Track officials want to make Thistledown's simulcast signal more popular by avoiding the big Saturday stakes around the country.

Marvin Fong, The Plain DealerThistledown has created a unique Memorial Day weekend at the North Randall race track, sending out a pair of stakes races.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Thistledown has created a unique Memorial Day weekend at the North Randall race track, sending out a pair of stakes races. The $50,000 Rowland Memorial Handicap for horse 3 and older is Saturday, May 26. The $50,000 Angenora Stakes for fillies and mares 3 and older goes to the gate Monday, May 28. Both are 6-furlong races for Ohio-breds.

This season, Thistledown has switched 10 of its 17 Saturday stakes races to Friday. Track officials want to make Thistledown's simulcast signal more popular by avoiding the big Saturday stakes around the country.

"Battle" nominations set: Northfield will again offer only simulcast wagering on the Saturdays when the Preakness and Belmont are run, with its next stakes race the $100,000 Battle of Lake Erie on July 21.

Twenty veteran pacers have been nominated for the 27th edition of the Battle of Lake Erie. Once an invitational, the race became a stakes last year. The top eight money winners in 2011-12 among the nominees are eligible for the eight-horse field. It's already a wealthy group, with the nominees having 290 wins and combined race earnings of more than $12.5 million.

Ron Burke's Pennsylvania stable will have the horses to watch. Burke nominating Foiled Again, Hugadragon and Clear Vision. Foiled Again won the Battle of Lake Erie twice, scoring in 2009 and 2011. If that isn't enough, Foiled Again's sire, Dragon Again, won the Battle of Lake Erie in 2000.

The pacers that have also won the event twice are Jaguar Spur (1988-89), Peruvian Hanover (2002-03) and Maltese Artist (2005 and 2007).

Rini, Seabury team up: Cleveland Sports Hall of Fame trainer Tony Rini is off to a hot start at Thistledown, with some help from jockey Annie Seabury. They combined for a trio of victories, opening the season Friday with winner Marvelous Peace ($3.20), and followed with Jody's Power ($16.20) on Saturday and Youcanseemecoming ($13.40) on Monday.

Seabury was sharp, posting the three wins in only seven starts to share the lead in the jockey standings with Walter De La Cruz, a new face at the thoroughbred oval.

De La Cruz spent the last couple of years racing in Peru. Winning two races through Tuesday were Jane Magrell, Ernesto Oro, Luis Gonzalez and Jeffrey Skerrett. Rini and Jeff Radosevich are tied for the training lead, although each has sent out only five thoroughbreds.

Stahl leading driver: Continuing his hot hand in the sulky, driver Ryan Stahl leads the Northfield Park driving standings with 135 wins through May 2.

Completing the top five are Tyler Smith (115 wins), Aaron Merriman (92), Kurt Sugg (80) and Dan Noble (64). The top trainers are Kevin Ehrhardt (23), Calvin Hollar (22), Jim Otto (21), Don Pfister (19) and Darrell Rideout (18).

Brandon Weeden should be the starter from the first day of training camp if not before, sports columnist Bud Shaw writes.

View full sizePD fileMike Holmgren has dipped into the language of the head coach in saying that Brandon Weeden isn't guaranteed the starting position at QB when the team's practices get underway. That's perfectly understandable, says Bud Shaw, but had better just be public relations fluff.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Heads, it's Brandon Weeden. Tails, it's Brandon Weeden...

Mike Holmgren says Weeden must win the starting job in a healthy competition, even though a healthy competition would carry serious side effects if Weeden doesn't emerge as the starting quarterback.

He's not Jake Locker playing behind Matt Hasselbeck in Tennessee, after all. He's not even Christian Ponder in Minnesota pushed into the No. 2 role to begin the season out of deference to Donovan McNabb. The most accurate comparison is one that shouldn't scare anybody from moving full speed ahead on Weeden: Andy Dalton in Cincinnati.

Under different circumstances -- Carson Palmer was holding out -- the Bengals may have had no choice except to commit. But they knew he wasn't coming back and they're no worse off for going all in on Dalton.

The Browns obviously want Weeden to be their starter in 2012, or they wouldn't have drafted him so high. They expect him to start, or they wouldn't have boldly picked a player six months shy of his 29th birthday.

Maybe they have to let the rest of the team see Weeden first? The size. The arm. Maybe that's all they're waiting for to say Weeden is going into camp as No. 1 quarterback. They came surprisingly close to anointing him on the night of the draft, sloughing off the question about a quarterback competition while failing to dismiss another about possibly trading Colt McCoy.

So why not just say what everybody already knows? Weeden is the starter going into mini-camps and training camp and, unless he spits the bit, the race actually amounted to the second-fastest two minutes in sports behind the Kentucky Derby.

In Indianapolis, the Colts have not only already named Andrew Luck their starter but couldn't wait to trumpet his intangibles at mini-camp. Intangibles at mini-camp? Head coach Chuck Pagano called Luck "unflappable," apparently for showing up on time. At any rate, they don't seem worried about Luck being "handed" the position.

In Washington, head coach Mike Shanahan said of Robert Griffin III heading into OTAs, "He's the starter, period." Griffin III says in his mind he has to come in and prove he deserves to play ahead of veteran Rex Grossman, but everybody knows the Skins didn't draft him to start the season as a backup.

Had the Browns traded for the No. 2 pick, hopefully they wouldn't have announced RGIII would go to camp to compete with McCoy and Seneca Wallace.

You can say Weeden is no Luck or RGIII. I get that. The circumstances -- where he was picked, his age, the Browns' other needs in the draft when they picked him, the quality of the two quarterbacks on the roster -- all dictate he be fast-tracked as much as Luck and Griffin III.

So what Holmgren is doing is paying lip service to the idea of players earning their way. Fine. But it's as believable as the Browns saying they would be only too happy to support McCoy as the starter via the draft. Maybe they only said that to hide their draft intentions. Maybe they're still trying to drum up trade interest in McCoy.

View full sizeAP fileHe had a leading role in the high school musical and can swing on the stage.

But his trade value goes up now only if another team suffers an injury, not whether he's the clear No. 2 or being given an artificial chance to start. Weeden is the future. Given his age and everything else involved, the future is now.

Just hope any day now you hear he looks strong-armed. Accurate, too.

Unflappable even.

SEPARATED AT BIRTH

Actor Zac Efron and golfer Rickie Fowler -- Mark Mummey, Hudson

Former Indians pitcher Jim Kern and David Letterman -- Paul Stypa, Parma

HE SAID IT

View full sizeAP fileA dashing leading man on the course, with a winning performance just last Sunday.

"It's so competitive, you know, I wanted to make sure he was OK first, so I did that. But to call him to make sure he's OK? I didn't want to do that." -- Metta World Peace to Conan O'Brien on why he didn't call the Thunder's James Harden after elbowing him in the head and getting suspended.

In the interview, World Peace added that Harden "runs into people's elbows. When somebody dunks, he puts his chin right there."

Giving Peace a chance isn't all what John Lennon cracked it up to be.

SPINOFFS

Cris Carter says he put "bounties" on players to protect himself when opponents such as Denver linebacker Bill Romanowski threatened to injure him and end his career. Romanowski denied he ever told Carter, "I am going to end your career." He called that "absolute fiction."

If you can't believe Romanowski -- a guy who admitted steroid use, who hit Bryan Cox in the groin with a football, crushed the eye socket of a teammate in a practice fight, kicked Arizona fullback Larry Centers in the head and spit in the eye of San Francisco wide receiver J.J. Stokes -- who can you believe on the subject of making threatening statements about wanting to injure people? ...

The lawyer of Saints' suspended linebacker Jonathan Vilma calls the NFL's justice system a "kangaroo court."

