October 8, 2025 4:19 am
NEW YORK (AP) — Justin Brazeau scored twice, Arturs Silovs stopped all 25 shots he faced for his first regular-season NHL shutout, and the Pittsburgh Penguins beat the New York Rangers 3-0 in each team’s opener. Dan Muse won his debut as Penguins coach with his predecessor, Mike Sullivan, on the other bench running his first game with the Rangers. Sullivan guided Pittsburgh to back-to-back Stanley Cup titles in 2016 and ’17 as part of a nearly decade-long run there before parting ways in April.
October 8, 2025 4:23 am
NEW YORK (AP) — Aaron Judge hit a tying homer and drove in four runs during a clutch performance for the ages, and the New York Yankees staved off elimination by rallying from five runs down to defeat the Toronto Blue Jays 9-6 in Game 3 of their AL Division Series. Jazz Chisholm Jr. launched a go-ahead homer in the fifth inning and the Yankees took advantage of two Toronto errors to avoid a three-game sweep. They scored eight unanswered runs and pulled to 2-1 in the best-of-five playoff, with Game 4 on Wednesday night in the Bronx.
October 8, 2025 4:24 am
DETROIT (AP) — Cal Raleigh hit a two-run homer, Eugenio Suarez and J.P. Crawford had solo shots and the Seattle Mariners beat the Detroit Tigers 8-4 on Tuesday night to take a 2-1 lead in the AL Division Series. The Mariners are within a win of their first AL Championship Series since 2001. Their first chance to advance is on Wednesday afternoon in Game 4 at Comerica Park and if necessary, another opportunity awaits on Friday back in Seattle for a decisive Game 5. Seattle’s Logan Gilbert gave up one run on four hits while striking out seven and walking none over six innings.
October 8, 2025 4:20 am
PITTSBURGH (AP) — The Pittsburgh Steelers have strengthened their hold on the AFC North despite not playing last weekend. Pittsburgh is at 3-1 and in first place, while Cincinnati, Cleveland and Baltimore are dealing with serious health issues. Steelers coach Mike Tomlin says he’s focused on preparing for upcoming games and not where his team sits in the standings. Pittsburgh could be close to full strength when the Browns visit Acrisure Stadium in Week 6. Cornerback Joey Porter Jr. and outside linebacker Alex Highsmith are expected to return after missing multiple games. The only real issue for Pittsburgh is at wide receiver, where Calvin Austin III is dealing with a shoulder injury.
October 8, 2025 2:21 am
CINCINNATI (AP) — Joe Flacco is staying in Ohio but heading to the Cincinnati Bengals. The Bengals acquired the veteran quarterback from the Cleveland Browns along with a 2026 sixth-round draft pick on Tuesday for a fifth-round pick next season. The 40-year-old Flacco gives Cincinnati another option. Jake Browning has struggled since replacing Joe Burrow, who is out with a toe injury sustained in Week 2. Flacco started the first four games for the Browns this season, completing 93 of 160 passes for 815 yards and two touchdowns with six interceptions. Rookie Dillon Gabriel replaced Flacco in the Browns’ starting lineup. Rookie Shedeur Sanders now moves up to the backup spot in Cleveland.
October 7, 2025 4:28 pm
PITTSBURGH (AP) — The Pittsburgh Steelers have strengthened their hold on the AFC North despite not playing last weekend. Pittsburgh is at 3-1 and in first place, while Cincinnati, Cleveland and Baltimore are dealing with serious health issues. Steelers coach Mike Tomlin says he’s focused on preparing for upcoming games and not where his team sits in the standings. Pittsburgh could be close to full strength when the Browns visit Acrisure Stadium in Week 6. Cornerback Joey Porter Jr. and outside linebacker Alex Highsmith are expected to return after missing multiple games. The only real issue for Pittsburgh is at wide receiver, where Calvin Austin III is dealing with a shoulder injury.
October 7, 2025 4:26 am
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Trevor Lawrence tripped, got up and scrambled for a 1-yard touchdown with 23 seconds remaining, and the Jacksonville Jaguars beat Kansas City 31-28. The crazy ending halted the Jags’ eight-game losing streak to the Chiefs. Lawrence ran for two touchdowns on the night and also threw for a score, helping balance a performance that included two turnovers. But he was nearly perfect when it mattered most for the Jaguars. Devin Lloyd returned an interception 99 yards for a score for Jacksonville. Patrick Mahomes accounted for two touchdowns and Kareem Hunt ran for two scores for the Chiefs.
October 7, 2025 4:22 am
MILWAUKEE (AP) — Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Jackson Chourio returned to the lineup and hit a three-run homer in Game 2 of an NL Division Series against the Chicago Cubs on Monday night after tightness in his right hamstring caused him to exit the series opener. Chourio sent an 0-2 pitch from Daniel Palencia over the center-field wall with two outs in the fourth inning. Chourio’s 419-foot drive extended Milwaukee’s lead to 7-3. Chourio went 3 for 3 with three RBIs in Milwaukee’s 9-3 Game 1 victory Saturday before leaving in the second inning.
