Crozier becomes YSU’s all-time wins leader

Crozier becomes YSU’s all-time wins leader

Baltimore, Md.

Senior Casey Crozier became Youngstown State’s all-time wins leader after tossing a two-hitter, with seven strikeouts, in an 11-2 win over Coppin State on Saturday afternoon.

Crozier, who improved to 6-2 on the season, collected her 47th career victory and did not allow a walk against Coppin State.

The Penguins lost to LaSalle, 5-1, earlier Saturday and are 11-8 on the season.

YSU will host Eastern Michigan on Tuesday as part of a doubleheader at the new on-campus YSU Softball Complex. First pitch for game one is slated for 3 p.m.

Schlegel earns Horizon all-tournament team

Youngstown State junior forward Heidi Schlegel was named to this year’s Horizon League all-tournament team.

Schlegel, a native of Wapakoneta, Ohio, averaged 20.5 points on 60-percent shooting for the Penguins as they advanced to the tournament semifinals for the second straight season. She added 16 rebounds, six assists, a block and a steal in YSU’s two games.

Schlegel joins Brandi Brown, an honoree last season, as the only Penguins to be named to the Horizon League’s all-tournament team.

Wright State wins women’s Horizon title

GREEN BAY, Wis.

Conference player of the year Kim Demmings shook off a foul-plagued first half and scored 22 of her 26 points after the break, helping Wright State rally for an 88-69 victory over Wisconsin-Green Bay on Sunday in the championship game of the Horizon League women’s tournament.

Demmings, limited to just nine minutes in the first half with three fouls, hit five 3-pointers in the second half to help send the Raiders to their first NCAA tournament berth.

Kris Letang cleared to practice after stroke

PITTSBURGH

Less than seven weeks after sustaining a stroke, Kris Letang was cleared to practice with the Pittsburgh Penguins and will join the team for practice Monday.

Letang, who has not played since a Jan. 29 stroke and resulting discovery of a small hole in his heart, has been taken off blood thinner medication. The defenseman has missed the past 14 games.

“He still has some other things to go through (before returning to game action),” Penguins coach Dan Bylsma said, “but we knew that this was the six-week mark (since the stroke diagnosis) and there was a chance. He’s been working out, he’s been skating and doing quite a bit on his own.”

Broncos ink ex-Steelers wide receiver Sanders

DENVER

The Denver Broncos gave Peyton Manning another receiving option, agreeing to a three-year contract with former Pittsburgh wideout Emmanuel Sanders.

Sanders, a third-round draft pick in 2010, had 161 catches for 2,030 yards and 11 touchdowns in four seasons with the Steelers. He started 10 games for Pittsburgh last season. The Broncos lost Eric Decker to free agency and are looking for someone to compete with Andre Caldwell, the backup receiver who they re-signed to a two-year deal.

Wes Welker and Demaryius Thomas are Denver’s two top threats at receiver.

SMU gets NIT top seed after missing big dance

SMU and Hall of Fame coach Larry Brown are staying home to play in the NIT.

Snubbed by the NCAA tournament selection committee after a three-game losing streak, the Mustangs (23-9) are a No. 1 seed in the NIT along with Minnesota, Florida State and St. John’s. The Mustangs didn’t have consecutive losses until ending the regular season with losses to Top 25 teams Louisville and Memphis, before losing to Houston in their AAC tournament opener.

SMU opens the NIT on Wednesday night at home against UC Irvine. The Mustangs are 9-1 at renovated Moody Coliseum.

Staff/Wire Reports