Monday, January 27, 2014
Sharon Speedway holds ‘Showdown’
Hartford
Sharon Speedway held the third annual “Circle Track Showdown” on Saturday, with ATVs and Side-by-Sides joining snowmobiles for the first time.
Snowmobile feature victors were Tim Reese (Hubbard), Senior Vintage; Jeff Cann (Hubbard), 400cc; Scott Hackett (Brookfield), 401-500cc; Tyler Ochs (Lucinda, Pa.), 501-600cc and Vintage; Lee Luchette (Brookfield), 601-700cc; Don Pizor (Brookfield), 701-800cc, and Mark Preston (West Middlesex, Pa.), 801cc-plus.
ATV feature winners were Matt Carney (Vienna), 400cc feature 1; Justin Hollabaugh (Sharpsville, Pa.), 400cc feature 2; Kevin VanZandt (Sligo, Pa.), 501-600cc, and Jon Fife (Girard), 601cc-plus.
Taking feature wins in the Side-by-Sides were Ed Mueller (Masury,) and Ron Kirila, Jr. (Burghill).
Don Pizor won the the 701-800cc snowmobile feature.
Blue Jackets activate forward Blake Comeau
COLUMBUS
The Columbus Blue Jackets have activated forward Blake Comeau off injured reserve after he missed the last eight games with a sprained knee.
The Blue Jackets also recalled defenseman Tim Erixon from its American Hockey League affiliate in Springfield, Mass., and sent forward Cody Bass to their top minor league club.
Comeau has three goals and eight assists in 43 games with Columbus this season. He ranks second on the team in hits with 131. In 404 NHL games played with the Blue Jackets, Flames and Islanders, Comeau has 70 goals and 89 assists.
Garza, Brewers reach $50M, 4-year deal
MILWAUKEE
After committing $50 million to free agent Matt Garza, the Milwaukee Brewers are feeling much better about their pitching staff.
Garza completed a four-year contract with Milwaukee on Sunday, strengthening the top of the rotation and boosting the Brewers’ hopes following a disappointing season.
The team made the announcement, saying the contract included a vesting option for 2018. Earlier in the afternoon, team owner Mark Attanasio was on stage during a question-and-answer session at a fan event and said a deal was in place.
General manager Doug Melvin called Garza an “established, top-of-the-rotation pitcher.”
“The thing about signing Matt now, it gives us a lot more depth and, as you know, during a baseball season, you never use five starters,” Melvin said. “So, just kind of wait and see how spring training unfolds, and always having the available depth is important to stay in a 162-game season.”
Action Express wins Rolex 24 at Daytona
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla.
After more than 2,400 miles and 231/2 hours of racing, the most prestigious North American sports car race came down to eight minutes and a final five-lap sprint.
The first race of the unified United SportsCar Championship — the NASCAR-owned and IMSA-sanctioned series born from the merger between American Le Mans and Grand-AM — ended with a NASCAR flair. A late, full-course caution swallowed Joao Barbosa’s 13-seccond lead and gave Max Angelelli a last-ditch chance to win the Rolex 24 at Daytona.
Former FSU QB signs with Alabama
Former Florida State quarterback Jake Coker is transferring to Alabama.
Alabama coach Nick Saban announced Sunday that Coker has signed with the Crimson Tide.
“We think a lot of Jake and we are excited to have him join our team,” Saban said in a statement. “He is not only an outstanding football player, but he is also a fine young man who we feel will be a great fit with our program at Alabama.”
Coker is on target to graduate in May and would be eligible to play for the Tide in 2014.
Vindicator staff/wire reports