SPORTS digest

EDITOR' NOTE: This story has been updated to reflect that the Champion High School softball team will be honored at the Eastwood Mall on Monday, July 8.

Mediate will appear at New Castle outing

NEW CASTLE, PA.

PGA Champions Tour golfer Rocco Mediate, a native of Greensburg, Pa., will participate in the United Way of Lawrence County golf outing on July 16 at Avalon Field Club.

Mediate, who won six PGA and two Champions events, will conduct a clinic at 11 a.m. before shotgun start at noon.

The tournament format is best two balls out of a foursome.

Cost is $250 per golfer. A reception at 5 p.m. for non-golfers is available for $50.

Those interested should call the United Way of Lawrence County at 724-658-8528 or visit the website www.prestoninvitational.com

Spots open for YSU volleyball camps

YOUNGSTOWN

A few spots remain open a team camp that will be hosted by the Youngstown State volleyball coaches from July 12-14.

There also will be a Little Spikers Camp for players in grades one-to-three from July 15-17. On the same days, there will be an All Skills Camp from players in grades four-to-12.

An Elite Camp will be available for players with varsity experience. Dates and times are July 15-16 from 9 a.m.-noon and 1-4 p.m. and July 17 from 9 a.m.-noon.

Cost $is 215 per resident camper and $165 per commuter. There is also an option to attend a three-hour practice session on the first day of the camp that will cost an additional $35 per player.

Registration is available online or by mailing in the registration form and parent waiver and release form. For more information, visit the website penguinsvolleyballcamps.com or contact Aline Scott at ysuvolleyball@ysu.edu.

Champion softball to be honored at mall

NILES

The Champion High School softball team, the three-time defending Division III state champion softball program, will be honored in a victory rally July 8 at 3 p.m. in the Eastwood Mall’s Center Court.

Public officials will be on hand to congratulate the team, along with friends and family. In honor of the team’s accomplishments, the Cafaro Foundation will present a donation to the Champion Local Schools for use in the district’s athletic programs.

Champion’s softball program has won five state titles since 2011.

The celebration will continue later that day at Eastwood Field, where the Mahoning Valley Scrappers will honor the team before taking on the Williamsport Crosscutters at 7:05 p.m.

UConn is returning to Big East Conference

NEW YORK

UConn is back in the Big East.

The Huskies were introduced Thursday at Madison Square Garden as the newest member of the conference in which they were a charter member 40 years ago. The marquee out front of MSG said “Welcome Home, UConn.”

“As we head into our 41st year, this proud and history-making conference couldn’t be more excited to announce that the University of Connecticut is coming back to its original home and will once again be a Big East school,” Commissioner Val Ackerman said.

Ackerman said the discussions began when basketball season ended in March.

“It quickly became apparent that there was mutual interest,” she said. “I would say over the last couple of weeks in particular, there’s really been an acceleration, a lot of things came together.”

The school is moving basketball and most of its other athletic teams from the American Athletic Conference to the Big East, with the programs potentially beginning play in the 2020-21 academic year.

UConn men’s basketball coach Dan Hurley is excited to coach in the conference he played in when he attended Seton Hall from 1991-96.

“It’s just surreal to be the head coach of the UConn Huskies, in the Big East Conference,” Hurley said. “That’s a heck of a position to be put in. For me, I pinched myself when I found out this was happening.”

Staff/report