LOCAL

LOCAL

Game reset

KINSMAN — The Mineral Ridge at Badger boys basketball game that was postponed last month has been rescheduled for Jan. 26 2008.

The junior varsity game will start at 6 p.m. with the varsity to follow.

Travis Fryman
now with Scrappers

CLEVELAND — The Cleveland Indians announced that Travis Fryman has been hired to manage the Mahoning Valley Scrappers.

Fryman, 38, played for the Indians from 1998 through 2002 before retiring.

He’s worked with the Indians as a minor league instructor in spring training over the last few years.

In his 13-season career, Fryman posted a .274 batting average with 223 home runs and 1022 RBIs in 1698 games.

Fryman was a five-time Major League Baseball All-Star (1992-94, 1996, 2000).

Tim Laker, who managed Mahoning Valley in 2007, will become a roving catching instructor for the Indians minor league affiliates.

STEELHOUNDS

Toys For Tots

YOUNGSTOWN – Youngstown SteelHounds General Manager Joe Gregory announced the Hounds have partnered with Toys For Tots and the National Aviary for Toys For Tots weekend.

The Hounds will take on the Texas Brahmas on Dec. 14 and Dec. 15.

Fans are encouraged to bring items to donate to Toys For Tots to both 7:05 PM games.

In addition, on Dec. 14 the first 500 kids 12 & under will receive a free SteelHounds Youth Jersey, Courtesy of Armstrong Cable. The following day will be the annual “Teddy Bear Toss.”

Fans can bring teddy bears to throw onto the ice after the Hounds score their first goal. All teddy bears collected will be donated to Toys For Tots.

This year there will be a new twist to the SteelHounds Teddy Bear Toss. All fans bringing a stuffed penguin to be donated will receive a ticket good for one free child’s admission to the National Aviary.

“We try to take advantage of every possibility to assist charitable endeavors,” said Gregory. “We appreciate The National Aviary contributing to our annual efforts and look forward to having Simon the African Penguin visit the Chevrolet Centre.”

For details, call (330) 747-PUCK.

NATION

Indians sign Bauer

CLEVELAND — The Cleveland Indians signed right-handed pitcher Rick Bauer and two others to minor league contracts, and each will have non-roster invitations to spring training.

Bauer, 30, split the 2007 season between the Philadelphia Phillies and Los Angeles Dodgers organizations. At the Class AAA level, he was 2-4, 7.36 ERA in 16 games with Ottawa, and 0-2, with a 3.60 ERA, in 25 games for Las Vegas.

Bauer’s career major league record is 11-14, with three saves and a 4.34 ERA in 183 appearances with the Baltimore Orioles and Texas Rangers.

The Indians also signed right-handed pitcher Jeff Harris and catcher Yamid Haad. Harris, 33, pitched last season for Cleveland’s top minor league team in Buffalo. He went 6-9 with a 4.68 ERA in 27 games.

Haad, 30, also played for Buffalo last season, where he hit .301 in 35 games. He has played in 18 games in the majors with the Pittsburgh Pirates and San Francisco Giants over a 13-year professional career.

Phelps, Lochte win
at short nationals

ATLANTA — Michael Phelps won his first competitive race since breaking a bone in his wrist in October, taking the 200-yard freestyle at the U.S. short course national championships Friday night.

Phelps went 0-for-2 Thursday night, losing to rival Ryan Lochte’s American record in the 200 individual medley and finishing second with his club team in a relay.

Lochte won the 400 IM Friday and took second in the 100 breaststroke at the first short course nationals held since 1991.

The races, swum in yards instead of Olympic meters, are in a 25-yard pool at Georgia Tech, site of the 1996 Olympic swimming competition. It’s half the size of the pool to be used in next year’s Beijing Games.

The men’s 200 free was nearly an all-Club Wolverine final, with five of the eight swimmers from the Michigan-based team. Phelps and his training partners led a sweep of the top three places. Peter Vanderkaay was second and Chris DeJong third.

Vanderkaay briefly pulled ahead of Phelps going into the final 50 yards before Phelps restored order and won in 1 minute, 32.13 seconds, second-fastest by an American. Vanderkaay was timed in 1:32.26.

Vindicator staff/wire reports