Category: Sports

Fitzpatrick seeks to become vocal leader for Steelers

Fitzpatrick seeks to become vocal leader for Steelers
By DAN SCIFO Associated Press
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Safety Minkah Fitzpatrick let his on-field play do the talking during his first two seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers. This year, the two-time All-Pro intends to be more of a vocal leader. Pittsburgh acquired Fitzpatrick in a trade with Miami in 2019 and he immediately improved the Steelers’ defense with dynamic plays. Fitzpatrick has nine interceptions, three fumble recoveries and two forced fumbles in less than two seasons with Pittsburgh. He has even drawn comparisons to Hall of Fame Steelers safety Troy Polamalu.

Former Buc, Happ, Cards bullpen combine on 1-hitter, top Pirates 4-1

Happ, Cards bullpen combine on 1-hitter, top Pirates 4-1
By JOHN PERROTTO Associated Press
PITTSBURGH (AP) — J.A. Happ combined with a trio of relievers on a one-hitter, Tommy Edman and Paul DeJong homered early and the St. Louis Cardinals beat the skidding Pittsburgh Pirates 4-1. Happ retired the first nine batters, then gave up rookie Hoy Park’s first career home run to lead off the fourth inning. Making his second start for the Cardinals since being acquired from the Twins in a July 30 trade, Happ struck out five and walked two. Happ took a no-hit bid into the eighth inning against the Pirates on April 23 at Minnesota and wound up allowing one hit in 7 2/3 innings.

Mike Lange Retiring from Play-By-Play Duties, Remaining with Penguins Radio Network

Pittsburgh Penguins Hall of Fame broadcaster Mike Lange announced today that he will not return to the radio booth for play-by-play duties, but will remain a part of the Penguins Radio Network. Fans will continue to hear Lange’s voice during radio appearances and various Penguins programming.

Lange, 73, missed the majority of the past season out of an abundance of caution during the pandemic while awaiting the COVID-19 vaccine.  He returned to the booth alongside color analyst Phil Bourque to call two home games at the end of the regular season and Games 1 and 5 of the Penguins’ Round One series against the New York Islanders.

“Mike is a broadcasting legend, not just in Pittsburgh, but in all of sports,” said Penguins president and CEO David Morehouse. “He is respected and admired by all, including our ownership, players and management and executive team.  Mike’s clever phrases and goal calls are synonymous with the most iconic moments in Penguins history.  Although he is stepping away from the booth, he remains a huge part of the Penguins’ family and we look forward to hearing his voice for years to come.”

  Lange was honored in a pre-game ceremony celebrating 45 years as the voice of the Penguins in 2019 when the team named the press box at PPG Paints Arena the “Mike Lange Media Level.”  His unique and creative style, including trademark phrases such as “Buy Sam A Drink And Get His Dog One, Too,” earned him the Foster Hewitt award for broadcasting from the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2001.

“As many of you know, I have been cutting back on game broadcasts the last few seasons. This year was difficult with the pandemic, but I was still able to broadcast a limited few, which was important to me. That marked 50 years of broadcasting professional hockey – four in the Western Hockey League and 46 with the Pittsburgh Penguins. That was  pretty special for me,” said Hall of Fame broadcaster Mike Lange. “I didn’t get cheated in my quest to do what I have always loved. The Penguins have asked me to continue to add commentary and voice work on a limited basis to the current radio set-up and I look forward to staying involved. In the meantime, the best consolation to stepping away is knowing that the broadcast couldn’t be in better hands with the very talented Josh Getzoff, and the Ole ’29-er, Phil Bourque.”

Josh Getzoff will take over all radio play-by-play duties, teaming with veteran analyst Bourque on 105.9 The X and the Penguins Radio Network.  Getzoff has called the Penguins road games for the past three seasons, in addition to home games in Lange’s absence over the past two years.

  Lange’s relationship with the Penguins began in 1974-75, when he broke into the NHL as a radio play-by-play man. He left for one season, but returned in 1976-77 and has been a fixture on the Penguins’ scene ever since.

Lange did radio exclusively until 1979, when games were simulcast on radio and TV. He served as the television voice of the Penguins through 2005-06, before returning to the radio booth in 2006-07.

A native of Sacramento, California, Lange earned a degree in broadcasting from Sacramento State University before starting his career as the voice of the Phoenix Roadrunners (WHL) in 1970. He also served as the play-by-play voice of the San Diego Gulls (WHL) in 1973-74 and  the Washington Diplomats (NASL) before joining the Penguins.

In addition to his tenure with the Penguins, Lange handled play-by-play duties for the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1986-87. A well-known member of the Pittsburgh community, Lange makes numerous personal appearances throughout the year and is actively involved in charity work.

Watt Not Practicing Because of Contract

Steelers’ Butler: Watt not practicing because of contract
By DAN SCIFO Associated Press
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Pittsburgh Steelers defensive coordinator Keith Butler acknowledged that linebacker T.J. Watt isn’t practicing because he has yet to sign a long-term contract. Watt has been on the field doing individual work, but he hasn’t practiced with his teammates during training camp workouts at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh.

