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
February 26, 2023 7:50 am
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Blake Hinson knocked down six 3-pointers and scored 22 points to lead six Pittsburgh shooters into double-figure scoring as the Panthers put on an offensive show in their final home game, a 99-82 win over Syracuse. Pittsburgh won its 14th home game, its most since the 2015-16 season. After taking a 37-33 lead at intermission, the Panthers scored 62 second-half points and knocked down 11 3-pointers in the final 20 minutes.
February 26, 2023 7:51 am
ST. LOUIS (AP) — Bryan Rust scored the winning goal 1:16 into overtime to lift the Pittsburgh Penguins to a 3-2 victory over the St. Louis Blues. Marcus Pettersson’s first goal of the season game on a wrist shot at 14:32 of the third period gave Pittsburgh a 2-1 lead. But the Blues came back on Justin Faulk’s goal at 17:33 to tie it. Evgeni Malkin also scored for Pittsburgh and Tristan Jarry made 25 saves to improve to 5-0 in five career games against St. Louis. Pavel Buchnevich had the other goal for St. Louis and Jordan Binnington had 46 saves, but the Blues dropped their fifth straight since the trades of Ryan O’Reilly and Noel Acciari.
February 24, 2023 3:36 am
Trinity girls dropped to the state qualifier bracket because of an ice-cold shooting night. Washington County is has five remaining teams (4 girls, 1 boys) in the WPIAL playoffs, only Burgettstown girls and Peters Township boys in the championship brackets. Greene County has two girls teams still in contention, both in the qualifier brackets. Peters Township boys, Burgettstown and Chartiers-Houston girls have already clinched state playoff spots. Saturday, we’ll feature both of those teams in quarterfinal round action. All of our broadcasts will be available online as well. The WPIAL Championships are set for the Petersen Events Center March 2-4. WPIAL Brackets CLICK HERE
Friday, Feb. 24
Quarterfinals
5A Girls #12 Woodland Hills 51, #4 Trinity 40
Trinity led by four at the half, then managed just three points over the next 12 minutes. The Hillers rallied back to within two halfway through the fourth but were outscored 14-5 down the stretch. Eden Williamson led Trinity with 19 points. Macie Justice added 10. Four Wolverines reached double figures including 12 each for Hope Hawkins, Jhalynn Wilson and Cierra Guest. Woodland Hills moves to the semifinals. Trinity drops in the state qualifier bracket to face #8 Penn-Trafford Monday.
State Qualifier Bracket, Round I
2A Girls #3 Serra Catholic 50, #7 Chartiers-Houston 24
3A Girls #5 Our Lady/Sacred Heart 41, #8 Waynesburg 27
Saturday, Feb. 25
Semifinals
5A Boys #1 Peters Township vs. #4 Gateway 1:50 pm at Mt. Lebanon WJPA-FM (95.3) Listen Here
2A Girls #5 Burgettstown vs. #1 Shenango, 1:50 pm at Beaver Falls WJPA-AM (1450) Listen Here
State Qualifier Bracket, Round I
1A Girls #10 Avella vs. #6 Eden Christian, 2 pm at Keystone Oaks
1A Girls #8 West Greene at #4 Monessen, 12 noon
Monday, Feb. 27
State Qualifier Bracket, Round I (sites/times to be announced)
5A Girls #4 Trinity vs. #8 Penn-Trafford
Tuesday, Feb. 28
State Qualifier Bracket, 7th Place (sites/times to be announced)
2A Girls #7 Chartiers-Houston vs. #8 Brentwood
3A Girls #8 Waynesburg vs. #11 Mohawk (loser eliminated)
