SPORTS digest

Weather forces MVRC to cancel today’s races

Austintown

Mahoning Valley Race Course officials announced on Friday that for the first time this season, live racing has been canceled for today. Live racing is scheduled to resume on Monday at 12:45 p.m.

The cancellation was caused by projected single-digit temperatures and a wind chill below zero. Full-card simulcasting will remain open today from noon to midnight.

Tennessee’s Gabriel blanks Creighton

TEMPE, Ariz.

Poland High School graduate Erin Gabriel tossed a three-hit shutout to lead the University of Tennessee softball team to a 5-0 victory over Creighton in the first game of the Kajikawa Classic.

Gabriel struck out 13 Bluejays’ batters and worked out of a bases-loaded jam in the top of the seventh to earn the victory.

Moore scores twice in Phantoms’ victory

FARGO, N.D.

The Youngstown Phantoms wiped out an early deficit with a five unanswered goals in Friday’s 5-1 victory over the Fargo Force.

Defenseman Connor Moore scored two goals in 12 seconds to put the Phantoms ahead, 2-1.

Moore’s goals were the second fastest back-to-back goals by the same player in USHL history.

“We started out slow, but after their goal I think we really woke up,” Moore said. “The guys were buzzing tonight, and we had a lot of chances that went our way.

Cam Morrison also scored two goals and Noah Lalonde one. Ryan Bednard was the winning goaltender.

OSU football players to sign autographs

NILES

Ohio State quarterback Cardale Jones and center Jacoby Boren will be signing autographs at Everything Buckeyes in the Eastwood Mall today from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.

Prices for Jones are $39 and $49 and $15 for an inscription. Boren’s autograph is $15 and $10 for an inscription.

Indians sign reliever Hunter to one-year deal

CLEVELAND

Pitcher Tommy Hunter and the Cleveland Indians have agreed to a one-year contract.

A 29-year-old right-hander, Hunter was 4-2 with a 4.18 ERA in 58 relief appearances for Baltimore and the Chicago Cubs, who acquired him on July 31 for outfielder Junior Lake.

Primarily a starter from 2008-12, Hunter has pitched out of the bullpen for the past three seasons. He has a 46-33 career record with a 4.31 ERA in 75 starts and 209 relief appearances for Texas (2008-11), Baltimore (2011-15) and the Cubs.

To clear a roster spot, Cleveland designated catcher Tony Wolters for assignment.

Cleveland also agreed to a minor league contract with catcher Guillermo Quiroz, who will attend big league spring training. The 34-year-old has played in 148 big league games from 2004-14.

Three players fined for Super Bowl infractions

Denver Broncos fiery cornerback Aqib Talib’s taunting and face mask fouls proved costlier five days later than they did in Super Bowl 50.

Talib was fined a total of $26,044 on Friday for the flags that he incurred in the first half of Denver’s 24-10 victory over the Carolina Panthers.

Teammate Malik Jackson was docked $8,681 for unnecessary roughness in the second quarter and Carolina third-string quarterback Joe Webb was fined $8,681 for unnecessary roughness in the chaotic moments following the final play of the game.

Talib was whistled for taunting in the first quarter, keeping a Carolina drive alive. He later grabbed wide receiver Corey Brown’s face mask in the second quarter following a 13-yard catch at the Denver 2, essentially a 1-yard penalty that preceded Carolina’s only touchdown.

Afterward, Talib admitted he grabbed Brown’s face mask on purpose to send a message and was expecting to get fined, adding: “But hey, we’re world champs.”

Staff/wire reports