■ COLLEGE FOOTBALL
West Virginia stunned
Eighth-ranked West Virginia were upset 24-3 by East Carolina on Saturday, the second straight defeat of a ranked opponent by the Pirates. Quarter-back Patrick Pinkney was 22-28 with 236 with a touchdown for East Carolina and running back Jonathan Williams scored two touchdowns and ran for 69 yards. The Mountaineers, playing on the road in Greenville, North Carolina, lost two fumbles and scored their only points on a 26-yard field goal in the second quarter. Last week, East Carolina beat Virginia Tech, then ranked No. 17, on a blocked punt that was returned for a touchdown in the game’s final minutes. West Virginia were the No. 8 team in both the writers’ and the coaches’ polls. In Columbus, third-ranked Ohio State trailed Ohio 14-12 after three quarters and scored two touchdowns to pull out a victory at home.
■ CYCLING
Ballan wins in Andorra
Italian Alessandro Ballan of Lampre won Saturday’s seventh stage of the Tour of Spain, a 223.2km ride from Barbastro to La Rabassa in Andorra, to take the overall lead, as the peleton moved into the mountains. Riders had to negotiate not just the climbs, but the unseasonably inclement weather as rain fell persistently amid the foggy and cold conditions going into Andorra. “It’s the first time that I have led in a major race,” Ballan said. “I dedicate this win to my little daughter, who was born on Aug. 11.” Spanish star Alberto Contador, one of the favorites, snatched back a few seconds on compatriot and rival Carlos Sastre, the Tour de France winner, and almost a minute on another would-be winner, Alejandro Valverde. But Frenchman Sylvain Chavanel, leader going into the stage, struggled and finished up more than three minutes off the pace.
■ GOLF
Five-year-old bags an ace
Look out Tiger Woods, five-year-old Drew Gray’s got game. The kindergartner had a hole-in-one — though it does not count because it was on par-three course — last week on the 75-yard, fifth hole at Yorktown Golf Club in Belleville, Illinois. The shot was witnessed by several family members and was verified by course owner John Bethard. Drew is the youngest player to ace a hole at the course, Bethard said. Drew has been playing golf on family outings for two years. He played this summer in the club’s golf camp for four to eight-year-olds, Bethard said.
■ CYCLING
Gerdemann wins Tour
Yellow-jersey holder Linus Gerdemann won the Tour of Germany on Saturday after the eighth and final stage in Bremen as Columbia teammate and compatriot Tony Martin won the 34km time trial. Gerdemann, 25, wore the yellow jersey for the duration of the competition and finished fourth in Saturday’s time trial to win the tour overall. After the Tour’s nine-days, Gerdemann won by 52 seconds from second-placed teammate Thomas Lovkvist from Sweden. Third overall was Slovenia’s Janez Brajkovic, who rides for Astana.
■ BOXING
Cook captures WBO title
Nicky Cook captured the World Boxing Organization super-featherweight title from fellow Briton Alex Arthur in a unanimous points verdict on Saturday. Cook took the belt with a 112-117, 111-117, 114-115 win at the MEN Arena in Manchester, England. He therefore ended Arthur’s year-long reign after being the aggressor for most of the absorbing encounter to lift his first world title.
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