May 16, 2021 7:39 am
PITTSBURGH — Jacob Stallings hit a two-out, two-run homer in the ninth inning and the Pittsburgh Pirates rallied past the San Francisco Giants 8-6 on Saturday night. The catcher had a two-run double that capped four-run comeback with two out in the seventh that made it 6-all. Adam Frazier singled to lead off the Pittsburgh ninth and was thrown out at the plate when he tried to score on Bryan Reynolds’ one-out double. Reynolds took third on the play, and trotted home when Stallings sent a drive into the left-field bleachers off Jake McGee (1-1). McGee gave up a game-tying single to Reynolds that sent a 3-2 loss into extras Friday. Stallings hit a walkoff solo shot in a 3-2 win against the Chicago Cubs in an empty PNC Park last Sept. 22. On Saturday, he did it in front of a season-high Pirates crowd of 7,833. Kevin Newman hit an RBI single and another run scored on a wild pitch as the Pirates rallied in the seventh. Pirates closer Richard Rodriguez (2-0) allowed a two-out single to Brandon Crawford in the ninth before getting Mauricio Dubon to pop out. Pittsburgh has won four of seven games since losing eight of its previous nine. The Pirates beat the NL West-leading Giants on Friday night on a walkoff sacrifice by Gregory Polanco in the 11th inning.
May 15, 2021 4:04 am
PITTSBURGH (AP) – Adam Frazier tripled home the tying run in the 11th inning with his fourth hit of the game and scored the winner on Gregory Polanco’s sacrifice fly as the Pittsburgh Pirates rallied for a 3-2 victory over the San Francisco Giants. Austin Slater’s single put the Giants ahead in the top of the 11th, but Frazier’s triple scored Michael Perez, who began the inning as the automatic runner on second base. Kevin Newman lined out softly and Giants manager Gabe Kapler had Caleb Baragar intentionally walk Bryan Reynolds and rookie Will Craig to load the bases. Polanco foiled the strategy by hitting a deep fly to center field.
May 14, 2021 3:50 am
PITTSBURGH (AP) – Anthony DeSclafani allowed one hit over five scoreless innings and Steven Duggar hit his first home run in nearly two years to lead the San Francisco Giants past the Pittsburgh Pirates 3-1. DeSclafani improved to 3-7 against the Pirates. The lone hit off him was a first-inning single by Jacob Stallings. Duggar’s solo shot in the fifth off Wil Crowe broke a scoreless tie. It was his seventh career homer in four seasons, and first since June 13, 2019. The Giants improved to an NL-best 23-14 with their fifth win in six games. Tyler Rogers earned his third save by pitching a scoreless ninth. Pirates first baseman Will Craig hit his first major league homer in the eighth.
May 14, 2021 2:15 am
The Pens will face off against the Islanders in Game 1 on Sunday, May 16 with puck drop at 12 p.m. While seating capacity will be limited to 25 percent, the state will allow a 50 percent capacity beginning Monday. The Pens say the increased capacity starting for Game 2 will allow for better seat choices, including glass seats and more two-seat pods. Tickets will go on sale Friday at 10 a.m. For the full Round 1 schedule click here.
May 13, 2021 2:36 pm
Softball’s regular season ended Wednesday with playoff brackets due out mid-afternoon Thursday. Baseball’s final games are on Thursday’s schedule with the playoff pairings set to be revealed late Friday.
Ringgold’s baseball team was eliminated from the Class 4A playoff race with Thursday’s home loss to Uniontown. On the softball front, California was added to the Class 2A brackets, despite finishing in fifth place. WPIAL officials said the decision was based on the Wash High program shutdown in mid-season, shorting all teams in the section by one game.
Baseball (14 in)
Clinched playoff berth: Canon-McMillan (6A), Peters Township (5A), McGuffey & Waynesburg (both in 3A), Bentworth, Beth-Center, Burgettstown, California, Carmichaels, Chartiers-Houston & Fort Cherry, (all in 2A), Avella, Jeff-Morgan & West Greene (all in 1A).
Softball (13 in)
Clinched playoff berth: Canon-McMillan (6A), Trinity (5A), Waynesburg (4A), Bentworth, Burgettstown, California, Carmichaels, Charleroi, Chartiers-Houston & Fort Cherry (all in 2A), Jeff-Morgan, Mapletown & West Greene (each in 1A).
May 13, 2021 3:56 am
UNDATED (AP) – Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers will begin their Super Bowl title defense when they kick off the 2021 season against the Dallas Cowboys on Thursday, Sept. 9. The game could see the return of Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott, who suffered a season-ending ankle injury in Week 5 of last season. The Cowboys have missed the playoffs the past two seasons. Other highlights from opening weekend include Matthew Stafford playing his first game for the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday night against the Chicago Bears with SoFi Stadium welcoming fans for the first time. Most teams are expected to be at full capacity following a season played before limited crowds because of COVID-19 The Las Vegas Raiders host the Baltimore Ravens in the first Monday night game. The NFL also announced it will return to London in October for its first games in the city since the outbreak of the coronavirus. The Atlanta Falcons will play the New York Jets on Oct. 10, and the Jacksonville Jaguars face the Miami Dolphins a week later. The NFL says it is ready to return to London following a successful rollout of the COVID-19 vaccine in Britain.
