SPORTS digest

Inaugural ‘410’ Sprint Series washed out

Hartford

Sharon Speedway management tried to wait out the showers, but after two hours of steady light rain the decision was made to cancel the Menards “Super Series” event featuring last Saturday’s inaugural appearance by the FAST “410” Sprint Car Series.

Saturday night is the annual “Fan Appreciation Night” presented by QuickLane with free grandstand admission for everyone. There will also be an on-track autograph session during intermission with all the drivers and their cars. This will now be the opener for the Hovis Auto & Truck Supply Big-Block Modifieds, the Gibson Insurance Agency Stock Cars, and the HTMA/Precise Racing Products RUSH Sportsman Modifieds. The Summit Racing Equipment Econo Mods will return for the second race of their season. Pits open at 4 p.m. with grandstands at 5 and racing at 7.

Hoelzel steps down as VC girls’ hoops coach

youngstown

Head Coach Bill Hoelzel has stepped down as the Valley Christian Girls Basketball Coach after seven seasons.

The Eagles best season under Hoelzel came in 2017-18 when the Lady Eagles made it to the district finals for the first time in school history.

In his tenure Hoelzel coached 1000-point scorers India Snyder and Imane Snyder.

Coach Hoelzel is Valley Christian’s winningest girls basketball coach in Valley Christian history.

Valley Christian will begin its search to find Hoelzels’ replacement.

Poland lacrosse players choose colleges

POLAND

Two Poland High School lacrosse players have made college commitments.

Senior Kincaid Mrakovich will play at the University of Mount Union and senior Justin Blasko will continue his career at Marietta College.

Bridis named National Player of the Week

youngstown

Youngstown State outfielder Trey Bridis has garnered National Player of the Week honors and shared weekly Horizon League honors with this teammate, pitcher Alex Bellardini, after the Penguins went 4-1 last week.

After a week in which he batted .500 and hit four home runs, Bridis was recognized on Monday at the national and conference level. Bridis was named a National Player of the Week by Collegiate Baseball, and he was also named the Co-Horizon League Batter of the Week. Bellardini was named the Pitcher of the Week.

Bridis added a 1.042 slugging percentage, 12 total hits, six RBIs, a .586 OBP, 10 runs scored, 25 total bases, five walks and three stolen bases last week. He also hit a pair of leadoff home runs during the week. Bridis now has a career-high 11 home runs this season, tied for the third most in a single season in school history.

Bellardini was named Horizon League Pitcher of the Week for the second consecutive week after surrendering just one run on six hits over six innings to help lead the Penguins to a 14-7 win at Northern Kentucky on Saturday. The senior struck out four batters and only walked two while earning his second consecutive conference victory. He picked up his fourth win of the season in just this fourth start. He is the first player to garner back-to-back weekly league honors this season.

Dean Blandino named NCAA’s replay director

INDIANAPOLIS

The NCAA says former NFL vice president of officiating Dean Blandino will be college football’s director of instant replay.

Blandino will continue to serve as a rules analyst for Fox’s NFL and college football coverage. He held numerous roles with the NFL in officiating from 1994 to 2017, when he left the NFL to join Fox.

Blandino has worked with the NCAA and its College Football Officiating, LLC, at national replay clinics used to train and educate officials over the past few years.

The director of instant replay will focus on development and education during college football’s offseason.

Staff/wire reports