Perkins graduate Cory Leslie ran a personal-best time of 3:39.00 to win Section II of the 1500m Sunday evening at the Payton Jordan Invitational in Palo Alto, Calif.

In posting the second-fastest time in Ohio State history and the third-best mark in Division I this season, Leslie placed 12th overall among 73 of the top distance runners in the United States, winning his 12-person race in the process. Teammate Chris Fallon ran a personal-best time of his own (3:45.51), finishing third in the Section IV run.

North Ridgeville's Jordan White was just selected 244th in the seventh round by the New York Jets.

White, set Western Michigan's single game record for receiving yards (265) and set new MAC career receiving yards (4,187), single season receiving yards (1,911) and tied for career receptions (306).

swalker@MorningJournal.com

Perkins graduate Cierra Bravard was signed by the WNBA's San Antonio Silver Stars on Wednesday.

The 6-foot-4 forward completed her Florida State career as the only player in school history to rank among the top 10 on the career record lists for scoring, rebounding, blocks and games played.

A 2011 WBCA Honorable Mention All-America selection, Bravard led the Seminoles with 14.0 points and 6.5 rebounds per game while shooting 54.0 percent from the floor during her senior season. It marked her third-consecutive season leading the team in scoring average and shooting percentage.

A two-time All-ACC honoree, Bravard played in all 131 games during her collegiate career, averaging 11.4 points and 5.8 rebounds per game with a 54.0 shooting percentage.

swalker@MorningJournal.com

Amherst graduate Kyle Hagerich, a freshman, had the biggest pinch-hit of his career when he blasted his second home run of the season, a three-run blast to left field as Mercyhurst exploded for double-digit run totals in each game of Friday afternoon’s doubleheader at Slippery Rock, winning by scores of 10-0 and 19-6. 

Hagerich's homer was off fellow Amherst graduate Tony Naso. 

Mercyhurst improved to 28-9 overall and 10-4 in PSAC West action. 

swalker@MorningJournal.com

Admiral King graduate Jillian Van Wagnen, who made the Ohio University softball team as a walk-on as a freshman, is leading the Bobcats with a .392 batting average.

The senior has played in all 35 games and averages over one hit per game. She also has two doubles, two triples, along with 11 RBIs. She has stolen 23 bases and has scored 24 runs.

Last year, as a junior, she made the MAC All-Tournament team and Academic All-MAC team. She started in 48 of 49 games in centerfield. She finished with 22 runs, 27 hits, seven RBIs and a triple. She also led the team with 22 stolen bases.

As a sophomore, she started 29 games and batted .316. She had 18 hits, three RBIs, and two doubles. She also shared the team-lead lead for stolen bases.

Her freshman season, she started in 27 games after making the team as a walk-on. She batted .290. She was also warded the team’s Wendy Fox Award, given to the player who exhibits the most drive to succeed.

At Admiral King, she was Lorain County’s Miss Softball (2008) after batting .535 with eight home runs, 33 RBIs and 14 stolen bases. She also lettered in tennis (four years), cross country (two years), basketball (four years), golf (two years) and softball (four years). 

swalker@MorningJournal.com

Clearview’s Ian Mezlak hit a grand slam and drove in a season-high six RBIs, leading Ohio University to a 19-10 victory and a series sweep over Northern Illinois on Sunday afternoon at Ralph McKinzie Field.

Mezlak went 2-for-3 and hit a grand slam in the top of the seventh inning.

For the season, Mezlak is batting .278 (30-for-108) with three doubles, a triple, a home run and 14 RBIs.

swalker@MorningJournal.com

Vermilion's Robert Lear has selected Heidelberg University to continue his education, play football and wrestle.

Lear is a three-year letter winner in football and four-year letter winner in wrestling.   

As a senior in 2011-12, Lear won the football team's Sportsmanship, Captain and Craig Reed awards and garnered the Sportsmanship Award in wrestling as a freshman in 2008-09.     

This past season, he was the West Shore Conference's heavyweight champion, qualified for the district championships and earned the Steve Mustard Award.   

As a junior in 2010-11, Lear was a second-team All-WSC performer and district alternate while earning the Captain and Baguba awards.

swalker@MorningJournal.com