May 12, 2021 3:53 am
PITTSBURGH (AP) – Jesse Winker and Eugenio Suarez combined to drive in four runs in the 10th inning as Cincinnati’s bullpen threw 5 1/3 hitless innings, and the Reds beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 5-1. Winker singled off reliever Duane Underwood Jr. (1-2) to lead off the 10th, scoring designated runner Nick Senzel. Nick Castellanos singled and Mike Moustakas walked ahead of Suarez, who drove a pitch into the left-center gap for a three-run double. Lucas Sims worked two perfect innings with four strikeouts to earn the win. The Cincinnati bullpen struck out nine without allowing a hit in relief of Sonny Gray.
May 11, 2021 2:35 am
High school spring sports teams are running out of time in the regular season. WPIAL softball & baseball committees meet Thursday & Friday respectively to set the 2021 playoff brackets. We’ll have the Frazier at Wash High baseball game Wednesday at 4:05 pm on WJPA-AM (1450) or Listen Here! As of Wednesday morning, this is the playoff picture for Washington & Greene County softball & baseball teams:
Softball (12 in, one still alive)
Clinched playoff berth: Canon-McMillan (6A), Trinity (5A), Waynesburg (4A), Bentworth, Burgettstown, Carmichaels, Charleroi, Chartiers-Houston & Fort Cherry (all in 2A), Jeff-Morgan, Mapletown & West Greene (each in 1A).
Still alive for post-season: California (2A) qualifies with win over Charleroi (Wednesday)
Baseball (13 in, three still alive)
Clinched playoff berth: Canon-McMillan (6A), Peters Township (5A), McGuffey & Waynesburg (both in 3A), Bentworth, Beth-Center, Burgettstown, California, Carmichaels, Chartiers-Houston & Fort Cherry, (all in 2A), Jeff-Morgan & West Greene (both in 1A).
Alive for post-season: Ringgold (4A), currently in four-team battle for the final two berths, with two games left with Uniontown. Wash High (2A) qualifies with a home win against Frazier (Wednesday). Avella is likely to qualify given Western Beaver’s COVID-19 shutdown.
May 12, 2021 3:55 am
Padres shortstop Fernando Tatis Jr. has tested positive for COVID-19 and was put on the injured list, along with two teammates. Tatis leads the Padres with nine homers and 23 runs. Utilitymen Jurickson Profar and Jorge Mateo were added to San Diego’s injured list for contact tracing protocols.
May 10, 2021 9:50 am
WPIAL committees are due to meet Thursday (softball) and Friday (baseball) to set the brackets for the upcoming playoffs. After COVID issues through the fall and winter seasons, area schools have been more hampered by bad weather, particularly over the past week. Now, many teams have back-to-back-to-back games on their schedules this week to finish the season. Several schools also have COVID shutdowns, leaving them to play doubleheaders twice (or more) this week.
As of now (Tuesday), here’s the playoff picture for Washington & Greene County softball & baseball teams:
Softball
6A Canon-McMillan has clinched a berth, Peters Township is eliminated.
5A Trinity has clinched, section championship still possible
4A Ringgold is elminated
3A Waynesburg is in, McGuffey is still alive but must win out and get help from Southmoreland vs. South Allegheny
2A Burgettstown & Chartiers-Houston have clinched in Section 1. Fort Cherry needs one win to clinch a berth (hosting Carlynton in doubleheader on WJPA-AM today)
Carmichaels, Charleroi & Bentworth have clinched in Section 3. California is alive, needing to beat Charleroi and have Beth-Center lose at least once (Charleroi, Carmichaels)
1A West Greene, Mapletown & Jefff-Morgan have clinched, Avella is eliminated.
Baseball
6A Canon-McMillan has clinched a berth
5A Peters Township has clinched a berth, Trinity is eliminated
4A Ringgold is alive, currently in a four-team battle for the final berth. Rams have three games left (West Mifflin, @Uniontown, vs. Uniontown)
3A McGuffey has won its first-ever section title. Waynesburg qualifies if Southmoreland or Yough sweep the doubleheader today against each other
2A Carmichaels, California, Beth-Center & Bentworth have clinched in Section 1. Wash High clinches with wins @Bentworth and over Frazier
Chartiers-Houston has clinched in Section 2. Burgettstown plays Fort Cherry today & tomorrow, each clinches a berth with a win or with a Brentwood loss to Seton-La Salle
1A Avella is alive (and likely to qualify) in Section 1. The Eagles will benefit from Western Beaver’s school shutdown, putting Avella up two games on Cornell.
Jeff-Morgan & West Greene have clinched in Section 2 while Mapletown has been eliminated.
