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Pierson at nationals
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. -- Former South Range High School standout Ian Pierson played a part in John Carroll University's best showing at the NCAA Division III Indoor Track and Field Championships over the weekend.
Pierson joined Garrett Clark, Caleb Correia and McDonald product Ethan Domitrovich on the distance medley team that placed sixth in the nation in 10 minutes, 0.27. seconds on Friday. The top eight in each event received All-America honors.
The Blue Streaks captured their first national titles in track as junior Alex Phillip won the 5,000 meters (14:10.02) on Friday and 3,000 meters (8:16.62.) on Saturday. Phillip, an Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary High School product, became just the second male in Division III history to win both the indoor 3k and the 5k.
With such a quick turnaround from the 5k, Phillip wouldn't be able to help the DMR squad duplicate its record-setting time from Boston earlier this season. John Carroll coach Kyle Basista sent out Pierson as the first runner.
"Ian is a major part of it," Basista said. "So many of the guys on the team joke that Ian is the team dad, which shows you how much they look up to him. You want him leading your relay.
Bush leaguers
NILES -- Former MLB second baseman and 1998 World Series champion Homer Bush will manage the Mahoning Valley Scrappers in the MLB Draft League during the 2022 season.
During his seven-year career in Major League Baseball, Bush recorded a .285 batting average with 176 runs scored and 363 extra-base hits, including 50 doubles, five triples and 11 home runs in 162 games between the New York Yankees (1997-98, 2004), Toronto Blue Jays (1999-02), and Florida Marlins (2002).
Mahoning Valley will also see some familiar faces returning to its coaching staff this season. Vic Buttler, the head coach of Cerritos College in Norwalk, California, will be returning as the Scrappers hitting coach. Ron Mahay, who pitched in the majors from 1995 to 2010, will be returning as head pitching coach with Craig Antush returning as assistant pitching coach.
Mahoning Valley is one of the six founding members of the MLB Draft League, a collegiate summer league. The Scrappers will open the season June 2 at Eastwood Field.
YSU hosts pair of games
YOUNGSTOWN -- The Youngstown State men's and women's basketball teams will host postseason tournament games tonight as part of a doubleheader at Beeghly Center.
The Youngstown State women will host Kent State at 5:30 p.m. in the first round of the Women's National Invitation Tournament. The Youngstown State men will host Morgan St. at 8 p.m. in the first round of The Basketball Classic.
Reserved tickets are $15 and general admission is $10. One ticket is good for both games. Tickets can be purchased at the YSU Athletic Ticket Office in Stambaugh Stadium or over the phone at (330) 941-1978 starting at 9 a.m. today.
Xavier beats Cleveland State in NIT
CINCINNATI (AP) -- Adam Kunkel scored 14 points to lead five Xavier players in double figures as the Musketeers narrowly defeated Cleveland State 72-68 in the first round of the NIT on Tuesday night.
Zach Freemantle had 13 points, 11 rebounds and four blocks for the Musketeers. Paul Scruggs and Jack Nunge each scored 12, and Colby Jones had 11 points.
D'Moi Hodge had 16 points for the Vikings (20-11). Tre Gomillion added 14 points and seven rebounds. Torrey Patton had 13 points and 11 rebounds.
Xavier will play the winner of tonight's Florida-Iona game in second-round action Saturday.
Texas Southern is first to advance
DAYTON (AP) -- Bryson Etienne scored 21 points and Texas Southern beat Texas A&M-Corpus Christi 76-67 on Tuesday night in the First Four of the NCAA Tournament.
The Tigers earned their third NCAA Tournament win in five seasons and will play top-seeded Kansas in the Midwest first round.
"I feel like anybody can go to any big school," Etienne said. "We're men just like them. We put our shoes on like them, pants, shirt. It's March Madness, so madness can happen."
Crestview hosts MVAC all-stars
COLUMBIANA -- The Scarlet Tier prevailed over the Gray Tier at the Mahoning Valley Athletic Conference All-Star Classic at Crestview High School on Monday.
Waterloo's Luke Simmons made five three-pointers for a game-high 26 points in leading the Scarlet Tier to a 98-88 win. Springfield's Beau Brungard and Alex Wharry scored 15 points apiece. Sebring's Noah Frederick added five points.
Liberty's James Davis and D'Andre Venters scored 19 and 15 points, respectively, for the Gray Tier.
In the girls game, the Gray Tier posted a 78-58 win as Garfield's duo of Jenna Smith and Sarah Seaman scored 22 and 16 points, respectively.
Jackson-Milton's Kylie Wilson led the Scarlet Tier with 15 points. Sebring's Devyn Reggi collected seven points and twin Delaney Reggi added two.
Eckleberry leads Shepherd University
GLENVILLE, W.Va. -- Former Oak Glen High School standout Jenna Eckleberry led Shepherd University to the NCAA Division II Atlantic Regional semifinals last weekend.
The Rams beat No. 20 Gannon (Pa.), 93-89, in double overtime Friday before falling to No. 3 Glenville State, 82-70, on Saturday at the Waco Center.
Shepherd played a single-season record 33 games this season, finishing at 25-8.
Eckleberry has a career record of 118-99 in eight season as Shepherd's head coach.
Glenville State beat No. 6 Charleston in the regional final, 89-58, Monday to advance to the elite eight. Glenville State will play West Texas A&M at 1 p.m. March 21.
Saros stops Penguins
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- Juuse Saros made 35 saves to lead the Nashville Predators to a 4-1 victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins on Tuesday night.
Mattias Ekholm, Tanner Jeannot, Eeli Tolvanen and Yakov Trenin scored for the Predators, who have won five of six. Roman Josi had three assists and Colton Sissons added two.
Jake Guentzel had the lone goal and Casey DeSmith stopped 21 shots for Pittsburgh, which won its previous two games.
Ekholm scored first with 1.5 seconds remaining in the opening period. From the high slot, Filip Forsberg found his Swedish countryman skating down the left side for a redirect into an open net.
Guentzel tied it 14 minutes into the second.
Sidney Crosby won a faceoff in the left circle back to Kris Letang, who found Guentzel open in the right circle. He beat Saros for his 29th goal.
Just 1:40 later, Nashville regained the lead when Jeannot tipped Josi's shot from the point shot past DeSmith.
Tolvanen converted on a breakaway 1:23 later after Letang and Mike Matheson nearly collided at the Nashville blue line, sending Tolvanen in all alone on DeSmith.
Trenin added an empty-net goal late.
NORRIS WORTHY
Josi entered with career highs in goals (17) and points (66). His three assists gave him a new career best in that category as well with 52.
Tuesday was his 18th multipoint game of the season. He also extended his point streak to seven games.
Josi won the Norris Trophy given to the NHL's top defenseman in 2020.
BIG ASSIST
With his assist on Guentzel's goal, Crosby moved into a tie with former Detroit Red Wings defenseman Nicklas Lidstrom for 22nd place on the NHL's career list with 878.
The assist also extended Crosby's point streak to 10 games. He's the third Penguins player this season with a streak of 10 or more games, joining Guentzel (13) and Letang (10).
STREAKS EXTENDED
Matt Duchene also picked up an assist on Ekholm's goal. Duchene extended his point streak to seven games (eight goals, six assists). … With his assist, Forsberg has a point in four straight games.
UP NEXT
Penguins: Visit the St. Louis Blues on Thursday.
Predators: Visit the Philadelphia Flyers on Thursday.