Area News Digest: Mang to speak

area

Mang to speak

BOARDMAN — Local umpire John Mang will be the guest speaker when the Curbstone Coaches Association gathers for its weekly luncheon, Monday at noon at the Blue Wolf Catering facility on Lockwood Blvd.

Mang is local rules interpreter for the Ohio High School Athletic Association.

Buckeye alumni

SALEM — The Ohio State Alumni Club of Columbiana County will host a dinner April 24 at the Salem Golf Club.

The dinner will feature guest speaker Jim Heacock, defensive coordinator for Ohio State.

Heacock, a graduate of West Branch High School and Muskingum College, is in his 12th season on the coaching staff at Ohio State and enters his third season as the defensive coordinator. Overall, Heacock is in his 35th year in the coaching profession.

There will be a social hour with cash bar commencing at 6:30 p.m. with seating for dinner at 7:30, followed by remarks from Coach Heacock. Talis Sports and Event Marketing will hold a silent auction of Ohio State sports memorabilia throughout the evening. Tickets for the event are $25 each and reservations may be secured by contacting club secretary Geoffrey Goll (330) 337-9529 or ggoll1@aol,com or club president David Mollenkopf (330) 692-1486 or crabbsalem@sbcglobal.net.

state

Browns’ Kenny Wright released on bail

PEARLAND, Texas — Cleveland Browns defensive back Kenny Wright was released from jail after posting $5,000 bail following a foot chase and arrest for a disturbance outside a police station.

Wright was charged with unlawful restraint, evading arrest and possessing marijuana. Police said they found marijuana in his vehicle.

Police said they were investigating an argument in the station parking lot Thursday when the 30-year-old football player took off and led officers on a quarter-mile foot chase. He was caught in a nearby subdivision of the Houston suburb.

The unlawful restraint charge carries a maximum penalty of a year in jail, while the other counts carry terms up to six months.

nation

Little Belle a winner

LEXINGTON, Ky. — Little Belle’s late kick helped her regain the lead and win the Ashland Stakes by a neck over Bsharpsonata on Saturday at Keeneland.

The two fillies battled for most of the $500,000 race, with Little Belle leading from the quarter pole until briefly losing a step to her rival during the stretch run.

But jockey Rajiv Maragh asked his filly for one last push, and she provided it. In fact, Maragh said she could have given even more, especially considering she was sired by A.P. Indy, known for distance running.

“She would run all day,” Maragh said. “She’d run around the track twice. That’s no doubt. The further the better.”

That stamina figures to make Little Belle a shoo-in for next month’s Kentucky Oaks, the premier race for 3-year-old fillies.

world

Sturm wins in 7th

DUESSELDORF, Germany — Felix Sturm stopped Jamie Pittman of Australia in the seventh round in a one-sided defense of his WBA middleweight title Saturday.

The German dropped Pittman for the third time 36 seconds into the round, battering him with a flurry of punches until referee Russell Mora stepped in and ended the voluntary defense.

Pittman (16-1, 7 knockouts) was tagged hard through the final three rounds while enduring a closed right eye and a cut above the eyebrow his corner couldn’t stem.

Sturm (29-2-1, 13 knockouts) put on one of his best performances since he lost a disputed decision to Oscar de la Hoya in Las Vegas in 2004, his only U.S. fight. His last defense ended in a surprise draw against American Randy Griffin.

“I learned from my mistakes,” Sturm said. “You could see tonight my best weapon, my boxing skills, my movement.”

Pittman had his best moment in the second round, when he caught Sturm on the ropes with combinations. But seconds before the bell rang, a straight right from the German rocked him.

In the fifth round, Pittman dropped to his knees after a hard liver shot. In the sixth he was staggered by a left, then caught by a right uppercut on his way down,

“It’s the first time I’ve gone down to the canvas, but I never give up,” Pittman said. “I gave everything — then I had the problem with the eye.”

Amir Khan stops Kristjansen

BOLTON, England — Amir Khan floored Martin Kristjansen three times in the seventh round for a TKO victory and closed in on a world title fight on Saturday.

In a final eliminator for Nate Campbell’s WBO lightweight title, Khan caught the Dane with powerful combinations. All three knockdowns came in the final minute of the round, and referee Mickey Vann ended the contest with seconds left.

Khan has won all 17 of his fights, with 13 by knockout, and Kristjansen was stopped for the first time in 24 fights. His record is 19-2 with three draws.

Amaral shot in Brazil

RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil — Pan American Games sailing gold medalist Pedro Tinoco Amaral of Brazil was shot and slightly wounded during a fight early Saturday morning.

Police said the 23-year-old Amaral, who won the Snipe category at the 2007 Pan American Games held in Rio de Janeiro, was shot in front of a nightclub while defending a friend during a fistfight.

Police said a single bullet entered and exited Amaral’s upper left thigh without causing any major damage. He was treated and released from a hospital.

Wambach scores three

CIUDAD JUAREZ, Mexico — Abby Wambach had three goals to lead the United States to a 6-0 soccer victory over Jamaica in its opening Group A game in the CONCACAF Olympic qualifying tournament.

Lauren Cheney, Heather O’Reilly and Tobin Heath also scored for the United States, which outshot Jamaica 11-3.

In Group B play earlier, Costa Rica tied Trinidad and Tobago 2-2.

Vindicator staff/wire reports