That's not quite right. It's a kangaroo court agreed to by the player's association. ...

NBA commissioner David Stern says a "lack of preparedness" by players led to a rash of injuries this season. More like a lack of preparedness to play a schedule with too many games and not enough days off. ...

Nationals outfielder Jason Werth, who played for the Phillies from 2007-10, says he was heckled by Philadelphia fans who screamed at him, "You deserve it" and "That's what you get" after Werth broke his wrist last Sunday.

"I am motivated to get back quickly and see to it personally those people never walk down Broad Street in celebration again," Werth wrote in an email to the Washington Post.

All that's missing is the comic sans. ...

By admitting (for some reason) he threw at Washington's Bryce Harper, Phillies' pitcher Cole Hamels not only got suspended. He's not under consideration for future work with SEAL Team 6 or in any casting of "Oceans 14." ...

Asked which injury is of most concern to him, Grady Sizemore said, "The body in general. ... I have to focus on every body part."

Now what in the world could possibly derail this comeback? ...

Lakers' big man Andrew Bynum's take that closeout games are "actually kind of easy" backfired Tuesday night when the Nuggets used the bulletin board material to beat the Lakers and force Game 6. Asked if he regretted his comment, Bynum said, "No."

Odd. Correcting something so ill-timed and patently wrong in the first place is actually kind of easy. ...

The prosecuting attorneys in the Roger Clemens trial were scolded for putting on a slow and "boring" trial. Did Judge Judy have bridge club? ...

Former Browns' personnel man Mike Lombardi listed his "value picks" from the 2012 draft for DirecTV. He included Billy Winn, the Boise State defensive lineman chosen with the 205th pick overall by the Browns.

Hopefully not because he had him rated as the 204th best player in the draft...

YOU SAID IT

(The Expanded Midweek Edition)

"Bud:

"Have other sportswriters ever put a bounty on you for writing the Spin column?" -- Chas K.

No. Just English teachers and journalism professors.

"Bud:

"Is it possible Seneca Wallace improved his attitude because he realizes Colt McCoy is a significantly less-expensive option for backup QB?" -- Dave Uible, Rocky River

Only cynics and realists would say that.

"Hey Bud:

"Forgive me if I reserve my excitement about Brandon Weeden until he goes in the first round of the NBA draft in roughly 2022." -- Scoop, Middleburg Heights

I have it on good authority the Cavs will not hand him a starting position.

"Hey Bud:

"Many of the baseball players in the majors today sport jewelry while on the field. Are the PD sports columnists permitted to wear bling at the office?" -- Dr Grinder

I can only speak for myself. I'm careful not to wear anything that clashes with my Medical Alert necklace.

"Bud:

"Should I be proud that the Derby horse I bet on is still running this morning?" -- Michael Sarro

I feel your pain. I once entered the inaugural Flying Pig Marathon in Cincinnati and finished during the Second Annual. With the apple somebody shoved into my mouth.

"Bud:

"Why not let the 'Occupy Cleveland' people live in Progressive Field to boost attendance?" -- Russ G

First-time "You Said It" winners receive a T-shirt from the Mental Floss collection.

"Bud:

"When the Indians have giveaways to the first 15,000 fans, what do they do with all the leftovers?" -- Jim Lefkowitz, Pepper Pike

Some repeat winners receive an Austin Kearns bobblehead.

"Bud:

"When will the footballs used by the 2011 Cleveland Browns go up for auction?" -- J Kiska, Lorain

Others get the Bill Buckner treatment.

On Twitter: @budshaw

The three-day event showcases the top U.S. men's and women's trampoline, tumbling, synchronized trampoline and double mini-trampoline athletes.

GYMNASTICS: Stars and Stripes Cup

What: The three-day event showcases the top U.S. men's and women's trampoline, tumbling, synchronized trampoline and double mini-trampoline athletes. It is the second of three events in the selection process for the U.S. Olympic Team for trampoline.

Where: Public Hall, 500 Lakeside Ave., Cleveland.

When: Friday-Sunday.

Tickets: $10 per day can be purchased at the door. Children 8 and under are free.

Link: usagym.org

Olympic selection procedure: The United States will send one female and one male trampoline athlete to the London Olympics this summer. The Olympians are the first-ranked gymnasts based on points system from their finishes at the three selection events, two of the which count toward the final ranking, dropping the lowest points. In addition to Cleveland, the other events are U.S. Elite Challenge, which was held in March, and the U.S. Championships, June 27-28. To receive Olympic selection points, gymnasts must perform 20 skills in the preliminaries, and men must have a 14.8 degree of difficulty and women must have a 12.8 degree of difficulty in the optional routine in either prelims or finals.

U.S. Olympic Trials men's leader Steven Gluckstein

Current Olympic trials leaders: Steven Gluckstein of Atlantic Highlands, N.J., and Savannah Vinsant of Lafayette, La., won the first Olympic qualifying, the Elite Challenge in March, which was worth 23 Olympic selection points. Gluckstein's younger brother, Jeffrey, was second and Logan Dooley was third. Jeffery Gluckstein is the defending national champion. Among women, 2011 national champion Vinsant won the Elite Challenge, followed by Dakota Earnest and Alaina Williams.

The moves: Gluckstein performed a "Miller," or a triple twisting double layout, and a front triple pike half twist to win the Elite challenge. Vinsant's big move was a tucked, triple front flip with a half twist to half-in.

Others to watch: Synchronized trampoline -- The teams of Neil Gulati and Michael Devine, and Williams and Earnest are defending senior national champs. Other national champs scheduled to compete are Kalon Ludvigson and Karly Judkins (tumbling), and Erin Jauch and Ludvigson (double-mini trampoline).

Competition schedule: Friday, 9-11:30 a.m.: Olympic Development Program for trampoline, double mini-trampoline and tumbling; 11:45 a.m.-1 p.m.: Junior and senior elite men's and women's synchronized trampoline, preliminaries and finals; 3-8 p.m.: Junior and senior elite men's and women's trampoline, double mini-trampoline and tumbling preliminaries. Saturday, 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.: Level 9 trampoline, tumbling and double mini-trampoline; 2-5 p.m.: Levels 8 and 10 trampoline, tumbling and double mini-trampoline; 6:30-8:30 p.m.: Junior and senior elite men's and women's trampoline, double mini-trampoline and tumbling finals. Sunday, 9-11:40 a.m.: Levels 9 and 10 trampoline, tumbling and double mini-trampoline finals; 1-3 p.m.: Levels 9 and 10 synchronized trampoline finals and Level 8 tumbling and double mini-trampoline.

Breaking down the matchups for the four-game series at Fenway Park, which begins Thursday.

View full sizeJohn Sleezer, Kansas City StarThe Red Sox have struggled in the early weeks of the season, but David Ortiz has sizzled since the regular season started, and has seven homers and 23 RBI entering Wednesday's game.

Where: Fenway Park, Boston, Mass.

When: Thursday through Sunday.

TV/radio: SportsTime Ohio on Thursday, Friday and Sunday; WKYC/Ch. 3 on Saturday; WTAM AM/1100.

Pitching matchups: Indians RHP Derek Lowe (4-1, 2.39 ERA) vs. RHP Josh Beckett (2-3, 4.45), Thursday at 7:10; RHP Ubaldo Jimenez (3-2, 4.04) vs. RHP Clay Buchholz (3-1, 9.09), Friday at 7:10 p.m.; RHP Josh Tomlin (2-2, 4.67) vs. LHP Felix Doubront (2-1, 5.29), Saturday at 7:10 p.m.; RHP Justin Masterson (1-2, 4.89) vs. RHP Daniel Bard (2-4, 4.83), Sunday at 1:35 p.m.

Season series: First meeting. Indians lead, 1,021-958, overall.

