Capsules

Sembach to speak at Curbstone

Newton Falls high school boys basketball coach Roy Sembach will be the guest speaker at Monday's luncheon meeting of The Curbstone Coaches at the Avion Banquet Center on Western Reserve Road in Beaver Township.

The event begins at noon and the public is welcome to attend.

For those arriving early, the buffet lines will open at 11:45 a.m.

Also, plans are underway for the annual Curbstone Coaches Hall of Fame Induction ceremony which is set for May 4 at Mr. Anthony's in Boardman. The keynote speaker will be former Cleveland Browns stand out running back Greg Pruitt.

Tickets are available by contacting Patty Schuley at 3302078157. This year's event is sponsored by Briarfield Health Care Centers and Ed and Diane Reese.

Catholic conference falls through

The Ohio Catholic Athletic Conference, which would have featured Ursuline and Cardinal Mooney, will not come to fruition.

The league would have brought together several Catholic schools from across the state starting next fall. But the Irish and Cardinals will need to find a new home next season. The league would have only fielded football for the 2025-26 academic year .

According to Ursuline athletic director John DeSantis, the Irish will operate as an independent next year, but they will continue to schedule and maintain connection with the schools that would have made up the league.

The OCAC also forced Chaney and East, the two other members of the Steel Valley Conference alongside the Irish and Cardinals, to find new leagues.

YSU rally comes up short vs. WSU

The Youngstown State baseball team scored five two-out runs during a furious ninth-inning rally but came up short to Wright State 10-9 in the Horizon League series opener on Friday at Nischwitz Stadium in Dayton, Ohio.

The Penguins trailed 4-1 before scoring once in the fourth and twice in the fifth to tie the contest. The Raiders went back in front with a pair of runs in the fifth and added four runs in the sixth to take 10-4 edge into the ninth inning.

Jay Wrona ignited YSU's five-run ninth inning with a one-out single and advanced to third on Kyle Fossum's single to center field. Tommy Rover plated Wrona with a two-out RBI single through the right side to prompt a pitching change for Wright State. Nathan Beckley greeted Raider reliever Garrett Peters with a two-run double down the left field line to cut the deficit to 10-7. Cole Smith and Brady Shannon (Ursuline) followed with back-to-back RBI doubles to put the potential tying run into scoring position. Peters was able to strike out pinch hitter Brayden Kuriger to end the game and give the Raiders the series-opening victory.

Youngstown State falls to 4-20 overall and 2-5 in Horizon League play while Wright State improves to 12-11 overall and 6-1 against league opponents.

Shannon went 3-for-5 with an RBI double, two stolen bases and two runs scored while Fossum was 2-for-5 with his 10th home run of the season. Wrona went 2-for-4 with an RBI double while Rover and Jack Johnson each added RBI singles.

YSU starter Jacob Gehring (South Range) suffered the loss after allowing six runs on seven hits with four strikeouts and three walks over 4.2 innings. Braden Gebhardt surrendered four runs on three hits with five strikeouts over 3.1 innings of relief.

The Penguins and Raiders will conclude their three-game Horizon League series on Saturday with a doubleheader beginning at noon. Live audio for both games will be available at YSNLive.com.

Scheffler shoots 62 in Houston

HOUSTON -- Scottie Scheffler opened with two straight birdies and was on his way Friday in the Houston Open, tying the Memorial Park record with an 8-under 62 for a one-shot lead when the second round was halted by darkness after a two-hour storm delay Friday.

It was the most complete round of the year for Scheffler, who missed the first month of the season recovering from a glass puncture in his right palm that required minor surgery.

The only green he missed was on No. 2 -- his 11th of the round -- and he holed that from just inside 30 feet for birdie.

Scheffler also shot 62 in 2021 at Memorial Park. He shares the course record with Tony Finau, who shot 62 in 2022 and 2024.

It was the eighth time Scheffler shot 62 or lower -- one of those was a 59 in the FedEx Cup playoffs at TPC Boston in 2020 -- and his first since he shot 62 in the final round at Le Golf National to win the Olympic gold medal at the 2024 Paris Games.

Scheffler was at 11-under 129.

He led by one shot over Taylor Pendrith of Canada, who shot a 65. Nico Echavarria also was one shot behind until he hit his tee shot into the water on the 17th hole. Echavarria faced a par chip from 45 feet when play resumed Saturday morning.

Rory McIlroy was 11 shots behind when he stood on the tee for his afternoon start. After returned from the storm, his first concern was making the cut. But McIlroy ran off three straight birdies late in his round and managed to finish out for a 66. He was seven back.

Ryan Gerard had the best chance at catching Scheffler. He was at 9-under par and still had seven holes to finish in the second round due to the storms. Scheffler and the early starters managed to avoid bad weather.

Instead, he was on from the start with a 10-foot birdie putt on the 10th hole and a 25-footer on the 11th. Scheffler played bogey-free for the second straight round.

Pendrith had three birdies on his last five holes to pull within one shot of Scheffler.

The group at 7-under 133 included Gary Woodland, still regaining his form after returning last year from brain surgery. He had a stretch on his second nine of six birdies in seven holes, the exception on the par-5 third hole when he missed a 5-foot birdie.

That would be Randy Smith, who also is the longtime coach for Scheffler.

Capsules

Correction

In Thursday's edition, a story on the all-state boys basketball teams mentioned that Warren JFK lost to St. Paul in the Division VII regional semifinals. The Eagles won that game 64-51. They lost in the next round to Cornerstone Christian in the regional final.

YSU baseball changes schedule

The schedule was shifted for the Youngstown State baseball team's upcoming three-game Horizon League series at Wright State.

Due to inclement weather in the forecast, the Penguins and Raiders will now play a doubleheader on Saturday beginning at noon. Friday's series opener remains scheduled for 3 p.m.

Friday's series opener will be broadcast live on ESPN+. Live audio will be available for all three games at YSNLive.com, while live stats will be available through links posted on YSUsports.com. Fans can also follow @YSUBaseball on X for live updates.

Crosby breaks record in Pens loss

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- Jiri Kulich scored twice as part of a five-goal second period, and the Buffalo Sabres routed Pittsburgh 7-3 on Thursday night in an outing Penguins captain Sidney Crosby broke an NHL record for point-per-game consistency he shared with Wayne Gretzky.

Buffalo won its fourth-straight home game with Tage Thompson, Alex Tuch, Peyton Krebs, Tyson Kozak each securing a goal and assist. Mattias Samuelsson also scored, and backup James Reimer made 22 saves in winning his third consecutive start.

Crosby's goal 8:49 in to cut Buffalo's lead to 2-1 was his 80th point, to assure he'll finish his 20th NHL season averaging at least a point per outing. The 37-year-old surpassed Gretzky, who finished all but his 20th and final NHL season in 1998-99 averaging a point a game.

Kevin Hayes and Blake Lizotte also scored for Pittsburgh, which dropped to 1-3-1 in its past five.

