YSU

YSU
Women's hoops
YOUNGSTOWN -- Youngstown State women's basketball coach Tisha Hill signed two of Ohio's top 64 high school players in her inaugural recruiting class.
Hill announced today that Lauren Branson of Cincinnati and Jessica Schloemp of Findlay signed letters of intent.
Branson, a 5-foot-6 point guard from McNicholas High, was named one of the top point guards in the state by Ohio Girls' Basketball Magazine. She helped McNicholas to the 2001 state championship and averaged 6 points, 4.3 assists and 1.7 steals per game last season.
Schloemp, a 6-3 center, helped Findlay High to a conference championship last season, averaging 8 points, 6 rebounds and 3 blocks per game.
LOCAL
Geneva to host game
BEAVER FALLS, PA. -- The Geneva College football team has accepted a bid to play host to the 2003 National Christian College Athletic Association Victory Bowl.
Geneva will play North Greenville College of Tigerville, S.C., in the Victory Bowl Nov. 21 at 8:05 p.m. as part of Geneva's "Make a Difference" doubleheader.
The Geneva men's basketball team will play host to Shawnee State at 6:05.
The Geneva football team will carry a 5-4 record into Saturday's regular season finale at home against Urbana.
North Greenville has concluded the regular season with a 6-4 record after starting the year at 0-4. The six straight wins to end the season are a school record.
Geneva has a 3-0 record in Victory Bowls, winning last year over Northwestern (Minn.), 19-9, at the Metrodome.
Both teams will visit The Beaver County Medical Center Nov. 20 as part of the NCCAA's focus on character development.
Ekis earns third award
NEW WILMINGTON -- Senior wide receiver Brian Ekis of the Westminster College football, a graduate of Boardman High, won a third award for his performance in the Titans' 41-39 loss to Thomas More last Saturday.
Ekis, named earlier in the week as Presidents' Athletic Conference offensive player of the week and Titan of the Week for special teams, was selected to the d3football.com Team of the Week.
Ekis set two school records with 13 pass catches for 221 yards. He scored two TDs.
Anthony Floyd signed
INDIANAPOLIS -- Former Chaney High School standout Anthony Floyd was signed by the Indianapolis Colts from its practice squad.
Judd wins Masters
YOUNGSTOWN -- Chris Judd rolled 3,236 to win the 2003 Youngstown Masters Bowling Tournament
Judd earned first-place money and a paid entry into the 2004 ABC National Masters Tournament in Reno in January.
Other placers were runnerup Chuck Fairchild, Joe Nuzzo, Rich Skelton IV, John Doughton Jr., Mark Ferrara, Jim Bryant, Adam Barta and Bruce Boyd.
A 15-game qualifier determined final-round competitors. Nine games of matchplay followed.
Entering the title game, Judd trailed Fairchild by two pins. The match was tight until the 10th frame when Judd threw three strikes to finish with 236. Fairchild's first ball was a nine-count and spare, followed by a strike for 225.
The Youngstown Masters, the 16th annual, was contested at Bell-Wick Bowl in Hubbard, Amron Lanes in Canfield, A-Plus Family Bowl on the west side and Wedgewood Lanes in Austintown.
The National Masters is part of the Professional Bowlers Tournament which will air on ESPN on Jan. 26.
Entries deadline
YOUNGSTOWN -- Entries for the Youngstown Women's Bowling Association's inaugural Masters Scratch Tournament close Nov. 19.
The first round of six games will be Nov. 22 at Bell-Wick Bowl. The top eight bowlers will advance to the semifinals, followed by the stepladder-format finals.
Top prize is $500 in the event sponsored by Commercial Truck & amp; Trailer and the YWBA/YBA Joint Committee.
Entry fee of $30 should be made payable to the YWBA and sent to 2703 Mahoning Ave., Suite 101, Youngstown 44509.
The Masters is open to all YWBA sanctioned members. Forms are available at area bowling centers.
NATION
Rockies keepmanager and G.M.
DENVER -- Manager Clint Hurdle's options for 2005 and 2006 were exercised by the Colorado Rockies, who also gave general manager Dan O'Dowd a two-year extension through 2006.
HOF semifinalists
CANTON -- John Elway and Barry Sanders, both in their first year of eligibility, head the list of 25 semifinalists for induction to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2004.
Chrebet out
HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. -- Wide receiver Wayne Chrebet will miss the rest of the season after the New York Jets placed him on injured reserve with post-concussion syndrome.
Gannon's season over
ALAMEDA, Calif. -- Rich Gannon, last year's NFL MVP, will miss the rest of the season and have surgery on his throwing shoulder. The Oakland Raiders placed the quarterback on injured reserve.
All-Americas
Connecticut's Emeka Okafor was one vote short of being an unanimous selection for The Associated Press' preseason All-America team. He was joined on the team by Jameer Nelson of Saint Joseph's, Rickey Paulding of Missouri, Ike Diogu of Arizona State and Raymond Felton of North Carolina.
WORLD
Four test positive
LONDON -- Four American track and field athletes have tested positive for the steroid THG after backup B samples confirmed positive A tests.
The International Association of Athletics Federations, the sport's world governing body, confirmed the results but said it did not know the identity of the four.
Wepner sues Stallone
NEWARK, N.J. -- Former heavyweight boxer Chuck Wepner is suing actor Sylvester Stallone for a share of the profits from the "Rocky" movies, claiming the series was based on Wepner's career.
Vindicator staff/wire reports