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Charpie to speak at Curbstone

Youngstown State men’s baseball coach Trevor Charpie 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 11:45 a.m., and the public is welcome to attend.

All sports fans are welcome and you do not need to be a current or former coach.

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YSU wins shootout with Rockets

TOLEDO — The Youngstown State baseball team picked their fourth straight win defeating Toledo 11-10 on Tuesday afternoon at Scott Park.

The Penguins, coming off a three-game series sweep at Oakland, improve to 9-30 overall while the Rockets fall to 17-23.

YSU banged out 13 hits, including four home runs and two doubles, to fend off Toledo which had 12 hits in the contest.

Belting home runs for the Guins were Garrett Cutting, Ryan Schummer, Teddy Ruffner and Brady Shannon (Ursuline). Shannon’s home run was his 12th on the season which leads the team.

On the mound, Aidan English (South Range) pitched three solid innings of relief allowing just two unearned runs on three hits and racked up three strikeouts to earn the victory. Mikey Rodriques came on with two outs and two on in the seventh and retired the first four batters he faced.

In the ninth, the Rockets pulled within one on a two-out RBI single by Jackson Hiatt. With runners on first and second, Sumner Estes replaced Rodriques and got Cade Baker to fly out to end the game.

English earned the win while Estes picked up the save.

The Penguins jumped in front with three runs in the top of the second inning. Misael Uriepero and Nic Goodwin hit back-to-back one-out singles to set up Cutting’s three-run home run to right center field.

The Rockets responded with four runs in the bottom half of the second inning to move ahead 4-3. Liam Arsich was hit by a pitch, stole second and scored on an RBI single from JP Wagner. Cade Baker’s three-run homer to left center with two outs later in the frame lifted Toledo into the lead.

YSU countered with a pair of runs in the top of the third inning to regain a 5-4 edge. Alex Jang hit a leadoff double before Ruffner belted a two-run blast to left field to put the Guins back in front.

Toledo evened the score at 5-5 with a single run in the home half of the third. Charlie Scholvin hit a leadoff single and Cole Cahill followed with an RBI double to left center field.

The Penguins recaptured a 7-5 lead in the top of the fourth as Chyran Humphries drew a leadoff walk before Schummer’s two-run homer to center field.

After the Rockets tied the contest at seven, Shannon’s home run in the top of the fifth put YSU in front 8-7.

In the sixth, Cutting doubled to lead off the inning and came into score when with runners at first and third, he came home on a throw down to second following a wild pitch. Schummer who walked earlier in the frame came home on a single by Jang.

Leading 10-9 in the bottom of the seventh, Mikey Rodriques came in with two on and two out and retired Baker on a flyout to center. In the top of the ninth, Uriepero singled home Brevin Smith for a key insurance run.

Uriepero had three hits to lead the offense while Cutting, Schummer, Jang and Ruffner had two hits apiece.

YSU and the Rockets will be back in action against one another today at new-look Eastwood Field. First pitch for the contest is scheduled for 5 p.m.

Penguins fall twice to Kent State

KENT — The Youngstown State softball team dropped a doubleheader to Kent State, 7-1, 11-6 on Tuesday afternoon at Devine Diamond.

The Penguins fall to 26-17 overall while the Golden Flashes improve to 19-25.

In the opener, the Penguins tallied just four hits led by Lydia Wilkerson’s triple.

Senior Kennedy Dean went 3-for-4 with a double and two runs batted in to lead the Penguins offense in the nightcap. Junior Tai Turner went 2-for-4 with a double and scored three times. Senior Bree Kohler (South Range) went 2-for-3 with two runs scored and freshman Leila Staszak also had two hits.

The Penguins jumped out to an early lead on a run-scoring single by Kohler in the top of the second.

Kent State knotted the game at 1-1 in the bottom half of the frame, but Youngstown State took a 3-1 lead after back-to-back run-scoring doubles by Turner and Dean.

The Golden Flashed knotted the game for the second time with a pair of runs in the bottom of the third. Youngtown State regained the lead for the third time on Staszak’s single that plated Kohler for a 4-3 advantage.

