Sports category, Page 2367
Column: Cubs win battle, but Pirates can’t be overlooked in wild NL Central race
CHICAGO — When the Pirates acquired Chris Archer last July for some of their top prospects, it was viewed as a statement that management was ready to go for it again after having traded stars Andrew McCutchen and Gerrit Cole the previous winter. “The ownership and front office stepped up...
Hiking safety key no matter how short the trip
It’s not who you think it is. Each year, park and forest rangers, volunteer firefighters, emergency medical technicians and other search-and-rescue personnel take to the woods to save people in dire straits. There’s never a shortage of them. Yet rarely are the rescued backwoods wanderers, exotic, high-adventure explorers who roamed...
Finding right rail trail can help make bike trip enjoyable
You might never convince her. A cousin of mine loves to explore the outdoors. It’s a passion that’s grown in recent years especially and taken her to some really beautiful places on foot and on a bike. But she’s got one condition. She does not want to see snakes. Of...
WILL Waves set to defend national Wiffle ball title
For the second straight year, the WILL Waves, a travel Wiffle ball team based out of the Wiff is Life League in Canonsburg, will compete for the National Wiffle League Association National Championship in Morenci, Mich. Last year, the Waves won the national tournament, and Jordan Castelli was awarded the...
West Point Little League trio captures District 26 baseball titles
There was a time the West Point Little League baseball teams took a backseat to the softball teams. Not anymore. The baseball teams are starting to make more noise than the girls. Much of that is because the boys programs continue to survive and are getting players returning to the...
Isaly’s summer-time tour big hit with junior golfers
From chipped-ham sandwiches to sand-wedge chips, the Isaly’s Junior Golf Tour has carved its niche on the Western Pennsylvania junior golf scene by attracting top talent and playing at some of area’s most prestigious courses. “When I took the job in January 2018, I looked at the venues — and...
Despite 1st-round exit, Murrysville Legion finds positives in return to District 31
The Murrysville Senior American Legion baseball team knew it was going to be a tall playoff task against top-seed Hempfield East in the best-of-three District 31 first-round series. Coach Chas Brncic said despite the tough postseason matchup — Hempfield East scored a two-game series sweep July 8-9 — he was...
Christopher continues hometown dominance at Brentwood Firecracker 5K
The final tally is in for the borough winners at the 36th annual Brentwood Firecracker 5K Run. For the fourth consecutive year, Neil Christopher, 24, took first place in the male division. His time was 18 minutes, 19 seconds. His best mark (17:53) was attained in 2017 . He also...
Bolla family makes Firecracker 5K ‘yearly traditional run’
One of the leading competitors at the 2019 Brentwood Firecracker 5K Run was diminutive Gina Bolla, a Whitehall resident and a rising junior at Baldwin. Bolla, 16, placed second in 15-18 female age division with a time of 20 minutes, 27 seconds, behind only Gionna Quarzo, 16, of Vanderbilt, who...
Quaker Valley grad Meanor racks up accolades as senior at Whittier
Four years ago, a young girl named Lexie Meanor from Sewickley decided she was going to attend college. Not at Robert Morris, not at Pitt, but at Whittier, about 2,000 miles from her hometown. There, she began her collegiate career in lacrosse while making a name for herself in the...
Pine-Richland Palomino players soaking up final summer together
On the heels of winning the WPIAL Class 6A championship this past season, Pine-Richland’s baseball players have very little left to prove on the diamond. So for the Rams team that is playing in the Pittsburgh North Palomino league, coach Rich Bowler decided to take a different approach with his...
Dwight Gooden charged with cocaine possession
HOLMDEL, N.J. — Former New York Mets pitcher Dwight Gooden was charged with drug possession in New Jersey after a traffic stop last month. Gooden’s car was stopped by police in Holmdel, about 20 miles from New York, early on June 7 for failure to maintain a lane and driving...
Pirates drop opener against Cubs on Jason Heyward’s 2-out, 8th-inning hitVideo
CHICAGO — Jason Heyward and Kris Bryant rescued the Chicago Cubs with a clutch swing and some nifty baserunning. Heyward hit a tiebreaking RBI single with two out in the eighth inning, and the Cubs edged the Pittsburgh Pirates, 4-3, on Friday in their first game after the All-Star break....