Suárez, Votto Homer to Help Reds Beat Pirates 7-4

Suárez, Votto homer to help Reds beat Pirates 7-4
CINCINNATI (AP) — Eugenio Suárez and Joey Votto hit three-run homers in Cincinnati’s six-run second inning, powering the Reds to a 7-4 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Thursday night in the opener of a four-game series. Jonathan India also went deep and pitcher Sonny Gray helped himself with two hits as second-place Cincinnati gained a half-game on idle NL Central-leader Milwaukee and a full game on San Diego, which has a three-game lead over the Reds for the second wild-card slot. The Brewers lead Cincinnati by seven games. Gray gave up six hits and four runs with two walks and seven strikeouts in five innings. Jeff Hoffman and Justin Wilson combined for three scoreless relief innings before Mychal Givens pitched the ninth for his first save.

Steelers Use Strong 2nd Half to Beat Cowboys 16-3

Steelers use strong 2nd half to beat Cowboys 16-3
By BARRY WILNER AP Pro Football Writer
CANTON, Ohio (AP) — The Pittsburgh Steelers followed a stumbling first half with a strong final 30 minutes to beat Dallas 16-3 in the first NFL preseason game in two years. Last season’s exhibition games were canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. So maybe the enthusiastic crowd was an indication that even for a match between teams using very few regulars, the hunger for pro football has not faded. Or maybe it was simply a matter of two of the league’s most popular franchises being on the field in the Hall of Fame game, regardless of how many backups were in action.

Pinch-hit HR by Tellez gives Brewers 4-2 win over Pirates

Pinch-hit HR by Tellez gives Brewers 4-2 win over Pirates
By STEVE MEGARGEE AP Sports Writer
MILWAUKEE (AP) — Pinch-hitter Rowdy Tellez launched a three-run homer with two outs in the seventh inning to put the Milwaukee Brewers ahead for good in a 4-2 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates. Devin Williams worked around a leadoff walk in the ninth to earn his first career save. Pittsburgh’s Bryan Reynolds went 2 of 2, walked twice and scored both of the Pirates’ runs. The Brewers won two of three from the Pirates and remained 7 1/2 games ahead of Cincinnati in the NL Central.

Andrew Fee Talks About Geneva Women’s Golf Winning The Mark Laesch Award

Usually it’s not hard to improve on doing something when you only started doing it a couple years ago, but to improve so much that it’s statistically the best in the country? That deserves an award.

And that’s precisely what the Geneva College women’s golf team received when they were honored with the Mark Laesch Award for greatest improvement by the Women’s Golf Coaches Association (WGCA). The WGCA gives the award to the top team in each of the three divisions of the NCAA based on total strokes, and Geneva’s improved stroke total of 101.96 in Division III far outdistanced the totals of Division I Fairfield (11.75) and Division II Arkansas-Fort Smith (25.86).

Andrew Fee, the coach behind the team’s marked improvement, spoke about the achievement with Matt Drzik on the August 3 edition of A.M. Beaver County, speaking about how grand of an accomplishment it is to take a program that only started in the Fall of 2019 to their current status. The women’s golf squad will be joined, as Fee also mentioned, by a new men’s golf squad that will play its first season in the Fall of 2021.

Fee is also the Assistant Athletic Director at Geneva, and he took some time to talk about the continuing growth of athletics as a whole at the Beaver Falls campus, as well as the consistently strong prioritization of the academic side of student-athletes who don the black and gold for the Golden Tornadoes. He also previewed the upcoming Fall 2021 semester, one he hopes will not only be a relatively “normal” one, but a successful one that will include the return of the Homecoming Parade connecting the city to the campus.

For the full interview between Matt and Andrew, click on the player below!

 

Escobar Homers, Triples as Brewers Defeat Pirates 6-2

Escobar homers, triples as Brewers defeat Pirates 6-2
By STEVE MEGARGEE AP Sports Writer
MILWAUKEE (AP) — Eduardo Escobar hit a three-run homer and an RBI triple to back up Eric Lauer’s five shutout innings in the Milwaukee Brewers’ 6-2 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates. Escobar’s two-out triple off Kyle Keller in the sixth extended the Brewers’ lead to 2-0. He followed that up by sending a 421-foot drive to right against Nick Mears in the seventh. Escobar also walked twice to reach base on each of his four plate appearances. This marked his first home game for the Brewers since Milwaukee acquired him from the Arizona Diamondbacks on Wednesday.

Today is “Jimbo Covert Day” in Beaver County

(AP Photo)

(Beaver, Pa.) Today, July 30, 2021, is officially Jimbo Covert Day in Beaver County. Beaver County Commissioners Jack Manning, Daniel C. Camp III and Tony Amadio made a proclamation declaring today as “Jimbo” Covert Day in Beaver County.

Covert, will enter the NFL Hall of Fame as a member of the Centennial Class next Saturday along with Steelers Coach Bill Cowher, Steelers Safety Troy Polamalu, Donnie Shell and Alan Faneca.

Covert was a star football player and wrestler at Freedom High School in the late 1970s, hw starred at the University of Pittsburgh in the early 1980s. Were he was named an All-American twice.

Beaver County native Mike Ditka who was the head coach of the Chicago Bears drafted Covert sixth overall in the1983 NFL Draft.

Covert was a two-time first-team All-Pro who was part of a Bears team that won six division championships, and the 1985 Super Bowl Championship.