Bryce Harper Reaches 1,000 RBIs In Phillies’ Victory Over Pirates

May 17, 2025 4:17 am

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Bryce Harper reached 1,000 RBIs and was part of a wild seventh inning rally in which the Philadelphia Phillies scored four runs on just one hit in an 8-4 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Friday night. Harper, who had three hits and reached base four times, picked up his milestone RBI with a bloop single to left field off Pirates starter Andrew Heaney. The Phillies scored four runs in the seventh inning when six consecutive batters — including Harper — reached base against three relievers. Only one — Trea Turner — had a hit. Philadelphia tacked on three more runs in the eighth inning. Turner had an RBI triple, and Harper added No. 1,001 with a single.

Pirates Make Coaching Staff And Roster Changes

May 17, 2025 4:18 am

The Pittsburgh Pirates announced coaching changes. They will be adding Chris Truby and Gene Lamont to the Major League Coaching Staff. Truby’s position on the team will be that of infielder coach. He will also maintain his position as the organization’s minor league infield coordinator. Lamont will serve as a special advisor to Manager Don Kelly. This will be Lamont’s third stint with the Pirates. He was the team’s manager from 1997-2000. In a roster move, the Pirates selected the contract of infielder/outfielder Nick Solak from Triple-A Indianapolis. Solak is the Triple-A batting average leader hitting at .393. Outfielder Ji Hwan Bae was optioned back to Indianapolis to make room for Solak on the 26 man roster.  Infielder/Outfielder Michael Helman has been designated for assignment to make room on the 40 man roster.

Softball/Baseball Playoffs Thursday

May 15, 2025 12:01 am

Nine Washington/Greene County teams survived delays in the opening round of the playoffs to advance to next week’s quarterfinals. Bentworth, Chartiers-Houston, Jeff-Morgan and McGuffey softball  won their first-round games Thursday. Tentatively, all have quarterfinal games on Monday, along with Carmichaels and West Greene (first-round byes). Canon-McMillan will play its softball semifinal on Tuesday (subject to revision). Avella, Carmichaels, Jeff-Morgan, Peters Township and Waynesburg advanced in their baseball brackets, joining Burgettstown (bye), Canon-McMillan and Ringgold in the second round. Canon-McMillan, Peters Township and Ringgold are scheduled to play Monday while the other five baseball teams have quarterfinals on Tuesday.  Sites/times will be posted by the League Friday morning.  WPIAL Softball Brackets  WPIAL Baseball Brackets

Thursday, May 13, Softball 1st Round
3A #6 McGuffey > #11 Ligonier Valley, 5-1
3A #8 Deer Lakes > #9 Charleroi, 7-0
2A #12 Bentworth > #5 South Allegheny, 9-1
2A #2 Chartiers-Houston > #15 Brentwood, 15-0
2A #1 Neshannock > #16 Burgettstown, 15-0
2A #11 Riverside > #6 Waynesburg, 14-4
1A #5 Jeff-Morgan > #12 Greens. Cent. Catholic, 14-4
1A #8 Jeannette > #9 Avella, 13-3

Baseball 1st Round
5A #7 Peters Township > #10 Baldwin, 5-4
3A #4 Waynesburg > #13 Freeport, 6-2
3A #8 Burrell > #9 Charleroi, 10-9
2A #6 Riverview > #11 California, 6-2
2A #4 Shenango > #13 Chartiers-Houston, 1-0
2A #12 Laurel > #5 Fort Cherry, 4-3
1A #10 Avella > #7 Western Beaver, 5-0
1A #6 Carmichaels > #11 Union, 9-1
1A #8 Jeff-Morgan > #9 Winchester Thurston, 11-4

Santonio Holmes Takes College Coaching Job

May 16, 2025 4:46 am

Pittsburgh, PA (WPXI)-A former Steelers first-round pick and Super Bowl MVP is moving into the next phase of his football career. Santonio Holmes was just added as Central State University’s wide receiver coach. Marauder Athletics hopes the hire excites top talent, saying Holmes will bring his “NFL experience, leadership, and player-first mentality” to the team. The Pittsburgh Steelers took Holmes with the 25th pick in the 2006 NFL Draft. He later cemented himself as a Steelers legend when he caught the game-winning touchdown in Super Bowl XLIII, which also earned him MVP honors. He went on to play with the Jets and Bears before retiring in 2017.

Damar Hamlin Named To TIME Magazine Honor

May 16, 2025 4:40 am

Pittsburgh, PA-(WPXI)-This article originally appeared on PittsburghSportsNOW.com. Damar Hamlin is using his life experiences to make an impact in society and with that, he has received prestigious recognition from one of the most notable magazines in the country. Hamlin, a McKees Rocks native, Central Catholic and Pitt grad, collapsed during a Buffalo Bills-Cincinnati Bengals game in the final week of the 2022 season as he suffered a cardiac arrest. Both an AED and CPR were administered to Hamlin on the field before being moved into an ambulance and taken to a nearby hospital. The Bills’ safety made a remarkable recovery as he resumed football activities ahead of the following season, where he would appear in five games. In 2024, he played in 14 games as a full-time starter with 89 tackles and the first two interceptions of his career.

Pirates Avoid Sweep In New York

May 15, 2025 4:13 am

NEW YORK (AP) — Matt Gorski and Jared Triolo each connected for a two-run homer off New York Mets starter Clay Holmes and the Pittsburgh Pirates finally mustered some offense in a 4-0 victory at rainy Citi Field. Five pitchers combined on a six-hitter as the last-place Pirates won for the fourth time in 17 games to prevent a series sweep. They’re 3-3 under Don Kelly, promoted from bench coach to manager when Derek Shelton was fired last week. Rookie reliever Chase Shugart tossed 2 1/3 innings for his second career win. It was the fourth shutout this year for Pittsburgh, which has gone a franchise-record 20 games in a row without scoring more than four runs.

