Locals officiate state cross country meet

Locals officiate state cross country meet

Austintown

Three members of the Greater Youngstown Track Officials Association officiated the 2016 OHSAA Cross Country State Championship.

Peggy Celedonia, Lou Brown and Ron Weaver were part of the crew that worked the finals on Nov. 5 at National Trail Raceway in Hebron.

YSU professor endows athletic scholarship

The Youngstown State University Department of Intercollegiate Athletics has announced the creation of the Dr. Dan and Patty Suchora Scholarship to enhance the YSU Athletics Scholarship Endowment Fund.

The scholarship was established this fall by Dr. Dan and Patty Suchora. Dr. Suchora retired as professor and chair of the Mechanical and Industrial Engineering Department in 2012 after 37 years of service. He received the Distinguished Professor Award at YSU on three separate occasions and was the recipient of the Watson Merit Award for Outstanding Department Chairpersons.

The first recipient of the endowment is senior swimmer Hannah Reynolds. Reynolds, a native of Greensburg, Pa., is an engineering major at YSU. She has two top-10 career finishes at the Horizon League Championships and is the school-record holder in the 100-yard breaststroke.

The endowment is awarded to a student-athlete who is a majoring in STEM or business and they must maintain a 2.75 cumulative grade-point average.

McCutchen, Scherzer to play for U.S. in WBC

oxon hill, md.

The United States will have NL Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer of the Washington Nationals, 2012 NL MVP Buster Posey of the San Francisco Giants and 2013 NL MVP Andrew McCutchen of the Pittsburgh Pirates at the 2017 World Baseball Classic. That’s a star-studded start to the roster as the U.S. seeks to put more value in the tournament that it hasn’t yet won.

Getting Scherzer, Posey, McCutchen, Tampa Bay Rays right-hander Chris Archer, Toronto Blue Jays starter Marcus Stroman, Colorado Rockies third baseman Nolan Arenado and Baltimore Orioles center fielder Adam Jones to sign up sends that message. Torre said Miami Marlins outfielder Christian Yelich, Cleveland Indians reliever Andrew Miller and Kansas City Royals starter Danny Duffy committed to play and that he hasn’t yet spoken to two-time AL MVP Mike Trout of the Los Angeles Angels.

Giants sign closer during winter meetings

oxon hill, md.

All-Star righty Mark Melancon and the Giants reached agreement on a $62 million, four-year contract Monday. As baseball’s winter meetings heated up, lefty Rich Hill re-signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers for $48 million over three years.

A couple smaller deals also developed as teams met inside a hotel on the banks of the Potomac River outside Washington. The Toronto Blue Jays signed versatile Steve Pearce and Philadelphia added reliever Joaquin Benoit.

Nothing yet on the top trade targets — White Sox ace Chris Sale, Pirates outfielder Andrew McCutchen and possibly two Detroit fixtures, slugger Miguel Cabrera and pitcher Justin Verlander.

Alabama’s Allen wins Nagurski award

charlotte, n.c.

Alabama senior defensive lineman Jonathan Allen won the Bronko Nagurski Trophy on Monday night given annually to the nation’s best college defensive player.

Allen was selected over four other finalists, including Crimson Tide teammate Reuben Foster, a linebacker. Florida State cornerback Tarvarus McFadden, Michigan linebacker Jabrill Peppers and Clemson defensive end Christian Wilkins were also among the finalists who attended the awards ceremony hosted by the Charlotte Touchdown Club.

Alabama (13-0) is ranked No. 1 in the country, in large part due to its dominant defense.

Staff/wire report