MVRC to begin racing again on Monday

January 4, 2015 at 12:00a.m.

Austintown

The Mahoning Valley Race Course, which recently wrapped up its successful racing season debut, is set to begin the 2015 Winter/Spring season with an eight-race program on Monday, beginning 12:45 p.m.

Angel O. Stanley and T. D. Houghton, who finished first and second in the leading rider standings at the Inaugural meet, are set to continue their battle for the top spot as they both are scheduled to race throughout the season.

The season will run through Saturday, April 25 and feature a total of 64 days of racing.

NC State beats Pitt 68-50 in ACC play

RALEIGH, N.C.

Ralston Turner scored 16 points to break out of a slump and help North Carolina State beat Pittsburgh 68-50 on Saturday.

Trevor Lacey scored a game-high 19 points for the Wolfpack (11-4, 2-0 Atlantic Coast Conference), who regrouped from an ugly home loss to Cincinnati earlier this week with a much stronger performance.

N.C. State shot 52 percent, including 16-for-27 (59 percent) after halftime to turn the game into a rout after leading 27-20 at the break.

The Wolfpack pushed the margin to 21 points with about 7 minutes left and never let the lead slip below double figures.

Jamel Artis scored 13 points to lead the Panthers (10-4, 0-1), who won their first-ever ACC regular-season game here almost exactly a year earlier. But they shot just 33 percent and had no answers against an N.C. State team playing with an extra edge in this one.

Blackhawks F Versteeg out for a month

CHICAGO

Chicago Blackhawks forward Kris Versteeg will be sidelined for a month with a left hand injury after he was hurt in the Winter Classic.

Versteeg left Thursday’s 3-2 loss to Washington after he blocked Eric Fehr’s shot with his hand early in the third period. Versteeg ranks third on the team with 27 points (nine goals, 18 assists) in 34 games.

Coach Joel Quenneville said Saturday that Versteeg will be out for “about a month,” and the team doesn’t think the injury will require surgery. The winger also missed the start of the season with a lower-body injury.

The Blackhawks promoted top prospect Teuvo Teravainen from the minors Friday to help make up for Versteeg’s absence. Chicago’s next game is Sunday against Dallas.

ITCL commissioner to speak at Curbstone

Inter Tri-County Leauge commissioner Paul Andraso will be the guest speaker at the weekly luncheon of the Curbstone Coaches on Monday at Lucianno’s Banquet Center in The Wedgewood Plaza in Austintown.

The event begins at noon and is open to the public.

Also, applications are being accepted for nominations in this years Hall of Fame class which will be inducted on Sunday May 3. For an application to nominate, please call 330-792-2272.

36th Warren men’s challenge underway

The first round of qualifying is complete in the 36th Warren Men’s Challenge Bowling Tournament, which was held at Freeway Lanes on Saturday.

Participating in the field of 69 bowlers are eight past champions, holding a combined 11 titles. The second round of qualifying starts today at noon.

Amron Lanes to host bowling tournament

The Youngstown 600 Club singles tournament will be held at Amron Lanes on Sunday, January 11 at 11 a.m.

This is a Bowl 4 Games-Throw Out Low Game tournament. Entries can be found online at www.youngstown600club.com or at the various lanes. Entries must be received by Thursday. Any questions, please call Jan Schultz at 330-629-6908.

Staff/Wire report