(File Photo of the Ellwood City Wolverines Logo)
Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News
(Hookstown, PA) The Ellwood City high school boys soccer team won a match for the first time in 15 years on Thursday.
The Wolverines had a 1-0 victory on the road over the South Side Rams in a section match.
The last time that the Ellwood City high school boys soccer team won a match before Thursday was on September 25th, 2010.
That was a span of 5,836 days between wins.
(File Photo: Source for Photo: Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Braxton Ashcraft delivers against the Los Angeles Angels during the first inning of a baseball game in Pittsburgh, Saturday, Sept. 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Tom E. Puskar)
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Pittsburgh Pirates All-Star right-hander Braxton Ashcraft will not pitch again this season because of right arm discomfort.
Ashcraft was placed on the 15-day injured list on September 10th with the hope he might be able to return during the season’s final week. He was examined last week by Texas Rangers physician Dr. Keith Meister and advised to begin preparing for 2027.
Ashcraft finished his first full big league season 14-6 with a 3.65 ERA in 28 starts.
“I was never concerned,” Ashcraft said Saturday. “Nobody ever had a concern about anything being structural or anything that was more than just general discomfort because of fatigue.”
(File Photo of a Gavel)
Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News
(Harrisburg, PA) Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday announced that all charges were held for court on Friday against a strength coach from Bucknell University regarding the death of a freshman football recruit that happened on July 12th, 2024.
Calvin “CJ” Dickey, Jr. of Florida, was on campus on July 10th, 2024, which was the first day of his freshman football practice.
He was directed to do extensive calisthenics, which put him in risk of death because of his Sickle Cell trait.
Prosecutors presented testimony on Friday that Mark Kulbis, who was Bucknell University’s strength and conditioning coach at the time, subjected Dickey to hazing, even after he was made aware of Dickey’s medical condition and received training from the university on the NCAA standards regarding hazing and Sickle Cell trait and state law.
After the hearing was over, a magisterial district judge ordered that charges of felony aggravated hazing and misdemeanor counts of involuntary manslaughter, reckless endangerment, and hazing would be bound over for county court.
The investigation into this incident showed that, before Dickey’s first-day practice on July 10th, 2024, Kulbis subjected Dickey, as well as other players, to 100 “up-downs” and several full-body plank drills, which are both considered extraneous calisthenic exercises.
This was done in spite of training and direction from other coaches that such exercises were not appropriate or safe for use as part of training.
Dickey was treated at an area hospital.
However, Dickey died on July 12th, 2024.
An autopsy determined that Dickey’s death was caused by Kulbis subjecting him to the exercises in combination with Dickey’s body weight, exertional rhabdomyolysis and Sickle Cell trait.
(File Photo: Source for Photo: Pittsburgh Pirates’ Rafael Flores Jr. rounds the bases after hitting a two-run home run off Kansas City Royals pitcher Nate Pearson during the eighth inning of a baseball game in Pittsburgh, Sunday, Sept. 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Rafael Flores Jr. hit the go-ahead two-run home run in the eighth inning to help the Pittsburgh Pirates to a 4-3 win over the Kansas City Royals on Sunday and complete a series sweep.
After Ryan O’Hearn led off with a single to center, Flores sent a slider from Nate Pearson (2-3) into the left-field bleachers for his 10th homer this season.
Pittsburgh rallied with a two-run homer in the eighth for a second straight day. Brandon Lowe had his 33rd of the season in a 6-5 win Saturday.
Carmen Mlodzinki (8-7) got the win. He allowed two runs and three hits in three innings. The reliever gave up a pinch-hit, two-run home run to Vinnie Pasquantino that gave Kansas City a 3-2 lead with two outs in the seventh.
Mason Montgomery earned his 16th save. He retired the first two batters in the ninth before Luke Maile hit a double and took third on a fielding error by Jake Mangum. Montgomery got Isaac Collins to fly out to right to strand Maile.
The Royals went ahead 1-0 in the first inning with three straight singles off Lake Bachar. Bobby Witt Jr. beat out a groundball to second baseman Lowe. He moved to third on a single to right from Jac Caglianone and scored when Perez shot one through the middle of the infield.
