Sports category, Page 2324
Pitt gets verbal commitment from offensive lineman Branson Taylor
Surrounded by his teammates on the Elyria Catholic football field, offensive lineman Branson Taylor made a verbal commitment to Pitt on Friday night. Taylor, rated a three-star prospect by Rivals.com, is the second offensive lineman in Pitt’s class of 2020, joining Michael Statham of Baltimore. He is the second Pitt...
Burrell shuts out Valley to snap 6-game streak in ‘Battle of the Bypass’
Throughout the history of the “Battle of the Bypass,” Burrell and Valley have traded winning streaks. On Friday, Burrell ended Valley’s six-game win streak that started in 2013. Mike Scherer led the way on the ground, rushing for 124 yards and a touchdown on 18 carries, and Central Catholic transfer...
Pine-Richland uses fast start to defeat Penn Hills in clash of championsVideo
Pine-Richland didn’t ease into this new football season. Junior quarterback Cole Spencer threw two touchdowns in the first 2½ minutes as host Pine-Richland defeated Penn Hills, 21-0, in a Week Zero contest that matched the defending WPIAL Class 6A and 5A champions. The Rams scored on their first two possessions...
Brooks Koepka leads at East Lake as stars get some separation
ATLANTA — Brooks Koepka took a one-shot lead with a two-putt birdie on the final hole Friday at the Tour Championship. Koepka, the No. 3 seed in the FedEx Cup who started the tournament at 7-under-par, had a 3-under 67 and reached 13-under in the new format where the score...
Mark Madden: Verlander conflict more interesting than anything he might say
All heck broke loose Wednesday when a Detroit baseball writer was briefly barred from the Houston Astros clubhouse because Astros (ex-Tigers) pitcher Justin Verlander perceives a bad history with said writer, whom he labeled “unethical.” The writer, Anthony Fenech of the Detroit Free Press, had his entrance to the clubhouse...
Defending champion Osaka feeling refreshed ahead of U.S. Open
NEW YORK — Everything felt better for Naomi Osaka once she returned to the U.S. Open. The knee injury that forced her to retire during her last match no longer throbs. The disappointment with her tennis that led her last month to say she wasn’t having fun playing has been...
WPIAL Week Zero: How to watch, listen and find scores
High school football season opens tonight, and TribLIVE HSSN has you covered with broadcasts of games across the WPIAL. You can find a complete list of all the games being broadcast here. And when results start to roll in, you can find all the scores here. Check back with TribLIVE...
No. 8 Florida, Miami embrace spotlight as they start season
ORLANDO, Fla. — Florida and Miami have the college football stage to themselves for 3½ hours Saturday, a new chapter in their once-heated and storied rivalry. The eighth-ranked Gators and the rebuilding Hurricanes will usher in the 2019 season inside a packed stadium in Orlando, surrounded by sideline celebrities and...
Pitt’s Pat Narduzzi names co-captains, gives them their sayVideo
Knowing the right time to blitz or call a gadget play are skills every coach should know after gaining years of experience. But the other side of coaching — the personal interaction with players, especially off the field — is something Pitt’s Pat Narduzzi says he takes seriously. Which is...
Fishing report: Hybrid striped bass keeping anglers busy at Lake Arthur
• Fishermen trolling Lake Arthur are seeing as many hybrid striped bass bites as they have all season, with the shallower bay areas providing the best opportunity for catches. Live bait is working well, according to anglers. Specifically, nightcrawlers and minnows are fetching solid results with the bass. • There’s...
Steelers’ Mike Tomlin won’t ‘eliminate’ anyone from playing vs. Titans
Cornerback Joe Haden continues to work his way back from an ankle contusion that has kept him from practicing for the past two weeks. Haden doesn’t expect to dress Sunday when the Pittsburgh Steelers play at the Tennessee Titans in their third preseason game, but he reiterated he will be...
Rookie TE Zach Gentry returns to Steelers practice after injury
Pittsburgh Steelers rookie Zach Gentry had a touchdown in his preseason debut. After missing his second game, the tight end apparently will get another chance in game No. 3. Gentry returned to practice in a full capacity Friday, and expects to play Sunday against the Tennessee Titans. “It felt good...
