May 20, 2025 4:36 am
The fate of the tush push will be up for discussion again along with the NFL’s history of giving division champions with mediocre records home field in the playoffs. There will be a new topic as well when NFL owners gather Tuesday and Wednesday at the headquarters of the Minnesota Vikings. The league has proposed allowing its players to participate in flag football when the sport makes its Olympic debut in Los Angeles in 2028. Owners were set to vote on Philadelphia’s famous tush push last month, but tabled the issue. The league also is discussing using records for playoff seeding rather than guaranteeing higher seeds for division champions.
May 19, 2025 3:25 am
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Mick Abel outdueled Paul Skenes to win his major league debut, striking out nine over six innings to lead Philadelphia over the Pittsburgh Pirates 1-0 for a three-game sweep and the Phillies’ 15th win in 20 games. Brandon Marsh grounded into a run-scoring forceout in the fifth against Skenes (3-5), who pitched a three-hitter with nine strikeouts and one walk in his first complete game in 33 big league starts. Skenes is 0-3 in his last four starts despite a 2.52 ERA in that span, and his 2.44 ERA this season is fifth among NL pitchers.
May 19, 2025 3:22 am
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Pittsburgh Pirates right-hander Jared Jones will be re-examined after a setback in his recovery from a strained ligament in his right elbow. Jones, 23, had been on a throwing program while making his way back from an elbow strain he sustained in mid-March. The Pirates said the initial exam of Jones showed that his elbow was stable and the club opted to shut him down for six weeks. Jones began throwing by playing catch in late April, with the potential to return to the mound after the All-Star break. Instead, there’s a chance he could miss the entire 2025 season.
May 18, 2025 5:51 am
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Zack Wheeler pitched six shutout innings, Bryson Stott homered and drove in three runs, and the Philadelphia Phillies defeated the Pittsburgh Pirates 5-2. Stott launched his fourth homer of the season off starter Carmen Mlodzinski in the third and knocked in two runs an inning later with an opposite-field single. Wheeler posted another strong outing, allowing three hits and a walk. It was his second consecutive scoreless start, and he’s gone 16 innings without giving up a run. Bryce Harper had two hits and an RBI. Harper has reached base 11 times in his last 17 plate appearances, logging seven hits and four walks. Kyle Schwarber added an RBI double for the Phillies, who have won 14 of 19.
May 18, 2025 6:16 am
BALTIMORE (AP) — Journalism has won the 150th running of the Preakness Stakes. The heavy favorite made good on lofty expectations two weeks after finishing second to Sovereignty in the Kentucky Derby. Sovereignty did not take part in the Preakness after his owners and trainer decided against the short turnaround. They will entering him in the Belmont Stakes on June 7. Journalism gives trainer Michael McCarthy a second Preakness victory after Rombauer won it as an 11-1 long shot in 2021. Gosger was second and Sandman third. Journalism became the first horse since War of Will in 2019 to win the Preakness after running in the Derby.
May 18, 2025 1:30 am
The WPIAL has released sites/times for the baseball (all classes) & softball (3A-2A-1A) quarterfinals (Monday/Tuesday) as well as the softball (6A-5A-4A) semifinals (Tuesday). 15 of the original 26 qualifiers from Washington/Greene County are still alive in the WPIAL Baseball/Softball playoffs. WPIAL Softball Brackets WPIAL Baseball Brackets
Monday, May 19
Softball Quarterfinals (winners to WPIAL semifinals Wednesday)
2A #12 Bentworth vs. #13 Shenango, 2:45 pm at North Allegheny, WJPA-AM (1450) (audio only) Listen Here
1A #5 Jeff-Morgan vs. #4 Sewickley Academy, 4 pm at North Strabane Intermediate
1A #3 West Greene vs. #6 South Side, 4:30 pm at Pleasant Valley Elem. (Peters Twp.)
3A #6 McGuffey vs. #3 Ellwood City, 5 pm at Montour
1A #2 Carmichaels vs. #7 Serra Catholic, 6 pm at North Strabane Intermediate
2A #2 Chartiers-Houston vs. #7 Seton-La Salle, 6:15 pm at Pleasant Valley Elem. (Peters), WJPA-AM (1450) Watch/Listen Here
Baseball Quarterfinals (winner to WPIAL semifinals Tuesday)
6A #2 Canon-McMillan vs. #7 North Hills, 3:45 pm at Boyce-Mayview, WJPA-AM (1450) Watch/Listen Here
5A #7 Peters Township vs. #15 Mars Area, 4 pm at Gateway
4A #11 Ringgold vs. #3 Elizabeth-Forward, 4 pm at West Mifflin
Tuesday, May 20
Softball Semifinals (winner to WPIAL Finals, May 28-29)
5A #3 West Allegheny vs. #2 Shaler, 2:45 pm at Montour, WJPA-AM (1450) Watch/Listen Here
6A #4 Canon-McMillan vs. #1 Hempfield, 4:45 pm at Montour, WJPA-AM (1450) Watch/Listen Here
Baseball Quarterfinals (winners to WPIAL semifinals Wednesday)
1A #10 Avella vs. #2 Eden Christian, 4 pm at Burkett Complex (Robinson Twp.)
