Ryan Blaney captures first Monster pole

Ryan Blaney captures first Monster pole

KANSAS CITY, Kan.

Ryan Blaney earned his first career pole for the NASCAR Cup race at Kansas Speedway, taking advantage of a traffic jam at inspection that kept 11 cars from getting on the track.

Among those who failed to get through Friday were Jimmie Johnson, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Clint Bowyer and Kasey Kahne. That left only 28 cars eligible to contest the first round of qualifying.

Blaney is the son of Hartford native Dave Blaney, a former Cup driver.

Joey Logano will start second today, and Martin Truex Jr. third, while the drivers who failed to get through inspection will have to start at the back of the field based on points.

NASCAR vice president of competition Scott Miller placed the blame on the teams, saying “it’s fairly disappointing that they can’t present their cars to pass inspection.”

Correction

Hubbard High School softball pitcher Addy Jarvis has compiled 564 strikeouts in three seasons with the Eagles.

A story in Friday’s Vindicator sports section incorrectly noted the career strikeouts for Jarvis.

Poland Stadium closed on Monday for meet

POLAND

Poland Stadium will be closed on Monday for the 104th Mahoning County Middle School Track and Field Championship. The stadium reopens on Tuesday.

Men’s college hoops stays with halves

The NCAA basketball rules committee will keep the men’s game at two halves and not recommend that it be broken into four quarters. It is also encouraging conferences to experiment with widening the lane and moving back the 3-point line.

The proposals the committee did announce Friday included increasing the size of the coach’s box from 28 to 38 feet, expanding the use of replay in the last two minutes to aid officials with some block-charge calls near the baskets, and tweaking how the shot clock is reset.

The committee also proposed making throw-in spots in the front court more consistent, a mandatory minimum of 0.3 seconds be taken off the clock when the ball is legally touched and redefining a legal screen.

The NCAA Playing Rules Oversight Panel will consider the proposals in June.

Ex-gymnast testifies about doctor’s abuse

MASON, MICH.

A former gymnast has testified that a Michigan sports doctor brazenly molested her when she was 15, at a hearing to determine if he will face trial on sexual assault charges.

Rachael Denhollander had chronic back problems in 2000 when she went to see Dr. Larry Nassar at Michigan State University. She testified Friday that he assaulted her with his hands on many visits while her mother was in the room.

Nassar is charged with sexually assaulting seven gymnasts at his Michigan State clinic. He’s pleaded not guilty.

The Associated Press typically doesn’t identify people who say they’re victims of sexual assault, but Denhollander has publicly identified herself.

Chelsea wins English Premier League title

WEST BROMWICH, ENGLAND

Chelsea clinched the English Premier League at the first opportunity on Friday, beating West Bromwich Albion 1-0 through Michy Batshuayi’s 82nd-minute goal to take an unassailable 10-point lead.

Chelsea manager Antonio Conte jumped into the arms of his fellow coaches near the dugout after Batshuayi — just on as a substitute — poked home a close-range finish from Cesar Azpilicueta’s cut-back.

It is a second top-flight league title in three seasons and sixth in total for Chelsea, which has led the standings since early November.

Conte became the fourth manager to win the Premier League in his first season in English soccer.

Staff/wire report