Bautista’s Two Goals Carry Mexico

Mexico’s national soccer team continued its preparation for this summer’s World Cup by routing Albania, 4-0, Wednesday night at San Diego’s Qualcomm Stadium.

Albania, which was a late replacement after Macedonia and Bulgaria withdrew from the game, arrived in California only on Tuesday and was no match for Coach Javier Aguirre’s squad, which was trying to bounce back from a 2-1 loss to Yugoslavia at Phoenix last month.

Striker Jared Borgetti gave Mexico the lead in the 26th minute and Ramon Morales scored the second goal four minutes later.

Adolfo Bautista had goals in the 52nd and 90th minutes to complete the rout.

Albania played the second half with only 10 men after American referee Kevin Stott red-carded Ardif Beqiri one minute before halftime.

Grahame L. Jones

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Five-time MLS All-Star midfielder John Harkes re-signed with the Columbus Crew. Terms of the contract were not disclosed.

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College Baseball

Occidental has canceled four baseball scheduled for this weekend after 20 of 26 players quit the team this week in a dispute with Coach Jeff Henderson, Athletic Director Dixon Farmer confirmed.

Farmer said he will direct Henderson to recruit other students from the school as replacements so that Occidental (6-10) can continue playing this season.

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Miscellany

Finland’s Matti Hautamaki dominated a World Cup ski jumping night meet at Falun, Sweden.

Hautamaki set a hill record with his first jump of 130.5 meters. His other jump was 124.5 meters on Lugnet’s K115 hill, giving him 274.5 points.

Triple Olympic champion Samppa Lajunen of Finland won his third consecutive World Cup event in the Nordic combined after a strong cross-country race at Trondheim, Norway.

Ackermann leads World Cup champion Felix Gottwald of Austria in the standings.