Browns made some productive moves, but they didn't take full advantage of their salary cap space to address some lingering problems. More Browns story links.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Cleveland Browns have concluded one day of their minicamp, with sessions remaining on Wednesday and Thursday.

Then, the Browns will be off until training camp opens in July. They'll play the first of their four exhibition games on Thursday, Aug. 8 against the St. Louis Rams, at Cleveland's newly-named FirstEnergy Stadium. The Browns open their regular season schedule on Sunday. Sept. 8 against the Miami Dolphins in Cleveland.

Check The Plain Dealer and cleveland.com for Browns stories, columns, photos, videos, etc.

Also, check cleveland.com's Browns History Database, which features Plain Dealer game stories on almost every regular season and playoff game in Browns history, from the team's inception in 1946 through last season. Also on cleveland.com is the current countdown of the Browns' 100 best all-time players.

The Browns had an active offseason, beginning with the firing of coach Pat Shurmur and the hiring of his replacement, Rob Chudzinski. Among the new assistants are offensive coordinator Norv Turner and defensive coordinator Ray Horton.

The Browns were busy in free agency, signing several NFL veterans. Their draft was rather uneventful after the selection of Louisiana State outside linebacker Barkevious Mingo with the sixth pick in the first round. Due to various trades and the forfeit of their second-rounder for the selection of wide receiver Josh Gordon in the 2012 supplemental draft, the Browns added just five players through the draft.

Jamison Hensley, for ESPN.com, gives each AFC North team a grade for its offseason player personnel moves. Hensley gives the Browns the second-best grade among the four teams, but with reservations, writing:

My grade is B-minus. The Browns made several positive moves -- signing defensive lineman Desmond Bryant and drafting Barkevious Mingo -- that will help this defense now and in the future. The trade for Davone Bess was also very smart and will pay dividends on third downs. My problem is the Browns ignoring the cornerback position, the team's most pressing need, in free agency when sitting on $30 million-plus in salary-cap room. A team with that much cap space shouldn't have such question marks at cornerback, inside linebacker and free safety. Perhaps all that cap room and those additional draft picks in 2014 will lead to a more productive offseason next year.

The Browns have improved themselves at receiver with the addition of Davone Bess -- acquired from the Miami Dolphins in an exchange of draft picks. (By Fred Greetham, Orange and Brown Report)

Questions and answers with outside linebackers coach Brian Baker. (By George M. Thomas, Akron Beacon Journal)

Wide receiver David Nelson -- beginning his Browns career after signing with them as a free agent -- and his brothers Daniel and Patrick are working to help orphans in Haiti. (By Steve Doerschuk, Canton Repository)

Their potential to rush the passer is the Browns' greatest improvement. (By Jamison Hensley, ESPN.com)

It may be premature to rank head coaches who have not yet directed a game, or even a training camp. But, here is where a Sporting News ranking of the 32 coaches places Rob Chudzinski.

A transcript of Rob Chudzinski's Tuesday news conference. (Akron Beacon Journal)

Trent Richardson isn't practicing at minicamp, but coach Rob Chudzinski expects the running back to be ready for training camp. (By Jeff Schudel, News-Herald and Lorain Morning Journal)

The Browns say Trent Richardson will be ready for training camp -- but whether he is or not, this story has some merit: Are the Browns learning why running backs aren't often among the first few draft picks? (By Chris Burke, Sports Illustrated)

The San Francisco 49ers add to their list of former Browns, reportedly signing safety/special teams player Ray Ventrone. (By Craig Lyndall, WaitingForNextYear)

The Indians are in need of left-handed relieve help because Nick Hagadone, Rich Hill and Scott Barnes haven't been effective.

View full sizeA 14-year big-league veteran, J.C. Romero could be asked to help the Indians' struggling bullpen from the left side. AP file 

NEW YORK -- Seen and heard around Yankee Stadium before Tuesday's second game of the Indians-Yankees series.

Clubhouse confidential: Veteran lefty J.C. Romero will take a physical with the Indians on Thursday. If he passes, he'll sign a minor-league deal and report to Class AAA Columbus.

Romero, 37, opted out of his minor-league deal with the Nationals earlier this week to become a free agent. He pitched briefly in Columbus last year before the Indians traded him to Baltimore.

The Indians are in need of left-handed relieve help because Nick Hagadone, Rich Hill and Scott Barnes haven't been effective. Hagadone and Hill are in the big leagues, while Barnes is at Class AAA Columbus.

Happy birthday: Yankees DH Travis Hafner's seventh-inning homer Monday against former teammate Justin Masterson helped celebrate his 36th birthday. It's the second time Hafner has homered on his birthday, the first coming in 2006 against the Angels when he played for the Tribe.

Hafner has hit four of his nine homers this year in the seventh inning or later.

Stat of the day: Carlos Santana's bases-loaded, two-run double Monday against the Yankees made him 3-for-5 with five RBI with the bases full this year. In his career, he's hitting .424 (14-for-33) with 32 RBI with the bases loaded.

Strongsville's Tom Ryan gets eagle, double-eagle in the same round.

View full sizeStrongsville resident Tom Ryan carded a rare eagle, double-eagle on the back nine Sunday at Elyria Country Club.Special to PD 

ELYRIA, Ohio -- It's hard to imagine having any greater feeling on a golf course than the utopia of a hole-in-one.

Tom Ryan gave it a shot, though.

Playing in a season-long match play event at Elyria Country Club on Sunday, Ryan scored a rare feat in cleats. He scored an eagle and a double-eagle in the same round. On the same side. During a competitive match.

"I'm still in shock," said Ryan, a community banking consultant from Strongsville, who was teamed with Mark Bates in a match against Pat Pauken and Fred Ode.

Dean Knuth, former senior director of handicaps and scoring at the USGA and a contributing editor at "Golf Digest," calculated the odds of a recreational golfer scoring a hole-in-one at 12,700-to-1. While there does not seem to be any definitive odds on scoring a double eagle -- let alone an eagle and a double eagle in the same round -- Knuth has put them at 1 million to one.

Ryan, a 9-handicapper who played at Notre Dame and has been a member at Elyria since 1987, began his two-hole assault on the 512-yard 12th, regarded as the second-toughest hole on the course. A drive of a little more than 300 yards left him 196 yards to the pin. He hit a 5-iron to 15 feet and made a downhill putt.

"I hit the drive real well, smoked it right down the middle," said Ryan, 47.

On the 508-yard 16th, ranked as the fourth-toughest, Ryan once again hit a big drive and said he had about 218 yards to an elevated green. This time he chose a 3-iron.

"I knew it was going to be close, but I couldn't see the pin because it was in the back," Ryan said.

The group could not find his ball after reaching the green. It wasn't until he looked in the hole did he realize what had happened.

"There wasn't a lot of cheering or celebrating," he said. "I mean, we were in a match and it was pretty intense."

He and Bates were 2-down before the eagle and went to 2-up after the double eagle, also called an albatross. They ended up winning, 1-up.

Ryan had similar success when in college. Playing in an outing at Willow Creek in 1985, Ryan aced the par-3 fourth hole and followed with a birdie on the next. As in many outings, a car was given away to anyone making a hole-in-one.

"It was a Chevy Chevette and I turned it down because I wanted to maintain my amateur status and I didn't want to break any NCAA rules," Ryan said. "So, I called the pro at our club for advice. His name was Wally Ziegler. He said, 'Did you say it was a Corvette?' I said, 'No, it's a Chevette.' He said, 'Turn it down.'"

John Hahn can't wait to tee it up in next week's U.S. Open.PD 

Back to work: The celebrating is over for John Hahn and it is time to deal with the business of playing in the 113th U.S. Open at Merion Golf Club outside Philadelphia July 13-16. Hahn, a former resident of Hudson and three-time Mid-American Conference player of the year for Kent State, qualified for the Open on Monday during 36-hole sectional qualifying at the Ritz-Carlton Members Golf Club in Bradenton, Fla.

He shot rounds of 65-71 -- highlighted by a 6-under 30 on his opening nine holes -- to earn one of the three spots available. As he did in the local qualifier, Hahn's father, also named John and a sales rep for Titleist, was his caddie.

"It is an incredible feeling," he said. "It made me realize how lucky I am and how blessed I am to have the support I have. Having my dad on the bag made it even more special. As for the playing, it kind of validates everything I've been doing over the last couple of years. I've worked hard to get to this point. I played so well and I was playing really well going into the event. We celebrated for 24 hours and now I'm getting back to work."

Hahn played Chippewa, Barrington, Lakewood, Windmill Lakes and The Country Club in the days leading up to the qualifier. He said he plans on arriving at Merion this Sunday and playing 18 holes on Monday and Tuesday and nine on Wednesday.

Welcome aboard: Hahn was not the only former Kent player to make it to Merion. While Tour pro Ben Curtis did not qualify out of the sectional in Columbus, Hahn's former teammate, Mackenzie Hughes, earned one of two spots at the Old Warson Country Club in St. Louis. Hughes, a Canadian, won in a playoff to join former Tour pro Jay Don Blake.

Name recognition: Some big names failed to advance out of one of the 11 qualifying spots nationwide. Kyle Stanley and Scott Stallings, who had challenged for the Memorial tournament title at Muirfield Village the day before, are part of that group. Other notables were Trevor Immelman, Fred Funk, Billy Mayfair, Mike Weir, Billy Andrade, Brad Faxon, Sean O'Hair, Jeff Overton, J.J. Henry, Robert Allenby, Stuart Appleby, Ben Crane, Jason Kokrak and Daniel Chopra.

It's good at Good Park: Entries are being accepted for the 76th annual Good Park Junior tournament, believed to be the longest-running uninterrupted junior event in the country. It is July 10-12 for juniors 18-and-under.

Competition will be held in 10 flights, which will include a championship flight. Youngsters 11 and 12, and 8 to 10 will compete in their own age groups. Entry fee of $60 entitles players to three days of golf, prizes, lunch each day and trophies for flight winners. Entry forms are available at golfakroncity.com. The deadline is July 2.

The Browns need more than Trent Richardson on the field. Unlike a year ago, they need him reasonably healthy.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Talking to myself about Trent Richardson...

Question: If someone told you that a rookie running back played in 15 of 16 games and was on the field for 73 percent of his team's snaps, would you say he's injury-prone?

Answer: I get it, you're talking about Trent Richardson.

Q: Who led the Browns in rushing, and was second in pass receptions.

A: I know, Richardson. He ran for 950 yards, 11 touchdowns. He caught 51 passes.

Q: How many games did he miss last season?

A: One.

Q: He was on the field for 73 percent of the snaps, but he's supposed be to injury-prone, right?

