February 5, 2021 3:52 am
UNDATED (AP) – With COVID-19 problems cropping up and four teams currently idled, the NHL has revised its virus protocols in a bid to keep the shortened season on track. Glass panels have been removed from behind benches for better air flow. Players and coaches are not allowed at the arena until 1 hour and 45 minutes before the game unless they’re getting treatment for injuries and all meetings must be virtual. The 31 teams were also told to space out locker rooms more to provide 6 feet between people. The moves were made as the NHL sees some concerning trends, including 40 players on the COVID-19 unavailable list. In the first three weeks of the season, about 90 players have appeared on the list, which can include a positive test result unconfirmed or confirmed, symptomatic isolation, high risk close contact or quarantine for travel purposes.
February 4, 2021 3:51 am
PITTSBURGH (AP) – Xavier Johnson scored a career-high 32 points and Pittsburgh beat No. 16 Virginia Tech 83-72 to end a three-game skid. Johnson had been slumping and was held out of Pitt’s starting lineup for the first time this season and second time in his three-year career. He shot 11 of 17 from the floor, including 4 of 7 from 3-point range, as the Panthers had their way against a usually stingy Virginia Tech defense. Pittsburgh beat a ranked opponent for the first time since January 2019. Keve Aluma scored 30 points on 10-of-16 shooting for the Hokies, who were coming off a win over then-No. 8 Virginia.
February 4, 2021 3:56 am
Former NFL head coach and Fort Cherry High School grad Marty Schottenheimer was moved to a hospice facility near his home in Charlotte, North Carolina, on Saturday because of complications from Alzheimer’s disease, his family said Wednesday in a statement given to ESPN’s Chris Mortensen. He is listed in stable condition. “As a family we are surrounding him with love,” his wife, Pat, said in a statement, also speaking on behalf of the couple’s children, Kristin and Brian, “and are soaking up the prayers and support from all those he impacted through his incredible life. In the way he taught us all, we are putting one foot in front of the other … one play at a time.” Schottenheimer, 77, was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in 2014. Schottenheimer, who coached the Browns, Chiefs, Washington and Chargers, posted a 205-139-1 career record, including the playoffs. He was named the NFL’s Coach of the Year in 2004 with the Chargers. His NFL career ended in 2006 following a 14-2 season with the Chargers and a divisional-round exit from the playoffs.
February 4, 2021 3:52 am
UNDATED (AP) – The Minnesota Twins are bringing back 40-year-old designated hitter Nelson Cruz on a one-year, $13 million contract, according to a person with knowledge of the negotiations.
Cruz last season batted .303 with 16 home runs, 33 RBIs and a .992 OPS in 53 games during the pandemic-shortened schedule. He has led the team in homers in each of his two years with the Twins while ranking second and fourth, respectively, in the AL in OPS. The six-time All-Star won Silver Slugger awards in 2019 and 2020, when the Twins won the AL Central both seasons.
No player in the major leagues has more home runs over the last seven seasons than Cruz’s 260.
February 4, 2021 2:22 am
The WPIAL Wrestling dual meet regular season ended Wednesday for Team Tournament qualifiers. The final determinations of exactly who those qualifiers are will be made over the next two days–some decisions on the mats, others in the Wrestling Committee meeting on Thursday morning. The second part is due to COVID-19 issues that have left some teams unable to complete their Sub-Section schedules.
Waynesburg removed all doubts about the AAA Section 4A top spot, cruising past Trinity, 54-6. The Raiders will host the Section 4 Dual Meet Championships Monday night, facing the Section 4B runner-up. Canon-McMillan wrapped up the second spot behind the Raiders with a 67-6 win over South Fayette.
AAA Section 4B could give the WPIAL Wrestling Committee some headaches. Peters Township (4-0), Ringgold (3-1) and Mt. Lebanon (2-1) are all in the running for two Section Dual Meet berths. Peters Township’s match at Ringgold Wednesday was cancelled due to a COVID closure at Peters Township. Mt. Lebanon beat Ringgold earlier this year but will not wrestle either Bethel Park or Upper St. Clair due to masking policy differences between the school districts.
Section Dual Meet semifinals/championships are set for Monday. We’ll have full coverage from Section 1-AA and Section 4-AAA. Only the semifinal winners in each section advance to the WPIAL Team Tournaments.
In AA, Beth-Center rolled past McGuffey Tuesday, 51-24, claiming the top spot out of Sub-Section 1B. The Bulldogs had already clinched a berth in the Section Dual Meet Championships and will face Fort Cherry, the 1A runner-up to Burgettstown. McGuffey topped Frazier, 54-21 Wednesday, clinching the other 1B berth on the line. The Highlanders will face Burgettstown in Monday’s Section Dual Meet semifinals.
February 3, 2021 3:56 am
PITTSBURGH (AP) – Grant Jackson, the winning pitcher in Game 7 of the 1979 World Series for the Pittsburgh Pirates, has died from COVID-19 complications. He was 78. Jackson was a reliable left-hander for 18 seasons in the majors. He was 86-75 with 79 saves and a 3.46 ERA in 692 games from 1965-82. He was 3-0 with a 2.55 ERA in 13 postseason appearances. Jackson was an NL All-Star in 1969 with pitched in the World Series with Baltimore in 1971, the New York Yankees in 1976 and the ’79 Pirates.
February 3, 2021 3:53 am
PITTSBURGH (AP) – The Pittsburgh Steelers are turning to Adrian Klemm to help turn around the team’s underachieving offensive line. The Steelers have promoted the three-time Super Bowl champion to offensive line coach. The 43-year-old Klemm replaces Shaun Sarrett. Sarrett was fired by the Steelers last month after Pittsburgh finished last in the NFL in yards rushing and yards per rushing attempt in 2020. Klemm, who spent the past two years as Sarrett’s assistant, takes over a unit that’s on the verge of major change.
February 3, 2021 3:52 am
NEW YORK (AP) – The Pittsburgh Penguins are hoping to use some unexpected time off to fix their power play. The NHL postponed Pittsburgh’s two games against New Jersey due to a COVID-19 outbreak among the Devils. The postponement gives Pittsburgh four straight days off, a rarity during the pandemic-shortened season. Coach Mike Sullivan says he’s going to use the break to address Pittsburgh’s power-play issues while also giving the players some time off.
February 2, 2021 3:51 am
NEW YORK (AP) – Chris Kreider scored a power-play goal in the third period, helping the New York Rangers to a 3-1 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins. Artemi Panarin had a goal and two assists and Kevin Rooney added a goal for New York. Igor Shesterkin made 25 saves as the Rangers snapped a three-game losing streak against Pittsburgh. Jason Zucker scored and Casey DeSmith made 21 saves for the Penguins in their fifth road loss this season. Penguins were 1 for 6 on the power play in the loss.
February 2, 2021 3:55 am
UNDATED (AP) – The Major League Baseball Players Association has won a scheduling battle with owners. MLB will proceed with an on-time start to spring training and the season after players rejected a plan Monday night to delay reporting by a more than a month. Management proposed to the players’ association on Friday that the start of spring training be pushed back from Feb. 17 to March 22, that opening day be delayed from April 1 to April 28 and that each team’s schedule be cut from 162 games to 154. As part of the offer, MLB included the expansion of the playoffs from 10 teams to 14 and extending the designated hitter to the National League for the second straight season, a plan the union rejected Jan. 6.
