"I thought he should have dropped in the order years ago, as soon as he got his power. He had so many solo HRs when he was healthy and tearing it up. His RBI numbers should have been a lot higher. Brantley needs to hit first permanently. He has a good eye at the plate and is a quality table setter." - Scott Player

View full sizeScott Shaw | The Plain DealerFans have been calling for Grady Sizemore to bat in the middle of the order for years.

In response to the story Grady Sizemore caught in the middle: Cleveland Indians daily briefing, cleveland.com reader Scott Player hopes Grady's move to the middle is permanent. This reader writes,

"I thought he should have dropped in the order years ago, as soon as he got his power. He had so many solo HRs when he was healthy and tearing it up. His RBI numbers should have been a lot higher. Brantley needs to hit first permanently. He has a good eye at the plate and is a quality table setter."

A small pond can be a big attraction for a kid with a cane pole who has the desire to hook a fish. It doesn't have to be a big bass or a lunker catfish. Just about any fish will do.

D'ARCY EGAN/THE PLAIN DEALER A youngster patiently waits for a bass or bluegill to pull his bobber under the water while fishing a local farm pond.

 A small pond can be a big attraction for a kid with a cane pole who has the desire to hook a fish. It doesn't have to be a big bass or a lunker catfish. Just about any fish will do.

When the City of Parma announced recently that it had dredged a small pond at Veterans Memorial Park off State Rd. and joined with Ohio fisheries experts to create a good, old-fashioned fishing hole, it wasn't big news. A retention basin a couple of acres in size, the pond is designed to keep the small park and nearby yards from flooding after a heavy rain. 

 "Any time we can create a new fishing area, no matter how small, we're eager to do it," said Division of Wildlife Fisheries Biologist Curt Wagner. "We released largemouth bass and bluegill fingerlings there last fall. It will take a while until they're catchable size, probably starting in 2012."

When the bass and bluegill are big enough to defend themselves, fisheries biologists will add a batch of channel catfish, and perhaps drop off some foot-long rainbow trout in spring.

The Veterans Memorial Park pond may not seem an important fishing spot, but it is much like a similar patch of water just a mile away that helped me to become a fisherman more than a half century ago.

Growing up near the Cleveland Zoo, a buddy next door on West 24th St. fired my interested in fishing. My father had never cast a lure - and never would - but Johnny Mihok's dad enjoyed fishing. He even poured lead sinkers to put in our tackle boxes. There were rare trips to Gordon Park on the Lake Erie shoreline for yellow perch in spring and fall. When we were old enough, we'd ride a bus downtown and cast from behind Captain Frank's Restaurant on the East Ninth St. Pier.

The perch fishing was good in those days, but there were few other angling opportunities there were a bus ride from home.

 Somehow, we found out about little Ridgewood Lake. It was just south of a few farm fields where Parmatown Mall stands today. Bass, bluegill and catfish could be caught there.

Mihok and I packed a couple of peanut butter-and-jelly sandwiches, grabbed our fishing gear and headed to the bus stop at the corner of Broadview and Pearl in what is now Old Brooklyn. A half-hour later, were at the end of the line, a block from Ridgewood Lake.

Perched on the muddy banks, we would bait hooks with the nightcrawlers we'd picked after dark from a well-soaked front lawn. Most days, the limited action came from small bluegill pecking away at a worm. Every once in a while a bass would bite. With a long cast, we'd try to hook one of the catfish lurking in the middle of the dingy, little pond.

The first big catfish - it was probably only a pound, or two - called for a careful inspection and an all-thumbs release. We seldom kept a fish for dinner. It could have been a reluctance to take our catch on the bus for the long ride home. It was probably because we didn't know how to fillet them.

Keeping fish won't be an option at the stocked Veterans Memorial Park pond. It will offer catch-and-release fishing, according to Parma Parks and Recreation Director Mickey Vittardi.

The pond won't feature a major league angling experience, but kids just starting out are minor leaguers all the way. Catching that first bluegill is like hitting a baseball for the first time. It takes a little patience, but it's a big step for a pint-sized rookie. 

Houtman's books get kids interested in fishing

 Kristine Houtman of Crystal Bay, Minn. has been luring kids to the sport of fishing through a trio of youth adventure books.

The Fish On Kids Books focuses on fishing, as well as camping and hunting, while providing a wide range of outdoor adventures. The star of the trilogy is Gus Roberts, an 11-year-old from Minnesota's Lake Minnetonka. His father is a fishing guide, and young readers will find that the family would rather be outside having fun than sitting around the house watching television or playing video games.

The 80-page books are $10 each, with audio books $20. They are written for youngsters in grades 2-6. Houtman's Fish On Kids Books LLC has wholesale prices for sportsmen's clubs, scout troops and non-profit organizations wanting to sell the books as a fund raiser. They can be ordered online at fishonkidsbooks.com, or by calling 612-710-5584.

Travis Hafner is still probably two weeks away from playing in games.

Ted S. Warren / Associated PressTravis Hafner swung the bat on Friday, but he's probably still two weeks from any kind of game activities because of a strained right oblique muscle.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Travis Hafner was re-introduced to a bat on Friday and the meeting went well. He took some swings -- in baseball terms he took some dry swings -- and everything felt fine with his injured right oblique muscle.

"I'll hit off the tee on Saturday and go from there," said Hafner.

Hafner strained the oblique muscle, which is located on both sides of the rib cage, during batting practice on May 18 at U.S. Cellular Field. Hafner and his .345 (39-for-113) batting average have not been in the lineup since.

Lonnie Soloff, Indians head athletic trainer, said Hafner could be in "game activities' in two weeks. That would probably be in a rehab situation.

"The injury is frustrating," said Hafner. "The team is doing great this year. I was swinging the bat well so obviously you want to be in there and playing every day. But they continue to play well. You just look forward to getting back as quick as you can."

The Indians are 7-8 without Hafner's eight doubles, five homers, 22 RBI and .549 slugging percentage. They had a five-game lead in the AL Central when he was hurt. They went into Friday night's game against Texas with a 4 1/2 game lead.

More injury news: Alex White (right middle finger) leaves for Goodyear, Ariz., on Saturday to continue his rehab. Veteran first baseman Nick Johnson graduated from extended spring training and was in Class AA Akron's starting lineup on Friday night.

The Indians signed Johnson in spring training. He was coming off his fourth operation on his right wrist. This time a tendon was removed.

Soloff said Johnson was playing four days a week at DH and first base in extended spring. He expected him to do the same at Akron.

The terms of Johnson's minor league deal will pay him $750,000 if he makes the big league club. The Indians hold a $2.75 million option for 2012, but they must add him to the big league club by July 1 for that to go into effect.

"He's felt good swinging the bat," said Soloff. 

Tonight's lineups:

Rangers (31-26): 2B Ian Kinsler (R), SS Elvis Andrus (R), LF Josh Hamilton (L), DH Michael Young (R), 3B Adrian Beltre (R), RF Nelson Cruz (R), 1B Mitch Moreland (L), C Mike Napoli (R), CF Endy Chavez (L), RHP Alexi Ogando (5-0, 2.33).

Indians (32-20): CF Michael Brantley (L), SS Asdrubal Cabrera (S), RF Shin-Soo Choo (L), C Carlos Santana (S), DH Grady Sizemore (L), 2B Orlando Cabrera (R), LF Travis Buck (L), 1B Matt LaPorta (R), 3B Adam Everett (R), RHP Justin Masterson (5-3, 3.07).

Lineup note: Jack Hannahan was scratched from the Indians lineup and replaced by Adam Everett at third base.

Him vs. me: Hamilton is hitting 4-for-6 with a homer and two RBI against Masterson. Brantley and Santana are the only Indians to face Ogando. They're a combined 0-for-3.

