QUEBEC - Marie-Michele Gagnon grabbed centre stage on Thurs

[blueberryjerry]

QUEBEC - Marie-Michele Gagnon grabbed centre stage on Thursday as she, Brittany Phelan and Larisa Yurkiw were named to the womens ski team heading to the Sochi Olympics next month. . The native of Lac-Etchemin, Que., ended a 30-year drought for Canadian women in World Cup combined events last weekend by earning her first-ever victory. Gagnon, 24, doesnt seem to care if that victory means higher expectations in Sochi. "Im not worried about pressure," she told a news conference in Quebec City. "People can say what they want because Ill continue to do things my way. I know its the right way and I will continue to favour my relaxed approach." Gagnon is particularly happy with her consistency this season, which she believes has allowed her to take more risks on the slopes. "Even when I finish in the top 10, I know I can go faster," she said. "Im on a gradual progressive curve. The idea is to go full out in Sochi." Phelans spot on the team was never really in doubt after a breakthrough 2012-13 season that featured six top-30 finishes, including one top-10 performance. The 22-year-old native of Mont-Tremblant, Que., has had a tougher 2013-14 but remains confident shell come through in the slalom event in Russia. "If I have two good runs, a top-10 is possible," she said. "But you never know in slalom, anything is possible. "I want to gain experience because at the next Games, in four years, Id like to take part in technical and speed races." Yurkiw, from Owen Sound, Ont., suffered a horrible leg injury in 2009 but returned to competition two years later. She clinched her Olympic spot last weekend when she finished sixth in a downhill World Cup event in Austria. Thursdays news conference came on the heels of part of the mens contingent being named last week. The group, dubbed the three "Canadian Cowboys", are Erik Guay of Mont-Tremblant, Que., Jan Hudec of Calgary, and Manny Osborne-Paradis of North Vancouver, B.C. Others could still qualify in advance of the Games as qualifications remain open until Jan. 26. .com) - Baltimore Ravens running back Justin Forsett is active for Sundays matchup with the Miami Dolphins. . Harris has played in six games since joining the Argos in 2012, completing 17-of-35 passes for 256 yards and one touchdown. . Hes even holding a bat on one of his 2014 baseball cards. So far, hes playing like his picture.ST. LOUIS -- Edinson Volquez tossed a complete game six-hitter to win his fourth straight start and the Pittsburgh Pirates downed the St. Louis Cardinals 9-1 on Thursday night. Neil Walker, Josh Harrison, Russell Martin and Andrew McCutchen all drove in two runs for Pittsburgh, which avoided being swept in the four-game series. Volquez (8-6) has a 0.90 ERA in winning four consecutive starts for the first time in his career. He struck out five and walked two. Shelby Miller (7-8) allowed four runs in five innings. He walked four and struck out one. Walker extended his hitting streak to a season-high 12 games with a two-run double in the fifth that extended the Pirates lead to 4-1. McCutchen started the three-run uprising with a run-scoring single that broke a 1-all tie. McCutchen drove in a run in the sixth with a sacrifice fly. Harrison added a two-run double in the inning that made it 6-1. Martin homered off Jason Motte in the ninth. Martin drove in his 5000th career run in the first inning. . The Cardinals were playing without All-Star catcher Yadier Molina, who tore a ligament in his right thumb in Wednesdays 5-2 win. Molina will undergo surgery on Friday and is expected to miss 8 to 12 weeks. St. Louis tied it in the third on a sacrifice fly by Matt Carpenter. Kolten Wong began the inning with a single. NOTES: St. Louis OF Allen Craig, mired in an 0-for-13 skid did not play Thursday. ...The Cardinals open a three-game series in Milwaukee on Friday. Joe Kelly (1-1, 0.59) will face Yovani Gallardo (5-5, 3.45) in the first game. Kelly is making his first appearance since straining his left hamstring on April 16. ... Pittsburgh will travel to Cincinnati for a three-game series beginning Friday. LHP Jeff Locke (2-1, 3.08) will face Mat Latos (2-1, 2.41) in the opener. ... St. Louis C Tony Cruz, who is replacing Molina, allowed a passed ball in the sixth that brought in a run. ' ' '

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