SPORTS digest

YSU bowling team makes NTCA Top 25

Entering its second season of competition, the Youngstown State bowling team is ranked 24th in the National Tenpin Coaches Association Preseason Top 25 poll.

The Penguins received 75 points in the preseason poll that was released on Wednesday. Youngstown State finished the 2016 season, its debut campaign, ranked 25th in the final poll with 38 points.

YSU returns its top seven bowlers from a year ago, including three who averaged at least 186 in traditional matches. Rachel Darrow averaged a team-high 190.59 and led the squad with 19 games over 200 in 2016-17. Alexis Grim averaged 186.97 and had the highest individual game last year at 258, and Nikki Mendez averaged 186.92.

Ebony Lifeline Support Group to host banquet

YOUNGSTOWN

The Ebony Lifeline Support group is hosting its 21st annual All Sports Banquet on Oct. 20 at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Social Hall in Youngstown. Ebony will induct 16 honorees into the Ebony Lifeline Hall of Fame. Maurice Clarett is the master of ceremonies and the guest speaker is Rev. Kenneth Donaldson. For more information, contact Bob Thomas at 330-261-1825, Kim Kitchen at 330-720-1296, or Markus Douglas at 330-507-5162.

The nominees are Carla Baldwin (community service), Greg Brown (football), Shirley Curd (softball), Christopher Ellis (basketball official, basketball, softball), Madelyn Halfacre (football), Morris Kennedy (Tae Kwon Do), Leslie Kitchen (community service), Deborah Lewis (bowling), George Mauzy (football, track), Jaime Morales (baseball, football), Ruth Redding (softball), Jessie Sanders (track, softball, basketball), Alan Smith (basketball) and Alvin Ware (community service).

NFL looking at racist incident in Kansas City

WASHINGTON

The NFL is looking into a situation Monday night at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City during which Washington Redskins wide receiver Terrelle Pryor says he was called racist names and cursed at by a fan.

Pryor posted on Instagram story on Wednesday that it got so bad during the game against the Chiefs that a league employee had to stand by him from the second quarter on. Pryor apologized to teammates and the organization for “flicking the person off.”

NFL spokesman Joe Lockhart said the league is looking into “all aspects” of Pryor’s claim and will report back when the review is complete. Lockhart added the league has “no tolerance for racial remarks directed at anyone in a stadium” and said those fans are not welcome to come back “this week, next week or any time.”

On Instagram, Pryor says the comments are the reason players are kneeling during the national anthem. He says he didn’t kneel because he and his teammates decided to stand together.

Devils partner with women’s hockey team

NEWARK, N.J.

The New Jersey Devils are the first NHL franchise to partner with a National Women’s Hockey League team.

Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment, the Devils parent company, announced the partnership with the Metropolitan Riveters on Thursday.

The goal is to support the growth of the NWHL, a four-team women’s pro league that started in 2015. The Devils will assist with marketing and facilities for Riveters’ games and practices in Newark, New Jersey.

The Devils and Riveters will host a doubleheader on Oct. 28 at the Prudential Center. The Riveters will open their season against the Boston Pride in the afternoon and the Devils will play the Arizona Coyotes at night.

The new alliance begins Saturday at Prudential Center in support of World Girls Hockey Weekend. The Riveters will join 60-plus area female youth hockey players for the Devils home opener against the Colorado Avalanche. The girls will meet the Riveters and participate in a skating clinic after the game.

Staff/wire report