Sports category, Page 134
Big Dumper’s big year: Cal Raleigh’s ‘staggering’ season leads an offensive surge by MLB catchers
Seattle’s Cal Raleigh — better known by the catchy nickname “Big Dumper” — has lived up to the moniker, dropping baseball into the outfield seats all over the big leagues this season. Manager Dan Wilson has been in awe of his talents. “That’s what you get from Cal,” Wilson said....
Westmoreland County campus clippings: Hempfield grad Fintan Brose earns preseason honor
Delaware lineman Fintan Brose is on the NFL radar. Not only that, but Brose, a Hempfield graduate, is eligible to get selected to play in college football’s longest-running all-star game. Brose (6-foot-2, 302 pounds) was named to the East-West Shrine Bowl 1000 list. The list is intended to highlight the...
49ers’ Robert Saleh leads list of new coordinators for NFL contendersVideo
SANTA CLARA, Calif. — The San Francisco 49ers went back to a familiar face when coach Kyle Shanahan looked to revive a defensive unit that had gone from dominant to mediocre in recent years. The Niners brought back Robert Saleh for a second stint as coordinator in hopes he could...
Defensive tackle, end look like positions of quality depth for Pitt
Anchored by returning contributors and bolstered by transfer portal reinforcements, as well as younger players ready to assume larger roles, Pitt’s defensive line has the look of a deep position as fall camp continues. At tackle, Sean FitzSimmons (Central Valley) returns for his fourth season, having made nine starts last...
Penn State’s Drew Allar, Nick Singleton named national player of the year candidates
Penn State’s recognition on national preseason watch lists continued Monday after a brief weekend hiatus. Senior quarterback Drew Allar and senior running back Nick Singleton earned spots on the Walter Camp Player of the Year watch list. Penn State was one of six schools (Arizona State, Clemson, Ohio State, Oregon,...
Duquesne, Robert Morris ranked in top 3 in NEC preseason poll
Duquesne has earned at least a share of the Northeast Conference title the past two seasons and was picked Monday to again contend for the title. The Dukes were ranked second in the NEC football preseason coaches poll. They had two first-place votes. Robert Morris, which went 4-2 in the...
Bills GM Brandon Beane has no timeline on contract standoff with RB James CookVideo
PITTSFORD, N.Y. — Buffalo Bills general manager Brandon Beane told the Associated Press on Monday he isn’t sure how long the contract standoff with James Cook will last after the running back declined to participate in practice for a second straight day. Cook wore a white hat, red Bills pullover...
NCAA Tournament fields to remain at 68 teams in 2026, but future growth possible
The NCAA men’s and women’s basketball tournaments will not expand beyond 68 teams in 2026, but future growth remains on the radar. “Expanding the tournament fields is no longer being contemplated for the 2026 men’s and women’s basketball championships,” Dan Gavitt, NCAA senior vice president of basketball, said in a...
Texas takes top spot, Penn State 3rd in USA Today preseason coaches poll
Texas holds the top spot in the USA Today preseason coaches football poll released Monday. The Longhorns received 28 of the 67 first-place votes. Defending national champion Ohio State is No. 2 after receiving 20 first-place votes, and the Buckeyes are followed by No. 3 Penn State, No. 4 Georgia...
Why Year 2 with Andy Kotelnicki can make ‘enormous difference’ in Penn State’s offense
STATE COLLEGE — The difference is three plays, in Andy Kotelnicki’s mind. Had Penn State executed one more successful play in any of its three losses in 2024, it could have marked the difference in a national championship appearance, a Big Ten Championship or an undefeated regular season. To reach...
Former SAG-AFTRA executive director David White is interim executive director of the NFLPA
Former SAG-AFTRA executive director David White was elected interim executive director of the NFL Players Association on Sunday night. White replaces Lloyd Howell, who stepped down last month amid a series of revelations that created a distraction for the players’ union. “We have full faith in David to take the...
Pirates ace Paul Skenes honored as National League pitcher of the month for July
From starting for the National League in the All-Star Game to holding opponents scoreless in four of his five starts to recording a double-digit strikeout game, Paul Skenes had an amazing July. Now, the Pittsburgh Pirates right-hander is being honored for it. Skenes was voted the NL Pitcher of the...
Mark Madden: Stop supporting the Pittsburgh Pirates
The stooges will soon resume hyping the great Paul Skenes (who wasn’t so great in the sixth inning Saturday) and the coming excellence of prospect Konnor Griffin (got to kick that can down the road). But first, let’s sum up what the Pittsburgh Pirates did at Thursday’s trade deadline: They...
