Ferrett is champ

Ferrett is champ

akron

Joseph Ferrett placed first in the main event of the NBL Heartland BMX National, held June 12-13.

Ferrett was competing in the 15 novice class at the Akron Derby Downs BMX track.

YSU Football Alumni Club Bocce Social

Youngstown

The Youngstown State Football Alumni Club will hold its Bocce Social on July 11 at Cassese’s MVR.

The tournament starts at 12:30 p.m. with a social hour starting at 11:30 a.m. A buffet dinner will be served at 4 p.m.

For more information contact the Penguin Club at (330) 941-2351.

Penguins’ games begin 30 minutes earlier

PITTSBURGH

The Pittsburgh Penguins are joining the rest of the NHL Atlantic Division by moving the starting times of their home night games to 7 p.m. Eastern.

The Penguins will move up the starting time by a half-hour as they make the move from Mellon Arena to the new Consol Energy Center for the 2010-11 season. Previously, the Penguins were the only team in the five-team division that started its games at 7:30 p.m.

The club cited fan feedback as one reason for the shift.

While the starting times at Mellon Arena were listed at 7:30 p.m., games started at 7:38 p.m. to accommodate TV. The actual starting time under the new format is expected to be 7:08 p.m.

Kansas City to host 2012 All-Star Game

KANSAS CITY, Mo.

Bereft of baseball pageantry for decades, Kansas City will finally get to see the game’s best and brightest up close.

The 2012 All-Star Game is coming to Kauffman Stadium.

Commissioner Bud Selig made the formal announcement Wednesday at the newly renovated ballpark, following through on a promise he made when Jackson County voters approved a sales tax increase in 2006 to finance work at Kauffman and Arrowhead Stadium, home of the NFL’s Kansas City Chiefs, that totaled more than $500 million.

Burghardt takes 5th stage in Switzerland

FRUTIGEN, Switzerland

Marcus Burghardt of Germany has won the fifth stage of the Tour of Switzerland.

Burghardt launched an attack over the final stretch of the 107-mile stage from Wettingen to Frutigen to drop his two breakaway companions.

Tony Martin of Germany retained the race leader’s jersey. He is 1 second ahead of Switzerland’s Fabian Cancellara.

Seven-time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong finished in the main pack on Wednesday and is 21st overall, 30 seconds back.

Favorite Byword wins at Royal Ascot

ASCOT, England

Race favorite Byword won the Prince of Wales’ Stakes at Royal Ascot.

Byword, trained by France’s Andre Fabre and ridden by Maxime Guyon, was fourth for much of the 11/4-mile race Wednesday before surging into the lead and holding off Twice Over.

Flanagan to make marathon debut in NYC

NEW YORK

Olympic bronze medalist Shalane Flanagan will make her marathon debut in New York in the fall.

The 28-year-old Flanagan is the American-record holder in the 3,000, 5,000, and 10,000 meters. She won bronze in the 10,000 at the 2008 Beijing Games.

The Marblehead, Mass., native won the Houston Half-Marathon this year in her debut at that distance.

The 41st New York City Marathon will be run Nov. 7.

Ground broken for tailgating space

MEMPHIS, Tenn.

Officials have broken ground for a new lawn with tailgating space at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium in Memphis.

According to The Commercial Appeal, it will be ready for the coming football season.

Vindicator staff/wire reports