SPORTS digest

Moss commits to YSU men’s program

YOUNGSTOWN

The Youngstown State men’s basketball program has signed Duane Moss (Myrtle Beach, S.C.) to a national letter of intent during the early signing period and he will join the program for the 2017-18 college basketball season, Penguins head coach Jerry Slocum announced Monday.

“Duane is a tremendous addition for our program on all three levels,” Slocum said. “He really fits our style of play, and has the academic background and character we look for. Guys like Duane are very difficult to find.”

A 6-foot-7 wing, Moss is a three-year letterwinner at Carolina Forest High School and is a two-time All-Region first-team selection. As a junior, Moss averaged 19.5 points and 6.4 rebounds per game, and led the area in scoring. He also shot 46 percent from the floor with 2.7 blocks and nearly two steals per game.

“The fit was eye-popping to me,” Moss said. “The system they run really fits my style of play. I connected with coaches and the players seemed like great guys and would be great teammates, too.”

Moss, the son of Coastal Carolina associate head coach Benny Moss, has also been ranked as high as the eighth-best prospect in South Carolina in the class of 2017.

“Duane has a great ability to shoot the ball and has a very high basketball IQ,” Slocum said.

YSU’s Varcolla earns Horizon League honor

YOUNGSTOWN

Youngstown State sophomore middle hitter Sarah Varcolla has been named the Horizon League Offensive Player of the Week for the final week of the season, the conference office announced on Monday.

Varcolla averaged 2.78 kills per set and had just four attack errors in 56 attempts for a .375 attack percentage. She registered 13 kills, two aces and five blocks in a four-set loss to Northern Kentucky on Wednesday, and she followed that up with a 12-kill effort in a five set win at UIC on Friday.

Varcolla finished the 2016 season averaging 2.25 kills per set on a .214 attack percentage. The native of New Philadelphia, Ohio, led the team with 1.06 blocks per set.

EGCC to host showcase at YSU’s WATTS

YOUNGSTOWN

Eastern Gateway Community College will be conducting a baseball showcase on Nov. 27 at the WATTS at Youngstown State University.

The program, to be run by Gators’ newly appointed head coach Jason Stanford and his staff, will last from 8 a.m. to noon.

The showcase is open to all current high school players with all positions being evaluated.

In addition to Stanford and his staff, YSU first-year head coach Dan Bertolini and Mercyhurst North East first-year head coach Brandon Crum will also serve as showcase instructors.

Camp fee is $125 per player and $175 for two-way players (pitcher/position players).

The fee must be paid in advance and will not be accepted the day of the event.

Registration can be done online at http://www.egcc.edu/more-topics/egcc-athletics/2016-baseball-showcase-registration

Contact John Zizzo at 330-207-9964 or via e-mail at jzizzo@egcc.edu for more information.

Bears WR suspended four games for PED use

LAKE FOREST, Ill.

The NFL has suspended Chicago Bears receiver Alshon Jeffery four games without pay for violating the league’s policy on performance-enhancing substances, another big blow for a struggling team.

The suspension announced Monday takes effect immediately. It comes on the heels of a brutal 36-10 loss at Tampa Bay that left the Bears with a 2-7 record going into Sunday’s game against the New York Giants.

Jeffery will be eligible to return on Dec. 12 and play against Green Bay six days later. He leads the team with 630 yards receiving and is second with 40 catches.

Staff and wire reports