A: That's what some people are saying because Richardson missed the various May and June minicamps with what the Browns are calling a muscle strain in his leg.

Q: What about the stress fracture?

A: There's a report that the Browns fear the injury may become a stress fracture, but it's not that clear. The Browns aren't talking stress fractures. They are saying they expect him to be healthy for training camp in late July.

Q: What do you think about that?

A: Who knows?

Q: What kind of answer is that?

A: I'm not a doctor, but I do know that something was wrong with Richardson for most of last season. He carried the ball 267 times, only twice for more than 20 yards. He averaged 3.6 yards per carry, the lowest of any rusher in the NFL's top 20.

Q: The knee?

A: No matter what Richardson says, his knee was a problem. His first surgery was on Feb. 3, 2012. The second was Aug. 9, 2012. Both were "minor" arthroscopic procedures. But two in six months?

Q: But he played in the opener, right?

A: Yes, exactly eight weeks after the second surgery, and he did it without any real training camp, as he was recovering from the surgery.

Q: Didn't he break some ribs?

A: It was two, and that was at mid-season. Considering all that, it would hard to expect more than what Richardson delivered in 2012. No one should question his heart and pain tolerance, but...

Q: But what?

A: But his sharp changes of directions and bursts of speed were primarily a rumor. He gained tough inside yards in some games. He found the end zone 11 times against defenses stacked to stop him.

Q: So what's the problem?

A: The Browns need Richardson for more than just being on the field. They need a reasonably healthy Richardson, the player viewed by the previous front office as worthy of the No. 3 pick in the 2011 NFL draft. The Richardson of 2012 was a plodder, a grinder. He was Jamal Lewis in 2008, who gained 1,002 yards and averaged 3.6 yards per carry. To be fair, Richardson is a far superior receiver than Lewis.

Q: Are you writing off Richardson?

A: Of course not, I just want to see some semblance of the Richardson who rushed for 1,679 yards and 21 touchdowns at Alabama in 2011 -- both school records.

Q: Do the Browns think they'll see that Richardson?

A: They hope so. But remember, this front office didn't draft him. This front office values durability. It's the main reason they didn't draft Alabama defensive back Dee Milliner. He didn't miss any games, but had five surgeries during his three years at Alabama.

Q: What are you saying?

A: I'm saying they traded for Dion Lewis, a third-down back who was with the Eagles. They like his speed and pass-catching ability. One Browns operative told me, "He's short (5-6), but not small. He's strong. He ran for 2,800 yards in two years at Pitt." They brought back veteran Brandon Jackson.

Q: And they still have Montario Hardesty and Chris Ogbonnaya, right?

A: Hardesty is injury-prone. He missed all of 2010 with knee surgery, and was inactive for six games in 2011. He was relatively healthy last season. But I sense the Browns want a lot of depth at running back, because of what has happened to Richardson and Hardesty. So they have five backs with NFL experience.

Q: So the Browns are worried about Richardson?

A: It makes sense for the Browns to take no chances in minicamps. Games are not won in May and June when pro teams have what mostly amounts to a bunch of millionaires playing touch football while wearing helmets. Richardson can pick up the basics of Norv Turner's new offense without running around on the field in the spring.

Q: What kind of answer is that?

A: No matter what they say, they are concerned. To take a significant step forward in 2013, they need a healthy Richardson. But they also know they must be prepared in case he does get hurt again. So who knows, they may even bring in another running back at some point. That wouldn't shock me.

The swift Renfro was a big-play pass receiver for some of the Browns' greatest teams.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- A countdown of the top 100 players in Cleveland
Browns history. Players must have spent at least four seasons with the
Browns. The ranking is based only on players' careers with the Browns.

No. 33, Ray Renfro, wide receiver/running back, 1952-63

Ray Renfro was one of the NFL's fastest players more than a half-century ago.

He was no less speedy than most of today's swiftest players.

Renfro was not only a first-team All-America running back at North Texas. He was a track star, too, running the 100-yard dash in 9.5 seconds.

The Browns got quite a bargain in the 1952 draft, landing Renfro with a fourth-round pick, the 47th overall selection.

Renfro's statistics don't indicate the impact he made on the Browns. He was like the great 3-point shooter who doesn't get the ball all that often, but opens up big-play possibilities for his teammates by his mere presence on the court.

In a sense, Renfro was a forerunner to Hall of Fame wide receiver Paul Warfield, who began his Browns and NFL career the year (1964) after Renfro retired. Both played on teams -- including Warfield's years with the Miami Dolphins -- that featured good-to-great quarterbacks. Yet, those teams customarily didn't throw the football as often as others. For instance, in Renfro's first three years as a regular (1953-55), legendary Browns quarterback Otto Graham ranked eighth twice and 10th once in pass attempts in the 12-team league.

Renfro played little in his first and final seasons. In the 10 years between, he averaged 2.32 pass catches a game, comparable to Warfield's 2.72. Renfro's 19.6 yards per reception for his career ranks 15th among the all-time career leaders. Warfield's 20.1 average is ninth-best.

In fact, Renfro, just after his retirement, tutored Warfield during the Browns 1964 training camp.

The rookie Warfield, Cleveland's first draft pick, had played defensive back and running back for Ohio State, where he was also a track star. In coach Woody Hayes' famed "three-yards-and-a-cloud-of-dust" offense, Warfield didn't learn much about the passing game.

Renfro, though, worked with Warfield on route-running and various fundamentals and also schooled the youngster on downfield blocking, a required skill for Browns receivers who helped pave the way for Jim Brown.

Warfield had a banner rookie season, catching 52 passes for 920 yards and nine touchdowns over the 14-game regular season schedule for the Browns, who went on to win the championship with the 27-0 trouncing of the Baltimore Colts.

Renfro was an assistant coach for three teams from 1965-72, including the wide receivers coach for the 1971 season Super Bowl champion Dallas Cowboys. His son, Mike, caught 323 passes in a 10-season (1978-87) career with the Houston Oilers and Cowboys.

Ray Renfro emerged as a Browns playmaker as both a receiver and running back in 1953. During the 12-game regular season, he caught 39 passes for 722 yards and four touchdowns, and ran for 352 yards and four touchdowns in 60 carries -- a superb 5.8-yard rushing average.

A knee injury sidelined Renfro for five games in 1954, and he was still bothered by it as the Browns approached the championship game against the Detroit Lions. Renfro not only played in the game, though, but excelled, catching five Graham passes for 94 yards, including touchdowns of 35 and 31 yards, in the Browns' 56-10 rout of the Lions at Cleveland Stadium.

Renfro led the NFL with 20.8 yards per catch in 1955. He scored on a 35-yard pass from Graham, who was playing his final game, during the Browns' 38-14 NFL title game win over the Rams in Los Angeles.

By 1956, Renfro was playing only at wide receiver, running from scrimmage only on an occasional end-around.

Renfro made Pro Bowl teams in 1953, 1957 and 1960. He earned second-team all-NFL recognition in 1955 and 1959.

Renfro finished with 281 receptions for 5,508 yards and 50 touchdowns in regular season play. Teams played 12-game schedules until the last three years of his career, when the slates were expanded to 14 games. As a ball-carrier, Renfro totaled 682 yards on 137 attempts for a 5.0-yard average and four touchdowns. He also threw a 36-yard touchdown pass.

Coach Paul Brown occasionally used Renfro on special teams during his early seasons. In the Browns' 34-16 win over the visiting Pittsburgh Steelers on Nov. 8, 1953, Renfro blocked a field goal try, recovered the football and sprinted 79 yards for a touchdown.

Renfro played in five championship games, including the 1954 and 1955 Browns' wins, and losses in 1952, 1953 and 1957. He caught 12 passes for 178 yards and three touchdowns and gained 47 yards in 11 carries.

Renfro died at age 67 on Aug. 4, 1997.

(The Browns' all-time top 100 players so far)

Video: From the 1961 Browns highlights film, narrated by announcers Jim Graner and Ken Coleman. About 3:50 in, Ray Renfro (26) catches a 12-yard touchdown pass from Milt Plum during the Browns' 21-10 win over the Cardinals on Oct. 29 in St. Louis; about 6:10 in, Renfro scores on a 37-yard pass from Jim Brown (who threw 12 passes during his career) in Cleveland's 17-6 win over the Redskins on Nov. 12 in Washington:

A brief golf gift guide for Father's Day, which is June 16.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- We take a break from weekly product reviews to offer a gift guide for Father's Day, which is June 16. All the suggested gifts are under $50 and our goal was to suggest a few unique ideas as well. We trust dad doesn't need more golf balls that tell him he's the "#1 DAD" or yet another collared shirt.

"Great Moments of the U.S. Open" book

The draw: If dad is a golf history buff in general, and a fan of the U.S. Open in particular, this book is for him. It chronicles 29 of the most significant Opens in history, from Harry Vardon's victory in 1900 to Rory McIlroy's stunning performance in 2011 at Congressional. The book was produced by the USGA, with a forward by four-time winner Jack Nicklaus, stories by USGA historians Robert Williams and Michael Trostel and pictures by senior staff photographer John Mummert. It also contains photos of artifacts from the USGA museum, such as the Shakespeare ball and sand wedge used by Gary Player when he won in 1965 and donated all his winnings to charity.

The scorecard: Priced at $35, it is available at bookstores and online sites such as amazon.com.

-- Tim Rogers

• Shotgun Start: Alice Cooper Q&A | Golf Insider | Nicklaus honored

ProActive "Caddyshack" head cover

The draw: Here's betting dear old dad is a fan of the movie "Caddyshack." So, here's a chance to honor the fury co-star that prompted groundskeeper Carl Spackler (Bill Murray) to utter, "In the immortal words of Jean Paul Sartre, 'Au revoir, gopher.'"

The scorecard: Fits drivers up to 460 cc. We found this at Foxy Golf's location in Canton (4471 Belden Village St. NW, 330-492-3690) for $15.99.

-- Tim Rogers

Tee Time Golf Pass

The draw: Is there a better gift than actual golf? This booklet features discounts to over 110 courses in Northeast Ohio, with 92 offering a free play special in which dad pays only the cart fee. Dad not retired yet? That's not an issue, as 88 percent of the courses offer weekend discounts. The book includes coupons for seniors as well. The folks at Tee Time have put together a special Father's Day offer for readers of The Plain Dealer and cleveland.com with the following free gifts with the purchase of a coupon book: Tee Time Golf Pass hat, $25 gift card to Restaurant.com, eco golf tees and a Tee Time Golf Pass can koozie. Supplies are limited and you need to use the promo code "CPD13" when ordering online or by phone.