Tristan Jarry was pulled after allowing four goals on 12 shots, and two days after allowing four goals on seven shots in a 6-1 loss at Tampa Bay. Alex Nedeljkovic mopped up, allowing three goals on 18 shots.

TAKEAWAYS

Penguins: Continue unraveling on a night they entered having allowed an NHL-worst 261 goals.

Sabres: Erupted for seven goals despite a youth-laden lineup missing key veteran forwards Jason Zucker (personal issue), Joshua Norris (middle body) and Jordan Greenway (lower body).

KEY MOMENT

A 1:44 second-period span in which Kulich and Samuelsson put Buffalo up 4-1. Kulich scored with a 20-footer over the goalie's right shoulder, and Samuelsson's shot from the right boards beat Jarry on the short side 5:20 into the period.

KEY STAT

The Sabres had 14 players register at least a point, including rookie Isak Rosen's first NHL point with an assist on Samuelsson's goal.

UP NEXT

Penguins host Ottawa on Sunday, and Sabres open three-game road swing at Philadelphia on Saturday.

Kent State places FB coach on leave

KENT -- Kent State has placed head coach Kenni Burns on administrative leave.

The university said in a statement Thursday that Burns was put on leave with pay and that Greg Glaus, executive deputy athletics director, would oversee the administrative responsibilities of the program. Also, the school said that offensive coordinator Mark Carney would be in charge of on-field activities.

Kent State did not provide details on why Burns was played on leave.

Kent State is scheduled to begin spring practices this weekend.

Burns has a 1-23 record in two seasons with the Golden Flashes. They were 0-12 last season, the fifth time in school history they had gone winless.

Before arriving at Kent State, Burns was the running backs coach at Minnesota.

Four-way tie at top of Houston Open

HOUSTON -- Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy wanted a final tune-up before the Masters and spent parts of the Thursday at the Houston Open under an umbrella in wind and rain that prevented anyone from getting too far away.

Keith Mitchell made a late eagle and Ryan Gerard let a good start slip away by finishing with two bogeys. They both wound up at 5-under 65, tied for the lead with Alejandro Tosti and Taylor Pendrith when play was suspended by darkness.

Scheffler didn't dazzle. He just didn't do much wrong, one of his best attributes. The world's No. 1 player played bogey-free and made a pair of long birdies on the back nine that added to a 67, leaving him two shots behind.

"Conditions were pretty tough out there today with the rain and the wind, so overall nice to keep a clean card," Scheffler said.

McIlroy, coming off his second victory of the year at The Players Championship two weeks ago, played in the morning and that was no picnic. The rain was steady as he stood on the 10th tee and it eventually stopped long enough for him to enjoy the end of his round.

He had two birdies (both on par 5s), two bogeys and 14 pars for a 70 that he described as "a little pedestrian."

"Couldn't really find the middle of the club face for the first few holes," McIlroy said. "Once it brightened up and as the conditions got a little better, I felt like I drove it pretty well."

Tosti contended late in the Houston Open last year. He also played bogey-free, and he made birdie on all three of the par 5s at Memorial Park. Mitchell got his mistakes out of the way early -- two bogeys in four holes, and finished strong.

Pendrith had the lead to himself until he found a bunker left of the green on the 18th and missed a 10-foot par putt. Jackson Suber was poised to join the group at 65 until a four-putt double bogey on the 18th. The first putt was 70 feet. The last three putts were from 5 feet.

And then there was Gerard, who was motoring along at 7 under with two holes to play, starting with the par-5 eighth. But his tee shot was so far right he had to take a penalty drop, and his wedge from 124 yards went 50 feet long. He managed to two-putt for a bogey.

Capsules

Big Cup scramble at Yankee Run

The Big Cup Two Person Scramble is set for April 26 at Yankee Run Golf Course.

The entry fee is $240 per team, and it includes $110 cash pot, $90 green fees and $40 skins.

The payout is $3,960, which is based on 36 teams. First place will take $1,200, second will earn $1,000, third is $800, fourth will get $600 and fifth will take $360. Skins is $1,440.

Registration can be done online, over the phone by calling 3304488096 or in-person at Yankee Run.

Fossum named HL Batter of Week

Youngstown State senior outfielder Kyle Fossum was named the Under Armour Horizon League Batter of the Week, the league office announced on Tuesday.

The Washington transfer and Seattle, Wash., native earns his first weekly honor as a Penguin after batting .500 and slugging 1.056 with nine hits including two home runs in 18 at bats over four games played this past week at Eastwood Field. The senior right fielder totaled four doubles, two home runs, seven RBIs, seven runs scored, 19 total bases, four walks, a .591 on-base percentage and one stolen base for the week.

Fossum hit a three-run home run, walked twice and scored twice in YSU's 15-5 win over Mercyhurst on Tuesday before recording a double and a walk in the Horizon League series opener with Purdue Fort Wayne on Friday. He totaled seven hits, four RBIs and five runs scored in 11 at bats in Sunday's doubleheader with Purdue Fort Wayne. Fossum went 3-for-4 with two doubles, an RBI and two runs scored in YSU's 12-11 victory in game one before going 4-for-7 with a three-run home run and three runs scored in game two. Fossum was a triple shy of the cycle in the nightcap while matching his career high with four hits.

Fossum leads the Horizon League and ranks sixth in the nation with a .470 batting average while leading the league and ranking ninth nationally with an .892 slugging percentage. He also holds national rankings of 15th in hits per game (1.77), 15th in on-base percentage (.559), 15th in doubles (11), 16th in total bases (74) and 20th in hits (39). Fossum leads the Horizon League in batting average (.470), slugging percentage (.892), on-base-percentage (.559), OPS (1.451), hits (39), doubles (11) and home runs (8). He also ranks third in the league in RBIs (25), fifth in runs scored (23) and sixth in walks (15). Fossum has hit safely in seven straight games while reaching base safely in 14 consecutive contests.

Fossum is slashing .654/.710/1.269 with 17 hits in 26 at bats over six games in Horizon League play. He has hit seven doubles and three home runs while driving in eight runs against league opponents.

YSU baseball bested by Bowling Green

Bowling Green scored eight runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to rally and defeat the Youngstown State baseball team 12-7 in a midweek non-conference contest on Tuesday at Steller Field in Bowling Green, Ohio.

The Penguins held a 6-4 lead before the Falcons erupted for eight runs in the bottom of the seventh inning. YSU starter Brandon Mikos allowed four runs on 10 hits with four strikeouts while matching his career high with six innings pitched in a no-decision.

Youngstown State drops to 4-19 overall on the season while Bowling Green improves to 17-7.

Kyle Fossum went 2-for-4 with his ninth home run of the season while Caleb Hadley was 2-for-4 with a double and a run scored. Cole Smith had two hits including a home run while Garrett Cutting delivered two RBI singles. Ten different Penguins recorded a hit in the contest as YSU was bested in the hit column 16-14.

Gavin Wilms suffered the loss after surrendering six runs on four hits while a pair of unearned runs went on Sloan Ulrich's record. Mitchell Seymour retired the side in order in the eighth inning in his first appearance of the season.

