BC3 basketball in WPCC tourneyBUTLER TWP — The Butler County Community College men's and women's basketball teams will be hosting WPCC Tournament games this weekend.The Pioneer men host Pitt-Titusville in a quarterfinal game at 6 p.m. today. The BC3 women, unbeaten in league play, will host the championship game at 5 p.m. Saturday.The Lady Pioneers will play the CCCC/Pitt-Titusville winner.

Seattle looking to land pro teamSEATTLE — Investor Chris Hansen is stressing patience and optimism in his ongoing effort to build an arena to house a possible NBA or NHL franchise in Seattle’s stadium district.Hansen’s interview with The Associated Press represented his first public comments in nearly two years about the efforts. Hansen acknowledged his investment group was surprised by the City Council’s decision last May to deny a proposed street closure that would have moved the project forward with some public investment.

Baseball considers altering strike zoneLAKELAND, Fla. — Commissioner Rob Manfred says he can’t offer a prediction on how likely it is that baseball will be altering the strike zone this season.Manfred discussed that and other potential rule changes at the Detroit Tigers’ spring training complex, which was hosting a Grapefruit League media day. Manfred says there are ongoing discussions with the Major League Baseball Players Association, and it’s not clear what changes might be made for 2017.MLB has studied whether to lift the lower edge of the strike zone from just beneath the kneecap to the top of the kneecap. Any change for 2017 would require an agreement with the players’ association.Manfred has pushed for faster games since he became commissioner two years ago, although he said raising the bottom of the strike zone isn’t really a pace-of-play issue.

Vermette hit with 10-game suspensionAnaheim Ducks forward Antoine Vermette was suspended for 10 games without pay for slashing a linesman in apparent anger after a faceoff.Vermette slapped his stick against the back of linesman Shandor Alphonso’s legs after losing a faceoff to Minnesota captain Mikko Koivu during the third period of the Ducks’ 1-0 win Tuesday.Two days later, the NHL issued the automatic 10-game suspension under league rules for applying physical force to an official without intent to injure. Vermette, who will lose $97,222.22 in salary, had never previously been fined or suspended during his 13 NHL seasons.