Mars graduate and Cornell University senior punter Mike Baumgartel recently received the Jeff Stenstrom Award at the annual Cornell football banquet.

The award is given to the player who contributes the most on special teams.

Baumgartel averaged 36.1 yards per punt and placed 55 kicks inside the opponent's 20-yard line in his four seasons. He is an American studies major.

PITTSBURGH - New York Mets special assignment scout Jack Bowen was named special assistant to Pirates general manager Dave Littlefield on Friday.Bowen, 45, will assist in scouting for Pittsburgh and will work with Littlefield on player development.Bowen's grandfather, Rex, was the Pirates scouting director from 1959 to 1967 and brought Hall of Fame infielder Bill Mazeroski to the team.

SALT LAKE CITY - Karl Malone will announce his retirement, deciding against making one more run at an NBA title.Malone, the No. 2 scorer in NBA history, will hold a news conference Sunday at the Delta Center - the arena where his 1997 and 1999 league MVPs are celebrated with signs below the upper deck.

INDIANAPOLIS - Reggie Miller will retire after the season, ending a career with the Indiana Pacers in which he became one of the NBA's greatest shooters, his sister and The Indianapolis Star said Friday.Miller, who turns 40 in August, holds NBA records for most 3-pointers made (2,505) and attempted (6,321) and is the leading scorer in Pacers history with 24,685 points. He appeared in five All-Star games, 131 playoff games and the 2000 NBA Finals.

The Moraine Sailing Club will launch its winter sailing seminar season this weekend.The club, which is based at Lake Arthur in Moraine State Park, has scheduled these free sailing sessions at the Northland Library, 300 Cumberland Road in the North Hills.Here is the schedule:Sunday, 1:30 to 5 p.m. — Teaching and Coaching Fundamentals for Sailing. This is to improve a person’s teaching ability as it relates to sailing.Feb. 20, 1:30 to 5 p.m. — The Sailboat Cruising Experience with an introduction to coastal and celestial navigation.March 5, 1:30 to 5 p.m. — Boating Basics Seminar. Everything you should know about boating.March 13, 1:30 to 5 p.m. — Learn To Sail Seminar. For beginner sailors.March 19, 1:30 to 5 p.m. — Advanced SailingMarch 26, 1:30 to 5 p.m. — Powerboat Basics. It will have special emphasis on safety boat operation at sailing events.For information, call Joe Shields at 412-367-3697

HARRISBURG — The Pennsylvania Game Commission recently bought nearly 965 acres in Clarion County as game lands.The property in Piney Township will be designated SGL 330. It was bought from the Alliance for Wetlands and Wildlife for $289,500.Commonly known as the “Piney Tract,” this land has grasslands and scattered woods that have long been recognized as an important habitat for wildlife. The property was mined for coal several times resulting in diverse topographic features.The Game Commission has been buying State Game Lands since 1920, and has more than 1.4 million acres.