October 7, 2025 4:21 am
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Blake Snell allowed one hit in six shutout innings, striking out nine, and the Los Angeles Dodgers barely turned back Philadelphia’s late rally for a 4-3 victory over the Phillies in Game 2 of their NL Division Series. Freddie Freeman made a game-saving defensive play at first base and Shohei Ohtani delivered an RBI single that helped the Dodgers take a 2-0 lead in the best-of-five playoff. Will Smith had a two-run single in a four-run seventh. The defending World Series champs can reach their 17th National League Championship Series with a Game 3 win Wednesday back home in Los Angeles.
October 7, 2025 12:01 am
The WPIAL football regular season ends Saturday, Oct. 25th with the conclusion of the Burgettstown/Bishop Canevin game at Dormont Stadium. All told, 65 teams will enter the WPIAL playoffs, most by claiming one of the conference automatic berths, 16 others by invitation of the WPIAL Football Steering Committee as Wild Cards. At this moment, the League is expected to release the brackets the afternoon of the final day of the season, though that could be complicated should Burgettstown play its way back into contention. Following is a three-weeks-to-play look at the playoff pictures for the 19 teams in Washington & Greene Counties. (Conference records)
6A Canon-McMillan: The Big Macs (2-1) would be in if the post-season started today, but CM has yet to play any of the three teams ahead of them. Likely needing one win down the stretch, Canon-McMillan faces North Allegheny (3-1), Norwin (2-1) and Central Catholic (3-0). The top four teams qualify.
5A Peters Township: The Indians (2-0) are the #2 ranked team in the classification behind Pine-Richland. Peters Township all but clinches a playoff spot with one more win, taking on South Fayette (1-1), Baldwin (0-2) and Bethel Park (1-1). The top three teams in each conference qualify along with three wild card selections, making up a 12-team bracket.
4A Trinity, Ringgold: The Hillers (2-0) share the Big Six Conference lead with Chartiers Valley (2-0), one game up on Ringgold (1-1) and Thomas Jefferson (1-1). Trinity & Chartiers Valley meet Friday night with the winner taking over sole possession of first place. Ringgold travels to Pleasant Hills to take on Thomas Jefferson. The top two teams in each conference qualify for the 8-team bracket, supplemented by two wild cards teams. Trinity finishes with Laurel Highlands (0-2) and Belle Vernon (0-2), both on the road. Ringgold still has Belle Vernon and Chartiers Valley on the schedule.
3A McGuffey: The Highlanders (0-4) cannot qualify for the 12-team bracket made up of the top three conference finishers and three wild card choices.
2A Wash High, Waynesburg, Charleroi: The Little Prexies (3-0) are a near lock to qualify for the 13-team bracket, comprised of the top three finishers in each conference plus four wild card teams. Wash High has games with Charleroi (1-2), Carlynton (0-3) and co-leader Seton-La Salle (4-0). Waynesburg (1-2) can take a huge step forward with a win Friday night at Keystone Oaks (3-1). That would help the Raiders in the AQ and wild card categories. Waynesburg will finish with Charleroi and Sto-Rox (0-4). Charleroi has Wash High, Waynesburg and Sto-Rox to close the year. The Cougars aren’t out yet, but are just hanging on by a thread.
1A playoff field will include 16 teams, the top three finishers in each of the four conferences, then four wild card selections. Barring a stumble against a team below them in the standings, the fourth-place finisher in both the Black Hills and Tri-County South look to be in good position to snag at-large invitations.
Black Hills Conference: Fort Cherry (4-0) is the two-time defending WPIAL champion, currently sharing the conference lead with Bishop Canevin (3-0). The two meet Friday night at Jim Garry Stadium for sole possession of first place. The Rangers have a non-conference game next week before hosting Serra Catholic (0-3) to close the season. Chartiers-Houston (2-2) is tied with Cornell (2-2) and Monessen (1-2) heading into this weekend’s action. The Bucs host Serra Catholic, then go to Cornell next week to close their conference slate. Bugettstown (0-3) is alive but would have to win out and get some help. The Blue Devils host Monessen, then visit Serra Catholic and Bishop Canevin.
Tri-County South: California (4-0), Jeff-Morgan (4-0), Avella (3-1) and Bentworth (3-1) are well ahead of the bottom half of the conference. And, on Oct. 24th, Jeff-Morgan will host California and Avella visits Bentworth, likely to set the final order and determine which team will be on the wild card bubble. Beth-Center (1-3) and West Greene (1-3) are still alive but just barely. Carmichaels (0-4) and Mapletown (0-4) can only hope to play spoilers. Jeff-Morgan has yet to face any of the other three teams in the top half. The Rockets visit Bentworth Friday, host Avella Oct. 17, then California to close the regular season. California hosts West Greene and Beth-Center before going to Jefferson. Avella is home to Carmichaels Friday before going to J-M, then Bentworth. The Bearcats play at Mapletown between home games with J-M and Avella.
