Local Sports Digest

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Records established

COLUMBIANA — Sam Deskin set a boys course record of 16 minutes, 45.1 seconds leading Boardman High School to a first place finish with 26 points at the Suburban League cross country meet at Columbiana High School’s Ward Athletic Complex. Monica Ciarnielloo of Lowellville set a girls course record (20:07.4), but Mooney took first place in the run with 69 points.

Maplewood meet

MECCA — Twenty high schools, boys and girls, will compete in the 15th Maplewood Invitational cross country meet Thursday. Over the past 10 years, 10 high school boys teams that competed in the run have gone on to win state championships.

McDonald’s boys, the 2008 state runnerup, returns to defend its title. Burton Berkshire’s girls, that placed fourth at state, are also coming back to defend their crown.

Junior boys and girls races are scheduled for 4:30 p.m. and 5 p.m. respectively. The boys varsity run is set for 5:30 and girls varsity at 6 p.m.

Four of the top five boys in the 2007 run graduated and the top prospects this year are Lakeview’s Tyler Ames and Heath Harris, McDonald’s Jerry Dugan and Maplewood’s Tom Bottorff.

NFL transactions

Tuesday the New York Giants signed linebacker James Terry who played at Youngstown State.

Also, the Jacksonville Jaguars released tight end Isaac Smolko (Springfield Local, Penn State).

nation

Format change for Shootout at Daytona

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — The Budweiser Shootout at Daytona will be around at least three more years with a new format that places the emphasis on the four manufacturers in NASCAR’s Sprint Cup series.

Anheuser-Busch official Tony Ponturo made the announcement of the contract extension and the format changes Tuesday. He was joined by Daytona International Speedway president Robin Braig and NASCAR spokesman Jim Hunter.

The 31st annual season-opening event at Daytona International Speedway on Feb. 7 will have a field of 24 cars representing the top six teams from Chevrolet, Dodge, Ford and Toyota. It will be based on the final 2008 car owner points.

Yastrzemski released

BOSTON — Baseball Hall of Famer Carl Yastrzemski was released from a hospital Tuesday, one week after having triple bypass surgery.

The former Boston Red Sox outfielder had surgery at Massachusetts General Hospital after experiencing chest pains. His discharge was announced by team spokesman John Blake.

Yastrzemski, the last player to hit for the Triple Crown by leading the AL in batting average, homers and RBIs in 1967, turned 69 last Friday.

His family released a statement after the surgery saying it was “a complete success.”

Yastrzemski took over for Ted Williams in left field in 1961 and spent his entire career with the Red Sox before retiring after the 1983 season. He hit 452 home runs, drove in 1,844 runs, had 3,419 hits and batted .285. He won seven Gold Gloves and was an 18-time All-Star.

Horse eyes record

RUIDOSO DOWNS, N.M. — Peppers Pride trainer Joel Marr will use Lincoln Handicap at Ruidoso Downs on Sunday to try for a North American record 17th victory in 17 starts.

The thoroughbred mare is seeking to break the mark of 16 straight victories she shares with Triple Crown winner Citation, two-time horse of the year Cigar, Mister Frisky and Hallowed Dreams.

The Lincoln Handicap, originally scheduled for July 27, was postponed after the remnants of Hurricane Dolly caused heavy rains that led to flooding in the Ruidoso area. The racing surface and jockey’s club were damaged at the track.

Eight Belles buried

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The remains of Eight Belles have been buried at Churchill Downs.

A wooden box containing the filly’s remains was buried at the Kentucky Derby Museum during a quiet ceremony Monday.

Eight Belles was the only filly to run in the 134th Kentucky Derby in May, finishing second to Big Brown. She was euthanized on the track after breaking two ankles.

Vindicator staff/wire reports