O’Shaughnessy receives OCCAC honors

O’Shaughnessy receives OCCAC honors

POLAND

Poland High School graduate Padraig O’Shaughnessy has received an honor from the Ohio Community College Athletic Conference.

A baseball player for Mercyhurst University North East, O’Shaughnessy was named to the all-region team.

In 41 games, O’Shaughnessy hit .361 with an on-base percentage of .497. A first baseman, he also cranked out seven doubles, two triples and seven homers. The redshirt freshman also was named to the OCCAC freshman team.

Ryan Blaney to raise Alzheimer’s awareness

Charlotte, N.C.

BODYARMOR Sports Drink, the Ryan Blaney Family Foundation and NASCAR driver Ryan Blaney announced the launch of their “Race to Raise Alzheimer’s Awareness” program.

BODYARMOR will serve as the primary sponsor of Blaney’s No. 12 Team Penske Ford Mustang in the NASCAR Cup Series race at Chicagoland Speedway on June 30.

Through June 3 or until 160 names have been submitted, fans will have the chance to submit the name of an individual affected by Alzheimer’s and have it appear on the decklid of Blaney’s Ford Mustang for the race.

To participate, fans can visit www.RyanBlaneyFamilyFoundation.org, make a donation of $150 to the Foundation and submit the name of the individual being honored. Upon completion of the race, each name on the decklid will be cut out, signed by Blaney and mailed to the individual who submitted the name.

FCS Kickoff Classic tix on sale Saturday

YOUNGSTOWN

Tickets for the Youngstown State football team’s contest on Aug. 24 against Samford in the Guardian Credit Union FCS Kickoff Classic officially go on sale at 10 a.m. Saturday.

The game will be televised nationally by ESPN and kickoff is set for 3 p.m.

Tickets are available by visiting the official website of the game at www.guardiankickoffclassic.com or by calling 334-350-3114.

YSU fans will be seated on the west side (sections A-G) while Samford fans will be seated on the East side (sections N-S).

Premium parking is available for $10. Fans may purchase one parking pass, in a premium lot, for every four game tickets purchased. The maximum number of parking passes a single fan can purchase is three.

MLB to examine policy after foul ball hits child

HOUSTON

Major League Baseball says it will keep examining its policy on protective netting at stadiums a day after a young fan was struck by a foul ball and hospitalized.

The girl was hit during Wednesday night’s game between the Chicago Cubs and Houston Astros, an incident MLB on Thursday called “extremely upsetting.”

Cubs outfielder Albert Almora Jr. hit a line drive in the fourth inning into the field-level stands down the third-base line, where it hit the girl.

After the game, the Astros issued a statement saying the fan was taken to a hospital. The team said Thursday the family has asked for privacy so they will not provide updates.

Osaka overcomes rough start in Paris

PARIS

The No. 1-seeded Naomi Osaka got off to a terrible start at the French Open again, never masking her frustration. After some slip-ups near the end, Osaka also prevailed again, displaying the grit and groundstrokes that just won’t let her lose during what’s become a 16-match Grand Slam winning streak.

Osaka trailed by a set and a break Thursday against former No. 1 Victoria Azarenka in the second round at Roland Garros, before coming all the way back to win an entertaining matchup 4-6, 7-5, 6-3 and prolong her bid for a third consecutive major championship.

Defending champion Simona Halep blew a lead in the second set and a trio of match points before holding on to beat Magda Linette 6-4, 5-7, 6-3.

Staff/wire report