YSU’s Padovan named Horizon Batter of Week

YSU’s Padovan named Horizon Batter of Week

YOUNGSTOWN

Youngstown State junior infielder Nico Padovan has been named the Horizon League Batter of the Week for the period ending March 13.

Padovan, a native of San Pedro, Calif., batted .556 while hitting safely and scoring a run in all three games of YSU’s series at Missouri.

He singled and scored the winning run in YSU’s 4-3 victory in game one of Saturday’s doubleheader, and he singled and scored in another Penguins win in game two. He finished the weekend 5-of-9 at the plate with four runs scored, three walks and a stolen base.

Padovan is batting .333 this season, his first at Youngstown State. The transfer from L.A. Harbor College was hitless in his previous eight at bats before his big weekend in helping the Penguins win two of three games against the Tigers.

Youngstown State will begin Horizon League play at Wright State with a three-game series this weekend.

Titans’ Borton earns PAC honor

NEW WILMINGTON, Pa.

Westminster College senior Kyle Borton (Mineral Ridge) was named the Presidents’ Athletic Conference (PAC) Pitcher of the Week on Monday.

Borton tossed a one-hit shutout in Westminster’s 14-0 win over Maritime College in the first game of a two-game set last Friday at the Florida Coast Spring Training event.

He struck out a career-high 10 while facing just four over the minimum.

Senior League begins April 4

GIRARD

The Mahoning Senior League will play Thursdays at 9 a.m. at the Mahoning Country Club.

The league will meet on April 4 at 11 a.m. at the golf course. New members are welcome. For more information, call 330-402-7294.

Steelers’ Bryant suspended for year

PITTSBURGH

Martavis Bryant’s blossoming NFL career took another significant hit Monday when the NFL suspended the talented but troubled wide receiver for at least one year following another violation of the league’s substance abuse policy.

This is the second league-mandated discipline for Bryant. The 24-year-old sat out the first four games last season following a violation during the offseason.

Bryant caught 50 passes for 765 yards and six touchdowns when he returned in Week 6 and was dynamic in the playoffs. He made an acrobatic touchdown grab in a wild-card win over Cincinnati and accounted for more than 200 yards of total offense in a loss to Denver in the divisional round.

NFL executive admits CTE link

WASHINGTON

An NFL official has acknowledged a link between football and the brain disease CTE for the first time.

Jeff Miller, the NFL’s senior vice president for health and safety, spoke about the connection during an appearance Monday at a congressional committee’s roundtable discussion about concussions.

Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-Illinois) asked Miller: “Do you think there is a link between football and degenerative brain disorders like CTE?”

Miller began by referencing the work of Boston University neuropathologist Dr. Ann McKee, who has found CTE in the brains of 90 former pro football players.

“Well, certainly, Dr. McKee’s research shows that a number of retired NFL players were diagnosed with CTE, so the answer to that question is certainly ‘yes,’ but there are also a number of questions that come with that,” Miller said.

Schakowsky repeated the question: “Is there a link?”

“Yes. Sure,” Miller responded.

The NFL has not previously linked playing football to chronic traumatic encephalopathy, a disease linked to repeated brain trauma and associated with symptoms such as memory loss, depression and progressive dementia.

Staff/wire report