In brief: Prep lineman lied about Cal, Oregon recruitment

A prep football player who had claimed he was duped into believing he was recruited to play at a Pac-10 school admitted Wednesday he made up the story.

Kevin Hart, a 6-foot-5, 290-pound offensive lineman for Fernley High School in Reno, Nev., offered a broad apology in a statement he issued through the Lyon County School District. Hart said he had wanted to play football at a Division I school “more than anything.”

“When I realized that wasn’t going to happen, I made up what I wanted to be reality. I am sorry for disappointing and embarrassing my family, coaches, Fernley High School, the involved universities and reporters covering the story,” Hart said.

Lyon County sheriff’s detectives had been unable to corroborate Hart’s claims that he had been duped by a man he paid to help promote him to college football programs.

Lt. Rob Hall said Hart had not informed detectives of his confession.

Hart first spoke with deputies Saturday, a day after he announced at a school assembly and a news conference that he would sign with the University of California.

At the announcement ceremony, Hart, with Fernley coach Mark Hodges at his side, said he talked with Cal head coach Jeff Tedford many times, and that “personal experience” led to his decision to choose the Golden Bears over Oregon, the Reno Gazette-Journal reported.

But the announcement was questioned almost immediately, and on Monday officials with California and the University of Oregon said Hart was never recruited.

Baseball

Lyon replaces Valverde

Brandon Lyon was picked to replace Jose Valverde as Arizona Diamondbacks closer.

The 28-year-old right-hander had 14 saves in 2005 and two in 2007, when he spent most of the season as Valverde’s eighth-inning setup man. Lyon went 6-4 with a 2.68 ERA in 73 appearances last year.

“Kelvim Escobar, an 18-game winner for the Los Angeles Angels last season, has a sore shoulder that will limit him at the beginning of spring training. The Angels said that the 31-year-old right-hander is rehabbing in Tempe, Ariz.

“Relief pitcher Trever Miller agreed to a $2 million, one-year contract with the Tampa Bay Rays.

“A video of New York Mets pitcher Pedro Martinez and Hall of Famer Juan Marichal at a cockfight was posted, and later removed, this week on YouTube. The animal released by Martinez appears to be killed on the video, which was posted Tuesday.

The fight takes place in the Dominican Republic where cockfighting is legal.

Miscellany

Dream take Lennox

The Atlanta Dream selected veteran guard Betty Lennox from the Seattle Storm among their 13 players in the WNBA expansion draft.

“Jozy Altidore made his first start for the U.S. national team and scored a go-ahead goal late in the first half, but Jonny Magallon’s second goal of the game gave Mexico a 2-2 tie in an exhibition game in Houston.

Oguchi Onyewu also scored for the Americans, who twice blew leads.