Sports category, Page 2491
Ohio man takes perfect NCAA Tournament bracket into Sweet 16
COLUMBUS, Ohio — An Ohio man has made history with a March Madness bracket that’s perfect through 48 games on the NCAA.com’s “Bracket Challenge,” according to the NCAA. Gregg Nigl of Columbus told the Columbus Dispatch he almost didn’t fill out his bracket last week, saying he was home sick...
3 things to watch from Pirates hitters this season
The Pittsburgh Pirates had a winning record last season, but it was obvious what held them back from greater heights: an offense ranked 20th in the majors in runs, 25th in home runs and 17th in OPS. This was illustrated by the combined .430 winning percentage of the five teams...
Deal helps Gonzaga earn more money for NCAA Tournament success
When leaders at Gonzaga were looking to sweeten the pot for their basketball team in exchange for staying in the West Coast Conference, they knew where the money might come from. NCAA Tournament payouts. With the perennially contending Zags being courted by the Mountain West, athletic director Mike Roth sought...
Despite run of injuries, Penguins have plenty in reserveVideo
Defenseman Zach Trotman was chosen by the Boston Bruins with the 210th and final selection in the 2010 NHL Draft, but he finally has found relevancy with the Pittsburgh Penguins. After Trotman was drafted, he spent two seasons at Lake Superior (Mich.) State, signed with the Bruins in 2012 and...
RMU’s Vatakis snags dual-honor from NEC
Dana Vatakis is a rare dual-award-winner in the Northeast Conference this week. The freshman softball player at Robert Morris was named NEC Pitcher of the Week and Co-Rookie of the Week. A Monessen graduate, Vatakis made five appearances last week for the Colonials (5-20, 0-1), carding three complete games and...
Westmoreland campus clippings: Big week for Saint Vincent baseball
Saint Vincent senior Bobby Finn tied a school record when he hit three home runs in the second game of a baseball doubleheader Sunday against Chatham in a 20-3 victory. Finn finished 4 for 5 with six RBIs for the Bearcats (10-3, 3-0), who had 19 hits in the win....
NASCAR makes major changes to 2020 Cup Series schedule, including a new championship track
After repeated cries from fans and drivers alike for a renovated NASCAR schedule, the sanctioning body announced Tuesday that it finally has made some substantial changes. NASCAR released its 2020 Cup Series schedule Tuesday, confirming reports that it had shifted its schedule for the first time in several years. Among...
Melky Cabrera starts, homers to lead Pirates past Astros in final exhibition
Injuries have plagued the Pittsburgh Pirates in right field, where Gregory Polanco will miss the start of the season while recovering from shoulder surgery and Lonnie Chisenhall was out after being hit by a pitch Monday. That left the Pirates to start 15-year veteran Melky Cabrera in their final exhibition...
NHL standings matter, but Penguins, Sidney Crosby try to stick to their own business
Sidney Crosby went home from practice knowing he had the night off and there was some good hockey on TV, games that will impact the NHL standings and the Pittsburgh Penguins’ place in them. But he didn’t plan to immerse himself in hockey at the expense of everything else. He...
IUP women advance to national semifinals
IUP is headed back to the NCAA Division II Final Four. The Crimson Hawks women built a 10-point lead by halftime and cruised past Azusa Pacific (Calif.), 73-60, in the Elite Eight on Tuesday at Old Dominion in Columbus, Ohio. Carolyn Appleby (Greensburg Central Catholic) scored a team-high 17 points,...
Penguins’ Mike Sullivan `hopeful’ of Olli Maatta’s return Friday
Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Olli Maatta, who’s been out with a shoulder injury since Feb. 11, is getting stronger at the right time and could return Friday night against the Nashville Predators at PPG Paints Arena. Maatta practiced with his teammates and without restrictions Tuesday afternoon in Cranberry. Coach Mike Sullivan...
Bruce Arians on criticism of Steelers’ Ben Roethlisberger: ‘Guys need to have thicker skin’
Add Bruce Arians to the list of people who is rushing to the defense of Ben Roethlisberger in recent days. Arians, hired as coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in January, was Roethlisberger’s offensive coordinator with the Pittsburgh Steelers from 2007-11. The two are known to have been close, often...
