Sports Digest

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Beachum out for year

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Brandon Beachum of Youngstown, a sophomore running back for the Penn State football team, will miss the rest of the season after suffering a serious knee injury in last Saturday’s 31-20 victory over Indiana.

A graduate of Cardinal Mooney High, Beachum tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee during Penn State’s kickoff return to begin the second half, according to Dr. Wayne Sebastianelli, Penn State Director of Athletic Medicine.

Beachum will have surgery within the next two weeks, and rehabilitation will take a minimum of nine months, according to Sebastianelli.

He ranks fourth on the team in rushing with 113 yards on 24 carries (4.7-yard average) with one touchdown.

DeRose selected

NORTH LIMA — Carly DeRose, a freshman at South Range High School, has recently been selected to compete in the Queen of Diamonds Showcase North (QDSN) at Kent State Univ. on January 9-10.

The QDSN, now in its 17th season, is the largest fastpitch softball showcase of its kind in the U.S.

This event continues to attract athletes from 33 states and two Canadian Provinces.

Its sister showcase, the Queen of Diamonds South, in its 4th season, is the 2nd largest showcase in the nation.

During the summer, Carly plays for the Ohio Blast travel team that won the NSA-B state championship this past season.

Puska on Pucks

YOUNGSTOWN — This week’s edition of the hockey show Puska on Pucks presents its first road trip of the season.

Host Denis J. Puska presents a feature documenting Youngstown and Indianapolis that have gone from professional to the USHL and how that adjustment is progressing.

His guests include General Manager/Head Coach of the Youngstown Phantoms Bob Mainhardt and Vice President of Hockey and Media Services of the Indiana Ice, Jason Burkman.

Former USHL goaltender Steve Briere will also be on the show to discuss his memories of the league.

There will also be another edition of ‘Where Are They Now’ where Puska visits with former National Hockey League player and Team Canada 72 member Jean Paul Parise.

Hole-in-one

LAKE MILTON — Jerry Vitello of Youngstown used a 4-hybrid to shoot a hole-in-one on the 150-yard No. 8 at Olde Dutch Mill golf course.

He was playing with Jim Becker and Frank Posterli.

state

Sandy Alomar Jr. hired by Indians

CLEVELAND — Sandy Alomar Jr. is back with the Cleveland Indians.

The popular former All-Star catcher has been hired by new Indians manager Manny Acta as a first-base coach. Alomar spent the past two years as a catching instructor for the New York Mets. He will mentor Cleveland’s catchers.

Alomar played 20 seasons in the majors — 11 in Cleveland — before retiring in 2007. While in New York, he served on the same coaching staff as his father, Sandy Alomar Sr., who was the team’s bench coach.

The 43-year-old Alomar was a six-time All-Star with the Indians, who enshrined him in their Hall of Fame last season. He was the AL’s rookie of the year in 1990.

nation

Soccer brawl

PROVIDENCE, R.I. — Nine members of two high school girls’ soccer teams have been suspended for their roles in a fight that sparked a brawl in the bleachers.

The suspensions were announced Tuesday by the Rhode Island Interscholastic League. They range from two games to one year. Coaches from both Woonsocket and Tolman high schools also were issued unspecified sanctions.

The fight broke out after two players collided during a Nov. 8 game.

A television news camera recorded the girls throwing punches and pulling hair, and fans fought in the bleachers during an awards ceremony.

Churchill Downs

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Churchill Downs is doubling down on night racing next year.

The home of the Kentucky Derby announced plans Tuesday to host six night racing events in 2010.

The historic Louisville track debuted night racing at three events during its spring meet this year, and track officials said the experiment was a big success.

The average attendance at night racing was more than 29,000 — well above average.

Asked if the Derby may some day be run at night, track President Kevin Flanery says “you never say never.”

Vindicator staff/wire reports