Left vs. right: Lefties are hitting .304 (51-for-168) with three homers and righties are hitting .162 (16-for-99) against Masterson.

Lefties are hitting .213 (32-for-150) with six homers and righties are hitting .153 (13-for-85) with one homer against Ogando.

Quote of the day: "You look at those (career statistical) categories and say — I'm going to be honest with you — why the (heck) am I not in the Hall of Fame? I'm not going to kiss the butts of the writers. I put numbers up that are Hall of Fame numbers. Until they recognize that, you can only look at January sixth (6th) and say, 'It's another year,'" former Indians pitcher Bert Blyleven, who was finally elected to the Hall of Fame in December.

Umpires: H Jeff Kellogg, 1B Eric Cooper, 2B Lance Barrett, 3B Mark Carlson.

Next: Texas lefty Derek Holland (4-1, 4.96) faces Fausto Carmona on Saturday at 7:05 p.m. STO and WTAM/1100 will carry the game.

Brunswick native debuts his summer-long blog on cleveland.com as he chases his dream of making an NBA roster for 2011-12.

Brian Kortovich, who was born and raised in Brunswick and attended Holy Name and Brunswick High School, is on a quest to make the NBA. He played two years at Cuyahoga Community College before being recruited to play at Manhattan College in New York.

Kortovich is writing a blog for cleveland.com this summer as he attempts to latch on with an NBA team for the 2011-12 season.

Photo provided by Brian KortovichBrian Kortovich playing overseas in Israel in 2007.

Like many of you, I make it a point every four years to watch the Summer Olympics. The athletes and the stories behind them never fail to inspire.

My father's side of the family is from Croatia, and when he passed away when I was 9, I became fixed on understanding and connecting with the culture from which he came. After endless amounts of paperwork, research and tracking down documents, I recently received my citizenship to the Republic of Croatia -- which, by the way, is a big deal for my hoop dreams.

It means get the chance to play for the Croatian National Team one day in the Olympics. I've just received word that I have some workouts in Croatia with the national team coming up in a few weeks. I'm counting the minutes till I can take that first shot, the shot I've been taking ever since I was a kid balling at the Brunswick Rec Center.

I attended St. Ambrose grade school and hooped it up for the scarlet and white during my CYO basketball days.

After my high school days at Holy Name and Brunswick High, I got offered a scholarship to Cuyahoga Community College (CCC). After two successful seasons there, I was getting recruited by Auburn, Cleveland State, Delaware State and Manhattan College, to name a few. And truly, it meant a lot to show that that playing a year or two at CCC could prove to be a great path to a basketball scholarship at a four-year university.

After a recruiting trip to Manhattan College and the bright lights of NYC, I was sold, and that's where I continued my college career.

Since then, I've been all around the world with basketball, looking for my shot and taking it. I've played professionally in Kuwait, Italy, France, Israel, the Dominican Republic -- and obviously can't wait to stamp Croatia on my passport, too.

Through a lot of networking and big games, word got out in the fall of 2009 when I got my first opportunity at the NBA level. The past two seasons I have been invited to both the New York Knicks' and New Jersey Nets' preseason workouts and training camps.

Through it all, I always go back to the lessons learned in my early days in Cleveland.

Photo provided by Brian KortovichBrian "Smokin' Aces" Kortovich and LeBron James.

Back then, there were several good places to play at in the area. If it wasn't an invite to play at LeBron's run in Akron through mutual friends of Maverick Carter and others, you could see me hooping it up at the Cleveland Pro-Am, and the YMCA league out in Lakewood.

But mainly the two places I balled were the Omni in Middleburg Heights and Thurgood Marshall in East Cleveland on 83rd and Crawford.

Make no mistake, Cleveland has a solid hoops scene. It stands up for sure.

Some of the best pickup games on any given night were either at the Omni, when some of the Cavs players and local talent would come through; or in the summer or down at Thurgood Marshall, which was run by Earl Williams, the father of Earl Boykins. Those were some amazing games.

One thing a lot of people back home ask me is how I got the name "Smoking Aces."

Turns out it started at the legendary Entertainers Basketball Classic at Rucker Park out in Harlem. I was playing for a team named Black Wall-Street, got hot early and dropped 31 points.

But a win isn't the only thing I took home, as the game MC dubbed me "Smokin' Aces," a name that seems to follow me wherever I go -- which as you now know, means Croatia any day now.

And right after I get back from Croatia? I've been invited to a Dallas Mavericks mini-camp. Right now they've got their hands full with the Heat, but in a few weeks I hope to show them how I can help Dirk out of those double-teams one day.

One thing I must say: My faith in God, my family and my friends have all played an instrumental part in keeping my dreams alive.

I can't wait to share some of these experiences, and can't thank all those in the area who have shown me so much love and support. I couldn't do it without you.

Until next time,

BK

Veteran trainer Jerry Bennett has a reputation for bringing out the best in a young thoroughbred. He'll pin his hopes today on an unsung claimer named Irish Lion in the $100,000 Ohio Derby at Thistledown. Don't tell Bennett it's impossible to make a stakes winner out of a 3-year-old claimed for just $25,000 almost two months ago at Tampa...

Veteran trainer Jerry Bennett has a reputation for bringing out the best in a young thoroughbred. He'll pin his hopes today on an unsung claimer named Irish Lion in the $100,000 Ohio Derby at Thistledown.

Don't tell Bennett it's impossible to make a stakes winner out of a 3-year-old claimed for just $25,000 almost two months ago at Tampa Bay (Fla.) Downs. Bennett has the son of Lion Hearted on the right track, and believes his horse can stand out in the field of 10 colts.

"I think a 3-year-old can dramatically improve from race to race," Bennett said. "If Irish Lion gets a clean trip, he certainly could be there at the end. He's been better in the morning [while working out], and getting stronger all of the time."

Bennett's reputation for conditioning a champion includes such stars as Beau Genius, a winner of 13 stakes, and 17-time stakes winner Secret Romeo. Bennett, a native of Nova Scotia, lives in Tampa, Fla., and has a stable of 55 horses, including a dozen 2-year-olds.

He races in winter at Tampa Bay Downs and summers at Thistledown and Presque Isle Downs in Erie, Pa. Bennett tied Thistledown regular Jamie Ness for the recent trainer's crown at Tampa Bay Downs with 61 wins.

Bennett claimed Irish Lion on April 8 for the Double C Stable. In Irish Lion's most recent tune-up, he was the favored winner of an allowance race at Churchill Downs in Kentucky.

"After we changed a few things, including his work schedule, I found Irish Lion to be a strong finisher," Bennett said. "The farther he has to go -- and the Ohio Derby is a 1 1/16-mile race -- the better he's done. I feel very comfortable because we've got a very good jockey in Ronnie Allen Jr. aboard."

Making a big difference, said Bennett, has been installing a "figure eight" nose band, or tongue strap, to help relieve a respiratory problem. Just as important was getting the dark bay colt to settle down, and not want to battle with the early leaders.

"He's more relaxed, making it easier for him to come off the pace," Bennett said. "Irish Lion had a very nice workout at Presque Isle Downs and breezed pretty easily earlier this week on the dirt at Thistledown."

Caleb's Posse is the 3-1 morning-line favorite for the Ohio Derby, but 4-1 third choice Wilkinson will carry 124 pounds, the top weight. Global Power, with only two career starts, is the 7-2 second choice.

The Indians scratched out a run in the sixth inning to cut the Rangers lead to 2-1, but they couldn't do much more than that.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Texas leads the Indians, 2-1, Friday night after six innings at Progressive Field.

