LOCAL

LOCAL

Raiders host food drive

NORTH LIMA — South Range student-athletes are hosting a food drive today. All canned goods will be donated to the 3 C’s Food Bank, an affiliate of the Second Harvest Food Bank.

All students and adults who attend tonight’s girls basketball game between the South Range Lady Raiders and the United Eagles will be admitted free at the gate with the donation of six canned goods for adults or four canned goods for students.

Area

Kehres named AFC top coach

ALLIANCE — Mount Union College head football coach Larry Kehres has been named American Football Coaches Association Regional Coach of the Year and one of five finalists for the Liberty Mutual Division III National Coach of the Year Award.

A 1971 graduate of Mount Union, Kehres is 273-21-3 (.924) in his 23rd season at his Alma mater. Kehres is one of the most successful coaches in all of college football, as under his tenure, the Purple Raiders have claimed 19 Ohio Athletic Conference championships, including the last 17 in a row and nine of the last 15 NCAA Division III National Championships. This week he leads the Raiders into the NCAA Division III Playoffs semifinals for a 14th straight season.

Kehres has been named AFCA Regional Coach of the Year more than any other coach in college football, a record 13 times (1986-90-92-93-96-97-99-2000-01-02-06-07-08) over his career with next closest coach being Penn State head coach Joe Paterno who has earned the honor 11 times.

Malone’s Gahagan gets top honors

CANTON — Malone University outside hitter Jennifer Gahagan, a sophomore from Southeast High School, recently wrapped up the 2008 volleyball campaign with another outstanding recognition.

Among her most recent accolades, the National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA) named Gahagan to the NCCAA All-America Second Team. Gahagan led the Pioneers with 3.26 kills per set and a .252 attack percentage. She was also second on the squad with an average of 3.28 digs.

Pirates, Phillies in minor trade

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — The Philadelphia Phillies acquired catcher Ronny Paulino from the Pittsburgh Pirates on Wednesday for minor-league catcher Jason Jaramillo.

Paulino hit .212 with two home runs and 18 RBIs in 40 games for the Pirates. He threw out 26 percent (8-of-31) of base stealers.

Jaramillo, once considered a top prospect, hit .266 with eight homers and 39 RBIs in 115 games for Triple-A Lehigh Valley. A former second round-selection by the Phillies in the 2004 draft, Jaramillo’s path to the majors was blocked by Carlos Ruiz and Lou Marson.

The 27-year-old Paulino is a .278 lifetime hitter with 19 homers and 128 RBIs in 304 games.

NATION

Pavin to be named Ryder Cup captain

PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. — Corey Pavin will be introduced Thursday as the next U.S. Ryder Cup captain, two officials with knowledge of the discussions told The Associated Press.

The officials said the PGA of America chose Pavin with hopes of bringing the U.S. consecutive Ryder Cup victories for first time since 1993. The pair spoke on condition of anonymity because the selection hadn’t been publicly announced.

Pavin played on two winning Ryder Cup teams and was an assistant U.S. captain in Ireland two years ago.

The 2010 Ryder Cup will be played at Celtic Manor in Wales. The Americans have not won on European soil since The Belfry in 1993.

The PGA of America elected to not give Paul Azinger the captaincy for a second straight time. The U.S has not had a captain consecutive Ryder Cups since Ben Hogan in the 1940s.

WORLD

IOC wants London venues finalized

LAUSANNE, Switzerland (AP) — The International Olympic Committee wants all sports venue locations for the 2012 London Games to be finalized by March.

Gilbert Felli, the IOC’s executive director of the Olympic Games, said Wednesday that London organizers are still deciding on two venues — a joint facility for badminton and rhythmic gymnastics and a location for shooting.

As a cost-cutting measure, organizers said recently they are considering scrapping a temporary, 6,000-seat venue for badminton and rhythmic gymnastics and moving the sports to an existing facility.

Daly goes wild

SYDNEY, Australia (AP) — John Daly smashed a spectator’s camera into a tree while shooting a 6-over 78 in the first round of the Australian Open on Thursday, making it likely he will miss the cut for the third consecutive week Down Under.

Vindicator staff/wire