Sports category, Page 2304
Pirates’ Hurdle likes juggling five outfielders
Clint Hurdle has five outfielders on his roster, which is one more than he usually needs. It’s a nice problem — and it could come in handy at trade deadline time — but the Pittsburgh Pirates manager said he solves it by “feel” and “conversation.” But there are constants that...
Derry native Ward hopes to make impact for Seton Hill baseball
Pitcher Omar Ward pondered the future of his college career like he was glaring in at his catcher. The hard-throwing right-hander saw a sign, but shook it off and waited for a new one. Curve or slider? To stay or to go? When he finally realized his best option was...
Penguins trade chatter doesn’t take Sidney Crosby by surprise
As a disappointing end to the season gave way to a summer filled with trade talk surrounding even cornerstone players such as Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang, Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby wasn’t surprised. Three of his 14 NHL seasons ended with a parade, which means 11 didn’t. He knew...
North Huntingdon’s Austen Swankler awaits NHL Draft
North Huntingdon native Austen Swankler did quite a bit to catch the attention of NHL teams in the past year. Now all that’s left to do is wait to hear if one of them calls his name this weekend. Swankler, a 6-foot, 181-pound forward, is a candidate to be selected...
U.S. women welcome tough test vs. Sweden in World Cup
LE HAVRE, France — Victory is the goal for the United States in its group stage finale against Sweden, even though a loss might give the Americans an easier path through the knockout rounds of the Women’s World Cup. “I think it’s in our team’s DNA to want to win...
WPGA Junior tournament features strong field
Latrobe graduate Brady Pevarnik, South Fayette’s Luke Lestini, Central Catholic’s Neal Shipley and Fox Chapel’s Gregor Meyer are just some of the top golfers competing in the 99th annual Western Pennsylvania Golf Association’s Junior Championship on Wednesday at Westmoreland Country Club in Export. The four golfers from the WPIAL all...
NFL teams up with NCAA for next round of safety improvements
INDIANAPOLIS — The NFL’s top medical experts are asking college football physicians and trainers to help make the game safer. They want the NCAA to pitch in, too. Dr. Allen Sills and Jeff Miller, the NFL’s executive vice president for health and safety initiatives, spent Monday and Tuesday in Indianapolis...
Texas’ Jaxson Hayes headlights big men in NBA Draft
Jaxson Hayes needed only a year at Texas to put himself at the front of the class of big men in Thursday’s NBA Draft. The freshman could go late in the lottery, headlining a list of intriguing talents as the role of the big man has evolved in the NBA...
France detains soccer great Michel Platini in 2022 World Cup probe
PARIS — French police investigating whether corruption played a role in the stunning decision to award the 2022 World Cup to Qatar took 1980s soccer superstar and former top executive Michel Platini into custody Tuesday for questioning. Platini’s representatives denied any wrongdoing on his part, saying he is “absolutely confident...
Sharks re-signing Erik Karlsson sets table for busy NHL offseason
Erik Karlsson had no wanderlust to test the free-agent market before re-signing in San Jose. “I never thought outside that box,” Karlsson said. “I’m happy that it didn’t get to that.” A handful of other teams aren’t so happy because the two-time Norris Trophy-winning defenseman would have been the best...
Former XFL, NFL running back Rod Smart, known as ‘He Hate Me,’ found safe after being reported missing in South Carolina
Update: Lancaster County (S.C.) Sheriff’s Office has given a positive update about the whereabouts of Rod Smart. The department announced on its Facebook page that Smart has been located and is currently safe. “Mr. Smart has been located and he is safe at this time,” the post read. “We appreciate...
Ex-Pirate Jordy Mercer nostalgic on return to PNC Park with Tigers
It rains a lot in Taloga, Okla., these days. Which means the grass is green, the wheat crop is strong and, thankfully, the wildfires that plagued the tiny town (population, 310) last spring have not returned. The only bad news is Taloga’s favorite son isn’t playing baseball. Jordy Mercer, who...
Doug Ferguson: Score not true measure of when U.S. Open is good test
PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. — The leaderboard next to the 18th green at the U.S. Open again was filled with red numbers under par. The only difference was the scenery. This was Pebble Beach, set along the rugged California coast. Gary Woodland finished at 271 for a three-shot victory over Brooks...