The scorecard: The discount book costs $45 and can be purchased online (TeeTimeGolfPass.com) or by phone (800-444-9203).

-- Staff reports

WGC-Bridgestone Invitational tickets

The draw: Treat dad to a day out together watching the world's best golfers compete at Firestone's famed South Course. Outside of the four majors, it's difficult to find a better field than the one that assembled annually in Akron.

The scorecard: Wednesday's practice round tickets are $20 each. If your budget is larger consider buying a daily ticket for one round for you and dad for $35 apiece. Prices go up when bought at the gate. Tickets can be purchased online (worldgolfchampionships.com) or by phone (330-644-2299).

-- Staff reports

Line-M-Up Pro putting aid

The draw: If there's such a thing as a Father's Day stocking stuffer, this would be it. A putt positioning tool by GreenKeepers that doesn't guarantee you'll make the money putt but helps you get it started on the right line.

The scorecard: Available for $7.99 at Golf Galaxy (various locations, golfgalaxy.com) and other golf stores.

-- Bud Shaw

Callaway Swing-Easy

The draw: The Swing-Easy addresses a universal flaw found in many amateur golfers, including the best dads out there: the propensity for the arms to get away from the body in the backswing or downswing. The Swing-Easy band keeps the player connected throughout the swing and is much cheaper and easier for dad to use than the old swing jackets.

The scorecard: I saw it on the shelves at Golf Galaxy (various locations, golfgalaxy.com) for $19.99.

-- Bud Shaw

SKLZ Smash Bag

The draw: This will help dad let out a little steam while improving his game at the same time. There are a thousand different swings in the world, but the best players look pretty much the same at impact: hands leading a forward-leaning shaft. Using the impact bag is a good year-round drill that allows players to replicate proper ball strike.

The scorecard: Available at golf merchandise stores and web sites and retails at approximately $24.99.

-- Bud Shaw

Browns receiver David Nelson is trying to lay foundations with a new team and charitable endeavor.

BEREA, Ohio -- David Nelson is an athlete trying to make two homes -- one for himself in Cleveland, the other for children in an impoverished Caribbean nation.

Each is a work in progress and both deal with overcoming adversity. Of course, the Browns' receiver would be the first to admit the torn knee ligament he’s rehabbing is trivial compared to the suffering he’s witnessed in Haiti, a country still reeling from a devastating 2010 earthquake that killed more than 200,000 of its people.

Along with his two brothers, the 26-year old Nelson has founded an orphan care ministry to, in his own words: “give them a home and help them find a purpose in life ... (because) they feel like they don’t have an identity.”

In Cleveland, he’s hoping to establish a new one with the Browns, who signed him to a one-year deal in April, while convincing players and coaches he’s as committed to them as his off-the-field causes.

As the team's mandatory three-day minicamp opened Tuesday, Nelson vowed to be healthy for the start of training camp on July 26, defended his decision to rehab away from the team and spoke passionately of getting off the sidelines both in a literal and metaphorical sense.

He has missed virtually all the workouts and watched the club acquire veteran slot receiver Davone Bess prior to the draft. Although he’s been in constant communication with coaches and in possession of a playbook and practice videos, Nelson returns to Berea with plenty of competition and no guarantees from Rob Chudzinski.

“I’ve been trying to push the envelop a little bit, come out here (to the practice field) and do a little bit,” Nelson said. “But they didn’t want to rush it, they didn’t want to push it.”

A year ago, the tall, slender possession receiver was a dependable target for the Buffalo Bills, a 2010 undrafted free agent who seemed to catch every pass and grab hold of each opportunity. But a season-ending, anterior cruciate ligament tear in the 2012 opener against the New York Jets made him expendable in the eyes of the rebuilding Bills.

He came to Cleveland shortly after signing, met with teammates and attended a few workouts. Nelson opted, however, to spend much of his rehab in metro Dallas, working with Sheri Walters, the head physical therapist for Athletes’ Performance. Their association dates to their days at the University of Florida, where Nelson won two BCS titles with Tim Tebow.

Some might take issue with him remaining in Texas instead of acclimating himself to new teammates and a new offense. He explained his rationale to Browns players, Nelson said, and also told them of his most recent trip to Haiti a few weeks ago to study potential structures for the orphanage.

“I didn't want them to feel like I was going on a vacation and just was out there doing that,” he said. “The thing is, I've been training since Sept. 23, (2012).”

Chudzinski sounds satisfied with the progress of Nelson, who had his right knee surgically repaired by renowned orthopedist Dr. James Andrews.

“He had a great rehab with (Walters) somebody he is real familiar and comfortable with so we got that done,” Chudzinski said. “He is a sharp guy. He has picked things up. He had an iPad with him so he has the playbook with him. He’s been working on that in the meantime.”

The Browns hope Nelson returns to the form that enabled him to catch 94 passes for 1,042 yards and eight touchdowns in two-plus seasons with the Bills. At 6-5, 214 pounds, Nelson is a big receiver with reliable hands. Targeted 141 times, he’s dropped just six balls in his pro career, according to ProFootballFocus.com.

Nelson is excited to join an offense coordinated by Norv Turner, whom he says will have receivers aligned in different positions.

“The guys are motioning, that’s the way Norv likes to run his offense -- to keep people guessing,” Nelson said. “You never know where somebody’s going to be at any given time.”

That’s also been true of Nelson for the past two years since taking a mission trip to Haiti. A deeply spiritual man, the Dallas native had written checks and donated time for charitable causes in the past. But he was spurred to action after observing the living conditions and seeing children roaming the streets without shelter or parents. Nelson ingested some anti- malaria tablets and set to work with his brothers Daniel and Patrick.

The plan is to raise money to build a “family-style” orphanage that features eight cottages, housing six to eight kids per unit. Every unit will include a chaperone, or “house mom.”

“We want each kid to feel like he’s part of a family and not just a number,” said Nelson about a nation that has an estimated 300,000 homeless children. “Each kid is going to be loved and told they’re special.”

The Nelsons are part of a Christian outreach program called “i'mME.’

“I wanted to get my hands dirty and actually do something,” Nelson added. “You can watch all you want to and send money and hope for the best, but I got tired of doing that and I wanted to be on the front line and go and do something and be a difference for these kids. Once you meet these kids you are never the same. They have touched my heart in a way where I can’t sit back and hear about them.”

Nelson said he continued his rehab in Haiti, where some local kids performed the exercises alongside him. One of his brothers plans to remain in the Caribbean to oversee the project, he said, while Nelson prepares for the upcoming season.

The receiver has had ongoing chats with Chudzinski, he said, assuring the coach his humanitarian efforts won’t interfere with running the right routes for Brandon Weeden.

“I knew a lot of people thought my mind was in different places and wandering different places,” Nelson said. “I wanted him to know I’m 100 percent focused on football and 100 percent committed to this football team.”

Laying foundations worlds apart isn’t easy, but Nelson wants to prove he’s ready for the challenge.

Terry Francona said shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera could miss three to four weeks with a strained right quadriceps.

Shortstop Juan Diaz has been recalled from Class AAA Columbus following Asdrubal Cabrera's right quad injury. Chuck Crow, The Plain Dealer 

NEW YORK -- Terry Francona said there's no way to tell exactly how long the Indians will be without shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera, who strained his right quadriceps muscle running to first base Monday night at Yankee Stadium.

"It could be three to four weeks, but again that's a guess [by the medical staff]," said Francona before Tuesday night's game against the Yankees. "But in all fairness to Cabby, it heals when it heals.

"It's hard to speculate on the time because it's not fair to Cabby. We don't know. It's obviously a DL situation, but after that it's just depends on how quickly he heals."

The Indians recalled shortstop Juan Diaz from Class AAA Columbus on Tuesday to fill a backup role behind Mike Aviles, who has assumed the starting job. Diaz will wear No. 35.

Cabrera strained the quad trying to beat out a grounder to second in the fifth inning of the Indians' 7-4 loss to the Yankees. The quad had been bothering Cabrera for quite sometime, but he felt it was getting better.

Francona is confident Aviles can replace Cabrera on an everyday basis.

• McAllister to miss start | Tribe physical for P Romero

"That's the good side of this," he said. "Not only is Aviles talented enough to do it, but he's worked hard enough to do it. Some guys can do it, but they're not ready to play every day.

"Mike has worked so hard that we won't miss a beat."

Aviles started at shortstop Tuesday. Left fielder Michael Brantley replaced Cabrera in the No.3 spot in the lineup.

The Indians acquired Aviles and catcher Yan Gomes from Toronto in November for right-hander Esmil Rogers. It was the first of many moves by GM Chris Antonetti to make the Indians a deeper club.

"I've said this many time before, but Chris aced the winter in so many aspects," said Francona. "The guys he got are baseball players and I can't tell you how much more fun that makes my job."

Second time around: After making his big-league debut last year, Diaz said he feels much more confident this trip to the big leagues.

"I was nervous last year, but I feel much more comfortable now," said Diaz.

The 6-4 Diaz was hitting just .211 (40-for-190) with eight doubles, four homers and 18 RBI in 52 games at Columbus. The switch-hitter, however, impressed Francona and the coaching staff in spring training with his offense and defense.

Diaz said people always remark about how tall he is to be a shortstop, but he's never had trouble making the plays.

"At every level I've always played shortstop," said Diaz. "My cousin is [veteran MLB infielder] Neifi Perez and he helped me."

The Indians could have recalled Lonnie Chisenhall or Cord Phelps, but they can't play shortstop on a regular basis.

Finally: The Indians are working on raising lefty Rich Hill's arm slot. They think he's throwing from a lower release point than he did at the start of the season and it's causing him to get hit. ... Former Tribe catcher Tony Pena, now the Yankees' bench coach, turned 56 Tuesday.

Mark Teixeira stung the Indians for another homer Tuesday night as the Yankees scored four runs in the third off Scott Kazmir and made them stand up for a 4-3 victory.

NEW YORK -- Drew Stubbs has not impressed a whole lot of people with his hitting this season, but Tuesday night at Yankee Stadium he was pretty much the whole show for the Indians as he prevented them from -- take your choice -- being no-hit or shutout.

In the Indians' 4-3 loss to the Yankees, he had their only hit against David Phelps through six innings. In the seventh, he accounted for their only runs with a three-run homer off Joba Chamberlain.

The last time Phelps faced the Indians, he deserved better than he received. Tuesday night things went a whole lot better for him.

Phelps pitched six scoreless innings against the slumping Indians, who have lost 10 of their past 14 games. In six games against the Yankees this season, they have been outscored, 43-15.