Kent State scored four times in the bottom of the fourth to take a 7-4 lead before a run-scoring double by Dean in the fifth and a sacrifice fly by Wilkerson in the sixth cut the deficit to 7-6.

Kent State added four more runs in the bottom of the sixth inning.

Youngstown State returns to Horizon League action for a three-game series against IU Indy, Friday and Saturday, in Indianapolis, Ind.

US women’s FIBA opponents set

The U.S. women’s basketball team will face China, Italy and the Czech Republic in the women’s FIBA World Cup in September, looking to win its fifth consecutive title.

The World Cup will be held Sept. 4-13 in Berlin, with the WNBA taking a nearly three-week break in its season to accommodate the event. The Americans have won the last four World Cups, dating back to 2010. They took bronze in 2006.

The U.S. squad could feature a lot of young talent, including Caitlin Clark, Paige Bueckers and Angel Reese, to go along with veterans A’ja Wilson and Breanna Stewart. The young trio helped the Americans win a World Cup qualifying tournament in Puerto Rico last month.

Buoyed by the success of the 2022 World Cup in Australia, the field was expanded to 16 teams for the first time since 2018.

The winner of each group will advance to the quarterfinals. The second- and third-place finishers in the four pools will play each other for the other four spots in the quarters.

Group A includes host Germany, which is playing in the World Cup for the first time since 1998. Germany will face Spain, Japan and Mali. France, which lost to the U.S. in the gold-medal game of the Paris Olympics, headlines Group B. Other teams in the group are Nigeria, South Korea and Hungary.

Australia, which hosted the 2022 World Cup, is the top team in Group C. Australia plays Belgium, Puerto Rico and Turkey.

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Yurcich to speak at Curbstone

Youngstown State football offensive coordinator Mike Yurcich 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.

He will be recapping spring practice with a couple of players.

The event begins at 11:45 a.m., and the public is welcome to attend.

All sports fans are welcome and you do not need to be a current or former coach.

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Locals named YSU Athletes of Year

Youngstown State student-athletes Abbie Householder (Canfield/volleyball) and Beau Brungard (Springfield/football) were honored as the 2025-26 YSU Joseph F. Malmisur Student-Athletes of the Year last evening at the Scholar-Athlete Banquet at Zidian Family Arena at Beeghly Center.

Other awards presented during the event included the SAAC Leadership Awards – Female Recipient: Taylor Berry (soccer), Male Recipient: Teziah Howard (track and field), the Team Outreach Award – Softball and the Bounce Back Player of the Year Awards (sponsored by NovaCare Rehabilitation) – Dathan Hickey (football) and Marissa Masano (women’s soccer).

Student-athletes Kennedy Dean (softball) and Howard served as the Masters of Ceremony’s for the event.

NFL reporter Russini resigns

NFL reporter Dianna Russini has resigned from The Athletic less than a week after published photos of her and New England Patriots coach Mike Vrabel at an Arizona resort prompted an internal investigation at The New York Times-owned sports outlet.

The New York Post last week published the photos of Vrabel and Russini at the Sedona hotel and said they were taken before the NFL owners meetings that began in Phoenix on March 29.

“I have covered the NFL with professionalism and dedication throughout my career, and I stand behind every story I have ever published. When the Page Six item first appeared, The Athletic supported me unequivocally, expressed confidence in my work and pride in my journalism. For that I am grateful. In the days that followed, unfortunately, commentators in various media have engaged in self-feeding speculation that is simply unmoored from the facts,” Russini said in a letter sent Tuesday to Athletic Executive Editor Steven Ginsberg and obtained by The Associated Press.

“Moreover, this media frenzy is hurtling forward without regard for the review process The Athletic is trying to complete. It continues to escalate, fueled by repeated leaks, and I have no interest in submitting to a public inquiry that has already caused far more damage than I am willing to accept. Rather than allowing this to continue, I have decided to step aside now — before my current contract expires on June 30. I do so not because I accept the narrative that has been constructed around this episode, but because I refuse to lend it further oxygen or to let it define me or my career.”

