Sports category, Page 2108
Tim Benz: Pirates need to let manager Derek Shelton truly be in charge
A frequent criticism of the Pittsburgh Pirates in recent years has been that the franchise employed one of the most expensive managers in Major League Baseball but had one of the lowest payrolls. In August 2018, USA Today published a deep dive into why managerial contracts were dipping. Clint Hurdle’s...
Drew Brees sets NFL all-time TD mark as Saints rout ColtsVideo
NEW ORLEANS — Drew Brees became the NFL’s all-time leader in touchdown passes, throwing for four scores to lead the New Orleans Saints to a 34-7 victory over the Indianapolis Colts on Monday night. The scoring strike that broke Peyton Manning’s record of 539 career touchdown passes came in the...
2 tight ends announce plans to transfer to Pitt
Pitt received a double dose of good news Monday for one of its biggest roster deficiencies when junior college tight end Daniel Moraga said he plans to enroll next year. He joins Florida graduate transfer tight end Lucas Krull, who made a verbal commitment to Pitt earlier in the day....
Jeff Capel declines to get specific about interruption in Pitt-Duquesne series
For the second week in a row, Duquesne received one voting point (25th) in the Associated Press poll. But the undefeated Dukes (9-0) won’t get a chance to test themselves against their neighbors 2 miles up Forbes Avenue. The old rivals, who have met 87 times, aren’t playing each other...
Trey McGowens comes off bench, helps Pitt rally past Northern IllinoisVideo
The best coaches know what buttons to push to ignite their players. They can sense when to do it, and just as importantly, how to do it. Pitt’s Jeff Capel figured that out over the past few days and decided to bench starting sophomore guard Trey McGowens at the beginning...
Westmoreland campus clippings: Mastovich earns another soccer honor
Andrew Mastovich made his mark in the Penn State Behrend men’s soccer program. The senior defender from Franklin Regional added another postseason accolade Wednesday when he was named to the All-Eastern College Athletic Conference Division III All-Star First Team. Mastovich, the AMCC Defensive Player of the Year, is a two-time...
Source: WVU product Will Grier to start Sunday for Carolina Panthers
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The Panthers plan to make a quarterback change Sunday, starting rookie Will Grier in the team’s Week 16 game at Indianapolis instead of the struggling Kyle Allen, according to a source. Grier, who grew up in Davidson, will be making his first NFL start and taking his...
Chiefs sign veteran pass-rusher Terrell Suggs
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Kansas City Chiefs claimed veteran pass rusher Terrell Suggs off waivers Monday, filling a massive hole at defensive end after losing Alex Okafor to a torn pectoral muscle a day earlier against the Denver Broncos. The 37-year-old Suggs spent the first 16 years of his...
‘Funky season’ provides Jets early evaluating for 2020
NEW YORK — Jonotthan Harrison entered training camp as the New York Jets’ center, eager to establish himself as a reliable starter. It all changed in a snap in early August when Ryan Kalil was lured out of retirement — sending Harrison to his familiar backup role. That is, until...
Belle Vernon grad continues swimming career at Florida school
An academic program persuaded Belle Vernon graduate Robert Spekis to continue his swimming career near the sea. Spekis, 19, a freshman on the Nova Southeastern men’s team in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., plans to study marine biology. “I looked for a school that met my academic needs and also had a...
Yough grad Scott Houseman, lineman at Lackawanna, makes Division I commitment
An official visit to Albany over the weekend solidified Scott Houseman’s impressions of the football program and reassured him that it is the place for him. The big redshirt freshman lineman who plays at Lackawanna announced Monday night his commitment to Albany, which is coached by former Duquesne coach Greg...
Penn State LB Micah Parsons, Pitt DL Jaylen Twyman on AP All-America teamVideo
Penn State sophomore linebacker Micah Parsons was named first-team Associated Press All-America on Monday. Parsons has a team-best 85 tackles, including 10 for loss. He previously earned Big Ten Linebacker of the Year and was a finalist for the Butkus Award as the nation’s top linebacker. The last Penn State...
Sources: Pirates to hire Oscar Marin as pitching coach
The trend in the major leagues recently has been for teams to hire pitching coaches with varied backgrounds who haven’t necessarily played professional baseball. That fits the description of Oscar Marin, whom the Pirates will hire as their pitching coach. Two baseball sources confirmed to the Tribune-Review on Monday that...