At Progressive Field on May 13, Phelps allowed a homer to Jason Kipnis in the first inning and nothing more until he was replaced with two out in the seventh. The problem was Justin Masterson was pitching for the Indians and he threw a four-hit shutout for a 1-0 victory.

In six meetings with the Yankees this year, it's the Indians' lone victory.

• Indians-Yankees boxscore | Scoreboard | Standings

"We haven't been playing our best baseball," said first baseman Nick Swisher. "We need to take a good look in the mirror and turn things around. We don't want to fall into the ways of the past. This is a new year and we have to understand that."

Tuesday night, Phelps (4-3, 4.15 ERA) allowed one hit, walked four and struck out seven. He threw 102 pitches, 64 for strikes.

Had Stubbs not beat out an infield single in the third -- it should have been an out but the fleet Stubbs simply out ran shortstop Jayson Nix's throw to first -- Phelps would have been working on a no-hitter.

The Yankees, on the other hand, bunched their hits well against Scott Kazmir. In particular, Mark Teixeira continued to shake off the rust from his long stay on the disabled list. After hitting a grand slam off Masterson in Monday's 7-4 victory, Teixeira scaled back some and settled for a three-run homer off Kazmir in the third.

Lyle Overbay and Chris Stewart, the Nos. 8 and 9 hitters, opened the third with a double and single, respectively. Stewart was caught in a rundown as he took too big a turn around first and Overbay stopped at third.

Ichiro Suzuki slapped a single to left to make it 1-0. Nix followed with a double to send Suzuki to third. Teixeira yanked a 3-1 pitch just inside the left field foul pole for a 4-0 lead.

Teixeira is 9-for-17 (.530) lifetime against Kazmir.

"Kazmir hung a change-up to the wrong guy," said manager Terry Francona. "It spread the game out. That's what the Yankees do."

Kazmir (3-3, 5.24) rebounded nicely to give the Tribe three more scoreless innings. In six innings, he allowed four runs on seven hits. Kazmir, making just his second appearance at Yankee Stadium, struck out seven and walked two.

"If I could have that slider to Ichiro and the change-up to Teixeira back, that would have made all the difference in the world," said Kazmir.

Chamberlain started the seventh and issued a leadoff walk to Carlos Santana. He retired the next two hitters, but Mike Aviles singled sharply to center for just the second hit of the night for the Indians.

Stubbs, in a 6-for-48 skid entering the game, hit Chamberlain's 1-1 pitch over the right-field wall to make it 4-3. It was his fourth homer of the season and his first since May 17.

The Indians missed a great chance in the eighth to tie or take the lead when Swisher lined into a double play at second after Kipnis walked and Michael Brantley singled to start the inning against David Robertson.

"Swish leaned all over the pitch," said Francona, "but it was right at somebody. I'll take that swing every time."

It proved to be the Tribe's last chance as Mariano Rivera, baseball's all-time saves leader, worked the ninth for his 21st save.

Aviles made the last out of the game on a fly ball to right, but he was upset at plate umpire Tony Randazzo, who said he fouled off a pitch early in the count. Aviles contended he checked his swing.

After the game, Aviles continued to argue and was ejected.

"We're down one, facing the best closer in the history of the game," said Francona. "He doesn't need any help. You can get emotional sometimes and I just thought at that point Tony should have kept walking or either apologized to Mike, but everybody makes mistakes ..."

Coach Rob Chudzinski says free agent wide receiver David Nelson is on schedule.

 BEREA, Ohio -- Coach Rob Chudzinski's press conference transcript provided by the Cleveland Browns.

Ryan Braun and Alex Rodriguez are the most prominent of 20-plus players who could face season-ending suspensions.

Phil Rogers

Chicago Tribune

CHICAGO -- The 2013 baseball season could be unlike any in history, with an unprecedented wave of suspensions possible by the All-Star break in the mushrooming Biogenesis scandal.

Ryan Braun, the 2011 National League MVP who beat the rap after one positive test for performance-enhancing drugs, and Alex Rodriguez are the most prominent of 20-plus players who could face season-ending suspensions if Commissioner Bud Selig and his enforcers get their way.

They appear to have already managed one feat few thought they could, flipping Tony Bosch, the central figure at the Miami anti-aging clinic tied to PED use by major leaguers.

ESPN's "Outside the Lines" is reporting Bosch has been persuaded to cooperate with Major League Baseball's investigation, corroborating a series of records MLB has had for about a month. ESPN also is reporting MLB will seek unprecedented 100-game suspensions for the players, claiming that first and second offenses were committed when players obtained banned substances from the clinic and subsequently lied to MLB investigators about their involvement.

Players tied to the Biogenesis scandal include the following:

• Braun, who at 29 is at the height of his career and owed about $133 million from the Brewers through 2020.

• Rodriguez, 37, who has been sidelined all season after hip surgery and previously acknowledged a positive test in 2003, when testing was supposed to be anonymous. He has 647 career home runs, 2,901 hits and is owed about $105 million from the Yankees through 2017. The team might try to void his contract if he is suspended.

• Nelson Cruz, the slugging right fielder for the Rangers, one of baseball's best teams.

• Jhonny Peralta, the Tigers shortstop enjoying a renaissance season.

• Everth Cabrera, the 26-year-old Padres shortstop who is one of the NL's best young players.

• Bartolo Colon, the 2005 American League Cy Young Award winner, who is 6-2 for the Athletics.

• Melky Cabrera, the MVP of the 2012 All-Star Game. He signed a two-year contract with the Blue Jays after a positive test ended his tenure with the Giants, who won the World Series without him.

• Yankees second baseman Robinson Cano, who is on track to be the most widely pursued free agent next season. He has been linked only indirectly through Sonia Cruz, a spokeswoman for his foundation.

• Nationals left-hander Gio Gonzalez. He was included in the Biogenesis records first reported by the Miami New Times but reportedly has cooperated with MLB investigators, demonstrating he purchased only legal substances from the clinic.

The MLB Players Association will find itself in an interesting position if the suspensions come down. It could appeal their validity because of a lack of positive tests -- the drug-testing agreement allows for non-analytical positives, terminology for an anti-doping violation without a positive test -- and it almost certainly would appeal the length of a 100-game suspension. But baseball's rank-and-file players do not appear sympathetic to Braun, Rodriguez and the others involved.

Some previously unnamed players could find themselves dragged into the mess through Bosch's testimony. In his only interview since the scandal broke Jan. 31, Bosch denied ever having dealt PEDs and banned substances, refuting the claims of former clinic workers and his connection to documents.

But Bosch apparently has decided cooperating with MLB is his best option to limit personal damage from the investigation. ESPN reported MLB will attempt to limit his criminal exposure from the case, drop a lawsuit it had filed against Bosch and indemnify him for lawsuits he could face as the result of his cooperation.

Braun has been consistent with his strong denials about steroid use. He successfully blamed the positive test during a 2011 playoff series against the Diamondbacks on the handling of the specimen, although officials with the World Anti-Doping Agency have said nothing done to the sample affected its integrity. Most recently Braun explained records showing he paid Bosch by saying his lawyers consulted with Bosch during their appeal in 2012.

ESPN has reported Bosch would travel to Rodriguez's Miami home to give him injections. If Bosch is talking now, any player who has asked him for help beating MLB's steroid policies will have a new problem in upcoming weeks -- sleepless nights.

Lonnie Chisenhall has a homer and four RBI as Columbus beats Toledo.

Class AAA: Columbus 11, Toledo 8 3B Lonnie Chisenhall (.382) went 2-for-2 with a homer and four RBI to lead the Clippers past the visiting Mud Hens. Chisenhall, who has six home runs and 18 RBI in 17 games with Columbus, also walked three times and scored two runs. Columbus 2B Cord Phelps (.261) had three hits, including a triple, and five RBI. Danny Salazar started for the Clippers and got shelled for five runs on seven hits in 4 innings. He walked two and struck out four.

Class AA: Akron 3, New Hampshire 2 (12) 1B Jesus Aguilar (.249) singled in 2B Jose Ramirez (.259) with two outs in the bottom of the 12th inning and the Aeros beat the Fisher Cats. Aeros DH Jake Lowery (.341) went 3-for 5 with a home run -- his first of the season. Jose Flores (5-1, 1.53) got the win with two scoreless innings of relief. Will Roberts started for Akron and gave up two runs on five hits in six innings.

Class A Advanced: Wilmington 3, Carolina 1 The host Blue Rocks scored twice in the eighth off Mudcats reliever J.D. Reichenbach (3-3, 3.21) and beat Carolina. Michael Peoples started for Carolina and allowed one run on four hits in 61/3 innings. Mudcats 2B Joe Wendle (.317) went 1-for-3 with an RBI.

Class A: Lake County The Captains were off Tuesday.

Independent: Traverse City 12, Lake Erie 5 The host Beach Bums scored six times in the first inning and beat the Crushers.

Richardson, who said he didn't require an MRI, rode an exercise bike with gusto on Tuesday and worked with ropes off to the side with a trainer. Watch video

BEREA, Ohio -- Trent Richardson is sitting out the mandatory minicamp with his strained leg muscle as expected, but coach Rob Chudzinski said his featured back will be ready to go by the start of training camp July 26th.

"Yes, that's my expectation," Chudzinski said Tuesday after the first practice of three day-minicamp. "We held Trent and we'll hold him for the rest of minicamp as more of a precautionary measure."

Richardson suffered the lower right leg muscle strain in organized team activities two weeks ago when a teammate fell on his shin. But Chudzinski disputed a report on espncleveland.com that Richardson will be out until August and that the Browns fear his injury could develop into a stress fracture.

"I don't know any of the medical things about what 'woulda, coulda,'" Chudzinski said. "He's got a [muscle] strain right now so we don't want it to get any worse than a strain."

A Browns public relations assistant declined to allow Richardson to comment, saying Richardson had to see the trainer. He said Richardson will talk on Wednesday.

Chudzinski reiterated that Richardson could've practiced if necessary, but "we're just holding him. We're just being real precautionary about it [so] he has a full summer to get ready for the season."

The veterans will disperse after minicamp ends Thursday and report for camp on July 25. The first full practice is a day later.

Chudzinski rejected the notion that the Browns might be concerned about Richardson's weight. He is down about five pounds to 225, the club's prescribed weight for him this off-season. He's been lifting weights since the leg injury.

"No, not [concerned] at all," Chudzinski said.

Richardson, who said he didn't require an MRI, rode an exercise bike with gusto on Tuesday and worked with ropes off to the side with a trainer. He's scheduled to begin a running program later this month at his Pensacola, Fla. home and will check in from time to time with his surgeon, Dr. James Andrews, who has a clinic there.

