Coaching great John Thompson of Georgetown dead at 78
By JOSEPH WHITE AP Sports Writer
WASHINGTON (AP) — The college basketball coaching great John Thompson of Georgetown has died. His death was announced in a family statement Monday. No details were disclosed. Thompson was an imposing Hall of Famer who turned Georgetown into a “Hoya Paranoia” powerhouse and became the first Black coach to lead a team to the NCAA men’s basketball championship. One of the most celebrated and polarizing figures in his sport, Thompson took over a moribund Georgetown program in the 1970s and molded it into a perennial contender, culminating with a national title team anchored by Patrick Ewing in 1984. At 6-foot-10, with an ever-present white towel slung over his shoulder, Thompson literally and figuratively towered over the Hoyas for decades. He quit coaching in 1999. John Thompson was 78.
Bell, Polanco homer off Woodruff as Pirates beat Brewers 5-1
By STEVE MEGARGEE AP Sports Writer
MILWAUKEE (AP) — Josh Bell and Gregory Polanco homered off Brandon Woodruff and the Pittsburgh Pirates beat the Milwaukee Brewers 5-1. Bell broke a 1-all tie in the fourth with a towering, two-run blast that hit an SUV parked well above the wall in right-center as part of a promotion. The Pirates stayed in front the rest of the way to hand Woodruff a rare loss at Miller Park. The right-hander entered Sunday having gone 10-0 with a 2.89 ERA in 16 home starts over the past two seasons. He struck out seven but allowed four runs, four hits and three walks in five innings.
Byron wins to reach Cup Series playoffs, knocks out Johnson
By MARK LONG AP Sports Writer
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) — William Byron snaked his way through a smoky crash late Saturday night at Daytona International Speedway and narrowly avoided another melee a few laps later. Those moves got him to victory lane for the first time in his young NASCAR Cup Series career and back in the playoffs for the second consecutive season. They also helped knock out Hendrick Motorsports teammate Jimmie Johnson, a seven-time series champion whose final season won’t end with another title. Byron won in overtime and locked up one of the three postseason berths available going into the finale. Clint Bowyer and Matt DiBenedetto secured the other two.
(Beaver Falls, Pa.) Lion Legacy was a celebration of the 1980 New Brighton Lions Football team that appeared in the 1980 W.P.I.A.L. Championship game against the Seton la Salle Rebels.
Beaver County Radio Sports Director Bob Barrickman was the host of the round table discussion that celebrated that magical season on Oak Hill back in 1980. Following the round table celebration Beaver County Radio stepped back to that magical night where the Lions came up just short of the W.P.I.A.L. Championship losing to the Rebels 14-12. Beaver County Radio Legendary broadcasters Chris Shovlin and Jay Knaflec had the call from Moe Rubenstein Stadium in Ambridge.
Lion Legacy started with team members John Vukich, Don Mittner, Brian Debo and Doug Campbell talking about the season and how the Lions were decimated by graduation and weren’t given much of a chance by the local papers to do anything in 1980. The guys reminisced about the schedule that year as they went week by week with Bob Barrickman through the season.
From Left to Right John Vukich, Bob Barrickman, Don Mittner, Brain Debo, and Doug Campbell.
In the second segment of the show Head Coach Larry Matrazzo joined Matt Edgell, Brian Debo Craig Vukich and Bob Barrickman. The Talk then shifted to the nasty 1980 New Brighton Defense that was rarely scored on throughout the entire season.
From left to right Craig Vukich, Bob Barrickman, Brian Debo, Larry Matrazzo, and Matt Edgell
The show even featured team members Scott Herr, Mike Pinchotti, and Mark Herman calling in to celebrate with their team from their homes throughout the United States.
From left to right , Mark Pasqual, Bob Barrickman, Ron Faulkner, Vinnie Farelli, and Sam DeMarco
The Night was finished in the final segment with what is believed to be the three final living members of the 1951 W.P.I.A.L. Championship New Brighton Football Team.
Press the play button below to view Lion Legacy as it streamed Live on the Beaver County Radio Facebook Page.