Indians update: They went 6-4 against Red Sox last year, including 2-2 at Fenway Park. Indians who hit well included Jason Kipnis (6-for-16, three homers), Travis Hafner (8-for-22) and Asdrubal Cabrera (13-for-39, four homers, 11 RBI, 10 runs). Tribe hitters entered Wednesday ranked second in majors with 3.97 pitches per plate appearance.

Red Sox update: They are managed by Bobby Valentine, who was a candidate for the Indians' job that went to Manny Acta in October 2009. ... Red Sox who hit well against Indians last year included Dustin Pedroia (11-for-37) and Adrian Gonzalez (11-for-38). Beckett was 1-1 with a 3.06 ERA in three starts. ... Beckett recently dealt with lat tightness.

Injuries: Indians -- OF Grady Sizemore (back), RHP Carlos Carrasco (elbow) and LHP Rafael Perez (left lat) are on the disabled list. Red Sox -- RHP Andrew Bailey (thumb), RHP Bobby Jenks (back), RHP Chris Carpenter (elbow), RHP Daisuke Matsuzaka (elbow), RHP Aaron Cook (left knee), LF Carl Crawford (left elbow), LF Ryan Kalish (left shoulder), CF Jacoby Ellsbury (right shoulder), CF Jason Repko (left shoulder) and 3B Kevin Youkilis (back) are on disabled list. RHP John Lackey (elbow) is out for season.

Next: The Indians' six-game trip concludes with two in Minnesota beginning Monday.

The White Sox have their way with the Indians in an 8-1 victory Wednesday night at Progressive Field.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Wednesday night proved to be one of those times for the Indians when playing in front of a gathering, not a crowd, at home was advantageous.

The fewer Tribe fans who witnessed what unfolded, the better. The White Sox led by eight after 3 1/2 innings and cruised to an 8-1 victory in front of 11,285 paid at Progressive Field.

The Indians (17-13, first place in the AL Central) lost the final two of a four-game series after sweeping a day-night doubleheader Monday. The White Sox (15-17) lead the season series, 5-4.

Chicago right-hander Jake Peavy gave up the run on seven hits, walked one and struck out five in seven innings. He improved to 4-1 and lowered his ERA from 1.99 to 1.89.

"Peavy kept pounding the strike zone, and we didn't do much about it,” Acta said. "He had good command of his pitches, and he attacked the strike zone unbelievably. We hit some balls hard at people, but we weren't as aggressive as we needed to be.”

Peavy's counterpart, righty Jeanmar Gomez, made bad pitches in bad locations and paid for it. He gave up the eight runs on nine hits, walked four and struck out two in 6 2/3. Of his 106 pitches, 49 were balls.

"Gomez just couldn't throw strikes the first four innings,” Indians manager Manny Acta said. "When you're not overpowering, you're not going to get away with that up here. But he does deserve credit because he got it together and gave us three more innings. It would have been a disaster if we had to tax the bullpen.”

"It's been a while since he's been roughed up,” Acta said of Gomez. "It goes to show that you do need to attack the strike zone.”

In his previous five appearances (four starts) to begin the season, Gomez was 2-1 with a 2.82 ERA. He was coming off an impressive performance against the powerful Texas Rangers last Friday at Progressive Field.

Against the Rangers, Gomez threw fastballs to the targets on the corners and buried sliders under the knees. Against Chicago, his fastball missed up and over the plate and too many sliders spun.

The Tribe and its fans had become accustomed to superb starting pitching, so Gomez's dud came with a jolt. Indians starters had registered a "quality'' start -- six or more innings, three or fewer earned runs -- in 11 of the previous 12 games.

Chicago took a 2-0 lead in the first. Gomez walked Alejandro De Aza on four pitches, which was an immediate sign of trouble for the Tribe given that Gomez entered with four walks in 22 1/3 innings. Gordon Beckham grounded into a fielder's choice, bringing Adam Dunn to the plate. Gomez threw a 1-0 hanging slider, and Dunn cranked it an estimated 425 feet to right.

The blast gave Dunn 10 homers and 25 RBI in 32 games. Last season -- his first in the American League -- Dunn hit 11 homers and drove in 42 while batting .159 in 122 games. Dunn has three homers against Cleveland this season, 15 in his career.

The Tribe had something brewing in the second, only to be denied by tough luck. Travis Hafner led off with a single and advanced to second on Shin-Soo Choo's one-out single. On a 1-1 pitch, Michael Brantley lined up the middle. Peavy snared the ball at his midsection and doubled off Choo. It was the second straight night that Brantley lined into a double play. Brantley is hitting sub-.250, but it does not reflect the quality of his at-bats in recent weeks.

"That's part of the game,” Acta said. "All you can ask for is a quality at-bat.”

The White Sox expanded the relaxation quotient with a six-run fourth. Dunn provided the bookends with a walk and strikeout.

Dunn's walk came on four pitches. He advanced to third on Paul Konerko's single and scored on A.J. Pierzynski's single. After Alex Rios walked to load the bases, Alexei Ramirez flied to deep left. Johnny Damon was in position to make a tough catch but failed to do so, giving Ramirez a long RBI single.

Nobody moved on Dayan Viciedo's fly out. Eduardo Escobar singled to drive in Pierzynski for his first RBI of the year in his 26th official trip. De Aza hit a two-run single. Beckham's sacrifice fly made it 8-0. Dunn's whiff extended his streak to 36 games with at least one.

The Indians scored in the seventh on Jason Donald's RBI grounder.

Gomez's first pitch of the game was delayed by 1 hour, 4 minutes, because of threatening weather in the area. All parties wanted to make sure that, once the starting pitchers warmed and began the game, they would not need to sit for a while.

The Indians played the White Sox nine times before facing two other Central clubs, Detroit and Minnesota, once.

Among those who were shut down by Peavy was Tribe leadoff man Damon, who went 0-for-4. Damon is hitting .167 (5-for-30) in eight games since joining the Indians.

"(Peavy was good), but that was no reason for me to be struggling like this," Damon said. "I mean, a lot of it falls on my shoulders. I'm the leadoff guy, and I've been pretty awful. It affects the guys coming up behind me.

"It seems like lately I've been swinging at the pitches just off the plate, and taking the really good ones. I definitely need to get it going. Hopefully, getting back to Boston will be a jump-start for me."

The Indians begin a four-game series in Fenway Park tonight.

Cleveland Heights boys, Shaker Heights girls win LEL track championships at Bedford's Bearcat Stadium.

Senior Bryce Jones of Cleveland Heights put on quite a show Wednesday at the Lake Erie League Track and Field Championships at Bedford's Bearcat Stadium.

Jones won the 110- and 300-meter hurdles and the long jump to help lead the Tigers to the team title with 121 points. He got a lot of help from junior Shelton Gibson, who won the 100 and 200.

Euclid took second with 99 points to edge Shaker Heights (98). Junior James Burge of Maple Heights won the 800 and 1,600 as the Mustangs finished fourth with 95 points.

The girls competition came down to the final 4x400 relay, with Shaker Heights winning and Euclid finishing sixth. The Raiders won the team title, 112-111, over Euclid.

Senior Naleta Andrews of Shaker Heights won the 200 and 400, and senior Amber Davis took the 800. Euclid senior Emily Sweet won the 1,600 and 3,200.

Lorain senior Melody Farris set a stadium record with a 14.29 in the 100 hurdles. Euclid senior Artia Gunn also bettered the mark with a 14.38 in finishing second. Farris also won the 300 hurdles for the Titans.

NOC River Division -- Hudson junior Leighton Antonio won the 100, 200 and 400, and the Explorers won nine of 17 events to take the boys title at the Northeast Ohio Conference River Division meet with 154 points at Brush. Stow, which won three relays, was second with 98 points and Brush was third at 76.

