LOCAL

LOCAL
Koval stopsopponent
COLUMBUS -- Chris Koval, the young heavyweight from Austintown, went to 8-0 with his seventh knockout, stopping Leroy Loscar from Parkersburg, W. Va., at the 43 second mark of the second round of a scheduled four-round fight Thursday.
Koval dropped Loscar with a straight right for an eight count at the end of the first round, and, following a volley of punches, he finished his opponent with a right uppercut.
"I wish I had more work tonight to take to my next fight," said Koval, who turned pro four months ago.
His fight was one of seven pro bouts on a card at the Promo West Pavilion. His next bout will be July 3 at the Mountaineer Race Track and Gaming Resort, where he will fight Chuck Brown (3-4-1, 2 KOs) of Akron in a four-rounder.
Carlie Eastmanwins golf event
MADISON -- Carlie Eastman of Warren took first place in the Girl's 16-19 Division of the Plain Dealer North Coast Junior Golf Tour Thursday.
Eastman shot 38-40--78 on the 6,004-yard par-70 Powderhorn Course to win her division by nine strokes.
Class B teamsto settle bids
STRUTHERS -- Just four dates remain in the Class B League regular season. The playoff teams are set, but not the pairings, and the fifth qualifier to the Connie Mack state tournament is yet to be decided.
Line Drive Academy leads the league with a 20-3 record as they are trying to lock up their second straight regular season title. Just two games back are defending league defending champ Astro Falcons, and Rondinelli Tuxedo (18-5). The fourth playoff team is Livi Steel (16-7).
Key games between the top four teams this weekend are: Astro Falcons against Livi Steel, today at 6 p.m.; Rondinelli against Livi Steel Saturday at 8 p.m., and Rondinelli against Astro Falcons Sunday at 5:30 p.m.
There are three teams going after the fifth and final spot in the Mack Tournament. Becdir and Wharmby Sports are tied for fifth at 11-12, while Lazart is just one game back (10-13).
Head to head meetings this weekend are Lazart against Wharmby today at 8 p.m., and Wharmby against Becdir Saturday at 5:30 p.m.
The playoffs will begin Tuesday. The semifinals are best of 3 and the championship series is best of 5.
The Class Little b playoffs will also be held at Cene Park next week.
Rooners wins 10-0
CUYAHOGA FALLS -- Allen Hoover scattered four hits in a complete-game win, as B.B. Rooners defeated Cuyahoga Falls Tigers 10-0 in a Greater Akron Baseball Federation 18U game Thursday.
Ned Moore had two hits, including a double, and three RBIs, while Jeff Hehr added a double and single. Andy Todor had two singles and scored three runs, and Matt Colella doubled.
NATION
Capitals pick upplayers' option years
WASHINGTON -- The Washington Capitals picked up the option year on the contracts of right wing Peter Bondra and center Jeff Halpern.
Bondra, the club's all-time leading scorer, will enter the third year of a four-year, $18 million contract. The team had options on the third and fourth years.
Bondra has spent his entire 13-year NHL career with Washington.
Halpern, the first Washington-area native to play for the Capitals, had 13 goals, 21 assists and played in all 82 games last season. He made $1 million each of the last two seasons, and his option year is worth $1.45 million.
WORLD
Soccer player dies
LYON, France -- Cameroon midfielder Marc-Vivien Foe died after collapsing in the heat while playing in the Confederations Cup semifinal against Colombia.
The 28-year-old player fell to his knees in the 71st minute of the game, which was played in temperatures in the low 90s. He was lapsing into unconsciousness when he was carried off the field on a stretcher to the sideline, where he received treatment, including mouth-to-mouth resuscitation and oxygen.
Vindicator staff/wire reports