SPORTS digest

Phantoms defeat USHL-leading Stars

LINCOLN, NEB.

Alex Esposito scored twice as the Youngstown Phantoms put together one of its best performances of the season on Friday in defeating the Lincoln Stars, 4-1.

Esposito’s first goal came 37 seconds into the game.

“Mo [Cam Morrison] won a battle down low to get the puck and found me open in the slot,” Esposito said. “Once we scored that early goal we felt good.”

James Winkler made it 2-0 on an assist from Ty Farmer.

Kevin Conley’s goal made it 3-0 in the second period. Eric Esposito assisted.

The USHL-leading Stars score with less than a minute left in the contest to deny Youngstown its first shutout. Ryan Bednard made 29 saves.

“It was a good effort, I thought after we got that third goal we eased off our identity a bit,” Phantoms head coach John Wroblewski said. “We had too many turnovers in the neutral zone, but our compete level was good and I admired our guys perseverance.”

The Phantoms and Stars play again tonight at 8.

Steel Valley Sprint set Monday at MVRC

Austintown

Hebbronville, Bayerd and Lewys Vaporizer, the first three finishers from the Perryville Stakes at the Breeders Cup, headline Monday’s inaugural running of the $200,000 Steel Valley Sprint at Hollywood Gaming at Mahoning Valley Race Course.

The Steel Valley Sprint has attracted some of the biggest names in racing. Maggi Moss, who has been one of North America’s top owners over the past decade, has entered Tanner’s Popsicle, a winner of four-in-a-row and six-of-eight races in 2015.

Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas and Zayat Stables will team up with Lukas sending out the Kentucky-based Sharm, a colt by Majestic Warrior.

Carded as the seventh race on Monday’s nine-race program, the approximate post time for the Steel Valley Sprint is 3:26 p.m. The Hollywood Gaming Mahoning Distaff will be run as the sixth race with an approximate post time of 2:59 p.m.

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,

Steelers’ Moats fined for face mask grab

PITTSBURGH

Browns quarterback Johnny Manziel forgave Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Arthur Moats for twisting his face mask a split-second before a brutal takedown, but the NFL didn’t.

The league revealed Friday it fined Moats $8,681 for the unnecessary-roughness penalty he committed against Manziel in the second quarter of the Browns’ 30-9 loss to the Steelers on Sunday at Heinz Field.

With 9:27 left in first half, Moats was flagged for grabbing Manziel’s face mask, twisting and yanking him down. Moats drew a 15-yard penalty.

Cal State LA hires Garrett as AD

LOS ANGELES

Mike Garrett has been hired as executive director for athletics at Cal State Los Angeles in a return to his hometown where he spent nearly 17 years in the same position at Southern California.

Garrett’s hiring was announced Friday at the Division II school. He succeeds Dan Bridges, who will retire in December after 10 years in the job. Garrett will begin his duties in January.

Garrett won the 1965 Heisman Trophy at USC, starred in the AFL and NFL, and served as AD at his alma mater from 1993-2010.

He was replaced by Pat Haden in the wake of NCAA sanctions that resulted from scandal involving football player Reggie Bush and basketball player O.J. Mayo.

Staff/wire report