SPORTS DIGEST || Hirschbeck to speak to curbstone coaches

Hirschbeck to speak to curbstone coaches

MLB umpire John Hirschbeck will be the featured speaker on Monday at the The Curbstone Coaches’ luncheon.

The luncheon is at The Avion Banquet Center on Western Reserve Road in Canfield starting at noon. The Curbstone Coaches 49th annual Hall of Fame induction ceremony will be on May 1 at Mr. Anthony’s in Boardman. Former Champion High, Ohio State and Denver Bronco linebacker standout Randy Gradishar will be the featured speaker. For Tickets and more information, contact Mariel Sallee at 330-519-6819.

Correction

YOUNGSTOWN

Ursuline boys basketball player Greg Parella scored 25 points in a 51-44 victory over Cardinal Mooney on Friday night.

A story and summary in Saturday’s Vindicator sports section listed an incorrect point total for Parella.

Youngstown Metro Umpire Association to hold meetings

The Youngstown Metro Umpire Association will hold OHSAA baseball and softball meetings on Sundayat the Saxon Club at 710 S. Meridian Road in Youngstown. This year, baseball and softball meetings will be held separately per the OHSAA. The baseball meeting will begin at 1:00 p.m. followed by softball at 2:00 p.m. Umpires must attend four meetings to meet state requirements. Call John Mang at 330 502-6665 for more information.

Phantoms, Pittsburgh Penguins To Host USHL Fall Classic

YOUNGSTOWN

The USHL announced the return of the USHL Fall Classic for the 2016-17 season. The preseason showcase will be played at two regional sites based off of the USHL’s conference alignment. The USHL Fall Classic East will be hosted at the UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex in Cranberry, Pa. from Sept. 15 through Sept. 18, and the Fall Classic West will take place at the Ralston Arena in Omaha, Nebraska.

The fall classic marks a return to Cranberry, Pa. one season after the Pittsburgh Penguins and Youngstown Phantoms hosted the 2015 Pittsburgh Showcase, a regional USHL pre-season event. The Penguins organization will combine efforts with the Phantoms to host all nine USHL Eastern Conference teams, including both USA National Team Development Programs, and 16 Bantam Major teams.

“The Phantoms organization is thrilled that the USHL has partnered with the Pittsburgh Penguins to host the USHL Fall Classic East. The UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex is a world class facility. The proximity to Youngstown will not only give our fans the ability to attend games, but it will also allow Pittsburgh area hockey fans to enjoy exposure to the top junior players and junior league in the world,” said Phantoms Co-owner and former Pittsburgh Penguin Troy Loney.

The UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex, which opened in the fall of 2015, is the official practice facility of the Penguins and also home to the Pittsburgh Penguins Elite youth hockey program.

NFL proposes ban after two personal fouls

SAN FRANCISCO

Call it the Odell Beckham Jr. Rule.

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell is pushing to require the ejection of any player who is flagged for two personal fouls in a game.

“We should take that out of the hands of the officials when it gets to that point. They will obviously have to throw the flag, but when they do, we will look to see if we can reach an agreement on the conditions for which (a player would) be ejected,” Goodell said Friday at his annual state-of-the-league news conference ahead of the Super Bowl.

“I believe that’s consistent with what we believe are the safety issues,” he said, “but I also believe it’s consistent with what we believe are the standards of sportsmanship.”

In December, Beckham, a receiver for the New York Giants, was allowed to stay in a game despite drawing three personal-foul penalties for unnecessary roughness.

Staff/wire reports