SPORTS digest
Chuck Haskell to host MMA show at St. Lucy
CAMPBELL
Chuck Haskell and Steel Valley Promotions will hold a 14-bout amateur MMA show, St. Lucy’s Fight Night 10 at the Palermo Banquet Center on Nov. 22.
The main event will pit Dalton Rosta versus Joie Iorio, both New Castle natives who are undefeated and looking to advance their careers.
Pre-sale tickets are $25 for general admission, $30 at the door the night of the show with VIP tables and cage side seating still available.
Further information can be obtained by calling Chuck Haskell and Steel Valley Promotions at 724-699-1725, or by visiting www.steelvalleypromotions.com.
Sharon Speedway to host 12-race Series
HARTFORD
In an effort to expand the 410 Sprint Cars presence at Sharon Speedway in 2018, a 12-race Super Series will feature an additional six $3,000-to win increased purse events on May 12, June 2, June 30, Aug. 4, Aug. 11, and Aug. 18.
The headlining Hovis Auto & Truck Supply Big-Block Modifieds will also have their share of special events in 2018. The ground-pounders will battle for increased purses six times as $2,000 will be on the line for their April 28 opener along with May 26, June 23, July 7 for the Lou Blaney Memorial, July 21 and Aug. 25.
After a year’s hiatus, the Mod Tour will return to Sharon and will sanction these events.
Judge, Bellinger named Rookies of the Year
Aaron Judge and Cody Bellinger have been voted unanimously as baseball’s Rookies of the Year after their record-setting home run binges lifted the New York Yankees and Los Angeles Dodgers into the postseason.
Judge won American League honors, becoming the first Yankees player to receive the award since Derek Jeter in 1996. Bellinger took the National League award, giving the Dodgers a record 18th Rookie of the Year winner.
The voting by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America was announced Monday night on MLB Network. Judge led the AL with 52 home runs, a rookie record. Bellinger hit 39 homers for an NL rookie record.
Boston outfielder Andrew Benintendi finished second in the AL vote, and St. Louis infielder Paul DeJong was the NL runner-up.
Italy fails to qualify for World Cup
MILAN
Four-time champion Italy failed to qualify for the World Cup for the first time in six decades after losing its playoff to Sweden 1-0 on aggregate.
They played to a goalless draw in a quiet San Siro on Monday.
It could have been worse for Italy, as Sweden was denied what looked like two clear-cut penalties for handballs, first from Matteo Darmian and then from Andrea Barzagli.
Italy had a penalty appeal of its own waved off by referee Antonio Mateu Lahoz when Marco Parolo was tripped from behind by Ludwig Augsustinsson.
The last major competitions Italy missed were the 1984 and 1992 European Championships. It has participated in every World Cup since failing to qualify for the 1958 tournament.
Carlos Beltran retires a champion at 40
ORLANDO, Fla.
Carlos Beltran is retiring at age 40 after winning his first World Series title in his 20th major league season.
The outfielder made the announcement Monday, 12 days after the Houston Astros beat the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 7 of the World Series.
Beltran is a nine-time All-Star who won the 1999 AL Rookie of the Year award and three Gold Gloves.
His production dropped this year. He hit .295 with 29 homers and 93 RBIs for the New York Yankees and Texas in 2016. He then batted .231 with 14 homers and 51 RBIs for Houston.
He finishes with a .279 average, 435 homers, 1,587 RBIs and 312 stolen bases. He also has played for Kansas City, the New York Mets, San Francisco and St. Louis.
Staff and wire reports