LOCAL

LOCAL
Statisticians,coaches reminder
High school coaches and statisticians are reminded to contact The Vindicator with results of contests. To report scores, dial (330) 747-1471 or 1-800-686-5199. When calling from a touch-tone phone, you will be prompted to dial 1, then the extension. The extensions for the sports department are: 291, 292, 370, 593, 594, 595 and 596. You may also fax results to (330) 747-6712. When reporting results, be sure to include first names, team records and where the contest was played.
Paradise wins title
BEAVER TOWNSHIP -- Paradise U.C.C., of North Lima defeated Springfield Church of God of New Springfield, 8-6, to win the Woodworth Christian Softball League tournament recently.
The game was the second meeting between the teams in the double elimination tournament.
Jeff Brink led Springfield Church of God, with a solo home run, while Paradise had a RBI triple by Steve Moff. Both teams had won three straight games to advance to the title game.
Correction
Vindicator sportswriter Bill Sullivan picked Bedford Chanel to defeat Hubbard in tonight's season-opening football game in Hubbard. An editing error had Sullivan's choice as Campbell in the predictions chart that ran in some editions on Thursday.
NATION
Second manpleads guilty
FLEMINGTON, N.J. -- A second man pleaded guilty to charges he helped cover up Jayson Williams' role in the shooting death of a limousine driver and will testify against the former NBA star.
John W. Gordnick told the judge he took the clothes Williams was wearing when the driver was shot, hid them in a car and didn't turn them over to authorities for weeks.
He pleaded guilty to tampering with evidence, and prosecutors will recommend probation. He could have faced nearly 12 years in prison if convicted.
Shaquille O'Neal opts for surgery
LOS ANGELES -- Los Angeles Lakers center Shaquille O'Neal has decided to have surgery on his right foot, and might not be ready for the start of the season.
He should be operated on in the next 2-3 weeks and his recovery could take six more. The Lakers begin defense of their third straight NBA title on Oct. 29.
Golf roundup
* RENO, Nev. -- Charles Howell III, seeking his first PGA Tour victory, shot a bogey-free 7-under 65 to take a one-stroke lead after the first round of the Reno-Tahoe Open.
* KUTZTOWN, Pa. -- Jill McGill and Danielle Ammaccapane shot 6-under 66s to share the lead in the Betsy King Classic.
* BLOOMFIELD HILLS, Mich. -- Medalist Bill Haas advanced to the quarterfinals of the U.S. Amateur, beating NCAA player of the year D.J. Trahan 2 and 1.
Tennis roundup
* NEW HAVEN, Conn. -- Fifth-seeded Martina Hingis completed her first three-set match since returning from a three-month injury layoff but it wasn't enough against an energized Anastasia Myskina.
The unseeded Myskina beat Hingis 6-7 (2), 6-4, 6-0 by winning the final 11 games in their Pilot Pen quarterfinal.
* COMMACK, N.Y. -- Defending champion Tommy Haas played through pain again and reached the TD Waterhouse Cup quarterfinals.
The 24-year-old, plagued by tendinitis in his right shoulder since the Australian Open in January, was hampered by new pain in both his right arm and elbow as he rallied for a victory over Augustin Calleri.
Cubs trade Gordon
HOUSTON -- The Chicago Cubs are back to just one closer, trading Tom Gordon to the Houston Astros for a minor league pitcher and two players to be named.
Driver unhurt
BRISTOL, Tenn. -- NASCAR Busch Series driver Mike Harmon escaped virtually uninjured after a spectacular crash split his car in half when he hit an unsecured gate at Bristol Motor Speedway.
Vindicator staff/wire reports