Sports briefs

Pavlik

Pavlik to appear

AUSTINTOWN — Middleweight boxing champion Kelly Pavlik will sign autographs at Greenwood Chevrolet on Monday from 6:30-8:30 p.m.

Greenwood Chevy is located on Mahoning Avenue, just off Route 11.

local

Sportsmanship goal for Federal League

CANTON — The Federal League schools have taken a unique step to emphasize sportsmanship at all league schools by beginning the process of applying for the Harold A. Meyer Award for Sportsmanship, Ethics and Integrity. All OHSAA member schools are eligible for this award, but only 69 of the 836 high schools in Ohio received the award last year. The Federal League goal is to have all 8 schools in the league qualify for the award in 2010-2011.

The kick off to this campaign took place on April 8 at Hoover HS with each school being represented by a small group of students, one coach, and their respective athletic administrators.

Fitch hall of fame

AUSTINTOWN — The Austintown Fitch High School will induct its second hall of fame class on Sept. 26 at the Immaculate Heart of Mary.

Inductees in the athlete category are Robert Roth (posthumously, 1951, football, basketball, track, baseball), Frank Sachire (1963, football, basketball, track), Randy Bokesch (1967, football, basketball, track), Cole Pentz (1968, football), Andy Kuchmaner (1971, football, basketball, baseball), Michael “Mickey” Pelanda (posthumously, 1973, football, basketball, track), Shari Matvey (1979, basketball) and Robert Tinkey (1981, basketball, baseball).

There will be pregame and halftime events at the Sept. 25 football game against Canton GlenOak. Tickets for the ceremony, which begins at 6 p.m., are $50. Call Tim Kelty at (330) 797-3900, ext. 1048.

Hardhats

YOUNGSTOWN — The Steel Valley Hardhats football team is seeking experienced assistant coaches for the 2009 season.

Interested candidates may contact coach Mark Greene at (330) 559-8050 or coachg@zoominternet.net.

Harding’s Eargle earns honor

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — UNC Greensboro freshman forward Damian Eargle, a Warren Harding High graduate, was named to the Southern Conference’s All-Freshman squad.

Eargle started 20 of 28 games, averaging 9.5 points and 5.6 rebounds per contest. He leads the league in blocked shots with 57. He averaged 11.6 points in league play, including a season-high 25 points in a win over Appalachian State back in January — the most scored by a UNCG freshman in 18 years.

Rockettes celebration

YOUNGSTOWN — The Rockettes bowling league — the oldest black women’s league in the city — will celebrate its 50th anniversary on May 2.

Former league members should call (330) 746-4005.

The Rockettes, which started at Marvondale Lanes in 1959, currently bowls at Kay Lanes in Girard.

Pitch, hit & run

NILES — The Mahoning Valley Scrappers will put on a free baseball pitch, hit and run competition at Eastwood Field on May 2 at 11 a.m.

For details, call (330) 505-0000 ext. 210.

Frontline Revenge wresting at mall

NILES — Total Nonstop Action Wrestling will bring TNA Live to the Eastwood Expo Center on April 25.

Tickets are on sale at the Eastwood Mall customer service center, all Ticketmaster locations, via www.ticketmaster.com and at the door on the 25th.

The show starts at 7:30.

Youth soccer events

CHAMPION — Youth soccer events will be in July at the Kent State University Trumbull Campus.

The High School Soccer Classic will be a tournament July 18-19 for boys and then July 25-26 for girls.

Each tourney will consist of six 40-minute games between junior varsity and varsity teams.

Entry fees are $350 per team with the fee reduced to $310 for a second team from each school.

The High School Soccer Senior Classic is set for July 19 for senior boys and July 26 for senior girls. Each group will play a game.

Entry fee is $25 for each senior entering the Classic. Each entrant will receive a T-shirt and DVD of the game.

More information may be obtained by calling (330) 766-1099 or by visiting www.wescsoccer.org.

state

Whitner arrested

COLUMBUS — Cleveland police say Buffalo Bills defensive back Donte Whitner has been shocked with a stun gun and arrested by officers trying to control a rowdy crowd outside a nightclub.

Lt. Thomas Stacho says the 23-year-old was jailed early Saturdayon allegations of aggravated disorderly conduct and resisting arrest but hasn’t been charged.

The former Ohio State player has been released. A prosecutor will decide whether to file charges.

Police say they shocked and handcuffed Whitner outside the downtown House of Blues when he forced his way past them and then broke free from officers trying to restrain him.

Whitner says in a statement he regrets the incident. He’s the third Bills player to run into trouble with the law this year.

A Bills spokesman says the team won’t comment until it has more information.

nation

Big A’s Comely Stakes

NEW YORK — Dream Play dominated four rivals Saturday, easily beating Don’t Forget Gil by 51‚Ñ2 lengths in the $147,000 Comely Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at Aqueduct.

Sprinting clear right from the start, Dream Play was never threatened while improving to 3-for-5. Eddie Castro was aboard for trainer Kiaran McLaughlin as Dream Play ran the one mile on the sloppy track in 1:39.51.

Dream Play earned $90,000 in the Grade 2 stakes for Stewart Armstrong, paying $6, $3.10 and $2.60 as the 2-1 favorite. Don’t Forget Gil returned $3.70 and $2.50. Holdontoyourdream paid $2.90 to show.

Vindicator staff/wire reports