Archive for April, 2012

Kurt Hess threw two first-half touchdowns, and fellow quarterback Patrick Angle had 158 passing yards and a touchdown as the Red Team beat the White 28-14 in the 40th Annual Red-White Spring Game on Friday evening at Stambaugh Stadium.

The Red offense and White defense were comprised of first-string players, and the Red defense and White offense were the second-stringers. The first half featured standard timing rules, and the second half had a running clock.

Hess finished 11-for-19 for 154 yards and two touchdowns in the first half, and the junior-to-be spent the second half on the sideline. Angle was 7-for-14 for 94 yards in the first half for the White team, and he was 4-for-8 for 61 yards and a touchdown in the second half for the Red.

Angle and White quarterback Dante Nania connected with wide receiver Andrew Williams nine times for 135 yards, which was a game high. Jelani Berassa led Red with 82 yards and was one of four players to catch a touchdown pass. Carson Sharbaugh and Kevin Watts added scores through the air for the Red team, and Nate Adams had a touchdown reception for the White.

Jordan Thompson rushed for a game-high 67 yards and a touchdown on 14 carries, and Jamaine Cook had 64 yards on 12 carries for the Red. Torrian Pace headlined the White rushing attack with 51 yards and a score on 12 carries.

Pace impressed offensive coordinator, Shane Montgomery.

“Torrian has had a really good Spring for us”, remarked Montgomery.  “He is faster than he was last year.  We know we can’t keep Jamaine [Cook] on the field as much as we have the last two seasons.  With Adaris Bellamy recovering, Jordan [Thompson] and Torrian got some good reps, I feel real good about our depth at that position and at tight end.”

Travis Williams had 10 tackles, including seven in the first quarter, for the White defense.  Josh Garner and Jeremy Edwards played pretty well for the White defense.  That trio of defenders will play a big role in the defensive turnaround efforts targeted for this season.

With the running clock, Angle put the game out of reach on the Red team’s first drive of the fourth quarter. He connected with tight end Will Shaw for a 25-yard gain on third-and-19 to get the ball down to the White 22, and he found Watts for a six-yard score on the 13th play of the drive.

Shaw and the other two tight ends combined for 114 yards and two touchdowns on six catches.

Jimmy May, Jr. intercepted Angle in the second quarter for the game’s lone turnover. The Red team fumbled twice but recovered each. Brandon Neal and Julius Childs both had pass breakups for the White defense.

Kicker David Brown missed a field goal.  We already know that Coach Wolford likes the math sounds of seven being greater than three and if the Penguins will have a weakness in the red zone, it will be the kicking game.

The Penguins will have a light workout on Monday to finish up the spring practice season.

 The Youngstown Phantoms wrap up the regular season this weekend with back-to-back games against the Anderson Cup winners. The Phantoms (31-20-7, fourth East) face off with the United States Hockey League’s top team, the Green Bay Gamblers, this Friday and Saturday at the Covelli Centre in their final tune-up before the start of the Clark Cup Playoffs next Monday.

These games should prove interesting in the sense that Phantoms Coach Anthony Noreen has to make the decision of getting his healing troops back in sync, or resting guys to make a push in the playoffs which start Monday.  He may try to do a little of both by reassembling the lines and limiting the time of the top skaters.

One luxury Noreen does not have to worry about for the Green Bay series is whether or not to play Matt O’Connor.  The goaltending situation is a great problem to have when, on your roster,  you have not one, but two, goaltenders who have been awarded the highest individual honor at their position at some point this season.  Sean Romeo is the current honoree.

The Phantoms are locked into the No. 4 seed in the USHL Eastern Conference and cannot do anything to affect their playoff standings, but Coach Noreen said that won’t change his approach to the weekend. On the contrary, he said, the final games will be an opportunity to improve his team’s postseason preparation.

“The type of team we’re seeing this weekend (Green Bay) is the type of team we’re going to see in the playoffs – every round,” Noreen said. “We can use [this series] as a teaching tool – as experience.”

The first-year head coach said that the weekend series will also provide a chance for a number of players to get reintegrated into the lineup. Forwards Sam Anas (illness) and Jonathan Liau (illness) as well as defenseman Kevin Liss (lower-body injury) could all return to the ice against the Gamblers (46-9-3, first East) – a welcome boost for the Phantoms with the playoffs around the corner.

“Our big focus this weekend is going to be making sure we do things the right way and executing the way we want with the X’s and O’s,” he said. “We want to make sure that everybody stays sharp and we want to make sure when we’re on the ice, we’re not just going through the motions. That way, it’s not a switch we have to turn on when it comes playoff time.”

It’s Fan Appreciation Weekend at the Covelli Centre and the Phantoms will be holding a game-worn jersey auction while the Eagle Wear Team Shop will be offering a 25 percent discount on all merchandise as well as buy one, get one free deals Phantoms T-shirts.

The Mahoning Valley Scrappers announced today that former Cleveland Indians player and manager, Mike Hargrove, will be the keynote speaker at the New York-Penn League All-Star Luncheon presented by PNC Bank on August 14 at the Magnuson Grand Hotel in Warren, Ohio.

