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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Seahawks’ O-line takes another hit

Washington pitcher Isaiah Hatch struck out 12 in relief at LLWS. (Associated Press)

NFL: The left side of the Seahawks’ offensive line is crumbling now that guard Ben Hamilton has joined tackle Russell Okung in getting hurt.

Hamilton was out of pads and watched Wednesday’s practice in Renton, Wash., with an ice pack on his knee.

Coach Pete Carroll had said Tuesday that the former Broncos starter signed in the offseason to tutor Okung in Seattle’s new zone-blocking schemes would not start Saturday’s game at Minnesota.

Recent Eagles practice squad player Mike Gibson will be the left guard.

• Manning expects to play: New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning has a new helmet and is ready to play.

Manning practiced with a helmet for the first time since suffering a three-inch cut on the left side of his forehead in a preseason game against the New York Jets, declaring himself ready for Saturday’s contest in Baltimore.

• Jackson will likely stay put: The agent for Vincent Jackson says the San Diego Chargers have given him the impression they aren’t inclined to trade the wide receiver.

Unhappy that he hasn’t been given a long-term deal, Jackson hasn’t signed the one-year, $3,268,000 contract he was tendered as a restricted free agent.

The Seahawks are the only team the Chargers have given permission to to talk to agent Neil Schwartz about a trade.

• Owners propose 18-game season: The NFL will formally propose an 18-game regular season to the players’ union, commissioner Roger Goodell said in Atlanta after a meeting of franchise owners.

Goodell said there was “overwhelming support for the concept.”

The owners seem to favor a plan that would increase the regular season from 16 to 18 games, while reducing the preseason from four to two games, likely beginning in 2012.

Teams’ roster sizes likely would be increased with a longer regular season.

The owners also voted unanimously to approve the sale of a controlling interest in the St. Louis Rams to Missouri billionaire Stan Kroenke.

Washington hands Texas first loss

Baseball: Ikaika Nahaku had an RBI single before scoring on a wild play following a throwing error, and Isaiah Hatch struck out 12 in relief to lead Auburn, Washington past Pearland Texas, 7-4 at the Little League World Series in South Williamsport, Pa. Hatch is the son of former Eastern Washington University defensive back Leon Hatch.

Auburn avoided elimination and handed Texas its first loss of the tournament to set up a rematch today with a berth in the U.S. final Saturday at stake.

In other games, Waipahu, Hawaii, beat Hamilton, Ohio, 6-4, and Kaoshiung, Taiwan, beat Chitre, Panama, 5-1.

• Nats’ Morgan suspended: Washington Nationals outfielder Nyjer Morgan has been given a seven-game suspension for deliberately throwing a baseball into the stands and hitting a fan during a game last weekend in Philadelphia. He has appealed the penalty.

Sounders fall in CONCACAF play

Soccer: Neri Cardozo headed a shot past goalkeeper Kasey Keller late in the first half, then set up Aldo de Nigris’ goal early in the second half as CF Monterrey of Mexico beat the Seattle Sounders 2-0 in a CONCACAF Champions League game in Seattle.

United States hammers Greece

Basketball: Eric Gordon scored 18 points and the United States routed Greece 87-59 in Athens, Greece, in its final tuneup before the world championships that begin Saturday in Turkey.

Costas Tsartsaris scored a game-high 24 for Greece.

• Morehead State put on probation: The NCAA placed the men’s basketball program at Morehead State University in Morehead, Ky., on probation for two years for recruiting violations related to booster activity.

Golf: The doctor who found the body of 25-year-old LPGA golfer Erica Blasberg told Nevada investigators he hid a suicide note and pills because he wanted to spare her family embarrassment, according to a court document.

A Henderson, Nev., police affidavit detailed the hours Blasberg and Dr. Thomas Hess spent together playing golf, watching TV in a casino sports book and in her home in the days before he found her dead May 9 with a plastic bag over her head.

Detectives investigating the golfer’s death searched the doctor’s Mercedes-Benz, which was parked in Blasberg’s driveway, and found a suicide note and Xanax pills obtained in Mexico.

• Medalist Wilson knocked out of U.S. Amateur: Virginia senior Amory Davis has defeated 47-year-old U.S. Amateur medalist Jeff Wilson of Fairfield, Calif., 3 and 1 in the first round of match play in University Place, Wash.

Other winners included the Oklahoma State duo of Peter Uihlein and Morgan Hoffmann, and Patrick Cantlay, who finished tied for second in stroke play.