SPORTS DIGEST || All-District volleyball selections named

All-District volleyball selections named

Players of the Year as voted by District 1 volleyball coaches for the 2013 season all are seniors: Boardman outside hitter Megan Volosin in Division I, Lakeview middle hitter Marissa Naples in Division II, South Range outside hitter Ashley Shetter in Division III and Jackson-Milton outside hitter Erica Hughes in Division IV.

Coaches of the year are Canfield’s Maria Householder in Division I, Lakeview’s Scott Taylor in Division II, South Range’s Rachell Storm-Baker in Division III and Western Reserve’s Jen Paris in Division IV.

All four players of the year will be in action Sunday at Lakeview High for the fourth annual Penn-Ohio Terrific 21 game. The contest pits senior stars from District 1 against a team of all-stars from the Pittsburgh area. The teams will be announced beginning at 2 p.m. with the match to start at 3.

Also playing for the District 1 team are Calli Schmitt, Caitlin McDivitt and Rachelle Calvin of Lakeview, McKenzie Stanley and Leah Leshnack of Liberty, Sumayyah Muhammad of Warren Harding, Sarah Smith of Salem and Carley Sansenbaugher of East Palestine.

Two locals among Thiel all-PAC players

GREENVILLE, Pa.

Thiel College players Rob Edwards from Struthers and Martae Hainesworth from Warren JFK were chosen honorable mention all-Presidents Athletic Conference for their play this season.

Edwards finished fifth on the team in tackles (51) and led the team with two interceptions, one of which he returned 47 yards for a touchdown.

Hainesworth earned his second-straight All-PAC selection by recording 46 tackles, 1.5 of which were for a loss of yards. He also forced a fumble and broke up eight passes in just seven games.

Bucs, Twins exchange minor-league pitchers

MINNEAPOLIS

The Minnesota Twins have acquired left-hander Kris Johnson from the Pittsburgh Pirates for right-hander Duke Welker in a swap of minor league pitchers.

Johnson went 0-2 with a 6.10 ERA in four appearances with the Pirates last season. He made one start for the Pirates and went 10-4 with a 2.39 ERA in 21 starts for Triple-A Indianapolis last year. Welker went 3-4 with a 3.57 ERA and nine saves in 48 appearances for Indianapolis last season.

Vizquel, Joyner join Tigers’ coaching staff

DETROIT

Former All-Stars Omar Vizquel and Wally Joyner will be part of new Detroit manager Brad Ausmus’ coaching staff with the Tigers. Vizquel was hired as the first-base coach and Joyner as hitting coach. Vizquel — the major league record holder for career fielding percentage by a shortstop with over 1,000 games — also will serve as an infield and baserunning coach.

Report says Indians, OF Murphy reach deal

DALLAS

A report from the Dallas Morning News says that the Cleveland Indians and outfielder David Murphy have reached agreement on a two-year contract expected to be worth more than $10 million.

The left-handed hitting Murphy spent seven years with the Texas Rangers, batting .275 in 826 games.

Orlando awarded MLS expansion franchise

ORLANDO, Fla.

Orlando City Soccer has become Major League Soccer’s next expansion franchise. MLS commissioner Don Garber announced the franchise agreement with Orlando City on Tuesday at a community celebration near the site where a downtown stadium will be constructed. Once construction is completed, the team will begin playing in MLS in the 2015 season.

US beaten 1-0 by Austria in friendly

VIENNA

Marc Janko scored in the 33rd minute and the United States ended a record-setting year with a 1-0 loss to Austria. The U.S. finished the year with a team-record 16 victories and qualified for its seventh straight World Cup.

Staff reports/Associated Press