Pirates Edge Cardinals Thanks To Palacios Home Run

September 3, 2023 7:15 am

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Josh Palacios hit a pinch hit home run off Drew VerHagen in the top of the ninth inning to help the Pittsburgh Pirates beat the St. Louis Cardinals 7-6 for their fifth straight win. VerHagen entered the game with one out in the ninth inning and hit Andrew McCutchen before Palacios, pinch hitting for Connor Joe, hit a 3-1 pitch into the right field seats for his seventh home run of the season. Jordan Walker, Lars Nootbaar and Tyler O’Neill all homered for the Cardinals.

High School Football Scores, Week 1

September 2, 2023 12:01 am

Canon-McMillan’s struggles against North Allegheny continued Friday night as the host Tigers downed the Big Macs easily, opening 6A conference play for both teams. C-M will host Seneca Valley next week. Peters Township & Trinity both scored decisive wins for the second straight week. They’ll play each other next Friday at Trinity.  Ringgold was no match for McGuffey as the Rams lost for the 17th straight game. Wash High won by 25+ for the second straight week, blanking Clairton. Avella snapped a 5-game losing streak and picked up the school’s 355th all-time win. Burgettstown opened the season scoring on its first three possessions to easily hand Beth-Center a fourth consecutive loss. Charleroi wasn’t as fortunate after scrimmaging last week. The Cougars were throttled by California. Ft. Cherry rolled at home against Carmichaels while West Greene won at Chartiers-Houston. Waynesburg and Mapletown both picked up second straight wins to start the year.

6A Tri-County
North Allegheny 30, Canon-McMillan 6

Non-Conference
Avella 22, Bentworth 15
Burgettstown 34, Beth-Center 0
California 47, Charleroi 0
Ft. Cherry 55, Carmichaels 13
McGuffey 48, Ringgold 22
Peters Township 48, Seneca Valley 7
Trinity 38, Chartiers Valley 0
Wash High 26, Clairton 0
West Greene 56, Chartiers-Houston 13
Mapletown 28, Frazier 0
Waynesburg 19, Jeff-Morgan 7

Pirates Beat Cardinals In 10

September 2, 2023 3:44 am

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Andrew McCutchen came off the bench and knocked in the go-ahead run on an error in the 10th inning, helping the Pittsburgh Pirates extend their winning streak to four games with a 4-2 win over the St. Louis Cardinals. McCutchen, pinch hitting for Alfonso Rivas, hit a grounder up the middle off JoJo Romero (4-2) that eluded second baseman Nolan Gorman, scoring automatic runner Endy Rodríguez. Llover Peguero scored on a wild pitch, and Bryan Reynolds drove in Ji Hwan Bae with a sacrifice fly to extend the Pittsburgh lead to 4-1. Colin Holderman, Carmen Mlodzinski and Colin Selby (2-0) each pitched a scoreless inning of relief, setting the stage for David Bednar to earn his 30th save of the season.

ACC Adds 3 Teams

September 2, 2023 3:47 am

The Atlantic Coast Conference has voted to add Stanford, California and SMU next year. The move provides a landing spot for two more schools from the disintegrating Pac-12 and creates a fourth super conference in major college sports. The additions make the ACC the latest power conference to expand its membership and footprint westward. Starting in August 2024, the ACC will increase its number of football schools to 17 and 18 in most other sports. The Pac-12 will be left with just two members, Oregon State and Washington State.

High School Football Week 1

September 1, 2023 12:01 am

Conference play begins Friday night for Canon-McMillan as the Big Macs travel to Wexford to face top-ranked North Allegheny, the defending WPIAL champion. All other WPIAL teams have non-conference games in Week 1, most still another week away from opening conference play. Burgettstown and Charleroi each take the field for the first time, having opted for scrimmages last weekend. We’re featuring four Washington County teams in our Friday night coverage, celebrating the small-town teams from Avella, Bentworth, Beth-Center and Burgettstown.  You’ll hear Bentworth at Avella on WJPA-FM (95.3), Beth-Center at Burgettstown on WJPA-AM (1450). Both games will also be available online.

Week 1 schedule (all Friday, 7 pm unless noted):
6A Tri-County
North Allegheny 30, Canon-McMillan 6

Non-Conference
Avella 22, Bentworth 15
Burgettstown 34, Beth-Center 0
California 47, Charleroi 0
Ft. Cherry 55, Carmichaels 13
McGuffey 48, Ringgold 22
Peters Township 48, Seneca Valley 7
Trinity 38, Chartiers Valley 0
Wash High 26, Clairton 0
West Greene 56, Chartiers-Houston 13
Mapletown 28, Frazier 0
Waynesburg 19, Jeff-Morgan 7

WVU & Penn State Open In Primetime Matchup

September 1, 2023 4:34 am

Penn State and West Virginia open in a primetime matchup older generations should remember well. The programs — separated by just just 184 miles — played annually from 1947 until 1992 with Penn State winning all but six of those games. An upset in one of the most hostile environments in the country would be a great start for the hopeful Mountaineers who finished ninth in last year’s 10-team Big 12. The Nittany Lions start the season with a talented, deep roster and lofty aspirations.  The game will kickoff Saturday night at 7:30 p.m.

#14 Utah Beats Florida

September 1, 2023 4:35 am

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Bryson Barnes threw a 70-yard touchdown pass to Money Parks on Utah’s first play of the game, rushed for another score and No. 14 Utes beat Florida 24-11 on Thursday night in the opener for both teams. Nate Johnson split time at quarterback with Barnes for the Utes with usual starter Cam Rising still recovering from a knee injury in the Rose Bowl. Utah clamped down on defense in Rising’s absence, forcing a turnover and getting five sacks. Graham Mertz threw for 333 yards, a touchdown, and an interception in his first start for the Gators. Ricky Pearsall had 92 yards on eight catches. Florida drove inside the red zone four times but totaled only 10 points on those drives.

Steelers Sign All-Pro Defensive Back Desmond King

August 31, 2023 4:14 pm

PITTSBURGH (AP) — The Pittsburgh Steelers have signed former All-Pro defensive back Desmond King. King’s arrival helps fortify Pittsburgh’s secondary heading into the regular season. The 28-year-old spent the past two seasons with the Houston Texans, intercepting five passes and recovering two fumbles. King gives Pittsburgh’s secondary another veteran to a mix that includes Pro Bowl safety Minkah Fitzpatrick and cornerback Patrick Peterson, who arrived in free agency during the spring.

Pirates Sweep Royals

August 31, 2023 4:34 am

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Andre Jackson pitched two-hit ball into the sixth inning in his first major league win, and the Pittsburgh Pirates beat the Kansas City Royals 4-1 for a three-game sweep. Jackson struck out a career-high seven and walked two in 5 2/3 innings. The 27-year-old right-hander, who made his big league debut in 2021 with the Los Angeles Dodgers, allowed one run in his 20th major league appearance. Bryan Reynolds and Jack Suwinski homered for the Pirates, and Vinny Capra hit an RBI double. It was the first sweep for Pittsburgh since June 27-29 versus San Diego. Kansas City was swept for the 12th time this year.

Bengals QB Joe Burrow Back At Practice

August 31, 2023 4:36 am

CINCINNATI (AP) — Joe Burrow is back at practice more than a month after the Cincinnati Bengals quarterback was sidelined by a strained right calf muscle. The Pro Bowler quarterback put on the pads and participated for the first time since he pulled up limping and then went down to the ground during a scramble on July 27. The 26-year-old Burrow warmed up with the other quarterbacks. The Bengals open Sept. 10 at Cleveland.