The Rangers nicked starter Justin Masterson for seven hits in the first three innings, but could manage only two runs. They took a 1-0 lead in the second on Endy Chavez's double to right field with two out. Mitch Moreland, who started the rally with a single, scored. Mike Napoli, who tried to score from second, was called out at the plate as Carlos Santana applied the tag after taking Orlando Cabrera's relay throw.

Replays showed Napoli was safe as Santana tagged him on the chest after he slid across the plate.

Chavez's double gave him five straight hits in the series.

Texas made it 2-0 in the third. Elvis Andrus and Josh Hamilton singled with one out to put runners on first and third. Michael Young ran his way out of a double play on a grounder to second to score Andrus.

The Indians finally scratched out a run against hard-throwing right-hander Alex Ogando in the sixth. Michael Brantley and Asdrubal Cabrera opened with singles to put runners on first and third. Brantley scored when Shin-Soo Choo hit into a double play at second base.

Choo thought he was safe and jumped in the air in protest after crossing the bag.

Until then the Indians didn't do much offensively. Grady Sizemore had a broken bat single in the second and Asdrubal Cabrera blooped a single into right field in the fourth.

Ogando's batting average against entering the game was .191 and it was easy to see why. Lefties were hitting .213 (32-for-150) and righties .153 (13-for-85) against Ogando.

He was making his first career start against the Tribe. He faced them twice in relief last year, allowing a run in 2 1/3 innings.

UPDATED: The Indians know they don't have the cash to compete in free-agency, so they'll have to pick smart to build a winner.

View full sizeChuck Crow l The Plain DealerFormer Tribe second baseman Carlos Baerga will represent the team at Monday's amateur draft in Seacaucus, N.J.

CLEVELAND, Ohio — The Indians approached last year's June draft as a poor man's version of free agency. They spent $9.4 million on the Drew Pomeranz class of amateur players. It was the fifth highest expenditure in the big leagues.

They will take the same approach Monday when the first round of the three-day draft is conducted. It begins at 7 p.m. with Carlos Baerga, former Indians second baseman, representing the Tribe at MLB Network studios in Secaucus, N.J.

"It's very important for us to build through the draft," said Brad Grant, Indians director of amateur scouting. "We're not going to compete in the free agent market with the larger teams. We have to develop our own players and the more players we get a chance to develop the greater our odds of finding an impact player."

The Indians have the eighth overall pick followed by picks 67, 97 and 128. After that they'll draft seventh in each round. The draft lasts 50 rounds.

Grant personally scouted an estimated 125 players. He says the draft is deep in strong-armed college and high school pitchers.

"It's nice to walk into a ballpark and see pitches thrown 94 and 95 mph," said Grant. "I saw about 25 guys like that."

Unlike the last two drafts when Stephen Strasburg and Bryce Harper were the consensus No.1 picks, there is much debate over whom the Pirates will make the No.1 pick in this draft. The uncertainty has trickled down through the rest of the first round. Grant said the Indians' options for the eighth pick run about "eight to 10 players deep."

Baseball America, in its latest mock draft, projected that the Indians would take Georgia Tech left-hander Jed Bradley. Other players tied to the Indians include RHP Matt Barnes, Connecticut; RHP Taylor Jungmann, Texas; RHP Sonny Gray, Vanderbilt; RHP Archie Bradley, a high school pitcher from Oklahoma; and high school shortstop Francisco Lindor from Montverde (Fla.) Academy.

Players expected to go early in the first round are RHP Gerrit Cole, UCLA; third baseman Anthony Rendon, Rice; LHP Danny Hultzen, Virginia, RHP Trevor Bauer, UCLA; and RHP Dylan Bundy, Owasso (Okla.) High School.

The Indians, with their last three No.1 picks, have taken college players -- Pomeranz with the fifth pick overall last year, North Carolina right-hander Alex White with the 15th overall pick in 2009 and third baseman Lonnie Chisenhall, Pitt Junior College, with the 29th pick overall in 2008. Grant gave no indication whether the Indians would take a college player with their first pick again.

Testing, testing: Lonnie Soloff, Indians head athletic trainer, said Travis Hafner could be in "game activities" in two weeks as he recovers from a strained right oblique muscle. The Indians entered Friday's game against Texas with a 7-8 record since Hafner was injured during batting practice on May 18.

Hafner swung the bat Friday and will hit off a tee today.

"The injury is frustrating," said Hafner. "The team is doing great this year. I was swinging the bat well so obviously you want to be in there and playing every day. But they continue to play well. You just look forward to getting back as quick as you can."

More injury news: White (right middle finger) leaves for Goodyear, Ariz., today to continue his rehab. Veteran first baseman Nick Johnson graduated from extended spring training and was in Class AA Akron's starting lineup on Friday night.

The Indians signed Johnson in spring training. He was coming off his fourth operation on his right wrist. This time a tendon was removed.

Soloff said Johnson was playing four days a week at DH and first base in extended spring. He expected him to do the same at Akron.

The terms of Johnson's minor league deal will pay him $750,000 if he makes the big league club. The Indians hold a $2.75 million option for 2012, but they must add him to the big league club by July 1 for that to go into effect.

Finally: Third baseman Jack Hannahan was scratched from Friday's lineup with a strained left hamstring. Acta said the injury isn't believed to be serious.

"[Indians head athletic trainer] Lonnie [Soloff] doesn't feel it's anything serious," said Acta. "It was precautionary that we took him out. But I can't sit here and tell you it's going to be one, two or three days."

Hannahan injured himself chasing a grounder on Thursday.

Acta took a big step toward managing in the big leagues by managing the Dominican Republic to the semifinals in the 2006 WBC.

View full sizeAP Manager Manny Acta

Clubhouse confidential: Tribe manager Manny Acta is glad that the field for the 2013 World Baseball Classic has been expanded by 12 to a total of 28 countries.

Acta took a big step toward managing in the big leagues by managing the Dominican Republic to the semifinals in the 2006 WBC.

"The World Baseball Classic's goal is to make the game global so it's good to expand the field," said Acta. "You're giving more countries an opportunity to expand baseball. Is the competition going to be good in some of those [new] places? Maybe not, but it's accomplishing what we want -- placing baseball in places where people never dreamed of it."

TV stuff: The big TV guys are noticing the Indians. Fox Sports has selected the Indians games on June 25 (at San Francisco) and July 2 (at Cincinnati) for its Saturday national broadcasts. ESPN has selected the Tribe's June 26 games (at San Francisco) as its Sunday night game.

SportsTime Ohio will not be able to broadcast those games.

Stat of day: The Indians, based on current records, are 20-12 against teams at .500 or above and 13-9 against teams with losing records.

-- Paul Hoynes

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Midpark senior Kaila Barber never ceases to amaze. She passed four girls on the final curve of the 4x400 prelims Friday, rocketing from last place to third and into today's final at Jesse Owens Stadium at the Division I state track meet.

Midpark senior Kaila Barber. - (Gus Chan l PD)

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Midpark senior Kaila Barber never ceases to amaze.

She passed four girls on the final curve of the 4x400 prelims Friday, rocketing from last place to third and into today's final at Jesse Owens Stadium at the Division I state track meet.

While Midpark qualified only sixth overall, the race mattered because the Meteors likely will need every point they can score today in an effort to win the school's first team state championship.

"I don't like chasing people," Barber said. "I didn't want to let my team down, so I did my part. That was so painful."

Barber also qualified first in the 300 hurdles and seventh in the 100. Her twin sister, Jade, qualified sixth in the 110 hurdles, but did not advance in the 400. Midpark has four field event finals today, including Kaila in the long jump, which she won last year along with the 300 hurdles.

The only Division I final Friday was the 4x800 relay.

Nordonia's boys team of juniors Troy Mulhall, John Ciocca and Patrick Osborne and senior anchor Sal DelGiudice placed third (7:47.93) behind Cincinnati LaSalle and Columbus St. Charles. St. Ignatius was eighth.

