Nine Penguins receive All-MVFC honors

Nine Penguins receive All-MVFC honors

Youngstown

Youngstown State seniors Tevin McCaster, Gavin Wiggins and Steven Wethli were named first-team All-Missouri Valley Football Conference, the league announced on Monday. A total of nine Penguins received honors, with three more on the second team while three more were named honorable mention.

Three more seniors earned second-team honors in LB Armand Dellovade, C Vitas Hrynkiewicz and DT Savon Smith. Penguins recognized as honorable mention are FS Chrispin Lee, DT Shereif Bynum and TE Miles Joiner.

Wethli becomes the first long snapper in school history to earn first-team all-league accolades.

McCaster is the first YSU tailback to make first team in consecutive years since P.J. Mays in 2001-02. Mays and McCaster are the only two tailbacks in school history to be named first-team All-MVFC twice.

Dellovade earned second-team honors for the third consecutive year. He is the first player in YSU history to earn all-conference accolades in four straight seasons.

Rachel Tinkey earns OAC Player of Week

AUSTINTOWN

Mount Union guard Rachel Tinkey, a Canfield graduate, was named the Ohio Athletic Conference Women’s Basketball Player of the Week on Monday.

The senior receives her first player of the week selection after leading the Purple Raiders in scoring in their back-to-back victories against Ohio Wesleyan (87-62) and Kenyon (56-39).

Against Ohio Wesleyan, Tinkey scored 19 points, shot 42.9 percent from the field and 66.7 percent from behind the arc.

Against Kenyon, Tinkey recorded a season-best 26 points for another 42.9 field goal percentage. Tinkey also grabbed a season-high of eight rebounds.

Braves make sign Donaldson, McCann

NEW YORK

The Atlanta Braves added a pair of free agents following their first division title in five years, agreeing to one-year contracts with third baseman Josh Donaldson and catcher Brian McCann.

Donaldson agreed to a $23 million, one-year contract. The deal is subject to a successful physical.

McCann’s deal was announced by Atlanta, where he became a seven-time All-Star from 2005-13. He got a $2 million, one-year contract to play near his home.

Donaldson hit .246 with eight homers and 23 RBIs in 52 games this year for Toronto and Cleveland.

McCann hit .212 with seven homers and 23 RBIs in 63 games this year, missing 53 games because of arthroscopic surgery on his right knee in July.

Michigan DE Gary entering NFL draft

ANN ARBOR, Mich.

Rashan Gary is entering the NFL draft and skipping his senior season at Michigan.

The standout defensive end made the announcement Monday on YouTube , saying he is leaving to make a dream come true.

It was not immediately clear if Gary plans to play for the eighth-ranked Wolverines in their bowl game. He was a second-team preseason All-American and is projected to be a first-round NFL draft pick.

The junior had 44 tackles, including seven for losses and 3 1/2 sacks, this year. He missed three games this season with a shoulder injury.

Agent: Mike Ditka home after heart attack

CHICAGO

Hall of Fame tight end and former Chicago Bears coach Mike Ditka has been released from a hospital after being treated for a mild heart attack last week.

Steve Mandell, Ditka’s agent, confirmed a report by the Chicago Sun-Times that the former coach was sent home. He tells The Associated Press Ditka “is doing better.”

The 79-year-old Ditka coached the Bears and the New Orleans Saints, finishing with a 121-95 record in 14 years, and he led Chicago to the Super Bowl title after the 1985 season.

Staff/wire report