SPORTS

SPORTS

digest

Niles to host parents meeting

NILES

Niles McKinley High School will be the site of a meeting for fall athletes and parents on Wednesday at 7 p.m.

The meeting is for high school or middle school student and parents participating with a fall athletic team.

Scrappers invite restaurants to compete

NILES

The Mahoning Valley Scrappers will change their name to the Mahoning Valley Peppers in Oil presented by the Italian Food Trail (Trumbull County Tourism) for their July 13 game at Eastwood Field.

The iconic area appetizer will be featured on the game worn jerseys, game worn hats and retail hats and shirts.

The Scrappers invite members of the Italian Food Trail developed by Trumbull County Tourism and other local restaurants to claim reign as “Best Peppers in Oil in the Valley” voted upon by Scrappers fans.

Restaurants and businesses may purchase a sampling table for $50 which includes a table to provide samples, option to sell their Peppers in Oil (with proper retail licensing), 10 game tickets and ability to provide promotional materials to fans.

To reserve space, contact Kate Walsh at 330-505-0000 or email kwalsh@mvscrappers.com

The jerseys will be auctioned off after the game.

Rays ponder splitting season with Montreal

NEW YORK

The Tampa Bay Rays have been given the go-ahead by Major League Baseball to look into playing a split season in Montreal.

Commissioner Rob Manfred said made the announcement Thursday at the end of the owners’ meetings.

There is no timetable for the possible plan. An idea under consideration is for the Rays to play early in the season in Tampa Bay and later in Montreal.

Tampa Bay is averaging 14,546 fans per home game, ahead of only the Miami Marlins. The Rays have played at Tropicana Field since their inception in 1998 and drew their lowest home crowd of 5,786 against Toronto last month. They had looked into building a new stadium for years but in December abandoned a plan to build across the bay in Tampa.

The Montreal Expos existed from 1969-2004 before they moved to Washington and became the Nationals. In their last two seasons before moving, the Expos played 22 games per year at San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Manfred said the MLB executive council had given permission for the Rays to explore a split season.

Armour, Burgoon share Travelers lead

CROMWELL, Conn.

Ryan Armour and Bronson Burgoon shot 64s to share the early first-round lead at the Travelers Championship.

Burgoon birdied four of his first six holes, and Armour birdied seven of his final 14 in drizzle and fog Thursday at TPC River Highlands.

Memorial champion Patrick Cantlay was part of a group at 66. Cantlay started on the back nine and was tied for the lead when his tee shot landed in water on the par-3 eighth hole, leading to a double bogey.

Defending champion Bubba Watson opened with a 69 in his bid for his fourth Travelers title. Brooks Koepka, coming off his runner-up showing at the U.S. Open, had a 71.

Warren JFK graduate Jason Kokrak shot a 75 and is 150th. His round included two birdies and seven bogeys.

Kim leads Women’s PGA Championship

CHASKA, Minn.

Hyo Joo Kim handled a long, tough Hazeltine with only one bogey for a 3-under 69 and a one-shot lead among the early starters at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship.

She was one shot ahead of Ariya Jutanugarn and Annie Park.

Michelle Wie struggled to handle the pain. Icing her right wrist throughout the round, Wie shot 84.

Staff/wire report