YSU

YSU
Baseball
YOUNGSTOWN -- Three baseball players have signed national letters of intent with Youngstown State.
They are outfielders Jeff Solt of Reynoldsburg and Mike Turjanica of Canfield, and pitcher Andy Svitak of Cleveland.
Turjanica is a powerful hitter from the left side of the plate and a hard-nosed player who can also play first base.
LOCAL
Tyler O'Halloran signs with Texas
BOARDMAN -- Boardman High senior Tyler O'Halloran signed a national letter of intent to swim at the University of Texas.
O'Halloran made the choice after being recruited by Stanford, Tennessee, Auburn and North Carolina.
Texas is coached by Olympic swimming coach Eddie Reese. The Longhorns have won the national championship the last three years in swimming and diving.
O'Halloran was last year's state champion in the 50-yard freestyle and runner-up in the 100 freestyle. He earned All-American status in the 50 and 100 and holds all of the Spartans' individual records.
A member of the National Honor Society, O'Halloran holds a 3.92 grade-point average.
Boardman wins 10-0
The Boardman varsity ice hockey club defeated Neshannock 10-0 at Hess Ice Arena.
Jimmy Pipoly led the Spartans (2-2-1) with three goals and two assists. Chris Collins recorded the shutout in goal. Patrick Rafeedie added two goals and an assist, and Jeff Cowen scored one goal and one assist. Marc Esposito, Tristan Lysowski and Jon Poma also scored goals for the Spartans and Jason Iorio had an assist.
Titans get 15 on PAC all-star team
NEW WILMINGTON -- The Westminster College football program placed 15 players on the 2002 Presidents' athletic Conference All Star team.
First team selections were senior center Brando Apple of Beaver Falls, junior guard Glenn Silvida of Hubbard, senior tight end Nevin Baker, senior defensive tackle Erick Pabis, senior inside linebacker Joe Bianco and senior safety Joe Stern.
Titan second-team choices are junior wide receiver Brian Ekis of Boardman, sophomore tailback Scott Froelich, sophomore place kicker Josh Simpson and sophomore outside linebacker Jerry Bonenberger.
Kubiak returnsto Scrappers
CLEVELAND -- Ted Kubiak will return to manage the Mahoning Valley Scrappers.
That move was announced by the Cleveland Indians Thursday.
Also, Marty Brown was hired to replace Eric Wedge as manager of the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons.
Torey Lovullo was hired Thursday as manager of the Single-A Kinston Indians and Luis Rivera as manager of the Single-A Lake County Captains.
The Indians also signed pitchers Jason Beverlin and Jason Boyd to minor league contracts.
Area ace
PULASKI, Pa. -- Keith Musguire of New Middletown aced the 165-yard fourth hole at Rolling Hills Golf Course, using a 7-wood. Don Huff, Denny Mielke and Dennis Almasi witnessed the shot.
Titans of the week
REGION
IUP playersreinstated
INDIANA, Pa. -- Five Indiana University of Pennsylvania football players suspended because of a postgame fight will be able to play in Saturday's NCAA Division II playoff game, a county judge ruled.
Indiana County Judge William Martin on Thursday night overturned the decision by the Pennsylvania State Athletic Commission and commissioner Steve Murray to suspend the players -- four of whom are starters. The judge ruled that Murray was wrong when he relied exclusively on a videotape of the incident and did not interview eyewitnesses before making his decision.
The ruling means IUP cornerback Kairi Cooper, defensive tackle Craig Prince, defensive end Andrew Battle, fullback Justin Spence and wide receiver Ben Shaffer have cleared the conference's suspension. Shaffer is not a starter.
But only two players will participate in IUP's home game against Saginaw Valley, Mich., because three players have been suspended by the team for their part in the brawl, coach Frank Cignetti said.
NATION
NFL news
* Packers quarterback Brett Favre and Vikings defensive tackle Chris Hovan were fined $5,000 each for their verbal confrontations during Sunday's game. Both players said they will appeal.
* Marshall Faulk's availability for this week won't be decided until the St. Louis Rams visit the Washington Redskins on Sunday. Faulk missed Monday night's victory over the Bears with a high sprain in his right ankle and a strained tendon in his left foot.
* San Francisco 49ers running back Garrison Hearst acknowledged that his comments about gay NFL players were insensitive.
In an interview with the Fresno Bee three weeks ago, Hearst used a slur to describe gays, and said he wouldn't want a gay player as a teammate.
Vindicator staff/wire reports