Hargrove played twelve seasons in the Major Leagues with the Cleveland Indians, Texas Rangers and San Diego Padres. After retiring, Hargrove went on to manage the Cleveland Indians, Baltimore Orioles and Seattle Mariners.

Luncheon tickets are available for $35 by contacting the Scrappers front office. All Star Game tickets are also available starting at just $10.

For more information, contact the Scrappers front office at (330) 505-0000.

This year, things could be different.  For starters, the 40th version of the Youngstown State football Red vs White game will be played Friday at 7:30 p.m. at Stambaugh Stadium. Admission is $5 and free for YSU students. The contest will be carried live on 570 WKBN.  It has a big game feel, which is exactly what Eric Wolford and his staff want.

Wolford will be in the tailgate lot visiting with fans starting at 6:15 p.m. Tailgate contest will also start at 6:15 p.m. and the judging will be held until 6:45. The winner will be presented a trophy by Coach Wolford at midfield prior to the start of the game.

“Whoever has hot garlic will probably win”, joked Wolford on the Rookery Radio interview he did with Zach Humphries and Gary Brode.  “This area is famous for all of the good food and this is when people will compete to see whose is best.  I heard we had sold 100 tailgate passes already, that’s awesome!”

Tailgate passes for the M-24 Parking Lot across the street from the Stadium are available for $15 to all Penguin fans. Fans who purchase a pass, must also buy two game tickets. The tailgating lot will open at 5 p.m. For more information, or to purchase a tailgate parking pass contact the Athletic Ticket Office at (330) 941-1978. There is no postgame tailgating. Additional parking will be available near the stadium for $5 in various university lots.

Courtesy of YSUSports.com, here is a complete schedule:

5 p.m. — Tailgate (M-24 Lot Only) and Parking Lots Open
6:15 p.m. — Judging for Best Tailgate Food Contest Begins
6:30 p.m. — Stambaugh Staium Gates Open
6:50 p.m. — Entire Team Takes Field
7:30 p.m. — Kickoff

“It’s going to be a lot of fun, these guys have worked really hard”, said Wolford.

When asked if his defense can truly be measured against an offense with so many returning weapons, Wolford said, “You know, I was an offensive guy for a long time and love when we score.  However, as a head coach, I have to pull for the defense to do well also.  There is a lot of competition and about six or seven positions are up for grabs, so I think you will see guys trying very hard, defensively, to make a good impression.”

The Youngstown State University basketball team is looking for a couple of bodies to fill the void left by the sudden departures of Cale Zuiker and Nate Perry.

The Penguins are heavily recruiting and Coach Jerry Slocum should announce one of those he is pursuing as a new Penguin as early as tomorrow.  Kamren Belin is reportedly very close to committing to Slocum’s program.  Belin will come as a junior college transfer who stands at 6′ 7″, averages around twelve points per game, and has a reputation as a shot-blocker.

Can you imagine Damian Eargle having a pal to swat shots with?

Jonathan Octeus is another name that has been heard swirling around campus.  No word on his commitment yet, but the Penguins are trying to land him and it is very possible that he may commit within the week.

Neither signing is official, but when they are and if they happen, you will get the details here.

With their 2-1 overtime win over the Indiana Ice Saturday night, the Youngstown Phantoms clinched home-ice advantage for the first round of the 2012 Clark Cup Playoffs. The Phantoms will host the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders in a best-of-three series starting with Game 1 on Monday, April 16.

Game 2 is scheduled Tuesday, April 17 and Game 3, if necessary, will be the following night. All games will be played at the Covelli Centre – start time is to be determined.

The Phantoms qualified for the Clark Cup Playoffs for the first time this season – their third in the United States Hockey League. Six teams from each conference qualify for the postseason with the top two seeds receiving first-round byes. After the best-of-three first-round, the playoffs revert to a best-of-five format with re-seeding after every round until the Clark Cup Finals.

Call the Phantoms Office at 330-747-PUCK (7825) for more information or to order tickets.  Ask for Bart Logan, tell him Paneech sent you.

8-Time World Champion Roy Jones Jr. in association with TNT Promotions Presents “Live Championship Boxing from The Harv at Mountaineer Casino, Racetrack & Resort” on Saturday April 28th.  A Double Feature is planned for the evening’s headliners when Youngstown, OH’s Jake “The Bull” Giuriceo (15W-0L-1D, 3KO) battles former WBC Latino Super Lightweight Champion Juan “Chago” Santiago (14W-8L-1D, 8KO) and power punching sensation Joel Diaz Jr. (8W-0L, 7KO) takes on Russian native Georgi Kevlishvili (10W-3L, 3KO).

Giuriceo is looking to fight his way into the world rankings when stepping in with the rugged Santiago, a proven contender with multiple national television appearances.  Diaz Jr. gained national recognition earlier this year after rising from the canvas to score a stunning TKO victory over previously undefeated Guy Robb televised on Showtime.

Kevlishvili is coming off of a Showtime appearance himself dropping a hard fought split decision to unbeaten Casey Ramos. Kevlishvili’s three losses were to opponents who had a combined record of 34W-0L at the time he fought them.

