May 2, 2024 4:33 am
WNBA teams have started experiencing the Caitlin Clark effect and the top overall draft pick hasn’t even played her first game. To capitalize on Clark’s popularity, the Las Vegas Aces and Washington Mystics have moved games against the Indiana Fever to bigger arenas. When Clark played road games in college last season at Iowa, they were either sellouts or set attendance records at every single one. The two-time reigning WNBA champion Aces relocated their game on May 25 from the 12,000-seat Michelob Ultra Arena to the 18,000-seat T-Mobile Arena. The Mystics game against Indiana on June 7 will be played at Capital One Arena — Washington’s former home.
May 2, 2024 4:35 am
PHOENIX (AP) — WNBA star Brittney Griner says she thought about killing herself during her first few weeks in a Russian jail after her 2022 arrest on drug-related charges. Griner spoke for the first time about her monthslong detention in Russia during an hourlong interview that aired Wednesday night on ABC. Her memoir, “Coming Home,” is set to be released on May 7. Griner was detained after arriving at a Moscow airport after Russian authorities said a search of her luggage revealed vape cartridges allegedly containing oil derived from cannabis. She says she had suicidal thoughts “more than once” but decided against it.
May 1, 2024 4:33 am
OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — JJ Bleday hit a go-ahead home run with one out in the fifth and a two-run drive in the seventh for his first career multi-homer game, leading the Oakland Athletics past the Pittsburgh Pirates 5-2. Mitch Spence struck out two over three scoreless innings for the win in relief of starter Alex Wood. The left-hander is still winless over four starts in Oakland since joining the club as a free agent Feb. 2 — and he is yet to pitch more than 5 2/3 innings having made seven 2024 starts. Connor Joe homered in the first and singled in the fifth for the Pirates.
May 1, 2024 4:38 am
MILWAUKEE (AP) — Punches were thrown when a brawl broke out between the Tampa Bay Rays and Milwaukee Brewers. The fracas ensued after Jose Siri grounded out against Brewers pitcher Abner Uribe leading off the eighth inning. Uribe and Siri exchanged words near first base and things quickly became heated. With an umpire standing between them trying to keep the peace, Uribe threw a punch at Siri, who then took a wild swing at the reliever as both dugouts and bullpens emptied quickly. The animosity between Siri and the Brewers had been building all night. He took a long look at his home run in the third off Freddy Peralta, who drilled Siri with a 3-0 fastball in the sixth. That led to Peralta and Milwaukee manager Pat Murphy getting ejected.
May 1, 2024 4:34 am
ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Los Angeles Angels star Mike Trout will have surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his left knee, sidelining the three-time AL MVP indefinitely. The Angels believe Trout will be able to return this season, general manager Perry Minasian said while announcing the injury Tuesday. Trout is batting .220 with a major league-leading 10 homers, 14 RBIs and six stolen bases, but he will be sidelined by a major injury for the fourth consecutive season. Trout had an MRI after playing in the Angels’ 6-5 victory over Philadelphia on Monday. Trout’s latest injury is another major blow to the Angels, who lost Shohei Ohtani to free agency in the offseason.
April 30, 2024 9:37 am
A handful of area baseball teams clinched playoff berths Monday with three others eliminated from contention. Four softball teams locked up playoff spots and one other clinched a share of their section title. Canon-McMillan baseball hosts Central Catholic this afternoon at McDowell Lane Field and on WJPA-AM (1450). Our coverage begins at 3:50 pm on-air and online. Here’s a rundown of where things stand for teams in the Washington & Greene County area heading into action on Tuesday.
Baseball: Canon-McMillan needs one win to clinch a 6A playoff berth. Trinity has clinched a 5A spot and would share the section title with a win tonight vs. Bethel Park. Ringgold topped Albert Gallatin Monday, clinching a 4A berth. Waynesburg has clinched a 3A berth and can still win section title outright. McGuffey lost to Yough and dropped into a tie for the final spot with the Cougars. Burgettstown, Charleroi and Chartiers-Houston all clinched 2A berths Monday. Wash High and Beth-Center will battle next week for the final berth. Fort Cherry and West Greene clinched 1A spots with wins Monday, joining Avella and Carmichaels in the post-season. Eliminated: Bentworth (2A), California (1A), Jeff-Morgan (1A), Mapletown (1A).
Softball: Canon-McMillan can clinch a 6A berth with a home win Thursday vs. Baldwin. With a loss, the Big Macs would be in serious peril. Trinity won a share of the 5A Section 4 title with a victory at Bethel Park Monday. McGuffey clinched a 3A berth with a walk-off win over Keystone Oaks Monday. Waynesburg also clinched despite losing to Seton-La Salle. Bentworth and Charleroi have clinched 2A playoff spots, the Bearcats with the inside track to the Section 3 title. Burgettstown hosts Beth-Center next Monday, likely with the final spot going to the winner. Wash High is alive but struggling to field enough players. The Little Prexies haven’t played in nearly two weeks. Chartiers-Houston, Carmichaels and West Greene have all clinched 1A spots. Jeff-Morgan needs one more win to clinch and will look to get that and eliminate Mapletown this afternoon. The Maples have to win out to qualify. Eliminated: Peters Township (5A), Ringgold (4A), Fort Cherry (2A), Avella (1A), California (1A).
