Category: Sports

Savannah Bananas bringing Banana Ball back to PNC Park in 2027

(Credit for Photo: Photo Courtesy of Sean Rayford/Getty Images)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) The Savannah Bananas, a baseball team that does flips and other wacky tricks while playing baseball, recently announced their 2027 tour, and PNC Park is on the team’s list for two games. 

The Bananas are bringing their “World Famous Baseball Circus” back to the Steel City on Friday, August 6th, 2027 and Saturday, August 7th, 2027. 

The Bananas will be playing against the Indianapolis Clowns in their trademarked sport of “Banana Ball.” 

Tickets are offered through a ticket lottery list from the Savannah Bananas. 

Fans can sign up to have a chance to win tickets now at bananaball.com (click here.)  

The ticket lottery list closes at midnight on October 31st. 

The Bananas will make their return to Pittsburgh two years after their debut at the Pirates’ ballpark on the days of August 29th, 2025 and August 30th, 2025 against the Texas Tailgaters.

Those games were sold out.

Those games in Pittsburgh also marked a homecoming for Aliquippa native Ryan Cox and Butler native Alex “Ziggy” Ziegler, who play for the Bananas.

The64.com Launches Second Annual America’s Best High School Mascot Tournament

(Credit for Photo: Photo Courtesy of oneBURGH, Posted on Facebook on May 7th, 2026)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Las Vegas, NV) The64.com launched its second annual America’s Best High School Mascot Tournament, and 64 mascots across the country are competing for this national title.

This competition started today and will go through November 1st, with seven Pennsylvania high school mascots vying for the championship.

Voting for the first round of this tournament goes from today through Saturday.

According to a release from the64.com, here are the matchups that feature Pennsylvania high school mascots, with those mascots in bold.

-Avonworth Antelopes (Pittsburgh) vs. Fisher Bunnies (Fisher, Illinois)
-Bangor Area Slaters (Bangor) vs. Fergus Falls Otters (Fergus Falls, Minnesota)
-Cranberry Berries “Super Berry” (Seneca) vs. Danbury Hatters (Danbury, Connecticut)
-Jeannette Jayhawks (Jeanette) vs. William Allen Canaries (Allentown), an all-Pennsylvania matchup
-Mars Area Fightin’ Planets “Meatball” (Mars) vs. Springfield Senators (Springfield, Illinois)
-Warrior Run Defenders (Turbotville) vs. Pearl Pirates (Pearl, Mississippi)

You can vote for your favorite mascot by clicking here.

A new round of voting begins every three days through November 1st, and each matchup is decided by public voting entirely, with no editorial rankings, judges, or paid placements.

Former Steelers quarterback Terry Bradshaw announces he’s cancer-free, but nearing retirement from broadcasting

(File Photo: Source for Photo: Terry Bradshaw speaks during a memorial for Franco Harris during the NFL Honors award show ahead of the Super Bowl 57 football game, Feb. 9, 2023, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip, File)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(New York City, NY) Four-time Super Bowl champion and former Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Terry Bradshaw announced that he is now cancer-free after he received two separate diagnoses for cancer in 2022.

The 78-year-old and two-time Super Bowl MVP gave an update on his health in a recent interview with “Good Morning America” co-host and fellow “FOX NFL Sunday” analyst Michael Strahan to promote his new memoir and talked about his double cancer diagnosis in 2022 and his struggles with depression and mental health.

Bradshaw was diagnosed with bladder cancer in November of 2021 and had a tumor in his neck which was from a rare form of skin cancer in March of 2022.

Even though Bradshaw is cancer-free, he made comments in a separate interview with “NBC News Daily” on the future of his career in broadcasting.

According to Bradshaw: “I realize my time on television as a sports broadcaster is coming to an end. “I just love life. Billy Graham said, and I never forgot this quote, he said, ‘The day you retire is the day you start dying.'”

Pirates second baseman Brandon Lowe and utility player Jared Triolo become finalists for 2026 National League Rawlings Gold Glove Awards

(Caption for Photo: Pirates second baseman Brandon Lowe makes a sliding, back-handed play during the first inning against the Brewers on Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2026, at PNC Park. Credit for Photo: Photo Courtesy of Christopher Horner, TribLive)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) Pittsburgh Pirates second baseman Brandon Lowe and utility player Jared Triolo are now finalists for the 2026 Rawlings National League Gold Glove Awards. 

