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Thiel baseball ranked No. 21

GREENVILLE, Pa. — College Baseball magazine has picked Thiel College as the preseason No. 21 team in the country, the only Presidents’ Athletic Conference team to be recognized.

Thiel finished 29-15 last season and return nine starters and 17 lettermen.

Titans’ Murray player of week

NEW WILMINGTON, Pa. — Ryne Murray of Westminster was named men’s basketball player of the week by the Presidents’ Athletic Conference.

Murray averaged 17.0 points, 8.8 rebounds and 2.0 steals per game as the Titans posted a 2-2 record, including a 2-0 PAC mark, in games dating to Dec. 20.

Gillette, Boyle winners at Mercer Raceway

MERCER, Pa. — Tim Gillette won the “Jack Frost 150” Enduro and Doug Boyle captured the “Snowball” Demo Derby at Mercer Raceway.

Gillette was followed across the finish line by Andy Sweetland and John Larkin.

In the Demo Derby, Harry Boyer was second and Bruce Milbert was third.

Nomination deadline

SALEM — The Salem Athletic Hall of Fame will accept nominations for the Class of 2009 until Jan. 31.

Athletes must have been out of school for 10 years and must have lettered at least one time in the varsity sport for which they are nominated.

Coaches must have been finished coaching at Salem for at least five years and must have achieved significant coaching accomplishments during their tenure.

For teams, it must have been 10 years since they last competed, and they must have won at least a conference championship or an equivalent accomplishment if no conference existed. Contributors can be nominated at any time.

Nominations can be either mailed to the Salem Athletic Hall of Fame, P.O. Box 662, Salem 44460, or emailed to penguins0093@yahoo.com.

Sebring ceremonies

The Sebring Hall of Fame will hold its induction ceremonies Friday before the varsity boys basketball game against Jackson-Milton.

Inductees are Charles Edie (Class of 1955), who earned letters in football and basketball; Tim Evans (’65), for track, football and basketball; Dan Safkow (’78), for track and basketball, and Tracy Harp Springer (2000), for basketball and volleyball.

Wrestling show set

AUSTINTOWN — Championship Wrestling Experience will present “Two Years Later” Jan. 16 at the Wedge, 1743 S. Raccoon Rd.

Doors open at 6:30 p.m.

The card includes Shiima Xion vs. Patrick Hayes; Iron Justice vs. The Franchise Players; Raymond Rowe vs. Aston Amhurst; Ryan Burke vs. Facade vs. Chris Lerusso vs. Marion Fontaine in a “four-war mayhem;” a 10-man tag match, Team LA Gunz against Team Straight Jacket Mafia; a tag team between Rare Breed and Simply Dynamite.

Also appearing will be Hobo Joe, Moondog Scrap and Logan Shulo.

Tickets are available at the door.

nation

Pohlad dead at 93

MINNEAPOLIS — Carl Pohlad, a billionaire banker whose Minnesota Twins won two World Series titles during nearly his nearly quarter-century as owner, died Monday, a baseball official said. He was 93.

The official spoke on condition of anonymity to The Associated Press because the family and the team had not yet announced Pohlad’s death.

According to Forbes magazine’s 2006 rankings, Pohlad was the second-richest Minnesotan with a net worth of $2.8 billion.

When Pohlad paid Calvin Griffith $38 million for the Twins in 1984, he was widely credited for saving baseball in Minnesota. With the purchase, he inherited a promising group of young players including Gary Gaetti, Kent Hrbek and future Hall of Famer Kirby Puckett.

Cubs, Bradley agree

CHICAGO — The Chicago Cubs and free agent Milton Bradley reached a preliminary agreement Monday on a $30 million, three-year contract, according to a person familiar with the negotiations.

The deal is subject to a physical scheduled for Thursday, the person said, speaking on condition of anonymity because the deal had not been finalized.

Adding Bradley was one of the top priorities this offseason for the Cubs, who got swept out of the playoffs for the second straight year after a lineup loaded with right-handers struggled against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

A switch-hitter, Bradley batted .321 with 22 homers for Texas while leading the American League with a .436 on-base percentage.

Donovan on loan

CARSON, Calif. — Los Angeles Galaxy forward Landon Donovan will join Bayern Munich of the German Bundesliga on loan during the MLS off-season.

Donovan’s loan began Monday and he is scheduled to return on March 8, two weeks before the Galaxy opens the season against D.C. United on March 22.

Vindicator staff/wire reports