Robert Wickens to drive IndyCar parade lap with hand controls
TORONTO — Robert Wickens has attacked his rehabilitation from a spinal cord injury with aggressive goals. The Canadian wants to dance at his upcoming wedding, one day walk again with zero evidence his legs once did not work and, of course, Wickens hopes to return to racing cars. Nearly a...
Analysis: Rockets’ Russell Westbrook, James Harden must change games
LAS VEGAS — Everyone knows Russell Westbrook and James Harden played together before, which automatically makes their reunion in Houston seem like the right fit. It won’t be that easy. They’ve both changed since those days. But here they are, together again after the Oklahoma City Thunder decided to trade...
As Wimbledon final approaches, Serena Williams never forgets lossVideo
WIMBLEDON, England — There are many reasons why Serena Williams has been as successful as she has been, for as long as she’s been. The serve. The returns. The groundstrokes. The court coverage. And more. A little insight into one aspect of the way she approaches matches arrived via her...
Entering British Open, Tiger Woods manages health more than game
That was Tiger Woods in his red shirt Sunday at the Masters. That was Tiger Woods slipping on the green jacket. But it’s not the same Tiger Woods. The evidence has less to do with how he plays — still plenty good to beat the best in the world on...
Mark Madden: How Jim Bouton’s ‘Ball Four’ changed my life
When I was 10, I loved baseball. Then, I read a particular book about baseball. This book didn’t affect how I felt about baseball. But it changed my life. The book was “Ball Four.” Its author, Jim Bouton, died Wednesday at the age of 80. There had never been a...
Fishing report: Conemaugh River Lake yielding variety of catches
• Anglers are enjoying plenty of action at Conemaugh River Lake, bringing in an assortment of catches, including smallmouth bass, yellow perch, walleye and a handful of freshwater drum. Bass are the most popular catch, with fishermen reeling in solid numbers from the higher concrete walls bordering the lake. Some...
Roger Federer tops Rafael Nadal in Wimbledon semifinalsVideo
WIMBLEDON, England — After waiting 11 years to get another shot against Rafael Nadal at Wimbledon, Roger Federer was so, so close to the finish line. One match point slipped away when Federer missed a forehand return. A second came and went on a backhand return. Later, serving for a...
At 27, Steelers DL Lavon Hooks works to avoid practice squad
He’s the most experienced inexperienced player on the Pittsburgh Steelers roster. Because he has not appeared in a regular-season game or spent a day on the regular-season roster, Lavon Hooks is considered a first-year player. Funny, because four prior NFL training camps and 15 preseason games suggest he’s anything but...
Penguins re-sign speedy winger Adam Johnson
The Pittsburgh Penguins signed one of their four remaining restricted free agents Friday, agreeing with winger Adam Johnson on a one-year, two-way deal worth $700,000 at the NHL level. Johnson, 25, signed with the Penguins as an undrafted free agent out of Minnesota-Duluth in July 2017. A speedy left wing,...
First Call: Redskins’ Josh Norman leaps over bull; Jagr trade anniversary; stealing 1st base
In Friday’s “First Call,” an NFL player tries “bull jumping.” A dumb rule change is on trial in minor league baseball. And an unhappy Penguin anniversary. Is this covered in his contract? There is a leaping penalty in football. But I don’t think this is it. Redskins cornerback Josh Norman...
Hockey News writer says Penguins will miss playoffs in 2020. Hear why.
The Penguins missing the playoffs in 2020? Pfft! That’s not going to happen. I mean, they haven’t missed out since 2006. Then again, the Penguins made the playoffs by only four points in 2019. And it took until Game 81 to clinch a berth. And they couldn’t win a playoff...
Steelers 2-a-days: Is Roosevelt Nix’s job safe? Can Chuks Okorafor nab starting spot?
Editor’s note: From now until the first practice of training camp at Saint Vincent College, the Trib will be running through the Pittsburgh Steelers’ 90-man roster, assessing each player’s outlook for the 2019 season. The breakdown will go through the roster in mostly-alphabetical order, (at least) two per day, between...
