×

Capsules

Correction

In Wednesday’s edition, a Niles girls soccer story stated that Jazmine Smith scored for the Red Dragons in a regional semifinal against Fairview. Cali Rodgers scored in the second half, finishing with two goals, including a hard-shot goal in the first half to get the Dragons on the board.

YSU volleyball wins fifth straight

MOON TOWNSHIP, Pa. — For the second time in four days, the Youngstown State volleyball team surpassed the previous school record for highest attack percentage in a Horizon League match. The Penguins hit .372 against Robert Morris on Tuesday night and swept the Colonials 25-14, 25-21, 25-20 at the UPMC Events Center.

Youngstown State has now won five straight matches while hitting at least.311 in each victory. The Penguins hit .365 in Saturday’s 3-0 win over Milwaukee, then topped that by posting 46 kills and just four errors on 113 attempts on Tuesday. YSU improved to 12-11 overall and 7-5 in Horizon League play, while Robert Morris dropped to 7-16 and 3-9 in the league.

Kameron Blizniak directed a balanced offense with 34 assists, helping pin hitters Abbie Householder (Canfield), Layne Graffice and Gabriela Machin each record between 11 and 13 kills. Householder and Graffice both tallied 13 kills, with Householder hitting .500 on 26 attempts. Machin added 11 kills to round out the attack. Blizniak also led the team with 12 digs, and Taya Nordmann posted five blocks to help the Penguins finish with nine as a unit.

Natalie Stapanovich finished with 13 kills and 14 digs for RMU. The Colonials had two blocks, meaning the Penguins had just two unforced attack errors all night.

Youngstown State scored the first six points of the night and led by at least four the rest of the way in a 25-14 opening-set victory. The Penguins did not trail after taking a 12-11 lead on an Izzy Henry kill in the second set, and their final deficit of the night was 5-4 in the third. A Graffice kill tied the score and gave the Penguins a sideout, and Householder followed with three consecutive kills to put YSU up 8-5. Robert Morris tied the score at 14 and 16, but the Penguins outscored their closest conference rival 4-1 down the stretch to finish the sweep.

Youngstown State will continue its road swing with two matches at Oakland on Friday and Saturday.

Capsules

Ebony HOF tickets available

The Ebony Lifeline Sports Hall of Fame will conduct its 25th induction banquet at Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Youngstown on Friday.

In addition to picking up tickets at Black’s Funeral Home, tickets can also be purchased at the door.

Tickets cost $45, and the event begins at 6:30 p.m.

YSU offers golf simulator sessions

The Youngstown State golf programs are offering open simulator sessions in the Watson and Tressel Training Site (WATTS) on select dates in November and December.

The sessions, which are open to the public, include use of the program’s golf simulator rooms, which were installed earlier this year. Please note there is no instruction included; this is an opportunity to use the indoor facilities at YSU. All the money raised will benefit the YSU men’s and women’s golf programs.

The cost for each one-hour session is $30 and the available dates are Nov. 4, Nov. 11, Nov. 18, Nov. 25, Dec. 2 and Dec. 9. The cost will be discounted to $25 per hour if two or more hours are reserved. Slots are available between 4-8 p.m.

To confirm a spot, contact Head Women’s Golf Coach Nate Miklos by phone at 7249791192 or by email at nmiklos@ysu.edu prior to sending in payment. Complete payment must be received at least one week prior to session date for a spot to be held.

Make checks payable to YSU Penguin Club and send to:

Nate Miklos – YSU Women’s Golf, 1 Tressel Way, Youngstown, OH 44555.

The WATTS is located at 651 Elm St. in Youngstown. Parking in the adjacent M-81 parking lot is $5.

Singler charged with assaulting GF

OKLAHOMA CITY — Former Duke and Oklahoma City Thunder player Kyle Singler was charged Tuesday with misdemeanor assault in Oklahoma after his girlfriend told authorities he grabbed her head and shoved her to the ground.

Singler, 37, was arrested Thursday in the eastern Oklahoma town of Whitefield after someone called 911 to report Singler was chasing a woman outside a residence there. He was booked into the Haskell County jail and later released on $6,000 bond, jail records show.

Singler was charged Tuesday in Haskell County with one misdemeanor count of assault and battery in the presence of a child. Singler’s girlfriend told a sheriff’s deputy that Singler grabbed her by the head and shoved her to the ground, according to an arrest affidavit. Deputy Mitch Dobbs also reported he could observe finger outlines on the woman’s face and marks on her arm. The woman told Dobbs that Singler is the father of her young child, who was present during the incident, the affidavit states.

Dobbs reported Singler did not cooperate with authorities or give them a statement and appeared to be under the influence of narcotics.

Court and jail records don’t indicate whether Singler has an attorney. Singler’s former agent, Jason Ranne, said in an email he no longer represents Singler.

Singler’s arrest comes nearly a year after a cryptic Instagram post in which he said he feared for his life drew an outpouring of concern and support from former teammates and others.

