Sports digest

Coonelly to highlight Pirate caravan

YOUNGSTOWN — Frank Coonelly, President of the Pittsburgh Pirates, will appear as part of the team’s annual caravan at the Butler Institute of American Art.

The caravan will appear on January 28 for a noon luncheon.

Also scheduled to appear are third baseman Andy LaRoche, outfielder Nyjer Morgan, pitcher Jeff Karstens and team hitting coach Don Long.

Pirate broadcasters Greg Brown and Steve Blass and the Pirate Parrot will accompany the players.

For tickets call (330) 743-1107 ext. 122.

state

Freshman Crater to leave Ohio State

COLUMBUS — Anthony Crater, a prized recruit who has appeared in all 10 games for No. 15 Ohio State this season, has been granted a release from his scholarship.

Buckeyes coach Thad Matta announced the surprise decision on Sunday.

The 6-foot-1 freshman point guard from Flint, Mich., requested the release.

Crater had 12 points and 19 assists for the Buckeyes (9-1).

In Ohio State’s first loss of the season, a 76-48 setback to West Virginia at home on Saturday, Crater played 12 minutes and missed both of his shots from the field. He had one turnover and one assist.

nation

Indian Blessing wins

ARCADIA, Calif. — Indian Blessing beat Ginger Pop by 11‚Ñ2 lengths to take the $250,000 La Brea Stakes for 3-year-old fillies Saturday at Santa Anita.

Bsharpsonata was a nose back in the field of seven.

Under John Velazquez, Indian Blessing recorded her sixth victory of 2008 in 1:20.59.

The winning purse of $150,000 increased her career earnings to $2,437,200. She paid $3.20, $2.60 and $2.10 and has posted a 6-3-0 record in nine starts this year for earnings of $1,080,000.

Robb Handicap

NEW YORK — R Clear Victory beat South Fourth St. by 11‚Ñ2 lengths Sunday to win the $85,100 Alex Robb Handicap for New York breds at Aqueduct.

The 5-year-old gelding ridden by Stewart Elliott for trainer Steve Asmussen earned his seventh win in 27 starts.

The time was 1:44.85 for 1 1-16 miles on a good track.

R Clear Victory paid $23.80, $11.60 and $7.30.

South Fourth St. returned $13.60 and $8.20.

Icabad Crane paid $4.80 to show.

Speedskating

WEST ALLIS, Wis. — Nancy Swider-Peltz Jr. won her first all-around national title and Chad Hedrick won the men’s all-around on Sunday at the U.S. Long Track Speedskating National Championships at the Pettit National Ice Center.

Swider-Peltz Jr. won the 5,000 meters in 7 minutes, 23.39 seconds and took second in the 1,500 in 2:03.77 to add to her results Saturday, a victory in the 3,000 and eighth-place finish in the 500.

Maria Lamb of Park City, Utah, was second in the 5,000 in 7:28.27 and Heather Richardson of West Jordan, Utah, won the 1,500 in 2:03.40.

Swider-Peltz Jr., a 21-year-old from Wheaton, Ill., said her legs were burning Saturday, but she fought through it. That new mental toughness carried successfully into Sunday’s events.

world

Ploy backfires

BORMIO, Italy — Bode Miller’s ploy to gain a better starting position backfired when he slammed into a gate and finished fourth Sunday in a World Cup downhill won by Italy’s Christof Innerhofer.

Miller missed Saturday’s compulsory bib draw and was fined $933 and given the No. 46 starting spot, allowing him to ski when there was more sunlight on the icy Stelvio course.

International Ski Federation president Gian Franco Kasper called Miller’s move “a mockery.”

Dance creator shot

KINGSTON, Jamaica — The creator of a dance step made famous by champion sprinter Usain Bolt at the Olympics has been slain in Jamaica.

Police say David Alexander Smith was shot to death at a Kingston nightclub early Friday. The motive was not disclosed and no arrests have been made.

The 36-year-old Smith was a dancer best known as the creator of the Gully Creeper. That’s the crouching move Bolt did after his record-breaking victories in the 100 and 200 meters at the Beijing Games.

Liverpool in lead

LONDON — Liverpool took a three-point lead in the Premier League on Sunday, routing Newcastle 5-1 while Chelsea was held to a 2-2 tie at Fulham.

Fulham’s Clint Dempsey, of the U.S. national team, scored on a header for his second goal of the game with a minute remaining to stun Chelsea.

Steven Gerrard scored twice and set up another at Newcastle to give Liverpool 45 points after 20 matches while Chelsea has 42. Manchester United, which has played three games fewer, is next with 35 and hosts Middlesbrough today.

Vindicator staff/wire reports