Three Penguins earn all-conference honors

Three Penguins earn all-conference honors

Indianapolis

For the second straight season, junior Miranda Castiglione has been named All-Horizon League first-team in a vote by the league’s softball head coaches, the league announced. Sophomore Sarah Dowd was named to the All-Horizon League second-team and Cali Mikovich (Fitch) was selected to the All-Freshman Team.

Castiglione, the 2014 Horizon League Co-Player of the Year, became the first Youngstown State player to earn consecutive first-team accolades since Jordan Ingalls in 2011 and 2012. Castiglione batted .349 with eight doubles, three triples, four home runs and 29 runs batted in. She also set the Youngstown State single-season record with 29 stolen bases.

She also moved into a tie for seventh on the career home run list with 17 and needs three stolen bases to break the career steals record.

Dowd picked up her second consecutive second-team honor after batting .329 with 11 home runs, six doubles and team best 42 runs scored and 33 runs batted in. Dowd tied the single-season home run record with 11 which was set by Bedra and Rochelle Vanyi in 2008.

Mikovich batted .308 overall and ranked second on the team with seven home runs and 30 runs batted in. She also ranked third on the team with 28 runs scored and posted a .538 slugging percentage.

Speedway to host ‘Lou Blaney Memorial’

Sharon, PA.

Over the past six years, the “Lou Blaney Memorial” has been held annually at Sharon Speedway. During the offseason, the announcement was made that not only would the event carry the All Star Circuit of Champions sanction, but would also pay a record $10,000 to-win for the “410” Sprint Cars on July 11.

Sharon was Blaney’s home track and later where he’d enjoy spending his retirement after his son Dave took over part ownership of the Hartford showplace in 2002, Tri-City was a longtime stomping grounds for the driver. Blaney won 29 Sprint Car features and another 24 in the Modifieds during his career at Tri-City.

Lawsuit accuses 49ers’ Brooks of groping

SANTA CLARA, Calif.

A woman has accused San Francisco 49ers linebacker Ahmad Brooks of groping her while she was unconscious at the home of former teammate Ray McDonald. The allegation was contained in a civil lawsuit filed Tuesday in Santa Clara County against Brooks and McDonald. The woman says she slipped and fell on a pool deck at McDonald’s house in December 2014 and continued to fall after that due to her initial head injury and alcohol consumption.

McDonald initially thought she was dead, but did not call 911, telling others he didn’t want a dead female found on his property, according to the suit. At some point, Brooks groped her before McDonald carried her upstairs to his bedroom and sexually assaulted her, the lawsuit claims. McDonald has sued the woman for defamation.

Kyrgios knocks Federer out in Madrid

MADRID

Top-seeded Roger Federer made an early exit from the Madrid Open on Wednesday after a second round defeat to Nick Kyrgios of Australia.

The 20-year-old from Canberra ended Federer’s hopes of a fourth title at the Spanish tournament by rallying for a closely-fought 6-7 (2), 7-6 (5), 7-6 (12) victory.

Kyrgios came into the tournament after being beaten in Sunday’s final of the Estoril Open by Richard Gasquet, and also losing his status as the ATP’s highest-ranked teenager by turning 20.

Federer described his game as “just a horrible performance on the return.”

Staff/wire reports