Sports category, Page 621
Solid start against Red Sox puts Pirates RHP Jared Jones in position for spot in rotation
Jared Jones pitched on a day he wasn’t supposed to, but the 22-year-old right-hander might have solidified a spot in the Pittsburgh Pirates’ starting rotation in the process. Jones flashed a four-seam fastball that averaged 96.7 mph and touched triple digits and mixed it with a slider to strike out...
‘Bulldog’: How Pirates catcher Henry Davis improved defense to make push for starting job
When the Pittsburgh Pirates told Henry Davis to concentrate on catching this offseason so he could report to spring training at his natural position, it was all the 2021 No. 1 overall draft pick needed to hear. Davis is nothing if not renowned for his work ethic, and Pirates teammates...
Mark Madden’s Hot Take: Big contracts for Penguins’ aging stars have handcuffed Kyle Dubas
The Pittsburgh Penguins are in deep decline. That’s OK, for now. Keep that first-round pick. Get more balls in the draft lottery. Maybe the Penguins get lucky. It’s happened before. Despite my faith in president of hockey ops/GM Kyle Dubas, he can’t do as he says. Dubas can’t reassemble a...
NFL meetings to focus on change to kickoffs; Steelers propose pushing back trade deadline
If the NFL competition committee has its way, a radical approach to kickoffs will take place next season, and a controversial tackling technique will be outlawed. And if the Pittsburgh Steelers get enough support for their proposal, the league’s trading deadline will be pushed back a week. Such topics —...
Penguins goalie prospect Joel Blomqvist making seamless transition in 1st North American hockey campaign
Logic dictates that for a 22-year-old — let alone one who is a professional athlete — who moves across the globe to a new country, the changes would be staggering. That’s the reality Pittsburgh Penguins goaltender prospect Joel Blomqvist has been living with since joining Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the American Hockey...
Penn State sends 6 to finals, clinches 11th NCAA wrestling title in 13 years
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Carter Starocci and Aaron Brooks will have a chance to make some wrestling history for Penn State. The two Nittany Lions passed their semifinal tests at the NCAA championships on Friday night, giving them a chance to join an exclusive club of four-time winners on Saturday...
James Madison pulls off 1st 12-5 upset by knocking off Wisconsin
NEW YORK — James Madison announced itself by beating a Big Ten team to start this season. When the Dukes did it again to start their NCAA Tournament, they made sure everybody knew: “It’s not an upset,” Xavier Brown yelled, popping his jersey in the middle of the celebration with...
Ivy League strikes again as No. 13 Yale takes down No. 4 Auburn
SPOKANE, Wash. — A year ago, Yale’s John Poulakidas and August Mahoney were stuck at home watching the Ivy League champion make a magical NCAA Tournament run. The two Bulldogs wanted a taste of what that was like. Given the opportunity on Friday, they helped Yale become the latest Ivy...
Minor league report: Penguins beaten by CrunchVideo
Forward Joona Koppoanen had a goal and an assist for the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins in a 5-2 road loss to the Syracuse Crunch at Upstate Medical University Arena in Syracuse, N.Y. on Friday. Defenseman Xavier Ouellet recorded two assists for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (31-21-8-1) while forward forward Austin Rueschhoff contributed a goal. Goaltender...
Tristan Jarry chased again, Penguins’ playoff hopes take another hit in loss to Stars
The Pittsburgh Penguins haven’t been mathematically eliminated from postseason contention just yet. But a lot of things – mostly out of their control - need to add up for them to get an “x” affixed next to their entry in the standings. And on Friday, the arithmetic was ugly as...
Cink at age 50 part of a five-way share of the lead at InnisbrookVideo
PALM HARBOR, Fla. — Stewart Cink made a great escape from the pine straw for an unlikely birdie and had a 4-under-par 67 that gave him a five-way share of the lead Friday in the Valspar Championship and a chance to entertain thoughts of winning for the second straight tournament....
Imhotep Charter finally puts away pesky Franklin Regional to win 10th PIAA basketball title
HERSHEY — Franklin Regional and Imhotep Charter are 300 miles apart, on opposite ends of the state. They are also distant in PIAA championship history and when it comes to producing high-end college talent. But the teams were a lot closer on the scoreboard than many expected Friday night at...
White Sox release infielder Mike Moustakas, outfielder Kevin Pillar
GLENDALE, Ariz. — The Chicago White Sox released infielder Mike Moustakas and outfielder Kevin Pillar on Friday. Both were in camp on minor league deals. The moves increase the likelihood of Gavin Sheets making the team’s opening-day roster. The 35-year-old Moustakas hit .247 with 12 homers and 48 RBIs in...
