Counsell returns to the Brewers

Infielder Craig Counsell decided he’d rather be a backup for his hometown team than a starter someplace else.

Counsell returned to the Milwaukee Brewers on Wednesday, agreeing to a $6-million, two-year contract. Counsell is a native of the Milwaukee area and played for the Brewers in 2004.

He drew interest from the San Diego Padres, potentially as a starting second baseman.

Counsell knows the Brewers appear to be set on the infield, with second baseman Rickie Weeks, shortstop J.J. Hardy and third baseman Corey Koskie.

Counsell, 36, spent the last two seasons with Arizona.

Counsell batted .255 last season with four homers and 30 RBIs in 105 games, playing mostly at shortstop.

Toronto Blue Jays General Manager J.P. Ricciardi said that catcher Rod Barajas backed out of a deal with the team after signing a terms sheet.

After Barajas switched agents and his deal with Toronto came undone, Toronto agreed to a $7.25 million, two-year contract with Gregg Zaun on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, Toronto and shortstop Royce Clayton reportedly reached a tentative deal on a $1.5 million, one-year contract.

Looking to broaden their fan support, the Tampa Bay Devil Rays are in talks to move a three-game series May 15-17 against the Texas Rangers from St. Petersburg, Fla., to Disney’s Wide World of Sports in Kissimmee next season.

Tampa Bay ranked 29th among 30 teams in attendance last season.

JURISPRUDENCE

Alabama coach settles Title IX case

An Alabama high school basketball coach fired in 2001 when he complained that his girls’ basketball team wasn’t treated as well as the boys’ team -- and won a pivotal Supreme Court ruling -- reached a settlement that includes a school board promise of equal facilities at Jackson-Olin High.

Under the settlement reached with the Birmingham Board of Education, Roderick Jackson also will remain the coach and receive $50,000 and his attorneys will receive $340,000. He had been rehired as interim coach earlier.

Serena Williams told a jury in West Palm Beach, Fla., that she felt “harassed� and “violated� when one promoter of a “Battle of the Sexes� tennis match called her personal cell phone and repeatedly urged her to take part in the event.

Williams was testifying in a breach-of-contract lawsuit brought by promoters Keith Rhodes and Carol Clarke.

HORSE RACING

Baze moves within one of tying Pincay

Jockey Russell Baze won one race at Bay Meadows to move within one victory of tying leader Laffit Pincay Jr. on the all-time list. Baze’s win on favored Sylvan Hill was the 9,529th of his career and came after he had failed to hit the board with any of his previous four mounts.

Baze is scheduled to ride in six of the eight races today at Bay Meadows.

-- Bob Mieszerski

Kieren Fallon, one of Britain’s most successful jockeys, was suspended for six months after testing positive last summer for a banned substance.

Officials did not identify the substance. Fallon can appeal.

MISCELLANY

Arena football season shifted to later date

The Arena Football League will begin its 2007 season on March 1, about six weeks later than usual, and the ArenaBowl will be played July 29.

The switch moves the opening games away from the weekend before the Super Bowl.

Scott Gutschewski shot a five-under 67 at PGA West to take a one-stroke lead over Jeff Gallagher and Ryan Howison after the first round of the PGA Tour’s 108-hole final qualifying tournament in La Quinta.

The top 30 and ties after six rounds will receive 2007 PGA Tour cards.

In a surprise announcement, the director of the men’s World Cup said that there wasn’t enough sponsorship money for Colorado resorts to hold some of the ski races scrapped by warm weather and a lack of snow in Europe.

Guenther Hujara said talks came up $350,000 shy of being able to reschedule the races.