College basketball

ND MEN HEAD TO IRELAND: The Irish are going to Ireland for a head start to their season.

Basketball season, that is.

Notre Dame left Tuesday for a 13-day trip that will include six games before the football team plays its first. The Irish started practicing Aug. 4, four days before the football team and two months ahead of the traditional October start of basketball practice.

"We're so far ahead right now," said Andrean grad Luke Harangody, a second-team All-America last season who led the Irish with 20.4 points and 10.6 rebounds a game. "We feel like we're in season now."

College wrestling

FORMER MT. CARMEL WRESTLER KICKED OFF TEAM: Two Nebraska wrestlers have been dismissed from the team after allegedly posing naked on an Internet pornography site.

Nebraska wrestling coach Mark Manning said Paul Donahoe and Kenny Jordan, a Mt. Carmel grad, are permanently off the team. Manning says their behavior doesn't reflect the team's standard of excellence.

Manning apologized in a statement for any embarrassment caused for the athletic department, the university and fans.

The pictures appear to show the wrestlers separately, posing nude and partially clothed.

In 2005, Jordan, a Frankfort resident, won the Class AA 130-pound title, a year after winning the 119-pound title. He finished his career with 168 wins, more than any other Mt. Carmel wrestler.

College sports

WVUR CARRIES VU SPORTS THIS FALL: WVUR-FM (95.1) will broadcast more than 50 live Valparaiso University football, soccer and volleyball games this fall, including several road contests this upcoming season.

Most matches will be carried live on WVUR and online at www.valpoathletics.com while several will be available only through www.sportsjuice.com.

Prep football

CROWN POINT TIX: The Crown Point Athletic Department is selling reserved seating to all home football games in the athletic office from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. A patron must purchase a Top Dog Pass (Season Pass to all events) in order to purchase a reserved seating ticket. The cost of a reserved seating is $20 for all four home games.

MUNSTER TIX: Reserved seating and season football tickets are currently on sale at the Munster athletic office. There are four options available.

"Reserved Seating" ($20) includes admission and reserved seat to home varsity football games only. "Football Fan" ($30) includes admission to all levels of home football games. Reserved seat is optional. "Super Fan" ($80) is admission to all sports, all levels, and a reserved seat is optional. "Student" ($35) is admission all sports and levels. Grades 1-8 should purchase the pass in the athletic office. Grades 9-12 purchasing this option will be on their student ID during registration.

The athletic office is open for ticket sales from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

HOBART-VALPO SCRIMMAGE MOVED: The Hobart-Valparaiso football scrimmage has been moved to Hobart. The game will take place at 7 p.m. Friday.

Local baseball

VU HOLDS ELITE CAMP SEPT. 28: Valparaiso University's baseball program will sponsor a Fall Elite Camp on Sept. 28. The camp is for high-school age players, and it will take place at Emory G. Bauer Field. The camp begins at 8:30 a.m. The cost is $85. For details, contact Eric Osborn at (219) 465-7961 or Eric.Osborn@valpo.edu.

Local bowling

THREE VOTED INTO HOF: The Greater Calumet Area USBC Bowling Association conducted its annual meeting Monday at Dynasty Banquets in Hammond. The sanctioned bowlers in attendance voted Evon Fortenberry, Hoyt Johnson and Nick Rencich into the 5,500-member bowling association's 22nd Hall of Fame class.

Inductees will be honored Dec. 7 at the 22nd annual Hall of Fame and Awards banquet that Dynasty Banquets, Hammond.

Fortenberry lives in Calumet Twp. and has been a top area league bowler for decades. He was the association's Senior Bowler of the Year (2006) and Super Senior of the Year (2007).

Johnson, formerly of Griffith, relocated to Arkansas a few years ago. The former proprietor of Pin Bowl Lanes in Hammond's Hessville section becomes the third father-son Hall of Fame combination, but the first in which the father follows the son. Johnson's son, Ron, of Griffith, was elected to the Hall of Fame in 2007.

Rencich, of Portage, has won The Times tournament, participated in numerous PBA events and recorded the high average in Lan-Oak Lanes in Lansing during the 2007-08 bowling season.

Equestrian

WHEELER'S ROPER WINS TITLES: Wheeler grad Indy Roper won four equestrian titles at the AQHYA Ford World Championship Show. Roper won the titles on High Flying Assets. Roper placed third in horsemanship and fifth in showmanship. Roper was also the reserve world champion on another horse, Don't Zip Charlie.

Youth baseball

CHIEFS STAY ALIVE: The Hammond Chiefs stayed alive at the Senior Babe Ruth World Series in Newark, Ohio, with a 3-2 victory over Cape Cod, Mass.

Mike Pokers (11-1) picked up the win, while R.J. Legel struck out eight in 6 2/3 innings. Brian Dineen and Nick Hladek combined for five hits in the victory.

The Chiefs (46-18) advanced to today's elimination-round game against Mobile, Ala. Fans can follow the game at brlworldseries.com.

Around the horn

NFL Hall of Famer and former Green Bay Packers star Paul Hornung will sign copies of his book "Lombardi and Me" Aug. 22 from 5-7:30 p.m. at Bridge's Scoreboard Lounge, 121 N. Griffith Blvd., Griffith. The legendary Notre Dame running back will also sign any memorabilia that fans bring. Call (219) 924-2206 for more information. ... Former Valparaiso coach Skip Collins is trying to locate members of his 1983 state championship team for a 25th-year reunion this fall -- particularly Craig McFarland (Class of 1984) and David Zeigert (Class of 1985). Anyone with information concerning the whereabouts of those two alumni are asked to contact Collins at (219) 462-6371.