"I was real happy to finish third. We've been friends for a while and it was great to have this experience together," DelGiudice said.

Rocky River's girls placed fifth in the 4x800 after leading much of the race. Junior Megan O'Keefe struggled to cover the last 100 meters, collapsed at the finish and was tended to by trainers in a tent. It was a young relay that also included sophomore Madi Connelly and juniors Elyse Bierut and Maddy McDonough.

"Our goal was to get in the top eight. We are literally so excited to be in the top five," Connelly said. "[O'Keefe] tried so hard and we are so proud of her."

Medina, which also ran without a senior, had the top qualifying time in the 4x800, and placed sixth.

Area individuals set themselves up well for today's finals, which are expected to be run in 90-plus degree heat and thick humidity.

Cleveland Heights sophomore Shelton Gibson advanced in four events. He anchored the No. 1 4x200, the No. 2 4x100, and was third in the 100 and seventh in the 200.

Berea junior Donovan Robertson was the top qualifier in the 110 hurdles and advanced second behind Maple Heights' Sean Weems in the 300 hurdles. Robertson followed immediately after that race with his best effort of the day, a 21.53 that qualified him third in the 200.

"I'm excited for tomorrow -- really excited," Robertson said.

Glenville senior Quincy Downing was first in the 400 prelims and ran a strong anchor on the No. 1-qualifying 4x400 (3:16.10), which will attempt to break the state record of 3:13.05 tonight.

"They've got a little bit of a chip on their shoulders. We know we messed up as a team [at the regionals]," Glenville coach Tony Overton said.

St. Edward sophomore Anthony Young qualified second in the 200 and fifth in the 100.

Medina had the top-qualifying boys 4x100 relay.

In a pair of remarkably quick girls 100 semifinals, two-time state champ Destinee Gause, a junior from Reynoldsburg, broke the stadium record in 11.63 and qualified first. John Hay junior Chanitta Westbrooks grabbed the ninth and last berth in the final in 12.21, a time that would have placed third in last year's final. In between, Brunswick junior Brianna Neitzel qualified fifth in 12.00 and Kaila Barber ran a 12.09.

"It was sick," Neitzel said of her heat, in which she placed third.

Neitzel was the No. 2 qualifier in the 400.

Westbrooks' better event is the 200, and she qualified second behind Gause.

Shaker Heights junior Naleta Andrews qualified third in the 400 and anchored the top 4x400.

"I could do a lot better [in the 400] and I thought it over and made up for it in the 4x4," Andrews said. "It was fun, oh, my goodness."

In the girls 100 hurdles, West Geauga's Chantel Richardson, Lorain's Melody Farris and Euclid's Artia Gunn qualified 1-2-3.

Farris also advanced in the 300 hurdles and 4x100.

To reach this Plain Dealer reporter: twarsinskey@plaind.com, 216-999-4661

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Records were falling left and right just before 2 p.m. Friday at the Division II State Track and Field Tournament at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium. Woodridge's boys 4x800 relay team of senior Jimmy Charles, junior Drake Sulzer, senior Jacob Onifer and senior Vibushan Sivakumaran set four records in taking the state title with a winning time...

Woodbridge’s Vibushan Sivakumaran is all alone as he finishes the final leg of the 4x800 relay Friday in the Division II state track tournament. The run of 7:37.43 not only set four records, but the team finished 10 seconds ahead of the runners-up from St. Vincent-St. Mary. - (Lonnie Timmons III l PD)

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Records were falling left and right just before 2 p.m. Friday at the Division II State Track and Field Tournament at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium.

Woodridge's boys 4x800 relay team of senior Jimmy Charles, junior Drake Sulzer, senior Jacob Onifer and senior Vibushan Sivakumaran set four records in taking the state title with a winning time of 7:37.43. The time set records at the Division II state meet, the entire state meet in all divisions, the entire state of Ohio in Division II all-time and for Jesse Owens Stadium.

"I'm just the anchor, but those three guys there, they're the reason why we won today," Sivakumaran said of his teammates. "We knew we were capable of doing that. We just put everything on the line today. If those guys give me a five-second lead, I know that I can just bring it home.

"As a senior, this is just amazing. I'm going to miss running with those guys. That's the only thing I'm sad about."

Said Sulzer, "It's amazing. We had a gutsy race. We just put it all out there. We wanted to go after Wadsworth's [Owens Stadium] record. To beat that, to take that off the board is awesome, and then we took down a [Division II state meet] record that was standing for 20 years. Just to do it all in one race is an amazing feeling."

Also in the boys 4x800 relay, St. Vincent-St. Mary placed second in 7:47.30, Bay took fourth in 7:51.76 and Elyria Catholic was eighth in 8:00.82.

In the girls 4x800 relay, Woodridge finished second, as the quartet of seniors Maria Moore, Miranda Stockton, Emelie Moeller and Morgan Willis had a time of 9:12.42.

"It's really emotional," Willis said. "I'm just really proud of our team. We knew that there's no pressure, because we were coming in in sixth place, so we were like, 'Hey, this is our last race, let's go out and have some fun.' It's nice to see it all come together. I'm just really glad and happy."

SVSM's girls 4x800 team placed third (9:13.63), Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin took fifth (9:24.06) and Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy placed sixth (9:24.65).

Friday morning, the Division II state meet began with field events. Topping the area contingent was Manchester senior Christina Matheny, who finished in a tie for second place in the girls high jump at 5-5. SVSM junior Megan Tomei placed fourth in the girls discus (127-1), while Ravenna Southeast's Damian Pennington was eighth in the boys long jump (21-63/4).

The continuation of a hotly contested but friendly rivalry came in the semifinals of both the girls 100 hurdles and 300 hurdles, as seniors JeRica Sanders (Lake Catholic) and Bridget Doughty (Bay) both qualified for today's finals in both events. In the 100 hurdles, Sanders finished with the best time among those in both heats (14.27), and Doughty's time was fourth-best (14.51). In the 300 hurdles, Sanders' time was third-best (44.13), and Doughty's time was sixth-best (44.37).

"It felt really good," said Sanders. "I'm really happy with what I've done today. It's kind of sad [for the rivalry to end]. Hopefully, I will see her sometime next year. I love it. It's the best experience ever, so I'm just glad I get to run with her one more time."

Said Doughty, "I want to have fun. I want to run with joy. I'm excited for tomorrow. I'm looking forward to racing JeRica. She brings the best out of me."

SVSM leads the girls overall team standings with 11 points after three events, one point ahead of three other schools tied with 10 points. Woodridge is tied for fifth with eight points, and Manchester is tied for seventh with seven points. After four boys events, Woodridge is tied with three other schools for first place with 10 points, and SVSM is in a five-way tie for fifth with eight points.

The second and final day of the Division II state meet will be today, starting at 9 a.m. for field events and 1 p.m. for track events.

Dusty Sloan is a freelance writer from Ashland.

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Temperatures in the 90s with high humidity are predicted today in Columbus and several distance runners said they were re-thinking their strategy. Among them, North Royalton senior Hanna Neczypor said she might drop the 1,600 to concentrate on the 3,200. The 3,200 is to be run about 1 hour after the 1,600 in each division. "I...

Trinity's Tommy Pieronek, center, leads off the 4x100 relay during the Division III meet in Columbus. - (Lonnie Timmons III l PD)

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Temperatures in the 90s with high humidity are predicted today in Columbus and several distance runners said they were re-thinking their strategy. Among them, North Royalton senior Hanna Neczypor said she might drop the 1,600 to concentrate on the 3,200. The 3,200 is to be run about 1 hour after the 1,600 in each division.

"I feel more comfortable in the 3,200," said Neczypor, who earlier this season set the state record (10:16.10). "I'm not 100 percent sure what I'm going to do."

