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BOXING

Castellani honored

Luzerne native Attilio “Rocky” Castellani has recently been selected for induction into the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame. Using more style than power, the middleweight boxer won 34 of his first 39 fights, including nine by knockout. Castellani changed to a slugging style and the move paid dividends as he won 16 of his next 17 fights. He earned a shot at the middleweight title in 1954 against Bobo Olson, losing a 15-round decision.

During the next three years, Castellani posted a 7-6 record, including a split decision loss against Sugar Ray Robinson. He retired from boxing with a career record of 67-13-4 with 16 knockouts and remained active in the sport as a referee and judge.

Castellani will be inducted into the Hall of Fame in November during ceremonies in Philadelphia. He resides with his wife in Atlantic City, N.J.

Golf

11-year-old scores ace

Eleven-year-old David Jesikiewicz hit a hole-in-one on the par 3, 153-yard 9th hole at Applewood Golf Course on Thursday. Jesikiewicz used a driver to score the first ace of his golfing career. The shot was witnessed by his father Jim and two brothers Brian and Steven.

Brandt gets hole-in-one

Wayne Brandt, of Plymouth, hit a hole-in-one on the 260-yard eighth hole at Twin Oaks on Thursday. Brandt used a driver and his shot was witnessed by M.T. Schineller.

Nation/World

MLB

Selig avoids questions

Baseball commissioner Bud Selig sidestepped questions Thursday about whether he’ll attend games as Barry Bonds approaches Hank Aaron’s home run record of 755.

“Is he really approaching?” Selig, a longtime friend of Aaron, said facetiously after owners finished their two-day meeting. “I don’t have anything different to say today. I’ll make a decision at some appropriate time.”

Selig also wouldn’t say whether he was concerned that active players thus far have not agreed to be interviewed for former Sen. George Mitchell’s steroids investigation and only a few have supplied requested medical records.

“That is something that my friends at the players’ association, the players, you’ll have to ask them,” Selig said at a news conference.

NHL

Flyers sign Kukkonen

Lasse Kukkonen agreed to a two-year contract with Philadelphia on Thursday, the third free agent the Flyers have signed in the last week.

Kukkonen had five goals and 14 points in 74 games for the Flyers and the Chicago Blackhawks last season. The defenseman led all NHL rookies in blocked shots with 151.

“He showed that he can move the puck extremely well and that he is a really steady defender,” said Flyers general manager Paul Holmgren. “We look forward to him being part of our defense for the next two seasons.”

The NHL-worst Flyers also signed wingers Scottie Upshall and Ben Eager to two-year deals in the last week as they try and build their way back through younger players.

The Flyers also signed right wing David Laliberteto to a three-year entry-level contract. He was originally drafted by the Flyers in the fourth round (124th overall) of the 2004 entry Draft.