Russini joined The Athletic in 2023 after nearly a decade at ESPN, where she held various roles, including “SportsCenter” anchor, NFL analyst and insider. She hosted a podcast for The Athletic.

Vrabel and Russini, who are both married, released statements to the Post after publication of the photos downplaying what the photos depict.

Russini said they “don’t represent the group of six people who were hanging out during the day.”

Vrabel told the newspaper: “Those photos show a completely innocent interaction and any suggestion otherwise is laughable.”

The New York Times reported Saturday that the digital outlet was investigating Russini’s conduct.

That decision came after Ginsberg previously told the Post that the photos “lacked essential context” and lauded her work with The Athletic.

“When this situation was brought to our attention last week, there were clear concerns, but we received a detailed explanation and it was our instinct to support and defend a colleague while we continued to review the matter,” Ginsberg said in a note to staff on Tuesday announcing Russini’s resignation. “As additional information emerged, new questions were raised that became part of our investigation. While our investigation into Dianna’s conduct was ongoing, she chose to resign.”

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Penguins earn split with Niagara

YOUNGSTOWN — Youngstown State scored six runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to post a 9-1 victory and secure a doubleheader split against Niagara on Tuesday afternoon at the Covelli Sports Complex. The Penguins lost game one, 10-2.

The Penguins improve to 20-14 overall while Niagara moves to 1-23 on the season.

Owning a 3-1 lead, the Penguins sent 10 batters to the plate for a six-run fifth that enforces the mercy run. Leila Staszak led off the inning with a single and scored on Lydia Wilerson’s triple down the right-field line. Following a walk to Emma Gilkerson, Tai Turner reached on a fielding error but plated Wilkerson to extend the YSU lead to 5-1.

Kennedy Dean and Selah Moyer delivered run-scoring singles that drove in Gilkerson and Turner, and Staszak ripped a bases-loaded, two-run double to left-center field to end the game.

The Purple Eagles took an early 1-0 lead with a run in the top of the first inning, but Dean knotted the game with a solo home run, her seventh this season, on the first pitch of the bottom of the second. Turner gave the Penguins a 3-1 lead on a towering two-run shot, her fourth home run, to left field in the bottom of the third inning.

Sophomore pitcher Isabella O’Brien (McDonald) struck out six in a complete-game three-hit victory, her fourth of the season.

Dean went 2-for-3 with a home run and two RBIs while Staszak was 2-for-3 with two runs batted in and Turner drove in three runs.

In the opener, Wilkerson and Moyer each went 2-for-3 while Dean and Moyer drove in the Penguins’ runs.

Youngstown State hosts St. Bonaventure in a doubleheader today. First pitch is set for 3 p.m. at the Covelli Sports Complex.

YSU’s Porter finishes in top 10

BATAVIA — Redshirt junior Michael Porter (McDonald) finished in a tie for seventh individually to lead the Youngstown State men’s golf team at The Jewell hosted by Northern Kentucky, which concluded on Tuesday from Elks Run Golf Club.

Porter earned his third top 10 finish of the season with a three-round score of 216 (74-74-68). The redshirt junior’s three-under-par 68 in the third and final round on Tuesday featured nine pars and six birdies as he fired a three-under-par 33 on the front nine.

The Penguins finished 12th on the team leaderboard with a three-round total of 905. YSU recorded team scores of 306 and 303 in the first two rounds, respectively, on Monday before concluding the two-day, 54-hole event with a 296 in the final session on Tuesday.

Ryan Sam (Boardman) finished tied for 37th with a three-round score of 225 (81-70-74). The senior’s 1-under-par 70 in the second round included 10 pars, two birdies and a pair of eagles which came at No. 3 and No. 6.

Playing as an individual, Josh Weiner finished tied for 42nd with a three-round total of 226 (76-73-77). The redshirt sophomore matched his season low round with a 73 in the second session that featured 10 pars and three birdies. Weiner also recorded an ace on the par-three No. 12 at Elks Run Golf Club during the opening round of action on Monday.