Oneil Cruz tied it on his 20th home run of the season, starting the fourth inning with a drive to center field off a curveball left hanging in the middle of the zone by Wacha.
Spencer Horwitz put the Pirates up 2-1 with a bloop single to center off Michael Wacha that drove in O’Hearn with two outs in the sixth.
Royals: LHP Daniel Lynch IV (6-5, 3.29 ERA) is in line to start Tuesday to open a three-game home series against the White Sox. LHP Anthony Kay (9-9, 4.41 ERA) is the probable starter for Chicago.
Pirates: RHP Jared Jones (4-6, 4.17 ERA) is expected to start Tuesday in the first of a three-game series against the Cardinals. RHP Andre Pallante (12-7, 3.70 ERA) will take the mound for St. Louis.
(File Photo: Source for Photo: Pittsburgh Pirates’ Jake Mangum (28) celebrates with Nick Gonzales (3) after hitting a two-run home run off Kansas City Royals pitcher Noah Cameron during the fourth inning of a baseball game in Pittsburgh, Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Brandon Lowe hit a go-ahead two-run homer in the eighth to lift the Pittsburgh Pirates to a 6-5 victory over the Kansas City Royals on Saturday night.
Lowe jumped on a pitch from Steven Cruz (2-4) and sent it into the seats in right field for his 33rd homer of the season, the second-most by a player in their first year with the Pirates. The two-time All-Star was acquired by Pittsburgh last winter.
The home run was also the 96th at PNC Park this year for the Pirates, a club record for most homers at home in a season. The 1947 club hit 95 round-trippers when the team called Forbes Field home.
Pittsburgh rookie outfielder Ronnie Simon hit his first career homer. Jake Mangum added his fifth of the season as the Pirates won their third straight to improve to 78-77. The franchise is seeking its first winning season since 2018.
Lowe, Rafael Flores and Oneil Cruz had two hits each for the Pirates. Luke Weaver (3-1) picked up the win by pitching a scoreless eighth. Mason Montgomery worked the ninth for his 15th save. Montgomery hasn’t allowed a run in 22 2/3 innings, the second-longest streak ever by a Pittsburgh reliever.
Nick Loftin had four hits for the Royals. Bobby Witt Jr. added three and Carter Jensen slugged his 25th of the season but it wasn’t enough to prevent the Royals from losing for the sixth time in seven games.
Pirates starting pitcher Bubba Chandler needed 90 pitches to get through four innings. The 24-year-old right-hander allowed three runs with a walk and six strikeouts.
The series wraps up Sunday. Michael Wacha (9-9, 3.34 ERA) was set to start for the Royals. The Pirates will start Lake Bachar.
(File Photo: Source for Photo: Pittsburgh Pirates’ Brandon Lowe, right, celebrates with Konnor Griffin (6) after hitting a two-run home run off Kansas City Royals pitcher Randy Dobnak during the third inning of a baseball game in Pittsburgh, Friday, Sept. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Rookie shortstop Konnor Griffin had four hits, Brandon Lowe hit his 32nd homer and the Pittsburgh Pirates surged past the Kansas City Royals 8-5 on Friday night.
Pittsburgh churned out 15 hits against Kansas City to overcome an early four-run deficit to move back to .500 (77-77) in its bid for the franchise’s first winning season since 2018.
The 20-year-old Griffin, who missed two months with a left-hand injury that coincided with a summer swoon that saw the Pirates’ playoff hopes evaporate, posted the third four-hit game of his young career. His RBI single in the seventh off reliever Nate Pearson (2-2) capped a three-run rally.
Yohan Ramirez (7-4) retired all four batters he faced in relief to pick up the win. Gregory Soto worked the ninth for his 15th save, but just his first since Aug. 1.
Vinnie Pasquantino and Michael Massey homered for the Royals, but Kansas City couldn’t take advantage of a so-so performance by Pirates ace Paul Skenes.
