Sports category, Page 574
Penguins to participate in Buffalo Prospects Challenge
The Pittsburgh Penguins will once again participate in the Prospects Challenge hosted by the Buffalo Sabres in September at the LECOM Harborcenter. This event is a series of scrimmages between prospects from six NHL teams. In addition to the Penguins and Sabres, the Boston Bruins, Columbus Blue Jackets, New Jersey...
Penn State alum Stephen Nedoroscik waited his whole life for one routine, and the U.S. pommel horse specialist nailed it
PARIS — Sam Mikulak pulled Stephen Nedoroscik close and tasked the American pommel horse specialist with the impossible. The U.S. men’s gymnastics team’s first Olympic medal in 16 years a solitary routine away, Mikulak — a Penn State alumnus — told the pommel horse specialist that he didn’t need to...
Jon Rahm gets another big stage at the Paris Olympics. And then it’s wait until April at Augusta
SAINT-QUENTIN-EN-YVELINES, France — Jon Rahm loves the big stage, the big crowd, the big moment. The Olympics provide one extra opportunity in a year marked by his departure to Saudi-funded LIV Golf, and the Spaniard arrived at the Paris Games with a shot of much-needed confidence. Rahm held on to...
Upper St. Clair’s Josh Matheny advances to 200-meter breaststroke final at Paris Olympics
Former Upper St. Clair swimming standout Josh Matheny is one step from an Olympic medal. Competing for Team USA, Matheny finished sixth overall (fourth in his heat) in the semifinals of the men’s 200-meter breaststroke Tuesday. His time of 2 minutes, 9.70 seconds qualified him for the final, which will...
First Call: Steelers reportedly cut a DB; Falcons sign James Washington; a take on new Pirate Nick Yorke
Tuesday’s “First Call” has some Pittsburgh Steelers roster news. The team’s first opponent just signed a former Steelers pass catcher. One of Brandon Aiyuk’s teammates is holding out hope for a contract resolution with the 49ers in San Francisco. We also have an interesting scouting report on a specific attribute...
New Steelers DBs figuring out their own depth chart while challenging revamped WRs
When it came to evaluating the 2024 Pittsburgh Steelers’ secondary heading into training camp, here is what was known: • Minkah Fitzpatrick is a three-time All-Pro at one safety spot. They are fine there. • Damontae Kazee is back. When he’s not hurt or suspended, he’s a capable veteran at...
Tim Benz: Pirates’ comeback in Paul Skenes’ latest outing should slap Ben Cherington right in the face
Through his first 11 starts as a Pittsburgh Pirate, a lot went right for rookie right-hander Paul Skenes. He was 6-0 with a 1.90 ERA and was named as the National League starter for the All-Star Game. For a while on Monday night, though, Skenes looked like he was about...
Ke’Bryan Hayes bounces back from costly error to draw pivotal walk in Pirates’ comeback win
Ke’Bryan Hayes is such an elite defender that the Pittsburgh Pirates third baseman has made spectacular plays look routine, so his error on a routine grounder was something of a spectacle. When Houston Astros star Jose Altuve hit a bases-loaded grounder to Hayes with one out in the fifth inning...
Successful season ends at state tournament for Belle Vernon American Legion baseball
The best season in Belle Vernon American Legion baseball program history came to an end Monday. Northeastern scored four runs in the first three innings and held on for a 5-3 win in an elimination game of the Pennsylvania Legion State Tournament at North Allegheny. Ryan Wilson went 2 for...
Michael A. Taylor’s 3-run homer in 9th lifts Pirates to comeback win over Astros
When a late scratch forced the Houston Astros to replace their scheduled starter, it appeared the Pittsburgh Pirates had a major advantage with rookie phenom Paul Skenes on the mound. It proved just the opposite, as a pair of Astros relievers were perfect through five innings and the Pirates were...
Jets’ Aaron Rodgers gets angry after being stepped on during sloppy practiceVideo
FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — Aaron Rodgers was downright ticked off. The New York Jets quarterback took the snap, started to drop back — and ended up sprawled on the grass after one of his offensive linemen stepped on one of his feet. Rodgers shouted. He wasn’t hurt, but he was...
American swimmer Ryan Murphy finds out his child’s gender after winning bronzeVideo
NANTERRE, France — It’s a girl. That’s the surprise message American swimmer Ryan Murphy got from the pool deck as he looked up at his wife, Bridget Konttinen, in the stands Monday night at the Paris Olympics. Murphy won a bronze Monday in the 100-meter backstroke. As the medal ceremony...
U.S. men’s gymnastics team hopes NCAA notices after ending medal droughtVideo
PARIS — Before they stood with their arms wrapped around each other in a brotherhood forever etched into U.S. Olympic lore, Brody Malone, Frederick Richard, Asher Hong, Paul Juda and Penn State alum Stephen Nedoroscik were collegians. Yes, the dreams the members of the U.S. men’s gymnastics team had fostered...
