SPORTS digest

Youngstown Cene falls in Pony Palomino opener

compton, calif.

Youngstown Cene lost its Pony Palomino World Series opener 5-3 to DeWitt, Michigan on Thursday in Compton, Calif.

Youngstown was shutout through the first six innings, before rallying for three runs in the bottom of the seventh. The comeback fell short despite out-hitting Michigan 11-9.

Riley Campbell went 3-for-4. Jared Kapturasky had two hits and drove in a pair of runs for Youngstown.

Hope Foundation to host kickball event

Youngstown

The Hope Foundation of the Mahoning Valley has announced its inaugural Kickball for Hope fundraising event to be held in June of 2016 in partnership with the Kickball League of Ohio and Youngstown State University.

This friendly co-ed tournament will promote and raise funds for The Foundation in order to further its mission of improving the quality of life for our community’s chronically and terminally ill children and their families through charitable support.

All games will be played on the campus of YSU at Harrison Field, Farmers National Bank Complex, Softball Complex and the Watson & Tressel Training Site (WATTS) if rained out.

Once plans are complete, information will be posted on the organization’s website, www.HopeMV.org.

The Brawlers to hold tryouts for dance team

niles

The Mahoning Valley Brawlers will have a cheerleading squad called The Knockouts this season.

The Fred Astaire Dance Studio will help fill the positions by holding auditions on Aug. 22 in the Center Court of Eastwood Mall. Fred Astaire is looking for spirited candidates experienced in cheer, dance, and tumbling.

Registration begins at 9 a.m. with auditions beginning at 10 a.m. Application forms are available at www.mvbrawlers.com and at the Eastwood Mall Customer Service Center.

Ledecky rallies US in 4x200 free relay

KAZAN, Russia

Katie Ledecky anchored the United States to a 3.04-second victory in the 4x200-meter freestyle relay at the world swimming championships.

The Americans trailed pacesetting Sweden until Ledecky dove in. She touched in 7 minutes, 45.37 seconds Thursday for her fourth gold medal of the eight-day meet.

Missy Franklin led off for the Americans, followed by Leah Smith, and Katie McLaughlin. They kept within striking distance of Sweden, which was under world-record pace for much of the 16-lap race. Italy earned silver in 7:48.41. China took bronze in 7:49.10. The Swedes faded to fourth.

Ledecky won the 200 free on Wednesday, to go with victories in the 400 and 1,500 freestyles. She set two world records in the longest distance race for women.

Mayweather defends choice of Berto as final foe

LOS ANGELES

Floyd Mayweather Jr. says Andre Berto is a worthy opponent for the final fight of his perfect career.

Three months after Mayweather (48-0, 26 KOs) dominated Manny Pacquiao in the most lucrative fight in boxing history, he began the difficult business of promoting his pay-per-view bout with Berto on Thursday with a news conference in downtown Los Angeles.

Mayweather acknowledged the immediate backlash from his choice of Berto (30-3, 23 KOs), a former welterweight champion who has lost three of his last six fights. Mayweather promises an exciting fight, even guaranteeing somebody will get knocked down.

Mayweather also repeated his declaration that this is the last fight of his career, although he grinned broadly while saying it. He also retired in 2008, but now says that was “only a vacation.”

Staff/wire report