The Penguins grabbed a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning when Fossum led off the game with his ninth home run of the season to right center field.

The Falcons answered with two runs in the home half of the first of take a 2-1 edge. TJ Takats hit a leadoff home run to even the score while Caden Parker singled and scored on an RBI groundout by Brady Birchmeier.

YSU responded with two runs in the top of the second inning to regain a 3-2 lead. Brady Shannon drew a one-out walk, Hadley hit a two-out single and both runners scored when Fossum reached on an error.

The Penguins struck for a single run in the top of the fourth to push their lead to 4-2. Shannon hit a one-out triple to right field and scored on an RBI groundout by Eli Brown. YSU added another single in the top of the fifth inning to build a 5-2 advantage. Smith reached on an error, advanced to second on a base hit by Nathan Beckley and scored on Cutting's RBI single.

Bowling Green cut into YSU's lead by plating a pair of runs in the bottom of the sixth. Parker hit a leadoff single, DJ Newman walked, and Birchmeier was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Sam Seidel followed with a two-run single through the right side to reduce its deficit to 5-4.

Youngstown State got a run back in the top of the seventh when Smith led off the frame with his first home run of the season.

The Falcons went back on top 12-6 with eight runs on six hits in the bottom of the seventh. Parker hit a leadoff single and scored on Birchmeier's infield single before Zack Horky delivered a two-run double with the bases loaded to give BGSU its first lead since the second inning. Cooper McKenzie was hit by a pitch and scored on a wild pitch while Horky crossed home plate on an RBI single from Brayden Curlis. Antillon greeted Ulrich with an RBI triple before scoring when Parker reached on an error. Parker raced home on an RBI single from Newman for the final run.

The Penguins will begin a three-game Horizon League series at Wright State on Friday. First pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m.

Ravens sign DB Chidobe Awuzie

OWINGS MILLS, Md. -- The Baltimore Ravens agreed to terms on a one-year contract with cornerback Chidobe Awuzie on Tuesday.

Awuzie has played eight seasons in the NFL, most recently with the Tennessee Titans in 2024. He signed a three-year contract with the Titans but was released earlier this month after just one.

Awuzie started only seven of his eight games last season and had one interception, four passes defended, a forced fumble and 26 tackles. He went on injured reserve Sept. 27 and missed nine games before returning.

Baltimore got good performances last season from Marlon Humphrey and rookie Nate Wiggins at cornerback, but Brandon Stephens struggled and left to sign with the New York Jets.

Capsules

Beachy to go into Ohio Basketball HOF

COLUMBUS -- The Ohio Basketball Hall of Fame announced the posthumous induction of Bonnie Beachy as part of its 2025 class. The induction ceremony will take place April 12 at the Hilton Polaris in Columbus.

Often referred to as "Struthers' version of Wonder Woman," Beachy established herself as a basketball legend through her extraordinary achievements at both Struthers High School and Kent State University in the late 1970s and early 1980s.

At Struthers High School, Beachy led her team to the 1978 State AAA Championship while collecting an impressive list of individual honors, including State MVP, AP Player of the Year and unanimous first team All-Ohio selections by both AP and UPI. The school's all-time leading scorer, she also earned 11 varsity letters in basketball, tennis and track & field.

At Kent State, she set 23 school records and became the Golden Flashes' all-time scorer for both men and women with 2,071 points. Her jersey is permanently retired in the MAC Center at KSU, honoring her contributions that included an NCAA tournament appearance in 1982.

"Bonnie Beachy exemplified excellence in Ohio basketball at every level," said Jeanne Arnzen Gulick, President of the Ohio Basketball Hall of Fame Board. "Her records speak for themselves, but it was her competitive spirit and dedication that truly set her apart. We're honored to recognize her tremendous impact on the game."

Following her athletic career, Beachy devoted herself to education, teaching at-risk children before becoming a middle school principal. After a courageous 12-year battle with ovarian cancer, she passed away on Oct. 13, 2017, at age 57.

The 2025 class joins more than 325 individuals and 86 teams previously enshrined in the Ohio Basketball Hall of Fame. The organization celebrates basketball excellence by preserving history, honoring excellence and connecting generations.

For more information about the induction ceremony or to purchase tickets, visit www.OhioBasketballHallofFame.com.

Ohio State football to visit White House

COLUMBUS -- Ohio State coach Ryan Day confirmed Monday that the Buckeyes national championship football team will visit the White House on April 14.

The invite was first reported by CBS News on Friday. Ohio State's visit comes two days after it wraps up spring football practices.

"It's an honor to be invited," Day said. "I remember growing up and watching the national championship teams go to the White House. I always looked at that, like, 'Man, what an honor that would be.' So, it's part of the celebration of our team. I'm looking forward to getting that all planned out."

The Buckeyes defeated Notre Dame 34-23 in the College Football Playoff title game in Atlanta to win their first national championship since 2014.

Ohio State will be the second championship team to visit the White House since President Donald Trump returned in January. The Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers made their trip on Feb. 3 before facing the Washington Capitals.

Vice President JD Vance is an Ohio State graduate.

Trump has attended many sporting events since taking office. On Saturday, he went to the NCAA wrestling championships in Philadelphia for the second time in three years.

He also was the first sitting president to view the Super Bowl in New Orleans and he attended the Daytona 500 for the second time since 2020.

The Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles will visit the White House on April 28.

Day originally said April 12 would be a spring showcase instead of a traditional spring game. On Monday, he reversed on those plans when asked what the format would be for that practice.

"I just think we need to save a little bit of wiggle room in case we take injuries," Day said. "It's important that we start the season fast. And I think that the first step is playing the spring game. If we're down some linemen, we have to adjust and figure that out from there."

Betts' status unclear due to illness

LOS ANGELES -- Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Mookie Betts is still dealing with an illness and his return remains uncertain.

Betts, who missed the Dodgers' first two games of the regular season at the Tokyo Dome last week and was sent back to Los Angeles to continue recovering, was a late scratch for Sunday's exhibition win against the Los Angeles Angels.

Betts told reporters he hasn't been able to keep down solid food without vomiting for two weeks and has lost about 15 pounds during that time.

The perennial All-Star said so far all his blood work and other routine testing have been normal. Betts won't play in Monday's exhibition at Angel Stadium, and he's a long shot for the Dodgers' opening day game on American soil on Thursday against Detroit.

Betts is making the full-time transition to shortstop after playing most of his career in right field and second base. The 2018 AL MVP hit .289 with 19 homers and 75 RBIs last season, helping the Dodgers win the World Series.

Capsules

Bill Johnson to speak at Curbstone

Youngstown State University president Bill Johnson will be the guest speaker at Monday's luncheon meeting of The Curbstone Coaches at the Avion Banquet Center on Western Reserve Road in Beaver Township.

The event begins at noon and the public is welcome to attend.

For those arriving early, the buffet lines will open at 11:45 a.m.

