AREA

AREA
Champion seekstrack teams
CHAMPION -- The Champion High School athletic department is looking for track and field teams for a meet on March 30. If interested, contact Tim Cope(330) 847-2314.
Poland's Pattonearns honor
BETHANY, W. Va. -- Bethany College senior Emily Patton of Poland has been named the Presidents' Athletic Conference Softball Hitter of the Week.
The Bethany centerfielder went 4-6 in two games on Sunday to earn the first weekly PAC award of her career. Patton went 3-3 and knocked in a run during Bethany's season-opening 10-1 victory over Kings' Point at the Rebel Games in Kissimmee, Fla.
In the second game, the three-time All-PAC selection singled andscored once in the Bisons' 8-3 loss to Ithaca (N.Y.) College, who entered the season ranked fifth in the nation. Patton continued her strong start to the season in Monday's games as she went a combined 3-6 and scored once as Bethany dropped contests to Baldwin-Wallace College 8-5 and Muhlenberg (Pa.) College 7-0. In four games, Patton is 7-12 (.583) with one RBI and two runs scored.
Majoring in political science and Spanish, Patton is the daughter of Dave and Theresa Patton.
Folk winsMill Creek race
YOUNGSTOWN -- Matt Folk of Canfield won The Mill Creek Distance Classic half marathon.
The Mill Creek Distance Classic had 416 registered runners -- a record --and another 185 in the Mill Creek 5K.
The female winner was Erin Imler, Pittsburgh. The female age group winners were: Audrey Maheu, Bristolville, 19-younger; Jaclyn Nichols, North Lima, 20-24; Jen Lyden, Boardman, 25-29; Julie Aveni, Leroy, 30-34; Lori Thomas, New Wilmington, Pa., 35-39; Julie Cole, Chardon, 40-44; Kathleen Schuster, Salem, 45-49; Rebecca Bailey, Austintown, 50-54; Barbara Broad, Pepper Pike, 55-59; and Gatha Meadows, Boardman,60-older.
Male age group winners were: Jimmy Ramson, Poland, 19-younger; Thom Sutcliffe, Poland, 20-24; Bryce Druiston Strongsville, 25-29; Aaron Rood, Rocky River, 30-34; Gregory Kearney, North Olmsted, 35-39; Tom Grantonic, Boardman, 40-44; Charles Weaver, Belle Vernon, Pa., 45-49; Tom Walters Girard, 50-54; Ernie Richmond Painesville, 55-59; Tony Mauro Monroeville, Pa., 60-64; Lou Alaksin New Galilee, Pa. 65-69; and Raymond Scharenbrock South Milwaukee, Wis., 70-older.
Lordstown teamsets record
KENT -- The Lordstown High girls track 4x800 relay team set a school record (11:16.5) at a recent indoor meet at Kent State University. Team members are Jessica Reinke, Kayla Ellks , Rachel Minor and Hollie Bailey.
REGION
Browns sign kicker Chandler
CLEVELAND -- Free agent Jeff Chandler signed a one-year contract Tuesday with the Cleveland Browns, though he'll have a tough time supplanting Phil Dawson as the club's kicker. Chandler has played in 13 career NFL games for San Francisco, Carolina and Washington. He has also spent time with Jacksonville, St. Louis and Miami.
A former walk-on at Florida, he was selected in the fourth round of the 2002 draft by the 49ers. Chandler has scored 92 career points on 19 of 27 field goal attempts and 35 of 36 PATs. Kicking is one area where the Browns don't need help. Dawson has been one of the league's steadiest kickers the past few years. Last season, he made 27 of 29 field-goal tries and went 5-for-5 beyond 40 yards.
NATION
Broncos' Brown signs extension
DENVER -- Broncos defensive end Courtney Brown signed a contract extension through the 2009 season on Tuesday.
The 28-year-old lineman joined Denver as a free agent last year after five seasons with the Cleveland Browns.
"Courtney came to our team last season and helped solidify a defensive front that clearly became a strength of our football team," general manager Ted Sundquist said. "He proved to be an outstanding addition."
In 13 regular-season starts with Denver, he had 38 tackles, 30 of them solo, with two sacks, two fumble recoveries and one pass breakup.
North Carolina-Duke most-watched
BRISTOL, Conn. -- North Carolina's win over then-No. 1 Duke on Saturday was watched by an average of 3.78 million households -- the largest audience for a men's college basketball game in ESPN's history.
The Tar Heels' 83-76 victory was shown live on both ESPN and ESPN2, and the total audience number reflects those who watched on both.
The largest audience previously for a men's college basketball game on ESPN was in 1990 when 3.44 million homes watched an NCAA tournament game between Princeton and Arkansas.
Wis-Milwaukeegets NCAA bid
MILWAUKEE -- Boo Davis scored 18 points to help Wisconsin-Milwaukee beat Butler 87-71, earning an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament with its third Horizon League tournament title in four years.
Vindicator staff/wire reports