SPORTS DIGEST || YSU men’s hoops earn academic honors

YSU men’s hoops earn academic honors

Kansas City, Mo.

Youngstown State was one of 96 men’s basketball teams honored by the National Basketball Coaches Association, earning an inaugural Team Academic Excellence Award.

These awards recognize outstanding academic achievement by a team with a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 or better for the 2012-13 season.

The Penguins posted a 3.01 grade-point average and seven players have a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or higher.

Three players, Blake Allen, Kendrick Perry and Mike Podolsky, were named to the NABC Honors Court with GPAs of 3.2 or higher.

YSU women’s hoops finish 17th in GPA

YOUNGSTOWN

The YSU women’s basketball team posted the 17th-best grade-point average in the country in 2012-13, the third straight season that the program has appeared on the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association Academic Top 25 Team Honor Roll.

YSU, with a 3.438 cumulative GPA last year, is the only Division I school in Ohio to appear on the top 25 list. Of the 345 schools that sponsored Division I women’s basketball last season, YSU was one of only eight to appear on the WBCA Academic Top 25 Team Honor Roll and play in a postseason tournament.

The Penguins posted a 3.46 team GPA in the fall and a 3.42 team GPA in the spring, which were both the highest in the department. Thirteen out of 15 players had at least a 3.0 GPA in each semester. Liz Hornberger and Taylor Hvisdak had a 4.0 in both semesters, and Brandi Brown and Kelsea Newman had a 4.0 GPA in the fall.

Indiana boy dies from baseball hit

INDIANAPOLIS

An 8-year-old eastern Indiana boy has died after a baseball hit him in the head and neck.

The Marion County Coroner’s Office says Dylan Williams died of blunt force trauma Thursday, two days after suffering the injury in Union City, about 75 miles northeast of Indianapolis.

Coroner’s office manager Marchele Hall tells The Indianapolis Star an autopsy showed the injury occurred on the right side of the boy’s head and neck.

The boy was hit by a ball that had been thrown during practice Tuesday evening. He was taken to a hospital in Winchester, then transferred to an Indianapolis hospital.

Riblon wins Stage 18; Froome keeps lead

L’ALPE D’HUEZ, France

Frenchman Christophe Riblon caught American Tejay van Garderen near the end of the final climb to win the 18th stage of the Tour de France, while Chris Froome extended his overall lead despite a late struggle.

Riblon gave home fans something to finally cheer about Thursday by becoming the first Frenchman to win a stage on this year’s race. He caught Van Garderen with about a mile left on the second climb up L’Alpe d’Huez — one of the Tour’s most famed ascents.

Froome extended his comfortable lead over his main rival Alberto Contador with just three stages remaining.

Pens sign Jeffrey to one-year deal

PITTSBURGH

The Pittsburgh Penguins have signed restricted free agent Dustin Jeffrey to a one-year contract.

The deal, worth $625,000, gives the Penguins added depth after losing veterans Brenden Morrow, Jarome Iginla and Matt Cooke in free agency. The 25-year-old Jeffrey had three goals and three assists for the Penguins during the 2013 season.

Sacramento Kings ink McCallum

SACRAMENTO, Calif.

The Sacramento Kings have signed second-round draft pick Ray McCallum.

McCallum was drafted 36th overall last month out of the Horizon League-member Detroit. The guard averaged 15.9 points, 4.8 rebounds and 4.4 assists over three college seasons.

Vindicator staff/wire reports