Also, plans are underway for the annual Curbstone Coaches Hall of Fame Induction ceremony, which is set for May 4 at Mr. Anthony's in Boardman. The keynote speaker will be former Cleveland Browns stand out running back Greg Pruitt.

For tickets, contact Patty Schuley at 3302078157.

Mastodons rally to top Penguins

Purdue Fort Wayne scored three times in the top of ninth inning to overcome a 3-2 deficit and defeat the Youngstown State baseball team 5-4 in the Horizon League series opener on Friday at Eastwood Field.

The Penguins broke 1-1 tie when Tommy Rover hit a two-run home run to right field in the bottom of the fifth inning. YSU held a 3-2 advantage heading into the top of the ninth, and Purdue Fort Wayne struck for three runs to take its first lead the contest. The Guins pushed across a single run in the bottom of the ninth, but the 'Dons held on for the series-opening victory.

Youngstown State drops to 3-17 overall and 1-3 in the Horizon League play while Purdue Fort Wayne improves to 2-18 and 1-3 in league action.

Cole Smith went 3-for-4, Rover hit a two-run home run and Brayden Kuriger added two hits and a walk for the Penguins, who bested the Mastodons in the hit column 8-7.

Jacob Gehring (South Range) allowed two runs on four hits with a career-high nine strikeouts over six innings in a no-decision. The senior right-hander retired the first six batters he faced. Sloan Ulrich and Phil Brennaman each tossed a scoreless inning of relief while Mikey Rodriques suffered the loss after all three of PFW's runs in the ninth went on his record.

The Penguins got on the board first with a single run in the bottom of the second inning. Smith hit a leadoff single and came around to score when Nathan Beckley grounded into a double play.

The Mastodons evened the score at 1-1 with a single tally of their own in the top of the third. Kevin Hall hit a leadoff triple and scored on a sacrifice fly from Camden Karczewski.

YSU loaded the bases with three straight one-out walks in the home half of the third. Smith then hit a hard line drive down the first base line that was caught by Purdue Fort Wayne first baseman Jackson Micheels. Micheels was able to make the catch and step on first behind the runner for an inning-ending double play.

The Penguins regained the lead with two runs in the bottom of the fifth inning. Garrett Cutting drew a one-out walk and Rover followed with a two-run blast over the wall in right field to give YSU a 3-1 edge.

The Mastodons responded with another single run in the top of the sixth to pull within 3-2. Grant Sawa drew a leadoff walk, stole second, moved to third on a failed pickoff attempt and scored on a sacrifice fly from Micheels.

Purdue Fort Wayne's Ryan Jenkins reached on a fielder's choice and scored on Drew Helton's two-out RBI single to tie the game at 3-3 in the top of the ninth. Rodriques issued a walk to Grant Sawa for his final batter before Harun Pelja entered and hit back-to-back batters to force in a pair of runs and give the 'Dons a 5-3 lead.

Beckley hit a leadoff single and scored on a sacrifice fly from Jack Johnson in the bottom of the ninth to account for the final margin.

Purdue Fort Wayne starter Dillon Fischer allowed three runs on five hits and six walks over five innings. Aidan Pearson tossed three scoreless innings of relief to earn the victory while Rex Stills retired all three batters he faced in the ninth to collect the save.

The Penguins and Mastodons will continue their three-game Horizon League series on Saturday. First pitch at Eastwood Field is scheduled for 1 p.m.

YSU drops doubleheader to Titans

Detroit, Mich. - The Youngstown State softball team (4-24, 0-5 Horizon League) dropped a pair of Horizon League games at Detroit Mercy (5-13, 2-0) on Friday afternoon at Buysse Ballpark.

Sophomore Macy Littler went 3-for-7 on the day with three runs batted in. Sophomore Lydia Wilkerson belted her third home run of the season while freshman Ayla Ray (Austintown Fitch) blasted her first career home run.

In game two, Ray left the yard for the first time in her career and gave the Penguins a 1-0 lead in the top of the first.

Littler added a two-run double in the top of the second to push the Penguins lead out to 3-0 through two innings.

Detroit Mercy tied the game with three runs in the third inning and took a 5-3 lead after posting two more in the fourth.

The Penguins plated three runs in the top of the fifth to regain the lead, 6-5. Littler led off the frame with a single and advance to third on Kohler's double to right-center. Ray's ground out plated Littler and Kohler scored on a passed ball to tie the game at 5-5. Bishop's bases-loaded walk plated Wilkerson, who singled, to give the Penguins a 6-5 lead.

The Titans tied the game for the third time with a run in the bottom of the of sixth inning.

Detroit Mercy's Natalie Babcock walked it off with a single and scored on a Penguins' fielding error and throwing error in the bottom of the seventh.

In the opener, Imler went 2-for-4 while Wilkerson cranked a three-run home run to pace the Penguins.

Kohler delivered a run-scoring double while Littler added a run-scoring single.

The Penguins jumped out in front 1-0 in the top of the first inning. Kohler laced a double down the left-field line that plated Wilkerson with the game's first run.

The Titans answered swiftly with three runs in the bottom half of the first to take a 3-1 lead after one.

Truran led off the top of the second innings and, after a walk to Ashlyn Bishop and a Grace Pilazynski's sacrifice bunt, came around to score on Littler's single to left field to cut into the Titans' advantage.

Two pitches later Wilkerson blasted a towering three-run homer, her third homer of the year, to center field to give the Penguins a 5-3 lead.

Detroit Mercy answered with two runs in the third and another in the fourth to come away with the one-run victory.

The Penguins and Titans close out the series with a single game, Saturday. First pitch is set for 12 p.m.

Capsules

YSU bowling earns No. 2 seed

Youngstown State will be the second seed in the 2025 Conference USA Championship that will be held this week at Colonial Lanes in Harahan, La. The conference office announced the tournament bracket and seeds Monday evening, and YSU earned its highest seed ever at a conference tournament.

Fresh off a victory at the Music City Classic over the weekend, Youngstown State is ranked third in the country in the National Tenpin Coaches Association and the NCAA's RPI. YSU is behind only Nebraska, an independent, and fellow Conference USA member and defending tournament champion, Jacksonville State.

All matches at the tournament will be broadcast live on ESPN+, and YSU's results will be posted as normal on the team's social media channels. Each of the tournament's contests will be the mega match format until a potential winner-take-all match on Sunday, which would be a best-of-seven Baker match. The tournament's winner will receive Conference USA's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.

The top-two seed gives Youngstown State a bye into the second day of the double-elimination tournament, and the Penguins will bowl against the winner of Wednesday's match between No. 7 Sam Houston and No. 10 Valparaiso on Thursday at 10 a.m. No. 3 Vanderbilt and No. 6 Stephen F. Austin are also on YSU's side of the bracket, and the Penguins would be in line to compete against one of those schools in the quarterfinals if they win their first match.

On the other side of the 10-team bracket, No. 8 Louisiana Tech and No. 9 Tulane will bowl on Wednesday, and the winner will move on to play against No. 1 Jacksonville State. Wichita State, the newest member of the conference, is the fourth seed, and it will bowl against fifth-seeded Arkansas State in the quarterfinals.

