AREA

AREA
Little b Falconsadvance to Mich.
LONDON, Ontario -- The Astro Falcons baseball team of the Class Little b League defeated Buffalo 14-12 for the NABF 15-16-year-old regional title.
Astro Falcons advance to the NABF World Series that begins Thursday in Norville, Mich.
Jared Bartholomew hit two doubles, drove in three runs and scored once for Astro Falcons. Adam Wigley walked three times and hit a single and scored four times.
Josh Kenney came on in relief in the third innings and worked three innings to get the win. Joe Irwin pitched seventh inning shutout to gain a save.
In an earlier contest, Astro Falcons lost to Buffalo, 12-11.
Boardman Eastwins district
CANFIELD -- The Boardman East 11-12 Little League baseball team defeated Canfield, 2-1, Sunday to win the district title.
Boardman advances to the state tournament at Jefferson and will play Wednesday.
In the 9-10 district tournament Sunday, Boardman East defeated Niles, 6-5, while Boardman West shut out Columbiana, 4-0.
In other games, Canfield downed Warren, 7-3, while Newton Falls defeated Lordstown, 7-2.
In 9-10 softball, Canfield defeated Lakeview, 12-3, while Poland won over Boardman, 11-4.
In the 11-12 Little League state tournament at Ashtabula, Canfield pounded Englewood, 17-2, and will play Tallmadge Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. in the winners bracket final.
Today in 9-10 baseball, Canfield plays Columbiana at Crestview field while Newton Falls plays at Niles. Both games begin at 6 p.m.
In 9-10 softball, Boardman plays at Canfield at 6 p.m.
OHIO
Johnson keys Clippers
COLUMBUS -- Nick Johnson hit a three-run homer in the second inning as the Columbus Clippers beat the Pawtucket Red Sox 5-1 Sunday in the International League.
Eric Schmitt (3-0) allowed one run on four hits in 62/3 innings for the win. He also struck out three and walked two. Randy Choate and Sam Marsonek each pitched one scoreless inning of relief.
The Clippers' John Rodriguez added a solo homer in the second. Erick Almonte hit an RBI single in the first.
Pawtucket's only run came on an RBI single by Andy Abad in the first inning.
Ryan Rupe allowed five runs -- all earned -- on seven hits in 52/3 innings for the loss. He also walked three.
PENNSYLVANIA
PIAA retains format
HARRISBURG, Pa. -- The Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association says that football will remain at four classifications for the next two-year cycle.
The PIAA has been considering various changes to its football playoff format due to the addition of the Philadelphia public schools, which as District 12 will become eligible for all PIAA championships beginning in 2004-2005.
The organization had considered such changes as increasing the number of classifications from four to six, a move backed by PIAA executive director Bradley R. Cashman and the Pennsylvania Football Coaches Association.
But the PIAA's Policy Review Committee voted 8-5 Friday to retain the current policy for determining playoff classifications. Members then voted 7-6 against a motion to make an exception for football.
With four classifications set through the 2005 PIAA Football Championships, the PIAA must now redraw its brackets, especially in Class AAAA. All of District 12's football schools are Class AAAA in size.
NATION
Jets sign top pick
HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. -- The New York Jets signed first-round pick Dewayne Robertson on Sunday.
The 6-foot-1, 317-pound defensive tackle out of Kentucky was the fourth overall pick in the draft.
Americans advanceto Fed Cup semis
WASHINGTON -- Chanda Rubin's 5-7, 6-4, 6-0 victory over Francesca Schiavone was the clincher Sunday as the Americans beat Italy 5-0 to advance to the semifinals of the Fed Cup.
In November, the U.S. team will play Belgium, which swept Slovakia 5-0 in the quarterfinals.
Serena withdrawsfrom West Classic
STANFORD, Calif. -- Serena Williams withdrew from the Bank of the West Classic on Sunday because of pain in her left knee. The tournament begins today.
U.S. compoundarchers sweep
NEW YORK -- The United States swept the men's and women's team compound finals at the World Archery Championships in Central Park on Sunday. South Korea swept the men's and women's team recurve finals.
Staff/wire reports