Local sports updates

LOCAL

Salem-Campbell
girls basketball

SALEM — Salem High’s varsity girls basketball game against Campbell Memorial Feb. 2 will begin at 2:30 p.m. There will be no junior varsity game.

Shirts available

YOUNGSTOWN — The official T-shirts for the Kelly Pavlik-Jermain Taylor boxing rematch on Feb. 16 in Las Vegas will be on sale today and Sunday at the East Side Civics on South Avenue.

Devils take third

ORLANDO, Fla. — The Blue Devils flag football team from Youngstown placed third in the 8-on-8 “A” Division at the United States Flag and Touch Football League’s National Championship.

The Blue Devils defeated the Cleveland, Ohio Red Zone All-Stars, 8-6; beat the defending national champions Columbus, Ohio Raiders, 8-6; and downed the Washington DC Jets, 17-14. The Blue Devils lost to the eventual national champion Dominion (Upper Marlboro, MD) 14-8 in double-overtime then fell to Chicago Sudden Impact, 15-6.

Named to the all-tournament team were receiver Jason Hagerty and defensive back Charles Williams.

Miller is champ

YOUNGSTOWN — Karen Miller won the world title in natural bodybuilding.

In 2007 she won other titles — Ms. Universe, Ms. International, Ms. Pro-Am and Ms. Mid- West Pro Natural bodybuilder, WNBF Assoc. She is the founder of the Cardinal Classic Bodybuilding. For more details, visit www.karenprobody.com

Niles has tickets

NILES — Niles High School will begin selling tickets for its girl’s basketball team’s tournament game against Streetsboro the week of Feb. 4.

The tournament game will be at Fitch High on Feb. 9 at 5 p.m. For details call (330) 652-9968 ext. 115.

Ronghi wins event

MEDINA — Joe Ronghi of Lordstown won the NTRP singles division tennis championship, a sanctioned USTA tournament.

Ronghi defeated Bill Daly of Doylestown 0-6, 6-3, 10-7; Scott Bunge of Stow 4-6, 6-3, 10-3; Jim Balzarini of Akron 6-4, 6-2 and Michael Shiplett of Rittman 6-2, 3-6, 10-7.

Canfield prevails

BOARDMAN — Riley Emery collected three goals and two assists as the Canfield Cardinals defeated Twinsburg 11-1 in a Greater Cleveland Hockey League game.

Tyler Buchenic and Scott Sittig also scored twice for the Cardinals (5-13-3, 1-8 GCHSHL). Nick Manos, Gary Tomko, Max Siegle and Nick Carney added goals.

STATE

Browns’ tickets

CLEVELAND — The Cleveland Browns have announced ticket prices for the 2008 season.

Twenty percent of the ticketed areas in Cleveland Browns Stadium will see no changes from the 2007 pricing structure, including the “Family Zone”, a family-friendly, alcohol free section created prior to the 2007 season.

Sections reserved for single game ticket sales (sections 524-526 & 541) will also see no increase. The seating areas that will have a pricing change will see increases from $5-$10 per ticket.

This is only the second time the team has changed ticket pricing during the last five years. The club last changed its pricing prior to the 2005 season.

The Browns will continue to have the lowest average ticket price in the AFC North Division and are expected to remain within the bottom five among all NFL teams.

The Browns were 30th in the NFL in average ticket price in 2007.

“We feel that this new pricing structure is fair and will allow the team to stay competitive with our division rivals and with the rest of the NFL,” said Browns Sr. Vice President of Business Operations, Michael J. Keenan.

The Browns are coming off their most successful home season ever, recording a 7-1 home record that included seven straight wins.

Season tickets can be purchased by calling (440) 824-3434 or by logging onto ClevelandBrowns.com.

Ashland gets gift

ASHLAND — Ashland University has received the biggest gift in its history, a $7 million donation toward a $23 million sports complex.

The university has received $14.5 million in commitments for a complex that will include a 7,000-seat football stadium, a 1,000-seat soccer and track stadium, intramural playing fields and a field house with training areas.

University President Frederick Finks said the project will help in recruiting and raise the level of school spirit.

The donation was made anonymously.

NATION

DiCicco takes over

CHICAGO — Tony DiCicco, the U.S. women’s national team coach from 1994-99, took over the U.S. under-20 women’s squad Friday.

DiCicco replaces Jillian Ellis, who has been hired by current U.S. women’s national team head coach Pia Sundhage as an assistant on her staff through the 2008 Olympics, should the United States qualify in April.

DiCicco won 103 matches with the national team, leading the squad to victories in the 1996 Olympics and 1999 Women’s World Cup.

Vindicator staff/wire reports