SPORTS digest

YSU’s Saibene named Player of the Week

INDIANAPOLIS

Youngstown State sophomore Nikki Saibene has been named the Nike Horizon League Softball Player of the Week, the league announced on Monday.

This is Saibene’s first career weekly award and the fourth time a YSU player has garned a weekly award this season.

Saibene led the Penguins to a 3-0 record last week and helped YSU earn the No. 3 seed in the league championship.

She batted .429 with three home runs, six RBIs, three runs scored and owned an on-base percentage of .556 and a slugging percentage of 1.714. Saibene belted a home run in three consecutive games and also stole a base.

Five Bowlers named to All-Academic team

YOUNGSTOWN

Five Youngstown State bowlers have been named to the inaugural Southland Bowling League All-Academic Team that was released on Monday.

The five Penguins on the team are junior Emily Dietz, sophomore Emma Dockery, senior Rachel Ellis, junior Ashley Kolb and junior Nikki Mendez. Youngstown State led the SBL with the five honorees on the 19-member team.

To be recognized on the all-academic team, bowlers must have a minimum 3.00 cumulative grade point average, have completed at least one full academic year at the nominating institution prior to the season in which the nomination occurs, and have participated in at least 50 percent of the team’s tournaments during the most recently completed season.

XFL reaches TV deal with ESPN, Fox Sports

The XFL has reached multiyear agreements with ESPN and Fox Sports to broadcast its games beginning in 2020.

The league also announced Monday that its season will start Feb. 8, the weekend after the NFL season ends with the Super Bowl.

This is the second time Vince McMahon has launched a football league. The first version of the XFL lasted one season in 2001 — joint venture of WWE and NBC.

All 43 XFL games — 40 regular season, three playoffs — will be televised with 24 on ABC or Fox. The remainder will air on ESPN, ESPN2, FS1 and FS2.

The eight-team league has set its schedule with most games on Saturday and Sunday. ESPN will show the championship game April 26.

The XFL will have teams in Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, St. Louis, Seattle, Tampa Bay and Washington.

Casillas out of hospital after heart attack

PORTO, Portugal

Veteran Porto goalkeeper Iker Casillas has been released from the hospital five days after having a heart attack.

The 37-year-old Casillas fell ill during a practice session last Wednesday and underwent a catheterization after being rushed to the hospital.

Casillas said Monday he doesn’t know “what the future holds,” and that the most important thing was to be standing there talking about himself.

He said he was “feeling much better” but will need to rest “for a couple of weeks or a couple of months.”

The Spanish goalkeeper said he feels “very lucky” the incident didn’t have more serious consequences, and thanked the outpouring of support he’s received.

Casillas joined Porto in 2015 after helping Real Madrid win five league titles and three Champions League trophies.

He also helped Spain win one World Cup and two European Championships.

FIFA adds more awards for gender parity

ZURICH

FIFA is introducing gender parity for its awards by adding a women’s goalkeeper category and a female team of the year.

The announcement on Monday ensures men and women will be in line for accolades in the same categories at the FIFA Best ceremony in Milan on Sept. 23.

Staff/wire report