LOCAL

LOCAL

Boardman beats
European champion

KIRKLAND, Wash. — Behind a balanced offensive peformance of 8 runs on 10 hits, Boardman’s 13-14-year-old team defeated the Netherlands 8-0 to even its record to 1-1 in pool play.

Brooke Meenachan went the first four innings to get the win while Julie Sokol pitched three innings in relief to get the save.  They combined for 13 strikeouts while limiting Europe to four hits.

Missy DeMarinis led the offensive performance with three hits including a triple. Shayla DeCapita and Meenachan added two hits apiece.

SteelHounds, Cyclones
in intrastate battle

YOUNGSTOWN — The Youngstown SteelHounds of the Central Hockey League will play host to an interleague exhibition game against the Cincinnati Cyclones of the ECHL on Oct. 12th at the Chevrolet Centre.

Youngstown has twice before faced off with ECHL teams in preseason play. In 2005 the SteelHounds played the Toledo Storm in the Hounds first ever exhibition game and last season the Hounds hosted the Dayton Bombers. Youngstown is 1-0-1 all time in exhibition games.

Exhibition game tickets go on sale for $5 on Aug. 17. Call (330) 747-PUCK.

Erik Johnson signed

 YOUNGSTOWN — The SteelHounds signed forward Erik Johnson for the 2007-08 season. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

 Johnson, 26, will make his SteelHounds and CHL debut this season after spending his first two professional season in the ECHL where he compiled 14 goals and 12 assists in 63 games with San Diego, Cincinnati and Pensacola.

Prior to turning pro the native of Coon Rapids, Minnesota played four years of Division I hockey at Mercyhurst College where he was a teammate of fellow SteelHound newcomer Denis Kirstein.

Harvick outduels
Sharp on dirt

 HARTFORD — In front of a packed house, Dale Blaney notched the victory in the 50-lap, $5,000 to win sprint race, but Kevin Harvick stole the show as he outdueled the field of local e-mod drivers as well as NASCAR stars Tony Stewart, Dave Blaney and Clint Bowyer to score his maiden dirt win in the 25-lap, $1,000 to win E-mod feature at Sharon Speedway late Tuesday.

 In the E-mod division, the headlining NASCAR stars jumped in four E-mods to battle 41 other local drivers in the NASCAR Duel at Sharon Speedway two days after circulating the road course at Watkins Glen, N.Y.

Dave Hess was the winner in the first heat race, but Stewart finished second. Clint Bowyer finished seventh in the first heat. Quincy Turner won the second heat, with Sharon Speedway co-owner Dave Blaney finishing fourth. Dwayne Clay took the third heat race, with Harvick scoring a second place finish. In the fourth and final heat, Rob Kristyak took the checkered flag as the winner.

In the 25-lap feature, Harvick rolled off fourth, with Stewart starting 10th.

With 10 laps to go, Jeff Sharp led Harvick by just over five car lengths.  That was when Harvick began his charge back to the front. 

Bowyer put his dirt modified experience to good use as he ended seventh. Blaney crossed the finish line ninth.  Stewart retired with a mechanical problem.

 Following the race, in a very classy move, Harvick donated his $1,000 winnings to second-place finisher Sharp.  Harvick was commended by his fellow NASCAR competitors for running a nearly-perfect race.  Stewart, Bowyer and Blaney applauded Harvick's savvy drive despite his limited experience in the ranks of dirt racing.

No. 8 for Earnhardt

CONCORD, N.C. — Dale Earnhardt Jr. will not be taking his familiar No. 8 with him to Hendrick Motorsports next season.

Earnhardt is leaving Dale Earnhardt Inc. at the end of the season and had hoped to take No. 8 with him to his new team. His late grandfather, Ralph, used that number and Earnhardt picked it when he entered the Cup Series in 1999.

Although teams do not own numbers, DEI had the first right of refusal on the No. 8, and Hendrick officials said Wednesday they were unable to reach an agreement that would have made DEI pass on choosing the number for 2008.

Staff/wire reports