Should YSU lose its opening match, the top-two seed would also give the Penguins some protection in the contender's bracket. Youngstown State is guaranteed to make it to the tournament's third day regardless of Thursday's outcome as it would skip the first round of elimination matches.

The winner's bracket final will be on Saturday at 10 a.m., and the championship match will be Sunday at 9:30 a.m.

Indiana hires WVU's DeVries as HC

Darian DeVries grew up in Iowa, an admirer of the Indiana Hoosiers.

Now he's in charge of the program.

Just two days after his West Virginia team and the Hoosiers were both left out of the NCAA Tournament, Indiana athletic director Scott Dolson announced he has hired the 49-year-old DeVries to replace Mike Woodson. DeVries is scheduled to be introduced at Wednesday morning news conference.

DeVries has spent 24 seasons as a college coach, the last seven as a head coach. He went 19-13 with the Mountaineers just one season after they finished 9-23 and last in the Big 12.

He spent the previous six years in his home state, helping Drake achieve new heights by winning two Missouri Valley Conference regular season league titles and two league tournament titles while posting a 150-55 mark.

Dolson said he was seeking specific criteria from Woodson's replacement and DeVries hit -- or exceeded -- those expectations in virtually every form.

As a head coach, DeVries created a reputation as someone capable of quick fixes. He did it not just last season with the Mountaineers, despite having lost most of the previous season's top players, but also at Drake where he took over a program that had five 20-win seasons in 112 years.

DeVries spent his first two decades in the profession at Creighton, where he worked under current Oregon coach Dana Altman and current Bluejays coach Greg McDermott. He spent the last 17 seasons as an assistant coach.

Capsules

YSU softball moves home opener

YOUNGSTOWN -- Due to the threat of weather in this weekend's forecast, Youngstown State's softball team is announcing changes to its upcoming series against Cleveland State that is set to open its home and Horizon League schedules.

The Penguins and Vikings will now play one game on Thursday at 3 p.m. and a doubleheader on Friday beginning at 3 p.m. The series at the YSU Softball Complex was originally slated to start on Friday with a doubleheader following on Sunday.

Purdue's Smith named Big Ten POY

ROSEMONT, Ill. -- Purdue's Braden Smith was named the Big Ten player of the year and Michigan State's Tom Izzo coach of the year by coaches and the media in voting coordinated by the conference. Smith and Izzo won the same honors from The Associated Press on Tuesday.

The coaches voted Penn State's Ace Baldwin Jr. the defensive player of the year, Maryland's Derik Queen the freshman of the year and Illinois' Will Riley the sixth man of the year.

The coaches' All-Big Ten first team was made up of Smith, Queen, Nebraska's Brice Williams, Purdue's Trey Kaufman-Renn and Wisconsin's John Tonje. The coaches' second team included Michigan's Vladislav Goldin and Danny Wolf, Minnesota's Dawson Garcia, Northwestern's Nick Martinelli and Ohio State's Bruce Thornton.

The media's first team included Goldin, Williams, Kaufman-Renn, Smith and Tonje. The second team was made up of Queen, Wolf, Garcia, Martinelli and Thornton.

Rodriguez bans TikTok dances

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. -- West Virginia coach Rich Rodriguez, like all football coaches, wants his players to show up on time, work hard and play their best.

Oh, and another thing: Don't dance on TikTok.

"They're going to be on it, so I'm not banning them from it," he said Monday. "I'm just banning them from dancing on it. It's like, look, we try to have a hard edge or whatever, and you're in there in your tights dancing on TikTok ain't quite the image of our program that I want."

Making TikTok dance videos is a popular activity among high school- and college-age users of the social media platform. Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter, Boise State star Ashton Jeanty and Nebraska's Dylan Raiola are among college football players who have posted dance videos.

Rodriguez is beginning his second stint as Mountaineers coach. He said he has talked to his players about the tendency in society to emphasize the individual rather than the team and that banning TikTok dancing is something he can do to put the focus where he thinks it belongs.

"I'm allowed to do that. I can have rules," he said. "Twenty years from now, if they want to be sitting in their pajamas in the basement eating Cheetos and watching TikTok or whatever the hell, they can go at it, smoking cannabis, whatever. Knock yourself out."

As for now, he said: "I hope our focus can be on winning football games. How about let's win the football game and not worry about winning the TikTok?"

Three equipment managers get honors

CANTON -- Three equipment managers will be honored with the Pro Football Hall of Fame's Awards of Excellence for the 2025 class.

Tom Gray, Dennis Ryan and George Luongo were picked Tuesday as the equipment managers in the fourth class for the Awards of Excellence.

Gray worked for Cincinnati since the team's inception in the AFL in 1968 and attended all 644 games in the preseason, regular season and playoffs through 1999.

Ryan began his career as a teenager with Minnesota in 1975 as a part-time employee. In 1981, he became the NFL's youngest equipment manager at 21 years old. He stayed with the organization for 47 seasons, accumulating a streak of 705 consecutive games worked until COVID-19 protocols kept him off the sideline.

Luongo worked as an equipment manager from the Patriots' origin in the AFL in 1960 until retiring after the 1993 season and never missed a game day.

Longtime assistant coaches Dick Hoak, Elijah Pitts and Jim McNally; public relations directors Pete Abitante, Jason Jenkins and Bill Keenist; and athletic trainers Ed Block, Pepper Burruss and John Norwig were previously selected for awards that will be handed out at a ceremony in June. The Hall will later announce winners for film and video directors.

Ravens reach agreement with Hopkins

The Baltimore Ravens have agreed to a one-year, $6 million contract with veteran receiver DeAndre Hopkins, a person with knowledge of the deal told The Associated Press.

The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because free agents can't sign until Wednesday.

The 32-year-old Hopkins moves from one AFC contender to another after finishing last season with Kansas City. He caught a touchdown pass in the Chiefs' loss to Philadelphia in the Super Bowl, but 2024 was not his most productive season. He caught 56 passes for 610 yards for Kansas City and Tennessee.

In his 12-year career, spent mostly with Houston and Arizona, Hopkins has 984 receptions for 12,965 yards and 83 touchdowns. He surpassed 1,000 yards receiving as recently as 2023 with the Titans, but they traded him to the Chiefs last year.

Hopkins gives Baltimore another target for Lamar Jackson alongside receivers Zay Flowers and Rashod Bateman and tight ends Mark Andrews and Isaiah Likely.

The Ravens accomplished an important task this offseason when they reached a new deal with tackle Ronnie Stanley before he became a free agent. Baltimore was also able to keep fullback Patrick Ricard on Tuesday.

Capsules

Former Steeler Wolfley, 66, dies

PITTSBURGH -- Craig Wolfley, a former NFL offensive lineman who spent most of his 12-year career playing for Chuck Noll in Pittsburgh and later became a fixture on the Steelers radio broadcast team, has died. He was 66.

