Newsmakers

Awarded Chicago Cubs All-Star first baseman Anthony Rizzo is the winner of the 2014 Branch Rickey award in recognition of his community work with pediatric cancer patients. At 25, he’s the youngest person to receive the award – 4 1/2 months younger than last year’s winner, Los Angeles Dodgers lefty Clayton Kershaw.

Moving Colorado Springs in the Pacific Coast League will be the new Triple-A home of the Milwaukee Brewers for at least the next seasons. Milwaukee is moving its top minor-league affiliation from Nashville starting next season. The switch was necessitated after the Nashville Sounds franchise announced a four-year agreement this week to be the top minor league affiliate for the Oakland A’s starting next season. The Sounds are moving into a new ballpark in 2015.

• The Houston Astros have signed a two-year contract to move their Triple-A affiliate to Fresno, California. Houston’s Triple-A team had been in Oklahoma City since 2011.

Apologizes Former Texas Rangers manager Ron Washington says he is embarrassed for being unfaithful to his wife of 42 years. While offering no details, Washington publicly apologized to his wife and the Rangers during a 3 1/2-minute statement Thursday. It was his first public comment since abruptly resigning 13 days earlier. Washington’s wife, Gerry, sat in a chair to the side of the podium with an attorney.

Returning IndyCar says it will race in the Brazilian capital of Brasilia next year, returning to the country after a one-year absence. The March 8 race will take place at the Nelson Piquet permanent racetrack located in the central Brazilian city.

Sets Cyclist Jens Voigt has set a record in the historic Hour Record, racing 31.7 miles around a velodrome in Grenchen, Switzerland. Ending his career with a record attempt one day after his 43rd birthday, the German rider beat the 30.8-mile mark of Ondrej Sosenka in 2005.

Withdraws WNBA star Elena Delle Donne became the latest player to withdraw from the U.S. women’s basketball national team pool because of injury. The Chicago Sky’s young star was bothered in the WNBA Finals with a bad back and it was announced Thursday she won’t be able to join the team for the world championship at the end of the month. The U.S. already is missing Candace Parker (knee) and Sylvia Fowles (feet). Brittney Griner is still awaiting doctor’s clearance for a retinal issue that forced her to miss Game 3 of the Finals.