February 1, 2025 4:40 am
The NFL will engage its Competition Committee on technology to take virtual line-to-gain measurements next season, but officials will continue to spot the football. There’s no current technology being considered that would help determine forward progress, which became a point of contention after Josh Allen was stopped short on a sneak early in the fourth quarter of Buffalo’s 32-29 loss to Kansas City in the AFC championship game. The league tested Sony’s Hawk-Eye tracking services for virtual line-to-gain measurements in the preseason and in the background during the regular season. The system notifies officiating instantly if a first down was gained after the ball is spotted by hand.
January 31, 2025 4:31 am
BALTIMORE (AP) — An NFL spokesman says the league will look into allegations that Baltimore Ravens kicker Justin Tucker behaved inappropriately toward massage therapists at four spas and wellness centers in the Baltimore area. The Baltimore Banner detailed the accusations in a lengthy report Thursday. The paper said it spoke to six massage therapists who recounted firsthand experiences with Tucker from 2012 to 2016. Several therapists said they ended Tucker’s sessions early or refused to work on him again, and management from two spas said they banned him from returning. Tucker posted a statement on social media calling the allegations about him in the Banner story “unequivocally false.”
January 31, 2025 4:32 am
Max Scherzer is joining the Toronto Blue Jays, agreeing to a 15.5 million, one-year contract, according to a person with direct knowledge of the deal. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the agreement had not been announced and was pending a physical. The 40-year-old Scherzer was limited to nine starts with Texas last year, going 2-4 with a 3.95 ERA. The three-time Cy Young Award winner joins a rotation that is fronted by Kevin Gausman, José Berríos and Chris Bassitt.
January 31, 2025 4:33 am
PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. (AP) — Scottie Scheffler looked every bit like the No. 1 player in the world even if he didn’t make a hole-in-one during the exciting start to the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am. Scheffler opened with a 67 in his first tournament of the year since puncturing his right hand over Christmas making ravioli. The thrills belonged to Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry. They each made a hole-in-one on different courses and each shot 66. The lead belonged to Russell Henley. He shot 64 at Spyglass Hill on what might be the last day of dry weather. Jordan Spieth shot 70 in his return from wrist surgery.
January 30, 2025 12:01 am
Playoff chase through Thursday, Jan. 30:
Girls clinched–Peters Township (5A), McGuffey (3A), Beth-Center (2A), California (2A), Chartiers-Houston (2A), Fort Cherry (2A), West Greene (1A)
Girls eliminated: Trinity (5A), Charleroi (3A), Jeff-Morgan (2A), Mapletown (1A)
Boys clinched–Peters Township (5A), Waynesburg (3A), Chartiers-Houston (2A), Fort Cherry (2A), Jeff-Morgan (2A), West Greene (2A)
Boys eliminated: Canon-McMillan (6A), California (2A), Mapletown (2A)
Wednesday, Jan. 29, Girls
4A Elizabeth-Forward 62, Ringgold 17
1A Monessen 44, Avella 34
Thursday, Jan. 30, Boys
2A Bentworth 54, Clairton 49
Girls
5A Peters Township 62, Albert Gallatin 26
4A Elizabeth-Forward 55, Ringgold 11
3A McGuffey 55, Waynesburg 14–Highlanders clinch playoff berth
3A Seton-La Salle 58, Wash High 51
2A Fort Cherry 53, Burgettstown 33
2A Beth-Center 59, Carmichaels 29
2A California 51, Bentworth 30–Trojans clinch playoff berth
2A Chartiers-Houston 57, Jeff-Morgan 26
1A Clairton 69, Avella 42
1A Bishop Canevin 35, West Greene 25–both teams clinch playoff berths
1A Geibel Catholic 50, Mapletown 16
January 30, 2025 4:35 am
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Sidney Crosby scored at 3:54 of overtime and the Pittsburgh Penguins beat the Utah Hockey Club 3-2. Marcus Pettersson and Erik Karlsson scored in regulation as Pittsburgh snapped a three-game losing streak. Alex Nedeljkovic made 27 saves. Mikhail Sergachev and Michael Carcone scored for Utah, and Connor Ingram had 25 saves. In the extra period, Crosby got a drop pass from Cody Glass at the bottom of the left circle, skated across the front of the goal and put a backhander over Ingram’s left pad.
January 30, 2025 4:38 am
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Right-hander Johan Oviedo lost to the Pittsburgh Pirates in the first salary arbitration decision of the year and will earn $850,000 instead of his request for $1.15 million. Oviedo, who turns 27 on March 2, was 9-14 with a 4.32 ERA in 32 starts last year. He earned $765,000. Oviedo is 13-25 with a 4.32 ERA in four major league seasons with St. Louis and the Pirates. Arbitrators Allen Ponak, Robert Herman and Jasbir Parmar made the decision one day after hearing arguments.