WDVE-FM in Pittsburgh, where Wolfley worked in various roles during Steeler broadcasts, including most recently as a color commentator, confirmed Wolfley's death. Wolfley had recently been diagnosed with an undisclosed form of cancer.

The Steelers selected Wolfley in the fifth round of the 1980 draft following a standout career at Syracuse. He was a fixture at left guard and then left tackle during his decade in Pittsburgh, making 104 starts across 10 seasons. Wolfley played two more years in Minnesota in 1990 and 1991 before retiring.

Steelers president Art Rooney II praised Wolfley's "work ethic and commitment to excellence" during his career and praised him for his commentary on the team's radio network.

"His passionate voice and deep understanding of the game made him a trusted figure for Steelers fans," Rooney said in a statement. "And his humor, warmth, and enthusiasm left a lasting impact on our community."

Wolfley and good friend and former teammate Tunch Ilkin paired up for the popular "In the Locker Room with Tunch and Wolf" show and the easy rapport between the two was a fixture of most Steeler game broadcasts during their time together. Ilkin died of ALS in 2021.

Known almost universally as "Wolf," Wolfley moved from the sideline to the booth full-time when he replaced Ilkin as the color analyst on the Steelers Radio Network.

Wolfley's deep laugh and kind demeanor -- he'd often respond "better than I deserve" whenever he was asked how he was doing by a listener -- belied his physical playing style and his uncommon strength. He placed fifth in the World's Strongest Man competition in 1981 and later owned a boxing club in the Pittsburgh suburbs.

Wolfley is survived by his wife Faith, his brother Ron, a former NFL running back, and six children.

Yankees' Cole to have Tommy John

TAMPA, Fla. -- Yankees ace Gerrit Cole will have season-ending Tommy John surgery on his right elbow on Tuesday.

The Yankees said the 34-year-old right-hander was examined Monday by Dr. Neal ElAttrache at the Cedars-Sinai Kerlan-Jobe Institute in Los Angeles. ElAttrache, the Dodgers' head team physician, will operate.

Cole experienced discomfort following his second spring training outing Thursday.

New York also is missing another starting pitcher, AL Rookie of the Year Luis Gil, who will be sidelined for at least three months because of a strained lat muscle. Designated hitter Giancarlo Stanton is sidelined indefinitely because of tendon pain in both elbows, and infielder DJ LeMahieu is out with a calf strain.

A six-time All-Star, Cole threw a perfect first inning Thursday and reached 97.6 mph in the second, when he allowed Matt Wallner's three-run homer on a fastball in the middle of the strike zone. He also surrendered Brooks Lee's solo homer in the third on a 94 mph fastball with a 3-0 count.

Cole signed a $324 million, nine-year contract before the 2020 season.

After winning the 2023 AL Cy Young Award, the six-time All-Star didn't make his first start last year until June 19 because of nerve irritation and edema in his right elbow. He went 8-5 with a 3.41 ERA in 17 starts, and then was 1-0 with a 2.17 ERA in five postseason starts.

Cole is 153-80 with a 3.18 ERA in 12 seasons for Pittsburgh (2013-17), Houston (2018-19) and the Yankees (2020-24).

NHL suspends Ekblad for 20 games

Florida Panthers defenseman Aaron Ekblad was suspended 20 games without pay Monday for violating the NHL and NHL Players' Association's policy on performance-enhancing drugs, taking him off the ice for the defending Stanley Cup champions' stretch run and start of the playoffs.

Ekblad in a statement through the NHLPA said the news that he had failed a random drug test shocked him, and he apologized for the error.

Ekblad, 29, missed eight of nine games during a stretch in January because of an undisclosed upper-body injury. The Panthers have 18 games left in the regular season, so Ekblad would then miss the first two games of the first round before being eligible to return.

The No. 1 pick in the 2014 draft, Ekblad has played his entire career with Florida, including a prominent role in the first Cup run in franchise history. He had 33 points in 56 games this season before getting suspended.

Prior to the trade deadline, the Panthers acquired another right-shooting defenseman, Seth Jones, though it was unclear when the team learned of Ekblad's positive test result and ensuing punishment.

Ekblad is the first NHL player to be suspended for violating the league's PED policy since Nate Schmidt in 2018, when he was unable to play in exhibition games and then missed the first 20 of the regular season. Schmidt was with Vegas at the time, coming off helping the Golden Knights reach the Stanley Cup Final in their inaugural season, and is now teammates with Ekblad on the Panthers.

Ekblad's suspension comes with a mandatory referral for evaluation and possible treatment under a league and players union program for substance abuse and behavioral health.

LeBron's groin injury still being evaluated

NEW YORK -- LeBron James is still being evaluated to determine the severity of his groin injury, Lakers coach JJ Redick said Monday.

James strained his left groin in the fourth quarter of the Lakers' 111-101 loss at Boston on Saturday. The Lakers have not said how long they expect him to be sidelined.

James said afterward he was not too concerned it would be a long absence, believing it is not as serious as the groin injury he sustained during a Christmas game in 2018 that forced him to miss the next 17 games.

Luka Doncic started against the Nets despite back soreness, but the Lakers, who had won eight straight before Saturday, were also without center Jaxson Hayes (right knee contusion) and forwards Dorian Finney-Smith (left ankle soreness) and Rui Hachimura (left patellar tendinopathy).

Austin Reaves, Gabe Vincent, Alex Len and Dalton Knecht were the other starters in Brooklyn. It was the first time this season the Lakers used that lineup.

Redick said Doncic shouldn't feel pressure to do more in James' absence.

Capsules

Brogan to speak at Curbstone

Kevin Brogan, the marketing director for Hollywood Gaming Mahoning Valley, will be the guest speaker at Monday's luncheon meeting of The Curbstone Coaches at the Avion Banquet Center on Western Reserve Road in Beaver Township.

The event begins at noon and the public is welcome to attend.

For those arriving early, the buffet lines will open at 11:45 a.m.

Also, plans are underway for the annual Curbstone Coaches Hall of Fame Induction ceremony which is set for May 4 at Mr. Anthony's in Boardman. The keynote speaker will be former Cleveland Browns stand out running back Greg Pruitt.

Tickets are available by contacting Patty Schuley at 3302078157. This year's event is sponsored by Briarfield Health Care Centers and Ed and Diane Reese.

Masters raffle to benefit RMHC

CLEVELAND -- Golf fans have a rare opportunity to win a once-in-a-lifetime trip to the 2025 Masters Tournament in Ronald McDonald House Charities of Northeast Ohio's Masters Golf Tournament Raffle. Only 1,200 tickets will be sold at $100 each.

Tickets are on sale now through March 26, 2025 or when all 1,200 tickets are sold. Supporters 21 years and older can purchase raffle tickets at https://masters2025.givesmart.com.

