Local Sports to Follow in Youngstown, Ohio

If you’re interested in following the latest in local sports, you’ll find no shortage of opportunities to do so in and around Youngstown, Ohio. The Mahoning River Valley offers a wealth of athletic teams ranging from roller derby to hockey to baseball. You can even enjoy a bit of horse racing when you’re in the mood for something different.

Here, you’ll find a full rundown of the sports that you can follow in the Youngstown area. With this lineup at your disposal, you’re sure to stay on top of it all, never missing an opportunity to take in some of the action that’s available here. Prepare your car for tailgating or load up your friends and family to get a great seat in the stands. An afternoon of athletics is never far away.

Little Steel Derby Girls Roller Derby

Image via Flickr by BojPhoto

Skater-owned and operated, the Little Steel Derby Girls is an all-female roller derby league. The league has two teams: the Rustbelt Rollers and the Lawless Rollers. Each team puts five skaters on the flat track at one time. The jammer for each team tries to get around the track as many times as possible, scoring points. The other players, called blockers, try to prevent the other team’s jammers from completing laps.

The team practices from January to November with their playing season running from March to September. Any woman over the age of 18 can join the league.

Youngstown Phantoms Hockey

The Youngstown Phantoms play at the Covelli Center, which seats 5,700 fans. This Tier I junior ice hockey team is a member of the Eastern Conference of the United States Hockey League (USHL). They finished the 2014-15 season first of nine, dropping to second of nine in 2017-18 and third of nine in 2018-19. The 2019-20 season was canceled due to COVID-19.

A three-week fan voting period in 2020 yielded the picks for the team’s All-Decade team, celebrating 10 years of USHL hockey. The fans selected:

• Kyle Conner, forward.
• Josh Melnick, forward.
• Sam Anas, forward.
• Alec Mahalak, defenseman.
• Matt Miller, defenseman.
• Aiden Gallacher, defenseman.
• Ivan Kulbakov, goalie.
• Brad Patterson, coach.

Mahoning Valley Scrappers Baseball

A minor league baseball team based in nearby Niles, Ohio, the Mahoning Valley Scrappers are the local team to root for in Youngstown. The team plays home games at Eastwood Field, which seats more than 6,000 fans. This venue is ideal for a day of family fun, with a fun zone located on the third-base side of Eastwood Field featuring a bounce house, games, and other activities. The Glenbeigh Family Section is another outstanding feature of the field. Located in section 120, this is a family-friendly, alcohol-free zone.

The Scrappers are the Short Season Class-A affiliate of the Cleveland Indians. They played their 21st season in 2019. The 2020 season has been canceled due to COVID-19.

Youngstown Nighthawks Soccer

The Youngstown Nighthawks are part of the Premier Arena Soccer League, a semiprofessional indoor soccer league. The Nighthawks play at the NC Soccer Club in Hudson. The team is made primarily of players from Youngstown and the Warren area, though some players come from Cleveland, Pittsburgh, and Erie.

Youngstown State University Penguins

Youngstown State University hosts 20 Division I sports. Their men’s athletics teams include:

• Baseball.
• Basketball.
• Cross country.
• Football.
• Golf.
• Swimming and diving.
• Tennis.
• Track and field.
• The women’s teams include:
• Basketball.
• Bowling.
• Cross country.
• Golf.
• Lacrosse.
• Soccer.
• Softball.
• Swimming and diving.
• Tennis.
• Track and field.
• Volleyball.

This diverse range of sports ensures that there’s always something to follow for the collegiate sports fan. Youngstown State University participates in the Horizon League, Missouri Valley Football Conference, Southland Bowling League, and Mid-American Conference. The University’s athletic facilities include Stambaugh Stadium, Beeghly Center, Beeghly Natatorium, Farmers National Bank Field, Eastwood Field, Mill Creek Park Golf Course, the YSU Softball Complex, and the YSU Tennis Center.

Eastern Gateway Community College Gators Baseball

The Eastern Gateway Community College Gators baseball team is part of the Western Pennsylvania Collegiate Conference. In February 2020, the team began its third season as a program. Though the team began the 2020 season hopeful, games were soon canceled due to COVID-19. Fans should keep an eye on the Gators when they return to the field.

High School Athletics

Fans interested in following high school athletics have two teams that they can root for in Youngstown. Both bring great talent to their teams and offer action-packed sports seasons for spectators. Though spring 2020 seasons were cut short, most high school athletics have resumed for the fall 2020 season.

East High School Golden Bears

East High School has several Golden Bears teams that high school athletics fans can root for, including:

• Football.
• Volleyball.
• Cross country.
• Men’s basketball.
• Women’s basketball.
• Baseball.
• Softball.
• Rugby.
• Track.
• Cheerleading.
• The Golden Bearettes flag line.

Chaney High School Cowboys

Chaney High School’s athletics teams include:

• Football.
• Volleyball.
• Cross country.
• Basketball.
• Baseball.
• Softball.

Mahoning Valley Horse Racing

If you’re interested in horse racing, you can find this sport right in Mahoning Valley at the Hollywood Gaming Mahoning Valley Race Course. This is a mile-long track that’s 80 feet wide with a 1,000-foot stretch. The oval course is banked at 3% in the stretches and 6% in the turns. In the backstretch are 13 barns and stables that can house up to 988 horses.

There are two wagering areas for those who want to place a bet on the race. These are located on the first floor and at the Simulcast Teletheater on the second floor. If you can’t get to the track in person, you can always view the races live on the Hollywood Gaming website. You can also catch replays of the action here.

There you have it — a wide range of sports that you can easily follow for local fun in the Youngstown area. Did we miss any sports teams that should be on the list? Reach out and let us know so we can maintain a comprehensive listing of Youngstown sports for all our athletics fans who want to find fun things to do.