SPORTS DIGEST || Martin Ruiz captures two awards for YSU

Martin Ruiz captures two awards for YSU

St. Louis, Mo.

Youngstown State freshman tailback Martin Ruiz was named the Missouri Valley Football Conference’s Freshman and Newcomer of the Year.

He is the first Penguin to receive both honors in the same season.

In the Newcomer of the Year voting, Ruiz received 62 points to finish ahead of Western Illinois’ J.C. Baker (43).

In the Freshmen of the Year balloting, Ruiz had 78 points while the second-place finisher was Indiana State’s Jameer Thurman with 23.

In his first year, Ruiz had one of the best campaigns by a freshman running back in school history.

He set school freshman bests with 192 carries, 1,094 yards and 15 touchdowns.

Tangier Pizza team takes Petri Bocce title

youngstown

The Tangier Pizza team defeated Redman 15-6, 14-15, 15-6 to win the Petri Bocce League championship.

Team members of the Tangier team are Lou Cannatti, Mike Nicholson, Bob Pamardo, Bill Neher, George Popovich, John Mastro and Mickey Blosak.

Connor scores twice but Phantoms fall 4-3

iNDIANAPOLIS

On the eve of Thanksgiving, the Indiana Ice left the Youngstown Phantoms with little to be thankful for.

The Phantoms lost two players to injuries in the second period and surrendered a pair of goals in the third and eventually fell 4-3 in overtime to the Eastern Conference foes.

Kyle Connor tallied twice, extending his goal-scoring streak to five games and nearly picked up a third in the dying seconds of the game.

Maxim Letunov also found the back of the net and Colin DeAugustine put on a strong display between the pipes for the Phantoms (7-11-3, 17 points), turning away 38 shots in the loss.

Fewer Ohio deer taken during youth season

COLUMBUS

Young hunters in Ohio took fewer white-tailed deer this gun season than last year.

The Ohio Department of Natural Resources says young hunters checked more than 6,600 deer, compared to nearly 9,200 in 2012.

The agency says the hunters face below-average temperatures and windy conditions this year.

The youngsters could pursue deer with a legal shotgun, muzzleloader or handgun from Nov. 23 to 24.

They were required to have a hunting license and a deer permit.

They had to wear hunter orange and be with an adult who wasn’t hunting.

The bag limits are set county by county. Youth hunting seasons are also set aside for small game, wild turkey and waterfowl.

2015 Tour starts with time trial in Utrecht

PARIS

The 2015 Tour de France will begin with a short time trial around the Dutch city of Utrecht.

Organizers say the race will begin on July 4 with a 8.5-mile race against the clock.

Utrecht will also host the start of the second stage, but no further details were given.

Utrecht is the sixth Dutch city to stage the “Grand Depart” of cycling’s marquee race. Amsterdam was the first in 1954, followed by Scheveningen (1973), Leiden (1978), ‘s-Hertogenbosch (1996) and Rotterdam (2010).

Two men charged in English soccer probe

Authorities say two men have been charged as part of an investigation into a suspected international betting syndicate which allegedly fixed non-league football matches in England.

The National Crime Agency, which is leading the investigation, says a seventh person has also been arrested following an undercover investigation by Britain’s Daily Telegraph newspaper.

He has been released on bail with the four others.

Vindicator staff/wire reports