Australia defeated Czechia 5-1 on Friday behind a three-run homer from Chicago White Sox infielder Curtis Mead to remain unbeaten in Pool C in the World Baseball Classic. Australia is lining up among the favorites from Tokyo to reach the quarterfinals along with home team Japan. Japan is the defending champion and many expect a final in Miami on March 17 against the United States. Mead's homer in the third put Australia up 3-1 after the Czechs failed to convert a double play early in the inning that eventually gave Mead a chance to bat. Australia added two runs in the ninth, including a solo home run by Alex Hall. The Czechs took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second on a sacrifice fly by Vojtech Mensik. Josh Hendrickson was the winning pitcher and Tomas Ondra got the loss. Australia improved to 2-0 in Pool C and the Czechs fell to 0-2. Australia reached the quarterfinals three years ago in the last WBC but lost to Cuba 4-3. The Australians have several players with MLB organizations including Mead. Theres also Travis Bazzana, the first pick in the 2024 MLB amateur draft taken by the Cleveland Guardians. Japan and its superstar Shohei Ohtani play their first game in the WBC later Friday facing Taiwan. Taiwan lost to Australia 3-0 in its opener on Thursday.

Australia vs India Live Updates, Women's One-Off Test Day 1: Australia captain Alyssa Healy won the toss and opted to bowl against India.

SportsLine's model reveals its Dallas Mavericks vs. Orlando Magic predictions and Thursday NBA picks

The Columbus Blue Jackets started NHL trade deadline day with a bang by acquiring winger Conor Garland from Vancouver.Just after midnight Friday, they sent a third-round pick in the draft this year and a 2028 second-rounder to the Canucks for the soon-to-be 30-year-old who drew interest from multiple Eastern Conference contenders.Conor is a versatile player who brings great energy to the lineup every night, Blue Jackets general manager Don Waddell said. He has tremendous character, plays a reliable two-way game and will be an important part of our club now and in the future.Garland has seven goals and 19 assists for 26 points in 50 games this season. He's signed through 2032 at a salary cap hit of $6 million, a contract that begins in 2026-27.The Blue Jackets moved one point back of the second and final wild-card spot in the East by beating back-to-back champion Florida on the eve of the deadline. Garland was one of the top available players left on the market after a flurry of activity Thursday, which including Western Stanley Cup contenders Colorado, Dallas, Vegas and Minnesota all making a move.The New York Rangers still have center Vincent Trocheck to potentially move before the deadline at 3 p.m. EST. After playing and beating Toronto on Thursday night, they agreed to trade Sam Carrick to Buffalo and still could have more to sell.The Panthers also remain a team to watch in the final hours, sitting 10 points out of a playoff position with 20 games to play. Goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky is a pending free agent, though depth forward A.J. Greer appears more likely to get traded.___AP NHL: https://apnews.com/NHL

In his limited time on the court, Trae Young proved in his Wizards debut that he's the type of player the team hasn't had since John Wall, thrilling the D.C. crowd and finishing with 12 points in a 122-112 loss to the Jazz.

Formula 1s new era dawns today at Albert Park.

The Iran women's football team could face the death penalty in Iran after they were branded as 'wartime traitors' on the nation's state television.

The plane landed at London's Stansted Airport in the early hours of Friday morning.

Auteur du tir au but de la qualification pour les demi-finales de la Coupe de France lors du match OL-Lens (2-2, 4 t.a.b. 5), Florian Thauvin a imit la clbration de Rmi Himbert, effectu au Vlodrome, dimanche.