LOCAL

LOCAL
Fireworks followSharon racing
HARTFORD -- Drivers in Sharon Speedway's four divisions will try to light it up on the 3/8-mile dirt track tonight.
To complement the night, a fireworks display will be held. Zambelli Internationale will present this year's display.
Gates open at 4 p.m., with hot laps beginning at 6:30 p.m. and racing at 7 p.m. Tickets, available at the gate, cost$10 for adults, $5 for kids 12-15 and are free for children 11 and younger. Coolers less than 14 inches are permitted. Fans may call (330) 772-5481 or visit www.sharonspeedway.com for more information and directions.
Mercer hostsPatriot Night
MERCER, Pa. -- Mercer Raceway Park's annual American Patriot Night is tonight.
A complete program will be held. All veterans of war and active servicemen will be admitted free into the grandstands with identification. Also, all scouts in uniform will be granted free admission.
Gates open at 4:30 with racing set to begin at 7 p.m. Adult admission is $10. Students 6-15 must pay $5. Children 5 and under are free. The family pass costs $23. Pit passes cost $20.
For more on Mercer racing, see page C4.
Morrow is fifth
CUYAHOGA FALLS -- Tim Morrow of Boardman finished fifth in the Westfield Junior PGA sectional qualifier at Brookledge Golf Course with a 77.
That qualified him for the Northern Ohio Sectional Championship set for July 8-9 at Barrington Country Club in Aurora.
REGION
Penguins hireassistant coach
PITTSBURGH -- Lorne Molleken, who most recently served as general manager of the Western Hockey League's Moose Jaw Warriors after being fired in a coaching change at San Jose, was hired Friday as an assistant coach for the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Molleken, 47, completes new head coach Ed Olczyk's staff, joining two holdovers from the previous coaching regime, Randy Hillier and Joe Mullen. Olczyk, who played for Molleken in Chicago, replaced Rick Kehoe this month.
An assistant in San Jose, Molleken was fired along with head coach Darryl Sutter in December, going from there to Moose Jaw.
Molleken spent seven years as a goaltender, winning championships with Toledo of the IHL in 1982 and 1983, and began his coaching career in 1985 with the Swift Current of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League. From 1986 to 1988, he was head coach and general manager of Weyburn in the SJHL.
Penn State, UCFto meet again
ORLANDO, Fla. -- Central Florida will replace Alabama on Penn State's home schedule in 2004 after the Crimson Tide asked to delay the home-and-home series.
UCF played Penn State for the first time last season, falling 27-24 to the Nittany Lions in a nationally televised season-opener for both teams. The 2004 game is set for Sept. 18 in Happy Valley, Pa.
"After last year's game our players expressed to me their appreciation for the opportunity to play a tradition-rich team like Penn State," UCF athletics director Steve Orsini said. "I'm glad to say they will have the opportunity to do so again."
The Crimson Tide were to visit Penn State next season, with the Nittany Lions playing at Alabama on Sept. 10, 2005. The new agreement delays the home-and-home series until 2013 and 2014. Cincinnati will replace Alabama in Penn State's 2005 open date.
UCF is also to play Penn State on Sept. 4, 2010.
Aeros beat Erie
AKRON -- Francisco Cruceta pitched a three-hitter and Luke Scott hit a two-run homer to lead the Akron Aeros to a 5-1 win over the Erie SeaWolves on Friday night in the Eastern League.
Cruceta (6-5) didn't allow a run until Scott Tousa's RBI double in the eighth inning. He struck out three and walked one.
Andy Van Hekken (0-2) allowed five runs on eight hits and a walk in six innings for Erie.
Grady Sizemore drove in two runs for Akron on a groundout in the first and an RBI double in the third. Victor Valencia also had an RBI on a groundout in the third.
Vindicator staff/wire reports