Area sports news: YSU baseball team falls, Phantoms to take on Ice Diggers

YSU

Baseball team falls

ATLANTA — Youngstown State’s Sean Lucas was thrown out at the plate by left fielder Chris House to end the game in a 1-0 heartbreaking loss Saturday to No. 25 Georgia Tech.

YSU outhit Georgia Tech 10-7, and pitchers Adam Kalafos and Chuck Schiffhauer combined to allow only an unearned run in the second inning.

Redshirt freshman Joe Iacobucci led off the top of the ninth with a single to right, but the Penguins had to rely on an error to set up the final sequence.

Anthony Munoz failed to get down a sacrifice bunt, and Lucas ended up on second when Tech second baseman Jeff Ussery threw wild to first trying to turn a double play. Freshman David Leon then ripped a single to left that House picked up and threw to Jason Haniger at the plate.

The Yellow Jackets needed some help to get their run in the second. Tony Plagman hit a one-out single to left and moved to third on a wild pitch and passed ball. After Kalafos struck out Haniger and walked Ussery, Jeff Rowland plated Plagman on an infield single to first.

The Penguins also had runners in scoring position in the third and sixth, but Georgia Tech starter Eddie Burns was able to work out of the innings unscathed.

“This whole time we’ve focused on the process and not the outcome,” YSU head coach Rich Pasquale said. “Our guys were focused on each inning and each pitch, and they just did a great job of battling.”

Kalafos allowed four hits, walked four and struck out five in five innings as the hard-luck loser. Schiffhauer threw three shutout innings of relief, allowing three hits and striking out two.

Josh Page had a game-high three hits while Leon and Iacobucci had two hits apiece.

AREA

Curbstoners

BOARDMAN — Tim Chesney, a Mahoning Valley Thunder ownership partner, will be the guest speaker when the Curbstone Coaches Association meets for its noon luncheon on Monday at the Blue Wolf Catering Center.

The public is invited.

Senior golf to meet

YOUNGSTOWN — The Mahoning Country Club Seniors Golf League (formerly the Camens Seniors) will hold its annual business meeting on March 3 at Mahoning Country Club.

The league, which has over 100 senior golf members, is welcoming back all members and all other interested senior golfers at the meeting.

For further information on the league or the meeting contact Tom Kubic at (330) 792-2242.

Mahoning Valley Phantoms

BOARDMAN — The Mahoning Valley Phantoms will take on Alpena Ice Diggers in the American Cancer Society’s Fourth Relay For Life Night March 1 at 7;15 p.m. at the Ice Zone.

Ronghi takes title

MEDINA — Joe Ronghi of Lordstown defeated Kevin Blatt of Tallmadge, 6-3, 3-6, 7-5 for his second adult USTA mens NTRP 3.5 singles championship at Washington Court National Tennis Rating Program.

He also defeated Christopher Lesher of Akron 6-1, 6-3 in the round of 16 and Tim Mcquown of Medina, 7-5, 7-6 in the quarterfinals and Jack Phifer of Canton, 6-1, 6-3 in the semifinals.

HOF committee
taking applications

YOUNGSTOWN — The 2008 Greater Youngstown Bowling Association’s Hall of Fame class will be elected on April 19. Hall of Fame candidate forms are available at area bowling establishments and at the GYBA office at 7255
Glendale Ave. in Boardman. The last day to submit applications is March 17.

The annual awards dinner is June 1.

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.

McGuire paces Mooney

YOUNGSTOWN — Kevin McGuire collected 13 points, four rebounds a steal and an assist as Mooney defeated Warren Harding 50-44 to win the Steel Valley Conf. freshman basketball tournament.

McGuire was named MVP.

For Harding (13-7), Edward Killingworth had 17 points, six rebounds, a steal and an assist. Mooney finished 18-0.

NATION

Busch drives to win
in truck race

FONTANA, Calif. — It doesn’t matter what kind of car Kyle Busch is driving these days, he’s tough to beat.

The 23-year-old racer added a victory Saturday in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race at Auto Club Speedway to his runner-up finish in the truck race last week at Daytona. He also finished second in the Daytona Nationwide Series event and fourth in the Daytona 500.

“This is the start to, hopefully, a three-peat this weekend,” said Busch, who was also scheduled to race Saturday night in the Nationwide race and will compete today in the featured Auto Club 500 Sprint Car event on the 2-mile oval.

Golf in review

•Mayakoba Golf Classic

PLAYA DEL CARMEN, Mexico — Brian Gay moved into position for his first PGA Tour victory, shooting an 8-under 62 to take a five-stroke lead over Steve Marino.

Gay birdied the last three holes and five of the final six to reach 15-under 195. Marino was 10 under after a 64. Matt Kuchar (64) and John Merrick (69) were 9 under, and Esteban Toledo (63) was another stroke back. Between Toledo’s stirring round and Gay’s tremendous close, Roland Thatcher polished off the lowest round of the tournament, a 61 that broke the course record set by Fred Funk en route to winning last year.

• Champions Skins Game

KAANAPALI, Hawaii — Defending champions Jack Nicklaus and Tom Watson won eight skins and a record $270,000 in alternate-shot play in the first nine holes.

With five skins and $180,000 at stake on the 202-yard ninth hole, Watson hit a 5-iron 15 feet above the hole and Nicklaus made the curling birdie putt. Nicklaus and Watson broke their own first-day mark of $260,000 set two years ago in the first year of the alternate-shot team format.

• Moonah Classic

FINGAL, Australia — Australia’s Ewan Porter overcame a minor neck injury to take a one-stroke lead into the final round.

After injuring his neck during a morning workout and seriously considering pulling out, Porter shot a 1-under 71 to finish three rounds at 7-under 209. Australians Terry Price (70) and Wayne Perske (72) were a stroke back.

Vindicator staff/wire reports