Published: Sunday, January 14, 2007
AREA
McDonald BOE seeks
outside candidates
McDONALD — The McDonald board of education has to decided to search outside the school district for its varsity football coach, a decision that may spell the end for Coach Dan Williams, who led the Blue Devils to the Division VI playoffs last season.
Williams was told of the board's decision on Thursday morning by his superintendent, Michael Wasser.
"I didn't see this coming," said Williams, whose team went 7-4 and lost to Cuyahoga Heights in the first round of the playoffs. "We thought we had a great year. We were two overtime losses from being 9-1."
Williams, who will also coach the baseball team this spring, will still be considered for the position, but the football opening has already been posted on several web sites.
"[Wasser] told me, 'You're my recommendation,'" said Williams, a former standout quarterback at the high school who has a 41-31 record in seven seasons with the Blue Devils. Previously, he went 11-9 in two seasons as the head football coach at Jackson-Milton.
Like all coaches, Williams must submit an application each year and must be approved by the board. He was approved 5-0 the past seven years.
"This came as a surprise to me, my team, my assistant coaches and the whole program," he said. "I hope they'll hire me back. I want to be the head football coach next year."
McDonald's next board meeting is Jan. 29.
Indoor track
MARIETTA — Western Reserve senior Alex Rathburn placed first in the shot put with a throw of 39 feet, 9 inches and finished second in the weight throw (42-6) at Saturday's indoor track and field meet at Marietta College.
Rathburn is a Coastal Carolina recruit.
The meet featured schools from Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia.
Pirates plan
two appearances
The Pittsburgh Pirates Winter caravan will make two stops in the area later this month.
On Jan. 30, the caravan will be at New Castle's Scottish Rite Cathedral from 6-8 p.m. for a free autograph session.
On Jan. 31, the caravan will be at the Youngstown's Butler Institute of American Art, 524 Wick Ave.
That luncheon will begin at noon.
At both sites, players Mike Gonzalez, Matt Capps and Jose Bautista will appear along with pitching coach Jim Colborn and broadcasters Greg Brown and Bob Walk.
Fans will be able to purchase Opening Day tickets (April 9 against the world-champion St. Louis Cardinals). Information on season tickets and eight-packs will be available.
The New Castle appearance is free.
Tickets for the Youngstown luncheon cost $15 and include a meal plus a ticket for a 2007 Pirates game at PNC Park. Reservations are required and may be made by calling Sue Carfano at (330) 743-1107 ext. 122.
Tri T meeting
POLAND — Tri T baseball and softball will have a meeting Jan. 17 at 7 p.m. at the Poland Community Baseball Building.
All league presidents and directors from the communities in Tri T are required to attend.
Call Jim DeChellis (330-755-6949) for information.
Gregory to speak
to Curbstone
BOARDMAN — Joe Gregory, Youngstown SteelHounds general manager will be the guest speaker at the Curbstone Coaches Association weekly meeting, noon at the Lockwood House.
Mooney banquet
is Feb. 18
YOUNGSTOWN — The 15th Cardinal Mooney High School Hall of Fame banquet will be at Mr. Anthony's in Boardman on Feb. 18 at 6 p.m.
Inductees are: Mark Braydich, 1983, basketball; Dean Cicoretti, 1988, football; Ralph DePasco, 1981, football; Kristen D'Alesandro Halloran, 1989, tennis; and John French, 1985, football.
Other inductees are Dale Gresko, 1968, football; Joe Kelly, 1985, football; Len Krispinsky, 1965, boys soccer coach; Kerry Manning Pregibon, 1991, golf; Rick Marsico, 1975, football; Roy Nard, basketball coach; and Rick Testa, 1976, baseball.
Hockey
BOARDMAN — Fremont defeated Mooney/Ursuline, 3-2, in a North Coast High School Hockey league game at the Ice Zone Saturday.
Mooney/Ursuline goals were scored by Jeff Tate and Dean Macklin, with assists by Jim Lacko, Mike Madsen, and Corey Gruelle.
Mooney is 6-10-1 overall and 2-6 in league play.
Fremont is 1-5-1 in the league.
McGwire: 'No control' over HOF vote
TUSTIN, Calif. — Mark McGwire had little to say about being left out of Cooperstown in his first public comments since the Hall of Fame announcement.
The former slugger talked briefly Friday to the Cal State Fullerton newspaper, the Daily Titan, about being denied baseball's highest honor in his first time on the ballot.
Amid questions about his role in baseball's Steroids Era, McGwire was picked by 23.5 percent of voters in totals released Tuesday — far short of the 75 percent needed for induction.
"I had an absolutely wonderful career that I am very proud of," McGwire said as he signed autographs at a charity event benefiting the Orange County Abuse Prevention Center.
"I'm not in control of what happens — I was in control of hitting the ball."
McGwire, whose 583 home runs rank seventh on the career list, appeared on 128 of a record 545 ballots in voting released by the Baseball Writers' Association of America. Tony Gwynn of the San Diego Padres and Cal Ripken of the Baltimore Orioles were voted in and will be inducted in July.
McGwire has been reclusive since he appeared in front of Congress two years ago to address steroid use in baseball. The 23.5 percent vote he received represented the first referendum on how history will judge an age when bulked-up players came under suspicion of using performance-enhancing drugs.
Baseball didn't ban steroids until after the 2002 season.
McGwire was one of more than two dozen sports personalities on hand for Friday's event called "Luck be a Lady," organized by a committee of players' wives. Among those in attendance were Los Angeles Angels pitcher John Lackey, St. Louis Cardinals infielder Adam Kennedy and Anaheim Ducks forward Teemu Selanne.
After retiring, McGwire has kept active in charity work, heading the Mark McGwire Foundation for Children.
Vindicator staff/wire reports
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