YSU

YSU
Men's basketball
YOUNGSTOWN -- Finland native Mikko Niemi has joined the program for the 2005-06 season.
Niemi is a 6-foot-2, 180-pound freshman point guard from Kangasala, Finland. He played for the Finnish Under-20 National Team and attended Sammon Lukio High.
Niemi, 20, recently served a year in the Finnish Military. As a member of the Under-20 Team, he helped Finland place eighth out of 20 teams at the European B Championships in Bulgaria.
Also, guards Brian Williams of Columbus and Craig Wellman of Masury have joined the program as walk-ons.
LOCAL
Phantoms open
BOARDMAN -- The Mahoning Valley Phantoms begin their third season in the North American Hockey League tonight and Saturday with games against the U.S. National Under-18 Team in Ann Arbor, Mich.
Face off for both games are 7 p.m. and will be broadcast on the team's Web site (www.mvpphantoms.com).
REGION
Pens to announce Crosby signing
PITTSBURGH -- The Pittsburgh Penguins didn't want Sidney Crosby to miss even a minute of their first training camp in two years. The NHL's labor agreement made it all but certain he wouldn't.
The Penguins will hold a news conference today to announce the No. 1 draft pick has signed his first NHL contract, a formality since the new labor deal limits his first-year compensation to $850,000 in salary and $850,000 in bonuses.
NATION/WORLD
Golf roundup
*VANCOUVER, British Columbia -- Lucas Glover and Mark Calcavecchia shot 5-under 65s on Thursday to share the first-round lead in the Canadian Open.
*PULHEIM, Germany -- England's Barry Lane shot a 6-under 66 for a share of the first-round lead in the European tour's German Masters.
Motorsports roundup
*RICHMOND, Va. -- A third restart worked for Mark Martin, and he edged out Kurt Busch to win the International Race of Champions event Thursday night at Richmond International Raceway.
*RICHMOND, Va. -- Mike Skinner got his second straight NASCAR truck series victory by outrunning Todd Bodine and Kevin Harvick in a two-lap sprint to end a crash-filled race Thursday night at Richmond International Raceway.
WNBA roundup
*INDIANAPOLIS -- Taj McWilliams-Franklin scored 24 points as the Connecticut Sun beat the Indiana Fever 73-68 Thursday night to open the WNBA's Eastern Conference finals.
Katie Douglas hit an off-balance bank shot from 23 feet away as the shot clock expired with 30 seconds remaining to give the Sun a six-point lead. Connecticut will host the final two games of the series beginning Saturday.
College roundup
*MIAMI -- Julius Crosslin ran for two touchdowns after fumble recoveries by linebacker Pagitte McGee, leading Oklahoma State to a 23-3 victory Thursday night over Florida Atlantic.
The Cowboys' defense forced Florida Atlantic quarterback Danny Embick to twice commit costly fumbles deep in Owls territory in the game at Dolphins Stadium.
Bonds takes swings
SAN FRANCISCO -- Barry Bonds felt strong and limber while taking swings and running the bases in a pregame workout back home Thursday, and the San Francisco Giants slugger said there's a possibility he could return this weekend.
Bonds, who hasn't played this season after three surgeries on his troublesome right knee since Jan. 31, faced 21 pitches from Giants right-hander Kevin Correia split into two sessions in a simulated game. He took just one swing at the first seven pitches, but hit an early pitch from the second session out of the park.
Vindicator staff/wire reports