Jordan Kish concluded the tournament with a three-round score of 227 (71-80-76). The sophomore’s even-par 71 in the first round on Monday included 10 pars and four birdies as he carded a two-under-par 34 on the front nine.

Nolan Shilling finished with a three-round total of 237 (80-79-78) while Rocco Turner (Cardinal Mooney) recorded an opening-round 84 before withdrawing prior to Monday’s second round.

Oakland claimed the tournament title at 15 over par with a three-round team total of 867. Detroit Mercy finished as the runner-up with an 871 while Butler placed third with an 874.

Leo Zurovac and Logan Sutto of Butler each turned in a three-round 213 to finish tied atop the individual leaderboard.

Youngstown State will continue its spring schedule on Sunday and Monday with the Wright State Invitational at Heatherwoode Golf Club in Springboro.

Buffs’ QB was drunk during crash

BOULDER, Colo. — Colorado quarterback Dominiq Ponder had a blood alcohol level twice the legal limit for driving under the influence when he died in a single-car crash near Boulder, according to the autopsy report from the Boulder County Coroner’s Office.

Ponder, 23, was killed early on March 1 when he lost control on a curve and hit a guardrail. The car he was driving, a 2023 Tesla, struck an electrical line pole and rolled down an embankment.

His blood alcohol level was .167, according to the autopsy report. The limit is 0.08. There is a lower limit, of .05, for driving while ability impaired.

Ponder was pronounced dead at the scene. The autopsy report lists “multiple blunt force injuries” as the cause of death and “accident” as the manner of death.

On Tuesday, the Colorado State Patrol said it’s “conducting a comprehensive investigation which would take a look at factors such as speed, impairment, distracted driving, and more.”

Ponder’s mom, Catrina Hughes, released a statement, saying “what matters most to me is who Dominiq was as a person. He was a determined student-athlete, a leader, and someone with a huge heart who fiercely loved his family, his teammates, and the game of football.

“If anything good can come from this loss, it’s the conversations it can start about responsible decision-making, supporting young adults, and making good choices even in ordinary moments. One bad decision can alter everything.”

Ponder’s family has started a GoFundMe page and a foundation called “Dominiq Ponder 7/22.” His foundation will support student-athletes, children’s hospitals and families dealing with medical challenges, and help assist with responsible decision-making.

“A big part of his legacy will be to encourage young people to please make responsible choices and if possible to have the courage to step in for their friends when one of them isn’t thinking clearly for themselves,” Hughes wrote. “Kids need to know that it’s OK to intervene, do anything you can do, one small decision can save a life. Don’t be afraid even if it’s uncomfortable. A difficult conversation is easier than a lifetime of loss.”

Ponder played in two games for the Buffaloes last season. The 6-foot-5 sophomore from Florida began his collegiate career at Bethune-Cookman before transferring.

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Curbstone Coaches idle on Monday

In observance of the Easter holiday, the Curbstone Coaches will be idle on Monday. They will reconvene next on April 13 when they will honor Beaver Local High School Ohio Division II state wrestling 157-pound champion Jake Hughes.

YSU softball tops Robert Morris

MOON TOWNSHIP, Pa. — The Penguins scored three runs in the top of the 10th inning to break a 4-4 stalemate and lifted the Youngstown State softball team to a 7-4 win over Robert Morris on Friday afternoon at the North Athletic Complex.

Sophomore Ayla Ray (Fitch) reached on an error and two runs scored, and junior Selah Moyer added a run-scoring single that plated Ray with the third run of the inning for the Penguins, who improve to 18-12 overall and 6-1 in the Horizon League and extend their lead over the Colonials (16-9, 4-3 Horizon League) to two games.

Junior Lydia Wilkerson, who went 2-for-4, led off the top of the 10th with a single up the middle and Tai Turner doubled to right-center field, moving pinch-runner Tatum Werley to third. Following a strikeout, Ray’s ground ball to the right side of the infield was muffed by the second baseman and Werley and Turner scored. Moyer drove in Ray in the next at-bat.

Freshman Kennedy Kimball, who tied a career high with 12 strikeouts, retired the side in order in the bottom of half of the frame to earn her fifth conference win and improve to 5-0 in league action.

