Boardman girls win state title

AREA
Boardman girlswin state title
BOARDMAN -- Boardman's 13-14-year-old softball team captured the Little League state championship Saturday with a 7-2 victory over Wheelersburg in nine innings at the Field of Dreams.
Brooke Meenachan pitched a complete game to pick up the win.
The Boardman All-Stars qualified for the Midwest Regionals at Akron that begin Aug. 4. The team is coached by Rick Schaefer and Frank Martin.
Poland's Brunotakes golf events
POLAND -- Amber Bruno, a 13-year-old eighth grader at Holy Family School, has won seven junior golf tournaments this summer with a nine-hole average score of 45.
She recently qualified for the P.J. Boatwright state championship tournament that will be Thursday at Penn State University Golf Course.
Boardman golfsignups are Tuesday
YOUNGSTOWN -- Boardman High students interested in playing for the varsity boys golf team should sign up Tuesday at 8 a.m. at Mill Creek Golf Course. For more information, contact Ron Moschella at (330) 509-3988.
Canfield winsstate opener
BOARDMAN -- Canfield's 11-12 Little League baseball team opened the state tournament with a 5-3 victory over Lucasville Valley at the Fields of Dreams. Benny Angelo went the distance to get the pitching win. Adam Bouch drove in two runs as Canfield jumped ahead 3-0.
J.J. Hettinger's drove in two runs as Lucasville Valley tied the game. Canfield produced the winning runs when Angelo and Jordan Italian scored on a passed ball.
Canfield plays Hamilton today at 2 p.m.
In other action, Jefferson defeated Patterson, 5-1.
Southingtonnominees sought
SOUTHINGTON -- The Chalker Athletic Hall of Fame Committee is accepting nominations for this year's inductions until Sept. 1. Any Chalker High athlete who graduated at least five years ago and residents who have supported the school's athletic programs are eligible.
Forms are available in the athletic director's office.
REGION
Browns sign4 draft picks
CLEVELAND -- The Cleveland Browns have signed second-round pick D'Qwell Jackson and three other selections.
Linebacker Leon Williams and offensive lineman Isaac Sowells, both fourth-rounders, and running back Jerome Harrison, a fifth-round pick, also signed.
Cleveland has signed nine of its 10 picks, with training camp beginning Wednesday. Receiver Travis Wilson, a third-round selection out of Oklahoma, is the only one unsigned. Jackson, a linebacker out of Maryland, was the Atlantic Coast Conference's defensive player of the year last season. Williams was a Butkus Award semifinalist last year despite starting six games in four years at Miami.
Sowells started 27 games at left tackle in college but is expected to play guard. Harrison finished his senior year at Washington State with a rushing average of 172 yards per game, third-best in the nation.
Penguins sign Orpik, Carkner
PITTSBURGH -- The Penguins re-signed Brooks Orpik to a two-year contract on Sunday, one day before the defenseman was scheduled for a salary arbitration hearing.
The 25-year-old Orpik had seven goals, two assists and 124 penalty minutes in 64 games with the Penguins last season, his second full NHL campaign. The 6-foot 2, 228-pound Orpik was drafted 18th overall by the Penguins in 2000.
Orpik is a marginal defender who has tried to develop a reputation for being a big hitter. He was suspended for three games last season after he checked Carolina forward Erik Cole from behind on March 4. Cole fractured a vertebra in his neck and was lost to the Hurricanes until Game 6 of the Stanley Cup finals.
The Penguins also signed minor league defenseman Matt Carkner to a one-year deal Sunday. Carkner, 25, appeared in 69 games with Cleveland of the AHL last season and had 10 goals, 21 assists and 202 penalty minutes.
Vindicator staff/wire reports