LITTLE LEAGUE BASEBALL

HAWAIIANS WALK OFF WITH WORLD SERIES VICTORY

Michael Memea’s solo home run in the bottom of the seventh capped a stunning comeback to give West Oahu of Ewa Beach, Hawaii, the Little League World Series title. Memea lined a pitch over the center-field wall with nobody out to finish the 7-6 win yesterday over the defending champions from Willemstad, Curacao. The homer completed the rally from a three-run deficit in the previous inning.

Curacao’s Sorick Liberia had broken open a 3-3 game in the fifth with a two run homer that soared beyond a short hill past the left-field wall. Darren Seferina added a solo shot to give Curacao its three-run lead.

The Curacao team from the Pabao Little League was trying to became the first repeat winners since Long Beach, Calif., won back-to-back titles in 1992-93.

Also yesterday, Ryan Gura lined an RBI single with one out in the bottom of the sixth inning to break a tie and lift Rancho Buena Vista of Vista, Calif. over Chiba City, Japan, 5-4 in the consolation game.

FOOTBALL

AGENT: CLARETT WILL BE RELEASED BY BRONCOS

Unable to practice much or play at all during the preseason, Maurice Clarett will be released by the Denver Broncos later this week, his agent said yesterday. The pending release marks a disappointing start to the NFL career of the former Ohio State running back, who missed two years of football after leading the Buckeyes to the national title. He got in trouble with the law and was suspended for the 2003 season. At that point, he hadn’t been out of high school long enough to be eligible for the NFL draft, so he sued in federal court to become eligible and eventually lost that case.

BENSON ENDS HOLDOUT IN CHICAGO

Running back Cedric Benson ended his 36-day holdout last night, agreeing to a five-year contract with the Chicago Bears. Benson, the no. 4 overall pick in this year’s draft, was the last remaining first-round pick to sign. Financial terms were not available, but reports said the Bears had offered a contract that contained $17 million in guaranteed money to the former Texas star.

The announcement came on the same day the Bears promoted another rookie, fourth-round pick Kyle Orton, to be the starting quarterback.

GOLF

FAXON WINS BUICK CHAMPIONSHIP IN PLAYOFF

Brad Faxon rolled in a 3-foot birdie putt on the first playoff hole yesterday to win the Buick Championship over South African Tjaart van der Walt, his first victory since 2001. Faxon tied the course record in regulation with a 9-under 61,a personal best for the 44-year-old.He charged from the middle of the pack, starting at 5-under to play himself in contention, overtaking third-round leader Justin Rose over the closing holes. Faxon, who made the 36-hole cut on the number earning a $774,000 for his eighth PGA Tour victory.

TENNIS

RESURGENT BLAKE WINS PILOT PEN

James Blake endured a slow start and an hour-long rain delay in New Haven, Conn., to beat Spain’s Feliciano Lopez 3-6, 7-5, 6-1 yesterday and complete a homecoming run from unseeded challenger to Pilot Pen champion. Blake, who was raised in nearby Fairfield, was the story of the tournament, and Pilot Pen officials watched with joy as he upset opponent after opponent to make the finals, filling thousands of seats as he won.

Blake looked sluggish early and Lopez capitalized, playing to Blake’s backhand and winning 11 of the set’s final 12 points. After a nearly hour-long rain delay, however, Blake battled back, winning a close second set and using a powerful forehand to dominate in the third.

– Associated Press