Pirates acquire lefty reliever Jalen Beeks from Rockies
The Pittsburgh Pirates added a lefty arm to their bullpen Monday evening, acquiring 31-year-old Jalen Beeks from the Colorado Rockies. In exchange, the Pirates sent 23-year-old left-hander Luis Peralta to Colorado. Beeks has made a career-high 45 appearances this year with the Rockies, going 6-4 with a 4.74 ERA in...
A’ja Wilson dominates as U.S. women’s basketball routs JapanVideo
VILLENEUVE-D’ASCQ, France — A’ja Wilson, Breanna Stewart and Brittney Griner dominated the paint and helped the U.S. win its Olympic opener as the Americans chase an unprecedented eighth straight gold medal. Wilson had 24 points, 13 rebounds and four blocked shots to help the U.S. beat Japan, 102-76, on Monday...
Plum graduate Thea Hail chasing pro wrestling dreams, NXT women’s title
Her friends and family in Plum know her as Madison Knisley. The wrestling world that watches World Wrestling Entertainment brand NXT live every Tuesday evening on the USA Network knows her as Thea Hail, one of the company’s fastest-rising stars. This Tuesday, the 2021 Plum graduate will challenge for the...
Trafford Junior American Legion baseball keeps winning
Trafford Junior American Legion team used a six-run eighth inning and stayed alive in the state tournament with a 9-3 victory against Upper Perkiomen on Monday at the White Township Complex. Caleb Kerstetter had two hits and three RBIs, while Jordan White had two hits, including a two-run single in...
5 observations as Steelers training camp ramps up intensity with pads coming on
It’s been a relatively drama-free start to the 2024 Pittsburgh Steelers training camp. No holdouts or “hold-ins”. No major skirmishes. No off-field controversy. No significant injuries. (During practice, anyway). None other than the new starting quarterback, of course, has missed the entirety of camp because of a calf strain suffered...
MLB trade roundup: Cardinals add RHP Erick Fedde, OF Tommy Pham
The St. Louis Cardinals acquired right-hander Erick Fedde and outfielder Tommy Pham on Monday as part of a three-team trade that also moved hard-throwing reliever Michael Kopech to the Los Angeles Dodgers. St. Louis got Fedde and Pham from the major-league-worst Chicago White Sox, who sent Kopech to the Dodgers....
Wild sign ROY runner-up Brock Faber to 8-year, $68M extension
ST. PAUL, Minn. — Minnesota Wild general manager Bill Guerin saw more than enough potential in Brock Faber’s rookie season to sign the defenseman to an eight-year, $68 million contract extension Monday. The deal doesn’t kick in until the 2025-26 season once Faber’s rookie contract expires. It comes after the...
Pirates sign 2nd-round pick Wyatt Sanford, as prep shortstop receives $2.5 million bonus
The Pittsburgh Pirates signed their second-round selection in the MLB Draft, Texas prep shortstop Wyatt Sanford. Sanford, who was signed by scout John Lombardo, received a $2.5 million bonus, per Jim Callis of MLB Pipeline, which was over the slot value of $1,984,800 for the No. 47 pick. The 6-foot-1,...
Pirates activate Bryan Reynolds, reinstate Bailey Falter, option Jack Suwinski to minors
Bryan Reynolds and Bailey Falter are back with the Pittsburgh Pirates, and Jack Suwinski is headed back to the minors. The Pirates made multiple roster moves Monday before the start of their three-game series at the Houston Astros. They should get an offensive boost from Reynolds, who was activated from...
Olympic commentator canned for insulting Australian women’s swim team
Longtime Olympic commentator Bob Ballard was sent home following a sexist comment about Australia’s women’s swim team. The Eurosport pundit claimed after the Aussies won a gold medal in the 4x100m freestyle team relay that the celebratory swim squad was slow exiting the pool area because they were milling about...
Jackie Gallagher-Smith excited to be home for Senior Women’s Open
Carol Semple Thompson isn’t the only golfer in this week’s U.S. Senior Women’s Open Championship with Pittsburgh roots. Jackie Gallagher-Smith, whose parents grew up in Johnstown, also calls Western Pennsylvania home. Her husband, Ed, was from Norvelt in Westmoreland County. “When I was driving in from the airport Sunday, I...
Olympics viewer’s guide for Tuesday, July 30: Simone Biles leads U.S. in gymnastics finalVideo
Simone Biles leads the U.S. women into the gymnastics team final as part of an action-packed slate Tuesday at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Here is a guide of what to look out for: Biles in gymnastics team final despite injury The 27-year-old Biles is in the lineup to compete in...