First Call: Former Steelers QB still bullish on Aaron Rodgers; ex-Steelers CB signs with Jaguars
Monday’s “First Call” features a former Pittsburgh Steeler who may be on the other sideline Saturday night in the preseason opener. A former Steelers quarterback has faith in how Aaron Rodgers might be in Pittsburgh this year. The Pirates come back to PNC Park licking their wounds after an embarrassing...
‘Rock’ bottom: Pirates’ absurd loss to Rockies, Ben Cherington’s comical trade deadline spin plunge team to new depths
Sharky’s Café was still stuffed with Pittsburgh Steelers fans long after the team’s Friday night practice had ended at Latrobe Memorial Stadium. There were T.J. Watt, Cam Heyward and Pat Freiermuth jerseys as far as the eye could see. By 11:45 p.m., though, the “how do yinz think Will Hahherrrd...
After long recovery, Johan Oviedo to make his 1st start for Pirates since September 2023
When Johan Oviedo visited Pittsburgh two weeks ago, it was a one-day break from his rehabilitation assignment for a throwing session and meetings with Pirates pitching coaches Oscar Marin and Brent Strom. This time, Oviedo’s return to PNC Park will be a celebratory occasion, as the 6-foot-6, 275-pound right-hander is...
Madden Monday: Steelers could ‘talk themselves into (Will) Howard being the guy’ in 2026
On Saturday night, Pittsburgh Steelers fans will get a good look at rookie quarterback Will Howard during the team’s preseason opener in Jacksonville. Maybe that’s not a good thing. Maybe they are better off with the pristine image they have already created of Howard in their heads. Maybe it’s best...
Fajt wins Westmoreland amateur; playing partner Ronald DeNunzio injured after being struck by golf ball
South Greensburg Mayor Kevin Fajt, one of the area’s top amateur golfers, insists on the value of his relationships with others more than just about anything else. Even a round on the links. While Fajt managed to capture his seventh title Sunday at the Westmoreland County Golf Association Amateur Championship...
Bad blood. Noah Lyles shoved by Kenny Bednarek after his win in 200 meters at U.S. nationalsVideo
Noah Lyles landed the day’s biggest blow on the track, passing Kenny Bednarek for the win, then looking his way to talk some trash. Bednarek’s answer was a two-handed shove in the back after the finish line, some more heated words and a challenge for a rematch that can’t come...
Rangers right-hander Jacob DeGrom is fastest to 1,800 career strikeouts in MLB history
SEATTLE — Texas Rangers right-hander Jacob deGrom became the fastest pitcher in major league history to reach 1,800 career strikeouts by games and innings Sunday. In the second inning against Seattle, deGrom got Mariners shortstop J.P. Crawford to swing through a 98.7 mph four-seam fastball for his fourth K of...
William Byron has enough fuel to win NASCAR Cup race at Iowa SpeedwayVideo
NEWTON, Iowa — William Byron admitted he was nervous as he headed into the final laps of the NASCAR Cup Series race Sunday at Iowa Speedway. “But I feel like we’ve been on the other side of this in the last month and a half,” he said. Byron fought off...
Shaler graduate Tim Grubbs makes debut as Minnesota Twins play-by-play announcer
The dream of being a play-by-play baseball announcer is a passion many young broadcasters have. With only 30 jobs available, becoming part of that field is truly rarefied air. Shaler native and 1991 graduate Tim Grubbs was among those with that goal. And his path to getting a shot at...
Cameron Young wins first PGA Tour title by demolishing field at Wyndham Championship
GREENSBORO, N.C. — Cameron Young finally got his first PGA Tour victory Sunday after seven runner-up finishes, and he made it look easy. He had five straight birdies early to build a nine-shot lead and coasted home to a 2-under-par 68 to win the Wyndham Championship by six shots. He...
Steelers inside the ropes: Defense dominates when backed up protecting its end zone
If Sunday’s fully-padded practice is any indication, expect plenty of Pittsburgh Steelers drives to stall once they get close to the end zone this season. On both sides of the field. The Steelers opened and closed the team portions of practice with a virtual “best of seven,” each featuring plays...
Play ball, take 2: The Braves take the MLB Speedway Classic at Bristol after rain suspension
BRISTOL, Tenn. — A record crowd of 91,032 for a regular-season Major League Baseball game got to see all the pomp and pageantry with the MLB Speedway Classic before the rain washed out the game itself in the bottom of the first inning. Fans returning Sunday only wanted to watch...