Penguins set dates for annual prospect development camp
The Pittsburgh Penguins will hold their annual prospect development camp next week at the UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex in Cranberry. Admission to all practices is free and open to the public. The highlight of the camp is a three-on-three tournament, which will begin at 7 p.m. June 28. On-ice sessions...
Pirates notebook: Healthy arms could give team a needed boost
Trevor Williams will return to the Pittsburgh Pirates’ starting rotation Wednesday night, and he does so as part of the reconstruction of the pitching staff. The Pirates crossed Chris Stratton off the injured list Tuesday. Williams comes off Wednesday. Meanwhile, Jordan Lyles pitched a simulated game before the team met...
5 names to remember in goal at the NHL Draft this weekend
With undrafted 20-year-old Alex D’Orio the only developmental goalie in the system, it’s entirely possible the Pittsburgh Penguins will use a draft choice at the position this weekend. Amateur scouting has been part of goalie development coach Andy Chiodo’s duties. Here is a list of five names to remember at...
Pitt, Penn State women’s hoops to meet in ACC/Big Ten Challenge
The Pitt and Penn State women’s basketball teams will play Dec. 5 at Bryce Jordan Center in University Park as part of the ACC/Big Ten Challenge. It will be the first time they’ve met in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge. Penn State leads the all-time series 29-13, including victories in the...
Former Penguins defenseman Rob Scuderi takes coaching job
Former Penguins defenseman Rob Scuderi is getting into coaching. Scuderi, who retired in 2017, will be the defense development coach for the Nashville Predators, the team announced Tuesday. Scuderi, 40, played parts of eight seasons with the Penguins from 2003-15 and was a cornerstone of the 2009 Stanley Cup championship...
Penguins to open preseason against Sabres at Penn State
The Pittsburgh Penguins will open their preseason schedule Monday, Sept. 16, against the Buffalo Sabres at Penn State’s Pegula Ice Arena. It will be the second visit to the arena for the Penguins, who faced Buffalo there in 2017. The game will count as a home game for the Sabres,...
Lightning re-sign Braydon Coburn to $3.4M, 2-year deal
TAMPA, Fla. — The Tampa Bay Lightning have re-signed defenseman Braydon Coburn to a $3.4 million, two-year deal. Coburn will count $1.7 million against the salary cap in each of the next two seasons. General manager Julien BriseBois announced the contract Tuesday. The 34-year-old had four goals and 19 assists...
First Call: Josh Bell maintains All-Star lead; what could Penguins trade 1st-round pick for?
In “First Call” Tuesday, the Pirates need to get fat against the Tigers. Josh Bell still leads in All-Star voting at first base, but not by much. Draft picks are good currency in the NHL. And Lavar Ball continues to act like a moron. Terrible Tigers Boy, the Tigers are...
Steelers 2-a-days: Can Chris Boswell regain Pro Bowl form? Marcelis Branch make RMU proud?
Editor’s note: From now until the first practice of training camp at Saint Vincent College, the Trib will be running through the Pittsburgh Steelers’ 90-man roster, assessing each player’s outlook for the 2019 season. The breakdown will go through the roster in alphabetical order, (at least) two per day, between...
Blackhawks reporter: Penguins winger Dominik Kahun worthy of positive reviews
I’ve given a wholehearted endorsement of the Penguins-Blackhawks trade. It feels like most fans and media types in Pittsburgh have, as well. Are we perhaps overrating Dominik Kahun as the return for Olli Maatta, though? Well, if you are expecting Mark Recchi circa 1991, maybe. But if you are buying...
Tim Benz: Steelers’ Devin Bush insists he’s big enough for NFL
We can all be critical. And we often are. But it’s not like Steelers general manager Kevin Colbert is blind. Nor are head coach Mike Tomlin and defensive coordinator Keith Butler. Certainly, Dick LeBeau wasn’t either. They saw this coming. The Steelers realized where offense was going in the NFL,...
Tim Benz: Sifting through Jim Rutherford’s mixed messages about Penguins
Penguins general manager Jim Rutherford is sure sending a lot of smoke signals. Either that or Rome is burning. Maybe both. For the first time since 2006, a Penguins season ended without the team securing at least one playoff victory. And after the season ended, Rutherford said changes needed to...