Singler was on Duke’s 2010 national championship team and was named Most Outstanding Player of the NCAA Tournament.

He was the 33rd overall pick in the 2011 draft and started his career overseas before playing in the NBA. He played three seasons for the Detroit Pistons, who drafted him, and was on the All-Rookie second team in 2013. He played parts of four seasons for the Oklahoma City Thunder.

WNBA offers extension for CBA talks

NEW YORK — The WNBA has offered a 30-day extension to players to continue negotiations for a new collective bargaining agreement, two people familiar with the decision told The Associated Press on Tuesday night.

The current CBA is set to expire on Friday and tensions have been rising in recent weeks as the sides try to work toward a new deal. The league is willing to push back the deadline, according to the people who spoke on condition of anonymity because no official announcement has been made.

An extension would give both sides more time to come up with a new deal that would be transformational for the players in terms of salary. In 2019, when the last CBA deal had expired, the sides agreed to a 60-day extension and eventually ratified the current CBA in January 2020.

It’s unclear if the union will accept the extension.

ESPN was the first to report the extension offer.

WNBPA senior advisor and legal counsel Erin D. Drake said on a podcast published by The Athletic that it “takes two to tango” and a deal wouldn’t be reached by Friday.

The league responded with a statement rebuking any notion it wasn’t operating in good faith.

“We urge the Players Association to spend less time disseminating public misinformation and more time joining us in constructive engagement across the table,” the statement said.

The sides have had meetings over the past few weeks, including once in New York earlier this month, according to a person familiar with the situation. The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because details about the meeting were not publicly discussed.

The players exercised their right to opt out of the current CBA last year with hopes of getting, among other things, increased revenue sharing, higher salaries, improved benefits and a softer salary cap.

The WNBA’s offers to this point have clearly not been to the players’ liking, although it is unclear how far apart the sides are in terms of salary parameters. WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert said during the WNBA Finals that the league — like the players — wants a “transformative deal” done with significant increases to salary and benefits.

Capsules

Hiner to speak at Curbstone

Vindicator/Tribune Chronicle Sports Editor Dan Hiner 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.

Spots remain for YSU baseball camp

The Youngstown State baseball coaching staff will host a Fall Prospect Camp at the Watson and Tressel Training Site (WATTS) on Nov. 1 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The camp provides an opportunity for players to receive elite instruction from the YSU baseball coaches, participate in drills, develop a routine and see the work that collegiate players are expected to handle. The camp will feature a 60-yard dash, infield/outfield skill development, catcher pop times, bullpen sessions and batting practice.

The camp’s first session will feature pro-style workouts and defensive instruction from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. with check-in at 8:30 a.m., and the second session will feature offensive instruction and batting practice from 1-4 p.m. The camp is open to participants in grades 8-12 as well as junior college players.

Each camper must bring all necessary baseball equipment. Players should bring a glove, bat, batting gloves, helmet, running shoes or turf shoes, hat and any other equipment they feel necessary to compete. Please mark the camper’s name on all items. The camp is not responsible for lost, damaged or stolen belongings.

The cost is $185.50 for position players, $159 for pitchers only (first session) and $207 for two-way players (position and pitcher).

For more information or to register, go to penguinsbaseballcamps.com or email Director of Player Personnel Rodney Lopez at rllopez@ysu.edu

The camp is open to all registrants in the appropriate grade level and is only limited by number of registrants and age.

NFL sends gambling policy reminder

NEW YORK — The NFL reminded its players Friday that they are prohibited from taking part in any form of illegal gambling and betting on league games.

In a memo obtained by The Associated Press, the league asked all 32 teams Friday to reiterate key aspects of its gambling policy and make the document readily available to players.

“We all have a responsibility to protect the integrity of the Shield by ensuring that our game is played fairly, honestly and to the best of a player’s ability,” the NFL management council wrote in the memo. “NFL players must also take appropriate steps to safeguard the game against gambling-related risks that may undermine the confidence and trust of the fans.”

The reminder followed an FBI investigation into illicit gambling activities resulted in the arrests of NBA coach Chauncey Billups of the Portland Trail Blazers, Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier and others.

“These developments underscore the risks that all sports are facing in the current environment and serve as a reminder of the need to adhere strictly to the NFL gambling policy,” the NFL wrote.

According to the NFL policy, players must not:

•place any bet on NFL Football;

•throw or fix any NFL game or event, or otherwise manipulate or attempt to manipulate any play or other aspect of an NFL game;

•share confidential, non-public information regarding any NFL game, player or event with any third party.

The NFL Players Association sent a similar memo to players Friday pointing out that they should not bet on the NFL, gamble at the team facility or while traveling for a road game or staying at a team hotel, have someone bet for them, share “inside information,” enter a sportsbook during the NFL playing season except to access another part of the casino, or promote any form or gambling or any gambling entity.

US 4-0 in LPGA International Crown

GOYANG, South Korea — The United States stayed perfect at the LPGA’s International Crown tournament on Friday, winning its third and fourth fourball matches and ending No. 1-ranked Jeeno Thitikul’s unbeaten record in the team competition.

