Harding's Herron picks Ohio State

LOCAL
Harding's Herronpicks Ohio State
COLUMBUS -- Warren Harding High running back Daniel Herron has made a verbal commitment to attend Ohio State University in 2007.
Herron, who will be a senior this season for the Raiders, becomes the fifth player to commit to the Buckeyes for 2007.
The 5-foot-10-inch, 200-pound Herron was ranked as the 21st best running back in the nation by Scout.com.
Toledo Central Catholic receiver Dane Sanzenbacher also selected the Buckeyes. They join Piqua running back Brandon Saine, Wayne defensive back Donnie Evege and Lakewood St. Edwards defensive back Nate Oliver for the Buckeyes' 2007 class.
East Palestine'sJones wins in Wash.
BREMERTON, Wash. -- East Palestine golfer Scotty Jones had to go 19 holes to defeat Jay Lindell of Lakewood, N.Y. in the first round of match play in the U.S. Amateur Public Links Championships Wednesday.
Jones, who qualified for match play by shooting a three-under-par 141 total in the 36-hole qualifier, will play a second-round match today.
Harper wins
MILLERSBURG -- Jeff Harper, a member of the Austintown Community track Club took first place in the discus with a throw of 85 feet, 8 inches at the USA Regional track meet.
He qualified for the National Championships in Baltimore, Maryland later this month. He also qualified in the shot put with a third place finish.
Harper competes in the midget division and will be a sixth grader this fall at Springfield Intermediate.
REGION
Browns sign Cribbs to pact
CLEVELAND -- Kick returner Joshua Cribbs has signed a one-year contract with the Cleveland Browns.
Cribbs averaged 24.3 return yards on 45 kickoffs in 14 games last season as a rookie. His 1,094 return yards set a franchise record.
The former undrafted free agent from Kent State also returned a kickoff 90 yards for a touchdown against Detroit. Cribbs, who is listed as a wide receiver, played quarterback at Kent State.
The Browns also signed free-agent defensive back Daven Holly to a two-year deal. Holly played in three games for Chicago as a rookie last season.
Steelers' Holmes pleads not guilty
MIAMI -- Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Santonio Holmes has entered a written plea of not guilty to disorderly conduct charges.
Neither Holmes nor his attorney were present at a brief hearing before Miami-Dade County Judge Darrin P. Gayles. A court date wasn't immediately set.
Holmes, the Steelers' first-round pick in the April NFL draft out of Ohio State, was arrested as part of a police crackdown on revelers who annually converge on Miami Beach during the Memorial Day weekend.
Holmes, 22, also has pleaded not guilty to separate domestic violence and simple assault charges involving a woman in Columbus. The woman, who police said is the mother of his daughter, has asked that charges against Holmes be dropped.
Holmes is a native of Belle Glade, Fla.
Pens' top scoutoff to Phoenix
PITTSBURGH -- Greg Malone, the Pittsburgh Penguins' head scout for nearly all of former general manager Craig Patrick's 16-plus seasons with the team, has been hired as the Phoenix Coyotes' head eastern pro scout.
Malone, the father of Penguins forward Ryan Malone and a former Penguins player himself, oversaw the Penguins' U.S. and European scouting for 16 years.
During his final draft with the team last month, the Penguins chose 17-year-old Canadian star Jordan Staal.
The change was the first in the Penguins' front office since Ray Shero succeeded Patrick as general manager in late May. Patrick had been the NHL's most-tenured GM, serving in the job since the 1989-90 season until his contract was not renewed in April.
OHIO
Walker to remain at North College Hill
CINCINNATI -- Bill Walker, one of the nation's top prep stars, says he will stay at North College Hill High School for his senior year, even though he can't play on the basketball team.
"I'm a student at North College Hill first, and that's where I plan to be next year," Walker told The Cincinnati Enquirer for a story Wednesday.
The Ohio High School Athletic Association ruled Monday that Walker has exhausted his high school eligibility, because he played at Rose Hill Christian School (Ashland, Ky.) in the 2002-03 school year before playing for North College Hill the last three seasons.
Vindicator staff/wire reports