Saturday, April 23, 2016
Scrappers announce All-Access Club
Niles
The Mahoning Valley Scrappers have announce the All-Access Club.
All-Access Club members will receive invites to quarterly mixers, an exclusive Scrappers All-Access t-shirt, lanyard for special access, an opportunity to participate in a session of batting practice on the field, contests throughout the season to win special prizes like throwing out the first pitch, discount cards, Scrappers’ newsletter and discounts on tickets with the team’s affiliates, the Lake County Captains and Akron RubberDucks.
The Scrappers All-Access Club is $25 yearly membership and is available now at the Mr. Rooter Box Office at Eastwood Field, online at www.mvscrappers.com or by calling 330-505-0000.
NDSU, Klieman agree to new six-year deal
FARGO, N.D.
North Dakota State athletic director Matt Larsen says the Bison have signed football coach Chris Klieman to a new six-year contract that will keep him with the team through the 2021 season.
Klieman is in his sixth year overall and third as head coach at North Dakota State.
The school is 28-3 over the past two years, including a 14-2 mark in the Missouri Valley Football Conference and the program’s fourth and fifth straight conference and NCAA national championships.
Larsen says he’s extremely confident in the continued growth of North Dakota State’s football program under Klieman’s leadership. Klieman says he’s blessed to have the best job in FCS football.
Klieman had signed a five-year contract in 2014 and accepted a two-year extension in 2015 that ran through the 2020 season.
UNC names Trubisky as starting quarterback
CHAPEL HILL, N.C.
North Carolina coach Larry Fedora has named Mentor native Mitch Trubisky as starting quarterback for the opener against Georgia.
UNC announced the move Friday, with Fedora saying in a statement that Trubisky “worked extremely hard and earned it.”
The redshirt junior was the clear front-runner and most experienced option to succeed Marquise Williams, though Fedora had spent spring practices saying no one had “anointed” Trubisky and he had to compete for the job.
Trubisky threw for six touchdowns and ran for three last year. He had also performed well in spot duty, including coming on after Williams was forced out for a play after losing his helmet to throw the winning touchdown at Virginia in 2014.
Redskins agree to sign free-agent CB Norman
WASHINGTON
Josh Norman’s agent says the cornerback has agreed to terms on a contract with the Washington Redskins on Friday.
Agent Michael George confirmed the deal in an email to The Associated Press.
Norman, one of the NFL’s top corners, became a free agent Wednesday after the Carolina Panthers rescinded the franchise tag, which would have paid him $13.9 million next season. The 28-year-old was holding out for a long-term contract.
Norman had a career-high four interceptions, 16 passes defensed and 56 tackles last season for the NFC champion Panthers.
Syrian refugee named Olympic torchbearer
ATHENS, Greece
A Syrian refugee who had part of a leg amputated after a bombing will be one of the torchbearers for the Greek leg of the Rio de Janeiro Olympic flame relay.
The Greek Olympic committee said Friday that 27-year-old Ibrahim Al-Hussein will carry the torch at an Athens refugee camp hosting 1,500 people next Tuesday — the next-to-last day of the relay in Greece.
Al-Hussein reached Greece on a rubber dinghy in 2014, and has been granted asylum in the country. He is a former competitive swimmer and judo athlete.
Despite having part of his leg amputated, he trains regularly in swimming pools and plays basketball, in a wheelchair, with an Athens club.
The flame, which was lit Thursday at a ceremony in Ancient Olympia, will be handed to Brazilian officials next Wednesday.
Staff/wire reports