But Chudzinski is confident Richardson will be able to make up what he's missed these past few weeks.

"The key is that he needs to stay into it mentally," said Chudzinski. "He's getting mental reps and doing those types of things. He's really stayed into it. I think he's excited about this next season and his approach has been good."

In the meantime, backups Montario Hardesty, Chris Ogbonnaya, Dion Lewis and Brandon Jackson have gotten plenty of quality work with the first and second teams.

"Going back to the beginning of spring, April 1, [Hardesty] has done a great job in the weight room," said Chudzinski. "He has put some muscle on and picked the offense up well. Just watching him on tape, and as a runner, he has the natural instincts and he is a slasher who has good vision. The thing I've really seen and been most impressed with is him catching the ball. I don't think he has dropped a pass out here. He has really worked a lot on his hands.

"[Ogbonnaya] is the kind of guy who is dependable, accountable, you know he is going to be there and you know he is going to be doing the right things. His versatility really is something that will help us."

Suspension talk: A rumor has circulated that a Browns player may have failed a drug test and could be facing suspension. It hasn't reached the status of an actual report yet, but Chudzinski was asked about it on Tuesday.

"I don't know anything about that," he said.

Mingo emerging: First-rounder Barkevious Mingo's athleticism has been showing up on the field. Tuesday, he stormed in and smacked down a Jason Campbell pass at the line of scrimmage intended for tight end Gary Barnidge. He almost got his hands another ball a few plays later.

"He's tall, athletic, the sky is the limit on his athletic ability," said linebacker D'Qwell Jackson. "Right now, you can tell every day he's getting more and more comfortable with what he's doing and the guy has a knack. It looks so effortless, him rushing off the edge, but he has a knack."

But Jackson will reserve final judgment until the season starts.

"You see the potential," he said. "You see that special trait that he has. But for me, you've got to go through those dog days when it's snowing, it's freakin' bad weather, it's 70 plays. I need to see that first. But he definitely has all the tools necessary to make his successful in this league."

Kickers close: Chudzinski said rookie kicker Brandon Bogotay has a stronger leg than 12-year pro Shayne Graham, but that the competition is close.

"You get into the preseason and those games ... will be a very important part of the process of the evaluation. With Shayne here, he's a veteran guy who has been through a lot and been through a lot of games. Both of those guys have been kicking well."

St. Edward coach Eric Flannery breaks down Team USA's U-16 squad. Flannery is an assistant coach with the team.

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - The final roster has been made. A big congrats go out to all 12 players that made the team and a special congrats to St. Vincent-St. Mary's V.J. King, the only Ohio player invited to tryouts. King started camp a little slow, missing shots and trying to do too much, which is normal for guys trying to impress. After the first day however, King has been one of the "go to" guys the other players have trusted to put the ball into his hands. King has become one of the main scorers on this team.

Cutting the final four players was going to be extremely difficult. However it was made a little easier for the coaching staff when two players went down with injuries and another player became homesick. Injuries are part of the game and showed that keeping extra players for a couple days was a wise decision.

Due to the injuries we were somewhat forced to take an extra big guy over a guard, which would have been preferred. Our roster is as talented as any USA team at this age that has been assembled.

We run a ball screen offense that allows the versatility of our players to shine. In our first practice with our final roster, I put in our zone offense and some quick hitters. We expect to see mostly zone defense because I cannot imagine any team matching up with us man to man.

We are going to be a team that pressures in various ways and uses our athleticism to force teams into difficult shots. International rules have a 24-second shot clock, which should be to our advantage. We also hope to wear teams down with our incredible depth.

The final roster is as follows, with scout description on each player:

V.J. King, St. Vincent-St. Mary, 6-6: Versatile scorer, very creative with the ball, will play wing.

Thomas Bryant, Bishop Kearney, Rochester, N.Y., 6-9: Athletic, big, high energy.

Daniel Giddens, Wheeler, Mableton, Ga., 6-10: Physical, big, extremely smart and strong.

Harry Giles, Wesleyan Christian, Winston-Salem, N.C., 6-9: Most versatile big, future NBA star.

Josh Jackson, Consortium Prep, Southfield, Mich., 6-7: Gifted wing, long, great scorer/slasher.

Joshua Langford, Madison Academy, Huntsville, Ala., 6-5; Shooter, can stretch the defense.

Malik Newman, Callaway, Jackson, Miss., 6-4: Most versatile player, leader, will play wing/point.

Ivan Rabb, Bishop O'Dowd, Oakland, Calif., 6-10: Only lefty on team, great inside scorer/shot blocker.

Devearl Ramsey, Sierra Canyon, Los Angeles, 5-10: Point guard, quick, great handle, energy guy.

Diamond Stone, Dominican, Milwaukee, 6-10: Great footwork, talented big, can score.

Jayson Tatum, Chaminade, St. Louis, 6-7: Long wing, can shoot/slash, solid defender.

Seventh Woods, Hammond School, Columbia, S.C., 6-1: Crazy hops, point/wing, versatile.

It was an older, wiser version of CC Sabathia who beat the Indians on Wednesday at Yankee Stadium.

View full sizeCC Sabathia displayed his ability to mix a variety of pitches in Wednesday's victory over the Indians. Kathy Willens, Associated Press 

NEW YORK -- Indians fans were there when the transformation began with CC Sabathia. They saw him go from a pitcher who worked at the speed of sound to one favoring a more subtle game.

The change was in full bloom Wednesday, as Sabathia beat the Indians, 6-4, on a complete-game four-hitter for the Yankees.

"CC was way different today," said first baseman Nick Swisher, a teammate of Sabathia's over the last four seasons in the Bronx. "He threw a lot of first-pitch breaking balls. You go into the batter's box and you're used to seeing him at 94 mph and 95 mph.

"Now all of a sudden, you see him throw his back-door breaking ball right on the corner. I'd say he was really super effective with his curveball and change up. He got me to roll over [ground out] two or three times."

Sabathia, 32, struck out nine, walked one and allowed seven hits in beating the Indians. He's 185-104 overall and 80-33 since joining the Yankees.

"I'm sure if he still needs it, he has 95 mph in the tank," said Swisher. "But it looks like he can cruise along at 91 to 93 and use his breaking ball and change up."

Sabathia doesn't want to concede too much to age, but said, "I just try to throw everything for a strike. I'm getting older and you start to realize it's not all about velocity. It's more about getting guys off balance and that's what I was able to do [Wednesday]."

Cold corner: When Lonnie Chisenhall was optioned to Class AAA Columbus on May 13, Mark Reynolds was hitting .286 (34-for-119) with six doubles, 11 homers and 32 RBI while spending most of his time at DH and first base.

Reynolds moved to third upon Chisenhall's demotion and his offensive game has suffered. He's hitting .177 (14-for-79) with one double, two homers and nine RBI since Chisenhall was farmed out.

Could the extra work at third be slowing Reynolds' bat?

"I asked him that because I wanted to know," said manager Terry Francona. "I do think it's more physically challenging. I think he's enjoying the heck out of it. He told me if he needed a rest, he'd tell me."

Chisenhall, the Indians' opening day third baseman, is hitting .382 (26-for-68) with three doubles, one triple, six homers and 18 RBI in 17 games at Columbus. Good numbers, but it does not sound as if he's on the fast track to Cleveland just yet.

"To be honest with you, we haven't talked about it this week," said Francona. "[GM Chris Antonetti] has the draft going. And with Asdrubal Cabrera going down, we needed a backup shortstop [Juan Diaz].

"It's not that we don't talk about Lonnie, but we haven't this week."

Here we go again: ESPN reported Tuesday that MLB is considering suspensions for several players linked to a Miami-area clinic where they reportedly obtained banned performance enhancing drugs.

Said Francona, "I think baseball as an industry is paying a price for burying our heads in the sand some years ago. I wouldn't want to be a Hall of Fame voter right now. It's not fair to the player, it's not the writers.

"I actually think what [drug testing] baseball has in place right now is very good. We're trying to make our game as good as it can be."

Finally: When it was suggested that the slumping Indians might have to lower their sights from the AL Central to the wild card, Swisher said, "Wild card, bro? I'm not thinking wild card." ... Struggling lefty Nick Hagadone got Robinson Cano to bounce into a double play to end the seventh inning Tuesday. "That should help his confidence," said Francona. "He came into a game in a big situation against one of the best left-handed hitters in the game."

Indians reliever Chris Perez is once again in the eye of the storm. This time he could face drug possession charges following the delivery of a package, containing a "controlled substance," to his residence in Rocky River.

NEW YORK -- Except for a couple of injuries, it had been a quiet season for Chris Perez, who doubles as the Indians' lightning rod and closer. Things have changed.

Perez could face drug possession charges following a search Tuesday night at the home he and his wife are renting.

Rocky River Police Chief Kelly Stillman, at a news conference Wednesday, said police, U.S. postal inspectors and the West Shore Enforcement Bureau found what he called "a controlled delivery of drugs" Tuesday to the Perez residence on Parklane Drive in Rocky River. Stillman said he would not speculate on what was confiscated, but the department later issued a release that said the substance is suspected to be marijuana.

Stillman said they are awaiting test results from the Bureau of Criminal Investigation regarding the contents of the delivered package. Charges could follow that.

Stillman said that a search warrant was executed on the Parklane Drive residence and that evidence was obtained. He would not comment on who received the package at the home. Stillman said neither Perez nor his wife, Melanie, was arrested.

Police did acknowledge that they had been called to the house multiple times in the past for "criminal instances," but not since Perez has been living in the home. Neighbors on Parklane Drive said they had complained about drug activity over a two-year span at the home when a previous family lived there. But those problems ceased after Perez moved into the home.

Stillman said this incident is not related to any previous police matters involving the residence and said he was unaware of the owner's location and had not contacted him. Stillman also said he is unaware of how long Perez had been renting the home.

Perez, 27, is on the disabled list with a strained rotator cuff in his right shoulder and not traveling with the Indians. Just hours after the news broke, the Indians lost to the Yankees in New York, 6-4.

It's the latest in a string of controversies that have surrounded Perez, who was acquired from St. Louis on June 27, 2008 for Mark DeRosa. It turned out to be a good deal for the Tribe as Perez eventually replaced Kerry Wood as closer. He saved 23 games in 2010, 36 in 2011 and 39 last year. Perez represented the Indians at the All-Star Game the last two years.

Last season, however, Perez became embroiled in several incidents that did not require getting the final three outs in the ninth inning.

After an on-the-field fight between the Indians and Royals at Kauffman Stadium on April 14, Perez made a derogatory Tweet about the Royals. MLB fined him $850.

