SPORTS DIGEST || Canfield golfer wins youth event in playoff

Canfield golfer wins youth event in playoff

FREEPORT, PA.

Cole Christman of Canfield won a one-hole playoff to capture the boys 11-14 year-old division of the Pittsburgh Junior Challenge Saturday and Sunday at Freeport, Pa. The event was part of the Hurricane Junior Golf Tour.

Christman and Ben Foltz of Solon both shot 81-81—162 for the two rounds with Christman recording birdies on holes 16 and 17 of the second round to force the playoff. He parred the first playoff hole to win.

O’Halloran Coach of Year in Federal League

BOARDMAN

Terry O’Halloran, longtime swim coach at Boardman High, has been voted by his coaching peers as the 2014 Federal League Coach of the Year in girls swimming. He has been the head coach of both programs at Boardman for 29 years and during that time has compiled an impressive resume with four individual state champions, 15 All-Americans, 55 Academic All-Americans, and 76 Ohio state swimming qualifiers.

O’Halloran was named the recipient of the OHSAA Sportsmanship, Ethics, and Integrity Award in the 2005-06 school year and was the Northeast Aquatic Conference Coach of the Year for three years from 2010-13.

Steelers sign former Bears, Jags punter

PITTSBURGH

The Pittsburgh Steelers have signed punter Adam Podlesh to a one-year contract after deciding not to re-sign Mat McBriar, who averaged a career-worst 41.3 yards per punt during the 2013 season. Podlesh, 30, will compete with Brad Wing when training camp opens in July. Podlesh spent the last three seasons with the Chicago Bears, averaging 40.6 yards per punt in 2013. The seven-year veteran played for the Jacksonville Jaguars from 2007-10 with a career average of 42.4 yards per punt.

Panthers jump Sabres, win NHL draft lottery

The Florida Panthers bucked the odds by jumping up a spot to win the NHL draft lottery and earn the right to the top pick in June. The Panthers, who finished 29th in the league, vaulted ahead of the last-place Buffalo Sabres, who had the best odds of winning the lottery held in Toronto on Tuesday night. The draft will be held in Philadelphia on June 27-28.

Coach: QB Stoudt Clemson’s starter

COLUMBIA, S.C.

Clemson coach Dabo Swinney says senior Cole Stoudt, son of former Youngstown State and Pittsburgh Steeler quarterback Cliff Stoudt, is the team’s starting quarterback coming out of spring. Swinney said in a text message to The Associated Press on Tuesday that Stoudt was the leading quarterback in what had been a three-way battle to take over for record-setting starter Tajh Boyd, the starter for the past three years. Swinney dismissed redshirt freshman quarterback Chad Kelly on Monday for conduct detrimental to the team. Freshman Deshaun Watson injured his collarbone earlier this month and will have a chance to compete for the job this fall, Swinney said.

Cal hires Tennessee’s Martin as coach

BERKELEY, Calif.

A more relaxed fan base, milder weather and a chance to coach at the top-rated public university in the country added up to Cuonzo Martin making the decision to leave Tennessee for California. Cal hired Martin as the 16th men’s basketball coach in school history Tuesday, a decision that stunned Volunteers administrators and players after he had reaffirmed his commitment to Tennessee just two weeks ago.

Staff reports/Associated Press