Mound continues his winning ways

Mound continues his winning ways

Austintown

Mound all but locked up divisional honors by recording his fourth consecutive win in Saturday’s $50,000 Joshua Radosevich Memorial Stakes for Ohio bred 2-year-olds at Hollywood Gaming at Mahoning Valley Race Course.

Always in or near the lead under jockey Megan Fadlovich, the gelded son of Mercer Mill proved his mettle when he was challenged in the stretch by He’s Taken to win by a neck.

The fractions were 23.66 and 48.28, and the running time for the six furlongs on a track labeled fast was 1:16.74. The payout was $3.60.

He’s Taken was second, more than six lengths ahead of third place finisher Blazing Charcoal.

Mound, who won the $150,000 Best of Ohio Juvenile at Belterra Park in his last start, earned $30,000 for the victory, his fourth overall from six starts.

Youngstown’s Boone wins NBA title

ST. PETERSBURG, FLA.

Darnell “Deezol” Booone of Youngstown won the National Boxing Association middleweight title on Thursday night, knocking out Colombia’s Dionisio Miranda in the third round at the Trade Winds Island Resorts.

Boone (20-21, 9 KOs) dropped Miranda (22-10-2) nine seconds into the third round, using a double jab/short overhand right combination. Boone trains with Sam Calderone at the Burnside Boxing Club in Struthers.

“Tell everybody thanks for all the support,” he said. “The last few days, my Facebook page has been blowing up, everybody has been calling me and telling me congratulations and that they’re proud of me for not giving up. Winning the belt probably hasn’t set in because I’m so happy and I’ve worked so hard for this. It’s finally paying off.”

Boone recently signed with Cornerstone Boxing. His promoter is Ray Montchal and he’s managed by Kim Montchal.

“I’m ready to see what they’ve got in store for me,” he said. “Just be looking for a big 2015.”

Pine-Richland falls in title game

HERSHEY, PA.

St. Joseph’s Prep pulled off a 49-41 victory over Pine-Richland for its second straight PIAA Class AAAA football championship title.

Olamide Zaccheaus’ interception of Ben DiNucci’s final heave into the end zone officially sealed the Hawks’ triumph, finishing an 11-3 season for Gabe Infante’s club.

A little more than two minutes earlier, after Pine-Richland (15-1) had scored to pull within 42-41, linebacker Joe Dumond rushed DiNucci on the two-point pass, forcing a failed conversion that kept St. Joe’s in front.

Sophomore running back De’Andre Swift scored four second-half touchdowns for the Hawks, including a 47-yard sprint with 1:49 left that actually gave the Rams a fighting chance.

South Fayette wins state crown

HERSHEY, Pa.

Sparked by a championship-record 95-yard touchdown run by Hunter Hayes, WPIAL champion South Fayette clipped Dunmore 28-16 to claim its second straight PIAA Class AA football title.

Although the Lions (16-0) reached Hersheypark Stadium behind Pennsylvania’s all-time passing leader, senior quarterback Brett Brumbaugh, Hayes emerged as South Fayette’s workhorse against the District 2 challenger and legendary Dunmore head coach Jack Henzes.

Hayes finished with 263 rushing yards on 27 carries, including that 95-yard romp that gave South Fayette a 21-16 lead late in the third quarter. Hayes added a first-quarter scoring run, affording a short-lived 7-6 edge.

Henzes, No. 2 on the state’s all-time leaders in wins (396), and the Bucks (14-2) opened a 16-14 lead at intermission via a Garrett Murray 34-yard touchdown run and a 4-yard plunge by Colin Holmes, both in the opening quarter. Joey Capooci’s 26-yard field goal came with 9:09 remaining in the half.

Brumbaugh, a Duquesne recruit, completed eight of 18 attempts for 120 yards and a pair of touchdowns, the last a 37-yard cross to Dan Trimbur.

Staff/wire reports