LEETONIA INDUCTEES REVEALED

LEETONIA — Leetonia’s Athletic Hall of Fame will induct six new members on the weekend of Sept. 4-5. New members are: Mark Eskay, Class of 1990 (athlete), Joseph Bruderly, Class of 2002 (athlete), Emily Goerig, Class of 2007 (athlete), Brandon Dattilio, Class of 2013 (athlete), Ian Sevenich, Class of 2013 (athlete) and Trent Ferry, Class of 2015 (athlete).

SCHRAMM KICKS FOR ZIPS

AKRON — University of Akron kicker Matthew Schramm, grandson of Bonnie and Harold Schramm of Salem, was named to Phil Steele’s All-Mid American Conference Fourth Team recently.

The redshirt sophomore is a graduate of Dublin Coffman High School and is the son of Matt and Jenny Schramm of Dublin.

SALEM NEEDS ANNOUNCER

SALEM — The Salem athletic department is in need of a varsity football announcer for the 2026 football season. Previous experience in radio, media or public speaking is preferred. Contest Salem athletic director Matt Freeman if interested.

WEST VIRGINIA LOSES IN SEMIS

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Owen Hull had a triple and two doubles among his four hits, Gavin Gallaher had four hits and four RBIs and North Carolina rolled past West Virginia 12-7 on Wednesday to advance to the College World Series finals for the first time since 2007.

The Tar Heels (53-12-1) went 3-0 in bracket play and will play for their first national championship in baseball starting Saturday in the best-of-three finals against Oklahoma or Georgia.

West Virginia (47-17) was 2-2 in its first CWS appearance with both losses to the Tar Heels.

A North Carolina offense that batted .217 with just four extra-base hits in its first two CWS games went into overdrive against the Mountaineers. Carolina was 8 for 10 with runners in scoring position, had five extra-base hits and amassed its most runs and hits (16) in nine NCAA Tournament games.

“We were joking before the game today, like, ‘Man, we need to have one of those games where we get 15 hits and score some runs,'” Tar Heels coach Scott Forbes said. “So thankfully that happened.”

Hull was a home run shy of becoming the second player in three days to hit for the cycle. Texas’ Adrian Rodriguez did it Monday against Alabama. Hull had an RBI double in the first inning, a single in the third, RBI double in the fourth and a triple in the sixth.

“The first thing that Coach told us in our pregame meeting out in the outfield was that we want our compete factor at the top,” Hull said.

MEDALIST COLLAPSES

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Olympic bronze medalist and world champion 1,500-meter runner Jenny Simpson collapsed after suffering a medical episode while pacing a mile group at an event in Raleigh on Tuesday night.

Simpson underwent CPR at the track and an automated external defibrillator was also used before taking her to the hospital. LetsRun.com was the first to report the medical emergency.

The 39-year-old Simpson was taking part in a community track event hosted by Sir Walter Running, with runners of all levels encouraged to attend. The event featured a chance to meet Simpson.

“We are incredibly grateful to the individuals who responded immediately, as well as EMS and the medical professionals who handled the situation with such care, urgency, and professionalism,” the “Sir Walter Running Team” wrote on Instagram on Wednesday.

The statement added that “Jenny is receiving excellent medical care, and our thoughts are with her and her family during this time.”

Simpson won the bronze medal in the 1,500 meters at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Games. She also won the 1,500 at the 2011 world championships, along with silver medals in 2013 and 2017.

CLARK SHOES COMING SOON

Caitlin Clark can check another “must-have” item off her list in her rise to one of the biggest stars in women’s basketball: a signature shoe.

Nike announced on Wednesday that it is releasing the “Caitlin 1” this fall.

“Coming to a logo near you,” the sportswear giant posted, a nod to Clark’s penchant for taking 3-pointers from near where the logos sit at midcourt in most WNBA arenas. The shoe, which was showcased in racer blue in the promo launch and features Clark’s initials on the tongue, will retail for $140.

The Indiana Fever guard had been hinting at the shoe’s long-anticipated arrival recently on social media posts.

Clark, who is averaging 20.4 points and a WNBA-leading 8.3 assists for Indiana, is the latest female baller to have a shoe designed in her honor.

Other WNBA stars to have their own shoe include four-time MVP A’ja Wilson of the Las Vegas Aces and New York Liberty guard Sabrina Ionescu.

WNBA GOES TO 50

NEW YORK (AP) — The WNBA is expanding its schedule to 50 games per team next season — the most in the league’s 30-year history.

The new collective bargaining agreement that was ratified earlier this year allows the league to play up to 50 games for the next two seasons. There can be up to 52 regular-season games in 2029 and for the rest of the CBA.

“Demand for the WNBA has never been greater, and expanding to a 50-game regular season reflects the extraordinary momentum we are seeing across the league,” WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert said in a statement.

“This move reflects our commitment to growing the game and creating more opportunities for fans to watch the best players in the world and experience the extraordinary talent and competition that define the WNBA.”

The league is playing 44 games again this season. Over the next few seasons the WNBA is adding three new teams through expansion. Cleveland is joining in 2028, Detroit in 2029 and Philadelphia in 2030. Connecticut is moving to Houston next year.