Brown selected

Brown selected

INDIANAPOLIS

Youngstown State freshman Brandi Brown was named to the Horizon League’s Women’s Basketball All-Newcomer Team.

Butler senior Melanie Thornton was named Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year.

Brown led the league with 10.8 rebounds per outing and all freshmen in the conference with 11.6 points per outing.

Howland wrestling alumni to meet

howland

The Howland High wrestling alumni will hold the sports 55th reunion at Leos Restaurante in Howland on August 20.

Doors open at 5 p.m.

For more information please email Brian Earich at: brian.earich@neomin/.org.

Bruised foot keeps Penguins’ Malkin out

PITTSBURGH

Pittsburgh Penguins forward Evgeni Malkin will miss a third consecutive game today due to a bruised right foot.

Malkin skated for about 15 minutes during practice Friday but didn’t look comfortable before leaving the ice. Coach Dan Bylsma later said he wouldn’t play against the Flyers.

Malkin’s status for Sunday’s game against Toronto remains uncertain.

Malkin, last season’s NHL scoring champion, has played in only one of Pittsburgh’s last five games, scoring a goal March 20 during a 3-2 overtime loss to Carolina. He has 24 goals and 46 assists in 63 games.

Batch signs 2-year deal to remain with Steelers

PITTSBURGH

Charlie Batch has signed a two-year contract to remain with the Pittsburgh Steelers as a backup quarterback.

The 35-year-old Batch has been under contract with the Steelers for eight seasons, although he sat out 2004 and 2008 with injuries. He has thrown only two passes since 2007, and 135 overall during his time with Pittsburgh.

A former starter for the Detroit Lions, Batch is expected to compete with Dennis Dixon to be the backup quarterback. Dixon started one game when Ben Roethlisberger was hurt last season and became the No. 2 quarterback after Batch broke his left wrist Nov. 22 in Kansas City.

Nagasu is leader after short skating program

TURIN, Italy

While Olympic champion Kim Yu-na crumbled, American Mirai Nagasu soared.

Nagasu was in first place after a nearly flawless short program at the World Figure Skating Championships on Friday. Kim, who has lost only one competition over the last two seasons and was downright majestic in winning gold in Vancouver, was in seventh place after three major errors in an uncharacteristically sloppy performance.

Coming off the ice, Kim told reporters that her left foot was “shaking.” But it was unclear if there was a medical issue, and coach Brian Orser couldn’t be reached for comment.

Louisiana Derby

NEW ORLEANS

Trainers with horses in the Louisiana Derby say the final major tuneup for the Kentucky Derby is full of variables.

One thing is certain, the top finishers among the field of 13 3-year-olds set to run today at the Fair Grounds will likely move on to Churchill Downs in five weeks.

Discreetly Mine is the early favorite race at 5-2, coming off his Risen Star Stakes victory in February. But trainers of Discreetly Mine’s rivals say the 1 1-8-mile, $750,000 Louisiana Derby could favor other horses known more for closing.

Davies returns to Sochaux training

SOCHAUX, France

Charlie Davies has returned to training with Sochaux, hoping to boost his chance to make the U.S. World Cup roster.

Five months after a near-fatal car crash in Virginia, Davies is working on fitness and doing some work with a ball.

He said Friday that he is “closer and closer to being back” and hopes to play for Sochaux before the end of the season on May 15.

Vindicator staff/wire reports