Struthers’ Bayus wins Indians HPR tourney

June 19, 2016 at 12:00a.m.

cleveland

Mary Bayus of Struthers placed first in the MLB Hit, Pitch & Run Cleveland Indians Team Championship at Progressive Field on Saturday.

She won the girls 13-14 age division and now has a chance to advance to the National Finals in San Diego in July. She will find out if she qualifies on June 28, as each MLB team hosts a championship tournament this month and only the top three (based on scores) advance to the finals.

Struthers’ Taylor Susany placed second in the 11-12 girls division, while Liz Propain — also of Struthers — finished second in the 9-10 age division.

Red Wings’ Datsyuk leaves for Russia

WEST BLOOMFIELD TOWNSHIP, Mich.

Pavel Datsyuk is leaving the Detroit Red Wings with a year left on his contract, saying it’s time to return home and play in the Russia-based Kontinental Hockey League.

The 37-year-old Datsyuk announced his plans Saturday at a news conference at his youth hockey camp in the Detroit area. The move was not a huge surprise. Toward the end of the season, he was quoted in a Detroit Free Press story saying he would retire from the NHL, but Datsyuk later told reporters there was a chance he could change his mind.

He said Saturday his final decision came when he was on vacation with his family recently.

Ventura’s suspension cut to eight games

KANSAS CITY, Mo.

Kansas City Royals pitcher Yordano Ventura has started serving his suspension after it was cut from nine games to eight.

Ventura sat out Saturday’s game when Kansas City hosts Detroit.

Ventura was originally suspended nine games for his role in a bench-clearing brawl June 7 at Baltimore.

Ventura twice brushed back Manny Machado, then hit him in the back with a 99 mph fastball. Machado charged the mound and swung at Ventura, and they wrestled on the ground.

Ventura will be eligible for reinstatement on June 28 against the St Louis Cardinals if the Royals don’t have any rainouts before then.

UEFA charges Croatia with racism, disorder

PARIS

UEFA formally opened a disciplinary case against the Croatian soccer federation on Saturday for racism and fan disorder at a European Championship match.

Play was stopped for several minutes late in Croatia’s 2-2 draw with the Czech Republic in Saint-Etienne on Friday when firecrackers and lit flares were thrown on the field from one end of the stadium where its fans were sitting.

Croatia fans then fought among themselves as players appealed for calm.

UEFA’s anti-discrimination monitors said Saturday they also reported hearing fans sing far-right songs and displaying offensive banners at the stadium.

UEFA said the charges against Croatia related to racist behavior, crowd disturbances, throwing of objects on the field, and setting off fireworks.

The Croatian federation faces at least a five-figure fine when UEFA’s disciplinary panel judges the case on Monday.

Thompson, Chun share LPGA Classic lead

BELMONT, Mich.

Her ailing back a bit better, defending champion Lexi Thompson shot a 5-under 66 on Saturday for a share of the Meijer LPGA Classic lead with In Gee Chun.

Thompson birdied five of the first 13 holes at Blythefield in her bogey-free round to match Chun at 15-under 198. The 21-year-old American birdied three of the four par-5 holes and is 9 under overall on the par 5s.

Thompson won the Honda LPGA Thailand in February for her seventh LPGA Tour title. The long-hitting Florida player, ranked fourth in the world, also won a Japan LPGA event last month. The back pain could be a major concern heading into the busy summer schedule and golf’s return to the Olympics.

Staff/wire report