Americans Yealimi Noh and Angel Yin beat Thitikul and Pajaree Anannarukarn 5 and 4, handing Thitikul her first loss after six consecutive match wins in the event. Lilia Vu and Lauren Coughlin later won the second fourball match for the Americans, beating Chanettee Wannasaen and Jasmine Suwannapura 3 and 2 at the New Korea Country Club.

On Thursday, the top-seeded Americans beat China twice. The U.S. — the only unbeaten team in the tournament — leads Pool A with four points and has clinched a place in Sunday’s semifinals.

All eight teams will play a third set of fourball matches today.

Australia and China split their Pool A fourball matches Friday. Minjee Lee and Stephanie Kyriacou beat Zhang Weiwei and Liu Yan 2 and 1 and China’s Yin Ruoning and Ruixin Liu defeated Australians Hannah Green and Grace Kim 1-up.

In Pool B, Japan and Sweden also split Friday’s matches. Miyu Yamashita and Rio Takeda beat Madelene Sagstrom and Ingrid Lindblad 3 and 2 but Maja Stark and Linn Grant gave Sweden a win, defeating Mao Saigo and Ayaka Furue 3 and 2.

The World team picked up 1 1-2 points against South Korea and leads Pool B with three points from two wins and two ties.

England’s Charley Hull sunk a 12-foot birdie putt on the 18th hole to give her and World teammate New Zealander Lydia Ko a 1-up win over Hyo Joo Kim and Hye-Jin Choi. Jin Young Ko and Haeran Ryu tied their match with Wei-Ling Hsu of Taiwan and Canada’s Brooke Henderson.

Under the tournament format, seven countries and a “rest of the world” team compete in two pools. The teams and their players were determined by the women’s world ranking.

The top two countries from each pool advance to Sunday’s semifinals and final that consists of one foursomes (alternate shot) and two singles matches.

Last week Sei Young Kim won the BMW Ladies Championship, also in South Korea. The LPGA’s Asian swing continues in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia next week and concludes in Shiga, Japan from Nov. 6-9.

Capsules

Jackson to speak at Curbstone Coaches

Melissa Jackson, Youngstown State women’s basketball head coach, 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.

YSU football kickoff changed vs Redbirds

The kickoff for Youngstown State’s game against Illinois State was changed. The new kickoff is set for 1 p.m. today due to weather that is expected to go through the Normal, Ill., area.

The game will be steamed on ESPN+ and will be available on the radio at 570 WKBN-AM.

YSU men to play Akron in exhibition

The Youngstown State men’s basketball team added a preseason tuneup game ahead of its season opener at Pitt on Nov. 3.

The Penguins will host Akron in an exhibition game scheduled for Oct. 29 at 6:30 p.m. at Zidian Family Arena at Beeghly Center.

“We are really excited to add a game of this caliber to help prepare us for the season,” head coach Ethan Faulkner said in a press release. “Akron is one of the premier programs in the MAC and this will be a great dress rehearsal for us that will make our team better.

“Additionally, the revenue from the ticket sales will be used to enhance our recruiting, retention, and overall program operations. We need our great fanbase to be here on October 29 to support our program like they always do.”

YSU and Akron faced each other 91 times, with the Zips having the series lead 59-32. The Penguins last defeated Akron on Nov. 12, 2016.

Tickets are on sale at the YSU athletics ticket office and online at YSUSports.com. All seating is general admission and costs $20, including upper and lower chairback seats. Seating is first-come, first-served.

Shutdown may move UConn-Louisville

No. 1 UConn’s season opener against No. 20 Louisville that is supposed to be played at Ramstein Air Base in Germany on Nov. 4 is in jeopardy of being moved because of the government shutdown.

A person familiar with the decision told The Associated Press on Thursday that if the shutdown continues until Monday the game will be played at a neutral site in the U.S. on the same day. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because no official announcement has been made.

A Louisville spokesperson said the school is deferring to ESPN, which is putting on the game and would be the one to make the call. The network would need time to move its equipment to Germany and set up the aircraft hangar on the base to host the contest.

“While our goal is to host this year’s Armed Forces Classic as planned at Ramstein Air Base in Germany, we are exploring contingency plans due to the circumstances,” ESPN said in a statement.

This would be the third time that the Armed Forces Classic was played at Ramstein and the first that featured two women’s basketball teams. The UConn men’s team played in the inaugural one in 2012. Texas A&M and West Virginia also played there in 2017.

The government shutdown began on Oct. 1 when the Senate failed to advance a House-passed GOP government funding bill. The longest shutdown lasted 35 days in 2019. Military bases are operating at reduced levels with the shutdown.

Mariners go up 3-2 vs. Jays in ALCS

SEATTLE — Eugenio Suárez hit a go-ahead grand slam after Cal Raleigh’s tying drive in a five-run eighth inning, giving the Seattle Mariners a 6-2 win over the Toronto Blue Jays on Friday and a 3-2 lead in the American League Championship Series.