Meet officials said they will consider having water available to runners during the distance races.

Nine for eight: For the first time, there will be nine finalists today in each division for the 100, 200, 400, 100 hurdles, 110 hurdles, 300 hurdles and the three sprint relays. The number of awards in each event will not change: eight.

The format for reaching the finals also has changed. The top two in each heat Friday advanced to the finals, plus the next five fastest times. Previously, the top four in each heat earned berths. The changes were proposed by the high school track coaches and approved by the Ohio High School Athletic Association.

Computer error: Officials said the three computers used to time the start and finish all crashed at the same time during the second Division II 400-meter semifinal. Instead of rerunning the heat, they chose to run two finals heats today.

The 16 runners will be re-seeded according to their times from last week's regional meets. The fastest nine will run in the second heat. The next seven qualifiers will run in the first heat.

Among those running in the fast heat will be Orange senior Cameron Grays, Cleveland Central Catholic junior Keith Hemphill and Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin senior Alex Natticchia, who each happened to be in the affected semifinal Friday.

Family affairs: St. Vincent-St. Mary senior Doran Grant and Massillon senior Devin Smith are cousins. Grant is the defending Division II 110 hurdles champ, and Smith won the Division I long jump last year.

Lorain 4x100 relay junior teammates Alicia Arnold and Melody Farris are cousins. They also are cousins with Elyria football player Chase Farris, an Ohio State recruit.

-- Tim Warsinskey

Team player: Gilmour Academy senior Candace Longino-Thomas was trying to become only the third girl in the 37 years of the girls state meet to win four medals twice. She won the 100, 200 and was on winning 4x100 and 4x200 relays in 2009 when the Lancers won their fourth state title.

However, she will be up against it today after suffering an apparent serious injury to her left hamstring. She missed last year's Division III meet when she pulled her right hamstring at regionals.

"It's a tall order," said Gilmour coach Jeff Klein, doing his best to remain optimistic that his star runner will be available. "It's a challenge of mind and body.

"A sprinter at their peak is only one step away from injury. She wanted to do it for the team."

Longino-Thomas will be running at Texas Christian University this fall.

No shot: Steubenville Catholic Central senior Teddi Jo Maslowski was also going for four medals. She won three last year and holds the Division III state meet marks in the 100 and 300 hurdles.

She will go in both of those events and the 4x200 today. But she had to settle for second place in the long jump Friday when junior Erika Armstead won with a leap of 18-6, Maslowski going 18-21/2.

She's back: Cuyahoga Heights senior Carly Stock made it to Columbus in the pole vault as a freshman. She finally made it back in the Division III event and finished fourth.

She fouled on her last attempt, but still finished with a personal best of 41-103/4.

"I came back and came out strong," said Stock, who will be attending Mount Union in the fall. "I PR'd, so I can't be mad. It's something to be proud of."

It would have taken a Herculean effort to win the event because McComb senior Jackie Leppelmeier defended her title by setting a state meet and Division III record with a last-throw toss of 49-31/2. It broke her Division III mark of 48-81/4, set last week at regionals, and the meet mark of 47-3 that had stood since 1994.

"She set the state record, so I can't be upset," said Stock, whose parents, Bob and Bonnie, hugged her at the finish of her high school career.

-- Joe Maxse

No fear: Don't let it be said Buchtel senior Nathaniel Harris doesn't set his goals high.

Harris, the 2010 Division II state champion in the 200 meters, turned in the top semifinal time in the 200 on Friday afternoon. He finished in 21.74 seconds and is looking to run faster in today's final.

"It was cool, but it's just I'm tight. I've been cramping for a little bit, so I'm cramping now," Harris said right after the race. "I'm glad to win it. I know I'll do better [today], so I just wanted to get through the day."

Harris won last year's 200 in 21.93.

What exactly is his time goal for today's final?

"20.0," Harris said. "I want my name on the stadium. I want a faster time than Jesse Owens."

Owens set an Olympic record in the 200 with a time of 20.7 seconds (since broken) in 1936.

-- Dusty Sloan, Special to The PD

COLUMBUS, Ohio — At the end of the third inning, Archbishop Hoban catcher Lucas Sokol took starting pitcher Matt Gebacz aside. "When you leave pitches up like that and you're still getting outs, you know it's going to be a good day," Sokol said to his battery mate after center fielder Josh Young ended the inning by taking a...

COLUMBUS, Ohio — At the end of the third inning, Archbishop Hoban catcher Lucas Sokol took starting pitcher Matt Gebacz aside.

"When you leave pitches up like that and you're still getting outs, you know it's going to be a good day," Sokol said to his battery mate after center fielder Josh Young ended the inning by taking a line drive off the grass with a sliding catch.

Gebacz did not leave too many pitches in the danger zone on Friday and Hoban went on to defeat Holy Name, 3-2, in a well-played Division II state semifinal game that took 91 minutes to play in Huntington Park.

In defeating their North Coast League associates, the Knights (18-8) can win the school's first state championship today when they play Columbus DeSales (20-9) at 4 p.m.

Gebacz (5-2) continued his postseason prowess when he threw a four-hitter with seven strikeouts and no walks to get his team to the school's first appearance in the title game since 1993.

The victory was the third in a row for the senior left-hander, who threw 96 pitches, 63 for strikes. While he wasn't as impressive as he was in beating Walsh Jesuit in the districts and Tallmadge in the regionals, he was able to get the job done.

"Our defense played great behind me and Lucas called another great game," said Gebacz, a Niagara recruit. "I left a couple pitches up and that's going to cost you. But, I couldn't be happier."

One of the few mistakes Gebacz made came with one out in the top of the seventh inning and the Knights leading, 3-1. Junior designated hitter Alex Kurowski hit a home run far over the right field wall to cut the Green Wave deficit. After Gebacz notched his seventh strikeout of the game, things got interesting when senior Kevin Kowalczyk reached on an error, bringing the potential winning run to the plate.

Gebacz and the Knights escaped when second baseman Trevor Oldham was able to field Tony Connacher's soft -- but potentially dangerous -- humpback liner and step on second base for the game-ending force-out.

"It's definitely easier when you have the guy on first and you have the force-out," said Oldham, who will attend Heidelberg. "It's better than charging it and risking a bad throw."

The Knights scored twice in the bottom of the first off Holy Name starter Brett Sullivan, who pitched well enough to win most games. Mercyhurst recruit Kolin McMillen and Oldham singled and both moved up on a wild pitch. A sacrifice fly by Kerrigan Kain and a single by Tom Yakubowski got both runners home. They added what proved to be a valuable insurance run in the third when Kain singled, stole second and scored on a single by Brendan Taylor.

The Green Wave had the misfortune of hitting several balls hard but right at fielders. Connor Egan had a two-out double and it was his liner to center that prompted Sokol's conversation with Gebacz. Connacher, Anthony Smith, and Brendan Boylan also hit the ball hard but failed to find the holes. Holy Name left five runners on base.

To reach this Plain Dealer reporter: trogers@plaind.com; 216-999-5169

AKRON, Ohio — Elyria softball coach Ken Fenik felt his team would defeat North Canton Hoover if it could muster 10 hits. Not.

AKRON, Ohio — Elyria softball coach Ken Fenik felt his team would defeat North Canton Hoover if it could muster 10 hits.

Not.

The Pioneers outhit Hoover, 12-11, but still lost a 9-5 decision in Friday's Division I state tournament semifinal softball game at Firestone Stadium in Akron.

Hoover (28-3), ranked sixth in the final state coaches poll, will play for its fifth state title against No. 7-ranked Gahanna Lincoln (20-10) at 4 p.m. today.

"We really didn't play Elyria High defense today and I probably could have had my team a little more prepared," said Fenik. "We just didn't execute, we just didn't make the plays."

