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SPORTSBRIEFING

McDonald’s Rasile retires from coaching

MCDONALD –McDonald Athletic Director Randy Riccitelli announced Monday that Blue Devils boys basketball coach Jeff Rasile will not return next season.

Rasile finishes his coaching career with a record of 386-98. He led McDonald to six district championships, including a regional final appearance in 2011. In all he spent 16 seasons at McDonald and four years at Champion.

In an interview with WKBN, Rasile said he was stepping aside to be more involved with his children.

His son, Zach, is graduating this year and will play collegiately at West Liberty. He is Ohio’s second all-time leading scorer. Jeff also has a daughter on the soccer team at Youngstown State University and another daughter who plays volleyball at McDonald.

Although Jeff Rasile left coaching and returned before, he told WKBN he is now finished with basketball and has no plans to return.

The Blue Devils finished the season 22-4 after bowing out with a 47-45 loss to Lucas in the Div. IV regional semifinal.

FILE – In this 1972 file photo, Houston Astros’ Jimmy Wynn, top, is greeted at the plate after a home run in a baseball game in Houston. Wynn, the slugger who earned his nickname of “The Toy Cannon” during his days with the Astros in the 1960s and ’70s, has died. Wynn was 78. The Astros said he died on Thursday, March 26, 2020, in Houston, but did not provide further details. (Blair Pittman/Houston Chronicle via AP)

‘Toy Cannon’ dies at 78

Jimmy Wynn, the diminutive Houston slugger whose monster shots in the 1960s and ’70s earned him the popular nickname “The Toy Cannon,” has died. He was 78.

The Astros said the three-time All-Star outfielder died Thursday in Houston, but did not provide further details.

Just 5-foot-9, Wynn was packed with power. He hit more than 30 homers twice with Houston, including a career-high 37 in 1967 at the pitcher-friendly Astrodome.

“Jimmy’s success on the field helped build our franchise from its beginnings,” the Astros said in a statement. “After his retirement, his tireless work in the community impacted thousands of young people in Houston. Although he is no longer with us, his legacy will live on at Minute Maid Park, at the Astros Youth Academy and beyond.”

At the time of his death Wynn worked in the Astros’ front office as a community outreach executive. Celebrated everywhere he went, Wynn often was seen around the ballpark interacting with players and fans alike.

Wynn became known for his long home runs and two became particularly famous.

The first came on June 10, 1967, when he knocked one out of Cincinnati’s Crosley Field, over the scoreboard in left-center and onto the highway outside of the stadium.

Almost three years later, on April 12, 1970, he became the first player to hit a home run into the upper deck of the cavernous Astrodome when he sent a pitch from Phil Niekro more than 500 feet down the left field line.

Wynn spent his first 11 seasons in Houston, first with the Colt .45s and then with the Astros before making stops with the Dodgers, Braves, Brewers and Yankees in a 15-year major league career.

NFL wants prospects ‘live’

NFL vice president Troy Vincent has sent a letter to several prospects inviting them to participate “live” in the NFL draft in three weeks.

The Associated Press on Tuesday obtained the letter sent by the league’s football operations chief to prospective early selections in the draft, which will be held remotely on April 23-25 due to the coronavirus pandemic.

“We hope that you will start your NFL journey with us as part of the NFL family,” Vincent wrote. “At this time, we are working on the plan for draft. As you can imagine, it is a bit of a moving target with all that is going on.

“We are contemplating several options that we will be communicating to you once details are confirmed. We want to ensure that you and your family stay safe while we develop the best way to give you a great experience and highlight your accomplishments as you are drafted into the NFL.”

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