The reigning NL Cy Young winner scuffled at times during his likely next-to-last start of the season. The 24-year-old right-hander was tagged for five runs in six innings with a walk and seven strikeouts but found a rhythm late, retiring nine of the final 10 batters he faced. Still, his ERA ticked up to 3.91, nearly double the 1.97 he posted a year ago while becoming the first Pirate to win pitching’s biggest award since 1992.
Kansas City starter Randy Dobnak, a Pittsburgh native, struggled in his second career start in his hometown. The 31-year-old allowed four runs on seven hits with two walks and a strikeout in 3 2/3 innings, his shortest outing since making his debut with the Royals in July.
The series continues Saturday. Noah Cameron (9-8, 3.84 ERA) was set to start for the Royals against Pittsburgh’s Bubba Chandler (8-9, 4.28).
| Pond-Lehocky Beaver County Radio Broadcast Game
Central Valley |
6 34 Final |
| WPIAL Class 6A Quad County Conference | |
| Seneca Valley Cannon-Mac |
8 28 Final |
| WPIAL Class 2A Mac Conference | |
| Neshannock New Brighton |
44 6 Final |
| Freedom Mohawk |
39 23 Final |
| Riverside Western Beaver |
10 28 Final |
| WPIAL Class 2A Century Conference | |
| McGuffy Quaker Valley |
48 9 Final |
| WPIAL Class 1A Big Seven Conference | |
| Cornell Laurel |
6 48 Final |
| Shenango Northgate |
30 22 Final |
| Southside Union |
0 35 Final |
| Summit Academy Rochester |
0 44 Final |
| WPIAL Non-Conference | |
| Beaver Beaver Falls |
27 28 Final/OT |
| Blackhawk Ellwood City |
49 14 Final |
| Moon Thomas Jefferson |
35 70 Final |
| New Castle Avonworth |
14 34 Final |
| OLSH Berlins-Brothers Valley |
0 16 Final |
| West Allegheny Montour |
20 21 Final |
| West Mifflin Ambridge |
27 0 Final |
| Shadyside Academy Aliquippa |
8 49 Final |
(File Photo: Credit for Photo: Pittsburgh Penguins’ Sidney Crosby (87) celebrates his goal with Bryan Rust after scoring during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Philadelphia Flyers in Pittsburgh, Sunday, Feb. 25, 2024. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News
(Cranberry Township, PA) Pittsburgh Penguins President of Hockey Operations and General Manager Kyle Dubas announced on Wednesday that the Penguins invited 69 players to their 2026-2027 training camp, which is presented by UPMC.
The training camp roster for the Penguins this year, which can be seen by clicking here, includes seven goaltenders, 23 defensemen, 36 forwards and three injured players.
Training camp opened yesterday at the UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex in Cranberry Township.
All practices at that facility are free and open to the public, and all practices unless noted otherwise are at the UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex.
According to a report from the Pittsburgh Penguins on nhl.com, here is the remaining schedule for the team’s 2026-2027 training camp:
(PASSED: Thursday, September 17th 8:45-10:15 AM – Group A Practice 11:30 AM-1:00 PM – Group B Practice 12:45-2:15 PM – Group C Practice)
Friday, September 18th
8:45-10:15 AM – Group A Practice
11:30 AM-1:00 PM – Group B Practice
12:45-2:15 PM – Group C Practice
Saturday, September 19th
8:45-10:15 AM – Group A Practice
11:30 AM-1:00 PM – Group B Practice
12:45-2:15 PM – Group C Practice
Sunday, September 20th
DAY OFF
Monday, September 21st
10:30 – Morning Skate
7:00 PM – GAME VS. BUFFALO
Tuesday, September 22nd
10:30 – Morning Skate
7:00 PM – GAME VS. DETROIT
Wednesday, September 23rd
DAY OFF
Thursday, September 24th
11:30 AM – Morning Skate
7:00 PM – GAME AT COLUMBUS (Nationwide Arena)
Friday, September 25th
12:00-1:30 PM – Practice
Saturday, September 26th
3:00 PM – GAME AT BUFFALO (KeyBank Center)
Sunday, September 27th
12:00-1:00 PM – Practice
Monday, September 28th
DAY OFF
Preview by Frank Sparks, Beaver County Radio General Manager
THE McDONALD’S HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PREVIEW
(Brighton Twp., Beaver County, Pa. ) It’s time to take a trip around the area and look at this week’s high school football matchups involving Beaver County teams. This week’s football preview is brought to you by McDonald’s.