Case in point, Hoover scored four times with a runner on second base on balls hit to the outfield, but a lot of that had to do with its style of play.

"We're going to try to make the other team make the play," said Vikings coach Jerry Goodpasture. "We have some pretty quick kids so we're going to take our chances and I leave it up to my runners to slide around the tags.

"That happened 2-3 times today at home plate and we've been able to do a good job of that."

The Vikings had a 4-0 lead heading into the third inning on four hits and the help of one of two Pioneer errors.

Another Elyria error coupled with Riley Kesling's sacrifice bunt, walks to Ally Farrah and Jenna Lilley, and singles by Mackenzie DiPietro and Erika Warren resulted in two more runs and a 6-2 advantage.

"That infield is awfully fast and a sharply hit ball -- unless you're right in front of it -- is tough to come up with," added Goodpasture. "If you're not used to it, it can catch you by surprise."

The No. 2-ranked Pioneers (24-5) battled back in the top of the seventh inning with three runs thanks to singles by Alexis Roseboro, Melanie Woodard, Darien Ward and Haley Looney.

It was too little, too late.

"We've hitting the ball all year and you saw today the way we can hit the ball," said Fenik. "We just didn't get those key hits at certain times."

Roseboro mustered three hits, including a fourth-inning solo home run. Woodard, Ward and Looney added two hits each against Hoover starter Ashley Hall, who walked only one and struck out nine.

"They were pitching me mostly inside," said Roseboro, "but I had my mind made up to just hit the ball."

Kristen Boros and Alyssa Barker combined to walk three and strike out four as Farrah, Lilley, Warren and Sarah Wechter accounted for two hits each in leading the Vikings.

"We felt like the underdogs and felt we had something to prove," said Farrah, admitting Hoover's 3-2 loss to Elyria during the regular season was used as motivation.

"We just came out and played our game."

To reach this Plain Dealer reporter: bfortuna@plaind.com, 216-999-4665

Stricker uses aces the eighth hole, then birdies his final hole for a 5-under 67 and takes a three-shot lead going into the weekend.

View full sizeTony Dejak l Associated PressSteve Stricker is a happy man Friday after getting a hole-in-one on the eighth hole during the second round of the Memorial Tournament at Muirfield Village Golf Club in Dublin, Ohio.

Doug Ferguson / Associated Press

DUBLIN, Ohio — On a course with such a fine line between birdies and bogeys, Steve Stricker settled for perfection Friday in the Memorial with a hole-in-one that put him in control at Muirfield Village.

Stricker used a 6-iron on the 188-yard eighth hole -- his 17th hole of the second round -- then birdied his final hole for a 5-under 67. Instead of being part of a five-way tie for the lead, he wound up three shots clear going into the weekend.

"It's a shock when you see that go in, obviously, but in a good way," Stricker said. "A great way to finish the round."

Stricker said the eighth hole has given him fits over the year, which is just as well. So has this tournament. In 11 previous appearances at the tournament Jack Nicklaus created, Stricker never has finished in the top 10.

He is hoping to change that, and shots like his ace certainly help.

Stricker was at 9-under 135, three shots clear of Rory McIlroy (72), Ricky Barnes (70), Jonathan Byrd (67) and the resurgent Rod Pampling of Australia, who lost his PGA Tour card last year and had a bogey-free 66.

McIlroy already has made 13 birdies over two rounds, proof enough that he's swinging well and making his share of putts. He also has five bogeys and a sloppy double bogey Friday on the 14th hole, when he pulled his tee shot into the tiny stream left of the fairway and nearly went into the water on his next shot.

"I felt as if I played good enough to shoot something in the 60s, but I just made too many mistakes out there," McIlroy said.

McIlroy wasn't alone in the good and bad of Muirfield Village.

Rickie Fowler, the runner-up at the Memorial last year, has only 12 pars in 36 holes. He was at 3-under 141, six shots behind but still very much in the hunt at the halfway points.

"The conditions are scoreable, but bogeys can creep up on you quickly," Fowler said. "You can make some birdies, but if there's a tough pin and you don't hit the right shot, you'll make bogeys. It's a fine line."

Ryder Cup captain Davis Love III was a great illustration of that. He had six birdies and an eagle and shot 73. Love also hit two into the water on the par-5 11th to make a triple bogey, then took a double bogey on the 17th along with four other bogeys.

Luke Donald, in his debut as the No. 1 player in the world, had another strong rally by finishing with back-to-back birdies for a 69 that left him at 5-under 139, still very much in the hunt. Donald has not finished out of the top 10 in nine straight tournaments.

"Some careless mistakes out there," Donald said.

Stricker made his share, too, such as back-to-back bogeys from the bunker as he was finishing his front nine. But he played the final five holes in 5 under, highlighted by his second career hole-in-one.

He thrust his arms in the air when he realized it had dropped into the cup, but that's about as excited as he gets about an ace. Some players keep the golf balls from the ace. Stricker teed it up on the ninth, made birdie, that gave the ball to the official keeping score without informing him where that ball had been lately.

His other ace came in the 1997 Phoenix Open on the 16th hole, the biggest party scene on tour. That was the hole -- during the same year, no less -- when Tiger Woods made an ace and was showered with beer cans and plastic cups in one of the most raucous celebrations ever seen in this royal and ancient game. The replay has been shown countless times.

"You didn't see mine that year? No?" Stricker said with a grin.

His came in the final round, and there's a reason hardly anyone remembered. For one reason, not many saw it.

"That day, I had teed off the back nine first," he said. "So there wasn't a lot of people there."

The good news for Stricker is the Phoenix Open awarded a car for a hole-in-one on the 16th, but only in the final round. So that's one thing he got that Woods didn't -- just not for long.

"I used it for a little while, and then traded it in for a minivan," said Stricker, whose first daughter was born a year later.

With so many wild scorecards, leave it to Phil Mickelson to have a conservative one. That's not necessarily a good thing this week. Mickelson has made only five birdies against three bogeys through 36 holes, leaving seven shots behind.

"I need something good tomorrow," Mickelson said. "I had a chance to shoot something in the 60s and move up the leaderboard and didn't capitalize on a lot of opportunities."

McIlroy pulled his opening tee shot and made bogey, but two other bogeys on the front came from the middle of the fairway, with a wedge in his hand for one shot and a 9-iron for another.

But he also looked like he'll be a factor on the weekend with consecutive birdies, including a shot that he thought was headed to the back of the 13th green, only for it to settle 6 feet below the hole.

"I'm happy enough," McIlroy said. "I'm thereabouts going into the weekend. There's still a lot of golf left to play. I know that and everyone else knows that. I just need to limit those mistakes. If I can keep the silly bogeys off the card, I think I'll be all right."

Cinesport video: The Memorial

For more Cinesport video on cleveland.com, go here.

First baseman Jesus Aguilar hits two homers for the Captains in a win over Clinton, Iowa. The Clippers, Aeros, and Kinston Indians all lose.

AAA Columbus Clippers

Bats 10, Clippers 4 Left-handed reliever Nick Hagadone (8.22) allowed four runs on four hits in the Bats' six-run sixth inning as Columbus lost the International League game Friday in Louisville, Ky.

Hagadone was the Clippers' third pitcher of the game, relieving right-hander Carlton Smith (1-1, 3.75) with one out in the sixth. Lefty David Huff (4.80) started for Columbus and allowed three runs (all earned) in five innings.

Columbus 3B Lonnie Chisenhall had two hits to raise his average to .274.

AA Akron Aeros

Mets 6, Aeros 2 Akron scored twice in the bottom of the ninth to avoid being shut out, but still lost the Eastern League game at Canal Park.

