Sports Digest

YSU

New Stambaugh scoreboard installed

YOUNGSTOWN SEmD In an ongoing effort to enhance football game-day atmosphere at Stambaugh Stadium, the YSU Athletics Department has purchased and installed a new scoreboard in the south endzone of the facility.

“The installation of the south endzone scoreboard is an important addition to our stadium,” YSU Executive Director of Athletics Ron Strollo said.

The scoreboard stands 12-feet by 34-feet and will display the game time, quarter, score, timeouts left, down and distance and yard marker.

area

Blasko named PSAC’s top student-athlete

LOCK HAVEN, Pa. — Slippery Rock Univ. volleyball player Jen Blasko was named as one of the 2008-09 recipients of the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Pete Nevins Scholar-Athlete of the Year award.

Blasko received the women’s honor. Gannon Univ. basketball player Kyle Goldcamp received the men’s award.

Blasko is the seventh SRU student-athlete to receive the PSAC Scholar-Athlete of the Year and the second in the last two academic years.

Blasko graduated from SRU in May with a perfect 4.0 grade point average as an exercise science major.

Oldtimers’ golf

YOUNGSTOWN — The Youngstown Baseball Oldtimers Association will hold a golf outing for paid-up members at Tanglewood course on July 8.

For more information, call Nick Granitto at (330) 782-6520.

The Association’s regular monthly meeting will be held July 9 at Kramer Field at 2 p.m.

nation

Many eyes on soccer

BRISTOL, Conn. — The United States’ 3-2 loss to Brazil in the Confederations Cup final was seen by 3.9 million people on ESPN, the most-viewed non-World Cup game for the American team on the cable network.

ESPN said Tuesday that Sunday’s game received a 2.6 cable rating and was seen in 2.6 million homes. The audience was the third-largest to watch the team on ESPN, trailing the 1-0 quarterfinal loss to Germany at the 2002 World Cup and the 2-1 victory over Colombia in the first round of the 1994 World Cup.

Several U.S. games have drawn more viewers on ABC, which like ESPN is owned by The Walt Disney Co.

Phelps, Torres to swim at US nationals

INDIANAPOLIS — Michael Phelps and Dara Torres are among more than 25 members of the 2008 U.S. Olympic team expected to compete next week in the U.S. national championships at the IUPUI Natatorium.

The July 7-11 meet will determine the U.S. team for the world championships in Rome from July 19-Aug. 2.

Others expected to compete in Indianapolis include Olympians Aaron Peirsol, Ryan Lochte, Matt Grevers, Katie Hoff, Cullen Jones, Margaret Hoelzer, Christine Magnuson and Garrett Weber-Gale.

Equipment update

BETHESDA, Md. — PGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem has decided not to delay a new rule next year that will change the grooves in irons and wedges.

The USGA notified players and equipment manufacturers last year that effective Jan. 1, the dimensions in the grooves would change dramatically to create less spin on shots. The idea was to make shots out of the rough more difficult, and put more of a premium on driving accuracy.

Finchem was asked to consider delaying the change one year so players and manufacturers could continue testing, and the USGA said it would follow the tour’s lead.

World Series of Poker

LAS VEGAS — Eight poker players plan to settle the H.O.R.S.E. title at the World Series of Poker in Las Vegas for mixed-game glory and a $1.28 million prize.

Final table play was expected to start Tuesday at the tournament many consider the series’ most prestigious behind its no-limit Texas Hold ’em main event.

The eight players remaining include five players who have won series tournaments before. They include Russian professional Vitaly Lunkin, who won $1.9 million earlier this month in a $40,000 buy-in no-limit Texas Hold ’em tournament.

Vindicator staff/wire reports