DaytonDailyNews.com

RedHawk icers eye Fighting Irish

OXFORD — The Miami University hockey team will travel to Joe Louis Arena in Detroit this weekend for the Central Collegiate Hockey Association Final Four.

The RedHawks (31-6-1), seeded second in the tournament, will meet No. 4 seed Notre Dame at 4:30 p.m. on Friday, March 21. No. 1 Michigan faces No. 6 Northern Michigan in the second semifinal at 8 p.m.

Miami split with Notre Dame in November, losing 2-1 before rebounding with a 3-1 triumph.

The third-place (3:30 p.m.) and championship (7:30 p.m.) contests are slated for Saturday.

MUH opens with three wins in Florida

COCOA BEACH, Fla. — The Miami University Hamilton baseball team has started its spring trip in Florida with three straight victories.

The Harriers (6-3) began with an 11-1 win over Cumberland County College as Matt Mays went 2-for-2 with a home run, two RBIs and two runs. Zane Bayliss struck out five and was the winning pitcher.

Other offensive leaders included Damien Hannah (3-for-4, double, triple, two runs, RBI), Curtis Blank (two hits, two RBIs), Adam Farwick (two hits, double, two runs) and Steve Adams (double, RBI).

MUH then defeated Connecticut Avery Point, the 2007 Division II NJCAA New England Champion, 10-9 on Will Grant's RBI single in the bottom of the seventh inning.

Grant was 2-for-2 with four RBIs, while Mays and Adams each had two hits and two runs. Ansen Hall added a triple, two runs and an RBI, and Adams picked up the win in relief.

The Harriers then beat Chesapeake College 13-3, with Tyler Grammel getting the win. Offensive leaders included Hannah (two hits, two runs, RBI), Jason Gray (triple, two runs, two RBIs), Blank (two RBIs), Adams (two hits, three runs, two RBIs), Mays (two hits, double, RBI), Corey Murden (two hits, double, RBI) and Grant (two RBIs).

Before leaving for Cocoa Beach, Miami Hamilton dropped a doubleheader at home to Notre Dame College. MUH lost the opener 19-7 despite strong offense from Blank (three hits, double, two runs), Adams (two hits, double, three RBIs) and Grant (two hits).

The Harriers lost 5-4 in the nightcap. Gray had three hits, Blank collected two hits and an RBI, and Adams added a double and an RBI.

NASCAR testing canceled at Kentucky

SPARTA, Ky. — The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and ARCA RE/MAX Series test session, scheduled for today and Wednesday at Kentucky Speedway, featuring drivers Jimmy Johnson, Mike Skinner and Joe Nemechek, along with Joe Gibbs Developmental driver Joey Logano and ARCA RE/MAX Series test driver Stanton Barrett has been canceled due to a forecast of inclement weather.

NFL comings & goings

Dolphins: Former Cincinnati Bengals receiver Tab Perry has agreed to terms with Miami. Perry has averaged 23.7 yards on kickoff returns in his three-year career, but he played in only four games the past two seasons because of a hip injury.

Jets: New York signed three-time Pro Bowl tight end Bubba Franks to a one-year deal Monday. Franks, who spent the last eight seasons with Green Bay, likely will be the backup to Chris Baker.

49ers: San Francisco signed receiver Bryant Johnson on Monday. Johnson spent his first five NFL seasons with Arizona , catching 210 passes for 2,675 yards and nine TDs.

— Staff and Wire Reports