On the girls side, Stow produced a pair of double winners in Melanie Winters (100 hurdles, long jump) and Sam Shaver (100, 200) as the Bulldogs totaled 146 points by winning nine events. North Royalton was second at 104 and Cuyahoga Falls had 91 points.

Eric King of Cuyahoga Falls won the discus and shot put and Hudson's Caroline Sauers won the 1,600 and 3,200.

Softball

Westlake 6, Midview 5 --The Demons (15-8) rallied for four runs in the bottom of the seventh for the Division I sectional final win. Sarah Turgeon doubled home the tying runs and winning pitcher Jesse Moracz singled home Turgeon.

Holy Name 7, Padua 6 -- The Green Wave (17-4) benefited from a five-run third inning to hold off the Bruins (7-12) in a Division II sectional semifinal. Ariel Roder and Allison Fiorrucci each drove in two runs.

Riverside 2, Lakeside 0 -- Kayla Lynch struck out nine as the Beavers (15-10) advanced to the Division I sectional final at Mayfield.

Parma 2, St. Joseph Academy 1 -- Brittany Bruening singled home the winning run in the bottom of the seventh in the Division I sectional final.

CVCA 5, Orange 2 -- Cassie Hudson doubled home two runs as the visiting Royals (8-16) won the Division II sectional semifinal.

Twinsburg 11, Warren Harding 1 -- The Tigers scored eight runs in the bottom of the third to secure the Division I sectional win. It was coach Tiffany Yehle's 100th victory.

North Royalton 3, Lakewood 0 -- Nicole Balodis walked the leadoff hitter, then retired the next 21 batters as the visiting Bears (18-5) won the NOC Valley Division game.

Baseball

Euclid 2, Riverside 1 -- Joe Belavich singled in Jonny Law from second with two outs in the bottom of the sixth to score the winning run.

Midview 4, Avon Lake 2 -- The Middies rallied from a two-run deficit to win the Division I sectional semifinal.

Shaker Heights 12, Madison 1 -- Three Raiders (18-7) combined to pitch a no-hitter. Connor Hall's grand slam in the bottom of the sixth ended it.

Nordonia 6, Wadsworth 1 -- Tim Nicholl tossed a three-hitter and Tyler Alders drove in two runs for the Knights (10-16) in the Suburban League contest.

Cuyahoga Heights 18, Cleveland Central Catholic 0 -- Alex Zander tossed a five-inning perfect game for the Redskins (17-4), striking out 10.

Idle since the end of February, the U.S. national team remained at No. 29 in the monthly FIFA World Ranking released Wednesday.

AP photoLiverpool's Jay Spearing, right, fights for the ball against Fulham's Clint Dempsey during their English Premier League soccer match at Anfield Stadium, Liverpool, England, Tuesday, May 1, 2012.

The subpoena makes no mention of what investigators suspect, but a member of the port’s governing board accused three of his colleagues in May 2011 of meeting illegally with the Browns to discuss the team’s request for concessions.

Plain Dealer fileOn game days, the Cleveland Browns need up to 25,000 parking spaces, including up to 5,000 leased from the Cleveland-Cuyahoga County Port Authority.

CLEVELAND, Ohio — Federal corruption investigators have subpoenaed the Cleveland-Cuyahoga County Port Authority for records dealing with parking lot leases with the Cleveland Browns, including a price-cutting deal approved last year.

The subpoena makes no mention of what investigators suspect, but a member of the port’s governing board accused three of his colleagues in May 2011 of meeting illegally with the Browns to discuss the team’s request for concessions. 

And the board’s first vote on the price cut resulted in a 3-3 tie, with one member absent, though all seven board members voted two months later in favor of a similar deal. 

Port Authority President and CEO Will Friedman said Wednesday that the subpoena came as a surprise. 

"I have no idea what it’s all about, I am really clueless," Friedman said. "Obviously, we will comply and get everything together as quickly as we can." 

The subpoena was issued by Assistant U.S. Attorney Antoinette Bacon, one of the lead prosecutors in the ongoing Cuyahoga County corruption investigation, which resulted in the March racketeering conviction of former county Commissioner Jimmy Dimora. 

Bacon sought all records dealing with parking lot deals, including communications documents and records of invoices and payments. She instructed port officials to turn over the materials to an FBI agent, who will present evidence to a federal grand jury meeting May 22. 

A spokesman for the U.S. Attorney’s Office declined to say whether the subpoena means corruption investigators are now looking into the tax-supported port. 

Fred Nance, an attorney representing the Browns, said Wednesday that the team has not been served with a subpoena and does not consider itself the subject of an investigation. 

Nance said the lease agreement reached last year with the port removed risks faced by both sides and "balanced the interests" of the two. 

"The Browns have had an agreement in place with the Port Authority for many years," Nance said. "Our lease has always been about securing as much parking as possible for our fans that is safe, convenient and affordable." 

For more than 30 years, the Browns have leased thousands of parking spaces on Port of Cleveland docks west of the stadium. The Browns had paid the port $225,000 a year from 2000 until last year, when the team asked for concessions. 

Minutes of port board meetings indicate that the Browns sought a price reduction of $25,000 a year, plus a pro-rated discount if the team played less than 10 home games because of a threatened NFL players strike that never materialized. 

The minutes also state that construction projects on the dock property and downtown had forced the port to reduce the number of parking spaces available to the team by 1,150 — leaving the Browns with 3,878 spaces within easy walking distance of Browns Stadium. 

At a May 2011 meeting, three board members objected to granting concessions to the Browns. 

"It’s setting a bad precedent, pro-rating and discounting parking rates because they’re not doing so well," board member Richard Knoth said at the meeting. 

At the same meeting, Knoth accused three of his colleagues of meeting illegally with Browns officials to discuss the issue. Board Member Robert Peto said he didn’t learn of the Browns’ request until he read about it in a letter to Browns season ticket-holders. 

Board member Steve Williams joined Knoth and Peto in voting against the proposed lease deal, arguing that it appeared as if the port was subsidizing the Browns. Their three dissents resulted in a tie vote. 

But at their next meeting in July, all seven board members approved a deal that granted the $25,000 price cut and the pro-rated discount for missed home games. But the revised deal called for the Browns to pay the port $20,000 for each of any home playoff games. 

Knoth and board President Robert Smith did not return calls Wednesday to explain the board’s about face. Board member Anthony Moore declined to comment. 

Friedman said Wednesday that the revised deal is a better bargain for the port because the Browns are paying more per parking space than under the previous agreement. 

"I’m just perplexed," he said. "The deal was open and above board. There were no concessions on our part. We balanced their desires with ours." 

In his 18th book, Deford betrays a soup on of nostalgia for the "Mad Men"-like early 1960s, when he earned his sportswriting spurs. Saloons weren't yet singles bars, and men drank doubles. It "took a heap of gothic misbehaving" for anyone to actually be fired from Time Inc.

View full sizeOver Time, Atlantic Monthly, 354 pp., $25

The great old-time sports columnist Jimmy Cannon famously deprecated the newspaper sports department as "the toy shop." Although Cannon was a seriously good writer -- and knew it -- he meant that his subject wasn't to be taken all that seriously.

Frank Deford is another extraordinary wordsmith who covers sports with a light touch. His work over the past 50 years demonstrates what an editor once told him: "It doesn't matter what you write about. All that matters is how well you write."

In "Over Time," Deford recounts his journey from callow fact checker to award-winning journalist. En route, he follows his personal dictum that "memoirs should be filled with anecdotes about other, more attractive people."

He supplies plenty. Through 46 brief, episodic chapters, Deford offers insightful, hilarious and occasionally scathing portraits of athletes, coaches, editors and fellow scribes.

