STEELHOUNDS

STEELHOUNDS
CHL changes
YOUNGSTOWN -- The Central Hockey League adjusted its two conference, four-division format, although the change will not affect the Youngstown SteelHounds.
The team will remain in the Northeast division of the Northern Conference.
The league underwent the realignment due to the addition of two franchises, the Arizona Sundogs and the Rocky Mountain Rage. The New Mexico Scorpions rejoined after a one-year suspension, while the Fort Worth Brahmas canceled operations.
In addition to the divisional switches, the following changes were also approved:
The league altered its Veteran Rule confirming all players with more than 280 professional games played are considered veterans. This is up from the previous requirement of 260 games. Each team is still required to have five developmental players (128 or less played professional games) on its roster and is allowed a maximum of four veterans.
Player compensation regulations were tweaked, resulting in an increase of $1,500 per week for up to an 18-man roster. Last season's weekly cap was $8,500 while this season the high end of the salary cap will be $10,000.
The CHL's playoff format received an overhaul as 12 teams (six from each conference) will qualify for the 2006-07 playoffs, up from an eight team playoff format last season. Each of the four division winners will automatically be seeded first or second in their respective conference, with the next four teams with the highest point totals in each conference also qualifying, regardless of division. In addition, all four rounds will be best of seven game series. For more information on the recent playoff format changes visit the CHL's web site at www.centralhockeyleague.com.
LOCAL
GYTOA banquet
BOARDMAN -- The Greater Youngstown Track Officials Association will honor Chaney's Latalia Jones (a two-time all-Ohioan) and Mooney's Mike Mazerik (who won a state title in the 4x100-meter relay) as the Mahoning County track athletes of the year at their annual banquet June 13 at the Avion On The Lake.
The Columbiana County track athletes of the year are Beaver Local's LaShawn Hunt and Charity Montford. Cross country athletes of the year are Mooney's Colin Durina, Ursuline's Tiffani Miller, Salem's Deirdre Clary and Salem's Aiman Scullion.
For reservations, call Pat Julian (330-332-1126) or Marge Iagulli (330-757-0760).
Hubbard's Dalyhonored at Erie
PAINESVILLE -- Justin Daly of Hubbard completed the spring semester of his junior year with a 4.0 grade point average at Lake Erie College.
Daly, a starter for the Storm's men's soccer team, was named first team all-conference in the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference and earned academic all-conference recognition.
Daly is pursuing a degree in chemistry.
REGION
State baseball
COLUMBUS -- Bobby Simone pitched a six-hit shutout to lead Cuyahoga Falls Walsh Jesuit to a 3-0 win over Chardon Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin in the Division II state championship Tuesday.
Simone, who struck out six and walked one, also had an RBI double in the first inning and scored on a single by Ross Brunello, giving the Lions an early 2-0 lead. Brunello went 3-for-3 for the Warriors (30-2), who won their third state title. The school also won in 1999 and 2004.
Trey Bennett drove in a run with a sacrifice fly in the fifth.
Brian Tallerico went 2-for-3 for the Lions (25-7).
Cleveland Stateto host Ohio State
CLEVELAND -- Cleveland State, looking to increase its profile under new coach Gary Waters, will host Ohio State during the 2007-08 season.
It's the first meeting of the universities in more than a decade and will mark the debut of the CSU McLendon Scholarship Series, said Alan Ashby, Cleveland State associate sports information director. The scholarship is named for Hall of Famer John McLendon, a former Cleveland State coach who broke several racial barriers during his career and played at the University of Kansas in the early 1930s under basketball's creator, Dr. James Naismith.
Cleveland State athletic director Lee Reed and Ohio State athletic director Gene Smith will announce the game and annual scholarship series at a news conference Thursday in downtown Cleveland.
Vindicator staff/wire reports