YSU

YSU
Struthers' Deckerchooses Penguins
YOUNGSTOWN -- Struthers High senior Justin Decker has committed to play football for Youngstown State, Struthers coach Gary Zetts announced today.
A 6-foot-4, 287-pound lineman, Decker chose Youngstown State over Georgia Tech, Vanderbilt and most of the Mid-American Conference schools.
"It's nice and close to home, and hopefully I'll see some playing time early there," said Decker, who carries a 3.4 grade-point average.
Decker has been selected the past two years as All-Ohio, All-Northeast Ohio Inland District and All-Metro Athletic Conference. He also is a two-time Vindicator All-Star.
Decker, who didn't give up a sack all of last season, made 26 tackles, 17 for loss, with two sacks. He was named Struthers' player of the game five times.
At Youngstown State, Decker will play either offensive tackle or guard.
The Penguins, coached by Jon Heacock, went 5-7 last season, including 2-5 in the Gateway Conference.
LOCAL
Fromm namedSharon football coach
SHARON, Pa. -- Sharon City School Board wasted no time in naming a new head football coach.
The board voted Tuesday to accept the resignation of Brett "Bo" Reichart as head football coach and winter conditioning coach and then voted unanimously to appoint Robert Fromm to the football post.
The conditioning position remains vacant, said Dr. Donna DeBonis, superintendent.
Reichart served as head coach for two years but decided recently to step down for personal reasons.
His teams compiled a 9-11 record during his tenure.
Fromm, a 1994 Sharon graduate who played quarterback for the Tigers, was an assistant under Reichart.
He is also a teacher in the district, working one-half day with the high school's gifted program and one-half day teaching physical education.
His salary as head football coach will be $6,147.
DeBonis said the board posted the job vacancy within the district and 10 people were interviewed by a selection committee.
Krispinsky to speakat MVCA event
YOUNGSTOWN -- Area college football official Tom Krispinsky will be the guest speaker at the Mahoning Valley Coaches Association's Winter Social tonight.
The affair, set at the Itam Club on Meridian Road, begins at 6:30 p.m.
Correction
Stephanie Yankle of Campbell Memorial scored six points in Saturday's girls basketball game against The Rayen School. Her name was misspelled in Sunday's editions.
REGION
Kent State QBpleads innocent
KENT -- Kent State quarterback Joshua Cribbs pleaded innocent Tuesday to a domestic violence charge.
Municipal Court Judge Donald H. Martell set a hearing Friday for a charge of trafficking marijuana, a fifth-degree felony.
Cribbs was released on a signature bond, according to the court. The domestic violence charge is a first-degree misdemeanor.
Federal fine reducedin Three Rivers work
PITTSBURGH -- A judge nearly cut in half a proposed federal fine for alleged safety and health violations against a company that worked on the demolition of Three Rivers Stadium almost three years ago.
Administrative law Judge Nancy Spies imposed a $236,000 fine against Bianchi Trison Corp., of Syracuse, N.Y., a little more than half the $454,550 in penalties the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration sought.
Steelers nameoffensive coordinator
PITTSBURGH -- Steelers tight ends coach Ken Whisenhunt was promoted to offensive coordinator. He replaces Mike Mularkey, who last week became head coach of Buffalo.
NATION
Reports: Raidersmay raid Cowboys
ALAMEDA, Calif. -- Al Davis is sticking to a familiar formula. The Oakland Raiders owner is poised once again to hire an offensive-minded coach with no NFL head-coaching experience.
The Raiders were close Tuesday to hiring Dallas Cowboys assistant head coach-quarterbacks coach Sean Payton to replace Bill Callahan, fired after a 4-12 season.
Baseball playersask for big money
NEW YORK -- Philadelphia pitcher Kevin Millwood is looking for a big payday from the Phillies.
The right-hander asked for $12.5 million, the highest figure among the 27 players who swapped proposed salaries with their teams in arbitration. Millwood, who became a free agent and accepted the Phillies' offer to arbitrate, was offered $10 million Tuesday.
Albert Pujols, the 2001 NL Rookie of the Year, asked for $10.5 million while the St. Louis Cardinals offered $7 million, the largest spread among those who exchanged figures.
WORLD
Soccer playersleave MLS for Europe
American forwards Brian McBride and Clint Mathis are headed to Europe.
McBride signed with Fulham of England's Premier League, which obtained him from Major League Soccer for a transfer fee of more than $1 million.
Vindicator staff/wire reports