LOCAL

LOCAL

Gerberry named team
captain at Ball State

MUNCIE, Ind. — Junior center Dan Gerberry is one of three team captains on the Ball State football team, as selected by their teammates.

Gerberry, a graduate of Fitch High School, earned his second letter last season after starting all 12 games.

The other two Ball State team captains are senior defensive end Cortlan Booker and fifth-year senior strong safety Chris Allen.

Tippecanoe golf

CANFIELD — Scott Porter shot a 220 to beat Dick Marlowe by a stroke to win the Open Division title in the Tippecanoe Country Club golf tournament.

In the AA Division, Dr. Novosel carded a 161 to beat Bill Ronci while Ron Barb took the A Division over Dr. Gerberry, 154-164.

In the B Division, Joe Ignazio turned in a 172, three strokes ahead of Dr. John Mayo. The C Division went to Dr. Centofante (187) while Dennis Cousins was second at 188.

Bill Thomas shot a 199 to win the D Division over Rudy Parella (212) and John Scarsella took the Senior championship with a 158, two ahead of Tim Porter.

The Super Senior title went to John Baglier with a 182.

Buckeye tickets prize

CHAMPION — The Champion Alumni Association is raffling two tickets to the Kent State at Ohio State football game, scheduled October 13 in Columbus.

Tickets are being sold at Champion home football games. The winner will be selected at the homecoming game on Sept. 28.

For details call Stan Petrick at (330) 646-1555.

Fitch Athletic HOF
plans tailgate party

AUSTINTOWN — The Austintown Fitch Athletic Hall of Fame is sponsoring an alumni tailgate party for any interested former Falcon football players at the Sept. 14 home game against Canton GlenOak.

The gathering will precede and continue during the game which kicks off at 7:30 p.m.

Any former player from 1927-2006 can secure his reservation and a free ticket to the event by contacting Fitch assistant principal Tim Kelty at (330) 797-3900, ext. 1048 during regular high school hours. The next Fitch Athletic Hall of Fame meeting is Sept. 26 at 6:30 p.m. in the high school cafeteria.

For further information call Bob Gugliotti at (330) 792-7497 or via e-mail at beaugeau@netzero.net.

NATION

Garner and Purpura
fired by Astros

HOUSTON — Less than two years ago, the Houston Astros were celebrating their first National League pennant. On Monday, they were starting over.

Manager Phil Garner and general manager Tim Purpura were fired by owner Drayton McLane, who said the franchise “needed a fresh start” after a plunge to the bottom of the NL Central.

Bench coach Cecil Cooper was appointed interim manager, and team president Tal Smith will serve as interim general manager.

“I felt for a number of reasons, we needed new direction, invigoration, to play with more enthusiasm and play more like a champion,” McLane said.

The Astros slumped to 58-73 this year, nine games behind the division-leading Chicago Cubs. They’ve lost five of their last seven home games, to lowly Washington and Pittsburgh.

Fever escape 22-point
deficit, beat Sun in OT

INDIANAPOLIS — Tamika Catchings had 30 points and 13 rebounds, and the Indiana Fever made the biggest comeback in WNBA playoff history to defeat the Connecticut Sun 93-88 in overtime and advance to the Eastern Conference finals.

The Fever overcame a 39-17, second-quarter deficit to win the series 2-1. The previous biggest deficit overcome was 21 points, by Minnesota in a 74-72 win on Aug. 28, 2003, against Los Angeles.

Katie Douglas led Connecticut with 27 points and Lindsay Whalen and Asjha Jones both added 21. The Sun won their first five games against the Fever this season, but lost the two that mattered most.

In overtime, Catchings hit a 3-pointer with 31 seconds left to give the Fever an 89-86 lead. Douglas missed a 3-pointer, and Indiana rebounded with 15.1 seconds left.

Tamika Whitmore made the first of two free throws with 14.4 seconds left to bump Indiana’s lead to 90-86.

Vindicator staff⁄wire reports