Phillips commits to Garden City C.C.

Phillips commits to Garden City C.C.

LIBERTY

Liberty High School’s Ben Phillips has accepted a scholarship and will continue his football career and education at Garden City Community College in Garden City, Kan., according to Leopards coach Kevin Cylar.

Phillips, a senior two-way player, rushed for 525 yards and compiled 503 receiving yards for Liberty. He scored 16 touchdowns. Phillips also was an impact player on defense with five interceptions, six pass breakups and 24 solo tackles and one tackle for loss.

Phillips also returned four punts for touchdowns for the Leopards, who finished 10-2 and reached the Division V regional semifinals.

W. Reserve players pick colleges

BERLIN CENTER

Western Reserve senior football players Joe Falasca and Matt Mace made their college choices Wednesday, signing with Glenville State and Walsh University, respectively.

Falasca, a wide receiver and defensive back for the Blue Devils, plans to play football and run track with the Pioneers in Glenville, W.Va.

Mace, a two-way lineman, plans to play football for the Cavaliers in North Canton.

Falasca caught 33 passes for 661 yards and 12 touchdowns for Western Reserve (11-2) in 2014. Mace graded out at 92 percent with 55 pancake blocks and also dominated on the defensive front for the Blue Devils, who reached the Division VII regional final.

YSU games postponed

Wintry weather in Tennessee has forced this weekend’s Youngstown State baseball games at Tennessee Tech to be canceled. The games will not be rescheduled.

The Penguins will resume their season at Western Carolina on Feb. 27.

Hernan inducted into EOWL hall

AUSTINTOWN

Former Youngstown State University wrestler Don Hernan recently was inducted into the Eastern Ohio Wrestling League hall of fame. Hernan was a four-time letterman at Austintown Fitch High school and was the league’s first three-time champion.

Hernan competed for YSU from 1974-78. He was a four-time NCAA tournament qualifier. He also won the regional Olympic Trials in 1976 but lost at the Olympic trials to a world champion.

Hernan coached several high school league championship teams then became a high school and college official.

Baalke refuses comment on Harbaugh

INDIANAPOLIS

Jim Harbaugh was recently receptive to rehashing the details of his departure from the 49ers. Trent Baalke was decidedly less so.

The 49ers general manager used the phrase “moved on” five times in a 14-minute news conference Wednesday when asked about Harbaugh’s December exit.

“Once again, he’s moved on, we’ve moved on and I think the important thing for us now is just to look forward and that’s what we’re trying to do,” Baalke said. “We’ve got three important things happening here coming up and I know that’s where my focus is.”

After guiding the 49ers at least as far as the NFC Championship Game in his first three seasons, Harbaugh’s squad went 8-8 in 2014. A few days after the season finale, he was named the coach at the University of Michigan.

The 49ers have insisted the parting was mutual, but Harbaugh said last week he was told after a Week 15 loss to the Seattle Seahawks that he wouldn’t coach the team in 2015. Harbaugh had one more year remaining on his contract.

Staff/wire report