Duquesne not ready for ride to end as it preps for Illinois in NCAA Tournament 2nd round
For a team facing the longest odds among eight underdogs in Saturday’s NCAA Tournament games, Duquesne doesn’t appear bothered. It’s been the Dukes’ calling card all season. “It’s all about staying the course, keeping steady, don’t let anything get you out of whack,” said the Dukes’ David Dixon. “If we...
Tim Benz: For Duquesne basketball, ‘Put up your Dukes’ is more than a catchphrase
OMAHA, Neb. — For supporters of the Duquesne Dukes basketball team, “Put up your Dukes” is a catchy slogan. A fun hashtag on social media. A long-used motto within the fan base. For the players themselves, it’s become a rallying cry for how the team plays. The Dukes won the...
After 6 games in 11 days, N.C. State coach, players say there’s still important work to do
N.C. State had a losing record in the ACC (9-11), finished behind nine teams in the standings and lost to Pitt twice. Yet the Wolfpack will be inside PPG Paints Arena on Saturday night competing against Oakland — an 11 seed against a 14 seed — for a spot in...
MLB investigating gambling, theft allegations involving Shohei Ohtani and interpreter Ippei Mizuhara
NEW YORK — Major League Baseball has opened a formal investigation into illegal gambling and theft allegations involving Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani and his interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara. Mizuhara was let go from the team Wednesday following reports from the Los Angeles Times and ESPN about his alleged ties...
Oakland coach Greg Kampe, 3-point specialist Jack Gohlke handle celebrity, thousands of text messages
When Oakland coach Greg Kampe climbed the steps to the stage Friday afternoon for the final news conference before his team’s game Saturday night against N.C. State, few knew the truth. The 68-year-old man had not been to sleep since the night before Oakland’s victory Thursday against Kentucky at PPG...
Breaking down No. 14 Oakland vs. No. 11 N.C. State
No. 14 Oakland vs. No. 11 N.C. State 7:10 p.m. Saturday, PPG Paints Arena TV: TBS Winner plays: Winner of Colorado (26-10)/Marquette (26-9) on March 28-29 in Sweet 16 Series history: First all-time meeting. Oakland (24-11, 18-5 Horizon League) Coach: Greg Kampe (40th season) How they got here: Oakland upset...
Mutual respect exists between Oregon’s Dana Altman, Creighton’s Greg McDermott
When the third-seeded Creighton Bluejays take the court Saturday for their NCAA Tournament second-round game with 11th-seeded Oregon at PPG Paints Arena, the past and present of their basketball program will intersect. Coaching the Ducks is Dana Altman, who previously coached at Creighton from 1994-2010. After Altman’s departure for Oregon,...
Pennsylvania Game Commission managing reintroduced bobwhite quail population
In the five years that Alex Busato has been keeping his eyes peeled for local birds, he’s seen perhaps two bobwhite quails. State game commission officials are hoping to change that. Once found in all 67 of Pennsylvania’s counties in the mid-1800s, the little 10-inch-tall bird has been pushed out...
After winning state football title last fall, Aliquippa adds PIAA boys basketball championship
HERSHEY – Aliquippa finished off a rare PIAA double-double Friday by winning state football and basketball titles in the same school year. But on a roster full of two-sport athletes, this latest celebration was thanks in large part to a sophomore who has focused on only one. Josh Pratt scored...
Oregon’s Jermaine Couisnard praises Oakland’s Jack Gohlke for dominant game vs. KentuckyVideo
During Thursday’s slate of NCAA Tournament first-round games being played at PPG Paints Arena, Oregon Ducks senior Jermaine Couisnard’s performance vs. South Carolina looked as if it would be the top story from all the action. Couisnard, who played three seasons with the Gamecocks before transferring to Oregon two years...
Breaking down No. 11 Oregon vs. No. 3 Creighton
No. 11 Oregon vs. No. 3 Creighton 9:40 p.m. Saturday, PPG Paints Arena TV: TBS Winner plays: Winner of No. 2 Tennessee (25-8)/No. 7 Texas (21-12) March 28-29 in the Sweet 16 Series history: Oregon leads the all-time series 2-1. Oregon (24-11, 15-8 Pac-12) Coach: Dana Altman (14th season) How...
Pitt’s up-tempo offense creates opportunity to increase volume of snaps in practice
The NCAA allows its football teams 15 practice days in the spring to use as a springboard into the season. Pitt’s Pat Narduzzi and offensive coordinator Kade Bell have found a way to build one extra period into every day — without running afoul of NCAA regulations. It has led...
