SPORTS digest | Penguins’ defenseman Letang out for playoffs

Penguins’ defenseman Letang out for playoffs

PITTSBURGH

The Pittsburgh Penguins will head into the Stanley Cup playoffs without defenseman Kris Letang.

Letang is scheduled to undergo surgery to repair a herniated disk in his neck and will be out four to six months. The 29-year-old hasn’t played since Feb. 21 for the defending champions. General manager Jim Rutherford said the injury was discovered in February. Treatment plateaued last week and Letang underwent a second MRI, leading doctors to recommend surgery.

The three-time All-Star had five goals and 29 assists in 41 games for the Penguins, who are in second place in the Metropolitan Division with three games to go in the regular season.

YSU softball team sweeps Niagara

Niagara University, N.Y.

Senior Brittney Moffatt’s two-run double in the top of the seventh inning of game two to propel the Youngstown State softball team to a 3-2 victory and a doubleheader sweep of Niagara on Wednesday.

YSU won the opener, 4-1.

Trailing 2-1 after six innings, junior Hannah Lucas reached on a fielder’s choice, stole second base and reached third on junior Cali Mikovich’s infield single. Moffatt then drilled a one-out double to left-center field scoring Lucas and Mikovich.

Earlier, Stevie Taylor had a run-scoring triple for YSU (16-19).

Senior Caitlyn Minney tossed a complete game with four strikeouts to pick up her third win.

In the opener, senior Maria Lacatena belted a two-run home run in the top of the first inning and freshman Maddi Lusk, who picked up her 10th win, hit her first career home run with a solo shot in the top of the fourth.

Drennan to attend charity golf event

POLAND

Cleveland sports talk-show host Bruce Drennan is scheduled to attend The Children’s Mental Health Circle of Friends Foundation’s 32nd annual Celebrity Golf Scramble Fundraiser July 9-10 at The Lake Club.

Players will be able to meet Drennan at a Sunday, July 9 dinner mixer as well as play on various holes with him on Monday, July 10. Other sports celebrities are expected to attend both days.

Proceeds will benefit the Foundation and its work to support the Children’s Mental Health Treatment Programs offered by Alta Behavioral Healthcare, Mahoning Valley’s largest outpatient mental health service provider for children, teens and their families.

“We are very excited to have Mr. Drennan join us this year,” said Circle of Friends Foundation President Greg Cvetkovic. “It will make a great event even better and help us continue our work to ‘Shine a Light’ on the needs of our Valley’s children whom suffer from emotional and behavioral problems.”

Contact Katelyn McQuiston at 330-793-2487 or katelynm@altacaregroup.org for more information.

UCF’s Fall to explore NBA draft options

ORLANDO, Fla.

Central Florida center Tacko Fall is taking a look at the NBA.

The 7-foot-6 Fall has asked the NBA’s undergraduate advisory committee to provide information on his draft status, and if he decides he wants to return to school he has until May 24 to remove his name from consideration for the draft.

Fall averaged 10.9 points and 9.5 rebounds per game this season on 71 percent shooting, and blocked a school-record 94 shots.

Creighton’s Patton will declare for NBA draft

OMAHA, Neb.

Big East freshman of the year Justin Patton of Creighton will declare for the NBA draft and plans to sign with an agent, the school announced Wednesday night.

The 7-foot Patton attracted little notice from recruiters coming out of Omaha North High two years ago, but by the middle of his redshirt freshman season he regularly drew at least a dozen pro scouts to each of his games. He averaged 12.9 points, 6.2 rebounds and 1.4 blocks.

Staff and wire reports