An aging Bob Feller and a failing Ted Williams -- the greatest pitcher and hitter, respectively, of their era -- loudly and profanely relive their ancient diamond duels. Neither enfants anymore, but still terribles, these fellows appear to Deford as "Achilles and Hector together, had they managed to become senior citizens."

At Princeton University, Deford takes an undergraduate writing course with Kingsley Amis. Later, basketball immortal Elgin Baylor bums a halftime cigarette from Deford, then goes for double figures when play resumes. Slugger Boog Powell of Deford's hometown Baltimore Orioles knocks in a few runs at the ball yard, then goes home and cracks some brews on his front stoop with his neighbors.

Elsewhere, Deford emcees a PR tour for Sports Illustrated swimsuit models. In a hotel coffee shop, he bumps into the Colonel himself, Harland Sanders of Kentucky Fried Chicken renown, who gives him "the best advice I ever got." It turns out to be sartorial.

Holding little back, Deford reveals that he owns the world's largest collection of hotel shampoo bottles -- over 500. He appeared in the long-running, wildly popular Miller Lite beer "tastes great, less filling" commercials. We get the inside scoop on reporting. A fish-out-of-water story trumps "everything else in journalism except Cinderella and man-bites-dog."

In 1990, Deford jumped from Sports Illustrated to become managing editor of a new, national sports newspaper, "The National Sports Daily." Brilliant and ahead of its time, it lasted 18 months and lost $150 million before going under, the "Ishtar" of sports journalism.

In his 18th book, Deford betrays a soup on of nostalgia for the "Mad Men"-like early 1960s, when he earned his sportswriting spurs. Saloons weren't yet singles bars, and men drank doubles. It "took a heap of gothic misbehaving" for anyone to actually be fired from Time Inc.

Finally, he writes movingly about Alexandra Deford, the daughter he lost to cystic fibrosis, as well as two dear friends, tennis players Billie Jean King and Arthur Ashe. He equates King, a lesbian who pioneered women's sports, with Jackie Robinson. Ashe exhibited inspirational grace under pressure while dying of AIDs.

"No cheering in the press box" is an old saying among sportswriters, but, after finishing this delightful book, readers will want to stand and applaud.

Alan Cate teaches history at University School in Hunting Valley, Ohio.

Highlights include Indians at Boston, The Players Championship first-round golf and NBA playoffs.

Chuck Crow, The Plain DealerShortstop Asdrubal Cabrera and the Indians visit the Boston Red Sox tonight at 7:10 in a game that will be televised on SportsTime Ohio and broadcast on WTAM/1100-AM.

Today's TV and radio sports listings

BASEBALL

11:05 a.m. Lehigh Valley at Indianapolis, MLBN

6:30 p.m. Dayton at LAKE COUNTY CAPTAINS, AM/1330

7 p.m. Tampa Bay at N.Y. Yankees, MLBN

7:05 p.m. Harrisburg at AKRON AEROS, AM/1350

7:10 p.m. INDIANS at Boston, STO; AM/1100

(Plain Dealer and cleveland.com Indians coverage)

COLLEGE BASEBALL

7:30 p.m. Auburn vs. Arkansas, ESPNU

COLLEGE SOFTBALL

5 p.m. SEC quarterfinal, Kentucky vs. Georgia, ESPNU

8 p.m. SEC quarterfinal, Mississippi State vs. Alabama, ESPN

GOLF

1 p.m. The Players Championship, Golf Channel

HOCKEY

9 a.m. World Championships, U.S. vs. Belarus, NBCSN

NBA PLAYOFFS

8 p.m. Atlanta at Boston, TNT

10:30 p.m. L.A. Lakers at Denver, TNT

Indians manager Manny Acta and starting pitcher Jeanmar Gomez talk about the team's 8-1 loss to the Chicago White Sox on Wednesday. The Plain Dealer's Dennis Manoloff reports from Progressive Field.

Indians manager Manny Acta and starting pitcher Jeanmar Gomez talk about the team's 8-1 loss to the Chicago White Sox on Wednesday. The Plain Dealer's Dennis Manoloff reports from Progressive Field. Click on play to watch the video.

Click here for more video from CineSport.

Here are what blogs from Cleveland and around the country are saying about the Browns, Cavaliers and Indians.

Here are what blogs from Cleveland and around the country are saying about the Browns, Cavaliers and Indians.

Joshua Gunter/ The Plain DealerCan Greg Little make an impact during his second season?

"WR Greg Little

Greg Little had a lot of drops in his rookie season as he dealt with a bit of rust, having not played football at all in 2010, and the pressure of learning the Browns' West Coast system in a lockout-shortened offseason.

However, he did have the second-most catches of any rookie receiver last season, with 61, good for 709 yards and two scores. He didn't notch his first touchdown until late November, but look for him to get into the end zone earlier in his second season with more experience under his belt."

Chuck Crow/The Plain DealerHow will you remember Casey Blake?

"He had a solid career in the major leagues and he was always a great addition to a team on the cusp. Like another Indian from Iowa (think Van Meter) Blake left an indelible mark on the Tribe in his time. He was someone you could count on in the good times and bad. You need guys like that to win a championship as much as the stars, and though it wasn’t just because of him, the Indians struggled once he left."

"John Henson intrigues me. Yet, he also screams Brandon Wright, a disappointing big man, also out of UNC, who has the same build and skill-set as Henson. But, I will take the intriguing side of Henson. Henson was an important cog in the UNC machine, as evidenced by their struggles when he was injured for three games this season. He was named ACC Defensive Player of the Year and that is where he likely sticks out the most headed into the draft."

Taylor, the Browns first-round pick last season out of Baylor, started all 16 games and finished seventh on the team with 59 tackles.

AP Photo | Stephen CherninPhil Taylor may have suffered a torn pectoral muscle during his workout today.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Browns defensive tackle Phil Taylor is undergoing an MRI for a possible torn left pectoral muscle and might need surgery, his agent Peter Schaffer confirmed for The Plain Dealer today.

"We're awaiting results of the MRI,'' Schaffer. "He's staying positive. He's got a great attitude. He'll either be 100 percent or come back 100 percent.''

The Browns released the following statement: "Browns defensive tackle Phil Taylor injured his left pectoral today lifting weights as part of the club's off-season program. He will be further evaluated on Monday to determine a course of treatment."

Browns linebacker D'Qwell Jackson missed all of 2010 and most of 2009 with two separate torn pectoral muscles.

Taylor, the Browns first-round pick last season out of Baylor, started all 16 games in 2011 and finished seventh on the team with 59 tackles. He also had four sacks and a forced fumble.

If Taylor has to miss games, the Browns may have to rely on rookie defensive tackle John Hughes. A third-round pick out of Cincinnati, he was drafted to be part of the tackle rotation. He signed a four-year contract today and will be on the field for rookie camp Friday.

The Browns also signed defensive linemen Frostee Rucker and Juqua Parker in free agency.

The Ohio EPA is still searching for tips on what may have caused almost 30,000 fish to die in the Strongsville area.

View full sizeGus Chan, The Plain DealerOhio Division of Wildlife officers scoured the banks of the Rocky River in late April looking for dead fish. The state EPA has joined in the investigation of a fish kill believed to have originated somewhere in Strongsville.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency has taken the lead in trying to solve a fish kill in late April on the East Branch of the Rocky River, and is still searching for tips on what may have caused almost 30,000 fish to die.

The area where the fish died is in Strongsville's Mill Stream Run Reservation of the Cleveland Metroparks.

"The investigation is continuing as we try to identify the cause of the fish kill, and who was responsible," said Ohio EPA spokesman Mike Settles. "We have staff from both our northeast Ohio and central Ohio offices working on it. We recognize the severity of what happened. There is no indication this investigation will be closed any time soon."

