Sports Digest

LOCAL
Class B League
STRUTHERS -- Mink Financial had only five hits, but scored four unearned runs to defeat Newell Sporting Goods, 6-2, in a tie-breaker game for the sixth and final Class B League playoff spot Monday at Cene Park.
Corey Vukovic tossed a complete game with nine strikeouts. He also had a two-run single.
Kyle Rupp had three hits for Newell, while Andy Geibel had seven strikeouts in the complete game loss. Newell had four errors.
Mink will play Rondinelli Tuxedo in the first round of the playoffs beginning today at 8 p.m. on Cene 1.
The other first round series will match Wharmby Sports and R & amp; J Trucking at 6 p.m. today.
Little b League
STRUTHERS -- In game one of the Little b League championship series, R & amp;J had 12 hits in a 9-6 win over Rondinelli Tuxedo Monday night.
Bob Herberger had three hits while Matt Durkin, Jeff Bruno, and winning pitcher Mark Lapikas had two hits each for R & amp;J. Lapikas went 61/3 innings with three strikeouts while David Wright got out of a bases-loaded jam in the seventh for the save.
Marc Kanetsky had two hits for Rondinelli.
Game 2 was not completed for today's editions. Games 3 and 4, if necessary, will be today on Cene 2 starting at 6 p.m.
Madsen makes verbalcommitment to Miami
YOUNGSTOWN -- Mike Madsen, who will be a senior for the Cardinal Mooney High football team this coming season, has committed verbally to attend Miami (Ohio).
Madsen (6-foot-5, 280 pounds) will sign a national letter of intent in February.
He was Mooney's starting offensive left tackle last season and helped the Cardinals advance to the Division IV state championship game.
Madsen has a 3.4 grade-point average and is planning to study sports management and marketing at Miami.
He is the son of Deborah Madsen of Boardman and Michael and Sue Madsen of Poland.
Mellott to attendWestminster
WILMINGTON -- Lindsey Mellott, a recent graduate of Lakeview High where she was a standout goaltender on the girls soccer team, will attend Westminster College.
Mellott, who was salutatorian of her graduation class, plans to study biology. She also was a member of the National Honor Society, the yearbook staff and band.
During Mellott's senior season at Lakeview, she registered 116 saves and eight shutouts, and allowed just 20 goals. She was selected to the all-district and All-Trumbull County first teams, and to the All-Trumbull Athletic Conference team.
REGION
HOF game sold out
CANTON -- The Pro Football Hall of Fame's Game is sold out and only a limited number of tickets for the Enshrinement Ceremony are still available. The enshrinement ceremony for the Class of 2006 -- Troy Aikman, Harry Carson, John Madden, Warren Moon, Reggie White, and Rayfield Wright -- is Aug. 5 at 1 p.m. in Fawcett Stadium.
Enshrinement tickets are $25 for sideline and end zone seats and $50 for field level seats. They can be purchased on-line at Profootballhof.com or by calling 1-800-913-9788. There is a limit of six tickets per household.
NATION
Ben Wallace leaving Pistons for Chicago
DETROIT -- Free-agent center Ben Wallace is leaving the Detroit Pistons to sign with the Chicago Bulls, a person within the NBA said Monday.
The person, who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because NBA free agents can't officially sign contracts until July 12, said the Pistons offered Wallace a four-year contract worth about $50 million. That would have made him the highest-paid player on the team next season with a salary of $11.5 million.
Barbaro's cast changed for 2nd time
KENNETT SQUARE, Pa. -- The cast on Barbaro's shattered hind leg was replaced for the second time -- six weeks after the Kentucky Derby winner sustained a life-threatening injury at the Preakness. Two bent screws were replaced and three new ones were added across the horse's pastern joint.
Barbaro remains in intensive care at the University of Pennsylvania's New Bolton Center.
Vindicator staff/wire reports
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