Category: Saturday Sports Slam

Pirates sign Kevin Siegrist to Minor League contract!!!

On Saturday, Pittsburgh signed left-handed reliever Kevin Siegrist to a Minor League contract with an invite to big league camp. Siegrist, 28, will compete for a spot in the Bucs’ Opening Day bullpen.

Siegrist has spent most of his career in the National League Central, as he pitched for the Cardinals from 2013 until he was designated for assignment last August. The Phillies claimed him off waivers last September.

Siegrist was a durable, effective reliever for the Cardinals from 2015-16. He posted a 2.44 ERA, 1.14 WHIP and 3.8 Wins Above Replacement in 136 1/3 innings over 148 appearances. But he struggled last season, recording a 4.81 ERA and 1.55 WHIP in 39 1/3 innings over 46 appearances.

Pens win 6th Straight 6-1 over Carolina!!!

Kessel, Malkin lead Pens past Canes 6-1 for 6th straight win
By JOEDY McCREARY, AP Sports Writer
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Phil Kessel and Evgeni Malkin each had two goals and an assist and the Pittsburgh Penguins routed the Carolina Hurricanes 6-1 on Friday night for their season-best sixth straight victory.
Jake Guentzel had a goal and two assists, Sidney Crosby scored a late goal and Olli Maatta also scored. The Penguins took control with three goals — two by Kessel — in a 7:39 span in the second period.
Matt Murray made 27 saves for Pittsburgh, which has won 11 of 13 to overtake idle Washington for first place in the Metropolitan Division. Since the Penguins were shut out by Carolina on Jan. 4, they are 16-3-1.
They were just as busy off the ice, completing a mid-game trade in which they picked up center Derick Brassard from the Ottawa Senators. As part of the complicated three-team deal, they sent defenseman Ian Cole to Ottawa and forward Ryan Reaves to the Vegas Golden Knights.
Teuvo Teravainen scored and Cam Ward stopped 33 shots for the short-handed Hurricanes, who have gone 0-3-1 during a four-game slide that’s keeping them outside the Eastern Conference playoff race.
They played without physical center Jordan Staal, who missed the game because of a family concern — and his absence certainly was felt against Crosby, Malkin, Kessel and the rest of the two-time Stanley Cup champions’ lineup.
Kessel capped a fast-paced flurry of scoring early in the second period, scoring two goals in 2 minutes, 14 seconds for his third two-goal game of the season.
After Teravainen pulled the Hurricanes to 2-1, Kessel blasted a feed from Guentzel past Ward at 6:11. Kessel then effectively put the game out of reach by stuffing the puck past Ward for his 26th goal of the season, with a brief official review confirming that the puck completely crossed the red line.
NOTES: LW Carl Hagelin thought he had a goal for Pittsburgh early in the third, but it was erased when an official review determined the puck was kicked into the net. … Pittsburgh RW Patric Hornqvist returned after missing eight games with a lower-body injury. … Carolina D Jaccob Slavin became the fifth player in franchise history to play in 200 consecutive games.
UP NEXT
Penguins: Wrap up their three-game trip Saturday night at Florida.
Hurricanes: Begin a three-game trip Saturday night at Detroit.
___
More AP NHL: www.apnews.com/tag/NHLhockey

WPIAL Quarterfinal Basketball: February 23, 2018

Last night FIVE teams advanced to the WPIAL semifinals in the basketball playoffs, ensuring that at least two county teams will be at the Petersen Events Center for the WPIAL Basketball Championships. Tonight, another possible berth could be secured for Beaver County.

Here’s all of last night’s results, as well as sites and times for tonight’s games in the WPIAL:

BOYS

Thursday’s Scores
[3A] Aliquippa 53, Riverside 50
[3A] Lincoln Park 89, Burgettstown 64
[1A] Cornell 71, Clairton 66
[3A] CW North Catholic 47, Washington 34
[3A] Seton-LaSalle 74, Shady Side Academy 52
[1A] Imani Christian 61, Monessen 59
[1A] Union 67, Eden Christian 52
[1A] Vincentian 62, Propel Andrew Street 51

8:00pm
[5A] Moon vs. Franklin Regional (at North Hills) [WMBA]
[2A] OLSH vs. Springdale (at Canon-McMillan)
[2A] Sewickley Academy vs. Leechburg (at Northgate)
[5A] West Allegheny vs. Highlands (at Fox Chapel)
[5A] Hampton vs. Mars (at Butler)
[5A] Trinity vs. McKeesport (at Baldwin)
[2A] Shenango vs. Jeannette (at Gateway)
[2A] Serra Catholic vs. Chartiers-Houston (at Peters Twp.)

