Consolation Game

Sony Corp. took its next strategic step in the U.S. video game market, saying it will launch online services for its market-leading PlayStation 2 game console in August. Sony said it will sell a network adapter for $39.99 beginning that month, allowing for both low- and high-speed Internet connections. But in a conference call to discuss the announcement, the company could not say how many adapters would be available at launch.

Devin Montgomery and Boomer Brazzle each scored a career-high 21 points as Pepperdine beat West Virginia, 97-65, in the consolation game of the Bank One Fiesta Bowl Classic on Sunday at Tucson, Ariz. Jimmy Miggins had 18 points and seven rebounds and Robert Turner, a freshman, had a season-high 17 points as the Waves (6-6) bounced back from a 94-71 loss to No. 14 Arizona in the first round.

Marcus Smith scored 18 points and Loyola Marymount held on to beat Mississippi Valley State 74-65 in a Guardians Classic tournament consolation game Wednesday. Andy Osborn scored 15 points and had 12 rebounds to help the Lions, with 10 points and 10 rebounds in the first half. Loyola Marymount shot 48% from the field. Ashley Robinson led Mississippi Valley State with 16 points.

The little team that could and the young team that should will meet on Monday for the High Desert tournament Division I softball championship. Paraclete High, which competes in Southern Section Division V, mowed down two more larger schools and Valencia, with seven freshmen and sophomores, continued to thump opponents at Lancaster City Park on Saturday.

In other nonleague games: Edison 8-11, Perris 0-0--Kelly Birk pitched the first-game shutout with eight strikeouts. She also had three hits, including a double and triple, scored three runs and had three RBIs. In the second game, Scarlett Neal was two for three with two RBIs and scored three runs. Edison's Vanessa Luis had two hits, including a three-run home run in the fourth inning. Amanda Shelton pitched a one-hitter in a game shortened to five innings because of the mercy rule.

Sega Enterprises will stop manufacturing its money-losing Dreamcast video game console in March to focus on the company's more lucrative software business, said Peter Moore, president of Sega of America. Sega instead will create games for a variety of consoles and devices rather than make games only for the Dreamcast. Moore confirmed that Sega has agreements to make video games for Nintendo's upcoming Game Boy Advance device and for Sony's new PlayStation 2 console.

Gio Amat had 25 points to help Bellflower St. John Bosco defeat Century, 69-59, in the championship game of the Century Holiday Classic at Century High School. Chris Ferretti had 20 points and Phillip Alves had 12 for the Centurions (9-6), who trailed by 12 at halftime. They pulled to within four points with six minutes left.