SPORTS digest

Salem’s Yuhaniak wins state award

SALEM

Ted Yuhaniak has been named OHSAA State Active Official of the Year for boys cross country.

Yuhaniak was nominated for his many years of dedication to the sports of Cross country and track and field, specifically his work with Salem cross country.

He will receive his award at the OHSAA Hall of Fame Banquet in June.

Bills owner fires general manager

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y.

Whether it was sitting together in a golf cart watching training camp or sharing dinner and drinks at a nearby restaurant, Bills owner Terry Pegula and general manager Doug Whaley were nearly inseparable last summer.

Some nine months later, their professional relationship soured to such an extent that Pegula fired Whaley and his entire scouting staff on Sunday.

The decision was reached shortly after the two met at 8 a.m., a day following the NFL draft, and it completed a front-office purge that began with coach Rex Ryan being fired in the final week of last season.

Pegula’s voice cracked briefly with emotion when discussing the latest move, saying: “There were a few tears around the building, to be honest with you. He’s a good guy.”

But not good enough to keep his job, with Pegula saying he reached the conclusion following a lengthy offseason review.

It’s a shake-up that further solidifies the influence rookie coach Sean McDermott has gained in the three months since being hired. The 42-year-old detail-oriented defensive specialist has become the voice of the franchise in discussing all team-related topics, including free agency and the draft.

Pegula said the timing coincided with the end of the draft, but he declined to detail the reasons why the overhaul was necessary. Nor would Pegula explain his reasoning for showing Whaley the door while praising the collaborative approach that took place between the GM and McDermott in the draft room.

Mets’ Syndergaard now set for MRI

WASHINGTON

No debate about it now: Noah Syndergaard is going to have that MRI after all.

The hard-throwing ace of the New York Mets left his start Sunday against Washington in pain, just a couple of days after refusing an MRI and saying he felt fine.

The team announced Syndergaard has “a possible lat strain” and was headed back to New York for an MRI on Monday morning.

It was an exasperating and discouraging turn of events for the injury-plagued Mets (10-14), now missing perhaps their two top players. They put star slugger Yoenis Cespedes on the disabled list Friday with a strained left hamstring, one day after he got hurt legging out a double.

Boxing’s Joshua celebrates epic win

LONDON

Anthony Joshua remained in the ring long after 90,000 of his supporters had filed out of Wembley Stadium, posing happily for pictures with his team and hugging just about everyone he knew.

No reason to leave early when being the heavyweight champion is so much fun.

“I just want to fight everyone, man,” Joshua said. “I’m really loving this right now.”

There was a lot to love Saturday night in front of a packed crowd at England’s national stadium, where Joshua got off the canvas to stop longtime champion Wladimir Klitschko in a coming out party of sorts that electrified the boxing world.

The biggest heavyweight fight in British history was also the best. There was an epic fifth round where Joshua knocked Klitschko down and then held on himself to survive, along with a knockdown a round later by Klitschko.

And when Joshua had finished almost taking Klitschko’s head off in the 11th round, a heavyweight division moribund for years was suddenly very much alive once again,

Staff/wire report