Steelers’ Mike Tomlin has ‘no problem’ with Ben Roethlisberger’s leadership
In the wake of a few ex-teammates and a handful of national commentators piling on Ben Roethlisberger for his leadership qualities (or lack thereof), Mike Tomlin came to his franchise quarterback’s defense. “I have no problem with his play or his leadership,” Tomlin said Tuesday, according to ESPN. The Pittsburgh...
Mets, Cy Young winner Jacob deGrom agree to 5-year, $137.5 million deal
NEW YORK — NL Cy Young Award winner Jacob deGrom and the New York Mets have agreed to a $137.5 million, five-year contract, a person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press. The deal guarantees an additional $120.5 million over four seasons. The person spoke on condition of anonymity...
Free Smiley Cookie for fans wearing Pirates gear for home opener
Regardless of the outcome of Monday’s Pirates home opener, fans can get a sweet treat at Eat’n Park restaurants. Any fan who wears Buccos gear to a restaurant that day will get a free Smiley Cookie, the restaurant chain said. The promotion lasts all day at any of Eat’n Park’s...
Trump meets with Capitals at White House, asks about Penguins
The reigning Stanley Cup champion Washington Capitals went to the White House on Monday to meet with President Donald Trump … and the Penguins came up. The Capitals’ visit came nine months after they hoisted the Stanley Cup and just a few days before the start of the playoffs. The...
First call: Antonio Brown lashes out again; a star wants fighting in football
In Tuesday’s “First Call,” we look at Antonio Brown’s latest shot at the Steelers from Oakland. Eminem thinks he has the answer for football. Tonight could prove to be pivotal in the NHL’s Eastern Conference. This won’t end You didn’t think that Antonio Brown would stop taking shots at the...
Conor McGregor announces retirement on social mediaVideo
LOS ANGELES — UFC superstar Conor McGregor announced his retirement on social media Monday night, abruptly ending his remarkable fighting career. In a post on his verified Twitter account, the former UFC featherweight and lightweight champion said: “I’ve decided to retire from the sport formally known as ‘Mixed Martial Art’...
Tim Benz: Proposed NFL overtime changes are unnecessary
One of the big debates at the NFL owners meetings is what to do with the league’s overtime procedure. The Chiefs advanced a rule change proposal for overtime. Let’s not kid ourselves. The Chiefs did this because they lost in overtime of the AFC title game thanks to Tom Brady...
Teddy Blueger emerges, Justin Schultz shines for Penguins
Penguins Radio Network host Brian Metzer joins me for his weekly hockey podcast. We recap Monday’s 5-2 win over the Rangers. I brag about my wonderous predictive powers regarding the rise of Teddy Blueger. We also celebrate Justin Schultz finally getting into the goal column again. Plus, we plow into...
Tim Benz: Steelers suddenly supporting Big Ben. What took so long?
It’s the media — and social media — circle of life. Become famous and popular, get torn down. Get abused online for a few months. Become a sympathetic figure. Get built back up again. Maybe Ben Roethlisberger is now in that final stage. After months of being the target of...
Penguins turn tables with shorthanded scoring spree
NEW YORK – As the Pittsburgh Penguins gave up shorthanded goal after shorthanded goal throughout much of this season, the players who regularly kill penalties for the team must have been watching closely from the bench. These days, the Penguins are the ones scoring the back-breaking shorthanded goals, not allowing...
Astros hit four home runs to rally past Pirates in exhibition game
The Pittsburgh Pirates blew a pair of leads as they surrendered four home runs, including a pair of three-run shots, in a 12-9 exhibition loss to the Houston Astros on Monday night at Minute Maid Park. The Pirates got off to a hot start against Houston’s Forrest Whitley in the...
Fundraiser started for wrestler who lost father during NCAAs in Pittsburgh
Steve Sprague watched his son, Michael, wrestle his final college match Friday in Pittsburgh. About 30 minutes after the match ended, Steve Sprague suffered “a cardiac event” and died. Now friends are trying to raise money for the grief-stricken family with a GoFundMe page. Michael Sprague is a senior 149-pound...
Teddy Blueger scores twice in Penguins’ win over Rangers
NEW YORK — On his way up the hockey ladder, the scouting report on Teddy Blueger was always the same. Great defensive centerman. Offensive game leaves something to be desired. Twenty-three games into his NHL career, Blueger is doing his part to tear that scouting report to bits. Blueger scored...