This blockbuster event will include a full night of exciting action and entertainment.  In store are matchups involving fighters such as IBC Continental Heavyweight Champion Jason “Iron Man” Bergman, Super Middleweight “Big Chief” Morgan Fitch, Light Heavyweight Jaque “Lights Out” Lutz, Welterweight Billy “The Boilermaker” Hutchinson, and the special introduction of Cruiserweight Josh “The Handsome Hitman” Himes, Beaver County, PA’s New Face of Boxing, and more.

Base ticket prices are VIP $100, Section A $50, Section B $35, and Bleachers $25. Tickets can be purchased at Mountaineer Casino’s Players Club in person or by calling the Players Club at 1-800-804-0468 Ext: 8297.

First bell is at 7:30 PM.  More details to follow in the upcoming days leading to the fight.

Campbell’s Chris Hazimihalis (8-0, 7 KO) is getting back into the ring.  This time the trip is doable for the local fans as Erie, PA will be the setting for his next fight.

Hazimihalis will headline the 27th annual Erie Boxing Classic.  The card is slated for Friday, April 27th at The Avalon Hotel in Erie.  First bell is set for 8 p.m.

Only one of Hazimihalis’ opponents, Damon Antoine, has survived the offensive onslaught.  Even Antoine landed on the canvas, only to get up and finish the fight on the wrong side of a unanimous decision.

Hazimihalis has been under the watchful eye of Emanuel Steward for the past year while training at the world-famous Kronk Gym in Detroit.  This particular fight is scheduled as a six-round lightweight bout.  No word on who the opponent will be as of this writing.

Michael Acri Promotions announced that tickets are on sale.  They can be purchased at Dee’s Cigar Store (1705 State St.), The Avalon Hotel (16 West 10^th St.) and the Ringside Restaurant (3202 Sterrettania Rd).

The undercard will feature the WBA No.10 ranked Yenifel Vicente , a junior featherweight fighter who is drawing some national attention.  Sgt. Sammy Vazquez, who served two tours in Iraq, will be making his professional debut as a junior middleweight in a contest slated for four rounds.

Details on match-ups and opponents will be announced very soon.  Check back for details.

The Youngstown State football program will host a contest for the “Best Tailgate Food” prior to the Annual Red-White Spring Game on Friday, April 13. The winner will be selected by a four-judge panel and will receive prizes to area restaurants as well as a pair of sideline passes to YSU’s season opener Pittsburgh in September.

The cost for a tailgate parking pass is $15 along with the purchase of two game tickets which are $5 each. All tailgate lot passes must be purchased by Thursday, April 12.

The M-24 Tailgate Lot will open at 5 p.m. on April 13 and remain open until 7:30, just prior to the start of the game. Setting for the game will be on a first-come first-served basis only in the West Stands.

The judges to select the best food will be Jeff Crystal of Oveture Restuarant, Carm Cassese, former YSU equipment manager and owner of Cassese’s MVR, Ronnie Quaranta from Caffee Capri and Leo DelGarbino of Leo’s Ristorante in Howland.

The winner will receive gift cards to all four establishments.

From YSU, the winner will receive two sideline passes and transportation to the season-opener at Pittsburgh. That game at Heinz Field is slated to kickoff at 6 p.m.

All regular-season policies apply to Spring Game tailgating. Superior Beverage will be on site with Dom’s Ice House.

For more information contact the YSU Athletic Ticket Office at (330) 941-1978.

After helping his team secure home-ice advantage for the first round of the playoffs over the weekend, Youngstown Phantoms goaltender Sean Romeo captured some accolades of his own on Monday. The Cary, N.C., native was named USHL’s Reebok Goaltender of the Week the league announced Monday evening.

This is the first time that Romeo, 17, has earned the league’s weekly honor and he is the ninth different Phantoms player to do so this season.   Playing time has been tough to come by because Matt O’Connor has played solidly between the pipes all season.

“He really deserves this,” Head Coach Anthony Noreen said. “Nobody works harder in practice than Sean. If he was sitting behind anyone else in the league he’d probably be seeing a lot more time but everyone got a glimpse of what we know he’s capable of this weekend.”

Romeo, making his 12th start of the season, turned away 38 of 39 shots (.974 save percentage) on Saturday to backstop the Phantoms (31-20-7, fourth East) to a 2-1 overtime victory over the Indiana Ice. The second-year netminder held the Ice, the USHL’s second highest scoring team averaging 3.66 goals for a game, to just a single goal in 60-plus minutes between the pipes.

“It felt good to clinch home-ice for the team and getting the win in overtime made it that much better,” Romeo said after the game. “My defense played really hard for me and they deserve a lot of the credit.”

The Phantoms wrap up the regular season this weekend when they take on the Green Bay Gamblers in a pair of games this Friday and Saturday at the Covelli Centre. The puck drops at 7:15 p.m. EST both nights.

It’s Fan Appreciation Weekend at the Covelli Centre and the Phantoms will be holding a game-worn jersey auction while the Eagle Wear Team Shop will be offering a 25 percent discount on all merchandise as well as buy one, get one free deals Phantoms T-shirts.