AREA

AREA
Western Reservehires Speece
BERLIN CENTER -- Lew Speece has been named head coach of the Western Reserve High football team.
Speece, who earned his bachelor's degree from Mount Union and his master's from Westminster, has 14 years of football coaching experience. He replaces Mark Morris.
Area officialskeeping busy
YOUNGSTOWN -- Several Youngstown-area college football officials were involved in postseason action this year.
Tom Krispinsky worked the MAC Championship game between Toledo and Marshall, while an entire crew of area officials worked the Division III quarterfinal game between Bridgewater and Widner. Those officials are Ken Swanson, Brian Meenachan, John Vicarel, Tom Karabin, Don D'Alesio, John Patton and Tony Montana.
Greg Patoray worked the Division III semifinal game between Bridgewater and Rowan, while Jim Visingardi will be working the Music City Bowl between Georgia and Boston College.
McCabe picksAshland
ASHLAND -- Boardman High senior shortstop Mary McCabe will continue her softball career at Ashland University.
An All-Northeast Ohio selection and member of the Steel Valley Conference first team for the past three years, McCabe was part of the Spartans' Division I state title team last season.
She led Boardman in runs scored (41) and stolen bases (31), batted .438 and owned a .992 fielding percentage during the title season.
Ashland is a Division II school that competes in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. The Eagles were 39-20 last season.
Kernan wins
YOUNGSTOWN -- Kernan Insurance held off the Warren Wreckers 21-20 to win the title game between the champions of the Youngstown and Warren Touch Football Leagues.
Tod O'Palack, Mike Patrone and Mike Koller scored touchdowns and Koller kicked three conversions as Kernan took a 21-14 lead at the half.
Shane Pratt, Kenny Jackson and Craig Villwock scored TDs for the Warren team.
Columbianaplayers askboard to speak
COLUMBIANA -- Baseball players and parents have asked to address the Columbiana Board of Education at its meeting Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. at Columbiana High School.
In November, the board chose not to renew the contract of varsity baseball coach Bruce Wolfe. Wolfe says he was totally surprised by the move.
A high school math teacher, Wolfe is in his 16th year in the district and has been varsity baseball coach for 12 seasons. During his tenure, the Clippers won nine Tri-County League championships.
Watters outfor season
KIRKLAND, Wash. -- Ricky Watters' season has ended with a broken bone in his right ankle. Seattle coach Mike Holmgren said that an MRI test revealed the injury after Sunday's game with the Dallas Cowboys.
Bengals' Smithtears hamstring
CINCINNATI -- Akili Smith has a torn left hamstring that will end his season and leave his future with the Cincinnati Bengals still cloudy. Tests found that the third-year quarterback tore part of the hamstring loose from the bone during a 15-14 loss to the New York Jets.
Green planscomeback
ASHBURN, Va. -- The farewell tour is over. Darrell Green plans to come back for a 20th NFL season.
The 41-year-old Washington Redskins cornerback said he no longer intends to retire after the season, a change of heart spurred by the fans and made possible by an improved relationship with coach Marty Schottenheimer.
Saints suspendWR Connell
NEW ORLEANS -- The New Orleans Saints suspended wide receiver Albert Connell for the final four games of the season and fined him an additional paycheck "for conduct detrimental to the team."
WORLD
Hamm honored
ZURICH, Switzerland -- Mia Hamm, who has helped galvanize women's soccer in the United States, was honored as the first FIFA Women's Player of the Year.
Staff/wire reports