May 5, 2023 2:42 am
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Zach Eflin pitched seven scoreless innings, Randy Arozarena hit one of three Rays homers and Tampa Bay beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 3-2 Thursday to finish a three-game sweep of small-budget teams off to outstanding starts. Taylor Walls and Yandy Díaz also homered for Tampa Bay, and Eflin scattered three hits and struck out 10. The right-hander allowed just one baserunner to reach scoring position, when Carlos Santana hit a two-out double in the seventh. After Ryan Thompson had a perfect eighth, Jason Adam gave up Santana’s two-run, two-out double in the ninth before getting his second save and completing a four-hitter. Adam struck out Connor Joe with two on to end it.
May 5, 2023 3:54 am
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Churchill Downs has suspended trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. indefinitely and Lord Miles, who is trained by Joseph, has been scratched from the Kentucky Derby days after the sudden death of two of his horses at the track. The suspension prohibits Joseph, or any trainer directly or indirectly employed by him, from entering horses in races or applying for stalls at all Churchill Downs Inc.-owned tracks. The decision comes after the deaths of Parents Pride on Saturday and Chasing Artie on Tuesday. Both collapsed on the track and died after races.
May 4, 2023 3:50 am
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Shane McClanahan became baseball’s first six-game winner and the Tampa Bay Rays routed the Pittsburgh Pirates 8-1. In a matchup of small-budget teams off to big starts, the major league-best Rays topped the NL Central-leading Pirates for the second consecutive day. McClanahan gave up one run on five hits over six innings, striking out nine and lowering his ERA to 2.03. Josh Lowe and Wander Franco homered off Pittsburgh relievers as the Rays improved to 25-6. Since 1961, only the World Series-winning 1984 Detroit Tigers, at 26-5, had more wins through 31 games. Tampa Bay has outscored its opponents 207-94. The Rays lead the majors with 64 home runs. Pittsburgh manager Derek Shelton was ejected in the fourth.
May 4, 2023 2:44 am
Retired Waynesburg University men’s basketball coach and director of athletics Rudy Marisa passed away Tuesday night. Marisa led the Yellow Jackets for 34 years including a decade of national prominence in the 1980’s. “Coach Marisa’s legacy of leadership and selfless contribution to Waynesburg University and the surrounding community will forever be an example to others that follow,” said Waynesburg University President Douglas G. Lee. “Mrs. Lee and I extend our deepest condolences to his beloved family.” Taking over as the team’s head coach in 1969, Coach Marisa guided the Yellow Jackets to 565 wins and built the program into an NAIA powerhouse. Marisa retired following the 2002-2003 season. In October 1999, following win #500, the University named its new gym the Rudy Marisa Fieldhouse. The Board of Trustees granted Marisa “Coach Emeritus” status in 2012. Nine years later, “Rudy’s Place” opened on campus, a gathering space for students provided through the generosity of a former player as a tribute to his former coach. (Photo courtesy of Waynesburg University Athletics Department)
May 4, 2023 3:52 am
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — The death of four horses at Churchill Downs has overshadowed preparations for the Kentucky Derby. Two horses trained by Saffie Joseph Jr. collapsed on the track and died over the past week. Two others also died as either a result of racing or training, including Derby entrant Wild On Ice. Joseph is set to saddle Lord Miles in the first jewel of the Triple Crown on Saturday. But he has said he’s unsure of plans after the two deaths from his barn. Churchill Downs, in a statement, expressed concern over the deaths and said officials would press for answers.
May 2, 2023 2:08 am
Weather isn’t being kind to area baseball/softball teams, or to the athletic administrators trying to get them on the fields. After the entire slate of section games for area teams was wiped out Monday, postponements have started happening for Tuesday games, including our planned broadcast: Burgettstown at Bentworth softball.
Here is the most-recent TUESDAY postponement list:
Softball
Burgettstown at Bentworth
West Greene at California
Baseball
Canon-McMillan at Central Catholic
Connellsville at Peters Township
Trinity at Bethel Park
Ringgold at Albert Gallatin
McGuffey at Yough
Burgettstown at Wash High
Chartiers-Houston at Frazier
Beth-Center at Bentworth
Ft. Cherry at Mapletown
May 3, 2023 3:50 am
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Harold Ramírez homered and drove in two runs to lead the Tampa Bay Rays over the Pittsburgh Pirates 4-1 in a matchup of teams with the top records in the major leagues. Ramírez drove in the game’s first run with an RBI single in the fourth and boosted the lead to 4-1 with a solo homer in the sixth. The Rays, who drew just 10,325 to Tropicana Field, lead the big leagues with 62 home runs and have outscored opponents 199-93. Pittsburgh (20-10) lost back-to-back games for the first time since the last two games of opening series at Cincinnati.
