Sports category, Page 1993
Kevin Gorman’s Take 5: Derek Holland earns starting job, but will he pitch home opener?
Derek Holland was dressed in black and gold from head to toe, with an emphasis on the Pittsburgh gold spikes that stood out when the left-hander took the mound Wednesday night for the Pirates at PNC Park. Holland looked like someone who was auditioning to start the home opener, catering...
Duquesne coach Keith Dambrot ‘having a difficult time’ finishing schedule, swallowing loss of City Game
Pro sports and college football coaches are dealing with the pitfalls of trying to launch a season during the coronavirus outbreak. So are college basketball coaches. But they are also doing so while still coping with the premature ending to their previous seasons as a result of the same pandemic....
Pirates preview: Outside circumstances cover bullpen with questions
Neal Huntington knew the value of a strong bullpen in an era when starting pitchers are typically pulled after six innings. The former Pittsburgh Pirates general manager made what appeared to be good trades for closer Felipe Vazquez and setup man Keone Kela, hoping they could nail down tight games...
Pirates preview: Bullpen spotlight
Breakout candidate Nick Burdi After Tommy John surgery in 2017 and a horrific arm injury last season, Burdi has elevated his velocity into the high 90s. Derek Shelton called his stuff “electric,” which describes the type of pitches a closer needs to be successful. He never has closed in the...
Biggest issues as Pittsburgh sports return: How far will Penguins go in revamped playoffs?
The Penguins are taking part in the rebooted NHL playoff format. And it’s not with the goal of soaking in Toronto’s Canadian National Exhibition and the scenery of Edmonton. No. The goal is to win a sixth Stanley Cup. The Penguins have a good chance of doing so in 2020...
U mad, bro? Readers rant about Antonio Brown, Penguins goalies, banned Blue Jays, Steelers O-line
“Return to play” must be a real emotional lightning bolt. Because we’ve got people fired up about all three of Pittsburgh’s pro sports teams. Readers are ready to pounce on Antonio Brown’s “retirement,” the state stopping the Toronto Blue Jays from playing at PNC Park, Matt Murray’s glove hand, and...
Chestnut Ridge golf resort near Blairsville going up for auction
A former U.S. Steel executive is selling a 345-acre golf course and resort just across the Westmoreland County line near Blairsville. The online auction for Chestnut Ridge Golf Resort & Conference Center, planned for noon Saturday, has attracted local and national attention. “We are seeing quite a bit of interest...
Indy Eleven’s Tyler Pasher spoils Riverhounds home opener with late goal
Heading into the Pittsburgh Riverhounds home opener at Highmark Stadium, coach Bob Lilley was hoping to slow down Indy Eleven striker Tyler Pasher. For about 95 minutes Wednesday, that’s exactly what they did. Pasher didn’t register a shot until about the 77th minute, and midfielder Dani Rovira shut him down...
Pirates reliever Keone Kela has covid-19, manager Derek Shelton reveals
Pirates manager Derek Shelton revealed Wednesday night relief pitcher Keone Kela, who has missed all of spring training 2.0 this month, has tested positive for covid-19. Kela is the fifth Pirates player to test positive. Previously, relief pitcher Blake Cederlind, outfielders Gregory Polanco and Socrates Brito and third baseman Ke’Bryan...
Steelers ink 2nd-round WR Chase Claypool, 6th-round safety Antoine BrooksVideo
The Pittsburgh Steelers have their top draft pick under contract. Second-round selection Chase Claypool signed his four-year rookie deal Wednesday night, he announced on his verified Twitter account. “Blessed beyond belief to be a part of this organization! Time to get to work,” Claypool wrote. OFFICIALLY A PITTSBURGH STEELER!!! Blessed...
Indians complete 3-game sweep of Pirates in 5-3 victory
The game was an exhibition, a mere warm-up for what really matters. In that light, Derek Holland wasn’t concerned he allowed three runs in three innings in the Pittsburgh Pirates’ 5-3 loss Wednesday night to the Cleveland Indians at PNC Park. The Pirates, who were 3-15 in spring training 1.0...
WPIAL baseball players flock to Youngstown summer league
From the start of the coronavirus pandemic, the Youngstown Class B league held to its intention to be a place for scholastic-age players, including numerous from the WPIAL, to go this summer. Veterans of the league and newcomers have made the most of the season since early last month, when...
