YSU

YSU
Football
ST. LOUIS -- Senior punter/kickoff specialist Joe Bishop was named the Gateway Special Teams Player of the Week for the second time this season.
Bishop had a solid day on punts and kickoffs in YSU's 42-10 victory over Western Kentucky. His first two kickoffs reached the end zone and were not returned past the 15-yard line. The YSU defense then forced turnovers to set up two short touchdown drives. Two more of his kickoffs went for touchbacks while one was returned to the 20. Two of his four punts were placed inside WKU's 20-yard line.
He was named player of the week for his efforts at UNI earlier this season.
Illinois State junior wide receiver Laurent Robinson was named the conference's offensive player of the week and Northern Iowa senior linebacker Darin Heideman was named the defensive player of the week.
LOCAL
Playoff tickets
COLUMBIANA -- Tickets for Saturday's Division VI regional final game between Columbiana and Steubenville Central Catholic will be on sale from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. to 8 on Wednesday and from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Friday at Columbiana High School. Presale tickets are $6 and tickets at the gate are $8.
Hole-in-one
John Clayton of Hubbard registered a hole-in-one at Donnybrook Golf Course. Clayton aced the 130-yard, No. 5 hole with a pitching wedge. His partners were Dan Markasky, Ed Clayton and Mitch Mitcheltree.
Barons sweepPhantoms
PARMA -- The Cleveland Barons scored three goals and Bobby Jarosz stopped all 28 shots as they shut out the Phantoms 3-0 Sunday at Lakefront Lines Arena to complete a weekend sweep in North American Hockey League action.
Josh Leonard floated the puck from behind the net into the crease and the puck bounced off the leg of teammate Carter Camper into the goal for a 1-0 lead.
On a power play, Nick Kosinski's centering pass from the right wing goal line deflected off Phantoms defenseman Drew Fortney's skate blade into the goal in the second period.
Aaron Pietila took advantage of Phantoms goalie Ryan Zapolski being caught out of position and tapped the puck into the unguarded net for the third goal.
The Phantoms couldn't mount any comeback, largely due to six Cleveland power plays in the third period. The Barons outshot the Phantoms 41-28 while enjoying an 11-3 advantage on power plays.
The Phantoms ( 9-8-) return home this weekend to face the Alpena Ice Diggers on Friday and Saturday at 7 p.m.
REGION
Edwards appearance
MAYFIELD HTS. -- Cleveland Browns wide receiver Braylon Edwards will appear at the finals of the Alltell Axcess Text Messaging Challenge at 4:30 p.m. today at the Alltell retail store in Golden Gate Plaza. The noon event is free and open to the public.
Cavs giveaway
CLEVELAND -- The Cleveland Cavaliers will give away Larry Hughes bobblehead dolls to every fan in attendance at tonight's home game against the Washington Wizards.
Tickets are available at the Quicken Loans box office, all Ticketmaster ticket centers, online at www.cavs.com, or charge-by-phone at 330-747-1212.
NATION
Union, owners nearsteroids agreement
NEW YORK -- After repeated prodding by Congress, baseball players and owners are nearing an agreement that would toughen the penalties for using steroids.
Negotiators would not discuss the talks, which began last spring. Several player agents said in recent days that the sides were making progress toward a deal, though they did not have direct knowledge of the bargaining.
"Last I heard, the sides were really close," Kansas City Royals first baseman Mike Sweeney said.
Representatives of management and the union will head to Capitol Hill on Tuesday for a meeting with House Government Reform Committee Chairman Tom Davis, R-Va., to discuss their progress toward a stiffer testing agreement, Davis spokesman Dave Marin said.
Davis' committee held the March 17 hearing at which Rafael Palmeiro, Mark McGwire, Jose Canseco and other players and baseball officials testified -- and where lawmakers soundly criticized the sport's steroid penalties as too lax. Baseball owners are to meet Thursday in Milwaukee. Last January, when the union and management revised their 2002 agreement, the changes were announced following an owners meeting in Scottsdale, Ariz.
D-Rays hire Maddon
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- The Tampa Bay Devil Rays have hired Los Angeles Angels bench coach Joe Maddon as manager, six weeks after beginning their search to replace Lou Piniella.
Vindicator staff/wire reports