(File Photo of the PIAA Logo)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Beaver County, PA) The 2026 PIAA sports playoffs for several sports begins today.

A total of seven Beaver Valley high school programs (4 baseball, 2 softball, 1 girls lacrosse) will be aiming to punch their ticket to Penn State on June 11th-13th and compete for a state championship.

According to a report from the Beaver County Times, here is the schedule of games taking place:

Note: All first-round games are played on June 1 unless otherwise noted

Baseball

• Riverside Vs Fairview, 1:30 p.m. at Mercyhurst University (3A)
• Western Beaver Vs West Middlesex, 2 p.m. at Jack Critchfield Park (1A)
• General McLane Vs Hopewell, 4 p.m. at Mercyhurst University (4A)
• Philipsburg-Osceola at Ellwood City, 4 p.m. (3A)

Softball 

• Ellwood City Vs Westmont Hilltop, 4 p.m. at Hiram G. Andrews Center (3A)
• Blackhawk Vs Punxsutawney, 4 p.m. at Groundhog Field (4A)

Girls Lacrosse

• Quaker Valley at Bellefonte, 4 p.m.

(File Photo: Source for Photo: Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Carmen Mlodzinski delivers during the first inning of a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs, Monday, May 25, 2026, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/David Dermer)

PITTSBURGH (AP) — The Pittsburgh Pirates put right-hander Carmen Mlodzinski on the restricted list Sunday and infielder Konnor Griffin on the 10-day injured list with a right elbow strain.

Mlodzinski was moved to the bullpen earlier this week after Jared Jones returned to the rotation from elbow surgery. Mlodzinski hasn’t pitched since his start against the Chicago Cubs on Monday, and general manager Ben Cherington told reporters he wasn’t ready to pitch Sunday against Minnesota.

“Going into the weekend, we understood and communicated with Carmen that at some point this weekend we were going to need him to be ready or we were going to have to replace him on the team, in fairness to the team,” Cherington said. “So that’s what happened today.”

Cherington said he’s confident Mlodzinski will pitch again for the team soon.

Mlodzinski is 4-3 with a 3.76 ERA in 55 innings this season. He’s made nine starts and two relief appearances.

The Pirates signed Griffin to a nine-year, $140-million contract in April. The 20-year-old infielder is hitting .270 with four home runs, 22 RBIs and 14 stolen bases in his debut season.

Pittsburgh also reinstated first baseman/outfielder Ryan O’Hearn (right quad muscle strain) from the IL and recalled right-handed pitcher Cam Sanders from Triple-A Indianapolis.

(File Photo: Source for Photo: Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Braxton Ashcraft delivers against the Minnesota Twins in th first inning of a baseball game in Pittsburgh, Sunday, May 31, 2026. (AP Photo/Tom E. Puskar)

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Braxton Ashcraft struck out 11 in six innings, Ryan O’Hearn and Nick Gonzales homered, and the Pittsburgh Pirates beat the skidding Minnesota Twins 9-3 on Sunday to complete a three-game sweep.

Ashcraft (5-2) allowed two runs and five hits with no walks, sending the Twins to their fifth straight defeat.

Brooks Lee had a two-run homer in the sixth and a solo shot in the ninth for Minnesota.

O’Hearn returned from the injured list and hit a leadoff homer in the second his first time up. Jared Triolo singled in Oneil Cruz to make it 2-0.

Gonzales’ two-run homer in the third extended the margin to 4-0.

Mike Paredes replaced Minnesota starter Zebby Matthews (1-3) with one out and runners on second and third in the fifth. Gonzales and Cruz drew back-to-back walks, the latter of which scored Brandon Lowe, and Henry Davis hit a two-run single that capped the Pirates’ five-run inning and made it 9-0.

Matthews gave up seven runs and struck out seven in 4 1/3 innings.

Josh Bell had two hits for Minnesota.

Up next

Twins RHP Joe Ryan (3-3, 2.94 ERA) is scheduled to pitch Monday in the opener of a series against the Chicago White Sox, who hadn’t announced a scheduled starter.

Pirates RHP Bubba Chandler (1-6, 4.85 ERA) takes the mound Tuesday against Astros RHP Mike Burrows (3-6, 5.40) to open a three-game set in Houston.

(File Photo: Source for Photo: Pittsburgh Pirates’ Jake Mangum drives in a run with a single off Minnesota Twins pitcher Bailey Ober in the fifth inning of a baseball game in Pittsburgh, Saturday, May 30, 2026. (AP Photo/Tom E. Puskar)

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Jake Mangum went 3 for 4 with his first homer of the season and a go-ahead RBI single after the Pirates blew a six-run lead as Pittsburgh held off the Minnesota Twins 10-9 on Saturday.

