SPORTS DIGEST || YSU women’s hoops to play ‘pink out game’

YSU women’s hoops to play ‘pink out game’

Youngstown

The Youngstown State women’s basketball program will hold a “pink out game” on Feb. 2 to benefit the Joanie Abdu Comprehensive Breast Cancer Center and the Kay Yow Cancer Fund.

The Penguins will wear pink jerseys for the first time in program history as they aim to raise awareness and funds for breast cancer care and research. YSU hosts Detroit Mercy at 1 p.m. at Beeghly Center.

There will be a silent auction of the pink jersey tops that seniors Sarah Cash, Alison Smolinski and Melinda Trimmer will wear at the game, and donations will be accepted to benefit the Abdu Breast Center, the Joanie’s Promise Fund and the Kay Yow Cancer Fund. Information about breast cancer, mammography as well as the Abdu Breast Center will be available, and there will be a survivor recognition.

Student-athletes on the team will be at St. Elizabeth Youngstown Hospital on Wednesday from 1-3 p.m. selling tickets for the game.

Tickets are available at the Youngstown State Athletic Ticket Office or by calling 330-941-1978. Discounted tickets are available if the “pink out” flyer, which can be downloaded at YSUsports.com or picked up at Mercy locations or Beeghly Center, is presented at purchase.

Malone, 3 others earn scouting rankings

YOUNGSTOWN

Four players connected with the Youngstown Phantoms have been named to NHL Central Scouting’s Mid-Season Rankings for the 2019 NHL Entry Draft.

Forward Jack Malone, USHL Affiliate defensemen Jayden Struble and Malik Alishlalov, and USHL Affiliate goaltender Dominic Basse were selected.

Malone is the 92-rated skater in North America. He was a member of Team USA that won a gold medal in December at the World Junior A Challenge. Malone also scored a goal at the USHL/NHL Top Prospects Game on Jan. 8.

In 29 games for the Phantoms, Malone has scored 15 goals and added 18 assists.

Basse is rated 25 for North American goaltenders and is enrolled at Selects Hockey Academy in Connecticut where he plays for their U18 team.

Struble is ranked 43 for North American skaters. He plays with St. Sebastian’s Prep School in Massachusetts as well as the U18 Boston Jr. Eagles club.

Alishlalov ranks as the 171 skater in North America. Originally from Russia, he is in his second season in prep hockey at the Westminster School in Connecticut.

Ichiro, Mariners agree to minor league deal

SEATTLE

Ichiro Suzuki has agreed to a minor league deal with the Seattle Mariners, paving the way for the 45-year-old to play in Seattle’s season-opening series in Japan.

Suzuki’s agent, John Boggs, confirmed the agreement on Wednesday.

He said Suzuki’s deal would become a major league contract if he’s added to Seattle’s expanded roster for the two games the Mariners will play against Oakland in March in Tokyo.

Suzuki started last season playing for the Mariners but transitioned into a front-office role as a “special assistant to the chairman” that allowed him to take part in pregame workouts and batting practice but did not allow him to be in the dugout during games.

The move ended his season abruptly, but with the knowledge that Seattle was opening 2019 in Japan with what would be a highly-anticipated opportunity for him to play in his home country.

The 10-time All-Star has a .311 average and 3,089 hits, not including the 1,278 hits he amassed in nine seasons in Japan.

Staff/wire report