Boxers Smith, Harris win

LOCAL
Boxers Smith,Harris win
WARRENSVILLE HEIGHTS -- Boxers Keiz Smith of Boardman and Josh Harris won amateur bouts Saturday at Montiplex Church.
Smith (5-0), a junior welterweight, defeated Mike Tische (5-1) of Cleveland with a three-round unanimous decision. Smith is trained by John Hobart of Buckeye Elks.
Harris (22-10, 16 KOs), a heavyweight, defeated Mark Woods of Cleveland in a three-round unanimous decision. Harris is trained by Frank West of Buckeye Elks.
Mann namedAll Star
FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. -- Howland High graduate Sam Mann has been named to the Coastal Plain Baseball League American All-Star Team which will face the National squad Tuesday at J.P. Riddle Stadium.
Mann, who plays for Washington and Jefferson College, plays for the Florence (S.C.) Redwolves, a summer wooden bat team in the Coastal Plain League.
The league's rosters are comprised of top college players who have eligibility remaining.
Mann has an ERA of 1.99, a record of 5-0 in seven starts. He has pitched 58.2 innings, including two complete games. He has thrown 37 strikeouts and only issued only five walks.
Maurice Clarettbecomes a dad
YOUNGSTOWN -- Maurice Clarett, a former standout running back for Warren Harding and Ohio State, became a father on Sunday.
Clarett's girlfriend, Ashley Evans, gave birth to a daughter at Forum Health Women & amp; Infants Pavilion. Clarett told reporters earlier in the week that the daughter was due on Aug. 16.
Clarett, 22, recently announced plans to play for the Mahoning Valley Hitmen of the Eastern Indoor Football League.
Rathburn earnsnationals
MILLERSBURG -- Western Reserve High senior Alex Rathburn, a four-time All-Ohioan from Austintown, competed in the 2006 USATF Region 5 Junior Olympic Track and Field Championships and has advanced to the National Championships for a fifth straight time in the discus. Rathburn missed qualifying in the shot put by inches.
Regional competitors from Ohio, West Virginia, Kentucky and Michigan must place in the top three to move on to the nationals that will be held at Morgan State University in Baltimore from July 26-30.
Rathburn placed third in the 17-18 year-old division discus throw with a distance of 132-feet-1-inch and finished fourth in the shot put with a 40-2 toss. She has been invited to compete in the young women's division hammer throw as an exhibition sport.
Another Austintown Community Track Club member, Lauren Lotze of North Lima, took the silver medal in the young women's javelin and advanced to the nationals (107-6).
Kyle Muir, Mineral Ridge, finished fifth in discus (145-6) and sixth in the shot put (45-1). Muir has been invited to participate in the young men's hammer throw exhibition.
Canfield winsLL district
CANFIELD -- Canfield captured the District 2 11-12 year old Little League baseball title as it posted a 5-2 victory over Boardman East.
Canfield will compete in the state Little League tournament starting Saturday.
Page to fightat Packard
WARREN -- Warren cruiserweight Zack Page (10-7) will be in the main event when pro boxing returns to Packard Music Hall on Aug. 5.
Terminator Promotions of Akron and Michael Acri Boxing Promotions of Miami, Fla., in association with the Warren Boxing Association will promote the six-bout card.
Heavyweight fighter Warren native Frankie Tempesta (10-0) will make his pro debut as will Warren's Nate Adames, in the middleweight division.
Also on the under card will be Warren's Missy Fields (0-1) in a heavyweight bout.
Akron fighters on the show will be super welterweight Anthony Little (6-3-1), middleweight Shannon Sharp (0-1) and cruiserweight Dannon Svab (5-0).
Tickets are available at Packard Music Hall by calling (330) 841-2619 or Warren Boxing Association (330) 240-9023.
REGION
Pirates' Caseyon the block
PITTSBURGH -- The Pittsburgh Pirates are not discussing a contract extension with first baseman Sean Casey, a sign they may be looking to trade their highest-paid player before the end of the month.
The Pirates dropped hints earlier this season they might like to sign Casey to a multiple-year contract that would allow him to keep playing in his hometown beyond this season. Casey was acquired from the Reds with one year left on a contract that pays him $8.5 million this season -- all but $1 million paid by the Pirates.
That's a lot of money for a team that traditionally has had one of the majors' lowest payrolls -- and for a player who doesn't hit for much power, with three homers this season and 12 the last two seasons.
"No discussion has taken place in regards to a contract extension with Sean or his agent, but it is something we are talking about -- what to do at first base," Pirates general manager Dave Littlefield said Sunday. "You've got to make a decision on what you see at first with Sean and dollars and years and production."
One problem is the Pirates, on pace for a 14th consecutive losing season, have no first baseman in waiting to replace Casey. Catcher Ryan Doumit played there a few times this season before going on the disabled list with a hamstring problem.
Craig Wilson has played frequently at first the last few seasons but, unsigned beyond this season, he is almost certain to be traded by the end of the year. July 31 is the deadline for trading a player without obtaining waivers.
Vindicator staff/wire reports