Phantoms add goalie in exchange for picks

May 6, 2014 at 12:00a.m.

youngstown

The Youngstown Phantoms have acquired goaltender Chris Birdsall from the Cedar Rapids Roughriders in exchange for a fifth-round pick in phase two of today’s United States Hockey League draft.

The RoughRiders will also receive a fifth-round draft pick in 2015 if Birdsall records a save percentage of .901 or better during this coming season.

Birdsall, 17, is committed to play for Boston College at the conclusion of his USHL career. Over the last two seasons, the Glen Rock, N.J. native posted a 17-22 record with a 3.50 goals against average and .877 save percentage.

Castiglione, Crozier sweep softball awards

Indianapolis

For the second time this season, Youngstown State senior Casey Crozier and sophomore Miranda Castiglione have swept the Horizon League softball weekly awards.

Crozier was named the Horizon League pitcher of the week, while Castiglione was named player of the week for April 28 to May 4, the league announced on Monday. It marks the third weekly award of this season for Crozier and the second for Castiglione.

YSU went 11-8 in conference play and posted an overall 29-22 record. The Penguins are the No. 4 seed of the Horizon League Softball Championship and are last year’s runner-up.

Poland’s Gardner signs with Valpo for tennis

Valparaiso coach Jim Daugherty announced the addition of Poland’s Garrett Gardner to the men’s tennis program Monday.

Gardner is a four-star recruit as ranked by tennisrecruiting.net. Gardner is currently 71-6 in singles play during his high school career, having played at No. 1 since his sophomore year. He’s ranked sixth in Ohio and 182nd in the nation.

He was named the 2013 Tennis Athlete of the Year by The Vindicator. Gardner qualified for the Division II state tennis tournament in 2011 in doubles and in 2013 in singles.

Southington’s Ellis excelling at Allegheny

Southington graduate Brandon Ellis has helped guide Allegheny College to the North Coast Athletic Conference baseball tournament, posting a 5-0 record this season.

Ellis’ Gators play Denison University in the conference tournament’s opening round on Thursday in Chillocothe. Ellis will then walk in his graduation on Saturday.

AP: Big Ten tourney coming to DC in 2017

WASHINGTON

A person familiar with the plans says the Big Ten Conference will announce Tuesday that its basketball tournament is going to be held at Washington’s Verizon Center in 2017.

The person spoke to The Associated Press on Monday on condition of anonymity because no official announcement had been made. The conference said Commissioner Jim Delaney would appear at a news conference at Verizon Center on Tuesday but did not say why.

The 2017 Big Ten tournament will be the 20th. The inaugural tournament was held in 1998 in Chicago. It was in Indianapolis this year.

Ted Lindsay finalists: Crosby, Getzlaf, Giroux

TORONTO

Sidney Crosby of the Pittsburgh Penguins, Ryan Getzlaf of the Anaheim Ducks and Claude Giroux of the Philadelphia Flyers are finalists for the Ted Lindsay Award.

The award is presented annually to the Most Valuable Player in the NHL, as voted by members of the NHL Players’ Association.

The three centers are also the finalists for the Hart Trophy.

Mill Creek golf closed Friday morning

The Mill Creek Golf Course will close to the public on Friday morning due to a scheduled private event.

Both North and South Courses will be closed. The Course will reopen to the public at 1:30 p.m.

Staff/Wire report