Massucci, Sheely on NFCA watch list

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Slippery Rock University softball outfielders Alyssa Massucci (Howland) and Alyssa Sheely (Ursuline) have been named to the National Fastpitch Coaches Association Division II Player of the Year watchlist, the organization announced Wednesday.

Massucci and Sheely are two of three Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Western Division players to make the 2026 watchlist. Additionally, the duo are two of six players from the conference as a whole to be named to the watchlist. SRU was the only team in the Atlantic Region to have two position players nominated for the award.

Sheely, a senior from New Middletown, Ohio, has a team-leading .481 batting average (26-of-54) with 24 RBIs, 14 runs, two home runs and five doubles. The right fielder has a .685 slugging percentage and a .508 on-base percentage in 17 games played (16 starts).

Occupying the other corner outfield position, Massucci, a sophomore from Warren, Ohio, is hitting .424 (28-of-66) with 17 runs, 14 RBIs, three home runs and a team-leading seven doubles. In 21 games played (20 starts), Massucci is slugging .727 with a .435 on-base percentage.

Across the PSAC, Sheely ranks third in batting average, sixth in on-base percentage , sixth in OPS (1.193), eighth in RBIs and 10th in slugging percentage, while Massucci sits sixth in slugging percentage, ninth in batting average and 10th in OPS (1.162).

Voted on by the NFCA’s Division II All-American Committee, the Player of the Year and NFCA/Portolite Pitcher of the Year will be announced on May 27.

YSU bowlers earn C-USA honors

YOUNGSTOWN — Youngstown State bowler Amy Chrzanowski has been voted the Conference USA Newcomer of the Year, and Liv Baskin has been named to the conference’s All-Rookie Team for the 2025-26 season. The conference office announced the postseason awards and all-conference teams on Wednesday.

Chrzanowski, a junior transfer from Fairleigh Dickinson, is YSU’s first bowler to be named a conference newcomer of the year in its eight seasons as an affiliate member of the Southland Conference or Conference USA. Baskin is the third Penguin to be named to a conference rookie team, joining Southland selections Jade Cote (2021-22) and Hope Bunk (2022-23).

Chrzanowski has been a key part of the lineup in her first season as a Penguin, ranking second on the team with 1,018 total frames and leading the team in fill percentage and single-pin spare percentage. The native of Colonie, N.Y., averages a team-high 199.41 per game in traditional play with a team-best 19 games over 200, and she averages 19.69 pins per frame in Baker play. Chrzanowski placed 15th individually at two tournaments in the fall, and she was named to the All-Tournament Team after placing fifth at the Big Red Invitational in February. Her 1,330 set at Nebraska’s event was the second-highest total for a six-game tournament in program history.

Baskin is one of six freshmen on YSU’s roster, and she earned All-Rookie accolades after ranking second on the team in Baker scoring average at 19.77. She has placed in the top 25 individually at three tournaments, and she was the Penguins’ top finisher in 17th place at the Music City Classic with a five-game set of 1,046. Baskin, a native of Elk Mound, Wis., averages 194.82 in traditional play for the year, and she’s improved to 199.10 over her last 15 games.

Youngstown State continues its season Friday at the NCAA Regional in Lansing, Mich.

Jackets add Aston-Reese to roster

COLUMBUS — The Columbus Blue Jackets added forward Zach Aston-Reese to the roster on emergency recall from the Cleveland Monsters, the team’s American Hockey League affiliate, club President of Hockey Operations and General Manager Don Waddell announced Wednesday.

Aston-Reese, 31, has collected one goal and four assists for five points with 12 penalty minutes in 26 contests with the Blue Jackets this season. He has notched 49-53-102 and 165 PIM in 415 career NHL appearances with the Blue Jackets, Detroit Red Wings, Toronto Maple Leafs, Anaheim Ducks and Pittsburgh Penguins since making his league debut in 2017-18. He has recorded 7-15-22 and 39 PIM in 105 games with Columbus since being claimed off waivers from the Vegas Golden Knights on Oct. 7, 2024.

The Blue Jackets return to action tonight at the Carolina Hurricanes. Puck drop from Lenovo Center is 7 p.m.

ODNR to host hatchery open houses

COLUMBUS — The Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife is hosting open houses this spring at state fish hatcheries where visitors can learn about fish production. Hatchery open houses are free of charge and provide time for visitors to see fish up close before they are stocked into one of Ohio’s many public lakes and rivers.

Each hatchery open house is an America 250 event. Visitors will learn about the importance of fish habitat, the of aquatic wildlife conservation, and how it intertwines with the history of America.

The Division of Wildlife operates six state fish hatcheries, which raised and stocked 36 million fish in 2025. Sport fish species raised for stocking in public waters include cold-water fish (rainbow trout, steelhead, and brown trout), cool-water fish (saugeye, walleye, yellow perch, and muskellunge), and warm-water fish (hybrid-striped bass, channel catfish, blue catfish, and bluegill). These hatcheries enhance many of the fishing opportunities that anglers enjoy.

Hatchery open houses are scheduled from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at each location:

Saturday: Hebron State Fish Hatchery, 10517 Canal Rd SE, Hebron, 43025; Senecaville State Fish Hatchery, 57199 Seneca Dam Rd, Senecaville, 43780

April 11: Castalia State Fish Hatchery, 7018 Homegardner Rd, Castalia, 44824

April 18: Kincaid State Fish Hatchery, 7487 St. Rt. 124, Latham, 45646

April 25: London State Fish Hatchery, 2470 Roberts Mill Rd, London, 43140

During each open house, Division of Wildlife staff will give tours and answer questions about fish production and fisheries management. Guests may learn about these hatcheries, view fish eggs and fry in production buildings, and watch older fish in ponds or raceways. Family-friendly activities and displays including an archery trailer and BB gun range will be available at some locations.