LOCAL

LOCAL
Area boxing
UNCASVILLE, Conn. -- Youngstown middleweight Darnell Boone scored an upset win over Philadelphia's Rasheem Brown in Saturday's 10-round main event at the Mohegan Sun Hotel and Casino.
Boone (10-3-1, 4 KOs) has won four straight matches. The 26-year-old dominated the fight against Brown, who in 2004 was voted the top prospect in the middleweight division.
The three judges voted 99-91, 98-92 and 97-93 for Boone, who worked Brown around the ring from the opening bell of Boone's first 10-rounder. Brown (17-3, 14 KOs) countered with good combinations, but the aggressive Boone continued coming in and firing off sharp combinations. He forced the fight taking Brown out of his fight plan by confusing him by going to the body and then switching off with solid rights and left hooks to the head.
Boone's last four opponents had a combined 48-6. All were fighting in or near their hometowns.
"I came out with an aggressive style and never let up," he said. "I know now just counterpunching will not get the job done, especially on the road."
Youngstown's Pat Nelson, who has acted as an agent for Boone recently, got Boone's last three fights. But he didn't arrange this one, saying before the fight he felt Brown "is too tough for him."
Jim "Tank" Dicioccio, who is Boone's co-manager along with Jack Loew, said it's Boone's time.
"He has learned how to control a fight in the last year and should move up in bouts real soon," Dicioccio said.
Loew trained Boone as an amateur and said he has learned how to dominate a fight. He showed that Saturday, he said.
"In my opinion Darnell has arrived as a top contender in every way he should as he can take the fight to the other guy and he can take a punch when on the attack," Loew said. "That has been proven as he has been in with some good hitters."
A ringside observer said he couldn't remember anyone with Boone's progress in such a short time and others marveled at his ability at taking over a fight. The next bout in his career will be vital in helping him become a top contender.
Folk, DePiorewin awards
HOUSTON, Tex. -- Two Youngstown Road Runners Club members have won National Road Runners Club of America awards.
Matt Folk of Canfield, an assistant track and cross country coach at Youngstown State, was named the Male Open Runner of the Year for the second straight year.
Wilma DePiore of Boardman won the Club Writer Award.
Mary Coordt, a member of the Tahoe Mountain Milers in Elk Grove, Calif., was named the Female Open Runner of the Year.
The RRCA has been presenting national awards for over 30 years.
REGION
Pirates
BRADENTON, Fla. -- Jason Bay reported to the Pittsburgh Pirates' spring training camp Sunday, three days early and sounding eager to improve upon his excellent first two seasons in the majors.
But he understands it won't be easy to top being National League Rookie of the Year in 2004 and one of the top all-around offensive performers last season.
"You want to keep improving every year, and I've obviously set a very high bar for myself after two years," Bay said. "At some point, though, that's going to stop. You're not just going to keep getting better and better forever. That season I had last year, I look back on it and see the numbers, and I do realize how they stand out in most offensive categories."
Bay, 27, batted .306 with 32 home runs, 44 doubles, 21 stolen bases in 22 attempts, 110 runs and 101 RBIs. He became the only player in franchise history to top .300, 30 home runs, 40 doubles, 20 steals, 100 runs and 100 RBIs. He also was the only player in Major League Baseball last season to achieve it.
He was named to the National League All-Star team and, after the season, signed a four-year contract worth $18.25 million. Not an easy year to match, much less exceed.
"You know what? My main thing is going to be trying to be consistent," Bay said. "Those numbers I put up last year and the protection we'll have this year, I think that's going to help me maintain that."
Bay had little protection batting third in the Pirates' weak lineup, prompting management to acquire Jeromy Burnitz, Sean Casey and Joe Randa in the offseason. In all likelihood, those players will bat behind Bay in the order.
"It's great to get those guys, and some people seem to think that will automatically make everything that much better. But it's still going to be very difficult to improve on those numbers," he said. "The way I look at it is, if I can maintain that average, up or down a little either way, that would be a great career."
Bay said he arrived at spring training early because he knows he will miss some of training camp to represent Canada in the World Baseball Classic.
NATION
Bonds plans to retireafter 2006 season
Barry Bonds says he plans to retire after this season, even if he doesn't break Hank Aaron's home run record.
The San Francisco Giants star was limited to 14 games last year following three knee operations. He has 708 homers, trailing only Babe Ruth (714) and Aaron (755).
"I'm not playing baseball anymore after this," Bonds was quoted by USA Today in a story posted on its Web site Sunday.
Vindicator staff/wire reports