GIRLS

Thursday’s Scores
[4A] Blackhawk 60, Elizabeth Forward 57
[4A] Central Valley 62, Keystone Oaks 46
[4A] Beaver 63, Belle Vernon 32
[4A] CW North Catholic 49, Ambridge 42
[2A] Brentwood 51, OLSH 31
[2A] Vincentian 64, California 31
[2A] Chartiers-Houston 52, Leechburg 45
[2A] Serra Catholic 53, Greensburg Central Catholic 39

6:30pm
[1A] Rochester vs. West Greene (at Canon-McMillan) [WBVP/WMBA]
[1A] Quigley Catholic vs. St. Joseph (at Butler)
[1A] Cornell vs. Winchester-Thurston (at North Hills)
[1A] Sewickley Academy vs. Aquinas Academy (at Northgate)
[6A] Latrobe vs. Bethel Park (at Gateway)
[6A] Mt. Lebanon vs. Norwin (at Peters Twp.)
[6A] Hempfield vs. Peters Township (at Baldwin)
[6A] Upper St. Clair vs. North Allegheny (at Fox Chapel)

Pirates acquire 2017 All-Star Cory Dickerson from the Rays

The Pittsburgh Pirates today acquired outfielder Corey Dickerson from the Tampa Bay Rays in exchange for pitcher Daniel Hudson, minor league infielder Tristan Gray and cash considerations. The announcement was made by Executive Vice President, General Manager Neal Huntington.

The 28-year-old Dickerson was named to the 2017 American League All-Star team after hitting .282 (166-for-588) with 33 doubles, four triples, a career-high 27 home runs, 62 RBI, .325 OBP, .490 slugging percentage and .815 OPS in 150 games with the Rays.

“Corey Dickerson adds a quality power threat to our lineup as evidenced by his 60-plus extra base hits and 20-plus home runs each of the last two seasons,” said Huntington. “Corey is a driven player who will also add a quality presence to our clubhouse.”

Dickerson broke into the big leagues in 2013 with Colorado and played in 69 games during his first season with the Rockies. In 2014 during his first full season with Colorado, the left-handed hitting Dickerson hit .312 with 27 doubles, six triples, 24 home runs and 76 RBI in 131 games. He ended the 2014 campaign with a team-leading 24 home runs and 57 extra base hits while finishing second on the team with 76 RBI. He also fell 24 plate appearances shy of qualifying for the National League batting title.

Dickerson has produced a career average of .280 (546-for-1952) with 127 doubles, 20 triples, 90 home runs, 256 RBI, .325 OBP, .504 slugging percentage and .829 OPS in 563 games between Colorado (2013-15) and Tampa Bay (2016-17).

 

WPIAL Quarterfinal Basketball: February 22, 2018

The first round of the WPIAL basketball playoffs are over, and the quarterfinals get started tonight. While several county teams have bowed out, others begin their trek toward the top tonight.

Here’s a list of all the games from last night and tonight, including our doubleheader that starts coverage at 6:00pm:

BOYS

Wednseday’s Scores
[4A] Uniontown 59, Central Valley 57
[4A] Ambridge 62, Deer Lakes 56
[4A] Valley 76, South Park 69
[4A] South Fayette 48, Freeport 45

6:30pm
[3A] Aliquippa vs. Riverside (at Ambridge) [WBVP/WMBA]

7:30pm
[1A] Cornell vs. Clairton (at Peters Twp.)
[1A] Imani Christian vs. Monessen (at Chartiers-Houston)

8:00pm
[3A] Lincoln Park vs. Burgettstown (at Ambridge) [WBVP/WMBA]
[3A] CW North Catholic vs. Washington (at Moon)
[3A] Shady Side Academy vs. Seton-LaSalle (at Sewickley Academy)
[1A] Propel Andrew Street vs. Vincentian (at Northgate)
[1A] Eden Christian vs. Union (at Fox Chapel)

GIRLS

Wednseday’s Scores
[3A] Laurel 45, South Side Beaver 33
[3A] Seton-LaSalle 50, Riverside 48
[3A] Avonworth 67, South Allegheny 30
[3A] Apollo-Ridge 47, Charleroi 35

6:30pm
[4A] Ambridge vs. CW North Catholic (at Moon)
[4A] Beaver vs. Belle Vernon (at Canon-McMillan)
[2A] OLSH vs. Brentwood (at Sewickley Academy)
[2A] Leechburg vs. Chartiers-Houston (at West Allegheny)
[2A] Vincentian vs. California (at Northgate)
[2A] Serra Catholic vs. Greensburg Central Catholic (at Fox Chapel)

8:00pm
[4A] Blackhawk vs. Elizabeth Forward (at Canon-McMillan)
[4A] Central Valley vs. Keystone Oaks (at West Allegheny)

Final Scores 2-21-18

WMBA

Deer Lakes-56

Ambridge-62

WBVP

Central Valley-57

Uniontown-59

GIRLS

Riverside-48

Seton-Lasalle-50

 

South Side-33

Laurel-45

 

Avonworth-67

South Allegheny-30

 

Apollo-Ridge-47

Charleroi-35

BOYS

Valley-76

South Park-69

 

South Fayette-48

Freeport-45