Sports category, Page 2132
Robert Morris assistant Mike Iuzzolino is more than ex-NBA video game star
After a lull, Robert Morris is back in the hunt for another Northeast Conference men’s basketball championship. The Colonials haven’t won an NEC title — and an accompanying NCAA Tournament bid — since 2015, a year before Mike Iuzzolino joined coach Andy Toole’s staff. Toole’s right-hand man on the Colonials...
OLSH tops Sto-Rox to win 2nd straight WPIAL Class 2A boys basketball title
It was a WPIAL title repeat for OLSH. But, other than the uniforms, not much looked the same for the Chargers. The team graduated eight seniors from last year’s Class 2A title squad. Nevertheless, holdovers Jake DiMichele and Dante Spadafora helped guide the squad to another championship Friday night in...
Pitt seeks reversal of fortune after another 2-8 slump
Pitt’s current stretch of two victories in its past 10 games is all too familiar to players, fans, even coach Jeff Capel. The Panthers have had 2-8 stretches in four consecutive seasons — every year since former coach Jamie Dixon left for TCU in 2016. In the 2016-2017 season, Pitt...
Ex-Penguins defenseman Ben Lovejoy giving TV a try
For the first time in a while, Ben Lovejoy got to enjoy the NHL’s trade deadline. He was a spectator. Not a participant. During the bulk of his 11-year NHL career, Lovejoy always was a bit on edge when the deadline rolled around in February. Now retired and doing work...
NASCAR star Kyle Busch welcomes bounty in truck seriesVideo
FONTANA, Calif. — Kyle Busch has become the most wanted man in two NASCAR racing series, and he’s ready to rise to the challenge. Everybody in the cup series already was chasing Busch, the defending series champion and the defending winner of the annual early-season race at Auto Club Speedway...
Pirates hard-throwing prospect Cody Ponce eyes role
BRADENTON, Fla. — It seems Cody Ponce is a bit of a soothsayer. Before leaving for spring training last year with the Milwaukee Brewers, the right-handed pitching prospect made a prediction to his father. Ponce said he would be traded before the 2019 season ended. Ponce was right. The Pirates...
Duquesne survived Bonnies, balloon in overtime victory
Playing on the road in college basketball can be difficult under normal circumstances, but Duquesne’s thrilling 81-78 overtime victory at St. Bonaventure on Wednesday nearly was derailed by – of all things — an orange balloon. Duquesne held a lead for more than 32 minutes in the game, but St....
Pirates lose big to Orioles, remain winless in spring training
Another February day, another loss in Grapefruit League play for the Pittsburgh Pirates. Starter Trevor Williams allowed four runs and six baserunners while retiring only three in an 11-4 loss to the Baltimore Orioles on Friday at LECOM Park. The Pirates fell to 0-7 this spring, losing on consecutive days...
Displaced Dukes hit the road even when they play ‘home’ gamesVideo
It has been said winning can be like a drug to a competitive person. Maybe that is why Keith Dambrot was in such a good mood Friday when he met with reporters. After a thrilling 81-77 overtime victory Wednesday night in front of a hostile crowd at St. Bonaventure, Duquesne’s...
Keys to catching Great Lakes yellow perchVideo
This isn’t necessarily what you would call run and gun fishing. But it is increasingly a game built on mobility. Catching yellow perch on Lake Erie — or on any of the Great Lakes, really — used to mean going out, finding a school, anchoring over it and having at...
Trout stocking season is here again
The numbers vary from state to state. The high levels of enthusiasm they generate among at least some anglers do not. Spring is fast approaching, and that means it’s trout stocking season. State fisheries agencies all around the country are trucking trout to rivers, streams and lakes to provide recreation...
North Allegheny again sweeps WPIAL Class AAA swimming championships
Most high school swim teams don’t practice cannonballs. North Allegheny has perfected them. The Tigers boys and girls teams performed their typical post-meet group cannonball celebration Friday afternoon after again sweeping the WPIAL Class AAA titles at Pitt’s Trees Pool. It was the 12th straight title for the girls, while...
Gateway’s Livingston joins WPIAL swimming elite as 8-time championVideo
As Gateway’s Olivia Livingston stepped on the medals podium at Pitt’s Trees Pool on Friday morning, she also found her place in WPIAL history — right at the top. The Gateway senior claimed her eighth individual gold medal by winning the 100-yard freestyle at the WPIAL Class AAA swimming championships,...
