YSU

YSU

Softball opens season

MORAGA, Calif. —The Youngstown State softball team opened the 2008 campaign with a pair of losses to Saint Mary’s (Calif.).

The Penguins (0-2) dropped game one, 6-1, and game two, 6-3.

With game two tied 3-3 in the bottom of the seventh, Saint Mary’s Jenna Smith belted a three-run walk-off home run to lift the Gaels to a 6-3 victory.

Senior Jamie Fornal and sophomore Kristin Bair each collected a pair of hits while freshman Rochelle Vanyi hit her first career home run in the night cap.

In game one, the Penguins could muster just two hits - one by Fornal and one by senior Bethany Hafley.

area

Six from area going to Walsh

NORTH CANTON — Six football players from the area will join the Walsh University team for the 2008 season.

Offensive linemen Dominique Adams (6-foot-2, 315 pounds) of Fitch, Maurice Harris (6-5, 285) of East and Michael Paul Jenkins (6-3, 280) of Ursuline will enroll in the fall, along with wide receiver James Howard (6-0, 155) of Warren JFK, linebacker Keith VonBergen (6-2, 218) of Champion and kicker-punter J.C. Willison (6-0, 195) of South Range.

SteelHounds ‘party’

YOUNGSTOWN — The Youngstown SteelHounds players and dance team will sign autographs and meet fans at the Austintown Quaker Steak Lube tonight following their game against the Wichita Thunder.

North Iowa awarded Robertson Cup

FRISCO, Texas — The North American Hockey League has selected the North Iowa Outlaws as the host team for the 2009 Robertson Cup national championship tournament April 21-25, 2009, at the North Iowa Ice Arena in Mason City, Iowa.

Thunder sign two

BOARDMAN — The af2 has assigned wide receiver-defensive back Tariq Goode and wide receiver Henry Tolbert to the Mahoning Valley Thunder.

Goode (6-foot-1, 210 pounds) is a native of Cleveland Heights.

He started at the University of Toledo before transferring to Youngstown State.

He played 14 games for the Penguins, finishing with five special teams tackles. He was in the Cleveland Gladiators (AFL) training camp earlier this year.

Tolbert (5-11, 205), of Birmingham, Ala., played at Grambling State University where was twice was named All-Southwestern Athletic Conference second team.

As a junior he set a school record with 19 receiving touchdowns, and finished his career with 182 catches for 3,075 yards and 32 TDs.

He has spent time in training camp with the Cincinnati Bengals and the AFL’s Orlando Predators.

Hargrove scheduled

AKRON — Former Cleveland Indians manager Mike Hargrove will speak to the Sandlot Society, Ltd. on March 8 at the John S. Knight Center in Akron.

Hargrove will speak on the subject “Baseball is a Family Game”.

For details call (330) 869-4884.

Umpires to meet

YOUNGSTOWN — The Youngstown Metro Umpires Association will meet Sunday at the St. Nicholas Activity Center.

The meeting begins at 1:15 p.m.

For details call (330) 502-6665.

Promotion today

SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. — Today spectators under age 12 will be admitted free to the Clarion at Slippery Rock basketball doubleheader.

In addition, they will receive a coupon good for a free hot dog, drink and snack. For details call (724) 738-4279.

nation

Vizquel recovers from knee surgery

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — San Francisco shortstop Omar Vizquel began rehabilitation on his surgically repaired left knee Friday, two days after undergoing a procedure that could sideline him for six weeks.

He plans to play it smart and not rush back.

The 11-time Gold Glove winner doubts he’ll be ready for opening day but was pleased the swelling had subsided since he flew back to the desert Thursday from the Bay Area.

In a couple of weeks, Vizquel hopes to begin swinging the bat again.

“It’s not as swollen as yesterday. I’m feeling pretty good right now. No soreness,” Vizquel said after a short stint in the training room at Scottsdale Stadium.

“I’m tightening and contracting the muscle to help maintain its strength. It’s going to feel weak anyway.”

Busch earns pole

LAS VEGAS — The NASCAR Sprint Cup points leader, a native son of Las Vegas, will lead the field to the green flag in Sunday’s UAW-Dodge 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

Continuing his remarkable start to the 2008 season, Kyle Busch knocked Carl Edwards off the pole during Friday’s qualifying session, turning a lap in 29.613 seconds (182.352 mph) to Edwards’ 29.738 seconds (181.586 mph).

Dave Blaney is in 26th place at 179.354 mph.

Vindicator staff/wire reports