SPORTS DIGEST || Local MMA fighters head to Palermo Center

Local MMA fighters head to Palermo Center

CAMPBELL

Eleven bouts featuring local amatuer mixed martial artists are going down at the Palermo Center on Saturday in St. Lucy’s Fight Night 8. The fighters are hail from either Pennsylvania or Ohio and all fights are sanctioned by the Ohio Athletic Commission. Tickets can be purchased at the door for $30 or from one of the fighters at a $25 pre-sale price. Gates open at 6 p.m. and bouts start at 7:30. Here are the contestants:

Thomas George (Hubbard) vs. Joey Stephens (Greenville), James Taylor (Cortland) vs. Ben Suehr (Pittsburgh), Todd Richards (Uniontown) vs. Josh Florack (Pa.), Sam Edinger (Sharon) vs. Sean White (Pa.), Daniel Albright (Shellsburg, Pa.) vs. Sean Dinan (Ohio), Riley Miller (Cortland) vs. David Carrol (Indiana), Matt Zenowicz (Bellavue) vs. Ethan Hayes (Uniontown), Dan Padula (Niles) vs. Jim Stein (Pittsburgh), Brandon Jay (Clarion) vs.. Kevin Johnston (Sharon), Gary Taylor (Sharon) vs. Saeed Garner (Hubbard), Garret Dush (Clarion) vs. Jason Fremd (W.Va.).

Bethany features Naples sisters

BETHANY, VA.

South Range graduate Gabby Naples is expected to see a lot of playing time for the Bethany College women’s basketball team. Naples averaged six points and 4.8 rebounds last season.

Her sister, Alexis, a the point guard. Last season, she averaged 3.7 assists.

Other players from the Mahoning Valley on the Bison team are Sebring’s Kelsi Settle, and Wellsville’s Mikyla Tipton.

Howland golfer Russell joins Malone University

CANTON

Howland senior Rachel Russell has signed on with Malone University’s women’s golf team during the early signing period, the team announced on Thursday.

The Niles native was a four-year letter winner in golf and a four-time academic letter honoree. Other awards include being named to the Academic All-Ohio team, the All-Northeast Ohio District team as an honorable mention and won the team’s Outstanding Achievement Award. This season, she qualified individually for the Northeast District Tournament. She plans on pursuing a nursing degree at Malone.

Tim Johnson presents youth football classic

Youngstown

Former Youngstown State football standout Tim Johnson is hosting the 145-pound Youth Valley All-Star Classic on Saturday at 4:15 p.m. inside the WATTS on YSU’s campus.

YSU President Jim Tressel will perform the coin toss. Admsission is $10 at the door.

Johnson played linebacker for the Penguins under Tressel in 1999 and 2000. He was inducted in the YSU Athletics Hall of Fame in 2010. After leaving YSU, he played in the NFL from 2001-06 — including for the Oakland Raiders in 2002, blocking a punt in Super Bowl XXXVII.

NL’s Harper, AL’s Donaldson win MVP

NEW York

Bryce Harper became the youngest unanimous MVP winner in baseball history Thursday, capturing the NL award despite his Washington Nationals missing the playoffs.

Josh Donaldson took the AL MVP, earning the honor after helping boost the Toronto Blue Jays back into the postseason for the first time since 1993.

Harper turned 23 on Oct. 16, after the playoffs had already started. He got all 30 first-place votes from members of the Baseball Writers’ Association of America.

The 2012 NL Rookie of the Year led the majors in slugging percentage and on-base average. The outfielder hit .330 with 42 home runs and 99 RBIs.

Harper was the first player from a Washington franchise to win an MVP.

Harper was the fourth-youngest player overall to win an MVP, with Stan Musial, Johnny Bench and Vida Blue also 22 but not quite as old.

Arizona first baseman Paul Goldschmidt was second and Cincinnati first baseman Joey Votto was third.

Staff and wire reports