SPORTS digest || Spikes keep Scrappers at bay with early lead

Spikes keep Scrappers at bay with early lead

NILES

The Mahoning Valley Scrappers scored eight runs on 16 hits, but it wasn’t enough as they lost to the State College Spikes, 13-8, Saturday night.

State College smacked 23 hits, 10 of which came in the first three innings as the Spikes scored six runs to chase Scrappers’ starter Juan Hillman. Second baseman Erlin Cerda led the Scrappers at the plate, going 2-for-5 with three RBIs.

The two teams meet again today at 4:05 p.m.

Canfield, Louisville tickets on sale

CANFIELD

Tickets for Canfield’s football game against Louisville on Friday go on sale Monday at the high school’s athletic office. The office is open from 7:45 a.m. to 6 p.m. Student tickets are $4 and adult tickets are $6. All tickets at the door are $6.

Bell apologizes for suspension

PITTSBURGH

Pittsburgh Steelers running back Le’Veon Bell is ready to serve his suspension and move on.

Bell spoke on Saturday, one day after the NFL suspended the Pittsburgh Steelers running back for the first three games of the regular season for missing multiple drug tests, which is a violation of the league’s substance abuse policy.

“I already apologized to my teammates, my coaches and Steeler Nation,” Bell said. “I’m sincerely sorry about everything I put everybody through. It’s been frustrating and I own up to everything. It’s all my fault and I can’t blame nobody else for that.”

Bell stood by a now-deleted post to his Instagram account he put up on Friday, offering an apology shortly after the suspension was announced. He initially faced a four-game suspension, but it was reduced to three games following an appeal to the league.

Bell will be eligible to return to the active roster Sept. 26 before the team’s Week 4 home game against Kansas City.

Pirates put Kang on DL with shoulder injury

PITTSBURGH

Pirates third baseman Jung Ho Kang has been placed on the 15-day disabled list with a left shoulder injury.

Kang will likely miss two to four weeks after being injured sliding head first into second base in the eighth inning of Pittsburgh’s 6-5 loss to the Miami Marlins on Friday.

Pittsburgh has recalled first baseman/outfielder Josh Bell from Triple-A Indianapolis for a game Saturday night against Miami.

Bell went 2 for 2 with a home run, four RBIs, two walks and three runs scored in four games during his first stint with Pittsburgh from July 8-16.

Bills’ Dareus enters rehab facility

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y.

Buffalo Bills defensive tackle Marcell Dareus has been excused from the team to enter a rehabilitation facility.

Dareus announced the decision in a statement released by the Bills on Saturday, hours before their preseason game against the New York Giants.

It comes a week after the NFL suspended the Bills’ top-paid player for the first four games of the season for violating the league’s substance abuse policy. Last year, he was suspended for the season opener for another violation of the policy.

Dareus said his latest suspension was the result of a missed drug test.

No further details were released.

Pliskova reaches tournament final

MASON

Karolina Pliskova has reached the Western & Southern Open final for the first time, looking to succeed Serena Williams as champion.

Williams, the two-time defending champ, skipped the tournament with a sore shoulder. The 15th-seeded Pliskova beat Garbine Muguruza 6-1, 6-3 in the semifinals on Saturday.

Staff/wire report