Innocent to speak at Curbstone

Youngstown State Travel Specialist Tracey Innocent will be the guest speaker at Monday’s luncheon meeting of The Curbstone Coaches at the Avion Banquet Center on Western Reserve Road in Beaver Township.

The event begins at noon and the public is welcome to attend. For those arriving early the buffet lines will open at 11:45 a.m.

All sports fans are welcome and you do not need to be a current or former coach.

Curbstone HOF tickets available

Plans are underway for the annual Curbstone Coaches Hall of Fame Induction ceremony, which is set for May 3 at Mr. Anthony’s in Boardman. The keynote speaker will be former Pittsburgh Steelers stand out wide receiver Louis Lipps.

Tickets are available by contacting Patty Schuley at 3302078157.

The cost of each ticket is $60 and $480 for a table of eight.

For any questions about the banquet or Curbstone Coaches, call 3305066774.

Ex-OSU LB charged with murder

OOLTEWAH, Tenn. — A former New York Jets first-round draft pick was arrested in Tennessee and charged with first-degree murder in the death of his girlfriend.

Darron Lee was identified Thursday as the suspect and taken into custody at the scene, according to the Hamilton County sheriff’s office.

The victim’s identity was not released.

The 31-year-old Lee played 58 games with the Jets, Kansas City and Buffalo from 2016 through the 2020 seasons. The former Ohio State linebacker was the 20th overall pick in 2016 by the Jets. He was the defensive MVP of the 2015 Sugar Bowl.

Lee was charged with first-degree murder and tampering with evidence. Additional charges could be pending following the outcome of the investigation, the sheriff’s office said.

Upon arrival, first responders located a female victim and attempted life-saving measures.

“Due to the condition of the victim and the residence, HCSO Criminal Investigative Services Detectives responded. Preliminary findings indicate the victim’s death was the result of a homicide,” the Hamilton County sheriff’s office said in a statement.

Lee has a Feb. 11 court date.

He was previously arrested for assault and domestic violence in 2023.

Hisatsune leads at Phoenix Open

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Ryo Hisatsune turned a water ball into a birdie to electrify the juiced up crowds at the Phoenix Open.

Scottie Scheffler did what he needed to make yet another cut by turning in the kind of round expected by the world’s No. 1 player.

Hisatsune chipped in for birdie after driving his ball in the water on the par-4 17th hole and shot a bogey-free 8-under 63 on Friday to surge into the lead in the second round of Phoenix Open.

Scheffler enjoyed his round a bit more than he did while opening with a 73 that put him danger of missing a cut for the first time since the 2022 FedEx St. Jude Classic.

After working on his grip, Scheffler shot 2-under 33 on the front nine to move close to the cut line and left no doubt with four birdies on the back to extend his streak to 66 cuts made, longest active on the PGA Tour. His 3-foot birdie on No. 18 capped a bogey-free 65 that got him to 4 under, seven shots back.

And don’t think the seven-shot difference is insurmountable.

Scheffler has won twice when trailing by more than shots, including the 2022 Phoenix Open, where he made up nine shots for his first PGA Tour victory.

Two-time Phoenix Open champion Brooks Koepka had a much tougher go of it, finishing at 2 over to miss the cut in his second tournament since being reinstated by the PGA Tour. He followed an opening 75 with a 69.

Two Japanese players made the most noise on another warm day at TPC Scottsdale’s Stadium Course.

Two-time Phoenix Open champion Hideki Matsuyama had a run of six straight birdies to shoot 64 in the morning wave to take the lead at 10 under.

He was surpassed by his countryman in the afternoon.

Hisatsune was at 5 under after two birdies on the front nine, then electrified the rowdy crowds by going 6 under in a five-hole stretch — highlighted by his chip-in at 17 — to reach 11-under 131.

Overnight leader Chris Gotterup shot 71 to join Pierceson Coody (68) at 8 under.

Hisatsune tied for second at Torrey Pines last week after missing the cut in the season-opening Sony Open. He had four top-10s as a PGA Tour rookie last year.

The 23-year-old kicked off his closing flourish with birdies on 13 and 14, then dropped in an 8-foot eagle putt on the par-5 15th. Hisatsune sent roars through the stadium par-3 16th by sinking a 7-foot birdie putt and smiled sheepishly at his chip in on 17 after hitting his tee shot left into the pond.

Now he’ll be paired with Matsuyama on Saturday in the third round.

Matsuyama opened with a bogey-free 68 and began his second round with three straight pars.

Then he started hitting it close.

Matsuyama birdied the par-5 13th despite hitting his drive left into the desert and hit his approach to 3 feet on the 498-yard par-4 14th for another birdie. He added another a 3-footer and revved up the already-juiced crowd with a 29-foot birdie putt on 16.

Matsuyama had a two-putt birdie on the reachable par-4 17th and capped a 6-under 30 on the back nine with a 4-foot birdie putt on No. 18. He hit it inside 10 feet for two more birdies on Nos. 4-5, but bogeyed the par-4 ninth after pulling his tee shot into the thick left rough.

Matsuyama will have a comfortable pairing in the third round with Hisatsune.

That could change if Scheffler makes another run.