We start with the Pond Lehocky Game of the Week on Beaver County Radio — and this one has the makings of a good one.
CENTRAL VALLEY AT HOPEWELL
It’s a battle of 2-and-1 teams at Tony Dorsett Stadium as the Central Valley Warriors visit the Hopewell Vikings.
Central Valley comes in after an impressive 34-to-17 road victory over Shaler. The Warriors opened the season by beating Beaver 28-to-18, lost to Avonworth 28-to-14, and then bounced back last week.
Hopewell also enters at 2-and-1. The Vikings opened with an impressive 34-to-14 win over Avonworth, followed that with a 35-to-20 victory over Chartiers Valley, but suffered their first loss last week, 28-to-21 against Propel Braddock Hills.
One thing that jumps out statistically is Central Valley’s offensive production. MaxPreps lists the Warriors at more than 325 yards of offense per game, including about 171 yards rushing and 155 passing.
For Hopewell, playing at Tony Dorsett Stadium should help, but the Vikings will need to prevent Central Valley from controlling the line of scrimmage and creating explosive plays.
Frank’s Pick: I think this one stays close into the second half, but I’ll take Central Valley, 28 — Hopewell, 21.
Remember, it’s our Pond Lehocky Game of the Week. Pregame coverage begins at 6:30, with kickoff at 7:00, right here on Beaver County Radio.
A good old-fashioned Beaver County rivalry as Beaver travels to Beaver Falls.
The Bobcats are 1-and-2 after picking up their first victory last week, 35-to-31 over Highlands. Beaver Falls is 1-and-1 and comes off a convincing 32-to-6 victory over Cornell.
This feels like one that could come down to the fourth quarter.
Frank’s Pick: Beaver Falls 28 — Beaver 24.
The Quips are back home this week to face Shady Side Academy.
Shady Side comes in 2-and-1 after winning its first two games before running into Bishop Canevin and losing 42-to-3 last Friday.
Aliquippa is 1-and-1 and, as usual, the Quips bring speed, physicality and plenty of tradition into this matchup.
Frank’s Pick: At the Pit, give me Aliquippa 35 — Shady Side Academy 14.
How about the start for Blackhawk?
The Cougars are a perfect 3-and-0 after beating Beaver Falls 41-to-20, Beaver 55-to-40 and OLSH 43-to-12. That means Blackhawk has scored 139 points in three games. Ellwood City, meanwhile, is looking for its first win and is coming off a 55-to-6 loss to Avonworth.
Frank’s Pick: I’m staying with the hot hand. Blackhawk 42 — Ellwood City 14.
Freedom might be one of the best early-season stories in Beaver County.
The Bulldogs are 3-and-0 and last week survived a wild 55-to-48 shootout against Deer Lakes. Running back Kaden Bailey had a monster performance — 397 rushing yards and four touchdowns.
Mohawk is coming off a 35-to-7 loss to Shenango.
If Freedom can keep Bailey rolling, they’re going to be difficult to stop.
Frank’s Pick: Freedom 35 — Mohawk 20.
New Brighton gets Neshannock at home in an important Midwestern Conference matchup.
Neshannock is 2-and-1 and scored 48 points last week against South Side. New Brighton comes in at 1-and-2.
The Lions have the home field, but Neshannock has shown the ability to put points on the board.
Frank’s Pick: Neshannock 28 — New Brighton 20.
Another Midwestern Conference matchup has unbeaten Riverside traveling to Western Beaver.
Riverside enters at 3-and-0 while Western Beaver is still searching for its first victory at 0-and-3. The Golden Beavers did play a much better game last week, falling to Steel Valley by just a touchdown.
Frank’s Pick: Riverside 28 — Western Beaver 13.
Ambridge is 1-and-2 and returns home after losses to Uniontown and Knoch. The Bridgers’ victory came in the opener, 32-to-14 over Quaker Valley.
