Local Sports Digest

AREA
Mooney winstennis title
YOUNGSTOWN -- Cardinal Mooney's boys tennis team defeated Warren JFK, 3-2, on Wednesday to clinch the Steel Valley Conference title with a 4-0 record.
Mooney's earlier conference wins were over Warren Harding (5-0), Beaver Local (5-0) and Ursuline (4-1).
Sophomore Josh Cook compiled an 18-1 record at No. 1 singles to lead the Cardinals (15-4).
YWBA schedulesMay 12 session
YOUNGSTOWN -- The Youngstown Women's Bowling Association will hold its reorganizational meeting on May 12 at Wedgewood Lanes at 7 p.m.
Agenda items include changing the organization's name, establishing new by-laws and election of various directors and delegates.
All YWBA members are urged to attend.
REGION
Columbus gets developmental team
COLUMBUS -- The United States Hockey League will put a new franchise in Columbus, the league announced Wednesday.
The team will debut as the junior league's 12th franchise later this year and play in Nationwide Arena, home of the NHL's Columbus Blue Jackets. The team's name, schedule, and coaching staff were not announced.
The USHL is a development league for players ages 16 to 20. The new team will pick fourth in today's USHL's draft.
NATION
Jackson: Bengals to dominate division
CINCINNATI -- Quarterback Carson Palmer is muddling through his rehab. Running back Chris Perry is just starting his. The offensive line is in flux.
No matter. Pro Bowl receiver Chad Johnson insists that the Cincinnati Bengals will not only win their division this season, they'll dominate it.
"We're going to be good," Johnson said following a workout at Paul Brown Stadium. "Anyone else that feels we're not going to dominate the AFC North this year, something's wrong.
"Look at the numbers. Look at the players. Look at me. What else could I say?"
His tone was mirthful, his point serious. The Bengals have a much tougher challenge ahead this time around, but they're convinced that they're up to it.
As long as Palmer is back, that is.
Bell suspended
PHOENIX -- The NBA suspended Phoenix guard Raja Bell for one game on Wednesday for throwing Kobe Bryant to the floor in the fourth quarter of Tuesday night's playoff game against the Los Angeles Lakers.
That means the Suns will be without Bell, the principal defender against Bryant, for Game 6 tonight in Los Angeles.
Phoenix beat the Lakers 114-97 in Game 5 but Los Angeles still leads the best-of-seven series 3-2 and can eliminate the Suns with a victory. In a brief news release, the NBA said Bell was suspended for "excessive and unnecessary contact."
After the team landed in Los Angeles, Suns coach and general manager Mike D'Antoni called the suspension "consistent with what the league has been doing with other fouls of this sort.
49ers sign Williams
SANTA CLARA, Calif. --The San Francisco 49ers signed unrestricted free agent safety Chad Williams to a contract on Wednesday.
Williams played for four years with the Baltimore Ravens after being a sixth-round draft pick from Southern Mississippi in 2002. San Francisco coach Mike Nolan coached Williams during his stint as Ravens' defensive coordinator.
Vikings fireFoley
MINNEAPOLIS -- The Minnesota Vikings on Wednesday fired personnel director Fran Foley, who plans to sue the franchise and have an arbitration hearing before NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue.
Foley's lawyer, Jeffrey Kessler, said Wednesday that his client was "the victim of a power struggle" and was "stunned" when told of his termination.
Vindicator staff/wire reports