Sferra softball classic canceled by rain

June 24, 2015 at 12:00a.m.

Tuesday’s 12th annual Bill Sferra Fast-Pitch Classic for high school senior softball players was canceled because of Tuesday’s storms.

The all-star games, which were rained out on June 16, will not be made up.

USHL announces rule changes to overtime

The United States Hockey League Board of Governors unanimously approved changes to the overtime format for the upcoming season at the league’s annual meeting.

The new rule stats that during the regular season, the sudden-death overtime period will be seven minutes in length. Full strength will be 4-on-4 until the first whistle following three minutes of play, at which full strength will be reduced to 3-on-3 for the duration of the overtime period.

If the game is still tied following overtime, a winner will be determined by a three-player shootout.

Japan beats the Dutch to reach quarterfinal

VANCOUVER, British Columbia

Mizhuo Sakaguchi scored what turned out to be the deciding goal in the 78th minute on a pretty left-footed shot from the top of the 18-yard box, and defending Women’s World Cup champion Japan held off a late attack to beat the Netherlands 2-1 on Tuesday night and reach the quarterfinal.

Kirsten van de Ven scored for the Dutch in extra time when the ball went off goalkeeper Ayumi Kaihori’s right arm.

Sakaguchi scored shortly after Japan nearly had an own goal. Sherida Spitse took a corner in the 76th and the ball deflected off Aya Sameshima toward her own net when Kaihori punched it away with her right fist.

OSU wrestler Snyder to take shot at Olympics

COLUMBUS

Ohio State star wrestler Kyle Snyder will redshirt next season in an effort to earn a spot on the U.S. team headed to the 2016 Rio Olympics.

Snyder was the NCAA runner-up at 197 pounds as a true freshman last year, helping the Buckeyes win their first national team title.

Snyder’s biggest breakthrough came earlier this month at the U.S. World Team Trials. He upset 2012 Olympic champion Jake Varner to earn a spot in the World Championships. Snyder will have three years of eligibility at Ohio State left starting in 2016-17.

CMU’s Derrick Nash dies of leukemia

MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich.

Central Michigan cornerback Derrick Nash, who was diagnosed with leukemia in 2013 when he was still in high school, has died. He was 20. Paradise Funeral Chapel says Nash died Monday.

Nash was a freshman who signed with Central Michigan in February 2013. He was diagnosed with leukemia that May during his senior year at Carrollton High School in Saginaw. After undergoing chemotherapy, Nash joined the team in 2014 and took part in spring practice.

Central Michigan says he was on schedule to claim a spot on the active roster for the 2014 season when doctors found the leukemia had returned.

Greg Gulas to receive OHSAA media award

AKRON

Boardman’s Greg Gulas, a sports contributor to The Vindicator for the past five decades and the former sports information director at YSU, will receive one of two OHSAA, Northeast District Athletic Board “Media Awards” today at the Akron/Fairlawn Holiday Inn.

Each of the six OHSAA districts across the state honors media members for their contribution to and coverage of high school sports and for upholding the stands of sportsmanship, ethics and integrity.

Gulas served as athletic director at Lowellville High School during the 2014-15 academic year and has served as tournament manager the past two years for the Northeast District’s, Struthers District Division’s I, II, III and IV sectional and district baseball tournament, which is held annually at Cene Park in Struthers.

Staff/wire reports