Sports

Sophomore pitcher Carlos Acuna, building upon his outstanding freshman season, threw a one-hit shutout on Friday in Birmingham’s 5-0 West Valley League win over Taft. He lost his no-hit bid when the first hitter of the seventh inning singled. He finished with seven strikeouts. In 24 innings this season, Acuna is 3-0 with 29 strikeouts,…

CHICAGO — When UCLA met Michigan State on its home court less than a month ago, it turned out to be an eye-opening nadir for the Bruins. The game was out of hand in minutes. At one point, they trailed the Spartans by more than 30. The night went so awry for UCLA that its coach, Mick…

p]:text-cms-story-body-color-text clearfix”> Baltimore Ravens tight end Charlie Kolar warms up before a game against the Rams on Oct. 12. (Nick Wass / Associated Press) The Chargers didn’t hesitate to bolster their run-blocking options for new offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel, agreeing to terms with former Baltimore Ravens tight end Charlie Kolar. Kolar and the Chargers agreed…

p]:text-cms-story-body-color-text clearfix”> PHOENIX — Unable to ramp up through the first month of spring training because of lingering shoulder soreness, Dodgers left-hander Blake Snell took a step toward readiness Thursday, throwing his first bullpen session. Two hours before Thursday night’s Cactus League game, Snell threw off the mound in front of a group of reporters…

Makai Lemon got another chance Thursday to demonstrate his skills for NFL scouts. About 50 of them — representatives from each of the 32 teams — gathered at USC to spend a few hours evaluating the school’s latest class of draft prospects. Lemon, who won the Biletnikoff Award last fall as college football’s top receiver,…

Stating that she fears for her life, Sparks forward Rickea Jackson has filed a petition for protection against her ex-boyfriend, Atlanta Falcons edge rusher James Pearce Jr. Miami-Dade (Fla.) County Judge Heloiza Correa granted Jackson’s initial request for protection Feb. 9, and a permanent injunction hearing is set for April 21. Pearce is under order…

HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL, SOFTBALL SCORES Wednesday’s Results BASEBALL CITY SECTION Bell 4, San Pedro 0Carson 7, Granada Hills 5Chatsworth 1, Sylmar 0East Valley 15, Panorama 4Hollywood 12, RFK Community 4LA Wilson 26, Contreras 0Locke 22, Animo Venice 2Monroe 3, Eagle Rock 1Rancho Cucamonga 5, Huntington Park 0San Fernando 9, Cleveland 5SOCES 12, Northridge Academy 2South…

Hall of Fame high school football coach Bob Johnson, who turned El Toro and Mission Viejo into powerhouse high school football programs and became one of the winningest coaches in state history, has died. He was 80. He had been battling Alzheimer’s. “I feel for the family,” Mission Viejo football coach Chad Johnson (no relation)…

Barely a minute or two ticked away at Galen Center last month,but USC freshman Alijah Arenas already was exhausted. His legs felt like anchors dragging across the court. Every trip down and back left his lungs howling. Not 48 hours earlier, Arenas was confined to his bed, sick with a particularly unforgiving form of the…

BOSTON — Charlie McAvoy scored 39 seconds into overtime and Jeremy Swayman stopped 14 shots on Tuesday night to earn the Boston Bruins their 13th straight victory at home, 2-1 over the Kings. Mason Lohrei scored midway through the third period to break a scoreless tie. But the Kings tied it five minutes later when Drew Doughty’s…