Passed ball dooms Scrappers vs. Spikes

August 16, 2019 at 12:05a.m.

State College, Pa.

The Mahoning Valley Scrappers had an early lead, but a passed ball by catcher Yainer Diaz gave the State College Spikes the lead for good. The Spikes held on for a 5-2 win on Thursday night.

Matt Duce and Martin Figueroa scored on the pass ball in the bottom of the second inning for a 2-1 lead for the Spikes (30-29).

David Vinky’s RBI double and Terry Fuller’s two-run homer extended the lead to 5-1 in the fifth.

Diaz’s RBI single in the ninth got the Scrappers (27-31) closer, but Fabian Blanco struck out Ulysses Cantu with runners on the corners to end the game.

Prior to the game, shortstop Brayan Rocchio, designated hitter Bryan Lavastida and outfielder George Valera were named to the New-York Penn League All-Star Game. The All-Star Game will be Wednesday at 7 p.m. in Staten Island, New York.

Earnhardt Jr. survives plane crash in Tenn.

ELIZABETHTON, Tenn.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. is safe and in a hospital for evaluation after his plane crashed in east Tennessee, the NASCAR television analyst and retired driver’s sister tweeted.

Earnhardt’s sister, Kelley Earnhardt Miller, tweeted that the driver’s wife, Amy, and 15-month-old daughter, Isla, also were on the plane along with two pilots.

“Everyone is safe and has been taken to the hospital for further evaluation,” she tweeted. “We will have no further information at this time.”

Federal Aviation Administration officials said a Cessna Citation rolled off the end of a runway and caught fire after landing at Elizabethton Municipal Airport at 3:40 p.m. Thursday. FAA officials said the preliminary indication is that two pilots and three passengers were aboard.

The National Transportation Safety Board tweeted that it’s sending two representatives to Elizabethton to begin investigating the crash.

Carter County Sheriff’s Office spokesman Thomas Gray confirmed Earnhardt was aboard but said he wasn’t one of the pilots.

YSU announces Horvath Scholarship

Youngstown

The Youngstown State University Department of Intercollegiate Athletics is pleased to announce the Frank “Snooky” Horvath Football Scholarship to enhance the YSU Athletics Scholarship Endowment Fund.

A 1959 Rayen graduate, Horvath was a two-time all-city selection (1957-58). Nicknamed “Fireball Frankie” he established a school career rushing record of 2,567 yards from 1959-62. During the 1960 season he averaged 126.5 yards per game which is still fourth all time. He rushed for 1,010 yards on 150 carries during the season becoming the first YSU player to rush for more than 1,000 yards in a season.

The scholarship will be awarded to a student-athlete on the YSU Football team. Preference of the recipient will be given to an athlete from Mahoning, Trumbull or Columbiana county.

For more information, or to endow an athletic scholarship at YSU, contact Dan Kopp at the YSU Foundation at 330-941-3211 or dkopp@ysufoundation.org.

Lakers center Cousins tears ACL in left knee

EL SEGUNDO, Calif.

DeMarcus Cousins is facing rehab from another major injury, and the Los Angeles Lakers have endured their first big problem of a season with championship expectations.

Cousins was diagnosed Thursday with a torn ACL in his left knee, an injury that could sideline the six-time All-Star big man for much — if not all — of this coming season. Cousins’ agent, Jeff Schwartz of Excel Sports Management, said a timeline for surgery is being discussed.

Cousins, who spent last season with Golden State, got hurt earlier this week in a workout in Las Vegas. The ACL tear comes about 18 months after he ruptured his left Achilles tendon, and roughly four months after he tore his left quadriceps muscle during this past season’s playoffs.

He signed with the Lakers on another one-year deal, this time for $3.5 million.

Staff/wire report