Report: MSU’s Powell transferring to YSU

June 23, 2015 at 12:00a.m.

YOUNGSTOWN

Michigan State sophomore Jalyn Powell is transferring to Youngstown State, according to a report from MLive.com.

The Warren Harding High graduate was moved from safety to linebacker during the Spartans’ bowl practice in December. He appeared in nine games and finished with five tackles last season after redshirting in 2013.

A YSU spokesman said he was unaware of the transfer. An attempt to reach Powell on Monday was unsuccessful.

YSU’s Pluchinsky wins NEO Amateur

LIBERTY

Youngstown State senior Brandon Pluchinsky won the 85th Northeast Ohio Amateur Golf Championship which concluded on Monday with 36 holes at the Youngstown Country Club. The South Range High graduate won by six shots after rounds of 66 and 69 on Monday.

For the four-round event, Pluchinsky carded a 279 with rounds of 72, 72, 66 and 69. Finishing in second was Tyler McHugh of Aurora, who shot a 285. Kent State’s Ian Holt was third with a 286 and was the only other golfer within 11 shots of Pluchinsky.

The first round was played at the Windmill Lakes Golf Club on June 16. The second round was at Club Walden on June 18 before the conclusion of the event on Monday at YCC.

Five other Penguins also took part in the tournament. Thomas Lydic finished tied for ninth with a 296. Dominic Carano was 17th with a 301, Jason McQuown finished 19th with a 302, D.J. Holub was 34th with a 315 and Evan Standohar placed 38th with a 321.

Indians to give Aiken $2.5 million to sign

CLEVELAND

Brady Aiken will receive a signing bonus of just over $2.5 million from the Cleveland Indians.

The left-hander, taken with the 17th overall pick in the amateur draft, agreed to a minor league deal last week that includes a signing bonus of $2,513,280, slightly above the slot value of $2,393,600.

Aiken was the No. 1 overall selection in last year’s amateur draft by Houston but didn’t sign after the Astros became concerned about his elbow. Aiken had Tommy John surgery in March and won’t be able to pitch until next year.

Hawks announce Ferry ‘stepping down’ as GM

ATLANTA

The Atlanta Hawks have announced that Danny Ferry has stepped down as general manager of the team, ending an indefinite leave of absence that began in August following racially derogatory comments Ferry made.

Hawks CEO Steve Koonin said in a statement Monday announcing the move that Ferry is a “tremendous GM” and that he “is not a racist.”

Koonin added now that the Hawks have identified new owners, “the resolution of Danny’s contract with existing ownership is appropriate.”

Ferry, 48, hadn’t commented publicly since going on indefinite leave, but said in the Hawks’ release that while the year has been “incredibly difficult and humbling, it is critical for me to clear my name and for people to realize that I have always built a culture of respect, diversity, and honesty.”

US Open ratings down from 2012

NEW YORK

With Tiger Woods missing the cut, the U.S. Open’s TV viewership for the final round was down 30 percent from the last time the tournament was on the West Coast.

Sunday’s coverage on Fox averaged 6.7 million viewers.

That was down from 9.6 million when the U.S. Open was last played on the West Coast in 2012, which allows for the final holes to be played in prime time in much of the country.

Woods still had an outside chance to contend going into the fourth round that year, though he got off to a slow Sunday start and was never a factor on the last day.

This was the first Open of Fox’s 12-year contract with the USGA to take over coverage from NBC.

Vindicator staff/wire reports