Category: Saturday Sports Slam

Healthy Penguins wary of upstart Canadiens as playoffs begin

Healthy Penguins wary of upstart Canadiens as playoffs begin
By WILL GRAVES AP Sports Writer
The Pittsburgh Penguins are healthy but wary heading into a playoff series against the Montreal Canadiens. The Canadiens were the last team to qualify for the play-in tournament and feature a roster that’s long on youth and short on experience. Pittsburgh will have All-Star forward Jake Guentzel back after undergoing shoulder surgery on New Year’s Eve. The Penguins also have depth in goal with two-time Stanley Cup winner Matt Murray and All-Star Tristan Jarry. Pittsburgh captain Sidney Crosby is also expected to play after missing time during training camp with an undisclosed injury.

Steelers sign RB Wendell Smallwood to 1-year deal

Steelers sign RB Wendell Smallwood to 1-year deal
PITTSBURGH (AP) — The Pittsburgh Steelers have signed running back Wendell Smallwood to a one-year deal, giving the backfield a bit of experienced depth heading into training camp. Smallwood joins a group that includes James Conner, Benny Snell Jr., Jaylen Samuels and rookie Anthony McFarland. The 26-year-old Smallwood played for Philadelphia for 2016-18 after being taken in the fifth round of the 2016 draft out of West Virginia. His rookie season included running for 79 yards and a touchdown against the Steelers. His rushing total in that game remains a career high.

Indianapolis Indians minor league team to discuss name

Indianapolis Indians minor league team to discuss name
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — The Indianapolis Indians baseball team say they will form a committee to consider changing the team’s longtime name. Team officials say the name is derived from Indiana, which translates to “land of the Indians,” and the city name, which translates to “city of Indians.” It has been used since 1902. The team is the Triple A affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates. It is the most recent sports franchise with a Native American name to consider a change amid criticism that the names are insensitive or racist.

MLB temporarily suspends Marlins season through the weekend

MLB temporarily suspends Marlins season through the weekend
By STEVEN WINE AP Sports Writer
MIAMI (AP) — Major League Baseball has temporarily suspended the Miami Marlins’ season through Sunday because of their worsening coronavirus outbreak. And the three remaining games in this week’s New York Yankees-Philadelphia Phillies series also were postponed because of virus worries. In a statement Tuesday, MLB said it wanted to allow the Marlins time to focus on providing care for their players and plan for a resumption of play early next week. The Marlins remained stranded in Philadelphia, where they played last weekend. The Phillies-Yankees games through Thursday were postponed “out of an abundance of caution,” MLB said, although no Phillies players have tested positive.

Bucs Blow Four Run Lead in the Ninth. Lose in 11 Innings

By WILL GRAVES AP Sports Writer
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Eric Sogard doubled home Brock Holt in the 11th inning and the Milwaukee Brewers rallied for a rain-delayed 6-5 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates. The Brewers trailed by four entering the ninth but took advantage of another shaky performance by the Pittsburgh bullpen to force extra innings. Ryan Braun’s two-out, two-run double off Kyle Crick drew Milwaukee even. Sogard led off the 11th with a liner down the left-field line, allowing Holt to score easily from second as the automatic runner. Colin Moran hit two home runs for the Pirates.

Former Pirate Josh Harrison to Nationals after release from Phils

Josh Harrison to Nationals after release from Phils
By HOWARD FENDRICH AP Sports Writer
WASHINGTON (AP) — Utility player Josh Harrison has signed a one-year contract with the Washington Nationals less than a week after he was released by the Philadelphia Phillies. The Nationals added the 33-year-old Harrison to their 30-man active roster Monday. To make room, catcher Raudy Read was optioned to Washington’s alternate training site in Fredericksburg, Maryland. Harrison is a right-handed hitter and a two-time All-Star who has started games at second base, third base, shortstop and both corner outfield spots during his nine years in the majors. He played his first eight years with the Pirates and spent part of 2019 with the Tigers.

2 MLB games postponed as Marlins deal with virus outbreak

2 MLB games postponed as Marlins deal with virus outbreak
By STEVEN WINE AP Sports Writer
MIAMI (AP) — Two major league games scheduled for Monday night have been postponed as the Miami Marlins deal with a coronavirus outbreak that stranded them in Philadelphia. The Marlins’ home opener against Baltimore was called off, as was the New York Yankees’ game at Philadelphia. The Yankees would have been in the same clubhouse the Marlins used last weekend. Major League Baseball announced the cancellation of both games about 7 1/5 hours before the scheduled first pitch, saying additional COVID-19 testing was being conducted.

Bucs Beat Cards. Shelton Gets First Win as Major League Skipper

By JEFF MELNICK Associated Press
ST. LOUIS (AP) — Pittsburgh’s Derek Shelton staged baseball’s first major, socially distanced umpire argument, then got his first victory as a big league manager as the Pirates beat the St. Louis Cardinals 5-1. Shelton came out to argue with plate umpire Jordan Baker in the third inning after pitcher Derek Holland was ejected from the dugout for arguing balls and strikes. Shelton pulled a gaiter over his face as he left the dugout, and Baker pulled a face mask out of his pocket and held it to his face as Shelton argued from about six feet away. Baker let Shelton say his peace, and the first-year skipper was not ejected.

Cards beat Bucs 5-4 in opener

By STEVE OVERBEY Associated Press
ST. LOUIS (AP) — Jack Flaherty pitched seven solid innings, Paul DeJong hit a two-run homer and the St. Louis Cardinals opened the season by beating the Pittsburgh Pirates 5-4. Tyler O’Neill and Dexter Fowler added solo homers for St. Louis in the first game of an unprecedented 60-game season shortened due to the coronavirus pandemic. Flaherty, who went 7-2 with an 0.91 ERA over his final 15 regular season starts last year, did not give up a run until Jacob Stallings hit two-out, two-run single just under the glove of first baseman Paul Goldschmidt in the seventh.

Nick is Back as the Quips Boys Basketball Coach

Story by Beaver County Radio News Correspondent Sandy Giordano

(Aliquippa, Pa.) Nick Lackovich was hired as the Quips basketball coach  by the Aliquippa School Board last night.

Athletic Director Brandon LeDonne said this morning  5 candidates were interviewed prior to last night’s special meeting, and 2 candidates, one of them being  Lackovich , were presented to the board.
LeDonne said Coach Lackovich was ecstatic when he was approved.” He’s an Aliquippa guy, he’s passionate about being the basketball coach.”
Six letters of interest and resumes have been received for the girls basketball coaching position, he said.