World Cup: England Bests Paraguay Using an Own-Goal

England won — and didn't even score a goal.

(FRANKFURT, Germany) - Unable to find the net on its own, England used an own-goal for an early lead and held on to beat Paraguay 1-0 Saturday in the World Cup.

It was not pretty, and the English were helped by Paraguay's reluctance to attack. Still, it was a victory that will have England's boisterous fans celebrating — at least until its next match.

England got a perfect start when Paraguay captain Carlos Gamarra headed David Beckham's curling free kick into his own net in the fourth minute.

Superintendent Upholds Six Classes For High School Sports

(SALEM) - State Superintendent of Public Instruction Susan Castillo on Friday upheld the Oregon School Activities Association's six-class system for high school sports.

Castillo said that when the OSAA adopted the classification system, it did not violate state or federal laws, the rules of the Department of Education, or its own rules "in a manner that would have changed the outcome."

The Eugene, Medford and Salem-Keizer school districts challenged the reclassification, claiming it was unsafe and would cause hardship for students - including lost class time - because of increased travel.

OSU Football Team Captains Announced

(CORVALLIS) - Oregon State University senior football student-athletes Matt Moore, Joe Newton and Sabby Piscitelli, and junior Yvenson Bernard have been named the 2006 team captains, head coach Mike Riley announced Friday.

Moore started 10 games at quarterback in his first season at OSU in 2005, before suffering a season-ending knee injury. The 6-4 Valencia, Calif., native passed for 2,711 yards last year and his 271.1 average per game ranked second in the Pac-10.

Newton is a 6-7 tight end from Roseburg. He missed all of the 2005 season with a leg injury after leading the Pac-10 Conference in 2004 for receptions by a tight end with 56. He had seven receptions for 85 yards and two touchdowns in the `04 Insight Bowl victory over Notre Dame, and was selected the ESPN Player of the Game.

World Cup Begins Friday With 2 Matches

(MUNICH – AP) - Fans from Germany and Costa Rica poured through the streets of this Bavarian city, singing and chanting in feverish anticipation as their national teams prepared to kick off the World Cup Friday amid tight security, dazzling fanfare and many mugs of beer. The other opening day match today is Poland vs. Ecuador.

More than three million people are expected to attend the quadrennial soccer championship, and billions more will watch on television.

The U.S. team plays its opening game Monday against the Czech Republic. Thirty-two countries are competing in the tournament over the next month.

Allen, Rose Garden Group Agree to Bundle Team And Building

(PORTLAND) - Portland Trail Blazers owner Paul Allen and the group that runs the Rose Garden Arena have come to an agreement that would allow the team and the building to be sold together as a package.

"We are pleased to have reached this agreement with Portland Arena Management. We look forward to working with PAM to explore ways to enhance the future prospects of the Trail Blazers franchise and the Rose Garden arena," said Lance Conn of Vulcan, Allen's holding company.

The agreement would make it easier to sell the Trail Blazers.

Bale Named Salem-Keizer's College Coach of the Year

(SALEM) - Corban College women`s basketball coach Dave Bale was honored on Friday when he was named College Coach of the Year for the Salem-Keizer area by the Salem Sports & Breakfast Club`s Board of Directors.

Bale received the Chuck Bowles Coach of the Year award at the Salem Sports & Breakfast Club during its annual awards breakfast at Goudy Commons on the campus of Willamette University.

This is the first time that a Corban coach has received this award since former men`s basketball coach Tim Hills won it in 1977.

This past season, Bale guided the women`s basketball program to a 25-7 overall record and a record of 14-4 in Cascade Collegiate Conference play.

WOU`s Waechter Named First Team All-American

Pitcher is first WOU player named to NCAA Division II first-team squad.

(MONMOUTH) - Western Oregon junior pitcher Nick Waechter has been named to the first team of the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association NCAA Division II All-America Team.

The right-hander, who led the Wolves to a 40-16 record and sixth straight conference championship, was also selected this year as the west region pitcher of the year by the NCBWA and by the American Baseball Coaches Association.

The Latest Oregon Sports From The AP

(CORVALLIS) - The Oregon State Beavers had four players chosen on the first day of the Major League Baseball draft. Right-hander Dallas Buck was the first Beaver selected, going to the Arizona Diamondbacks in the third round.

In other draft news, the Chicago Cubs took Bend High School outfielder Andrew Rundle in the 14th round...

Former Oregon State third baseman Brian Barden singled home the winning run in the bottom of the tenth inning as the Tucson Sidewinders beat the Portland Beavers.

The Buffalo Bills traded former Oregon State tight end Tim Euhus to the New Orleans Saints...

Nadal Advances to French Open Semifinals

(PARIS) - Defending champion Rafael Nadal advanced to the French Open semifinals and extended his record clay-court winning streak Wednesday when Novak Djokovic retired with a back injury after losing the first two sets.

Nadal led 6-4, 6-4 when Djokovic quit three points into the third set.

The unseeded Djokovic, playing in his first Grand Slam quarterfinal, hurt his back and sought treatment from a trainer after falling behind 3-0 in the second set. In the next game he took a spill behind the baseline and appeared to twist his ankle.