Sports in brief

area

Handel’s is available

NILES — The Mahoning Valley Scrappers announced this week that Handel’s Homemade Ice Cream is the official ice cream of the Scrappers for the 2009 season.

Handel’s Ice Cream will be available at the Pup Treats stand on the first base concourse.

Tri-State Collegiate Baseball League

YOUNGSTOWN — The Shannon Fence baseball team swept a doubleheader from the Youngstown Metros Saturday at Pemberton-Donnell Park in Tri-State Collegiate League play.

Shannon Fence slammed 11 hits in both games, winning the opener, 5-3, and nightcap, 5-2.

In the opener, Kyle Shaffer had a double, single and two RBIs to lead Shannon.

Mark Mohar got the win in relief of Mickey Tufts in the fifth inning. They combined to pitch an eight-hitter.

Cory Johnson socked a two-run homer and double to spark the Metros, while Eric Pirtz added a triple, single and one RBI and Joe Iacobucci a double and single.

nation

Hollywood Park to continue 4-day week

INGLEWOOD, Calif. — Hollywood Park has received permission to maintain its four-day racing schedule through the rest of the spring-summer meeting that ends July 19.

The California Horse Racing Board approved the track’s request at its meeting.

Last month, the track dropped Wednesday racing because a tough economy has meant fewer horses available to run. Racing will continue Thursdays through Sundays through the rest of the meeting.

Howard agrees to 5-year contract

CHICAGO — Goalkeeper Tim Howard has agreed to a five-year contract with Everton after helping the team to fifth place in the Premier League and a berth in next season’s Europa League.

The 30-year-old Howard started all 38 league matches for Everton. He also made 10 more appearances in the FA Cup, League Cup and UEFA Cup.

Howard said he was glad to get the deal done before summer. He spoke a day before the United States plays Honduras in a World Cup qualifier.

Churchill feature

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Kentucky-bred Simply Seattle edged Kiawah’s Magic by three-quarters of a length in the $51,245 feature race for fillies and mares at Churchill Downs.

Ridden by Corey Lanerie, the 4-year-old Simply Seattle ran the five furlongs on the firm turf in 57.86, and paid $10.80, $5.20 and $3.80 to win. Kiawah’s Magic returned $14.20 and $7.80, and Koka Kola Kitty paid $5 to show in the field of nine.

Trained by Mike Orm, Simply Seattle is owned by Tim Standafer and Rick Tipton.

Prefontaine Classic

EUGENE, Ore. — LaShawn Merritt will take it down a notch for the Prefontaine Classic.

The 400-meter gold medalist at the Beijing Olympics will run the 300 today in the last major meet in the United States before this month’s national outdoor championships in Eugene. Thirty-four Olympic medalists are expected to compete.

Merritt is coming off a victory in the 400 at the Reebok Grand Prix in New York, where he finished in 44.75 ahead of Rennie Quow of Trinidad & Tobago and Chris Brown of the Bahamas.

US rebounds to beat Honduras 2-1

CHICAGO — Carlos Bocanegra scored on a diving header off Landon Donovan’s corner kick in the 68th minute, and the United States rallied to beat Honduras 2-1 in a World Cup qualifier Saturday night.

Coming off a 3-1 loss at Costa Rica on Wednesday, the United States fell behind when Carlos Costly scored in the fifth minute. Donovan, the best U.S. player throughout the match, tied the score with a penalty kick in the 43rd minute after a needless handball by Mario Besta.

Donovan then started the play for the go-ahead goal with a corner kick that was headed down by Clint Dempsey, who outjumped Hendry Thomas. Bocanegra charged in and, horizontal to the field, headed it in from about 3 yards for his 11th international goal.

Hockey arena falls

BUFFALO, N.Y. — The old home of the Buffalo Sabres is all but gone.

A wrecking crew pulled down the last roof supports on Buffalo’s Memorial Auditorium Saturday morning. A section of the building collapsed with a roar in a billowing cloud of dust.

The Aud has been empty since the Sabres left for HSBC Arena 12 years ago. The arena was built in the 1940s and hosted hockey games, concerts and circuses over the years. The last wall of the building is to be torn down within a few days.

world

England wins 4-0

ALMATY, Kazakhstan — England routed Kazakhstan 4-0 to maintain its perfect record in World Cup qualifiers, moving closer to a spot in the South Africa tournament in 2010.

Wayne Rooney scored in the 73rd minute for his sixth goal in World Cup qualifiers Saturday as England made it six wins in six games in Europe’s Group Six.

Gareth Barry and Emile Heskey scored at the end of the first half. Frank Lampard completed the scoring on a penalty kick.

English Derby

EPSOM, England — Sea The Stars won the English Derby on Saturday, becoming the first horse in 20 years to win the Epsom classic after capturing the 2,000 Guineas.

Mick Kinane rode the 11-4 shot to a 13‚Ñ4-length victory over Fame And Glory to emulate the double last achieved by Nashwan in 1989. Masterofthehorse was a neck behind in third.

“I was going so easy all the way, it was as if we were going in slow motion — that’s the key to him, he has serious tools, over any trip,” Kinane said.

Sea The Stars won the Guineas at Newmarket.

Takamiyama retires

TOKYO — Hawaiian wrestler and trainer Jesse Takamiyama retired from sumo wrestling on Saturday after a 45-year career in Japan’s ancient sport.

Takamiyama, also known as Jesse Kuhaulua, became the first foreign-born wrestler to win the top division championship in 1972. He was also the first foreign-born wrestler to take charge of a training stable, having been head coach of the Azumazeki stable he founded in 1986.

Vindicator staff/wire reports