Pair make decisions

June 3, 2010 at 12:00a.m.

Pair make decisions

youngstown

Youngstown Christian basketball players John Pecchia and Louis Fatimus will attend Thiel and Hiram colleges, respectively.

Pecchia started three seasons for the Eagles and was named honorable mention all-Ohio.

Fatimus was special mention all-state.

Man pleads guilty to assaulting OSU player

LARGO, Fla.

A Largo man has pleaded guilty to felony battery for assaulting Ohio State University football player Tyler Moeller at a bar last summer.

Ralph Gray Decker did not speak at a court hearing Wednesday. His attorney, Sean McQuaid, says Decker has always expressed “a sincere level of regret and concern” for Moeller and apologized to Moeller’s mother.

The 28-year-old Decker will be sentenced in August. He will pay $11,000 in restitution for Moeller’s medical bills.

Moeller was attacked while on vacation with his family. He suffered a fractured skull and a serious brain injury.

UCI to look into alleged hidden motors

AIGLE, Switzerland

The International Cycling Union will examine “mechanical doping” at a meeting with bike manufacturers.

UCI president Pat McQuaid says he does not believe rumors sweeping the sport that racers are cheating by getting extra power from battery-powered motors hidden in their bike frames.

The subject, however, is on the agenda of a routine meeting between the UCI and industry representatives next Monday.

McQuaid says the UCI is “studying the situation.” The organization has contacted former racer Davide Cassani who says he has tested a motorized bike that could help a rider cheat.

Walls moved back at softball World Series

OKLAHOMA CITY

The Women’s College World Series will have a new look this year.

After teams combined to smash the World Series record by scoring 120 runs in last year’s event, the walls in right and left field were moved back by 10 feet and made 2 feet taller. Now, the walls are 200 feet from home plate in the corners and stand 6 feet tall around the outfield.

They don’t intimidate Kelly Majam of Hawaii, the nation’s top home run hitter. She figures a few extra feet won’t make much of a difference.

Play begins in Oklahoma City today. The field features five of the nation’s top seven home-run-hitting teams.

Gebrselassie to make NYC Marathon debut

NEW YORK

Two-time Olympic champion Haile Gebrselassie will make his debut this fall in the New York City Marathon.

The New York Road Runners announced Wednesday that the marathon world record-holder will compete on Nov. 7. He will be running his first major marathon in the United States.

Gebrselassie joined 1,500 school children at Randall’s Island for the New York Road Runners Mighty Milers Fun Run as part of the second annual national running day celebration.

The Ethiopian says he wants to challenge the NYC marathon course record set by his friend Tesfaye Jifar.

Midnite Silver wins Belmont Park feature

NEW YORK

Midnite Silver rallied from last to beat Pocket Cowboys by two lengths Wednesday in the $55,000 allowance feature on the turf at Belmont Park.

Tenth rounding the final turn, Midnite Silver and jockey Cornelio Velasquez swung five wide for the charge down the center of the course.

The 4-year-old powered past the pack for his second win in the last three races, and fifth in 11 career starts. Trained by Carl Domino, Midnite Silver ran the 11/4 miles in 2:00.50.

The 9-2 second choice, Midnite Silver paid $11.20, $6.80 and $4.40.

Pocket Cowboys returned $17.80 and $11. Armstrong Mill paid $4.60 to show.

Vindicator staff/wire reports