National Sports

TORONTO — After giving up a solo home run and loading the bases in the third inning, Thomas Pannone's outing seemed to be heading toward disaster.

OTTAWA — For a guy who wasn't expected to make the team out of training camp, Lewis Ward has quickly become a fan favourite and a key member of the Ottawa Redblacks' offence.

HARRISON, N.J. — Alejandro Romero Gamarra scored in the 70th minute and the New York Red Bulls all but knocked defending MLS champions Toronto FC out of playoff contention with a 2-0 victory Saturday night.

CALGARY — Mike Labinjo, who participated in the Super Bowl and won a Grey Cup with the Calgary Stampeders, has died. He was 38. The Calgary Stampeders, who Labinjo played for from 2007-10, confirmed Labinjo's death Saturday.

TORONTO — Just hours after beating Widnes Vikings on Saturday afternoon, the Toronto Wolfpack boarded a plane for Manchester. The Wolfpack wrap up the Super 8 Qualifiers next Friday at Leeds Rhinos.

TORONTO — Less than 30 months after holding up a Wolfpack jersey before a fairly dubious audience at the franchise's opening news conference, Toronto coach Paul Rowley is on the eve of leading the transatlantic rugby league team into the elite Super

TENERIFE, Spain — Kim Gaucher had a game-high 16 points as Canada opened the FIBA Women's World Cup with an 81-50 victory over Greece on Saturday.

OAKVILLE, Ont. — Canada's Kaitlyn Weaver and Andrew Poje won the gold medal in ice dance behind a new program on Saturday at the Autumn Classic International figure skating competition.

LONDON — English Premier League newcomer Wolverhampton turned party-pooper on the day Alex Ferguson made an emotional return to Old Trafford.

VANCOUVER — Kei Kamara believes his Vancouver Whitecaps have what it takes to claw out a playoff spot, but he knows that the battle won't be an easy one.