Suárez also homered in the second inning for Seattle’s first run. The Mariners became the first home team to win in the series and moved within a victory of the first World Series trip for a franchise that started play in 1977.

Game 6 is at Toronto on Sunday night.

“For our fans, they’ve been waiting a long time for this moment and we’re here to give it to them. We’re here to fight for a World Series,” Suárez said.

Raleigh, a switch-hitting catcher who led the major leagues with 60 home runs during the regular season, was hitting right-handed for the first time in the series when he led off the eighth by pulling a 2-0 changeup from loser Brendon Little.

The 348-foot drive rose 155 feet above the field on a high arc and had a 6.7-second hang time before it dropped over the left field wall at T-Mobile Park, 348 feet from the plate.

Raleigh’s fourth homer of the postseason tied the score 2-2.

Jorge Polanco and Josh Naylor walked, and Seranthony Domínguez relieved and hit Randy Arozarena with a pitch.

Suárez fouled off a 2-2 fastball, then hit an opposite-field drive to right, and the ball landed several rows into the seats for his fourth slam this season.

Suárez, who had put Seattle ahead in the second against Kevin Gausman, entered the game in a 6-for-50 slump. He was acquired from Arizona at the trade deadline, finished the regular season with 49 homers and has three in the playoffs.

Seattle’s Bryce Miller was pitching shutout ball when he was removed after allowing Addison Barger’s leadoff single in the fifth, and George Springer hit an RBI double off Matt Brash.

Springer left in the seventh when he was hit on the right kneecap by a 95.6 mph sinker from Bryan Woo.

Pitching for the first time since Sept. 19 after recovering from pectoral tightness, Woo allowed Ernie Clement’s go-ahead single in the sixth.

Gabe Speier got the win with a perfect, nine-pitch eighth inning. Toronto wasted many chances, going 2 for 11 with runners in scoring position.

Raleigh turned only the second 2-3 grounded double into play in postseason history when Clement tapped the ball onto the plate with the bases loaded and one out in the fourth inning. Raleigh grabbed the ball with a foot on the plate for a forceout, then threw to first.

The prior 2-3 DP in Game 2 of the 2000 ALCS was turned by Wilson with the New York Yankees’ Bernie Williams at the plate.

“That’s what he’s done all season long, both sides of the ball,” Wilson said of Raleigh.

Capsules

Thiel adds women’s flag football

GREENVILLE, Pa. — Thiel College will field a women’s flag football team this upcoming spring, Director of Athletics Isaac Collins announced Tuesday morning. Thiel joins fellow Presidents’ Athletic Conference (PAC) schools Allegheny, Bethany, Chatham, Franciscan and Saint Vincent in offering the sport.

“Introducing Women’s Flag Football reflects our commitment to growing opportunities for student-athletes and staying ahead of the curve in collegiate athletics,” Collins said. “This sport is expanding rapidly nationwide, and we’re proud to give our students a chance to be part of that growth here at Thiel.”

Prospective student-athletes can click here or the blue box above to fill out a recruitment questionnaire.

A national search is underway for the Tomcats’ first women’s flag football coach. Any questions or inquiries can be directed to Collins via email at icollins@thiel.edu or by phone at 7245892212.

Nationally, flag football has experienced significant growth at the high school and collegiate levels. In February, the NCAA’s Committee on Women’s Athletics recommended that Divisions I, II and III sponsor legislation to add women’s flag football to the NCAA Emerging Sports for Women program. There is a vote scheduled at the 2026 NCAA Convention to formally recognize women’s flag football as an emerging sport in DIII.

Just this past weekend, Chatham, Franciscan and Saint Vincent along with Pitt competed in a showcase at halftime of the Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Cleveland Browns game in Pittsburgh. Over 65 NCAA institutions are sponsoring club or varsity flag football teams with dozens more expected to join in 2026. The Atlantic East Conference became the first NCAA conference to formally offer varsity women’s flag football last spring.

At the high school level, the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association (PIAA) sanctioned flag football as an official varsity sport with over 125 schools fielding teams last season.

Mangold needs a kidney transplant

Former New York Jets center Nick Mangold, a two-time All-Pro who remains one of the most popular players in the team’s history, said on social media on Tuesday that he has kidney disease and needs a transplant.

“I always knew this day would come, but I thought I would have had more time,” he wrote in a message directed to the Jets and Ohio State communities.

“While this has been a tough stretch, I’m staying positive and focused on the path ahead,” he said. “I’m looking forward to better days and getting back to full strength soon. I’ll see you all at MetLife Stadium & The Shoe very soon.”

A first-round draft pick and seven-time Pro Bowl selection who was enshrined in the Jets’ “Ring of Honor” in 2022, Mangold said he was diagnosed with a genetic defect in 2006 that has led to chronic kidney disease. He is now on dialysis while waiting for a transplant.

Mangold said he doesn’t have any relatives who are able to donate, so he went public with the request for a donor with type O blood.