YSU jumped out to an early 1-0 lead on Bella Meyer’s (Champion) one-out double to center field that plated Bree Kohler.

Robert Morris knotted the game at 1 in the bottom of the fourth on a solo home run by Aglaia Rudd.

A run-scoring single up the middle by Wilkerson and a sacrifice fly from Turner broke the tie and gave the Penguins a 3-1 lead.

The Penguins extended their advantage to 4-1 on Emma Gilkerson’s sacrifice fly that scored Leila Staszak, who led off the inning with a single down the left-field line.

Youngstown State and Robert Morris conclude the series with a doubleheader today. First pitch is set for 1 p.m. at the North Athletic Complex.

Penguins earn sweep vs. Milwaukee

FRANKLIN, Wis. — The Youngstown State baseball team earned the Horizon League series win by sweeping a doubleheader at Milwaukee on Friday at Franklin Field.

The Penguins rallied from a three-run deficit in each game on Friday to collect their first series victory of the season and improve to 3-5 in Horizon League play. YSU opened the series with a 5-3 win in game one before charging back for a 7-4 victory in the nightcap.

GAME 1

Youngstown State scored five runs over the final three innings to rally from 3-0 deficit and defeat Milwaukee 5-3 in game one of Friday’s Horizon League doubleheader at Franklin Field.

Alex Jang went 3-for-5 at the plate with a triple and a run scored from the leadoff spot while Nathan Beckley had two hits and drove in three runs from the cleanup spot in YSU’s lineup. Garrett Cutting, Brayden Kuriger and Misael Uriepero added two hits apiece as the Penguins outhit the Panthers, 13-8.

YSU starter Braden Gebhardt (Howland) allowed three runs on six hits with five strikeouts and two walks over six innings to earn his second victory of the season. Braedon Davis, Jake Ferretti, Tyler Heflin and Bryce Palms combined to toss two scoreless innings of relief before Sumner Estes worked a scoreless ninth to collect his first save.

The Penguins rallied with four runs on three hits and two Milwaukee errors in the top of the seventh inning to take a 4-3 lead. Beckley’s two-out, two-run single and an ensuing error in the outfield allowed three runs to score before Cutting’s RBI single plated Beckley to give YSU the one-run advantage.

Youngstown State added an insurance run in the top of the ninth as Uriepero singled, advanced to second on a base hit from Luke Rossi and scored on Beckley’s RBI single to center field.

GAME 2

Youngstown State scored in five consecutive innings to overcome a three-run deficit and defeat Milwaukee 7-4 to complete the doubleheader sweep.

Ryan Schummer went 3-for-4 at the plate while Beckley doubled and drove in two runs. Kuriger singled, walked and scored twice while Brady Shannon (Ursuline) homered and drove in a pair of runs for the Penguins.

YSU starter Jack Messmore earned his first win of the season after allowing four runs on eight hits with three strikeouts while matching his season high of 6 1/3 innings pitched.

The Penguins got on the scoreboard with a single tally in the top of the second inning. Kuriger was hit by a pitch, advanced to third on Schummer’s single and scored on a sacrifice fly from Shannon.

Youngstown State cut Milwaukee’s lead to 4-2 with another single run in the top of the third. Rossi reached with a two-out single and Beckley followed with an RBI double to left field. The Penguins pushed across another single run in the top of the fourth when Shannon belted his seventh home run of the season.

YSU evened the score at 4 by scoring one run for the fourth straight inning in the top of the fifth. Uriepero hit a leadoff single, stole second and scored from third on a sacrifice fly from Beckley.

The Penguins took their first lead with two runs in the top of the sixth. Kuriger walked and scored on a wild pitch while Schummer singled and scored when Jang reached on a fielder’s choice to give YSU a 6-4 advantage.

Scrappers tickets go on sale Friday

NILES — Mahoning Valley Scrappers single game tickets will go on sale Friday at 10am. Tickets will be available at www.mvscrappers.com, by calling 3305050000 or at the Chevy All-Stars Box Office. Single game ticket prices start at $7.