January 30, 2025 12:01 am
McGuffey swept Avonworth & Laurel Wednesday night, clinching a spot in the WPIAL 2A Wrestling Team Tournament semifinals. McGuffey will take on #2 Derry Area Saturday morning at Peters Township in the Class 2A semifinals. The Highlanders also qualified for the state team tournament next week. Burgettstown and Trinity won first-round matches Wednesday but bowed out in the quarterfinals. Avella, Beth-Center, Canon-McMillan and Jeff-Morgan all lost their opening-round matches and were eliminated. Both classes’ semifinals/finals are scheduled for Saturday at Peters Township’s AHN Arena. We’ll have live coverage of the McGuffey and Thomas Jefferson matches on WJPA-AM (1450) and online. Click for WPIAL Brackets
Wednesday, Jan. 29–1st Round/Quarterfinals
Class 3A at Thomas Jefferson
#6 Trinity > West Allegheny, 41-24
#3 Thomas Jefferson > North Hills, 55-14
Quarterfinals: Thomas Jefferson > Trinity, 39-33
Class 3A at Bethel Park
#5 Norwin > Canon-McMillan, 41-23
#4 Bethel Park > Butler, 50-10
Quarterfinals: Norwin > Bethel Park, 32-28
Class 2A at McGuffey
#3 McGuffey > Avonworth, 62-11
#6 Laurel > Beth-Center, 53-20
Quarterfinals: McGuffey > Laurel, 45-24
Class 2A at Derry Area
#2 Derry Area > Avella, 68-6
#7 Burgettstown > Highlands, 42-34
Quarterfinals: Derry Area > Burgettstown, 49-15
Class 2A at Burrell
#8 Southmoreland > Jeff-Morgan, 36-33
#1 Burrell > Greensburg Salem, 58-15
Quarterfinals: Burrell > Southmoreland, 55-15
January 29, 2025 4:30 am
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Adam Frazier is heading back to the Pittsburgh Pirates. The club has agreed to terms with the veteran second baseman/outfielder on a one-year deal worth $1,525,000. The deal is pending Frazier passing a physical. The 33-year-old Frazier spent the first five-plus seasons of his career with the Pirates from 2016-21. He hit .283 with 39 homers and 204 RBIs in 608 games with Pittsburgh. Frazier made the All-Star Game in 2021 before being traded to the San Diego Padres. Frazier has bounced around in recent years and spent the 2024 season with the Kansas City Royals.
January 28, 2025 1:02 am
Boys basketball teams move into their final two weeks of the regular season on Tuesday. All section games must be completed by Sunday, Feb. 9 with playoff brackets due to be released the following day. Monday/Tuesday schedules/scores for Washington/Greene County teams follow.
Playoff spots clinched:
Girls–Peters Township (5A), Beth-Center (2A), Chartiers-Houston (2A), Fort Cherry (2A)
Boys–Peters Township (5A), Waynesburg (3A), Chartiers-Houston (2A), Fort Cherry (2A), Jeff-Morgan (2A), West Greene (2A)
Tuesday, Jan. 28
Girls
5A Peters Township 57, Trinity 33
3A Brownsville 61, Waynesburg 29
2A Carmichaels 45, Bentworth 28
1A West Greene 37, Mapletown 30
Boys
6A Central Catholic 74, Canon-McMillan 53
5A Peters Township 67, Trinity 54
5A Thomas Jefferson 78, Ringgold 47
3A Bishop Canevin 68, McGuffey 56
3A Keystone Oaks 53, Wash High 36
3A Waynesburg 45, Charleroi 43
2A Greensburg Central Catholic 65, Bentworth 43
2A Clairton 60, California 48
2A Carmichaels 61, Beth-Center 52
2A Chartiers-Houston 61, Burgettstown 45
2A Mapletown at Fort Cherry, postponed to Feb. 5
2A West Greene 45, Jeff-Morgan 39
1A Summit Academy 87, Avella 76
Monday, Jan. 27
Girls
6A Mt. Lebanon 33, Canon-McMillan 25
4A South Park 81, Ringgold 33
3A Keystone Oaks 61, Charleroi 21
3A Brownsville 63, McGuffey 46
3A Seton-La Salle 55, Waynesburg 29
2A South Side Area 46, Burgettstown 22
2A Fort Cherry 63, Brentwood 23
2A Beth-Center 51, Jeff-Morgan 27
2A Chartiers-Houston 60, California 25
1A Geibel Catholic 61, Avella 36
1A Serra Catholic 59, Mapletown 19
1A West Greene 58, Monessen 13
