LOCAL

LOCAL
Stoops banquet is Dec. 8
YOUNGSTOWN -- The Ron Stoops Memorial Fastpitch Softball Banquet will be Dec. 8 at the Brandywine Apartment clubhouse at 1 p.m.
Food and beverage will be served. Donation is $12. For more information, call Dale at (330) 793-7183.
TAC changes Jan. 3 schedule
Because of Ohio State's Fiesta Bowl game on Jan. 3, the Trumbull Athletic Conference has announced the following changes to that night's boys basketball schedule.
Pymatuning Valley at Brookfield has been moved to Dec. 30, with the junior varsity game to start at 6 p.m.; Champion at Lakeview, the junior varsity game will begin at 4 p.m. on Jan. 3; Badger at Liberty, the junior varsity game will begin at 4:30 p.m. on Jan. 3; and the Girard at Hubbard and Newton Falls at LaBrae games were moved to Saturday, Jan. 4, at 6 p.m.
In the Tri-County League, the Sebring at Crestview boys game has been moved from Jan. 3 to Jan. 2, with the JV action starting at 6 p.m.
Poland baseballelects officials
POLAND -- For the 11th consecutive year, Bob Richards will be the president of the Poland Community Baseball Association.
Also voted in to the executive board of the league are Jim Keenan (baseball VP), Dennis Reardan (softball VP), Gary Bonner (treasurer) and Sam Fisher (secretary).
League directors are Rob Ingram, Gary Chandler, John Medina, Bill Fonagy, Don Schettler, Lloyd Peck, Terry Semach, Jim Serich and Dave Sullivan.
'Santa Northcutt'coming to Dome
GIRARD -- Cleveland Browns receiver Dennis Northcutt is scheduled to appear at the Ohio Browns Boosters' Christmas party.
The event will be held at the CreekSide Golf Dome on Dec. 17, beginning at 6 p.m.
For details, call (866) Browns1.
Kehres earns10th AFCA award
ALLIANCE -- Mount Union College football coach Larry Kehres was named Division III Region 4 American Football Coaches Association Regional Coach of the Year for the 10th time.
Kehres has led the Purple Raiders to an 11-0 record with a berth in the quarterfinals of the NCAA Div. III playoffs. The Purple Raiders have went unbeaten in eight consecutive regular seasons.
Kehres' 10 regional awards ties Penn State's Joe Paterno for the most in AFCA history. Kehres has also won a record six AFCA National Coach of the Year awards.
3 coaches pickedfor basketball HOF
DUBLIN -- Larry Clark, Perrysburg High School; Keith Sooy, Medina; Steve Smith, Orville along with Fran Voll, honorary-Delphos St. Johns and Bowling Green State University will be inducted into the Ohio High School Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame April 12, 2003.
The event will be at the Marriott Inn Northwest.
The public is invited to attend and tickets may be purchased by calling (9370) 399-3534.
Area riders in top 10
COLUMBUS -- Lindsey Tomko of Canfield, Andrea Speece of North Jackson and Julie Majornick of Canfield placed in the top ten at the All-American Quarter Horse Congress.
The Quarter Horse Congress is the world largest single breed horse show. It has more than 15,000 horse show entries from the United States, Canada, Mexico, Europe and South America.
NATION
Whaley to competein PGA Tour event
HARTFORD, Conn. -- Suzy Whaley considered all of the negative aspects of playing in the Greater Hartford Open, and decided it was too important an opportunity to pass up.
The 36-year-old golf pro and mother of two accepted an invitation to play in next year's tournament, a move that will make her the first woman to play in a PGA Tour event.
Peppers suspended
CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Star rookie defensive end Julius Peppers of the Carolina Panthers was suspended for the final four games of the season for violating the NFL's substance-abuse policy.
Vindicator staff/wire reports