YSU

YSU
Football
YOUNGSTOWN -- Youngstown State ranked fifth nationally in total attendance (103,046) and was sixth nationally in average attendance (17,174) according to the final 2002 NCAA figures released on Monday.
Jackson State ranked first averaging 23,691 fans per game while Delaware, Montana, Southern and Florida A & amp;M finished out the top five. YSU was sixth ahead of North Carolina A & amp;T, national-finalist McNeese State, Alcorn State and The Citadel. The average of 17,174 was the second-best single-season average in the program's 62-year history.
The Penguins were first again in attendance in the Gateway Football Conference. Since joining the conference in 1997, YSU had led the league in average attendance every season.
Basketball
YOUNGSTOWN -- Two Youngstown State basketball games will be part of the NCAA's "Take a kid to the game" program.
The YSU women's team's game against Akron on Sunday, and the men's game against Niagara on Dec. 28 have been designated. For those two games adults who purchase a regular-priced ticket can buy a ticket for a child for $1. All children 12 and under are eligible. The program is sponsored by Armstrong.
Also the first 500 children 12 and under at either home game will receive a MetLife Snoopy Poster.
LOCAL
Game change
The McDonald at Mineral Ridge boys basketball game, originally scheduled for Jan. 3, has been moved to Jan. 4. The junior varsity game will begin at 6 p.m.
Ariel Witmerwins golf tourney
SUFFOLK, Va. -- Ariel Witmer, a resident of North Lima, shot a two-day 182 to win the girls age 8-11 division of the Plantations Junior Golf Tour. The activity took place at the Nansemond River Course on Dec. 14-15.
Free hockey
BOARDMAN -- The Youngstown Borderhawks will offer free hockey to boys and girls age 4-14 at the Ice Zone in Boardman.
The activity will take place Jan. 2 from 6-8 p.m. and Jan. 3 from 4-6 p.m.
For details call (330) 726-8215.
REGION
Courtney Brownfacing surgery
BEREA -- Defensive end Courtney Brown, struggling through a season of injuries and ineffective play, will undergo knee surgery Thursday and may be lost for the season.
Coach Butch Davis said Monday that Brown appears to have cartilage damage in his left knee, and the surgery will survey the damage.
Indians pick twoin Rule 5 draft
CLEVELAND -- The Cleveland Indians used the Rule 5 minor league draft Monday to select two players from the Baltimore organization who missed last season because of injuries.
Rick Elder, the Orioles' first-round pick in the 1998 draft, skipped 2002 with a dislocated right shoulder. The first baseman-outfielder hit .251 with 16 homers in 112 games at Class A Delmarva in 2001.
Tendinitis in his left throwing shoulder kept Randy Perez from pitching last season after he went 8-7 with a 3.96 ERA in 20 starts at Class A Frederick in 2001.
In the major league portion of the draft, the Indians lost infielder Hector Luna to Tampa Bay, infielder Marshall McDougal to Texas, left-hander Matt White to Boston and left-hander Derek Thompson to the Chicago Cubs. The Cubs then traded Thompson to Los Angeles.
The Indians also drafted infielder Travis Chapman from Philadelphia, then traded him to Detroit for cash.
YES Network to show LeBron James
NEW YORK -- The Yankees Entertainment & amp; Sports Network (YES) will show a tournament featuring Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary High and LeBron James Feb. 6-9 at the Prime Time Shootout in Trenton, N.J.,
The tournament will include 16 of the top 25 teams in the nation.
Emergency surgery
PITTSBURGH -- Penguins forward Kris Beech had an emergency appendectomy in Los Angeles and is expected to be sidelined two-to-three weeks. He most likely will remain hospitalized for several days before returning to Pittsburgh.
NATION
Decision due
NEW YORK -- The two groups bidding for an NBA expansion team in Charlotte made their sales pitches to the league, and the winner is expected to be announced by midweek.
Coach has new deal
NEW YORK -- Bruce Arena is ready to announce his new deal Tuesday to coach the U.S. national soccer team.
Arena led the United States to the World Cup quarterfinals last summer, and since July he has said he intended to remain as coach.
WORLD
Prada ousted
AUCKLAND, New Zealand -- Defending challenger champion Prada was ousted from the America's Cup when it ran out of time to complete its semifinal series against OneWorld.
Vindicator staff/wire reports