SPORTS digest

Shingledecker wins at Sharon Speedway

Hartford

Jeremiah Shingledecker and Chas Wolbert were among the winners Saturday at Sharon Speedway.

In the big block modifieds race, Shingledecker edged Tyler Williard. Wolbert won the Sportsmans modified race, finishing ahead of Steve Slater.

Other winners were Chris Schneider (Stock cars) and Ty Rhoades (Econo mods).

YSU soccer team defeats Canisius, 1-0

Youngstown

The Youngstown State women’s soccer team earned their first win of the season after defeating Canisius 1-0 on Sunday afternoon from Farmers National Bank Field in the Covelli Sports Complex.

The Penguins improve to 1-2-1, while the Golden Griffins fall to 2-1-0.

After a scoreless first half, YSU got on the board in the 54th minute when a corner kick from sophomore midfielder Sammy Salantino redirected off of a Canisius defender into the back of the net. With solid defensive play and great goal keeping from sophmore Kate McEachern, the Penguins were able to hold of the Golden Griffins for the remainder of the game to secure a 1-0 victory.

Canisius outshot the Peguins 8-7 but McEarchern made the saves she had to to earn herself her first career shutout at YSU.

The Penguins hit the road for the first time this season when they travel to St. Bonaventure on Friday.

The game is set for 7 p.m.

Daniels named USC starting QB

LOS ANGELES

Freshman J.T. Daniels has won the competition to start at quarterback for No. 15 Southern California.

Coach Clay Helton announced his decision in a news release Sunday night, ending the 31/2-week audition for three strong contenders to be the successor to Sam Darnold.

When he takes the Coliseum field against UNLV on Saturday, the 18-year-old Daniels will be the first true freshman to start at quarterback for USC since Matt Barkley in 2009. Only three true freshmen have ever started a game at quarterback for the Trojans: Barkley, Heisman Trophy winner Carson Palmer (1998) and Rob Johnson (1991).

“I am honored that Coach Helton picked me as the starter,” Daniels said in a statement released by the school, which hasn’t allowed freshmen to speak to the media during camp.

Seattle’s Stewart named WNBA MVP

SEATTLE

Seattle Storm forward Breanna Stewart has been announced as the WNBA MVP after a season where she finished second in scoring and led Seattle to the best record in the league.

Stewart was given the award Sunday prior to Seattle opening its best-of-five semifinal playoff series against Phoenix. Stewart finished with 372 total points in the voting, easily outpacing Dallas’ Liz Cambage, who finished second with 231 points. Stewart received 33 of 39 first-place votes.

Washington’s Elena Delle Donne finished third in the voting and Los Angeles’ Candace Parker was fourth.

“I think each award I’ve won for its respective level means a lot, but to be the MVP of the WNBA, the best league in the world, it’s at the top,” Stewart said before Game 1. “And to do it with this franchise, this team, my teammates I couldn’t have imagined it any other way.”

Stewart was the league’s rookie of the year in 2016, but had her finest professional season this year. She averaged 21.8 points and 8.4 rebounds as Seattle went 26-8 in the regular season. She had 22 games of 20 or more points scoring.

Stewart, who earlier this month was announced as the AP Player of the Year, is the second Seattle player to win MVP. Lauren Jackson was named MVP three times in her career. Natasha Howard was given the league’s most improved award and Sue Bird received the Kim Perrot Sportsmanship award also on Sunday before the game.

Staff/wire report