January 25, 2021 4:03 am
PITTSBURGH (AP) – Jake Guentzel scored the 100th goal of his NHL career with less than two minutes remaining, rallying the Pittsburgh Penguins to a 3-2 win over the New York Rangers. Guentzel’s goal at 18:29 was his second of the season. Bryan Rust also scored and Tristan Jarry made 20 saves for the Penguins. Colin Blackwell and Ryan Strome scored for the Rangers.
January 25, 2021 4:29 am
NEW YORK (AP) – The New York Yankees have made a second offseason addition to their starting rotation, acquiring Jameson Taillon from the Pittsburgh Pirates for four prospects. Pittsburgh received right-handers Roansy Contreras and Miguel Yajure, infielder Maikol Escotto and outfielder Canaan Smith. A 29-year-old right-hander, Taillon has not pitched since May 2019 following his second Tommy John surgery. He joins a rotation headed by his former Pirates teammate Gerrit Cole. It also is projected to include Deivi García, Jordan Montgomery and Corey Kluber, who has a pending $11 million, one-year contract subject to a successful physical. In addition, Luis Severino is expected to return from Tommy John surgery last Feb. 27.
January 24, 2021 1:02 am
Trinity and Chartiers Valley girls basketball teams were on a collision course last March with a showdown looming in the PIAA semifinals. One week earlier, both had won second round games and their quarterfinal opponents were set. Then, PIAA hit the “pause” button on winter playoffs due to COVID-19 and, ultimately, the championships were cancelled along with all spring sports. Saturday afternoon, the two teams finally met, coached by the McConnell siblings (Kathy–Trinity, Tim–Chartiers Valley). The Colts hadn’t lost since March 10, 2018 and set a new PIAA girls basketball record earlier in the week with their 64th straight victory. That streak ended Saturday when Trinity scored a 49-42 win over the two-time defending WPIAL champion in front of about 50 fans, a crowd limited under the on-going pandemic restrictions.
We will bring you an Encore Presentation of Saturday’s game Sunday, starting at 12:30 pm on WJPA-AM (1450) and online here.
January 24, 2021 1:11 am
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — Ismael Massoud had a career-high 31 points and made 8 of 10 from 3-point range, Wake Forest coach Steve Forbes earned the first ACC win of his coaching career, and the Demon Deacons beat Pittsburgh 76-75 on Saturday. Massoud’s eight 3s tied for third best in program history (Craig Dawson 11, 2002; Randolph Childress 9, 1995). Childress is currently an assistant coach for Wake Forest. Massoud made all five of his 3-point attempts in the first half and his final 3-pointer gave the Demon Deacons their largest lead at 75-65 with 4:49 left. Massoud, whose previous career high was 17 points, had a scoreless night in Wednesday’s 80-73 loss to North Carolina. The Demon Deacons (4-6, 1-6) never led until Jonah Antonio made it 60-57 with 9:45 left on the second of his three straight 3-pointers. Those 3s came late in Wake Forest’s 26-5 run that ended at 66-57 with 8:17 to go. Pitt (8-3, 4-2) was coming into the game with a three-game winning streak including back-to-back wins over Syracuse and a 79-73 win over Duke on Tuesday. The Panthers had a 10-1 run to cut the deficit to one and forced a turnover with 5.3 seconds left that gave them an inbounds play from the frontcourt sideline, but Xavier Johnson missed a pull-up jumper and Wake Forest’s Ody Oguama grabbed the rebound just before time expired. Johnson had 14 points and eight assists. Justin Champagnie had 17 points, eight rebounds and a career-high five steals for Pitt. Abdoul Karim Coulibaly added 15 points, and Au’Diese Toney scored 11.
January 24, 2021 1:13 am
MANHATTAN, Kan. — — Miles McBride scored 18 points to help No. 14 West Virginia beat Kansas State 69-47 on Saturday in the Mountaineers’ first game in two weeks because of COVID-19 protocols. Jalen Bridges added 12 points and Taz Sherman had 10 for West Virginia (10-4, 3-3 Big 12). Mike McGuirl led Kansas State (5-11, 1-7) with 15 points, and Selton Miguel had 10. The Wildcats had 28 turnovers, the most by a Big 12 team this season and the most in a game under coach Bruce Weber. West Virginia scored 26 points off those mistakes. The Wildcats got within eight points in the second half, but Sherman hit a two 3-pointers in an 8-0 run for West Virginia. Huggins said this was good because the team hasn’t been all together in 14 days.
January 24, 2021 1:14 am
The Detroit Lions and quarterback Matthew Stafford are planning to part ways. The Lions and Stafford have mutually agreed to explore the possibilities of trading him, according to a person with direct knowledge of the situation. The person spoke Saturday night to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the team and Stafford did not announce the decision. Stafford expressed an interest in being traded after the season ended and the team responded by tabling the idea until a new general manager and coach were hired, the person said. Stafford was on a call with Lions general manager Brad Holmes and coach Dan Campbell earlier this week, according to the person, and they discussed moving on without each other. Detroit drafted Stafford No. 1 overall in 2009 and he has two years left on a $135 million, five-year contract.
January 23, 2021 4:06 am
PITTSBURGH (AP) – Kris Letang scored in the final round of a shootout to lift the Pittsburgh Penguins to a 4-3 victory over the New York Rangers. Letang ripped a backhand over Igor Shesterkin to put the Penguins in front. Tristan Jarry collected his first win of the season when he stuffed New York’s Tony DeAngelo moments later. Bryan Rust and Jared McCann collected their first goals of the season for Pittsburgh and Teddy Blueger scored his second. Filip Chytil, Adam Fox and Kaapo Kakko scored for the Rangers but New York let a two-goal lead slip away.
January 23, 2021 4:04 am
The Pittsburgh Pirates announced a change to their coaching staff. Christian Marrero was added to the staff as the Assistant Major League Hitting Coach. Marrero comes to the Pirates from the Phillies organization where he spent the last three years as a hitting coach at Lakewood, and Williamsport. The former outfielder played parts of 12 seasons in the minor leagues with the White Sox, Pirates, Braves and Phillies organization. Marrero will work with hitting coach Rick Eckstein. Marrero will replace Mike Rabello. He is transitioning to a new position on the big league staff as Major League Field Coordinator.
January 23, 2021 4:08 am
(AP) – The Kansas City Chiefs will have their starting quarterback for the AFC championship game. Patrick Mahomes has been cleared from the league’s concussion protocol after his third consecutive day of practice and will be under center when Kansas City plays the Bills on Sunday. Mahomes was hurt in the third quarter of the Chiefs’ divisional-round win over Cleveland.
January 23, 2021 4:04 am
ATLANTA (AP) – The baseball great and one-time home run king Hank Aaron has died. The Atlanta Braves said he died peacefully in his sleep early Friday. No cause was given. Aaron endured racist threats with stoic dignity during his pursuit of Babe Ruth but went on to break the career home run record in the pre-steroids era. “Hammerin’ Hank” set a wide array of records during a 23-year career spent mostly with the Milwaukee and Atlanta Braves, including RBIs, extra-base hits and total bases. But the Hall of Famer will be remembered for one swing above all others, the one that made him baseball’s home-run king., died early Friday. Hank Aaron was 86.
