May 1, 2021 10:17 am
PALM HARBOR, Fla. (AP) – Sam Burns and Keegan Bradley share the lead heading into the third round of the PGA’s Valspar Championship in Florida. Burns surged up the leaderboard with an 8-under 63 to catch up with Bradley who carded a 66. Bradley ended his 65 by holing out for eagle from 100 yards in the ninth fairway, over a deep bunker to the elevated green. The shot left him guessing until he saw the fans jump out of their seats. They are four strokes ahead of Lucas Glover, Max Homa and Charley Hoffman. Phil Mickelson bogeyed two of his final three holes and missed the cut by one shot.
May 1, 2021 10:15 am
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) – The Kentucky Derby is back in its traditional spot on the sports calendar – the first Saturday in May. After getting postponed until September last year because of the pandemic, it returns today with about 45,000 fans in attendance – about 100,000 fewer than usual. Essential Quality is the early 2-1 favorite in a field of 19 horses. The 147th edition could be one of several firsts. A Black jockey could win for the first time in 119 years and a female trainer could win for the first time. Trainer Bob Baffert, a six-time winner, goes for his record seventh, albeit with a 15-1 shot.
May 1, 2021 4:06 am
PITTSBURGH (AP) -Matt Carpenter hit his second pinch, three-run home run in as many days and the St. Louis Cardinals beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 7-3. Carpenter connected off Duane Underwood Jr. in the sixth inning to put the Cardinals ahead 6-1. Carpenter took the Philadelphia Phillies’ Aaron Nola deep Thursday in a game the Cardinals won 4-3 in 10 innings. St. Louis’ Tyler O’Neill had three hits, including a leadoff home run in the fourth inning. Nolan Arenado hit two run-scoring bloop doubles as St. Louis won for the sixth time in eight games.
May 1, 2021 4:03 am
PITTSBURGH (AP) – The Pittsburgh Steelers are intent on giving Ben Roethlisberger as many weapons as possible before he calls it a career. The Steelers selected Penn State tight end Pat Freiermuth in the second round of the draft. The team ignored major concerns along the offensive line to address depth at tight end after Vance McDonald retired in January. The pick is the second at an offensive skill position in as many selections for the Steelers. Pittsburgh selected running back Najee Harris in the first round. The Steelers selected Illinois offensive lineman Kendrick Green in the third round.
May 1, 2021 4:01 am
(AP) – The Pittsburgh Penguins are happy but not satisfied after clinching a 15th straight playoff berth. Pittsburgh’s postseason streak is the longest active streak in major North American professional sports. The team’s celebration after a victory over Washington that clinched a spot in the Stanley Cup playoffs was muted. While head coach Mike Sullivan praised his team for its hard work, he said it only sets the stage for the “real fun” that will begin when the postseason starts in a little over two weeks.
April 30, 2021 3:53 am
PITTSBURGH (AP) – The Pittsburgh Steelers are turning to Alabama star Najee Harris to give their running game a jolt. The Steelers selected Harris with the 24th overall pick in the NFL draft. They hope he can help a rushing attack that finished dead last in the NFL in yards rushing in 2020. Pittsburgh is looking to maximize whatever time left it has with veteran quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. The 39-year-old restructured his contract to ensure he would be back for an 18th season. Harris provided the opportunity to grab a player who could make an immediate impact.
April 30, 2021 3:57 am
PITTSBURGH (AP) – The Pittsburgh Steelers have signed backup quarterback Mason Rudolph to a one-year contract extension through the 2022 season. The team made the move just moments before the start of the 2021 draft, indicating they will not be shopping for veteran Ben Roethlisberger’s replacement with the 24th overall pick. Rudolph is 5-3 as a starter, completing 176 of 283 passes for 1,765 yards and 13 touchdowns and nine interceptions. Rudolph was entering the final year of his rookie contract. The extension gives the Steelers a bit of continuity at the position with Roethlisberger perhaps entering the final season of his career.
April 30, 2021 3:56 am
WASHINGTON (AP) – Jake Guentzel scored his 22nd goal 2:11 into overtime to lift the Pittsburgh Penguins to a 5-4 victory over the Washington Capitals in a result that clinched both teams’ place in the playoffs. Guentzel’s winner on a one-time redirection of John Marino’s pass came after Washington’s Tom Wilson forced overtime with 14.3 seconds to play. The result, combined with the New York Islanders’ regulation win over the New York Rangers, ensures both teams will be among the Eastern Division’s four playoff teams.
April 29, 2021 2:26 am
Softball teams had a full slate of games ahead of the early evening rain. Canon-McMillan couldn’t hold a late two-run lead, losing at Baldwin and dropping into fourth place in 6A Section 1. Trinity beat Moon for the second time this year, opening a two-game lead over the Tigers for the last 5A Section 4 playoff berth. Ringgold lost to Uniontown, forcing the Rams into a win-out situation with four games remaining. McGuffey swept a doubleheader from Brownsville to stay alive in 3A Section 3. OLSH rallied from three runs down to beat Burgettstown in 2A Section 1 while Chartiers-Houston run-ruled Fort Cherry. Bentworth’s win over Beth-Center keeps the Bearcats in the race for the fourth playoff berth in 2A Section 3. Avella lost to Greensburg Central Catholic, putting the Eagles into a must-win situation with three games left to play.
Wednesday, we learned that Sto-Rox would be unable to play the remainder of its 2A Section 1 schedule. The Vikings had only played three games. Because Sto-Rox had played one section opponent twice, the WPIAL has declared all unplayed section games as forfeits, games that can not be replaced on the Vikings’ opponents schedules.
Just after noon today, the WPIAL Office released news that Wash High is not able to complete its softball schedule due to several COVID shutdowns at the school over the past month. The Little Prexies had played only one game (vs. Charleroi) in 2A Section 3. The League has declared forfeits to the other section opponents for one game each and declared the second scheduled games as “no contest” leaving the door open for those schools to pick a replacement game so long as they do not exceed the PIAA-established 20-game maximum.
April 29, 2021 3:54 am
PITTSBURGH (AP) – Jorge Soler had two doubles among his three hits and drove in three runs to lead Kansas City over the Pittsburgh Pirates 9-6 and improve the Royals’ record to a major league-best 15-8. Soler’s doubles sparked three-run rallies in the first and sixth innings, the latter stretching the lead to 9-5. Kansas City won for the sixth time in seven games. Salvador Pérez also had three of Kansas City’s 12 hits. Hunter Dozier hit a two-run triple and Andrew Benintendi added a two-run double.
