Sports category, Page 869
Katie Ledecky passes Michael Phelps for most individual golds at world championships
FUKUOKA, Japan — Here’s why Katie Ledecky is one of the greatest freestyle swimmers in the history of the sport: She is never quite satisfied. The 26-year-old American won the 800-meter freestyle on Saturday at the world championships to become the first swimmer to win six golds in the same...
Mark Madden’s Hot Take: Steelers need to execute their prehistoric vision of running game, defense
If the Steelers are determined to win via running the ball and elite defense, they need to be able to run the ball and play elite defense. The Steelers did neither last season. Najee Harris finished 15th in the NFL with a meager 1,034 yards rushing. He averaged just 3.8...
Gateway grad Jaquan Brisker gives back to community before beginning 2nd NFL season
Jaquan Brisker and his Chicago Bears teammates opened training camp July 26 with hopes of putting all the pieces together for a run at a return to the NFC playoffs in 2023. Brisker, a Gateway High School and Penn State graduate, begins season prep with his eyes on team goals...
Ji Man Choi, Connor Joe next men up at 1st base for Pirates
Carlos Santana started at first base in 85 of the Pittsburgh Pirates’ first 102 games this season, more frequently than any of his former teammates at other positions. Plus, he batted cleanup in 85 games. Only No. 2 hitter Bryan Reynolds manned his spot in the order more often (87)....
West Point alum Elijah Riley carries perspective as he competes for role in Steelers secondary
Chat with Elijah Riley for only a few minutes, it’s easy to understand his background — and it makes perfect sense why Pittsburgh Steelers coaches and management are eager to allow him to earn a role on the team. “I like to believe I am pretty coachable,” Riley said during...
Metro free agency: Capitals take a chance on Max Pacioretty
In his introductory press conference after being named Penguins director of hockey operations, Kyle Dubas explained how he evaluates his team against its opposition. “I think that the major focus, No. 1, is inside our division. That’s the way I always looked at things,” Dubas said. “Rather than try to...
Pirates farm report for July 28, 2023: Nick Cimillo’s solo homer lifts Bradenton to victory
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 46-53) gave up two runs in the top of the ninth and lost to Louisville (Reds), 5-3. 1B Aaron Shackelford (.228) smacked a two-run homer. CF Ryan Vilade (.272) hit an RBI triple. RF Miguel Andujar (.348) was 1 for 3 with a run scored. RHP Jared Jones...
Kyle Schwarber’s 2-run homer pushes Phillies past Pirates, as late rallies fall short
Carlos Santana is now a Milwaukee Brewer, so there would be no City Connect walk-off home run for the Pittsburgh Pirates to start their Yinzerpalooza weekend against the Philadelphia Phillies. Instead, the Pirates went down swinging. Their rallies ended with a one-pitch strikeout in the seventh, a double play in...
West Point 11U girls open state tournament with win
West Point 11U girls’ softball team opened the Pennsylvania Little League state tournament with a 4-1 victory against the Cambridge/Conneaut Lake/French Creek Valley/Saegertown All-Stars Friday at Wellsboro. Braylyn Graft’s three-run double in the top of the sixth inning snapped a 1-1 score. Winning pitcher Jayelyn Luft struck out 13 while...
Penn-Trafford Junior Legion looking for another state title
The Penn-Trafford Junior Legion baseball team won a Pennsylvania American Legion Youth title in 2021. It came up short in 2022 as rival Murrysville won the title. But Penn-Trafford coach Steve Freas, who coached the 2021 squad, said he feels the 2023 version has the talent to bring home another...
Boutier holds a 1-shot lead after 2nd round of Evian ChampionshipVideo
EVIAN-LES-BAINS, France — Celine Boutier posted a 2-under-par 69 in the second round of the LPGA’s Evian Championship to move to 7-under overall, giving her a one-shot lead Friday. But surprise overnight leader Paula Reto dropped down the leaderboard after a 4-over 75. The 29-year-old Boutier, who was two shots...
Former 2nd-round pick Duke Dawson puts injury-riddled career in past, fights to make Steelers
Like coach Mike Tomlin had warned Thursday, gleaning too much from Duke Dawson being the first-team nickel defensive back during the first rep of training camp was at an observer’s own peril. Come Day 2 of Pittsburgh Steelers camp Friday, Dawson was closer to third-team status than starter. But that...
