By RONALD BLUM / AP Sports Writer FORT MYERS, Fla. (AP) — And so it began, far from Fenway and the bright lights of the Bronx. There was no Green Monster to shoot for in left field, only a dozen palm trees that towered above the fence. But already, in the bright Florida sunshine, the…

MT Media Relations HAMMOND, La. — On a day when the pitching staff struggled a bit, the Middle Tennessee offense covered for its brethren, pounding out 16 hits en route to a 14-8 victory and series sweep of Southeastern Louisiana Sunday at Alumni Field. The Blue Raiders broke a 2-2 tie with three runs in…

MT Media Relations BOWLING GREEN, Ky. — Against all odds, Middle Tennessee shocked three-time defending Sun Belt Conference champion Western Kentucky, 76-62, in the quarterfinals of the league postseason tournament at Diddle Arena in front of 7,243 Sunday night. Playing without leading scorer Mike Dean, who sustained a broken left hand during Thursday’s practice, the…

By ELIZABETH A. DAVIS / AP Sports Writer NASHVILLE (AP) — Tennessee’s dominance in the Southeastern Conference regular season has not translated into tournament success. The top-ranked Lady Vols (26-3) were bounced from the SEC tournament Saturday after losing in the semifinals for the third time in four years. In the last four seasons, the…

By TERESA M. WALKER / AP Sports Writer Vanderbilt players Jenni Benningfield, front, Abi Ramsey (20) and Hillary Hager (24) try on their championship caps after defeating Georgia, 62-56, to win the SEC women’s tournament championship game on Sunday. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey) NASHVILLE (AP) — The Vanderbilt Commodores had every reason to quit. Instead, they…

By MARTHA IRVINE / AP National Writer Greta Honold, left, listens to classmate Juan Pablo Prieto discuss his views on politics Jan. 27, 2004 at Northside College Preparatory High School in Chicago. Both students are active and interested in politics. (AP Photo) CHICAGO — When Greta Honold saw her best friend on TV, standing next…

By MIKE GLOVER / Associated Press Writer HOLLYWOOD, Fla. (AP) — John Kerry is pressing President Bush on national security issues, raising questions about the handling of probes into terrorist attacks as well as intelligence suggesting weapons of mass destruction were in Iraq. “The American people deserve an answer now as to why we had…

By JENNIFER LOVEN / Associated Press Writer CRAWFORD, Texas (AP) — Until last month, President Bush hadn’t been to a NASCAR race since he was governor of Texas and running for president. On Monday, he goes to a rodeo and livestock exhibition in Houston — again, for the first time since he was governor. Such…

By JEFF DONN / Associated Press Writer BOB WHITE, W.Va. (AP) — With a boost from President Bush, central Appalachia’s mountaintop coal miners are finally embracing the future again, flagging more of this state’s ancient summits for blasting and more of its hollows for burying than in many years. The industry hasn’t yet reversed more…

By DAVID GERMAIN / AP Movie Writer LOS ANGELES (AP) — Mel Gibson’s “The Passion of the Christ” took in $51.4 million in its second weekend to remain the top movie, racing past the $200 million mark in just 12 days. Ben Stiller and Owen Wilson’s action comedy “Starsky & Hutch” debuted in second place…