The Scrappers will play 42 home games during the 2026 season from June through August, beginning with Opening Night at 7 17 Credit Union Field at Eastwood on June 2 at 7:05pm.

Popular Friday Fireworks Nights and Thursday Buck Nights will return. The Scrappers will host the Canada 18U National Team Series on June 19-21. A full promotional schedule for the 2026 season will be announced soon, and ticket packages are on sale now.

For more information, visit www.mvscrappers.com.

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Massucci, Sheely on NFCA watch list

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Slippery Rock University softball outfielders Alyssa Massucci (Howland) and Alyssa Sheely (Ursuline) have been named to the National Fastpitch Coaches Association Division II Player of the Year watchlist, the organization announced Wednesday.

Massucci and Sheely are two of three Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Western Division players to make the 2026 watchlist. Additionally, the duo are two of six players from the conference as a whole to be named to the watchlist. SRU was the only team in the Atlantic Region to have two position players nominated for the award.

Sheely, a senior from New Middletown, Ohio, has a team-leading .481 batting average (26-of-54) with 24 RBIs, 14 runs, two home runs and five doubles. The right fielder has a .685 slugging percentage and a .508 on-base percentage in 17 games played (16 starts).

Occupying the other corner outfield position, Massucci, a sophomore from Warren, Ohio, is hitting .424 (28-of-66) with 17 runs, 14 RBIs, three home runs and a team-leading seven doubles. In 21 games played (20 starts), Massucci is slugging .727 with a .435 on-base percentage.

Across the PSAC, Sheely ranks third in batting average, sixth in on-base percentage , sixth in OPS (1.193), eighth in RBIs and 10th in slugging percentage, while Massucci sits sixth in slugging percentage, ninth in batting average and 10th in OPS (1.162).

Voted on by the NFCA’s Division II All-American Committee, the Player of the Year and NFCA/Portolite Pitcher of the Year will be announced on May 27.

YSU bowlers earn C-USA honors

YOUNGSTOWN — Youngstown State bowler Amy Chrzanowski has been voted the Conference USA Newcomer of the Year, and Liv Baskin has been named to the conference’s All-Rookie Team for the 2025-26 season. The conference office announced the postseason awards and all-conference teams on Wednesday.

Chrzanowski, a junior transfer from Fairleigh Dickinson, is YSU’s first bowler to be named a conference newcomer of the year in its eight seasons as an affiliate member of the Southland Conference or Conference USA. Baskin is the third Penguin to be named to a conference rookie team, joining Southland selections Jade Cote (2021-22) and Hope Bunk (2022-23).

Chrzanowski has been a key part of the lineup in her first season as a Penguin, ranking second on the team with 1,018 total frames and leading the team in fill percentage and single-pin spare percentage. The native of Colonie, N.Y., averages a team-high 199.41 per game in traditional play with a team-best 19 games over 200, and she averages 19.69 pins per frame in Baker play. Chrzanowski placed 15th individually at two tournaments in the fall, and she was named to the All-Tournament Team after placing fifth at the Big Red Invitational in February. Her 1,330 set at Nebraska’s event was the second-highest total for a six-game tournament in program history.

Baskin is one of six freshmen on YSU’s roster, and she earned All-Rookie accolades after ranking second on the team in Baker scoring average at 19.77. She has placed in the top 25 individually at three tournaments, and she was the Penguins’ top finisher in 17th place at the Music City Classic with a five-game set of 1,046. Baskin, a native of Elk Mound, Wis., averages 194.82 in traditional play for the year, and she’s improved to 199.10 over her last 15 games.

Youngstown State continues its season Friday at the NCAA Regional in Lansing, Mich.

Jackets add Aston-Reese to roster

COLUMBUS — The Columbus Blue Jackets added forward Zach Aston-Reese to the roster on emergency recall from the Cleveland Monsters, the team’s American Hockey League affiliate, club President of Hockey Operations and General Manager Don Waddell announced Wednesday.

