SPORTS DIGEST || Blitz Live Big Game Edition set for today

Blitz Live Big Game Edition set for today

YOUNGSTOWN

A special Blitz Live Big Game Edition on Vindy Talk Radio is planned at 4:30 p.m. today.

The show will feature Vindicator Sports Editor Ed Puskas and Mahoning Valley sports broadcaster Champ Summers.

You can listen live at: https://livestream.com/accounts/8534204/events/6213433.

YSU bowling team cracks Top 25 in poll

YOUNGSTOWN

In its first year of competition, the Youngstown State women’s bowling program has entered the Top 25 on The National Tenpin Coaches Association’s February poll.

Youngstown State received votes in the November poll, and enters the Top 25 this month for the first time at No. 24.

The Penguins received 70 points in the poll, just six behind No. 23 Valparaiso. St. Francis Brooklyn was 25th with 33 points.

“We have been working very hard this season, and breaking into the Top 25 as a first-year program is a huge accomplishment,” YSU head coach Chelsea Gilliam said.

“There are a lot of amazing teams out there, and we have had some very tough competition. We are going to continue to push to go even higher.”

Poland-Edgewood games rescheduled

POLAND

Monday’s postponed Edgewood-Poland girls varsity basketball game will be played on Feb. 10 at 5:30 p.m. at poland High School.

The Edgewood-Poland boys varsity game will follow at 7 p.m.

The junior varsity games will be played in Poland’s physical education gym: boys at 5:30 p.m., girls at 7 p.m.

Penguins’ Sheary out for at least a month

PITTSBURGH

Conor Sheary’s breakout season with the Pittsburgh Penguins hit a speed bump on Wednesday. The team says the second-year forward is out 4 to 6 weeks due to an upper-body injury.

Sheary is third on the team with 17 goals while working on a line with captain Sidney Crosby.

Sheary’s 35 points rank fourth for the defending Stanley Cup champions. It’s unclear when the 24-year-old was hurt.

Sheary played 16:52 and picked up an assist in Tuesday night’s 4-2 victory over Nashville. The injury is the latest hit to Pittsburgh’s depth. Center Evgeni Malkin is out indefinitely with a knee injury and forward Matt Cullen remains out with a broken foot, though Cullen said Wednesday he is nearing a return.

Pirates’ Josh Bell has surgery on left knee

PITTSBURGH

Pittsburgh Pirates first baseman/outfielder Josh Bell underwent left knee surgery on Wednesday and could miss the start of spring training later this month.

Bell told the team last month he was dealing with discomfort in the knee. Team doctors recommended surgery to remove a loose body they believe was causing the problem. Bell is expected to return to baseball activities in two to four weeks. Position players are scheduled to report for spring training on Feb. 16, with their first workout on Feb. 17.

The 24-year-old Bell, a second-round pick by the Pirates in 2011, hit .273 with three home runs and 19 RBIs in 45 games for the Pirates in 2016 after making his big-league debut on July 8.

Ex-Indians reliever signs with Mariners

SEATTLE

The Seattle Mariners have signed left-handed pitcher Nick Hagadone to a minor league contract.

Hagadone has not pitched in the majors since the middle of the 2015 season because of back and elbow troubles.

He spent parts of five seasons with Cleveland, appearing in 143 games and posting a 3-2 record with a 4.72 ERA.

From staff and wire reports