LOCAL

LOCAL
Ursuline on the air
YOUNGSTOWN -- Radio stations WBBW-AM (1240) and WNIO-AM (1390) will broadcast Friday's Division III state baseball tournament game between Ursuline and St. Henry.
WBBW's air time will be 9 a.m. and WNIO's at 9:45 a.m. for the 10 a.m. game.
If Ursuline wins and plays Saturday for the state title, both stations will carry that game, with WBBW coverage beginning at 2 p.m. and WNIO coverage beginning at 2:45.
LPGA passes on sale
VIENNA -- One-day passes for the Giant Eagle LPGA Classic, which begins Monday at Squaw Creek Country club, remain on sale for $10 through Sunday.
Tickets can be purchased for $8 at any Giant Eagle Store with the use of a Giant Eagle Advantage Card.
The daily gate price is $12 from Monday through Thursday and $15 Friday through Sunday.
Fans can receive free admission on Tuesday by presenting two Schwebel bread bags.
Children under 15 are admitted free when accompanied by a ticket-purchasing adult. Free parking and shuttle service will be provided each day.
Call the tournament office at (330) 565-LPGA.
Scrappers nametwo coaches
NILES -- The Cleveland Indians named Jim Rickon as a player-coach and Chris Walter as strength coach for the Mahoning Valley Scrappers.
This is Rickon's third season with the Scrappers and fifth overall with the Indians.
Walter is in his third season with the Indians organization. In 2001 he served as strength coach for the Kinston Indians and last year he had the same role with Akron.
Whitaker in action
WARREN -- Super middleweight Etianne (E.T.) Whitaker is in the headliner of a seven-bout boxing card at the Promo West Pavilion in Columbus Saturday.
Whitaker, managed by Pat Nelson and trained at the Buckeye Elks by Frank West, takes a 28-10-2 record with 16 knockouts into the ring against Carlos "Psycho" Bates, a veteran from Indianapolis with a 30-17 record and 12 knockouts.
The Whitaker-Bates eight rounder is the main event of a seven-bout card promoted by Scott Steiniker.
Heavyweight Chris Koval of Austintown (5-0, 4 KOs), trained by Tom Cordell, will be in a four-rounder against Detroit's Mark Johnson.
The first fight is slated for 8 p.m.
Sharon Speedwayto renovate stands
HARTFORD -- Renovation of Sharon Speedway's west grandstands, which was scheduled to take place in September, has been moved up.
The collapse of a ramp at the base of the grandstands Friday night during the World of Outlaws event that injured two fans prompted renovation to begin earlier than planned.
Grandstands north of the scoring tower were removed earlier this week. New stands are expected to be constructed prior to Tony Stewart Night on June 12.
The next phase of the renovation will include removal of the grandstands south of the scoring tower - a section with seating for approximately 2,000 to 3,000.
New sponsorby Dave Blaney
MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- First Tennessee has partnered with Jasper Engines and Transmissions and the No. 77 Jasper Engines Ford Taurus driven by Dave Blaney.
A special paint scheme prominently featuring the well-known First Tennessee logo will appear on the 77 car at the Sharpie 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway Aug. 23.
WORLD
New test
LONDON -- A test to detect a new generation of endurance-enhancing drugs is expected to be ready for the 2004 Athens Olympics.
The drugs are known as "blood substitutes" and are believed to be used by some endurance athletes to raise the oxygen level in their blood.
Two blood tests -- one for screening and one for confirmation -- have been devised at separate laboratories in France. Research is being funded by the World Anti-Doping Agency.
Vindicator staff/wire reports