YSU

YSU
Softball
PITTSBURGH -- Despite two solid performances from the pitching staff and a 4-for-6 performance from sophomore Jamie Fornal, YSU (1-8) dropped a pair of games to Pittsburgh, 4-2, and 2-1, on Thursday afternoon at Trees Field.
The Penguins' pitching staff allowed just one earned run in each game while the offense left 13 runners on base during the doubleheader.
In the opener, Fornal put the Penguins ahead 1-0 in the top of the fourth with a run-scoring scoring single which plated Becky Hibner, who singled to right field.
After the Panthers tied the game in the bottom half of the frame, senior Tiffany Patteson gave the Penguins a 2-1 edge with an RBI-single in the top of the fifth.
Pittsburgh, though, added two runs in the bottom of the fifth and one in the bottom of the sixth to seal the victory.
In the nightcap, freshman Tasha Hess and junior Karlie Burnell combined for a three-hitter but the Panthers capitalized on two Penguins errors to pull out the 2-1 victory.
Pittsburgh scored single runs in the bottom of the fourth and fifth innings to jump out to a 2-0 lead before Fornal, who went 2-for-3, belted her first career home run in the top of the sixth to cut the lead to 2-1.
Hockey
BOARDMAN -- YSU's club hockey team has been granted Division I status by the American Collegiate Hockey Association for the 2006-2007 season.
The ACHA has approved the Penguins' application to move up from Division 2, where they just finished their inaugural season at the Club level. YSU was 13-8-0 this season and won its AHA conference championship.
College Hockey Mid-America will launch its inaugural season in September. The conference covers Ohio, Western Pennsylvania, and West Virginia.
"Competitively, this is a big step up for us," said YSU Coach Rocky Russo. "From day one, we wanted an opportunity to play and to put a competitive program on the ice."
YSU will play more than 30 games and help the school attract more talented players. Joining the Penguins in the CHMA are Pitt, Slippery Rock, Duquesne, Indiana University of Pennsylvania, John Carroll, and Washington & amp; Jefferson College. An eighth team, West Virginia, has made a financial commitment to begin league play in the fall of 2007.
"This is the product of a lot of hard work by a lot of people. It's a step into the new era of YSU hockey," said Ice Zone GM and Mahoning Valley Phantoms coach Bob Mainhardt. "It's become the fastest moving and growing club hockey program in the country."
Added Ice Zone/Phantoms owner Bruce J. Zoldan, "I'm happy to see the Ice Zone and the Phantoms expanding their partnership with YSU Hockey. It has helped, not only to move YSU to Division I, but also to enlarge the interest of hockey, both in the community and the Valley."
CHMA will play a sixteen-game conference schedule and will hold conference playoff tournament. The Ice Zone will host next year's ACHA Division I national championship tournament from March 1-4.
FCA banquet
YOUNGSTOWN -- YSU football coach Jon Heacock and men's basketball coach Jerry Slocum will be the featured speakers at the Fellowship of Christian Athletes "Heart of a Coach" spring banquet at 6 p.m. April 4 at the new Avion on the Water Banquet Center on Western Reserve Road.
WYTV sports director and YSU football play-by-play voice Bob Hannon will serve as the master of ceremonies.
Tickets are $40 each. A table of eight is $500. For reservations, call (330) 965-9217.
LOCAL
Rousher picks Malone
CANFIELD -- Canfield senior center Nick Rousher will continue his football career at Malone College.
Rousher (6-2, 270) was a three-year starter for the Cardinals, who went undefeated in the regular season and advanced to the state championship game. He was a first team all-league, all-district and all-state selection on the offensive line and was a state wrestling qualifier as a heavyweight in Division II.
His parents are Jim and Debbie Rousher. His older brother, J.J., already plays for the Pioneers.
Prep softballat Thunderplex
VIENNA -- High school softball preview games are scheduled Saturday at Thunderplex.
The schedule has: 9 a.m., Ursuline vs. Western Reserve and Champion vs. Howland; 10:30 a.m., Ursuline vs. Champion and Howland vs. Western Reserve; noon, Mathews vs. Mooney and Maplewood vs. Canfield; 1:30 p.m., Mathews vs. Canfield and Maplewood vs. Mooney; 3 p.m., Mineral Ridge vs. Struthers and Warren Harding vs. Niles; and 4:30 p.m., Mineral Ridge vs. Niles and Struthers vs. Warren Harding.
Vindicator staff/wire reports