U.S. wins World Cup of Softball title

Taylor Hoagland hit a two-run home run, Valerie Arioto and Megan Langenfeld had run-scoring singles and the United States beat rival Japan, 6-4, Monday night at Oklahoma City to win its fifth straight World Cup of Softball championship.

Jordan Taylor (1-0) retired the first eight batters she faced and carried a no-hitter into the fifth inning, never letting the Americans fall behind after they grabbed a 2-0 lead without needing a hit in the first inning.

The U.S. got even for a 7-0 loss in the title game of the Canada Cup this month in the latest matchup between the sport’s two powerhouses.

The Americans won the first three Olympic gold medals and have won the last seven world championships, but Japan holds the gold medal from the 2008 Olympics.

ETC.

Juninho voted an All-Star

Galaxy midfielder Juninho was one of six players named to the Major League Soccer All-Star team that will take on English Premier League champion Manchester United on Wednesday at Harrison, N.J.

The inclusion of the final six players was decided in voting by MLS players. Under the league’s collective-bargaining agreement, 32 players are named annually to the All-Star team, though not all players can dress for the game.

The other players selected on the ballot are Seattle midfielder Osvaldo Alonso, D.C. United midfielder Dwayne De Rosario, Vancouver forward Eric Hassli, New York midfielder Joel Lindpere and goalkeeper Nick Rimando of Real Salt Lake.

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Fifth-seeded Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland beat Barbora Zahlavova Strycova of the Czech Republic, 6-1, 6-2, in the first round of the Bank of the West Classic at Palo Alto.

Canadian Rebecca Marino topped American Coco Vandeweghe, 6-4, 6-4, in another match. She’ll play No. 3-seeded Marion Bartoli next.

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The brother of NHL enforcer Derek Boogaard made his first court appearance in Minneapolis on charges stemming from his brother’s overdose death in May.

Aaron Boogaard, 24, did not enter a plea during the brief appearance before Hennepin County District Judge Regina Chu. His mother and sister were present, his attorney said. Boogaard is next due in court Aug. 17.

Boogaard faces one felony drug count and one gross misdemeanor count of interfering with the scene of a death. State guidelines recommend a sentence of 21 months of probation.

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Former NBA and UCLA player Tracy Murray is joining Teresa Edwards’ coaching staff with the WNBA’s Tulsa Shock.

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Times sports columnist Bill Plaschke and Lakers legend Magic Johnson will have a wide-ranging one-on-one conversation open to the public at The Times in Sports event at Loyola Marymount’s Gersten Pavilion on Saturday at 4 p.m. Tickets are $25 for general admission, $75 for preferred seating and a pre-event reception. Details: latimes.com/timesinsports.

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The U.S. women’s water polo team lost in the quarterfinals to Russia, 9-7, in Shanghai, ending the U.S. team’s bid to win a third consecutive FINA world championship.