SPORTS digest

YSU softball adds five early signees

YOUNGSTOWN

Youngstown State’s softball team added five players during the early signing period, a group that includes two Mahoning Valley athletes. Former Hubbard and current Mathews pitcher Addy Jarvis and Cardinal Mooney pitcher Kayla Rutherford will join the team during the 2018-19 school year. They’re joined by Liberty Union’s Sarah Bader, Canton Hoover’s Grace DeLeon and Central Bucks South (Pa.)’s Alex DeLeon.

Hope Foundation to host showcase

STRUTHERS

The Hope Foundation of the Mahoning Valley is hosting the final Hope Classic High School Basketball Showcase on Dec. 9 at the Struthers Field House.

The Classic has two girls and two boys basketball games. The girls’ slate has South Range playing Brookfield and Howland against Struthers. For the boys, LaBrae plays Struthers and South Range plays Malvern.

Advance tickets are on sale for $7 (general admission) and can be obtained online at: HopeMV.org. A ticket is good for all four games while ticket prices the day of the event are $7 for adults and $4 for children under 12 years.

Watch party set for YSU football

YOUNGSTOWN

The YSU football team’s game on Saturday against Southern Illinois will be shown locally on TV on The Valley’s CW, WBCB. Fans can gather at the Kennsington Grille for the official watch party. The game kicks off at 2 p.m.

NBA to hold 2020 All-Star game in Chicago

CHICAGO

A person familiar with the situation says the NBA will hold the 2020 All-Star game in Chicago.

The person spoke on the condition of anonymity because an official announcement has not been made. Yahoo! Sports first reported the news.

Commissioner Adam Silver, Mayor Rahm Emanuel and team officials are scheduled to make the announcement in Chicago on Friday afternoon.

It will be the first time All-Star festivities are held in the city since 1988, when Michael Jordan dazzled the hometown crowd. “His Airness” took off from the foul line to beat out Dominique Wilkins in an epic slam dunk contest and was MVP in the All-Star game, scoring 40 to lead the East to a 138-133 victory over the West at Chicago Stadium.

Elliott loses appeal, suspension begins

NEW YORK

A federal appeals court in New York City has denied Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott’s bid to keep a six-game suspension over alleged domestic violence on hold.

Elliott was in court and the denial of the injunction makes him ineligible in Sunday’s game at Atlanta.

The 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled Thursday that Elliott didn’t meet the standards to continue blocking the suspension but ordered a hearing as soon as it could be scheduled.

He played the first eight games on three different legal reprieves. It wasn’t immediately clear how soon the court would rule on Elliott’s claim that he was treated unfairly by the NFL.

Ohio native, Bears LB Fortunato dies at 87

NATCHEZ, MISS.

Joe Fortunato, the speedy linebacker who helped the Chicago Bears win the 1963 NFL title, has died. He was 87.

Fortunato died Monday in Mississippi, where he starred at linebacker and fullback at Mississippi State.

“Joe Fortunato was not only a great player for the Chicago Bears, including being a part of our 1963 championship at Wrigley Field, he was a key figure in one of the greatest linebacker trios in Bears history alongside Hall of Famer Bill George and Larry Morris,” Bears Chairman George H. McCaskey said in a statement Thursday.

In 12 seasons with the Bears, Fortunato was a three-time All-Pro selection and a five-time Pro Bowl pick.

The Mingo Junction native was inducted into the Mississippi State football Ring of Honor last month.

Staff/wire report