Sports category, Page 481
With season spiraling, Pirates count on starting pitching to serve as stoppers of losing streak
As the Pittsburgh Pirates attempt to put a disastrous homestand that ended with getting swept by the San Diego Padres in their rearview, they turn to their most reliable pitcher to serve as a stopper. Mitch Keller’s streak of 49 consecutive starts of pitching at least five innings ended against...
In city where countryman Roberto Clemente is revered, Pitt volleyball’s Valeria Vazquez Gomez seeks her own slice of Pittsburgh history
Long before she was asked to model one of the Pittsburgh Pirates’ promotional T-shirts, Valeria Vazquez Gomez knew all about Roberto Clemente. Vazquez Gomez, a sixth-year outside hitter with the Pitt volleyball team, hails from Puerto Rico, birthplace of the most famous Pirate of all. She said her father is...
Chi Chi Rodriguez, Hall of Fame golfer known for antics on the greens, dies at 88Video
Juan “Chi Chi” Rodriguez, a Hall of Fame golfer whose antics on the greens during and inspiring life story made him among the sport’s most popular players during a long professional career, died Thursday. He was 88. Rodriguez’s death was announced by Carmelo Javier Ríos, a senator in Rodriguez’ native...
Pirates farm report for Aug. 8, 2024: Jared Jones gives up 1 hit, a homer, in 1st rehab start
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 50-57) managed four hits in a 3-1 loss to Nashville (Brewers). RHP Jared Jones (0-1, 6.75) started and pitched 2⅔ innings as he began a rehab assignment (lat). He allowed one hit – a two-run homer by Vinny Capra – with one walk and three strikeouts. RHP Mike...
Backup Jameis Winston confident QB Deshaun Watson can bounce back, lead BrownsVideo
BEREA, Ohio — Jameis Winston’s role with the Browns isn’t limited to simply being quarterback Deshaun Watson’s backup. Yes, he’s the No. 2 QB. Also, first-team hype man. A former top overall NFL draft pick, Winston, who signed as a free agent with the Browns in March, said Thursday that...
Pitt transfers ‘Poppi’ Williams, Tamon Lynum hope to make good in their new neighborhood
When Rachel Sims was a young mother in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., she liked how her little boy’s big eyes seemed to pop out of his head. “Pop eyes,” said Pitt junior wide receiver Raphael Williams Jr., who was that little boy. Thus, the nickname that Rachel bestowed upon her son,...
Covid-stricken Noah Lyles collapses after getting bronze, 1 of 8 U.S. medals at Olympic trackVideo
SAINT-DENIS, France — The first sign of trouble Thursday night came when Noah Lyles started rounding the curve in the Olympic final of the 200 meters, the sprint that has always been his best race. Normally at the curve, Lyles starts making up ground, then pulling away from what have...
Defending champion U.S. women’s volleyball team beats Brazil in semifinal thriller at Paris OlympicsVideo
PARIS — Karch Kiraly made one request when the decisive fifth set began: Win or lose, make sure to enjoy the moment. The U.S. coach asked his players to take in the atmosphere, one of the best for women’s volleyball, with mighty Brazil on the opposite side of the net....
Slippery Rock picked No. 1 in PSAC-West football preseason poll
Fresh of a trip to the NCAA Division II quarterfinals last season, Slippery Rock was tabbed the preseason favorite in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference West Division. The Rock received six first-place votes in the PSAC-West preseason poll conducted by the conference’s coaches. Slippery Rock returns plenty of talent after...
U.S. men’s basketball team rallies to beat Serbia in Paris Olympics, will face France for gold medalVideo
PARIS — Down by 11 in the fourth quarter, against what looked like overwhelming odds, the U.S. Olympic men’s basketball team got a spark. Six points in two seconds. Kevin Durant and Devin Booker provided that wild sequence to start the comeback, Stephen Curry had a scoring night like almost...
Serbian competitor in CrossFit Games dies during swimming event at Texas lakeVideo
FORT WORTH, Texas — A Serbian competitor in the CrossFit Games has died while competing in a swimming event Thursday morning at a Texas lake. CrossFit CEO Don Faul said during a news conference that they were “deeply saddened” and were working with authorities on the investigation into the death...
David Bednar blows another lead, as Padres score 3 runs in 9th to sweep reeling Pirates
David Bednar was booed off the field by the home crowd after blowing another one-run lead in the ninth inning against the San Diego Padres, and the Pittsburgh Pirates closer offered no defense. Instead, Bednar swallowed hard and accepted the blame for failing to finish as the Pirates continued their...
