LOCAL

LOCAL
Stanfield namedMAC Scholar-Athlete
CLEVELAND -- University of Akron reliever Darek Stanfield (Columbiana) was selected as the Mid-American Conference Scholar-Athlete of the Week.
Stanfield, who maintains a 3.60 cumulative GPA in biology, saved each of Akron's wins over the weekend.
In Friday's 5-4 triumph over Valparaiso he came on in the bottom half of the eighth with the Zips clinging to a one-run lead and got the final four outs of the game to secure his first save of the season and the first win of the year for Akron (2-4).
He then entered in the top half of the eighth of Saturday's 5-3 victory over Wisconsin-Milwaukee and induced an inning-ending double play with the tying runs aboard. He pitched a 1-2-3 ninth for his second save in as many days and 14th over his last 16 chances, dating back to last season.
REGION
Franciscan plansto join Division III
STEUBENVILLE -- Franciscan University plans to begin participating in intercollegiate athletics at the NCAA Division III level beginning in the fall of 2007.
The university's board of trustees voted unanimously on Monday to apply to become a provisional member of Division III.
Franciscan plans to have both men's and women's teams participating in basketball, soccer, tennis, and cross country, along with men's baseball and women's volleyball. The school has club sports in all of these except tennis.
The board called the move to Division III sports "an opportunity to advance the mission of the university."
Browns sign Andruzzi
CLEVELAND -- The New England Patriots' dynasty has another crack.
The Super Bowl champions lost one more player when free agent guard Joe Andruzzi signed a four-year $9 million contract Wednesday with the Cleveland Browns, reuniting him with coach Romeo Crennel.
Andruzzi is the fourth player to leave the Patriots, following wide receiver/kick returner Troy Brown, linebacker Roman Phifer and four-time Pro Bowl cornerback Ty Law.
Andruzzi's agent, Joe Linta, said he spoke with New England on Wednesday about a new deal.
"We were going to give them a hometown discount," Linta said. "But we couldn't close the gap. He felt real comfortable coming to Cleveland to be with Romeo."
NATION
Nicklaus' grandson dies in hot tub
NORTH PALM BEACH, Fla. -- The 17-month-old grandson of Jack Nicklaus died Tuesday after falling into a hot tub where he had been playing earlier, officials said.
Jake Walter Nicklaus was pronounced dead at Palm Beach Gardens Medical Center at about 6:30 p.m., said Palm Beach County sheriff's spokesman Paul Miller.
The son of Steve Nicklaus, the toddler had been playing in the hot tub with his 4-year-old brother and their nanny, Miller said. The three left the pool area and went into the house, but Jake slipped away and went back through a sliding door to the hot tub, Miller said.
The nanny quickly realized he was missing and discovered him in the water, Miller said. She performed CPR until fire-rescue workers arrived. The boy was breathing at the time, he said.
He was taken to the hospital where he died, Miller said.
South Carolina player charged with burglary
COLUMBIA, S.C. -- Two South Carolina players have been suspended indefinitely from the team after police arrested one of the players for stealing televisions from dorm rooms, the latest in a string of disciplinary problems involving the Gamecocks since late last season.
Tackle Kevin Mainord was arrested and charged with two counts of first-degree burglary and two counts of simple larceny.
Mainord, a redshirt freshman, and defensive end Moe Thompson, a junior, were suspended, athletics spokesman Kerry Tharp said Wednesday. Thompson has not been arrested or charged in the incident, university spokesman Russ McKinney said.
According to an arrest warrant, Mainord and Thompson entered a room about 3:30 a.m. Feb. 23 while the female residents were sleeping and Mainord admitted to taking a television and DVD player as well as $12.
A second arrested warrant states Mainord entered another dorm room and stole a television with another person, but it does not name Thompson.
WORLD
NHLPA, agents meet
TORONTO -- The players' association updated more than 60 agents Wednesday on what happened in the failed labor negotiations between the NHL and the union.
Two weeks after the season was canceled by commissioner Gary Bettman, both the union and the NHL have taken time to discuss what has transpired since the lockout began last September.
The league gathered its board of governors in New York on Tuesday while more than 150 players met with union leadership in Toronto.
During four hours of talks Wednesday, there was no resolution as to what would happen should the NHL seek to use replacement players next season.
Vindicator staff/wire reports