Mangum went deep against Bailey Ober (6-3) in the second inning for the fourth home run of his career. He later tagged Ober with a line drive single in the fifth that scored Konnor Griffin to help the Pirates steady themselves after the Twins erased a massive early deficit. Mangum also contributed defensively, going deep in the gap in left-center to rob Minnesota’s Orlando Arcia of extra bases in the ninth with the tying run on first.

Gregory Soto got the final four outs for his seventh save. Yohan Ramirez (3-2) earned the win in relief after starter Mitch Keller couldn’t hold an early 7-1 lead.

Oneil Cruz hit his 13th home run of the season and second in as many days as the Pirates won for the fifth time in seven games. Spencer Horwitz had two hits for Pittsburgh, including a leadoff homer in the bottom of the first.

Nick Gonzales had three hits for Pittsburgh, which handed former manager Derek Shelton a second consecutive loss in his return to PNC Park since being fired by the Pirates last May early into his sixth season with the club.

Kody Clemens had three of Minnesota’s 12 hits. Josh Bell drove in three runs for the Twins, who have lost five of six.

Ober’s three-game winning streak came to an abrupt end. The right-hander allowed a season-high eight runs (seven earned) on 12 hits. Ober has given up seven homers over his last three starts.

Pittsburgh second baseman Brandon Lowe was ejected for the first time in his nine-year career. The two-time All-Star, whose 14 homers lead the team, was tossed by first base umpire Jordan Baker after flying out to left in the fourth inning. Earlier in the at-bat, Lowe attempted to challenge a strike call, but it was not recognized by plate umpire Alex Tosi.

Up next

The series wraps up Sunday. Zebby Matthews (1-2, 2.37 ERA) starts for the Twins against Pittsburgh’s Braxton Ashcraft (4-2, 2.75).

(File Photo: Source for Photo: Pittsburgh Pirates’ Oneil Cruz, right, is greeted by third base coach Tony Beasley, left, as he rounds third after hitting a solo home run off Minnesota Twins pitcher Taj Bradley during the third inning of a baseball game in Pittsburgh, Friday, May 29, 2026. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Bryan Reynolds hit a two-run homer with one out in the ninth inning — after Oneil Cruz hit a mammoth shot early — to give the Pittsburgh Pirates a 6-5 victory over the Minnesota Twins on Friday night.

Reynolds launched a 422-foot shot to left field off Taylor Rogers (1-2), scoring Tyler Callihan, who replaced Spencer Horwitz after an infield hit to begin the inning.

All the previous scoring came in the first three innings.

Pittsburgh’s Jared Jones struck out Byron Buxton on three straight fastballs that topped 100 mph in his first start in the majors since Sept. 27, 2024.

Kody Clemens hit sixth homer on Jones’ seventh straight pitch above 100 to give the Twins a 1-0 lead. The 24-year-old right-hander missed more than a year after undergoing UCL surgery in 2025. He allowed five runs on seven hits in 4 1/3 innings.

Twins starter Taj Bradley threw eight straight balls to put Brandon Lowe and Reynolds on base with one out in the first. Nick Gonzales reached on an infield single with Lowe scoring on a throwing error by third baseman Brooks Lee.

Oneil Cruz drove in Reynolds with a grounder to first, and Konnor Griffin followed with a two-out RBI single for a 3-1 advantage.

Tristan Gray tied it 3-3 with a bases-loaded two-run single in the second, and Trevor Larnach followed in the third with his third homer — a 424-foot shot that left the park in right to put the Twins up 5-3.

Cruz hit his 12th home run — a two-out 450-shot that also left the park in right to cut it to 5-4 in the third.

Clemens threw Cruz out at home in the eighth to keep it 5-4 after the Pirates had runners on second and third with nobody out and failed to score.

Wilber Dotel allowed one hit in three innings of relief for Pittsburgh, and Gregory Soto (4-0) pitched a perfect ninth for the win.

Bradley gave up four runs on five hits in four innings.

Up next

Twins RHP Bailey Ober (6-2, 3.92) was set to start Saturday opposite Pirates RHP Mitch Keller (5-2, 3.64).

(File Photo: Source for Photo: Chicago Cubs’ Ian Happ returns to the dugout after hitting a two-run home run off Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Brandan Bidois during the eighth inning of a baseball game in Pittsburgh, Thursday, May 28, 2026. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Ian Happ homered for the second consecutive game and the Chicago Cubs handed Paul Skenes his third straight loss with a 7-2 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Thursday.