Plum’s Max Matolcsy announces Harvard offer
It seems like Max Matolcsy’s football recruitment is just getting started. On Friday, Matolcsy announced an offer from Harvard via Twitter after he visited campus. After a great day on campus, I’m blessed to have recieved an offer from Harvard University @CoachKKennedy @ScottLarkee pic.twitter.com/4G2UOLguAW— Max Matolcsy (@MaxMatolcsy) February 28, 2020...
Steelers officially will not play outside U.S. in 2020
The Pittsburgh Steelers will be staying stateside in 2020. The Arizona Cardinals on Friday announced that they will shift one of their home games this season in order to be the “host team” in Mexico City. Steelers president Art Rooney II had previously said the Steelers would “raise their hand”...
Franklin Regional Junior Olympic team sends 11 wrestlers to state championships
Eighteen members of the Franklin Regional Junior Olympic (JO) wrestling team earned top-four finishes at the recent Area III state qualifier held Feb. 16 at Franklin Regional Senior High School. Six wrestlers earned first-place finishes, Area III champion designations and spots in the 2020 PJW state tournament. Another five earned...
Dane Jackson gets inspiration from former Pitt teammates as he preps for NFL CombineVideo
INDIANAPOLIS — For the second year in a row, the Pitt football program has just one representative at the NFL Combine. Dane Jackson, however, doesn’t feel like he is alone for the event. Former teammates Avonte Maddox, Jordan Whitehead and Quadree Henderson were among the players who provided words of...
First Call: Henry Ruggs III runs stunning 40-yard dash; Tom Brady’s future; Penguins vs. struggling Ducks
Friday’s “First Call” features a blazing 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine, the latest on Tom Brady’s future, a look at the Penguins’ next opponent and the college hoops calendar for the weekend. Oh, Henry! Henry Ruggs III nearly set the record for a 40-yard dash time at the NFL...
Ex-Penguin Mike Rupp says new acquisitions must make strong early impressions
It’s been all Penguins hockey all week long on the “Breakfast with Benz” podcast. Why wouldn’t it be? Given the Penguins’ recent trade activity and their four-game losing streak, there has been a lot to discuss. I recently interviewed former Penguin Mike Rupp on 105.9 the X. He’s now an...
How to watch Day 2 of WPIAL basketball, swimming championships on Trib HSSN
Can’t get to Oakland today? Well, then catch all the action from the second day of the WPIAL swimming and basketball championships on the TribLive High School Sports Network. Here’s a look how you can catch all the action: Class AAA, AA swimming The WPIAL Class AAA and AA swimming...
Tim Benz: How the Steelers should address the dirty little secret about their defense
The word “luck” wasn’t often used in connection to the 2019 Pittsburgh Steelers. Especially relating to injuries. • The team lost the top two quarterbacks on the depth chart. • The starting running back sat out six games and parts of four others. • The starting tight end missed two...
Blueberry pancakes, dedication keys to success for No. 8 Pitt wrestling
Micky Phillippi and Nino Bonaccorsi have followed a strict regimen while helping Pitt ascend to No. 8 in the national wrestling rankings: • Focus at practice for the entire two hours; • Get to bed by 9 p.m., asleep by 10. • And don’t forget Phillippi’s blueberry pancakes for breakfast....
North Catholic upends two-time defending champ Lincoln Park in Class 3A title game
Isaac DeGregorio sensed that the run was coming. North Catholic hadn’t led since the opening minutes, but scored 13 consecutive second-half points Thursday night to defeat top-seeded Lincoln Park, 65-56, in the WPIAL Class 3A boys basketball championship at Petersen Events Center. A four-point deficit suddenly became a nine-point lead,...
As school prepares to close, Vincentian Academy wins WPIAL championship
Earlier this week, just a few days before the boys basketball team was set to play for a WPIAL Class A championship, Vincentian Academy announced that it would be closing its doors at the end of the school year for financial reasons. The Royals were stunned. Players texted coach Tim...
At a glance: Local Division III basketball conference tournaments
College basketball conference tournaments are underway in the region and March Madness is on the horizon for Division III programs. Here is a look at the playoffs in the Presidents’ Athletic Conference and the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference. Men PAC Semifinals Tonight ( 7 p.m.) 6-Saint Vincent (13-13) at 1-Grove...