Pirates earn doubleheader sweep over Cardinals
By WARREN MAYES Associated Press
ST. LOUIS (AP) — Erik Gonzalez and Adam Frazier singled in runs, rookie Cody Ponce earned his first big league victory and the Pittsburgh Pirates beat the St. Louis Cardinals 2-0 for a doubleheader sweep. Cole Tucker drove in the go-ahead run in extra innings in the Pirates’ 4-3 win in the opener. Ponce was used as a reliever in his first two appearances this season and made his first major league start. He went 5 2/3 innings, holding the Cardinals scoreless and scattering five hits. Nick Turley pitched the seventh to record his first save in the majors. Prior to this year, Turley hadn’t appeared in affiliated ball since 2017 due to elbow injuries.
Tucker sparks Pirates in 4-3 win over Cardinals
By WARREN MAYES Associated Press
ST. LOUIS (AP) — Cole Tucker drove in the go-ahead run and also scored in extra innings and the Pittsburgh Pirates beat the St. Louis Cardinals 4-3 in a doubleheader opener. The seven-inning game went to extras tied at one, and Tucker scored automatic runner Jarrod Dyson with a single off John Gant. Pittsburgh added two more runs with two outs on an RBI single by Bryan Reynolds and an error by third baseman Brad Miller. Chad Kuhl delivered six innings of one-run ball for Pittsburgh, Chris Stratton pitched a scoreless seventh and Richard Rodriguez allowed two runs but got his second save by pitching the eighth.
White Sox hit 4 more homers, rip Pirates 10-3
MATT CARLSON Associated Press
CHICAGO (AP) — José Abreu hit his seventh homer in five games, Dallas Keuchel pitched six dominant innings, and the surging Chicago White Sox pounded the Pittsburgh Pirates 10-3 for their ninth win in 10 games. Abreu’s 12th home run was Chicago’s fourth of the game and broke it open. Eloy Jiménez, Danny Mendick and Edwin Encarnacion also homered for Chicago, which leads the AL with 60 home runs. Keuchel (5-2) allowed two runs on four hits and struck out seven in his third straight win. Trevor Williams (1-5) took the loss and Jacob Stallings had a two-run single and Erik González hit a solo homer for Pittsburgh.
Roethlisberger’s return makes Steelers major factor in 2020
By The Associated Press undefined
The Pittsburgh Steelers believe the return of quarterback Ben Roethlisberger will put them in contention for a return to the postseason. The Steelers missed the playoffs for the second straight year in 2019 after Roethlisberger exited at halftime of Week 2 with a right elbow injury. Roethlisberger has drawn raves from teammates during training camp and says he’s as motivated as ever. The defense that nearly carried Pittsburgh to the playoffs while leading the league in sacks and turnovers remains largely intact, giving the Steelers optimism they can unseat defending AFC North champion Baltimore.
Watt’s Up; Steelers LB TJ Watt stepping into spotlight
By WILL GRAVES AP Sports Writer
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Pittsburgh Steelers outside linebacker TJ Watt is stepping out of the shadow cast by older brother JJ. The youngest member of the Watt family in the NFL spent a portion of the offseason co-starring in commercials and TV shows with JJ and middle brother Derek. TJ Watt says he’s dipping his toe in celebrity following his second Pro Bowl selection in three seasons. Watt says it’s good for him to get out of his comfort zone but stresses he wants to be known as a football player first.
A no-fan no-hitter: Giolito gem leads White Sox over Pirates
By SCOTT HELD Associated Press
CHICAGO (AP) — Lucas Giolito pitched the first no-hitter of the pandemic-delayed major league season, striking out 13 and permitting just one runner in leading the Chicago White Sox over the Pittsburgh Pirates 4-0. With the seats at Guaranteed Rate Field empty, the hollers of his teammates echoed around the ballpark after right fielder Adam Engel caught Erik Gonzalez’s slicing drive toward the line for the final out. An All-Star last year, the 26-year-old Giolito matched his career high for strikeouts set in his previous start against Detroit. Only a four-pitch walk to Gonzalez leading off the fourth inning got in Giolito’s way of perfection.