In May, with the Indians in first place in the AL Central, Perez ripped Cleveland fans for not coming to Progressive Field. He said poor attendance was one reason the team could not attract top free agents.

He also criticized fans for their blind allegiance to the Browns and a failure to forgive former Cavalier LeBron James.

Perez's targets didn't end with the fans. In September, he ripped owners Larry and Paul Dolan for not spending enough money and the front office, former GM Mark Shapiro in particular, for making bad trades.

A FoxSports.com story about the success of small-market teams pointed out that Oakland GM Billy Beane got more in return for Andrew Bailey, Trevor Cahill and Carlos Gonzalez than the Tribe did for CC Sabathia (2008) and Cliff Lee and Victor Martinez (2009).

It quoted Perez as saying, "You can't miss. You have to be right. That's why I say it's not just ownership. They don't make the trades. It's the GMs. It goes hand in hand. The GMs can only spend the money the owners give them, but they pick who they spend it on or who they don't. They pick. The owners don't pick.

"Josh Willingham would look great in this lineup. They didn't want to [pay] for that last year. ... That's the decision they make, and this is the bed we're laying in."

Willingham signed a three-year, $21 million deal with the Twins before the 2012 season. The Indians pursued him, but wouldn't give him a third year.

Before that outburst, Perez engaged in a profanity-laced argument with a fan in Oakland during a series in August. The fan videotaped it and put it on the Internet. This year Perez discontinued his Twitter account because of negative fan reaction following two poor performances on the mound.

He was placed on the disabled list on May 27 after being removed from a game against Boston a day earlier with pain in his shoulder.

Manager Terry Francona addressed the Perez issue in his pre-game briefing before Wednesday's game against the Yankees.

"I spoke to Chris this morning," Francona said. "I called him just to make sure he was OK. Other than that we have to allow the process to unfold. Out of respect to everybody involved, that's all I can say."

Francona said he heard about the incident late last night in a phone call from Indians traveling secretary Mike Seghi. "That was the end of my night's sleep," Francona said. He said he did not know how this would affect Perez and his rehab for the shoulder injury.

Before Francona talked to reporters, the Indians released a statement.

"Earlier this morning we were made aware of a situation involving RHP Chris Perez that occurred yesterday in Rocky River," said Indians GM Chris Antonetti. "We have talked with Chris and are currently in the process of gathering additional information. We will not have any additional comment at this time."

According to sources, there is no connection between Perez and MLB's current investigation into players using performance-enhancing drugs and their links to a Miami-area clinic.

Plain Dealer reporters Harlan Spector and Dennis Manoloff contributed to this report.

Video: Rocky River Police Chief K.J. Stillman (Courtesy: WKYC.com)

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Aurora baseball team has been labeled the underdog so many times this spring the school is thinking about changing its nickname from the Greenmen to the GreenDogs. Not really. But, it sure would be unique.

The Aurora Greenmen play in state baseball semifinals on Thursday. - (Aurora City Schools)

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Aurora baseball team has been labeled the underdog so many times this spring the school is thinking about changing its nickname from the Greenmen to the GreenDogs.

Not really. But, it sure would be unique.

And it would fit, at least this spring as the Greenmen prepare to play giant Cincinnati Moeller on Friday in the Division I semifinals of the state tournament in Huntington Park in downtown Columbus.

Stat check:

Enrollment at Moeller, which is the reigning Division I state champ and has six overall: 706 boys.

Enrollment at Aurora, which is in the state semifinals for the first time in school history: 386 boys.

The cutoff figure that separates Division I from Division II: 378.

Don't get the idea the Greenmen are feeling sorry for themselves. They're accustomed to the underdog label. They don't focus on it and it didn't stop them from beating Mentor (enrollment: 999) and North Canton Hoover (615) in the regionals or Austintown Fitch (633) in the district.

Obviously the team follows the theory that the bigger they are the harder they fall.

Moeller is ranked second in the state. It went 9-1 in the rugged Greater Catholic League.  Aurora is ranked 19th and went 9-1 in the Chagrin Valley Conference Chagrin Division.

"We've heard the underdog talk," said first-year coach Tim Deering. "But the kids have kept finding ways to win. They have played relaxed and focused. I feel good about our boys."

All anyone has to do is look at Aurora's 2-1 regional title win over Mentor. Tied at 1-1 in the bottom of the seventh, senior Frank Sivilo walked. With the hit-and-run on, sophomore Nick Ely was given a pitch that was at eye-level. He managed to tomahawk a blooper down the right field line. Sivilo, off with the pitch, never stopped running and was safe in a bang-bang play at the plate.

"We've been getting great pitching and we've been playing great defense," said Deering, who has been at the school for eight years as an assistant.

That combination will win a lot of games. Underdog or not.

Banner year: That's the way it's been at Aurora. The football team reached the state semifinals, where it gave eventual state champion Toledo Central Catholic all it could handle. The boys soccer team reached the state semifinals. The boys golf team finished eighth in the state. The girls soccer team reached the district finals, where it lost to eventual state champ Walsh Jesuit. Swimmer Brock Miller made it to the state meet. The softball team reached the district final before losing to Austintown Fitch. No matter how you slice it, that is good stuff.

Saw it coming: Deering has been the head coach of the Aurora middle school football team and made an impression on high school head coach Bob Mihalik.

"I could tell Tim was going to be a terrific head coach," said Mihalik, one of the most highly-respected coaches in Ohio. "He is so organized and detailed. When he first came here he told me his ultimate goal was to be the head baseball coach and that he wanted to learn. That told us a lot. That's exactly what he's done. He's done a great job with the middle schoolers and obviosuly a great job with the baseball team."

The turnaround: St. Ignatius began the season by losing five of its first 10 games and coach Brad Ganor was baffled. An email from a former player might have helped turn things around.

"We started 5-5 and we had very high expectations for the season," said Ganor, in his ninth season as head coach. "I couldn't figure out what was wrong. We had too much talent to be 5-5."

The Wildcats were coming off a 6-2 loss to Westlake when Ganor received an email from Justin Mackert, who played on the 2008 Wildcats team that went 27-6 and was the state runner-up.

After several exchanges, Mackert, who played four seasons at The Citadel and is now enrolled in dental school in South Carolina, sent an email in which he talked about what it meant to him to play at St. Ignatius and what he learned and how it prepared him. The note touched a nerve.

"I asked Justin if I could share it with the team," Ganor said. "He said it would be OK. I don't know how much of an impact it had. But, we are 21-1 since then."

Gut check: Archbishop Hoban coach Jim Diestel is convinced his team is capable of winning the school's first state title. The Knights, unranked in the Division II state poll, play top-ranked Defiance on Thursday at 7 p.m.

"Our senior leadership and our schedule have been significant," said Diestel, who has a team in the state semifinals for the second time in his five seasons. "I'm sure it's helped us win a number of close games this season. If we play our game, keep our nerves in check, I think we'll be OK."

The Knights were 5-2 in one-run games this season and Diestel said he has tried to upgrade the schedule every season.

"Beefing the schedule can work two ways," he said. "It might not do wonders for your regular season record but it sure helps in the postseason. Hopefully, the kids take it as a challenge."

Come back: Diestel, a firefighter by trade, said the return of catcher Anthony Osman has helped. Osman, a senior, fractured his left thumb while sliding into a base during a game against Lake Catholic. He missed about one month.

"I think we really missed him," Diestel said. "He's the kid who keeps everyone pumped up. He keeps an eye on things."

Osman's return enabled Diestel to move Austin Farber and Jordan Burns to their best positions at third and first, respectively.

Hold on for Helds: Moeller coach Tim Held and Tom Held, whose Defiance team will face Hoban in the Division II semifinals, are cousins.

To reach this Plain Dealer reporter:

trogers@plaind.com, 216-999-5169

On Twitter: @TimRogersCLE

CLEVELAND, Ohio - If Orange wins a boys state track title Saturday and looks to strike up the band, the Lions won't have to look far. Senior Will Carter made a habit during his stellar football career of leading the team on the field during the game, and then at halftime, playing tenor and alto saxophone and tenor and...

Orange senior Will Carter, a Bucknell football/track recruit, enters this week's state meet in Columbus ranked No. 1 in the long jump in Division II, No. 3 in the 200 meters, No. 2 in the 400 and is the anchor on the No. 1 4x100 (42.28). - (Lisa DeJong, The Plain Dealer)

CLEVELAND, Ohio - If Orange wins a boys state track title Saturday and looks to strike up the band, the Lions won't have to look far.

Senior Will Carter made a habit during his stellar football career of leading the team on the field during the game, and then at halftime, playing tenor and alto saxophone and tenor and bass clarinet in the marching band. He didn't play the different instruments at the same time. He's versatile, but he's not that versatile.

His versatility extends to track and field. He heads to the state meet ranked No. 1 in the long jump (23-6 3/4) in Division II, No. 3 in the 200 meters (21.67), No. 2 in the 400 (49.06) and is the anchor on the No. 1-ranked 4x100 (42.28), according to milesplit.com.

Carter scratched from the 400 in order to join the 4x100 last week at the Bedford regional, where he and Malcolm Harris, John Flynn and Colton Kaufman ran their state-leading time.

"I approached Will about that one," Orange coach Nghia Harvey said. "He was doing very well and I told him I wanted him to make a decision because it's his life. I want him to choose something he felt comfortable with and he really wanted to do that 4x1."

The move didn't surprise Harvey, who said Carter is team oriented. Carter wants to get a first-place medal for his relay teammates, as well as lead them toward a team trophy, and he wants to have a good time doing it.

See a picture gallery from the Bedford regional meet.

Carter stood out in the 100 at the regional, wearing aviator sunglasses in the final, which he won by .02. By the end of the meet, he was back in street clothes and leaping toward the finish to congratulate rival Chagrin Falls for earning a state berth in the 4x400.

"I have a good time, regardless," said Carter, a Bucknell football/track recruit. "Of course, I know there's work to be done and we can handle it. I'm still going to have fun.

"(Wearing sunglasses) was just me and my teammates goofing around. We like to keep everything light. You can't be serious all the time. If you're too serious, you're too tense. If you're too tense, you can't run as fast as you want to run. It's all about being calm, relaxed and ready to go."

Carter isn't the only one having fun when he competes.

"He's like the old-fashioned days of watching a pure sprinter," St. Vincent-St. Mary coach Dan Lancianese said. "It's so fun to watch him run."

Relay reality: If St. Edward successfully defends its Division I team championship this week, it will be in spite of what happened May 29, the first day of the Amherst regional.

