YSU hockey team finishes with loss

YSU

Hockey team
finishes with loss

BOARDMAN — The Youngstown State hockey team finished the regular season with their seventh straight loss, 9-0 to No. 18-ranked Robert Morris Sunday at the Ice Zone.

The Penguins (4-28-2) did not make the playoffs, but will host the Mid-America playoffs Friday through Sunday at the Ice Zone.

The tournament will feature No. 1 seed West Virginia and No. 2 seed Washington & Jefferson, along with No. 4 Pittsburgh, No. 5 Slippery Rock and No. 6 Indiana (Pa.).

Baseball honors

YOUNGSTOWN — Youngstown State seniors Erich Diedrich and Lucas Engle and junior John Koehnlein are being recognized by Baseball America and CollegeBaseballInsider.com in their Horizon League preseason previews.

The trio was named to the preseason all-conference team by Baseball America, and the three players were top vote-getters in a preseason coaches poll conducted by CBI.

In the CBI poll, Diedrich was a unanimous pick as one of the Horizon League’s top three power threats, and Koehnlein was voted one of the best three pure hitters. Engle was picked as one of the three top starting pitchers.

In projecting the league standings, Baseball America picked the Penguins to finish behind Wright State, defending champion UIC, Milwaukee and Butler. Cleveland State and Valparaiso were picked sixth and seventh.

LOCAL

Thunder signs DB

BOARDMAN — Defensive back Lee Smith (5-foot-10, 198 pounds) has been assigned to the Mahoning Valley Thunder roster.

A native of Mobile, Ala., Smith played at Tuskegee University. In 34 career games, Smith accounted for 70 total tackles, 31⁄2 tackles for loss, nine interceptions, (one of which was returned for a touchdown), and 19 pass break-ups. Smith earned All-SIAC post season honors in 2005 and was named to the pre-season All-SIAC team in 2006. He becomes the sixth defensive back assigned to the Thunder this offseason.

The Thunder opens the season at home March 29 on Cortland Banks Field inside the Chevrolet Centre.

AAU volleyball teams
have success

Club Hollywood’s 18-year-old open team, Chilli’s, defeated defending national champion Team Z, 19-25, 26-24, 15-11, at the Asics Earlybird volleyball tournament in Columbus.

Chilli’s also defeated Pittsburgh 3 Rivers, 25-23, 25-17, and SWAT Purple of Columbus. Those wins advanced Chilli’s to the final gold round.

Earlier in the tournament, Hollywood Chilli’s beat Team Legacy of Michigan, 25-17, 25-14, and Penn High VBC of Pennslyvania 25-18, 25-17, before losing to Volley FX of New York.

Club Hollywood’s 14-year-old team, Davidson’s, is a finalist for the USA Volleyball Asics Earlybird in Columbus.

Members of the team are Noelle Amato, Whittni Davidson, Allison English, Samantha Hawkins, Taylar Kordan, Kelly Kiger, Ashley Morris, Taylor Pike and Allison Yaiko.

The coaches are Jaime Davidson and Rodney Jordan.

Rathburn 8th

CLEMSON, S.C. — Coastal Carolina University Freshman Alex Rathburn (Western Reserve) finished eighth in the shot put at the Tiger Invitational indoor track and field meet at Clemson University.

Returning from a recent hand injury, Rathburn reached 41 feet, 3.25 inches.

She will compete at the Virginia Tech Challenge this weekend.

Fitch HOF

The first Austintown Fitch High School athletic hall of fame banquet will be held Oct. 11 at Immaculate Heart of Mary. Inductees will be introduced the previous evening, prior to the start of the Fitch-Massillon Perry football game.

Nomination forms are available at fitchhof.com or by mailing a request to AFHS Athletic Hall of Fame, 4560 Falcon Dr., Austintown 44515. Requests can also be made by calling (330) 797-3900, ext.1048. Nominations are due by June 6.

Mill Creek race
is Ohio championship

YOUNGSTOWN — Road Runners Club of America selected the Mill Creek Distance Classic as the Championship Half Marathon Race for Ohio.

The Mill Creek Distance Classic is presented by the Youngstown Road Runners Club on March 2. This is the 19th year for the half marathon. The YRRC is expecting 600 or more runners to challenge Mill Creek Park on race day.

Special awards will be given to the Overall, Master and Grand Master male and female winners.

Entry forms can be picked up at Second Sole in Boardman, email rhart829@sbcglobal.net or downloaded from the YRRC website, members.aol.com/ytownrrc.

Schedules needed

The Vindicator requests varsity spring sports schedules from high school athletic directors. They can be emailed to sports@vindy.com, faxed to (330) 747-6712, or mailed to Sports Editor, The Vindicator, P.O. Box 780, Youngstown 44501-0780.

Vindicator staff/wire reports