Joe Gardner (3-4, 3.92) started for the Aeros and pitched 4 innings. The right-hander allowed five runs (four earned) on eight hits. He walked three and struck out two.

Advanced A Kinston Indians

Dash 3, Indians 1 Kinston 2B Tyler Cannon (.208) went 3-for-3 and C Doug Pickens (.219) had two doubles but the K-Tribe dropped the Carolina League game in Winston-Salem, N.C.

Lefty T.J. House (2-6, 5.40) started for Kinston and pitched 7 1/3 innings. He allowed three earned runs on six hits and one walk while striking out four.

A Lake County Captains

Captains 8, LumberKings 7 First baseman Jesus Aguilar (.249) hit two home runs and DH Alex Lavisky (.212) hit one to help Lake County beat Clinton (Iowa) in a Midwest League game in Eastlake.

Aguilar has nine homers this season, Lavisky, a St. Ed grad, has seven. CF LeVon Washington (.225) had three hits and scored three runs, including the game-winner in the bottom of the ninth on a fielder's choice.

An ugly moment in Tribe history is an unforgettable one for a North Royalton resident.

View full sizePD file photoUmpire Joe Brinkman, left, holds a fan injured during the Beer Night melee at Cleveland Municipal Stadium on June 4, 1974.

Tough to pick my "most unforgettable day at an Indians game" out of hundreds over the last 50 years. Here goes.

Ten Cent Beer Night, June 4, 1974. About a month before the game, I bought tickets for the game for myself and my best baseball buddies, Jim and John Anderson. The team was lousy that year. Good tickets were easy to get. I got upper-deck, first-row seats in section 23, directly behind home plate. Perfect ringside seats for the show. Didn't even know about the cheap beer until a couple of days before the game.

We expected the usual crowd of 8,000. Happy to see the big crowd of 25,000. The lines to get the cheap beer were huge, so we just bought bottles of beer from the vendors.

The game was a typical Indians [butt] whipping . . . Texas up plenty. The crowd was very restless, very drunk. When that young man took off his clothes and ran across the field, I [couldn't stop] laughing. A big, fat cop was chasing him. No way was he going to catch him. The streaker threw his clothes up into the stands, climbed in and disappeared. Hardest I have ever laughed in my life.

Then another streaker ran across the field. This time, the cops were ready and they grabbed him. Then people started climbing out of the stands and onto the field. The cops were so heavily outnumbered they could not control the unruly people.

There were people standing along both sides of the outfield. The Texas bullpen, down the right-field foul line, was filled with people. Then, the Texas pitcher ran out of gas and the Indians started to score. But Texas couldn't warm up a reliever.

Then, before the next inning started, some jerk grabbed Texas right-fielder Jeff Burroughs' cap. The Rangers flew out of the dugout, armed with bats and the riot was on.

I was laughing so hard no sound came out. Jim was furious that the Indians were gonna have to forfeit the game. He kept slugging me in the arm. He's a powerful man, too. That made it even more funny.

Of course, the Indians forfeited. An ugly moment in Indians baseball history, a most unforgettable game for me.

It's not the Browns and Steelers, it is Arena Football and the Cleveland Gladiators and the Pittsburgh Power. But it is a battle for first place between two cities that aren't fond of each other.

View full sizeGus Chan l The Plain DealerGladiators injured wide receiver Troy Bergeron will be a game-time decision tonight.

But it's not the Browns and Steelers, it is Arena Football and the Cleveland Gladiators and the Pittsburgh Power. But it is a battle for first place between two cities that aren't fond of each other.

Both teams are 6-4 and tied atop the American East standings heading into today's 7:30 game at CONSOL Energy Center in Pittsburgh. It's the first time the two teams have ever played. This is the expansion Power's first season.

"We are excited for this game in general because it is a chance to get back on the right track after losing last week," said Gladiators coach Steve Thonn. "With that being said, it is also a division game and can set the tone for the stretch run of the season that's coming up. We just need to avoid the penalties and mental errors that sometimes hold us back and I think that will allow us to play some of our best football yet."

Each team will have seven games remaining after this game. They meet again on July 15 at The Q in a game that is scheduled to be televised on the NFL Network.

The Gladiators' offense could use a lift in the form of wide receiver Troy Bergeron, who missed last week's game with a shoulder strain. Bergeron, who has 50 receptions and 19 touchdowns this season, took part in the team's walkthrough on Friday and will be a game-time decision.

Cleveland's offense dominated the ball last week against Arizona, but struggled to find the end zone, losing, 63-42. The Gladiators had a nine-minute advantage in time of possession, but had one touchdown called back for a penalty and had two other drives end in interceptions. Quarterback Kurt Rocco completed 27-of-42 passes for 328 yards and three touchdowns, and ran for two more scores.

"Kurt has played extremely well in the last two full games he has been able to play," Thonn said. "He was fighting some injuries for a couple of games and he seems to be getting back to where he was before. A couple interceptions came as the result of deflected passes last week that weren't necessarily his fault, but he fought through and still played a good game. Some different receivers have been stepping up and having good games as of late and I expect everyone to step up to the challenge in Pittsburgh on Saturday."

Pittsburgh is not flashy. Bernard Morris is the fourth quarterback to start for the Power and has been successful running the ball. In fact, Pittsburgh ranks second in the AFL in rushing offense. Morris has 27 touchdown passes against only six interceptions.

Pittsburgh has won three straight, including a 76-75 win over Dallas last week.

Defensive: The Gladiators continue as one of the top defensive teams in the AFL. They rank second in scoring defense (45.0), total defense (265.8 yards), and fourth-down conversions allowed (35 percent). They are third in pass defense (242.4) and red-zone defense (74.5 percent).

Off the bench: If Bergeron can't play, Thyron Lewis will get his second start at wide receiver. Lewis led the Gladiators with 13 catches for 157 yards and two touchdowns against Arizona.

Kent State takes advantage of a throwing error and a passed ball in the 11th inning and beats Texas State, 4-2.

View full sizeEric Gay l Associated PressKent State's Ben Klafczynski tries to field a foul ball hit by Texas State's Casey Kalenkosky during the seventh inning Friday in Austin, Texas.

Kent State's David Lyon walked to lead off the 11th and reached third on a throwing error by catcher Andrew Stumph. Lyon scored on a go-ahead single by pinch hitter Jason Bagoly, who then moved to second on a bunt. Nick Hamilton (Avon Lake), who replaced Bagoly as a base runner, scored on a passed ball to give the Golden Flashes (44-15) a two-run lead.

"Coach [Scott Stricklin] came up to me and told me to relax and not do too much, just try to hit the ball to the right side because we just had to score one guy," Bagoly said of his approach to his game-winning hit. "Once David Lyon got to third base, I kind of relaxed a little bit because I knew that all I had to do is put the ball in play or get a ball to the outfield."

Texas State had chances to take the lead. In the ninth and 10th innings, the Bobcats had men in scoring position, but Kent State's pitching staff, composed of starter Kyle Hallock, Justin Gill and Kyle McMillen, was able to get out of jams throughout the game.

"I felt like we had the opportunity to win the game right there and it didn't turn out," Texas State coach Ty Harrington said.

"You have to be able to deliver hits, and their guy did a good job of pitching through the late innings."

McMillen (1-2), Kent State's third pitcher of the day, went 2 1/3 innings for the win.

Jeff McVaney (1-2), who started the game in left field for the Bobcats (40-22), replaced starter Carson Smith after nine innings.

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Candace Longino-Thomas has always been in a hurry. But the standout sprinter from Gilmour Academy has to go through a painful waiting game until this morning. A strong favorite to earn four medals for the Lancers, just as she did two years ago, Longino-Thomas grabbed her left hamstring with about 50 meters to go in a...