Bengals QB Joe Burrow could miss ‘several weeks’ with calf strain, coach Taylor saysVideo
CINCINNATI — Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow could miss “several weeks” with a right calf strain, coach Zac Taylor said Friday. The 26-year-old franchise quarterback hobbled on one leg and then went to the ground after a scramble play near the end of Thursday’s practice. He rode off the field in...
Birthday boy Steven Alker takes 2nd-round lead at the Senior British OpenVideo
BRIDGEND, Wales — Steven Alker moved to the top of the Senior British Open leaderboard Friday with a 3-under-par 68 after Miguel Angel Jimenez followed up a round to remember with one to forget. Playing on his birthday, Alker hit four birdies in the second round along with a bogey...
Cardinals’ Mikolas suspended 5 games and fined for intentionally throwing at Cubs’ HappVideo
NEW YORK — St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Miles Mikolas was suspended for five games and fined an undisclosed amount by MLB on Friday for intentionally throwing at Ian Happ of the Chicago Cubs. Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol was suspended for one game and fined as a result of Mikolas’ actions...
Bethel Park, WVU alum Nick Kwiatkoski embarks on 8th NFL season with Steelers
The first time Nick Kwiatkoski played a football game in what is now called Acrisure Stadium was 15 years so. He’s been back to play only once since. He’s in the right place that by September he can make it a third — plus several more. Kwiatkoski led Bethel Park...
Pirates reliever Angel Perdomo has suspension for hitting batter reduced to 2 games
Pittsburgh Pirates reliever Angel Perdomo had his three-game suspension reduced to two games via an agreement between MLB and the players association. The 6-foot-8 left-hander drew a three-game suspension after being ejected Tuesday for hitting San Diego Padres star Manny Machado in the back one pitch after giving up a...
George Pickens expects to see more targets in Steelers’ evolving deep passing game
George Pickens said it was no coincidence that, on the first play of training camp for the Pittsburgh Steelers, Kenny Pickett dropped back and threw deep down the sideline. Or that Pickens was the intended target. “I just feel like that is an explosive hint,” Pickens said Thursday, “that we’re...
With no specific return date in mind, Pirates Ke’Bryan Hayes, Oneil Cruz continue to rehab injuries
The left side of the Pittsburgh Pirates infield that started the season – third baseman Ke’Bryan Hayes and shortstop Oneil Cruz – continue their recovery from serious injuries, but there is no specific timetable for either player’s return to the lineup. Hayes (lower back inflammation) played one game Tuesday in...
‘First domino’: After Carlos Santana trade, Pirates enter trade deadline with trepidation
The Pittsburgh Pirates had the day off Thursday when Carlos Santana was traded to the Milwaukee Brewers, so they didn’t get to say proper goodbyes to the popular veteran first baseman. It will be more of a “see you later” for Santana, given that the Pirates will visit their NL...
Steelers inside the ropes: Veteran WR Allen Robinson II fitting in well as slot option
Allen Robinson II will turn 30 before his 10th NFL season begins in September, and he hasn’t topped 40 catches or 500 yards in a season since 2020. Early returns from Pittsburgh Steelers training camp, though, suggest the veteran wide receiver could prove a significant part of the offense during...
Steelers practice report: Diontae Johnson among those who leave practice for heat-related reasons
For the second consecutive day to begin Pittsburgh Steelers training camp, the No. 1 wide receiver provided a brief scare. On Friday, it was when Diontae Johnson walked slowly away from the gathered team during practice to a tent, where he eventually got onto a golf cart and was taken...
Community rallies to help send New Kensington youth Adrionna Foster to national track meet
Adrionna Foster qualified for the USA Track and Field Junior Olympic National Championships in both the 100- and 200-meter dashes last summer. But the considerable cost associated with making the trip prevented her from attending and competing on the biggest stage in the country. This year, however, Foster is on...
Old-Timer’s game continues tradition at Freeport International Baseball Invitational
With three days of youth baseball games in the books at James E. Swartz Sr. Memorial Field in Freeport Boro and at five other fields throughout the Alle-Kiski Valley, an older generation again gathered at Swartz Field on Thursday for the annual Sonny Westerman Old Timers game. Winning the game...
ILB Cole Holcomb relishes chance to begin full practice participation with Steelers
Cole Holcomb was one of the first players to take the field Wednesday when the Pittsburgh Steelers held their first practice of training camp. His early attendance wasn’t an accident. “I’m a very impatient person,” Holcomb said. “I wanted to get back out there.” Because of December foot surgery, the...
