AREA

AREA
Phantom's Laughlingheaded to West Point
BOARDMAN -- Youngstown Phantoms forward Kyle Laughlin has accepted a full scholarship to play ice hockey at West Point, N.Y., for the Army Black Knights of Atlantic Hockey.
"Kyle is a tremendous kid, both on and off the ice," Coach Bob Mainhardt said. "To be accepted to West Point speaks volumes about his academic and athletic abilities as well as his character. This is quite an accomplishment for him."
Laughlin had 12 goals and 17 assists in 55 games, placing him sixth in team scoring. Three goals were scored onpower plays and two were game-winners.
Laughlin is the fourth Phantom who will play Division I hockey in the fall. The others are Anthony Canzoneri (Bentley), Evan Case (Ferris State) and Rob Rassey (Holy Cross).
Laughlin, 20, is the son of Craig Laughlin, who played eight years in the NHL as a right winger for Montreal, Washington, Los Angeles, and Toronto. Since 1990, he has served as TV analyst for the NHL's Washington Capitals.
Slovak bowling
YOUNGSTOWN -- Al's Boys of Warren rolled the team-high series 3,513 during the third week of the 63rd Slovak National Tournament at A Plus Lanes.
All Pros Sports of Ford City, Pa. was second with 3,442 and was followed by Sokol 167 Sun of Barberton, 3,439; Cleveland No. 3, 3,424 and Grafton Pro Shop of Grafton, 43,420.
Chris Negrea of Farrell, Pa. topped all events with 2,256. Lester Lampman Jr. of Warren finished with 2,211, Craig Molnar of Cleveland, 2,208, Pete Underation of Barberton, 2,197 and Arden Baillie of Newton Falls, 2,178.
Ed Blankenship and Bill Perko of Eastlake rolled high doubles series 1,568. Mike Kehman and Del Lehman of Warren were second with 1,550. Bernie Miloser and Mel Bowen of Ford City, Pa. had 1,537, Pete Underation and Joe Baker of Norton 1,510 and Brandon Mangino and Gary Mangino of New Castle, Pa. 1,499.
Chris Negrea of Farrell rolled 691-129--820 for the best singles effort, while Al Duda of New Castle had 643-168--811, Jim Zielinski Jr. of Cleveland 664-129--793, Ken Heard of Barberton 621-774 and John Barr of Chicago 637-132--769.
Jason Weber of Cleveland, Keith King of Toledo and Bryan Cleavenger each bowled 300 games, while M & amp;O Pro Shop of Warren had rolled the actual team series 3,355.
REGION
Tribe's Gerut hitlessin rehab assignment
BUFFALO, N.Y. -- Cleveland Indians outfielder Jody Gerut went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts Tuesday night in the first game of his rehabilitation assignment with Triple-A Buffalo.
Gerut, who had reconstructive knee surgery in September, was sent to Buffalo after playing well in the Indians' extended spring training program. He batted .252 with 11 homers and 51 RBIs in 134 games last year, his second season with Cleveland.
The Bisons defeated Scranton/Wilkes-Barre 10-5.
NATION
Rocker has run-in
ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. -- John Rocker, attempting a comeback with the minor league Long Island Ducks, had a testy exchange with a fan Tuesday as he walked off the field after another disappointing performance
The 30-year-old lefty gave up two runs, two hits and two walks in one-third of an inning on the mound in Long Island's 2-1 loss to the Atlantic City Surf in the second game of a doubleheader.
As Rocker left the field, Dave Macken of Atlantic City, a Surf fan sitting near the visitors dugout, yelled, "It's a long way from Atlanta."
Rocker replied, "I'm still a millionaire" and followed with a profanity," Macken told The Press of Atlantic City. Macken said the two then exchanged profanities.
Rocker recalled the exchange differently. "Call me what you want, but don't start cussing at me like that," he was quoted as telling the paper. "That's just wrong."
Rocker, who dropped to 0-2, entered with a 1-0 lead in the fifth and loaded the bases on two singles and a walk. He walked Raul Marval with the bases loaded, forcing in the tying run, and gave up a go-ahead sacrifice fly to Jose Velazquez.
The Ducks play in the independent Atlantic League.
'Devastated' Rinconbegins suspension
MINNEAPOLIS -- Suspended Minnesota Twins reliever Juan Rincon was "devastated" to hear he had tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs and insisted Tuesday that he would never intentionally put his career in jeopardy.
Penalized 10 days on Monday for the violation, the right-hander -- one of baseball's best setup men -- asked the players' union to file a grievance over the ban. Paperwork was submitted Tuesday, union chief operating officer Gene Orza said.
Staff/wire reports