The Masters Golf Tournament is one of the most prestigious events in sports and tickets to attend are in high demand and limited in availability. The winner will receive:

• Two official Patron Badges for the final rounds on April 12 and 13

• Private hospitality access within 1,000 yards of Augusta National, with unlimited food and beverages --including breakfast, dinner and an open bar

• Accommodations in a private home (one or two bedrooms) near Augusta National from April 11 the morning of April 14

• Daily in-house catering, housekeeping, and dedicated on-call transportation on-site

• A welcome gift package, including an official Masters Chair and tournament program

Transportation (airfare, etc.) to and from Augusta, Ga., is not included.

"We anticipate raffle tickets will sell out quickly since Northeast Ohio has such a thriving golf enthusiast community," said Katie Spring, director of events and strategic partnerships for RMHC NEO.

Craig Wilson, chief executive officer, added, "Supporters of our mission will also be quick to snatch up the tickets. Our programs serve growing numbers of families of ill or injured children. With costs rising for families, our services are even more critical. Every gift, no matter the size, is important to keeping families together and supported."

RMHC NEO is an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that provides essential services that remove barriers, strengthen families, and promote healing when children need healthcare. They provide families with sick or injured children a comfortable place to stay at no cost, along with access to resources and supportive services. To learn more about the programs the raffle supports, visit www.RMHCneo.org.

Full rules and regulations available at https://www.rmhcneo.org/wp-content/uploads/Masters-Raffle-Rules-and-Regulations-FINAL.pdf.

YSU baseball falls to Bulldogs

Gardner-Webb scored three late runs to break a 4-4 tie and pick up a 7-5 win over the Youngstown State baseball team in the series opener on Friday evening at Bill Masters Field in Boiling Springs, N.C.

The Penguins trailed 4-1 before tying the score with one run in the sixth and two in the seventh. The Runnin' Bulldogs struck once in the seventh and two in the eighth to regain the lead and held on for the series-opening victory.

Kyle Fossum went 3-for-4 with a home run, a double and three RBIs while Eli Brown delivered an RBI single as the Penguins bested the Runnin' Bulldogs in the hit column, 7-6.

YSU starter Jacob Gehring allowed four runs on six hits with three strikeouts over a season-high 5.2 innings. Sloan Ulrich was responsible for one run out of the bullpen while Aidan English surrendered two runs in one inning of work.

The Penguins struck first when Fossum hit his fourth home run of the season to right field in the top of the first inning.

The Runnin' Bulldogs responded with a pair of runs in the home half of the first to take a 2-1 lead. Merik Carter reached with a one-out single before Dale Francis Jr. hit a two-out, two-run home run.

Gardner-Webb added a single run in the bottom of the third as Carter drew a one-out walk and scored on a two-out RBI single from Garrett Macias. The Runnin' Bulldogs pushed their advantage to 4-1 in the bottom of the fourth with a solo home run by Aaron Morgan.

Youngstown got back on the board in the top of the sixth to cut the deficit to 4-2. Fossum drew a one-out walk and came around to score on a two-out RBI single from Brown. The Penguins evened the score with two runs in the top of the seventh. Jed Stange-Tregear walked and scored on a wild pitch before Fossum delivered a two-out RBI single to tie the game at 4-4.

Garnder-Webb went back ahead 5-4 with a single tally in the bottom of the seventh as Lawson Knight drew a leadoff walk and scored on a sacrifice fly from Macias. The Runnin' Bulldogs added a pair of insurance runs in the bottom of the eighth to extend their edge to 7-4.

Cole Smith drew a leadoff walk and scored on an RBI groundout by Fossum in the top of the ninth for the final margin.

Gardner-Webb starter Reid Bertram allowed two runs on six hits with eight punch outs over 5.2 innings of work. Mason Manriquez was awarded the victory after allowing one run and striking out five batters in 1.2 innings of relief.

The Penguins and Runnin' Bulldogs will continue their three-game weekend series today. First pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m.

Capsules

YSU men fall to NKU on the road

Junior Juwan Maxey scored a game-high 26 points and Ty Harper poured in a career-high 21 points, but the Youngstown State men's basketball team dropped an 88-79 decision to Northern Kentucky on Saturday at Truist Arena.

The Penguins trailed by as many as 19 points in the second half and cut the lead down to four twice with under two minutes left before the Norse answered with a 3-pointer and four free throws in the game's final minute to seal the victory.

Youngstown State (19-12, 13-7 Horizon League) made 14 3-pointers led by Maxey's five 3s and Harper's four. Cris Carroll added 14 points for the Penguins

Leading the Norse (16-15, 11-9) was Trey Robinson with 24 points and Josh Dilling with 23 points and seven 3-pointers.

Northern Kentucky used a 20-3 run the first half to erase a 25-20 YSU advantage and take a 40-28 lead with 2:50 left before halftime.

Youngstown State was able to trim that deficit to 43-35 at the intermission

The Norse built its lead to a game-high 19 points, 60-41, after a Dilling 3-pointer at the 14:14 mark.

Three free throws from Maxey, one by Harper, two more from Maxey and a layup by Jason Nelson got the Penguins back within 11, 60-49.

NKU rebuilt its lead back to 18, 67-49, midway through the second 20 minutes of play.

A 16-7 run over the next five minutes keyed by 3-pointers by Harper and Nelson cut the Penguins deficit to 74-65.

Youngstown State used another 10-5 spurt sparked by a Maxey 3-pointer and capped by one from Carroll brought the Penguins' deficit to 79-75 with 1:59 to go.

The teams traded baskets before the Norse scored seven of the next nine points to seal the victory.

Youngstown State earned the No. 4 seed in the Horizon League Men's Basketball Championship and will host the No. 5 seed Purdue Fort Wayne in a quarterfinal game on Thursday. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. at Beeghly Center.

YSU indoor track teams win HL

The Youngstown State men's track and field team won its 10th consecutive Horizon League Indoor Championship with a dominant performance over the weekend at the Lutheran Health Fieldhouse on the campus of Purdue Fort Wayne.

The Penguins scored 227.5 points to outdistance Milwaukee (127), Oakland (104) and Fort Wayne (95).

Winning events on the final day of competition were Luke Laubacher (60m Hurdles) and Ryan Meadows (3,000m). Laubacher won his third straight 60m hurdles title while Meadows won his second straight 3,000m title.

YSU had another group garner a multitude of second-place performances: Brandon Hutchinson (heptathlon), Nathan Leskovac (high jump), Jaden Kirkwood (shot put), Aaron Berardinelli (triple jump), Micah Mitchell (60m hurdles), Trenton Shutters (800m) and Ryan Meadows (3,000m).

Meanwhile, the YSU program returned to the top of the indoor podium with an all-around effort over the weekend.

The Penguins scored 152 points to outdistance host Purdue Fort Wayne (135), Milwaukee (123) and Oakland (79). Overall, Youngstown State has won a Horizon League-best 13 team titles dating back to 2004. YSU has been first or second in every meet since 2013.

Picking up a win on the final day for the Guins was Esther Solarin in the triple jump. Solarin won both the triple and long jump. YSU had another group garner second-place performances: McKinley Fielding (mile), Nia Williams-Matthews (triple jump) and Mariah Day (60m hurdles).