Aston-Reese, 31, has collected one goal and four assists for five points with 12 penalty minutes in 26 contests with the Blue Jackets this season. He has notched 49-53-102 and 165 PIM in 415 career NHL appearances with the Blue Jackets, Detroit Red Wings, Toronto Maple Leafs, Anaheim Ducks and Pittsburgh Penguins since making his league debut in 2017-18. He has recorded 7-15-22 and 39 PIM in 105 games with Columbus since being claimed off waivers from the Vegas Golden Knights on Oct. 7, 2024.

The Blue Jackets return to action tonight at the Carolina Hurricanes. Puck drop from Lenovo Center is 7 p.m.

ODNR to host hatchery open houses

COLUMBUS — The Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife is hosting open houses this spring at state fish hatcheries where visitors can learn about fish production. Hatchery open houses are free of charge and provide time for visitors to see fish up close before they are stocked into one of Ohio’s many public lakes and rivers.

Each hatchery open house is an America 250 event. Visitors will learn about the importance of fish habitat, the of aquatic wildlife conservation, and how it intertwines with the history of America.

The Division of Wildlife operates six state fish hatcheries, which raised and stocked 36 million fish in 2025. Sport fish species raised for stocking in public waters include cold-water fish (rainbow trout, steelhead, and brown trout), cool-water fish (saugeye, walleye, yellow perch, and muskellunge), and warm-water fish (hybrid-striped bass, channel catfish, blue catfish, and bluegill). These hatcheries enhance many of the fishing opportunities that anglers enjoy.

Hatchery open houses are scheduled from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at each location:

Saturday: Hebron State Fish Hatchery, 10517 Canal Rd SE, Hebron, 43025; Senecaville State Fish Hatchery, 57199 Seneca Dam Rd, Senecaville, 43780

April 11: Castalia State Fish Hatchery, 7018 Homegardner Rd, Castalia, 44824

April 18: Kincaid State Fish Hatchery, 7487 St. Rt. 124, Latham, 45646

April 25: London State Fish Hatchery, 2470 Roberts Mill Rd, London, 43140

During each open house, Division of Wildlife staff will give tours and answer questions about fish production and fisheries management. Guests may learn about these hatcheries, view fish eggs and fry in production buildings, and watch older fish in ponds or raceways. Family-friendly activities and displays including an archery trailer and BB gun range will be available at some locations.

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Penguins come up short vs. Zips

AKRON — Akron hit a walk-off single in the bottom of the ninth inning to defeat the Youngstown State baseball team 11-10 in a high-scoring non-league contest on Tuesday afternoon at Skeeles Field.

The Penguins were ahead 2-0 after the first inning and 7-3 after scoring five runs in the top of the third. The Zips answered with a five-run bottom of the third to take an 8-7 lead before YSU countered with two runs in the top of the fourth to regain a 9-8 edge. The score remained the same until Akron pushed across a pair of runs in the seventh move back in front 10-9. The Guins plated a single run in the top of the ninth to even the score before Brennan Morgan’s RBI single in the bottom half of the inning lifted the Zips to the walk-off victory.

Nathan Beckley went 3-for-5 at the plate with an RBI double, a walk and a run scored while Brayden Kuriger finished 2-for-5 with two doubles, two RBIs, a walk, two runs scored and two stolen bases. Alex Jang recorded two hits including a double, two RBIs and a stolen base while Luke Rossi singled, doubled, drove in a run and scored twice. Ryan Schummer added two hits as the Penguins posted new season highs as a team with 10 runs and 14 hits offensively.

YSU starter Aidan Dorsch allowed two runs on two hits in his lone inning on the mound before Aidan English (South Range) was responsible for one run in one inning as the first six YSU relievers to appear in the contest. Sloan Ulrich surrendered five runs in the third before Kale Wemer and Griffin Almond each came on to toss two scoreless innings of relief. Lane Rhodes (Salem) permitted two runs in two innings of work while Mikey Rodriques suffered the loss after allowing the winning run in the ninth.

The Penguins grabbed the early lead with two runs on three doubles in the top of the first inning. Jang hit a leadoff double, advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt from Misael Uriepero and scored on Rossi’s RBI double. Beckley followed with an RBI double of his own to plate Rossi and give YSU a 2-0 advantage.

