AREA

AREA
Globetrottersex-GM dies
GREEN VALLEY, Nev. -- Joseph J. Anzivino, the former president and general manager of the Harlem Globetrotters, died Saturday at his home near Las Vegas.
Anzivino, 81, was a 1938 graduate of Ursuline High and was inducted in the school's football hall of fame in 1978. He also was honored by the Paramount Athletic Club and the Curbstone Coaches in 1971. Anzivino worked with the Globetrotters for 34 years, retiring in 1993.
Correction
JEFFERSON -- Canfield High first baseman Mike Turjanica dropped a pop fly in Saturday's Division II baseball game against Canton Central Catholic. Sunday's game story mistakenly identified second baseman Dan Leonard with the drop.
Full names,details needed
YOUNGSTOWN -- Area youth baseball and softball coaches (ages 13 and older only) are reminded that The Vindicator will only accept game reports with first and last names of players from both teams.
Reports are due within 48 hours of the game being played. Reports lacking full details will result in only scores being printed.
REGION
Vogelsongnot activated
PITTSBURGH -- At least Ryan Vogelsong got some frequent flyer miles.
Vogelsong, one of the Pirates' top pitching prospects, was called Saturday and told to get to Pittsburgh so he could start Sunday against the Cardinals.
But after Vogelsong arrived from Nashville, Pirates general manager Dave Littlefield and manager Lloyd McClendon changed their minds and right-hander Brian Meadows started instead.
The change was made, Littlefield said, about an hour after the team told reporters following St. Louis' 6-0 victory Saturday night that Vogelsong was pitching. The move also affected reliever Pat Mahomes, who was told after pitching three shutout innings Saturday he was being designated for assignment.
Aeros win
AKRON -- Ryan Church had a solo homer and an RBI single to lead the Akron Aeros over the Reading Phillies 4-2 Sunday in the Eastern League.
Akron's Francisco Cruceta (3-3) allowed four hits and struck out seven in six innings. Rafael Betancourt got the last three outs for his seventh save.
Cruceta gave up two runs in the second on Carlos Ruiz's single and Nate Espy's sacrifice fly.
Brad Guy (0-2) gave up four runs and eight hits over 4 2/3 innings for the loss.
Akron's Grady Sizemore and Hector Luna each had RBI singles in the second. Church's third-inning homer was his sixth of the year.
Detroit triumphs
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. -- Andy Kelly threw an 11-yard touchdown pass to Sulecio Sanford as time expired, then connected with Sanford again on a two-point conversion as the Detroit Fury beat the Grand Rapids Rampage 55-54 in a wild-card playoff game Sunday in the Arena Football League.
Illinois bans ephedra
CHICAGO -- Gov. Rod Blagojevich signed the nation's first statewide ban on ephedra Sunday, flanked by the parents of a 16-year-old football player who died of a heart attack after taking the diet supplement.
"It's a good first step but it's not enough," Blagojevich said. He and other lawmakers urged other states and the federal government to adopt similar bans.
Ephedra, blamed for nearly 120 deaths, drew national attention after officials investigating the February heat stroke death of Baltimore Orioles pitching prospect Steve Bechler linked it to a diet pill containing ephedrine, ephedra's active ingredient.
The herbal supplement is sometimes marketed as an athletic enhancer.
The drive for a ban in Illinois began last September with the death of 16-year-old Sean Riggins of Lincoln, whose father said he was taking the supplement to help make the first-string football team.
"We have to make sure that [young athletes] can no longer go to the store and buy ephedra as easily as they can chewing gum," Blagojevich said Sunday. The ban took effect immediately.
Staff/wire reports