SPORTS digest

YSU women’s tennis team wins in California

irvine, calif.

The Youngstown State women’s tennis team picked up a 7-0 win over UC Irvine on Thursday at the UC Irvine Tennis Stadium.

The Penguins improve to 6-6 overall with the dual victory and posted two wins on their trip to California. YSU defeated Villanova on Monday.

YSU won all three doubles matches earning 6-2 wins at No. 2 and No. 3 and a 6-1 win at No. 1.

In singles play, the Penguins had sweeps at Nos. 2, 3, 4 and 5 and won in three sets at No. 1 and No. 6.

Herman opens with 62 to lead at Valspar

palm harbor, fla.

Jim Herman was persuaded to play the Valspar Championship by an influential acquaintance and he made it pay off Thursday with a 9-under 62.

And this time, it wasn’t President Donald Trump.

Herman was playing in the Seminole Pro-Member in Florida two weeks ago when former General Electric chief Jack Welch came along and told him he was playing well and that he should play at Innisbrook.

He played bogey-free, missed the course record by one shot and had a two-shot lead over British Open champion Henrik Stenson and Russell Henley.

Herman, who won the Shell Houston Open last year, once worked as an assistant pro at Trump National. It was there that Trump told him he belonged on the PGA Tour and not in a golf shop.

Pirates, Cards to play in Little League Classic

pittsburgh

The Little League World Series will make room for the major leaguers this summer when the Pittsburgh Pirates and the St. Louis Cardinals play in the first “MLB Little League Classic” in August.

The regular season game between the NL Central rivals on Aug. 20 will coincide with the 2017 Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pa.

The clubs will attend a Little League World Series game during the day then play at BB&T Ballpark at Historic Bowman Field, the home of the Williamsport Crosscutters of the Class A New York-Penn League.

The Sunday night game will be televised by ESPN.

Pens forward Sestito suspended four games

new york

Pittsburgh Penguins forward Tom Sestito was suspended for four games without pay by the NHL on Thursday for boarding Winnipeg Jets defenseman Toby Enstrom.

Sestito was assessed a major penalty for checking from behind and a game misconduct in the first period of the Penguins’ 7-4 victory in Winnipeg on Wednesday night.

Enstrom was taken to a hospital and missed the rest of the game.

The suspension will cost Sestito $12,778.

Herman grabs lead at Valspar

PALM HARBOR, Fla.

Jim Herman was persuaded to play the Valspar Championship by an influential acquaintance and he made it pay off Thursday with a 9-under 62.

And this time, it wasn’t President Donald Trump.

Herman was playing in the Seminole Pro-Member in Florida two weeks ago when former General Electric chief Jack Welch came along and told him he was playing well and that he should play at Innisbrook.

“Had a really good day there, and got urged on from Jack Welch — he’s a member there — to play here,” Herman said. “I was looking at taking two weeks off, so I was kind of a late commit to this tournament. I guess I’m certainly glad I took his advice.”

He played bogey-free, missed the course record by one shot and had a two-shot lead over British Open champion Henrik Stenson and Russell Henley.

Herman, who won the Shell Houston Open last year, once worked as an assistant pro at Trump National. It was there that Trump told him he belonged on the PGA Tour and not in a golf shop.

Staff/wire report