LOCAL

LOCAL
Express preparesfor season opener
YOUNGSTOWN -- Youngstown Express, a member of the Great Lakes Summer Collegiate League, opens its season Monday against Stark County at Pemberton-Donnell Park at 6:30 p.m.
The Great Lakes Summer Collegiate League features some of the best college players in the country. Over 500 former participants of the GLSCC are currently playing professional baseball, including major leaguers such as Shane Reynolds and Dustin Hermanson.
Three former Express players in Gus Hlebovy, Jason Stevens and Brice Cartler were taken in this month's draft.
Bill Sizemore, who has spent a number of years as pitching coach in the Florida Marlins and Seattle Mariners organizations, is the Express coach.
Seventeen home games are scheduled and will be broadcast on WBBW Sports Radio 1240 with John Caparanis and Jack Kucek calling the action.
Area tennis playersqualify for event
INDIANAPOLIS -- At the Northeast Ohio Tennis Association qualifying tournament held in Boardman and Canfield, eight players qualified for the USTA Midwest Closed Tennis Tournament, scheduled here June 21-26.
Participating in the girls 18-year-old competition will be Emily Berry of Struthers and Kristin McNally of Boardman.
Rachel McGowan and Renee Lesnett of Canfield are entered in the 16-year-old bracket.
Chris Kuppler of Canfield, Don Person of Youngstown and Ryan Trapp of Howland are entered in boys 18-year-old competition, while Bryant Salcedo of Boardman will participate at the 16-year-old level.
Eastman is third
TWINSBURG -- Carlie Eastman of Warren finished third in the girls 16-19 division of the North Coast Junior Golf Tournament at Gleneagles Golf Club. She shot a 98.
Jillian Stupiansky of Lakewood won with a score of 86.
Blewitt earnsacademic honor
ASHLAND -- Adriane Blewitt, a senior track standout for Ashland University from Boardman High, has been selected as an academic All-American for the second straight year.
Blewitt, a seven-time national champion and six-time national runner-up in the throwing events, has repeated in her selection to the Verizon College Academic All-America first team.
She has a 3.60 grade-point average as a major in physical education.
Blewitt was one of 15 picks to the first team.
REGION
Browns extendPolicy's contract
CLEVELAND -- Team president Carmen Policy has signed a five-year contract extension with the Cleveland Browns that runs through the 2008 season.
Policy, who owns 10 percent of the team, agreed in principle to a new deal in March. He signed the agreement earlier this week, Browns spokesman Todd Stewart said.
Policy signed a five-year deal with the club in 1998.
Fusion, Demolitionsquare off Saturday
CLEVELAND -- Saturday at Bedford Bearcat Stadium, the Cleveland Fusion (6-1) will take on The Detroit Demolition (7-0) at 7:05 p.m.
The Fusion lost their 2003 season opener to Detroit on April 12.
The Fusion are 7-0 at home and are the only NWFA team to beat the Demolition since both teams were added to the league in 2002.
If the Fusion are able to beat Detroit by eight points, they will garner home field advantage in the playoffs.
Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for students and seniors and can be purchased the day of the game. Visit www.clevelandfusion.com for more details.
Vindicator staff/wire reports