April 22, 2026 4:28 am
ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Kumar Rocker allowed a run in six innings and Evan Carter drove in the tying run before robbing Oneil Cruz of a three-run homer, leading the Texas Rangers to a 5-1 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Tuesday night. The Rangers (12-11) moved a game over .500 at the start of a nine-game homestand after playing 16 of their first 22 games on the road. Pittsburgh dropped to 5-5 on the road and 13-10 for the season.
April 22, 2026 4:29 am
Mike Tomlin is going from the glare of an NFL sideline to the glare of television lights. The former Pittsburgh Steelers coach will join NBC’s “Sunday Night Football” coverage as a pregame analyst, two people briefed on the move tell The Associated Press. The people spoke on condition of anonymity because NBC has not announced the move. Tomlin stepped down in January after 19 seasons as Steelers coach. NBC had a studio opening as it is retooling its “Football Night in America” pregame show. Hall of Fame coach Tony Dungy announced last month that he was told he would not be back after 17 years.
April 22, 2026 4:32 am
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) — Mike Vrabel said Tuesday that he’s had “difficult conversations with people I care about,” including his family, his coaching staff and players, following the publication of photos of the Patriots coach and longtime NFL reporter Dianna Russini at an Arizona resort. The photos were of Vrabel and Russini at a Sedona resort and were taken before the annual NFL meetings that began in Phoenix on March 29, according to the New York Post, which published the photos. Vrabel and Russini, who are both married, released written statements to the Post after the publication of the story downplaying what the photos depict. But Russini resigned from The Athletic less than a week later after the Post’s report prompted an internal investigation at The New York Times-owned sports outlet.
April 21, 2026 4:35 am
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Dan Vladar stopped 27 shots as the Philadelphia Flyers shut out the Pittsburgh Penguins 3-0 to take a 2-0 lead in their first-round series. Teenage forward Porter Martone scored for the second straight game for Philadelphia. Garnet Hathaway added a short-handed goal for the Flyers. Luke Glendening chipped in an empty-netter late to seal it. The series shifts to Philadelphia for Game 3. Stuart Skinner made 20 saves for Pittsburgh but received little help in front of him on a night the Penguins’ power play went 0 for 5.
April 21, 2026 4:40 am
PITTSBURGH (AP) — The Pittsburgh Steelers are still waiting for Aaron Rodgers to decide whether he wants to return for a 22nd season. Steelers general manager Omar Khan says the club remains in frequent communication with the four-time MVP, who led Pittsburgh to an AFC North title last season. Rodgers’ status is unlikely to play a significant role in the club’s strategy when the NFL draft descends on the Steel City this week. The Steelers will head into the draft with 12 picks, including the 21st overall selection in the first round.
April 21, 2026 4:40 am
BOSTON (AP) — Defending champion John Korir broke the Boston Marathon course record, riding a tailwind to outrun the fastest field in event history and win in 2 hours, 1 minute, 52 seconds for his second straight victory. The Kenyan broke away from the pack as it headed into Heartbreak Hill in Newton and opened a 40-second lead, peeking behind him as he went through Kenmore Square with a mile to go. Sharon Lokedi joined her fellow Kenyan as a back-to-back champion, winning the women’s race in 2:18:51. Marcel Hug of Switzerland won his ninth wheelchair title in 1:16:06. Eden Rainbow-Cooper of Britain won her second women’s wheelchair title in Boston.
April 20, 2026 4:31 am
PITTSBURGH (AP) — The Philadelphia Flyers silenced doubts about their young roster with a 3-2 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins in Game 1 of their first-round playoff series. Twenty-four-year-old Jamie Drysdale scored in the second period while 19-year-old Porter Martone secured the game winner late in the third. The Flyers showed no signs of being intimidated by Pittsburgh’s veteran roster. Philadelphia held the Penguins to 17 shots and controlled the pace of play for long stretches. Flyers coach Rick Tocchet says he’s encouraged by the poise his young roster showed but stressed that it was just one game.
April 20, 2026 4:30 am
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Bryan Reynolds drove in three runs, Mitch Keller pitched seven strong innings, and the Pittsburgh Pirates defeated the Tampa Bay Rays 6-3. Reynolds’ two-run single to left field capped a three-run fifth and put the Pirates ahead 4-2. The hit came after Nick Gonzales’ tying single drove in Joey Bart, who hit a leadoff double. Keller allowed two runs — on Hunter Feduccia’s single in the fifth — and five hits while striking out five.
