AREA

AREA
Bell will speakto Curbstone
BOARDMAN -- Major league umpire Wally Bell will speak when the Curbstone Coaches gather Monday at noon at the Blue Wolf Banquet Center on Lockwood Boulevard.
Mooney banquetto induct 12 for hall
BOARDMAN -- Cardinal Mooney High School will host the Ron Stoops Scholarship Dinner and Athletic Hall of Fame on Feb. 18 at Mr. Anthony's.
Established in 1993, this will mark the 15th class inducted into Mooney's Athletic Hall of Fame.
Buffet dinner and open bar are scheduled from 6-8 p.m. and the induction ceremony will start promptly at 8 p.m.
Tickets cost 65 or 520 for a table of eight. Proceeds will benefit the Ron Stoops Scholarship Fund. For reservations, call (330) 788-5007.
This year's inductees include: Dr. Mark P. Braydich, Class of 1983, basketball; Dean Cicoretti, Class of 1988, football; Ralph A. DePasco, Class of 1981, football; Kristen D'Alesandro Halloran, Class of 1989, tennis; John French, class of 1985, football; and Dale Gresko, class of 1968, football.
Also being inducted are: Joe Kelty, Class of 1985, football; Lenny Krispinsky,1991-2005; boys soccer coach; Kerry Manning Pregibon, Class of 1991, golf; Richard Phillip Marsico, Class of 1975, football; Roy Nard Jr.,1983-1991 and 1995-2003, basketball coach; and Rick Testa, Class of 1976, baseball.
Curbstone announcesHall inductees
BOARDMAN -- The 2007 Curbstone Coaches Hall of Fame Banquet is scheduled for May 6 when 15 new members will be enshrined during ceremonies at Mr. Anthony's Banquet Center, South Ave..
The 2007 class includes: Lou Blaney (auto racing), Tony Buttar (track and field), Jim Cramer (basketball), Clarence Parks Custer (tennis), Joe DeRosa (special award), Michael Dworak (bowling), Donna Lorenzi (bowling), Rob Luklan (special award), Jack Pierson (football), Bill Ruby (football), Bob Stoops (football), Rob Todor (sports media award), Leonard Villers (boxing), Dr. John and Denise DeBartolo York (contribution to sports), and Tom Koczwara (posthumous selection, softball).
Tickets cost 40 each and may be obtained by calling (330)-726-9829 or by visiting the organization's website at: www.curbstonecoaches.org.
Bowling sectionalsare set Saturday
WARREN -- Area high school bowling teams will participate in sectionals on Saturday at Crest Lanes starting at 1 p.m.
Twenty boys teams and 19 girls teams are entered.
Nine boys teams and nine individual boys and nine girls teams and nine individual girls will advance to the district level.
The boys district is Feb. 24 at Bell-Wick Bowl where the first shift of 36 teams and all 36 individuals will compete beginning at 8 a.m. Another shift of teams bowls at 3 p.m.
The girls district is Feb. 25 at Midway Lanes in Akron where 34 teams and 34 individuals are expected. A shift of teams and all individuals start at 8 a.m. before a final shift of teams bowls at 3 p.m.
Now that the schools are under Ohio High School Athletic Association governance, the regional level has been eliminated.
Troy Smith inksdeal with Haus
CANFIELD -- Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Troy Smith has signed an endorsement deal with Ron Haus Auto Group.
Smith is represented by DeBartolo Sports Entertainment agent Brian Kopp who is based in Youngstown.
Kopp said he worked out the endorsement agreement with a local business because, "We're trying to make Youngstown Troy's 'home-away-from-home.'
"[Eddie] DeBartolo wants to surround Troy with family-type people. Ron Haus, the owner of this dealership is that type of person," Kopp said.
REGION
Blue Jackets activate Leclaire
COLUMBUS -- The Columbus Blue Jackets have activated goaltender Pascal Leclaire off the injured reserve list and assigned goaltender Ty Conklin and forward Zenon Konopka to the club's American Hockey League affiliate in Syracuse. Leclaire, 24, has gone 6-12-2 with one shutout in 21 games this season.
In a statement Friday, the team did not indicate if Leclaire will play Sunday when the Blue Jackets host the Chicago Blackhawks.
Leclaire has missed the past 20 games due to a knee injury suffered on Dec. 22 against Vancouver. Leclaire was Columbus' first pick, eighth overall, in the 2001 draft and is 17-29-5 in 56 NHL games.
Conklin appeared in 10 games with the Blue Jackets this season, starting five, and went 2-3-1. He also played 14 games with Syracuse.
NATION
Sabres lose Gaustad
BUFFALO, N.Y. -- Sabres left wing Paul Gaustad will miss the rest of the season because of a sliced tendon in his left leg that will require surgery.
"Right now, he's definitely done," Buffalo general manager Darcy Regier said Saturday night during the first intermission of the Sabres game against Calgary. "It'll be a long process back."
Gaustad was cut on the lower part of his leg when he inadvertently collided with Ottawa's Dany Heatley early in the third period of Buffalo's 3-2 win Wednesday.
Numerous stitches were needed to close the cut, but initial tests didn't reveal serious damage. It was believed that Gaustad would miss no more than a week, but additional tests revealed the severity of the injury Saturday.
"It felt like I got punched in the stomach when I found out what happened," Gaustad said. "It was a freak accident. It's something I've never really dealt with in my career. It's just devastating to me."
Gaustad is scheduled to have surgery on Tuesday, and it's not clear when he'll be able to resume skating.
WORLD
Williams sistersbow out of events
Serena Williams has the flu and Venus Williams has a sore wrist, forcing the sisters to pull out of upcoming tournaments.
Serena Williams withdrew from the Bangalore Open in India in what would have been her first tournament since her surprising victory at the Australian Open.
Venus Williams will not play at next week's Diamond Games in Antwerp, Belgium, because of a lingering injury to her left wrist, organizers said.
Vindicator staff/wire reports