University of Akron senior tennis player Zara Harutyunyan was named Mid-American Conference Player of the Week on Wednesday.
Harutyunyan, a three-time MAC Player of the Year winner, went 6-0 last weekend and led the Zips to wins over IUPUI and Wright State at home on Saturday and at West Virginia on Sunday.
Harutyunyan had three wins at No. 1 singles, two wins at No. 1 doubles and a decision at No. 2 doubles.
The Zips host New Jersey Institute of Technology at 4 p.m. Saturday at the LaTuchie Tennis Center in Stow. The Zips compete at 11 a.m. Sunday at Cleveland State and come home to host Youngstown State at 5 p.m.
Softball
Lisa Norris and Kristina Thorson each agreed to new contracts with the Akron Racers for the 2012 season, Racers General Manager Joey Arrietta announced on Thursday.
Thorson, an all-star with the Racers last season, appeared in 17 games in 2011, including 12 starts, and threw seven complete games and finished with a 9-3 record.
Thorson finished with the most wins on the pitching staff and had a team-best 2.12 ERA.
Norris, the 2010 NPF Pitcher of the Year, went 8-10 for the Racers last season in 113.1 innings of work. Norris struck out 103 batters in 21 games and also had two saves in relief.
“Thorson and Norris have been our two most dominant pitchers the last few seasons,” Arrietta said. “Our rotation is very solid with these two leading the way from the circle.”
The Racers open the 2012 season on June 7 at Firestone Stadium against the Carolina Diamonds.
Season tickets for the 2012 season are on sale now and can be ordered by calling 330-376-8188.
Horse racing
The Ohio Derby, along with 16 other stakes races, will return to Thistledown in 2012.
The schedule offers $907,000 in purses and 10 of the 17 stakes races will move to Friday, including the Best of Ohio series on Oct. 12.
The $75,000 Daniel Stearns Cleveland Gold Cup for 3-year-old Ohio foals also will move to July 6. The Gold Cup will kick off a three-stakes weekend that includes the Ohio Derby and the Cleveland Kindergarten Stakes on July 7.
The 2012 Thistledown season begins on May 4 and runs through Nov. 17. The track will offer live racing Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday and will add Thursdays on Sept. 6. Post times remain under discussion.
— Beacon Journal staff report
