Sports fans, take your pick

There will be a sports smorgasbord, an activity extravaganza, a virtual Olympics with something for everybody in the Mahoning Valley this weekend.
If any sports enthusiast says there's nothing to do or see in town, they're not trying very hard. It would be tough to pack a more diverse array of events in so short of a period of time.
The Mahoning Valley Scrappers conclude a five-game, five-day, two-state series with the Jamestown Jammers tonight at Eastwood Field at 7:05.
The Auburn Doubledays are steamrolling through the Pinckney Division of the New York-Penn League, but the Scrappers are locked in a three-way race for second place in the division standings.
Not only is there great minor league baseball on the docket at Eastwood Field, the Scrappers also offer a wide variety of entertaining promotions nightly.
Last night they had Singles Night and this evening there will be another of the season-long, post-game fireworks shows. (We'll come back to the fireworks later.)
During Singles Night, 25 men and an equal number of women registered for blind dates. They were introduced to each other in the top of the third inning.
During the same game a fan was selected to go on a date with the radio voice of the Scrappers, Greg Gania.
Golf
Of course the Giant Eagle LPGA Tournament is under way at Squaw Creek Country Club, drawing many of the finest women athletes in the world to town. The tournament runs through Sunday.
While there's been speculation that this will be the final year for the event here in the Valley, all it needs is one major sponsor to keep the tradition alive.
Speaking of fireworks, the annual Connie Mack Baseball tournament opens Saturday with 40 teams in the field.
After dark that first night, when 20 games are in the books, there will be a gala opening-day fireworks show at Cene Park in Struthers.
The Connie Mack tournament runs through the first half of next week.
Right around the corner from Cene Park, the first-ever James J. Simon Sr. Memorial Soccer Tournament is being played this weekend, too.
There will be 24 high school soccer teams playing on the two fields at the Tri-County Sports Complex and also at Mickler Field, both in Struthers. Proceeds from the tournament will be donated to the Mahoning Valley chapter of the Shriners Hospitals for Children organization.
More yet
If that's not enough, Warren native Tony Hanshaw will be the headliner on a professional boxing card at the Canton Memorial Civic Center tonight.
Hanshaw (17-0, 12 knockouts) is billed against Victor Maciel (5-5-1, 5 KOs) in a 10-round super middleweight affair.
What's a summer weekend without a festival or carnival? One of the best, the Trumbull County Fair, will run through Sunday.
And, the Little League tournaments are in full swing.
Finally, starting Saturday at 7 p.m., the Ohio River Catfish Tournament is scheduled. The check-in at Chester City Park, with a live fish, closes Sunday at 7 a.m.
A suggestion
Perhaps next year even more activities can be added to the already-crowded weekend.
For example, someone can organize a one-day, 75-mile bicycle race over much of the scenic Mill Creek Park route used for the Peace Race. Call it the Tour de Traficant (we have to name something after him).
Also, by then the new Convocation Center in downtown Youngstown should be nearly completed.
Wouldn't it be the perfect venue for an exhibition basketball game between veterans of the Youngstown Pride playing the former members of the Youngstown Hawks?
Yet another hot rod show is needed in the area. (Last Sunday, in Canfield alone there were two scheduled just 5 miles apart).
Let's have the newest hot rod show at the grounds of the former Idora Park. There we could talk about bringing the amusement park back so we'd have something to keep us busy all summer long.
XBill Sullivan is a sports writer for The Vindicator. Write to him at sullivan@vindy.com.