North Coast Athletic Conference suspends athletics through December
Another area college conference won’t play sports in the fall. The North Coast Athletic Conference announced Wednesday, “with tremendous regret,” it is suspending athletics until the end of December. The NCAC is an affiliate of NCAA Division III and features Allegheny College in Meadville as one of its members. The...
After recent struggles, Johnson, Koepka seek spark at 3M OpenVideo
BLAINE, Minn. — The presence of Dustin Johnson and Brooks Koepka in Minnesota this week has given the fledgling 3M Open two heavy-hitting stars of the PGA Tour to headline the second edition of the tournament. Perhaps their participation will be mutually beneficial. Johnson and Koepka could use a pick-me-up...
Shh! NHL gags teams on injury disclosure for player privacyVideo
Jakub Voracek thinks it is none of your business. When the Philadelphia Flyers winger missed practice over the weekend, no injury, illness or other reason was given. That is the NHL’s mandatory rule during the pandemic, adding another layer of secrecy to a sport already infamous for disclosing — at...
Penguins practice has ‘different feel’ as Patric Hornqvist rejoins teammatesVideo
Most of the Pittsburgh Penguins have been skating and working out on the ice at UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex for more than six weeks now. That the facility was closed to the public was not the only reason their practice sessions had been more quiet than usual. That changed Wednesday,...
Analysis: Behind health, stability a key to NFL successVideo
Chiefs, 49ers, Saints, Ravens. All powerhouses last season. All in excellent position to be so again if the NFL gets to play during the coronavirus pandemic. Anyone who believes continuity isn’t an essential part of pro football success will need to re-examine that philosophy. As NFL teams finally get together...
Flipped? Condensed? Overlapped? Options aren’t ideal if PIAA seasons need altered
There are days when Aaron Albert coaches football in the morning, sprints to his real estate job for a few hours and then heads to the ballpark for evening baseball. It’s hectic, but it sure beats sitting at home. “Life went from nothing for a lot a months to everything...
Western PA Bruins director John Tate among 100 most influential people in women’s college basketball
The Western PA Bruins girls basketball program is known for producing Division I college recruits. Girls receiving scholarship offers and committing to top-level teams seems like an almost daily occurrence during the summer months. The outfit is like a factory when it comes to connecting talent to the next level....
State health officials won’t allow Blue Jays to use PNC Park
Pennsylvania’s Department of Health will not permit the Toronto Blue Jays to play at PNC Park in the midst of the covid-19 pandemic, officials announced Wednesday afternoon. The Blue Jays were seeking a major-league venue to play their home games after the Canadian government declared the Rogers Centre in Toronto...
North Catholic striker Jayden Sharpless makes verbal commitment to Georgia State
Last November, rising junior Jayden Sharpless was helping North Catholic win its first WPIAL title with a golden goal free kick in double-overtime. North Catholic’s Jayden Sharpless ends the game with a beautiful free kick from about 25 yards out. The Trojans capture their first #WPIAL title in school history....
Addition of consistent changeup helps Mitch Keller earn spot in Pirates’ starting rotation
Mitch Keller came to training camp armed with a more consistent changeup, hoping to convince the Pittsburgh Pirates to show as much confidence in him as he did in the new and improved pitch. The 24-year-old right-hander, the team’s top prospect, earned the No. 3 spot in the starting rotation....
Dodgers, Mookie Betts agree to 12-year, $365 million contract extensionVideo
LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles Dodgers and outfielder Mookie Betts agreed to a 12-year, $365 million contract extension Wednesday that should keep Betts in Los Angeles for the rest of his career. It is the second-largest deal in Major League Baseball history, exceeded only by the 12-year, $426.5 million...
Penguins’ Thursday scrimmage designed as full dress rehearsal for gameday
In regards to the structure of the day’s schedule, everything about Thursday is being designed to mimic a normal game day for the Pittsburgh Penguins. The team’s latest intrasquad scrimmage has a 7 p.m. faceoff similar to the regular season in a regular season. Nine days later, the Penguins begin...
NCAA football oversight asks board for time on fall sportsVideo
The NCAA football oversight committee is asking the association’s Board of Governors to avoid making a decision later this week on whether to conduct fall championships as college sports tries to find a path to play through the pandemic. A letter dated July 21 was sent by committee chairman Shane...
