Sports briefs

Poland’s Reardon verbals to Miami (OH)

Poland quarterback Colin Reardon verbally committed to play football at Miami (Ohio).

Reardon (6-1, 195), who will be a senior this fall, earned first team all-conference and second team all-district honors last fall, helping the Bulldogs go 7-4 and reach the Division III playoffs. He also had scholarship offers to Kent State and YSU.

Poland track closed to public for resurfacing

The Poland High School Athletic Department is closing the high school track until July 23.

The track will be resurfaced during this two week period; therefore, the stadium will be off limits to the public.

The track project is made possible by the donations from the Poland All Sports Booster Club, Track Club, Turf Club and the Athletic Department.

No general fund money was used in this project.

Bennett earns Academic All-America

Grove City College junior women’s tennis player Megan Bennett (Poland High) earned Third Team Academic All-America College Division At-Large from Capital One and the College Sports Information Directors of America.

Bennett helped Grove City advance to the NCAA Championship Tournament for the third straight season in 2010 by leading Grove City (13-4 overall) with 13 singles wins.

She won Presidents’ Athletic Conference titles at third singles and first doubles last fall, as the Wolverines won the conference title.

In the classroom, Bennett owns a 3.98 cumulative grade-point average as a finance major.

Hit it closest to the pin to win

Golfers will have nine chances to win a prize during the closest to the pin golf challenge at the Par 3 golf Course at Wick Recreation Area July 31 from 8:30 a.m. to noon.

The fee to enter is $5.

Scrappers tickets benefit food bank

To benefit Second Harvest Food Bank of the Mahoning Valley, Mahoning Valley Scrappers invite all faiths to attend the 2011 Faith Night series at Eastwood Field.

The food bank will receive $1 for each ticket purchased through pre-sale only.

To purchase Faith Night tickets, call the Mahoning Valley Scrapper’s Group Sales Department at 330-505-0000 or visit www.mahoningvalleysecondharvest.org to download the ticket flier. Faith Night games are scheduled for Friday, Aug. 5, and Aug. 26.

Second Harvest Food Bank of the Mahoning Valley provides food to 153 hunger relief organizations in Columbiana, Mahoning and Trumbull counties.

YSU running back makes Payton list

Youngstown State junior tailback Jamaine Cook is one of 20 Football Championship Subdivision standouts on the preseason watch list for the Walter Payton Award, sponsored by fathead.com.

The award honors the the top Offensive Player in the FCS. Cook is one of seven running backs on the preseason watch list, which includes 11 quarterbacks and two wide receivers.

Cook had a breakout campaign in 2010 as a sophomore. A second-team All-Missouri Valley Football Conference selection, he rushed for 1,276 yards on 241 carries and scored 11 touchdowns.

Soccer officials training sessions set

The Mahoning Valley Soccer Officials Association will sponsor Ohio High School Athletic Association referee training sessions at the Niles Wellness Center.

Cost for those with USSF grade 8 is $120. Dates and times are: July 26 and July 28, 6-9 p.m.; July 30, noon-3 p.m.; and Aug. 3, 6-9 p.m.

Those without USSF grade 8 will be charged $145. Dates and times are: July 26 and July 28, 6-9 p.m.; July 30, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.; Aug. 1-2, 5:30-9:00 p.m.; and Aug. 3, 6-9 p.m.

To register contact: Paul Fennema, 330-853-8729, or Tony Kolonichm 330-856-1786.