Coach Bill Menz and his staff decided to pull the Eagles from the 4x200 relay, choosing to focus on the 4x400 instead. While that may have been a sound decision, it backfired in the end. St. Edward failed to get the stick around the track in the 4x100, an event the Eagles won last year and were top-ranked this year.

"The decision was made because in the prelims it goes 100, 4x200, 4x100," Menz said. "That's back-to-back-to-back for Anthony (Young) and Shaun (Crawford), and that's too much. Shaun was coming off being sick, and while Anthony is strong enough to handle anything, we just felt it was too much."

St. Edward placed second in the 4x400, so that part of the strategy worked out.

Last year, St. Edward scratched its 4x200 at the regional when a runner was late, but the Eagles went on to win their first state title with one relay, the 4x100.

Triple crown update: Winning the 1,600 and 3,200 at the Division II Bedford regional took a heavy toll on St. Vincent-St. Mary senior Mick Iacofano, a Kentucky recruit who won the state cross country meet last fall. He seeks to become the first distance triple crown winner since Dayton Christian's Walter Luttrell, a Division III runner, in 2007-08.

Does Iacofano have any second thoughts about the distance double at state?

"Not at all. It's a lot of work, and boy, I'm exhausted, but I really want to get this," he said at Bedford. "It's something I've dreamed of doing, the feeling of winning both. My main goal is to get that mile because I know there's a lot of intense competition there. I'm looking at the two-mile as icing on the cake."

His main competition in the 1,600 is defending champ Sam Prakel of Versailles. The Oregon recruit won the 1,600 and 3,200 last year and the Division III cross country title last fall. Prakel entered the 800 instead of the 3,200 this year. Iacofano and Prakel both are in the 4x800 Friday.

Maize and boo? Few kids are more pleasant and polite to talk to at a track meet than Solon senior Khoury Crenshaw. However, the defending state 100-meter champ might expect to get booed at the state meet, which is at Ohio State, if he wears the Michigan headband he donned for the regional.

"My mom bought it for me to wear the rest of the year," Crenshaw, a Michigan recruit, said with a smile.

Port on state: Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy is among the front-runners for the Division II state title. Coach Jeff Port sends a team that qualified in nine events and won seven at the regional, and won its first regional team championship.

"It's nice to win a regional title, but what we really have our sights on is next week," he said at Bedford. "Last year, we came in with good expectations, but really didn't know what we could do. This year, we said our focus isn't here. We're going to try to peak next week and see what noise we can make.

"Dunbar has speed and Versailles is tough. Prakel can win just about anything he enters. If we run well, we can do pretty well down there. We don't take anything for granted."

Breaking nine: Chardon junior Nicholas Elswick is expecting the Division I 3,200 to finish under 9 minutes for the second year in a row. He's hoping to be right there with Tippecanoe's Sam Wharton, who was second in 9:01 last year, 15 seconds ahead of the fifth-place Elswick.

Elswick ran a 9:02 in April in California.

"Wharton ran nine flat (at the district meet). I'm in good shape and he's obviously in good shape. I think we're going to have a good race together," Elswick said. "He and I are both shooting for it (breaking 9 minutes). We talk on Facebook, Twitter and text. He's a really cool guy.

"I've been training all year for this. This is the goal all along. I'm ready to go in and have some fun with it."

Showdown letdown: Another year of thunderstorms at the Amherst Division I regional had a major impact on local state qualifiers. Two weather delays led to the decision to roll the schedule, meaning athletes who were expecting to compete and qualify in multiple events had much less time to recover between events.

Many fans anticipated a showdown between St. Edward senior Anthony Young and John F. Kennedy senior Antwon Smith in the 200. Young is the two-time defending champion. Smith is the defending champ in the 400 and looked to be a threat to Young in the 200. However, with the rolling schedule, Smith had fewer than 20 minutes to recover from the 400 and wasn't ready, finishing last.

Wildcat futures: Regional runner-up St. Ignatius saw the emergence this season of two outstanding freshmen: distance runner Luke Wagner and sprinter James Norris.

Norris anchored the winning 4x100 relay and narrowly missed qualifying in the 100 and 200. In the 200, he was credited with the same time as fourth-place finisher Tyler Brown of Findlay, but Brown was placed fourth once the finish photo was examined and the time was taken down to the one thousandth of a second. Norris also placed fifth in the 100, just .03 out of fourth place. The top four earn state berths.

Wagner ran on the team's fifth-place 4x800 relay and then came back to place second in the 1,600 with a fine time of 4:19.16.

Girls track

Winning a second straight state title would be great. But St. Vincent-St. Mary coach Dan Lancianese wanted to put things in perspective.

While the Irish and Columbus Eastmoor Academy are once again expected to battle for the Division II championship, Lancianese said getting his athletes to stand on the eight-person championship podium after a finals event is more important.

"I'm not counting on it," said Lancianese, whose team bested Eastmoor, 55-46, last year. "I'm not even looking at it. I've said this a zillion times. The only thing important to me is how many climb up the podium.

"Columbus Eastmoor is a phenomenal team. They are going to be very tough to beat down there. I don't see anybody beating them. They deserve it.

"The only thing I care about is how many can get on the podium. It's an honor to be on that podium."

SVSM has eight qualifiers in nine events. Eastmoor brings seven athletes in eight events.

Sister act: Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy sophomore Autumn Young will have a busy Division II meet as she qualified in four events -- the 100, 200, long jump and 4x400 relay. That's one more event than her older brother, St. Edward senior and defending 100 and two-time 200 champ Anthony Young.

"It's good because I had a full season this year," said Autumn Young. "Last year I was out half the season and I only qualified in two events. It was good to bring it up this year, sophomore year."

Young was fifth in the 100 and anchored the fifth-place 4x200 relay. She fouled in the long jump.

Doubling up: Solon won the state indoor meet in March. The Comets look to get the outdoor title as well after finishing behind Reynoldsburg (56) and Lorain (34) in Columbus last year with 29 points.

The Comets will have nine athletes in nine events, including four-event qualifiers in senior Therese Haiss (800, 1,600, 4x400, 4x800) and junior Jelvon Butler (100, 200, 4x200, 4x400).

"The goal is to do the best we can," said Solon coach Brian Sabol. "We're in a good position. We're taking a lot of people down there and we have a good chance.

"We have some work to do. There's a real nice team from Mason and Gahanna Lincoln, but I'd like to think you can't count us out. If there's a group of girls that can do it, I think it's this group."

Up and over: Green senior Morgan Estes will be out to defend her Division I pole vault title. She won it last year at 12-5.

"My main goal is to get over 13 [feet] and now I have only one meet left, so I'm getting nervous," said Estes, second in the event as a freshman and a qualifier as a sophomore. "I know if I do [13], I will [win]. If I do both, that will be great. Yes, I do want another title, but if I accomplish all my goals, that will be great, too."

Hail Hale: Cleveland's Senate Athletic League will be represented by John F. Kennedy senior Stephanie Hale, who finished third in the 200 at the Division I Amherst regional with a 25.26 clocking. That's one more qualifier than a year ago when, for the first time, the Cleveland girls were not represented.

The deep field includes senior Diamond Gause (24.06) of Reynoldsburg, Solon's Butler (24.26) and Chardon's Ferrante (24.39).

Freelance writer Joe Magill contributed to this report.

To reach these Plain Dealer reporter:

twarsinskey@plaind.com, 216-999-6177

jmaxse@plaind.com, 216-999-5168

ELYRIA, Ohio - Could be that designated hitter is one of the more underappreciated roles on a softball team. If not, it's one of the hardest.

Elyria's Caitlyn Minney, left, consoles teammate Alexis Roseboro after losing last year's state semifinal game to Lebanon. Roseboro has been stellar as the Pioneers' designated hitter. - (Joshua Gunter, The Plain Dealer)

ELYRIA, Ohio - Could be that designated hitter is one of the more underappreciated roles on a softball team.

If not, it's one of the hardest.

"I never had to DH but I know it's got to be difficult,'' said Elyria coach Ken Fenik, "Not to be in the field, playing defense, then come up to bat and be expected to produce ... that's tough.''

It's a role senior Alexis Roseboro was handed full-time as a sophomore and one she continues to prosper in. She enters Thursday's 12:30 p.m. Division I state semifinal against Mason hitting .395 with 23 RBI, 25 runs scored and seven doubles as the fifth batter.

"Hitting's always been my favorite part of the game because it's always come natural,'' said Roseboro, who will attend Ohio University with aspirations of becoming a dentist or optometrist. "I've learned not to be so nervous, especially in my first at-bat during a game.

"I've become more selective at the plate but basically, when I'm up, I just say to myself, 'see the ball, hit the ball.'''

Fenik knew what he had the minute he saw Roseboro swing the bat.

"I said that's the power hitter we need,'' Fenik replied. "She's our first player, who is strictly a DH, and she does a good job at staying focused.

"And she's so strong and quick on the bases.''

She's back: Mentor's first-year head coach Emily Strobel was cleared by her neurologist to return to teaching and coaching on Friday, but stayed in the background during Saturday's Division I regional title-game win over Medina.

Strobel had been sidelined since a batting-cage accident suffered prior to an April 20 doubleheader loss to Riverside. She was hit on the side of the head by a bat swung by one her players and experienced headaches and fogginess.

However, she'll be at the helm for Thursday's Division I state semifinal against defending champion North Canton Hoover as the Cardinals are the first Lake County team to qualify for the final four.

Filling in during Strobel's recovery were assistant coaches Kate Adoryan and Katie Caywood.

"I am so, so proud of everyone,'' said Strobel. "The players have been great and, as for my coaches, I'm blessed.''

Raiders' turning point: Columbia, making the school's first-ever state-tournament appearance in any sport, turned the corner at the annual Prebis Memorial, hosted by Keystone.

"We lost to Sylvania Southview the first day of the tournament,'' said Raiders former assistant coach, turned first-year head coach Ken Lugo. "We came back the next day, lost to a very good team from Michigan, then beat Highland and Southview.

"To come back and beat Southview, that did a lot for our confidence and was definitely the turning point of our season.''

Team player: After three seasons behind the plate, Walsh Jesuit senior Lauren Cianciolo made the switch to third base, where she'll be starting for Friday's Division II state semifinal against New Licking Valley.

"Lauren did it for the good of the team,'' said Walsh coach Bill Davis. "Riley Ries and Lauren are both very good catchers, but we're just better, overall, with Lauren at third base.''

Cianciolo is hitting .360 with an .897 fielding average and is part of a special senior class.

"Lexi Noonan, Jackie Ammar, Kelly Wilson, Sophia Simone, Kayla Navratil and Cori Anter have all stepped up,'' Davis added. "Their leadership and attitude has been invaluable.''

