SPORTS DIGEST || YSU softball players named scholar athletes

YSU softball players named scholar athletes

YOUNGSTOWN

Ten Youngstown State softball players were named National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) All-America Scholar-Athletes for the 2016-17 academic year, the association announced.

In order to receive this honor, student-athletes must have achieved a grade-point averge of at least 3.5 for the year.

Representing Youngstown State on the list were Dani Dadig, Sarah Dowd, Paige Geanangel, Ariel Lindberger, Maddi Lusk, Brittney Moffatt, Alexis Roach, Alexa Schmidt, Carey Smith and Lexi Zappitelli.

W.R. Fish & Game to host intro to air rifles

NILES

Western Reserve Fish & Game will hold an Intro to Air Rifles for youth on Saturday at 11:00 a.m. The program is free to participants with funds provided through a Wildlife/Conservation Club Competitive Grant.

Participants will learn basic firearms safety. They will be shown how to use Daisy .177 pellet guns and each shooter will have eyewear and ear plugs provided.

All activities are conducted by trained, experienced and certificated members of WRFGA.

Adults are invited to observe and may be invited to participate as well.

For more information, call John Vogel at 330-647-2763.

West Virginia Derby attracts 51 nominees

New Cumberland, W.W.

The racing office at Mountaineer Casino, Racetrack & Resort has announced there are 51 nominees for this year’s $750,000 West Virginia Derby, which will be held Aug. 6.

The 1 1/8-mile race for 3-year-olds is one of seven stakes on a nine-race program that will begin at the special first post time of 2 p.m. The Derby traditionally is the eighth race with a planned post time of 5:21 p.m.

Many of the top 3-year-olds in training are among the nominees for the Grade III stakes that will be run for the 48th time. It was revived by Mountaineer management in 1998 after a seven-year absence and has been run each year since then.

Pac-12 to try shortening games

LOS ANGELES

The Pac-12 will shorten halftime and reduce the number of commercial breaks during its non-conference schedule this season as part of a trial program to reduce the length of its football games.

Halftime will be 15 minutes long, cut down from the usual 20-minute break. The number of commercial breaks will be reduced and they will be shorter in length, Pac-12 Commissioner Larry Scott said Wednesday.

Scott announced the initiative as the Pac-12 kicked off its media days in Hollywood. The experiment is intended to reduce ballooning game times in an era of up-tempo offenses running more plays and the increased scoring that comes with it.

Scott did not completely dismiss potential rule changes in the future to address the length of games.

Wizards extend John Wall for $170 million

WASHINGTON

The Washington Wizards have signed John Wall to a $170 million, four-year contract extension that begins in 2019-20.

Team President Ernie Grunfeld announced the completion of the deal Wednesday. Wall said in a video posted on Twitter on Friday that he had agreed to the extension.

Wall’s deal includes a player option for the final season in 2023-24.

Owner Ted Leonsis said extending Wall gives the Wizards stability for years to come. The team also matched a $106.5 million, four-year offer sheet that forward Otto Porter Jr. signed with the Brooklyn Nets and has guard Bradley Beal signed through 2020-21.

Wall, a four-time Eastern Conference All-Star, is the third player this summer to get a designated player “supermax” extension, joining Houston’s James Harden and Golden State’s Stephen Curry.

Staff/wire reports