Wednesday State Sports Briefs: MVP runner-up says he doesn't want award if Braun suspended

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The man who finished second in last year's National League MVP voting says he should not get the award if Milwaukee's Ryan Braun is stripped of the honor. Matt Kemp said at the Dodgers' Spring Training yesterday that he would not want the award "by default."

The Baseball Writers Association has said it would not take the MVP title away from Braun -- even if he's suspended for 50 games after he tested positive for a banned substance during last October's playoffs. A ruling on that is expected any time. Baseball commentator Bob Costas has said that if Braun's suspended, the writers should re-vote on the MVP award and give it to Kemp -- even though the winner's accomplishments are only for the regular season, which ended before Braun's reported positive test. Kemp, the league's home run leader in 2011, said it would have been special had he been voted in -- and he hopes he can earn it straight-up this year while leading the Dodgers to the playoffs. Kemp said he has been friends with Braun -- and he hopes the drug allegation is not true. Kemp also said he tried hard to recruit former Brewers' first baseman Prince Fielder to LA. The free agent signed with Detroit.

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Milwaukee Brewers' starters Zack Greinke and Shaun Marcum will both become free agents at the end of the year. And general manager Doug Melvin says it's too early to tell if the Brewers will be able to keep both pitchers for 2013-and-beyond. Greinke does not have an agent, and he says he won't need one for awhile. But Melvin said he'll still make an offer to Greinke when he feels the time is right. He believes Greinke will do a lot of the preparation work himself, and he might get somebody to help if the talks get serious. The 28-year-old Greinke is making 13-and-a-half million dollars this year -- and pitchers of his caliber have been getting five-year deals in the 75-to-85-million dollar range. The Brewers traded a lot of their top minor league talent to get Greinke and Marcum a year ago -- and it appears they'll want to keep both if they can. Marcum has said he wants to stay with the Brewers after this season.

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Former Green Bay Packers' offensive lineman Mark Tauscher hopes to push the Wisconsin state Senate into action. Tauscher says he supports a bill that's aimed at reducing concussions among young athletes. And he was scheduled to be joined by doctors, an NFL lobbyist, and the bill's sponsors at a news conference in Madison today. Under the bill, those who appear to be suffering from head injuries or concussions in any organized youth competition would have to leave the playing field. And the athlete could not return until a health care provider gives written clearance. Also, the bill would set guidelines for coaches, athletes, and parents to follow in dealing with the risk of head injuries. The state Assembly has passed the measure, but it's been tied up in the Senate.

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The Wisconsin boys' high school hockey tournament is down to the Sweet-16. Seven of the eight Number-One seeds won the final games in their brackets. Only Mequon Homestead was eliminated, falling to Brookfield last night 7-2. Defending champion Wausau West is still alive, along with the other six top seeds -- Superior, Eau Claire Memorial, Onalaska, Green Bay Notre Dame, Verona, and Kettle Moraine-Mukwonago. Sectional finals will be held Friday and Saturday, and the final eight will head to the state tournament in just over a week in Madison. Meanwhile, the girls' hockey sectionals are down to the final eight. Three-time defending champion River Falls is one of those eight, along with all four Number-One seeds -- Heyward-Spooner, Schofield D.C. Everest, Onalaska, and Green Bay East. Four girls' teams will advance to state.

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The Milwaukee Wave will try to end a three-game losing streak tonight when it plays at Syracuse. Milwaukee's lead is down to two-and-a-half games in the Major Indoor Soccer League's Central Division. The Wave has clinched a playoff spot, but they have not secured the division crown. And they'll face a Syracuse team that needs a victory to remain in contention for the final post-season slot. Milwaukee is 16-5 overall and 2-0 against Syracuse. Nicolas Perera has 12 points against the Silver Knights, including three goals. Syracuse comes in at 8-13.

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Cory Zimmerman of Ripon College is the men's indoor track athlete-of-the-week in the Midwest Conference. Zimmerman, a junior, broke his own school record in the 800-meters with a time of 1:56.72 at the East Bay Invitational in Stevens Point.

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SCORES

WIAA Boys' high school hockey sectionals...

Amery Sectional

New Richmond 6, Hudson 3

Superior 7, Siren 3

Eau Claire Memorial Sectional

Chippewa Falls 2, Rice Lake 1, OT

Eau Claire Memorial 8, Chequamegon/Phillips 1

Schofield D.C. Everest Sectional

Northland Pines 6, Lakeland 1

Wausau West 4, Mosinee 2

Viroqua Sectional

Onalaska 3, Baraboo/Portage 1

Sparta 5, Wisconsin Rapids Lincoln 4, OT

Neenah Sectional

Green Bay Notre Dame 8, Appleton Xavier 2

Bay Port/Pulaski 6, Waupaca 0

Madison West Sectional

Middleton 4, Oregon 1

Verona 8, Waunakee 6

Whitefish Bay Sectional

Kettle Moraine/Mukwonago 7, Janesville 1

Milwaukee Marquette 7, Stoughton 0

Milwaukee University School Sectional

Brookfield 7, Mequon Homestead 2

Fond du Lac 5, Fond du Lac St. Mary's Springs 4

Girls' high school hockey sectionals...

New Richmond Sectional

Hayward/Spooner 5, Chippewa Falls 2

St. Croix Valley 3, Eau Claire Stars 1

Tomahawk Sectional

Schofield D.C. Everest 4, Marshfield 1

Northland Pines 2, Wisconsin Rapids Lincoln 0

Middleton Sectional

Onalaska 5, Stoughton 2

Sun Prairie 4, Baraboo 3

Hartland Sectional

Green Bay East 4, Hartland Arrowhead 1

Kettle Moraine 3, Milwaukee University 2

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Boys' high school basketball...