“I am deeply grateful to anyone that would consider donating,” he said.

Mangold was one of the NFL’s best centers during his career, with his seven Pro Bowl selections second to only Pro Football Hall of Famer Winston Hill’s eight for the most all-star games in franchise history. He started all 164 games he played during his 11 NFL seasons.

Postseason averaging 4.33 million viewers

NEW YORK — Major League Baseball is having its most-viewed postseason in the U.S. in 15 years through the division series.

Viewership is averaging 4.33 million through the division series according to MLB and Nielsen, a 30% increase over last year and the best since 2010.

Last Friday’s 15-inning thriller between the Seattle Mariners and Detroit Tigers averaged 8.72 million viewers on Fox, Fox Deportes and streaming. The Mariners 3-2 victory in the fifth and deciding game of the AL Division Series was the most-watched division round game on Fox since Detroit’s Game 5 win over the New York Yankees in 2011 averaged 9.72 million.

The two AL Division Series on Fox, FS1 and FS2 averaged 4.15 million, the most-watched division round on any network since the NL Division Series on TBS (Cubs-Cardinals and Mets-Dodgers).

The series between Toronto and the Yankees, which the Blue Jays won in four games, averaged 7.65 million in the U.S. and Canada.

Viewership for all four division series in the U.S. averaged 4.17 million, its highest since 2011, and a 17% jump from last year.

Blue Jays division series games in Canada averaged 3.65 million, a 10% increase from the team’s last ALDS appearance in 2016.

Sunday’s first game of the AL Championship Series between Seattle and Toronto averaged 5.31 million on Fox, Fox Deportes and streaming. That is a 32% increase over last year’s Game 1 of the ALCS between Cleveland and the Yankees on TBS.

Portugal’s Ronaldo sets goalscoring record

LISBON — Another goal, another record for Cristiano Ronaldo.

The 40-year-old Ronaldo became the player with most goals in World Cup qualifiers after scoring twice for Portugal in its 2-2 draw with Hungary on Tuesday.

His first goal — from close range in the 22nd minute — was Ronaldo’s 40th in a World Cup qualifying match, breaking a tie with former Guatemala player Carlos Ruiz.

The Al-Nassr striker then added a second in first-half stoppage time to extend his record to 41 goals in the 50 World Cup qualifiers he has played.

Ronaldo now has a record-extending 143 goals in men’s internationals.

He left the field in the 78th minute with the score at 2-1 and Hungary equalized in stoppage time through Dominik Szoboszlai, preventing Portugal from clinching a spot in the World Cup with two group games to spare.

Portugal still leads Group F by five points ahead of second-place Hungary.

Capsules

Osborne to speak at Curbstone Coaches

Dwaine Osborne, Youngstown State associate head men’s basketball coach, 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.

Blue Jackets to unveil puck sculptures

COLUMBUS — To celebrate the National Hockey League franchise’s 25th anniversary season, the Columbus Blue Jackets are unveiling a series of larger-than-life hockey puck sculptures throughout the city. The public art installation commemorates key moments in franchise history and invites fans to celebrate a quarter century of Blue Jackets hockey. A total of 12 pucks will be installed: the first three are located at the OhioHealth Chiller locations in Easton, Dublin and North. The remaining nine will roll out in the coming weeks with locations shared on the team’s social accounts.

As part of the celebration, the Blue Jackets have launched a scavenger hunt inviting fans to visit each puck as it is unveiled. Participants can check in at each of the sculptures and for a chance to win exclusive prizes and instant rewards. To check in at each location fans can visit www.cbj.co/puck-hunt.

Each sculpture stands 4 feet, 6 inches tall and weighs approximately 350 pounds. Made entirely of steel tubing and sheeting, the pucks serve as bold tributes to the team’s legacy and its connection to the Columbus community. Every sculpture features a defining moment in Blue Jackets history, turning the city into a walkable timeline that spans from the inaugural season in 2000 to memorable playoff victories and fan-favorite players.

The Blue Jackets partnered with Adirondack Studios, a globally recognized leader in creative fabrication, to design and build the sculptures. Known for its work with major entertainment brands and cultural institutions, Adirondack Studios brought the vision to life with precision and artistry.

YSU names tournament after late coach

Youngstown State’s bowling program will welcome 18 teams to Holiday Bowl in Struthers, Ohio, for the sixth edition of the Penguin Classic next Friday through Sunday, Oct. 17-19.

While the event — which will kick off YSU’s season for the sixth time in the last seven years — and the venue will remain the same, the tournament has a new name. Beginning in 2025, it will be known as the Chelsea Gilliam Penguin Classic in honor of the program’s first head coach, who led the Penguins from 2015-18 and passed away from breast cancer at age 35 in August.

Gilliam was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 2013 when she was 23 years old, and she was re-diagnosed in 2016 while serving as Youngstown State’s head coach. A strong support system, which included many in the bowling community, rallied behind her as “Team Chelsea” as she continued a long and courageous fight over the next nine years.