Gilmour Academy’s Candace Longino-Thomas is carried from the track after suffering an injury while running the 200-meter preliminary race, which she won, Friday. Her status for today’s races was uncertain. - (Lonnie Timmons III l PD)

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Candace Longino-Thomas has always been in a hurry. But the standout sprinter from Gilmour Academy has to go through a painful waiting game until this morning.

A strong favorite to earn four medals for the Lancers, just as she did two years ago, Longino-Thomas grabbed her left hamstring with about 50 meters to go in a preliminary heat of the 200-meter race. She had already won preliminary heats in the 100 and 400, along with anchoring the winning 4x200 relay.

Longino-Thomas held on to win the 200 heat in 25.58 seconds, but immediately collapsed on the track just after crossing the finish line. She was carried to an aid station where she received treatment for nearly an hour.

Her injury was termed a spasm to her hamstring and she will be required to treat it with ice and gentle stretching. Her status for today is uncertain.

"At the end of the curve, I felt a sharp pain," said Longino-Thomas, her leg wrapped in ice and in plenty of discomfort. "I was going to stop, but I kept going. I really don't know [about today's finals]. I hope it goes away."

It was an obvious bummer for the Lancers, who were a strong contender to win their fifth title in the past seven years. They finished third in the 4x800, Friday's lone running final, to earn six points in the early going.

"All we can do is evaluate it in the morning," said Gilmour coach Jeff Klein, regarding his top athlete. "Maybe she can go in her top events. We can sub for her in the relay. It's tough to replace Candace." In the 4x800, the Lancers fell off the pace at the halfway point as Archbold and Fort Laramie took over the top spots. Archbold got the win with a clocking of 9:31.02, with Fort Laramie the runner-up in 9:33.20.

Gilmour's quartet of sophomore Meghan Pryatel, freshman Halle Markel, senior Kiera Finelli and sophomore Alexis Anton was next at 9:37.55. Hawken finished ninth and Berkshire 10th.

Longino-Thomas then began her quest as she had top qualifying times in the 100 (12.12), 400 (57.75) and anchored the top 4x200 relay (1:43.29). Trinity qualified third in that event at 1:45.66.

The Lancers qualified fourth in the finishing 4x400, with Berkshire's quartet of freshman Patience Elliott and seniors Meghann Wright, Allie Noble and Noelle Jurcak clocking a best of 4:01.74.

On the boys side, Trinity had to settle for second place in the 4x800 final as Gahanna Columbus Academy pulled the upset by knocking more than 20 seconds off its season best to win in 7:48.41. The Trojans, who came in with the best qualifying time, dropped five seconds off their season best to finish in 7:54.50.

"Personally, I think we're in shock," said Trinity senior Nick Gliha, who ran the anchor and will go today in the 1,600 and 4x400. "They ran a terrific race, but at the same time we ran an amazing PR. We're not done yet. We're going to take the eight points and stay hungry."

The Trojans qualified senior Nick Bell in the 110 hurdles, the Notre Dame College recruit will also run in today's 200 and is on the 4x100 and 4x400 relays. Senior Nate Babb is entered in today's 800.

Trinity senior Rob Morel came up short in the 400 and junior Mike Matonis did not score points in the high jump.

"We had an OK day," said Trinity coach John Kall, whose club is in a five-way tie for sixth place with eight points. "We have to be ready to step it up [today]. Our kids have stepped it up all year."

To reach this Plain Dealer reporter: jmaxseplaind.com, 216-999-5168

Lawrence Vickers isn't blind to the obvious -- he's being replaced at fullback by the Browns with rookie draft pick Owen Marecic. He just doesn't understand it.

View full sizeJoshua Gunter l Plain Dealer file photoLawrence Vickers says it is his goal to finish his career in Cleveland, but he said if the Browns let him go in favor of fourth-round draft pick Owen Marecic, he will return with another team to haunt them.

CLEVELAND, Ohio — Free-agent fullback Lawrence Vickers isn't angry about the Browns' evident decision to replace him with fourth-round draft pick Owen Marecic of Stanford. He just doesn't understand it.

Vickers wasn't given a contract tender by the Browns before the owners' lockout. He hasn't spoken to new coach Pat Shurmur or General Manager Tom Heckert about his future.

When the team selected Marecic on the third day of the draft, "I was like, 'Wow,' but at the same time I laughed. I don't know what their plans are," Vickers said. He spoke publicly about his future for the first time in a phone interview.

"I'm not disappointed because I understand business totally," Vickers said. "In business, you've got to make decisions that are for the business.

"If it is the end of me, kudos to Cleveland. I'm not angry. My own personal goal was to be in one spot for my whole career. I love Cleveland. I wanted to be like Kevin Mack, who spent his whole career there.

"If it is my departure in Cleveland, I'm going out with a bang. The team is on the rise.

"Am I mad at Tom or even Mike [Holmgren]? No. I'll see them. I'll shake their hands."

The Browns have never articulated their plans at fullback in their new West Coast offense. After drafting Marecic, Heckert said of Vickers, "When the league starts [after the lockout], we'll see."

Shurmur has said that every back in his offense needs to be able to catch the ball. If Shurmur and his staff determined that Vickers was not a good fit in their offense, Vickers said they made a mistake.

View full sizeAPBrowns draft pick Owen Marecic of Stanford.

He said he was known as a versatile fullback as a rookie in 2006 coming out of Colorado, which ran an offense copied from Mike Shanahan's West Coast system with the Denver Broncos at the time.

Vickers had more than 500 yards rushing and receiving in his career at Colorado.

"I am a West Coast fullback. That's what they don't understand," he said.

He said he became typecast as a "knockout fullback" the past two years because that's how he earned playing time.

"I was on a team where they don't even use a fullback," he said of the Browns' offense under former coach Eric Mangini. "Mangini's era wasn't really a fullback era. I played just on [the belief that] 'this person has to be on the field.' Everything I got wasn't given. I took it. Our offense was based on New England's. They don't even have a fullback."

Vickers' reputation as an explosive lead-blocker actually began in Romeo Crennel's last two seasons in 2007 and '08. He paved the way for successive 1,000-yard rushing seasons by Jamal Lewis, who was running on bald tires and leaking oil. In 2009, when Lewis went down with concussion symptoms, Vickers' crushing lead blocks helped Jerome Harrison amass 561 yards in the final three games.

"Maybe if I wasn't knocking people out, maybe I'd still be known as a versatile fullback," Vickers said. "Anybody that watches football knows. The last two years, I haven't caught the ball. I wasn't a part of the offense. So I made a way for me to be on the field. That's what a football player does. Anybody that can make his presence on the field without the ball is a helluva guy.

"I played in the West Coast offense at Colorado. When I first came to the NFL, my first carry was at tailback. In [former coordinator Rob Chudzinski] Chud's offense, look at how many passes I caught [23 in two seasons].

"People have short-term memories. I forgive them for that. What I've done for you lately is knock people out. That's only because that's all that was left for me to do."

Vickers is not worried that the traditional fullback position seems to be on the endangered list in the NFL as teams load up on multiple-receiver sets and spread the ball through the air.

"I don't care where you are, you can pass the ball all over the place. Come November and December, you're going to have to run the ball eventually," he said. "Green Bay ran the ball even in their pass offense.

"I think people are getting away from the stud fullbacks because there aren't too many left in the league. But if you have one, you keep him."

Vickers said he won't give up hope of returning to the Browns until he is told, "Vickers, it's over." But he's not blind to the obvious.

"I just hope I don't have to come to Cleveland in a different uniform because it's gonna be bad [for the Browns]," he said. "Those [Browns linebackers] are my guys. They know they will come with it and I will come with it. It's gonna be one of those all-time Cleveland games."

To reach this Plain Dealer reporter: tgrossi@plaind.com, 216-999-4670