August 14, 2021 4:42 am
Brownsville, Tx scored a walk-off win in the bottom of the 10th, downing San Jose, CA, 1-0. Jai Arenas singled to left and moved to third on Christopher Ramos’ double of the fence in right. After an intentional walk and a strikeout, Juan Garza fouled off a one-strike bunt attempt, then put down a successful squeeze to win the game. It’s the first 1-0 game at the PONY World Series since 2006 when Brownsville lost to West Tokyo. Brownsville pitchers struck out a record-tying 10 consecutive batters from the fifth through the eighth innings. But San Jose starter Zack Koontz held the Texans to just one hit through 7-and-a-third innings before leaving due to pitch count restrictions. The game was twice delayed by lightning for a total of nearly 80 minutes.
August 14, 2021 4:40 am
PITTSBURGH (AP) – A game scheduled between the Milwaukee Brewers and Pittsburgh Pirates on Friday night was postponed because of rain and will be made up as part of a day-night doubleheader Saturday. The first game will be played at 2:35 p.m. and the nightcap at 7:05 p.m. Both games are scheduled for seven innings under pandemic rules. Friday’s game was called 1 hour, 5 minutes after the scheduled start time. A heavy thunderstorm swept through the area about an hour before the game was eventually postponed, and the weather forecast called for more rain.
August 14, 2021 4:41 am
(AP) – ESPN will be using young broadcasters as part of the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pennsylvania. The first of two KidsCast presentations will be the MLB Little League Classic between the Los Angeles Angels and Cleveland Indians on Aug. 22. The ESPN2 broadcast will complement the main feed on ESPN. Two nights later, one of the Little League World Series games will serve as the standalone telecast on ESPN. This is the second time the network has done a KidsCast from the Little League World Series. Mo’ne Davis, the ácelebrated pitcher for Pennsylvania in the Little League World Series in 2014, will be an analyst for a second time. She was in the booth in 2019 and now attends Hampton University.
August 12, 2021 2:49 am
The 69th PONY League World Series opens Friday night at Washington Park. Eight teams will battle for the championship in a two-division double-elimination format. Friday’s game include Brownsville, TX, San Jose, CA, Manchester, NH and Johnstown, PA. First-round games Saturday pit Bay County, MI against Bayamon, PR followed by Washington County taking on Youngstown, OH. WJPA-AM (1450) will serve as the Radio Home of the World Series as we have each year. Game will be available on-air and online: Listen Here! This year’s tournament is the 58th played in Washington, the 57th at Lew Hays PONY Field, the world’s first PONY-sized diamond. San Jose and Manchester are making first-ever appearances. Bay County is here for the 14th time. Johnstown claimed its 10th berth with the Host Area championship. Bayamon is in the field for the 8th time while Youngstown makes its 7th appearance. Brownsville won the South Zone, earning a sixth trip to Washington, where the Hosts have been in the field every year since 1984, including a 1955 championship and multiple runner-up finishes, the last coming in 1998.
August 13, 2021 3:48 am
PHILADELPHIA (AP) – Dwayne Haskins continued his push for the backup quarterback spot. He threw for 161 yards and a touchdown to lead the Pittsburgh Steelers to a 24-16 win over the Philadelphia Eagles. Ben Roethlisberger sat out Pittsburgh’s second preseason game. Mason Rudolph has been the team’s backup for the past three seasons and just may keep that job. Haskins is making a run at the backup spot. Jalen Hurts played two series for the Eagles and was a modest 3 of 7 for 54 yards. Eagles coach Nick Sirianni made his debut on the sideline. He replaced the fired Doug Pederson.
August 13, 2021 2:51 am
PITTSBURGH (AP) – Six St. Louis relievers combined to allow three runs in seven innings, Paul DeJong and Lars Nootbaar homered, and the Cardinals hung on to beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 7-6 on Thursday, completing a three-game sweep. The Cardinals bullpen was pressed into duty after starter Wade LeBlanc exited with left elbow pain. He gave up three runs on three hits in two innings. St. Louis has won five of six overall and 10 straight games at Pittsburgh. The Cardinals’ last loss at PNC Park came on Sept. 17, 2020. Colin Moran homered twice for the Pirates, who have been outscored 50-18 during an eight-game losing streak.
August 12, 2021 3:52 am
UNDATED (AP) – Pennsylvania golf courses already have hosted 88 USGA championships and more are on the way. The USGA identified Oakmont as one of its anchor sites for the U.S. Open. The course outside Pittsburgh already has had a record nine U.S. Opens. It had already been announced as the 2025 host and will get three more through 2049, along with two U.S. Women’s Opens. Merion outside Philadelphia was awarded two U.S. Opens and two U.S. Women’s Opens. The USGA now has Pinehurst No. 2 in North Carolina and Oakmont as anchor sites for a rotation of U.S. Open venues. Pebble Beach, Shinnecock Hills and Winged Foot are in discussions to join them.
August 11, 2021 3:50 am
PITTSBURGH (AP) – J.A. Happ combined with a trio of relievers on a one-hitter, Tommy Edman and Paul DeJong homered early and the St. Louis Cardinals beat the skidding Pittsburgh Pirates 4-1. Happ retired the first nine batters, then gave up rookie Hoy Park’s first career home run to lead off the fourth inning. Making his second start for the Cardinals since being acquired from the Twins in a July 30 trade, Happ struck out five and walked two. Happ took a no-hit bid into the eighth inning against the Pirates on April 23 at Minnesota and wound up allowing one hit in 7 2/3 innings.
August 11, 2021 3:51 am
PITTSBURGH (AP) – Safety Minkah Fitzpatrick let his on-field play do the talking during his first two seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers. This year, the two-time All-Pro intends to be more of a vocal leader. Pittsburgh acquired Fitzpatrick in a trade with Miami in 2019 and he immediately improved the Steelers’ defense with dynamic plays. Fitzpatrick has nine interceptions, three fumble recoveries and two forced fumbles in less than two seasons with Pittsburgh. He has even drawn comparisons to Hall of Fame Steelers safety Troy Polamalu.
August 11, 2021 3:54 am
UNDATED (AP) -Tony Esposito, a Hall of Fame goaltender who played almost his entire 16-year career with the Chicago Blackhawks, has died following a brief battle with pancreatic cancer. He was 78. Esposito debuted with Montreal during the 1968-69 season and appeared in 13 games. He was then taken by the Blackhawks in an intra-league draft, quickly emerging as one of the league’s best goalies. He won the Calder Trophy in 1970 as the NHL’s best rookie as well as the Vezina Trophy given to the top goaltender. He also won the Vezina in 1972 and 1974.
