Sports Digest

YSU
Football
YOUNGSTOWN -- Ryan Jewell, Bob Perez, Tom Zetts, Jeff Koval and Brad Samsa were named to the Academic All-Gateway team.
Jewell, Perez and Zetts were first-team honorees while Koval earned second-team honors and Samsa was an honorable mention selection. Zetts also earned first-team honors as a sophomore last season, and Jewell was a second-team honoree in 2005.
To qualify for the academic all-league team, student-athletes need to be starters or important reserves with at least a 3.00 cumulative grade-point average. They must also have reached sophomore academic and athletic standing and have completed at least one full academic year at their institution.
LOCAL
PAC basketballplayers of the week
*NEW WILMINGTON, Pa. - The Presidents' Athletic Conference named Westminster's Desiree Sterling (Newton Falls) the women's basketball layer of the week.
Sterling led the Titans (2-2) to their first two wins of the season by averaging 22 points per game, including a career-high 32, in a 58-53 win over Wooster.
The 5-foot-7 senior guard also had 12 points and five assists in a 53-35 win at Pitt-Bradford.
*WEXFORD, Pa. -- Bethany senior forward James Wallace was named PAC men's basketball player of the week.
Wallace scored a career-high 26 points, grabbed eight rebounds and gave out three assists in the Bison's 90-70 victory at Pitt-Greensburg.
Senior bowling champs
BOARDMAN -- West Side Bus of Bob Balog, George Knapic, Don Styka and Rich Belcik won the Youngstown Senior team tournament at Boardman Lanes.
West Side Bus rolled 2,559.
In second place was the B's & amp; P's of Carol Pasternack, Barb Bartoletti, Carl Pasternack and Ted Bundy. The B's & amp; P's score was 2,471.
The MJJG, Inc. team of Mike Yurco, Joe Haus, John Beene and Ted Bundy placed third with 2,459, followed by Taxi Carl of Fred Druschel, Carol Pasternack, Ron Jones Sr. and Carl Pasternack with 2,433. In fifth-place was Joe's Team of Frank Mediate, Joe Pollifrone, Joe Canatelli and Patsy Valentino with 2,421.
Entries for the 2007 Youngstown Senior Singles on Jan. 6 & amp; 7 (65 & amp; older) and Jan. 13 & amp; 14 (ages 55-64) are available at 26 per bowler.
Any person or business wishing to be a sponsor for the 2007 events may call (330) 770-8161.
REGION/NATION
Baseball roundup
*PITTSBURGH -- Left-handed reliever Damaso Marte agreed to a two-year contract extension with the Pittsburgh Pirates Monday that includes a club option for 2009.
Marte, acquired from the Chicago White Sox for utilityman Rob Mackowiak last December, was 1-7 with a 3.70 ERA while making a career-high 75 appearances this year. He struck out 63 and walked 31 in 581/3 innings.
*CINCINNATI -- Catcher Chad Moeller agreed to a one-year contract with the Cincinnati Reds, his fourth team in the majors.
The 31-year-old Moeller played in 29 games for Milwaukee last season, hitting .184 with two homers and five RBIs before being sent to the minors. He also has played for Minnesota and Arizona during his seven-year career.
*PHILADELPHIA -- Starting pitcher Adam Eaton and the Philadelphia Phillies reached a preliminary agreement on a 24 million, three-year contract. The deal is contingent on the right-hander passing a physical.
Eaton, who turned 29 on Thanksgiving, was 7-4 with a 5.12 ERA in 13 starts in his only season with the Rangers.
*NEW YORK -- Mike Mussina and the New York Yankees finalized their 23 million, two-year contract.
The right-hander, who turns 38 on Dec. 8, was 15-7 with a 3.51 ERA this year.
*SEATTLE -- Willie Bloomquist and the Seattle Mariners have agreed to a two-year contract worth 1,875,000, tearing up the final season of his previous deal. Bloomquist had been scheduled to earn 875,000 next year. The new contract calls for a 100,000 signing bonus, 825,000 next season and 950,000 in 2008, the final year before he is eligible for free agency.
He can also earn an additional 25,000 for 275, 325, 375 and 425 plate appearances next year, and 50,000 for 525 and 575. In 2008, he would earn 75,000 for 450, 500 and 550 plate appearances.
*BALTIMORE -- One frustrating year in the National League was enough for right-hander Danys Baez.
The free agent reliever signed a 19 million, three-year contract with the Baltimore Orioles after passing a physical.
Baez broke into the majors with Cleveland in 2001. He played three seasons for the Indians, then spent two years with Tampa Bay before splitting time this year between the Los Angeles Dodgers and Atlanta Braves.
He went 5-6 with nine saves and a 4.53 ERA in 2006. His season -- and rocky stint in the NL -- ended on Aug. 26 after an emergency appendectomy.
Vindicator staff/wire reports