Settles said investigators are still seeking tips from local fishermen or nearby residents concerning the fish kill. To report spills or give the Ohio EPA a tip on the East Branch incident, call 1-800-282-9378 or visit epa.state.oh.us.

"Because the contamination may have been deliberate, the Ohio EPA is going to remain tight-lipped about this investigation until we have a case we can announce," said Settles.

Browns coach talks about the rookie mini-camp which opens Friday and a number of subjects, including Brandon Weeden.

Joshua Gunter, The Plain DealerCoach Pat Shurmur will oversee the Browns' rookie mini-camp that begins on Friday.

BEREA, Ohio

Cleveland Browns coach Pat Shurmur's conference call with the media

Shurmur: “The players are reporting. The rookies are getting their physicals, getting checked in and then we will have an orientation meeting tonight. Tomorrow, we will have two meetings and two practices. It will be the same thing on Saturday. We will have one meeting and one practice on Sunday. We will try to get them out of the building on Sunday by noon. This rookie minicamp will obviously incorporate a couple other players that are not rookies but by the way their contracts were structured they are allowed to compete. Assuming everything goes as planned with the physicals here, we will have 37 guys out there.”

On whether there will be more than one quarterback in camp:

Shurmur: “Yes, there will be two guys there. (Brandon) Weeden and there’s another guy that’s going to be in here – Darron Thomas.”
 
On whether Darron Thomas was undrafted:

Shurmur: “Yes.”
 
On what he hopes to accomplish this weekend:

Shurmur: “This is a big weekend for the rookies because they are going to learn a lot about procedure and process and how we do things. Of course the tempo won’t be the same because the lines are going to be very short, some positions may only have one or two guys. There will be a lot of individual time, a lot of technique work, not near as much team work as you would normally get when you have one, two or three groups. It’s just a way to orient the rookies, get them up to speed with how we do business and they will get a great deal of individual time.”
 
On this being his first camp and how much he is looking forward to it:

Shurmur: “I am looking forward to it. Every little piece of the offseason has been fun so far because we were able to plan it. Obviously, the free acquisition phase with the free agency, the draft preparation, the draft itself, the beginning of the offseason program. The attendance in our offseason program is outstanding. I think the guys are getting good work. Now, this phase where we can actually go out in practice-type settings, this is fun for coaches because this is why we do this job because we can go out there and work on the field with the players.”
 
On if he is looking forward to seeing Weeden taking snaps under center:

Shurmur: “Yeah, I am looking forward to him executing as a quarterback whether we are under center or in the shotgun, all of which happens in the NFL. I am looking forward to watching him operate.”
 
About whether there is any trepidation about finally seeing Weeden live as opposed to film and workouts:

Shurmur: “Nope, not at all. I know why we drafted him and I think we were able to accurately evaluate his skills. It’s just a matter of him doing it. No, I am looking forward to it actually.”
 
About whether he has told Weeden that he has to win the job and that it will not be handed to him:

Shurmur: “Yeah, I think that is the speech I give all of the rookies and it will be part of what I say tonight as well. Again, I know what we are all trying to get at with this stuff, but we drafted these players for a reason. We drafted them with the idea that they could come in and start or until they start, could be effective role players. But, they have to come here and do it. By doing it, that’s when we talk about competing. That’s where they are at and they understand that. We are catching these guys coming out of college and they have been competing as athletes since they were very young boys, for most of them. They understand that and of course we remind them of it. I’ve reminded all of them of it. They don’t expect anything will be given to them because that was the case when they went to college as well. I am sure they all will look at this as this is just another step in their football careers. We don’t give anybody anything. They have got to earn it in our eyes.”
 
About splitting things up in a competition:

Shurmur: “They come out and compete. There is competition that is going on on the practice field that is obvious to all. There is a lot going on there that is not so obvious. They are out there trying to do their very best and then we will decide who the starter is of course. I will decide who the starters are going to be when we play against Philadelphia. It’s going to be a fun thing to talk about. I can feel it already.”
 
On what he is hoping to see this weekend:

Shurmur: “What I am looking for, and again it is going to be very important for us to manage the tempo, I am looking forward to seeing them compete. I am looking forward to them being able to function in a meeting room, learn what we want to do and then go out and do it on the field. Then be able to come in after we do it, watch it on tape and make the corrections we need to make and go out there and repeat the process. That is what I am looking for. I am looking to see guys compete. I am looking to see guys that will show us why we drafted them, that they have the ability to learn and then have the ability to then go out and do it on the field.”
 
On whether any of the players can show that they will be an upgrade at wide receiver:

Shurmur: “I feel like we will be upgraded there because the players that are here will be improved and then I want to see Travis Benjamin obviously. I want to see how he functions and then we have some undrafted guys that are in. One other guy I gained an appreciation for was Josh Cooper because I watched him catch a lot of Brandon’s (Weeden) balls. I am looking forward to seeing him compete. When you draft guys you are pretty certain that they are going to be able to make the transition to this league and this will be the first time where they get a chance to prove it.”
 
About what he saw in Josh Cooper and what his style is like:

Shurmur: “I saw him primarily as a slot receiver. It’s easy to try to lump him in with similar-type guy like Danny Amendola who we had in St. Louis so I was familiar with him. These guys get a lot of catches and typically they are in the slot working one-on-one. That’s kind of what you saw him do. He obviously ran other routes and has more of a packet than just running option routes out of the slot, but that is kind of what you see.”
 
About if Spender Lanning is a kickoff specialist:

Shurmur: “He has a little bit of that in his package, but he is basically a punter.”
 
On whether Lanning will get an opportunity to fill a role like that:

Shurmur: “We are going to see what he can do. We feel like he is a developing player so we have to see it with our eyes.”

About if all of the players are healthy:

Shurmur: “I think so. They are all getting their physicals right now.  I don’t know of anybody that is not going to be able to be out there and complete.”
 
About whether Trent Richardson is good to go:

Shurmur: “Yeah, he will be out there.”
 
On if any rules have changed the way they operated rookie minicamps in the past:

Shurmur: “This is typical of most rookie camps prior to this year. In terms of hours and time on the field, it is very typical to years previous. I know nine teams did their rookie camp last weekend, and I am sure they did it for obvious reasons, but for us the majority of these guys who don’t have any college graduation requirements will be able to be here on Monday. It made sense for us to do it this weekend and then them be able to stay here and compete starting Monday.”
 
On Scott Fujita’s suspension and how important it is to get the rookie linebackers up to speed:

Shurmur: “What Scott is going through is league business. As far as we know right now, he is going to be out for three games. We will plan around that and see what happens. We feel good about the linebackers we drafted. I will be able to talk about them more after this weekend.”
 
About if you can get a feel for how well guys pick things up after these first five practices:

Shurmur: “We have an idea of how well they learn when we drafted them, whether if some guys may need a little more this or a little bit more of that. Some guys are a bit more visual and they need to do it on the field. Some guys can handle it from the classroom. They are all different in the way they learn. That is why when I say they are going to learn the process and procedure, that will help us understand more where we can help them best. We have an idea with each player how they learn as we go into this, but this will be the first time we are really teaching them a pretty solid installation of our stuff, see how they handle it and then go from there as how we can help them learn better.”

See a thumbnail gallery of this week's Players of the Week.

See a thumbnail gallery of this week's Players of the Week.

