LOCAL

LOCAL
Hole-in-one
BONITA SPRINGS, Fla. -- Lou Greco, the golf course superintendent at Squaw Creek Country Club for the past 45 years, made his first-ever hole in one at Shadow Wood Country Club in Bonita Springs, Fla.
Greco used a 5-iron on the third hole, 170 yards. His feat was witnessed by his wife, Donna, and Joe and Helen Crudo.
Schedule changes
MCDONALD -- McDonald High has rescheduled its postponed varsity basketball games from earlier this week for Saturday afternoon in a doubleheader against Mathews.
The girls game will begin at 1 p.m., followed by the boys game at 3.
POLAND -- Poland High will play host to a girls-boys varsity basketball doubleheader today against Salem. The girls game will begin at 6 p.m., with the boys to follow.
Boardman hockey falls
BOARDMAN -- Zack Skook and Bob Walla scored goals, but the Boardman Club Ice Hockey team still lost a 3-2 decision to North Allegheny at the Ice Zone.
John Yuhaniak had 37 saves and Tristan Lysowski and Mike Matter had assists for Boardman.
Westminster athletesearn PAC honors
NEW WILMINGTON, Pa. -- A pair of Westminster College student-athletes have earned weekly honors from the Presidents' Athletic Conference for the week ending Jan. 18.
Freshman women's basketball guard Desiree Sterling (Newton Falls) was named PAC Women's Basketball Player of the Week. Sterling led Westminster into a first-place tie with Bethany in the PAC, as she was the leading scorer for the Titans in PAC wins over Grove City (53-49) and Waynesburg (58-46).
For the week, she averaged 16 points and seven rebounds per game, including 17 points and nine boards against the Wolverines and 15 points and five rebounds against the Jackets.
Senior women's swimming distance freestyle specialist Katie Alukonis was selected as PAC Women's Swimmer of the Week. Alukonis posted the top time in all three of her events while leading Westminster to a 112-87 PAC win over Washington & amp; Jefferson.
She captured the 500 freestyle (5:26.39) and 1000 freestyle (11:07.32) events while swimming a leg for the 400 freestyle relay team (3:51.23).
Buckeye autographs
NILES -- Four Ohio State football players will make an appearance and sign autographs in a benefit for cancer research on Feb. 20 at Buffalo Wild Wings at Great East Plaza.
Among the Buckeyes who will attend will be Howland High graduate Doug Datish, an offensive lineman. Also appearing will be quarterback Justin Zwick, linebacker A.J. Hawk and offensive lineman Nick Mangold.
Those seeking autographs will be asked to donate $10 to the American Cancer Society Niles Relay for Life.
NATION
Bears hire Spencer
LAKE FOREST, Ill. -- The Chicago Bears hired Tim Spencer as running backs coach Tuesday, the same post he's held at Ohio State for 10 years.
Spencer, a running back at Ohio State from 1979-82, was the second player taken in the 1983 USFL draft. He played three seasons in that league, before playing for the San Diego Chargers from 1985-90.
Spencer and new Bears head coach Lovie Smith were on the Ohio State staff together in 1995.
O'Brien quits
WALTHAM, Mass. -- Jim O'Brien quit as coach of the Boston Celtics. He was replaced on an interim basis by assistant coach John Carroll. Executive director of basketball operations Danny Ainge said Carroll would coach for the rest of the season.
Ainge said O'Brien offered his resignation in the morning at one of their regular meetings to discuss their philosophical differences.
Since Ainge was hired last May 9, he and O'Brien frequently clashed over how to run the team.
Sasaki leavesMariners
SEATTLE -- Kazuhiro Sasaki signed papers to terminate his contract with the Seattle Mariners, leaving behind a guaranteed $8.5 million next season because he wants to remain in Japan with his wife and two young children.
The Mariners placed their former closer on waivers, with other teams notified that Sasaki will not pitch if he's claimed. Seattle plans to give Sasaki his unconditional release when he clears waivers later this week.
Sasaki plans to pitch in Japan next season.
Louisville's Pitinocould be back
LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- Louisville coach Rick Pitino might miss only one game after treatment for an undisclosed condition that has caused him pain for months.
Pitino, 51, said Monday he was taking an indefinite leave of absence to determine the cause of the "urological-related" pain in his left side.
He underwent tests at the Cleveland Clinic on Tuesday and was optimistic about returning to work in less than a week.
Assistant Kevin Willard is leading the team.
Wie accepts invite
PARIS -- Fourteen-year-old golf sensation Michelle Wie accepted an invitation to play in an LPGA tournament this summer in the French Alps.
She agreed last week to compete in the Evian Masters, tournament spokesman Alain Spieser said.
Charity soccer match
ROME -- Sports figures, artists, politicians and journalists took part in a charity soccer match to remember the Holocaust.
Vindicator staff/wire reports