SPORTS DIGEST || Four Scrappers combine for shutout

Four Scrappers combine for shutout

State College, Pa.

Mahoning Valley pitchers Julian Merryweather, David Speer, Ramon Rodriguez, and Luke Eubank combined for a shutout of the State College Spikes in the Scrappers 5-0 victory Tuesday night.

Merryweather got the start and threw three innings, giving up two hits. Speer took over for the next four and earned the win.

Bradley Zimmer went 3-for-5 with two RBI and a run scored for the Scrappers (25-32). Yonathan Mendoza also had two hits and drove in two runs in the win.

YSU’s Yeo shoots 75 at U.S. Amateur

Atlanta

Youngstown State golfer Brian Yeo bounced back from Monday’s 82 to shoot a 75 on Tuesday in the second round of the U.S. Amateur Championship at Atlanta Athletic Club.

Yeo played on the par 72 Riverside Course. He started on the back nine and was even through nine holes. Yeo had three birdies in the round to conclude the stroke play of the event.

YSU knocks off Western Illinois 3-0

Valparaiso, ind.

Youngstown State’s women’s soccer team beat Western Illinois 3-0 in an exhibition game.

Junior midfielder Katie Hohmann had two goals and an assist to lead YSU. Defender Macey Riese added a goal in the victory. Youngstown State’s first regular season game is Friday, Aug. 22 against New Hampshire.

Schools invest millions for SEC Network

The Southeastern Conference’s new network debuts Thursday, promising more than 1,000 live events this year and a reach that includes most major television providers.

The network will be welcomed by millions of fans of who can’t get enough coverage of the most powerful conference in college sports, and SEC officials think it will increase revenue. Getting the network off the ground — with operations at 14 different campuses — wasn’t easy or inexpensive.

Some schools needed to build professional studios, upgrade technology and hire a video staff. SEC associate commissioner for network relations Charlie Hussey says “a lot of our schools had done a good amount of work already in the infrastructure for this, while others had a little further along to go. But we’ll be ready for launch day.”

Ronaldo clinches Super Cup for Real Madrid

CARDIFF, Wales

Cristiano Ronaldo put a disappointing World Cup behind him by scoring twice to win the UEFA Super Cup for Real Madrid with a comfortable 2-0 victory over Spanish rival Sevilla on Tuesday.

The world player of the year netted just once as Portugal made an early exit from Brazil, but the goal-scoring swagger returned in Madrid’s first competitive fixture since the Champions League final win in May.

Ronaldo swept the ball in at the far post in the 30th minute after racing onto Gareth Bale’s cross, and the forward powered in another four minutes into the second half after being setup by Karim Benzema.

Tigers P Verlander should avoid trip to DL

PITTSBURGH

Justin Verlander has inflammation in his right shoulder.

Tigers manager Brad Ausmus says an MRI on Verlander’s shoulder revealed no structural damage but the Cy Young winner will likely miss at least one start for the slumping Tigers.

Verlander left Monday night’s 11-6 loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates after giving up five runs in one inning. He complained of discomfort in the shoulder but Ausmus stressed the initial plan for Verlander is rest and not surgery.

The 31-year-old Verlander is just 10-11 with a 4.76 ERA this season for Detroit, which fell to second place in the AL Central on Monday night behind Kansas City.

Ausmus says the team is still evaluating Verlander but added Verlander is thrilled the injury doesn’t appear to be serious.

Staff/Wire reports