“Coach Chelsea was such a bright presence in the area and on our campus as our head coach, and we were deeply saddened when she passed,” said Ron Strollo, YSU’s Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics. “We hope that naming our annual home tournament in her honor will allow the bowling community to remember her legacy as an inspiring young woman who fought bravely while also creating awareness for breast cancer.”

The Chelsea Gilliam Penguin Classic will begin at 9:30 a.m. on Oct. 17 with five Baker pinfall matches, and it will continue with five traditional matches at 9:25 a.m. on Oct. 18. The 19 teams will then be placed into a bracket based on their total pinfall from the first two days of competition for three best-of-seven Baker matches beginning at 8:25 a.m. on Oct. 19. There is free admission all three days, and fans should park in the main lot at Holiday Bowl or in the fenced lot across Wilson Street, which is located just south of the bowling center. Cars parked in the Nemenz IGA lot north of Holiday Bowl may be towed.

This will be the largest field in the tournament’s history, which dates back to 2019. The Penguins won the inaugural event and have finished in the top three in the past three editions. The event has been held in October at Holiday Bowl, YSU’s home center, every year except in 2020. Five of the top six teams in the National Tenpin Coaches Association Preseason Top 25 Poll will be in attendance.

Ravens QB Jackson to miss next game

BALTIMORE — Lamar Jackson will miss a second straight game for the Baltimore Ravens because of his hamstring injury.

The Ravens officially ruled Jackson out Friday, which was no surprise after he did not practice this week. Jackson was hurt in a loss at Kansas City two weekends ago. Cooper Rush started in Jackson’s place in last week’s loss to Houston.

Baltimore did have some good news on its lengthy injury report. Safety Kyle Hamilton (groin), cornerback Marlon Humphrey (calf) and tackle Ronnie Stanley (ankle) were full participants in Friday’s practice and are expected to play Sunday against the Los Angeles Rams.

Fullback Patrick Ricard (calf) will miss another game, as will linebacker Roquan Smith (hamstring). Receiver Tez Walker (oblique) is also out.

Sister Jean Dolores Schmidt, 106, dies

CHICAGO — Sister Jean Dolores Schmidt, the chaplain for the men’s basketball team at Loyola Chicago who became a beloved international celebrity during the school’s fairy-tale run to the Final Four of the NCAA Tournament in 2018, has died, the university announced Thursday night. She was 106.

Health issues caused Sister Jean to step down from her role with the university in August, though the school said she remained as an adviser in the final months of her life.

“In many roles at Loyola over the course of more than 60 years, Sister Jean was an invaluable source of wisdom and grace for generations of students, faculty, and staff,” Loyola President Mark C. Reed said.

“While we feel grief and a sense of loss, there is great joy in her legacy,” Reed said. “Her presence was a profound blessing for our entire community and her spirit abides in thousands of lives. In her honor, we can aspire to share with others the love and compassion Sister Jean shared with us.”

Sister Jean — born Dolores Bertha Schmidt on August 21, 1919, then taking the name Sister Jean Dolores in 1937 — became one of the most talked-about personalities during that 2018 NCAA Tournament. She did countless interviews and even was celebrated with a bobblehead in her likeness.

She published a memoir in 2023, “Wake Up with Purpose! What I’ve Learned in My First 100 Years,” sharing lessons she’d learned throughout her life and offering spiritual advice.

The basketball teams at Loyola already had learned many of those lessons. And when that run in 2018 ended with a 69-57 loss to Michigan in the national semifinals, players received immediate consolation from their biggest fan.

“Sister Jean just said it was a great season,” forward Aundre Jackson said after the loss. “She was so happy to be on this run with us and we should keep our heads high and be happy with what we accomplished.”

Capsules

YSU competes in Tontimonia Invite

WESTLAKE — The Youngstown State men’s golf team concluded play in the two-day Tom Tontimonia Invitational hosted by Cleveland State on Tuesday at Lakewood Country Club.

The Penguins finished the 54-hole event with a three-round total of 883 to finish ninth on the team leaderboard. YSU recorded single-round team scores of 294 (+10) and 293 (+9) in the first two rounds, respectively, on Monday before posting a 296 (+12) during a rainy and windy third and final session on Tuesday.

Nolan Shilling finished tied for 36th with a three-round score of 220 (72-74-74) to come in as YSU’s top individual. The redshirt sophomore’s one-over-par 72 in the opening round on Monday featured 10 pars and four birdies as he fired an even-par 36 on the back nine.

Ryan Sam (Boardman) finished tied for 45th with a three-round total of 222 (74-72-76). The senior’s second-round 72 included 10 pars and four birdies as he carded a two-under-par 33 on the front nine.

Jordan Kish concluded the tournament with a three-round 224 (75-73-76) to finish tied for 51st on the individual leaderboard. The sophomore’s second-round 73 featured eight pars and four birdies as he shot a one-under-par 35 on the back nine.

