told The Associated Press Wednesday.The NCAA accused Michigan of five major rules violations related to exceeding practice and workout time in the wake of a Detroit Free Press report last year.Michigan challenged the allegation that was dropped, the one which said Rodriguez failed to promote an atmosphere of compliance with NCAA rules. The school accepted responsibility for the other four allegations regarding practice and training time.

PISCATAWAY, N.J. — Rutgers defensive tackle Eric LeGrand, who was paralyzed from the neck down making a tackle against Army Oct. 16, was transferred to a New Jersey spinal cord rehabilitation center.The Rutgers athletic department said Wednesday LeGrand has been admitted to Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation in West Orange for the next phase of his treatment. LeGrand had been under care at Hackensack University Medical Center since the accident.The 20-year-old junior from Avenel, N.J., was injured while making a tackle on a kickoff return. Updates on his condition will be issued by the family through the school.

The Seneca Valley girls volleyball team (18-2) will play North Allegheny in a WPIAL Class AAA semifinal at 6 p.m. today at North Hills High.In Class AA, Freeport (17-0) will take on Hopewell at 7:30 p.m. today at North Allegheny High.

ADAMS TWP — The Mars boys and girls soccer teams will be playing for WPIAL Class AA titles Saturday at Baldwin High.The Planets girls (21-0) will play Beaver (16-5) at 2:30 p.m.The Mars boys (14-5-2) will battle Hampton (20-1) at 4:45.

INDIANAPOLIS — The Slippery Rock University men's and women's soccer teams are ranked third in the final regular season Atlantic Regional polls.The Rock women's team, which will compete in the PSAC semifinals Friday, jumped from fifth to third this week.The Rock men, also in the conference semifinals, jumped two spots to third.SRU's men defeated top-ranked Mercyhurst last week.The top six teams in the final poll qualify for the NCAA Division II women's tournament. The top four qualify for the men's tourney.