SPORTS DIGEST

April 8, 2010 at 12:00a.m.

Basketball coach interviews underway

YOUNGSTOWN

Youngstown State has begun interviewing candidates for head women’s basketball coach and university officials are hopeful they’ll hire someone by next week.

One candidate interviewed with athletic director Ron Strollo Tuesday night and another was in town Wednesday. The names of the candidates have not been released.

The timetable is similar to the one from two years ago, when YSU hired Cindy Martin on April 11. Martin resigned after two seasons with the Penguins, going 0-30 this winter.

Boston Marathon

The Vindicator invites area runners who are planning to participate in the

Boston Marathon on April 19 to contact the sports department, at sports@vindy.com.

Dempsey out of Europa League quarterfinal

LONDON

United States forward Clint Dempsey will miss the second leg of Fulham’s Europa League quarterfinal at Wolfsburg today because of a thigh injury.

Fulham beat Wolfsburg 2-1 in the first leg last week. Dempsey was hurt in Sunday’s Premier League win over Wigan.

Dempsey’s injury means Erik Nevland may play up front alongside Zoltan Gera, because first-choice Bobby Zamora is struggling with an Achilles’ injury and David Elm is ill.

Miami seeks 2nd chance at hockey title

Miami of Ohio is looking for a second chance in the Frozen Four.

The RedHawks last season squandered a two-goal lead in the final minute of the title game, then lost in overtime. Miami coach Enrico Blasi concedes the loss could have been devastating, but says the RedHawks are using it as motivation.

The team talked out their frustrations, then started talking about all they accomplished. Blasi says the RedHawks now know what it takes to win.

Top-seeded Miami will get to see how well it learned when it plays fourth-seeded Boston College tonight at Ford Field in Detroit. In the earlier game, Rochester Institute of Technology faces third-seed Wisconsin.

Franny Freud rolls to victory at Keeneland

LEXINGTON, Ky.

Franny Freud took control early before pulling away down the stretch to win the $150,000 Beaumont Stakes on Wednesday at Keeneland.

Franny Freud, with Garrett Gomez aboard, covered 7 furlongs and 184 feet in 1:26.89 to beat Chantilly Nayla by 43‚Ñ4 lengths in the race for 3-year-old fillies over Polytrack. Franny Freud paid $3, $2.40 and $2.10 to win for the fifth time.

Piloted by James Graham, Chantilly Nayla tried to make a late upset bid but settled for second and paid $4.20 and $3. Diva Delite, ridden by Julien Leparoux, was third and paid $2.40.

Zenyatta takes to track before Apple Blossom

HOT SPRINGS, Ark.

Undefeated Zenyatta galloped once around Oaklawn Park in her first trip to the track before Friday’s Apple Blossom Invitational.

Last year’s Horse of the Year runner-up completed her workout in light rain Wednesday under the watchful eye of trainer John Shirreffs.

Zenyatta is going for her 16th consecutive victory — which would tie the mark shared by Cigar and Citation.

She created a stir when she visited the indoor paddock minutes after the draw for the Arkansas Derby ended.

Reyna to lead soccer teaching development

NEW YORK

Saying America was behind world powers, former national team captain Claudio Reyna will formulate plans for players, coaches and referees in his new job as the U.S. Soccer Federation’s youth technical director.

USSF president Sunil Gulati, who introduced Reyna on Wednesday, says Reyna will establish broad curriculums involving teaching the sport to 6-to-12-year-olds.

Vindicator staff/wire reports