Jake Ryan finished in the same position with a three-round score of 224 (79-75-70). The junior’s season-low, one-under-par 70 in the final round included 11 pars and four birdies as he turned in a two-under-par 33 on the front nine.

Michael Porter (McDonald) placed 63rd with a three-round total of 226 (73-74-79). The redshirt junior’s first-round 73 featured 11 pars and three birdies as he made par or better on nine of his final 10 holes.

Playing as individuals, Rocco Turner (Cardinal Mooney) recorded a three-round 227 (76-71-80) while Bryar Moss posted a 229 (76-80-73). Turner matched his season and career low round with an even-par 71 in the second session that included 10 pars and four birdies. Moss’s season-low 73 in Tuesday’s final round featured 15 pars and a birdie on the par-four No. 2.

Green Bay claimed the tournament title at even par with a three-round team total of 852, finishing six shots ahead of runner-up Oakland. The Phoenix fired a single-round team score of 276 (-8) on Tuesday to rally back from four shots behind the Golden Grizzlies after 36 holes. Cleveland State and Purdue Fort Wayne each finished tied for third while IU Indy rounded out the top five on the team leaderboard.

Green Bay’s Mason Haupt earned individual medalist honors at five under par with a three-round score of 208 (69-72-67) while Cleveland State’s Brody Simms finished as the runner-up with a 209 (70-70-69).

Youngstown State will continue the fall portion of its 2025-26 season on Oct. 12-14 with the Bucknell Invitational at Bucknell Golf Club in Lewisburg, Pa.

Baylor-Auburn game moved to Atlanta

Baylor and Auburn have moved their September 2026 game from the Tigers’ Jordan-Hare Stadium to Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium to provide name, image and likeness opportunities to Auburn players.

According to a press release, Auburn’s players will be able to engage in NIL opportunities tied to ticket sales, surrounding events and the Aflac Kickoff Game itself.

“Any time we have the ability to advance Auburn student-athletes’ ability to earn third-party NIL compensation, we will take that opportunity,” Auburn athletic director John Cohen said Monday. “The exposure of playing on a national stage against a Power Four opponent in one of the premier neutral-site games in the country will not only benefit our student-athletes financially, but it will also enhance their brands.”

Auburn will receive an allotment of nearly 21,000 tickets for the game, while Baylor will receive 3,000 tickets held for visiting teams. The 2026 season opener will mark the sixth all-time meeting between Auburn and Baylor and complete a home-and-home series.

OBJ suspended 6 games for PED violation

Free agent WR Odell Beckham Jr. accepted a six-game suspension from the NFL after he reportedly failed a performance-enhancing drug test last year, he said on the Pivot podcast Tuesday.

Beckham will not be eligible to play until Week 12, the NFL told The Associated Press.

Beckham, 32, said on the podcast he never knowingly took performance-enhancing drugs. He played nine games with the Miami Dolphins last season, catching nine passes for 55 yards, both of which were career-lows by a wide margin.

Despite the news, the 10-year NFL veteran said he hopes to continue his career this season. Beckham, a first-round pick in the 2014 draft, posted 1,000-yard seasons four of his first five years in the league with the New York Giants.

He was traded to the Cleveland Browns ahead of the 2019 season, and then dealt to the Los Angeles Rams during the 2021 season. Beckham won a Super Bowl with the Rams in 2021, but tore his ACL in the victory.

Over his career, Beckham has 575 catches for 7,987 yards, the latter of which ranks 119th all-time in NFL history.

Crew’s Nagbe to retire after 15 seasons

COLUMBUS — Columbus Crew midfielder Darlington Nagbe plans to retire at the end of the Major League Soccer playoffs, the team announced Tuesday.

The 35-year-old has won four league titles in 15 MLS seasons, with Portland (2015 ), Atlanta (2018) and Columbus ( 2020, 2023 ). He has been the Crew captain since 2020.

His 444 regular-season MLS appearances are fifth behind Nick Rimando (514), Kyle Beckerman (498), Dax McCarty (488) and Kei Kamara (463).

Nagbe scored nine regular-season goals for Portland (2011-17), Atlanta (2018-19) and Columbus (2020-25), plus two in the playoffs.

He had one goal in 25 international appearances, scoring for the United States in a friendly against Ecuador in 2016. Nagbe started in the 2-1 loss at Trinidad and Tobago in 2017 that ended the Americans’ streak of seven straight World Cup appearances.

Born in Liberia, Nagbe left with his family for the U.S. when he was 5 months old, played for Akron and won the 2010 Hermann Trophy as the top men’s college soccer player. He became a U.S. citizen when he was 15.

Capsules

Vaccaro to speak at Curbstone Coaches

Sonny Vaccaro, a famous sports marketing executive and American sports businessman, 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. For this speaker, the doors will open 11:15 a.m.

Vaccaro previously worked at Nike, Adidas and Reebok. He was one of the men responsible for signing Michael Jordon to Nike and Kobe Bryant to Adidas.

The story of his blockbuster Jordon deal is told in the 2023 movie “Air,’ which stars Ben Affleck, Matt Damon and Viola Davis.

