SPORTS DIGEST || Tennessee’s Gabriel honored for academics

Tennessee’s Gabriel honored for academics

KNOXVILLE, Tenn.

University of Tennessee softball pitcher Erin Gabriel has been named to the 2014 Capital One Academic All-District 3 Division I First Team.

The Capital One Academic All-District Softball Teams recognize the nation’s top student-athletes for their combined performances athletically and in the classroom. Capital One has been the entitlement rights holder to CoSIDA’s Academic All-America teams programs since 2011.

Gabriel, a 2012 Poland High School graduate, was a 2013 SEC Freshman Academic Honor Roll selection, owns a perfect 4.0 GPA and has been named to the Dean’s List three times.

She is 5-0 on the season with a 2.96 ERA, 54 strikeouts, two complete games and two shutouts over 541/3 innings.

Gabriel set career high for strikeouts in a game on Feb. 14, fanning 11 batters over five shutout innings in win against Binghamton.

Watson to direct YSU football operations

YOUNGSTOWN

Ross Watson has been named the Youngstown State University director of football operations, replacing Dan Kopp.

Watson, a native of Austintown and a 2002 graduate of Austintown Fitch High School, spent the previous two seasons as the defensive backs coach at Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton, Fla.

Last season, Ross’s secondary was second in the FBS in passing yards allowed (161.5 ypg), third in passing efficiency defense (97.41) and 11th in total defense (325.9).

Watson spent four seasons as a defensive graduate assistant at the University of Nebraska and spent two seasons as cornerbacks coach at his alma mater, Division III Mount Union.

Ohio State’s Timko has hole-in-one

FRENCH LICK, IND.

Canfield High School graduate Boo Timko hit a hole-in-one on Friday during the Big Ten Championship.

Timko, a junior, aced the 187-yard No. 12 hole. It was his third career hole-in-one.

After two rounds of competition, Timko is 2 over par and Ohio State is in fourth place, two strokes behind first-place Purdue.

Sterling’s friend says he’s traumatized

V. Stiviano says Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling is confused and traumatized after the NBA banned him for life for racist statements he made during a recorded conversation with her.

Stiviano, Sterling’s friend, told Barbara Walters on ABC’s “20/20” that Sterling feels alone and not supported by those around him, but added that he should “absolutely” apologize for telling her to not post online photos of herself with black people, including basketball great Magic Johnson.

The recording, which an attorney for Stiviano said was leaked by a third party, led to public outcry across the country and sponsors to drop the Clippers.

On Tuesday, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver banned Sterling for life, fined him $2.5 million and urged league owners to force him to sell the team.

Noah undergoes left knee surgery

CHICAGO

Bulls center Joakim Noah is recovering after undergoing arthroscopic left knee surgery.

Chicago announced the operation Friday. It was performed by team physician Dr. Brian Cole. The team says Noah will rehab his knee for eight to 12 weeks.

Noah is coming off his best season with the Bulls, when he was the NBA Defensive Player of the Year. The 6-foot-11 Noah set career highs with averages of 12.6 points, 11.3 rebounds and 5.4 assists.

Noah helped the Bulls win 48 games during the regular season, but it was clear that the knee was bothering him when Chicago was eliminated by Washington in the first round of the playoffs.

He had the knee drained at some point during the season and the injury flared up again.

Staff/wire reports