YSU’s Elkins earns more preseason honors

July 22, 2013 at 12:00a.m.

YOUNGSTOWN

Youngstown State senior offensive lineman Chris Elkins (Beaver Falls, Pa.) was named to the Phil Steele’s College Football Preview preseason All-America team, the publication announced last week. Elkins was named to The Sports Network’s preseason first-team All-America squad on July 1. Phil Steele’s publication also had Elkins as the top center in the FCS ranks.

Elkins has started the last 26 games for the Penguins, including each contest each of the past two seasons. In 2012, he played right guard and earned first-team All-Missouri Valley Football Conference honors. Elkins was an honorable-mention All-MVFC selection in 2011.

Also, Steele announced his preseason MVFC picks. Elkins was a first-team pick, senior quarterback Kurt Hess and linebackers Teven Williams and Travis Williams were second-team all-conference preseason picks.

Sharon Speedway gets races in on Saturday

HARTFORD

Winners Saturday in the first night of racing at Sharon Speedway since June 22 were Boom Briggs in NDRL’s ULMS Super Late Models; Max Blair in the Sweeney Chevrolet RUSH Late Model Touring Series; Steve Dixon in the UEMS Modifieds; Jamie Duncan of Brookfield in the Gibson Insurance Agency Stock Cars; and Pete Blazczak of Gibsonia, Pa., in the Deforest Used Parts Mini Stocks.

For Duncan it was his first victory at Sharon Speedway after 10 years of trying. He held off season points leader Mike Clark to win by just 0.351 seconds.

Yankees say A-Rod won’t return this week

BOSTON

New York Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez isn’t ready to rejoin the team. The Yankees said Rodriguez has a Grade 1 strain of his left quadriceps muscle and won’t be able to return this week in Texas, as had been planned. Instead, Rodriguez will remain on the disabled list and return to Tampa, Fla., “for rest and treatment,” the Yankees said in a statement issued Sunday night.

Rodriguez and manager Joe Girardi had said they were hoping he would return for Tuesday night’s game against the Rangers. But he was sent to New York-Presbyterian Hospital for an MRI on Sunday, and team Dr. Christopher Ahmad diagnosed the injury.

Shortstop Derek Jeter on Friday was placed back on the disabled list, where he has spent all but one game this season.

US routs El Salvador, on to Gold Cup semis

BALTIMORE

In the past, El Salvador has been a tough soccer out for the U.S. national team, particularly on the road. Not Sunday.

Despite an atmosphere at sold-out M&T Stadium that seemed more like San Salvador than Baltimore — think a Ravens home game where Steelers fans filled a majority of the seats — the U.S. cruised to a 5-1 victory and a place in Wednesday’s Gold Cup semifinals in Texas.

After a penalty kick by El Salvador’s best player, Rodolfo Zelaya, cut a 2-0 lead for the Americans in half by intermission, the first substitution by U.S. coach Jurgen Klinsmann in the 60th minute turned out to be prescient. Taking out Chris Wondolowski, the tournament’s leading scorer, Klinsmann put in veteran forward Eddie Johnson. A mere 14 seconds after he stepped onto the field, Johnson used his head to redirect a short corner kick from Landon Donovan past El Salvador goalkeeper Dagoberto Portillo. Billy Joe Tolliver wins American Century golf

STATELINE, Nev.

Billy Joe Tolliver won the American Century Championship for the fourth time, beating fellow former NFL quarterback Mark Rypien with a par on the third hole of a playoff Sunday. They finished regulation at Edgewood Tahoe Golf Course tied at 67 in the modified Stableford format that awards graduated points for pars or better.

Former pitcher Mark Mulder was third with 66 points, and Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry tied for fourth with former NFL quarterback Chris Chandler at 64.

Vindicator staff/wire reports