May 2, 2023 3:52 am
NEWARK, N.J. (AP) — Akira Schmid rebounded from his only bad game and made 31 saves in Game 7 to lead the New Jersey Devils to a 4-0 victory over the New York Rangers Monday night in an entertaining first-round playoff series. Michael McLeod and Tomas Tatar scored second-period goals in the series decider and Erik Haula and Jesper Bratt added insurance goals in game between the long-time Hudson River rivals. Coming off a franchise best 52-win season, the Devils will open the Eastern Conference semifinals on Wednesday against the Metropolitan Division-winning Hurricanes in Raleigh, North Carolina.
May 2, 2023 3:53 am
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Todd Pletcher-trained colt Forte and Brad Cox’s filly Wet Paint are the morning line favorites respectively for the 149th Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs. Forte, the 2-year-old champion whose 190 points led the Derby qualifying trail, drew the No. 15 post at 3-1 odds on Monday for the $3 million premier race for 3-year-olds. Stablemate Tapit Trice is the 5-1 second choice after drawing the No. 5 post, with Cox’s Angel of Empire the 8-1 third choice after drawing the No. 14 post. Wet Paint drew the No. 7 post for the Oaks at 5-2 odds.
April 30, 2023 8:42 am
Two weeks remain in the high school baseball/softball regular season. All 19 Washington/Greene County baseball teams are still alive for playoff spots. Softball still has 13 of the 19 teams in the hunt. Weather permitting, we’re planning to broadcast the most meaningful games each day on-air and online. WJPA-AM (1450) or Listen Here!
Baseball: Canon-McMillan has a playoff berth in hand and needs one win against Central Catholic to clinch at least a share of the 6A Section 2 title. Peters Township and Trinity are both alive for 5A playoff spots and at least one of them will qualify. Both play their final section games this week. Peters clinches with one win. Trinity is in with a sweep of Bethel Park or help from South Fayette and Peters Township. Ringgold is in a four-way battle for three spots in 4A Section 2. The Rams play last-place Albert Gallatin twice this week. McGuffey and Waynesburg are in 3A playoff position at the moment but just a game up on Mt. Pleasant. The Highlanders have a pair of games with unbeaten Yough while the Raiders play Mt. Pleasant twice. Then, the two locals meet next week. Burgettstown, Charleroi and Chartiers-Houston has clinched 2A spots with Bentworth, Beth-Center and Wash High in a jumble for the final berth, along with Frazier. The four are in a virtual tie for the last spot. Bentworth wraps up section play this week against B-C. The Bulldogs then play Washington next week. The Little Prexies first have to deal with Burgettstown. Avella has clinched a playoff spot for the third straight year, along with California and Carmichaels. Ft. Cherry is in control of the fourth spot, rallying from a 2-4 start. Jeff-Morgan, West Greene and Mapletown are all alive but in serious peril. Jeff-Morgan has to sweep Ft. Cherry next week to qualify. West Greene finishes the season against Carmichaels and California, the top two teams. Mapletown is eliminated with any loss or Ft. Cherry win.
Softball: In 6A, Canon-McMillan, in a three-way battle (Mt. Lebanon, Pine-Richland) for the last two spots, has the most favorable schedule on paper. The Big Macs have games with the cellar-dwellers (Butler, Baldwin), one against Pine and one against section leader Seneca Valley. Pine-Richland faces two of the top teams plus both CM & Mt. Lebanon. The Blue Devils have three against the already-qualified teams, one against Pine-Richland and Baldwin. Trinity has already wrapped up a share of the 5A Section 4 title. The Hillers play Bethel Park and Thomas Jefferson this week. Waynesburg is unbeaten atop 3A Section 4, three games up on South Park with four to play. McGuffey is in a three-way tie for third with Seton-La Salle and Brownsville. The Highlanders visit winless Keystone Oaks, then host Waynesburg to wrap the regular season. Charleroi (7-3), Burgettstown (6-3), Ft. Cherry (6-4) and Bentworth (5-4) are all alive for playoff spots in 2A Section 3. At least three of them will qualify. All but Bentworth have games remaining with OLSH, the section leader, and all have games against each other over the final 10 days. In 1A, Chartiers-Houston, Carmichaels and West Greene have clinched with the Mighty Mikes likely to win the Section 2 title. Jeff-Morgan and Mapletown play May 8, possibly with the final berth on the line though the Maples still have games with Chartiers and Carmichaels on the schedule.
Softball eliminated: Avella, Beth-Center, California, Peters Township, Ringgold, Wash High
