SPORTS DIGEST || Scrappers fall again to Spikes

Scrappers fall again to Spikes

NILES

After jumping out to an early lead, the Mahoning Valley Scrappers collapsed again against the State College Spikes, falling 9-2 on Tuesday at Eastwood Field.

Spikes (37-33) designated hitter R.J. Dennard delivered the big blows with two homers that drove in four runs.

Scrappers (30-39) starter Micah Miniard (0-1) sufferd the loss, allowing four runs and five hits in the five innings he pitched.

Daniel Salters and Austin Fisher both doubled for the Scrappers, who are 1-7 against State College this summer.

Football tickets available at Fitch

AUSTINTOWN

The Austintown Fitch High School athletic department is selling tickets for Friday’s football game at Brunswick.

Tickets are available today from 11:30 a.m.-12:50 p.m. and Thursday from 5-7:30 p.m. at the ticket booth in the South Circle. Tickets also will be available to purchase during the day on Thursday in the main office.

YSU volleyball team opens with win

YOUNGSTOWN

Senior Aly Ryan had 15 kills in her final home opener, and the Youngstown State volleyball team beat Saint Francis in four sets at Beeghly Center. The set scores were 25-15, 23-25, 25-18, 26-24.

Ryan was one of three Penguins with at least 12 kills, joining Lauren Thompson and Sam Brown. Brown added 11 digs for her first double-double of the season, and Nikki Thompson had a match-high 24 digs. Val Jeffery registered 49 assists and helped Youngstown State outhit the Red Flash .250 to .173.

Hannah Kutny had a match-high 17 kills to lead Saint Francis.

Phantoms move game to UPMC

CRANBERRY, PA.

The Youngstown Phantoms are moving their Oct. 10 home game against the Chicago Steel to the new UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex in this Pittsburgh suburb.

Any Phantoms season ticket holder who has questions should contact the Phantoms ticket office at (330) 747-PUCK.

The UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex is the new practice facility of the Pittsburgh Penguins, and features state-of-the-art medical facilities and performance training technology, as well as two hockey rinks with capacity for more than 1,000 fans.

‘Concussion’ director denies compromises

NEW YORK

A day after its trailer debuted online, the Will Smith football head-trauma film “Concussion” is already sparking controversy.

Citing studio emails leaked in the hack of Sony Pictures, The New York Times reported Tuesday that the movie “Concussion” was altered to avoid antagonizing the NFL. The Times quoted one email that discusses a top Sony lawyer taking “most of the bite” out of the film “for legal reasons with the NFL.”

In a statement to The Associated Press, “Concussion” director Peter Landesman disputed that report. He called his film “a David and Goliath story” in which Smith plays the forensic pathologist who discovered that chronic brain damage factored in the deaths of NFL players.

Toronto wary about Olympics

TORONTO

Toronto lawmakers are wary about bidding for the 2024 Summer Olympics.

The head of the city’s budget committee said Tuesday there is more uncertainty now that excitement has faded over Toronto’s role as host of the recent Pan Am Games.

“I’m taking a cautious step back now and looking at the numbers very carefully,” Gary Crawford said. “There are a lot of unanswered questions at the moment that need to be answered.”

Toronto unsuccessfully bid for the games twice, most recently for the 2008 Summer Games that went to Beijing.

Staff/wire report