Former Pirate Tucupita Marcano Faces Possible Lifetime Ban

June 4, 2024 4:27 am

NEW YORK (AP) — San Diego Padres infielder Tucupita Marcano is under investigation by Major League Baseball for allegedly betting on baseball and could be subject to a lifetime ban, according to a person familiar with the probe. MLB is looking into allegations Marcano bet on games involving the Pittsburgh Pirates while on the team’s injured list last season, according to the person who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the investigation is ongoing. Marcano, 24, has not played since tearing his right ACL last July 24. He was claimed by the Padres off waivers on Nov. 2 and placed on the 10-day injured list March 19.

Tigers To Retire Jim Leyland’s #10

June 4, 2024 4:29 am

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Jim Leyland’s No. 10 will be retired by the Detroit Tigers during a ceremony on Aug. 3. His will be the 10th number retired by the team. The 79-year-old Leyland will be inducted into baseball’s Hall of Fame next month, the 23rd manager in the hall. He won 1,769 regular-season games over 22 seasons, leading the Tigers to a 700-597 record from 2006-13 and a pair of American League pennants in 2006 and 2012. His wins are third among Detroit managers, trailing Sparky Anderson’s 1,331 and Hughie Jennings’s 1,131.

Penn State Found ‘Friction’ Between Franklin & Team Doctor

June 4, 2024 4:31 am

An internal review by Penn State in 2019 found evidence of “friction” between football coach James Franklin and a now-former team doctor. However, it could not determine whether Franklin violated NCAA rules or Big Ten standards by interfering with medical decisions. The 15-page document from Penn State’s office of ethics and compliance was obtained by The Associated Press. Last week, a Pennsylvania jury awarded $5.25 million to Dr. Scott Lynch after he won a lawsuit against the hospital that employs him. The report left undetermined if actions by Franklin or anyone else at Penn State broke rules. It recommended further inquiry.

Pirates Fall To Blue Jays

June 3, 2024 4:34 am

TORONTO (AP) — Daniel Vogelbach had two hits and two RBIs, Chris Bassitt pitched five innings to remain unbeaten in five career starts against Pittsburgh and the Toronto Blue Jays beat the Pirates 5-4. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Davis Schneider each had an RBI and Daulton Varsho scored twice as the Blue Jays took two of three from Pittsburgh. Yimi García pitched around Rody Tellez’s two-out RBI single in the ninth for his third save in four chances. Tellez reached base four times and drove in all four runs, but the Pirates lost for the fourth time in six.

Oilers Top Stars, Will Face Florida In Stanley Cup Final

June 3, 2024 4:37 am

EDMONTON, Alberta (AP) — Connor McDavid had a goal and an assist in the opening period to get Edmonton going, Stuart Skinner stopped 34 shots for his hometown team and the Oilers capped an improbable run to the Stanley Cup Final by beating the Dallas Stars 2-1 on Sunday night. Zach Hyman also scored — like McDavid, on a first-period power play — and Evan Bouchard had two assists for the Oilers, who won the Western Conference final in six games and will play for the Cup for the first time since 2006. They’ll be heading to Florida for Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final, that series set to open on Saturday night. Mason Marchment scored midway through the third period for Dallas, which wasted a 2-1 series lead.

Caitlin Clark Held To Just 3 Points

June 3, 2024 4:39 am

NEW YORK (AP) — Caitlin Clark had just one basket and three points in the worst game of her young pro career, and the New York Liberty routed the Indiana Fever 104-68 on Sunday night. Betnijah Laney-Hamilton scored 20 points and Jonquel Jones added 18 for the Liberty, who were nearing the end of the easy win when Clark left the game and Aliyah Boston departed a few minutes later after an awkward fall. Clark shot 1 for 10 and had five assists. The No. 1 pick in the draft played the first few minutes of the fourth quarter before exiting, holding her ear for a little bit as she left the court.

Yuka Saso Wins Another U.S Open

June 3, 2024 4:38 am

LANCASTER, Pa. (AP) — Yuka Saso is the U.S. Women’s Open champion while playing under a different flag. She won in 2021 as a Filipina. Saso switched citizenship and delivered Japan its first Women’s Open title. She started three shots behind and shot 68 as everyone collapsed around her at Lancaster Country Club. Saso wound up winning by three shots. The turning point came on the back nine when Saso made four birdies in a five-hole stretch to pull away. Saso has a Filipina mother and a Japanese father. She had to make her decision before turning 21.

Pirates Beat Blue Jays 8-1

June 2, 2024 6:54 am

TORONTO (AP) — Ke’Bryan Hayes and Bryan Reynolds hit two-run home runs, Mitch Keller pitched six strong innings for his fifth straight victory and the Pittsburgh Pirates snapped a nine-game losing streak against Toronto by beating the Blue Jays 8-1 on Saturday. After going 4-0 with a 1.30 ERA in four May starts, Keller (7-3) extended his winning streak by allowing one run and five hits. He walked one and struck out eight. Andrew McCutchen drove in a run and scored twice and Jared Triolo had three hits to help Pittsburgh end Toronto’s winning streak at four. Luis L. Ortiz pitched the final three innings for his first career save. Toronto left-hander Yusei Kikuchi (2-5) allowed a season-worst six runs in 5 1/3 innings.

Birmingham-Southern Keeps Season Alive

June 2, 2024 6:58 am

EASTLAKE, Ohio (AP) — Birmingham-Southern is still swinging. Now playing for a school that technically no longer exists, the Panthers kept their hopes of winning a national championship alive on Saturday with a 9-7 comeback win over Randolph-Macon in the Division III World Series. Jackson Webster hit a walk-off, two-run homer in the ninth for Birmingham-Southern, which closed officially closed on Friday. The Panthers squandered a 4-0 lead and fell behind 7-4 in the eighth before scoring three runs to tie it. In the ninth, Andrew Dutton walked leading off and Webster, who hit a two-run in the first, connected on an 0-2 pitch, driving it over the left-field wall in Classic Park to set off a wild celebration on the field and in the stands.

WPIAL Softball Championships

May 31, 2024 2:11 am

Chartiers-Houston built a 6-0 lead through four innings, saw Union pull within a run after five but answered with a three spot in the sixth on the way to a 9-5 win in the WPIAL 1A softball championship game. Ella Richey & Zaylee Fonner each drove in a pair of runs and Meadow Ferri scattered six hits and did not all an earned run, leading the Bucs to their 9th WPIAL softball title, trailing only Baldwin & Sto-Rox (10 each) on the all-time list. CHHS will open the PIAA playoffs Monday against District 5 runner-up Berlin. The Bucs will be joined in the state playoff by West Greene and Carmichaels in the 2A bracket, Bentworth in the 2A softball playoffs, Avella (1A) and Burgettstown (2A) baseball.

WPIAL Bracket Links:   Softball    Baseball

Softball Finals
Thursday, May 30
2A #1 Neshannock 3, #2 Bentworth 0
5A #1 Armstrong 9, #10 Thomas Jefferson 3
4A #1 Elizabeth-Forward 10, #2 Hampton 2

Friday, May 31
1A #3 Chartiers-Houston 9, #1 Union 5
6A #2 Seneca Valley 4, #5 Norwin 3 (8 innings)
3A #4 Mohawk 9, #3 South Park 2