Energetic ex-Steelers DB William Gay standing out as coaching intern — for offense
The call came out during a training camp practices earlier this month from a fan lining the practice field at Saint Vincent. “Big play Willie Gay!” While standing along the sidelines of Chuck Noll Field, William Gay briefly turned around and said, “Naw, Coach William.” After 12 training camps as...
Steelers’ T.J. Watt looking for extensive playing time against Titans
T.J. Watt played almost the entire first half of the Pittsburgh Steelers’ second preseason game, and he’s looking forward to suiting up against the Tennessee Titans in the dress rehearsal for the regular season. After missing the entire 2018 preseason schedule with a hamstring injury, Watt isn’t about to pass...
Francisco Cervelli pens love letter to Pittsburgh, ‘The city that captivated my heart’
A day after being released by the Pittsburgh Pirates, popular catcher Francisco Cervelli posted a message on social media directed at the city he called home for almost five years. It could best be described as a love letter. In a piece titled, “A letter to the city of Pittsburgh...
Steelers’ Mike Tomlin mum on QB rotation against Titans
Ben Roethlisberger is going to start Sunday night against the Tennessee Titans. Beyond that, Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin won’t reveal which backup quarterback will enter the game immediately after Roethlisberger wraps up his preseason debut. Could be Mason Rudolph. Could be Josh Dobbs. Heck, it could even be Devlin...
Capitals’ Evgeny Kuznetsov tests positive for cocaine, banned from Team Russia
GENEVA — Washington Capitals center Evgeny Kuznetsov tested positive for cocaine at the world championship and has been banned from the Russian national team for four years. Kuznetsov failed a doping test after a sample was taken May 26 — the day Russia won the bronze medal game against the...
Photo gallery: Francisco Cervelli’s passion for baseball made him a fan favorite
From the day he arrived at Pirate City for spring training in 2015, Francisco Cervelli has been one of my favorite players to photograph in my 30 years of covering the Pirates. Cervelli brought a unique passion to the game in Pittsburgh and charmed fans of all ages during the...
Bill Hartlep named Trib sports editor
Veteran journalist Bill Hartlep has been named sports editor for Trib Total Media. Hartlep will oversee all sports coverage for the company’s print and digital operations and work with the staff of the High School Sports Network to continue providing the most comprehensive coverage of scholastic sports in the region....
First Call: A tremendous Sidney Crosby story; NFL teams play on 80-yard field
Friday’s “First Call” features a “Sid-sational” story about the Penguins captain. “Hard Knocks” will have a field day with that Canadian preseason game field fiasco. And Gritty the mascot has become weaponized. Just who he is Here is a clip about Sidney Crosby that has been making the rounds on...
Fantasy sports podcast: Last-minute tips for your football draft
Got your fantasy football draft this weekend? Mine is next week. And I’m getting ready by taking advice from my main man in the business, Jeff Erickson of Rotowire. In this week’s fantasy podcast, we look at the crucial fourth draft slot. Saquon Barkley, Alvin Kamara and Christian McCaffrey appear...
Tim Benz: How Pirates might deal with Chris Archer conundrum
When the topics of the Pirates roster and finances intersect, we can often make the mistake of addressing the decision from the view of what should be done. Instead, it’s far more practical to simply address it from the standpoint of what they will likely do. In other words, don’t...
Penguins Predictions: Will Brian Dumoulin step into the spotlight?
Sidney Crosby had 100 points. Jake Guentzel scored 40 goals. Kris Letang gave a strong bounceback performance. Those are loud. Know who had a quietly excellent season for the Pittsburgh Penguins last year? Defenseman Brian Dumoulin. When Dumoulin was on the ice at even strength, the Penguins outscored their opponents,...
Penguins of the Decade: No. 6, Phil Kessel
Beat writer Jonathan Bombulie has compiled a countdown of the top Pittsburgh Penguins of the 2010s. At No. 6 is forward Phil Kessel. Follow the Pittsburgh Penguins all season long....
Tim Benz: The Penguins’ Mount Rushmore of Hate
Here’s one I haven’t been able to shake for about a week. While I was pinch hitting for Mark Madden on 105.9 the X last week, I was joined by Pittsburgh-born comedian Joe Bartnick. He’s excellent. If you saw him open for Bill Burr a few months ago here in...
