Mayors join pregame as season kicks off

Mayors join pregame as season kicks off

Mayors Terry Stocker of Struthers and Bill Van Such of Campbell will be honorary captains for the coin toss before Thursday’s game between the rivals, one of five area games scheduled that night as the high school football season kicks off. The other games Thursday are Niles at Girard, Marlington at Poland, Leetonia at Lisbon and Rootstown at Newton Falls.

Rick King, commissioner of the All-American Conference, will toss the coin at the Struthers-Campbell game. Kickoff is scheduled at 7 p.m.

YSU women open new soccer facility Friday

YOUNGSTOWN

The Youngstown State women’s soccer team (1-1) will play its inaugural game at Farmers National Bank Field against Mid-American Conference member Toledo, Friday at 4 p.m.

To commemorate the first game at the new venue, the YSU Athletics Marketing and Promotions staff has planned a few pregame events. The first 200 YSU student will receive a free Youngstown State soccer T-shirt. Pregame pizza will also be provided to YSU students in the northwest corner of the complex, and prizes will be awarded following a halftime kicking contest.

Pitt’s ACC opener part of Make-A-Wish effort

PITTSBURGH

In conjunction with the University of Pittsburgh’s debut into the Atlantic Coast Conference Monday night against Florida State, the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Greater Pennsylvania and Southern West Virginia is teaming with Rawlings to produce a limited-edition, full-size Inaugural ACC Season football along with an acrylic display case.

Only 2,013 footballs will be produced, and each comes with a numbered certificate of authenticity. Everything is officially licensed by CLC and the school and has been approved. The football will feature three special panels, with colorful logos and information. The footballs are priced at $99 each, and includes the display case. Fans can order two ways: call 800-345-2868 or visit www.nikcosports.com.

The Make-A-Wish Foundation helps grant wishes to youngsters who have life-threatening medical conditions. Since MAW first began in 1980, more than 175,000 wishes have been granted to youngsters.

Buckeyes name eight captains for season

COLUMBUS

An unprecedented eight players — including star quarterback Braxton Miller — will serve as captains for No. 2 Ohio State this season. Joining Miller are offensive linemen Corey Linsley from Boardman and Jack Mewhort, defensive backs C.J. Barnett and Christian Bryant, linebacker Ryan Shazier, wide receiver Corey Brown and backup quarterback Kenny Guiton. Linsley, Mewhort, Barnett, Bryant, Brown and Guiton are seniors and Miller and Shazier are juniors.

Federer gets started with win at US Open

NEW YORK

At this point in his career, Roger Federer recognizes the importance of a little extra work. That’s why the owner of a record 17 Grand Slam titles, and the man who spent more weeks ranked No. 1 than any other, was out there on a U.S. Open practice court late Tuesday afternoon, putting in some training time shortly after finishing off a 6-3, 6-2, 7-5 victory over 62nd-ranked Grega Zemlja of Slovenia in the first round.

In other matches, Victoria Duval, a 17-year-old qualifier who is ranked 296th, pulled off quite an upset, eliminating 2011 U.S. Open winner Sam Stosur 5-7, 6-4, 6-4. Other seeded women on the way out were No. 17 Dominika Cibulkova, No. 20 Nadia Petrova and No. 31 Klara Zakopalova.

Also, No. 2 Victoria Azarenka, the 2012 U.S. Open runner-up, needed 10 minutes and six break points to take the first game against 99th-ranked Dinah Pfizenmaier, then dominated the rest of the way en route to a 6-0, 6-0 victory. Novak Djokovic began his bid for a second U.S. Open title with nearly as swift and simple a result, beating 112th-ranked Ricardas Berankis of Lithuania 6-1, 6-2, 6-2.

Staff reports/Associated Press