Baseball draft features local connections

June 9, 2014 at 12:00a.m.

At least three baseball players with local connections were selected in last week’s Major League Baseball draft.

Among those with Youngstown Class B connections are Tanner Scott, a left-handed pitcher from Howland out of Howard College, in the sixth round by the Baltimore Orioles, and J.J. Matijevic, a shortstop from Norwin, Pa., taken in the 22nd round by the Boston Red Sox. Matijevic currently plays for the Ohio Glaciers.

Also, Vinny Nittoli, whose dad Mike is from Struthers and played at YSU, was drafted in the 25th round by Seattle out of Xavier.

Handel’s has vouchers for Scrappers tickets

YOUNGSTOWN

Handel’s Homemade Ice Cream & Yogurt shops are giving away vouchers good for four Mahoning Valley Scrappers general admission tickets for the home opener on June 17 at Eastwood Field in Niles. The tickets can be upgraded to box seats for $4 each. Vouchers must be redeemed before the gates open.

Correction

COLUMBUS

Boardman senior Alan Burns placed 13th in the 1600-meter run at Saturday’s Division I state track meet at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium.

Burns finished in 4:21.92. The incorrect place was reported in Sunday’s edition of The Vindicator.

King holds off son for victory at Sharon

HARTFORD

Four-time champion Rex King of Bristolville edged his son, Rex King Jr., in a near-photo finish Saturday night in the 20-lap Hovis Auto & Truck Supply DIRTcar Big-Block Modified feature at Sharon Speedway. It was the elder King’s 48th career win at the track.

In other races, Will Thomas III of Sharpsville, Pa., won his third straight 20-lap Barris Supply RUSH Late Model feature; Joel Watson of Conneaut led every lap of the 20-lap Summit Racing Equipment Modified feature for his 18th career win in the division; Mike Clark of Warren led all 15 laps of the Gibson Insurance Agency Stock Cars feature for his third victory this season; Steve Burns Jr. of Masury became the first repeat winner in the Econo Mods; and Bill Fuchs of Greenville, Pa., the all-time leading feature winner in the Mini Stock division, captured his first win of the season in the 12-lap Deforest Used Parts feature.

De La Hoya takes place in Boxing Hall of Fame

CANASTOTA, N.Y.

Capping a career that included 10 titles in six weight divisions, an Olympic gold medal and 10 world titles, the Golden Boy found a permanent home. Oscar De La Hoya, who had an amateur record of 223-5 with 153 knockouts, was inducted Sunday into the International Boxing Hall of Fame. The Hall of Fame’s 25th class also included two of De La Hoya’s contemporaries in the modern era — Puerto Rican star Felix “Tito” Trinidad and Joe Calzaghe of Wales.

Ricciardo wins F-1 Canadian Grand Prix

MONTREAL

Daniel Ricciardo may be coming out of the shadow of his more celebrated Red Bull teammate. The 24-year-old Australian won the Canadian Grand Prix on Sunday to earn his first career Formula One victory, joining four-time defending world champion Sebastian Vettel on the podium and snapping Mercedes’ stranglehold on the circuit this season.

Ricciardo’s win was the first win this year for any driver other than Nico Rosberg, the pole-sitter and championship leader, and Lewis Hamilton, a three-time Canadian GP champion.

Triple Crown bid brings big TV ratings

NEW YORK

California Chrome’s attempt for a Triple Crown averaged 20.6 million viewers on NBC — the second-highest total for the Belmont Stakes. Only Smarty Jones’ run in 2004 drew more.

The network said Sunday viewership was up 57 percent from 2008, the last time a Triple Crown was on the line at the Belmont.

Staff reports/Associated Press