March 1, 2023 3:52 am
The New York Rangers have acquired Patrick Kane in a trade with the Chicago Blackhawks. The Rangers sent a conditional second-round draft pick and a future fourth-rounder to Chicago and a third-rounder in 2025 to Arizona to complete the deal. Kane joins the Rangers after waiving his no-movement clause to leave the only NHL organization he has played for. The 34-year-old won the Stanley Cup three times with the Blackhawks and was playoff MVP in 2013. Getting Kane is the latest big move by New York in the team’s pursuit of its first championship since 1994.
March 1, 2023 3:53 am
BRADENTON, Fla. (AP) – There was no umpire behind the plate calling balls and strikes when the Baltimore Orioles and Pittsburgh Pirates kept playing Tuesday. There wasn’t even one of those so-called robo umps that could become part of the game in the future. The umpires were done with their day’s work after Baltimore’s Josh Lester grounded out to end the top of the ninth inning with the Orioles trailing 7-4, officially ending the spring training contest in Florida on Tuesday. But the teams decided to play the bottom of the ninth anyway, with Orioles catcher Maverick Handley calling the balls and strikes.
February 27, 2023 12:01 am
WPIAL Championship Week features 12 title games over three days starting Thursday. The top-seeded Peters Township boys will play #2 Penn Hills Thursday for the 5A championship.
In the girls State Qualifier Bracket first round, Eden Williamson scored 23 points and helped Trinity hold off a last-minute Penn-Trafford rally. With the win, the Hillers clinch a state playoff berth and will now play Mars in the 5th place game. Trinity, Burgettstown and Chartiers-Houston girls and the Peters Township boys have PIAA berths in hand. Avella will look to make it a Fantastic Five with a win at Monessen Wednesday. Waynesburg is Greene County’s last chance to make states, needing a win at home Wednesday. WPIAL Brackets CLICK HERE
Monday, Feb. 27
5A Girls State Qualifier Bracket, Round I
#4 Trinity 6s, #8 Penn-Trafford 59
Tuesday, Feb. 28
2A Girls 3rd Place Game
#11 Aliquippa at #5 Burgettstown, 7 pm
2A Girls State Qualifier Bracket, 7th Place
#8 Brentwood at #7 Chartiers-Houston, 7 pm
3A Girls State Qualifier Bracket, 7th Place
#11 Mohawk at #8 Waynesburg, 7 pm (loser eliminated)
Wednesday, Mar. 1
1A Girls, State Qualifier Bracket, 7th Place
#10 Avella at #4 Monessen, 6:50 pm WJPA-AM (1450) Listen Here (loser eliminated)
Thursday, Mar. 2, Petersen Events Center
5A Boys Championship
#1 Peters Township vs. #2 Penn Hills 8:50 pm, WJPA-FM (95.3) Listen Here
5A Girls State Qualifier Bracket, 5th Place
#7 Mars Area at #4 Trinity, 7 pm
February 28, 2023 3:50 am
So far, baseball’s new speed-up rules are working. The first-ever major league pitch clock and other rules have helped cut more than 20 minutes from spring training games through the first weekend. The average time of game has dropped from 3 hours, 1 minute last spring to 2:39. Players and umpires are still adjusting to the rules. In the Cubs game against the Diamondbacks, both pitcher Joe Mantiply and batter Brennen Davis were penalized for being too slow at the start of the third inning, so Davis’ at-bat started with a count of 1-1.
February 28, 2023 3:51 am
The Washington Commanders have released quarterback Carson Wentz. The expected move comes after their one-season experiment with Wentz did not work out. Washington was able to get out of the final two years of Wentz’s contract without any salary cap penalty. Wentz threw for 11 touchdowns and nine interceptions in eight games, including three picks in a late-season loss to Cleveland that contributed to knocking the Commanders out of playoff contention. Wentz could be on his fourth NFL team in as many years if he’s signed as a free agent. The team also released veteran safety Bobby McCain.
February 27, 2023 3:50 am
PITTSBURGH (AP) – Sidney Crosby started a second-period surge and the Pittsburgh Penguins beat the Tampa Bay Lightning 7-3. Crosby’s power-play goal with 4 1/2 minutes left in the period broke a 2-2 tie and started a sequence in which Pittsburgh scored five goals in 4:27, the second-fastest five goals scored in team history. It was part of Pittsburgh’s six-goal second period and helped the Penguins win their second straight following a four-game losing streak. Evgeni Malkin had a goal and an assist, and Drew O’Connor, Teddy Blueger, Jeff Carter, Jason Zucker and Brian Dumoulin also scored for Pittsburgh. Casey DeSmith stopped 26 shots. Nikita Kucherov, Brayden Point and Anthony Cirelli scored for the Lightning, who have lost four of their last six. Brian Elliott made 29 saves.
