Greeks, Latin America advance in soccer playoffs

The SIUC International Soccer Club tournament’s semi-final matches were played Saturday at Stehr Field.

In the first semi-final match, the Greek Originals defeated Palestine/Africa 6-2. In the other match, Latin America defeated U.S. Victory 3-2.

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The Greek Originals defeated Thailand 7-1 in the quarterfinal round Oct. 25 to reach the semi-finals, while Latin America defeated Japan 5-2 in its quarterfinal match.

Palestine/Africa defeated Athens 2004 5-1, and U.S. Victory defeated U.S. Stars and Bars 5-2 in its quarterfinal matches.

The tournament will conclude Saturday at Stehr Field with the third-place match between Palestine/Africa and U.S. Victory at 11 a.m., followed by the championship game between the Greek Originals and Latin America at 2 p.m.

Rugby stomps Memphis 35-12

The SIUC men’s rugby team was in action Saturday in Memphis, Tenn., where it defeated the University of Memphis 35-12.

We had a two-week break, and we just played real well, men’s rugby club president Marc Bechler said. We dominated the whole game, and I’m just really proud of the way we played.

The men’s rugby team will face Western Kentucky University Saturday at WKU.

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The SIUC Ballroom Dance Club competed at the ninth annual Dancing Illini Invitational last weekend in Champaign.

The invitational featured 170 couples from 10 schools including the University of Wisconsin, the University of Notre Dame, Washington University and St. Louis University.

SIUC had two first-place finishes Kongo Koyama and Angie Ballard in the nightclub two-step and Tom Harper and Kathryn Harper in the foxtrot.

Other top finishers for the team were Ken Chang and Ivy Hsin-Yi, who finished in second place in the nightclub two-step and third place in the rumba.

Steve Sawyer and Marti Kallal reached the finals in the nightclub two-step and reached the semi-finals in the waltz.

Bryan Stewart and Chia-Ling Chang finished in third place in the foxtrot, and second in the waltz, rumba and swing.

Janelle Davenport was given a partner from another school and finished in third place in the salsa.

Orioles promote Miller to manager

The Baltimore Orioles promoted pitching coach Ray Miller to manager Tuesday. Miller already has announced he will use Mike Flanagan as his pitching coach and that hitting coach Rick Down, a contender for the managerial post, will stay with the club.

The Orioles needed to replace Davey Johnson, who resigned last week because of a feud with team owner Peter Angelos. The same day, Johnson was named the American League Manager of the Year after leading Baltimore to the American League East title, and a spot in the league title series.

Miller becomes the fourth Baltimore manager since Angelos bought the team four years ago, following in the footsteps of Johnny Oates, Phil Regan and Johnson.

Miller has major-league managerial experience, having gone 109-130 with Minnesota from 63 games into the 1985 season through the 1996 campaign, when he was replaced by Tom Kelly after going 59-80.

Miller is in his second stint with Baltimore. He was the Orioles’ pitching coach from 1978 until he left for the Twins. After being fired by Minnesota, he joined Pittsburgh for a 10-year stay as pitching coach. When Pittsburgh lost manager Jim Leyland to Florida after last season, Miller went back to Baltimore.

Miller was considered one of the best pitching coaches in the majors, and directed a Baltimore staff that this past season led the American League in ERA and had three 15-game winners for the first time since 1982.

Yankees trade Hayes to San Francisco

The New York Yankees sent third baseman Charlie Hayes to San Francisco in exchange for a pair of minor leaguers and an undisclosed amount of cash Tuesday. It is a return to the Giants for Hayes, who started his major league career there in 1988.

The deal came just before the 2 p.m. deadline for major league clubs to freeze their rosters and submit 15-man protected lists for next Tuesday’s expansion draft.

Hayes split time at third base with Wade Boggs this past year, and in 100 games he hit .258 with 11 homers and 53 RBI. It was his first full season with New York after having been acquired in a trade with Pittsburgh in August 1996. Hayes also was with the Yankees in 1992.

Going to New York are outfielder Chris Singleton and left-handed pitcher Alberto Castillo. Neither spent time with the Giants’ big-league squad this year. The 25-year-old Singleton spent last season in double-A ball and hit .317 with nine homers and 61 RBI for Shreveport. Castillo was used in relief at single-A San Jose, and was 2-2 with a 5.61 ERA. A former first baseman, the 22-year-old lefty has been a pitcher for just two seasons.