Schlegel named MVP at basketball banquet

Schlegel named MVP at basketball banquet

YOUNGSTOWN

Heidi Schlegel was named the Youngstown State women’s basketball program’s Most Valuable Player for the 2014-15 seeason by Ed DiGregorio at the team’s annual postseason banquet on Sunday at the Our Lady of Mount Carmel Social Hall.

Schlegel, a senior from Wapakoneta, helped lead the Penguins to a 21-win season, their second berth in the Women’s NIT in the last three seasons, and their third straight trip to the semifinals of the Horizon League Tournament. She was named first-team All-Horizon League for the second straight season and finished her career as the program’s all-time leader in free throws and ranked fourth in points with 1,729.

Fellow senior Latisha Walker received the Most Improved Player award, while a pair of freshmen took home the other top awards. Indiya Benjamin was named the Newcomer of the Year, and Nikki Arbanas was named the Defensive Player of the Year.

Maria Lacatena named co-player of the week

Indianapolis, Ind.

Youngstown State sophomore Maria Lacatena (Stanhope, N.J.) was named the Horizon League softball co-player of the week, the league announced Monday afternoon.

Lacatena batted .533 and led the Penguins to a 4-3 record last week. The Penguins picked up a 6-3 win against Akron on April 14, swept Robert Morris, 4-3, and 7-0 (forfeit) on April 15 and a 17-4 win over UIC on April 18. The Penguins were leading Robert Morris 16-3 and Lacatena went 2-for-2, but the Colonials did not take the field in the fifth inning. Since the game did not reach five innings when the Colonials forfeited, the statistics for the game were voided.

This is the first weekly award for Lacatena and the first for Youngstown State this season. The Penguins visit Eastern Michigan on Wednesday at 3 p.m. and host Green Bay in a three-game Horizon League series this weekend.

YSU baseball set to begin long home stand

YOUNGSTOWN

The Youngstown State baseball team begins an eight-game home stand that will stretch the next two weeks when it welcomes Bowling Green to Eastwood Field today. First pitch against the Falcons is set for 5:30 p.m.

The Penguins, who have played just 10 times at Eastwood Field up to this point, will play eight home games from today through May 3. YSU will welcome Horizon League-leading Wright State this weekend and it will host Akron and Oakland next week. The Penguins will also host Ohio State on May 12, meaning nine of the team’s next 12 games are at Eastwood Field.

Eagles sign Tim Tebow to 1-year contract

PHILADELPHIA

The Philadelphia Eagles have signed quarterback Tim Tebow to a one-year contract, giving the 2007 Heisman Trophy winner his first shot in the NFL since the Patriots cut him before the 2013 season.

The team announced the deal Monday but did not disclose financial terms. Tebow hasn’t played in the NFL since 2012 with the New York Jets. He worked as a television analyst last year with the SEC Network and ESPN.

The 27-year-old player is still highly popular after leading Florida to two national titles and spending two seasons with the Denver Broncos. Many fans follow Tebow because of his strong Christian beliefs.

The Eagles already have four other quarterbacks on their roster: Sam Bradford, Mark Sanchez, Matt Barkley and G.J. Kinne.

Ursuline softball rallies to top Magnificat, 9-5

Chloe Cruz and Olexa Bunofsky each had two hits and three RBIs as Ursuline (5-5) rallied for a 9-5 victory over Magnificat (2-7) at the Irish Strikeout Cancer Invitational on Saturday.

Zoie Amatore and Stephanie Ohalek doubled in the six-run 5th inning while Cassie Hanushak added a RBI triple. Jordyn Keneally struck out 11 and walked one to earn the win on the mound.

Staff/Wire reports