Penn State moves into AP Top 25 for 1st time since 1996Video
The Penn State men’s basketball team checked in at No. 23 in the AP Top 25 on Monday for the program’s first poll appearance in more than two decades. The Nittany Lions (9-2) hadn’t appeared in the AP poll since being ranked 18th in March 1996. Before that season, Penn...
Pirates sign catcher Luke Maile
The Pirates added a player at a position of desperate need Monday, signing free agent catcher Luke Maile to a one-year major league contract. Maile, 28, is known as a strong defensive catcher who hasn’t hit much in parts of five big league seasons. For his career, he’s a .198...
Tim Benz, Mark Madden break down Steelers’ debacle vs. Bills, debate QB scenariosVideo
Should Duck still fly as the starting quarterback? Tim Benz and Mark Madden debate the state of the Steelers after Sunday night’s loss to the Buffalo Bills and whether Devlin “Duck” Hodges should remain under center in Week 16 at the New York Jets. The guys have different opinions on...
From Texas to the Penguins: A chat with Stefan Noesen
Texas is the land of Friday night lights. Not forechecks and fights. In the 102-year history of the NHL, only 11 players were born in the Lone Star State. Pittsburgh Penguins forward Stefan Noesen, of Plano in the Dallas suburbs, is one of them. If Western Pennsylvanians such as John...
Pirates’ Gregory Polanco will be OK for spring training, but shoulder will need monitoring
Pittsburgh Pirates right fielder Gregory Polanco’s extended recovery from shoulder surgery continues, but he should have no restrictions when he reports to spring training. But that doesn’t mean his shoulder problems are finished. Todd Tomczyk, the Pirates’ director of sports medicine, said Polanco’s shoulder will require regular management, possibly including...
Valley alum Zach Clarke wins powerlifting gold at Pennsylvania Special Olympics
At the beginning of November, Valley grad Zach Clarke traveled to Villanova University to compete in the Pennsylvania Special Olympics championships and came home with more than enough gold to go around. Clarke won the overall gold in powerlifting and also won gold in the squat and bench press with...
Coyotes acquire Taylor Hall from Devils for picks, prospects
The Arizona Coyotes are looking to end their lengthy playoff drought by adding a player desperate to get back to the postseason himself. Arizona acquired standout winger Taylor Hall from the New Jersey Devils on Monday for three prospects and two draft picks. The Coyotes will try to end their...
NFL suspends Seahawks WR Josh Gordon indefinitelyVideo
RENTON, Wash. — The troubles that have followed Josh Gordon throughout his career continued Monday as the Seahawks wide receiver was suspended indefinitely by the NFL for violating the league’s drug policy again. Gordon tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs and “substances of abuse,” the league said in a statement. Gordon...
All-City League football team: Westinghouse leads with 9 selections
City League champion Westinghouse was recognized for its accomplishments Monday as nine players were selected to the All-City League team, and coach Donte Green earned coach of the year honors. The Bulldogs went 8-4 this season, despite losing their first three games of the year. But, they recovered and won...
WPIAL executive director Tim O’Malley retiring, board promotes Amy Scheuneman
The WPIAL will have a change in leadership this summer. WPIAL executive director Tim O’Malley is retiring June 30 after 14 years as the district’s top administrator and will be replaced by Amy Scheuneman, the associate executive director. The WPIAL board accepted O’Malley’s resignation letter Monday and voted to promote...
WR JuJu Smith-Schuster hoping for late-season return to Steelers
He has missed four consecutive games and incurred a setback last week when he aggravated his knee injury in practice. Still, Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster hasn’t given up hope of returning for the final two weeks of the regular season. “It all depends on how my knee feels...
Pitt receives commitment from graduate transfer tight end Lucas Krull of Florida
In Pitt’s continuing search for tight ends, coach Pat Narduzzi on Monday landed a verbal commitment from Lucas Krull, a graduate transfer from Florida. Krull (6-foot-6, 257 pounds) was a backup tight end at Florida the past two seasons, totaling nine receptions for 108 yards. He also completed a 15-yard...
