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SteelHoundsget a division
YOUNGSTOWN -- The expansion Youngstown SteelHounds have been assigned to the Northeast Division of the Central Hockey League. The other division members are the Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs, Fort Worth Brahmas and Memphis RiverKings.
The CHL will use a two-conference (Northern and Southern) , four-division alignment format for its 15 teams.
The defending Ray Miron President's Cup champion Colorado Eagles will head up the Northwest Division along with the Oklahoma City Blazers, Tulsa Oilers and Wichita Thunder.
The CHL's Southeast Division remains unchanged, comprised of the Austin Ice Bats, Corpus Christi Rayz, Laredo Bucks and Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees while the Amarillo Gorillas, Lubbock Cotton Kings and Odessa Jackalopes form the three-team Southwest Division.
The CHL's playoff format, featuring eight clubs (each of the four division winners and two wild-card teams from each conference) also remains in place, with the eventual champions again needing to win three best-of-seven series to claim the Ray Miron President's Cup.
The CHL regular season will begin on Oct. 21 and run through March 26, with each team playing a 64-game schedule.
Nochta capturesjunior qualifier
CORTLAND -- Laura Nochta, competing in the 17-under division, fired 77-77-154 Friday to capture the Northern Ohio PGA Junior qualifier at Hawthorne Valley Country Club golf course in Solon.
Her 13-stroke victory earned her a spot for the prestigious 2005 Westfield Junior PGA national championship 72-hole tournament at Westfield Group Country Club in Westfield Center from July 13-16.
Nochta, who will be a senior at Lakeview High School, will be competing against 110 of the nation's and international best junior golfers.
She carries a 3.86 grade-point-average at Lakeview.
Bowling
YOUNGSTOWN -- Rosemary Staley, Carol Pasternack, Barbara Bartoletti and Annie Bartoletti of Harry and Tim Roofing are handicap team champions of 63rd Youngtown City Women's Bowling Association tournament as they rolled 2,724 at Wedgewood Lanes.
Barb Balser, Paula Pecorelli, Jennifer Mellott and Teri Haefke bowled 2,481 to capture the actual team title for Git R Done.
The doubles handicap champs were Rosemary Staley and Annie Bartoletti with a score of 1,492 and doubles actual champs were Monica Scherich and Theresa Florjancic with 1,451.
Althea Marbury was the singles handicap champ as she rolled 787. The singles actual champ was Paula Pecorelli with 758.
All events champion was Theresa Florjancic with 2,194 pins.
Panezichtakes first
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- Nick Panezich, in the 17-18 year-old division, took first place in the discus with a throw of 176 feet, 10 inches Friday at the U.S.A.T.F. national championships at the University of Tennessee.
Earlier in the week, the Springfield High graduate finished second in the hammer throw (179 feet) and he was second in the shot put (58 feet, 7 1/4 inches).
He will compete in next week's U.S.A. Junior Olympics track and field meet in Lexington, Ky.
NATION
MLB tweaksderby format
NEW YORK -- Major league baseball is going international for its Home Run Derby on All-Star weekend.
Instead of having four players from each league, the commissioner's office said Friday it will have eight players represent their native countries at the July 11 event.
Major League Baseball plans to formally launch plans that day for its first World Baseball Classic, a 16-team event during spring training next year.
This year's Home Run Derby is at Detroit's pitcher-friendly Comerica Park, where the All-Star game will be played the following night.
The top four players in the first round advance to the semifinals, and the top two in the semis move on to the final.
Owens toldno to hoops
SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- Philadelphia Eagles receiver Terrell Owens won't play for Sacramento's summer-league team next week because the NFL club will not give permission.
Owens, the talkative All-Pro who's embroiled in a contract dispute with the Eagles, had recent discussions with the Kings about another foray into basketball, his favorite sport.
But Kings spokesman Darrin May said Friday the franchise wouldn't add Owens to its roster for the Las Vegas summer league unless the Eagles give their consent -- something they did not do, given Owens' value and contract status. The Kings' first game is July 10."
Staff/wire reports