LOCAL

LOCAL
'Hounds home opener
YOUNGSTOWN -- The Youngstown SteelHounds' hockey team 2006-07 home opener will be Oct. 27 at the Chevrolet Centre.
The opponent and game time will be announced by the team later.
Tickets go on sale in early October and season-ticket packages are now available. For more information, call 330-747-PUCK (7825).
Sharon Speedway
HARTFORD -- The Fantastic Five Divisions return to Sharon Speedway Saturday night.
An autograph session at 4 p.m. precedes the night of racing.
Admission is $11 for adults, $5 for kids 12-15 and free for children 11 and under. Pit passes are $22.
Howland youth rec
HOWLAND -- The township youth sport and recreation program featuring track and field and bowling for 6- to 13- year- olds will be from 9 a.m. to noon July 17-21.
Registration forms are available at the township administration building, 205 Niles-Cortland Road. Fee is $20 for residents and $35 for non-residents. For more information call (330) 856-2340.
Bowling
CANFIELD -- Lisa Pecorelli and Dan Deveraux rolled 1563 to take the lead in the John Bossone Mixed Doubles Bowling Tournament at Amron Lanes.
Falling back to second place was the team of Tracy Walters and J.D. Bossone with 1535.
The team of Gloria Smith and John Rosenberg are currently in third place with 1489.
Squad times are 7 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. every Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
The event ends July 30.
Ursuline footballplans reunion
YOUNGSTOWN -- The 1956 Ursuline High football team is planning a 50th reunion for Sept. 15-16.
Members of the last undefeated Irish team that went 10-0 and won the City Series championship will gather for a dinner and attend the Steubenville game.
For reservations, contact Joe Balmer (330) 856-2365 or Tony Calucchia (309) 347-8173.
The committee would also be interested in hearing from former players who have any memorabilia.
Busch car at mall
NILES -- NASCAR driver Danny O'Quinn, Jr. and the No. 50 World Financial Group Ford Fusion will be at the Eastwood Mall Thursday.
NASCAR fans can have their pictures taken with the car at the Eastwood Mall center court.
Canfield soccer playerto compete in Europe
CANFIELD -- Brent Beshara, a soccer player who will be a sophomore at Canfield High School, has been accepted into the People to People Soccer Sports Ambassador program.
He will depart July 20 and train for three days in Heemstede, Holland before competing in the Haarlem Cup Tournament.
As part of the program, he will explore Holland with teammates from throughout the United States.
Football preview
WARREN -- The Warren Sports Hall of Fame Coaches Huddle will be held Aug. 1 at DeLucia's Banquet Center.
High school football coaches from the area will be on hand to preview the season and answer questions from the audience.
Taekwondo champion
YOUNGSTOWN -- Stephen A. Milich a student at the American Taekwondo Association school in Hermitage, Pa., won the 13-16 year old boys Black Belt Special Ability division in sparring at the 2006 Songahm Taekwondo World Champions in Little Rock, Ark.
He is ranked No. 1 in the world for his division.
Milich's instructor is Nick Mediate, a 4th Degree Black Belt, certified ATA instructor.
Senior Olympics
YOUNGSTOWN -- The Ohio Senior Olympics state games, with 1,050 athletes ages 50 and over, will be held July 21-Aug. 6 in the Valley.
REGION
Ohio Amateur
BEACHWOOD -- Youngstown native Alex Antonio, the oldest competitor in the field, shot 3-under par 68 to share the lead in the opening round of the 100th annual Ohio Amateur golf championship Tuesday.
Antonio, 61, now lives in New Albany.
He was a second-team All-American in 1965 and an honorable mention choice the following year at Ohio State.
The group two shots back at 70 included Jason Kokrak of Warren.
NATION
NBA sets salary cap
NEW YORK -- The NBA set its 2006-07 salary cap at $53.135 million Tuesday, one day before teams were allowed to sign free agents and make trades.
Also determined Tuesday were the mid-level exception and the tax level.
The mid-level exception will be $5.215 million and the tax level will be $65.42 million.
Any team that exceeds that figure will pay a $1 luxury tax for every dollar it is over.