Michigan State benches five players for bowl

Defensive standouts Jonal Saint-Dic and SirDarean Adams are among five Michigan State players who will sit out the Champs Sports Bowl on Friday at Orlando, Fla., against No. 14 Boston College because of academic or other violations.

The Spartans said Monday that Saint-Dic, a senior defensive end, and three other players are academically ineligible for the bowl game. Adams, a senior linebacker, violated unspecified team rules.

The other ineligible players are wide receiver and return specialist Terry Love, wide receiver/cornerback T.J. Williams and offensive guard Abre Leggins.

“We’re obviously disappointed for these young men and for their teammates,” coach Mark Dantonio said in a release from the bowl site. “We will miss them and their contributions on and off the field here at the Champs Sports Bowl.”

Saint-Dic told the Lansing (Mich.) State Journal that he failed a math class, his final requirement to graduate with a degree in sociology.

Dantonio said he makes no excuses for any of the players being ineligible.

“We have stressed the importance of finishing things all season, both in the classroom and on the playing field,” the coach said.

Baseball

Lara has surgeries

Indians pitcher Juan Lara, who was nearly killed in a car accident last month while coming home from a game in the Dominican Republic, underwent two surgeries Sunday.

The Indians said the 26-year-old’s spine was stabilized and he also had an arm fracture repaired by Dr. Jeff Lawton and Dr. Doug Orr at the Cleveland Clinic.

Lara sustained life-threatening injuries when the SUV he was driving was slammed into at an intersection by a motorcycle Nov. 24. Both the motorcycle’s driver and passenger were killed instantly.

Lara had severe brain trauma, a fractured spine, two broken ribs and a punctured lung in the crash. Doctors kept Lara in a medically induced coma for weeks before fitting him with a halo vest to support his neck.

He was flown from Santo Domingo, where he had been hospitalized since the accident, to the U.S. on Friday. The club said after he’s released from the Clinic he will return to the Dominican Republic for treatment.

Lara pitched in one game for the Indians last season. He went 4-3 with two saves and a 3.88 ERA in 52 appearances for Triple-A Buffalo.

•Former Pittsburgh infielder Jose Castillo signed a free-agent deal with the Florida Marlins. Terms of the deal weren’t disclosed.

Miscellany

Lakers recall Coby Karl

The Los Angeles Lakers recalled guard Coby Karl from the Los Angeles D-Fenders of the NBA Development League.

The 6-foot-5 Karl, the son of Denver Nuggets coach George Karl, averaged 18.3 points and 5.8 rebounds in 10 games with the D-Fenders.

•Former Jamaica and Kansas City Wizards forward Onandi Lowe has been arrested for marijuana possession in Kingston, Jamaica.

•San Jose Sharks forward Ryane Clowe was arrested on suspicion of drunken driving.