The MLB announced finalists yesterday for each position for those awards in both the National League and the American League, and the winners will be announced on an ESPN broadcast live on November 1st. 

The thirty-two-year-old Lowe played for the Tampa Bay Rays in 2025 and was acquired by the Pirates on December 19th, 2025 in a three-team trade involving the Pirates, Rays and the Astros. 

Lowe made 130 putouts and recorded 363 assists in 554 chances over 1,181 innings in 138 games at second base for the Pirates, which included 133 starts. 

Lowe also had 78 double plays in 2026 and he is looking to become the first Pirates second baseman to win a Gold Glove Award since Jose Lind in 1992.  

The twenty-eight-year-old Triolo made his major league debut with the Pirates on June 28th, 2023, and recorded four defensive runs saved in 527 2/3 innings over 71 games in 59 starts at shortstop. 

Triolo recorded 35 double plays at shortstop and five double plays from third base, which is where he played 260 1/3 innings over 50 games in 27 starts, with one defensive run saved. 

Triolo is the most recent Pirates player to win a Gold Glove award and he earned that award as a utility player in 2024. 

Lowe joins Brice Turang of the Milwaukee Brewers and JJ Wetherholt of the St. Louis Cardinals as finalists for the 2026 National League Rawlings Gold Glove Award for second base. 

Triolo joins Mauricio Dubón of the Atlanta Braves and Ildemaro Vargas of the Arizona Diamondbacks as finalists for the 2026 National League Rawlings Gold Glove Award for utility players. 

West Allegheny High School boys golf captures first WPIAL team title in program history

(Credit for Photo: Photo Courtesy of the West Allegheny School District, Posted on Facebook on October 14th, 2026)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Belle Vernon, PA) West Allegheny High School’s boys golf team captured its first WPIAL golf championship in program history.

That team won the Class 3A title after defeating Fox Chapel by two strokes with a score of 384-386.

This match occurred yesterday at Cedarbrook Gold Golf Course in Belle Vernon.

Fixer in lucrative NCAA basketball betting scheme involving colleges like Robert Morris University sentenced to 6 years in prison

(File Photo: Source for Photo: FILE – Information is displayed during a news conference to announce charges against several people including former college basketball players, in what prosecutors called a betting scheme to rig NCAA and Chinese Basketball Association games, Jan. 15, 2026 in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Tassanee Vejpongsa, File)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Philadelphia, PA) Prosecutors in Pennsylvania recently announced that a man who involved in rigging college basketball games has been sentenced to six years in jail.

Thirty-year-old Jalen Smith of Charlotte, North Carolina received this sentence and was involved in fixing games during the 2023-2024 and 2024-2025 NCAA seasons.

This marks the first penalty in an investigation in which authorities said uncovered a network of players and gamblers who made a profit from fixed games.

Smith recruited players so they could underperform in exchange for payment, which allowed bettors to profit by wagering against their teams.

Players from colleges like Robert Morris University had players who were accused of participating in this scheme.

The scheme affected almost 30 games and resulted in more than $3 million in fraudulent wagers.

Smith must also pay a restitution amount of $1.1 million.

Teuvo Teravainen helps the Blackhawks beat the Penguins 5-3 in Connor Bedard’s season debut

(File Photo: Source for Photo: Chicago Blackhawks right wing Roman Kantserov (80) celebrates his second goal of the night with teammates during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Pittsburgh Penguins, Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2026, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Harry Figiel))

CHICAGO (AP) — Teuvo Teravainen and Roman Kantserov scored two goals apiece, and the Chicago Blackhawks topped the Pittsburgh Penguins 5-3 on Tuesday night in Connor Bedard’s first game of the season.

Spencer Knight made 24 saves as Chicago improved to 1-1 on a seven-game homestand. Patrick Kane picked up his 894th career assist, matching Phil Housley for the most by a U.S.-born player in NHL history.

Bedard also had an assist. The captain had surgery on his left shoulder on July 8.

Sidney Crosby scored his first two goals of the season for Pittsburgh in the opener of a four-game trip. Nick Robertson also scored, and Sergei Murashov made 15 stops.