Barneveld 69, Albany 49

Beloit Turner 62, Walworth Big Foot 61

Birchwood 53, Frederic 34

Bonduel 65, Oconto 50

Brookwood 59, Alma Center Lincoln 50

Burlington 79, Delavan-Darien 39

Cambria-Friesland 50, Princeton 38

Cambridge 81, Belleville 46

Cassville 57, Belmont 47

Clayton 54, Shell Lake 35

Clintonville 46, Waupaca 32

Cochrane-Fountain City 37, Eau Claire Immanuel Lutheran 36

Colfax 63, Lake Holcombe 27

Drummond 50, Solon Springs 34

Duluth, Minn. Denfeld 59, Maple Northwestern 41

East Troy 68, Jefferson 40

Eau Claire North 58, New Richmond 52

Elkhorn 46, Lake Geneva Badger 35

Fall River 73, Rio 61

Fox Valley Lutheran 66, Berlin 59

Freedom 49, Appleton Xavier 43

Gale-Ettrick-Trempealeau 74, Westby 45

Gilmanton 86, Cornell 46

Green Bay NEW Lutheran 65, Shiocton 50

Green Bay West 67, Southern Door 60

Hillsboro 57, Kickapoo 44

Hortonville 59, West De Pere 47

Hurley 88, Mellen 43

Hustisford 64, Madison Abundant Life-Madison Country Day 44

La Crosse Aquinas 51, Tomah 46

La Crosse Central 49, Sparta 32

La Farge 55, New Lisbon 49

Lake Country Lutheran 73, Beaver Dam Wayland Academy 63

Lake Mills 67, Lakeside Lutheran 47

Lodi 52, Poynette 39

Markesan 52, Montello 48

Marshall 67, New Glarus 61

Marshfield 64, Rhinelander 55

Middleton 70, DeForest 65

Monticello 45, Pecatonica 30

Necedah 60, Almond-Bancroft 47

New London 62, Wautoma 59

Onalaska 75, West Salem 47

Orfordville Parkview 58, Palmyra-Eagle 51

Peshtigo 39, Niagara 30

Potosi 68, River Ridge 41

Prairie Farm 59, Clear Lake 48

Riverdale 38, Wauzeka 30

Sheboygan Lutheran 80, Random Lake 73

Somerset 58, St. Croix Falls 52

South Wayne Black Hawk 48, Juda 42

Superior 53, Menomonie 47

Suring 74, Oconto Falls 48

Two Rivers 75, Kewaunee 40

Waterloo 69, Wisconsin Heights 57

Waupun Central Wisconsin Christian 64, Green Lake 54

Wausaukee 67, Gillett 56

Webster 50, Minong Northwood 47

Whitehall 59, Blair-Taylor 51

Williams Bay 63, Dodgeland 49

Williams Bay Faith Christian 42, Watertown Maranatha Baptist 33

Wilmot 72, Union Grove 63

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Girls' high school basketball...

Abbotsford 49, Athens 44

Adams-Friendship 37, Wild Rose 30

Amery 49, Somerset 43

Arcadia 53, Independence 21

Baldwin-Woodville 48, Durand 38

Baraboo 39, Wisconsin Dells 16

Beaver Dam 51, Slinger 46

Beloit Turner 44, Williams Bay 33

Bloomer 68, Cadott 43

Bonduel 73, Gillett 35

Boyceville 52, St. Croix Central 28

Brillion 63, Mishicot 47

Chequamegon 55, Rib Lake 20

Chippewa Falls 48, Superior 47

Colfax 59, Glenwood City 26

Columbus 60, DeForest 47

Cudahy 51, Port Washington 24

De Pere 55, Sheboygan South 36

Eau Claire North 55, Wisconsin Rapids 47

Eau Claire Regis 55, Thorp 20

Ellsworth 50, Osceola 44, OT

Elmwood 53, Spring Valley 34

Fall Creek 41, Osseo-Fairchild 39

Frederic 78, Birchwood 44

Goodman-Pembine 47, Phelps 33

Green Bay Notre Dame 69, Green Bay West 27

Greenwood 61, Colby 48

Hartford 41, West Bend East 25

Hillsboro 38, Kickapoo 33

Hustisford 42, Madison Abundant Life 23

Juda 42, Pardeeville 20

Kettle Moraine Lutheran 72, Cedarburg 60

Luck 56, Cumberland 23

Manitowoc Roncalli 57, Chilton 27

Minong Northwood 62, Webster 14

Mount Horeb 54, Platteville 39

Muskego 58, Badger 45

New London 66, West De Pere 32

New Richmond 35, Prescott 29

Onalaska 53, Eau Claire Memorial 46

Plum City 53, Elk Mound 45

Port Edwards 58, Iola-Scandinavia 24

Portage 58, Lodi 55

Prairie Farm 43, Bruce 35

Prentice 43, Phillips 27

Seneca 45, Ithaca 36

St. Croix Falls 52, Turtle Lake 41

Sun Prairie 60, Stoughton 54

Verona 44, Monroe 33

Wabeno 58, Elcho 46, OT

Waupun 61, Wautoma 38

Westosha Central 63, Racine Washington Park 54

Winnebago Lutheran 41, New Holstein 34

Wisconsin Rapids Assumption 49, Stratford 42

Wittenberg-Birnamwood 75, Mosinee 45

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