Fitch, Springfield, Liberty selling ticket passes

Fitch, Springfield, Liberty selling passes

Austintown Fitch, Springfield and Liberty high school are selling various sports passes for this fall.

Season tickets are now available for the Fitch football season. Fans may purchase tickets today, Thursday and Aug. 21 from 5-7:30 p.m. at the South Circle Ticket Office. The price is $30 for the six home games. Senior citizens (62 and older) may purchase a season ticket package for $25. For more information, call (330) 797-3900.

Springfield is selling seasonal passes and reserved varsity football seats beginning Monday in the Athletic Office.

Liberty is selling multi-event passes in the athletic office.

Two Akron players joining YSU baseball

YOUNGSTOWN

Former University of Akron baseball players Gerrad Rohan and Billy Salem have joined the Youngstown State University team for the 2015-16 season.

Rohan, a South Range High graduate, is 6-foot-1 and has played primarily at the corner infield positions in his collegiate career.

Salem is 6-foot-2 and played second and third base for the Zips. He is from Willoughby Hills and graduated from Mentor Lake Catholic High School.

Rohan batted .294 and ranked third on Akron’s squad with 28 RBIs in 2015. Salem hit a career-best .260 last season while scoring 13 runs and driving in 19. He played in 95 games while starting 70 times in three years at Akron.

James donating Akron scholarships

SANDUSKY

LeBron James is giving kids from Akron — ones with challenging backgrounds like his — the chance to go to college for free.

The NBA star has partnered with the University of Akron to provide a guaranteed four-year scholarship to the school for students in James’ “I Promise” program who qualify. The scholarship will cover tuition and the university’s general service fee — currently $9.500 per year.

“It’s the reason I do what I do,” said James, who announced the program Thursday while hosting an event for students at Cedar Point Amusement Park. “These students have big dreams, and I’m happy to do everything I can to help them get there. They’re going to have to earn it, but I’m excited to see what these kids can accomplish knowing that college is in their futures.”

Riley isn’t naming suspended players

LINCOLN, Neb.

Five Nebraska football players have been suspended for the Sept. 5 opener against BYU for violating team rules.

Coach Mike Riley announced the suspensions after practice Thursday night. He said he wouldn’t name the suspended players at this time but might by the week of the opener. He said “it will become obvious as the kickoff occurs.”

Riley replace Bo Pelini after the 2014 season.

Anderson, Changkija share LPGA lead

PORTLAND, Ore.

Amy Anderson and Sandra Changkija shared the first-round lead at 7-under 65 in the LPGA Tour’s Cambia Portland Classic.

In warm, calm afternoon conditions, Anderson had five consecutive birdies on the front nine in her bogey-free round at Columbia Edgewater. Changkija, playing in the morning, made six birdies on her opening nine and reached 8 under before finishing with a bogey.

Anderson, the 23-year-old former North Dakota State player who won an NCAA-record 20 tournaments, had never led a round during her two-year LPGA Tour career. She’s coming off her best finish of the year, a tie for eighth in Michigan in the Meijer LPGA Classic.

The 26-year-old Changkija, in her fourth LPGA season, has only two career top-10 finishes, but one came at the 2013 Portland stop.

Canadian teen star Brooke Henderson was a shot back along with Alison Lee and Julieta Granada.

Staff/wire reports