In brief: Pierce Jones lifts Chicago past Lynnwood in Little League World Series

BASEBALL: Chicago’s Pierce Jones hit three home runs Thursday, including a first-inning leadoff shot, to lead the Jackie Robinson West team to a 12-2 victory over Lynnwood, Washington in the Little League World Series in South Williamsport, Pennsylvania.

Jones also tripled and finished with four RBIs. Shortstop Ed Howard added a two-run homer in the second inning.

Chicago scored five runs in the third inning, capitalizing on a passed ball and other misplays behind the plate.

For Chicago, pitcher Joshua Houston settled down after Lynnwood scored two in the first.

• Nevada handles South Dakota: Zach Hare hit a leadoff homer in the third inning to help Las Vegas rout Rapid City, South Dakota, 12-2 in five innings.

Las Vegas added two more runs in the third and Brennan Holligan had a two-run double in a four-run fourth.

• South Korea gets win: Jo Ho Park’s three-run home run highlighted a five-run fourth inning by South Korea in a 10-3 win over Czech Republic.

After Park’s homer off of Patrik Kadronozka, Jae Yeong followed with a solo shot.

• Puerto Rico routs Australia: Abimael Torres hit a grand slam in Puerto Rico’s 13-run first inning in a 16-3, four-inning victory over Australia.

Torres homered after Puerto Rico scored two runs on five straight walks. Oscar Lopez added a three-run homer in the third for Puerto Rico.

Thompson, Lee share LPGA first-round lead

GOLF: Lexi Thompson and South Korea’s Meena Lee shot 6-under-66 to share the first-round lead in the LPGA Championship in Pittsford, New York, the fourth major championship of the season.

Thompson and Lee each made eight birdies and a pair of bogeys at Monroe Golf Club to finish a stroke ahead of ahead of Brittany Lincicome, Colombia’s Lisa McCloskey and Canadian rookie Jennifer Kirby.

Shanshan Feng of China, the tournament winner two years ago, was tied for sixth at 68 with 2010 champion Cristie Kerr.

• Villegas leads at Wyndham : Camilo Villegas opened with a 7-under 63 to take a one-stroke lead in the Wyndham Championship in Greensboro, North Carolina.

Webb Simpson and William McGirt shot 64, and Scott Langley, Heath Slocum, Paul Casey, Andrew Loupe and Martin Laird were another stroke back at Sedgefield.

Spokane native Alex Prugh shot 3-over 73.

Villegas hasn’t won since 2010.

• Yang ousts Schniederjans: South Korea’s Gunn Yang advanced to the U.S. Amateur quarterfinals, birdieing the final three holes to beat top-ranked Ollie Schniederjans 1 up at Atlanta Athletic Club.

Yang, a San Diego State sophomore making his first appearance in the tournament, was down a hole against Schniederjans, a senior at Georgia Tech, after 15 holes. Yang won the 16th with a 6-foot putt, took the 17th with another 6-footer and finished off the hometown favorite with a tap-in on the 18th.

U.S. advances to FIBA U17 worlds semifinals

BASKETBALL: Henry Ellenson helped lead the two-time defending champion United States to the FIBA Under-17 World Championship semifinals, scoring 21 points in a 113-71 victory over China in Dubai.

The United States, 21-0 in the history of the tournament that also was played in 2010 and 2012, will face Serbia today.

Ellenson also had 10 rebounds. Diamond Stone added 17 points and eight rebounds and set U.S. U17 records for blocked shots in a game with five and in the event with 20.

In the other semifinal, Spain will play Australia.

Robredo upsets Djokovic in Cincinnati

TENNIS: Top-seeded Novak Djokovic was upset by 16th-seeded Tommy Robredo, 7-6 (6), 7-5, in the round of 16 at the Western & Southern Open.

Djokovic, who has never won the tournament, dropped the first set after fighting back from a 6-3 deficit in the tiebreaker. Robredo failed to convert two match points before completing the upset with a slam on a short Djokovic lob.

Earlier, Andy Murray fought off two late match points and edged John Isner, 7-6 (3), 6-4, 7-6 (2) to reach the quarterfinals.

Stan Wawrinka shook off losing the first set to roll through the next two and advance with a 3-6, 6-0, 6-1 win over Marin Cilic. Julien Benneteau eliminated Jerzy Janowicz, 7-5, 6-1. Fabio Fognini also needed three sets to get past Yen-Hsun Lu, 3-6, 6-3, 6-3.

In women’s play, top-seeded Serena Williams continued her pursuit of her first title in this tournament with a 6-2, 6-2 win over Flavia Pennetta. Williams immediately took command, breaking Pennetta’s first serve of the match. Williams, who’s never won this tournament, also led, 5-0, in the second set.

Simona Halep also reached the quarterfinals with a 6-4, 7-5 win over Lucie Safarova, but 15th-seed Carla Suarez Navarro was upset by unseeded Elina Svitolina, 4-6, 6-4, 6-4.

Texas hires ex-QB Vince Young

MISCELLANY: The University of Texas has hired former Longhorns quarterback Vince Young for community relations and fundraising, a $100,000-a-year job created specifically for him that wasn’t posted to attract other applicants.

Young led Texas to the 2005 national championship before turning pro. He hasn’t played in an NFL regular-season game since 2011.

Young earned his bachelor’s degree in applied learning and development from Texas in 2013. Starting Sept. 1, he’ll be a development officer for program alumni relations within the university’s Division of Diversity and Community Excellence, which works with first-generation college students and others from low-income backgrounds.

• Baze wins 2,000th: Jockey Tyler Baze earned his 2,000th career victory at Del Mar, snapping an 0-for-46 skid.

He rode 2-1 favorite Kate’s Event to a 2 1/4-length win in the third race.

Baze comes from a racing family in Washington state, which includes his second cousin, Russell Baze, who is North America’s all-time winningest jockey. Tyler Baze won an Eclipse Award as the nation’s top apprentice jockey in 2000.

Baze came back to win the feature race for his 2,001st win.

Fable rallied from next-to-last in the 10-horse field to overhaul Hugh Knew in the final furlong and win by 2 3/4 lengths.