Erin Gabriel selected to All-Academic team

Erin Gabriel selected to All-Academic team

KNOXVILLE, TENN.

University of Tennessee sophomore Erin Gabriel was one of nine softball players to make the 2012-13 NFCA Division I All-Academic Team.

Gabriel, a Poland High graduate, was joined by teammates Melissa Brown, Jennifer Burroughs, Raven Chavanne, Whitney Hammond, Tory Lewis, Anna Renfroe, Ellen Renfroe and Ivy Renfroe for having GPAs of 3.50 or higher.

Tennessee’s nine NFCA Division I scholar-athletes were the most for any of the eight teams that participated in the 2013 Women’s College World Series.

More than 4,000 softball student-athletes from across seven different divisions earned the distinction of scholar-athlete.

Tennessee, which finished national runner-up, boasted a 3.23 team GPA and was recognized as a 2013 NFCA Division I All-Academic Team.

Underwood to address Trumbull County Hall

warren

Matt Underwood, the television broadcaster of the Cleveland Indians, will be the guest speaker at the Trumbull County Sports Hall of Fame induction banquet.

The event will be at the Divieste Banquet Center in Warren on Oct. 27 at 2:30 p.m.

Paul Kopko, former football coach at Lakeview High, will receive the Pete Prokop Memorial Coaching Award.

Ed Puskas, Sports Editor of the Vindicator, will receive the Trumbull County Sports Hall of Fame Media Award.

For tickets call 330-637-6910 or 330-856-6219.

Carmstrong Bocce for Hope fundraiser set

youngstown

The Carmstrong Bocce for Hope Celebrity Bartenders fundraised will be held Monday at the MVR Restaurant.

All tips go to charity.

Activity begins at 5 p.m.

Reporting prep results

Coaches and statisticians are encouraged to report prep results by 10 p.m. via email (sports@vindy.com), fax (330-747-6712) or phone (330-747-1478).

Emails and faxes are strongly preferred.

Prep football statistics

In order to include a football team’s statistical leaders in the weekly list featured in the Blitz, both in print and online, coaches and/or statisticians should report their updated statistics by 5 p.m. Wednesday.

Email stats to dchapin@vindy.com or fax them to 330-747-6712, attention Doug Chapin.

Riis ready to support cycling commission

MADRID

Bjarne Riis is ready to take part in a “truth and reconciliation” commission proposed by the president of cycling’s world governing body.

Riis, who has been dogged by doping allegations, says if the commission “is good for cycling, I will take part in it.”

Brian Cookson, who replaced Pat McQuaid as president last month, wants to set up the process to encourage riders, team officials and others with knowledge of cycling’s doping secrets to come forward.

The 1996 Tour de France champion says cycling “definitely” needs a new structure and “maybe with the new president, it’s a step forward.”

FIFA confident about World Cup security

RIO DE JANEIRO

A top executive for soccer’s governing body is confident Brazilian police can control any protests during next year’s World Cup.

On Thursday, FIFA General Secretary Jerome Valcke described as “very good” the policing during the two-week Confederations Cup in June.

During the violent protests, demonstrators took to the streets daily, questioning why Brazil is spending billions to organize the World Cup in a country with high taxes and poor public services.

Weekly protests have persisted across Brazil since the Confederations Cup.

Vindicator staff/wire reports