April 20, 2026 4:33 am
HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. (AP) — Matt Fitzpatrick is a playoff winner at Harbour Town again with a familiar ending against an American favorite. This time it was the world’s best player he took down at the RBC Heritage. Fitzpatrick made a 13-foot birdie putt to beat Scottie Scheffler after hitting 4-iron to the tough 18th on the first extra hole. It was similar to when he hit 9-iron to inches away to beat Jordan Spieth three years ago. Scheffler shot 67 to make up a three-shot deficit over the last four holes. Fitzpatrick shot 70 after his only bogey on the 18th hole in regulation.
April 20, 2026 12:01 am
In a little over two weeks, the WPIAL Softball & Baseball regular seasons will be over with playoff pairings due late the week of May 4. The top four teams in each section quality in each class except for 6A softball where the top six teams will enter the playoffs. All softball sections involving teams from Washington/Greene Counties end section play by May 2. Most baseball teams play their final section games May 5. We’ll open our Stretch Drive coverage with a pair of games Monday: Bentworth at Wash High softball at 2:45 pm, South Fayette at Trinity baseball at 6:45 pm. Both games will be live on WJPA-AM (1450) and online Watch/Listen Here! Following is a rundown of playoff races for teams from the two-county area (section records).
Softball
6A Canon-McMillan (4-6) has lost 6 straight but currently hold the final playoff spot. The Big Macs have a game with last place Butler, then play three of the top four teams in the section.
5A Trinity (6-3) has clinched a playoff spot. Peters Township (4-7) has one game left. The Indians must beat Connellsville (4-5) Wednesday and see the Falcons lose one other game to qualify.
4A Ringgold (0-10) can not qualify.
3A McGuffey (5-2) has clinched with three games left. Charleroi (2-5) sits in fourth place and clinches with any win. The Cougars play first place South Park, then twice against winless East Allegheny.
2A-Sect. 3 Chartiers-Houston (7-0), Burgettstown (6-2) have both clinched. Fort Cherry (1-7) can not qualify.
2A-Sect. 4 Bentworth (5-0) is in first place, followed by Wash High (5-2). The two play Monday on WJPA-AM (3:45 pm). The winner clinches a playoff spot. Waynesburg (3-4) is currently a half-game back of Frazier for the final playoff spot. The two play Monday in Perryopolis. California (0-8) can not qualify.
1A Jeff-Morgan (7-1), Carmichaels (6-1), West Greene (6-2), Beth-Center (3-5) have all clinched playoff spots. Mapletown (1-8) and Avella (0-6) can not qualify.
Baseball
6A Canon-McMillan (7-2) has clinched a playoff spot and can wrap up at least a share of the section title with two wins against Hempfield this week.
5A Peters Township (3-3), Trinity (2-4) are part of a 5-team logjam separated by 2 games. Peters has two-game series with Upper St. Clair (2-4), Trinity and South Fayette (6-2). The Hillers take on section leader South Fayette Monday (WJPA-AM 6:4 5pm) & Tuesday, then play Peters Township and Moon Area (4-2), likely needing to win at least 4 of their last 6 games.
4A Ringgold (3-5) sits in 4th place at the moment and has series with Uniontown and Laurel Highlands, both 2-4. The Rams are one game up on both, having split with Belle Vernon (6-2) while the Red Raiders and Mustangs were swept by the Leopards.
3A Charleroi (4-4), Wash High (3-3) and Waynesburg (3-3) are tied for second. McGuffey (2-4) is a game back of the tie. Wash High takes on first-place Seton-La Salle (7-1) while Waynesburg & McGuffey play their two-game set this week. The Little Prexies and Highlanders meet next week. Charleroi is off this week, then closes with two-game sets against Brownsville (3-5) and Waynesburg.
2A Fort Cherry and California are both 6-0 and meet next week. The Rangers play third-place Chartiers-Houston (5-2) this week while the Trojans take on Frazier (2-3). Burgettstown (2-4) is a game outside the playoff picture and will play Frazier next week after taking on Bentworth (1-7) twice this week. Beth-Center (1-7) is off this week before facing Bentworth and Frazier to close the season.
1A Avella (7-1) needs just one win to clinch a playoff spot. The Eagles are a game back of first place Greensburg Central Catholic (5-0). The two play their two-game set this week, then the Centurions play a make-up game with third-place Carmichaels (4-3). The Mikes and Avella play next week. Jeff-Morgan (4-4) plays winless Mapletown this week while West Greene (2-4) takes on Jeannette (1-5). J-M swept West Greene and holds the tie-breaker for the final playoff spot at the moment.
