National Sports

VANCOUVER — When Canadian softball pitcher Danielle Lawrie hits the mound this weekend, she won't be thinking about what's on the line. The squad is competing for a spot in next summer's Tokyo Games at a qualifying tournament in Surrey, B.C.

VICTORIA — An NCAA basketball tournament will return to B.C., for a second year. After launching in Vancouver last year, the event will move to Victoria and be called the Victoria Invitational. Eight women's teams will compete Nov.

OTTAWA — Toronto Maple Leafs defenceman Cody Ceci and his partner Jamie Thompson have filed a statement of defence against an $8.6-million lawsuit by a woman who was badly burned in an incident at Ceci's home last year.

Toronto FC coach Greg Vanney doesn't anticipate the Montreal Impact making a ton of changes on Saturday in the aftermath of an abrupt coaching shuffle.

GENEVA — Washington Capitals centre Evgeny Kuznetsov tested positive for cocaine at the world championship and has been banned from the Russia team for four years.

HALIFAX — Anthony LeBlanc isn't placing too much emphasis on Sunday's Touchdown Atlantic game in Moncton, N.B., saying its perceived success or failure will ultimately have little bearing on his group's attempt to land a CFL franchise in Halifax.

LOS ANGELES — Kiké Hernandez came up with a big hit on his bobblehead night.

WINNIPEG — Jon Gruden says he was ready to put his Oakland Raiders on the field in Winnipeg for an pre-season game with the Green Bay Packers, but the head coach had to quickly make some adjustments. So, too, did the players and the NFL.

Thursday's Games MLB American League Boston 5 Kansas City 4 (10 innings) Tampa Bay 5 Baltimore 2 Chicago White Sox 6 Texas 1 Houston 6 Detroit 3 Oakland 5 N.Y.

Hamilton-based soccer club Forge FC downed Club Deportivo Olimpia 1-0 on Thursday in the first leg of their CONCACAF League Round of 16 matchup.