February 27, 2023 3:51 am
PEORIA, Ariz. (AP) – Manny Machado continues to be a very rich man. He also is still a very good hitter. Machado ripped an RBI double on the same day he agreed to a new $350 million, 11-year contract that will keep him with the San Diego Padres through 2033, according to a person with knowledge of the deal. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because Machado must pass a physical before the deal is finalized. Machado got a big cheer from Padres fans on a chilly afternoon in Arizona before a spring training game against the Diamondbacks.
February 27, 2023 3:54 am
PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. (AP) – Chris Kirk waited nearly eight years to win a PGA Tour event again. Waiting one more hole on Sunday was no problem. Kirk stuck his approach to the par-5 18th to tap-in range, and his birdie on the first hole of a playoff lifted him past Eric Cole for the victory at the Honda Classic on Sunday. Cole had a chance, playing his third shot from the sand to just outside of 10 feet for a birdie that would have extended the playoff. But it lipped out, and Kirk nudged his ball in for his fifth career win.
February 27, 2023 3:52 am
PLAYA DEL CARMEN, Mexico (AP) – Charles Howell III has won the LIV Golf opener in Mexico. This one finally felt easy. Howell shot a 63 in the final round at Mayakoba thanks to a hot putter. He wound up winning by four shots over Peter Uihlein. Howell picked up $4 million for the individual title and an additional $1 million for leading his team Crushers to a nine-shot win. Uihlein was still in range of Howell until the 12th hole. Uihlein had to hit three tee shots. Only two of them counted but it added to a triple bogey. He battled back for a 68.
February 26, 2023 1:04 am
Jack Dunbar’s 29 points led Peters Township past Gateway Saturday and into the WPIAL 5A Boys Finals. Thursday’s title tilt will mark the Indians’ first trip to the championship game since winning the 2009 Quad-A crown. Peters Township, the top seed in the bracket, will take on #2 Penn Hills at the Petersen Events Center as the final game of a championship triple-header Thursday night. Tip off is set for 9 pm.
Burgettstown girls led #1 Shenango by five at halftime of the 2A semfinal but couldn’t hold it, dropping in the third-place game Tuesday against #11 Aliquippa. Avella girls staved off elimination, beating Eden Christian while Monessen ousted West Greene. Avella and Monessen play Wednesday for the final 1A girls playoff berth.
Washington County has five teams still alive, three of them with state playoffs spots in hand: Peters Township boys and the girls teams from Burgettstown and Chartiers-Houston. Trinity clinches a berth with a win in either of its two qualifier games this week. Avella must beat Monessen to qualify. Waynesburg girls are the last Greene County team alive. The Raiders face an elimination game on Tuesday. WPIAL Brackets CLICK HERE
Saturday, Feb. 25
Semifinals
5A Boys #1 Peters Township 62, #4 Gateway 55
2A Girls #1 Shenango 54, #5 Burgettstown 44
State Qualifier Bracket, Round I
1A Girls #10 Avella 53, #6 Eden Christian 51
1A Girls #4 Monessen 56, #8 West Greene 53
Monday, Feb. 27
State Qualifier Bracket, Round I
5A Girls #8 Penn-Trafford at #4 Trinity, 7:50 pm WJPA-AM (1450) Listen Here
Tuesday, Feb. 28
WPIAL 3rd Place
2A Girls #11 Aliquippa at #5 Burgettstown, 7 pm
State Qualifier Bracket, 7th Place
2A Girls #8 Brentwood at #7 Chartiers-Houston, 7 pm
3A Girls #11 Mohawk at #8 Waynesburg, 7 pm (loser eliminated)
Wednesday, Mar. 1
State Qualifier Bracket
1A Girls #10 Avella at #4 Monessen, 7 pm (loser eliminated)
Thursday, Mar. 2, Petersen Events Center
Championship
5A Boys #1 Peters Township vs. #2 Penn Hills 8:50 pm, WJPA-FM (95.3) Listen Here