Inside the ropes: On eve of preseason opener, Steelers conduct light workout at Saint Vincent
Rare is it when the Pittsburgh Steelers conduct an open practice the day before a preseason game. It may be unprecedented in the Mike Tomlin era. Tomlin broke protocol Thursday for the fans by putting his players through what amounted to an extended walkthrough at Saint Vincent College. The practice,...
New Penguins forward Blake Lizotte sticks with what got him to the NHLVideo
Blake Lizotte doesn’t stand out. At 5-foot-9 and 175 pounds, how could he? But against the context of the Pittsburgh Penguins’ roster, he sticks out. Or should. A blend of hustle, tenacity and contact, Lizotte is the type of player the Penguins don’t have a surplus of and that’s what...
Mark Madden: Penguins and Sidney Crosby should reach a deal … but what if they can’t?
Sidney Crosby has one year to go on his Pittsburgh Penguins contract. He hasn’t yet signed an extension. He was able to do so as of July 1. When his 37th birthday came and went Wednesday (Aug. 7, you know, 8/7) and the numerically obsessed Crosby still hadn’t put pen...
Hampton, Deer Lakes mull cooperative wrestling program
Hampton Township and Deer Lakes school districts could be teaming up on the wrestling mat. The school board in Hampton is scheduled to vote Aug. 12 on approving a cooperative program between the districts. Deer Lakes has no wrestling program, but some students are interested in participating in the sport....
Pittsburgh Grass Open at South Park Fairgrounds once again deemed a success
After another successful weekend of grass-court volleyball, Ned Bacheson is looking forward to what the future holds for Pittsburgh Grass Open tournament. A total of 740 players across 326 teams took part in this years event, held July 26-28, at the Allegheny County Fairgrounds in South Park. That number is...
West Point to resume play at LLSWS Friday at new location
Tropical Storm Debby has the upper hand at the Little League Softball World Series. Constant rain left teams sitting on their hands with no games to play for a second straight day in Greenville, N.C. That includes Greensburg’s West Point 12U, which has gone 1-1 in the double-elimination tournament as...
Pirates place struggling reliever Colin Holderman on 15-day IL, DFA Edward Olivares
The Pittsburgh Pirates made a series of roster moves before Thursday’s game against the San Diego Padres, with the most prominent affecting a struggling high-leverage reliever. The Pirates placed right-hander Colin Holderman, who has a 16.62 ERA in his past five appearances, on the 15-day injured list with a sprained...
Panthers observations: Pat Narduzzi has praise for linebackers, but he can do without mandatory injury reports
Pitt coach Pat Narduzzi guards his team’s injury information like a general hides his platoon’s next move. But the Big Ten instituted mandatory injury reports for game days in 2023, and there’s talk that the SEC might follow suit at the start of this season. Narduzzi has no use for...
How will QB Beau Pribula’s ‘elite athleticism’ be utilized in Penn State’s new offense?
There’s strong belief within the Lasch Building that Andy Kotelnicki and his creative scheme will reinvigorate a Penn State offense that became stale and, at times, ineffective last year. Drew Allar had a “good, but not good enough” first season as the starting quarterback. Nick Singleton and Kaytron Allen weren’t...
White Sox fire manager Pedro Grifol after end of 21-game losing streak that tied AL record
CHICAGO — The Chicago White Sox fired manager Pedro Grifol on Thursday, two days after the team ended a 21-game losing streak that tied the American League record. Chicago began the day 28-89, on pace to finish 39-122, which would be the worst major league record since the National League’s...
5 things to watch for as Steelers face Texans to open up preseason playVideo
Many will say they don’t find much value in preseason games. But rest assured, there are dozens in the Pittsburgh Steelers locker room who view Friday’s 7 p.m. game in a completely opposite way. To those on the roster bubble fighting for their football lives, Friday is one of only...
First Call: Mike Tomlin’s quote about Brandon Aiyuk last year; still no contract extension for Sidney Crosby
In Thursday’s “First Call,” we look back on what Mike Tomlin said about Brandon Aiyuk after he scorched the Pittsburgh Steelers last September. We are still waiting for a Sidney Crosby contract extension. A former Steeler in Baltimore is dealing with a knee injury. And the picture is getting awfully...
Going for Gold: Franklin Regional grad Spencer Lee earns 3 wins to reach Olympic finals
Spencer Lee is one victory away from achieving his ultimate goal — being an Olympic gold medalist. The Franklin Regional and Iowa graduate rolled into the men’s freestyle 57 kg finals with a dominating 14-4 technical fall victory Thursday against Uzbekistan’s Gulomjon Abdullaev in the semifinals. It was his third...
