LOCAL

LOCAL
Ace
GIRARD -- Ray Kuharich of Austintown aced the 150-yard fourth hole at Mahoning Country Club using a 7-iron. The shot was witnessed by Terry Taylor, David Davis and Kim Cousin.
Whitbeck is champ,two Titans place
ATLANTA -- For the second consecutive year, Grove City College junior Peggy Whitbeck is a national champion swimmer.
Whitbeck defended her national championship in the 200 butterfly at the NCAA Division III tournament with a meet-record 2:02.02. She finished a full second in front of the runner-up.
Whitbeck set a national record 2:03.03 a year ago.
A pair of Westminster College swimmers placed at meet.
Stefanie King led the Titans with an 11th place finish in the 200 breaststroke with a school-record time of 2:23.08. King had the record of 2:23.17.
Brittany Jardine placed 18th in the 200 butterfly with a time of 2:09.45.
Gabe Bubonnamed all-league
WARREN -- Warren Harding graduate Gabe Bubon earned all conference honors in the NAIA Georgia-Alabama-Carolina basketball league.
Bubon, of Brewton-Parker College, was named the league's Newcomer of the Year by hitting 100 3-point goals. He led the league in 3-point shooting percentage with .437 percent.
Horse showat fairgrounds
CANFIELD -- The Northern Ohio Quarter Horse Association show will be held April 26-27 at the Mahoning County Fairgrounds in Canfield.
The AQHA show is a test of jumping, reining, barrel racing, cutting, roping and pole bending. For details call (937) 642-0709.
REGION
KSU tickets
KENT -- Kent State is selling tickets for its first-round home game in the NIT against Coastal Carolina.
The Flashes play at home Wednesday at 7 p.m. For ticket information, call (330) 672-2244.
HOF requests jersey from LeBron James
AKRON -- The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame has asked Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary High's LeBron James to donate one of his game-worn jerseys in recognition of the senior's outstanding high school career.
Matt Zeysing, an assistant curator at the Springfield, Mass., museum, said the hall would receive a jersey, a pair of shorts and tennis shoes for a display that might be showcased by mid-April.
Indians sendEscobar to minors
WINTER HAVEN, Fla. -- Cleveland Indians outfielder Alex Escobar, attempting a comeback from reconstructive knee injury, was one of five players sent to Triple-A Buffalo on Monday.
Escobar, who tore knee ligaments during spring training last year, was optioned along with left-handers Alex Herrera and Brian Tallet, catcher Victor Martinez and infielder Jhonny Peralta.
In addition, the club reassigned right-hander Mike Thurman to its minor league camp.
Ohio Statesuspends Williams
COLUMBUS -- Ohio State coach Jim O'Brien suspended junior forward Zach Williams on Monday for the rest of the season because of his conduct during the final Big Ten tournament game, the university said.
Williams was sent off the court Sunday during the Buckeyes' game against Illinois in Chicago for arguing with an assistant coach.
The suspension means Williams will not play in the National Invitation Tournament.
In addition, the Big Ten ruled Williams violated the conference's sportslike conduct agreement after officials reviewed a videotape and saw him strike a Wisconsin player during a quarterfinal game Friday.
The Big Ten Conference agrees with the university's suspension of Williams, according to a statement from Ohio State.
NFL playoffsmay be expanded
NEW YORK -- NFL owners might vote on a plan to expand the playoffs next season at their meetings in Phoenix, the Daily News reported today.
The playoffs would increase from six teams to seven per conference if the plan is approved next week.
The News also reported that owners will probably turn down a plan to change overtime rules. The proposal would guarantee each team at least one possession.
Canseco released
MIAMI -- Jose Canseco was released from jail and resentenced to two years of house arrest for his part in a 2001 nightclub brawl.
The former major league star apologized to the court for failing to complete all his probation terms.
Broncos switch
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- For the first time in 21 years, the Denver Broncos will hold summer training camp at team headquarters instead of at the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley.
The team said the switch was made because of the increased emphasis on intensive off-season conditioning programs and mini-camps throughout the National Football League.
As a result, it has become less important to take players away from their team's city for extended training during the offseason.
Denver will be one of 10 NFL teams to have training camp at their regular facilities in 2003.
Vindicator staff/wire reports