February 12, 2021 3:54 am
UNDATED (AP) – The Associated Press has learned that the NHL is adding game-day rapid tests for players to its safety protocols in its latest bid to stem potential COVID-19 outbreaks. That’s according to a person with direct knowledge of the situation. Rapid tests provide results within a half-hour, and will augment daily PCR testing already in place.
February 12, 2021 3:57 am
PITTSBURGH (AP) – The Pittsburgh Pirates have signed veteran catcher Tony Wolters and outfielder Brian Goodwin to minor league contracts that include an invitation to spring training. Wolters will compete for a backup job behind Jacob Stallings. Wolters is 28 and spent the first five seasons of his big-league career in Colorado. He hit .238 with seven home runs and 123 RBIs in 391 games with the Rockies. Goodwin is a career .252 hitter since reaching the majors with Washington in 2016.
February 12, 2021 3:56 am
HOUSTON (AP) – J.J. Watt says he and the Houston Texans have “mutually agreed to part ways.” The star defensive end said in a video on social media today that he had asked for his release. Watt had one year remaining on a 6-year, $100 million contract. The three-time Defensive Player of the Year and 2017 Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year has spent his entire career with the Texans after being selected with the 11th overall pick in the 2011 draft. His departure follows a 4-12 season that saw coach Bill O’Brien fired after four games and quarterback Deshaun Watson requesting a trade.
February 11, 2021 10:44 am
PITTSBURGH (AP) – The Pittsburgh Pirates have signed veteran catcher Tony Wolters to a minor league deal that includes an invitation to spring training. Wolters will compete for a backup job behind Jacob Stallings. Wolters is 28 and spent the first five seasons of his big-league career in Colorado. He hit .238 with seven home runs and 123 RBIs in 391 games with the Rockies. Pittsburgh opens spring training when pitchers and catchers report Feb. 17, with the first full-squad workout set for Feb. 22.
February 11, 2021 3:35 am
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. (AP) – Mackenzie Holmes scored 25 points, Grace Berger secured her third triple-double of the season and No. 15 Indiana beat Penn State 90-65. Berger had 17 points, 11 rebounds, and her 10th assist came with 2:35 remaining in the fourth quarter on a pass to Holmes in the lane. Berger has the program’s only three triple-doubles, including one against Penn State in January. Ali Patberg added 16 points and eight rebounds, and Aleksa Gulbe scored 15 for Indiana. Niya Beverley scored 16 points for Penn State. Maddie Burke added 13 points and Anna Camden 12.
February 11, 2021 3:36 am
DALLAS (AP) – Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban has relented and the national anthem will be played before home games this season after the NBA reiterated its “longstanding league policy” to include the song. The league’s initial reaction to Cuban’s decision was to say teams were free to conduct pregame activities as they wished with the unusual circumstances created by the coronavirus pandemic. Most teams don’t have fans at home games. But the NBA abruptly reversed course with Cuban’s decision reverberating around the country, including a question put to White House press secretary Jen Psaki during her daily briefing.
February 11, 2021 3:39 am
UNDATED (AP) – The Philadelphia Phillies and shortstop Didi Gregorius have finalized a two-year, $28 million contract. Gregorius batted .284 with 10 homers, 40 RBIs and an .827 OPS in 60 games in his first season with the Phillies. He hit .274 and averaged 20 homers and 75 RBIs over four seasons with the Yankees between 2015-18. The Phillies also agreed to minor league contracts with right-hander Brandon Kintzler and outfielder Matt Joyce, inviting both to spring training as non-roster players. In other MLB news, the Yankees have signed side-arming reliever Darren O’Day to a one-year deal that includes a mutual club option for 2022. O’Day was 4-0 with a 1.10 ERA in 16 1/3 innings over 19 games last year with Atlanta, striking out 22 and walking five while allowing eight hits.
February 11, 2021 3:37 am
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) – Hendrick Motorsports has swept the front row for the Daytona 500 with Alex Bowman and William Byron. Bowman posted a lap at 191.261 mph to earn Hendrick its sixth Daytona 500 pole in seven years. It’s the fourth consecutive year Bowman will start from the front row. William Byron made it a Hendrick sweep with a lap at 190.219 mph. Only the front row was set Wednesday night.
February 10, 2021 2:32 am
The fields have been reduced, the schedule compacted, all lingering effects of COVID-19. But the WPIAL Team Wrestling Tournaments continue Wednesday night. Following the Section Dual Meet Championships, the top two finishers have qualified for the WPIAL tourneys. Kiski Area, winner of Section 1-AAA, notified the WPIAL that they are pulling out of team matches, seeking to protect their wrestlers for the upcoming individual tournaments which start next week.
Waynesburg is the top seed in Triple-A, having steamrolled their way through the regular season. The Raiders get a first-round bye due to Kiski’s withdrawal and await the Thomas Jefferson/North Allegheny winner. Those matches will be wrestled at Canon-McMillan at the request of Waynesburg, so as to allow some fans to attend. #7 Peters Township will travel to #2 Seneca Valley, a match we’ll carry on WJPA-AM (1450) and online Wednesday at 5:50 pm.
Double-A has a six-team field headed by #1 Burrell and #2 Burgettstown, last year’s finalists. Both get byes in the quarterfinals round and are hosting. Burgettstown will meet the Beth-Center/Montour winner while Burrell awaits the Quaker Valley/Mt. Pleasant victor. Burrell has won 14 straight WPIAL Team Wrestling titles. We’ll have all the action from Burgettstown on WJPA-FM (95.3) and online beginning Wednesday at 5:50 pm.
The finals in both brackets are scheduled for Saturday at Canon-McMillan, Double-A at 12 noon, Triple-A at 2;30 pm.
Follow all the action of the 2021 WPIAL/PIAA Wrestling tournaments here.
February 10, 2021 2:42 am
PITTSBURGH (AP) – The Pittsburgh Penguins have hired former rival Ron Hextall as the team’s new general manager. Hextall played goaltender for 11 seasons for the Philadelphia Flyers and later served as the team’s general manager. Hextall replaces Hall of Famer Jim Rutherford, who resigned abruptly last month. The Penguins also hired longtime NHL executive Brian Burke as the team’s director of hockey operations. Patrik Allvin, who served as interim general manager following Rutherford’s departure, will stay on staff as assistant GM.