1A #8 Jeff-Morgan vs. #1 Serra Catholic, 4 pm at Joe Maize Field (Peters Twp.)
2A #3 Burgettstown vs. #6 Riverview, 4:15 pm at North Allegheny, WJPA.com (audio only) Listen Here
3A #4 Waynesburg vs. #5 South Park, 7 pm at Joe Maize Field (Peters Twp.)
1A #6 Carmichaels vs. #3 Leechburg, 7 pm at West Mifflin
May 17, 2025 4:17 am
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Bryce Harper reached 1,000 RBIs and was part of a wild seventh inning rally in which the Philadelphia Phillies scored four runs on just one hit in an 8-4 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Friday night. Harper, who had three hits and reached base four times, picked up his milestone RBI with a bloop single to left field off Pirates starter Andrew Heaney. The Phillies scored four runs in the seventh inning when six consecutive batters — including Harper — reached base against three relievers. Only one — Trea Turner — had a hit. Philadelphia tacked on three more runs in the eighth inning. Turner had an RBI triple, and Harper added No. 1,001 with a single.
May 17, 2025 4:18 am
The Pittsburgh Pirates announced coaching changes. They will be adding Chris Truby and Gene Lamont to the Major League Coaching Staff. Truby’s position on the team will be that of infielder coach. He will also maintain his position as the organization’s minor league infield coordinator. Lamont will serve as a special advisor to Manager Don Kelly. This will be Lamont’s third stint with the Pirates. He was the team’s manager from 1997-2000. In a roster move, the Pirates selected the contract of infielder/outfielder Nick Solak from Triple-A Indianapolis. Solak is the Triple-A batting average leader hitting at .393. Outfielder Ji Hwan Bae was optioned back to Indianapolis to make room for Solak on the 26 man roster. Infielder/Outfielder Michael Helman has been designated for assignment to make room on the 40 man roster.
May 15, 2025 12:01 am
Nine Washington/Greene County teams survived delays in the opening round of the playoffs to advance to next week’s quarterfinals. Bentworth, Chartiers-Houston, Jeff-Morgan and McGuffey softball won their first-round games Thursday. Tentatively, all have quarterfinal games on Monday, along with Carmichaels and West Greene (first-round byes). Canon-McMillan will play its softball semifinal on Tuesday (subject to revision). Avella, Carmichaels, Jeff-Morgan, Peters Township and Waynesburg advanced in their baseball brackets, joining Burgettstown (bye), Canon-McMillan and Ringgold in the second round. Canon-McMillan, Peters Township and Ringgold are scheduled to play Monday while the other five baseball teams have quarterfinals on Tuesday. Sites/times will be posted by the League Friday morning. WPIAL Softball Brackets WPIAL Baseball Brackets
Thursday, May 13, Softball 1st Round
3A #6 McGuffey > #11 Ligonier Valley, 5-1
3A #8 Deer Lakes > #9 Charleroi, 7-0
2A #12 Bentworth > #5 South Allegheny, 9-1
2A #2 Chartiers-Houston > #15 Brentwood, 15-0
2A #1 Neshannock > #16 Burgettstown, 15-0
2A #11 Riverside > #6 Waynesburg, 14-4
1A #5 Jeff-Morgan > #12 Greens. Cent. Catholic, 14-4
1A #8 Jeannette > #9 Avella, 13-3
Baseball 1st Round
5A #7 Peters Township > #10 Baldwin, 5-4
3A #4 Waynesburg > #13 Freeport, 6-2
3A #8 Burrell > #9 Charleroi, 10-9
2A #6 Riverview > #11 California, 6-2
2A #4 Shenango > #13 Chartiers-Houston, 1-0
2A #12 Laurel > #5 Fort Cherry, 4-3
1A #10 Avella > #7 Western Beaver, 5-0
1A #6 Carmichaels > #11 Union, 9-1
1A #8 Jeff-Morgan > #9 Winchester Thurston, 11-4
May 16, 2025 4:46 am
Pittsburgh, PA (WPXI)-A former Steelers first-round pick and Super Bowl MVP is moving into the next phase of his football career. Santonio Holmes was just added as Central State University’s wide receiver coach. Marauder Athletics hopes the hire excites top talent, saying Holmes will bring his “NFL experience, leadership, and player-first mentality” to the team. The Pittsburgh Steelers took Holmes with the 25th pick in the 2006 NFL Draft. He later cemented himself as a Steelers legend when he caught the game-winning touchdown in Super Bowl XLIII, which also earned him MVP honors. He went on to play with the Jets and Bears before retiring in 2017.
