LOCAL

LOCAL
Babe Ruth starsin title game
SPENCER, Ind. -- The Youngstown Babe Ruth 14-year-old all-stars scored six runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to defeat Lexington, Ky., 17-12, to remain unbeaten in the Ohio Valley Regional.
Joe Morales doubled and scored in Chuck Olesky's triple to tie the score, starting the rally. Mike Hoelzel then drove in Olesky with the go-ahead run.
Corey Collins had three hits for Youngstown, while Olesky and Tony Brunetti had two each.
Youngstown advanced to the championship game Wednesday.
Jolly Joe's loses opener of world series
JOHNSTOWN, Pa. -- Jolly Joe's of the Youngstown Class AA League was beaten by Schnectady, N.Y., 10-0, in its opener of the 59th All-American Amateur Baseball Association World Series at the University of Pitt-Johnstown.
The double-elimination tournament for 19- and 20-year-old players has a field of 16 teams.
Schnectady's Rob Nuell pitched a one-hitter with nine strikeouts. Dean Palombaro's sixth-inning single was Jolly Joe's lone hit. Jolly Joe's next opponent is Chicago Metro.
Tony Stewartat Sharon tonight
HARTFORD -- NASCAR Winston Cup champion Tony Stewart and Dave Blaney will go head-to-head tonight at Sharon Speedway.
Before the race, Blaney and Stewart, along with Greg Zipadelli, crew chief for Stewart's No. 20 Chevrolet, and NBC and FOX pit reporter Matt Yocum are scheduled to sign autographs to raise money for Zippy's Crusade for Kids, a charity founded by Zipadelli and his wife.
Fans must have purchased an autograph ticket to participate in the autograph session. There is a limit of one item signed per ticket. The autograph session is expected to begin around 5 p.m. and last approximately two hours.
Reserved seats are $27 for adults (14 and older) and $14 for kids 3-13 and will be available at the speedway's east ticket booth. General admission tickets are $25 for adults 14 and older, $12 for kids 6-13 and free for children 5 and younger.
Gates open at 4 p.m. with hot laps starting at 6:30 p.m.
Flag champions
YOUNGSTOWN -- The Blue Devils defeated Mallare Enterprise of Buffalo, N.Y., 35-7, in the championship game of the Top Gun division of the Go Deep 4-on-4 Flag Football NIT.
The Blue Devils roster consisted of Seth Steiner, A.J. Saul, Charles Williams, Eugene Mintze, Derrick Purdy and Nick Mele.
The Blue Devils are ranked No. 1 in the nation, according to the United States Flag and Touch Football League's rankings.
George Kovach Jr.fifth in triathlon
POLAND -- George C. Kovach Jr., 22, the son of George and Evelyn Kovach of Poland, recently placed fifth in his age bracket in the Sky Bank Triathlon in Cleveland. Kovach completed a half-mile swim in Lake Erie, a 16-mile bike ride and a 5-kilometer run.
The 1999 Poland High graduate was an all-conference, four-year letter winner in cross country and track and part of the 1997-98 cross country team that placed fourth in the state. He also placed first in 1997 and second in 1996 in his age bracket at the Youngstown Peace Race.
Fairchild in 57th place
MANASSAS, Va. -- Chuck Fairchild Jr. of Boardman placed 57th after the second round of the PBA Senior-Manassas Open Monday at Bowl America Manassas. Fairchild's 16-game pinfall was 3,146. The top 32 advanced.
Vince Mazzanti Jr. of Levittown, Pa. was the top qualifier with 3,559.
Football rulesmeeting
CANFIELD -- The OHSAA state football rules interpretation meeting for Youngstown's local association is Thursday at 7 p.m. at Canfield High's auditorium.
Attendance is mandatory for all football officials as well as a representative from each school. Officials are encouraged to bring the attendance card received in their 2003 rules packet.
NATION
Hitting coach fired
LOS ANGELES -- The Dodgers fired hitting coach Jack Clark in an effort to get more out of their ineffective offense.
WORLD
Demitra awardedbig payout
TORONTO -- St. Louis Blues star forward Pavol Demitra was awarded the second-largest NHL arbitration payout and will earn $6.5 million next season.
Vindicator staff/wire reports