Softball/Baseball Playoffs Wednesday

May 14, 2025 12:01 am

Trinity softball and baseball were both shutout, softball without a hit, as the Hillers were eliminated from the WPIAL playoffs.  Canon-McMillan softball reached the 6A semifinals with a 6-1 win over Pine-Richland. Ringgold baseball rallied past Blackhawk, the Rams getting their first playoff win since winning the 2018 state championship. Peters Township and Baldwin were in the bottom of the second inning when lightning, then heavy rain halted play, forcing the game to be suspended. The teams will resume Thursday afternoon. We’ll post schedules along with broadcast plans daily.  WPIAL Softball Brackets  WPIAL Baseball Brackets

Wednesday, May 14, Softball Quarterfinals
5A #2 Shaler Area > #10 Trinity, 9-0
6A #4 Canon-McMillan > #5 Pine-Richland, 6-1
5A #3 West Allegheny > #6 Thomas Jefferson, 2-1

Baseball 1st Round
5A #7 Peters Township vs. #10 Baldwin, suspended, 2nd inning. Resume Thursday, 2 pm at Canon-McMillan’s McDowell Lane Field
4A #11 Ringgold > #6 Blackhawk, 9-5
5A ##1 Pine-Richland > 16 Trinity, 1-0

Baty Hits Homer In 7th To Send Mets Past Pirates

May 14, 2025 3:45 am

NEW YORK (AP) — Brett Baty hit a tiebreaking homer in the seventh inning and the New York Mets held off the punchless Pittsburgh Pirates 2-1. Brandon Nimmo had an early RBI double off hard-luck loser Mitch Keller to help the NL East leaders move a season-best 13 games over .500. A throwing error by shortstop Francisco Lindor helped the Pirates put runners at second and third with one out in the ninth. But closer Edwin Díaz threw a called third strike past slumping Bryan Reynolds before cleanup batter Joey Bart grounded out in a drizzle to end it.

Pirates Ace Paul Skenes Is Joining Team USA

May 14, 2025 3:42 am

NEW YORK (AP) — Paul Skenes is ready to take on the world. The Pittsburgh Pirates ace announced he is joining Team USA when the World Baseball Classic returns next March. The reigning National League Rookie of the Year is expected to be near the top of the rotation for the Americans, who are coming off a runner-up finish to Japan at the 2023 WBC. Skenes, who turns 23 in late May, is 14-7 with a 2.16 ERA in 32 career starts since reaching the majors in May 2024.

Softball/Baseball Playoffs Monday

May 12, 2025 2:01 am

Opening day of the WPIAL Softball & Baseball playoffs produced split results for teams from the two-county area. Trinity took advantage of a two-out error in the third and pushed across three runs, more than enough to eliminate South Fayette in the 5A softball opening round.  McGuffey baseball fell to Shady Side Academy in a 3A preliminary round game, ending the Highlanders’ season.

ALL TUESDAY WPIAL Softball & Baseball playoff games have been postponed.  Tuesday, 16 Washington/Greene teams are scheduled to play, all first-round games in the 1A-2A-3A baseball & softball brackets. We’ll post schedules along with broadcast plans daily.  Some of our games will be on WJPA-AM (1450) with online audio. Some will add NFHS video. Other broadcasts will be online only with free-to-access audio plus NFHS video. WPIAL Softball Brackets  WPIAL Baseball Brackets

Monday, May 12, Softball
5A #10 Trinity > #7 South Fayette, 7-0

Baseball
3A #16 Shady Side Academy > #17 McGuffey, 7-4

Tuesday, May 13, Softball  ALL POSTPONED
2A #12 Bentworth vs. #5 South Allegheny, 2:45 pm at West Mifflin
2A #16 Burgettstown vs. #1 Neshannock, 3:00 pm at North Allegheny
1A #5 Jeff-Morgan vs. #12 Greensburg Cent. Catholic, 3:00 pm at Waynesburg University
2A #2 Chartiers-Houston vs. #15 Brentwood, 4:00 pm at Pleasant Valley Elementary (Peters Township)
3A #6 McGuffey vs. #11 Ligonier Valley, 4:45 pm at West Mifflin
2A #6 Waynesburg vs. #11 Riverside, 5:00 pm at North Allegheny
3A #9 Charleroi vs. #8 Deer Lakes, 5:00 pm at Norwin
1A #9 Avella vs. #8 Jeannette, 6:00 pm at Pleasant Valley Elementary (Peters Township)

Baseball ALL POSTPONED
2A #5 Fort Cherry vs. #12 Laurel, 3:00 pm at Hardy Field (Beaver)
1A #8 Jeff-Morgan vs. #9 Winchester Thurston, 2:00 pm at Norwin
3A #9 Charleroi vs. #8 Burrell, 2:45 pm at Gateway

1A #10 Avella vs. #7 Western Beaver, 2:45 pm at Boyce-Mayview Park
2A #13 Chartiers-Houston vs. #4 Shenango, 4:00 pm at Burkett Complex (Robinson Township)
2A #11 California vs. #6 Riverview, 4:15 pm at Norwin
3A #4 Waynesburg vs. #13Freeport, 5:30 pm at Gateway
1A #6 Carmichaels vs. #11 Union, 5:30 pm at Boyce-Mayview Park