No monkeying around: When Firelands edged defending state champion/state-ranked Keystone, 1-0, in a Division II district semifinal, it marked the first time in Falcons coach Judy Dostall's nine-year tenure that one of her teams defeated the Wildcats.

"The monkey's finally off my back,'' said Dostall, whose retirement from coaching became official during her team's regional semifinal loss to state tourney-bound Granville.

Farewell to remember: St. Peter Chanel is closing its doors at the end of the school year and senior second baseman Julie Koballa gave the softball team the perfect sendoff.

She became the last batter at a Firebirds home game when her walkoff home run in the bottom of the fifth inning gave them a mercy-ruled, 14-4 Division III sectional title win over Open Door Christian.

AKRON, Ohio - Here is a scouting report on all four divisions for the state softball tournament, which is Thursday through Saturday in Akron. When: Today through Saturday.

Walsh Jesuit's Sophia Simone, left, slides past Fairless catcher Robyn Miller to score the Warriors' fourth run during the fourth inning of Saturday's 5-0 win in a Division II regional final. - (Ed Suba Jr., Akron Beacon Journal)

AKRON, Ohio - Here is a scouting report on all four divisions for the state softball tournament, which is Thursday through Saturday in Akron.

When: Today through Saturday.

Where: All games at Firestone Stadium, 1575 N. Firestone Blvd., Akron. Call 330-375-2855.

Admission: $8 per session (two games per session). The stadium will be cleared after each session (once per day). All-Session Tournament Passes can be purchased for $35 at Firestone Stadium, starting the first day of the state tournament. The pass is good for all 12 games, but there will be no presale of all-session passes.

TV: SportsTime Ohio will televise the four championship games on a delayed basis. On Saturday, the Division I final will air at 8 p.m., the Division IV final at 10 p.m. and the Division III final at midnight. On Sunday, the Division I final will air at 5 a.m. and the Division II final at 7 a.m.

Division I

Mentor (20-10) vs. North Canton Hoover (32-0), today, 10 a.m.

About Mentor: Unranked Cardinals make their state-tournament debut behind freshman P Allison Golic (16-9, 1.48 ERA; .364), who is no slouch with the bat, either. OF Arial Birtley (.400), SS Lindsey Valvoda (.349), 2B Markanne Causey (.387) and LF Jordan Kramer (.348, 13 SB) have been consistent performers on offense but solid defense is a must.

About Hoover: Vikings, ranked No. 1 in the final state coaches poll and riding a 44-game win streak, are going for their third straight title and seventh overall in as many final four appearances with a pair of veteran pitchers in Caly Russo (12-0, 1.75 ERA) and Tara Thacker (18-0, 0.51 ERA). They are led by Ohio's top player, SS/Oregon recruit Jenna Lilley (.726, 53 RBI, 7 HR, 35 BB).

Mason (23-7) vs. Elyria (26-5), today, 12:30 p.m.

About Mason: Will the third time to the final four be the charm for the unranked Comets, whose most recent appearance was in 2008? They have a solid offense, which is led by C Megan Warren (.370, 22 RBI), 3B Gabby LaSala (.400, 30 RBI), SS Samantha Hayner (.318), a dependable pitcher in Tory Stewart (18-7, 1.07 ERA) and a fleet-footed center fielder with a strong and accurate arm in Samantha Parave (.344).

About Elyria: No. 3-ranked Pioneers, vying for a third title in their 10th trip to the state semifinals, have a potent battery -- seniors P Caitlyn Minney (21-3, 0.78 ERA) and senior C Haley Looney (.369, 20 RBI). Other seasoned players are DH Alexis Roseboro (.395, 23 RBI) and 1B Patty Davis (.329, 25 RBI, 5 HR), while sophomore 2B MacKenzie Phares (.425, 19 RBI) and freshman IF/OF Carly Bachna (.390, 6 HR, 21 RBI) have performed like veterans.

Final: Saturday, 10 a.m.

PD pick: North Canton Hoover over Elyria.

Division II

Newark Licking Valley (22-7) vs. Walsh Jesuit (26-5), Friday 3 p.m.

About Licking Valley: Panthers, ranked fourth in the coaches final state poll, are in their third semifinals but first since 1988. C Kori Caughenbaugh (.580, 33 runs), CF Sierra McConnell (.450), SS CheyAnn Cramer (.410), 3B Carly Skeese (.400, 18 RBI) or RF Shelby Robinson (.480, 33 runs) can kick-start the offense while Shelby McCombs (18-6, 1.01 ERA; .490, 8 HR, 32 RBI) has been steady toeing the rubber.

About Walsh Jesuit: Warriors are ranked eighth and won titles in 2002 and '04, the only other times they earned a final-four berth. Sophomore P Taylor Rahach (19-5, 1.71 ERA) has been lights out on the mound the past month. The offense has been paced by SS Lilli Piper (.505, 20 RBI), CF Taylor Stimson (.414, 27 RBI), 1B Cori Anter (.383, 6 HR, 34 RBI), 3B Lauren Cianciolo (.347, 12 doubles) and LF Lexi Noonan (.347).

Springfield Kenton Ridge (30-2) vs. Granville (25-6), Friday, 5:30 p.m.

About Kenton Ridge: No. 3-ranked Cougars, with a 19-game win streak, are hoping they can finally bring home the brass ring in their sixth trip to the state tourney after topping top-ranked Greenville in a regional final. Courtney Lopez (24-2, 1.87 ERA) is a pitcher who works her spots and depends on teammates such as C Paige McCrary (.533, 51 RBI, 6 HR), CF Learic Kinser (.483, 15 SB) and SS Mykee Holtz (.422, 32 RBI, 4 HR).

About Granville: Sixth-ranked Blue Aces are making their first trip to the state semifinals with experience and a 17-game win streak, including a district title-game victory over top-ranked River Valley. Sophomore pitcher Abby Barker (16-2, 1.22 ERA; .449, 29 RBI, 7 HR) is a force on the mound and at the plate while other offensive threats include SS Rachel Holt (.435, 41 RBI, 7 HR) and 2B Danielle Wolgamot (.418, 16 SB).

Final: Saturday, 7 p.m.

PD pick: Walsh Jesuit over Springfield Kenton Ridge.

Division III

Pemberville Eastwood (29-3) vs. Bloom-Carroll (27-3), Friday, 10 a.m.

About Eastwood: Eagles, ranked sixth in the state poll, flew into their first state tournament appearance on the strength of a good mixture of youth, experience and P Whitney Foster (24-3, 1.42 ERA; .340, 29 RBI). SS Mackenzie Albright (.406, 44 R, 9 SB), CF Alena Gabel (.424, 6 HR, 39 RBI), 3B Cassidy Rolf (.424, 39 R, 39 RBI, 4 3B, 6 HR, 9 SB) and C Anna Rahrig (.347, 22 RBI) power the offense.

About Bloom-Carroll: Top-ranked Bulldogs won the state crown in 2006 and '07 and finished second a year ago. They feature one of the premier players in the state in P Taran Alvelo (25-3, 343 K, 0.91 ERA; .469, 13 HR, 30 RBI), already a Washington recruit as a sophomore. SS Abby Grover (.344, 20 RBI) and 3B Haley Starr (.354, 17 RBI) provide a strong supporting cast.

Columbus Bishop Ready (15-15) vs. Columbia (28-4), Friday, 12:30 p.m.

About Bishop Ready: Tenth-ranked Silver Knights, in their fifth state tournament, earned their lone crown in 1995. Julia Hall (9-4, 2.42 ERA; .404, 4 HR, 28 RBI, 25 R) is the ace of the pitching staff and their leading hitter. 2B Sammy Hawkins (.382, 30 RBI) propels the middle of the batting order while CF Haylee Patel (.390, 12 RBI) is a slick fielder with a strong arm.

About Columbia: Fourth-ranked Raiders are first team from their school to reach a state semifinals. They have relied on Ps Christine Lyzen (6-1-1, 0.81 ERA), Amanda Sedlock (9-1-1, 0.81 ERA) and Kailey Minarchik (13-2-2, 1.77 ERA) to get them this far and an offense that's paced by 2B/Baldwin Wallace recruit Emma Sullivan (.451, 34 RBI, 8 triples) and RB Nicolette Kunath (.349, 9 HR, 30 RBI).

Final: Saturday, 4 p.m.

PD pick: Bloom-Carroll over Columbia.

Division IV

Strasburg-Franklin (28-5) vs. Covington (30-0), today, 3 p.m.

About Strasburg: No. 3-ranked/base-stealing Tigers (97 SB), who have had plenty of final-four success, are trying to win a seventh title in 14 trips. Many of the faces are back from last year's qualifying team, including P Kristina LaRocca (23-5, 1.18 ERA), 1B Karly DiBacco (.486, 25 RBI, 30 R, 12 SB), SS Mariah Crites (.359, 25 RBI), 2B Melissa Cregan (.312, 23 R, 18 SB) and rookie C Olivia Ray (.403, 5 HR, 28 RBI).

About Covington: Top-ranked Bucs enter their third consecutive final four, fourth overall, without a state championship but an abundance of state-tourney experience with the return of Ps Casey Yingst (21-0, 0.70 ERA; .395) and Morgan Arbogast (7-0, 0.42 ERA; .423), along with 3B Heidi Snipes (.478), C Connor Schaffer (.494, 5 HR, 35 RBI) and 2B Jessie Shilt (.556).

Rockford Parkway (22-5) vs. North Robinson Colonel Crawford (18-9), today, 5:30 p.m.

About Parkway: No. 2-ranked Panthers are in their third state tournament after having qualified in 1997 and '98. They will use two pitchers and both are offensive threats in Sierra Fent (16-3, 1.45 ERA; .375, 35 RBI, 8 HR) and Kylie Snyder (6-2, 1.88 ERA, .391). 2B Lindsey Walls (.405, 19 R, 19 RBI), CF Kayla Walls (.368, 29 R, 11 SB) and 3B Terra Walls (.353, 10 doubles) round out a balanced offense.

About Colonel Crawford: Eagles are chasing their second title in seven state tournament appearances. P/IF Nickyla Gaverick (16-7, 1.30 ERA; .465, 13 SB, 4 3B, 3 HR, 28 RBI, 30 R) can do it all but also knows that 3B/C Lexi Hoepf (.407, 9 SB), CF Bri Rankins (.341, 23 R, 30 RBI) and SS Kendra Hudson (.313, 24 R, 18 RBI) have her back.

Final: Saturday, 1 p.m.

PD pick: Covington over Colonel Crawford.