SPORTS BRIEFS: Darton baseball beats Chipola in regular-season finale

Darton baseball wins regular-season finale

Darton State College beat Chipola (Fla.) 9-4 in its regular-season Friday night. The victory improved the Cavaliers to 37-17.

Eric Henderson earned the victory on the mound improving his record to 4-2.

Luis Salas led the offense, going 3 for 5 with two runs. William Golden and Kendall Herron each went 1 for 3 with two RBIs.

The Cavaliers will play host to the GCAA tournament that begins on Wednesday. Darton will play its first game on Thursday.

Buccaneers sign Jameis Winston to rookie contract

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers already have signed No. 1 overall pick Jameis Winston.

General manager Jason Licht announced Friday that Winston signed his rookie contract. The former Florida State quarterback will get $25.35 million over four years, including a $16.7 million signing bonus, according to reports from NFL Media and ESPN.com.

“It’s something we wanted to do,” Licht said. “And it was something where they had no reluctancy either. It was fairly smooth. We wanted Jameis to start off on the right foot. There’s no reason to punish Jameis. He’s going to be treated contractually in terms of money just like any other first overall pick.”

Winston said, “I’m glad we got the contract stuff out of the way. I’m just looking forward to getting with the team. We’ve got some great teammates and I’m looking forward to working with the coaching staff, just playing some football. This whole thing has been long for me. But football is what I’m here for and I can’t wait.”

On Thursday night, the Bucs selected Winston with the first overall pick in the 2015 NFL Draft at Auditorium Theater in Chicago.

Rangers pleased with Hamilton’s team workouts

The Texas Rangers are pleased after watching outfielder Josh Hamilton work out at the team’s spring training facility.

Despite undergoing surgery on the right shoulder on Feb. 4 and missing spring training, Hamilton is in good condition and he impressed the Rangers after two workouts in Surprise, Ariz.

“I like what I see from him, especially the eagerness to play,” outfield instructor Dwayne Murphy told the Dallas Morning News on Wednesday. “I have to put the reins on him because he wants to do a lot more. That is good.”

The Los Angeles Angels traded Hamilton to the Rangers on Monday after two disappointing seasons, including an alcohol and drug relapse.

Hamilton, who turns 34 on May 21, returns to Texas where he played five seasons before signing a five-year contract worth $125 million with the Angels in December 2012. He helped the Rangers make consecutive World Series appearances in 2010 and 2011, was the 2010 American League MVP and an All-Star in each of his five seasons with Texas (2008-12).

Hamilton is expected to work out in Arizona for about 10 days before beginning an injury rehabilitation assignment with Triple-A Round Rock. The Rangers said he is on track to be activated from the disabled list during the second half of May.

“I’m happy with it,” Hamilton said of his workouts. “I’m trying to do all the stuff I usually do in spring training, so I can be ready to roll.”

Hamilton admitted he has to be careful playing the all-out style that has led to injuries in his career.

“It’s continuing to know the situation in games, when it’s important to give your body up and when it’s not,” Hamilton said. “I have to be smarter and keep my body off the ground as much as possible.

“I’m smarter, hopefully, when it comes to playing the game because I realize I’m not that kid anymore. It’s not just the raw ability.”