Tommy Yakubowski
Archbishop Hoban
Sport: Baseball
Class: Senior
Age: 18
Ht: 6-0
Wt: 170
What Tommy did last week: The catcher went 6-for-11, with seven runs, seven RBI, four walks, four stolen bases and three triples as the Knights defeated both Medina and Benedictine twice.
About Tommy: Wrestled and played intramural basketball. Will attend Toledo and major in bio-engineering. Favorites include the Indians, Jim Thome, "Dodgeball" movie, "Family Guy" TV show, "Rude Mood" song, "Final Fantasy X" video game, "Eragon" book, Leonardo's restaurant and chemistry class. Wants vacation in the Grand Canyon and learn the saxophone.
Scott Effross
Twinsburg
Sport: Baseball
Class: Senior
Age: 18
Ht: 6-2
Wt:185
What Scott did last week: The pitcher/first baseman went 7-for-10, with eight RBI, three doubles and a home run. He went seven innings against Solon to improve to 6-0.
About Scott: Member of National Honor Society and school's TV Club. Plays guitar. Plans to study political science and economics at Indiana. Favorites include the Indians, "Bull Durham" movie, "Seinfeld" TV show, MSNBC.com, "Catcher in the Rye" book, BD's Mongolian Grill restaurant, Nike clothes and history class. Will remember going to Italy with his Latin class last summer.
Brooke Zoltai
Valley Forge
Sport: Softball
Class: Freshman
Age: 14
Ht: 5-5
What Brooke did last week: The pitcher went 4-1. In 27 2/3 innings, she had 37 strikeouts and three complete games, including a nine-inning win against Barberton. She went 13-for-25, with three home runs, five doubles, 16 RBI, 13 runs and two stolen bases.
About Brooke: Played goalkeeper for the soccer team. Raises rabbits. Favorites include the Indians, soccer player Hope Solo, "The Benchwarmers" movie, "Jersey Shore" TV show, "Boyfriend" song by Justin Bieber, Twitter.com, "Seventeen" magazine, Chipotle restaurant and math class. Wants to try sushi.
Bee Shaw
Keystone
Sport: Softball
Class: Senior
Age: 18
Ht: 5-6
What Bee did last week: The pitcher/first baseman went 8-for-13, with nine RBI, eight runs, two doubles and two home runs. She threw a two-hitter with 10 strikeouts against Brookside. She is 32-0 for her career.
About Bee: Enjoys golf. Eats a sandwich and a piece of cinnamon candy before every game. Plans to become a nurse. Favorites include the Indians and Johnny Damon, "Fast and Furious" movies, "Fly Over States" song by Jason Aldean, Twitter.com, "The Hunger Games" book series, boneless wings, Mezcal restaurant and calculus class. Wants to visit Aruba.
Evan Bialosky
Padua
Sport: Track
Class: Senior
Age: 18
Ht: 5-11
Wt: 145
What Evan did last week: He won the 1,600 meters at the North Coast League Blue Division Championships in a school-record 4:31.07. Was a member of third-place 4x800 relay.
About Evan: Enjoys hunting, fishing and scuba diving. Will major in mechanical engineering at Ohio University. Played soccer during his freshman and sophomore years. Ran cross country as a junior and senior and placed 12th in the 2011 Division II state meet (16:16.72). Enjoys physics class and visiting the family's farm in Pennsylvania.
Aaron Owens
Midpark
Sport: Track
Class: Junior
Age: 17
Ht: 6-2
Wt: 170
What Aaron did last week: He won the pole vault at the East Canton Hornet Relays (16-0). He also anchored the winning 4x100 relay that finished in 44.6 seconds with a split of 10.6.
About Aaron: Also played football and basketball. Favorites include University of Southern California teams, Lakers guard Kobe Bryant, "Tosh.0" TV show, "Cudi Zone" song by Kid Cudi, Twitter.com, pasta, Dante restaurant and environmental science class. Best vacation was to the Dominican Republic. Wants to try sky diving.
Melanie Winters
Stow
Sport: Track
Class: Senior
Age: 18
Ht: 5-7
What Melanie did last week: Named most outstanding female performer at Austintown Fitch Optimist Meet, helping team score 27.5 points. She won the long jump, was second in the 100- and 300-meter hurdles and was a member of third-place 4x200 relay.
About Melanie: Plays guitar and piano. Enjoys creative writing. Wears neon green socks for meets. Plans to major in English or music in college. Favorites include action movies, "Ghost Hunters" TV show, music by Taylor Swift, orange chicken dish, Rockne's restaurant and music theory class. Wants to vacation in Nashville.
Elyse Bierut
Rocky River
Sport: Track
Class: Senior
Age: 18
Ht: 5-3
What Elyse did last week: At the Jess Bell Invitational, she broke the meet record in the 3,200 meters (10:45.84) and ran a 2:21 split as a member of the meet-record 4x800 relay team that finished in 9:36.65.
About Elyse: Member of the National Honor Society and student council secretary. Plans to major in exercise sport science and psychology at Elon. Favorites include her team and teammate Maddy McDonough, "Modern Family" TV show, Pinterest.com, "To Kill a Mockingbird" book, J. Crew clothes and AP biology class. Wants to try the pole vault and long jump.
Jon Jwe Non
Akron North
Sport: Tennis
Class: Senior
Age: 17
Ht: 5-6
Wt: 135
What Jon did last week: He won the Akron City Series championship at third singles, defeating an opponent from Garfield, 4-6, 6-3, 6-1. Season record is 12-5.
About Jon: Also plays soccer and enjoys art. Will attend the University of Akron. Favorites include Manchester United, soccer player Lionel Messi, "Fast and Furious" movie, "Family Guy" TV show, "Wedding Dress" song, Facebook.com, "Modern Warfare 3" video game, "Year of Impossible Goodbyes" book, Pad Thai restaurant, Hollister clothes and math class. Wants to try surfing.

Coaches' nominations for Players of the Week will be taken Mondays between 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. The toll-free number for coaches to call for the seven-county coverage area is 1-800-388-4370.

The Tribe goes on the road to face the Boston Red Sox and will try to regroup from losing their last two games. First pitch is at 7:10 p.m. Get game updates on Twitter from Dennis Manoloff, @dmansworldpd.

The Tribe goes on the road to face the Boston Red Sox and will try to regroup from losing their last two games. First pitch is at 7:10 p.m. Get game updates on Twitter from Dennis Manoloff @hoynsie or click here for a live game box score. You can also download our Cleveland Indians app for Android to get Tribe updates on your mobile device. Read on for a game preview.

View full sizeAP Photo/Orlin WagnerThe Indians travel to Boston tonight to start a four-game series with the Red Sox.

"The Indians are built to win IF EVERYTHING goes right. IF Duncan has a career year, IF Kotchman can put up better than career average numbers, IF Hannahan can have a career year. IF Kipnis can explode in his first full season. IF Brantley can live up to his potential, IF Hafner can make a reasonable come-back, IF Choo returns to form...and so on... and so on." - boogie2shoes

View full sizeChuck Crow/The Plain DealerOne cleveland.com reader believes fans will start coming to the ballpark once the team wins on a consistent basis.

"The Indians are built to win IF EVERYTHING goes right. IF Duncan has a career year, IF Kotchman can put up better than career average numbers, IF Hannahan can have a career year. IF Kipnis can explode in his first full season. IF Brantley can live up to his potential, IF Hafner can make a reasonable come-back, IF Choo returns to form...and so on... and so on.

Fans are divided into basically two groups, 1) Those who hope all of that will happen, and 2) those who know that all of those thing, in reality, rarely if ever happen. Some fans will spend their money on HOPE, year after year, and others prefer something more from an owner than the thinnest margins for success.

The Fans have entered an unspoken dialogue with the owners -- don't blackmail us into supporting our team if you're not going to do it yourself. You spend, then we will spend. 50 years of less than mediocre baseball is ENOUGH! This isn't about the players. It is about the owners."