April 30, 2024 4:33 am
OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Tyler Nevin homered for the second straight game and the Oakland Athletics beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 5-1. Nevin added a single and a sacrifice fly as the A’s won for the fourth time in their last five games. The Pirates had a season-low two hits while losing for the fifth time in six games. Pittsburgh’s first game in Oakland since 2016 was played in front of 3,528 fans. The Athletics have announced plans to play at least the next three seasons in Sacramento while their new stadium in Las Vegas is built. Oakland starter Joe Boyle (2-4) struggled with his command, throwing just 45 of his 91 pitches for strikes, but the right-hander limited Pittsburgh to one run and one hit in five innings with four strikeouts and four walks.
April 30, 2024 4:36 am
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Kansas City Chiefs have signed Travis Kelce to a new two-year, $34.25 million contract. That’s according to a person who spoke to The Associated Press on condition on anonymity because the terms of the deal had not been released. The new deal ensures Kansas City will have its star tight end as it tries to win an unprecedented third straight Super Bowl. Chiefs general manager Brett Veach says Kelce will remain the highest-paid tight end in the NFL. The 34-year-old Kelce is already the Chiefs’ career leader in receiving yards. And his relationship with pop icon Taylor Swift has taken him to a new level of celebrity.
April 30, 2024 4:35 am
Jason Kelce will join ESPN’s “Monday Night Countdown” after retiring from the Philadelphia Eagles earlier this year, according to a person with knowledge of the deal. The person confirmed the deal to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity on Monday because it was not expected to be announced until the ESPN/Disney upfront presentation to advertisers on May 14. The Athletic was the first to report on Kelce’s choice. Kelce is expected to replace Robert Griffin III, who would continue with the network as a college football analyst. Kelce played 13 years for the Eagles. He was the most sought after former player by the networks for the upcoming season. He participated in last year’s NFL Broadcasting and Media Workshop.
April 29, 2024 12:02 am
WPIAL baseball schedules are set to end this week for nearly all 6A-5A-4A teams with the three smaller classes set to end May 7. The top four teams in each section will qualify for the playoffs along with any unbreakable ties. The WPIAL Baseball Committee is scheduled to meet on May 10 to set the pairings for this year’s tournaments. Here’s a snapshot for each team in the Washington-Greene County area:
Baseball: 6A Canon-McMillan (7-5) is in third place, a half-game ahead of Norwin, three games up on Central Catholic. The Big Macs face Central Catholic in a three-game series this week, needing one win to clinch. C-M can finish anywhere from tied for first to out of the playoffs.
5A Trinity (5-3) clinched a playoff spot with a sweep of South Fayette last week. Now, the Hillers can claim a share of the section title with one win against Bethel Park. With a sweep, Trinity wins the title outright. Peters Township (3-5) plays a two-game set with Connellsville (4-4) needing a sweep to make the playoffs.
4A Ringgold (3-5) moved into playoff position with a two-game sweep of Laurel Highlands, eliminating the Mustangs. The Rams are tied with Uniontown and Albert Gallatin for the final two spots. Ringgold & AG play twice this week, each clinching a playoff spot with any win. Uniontown plays Laurel Highlands and will take a playoff spot with any win or if Ringgold & Albert Gallatin split their series.
3A Waynesburg (8-0) leads the way, one game up on Mount Pleasant (7-1) with the two playing their two-game series this week. Both teams have already clinched playoff spots. McGuffey (5-3) is third and battles Yough (4-4) this week. Waynesburg & McGuffey play their home-and-home series next week. Greensburg Salem (4-4) is also in the running for a playoff spot.
2A Burgettstown (6-1) took over first place with a wild win at Chartiers-Houston (6-2) in a make-up game. Charleroi (6-3), Wash High (4-4) and Beth-Center (3-5) follow. Bentworth (2-8) is in last place and has been eliminated. Burgettstown has Wash High twice Charleroi in a make-up game, then a pair with Frazier next week. Chartiers-Houston takes on Frazier twice this week, then closes with a series against Charleroi next week. After the Burgettstown series, Wash High has a home-and-home with Beth-Center, possibly deciding the final playoff spot. The Bulldogs play Bentworth home-and-home this week.
1A Fort Cherry (6-2) and Carmichaels (6-2) lead the way, one game up on Avella (5-3). The Rangers split a pair with West Greene (5-3) while Carmichaels swept Avella. Jeff-Morgan (4-6) and California (2-6) are still alive but sit three games back in the loss column with four to play. Mapletown (0-8) has been eliminated. Series this week include Fort Cherry vs. Mapletown, Carmichaels vs. West Greene and Avella vs. California.
