Horton, Toney help Pitt beat short-handed Miami 70-55
CORAL GABLES, Fla. (AP) — Au’Diese Toney and Ithiel Horton combined to score 29 of their 33 points in the second half as Pittsburgh pulled away for a 70-55 win over short-handed Miami. Horton, a sophomore transfer who averaged 13.2 points and shot 41% from 3-point range at Delaware, had a season-high 18 points — all in the second half — and Toney finished with 15 points. Justin Champagnie had 10 points and nine rebounds for Pitt (5-1, 1-0 ACC). Horton hit a 3-pointer to spark a 19-2 run that gave the Panthers a 16-point lead midway through the second half. Isaiah Wong scored 21 points for the Hurricanes (3-2, 0-1). Miami went into the game with only seven healthy scholarship players and Matt Cross left the game with about 12 minutes left and did not return.
MLB reclassifies Negro Leagues as major league
NEW YORK (AP) — Major League Baseball has reclassified the Negro Leagues as a major league and will count the statistics and records of its 3,400 players as part of its history. The league said it was “correcting a longtime oversight in the game’s history” by elevating the Negro Leagues on the centennial of its founding. The Negro Leagues consisted of seven leagues that existed from 1920-48. Those leagues were excluded in 1969 when the Special Committee on Baseball Records identified six official “major leagues” dating to 1876. The change means Hall of Fame pitcher Satchel Paige could add nearly 150 victories to his total.
Pittsburgh QB Kenny Pickett says he’ll return in 2021
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Pittsburgh’s season is over. Quarterback Kenny Pickett’s college career is not. The senior announced he will return in 2021. Pickett had participated in Pitt’s Senior Day festivities against Virginia Tech last month, an indication he was going to enter the NFL draft. Apparently not. Pickett, the fifth-leading passer in school history, tweeted “one more year.” Pickett threw for 13 touchdowns and nine interceptions this season. He missed two games with an ankle injury as the Panthers finished 6-5.
Story by Beaver County Radio Program Director/News Director Frank Sparks
(Beaver Falls, Pa.) Longtime Beaver County Radio Play by Play Announcer Tom Hays is calling it a career after 40 years announcing games for Beaver County Radio in one form or another.
Hays started his career in broadcasting for WMBA in Ambridge in 1981 and made the move to WBVP and then Kiss 107.9 in 1987. In 2000 WMBA was purchased by then owner of WBVP Frank Iorio. Hays would call color commentary for Bob Barrickman in those days. In 2012 play by play man Jim Fredrick retired and Tom took over as play by play announcer for WMBA broadcasts. Tom could also be heard on WBVP broadcasts and since its inception in August of 2019 on 99.3 FM. Tom joined his good friend and fellow broadcaster Bob Barrickman in the was inducted Beaver County Sports Hall of Fame being inducted in the spring of 2019.
Bob Barrickman and Tom Hays
Current Beaver County Radio Owner and Station Manager Mark Peterson said “It’s easy to own and operate a station when you’ve had quality people like Tom Hays as part of the team” Peterson said “Tom’s talents behind the microphone will be missed by the listeners of Beaver County Radio”
Program Director Frank Sparks who cut his teeth at Beaver County Radio producing games for Hays said “I had a mojo from the beginning with Tom and we became lifetime friends and I will miss working with Tom. Not many can say they were able to work with a hall of fame broadcaster especially the caliber of a man like Tom Hays. ”
Sports Director and longtime friend Bob Barrickman said “Tom is a tremendous broadcaster. Take his hall of Fame career and multiply that by ten and that is the type of person that Tom Hays is.” Barrickman went on to say that he couldn’t believe that Tom was able to produce at the high level he has despite his health issues. “That just goes to prove the true professional and class act that Tom is.”
We at Beaver County Radio will miss Tom Hay’s and appreciate all that he has done to make Beaver County Radio a success over the last 40 years!!! He will be deeply missed by us all and we wish him well in the future.
You can listen to Tom’s interview Wednesday on Teleforum announcing his retirement by pressing the play button below:
Michigan cancels Ohio State showdown, citing COVID-19 cases
By LARRY LAGE and MITCH STACY AP Sports Writers
ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) — Michigan has canceled its annual rivalry game at Ohio State because of the COVID-19 outbreak within the Wolverines football program. Michigan says the decision was made after discussions with medical professionals. The third-ranked Buckeyes played through what coach Ryan Day called a mini outbreak last week in a 52-12 win at Michigan State as he watched from home because of a positive test. Michigan and Ohio State have played each other every year since 1918.
Pirates agree to deals with Taillon, Gonzalez and Feliz
PITTSBURGH (AP) — The Pittsburgh Pirates have agreed to one-year deals with pitchers Jameson Taillon and Michael Feliz as well as shortstop Erik Gonzalez. The contracts mean the Pirates will avoid arbitration with all three players. Taillion gets $2.25 million, Feliz $1 million and Gonzalez $1,225,000. Taillon, a former first-round draft pick, is expected to return in 2021 after missing most of the last two years following Tommy John surgery. Feliz pitched in just three games during the abbreviated 2020 season due to a forearm injury. Gonzalez faded after a hot start but drove in a career-high 20 runs last season.
Ex-coach Lou Holtz to receive Presidential Medal of Freedom
By KEVIN FREKING Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump will award the highest civilian honor on Thursday to former college football coach and political ally Lou Holtz. Holtz had a storied 34-year coaching career that included winning the 1988 national title at the University of Notre Dame. He’s set to receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom in a private Oval Office ceremony. Holtz has been an outspoken backer of the president and spoke at this year’s Republican National Convention. Holtz had an impressive 249-132-7 record over a career that also included head coaching jobs at six colleges and brief stint in the NFL.
Steelers add C Pouncey to COVID-19 list against Ravens
PITTSBURGH (AP) — The Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens are scheduled to play on Wednesday afternoon even as COVID-19 continues to infect players up and down their respective rosters. The Steelers will be without perennial Pro Bowl center Maurkice Pouncey, who was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list on just hours before kickoff. Pouncey is the fourth Pittsburgh player to join the list in the past week. The Ravens will be without more than a dozen players, including quarterback Lamar Jackson and running backs J.K. Dobbins and Mark Ingram. The game has been delayed three times because of a COVID-19 outbreak in Baltimore.
No. 4 Clemson, QB Lawrence throttle Pittsburgh 52-17
By PETE IACOBELLI AP Sports Writer
CLEMSON, S.C. (AP) — Trevor Lawrence threw for 403 yards and two touchdowns in his first game in five weeks and No. 4 Clemson throttled Pittsburgh 52-17. Lawrence finished 26-of-37 passing in what’s expected to be his last college game at home. Lawrence went to the sidelines early in the fourth quarter with Clemson up 28 points. Lawrence last played Oct. 24 in a win over Syracuse. He tested positive for the coronavirus the next week and missed two games, including the Tigers’ only loss this season at No. 2 Notre Dame.
The Central Valley Warriors defeated the Wyomissing Spartans 35-21 to capture their first State Championship. Wyomissing struck first with a 44yd field goal to start the game, and after blocking a Central Valley punt the Spartans took an early 6-0 lead. The Warriors struck back with 18yd touchdown run by Jayvin Thompson, making it 7-6. Wyomissing later scored a touchdown in the final minutes of the second half, taking a 14-7 lead into the half. In the second half Central Valley became to dominate and take control of the game, outscoring the Spartans 28-7 in the second half, while recording 2 interceptions. Despite all that Wyomissing fought hard until the end even returning a kickoff 75yds to close to bring the game within 7 points during the fourth quarter, but it was not enough.