The Ontario commercial fishing boat ADCO II was caught with its gill nets in Ohio waters on Wednesday, the second time in a week the boat was found illegally fishing on the wrong side of the international border

U.S. Coast GuardThe gill nets and net anchors seized Wednesday from the Canadian-flagged commercial fishing boat ADCO II are stored on the deck of a 33-foot boat from the U.S. Coast Guard's Station Marblehead. The ADCO II was boarded twice in the past week for illegally fishing in Ohio waters.

  The Ontario commercial fishing boat ADCO II was caught with its gill nets in Ohio waters on Wednesday, the second time in a week the Canadian-flagged net boat has been found illegally fishing on the wrong side of the international border.

The U.S. Coast Guard boarded the ADCO II just after noon on Wednesday after locating five gill nets straddling the Ohio-Ontario line southeast of Middle Sister Island. The Coast Guard was alerted by Homeland Security forces of the illegal fishing activity. Coast Guard officers seized almost 1,000 feet of gill nets and five net anchors, and documented about 350 pounds of walleye in the gill nets.

The ADCO II  was also boarded on May 3 while pulling gill nets in Ohio waters near North Bass Island.

The ADCO II took the walleye back to Ontario, where Ministry of Natural Resources officials will donate them to charity. The Ohio Division of Wildlife plans to file additional charges in Ottawa County Municipal Court in Port Clinton against the boat's owner, Pisces Fishery Incorporated of Wheatley, Ontario, and Melchiorre Pace, the boat's captain.

"It's something of a puzzle that a Canadian commercial boat would fish on the border and risk being cited," said Gino Barna, the head of Lake Erie law enforcement for the Ohio Division of Wildlife. "Homeland Security and the Coast Guard are constantly patrolling Lake Erie border waters, making it unlikely the illegal nets would go unnoticed."

 Filet of fish lawsuit: The James Merlitti family of Stow is suing in Ottawa County Common Pleas Court to block a new Ohio fishing regulation requiring anglers to leave skin on fish fillets until an angler reaches his home. Named in the lawsuit are Gov. John Kasich, Ohio Department of Natural Resources Director James Zehringer, Division of Wildlife Chief Scott Zody and Ottawa County wildlife officer Reid Van Cleve.  A hearing is scheduled next Friday, said attorney Adam M. VanHo, a law partner with Merlitti in the firm of Burdon and Merlitti, which has offices in Akron and Independence. 

 "Under this regulation, if a person catches a fish on Lake Erie, they would have to return to their home - wherever that is - before they could cut up and either freeze or eat the fish," said VanHo. "This regulation flies in the face of common sense, and is causing confusion amongst men and women who fish around Ohio."

Merlitti has a cottage in the Marblehead area, and both VanHo and Merlitti are avid Lake Erie anglers.

Wildlife officials did amend the regulation last week to require only a small patch of skin be left on a fillet, not the entire skin. VanHo pointed out that the change was only a directive from the wildlife agency, and did not change the administrative code.

Coming right up: The National Guard FLW Walleye Tour tournament is on in Port Clinton, with trophy walleye expected at the weigh-ins today at Waterworks Park in Port Clinton and Saturday at the Walmart in Port Clinton. The Cabela's Masters Walleye Circuit has its Lake Erie tournament on May 18-20 in Huron. Duck-N-Drake Bait and Tackle in Andover hosts a Pymatuning Reservoir walleye tournament on Saturday. The Cleveland Metroparks Annual Children's Fishing Derbies are the biggest around, with stocked trout, fishing lessons and prizes for kids 4 to 15 years old. The derbies are at the Ohio & Erie Canal Reservation pond in Cuyahoga Heights on May 19, and Wallace Lake in Berea on May 20.

For more information and events, check Egan's Outdoor Calendar at cleveland.com/outdoors.

Fishing Fest cancelled: The popular North Coast Harbor Boating & Fishing Fest that has lured thousands to its free weekend in Cleveland Harbor for the past 12 summers has been cancelled for June 9-10. Financial support for this year's event was lacking, said Ken Alvey, head of the Lake Erie Marine Trades Association. LEMTA was the primary sponsor of the festival, which had been funded through grants from state and local agencies.

 It isn't the only fishing-related cancellation. The plug has also been pulled on the free Lake County PerchFest (OK) at Fairport Harbor in early September.

Disabled kids to fish: The Goodyear Hunting & Fishing Club, Summit County Metro Parks and the Ohio Division of Wildlife deserve a pat on the back for hosting Saturday's special trout derby for youngsters who are in wheelchairs or have limited mobility. The 9 a.m.-2 p.m. event at Little Turtle Pond in Akron is free, with prizes for catching stocked golden trout.

Cold Creek trout: The Castalia State Fish Hatchery's annual beginner fly-fishing days are being held between Sept. 7 and Oct. 19, but the lottery deadline for the 75 openings for instruction and Cold Creek trout fishing is Aug. 1. To apply, send a postcard with name, address and phone number to: Attn. Linda Ringer, ODNR Division of Wildlife, 952 Lima Ave., Findlay, Ohio 45840.

Browns rookie minicamp begins on Friday. Ventrone, a Browns backup defensive back and special teams mainstay, began his pro career at one seven years ago. Might McCoy keep his starting quarterback job? Links to more Browns stories.

John Kuntz, The Plain DealerBrowns backup defensive back and special teams mainstay Ray Ventrone launched his NFL career at a New England Patriots rookie mini-camp in 2005.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Cleveland Browns open their rookie minicamp on Friday, with 37 players expected to attend -- including all 11 draft picks and 15 undrafted free agents. 

Plain Dealer and cleveland.com Browns coverage includes Mary Kay Cabot's story that defensive tackle Phil Taylor is awaiting results of an MRI for a possible torn pectoral muscle, which would maybe require surgery; a transcript of coach Pat Shurmur's conference call today with the media; Mary Kay Cabot's story that the Browns have signed two draft picks to contracts -- third-round defensive lineman John Hughes and seventh-round cornerback Trevin Wade; the PD Sports Insider, the twice-weekly half-hour video feature with Plain Dealer reporters; Part 1 of a Starting Blocks TV interview with Browns defensive tackle Phil Taylor; and more.

Many of the players at the Browns' minicamp will be in a situation similar to Ray Ventrone's in 2005.

Matt Florjancic of clevelandbrowns.com writes about the NFL trail for Ventrone, a backup Browns defensive back and a valuable special teams player: 

An ankle injury caused Ventrone to miss most of his senior season at Villanova University. Although he “wasn’t anticipating getting drafted,” Ventrone was hoping to receive a phone call from a team as an undrafted free agent. Not long after the draft, Ventrone’s phone call came from the New England Patriots.

“I actually spoke with Coach Eric Mangini,” Ventrone recalled. “He was the D-coordinator at the time and said that I had a real good opportunity to have an impact on special teams and learn from a veteran group. They had Larry Izzo on special teams, Rodney Harrison at safety, so I was able to learn a lot from those guys and that’s helped me out to this point.”

Browns story links

Colt McCoy might still have a chance to be the Browns' starting quarterback. (By Craig Lyndall, WaitingForNextYear)

The Browns wanted to draft Baylor wide receiver Kendall Wright, who went to the Tennessee Titans, and then try to land Brandon Weeden. (By Jeff Schudel, News-Herald and Lorain Morning Journal)

Brandon Weeden took a chance on football. (By Steve Doerschuk, Canton Repository)

The Browns welcome 37 players to rookie minicamp. (By Fred Greetham, Scout.com's Orange and Brown Report).

Trent Richardson talks about joining the Browns and what kind of player he tries to be, in a radio interview. (92.3 The Fan)

How the Browns might have to try to replace Phil Taylor for a while. (By Jamison Hensley, ESPN.com)

What Trent Richardson's contract might look like. (By Craig Lyndall, WaitingForNextYear)

Pat Shurmur says Brandon Weeden must win the starting QB job. (By Nate Ulrich, Akron Beacon Journal)