SPORTS digest

Scrappers sweep doubleheader

NILES

The Mahoning Valley Scrappers blanked the Batavia Muckdogs in both games of a doubleheader on Sunday. Brian Eichorn and Jerson Ramirez combined for a 5-hit shutout for a 1-0 win in Game 1 and the Scrappers scored six runs in the first two innings while winning the second contest, 8-0.

In Game 1, Eichorn struck out eight and walked two while giving up four hits in 5 1/3 innings. Ramirez struck out four while finishing out the 7-inning game. Will Brennan singled home Dalvy Rosario in the fourth.

The second game was limited to six innings due to rain. The Scrappers’ Korey Holland hit a solo home run in the second pitch he faced and the team was off two the races. Holland drove in another run in the second inning and Brayan Rocchio hit a 2-run home run to make it 5-0 Scrappers with one out in the second.

Jose Oca gave up just one hit in three innings of work. Serafino Brito threw the last three innings and was credited with the win by allowing just one baserunner via a walk.

Canfield man wins Clipper XC

COLUMBIANA

Canfield graduate Mack Mettille was the overall winner of the Clipper XC Series in Week 3 in Columbiana last Thursday. He had the winning time of nine minutes, 9.75 seconds, which was about nine seconds faster than runner up Erik Reed of East Liverpool.

The women’s side of the race was a closer affair with East Palestine grad Alexis Cunningham beating Lowellville middle schooler Sophia Yon by less than two seconds with a time of 10:57.18. Struthers’ Vinny Macciomei (10:14.57) was the top high school runner while finishing in fourth place. Southeast’s Katie Campbell (12:06.74) was the top high school girls runner.

Lynch gets first win at Sharon Speedway

HARTFORD

Sye Lynch picked up is first victory last Saturday during a 410 sprint car race at Sharon Speedway.

Lynch was 0.076 seconds away from setting a track record in qualifying. He took first on the third lap and never looked back, winning $3,000.

Former Texas RB Benson dies in crash

AUSTIN, Texas

Former NFL and Texas running back Cedric Benson, one of the most prolific rushers in NCAA and University of Texas history, has died in a motorcycle accident in Texas. He was 36.

Benson’s attorney, Sam Bassett, says Austin law enforcement told him that Benson was killed in a motorcycle accident Saturday night.

One of the top high school recruits in the country out of Midland, Texas, Benson was a key player in the Longhorns’ resurgence under former coach Mack Brown. Benson played at Texas from 2001-2004. He won the Doak Walker award given to the nation’s top running back in 2004.

Benson was drafted No. 4 overall by the Chicago Bears in 2005. He also played for the Cincinnati Bengals and Green Bay Packers.

Raiders GM calls out Antonio Brown

Oakland Raiders general manager Mike Mayock told disgruntled receiver Antonio Brown it’s time to decide whether he’s “all in or all out” about playing this season after losing a fight with the NFL over his helmet.

Mayock issued a statement to reporters that the Raiders released in a video on Twitter expressing his frustration that Brown didn’t participate in practice Sunday despite being healed from the frost-bitten feet that have sidelined him for most of training camp.

Brown also lost a grievance with the league to allow him to use a helmet that is no longer certified as safe. Brown had hoped to find a newer version of his preferred helmet that could be approved but Pro Football Talk reported that the league determined the helmet failed a test.

Mayock says Brown is still upset about the “helmet issue” but the Raiders have done everything they could to help him.

Staff/wire report