West Mifflin also enters at 1-and-2.
Frank’s Pick: I’m giving the Bridgers a slight home-field edge. Ambridge 24 — West Mifflin 21.
Rochester welcomes Summit Academy in a Big Seven Conference matchup. Summit Academy has already suffered losses of 71-to-8 against Knoch and 26-to-8 against Sto-Rox.
Frank’s Pick: The Rams take care of business at home. Rochester 35 — Summit Academy 8.
South Side is looking to turn things around after an 0-and-3 start, but Union presents another difficult challenge. The Rams surrendered 48 points to Neshannock last week.
Frank’s Pick: Union 28 — South Side 14.
OLSH has had a rough start at 0-and-3, while Berlin-Brothersvalley comes into Friday night unbeaten at 3-and-0.
That’s a difficult road assignment.
Frank’s Pick: Berlin-Brothersvalley 35 — OLSH 14.
Quaker Valley is also searching for its first victory at 0-and-3, and the Quakers host a McGuffey team that comes in at 2-and-1.
Frank’s Pick: McGuffey 31 — Quaker Valley 14.
And elsewhere involving teams from around the Beaver Valley, Moon travels to Thomas Jefferson, West Allegheny visits Montour, and Cornell travels to Laurel.
My picks there: Thomas Jefferson over Moon, 35-to-14; Montour over West Allegheny, 28-to-17; and Laurel over Cornell, 27-to-20.
So my game to keep a close eye on — besides our Pond Lehocky Game of the Week — is Beaver at Beaver Falls. Rivalry game, two teams coming off victories, and bragging rights on the line.
But our spotlight Friday night is at Tony Dorsett Stadium:
Central Valley at Hopewell.
Pregame at 6:30, kickoff at 7:00, on 99.3 and 95.7 FM, 1230 WBVP, 1460 WMBA and beavercountyradio.com, with the game also video streamed on Facebook and YouTube.
That’s your McDonald’s High School Football Preview.
Brought to you by you local Beaver County McDonald’s — I’m Lovin’ It!
(File Photo: Source for Photo: Pittsburgh Pirates’ Henry Davis, right, celebrates with Ronny Simon (63) after hitting a two-run home run in the eighth inning of a baseball game against the Milwaukee Brewers in Pittsburgh, Thursday, Sept. 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Konnor Griffin hit a two-run single to key a five-run second inning and Henry Davis tacked on a two-run homer to lead the Pittsburgh Pirates over the NL Central champion Milwaukee Brewers 7-4 on Thursday.
Milwaukee, a major league-best 95-58, leads the Los Angeles Dodgers by two games for the top NL seed and holds the tiebreaker.
Pittsburgh (76-77) is closing in on missing the playoffs for the 11th consecutive season. Since 1992, the Pirates’ only postseason appearances were from 2013-15.
Griffin’s opposite-field liner to left to put the Pirates ahead 2-1. Oneil Cruz followed with a two-run single and Brandon Lowe was hit by a Kyle Harrison pitch with the bases loaded.
Bo Naylor hit into a run-scoring forceout in the sixth and had a solo homer in the eighth off Luke Weaver that followed Sal Frelick’s sacrifice fly.
Davis homered in the eighth against Andy Ashby.
Mason Montgomery got four outs for his 14th save in 16 chances, extending his scoreless innings streak to 21 2/3 innings.
Harrison (10-5) allowed five runs — four earned — in 1 2/3 innings and in his last four outings has given up 24 runs over nine innings.
Khristian Curtis (2-0) gave up one run in 3 1/3 innings.
Brewers center fielder Garrett Mitchell was not in the lineup for a second straight game because of stiffness in the left side of his neck. He doubled as a pinch hitter in the eighth inning.
Brewers: RHP Dustin May (7-9. 4.49 ERA) starts Friday night in the opener of a three-game series at Baltimore.
Pirates RHP Paul Skenes (10-11, 3.78), 1-3 in his last nine starts, faces visiting Kansas City and RHP Randy Dobnak (3-4, 2.73 ERA) on Friday night.