Crosby tied it at 3-all when he swept in a rebound with 10:43 left. It was his 656th career goal, tying Brendan Shanahan for 14th on the NHL list.

But Teravainen scored from a tough angle with 4:18 remaining, and Tyler Bertuzzi closed it out with an empty-netter in the final seconds.

Chicago jumped in front 28 seconds into the game. Pittsburgh turned the puck over behind its net and Anton Frondell fed Teravainen in the low slot for his first goal of the season.

After Crosby tied it for the Penguins, the Blackhawks finished a pretty passing sequence with their second power-play goal of the season. Bedard played the puck into the middle to Kantserov, who beat Murashov with a one-timer with 2:10 left in the first.

Kantserov scored again 10:32 into the second, tipping home a pass from Artyom Levshunov. The 22-year-old rookie scored his first career goal during Saturday night’s 5-2 loss to Carolina.

Pittsburgh closed to 3-2 on Robertson’s fourth goal of the season. A streaking Robertson knocked in a loose puck with 2:09 left in the second.

The Blackhawks played without forward Frank Nazar, who finished his two-game suspension for an illegal check against the New York Islanders on Thursday night.

Up next

Penguins: At Colorado on Friday night.

Blackhawks: Host Winnipeg on Thursday night.

Steelers bring back veteran linebacker Elandon Roberts; sign him to practice squad

(File Photo: Source for Photo: Las Vegas Raiders linebacker Elandon Roberts celebrates a defensive stop against the Dallas Cowboys during the first half of an NFL football game, Nov. 17, 2025, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/David Becker, File))

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) The Pittsburgh Steelers recently signed veteran linebacker Elandon Roberts to the team’s practice squad. 

Roberts returns to the Steelers after playing with the team in 2023 and 2024. 

He was signed by the Steelers during the team’s 2026 preseason, but he was released on the final cutdown of the team’s roster. 

Roberts spent the 2025-2026 NFL season playing for the Las Vegas Raiders. 

He started 16 of the 17 games that he appeared in for the Raiders and finished the season with 90 tackles, and six of them were tackles for loss. 

Roberts also has chemistry with Steelers defensive coordinator Patrick Graham, who was the Raiders’ defensive coordinator during the 2025-2026 NFL season. 

Penguins acquire defenseman Ryan Johnson from Sabres in exchange for defensemen Caleb Jones and Daniel Laatsch

(Credit and Caption for Photo: Buffalo Sabres defenseman Ryan Johnson (33) skates during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Colorado Avalanche Monday, Oct. 13, 2025, in Buffalo, N.Y. (Courtesy of Jeffrey T. Barnes/Associated Press))

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) Pittsburgh Penguins President of Hockey Operations and General Manager Kyle Dubas announced yesterday that the Penguins have acquired defenseman Ryan Johnson from the Buffalo Sabres in exchange for defenseman Caleb Jones and defenseman Daniel Laatsch. 

Johnson’s contract carries an average annual value of $875,000 and he is signed through the end of the 2027-28 season. 

The twenty-five-year-old Johnson split the first three-plus seasons of his career as a pro between the Buffalo Sabres and their American Hockey League affiliate, the Rochester Americans. 

Johnson has recorded seven assists in 47 career NHL games with the Sabres, which all came in his rookie season, which is when he skated in a career-high 41 games in 2023-2024. 

Johnson was drafted in the first round of the 2019 NHL Draft by the Sabres as the 31st overall pick in that draft. 

Source: Steelers wide receiver Roman Wilson expected to miss multiple weeks with finger injury

(Credit and Caption for Photo: Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Roman Wilson (10) leaves the field after an NFL preseason football game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Saturday, Aug. 9, 2025, in Jacksonville, Fla. The Steelers defeated the Jaguars 31-25. (Courtesy of the Associated Press)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) A source recently told ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler that Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Roman Wilson will miss multiple weeks because of a finger injury. 

Wilson suffered this injury in the second quarter of the Steelers’ game yesterday against the Indianapolis Colts at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh. 

Wilson was seen grabbing his left hand after an incomplete pass attempt from Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers and was eventually ruled out for the rest of the game. 

Wilson is now in his third year in the NFL after being drafted by the Steelers in the third round of the 2024 NFL Draft out of the University of Michigan.