YSU

YSU

Volleyball team to
play at Ohio State

YOUNGSTOWN — The Youngstown State volleyball squad will play in three in-season tournaments, visit the nationally-ranked Ohio State Buckeyes and face a new Horizon League opponent when the 2007 season commences in a little more the a month, YSU coach Joe Bonner announced.

"This is a highly competitive schedule with teams from the Big Ten, Big East, A-10 and the Mid-American Conference," Bonner said. "Playing those high-caliber teams will hopefully prepare us for Horizon League play, which will be even more challenging with the addition of Valparaiso."

The Penguins open the season with four matches at the Temple Tournament, Aug. 24-25. On day one, YSU takes on Lehigh and Temple and then LaSalle and Rider on day two.

A two-day, three-match tournament at Robert Morris Univ. and Duquesne Univ. pits the Penguins against UNC-Greensboro on Aug. 31 and North Dakota St. and Robert Morris on Sept. 1.

The Penguins visit national power Ohio State, Sept. 4, before participating in the Kent State Tournament, Sept. 7-8, where they face the Golden Flashes, Binghamton and Canisius.

YSU begins Horizon League play on Sept. 14 at Butler followed by a road match at Wright State on Sept. 15.

The Penguins home opener features a Horizon League match against in-state rival Cleveland State on Sept. 21 in the Beeghly Center.

AREA

Youth golf

BOARDMAN — Brian Terlesky, 7, tacked on two more tournament wins this week to run his season total to 15.

Terlesky won the 12-under division event in Canton shooting a 45 over a 2,650 yard layout and winning by two shots.

Sunday he won the United Commercial Travelers of America junior event in Alliance in the 11-under division. He shot a 33 over the 1,700 yard course and won the event by nine strokes.

Niles hires Barber
to replace Price

NILES — Joe Barber is the new athletic director at Niles High School.

He replaced Ron Price and can be reached by calling (330) 652-9968 ext. 115.

Gabrick will play
football at Mount

ALLIANCE — Brett Gabrick, an outstanding outside linebacker for the Austintown Fitch Football team last season as a senior, will enroll at Mount Union College where he will resume his football career. Gabrick (6-5, 220) was named Co-Federal League Defensive MVP, while also making the All-Federal League first team. He also was selected to the All-NEO Inland Division second team.

Youth baseball

COLUMBIANA — The South Range (Burgundy) outlasted Lisbon in extra innings Monday night, in the championship game of the Columbiana Youth Baseball 7-8-year-old All-Star Tournament. The Salem (Black) squad placed third and Columbiana fourth in the 13-team tournament.

NATION

Fitzgerald, Botterill
hired by Penguins

PITTSBURGH — Tom Fitzgerald, a 17-year NHL veteran whose 1996 playoff goal helped keep Pittsburgh out of the Stanley Cup finals, was hired Tuesday as the Penguins’ director of player development. The Penguins also hired another former NHL player, Jason Botterill, as director of hockey administration. Fitzgerald will evaluate Penguins draft picks who play in college, junior hockey and Europe and will also work with prospects at the Penguins’ top farm club, Wilkes-Barre of the AHL. He will be based in Boston, where he ended his NHL career in 2006.

Fitzgerald scored the decisive goal during Florida’s 3-1 Game 7 victory in Pittsburgh during the 1996 Eastern Conference finals. The goal helped keep the Mario Lemieux-led Penguins from reaching the Stanley Cup finals for the third time in six years.

Niners sign top
pick Joe Staley

SANTA CLARA, Calif. — The San Francisco 49ers signed first-round pick Joe Staley on Tuesday, inking the offensive lineman to a five-year contract.

Staley, a left tackle at Central Michigan, was the 49ers’ second pick in the opening round, the 28th overall. San Francisco is expected to use Staley at right tackle, where he has competed with Kwame Harris for the starting job during offseason workouts.

Vindicator staff⁄wire reports