The win came one night after the Cubs ended a 10-game losing streak. Happ hit a tiebreaking three-run homer in the seventh inning of that game.

Happ had three hits on Thursday, including a two-run homer in the eighth that pushed the Cubs’ lead to 5-2. He has reached base safely in 41 consecutive games in Pittsburgh, the city where he grew up. Seiya Suzuki had two hits and two RBIs for Chicago.

Skenes (6-5) lost his third straight start despite striking out 10 in 5 1/3 innings. The 2025 NL Cy Young Award winner fanned six batters in a row from the first to the third.

Only one of the three runs against Skenes was earned, as third baseman Tyler Callihan and shortstop Jared Triolo made throwing errors in a two-run sixth inning that extended the Cubs’ lead to 3-0.

Colin Rea (5-3) won for the first time in five starts, allowing two runs in 5 1/3 innings. Hoby Milner, Caleb Thielbar and Trent Thornton combined for 3 2/3 innings of scoreless relief.

Bryan Reynolds homered for the Pirates.

Pittsburgh third baseman Nick Gonzales exited after the third inning with left knee discomfort.

Up next

Cubs: Open a three-game series Friday night at St. Louis with LHP Shota Imanaga (4-5, 4.04 ERA) facing RHP Andre Pallante (5-4, 3.76).

Pirates: Host the Minnesota Twins and former Pittsburgh manager Derek Shelton in a three-game series beginning Friday. Pirates RHP Jared Jones will make his first major league appearance since 2024, a little more than a year after undergoing elbow surgery. RHP Taj Bradley (5-1, 2.77) starts for the Twins.

(File Photo: Source for Photo: Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Esmerlyn Valdez (55) can’t make the catch on Toronto Blue Jays Kazuma Okamoto double during the second inning of a baseball game in Toronto on Sunday, May 24, 2026. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) The Pittsburgh Pirates announced they optioned outfielder Esmerlyn Valdez to Triple-A Indianapolis ahead of yesterday’s series finale against the Chicago Cubs at PNC Park. 

Valdez joined the Pirates on May 22 before the team’s series against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre and spent six days with the major league club. 

He hit his first Major League home run in a 4-1 victory over Toronto on Sunday, a two-run shot in the seventh inning. Valdez added his second career home run — and his first at PNC Park — during the Pirates’ 12-1 win over the Cubs on Tuesday.

Valdez started five of the Pirates’ previous six games in right field and recorded two hits in 16 at-bats with two walks and nine strikeouts.  

(Credit for Photo: Photo Provided with Release Courtesy of the United States Postal Service)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Boston, MA) The United States Postal Service issued its North American Soccer stamp yesterday during the 2026 Boston World Exposition as part of the event’s sports-themed programming.

The stamp release comes ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be co-hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada.

The tournament is scheduled to begin June 11th in Mexico and conclude July 19th in New Jersey. The United States is set to host 78 World Cup matches across 11 cities.

Soccer’s popularity in the United States has grown in recent decades, with millions of youth participants and widespread fan engagement.

(File Photo: Source for Photo: Pittsburgh Pirates’ Nick Gonzales hits a two-RBI single during the 10th inning of a baseball game against the Milwaukee Brewers, Saturday, April 25, 2026, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Jeffrey Phelps)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) Nick Gonzales left the Pittsburgh Pirates’ game against the Chicago Cubs at PNC Park yesterday due to an injury. 

Gonzales exited ahead of the top of the fourth inning after appearing to be in discomfort following a deep fly ball in the second inning. He had previously taken a foul ball off his left knee during the Pirates’ 10-4 loss to the Cubs on Wednesday.

The Pirates announced that Gonzales was removed as a precaution due to left knee discomfort. He is considered day-to-day and is currently being evaluated by the team’s medical staff. 

Tyler Callihan replaced Gonzales in the game after being recalled from Triple-A Indianapolis earlier in the day. 

Gonzales is slashing .296/.350/.344 for an OPS of .694, with 55 hits in 186 at-bats, nine doubles, 22 RBI and 13 walks to 36 strikeouts. 

(File Photo of the Blackhawk School District Logo)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(California, PA) Blackhawk softball lost in the 2026 WPIAL Class 4A championship game, marking the second consecutive year the Lady Cougars have finished as runners-up.

Elizabeth Forward defeated the Lady Cougars 5-3 at Lilley Field on the campus of PennWest California.

Despite the loss, Blackhawk will enter the PIAA Class 4A playoffs as the No. 2 seed from the WPIAL. The team will face the top seed from District V or District IX at a site and time to be determined on Monday, June 1st.