Award Winners

Men's Coach of The Year – Brian Gorby

Men's Championship Outstanding Performer/Field – Brandon Hutchinson, Luke Laubacher

Women's Championship Outstanding Performer/Field: Esther Solarin

Bell picks up 2nd straight victory

AUSTIN, Texas -- Christopher Bell passed Kyle Busch with five laps to go, then held off Daytona 500 winner William Byron to win NASCAR's first road course race of the season at the Circuit of the Americas on Sunday.

Bell raced to his second consecutive victory after an overtime win in Atlanta a week ago.

Once Bell cleared Busch, the Oklahoma drover had to make a desperate bid to keep his Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota in front of hard-charging Byron in his Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet and 2023 race winner Tyler Reddick of 23X1 Racing's Toyota.

Bell is a multiple race winner for the fourth consecutive season. Busch, who led 43 of 95 laps in his Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet, faded to fifth as his winless streak stretched to 60 races dating to 2023.

"These road courses races are just so much fun," Bell said. "(Busch) was doing such a good job running his race He bobbled and allowed me to get out front. When he did, I just said don't beat yourself."

Hendrick Motorsports' Chase Elliott, started third and quickly dropped to the back when he spun by Trackhouse Racing's Ross Chastain in the first turn, but fought his way back through the field to fourth.

Cup Series debutante Connor Zilisch had a wild day in his debut. The 18-year-old started 14th, quickly dropped back with contact in the first lap, but fought back to the top 15 by the start of the third stage.

But that's when his day ended. Zilisch couldn't avoid a spin by Trackhouse Racing teammate Daniel Suarez and smashed into the wall in lap 50 and his car caught fire.

Series future at COTA

NASCAR has to decide if it will return to Austin in 2026. The track has proven popular over the years with drivers, and has hosted F1 since 2012 and MotoGP since 2013. Speedway Motorsports rents the facility for race week, and track President Bobby Epstein has said he'd like to continue the partnership.

Up next

The Cup Series returns to ovals next Sunday at Phoenix Raceway.

Capsules

Ward to speak at Curbstone

Youngstown Phantoms head coach Ryan Ward will be the guest speaker at Monday's luncheon meeting of The Curbstone Coaches at the Avion Banquet Center on Western Reserve Road in Beaver Township.

The event begins at noon and the public is welcome to attend.

For those arriving early, the buffet lines will open at 11:45 a.m.

Also, plans are underway for the annual Curbstone Coaches Hall of Fame Induction ceremony which is set for May 4 at Mr. Anthony's in Boardman. The keynote speaker will be former Cleveland Browns stand out running back Greg Pruitt.

Tickets are now available by contacting Patty Schuley at 3302078157. This year's event is sponsored by Briarfield Health Care Centers and Ed and Diane Reese.

Tourney expansion unlikely in 2026

The NCAA has not finalized expansion plans for the men's and women's basketball tournaments and a decision is unlikely soon, NCAA senior vice president of basketball Dan Gavitt said in a CBS Sports interview.

The tournaments currently have 68 teams. There has been talk of increasing the fields to 72 or 76 teams.

Gavitt said he doesn't expect a vote in the near future, though a late spring vote could theoretically make a change possible in 2026. He said changes in game operation and travel are among the many things that would need to be accounted for, so it would be unlikely that anything would take effect next year without an imminent vote.

"It's not taken in a lighthearted way at all because of the success of the tournaments and how important they are to college basketball overall," Gavitt said. "Expansion, even in a modest level, is complex, more complex than I think than has been recognized and reported, because it is expensive."

This year's March Madness will be the 40th men's bracket since the field expanded to 64 teams in 1985. The women's bracket increased to 64 teams in 1994.

Gavitt said he isn't sure whether the field should expand, but he's more positive about the possibility than he was a few years ago. Name, image and likeness, conference realignment and the transfer portal have changed the dynamics. He said men's basketball, in particular, might be suited to handle it.

"There's no sport that is deeper overall and has more parity than men's college basketball," he said. "There's great basketball played at every level in men's basketball right now. So I think it's important to keep the tournament contemporary and relevant, based on what is going on in college athletics."

Rams sign Stafford to extension

LOS ANGELES -- Quarterback Matthew Stafford is staying with the Los Angeles Rams under a restructured contract, ending weeks of speculation about the Super Bowl winner's future.

The Rams announced their new agreement with Stafford on Friday without initially revealing any details.

The 37-year-old Stafford had two years left on the four-year, $160 million contract extension he signed in 2022, shortly after leading Los Angeles to a championship in his first season with the team.

But his $27 million salary for the upcoming season was significantly less than the compensation for most quarterbacks of Stafford's stature, and the deal had only $4 million in guaranteed money remaining in 2025 and none in 2026.

Stafford reached a deal to get more guaranteed money last year on the day before training camp opened, and he engaged the Rams on a second renegotiation in recent weeks. The Rams apparently were reluctant to meet Stafford's initial demands, even allowing the quarterback to get an assessment of his value to other teams in view of a possible trade.

Stafford passed for 3,762 yards and 20 touchdowns last season for the Rams, who went 10-7 and won the NFC West before reaching the divisional round of the playoffs, where they lost a close road game to eventual champion Philadelphia.

The Las Vegas Raiders and the New York Giants were among the teams widely reported to be interested in trading for Stafford, even discussing the framework of a potential new contract with Stafford's agent. Raiders minority owner Tom Brady and Stafford made headlines when they ran into each other recently at a Montana ski resort, but Brady's agent said the meeting was brief and accidental.

Stafford has led the Rams to three playoff appearances in four seasons with the team following 12 mostly unsuccessful years with the Detroit Lions, who traded Stafford to Los Angeles in a deal for Jared Goff in early 2021. Stafford has passed for 14,700 yards -- sixth-most in Rams history -- with 95 touchdowns and 44 interceptions over those four years running McVay's offense.

Stafford needs just 191 more yards passing to become the 10th quarterback in NFL history with 60,000 yards.

Yankees' pitcher Gil to have MRI

TAMPA, Fla. -- Yankees right-hander Luis Gil will have an MRI after the AL Rookie of the Year experienced shoulder tightness during a bullpen session Friday, manager Aaron Boone said, according to New York media.

Boone also said right-hander JT Brubaker sustained three broken ribs when hit by a comebacker off the bat of Tampa Bay's Kameron Misner on Feb. 21.

Gil, 26, cut short his bullpen session early, Boone said. He was 15-7 with a 3.50 ERA in 29 starts last year, striking out 171 and walking a major league-high 77 in 151 2/3 innings.

"Feels like it's going to cost us some time," Boone was quoted as saying.

He is projected to be part of a starting rotation that includes Gerrit Cole, Max Fried, Rodón and Clarke Schmidt.

Marcus Stroman would be likely to enter the rotation if an opening develops.

The 31-year-old Brubaker missed the last two big league seasons because of Tommy John surgery and an oblique injury. He made eight rehab appearances in the Yankees organization last year, and had a 2.70 ERA in 16 2/3 innings.

From staff, wire reports