YSU

YSU

Koehnlein on list

LUBBOCK, TX. — YSU junior John Koehnlein has been named to the preseason 2008 Brooks Wallace Player of the Year Award Watch List, the College Baseball Foundation announced.

Koehnlein, an outfielder and third baseman from Toronto, Ohio, is the first YSU player to appear on the Watch List in the five-year history of the award.

“This is such a credit to all of the hard work that John has put in throughout the years,” YSU baseball coach Rich Pasquale said.

“We’re looking for a big year from him because he’s such a major part of our program.”

Koehnlein finished his sophomore season ranked fourth nationally in batting average with a .434 clip. He was the fifth-toughest player to strike out with one per 22.6 at bats, and he unofficially led the nation with 1.93 hit per game.

His 29-game hitting streak to end the season also ranked as the fifth-longest in the country. He earned First-Team All-Horizon League honors and was named to the Horizon League All-Tournament Team for his efforts.

The Wallace Award is given to the country’s top collegiate baseball player in conjunction with the College Baseball Hall of Fame’s annual induction festivities. Last year’s award went to former Vanderbilt pitcher David Price, who was the first overall selection in the 2007 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft.

AREA

Officials busy

YOUNGSTOWN — Several local football officials have been busy working in the collegiate post season and several others have upcoming bowl games to officiate.

Officials Ken Swanson, John Vicarel, John Patton and Tony Tarantino were on the crew that worked the Div. III playoff game between Washington & Jefferson and North Carolina Wesleyan.

On Dec. 28 Juius Livas will be working the Texas Bowl game between TCU and Houston, while on Dec. 31 Rob Luklan and Jim Visingardi will officiate the Sun Bowl game between Oregon and South Florida.

Canfield wins 6-2

The Canfield developmental hockey team defeated Ursuline-Mooney 6-2 to improve to 2-1 for the season.

Steven Ferko, Sean Ryan and Mike Sajnovsky each had two goals while Sajnovsky, Bryan Clark, Sean Meditz, Josh Tancer and PJ Denney each had assists. Phil Mohrean scored twice for Ursuline-Mooney.

Father and sons
all have 300-800s

AUSTINTOWN — When Bill Steiner rolled his first 300 game recently, it culminated an accomplishment that few families in the Valley share.

When the 37-year-old Austintown resident put together games of 300-268-231 — 799 in the DePizzo Sausage League at West Side Lanes on Oct. 27, he made father-son combinations in bowling look like kids’ stuff.

Bill joined his brother, Joe, and father, Ron, as bowlers with 300 games and 800 sets. Ron Steiner, 59, got the ball rolling with a 300 on Jan. 18, 1976 at Gran Lanes. His 800 came in January, 1981. Twenty-six-year-old Joe Steiner got his perfect game on March 28, 2001 and an 836 on April 17, 2002. Bill’s 800 came on Jan. 9, 2004.

“It’s a long time coming for him and he was pretty happy about it,” Ron’s wife, Alice Steiner, said of Bill finishing the feat. Joe now lives Ashland, but returns to bowl ever weekend at West Side with his father and brother.

Phantoms lose

MARQUETTE, Mich. — The Marquette Rangers pulled out a 4-3 overtime victory over the Mahoning Valley Phantoms on Friday night at Lakeview Arena.

With just 1:34 left in overtime, the Rangers (16-8-1, 33 points) won a face-off back to Derek Grogan. Grogan fired a shot from the right circle that was deflected twice on its way into the back of the net, securing Marquette’s victory.

Grant Blakey, Derek Graham and Trent Bonnett scored for the Phantoms (17-8-3, 37 points), who earned a point in the standings. Jordan Tibbett stopped 29 of 33 shots in the loss.

NATION

Florida State tops
Notre Dame 3-2

COLLEGE STATION, Texas — Amanda DaCosta scored the winning goal in the 72nd minute to help Florida State advance to its first NCAA Women’s College Cup final with a 3-2 win over Notre Dame on Friday night.

DaCosta also assisted on Mami Yamaguchi’s goal 15 seconds into the game, helping the Seminoles (18-5-3) avenge a loss to the Irish in last year’s semifinal.

Vindicator staff/wire reports