After the Zips took a 3-2 lead with three runs in the bottom of the second inning, YSU exploded for five runs on five hits in the top of the third to move ahead 7-3. The rally was highlighted by back-to-back run-scoring doubles from Brady Shannon (Ursuline) and Kuriger before a two-out, two-run single from Jang.

Akron responded immediately in the bottom of the third by loading the bases with a single and two walks. Atticus Huffstutler followed with a grand slam to right field which knotted the score at 7-7. Tucker Biehl walked and scored on Gabe Mathison’s bunt single later in the frame to give the Zips an 8-7 lead.

The lead changed hands again in the top of the fourth as the Penguins scored twice to regain a 9-8 advantage. Kuriger hit a two-out double and scored on Schummer’s RBI single while Teddy Ruffner walked and scored when Ryan DiLullo (Poland) reached on an error.

Akron got back-to-back two-out singles from Brody Chrisman and Blake Bowen in the home half of the seventh inning. Bowen swiped second base to put two runners in scoring positions before Morgan delivered a two-run single up the middle to give the Zips a 10-9 lead.

Uriepero drew a leadoff walk, advanced to third on a single from Beckley and scored on Shannon’s RBI groundout in the top of the ninth to even the score at 10 runs piece heading into the bottom half of the inning.

In the home half of the ninth, Mathison drew a leadoff single, Chrisman followed with a single and Bowen was intentionally walked to load the bases. Morgan proceeded to hit an 0-1 pitch from Rodriques up the middle to send Mathison home for the winning run.

Garrett Groce, Nathan Currah and Floyd McKenna combined to limit YSU to one run on four hits over the final five innings.

The Penguins are scheduled to begin a three-game Horizon League series at Milwaukee on Friday with a doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m.

YSU softball doubleheader canceled

YOUNGSTOWN — Due to inclement weather forecasted for today, the Youngstown State-Bowling Green softball doubleheader was canceled. The games will not be made up.

YSU visits Robert Morris for a three-game Horizon League showdown on Friday and Saturday in Moon Township, Pa.

CSU’s women’s coach headed to TSU

CLEVELAND — The Cleveland State Athletic Department announced that women’s basketball head coach Chris Kielsmeier stepped down from his position to accept the same role at Texas State. A national search for Cleveland State’s next head coach will begin immediately.

“I want to thank Coach Kielsmeier for his leadership and commitment to our women’s basketball program during his eight seasons at Cleveland State,”CSU Vice President and Director of Athletics Kelsie Gory Harkey said. “We are grateful for Coach Kielsmeier’s dedication to setting the standard of excellence for our program and the impact he made on our student-athletes during his eight seasons at Cleveland State. Our goal is to continue the tradition that has been built here, and we remain committed to providing a transformational student-athlete experience for all of our women’s basketball players.”

Kielsmeier has been at Cleveland State since the 2018-19 campaign, leading the Vikings to six 20-win seasons, six postseason appearances, Horizon League Tournament (2023) and Regular Season (2023-24) championships, and the program’s first-ever postseason title (2021 WBI). During his tenure, the Vikings have claimed 11 major postseason honors and 28 All-League accolades.

Steph Curry returns to scrimmaging

SAN FRANCISCO — Coach Steve Kerr still believes Stephen Curry could return to the Golden State Warriors before the regular season ends after missing two months with a right knee injury.

The 38-year-old Curry won’t play in a home game Wednesday night against San Antonio and isn’t expected to return in the back-to-back Thursday versus Cleveland.

That would leave five games remaining in the regular season, and Curry is highly unlikely to play on consecutive nights for the Warriors, who are headed for the play-in tournament. He has missed the last 25 games since playing against Detroit on Jan. 30.

Kerr said Tuesday’s session was all drill work both offensively and defensively, “half-speed.”

After a 116-93 loss at Denver on Sunday night, the Warriors dropped to 13-23 this season without Curry — including 9-16 during this stretch with him sidelined by patellofemoral pain syndrome.

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