He attended Youngstown State University to play football, but an injury ended his career. It was during his time at YSU that Vaccaro first became involved with legendary YSU basketball coach Dom Rosselli.

Vaccaro ran the Dapper Dan Round Ball Classic from 1965-2007. During that the time, several future NBA legends would play in the game, including NBA Hall of Famers Shaquille O’Neal, Patrick Ewing, Moses Malone, Alonzo Mourning, Calvin Murphy, Adrian Dantley and Dominique Wilkins.

Primanti Bros. to open early for Browns

YOUNGSTOWN — Primanti Bros. Restaurant and Bar will open select restaurants at 9 a.m. on Sunday to give fans an opportunity to gather for the Browns’ game taking place in London.

Locations opening early in the area are Boardman and Niles.

“This is a really cool moment for Browns fans – and we wanted to make sure that they had a place to gather, eat, drink and cheer on the team – even with the early kickoff,” said Jim Prezioso, director of beverage at Primanti Bros, in a press release. “If you aren’t able to get to London for the game – there’s no better place to be.”

In addition to just opening early, Primanti Bros. will be featuring its Almost Famous Happy Hours – beginning at 9 a.m. – with nearly all drinks behind the bar being served for half-price.

“Listen, we might’ve been born in Pittsburgh – but we’re proud to operate in Browns territory,” Prezioso said. “And if we can all get together at 9 a.m. and crack a beer – we’re in.”

Former Raven Arthur Jones, 39, dies

OWINGS MILLS, Md. — Arthur Jones, a defensive lineman who spent his first four NFL seasons in Baltimore and won a Super Bowl with the Ravens, has died. He was 39.

Syracuse, Jones’ alma mater, said he died Friday morning. The school and the Ravens didn’t give a cause of death in their announcements.

“Arthur’s presence was a gift to everyone he encountered,” Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta said. “His big, bright smile, infectious energy and eternal positivity created a presence that continuously uplifted others.”

Jones was a fifth-round draft pick in 2010 and had 8 1/2 of his 10 career sacks in a two-season stretch in 2012-13. The Ravens beat San Francisco in the Super Bowl to cap the 2012 season.

Jones sacked 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick just before a power outage at the Superdome in New Orleans. He also had a fumble recovery in that Super Bowl.

Jones spent two years with Indianapolis and a final season in Washington in 2017.

Jones played for Syracuse and was the older brother of former UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones and former Syracuse and NFL defensive end Chandler Jones, a four-time Pro Bowler who won a Super Bowl in New England.

Jones had 38 1/2 tackles for loss at Syracuse, a school record for an interior defensive lineman. He was a first-team All-Big East selection each of his final two seasons.

“Arthur Jones was a tremendous player and even better person,” Syracuse athletic director John Wildhack said. “We were fortunate that Arthur continued to support our football program after his playing career. He impacted many of our student-athletes, always with a smile and uplifting message.”

Rangers named Schumaker manager

ARLINGTON, Texas — The Texas Rangers hired Skip Schumaker as their manager, agreeing Friday night on a four-year contract with the former NL Manager of the Year.

Schumaker’s deal was announced after Chris Young, the president of baseball operations, acknowledged earlier in the day that the Rangers were focused on an internal candidate in their search to replace Bruce Bochy. Schumaker had been in a senior advisory role with the team since last November.

The 45-year-old Schumaker was the 2023 NL Manager of the Year when Miami went 84-78 and made the fourth postseason appearance in club history. That was the same year Texas, with Bochy in his debut there, won its only World Series championship.

The Rangers and the 70-year-old Bochy, a four-time World Series champion who was baseball’s winningest active manager, agreed Monday to end his managerial stint. That was the day after Texas finished 81-81 for its second non-winning record since its championship. Bochy was at the end of his three-year contract.

The Marlins slipped to 62-100 in 2024 after changes in the front office and with a roster decimated by trades and injuries. Schumaker and the team agreed that he wouldn’t return for this season.

Texas then hired Schumaker in the advisory role last November, a move viewed by many as making him the heir apparent to Bochy.

The Rangers became the first of eight major league teams to fill a managerial vacancy. Young wouldn’t say earlier in the day if any other teams had requested permission to speak with Shumaker.

Before going to Miami, Schumaker was a bench coach for St. Louis, where he played for the Cardinals during their 2011 World Series win over Texas. He played 11 big league seasons with St. Louis (2005-12), the Los Angeles Dodgers (2013) and Cincinnati (2014-15).

Fenstermaker said while Schumaker lives on the West Coast, he had been very involved with the team in his advisory role.

Bochy has been offered an advisory role in the Rangers front office. He also could be in line for such a position with the San Francisco Giants, though he isn’t a candidate for the managerial opening of the team he led to World Series titles in 2010, ’12 and ’14.

With 2,252 wins, Bochy is sixth among major league managers, with the five ahead of him all in the Baseball Hall of Fame.

Starting at $3.23/week.

Subscribe Today