Steelers motivated for Monday night matchup with Bengals
By MITCH STACY AP Sports Writer
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — The Pittsburgh Steelers are on a two-game skid but see Monday night’s matchup with the struggling Cincinnati Bengals as a win they need to secure. Pittsburgh already has clinched its first playoff berth since 2017. A win over the Bengals would assure the Steelers of the AFC North title and at least one home playoff game at Heinz Field. The Steelers won their first 11 in a row but are suddenly struggling with an offensive line hit by multiple injuries and an ineffective running game. The Bengals have lost five straight.
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.
Steelers, Chiefs, Packers, Saints close to division titles
By The Associated Press undefined
The Pittsburgh Steelers still haven’t clinched a spot in the postseason yet despite an 11-1 record. They will wrap up the AFC North with a win Sunday night at Buffalo and if Cleveland loses to Baltimore on Monday night. In the NFC, the Green Bay Packers can clinch the NFC North with a win over the Detroit Lions or a loss by Minnesota to Tampa Bay. The defending champion Kansas City Chiefs clinched a playoff spot last week and can wrap up the AFC West with a win or tie against Miami or a loss or tie by the Las Vegas Raiders.
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:
(Beaver Falls, Pa.) Beaver County Radio play by play man and Beaver County Sports Hall of Fame announcer Tom Hays will join Eddy Crow on Teleforum at 10:10 a.m. Wednesday morning on 1230 WBVP, 1460 WMBA, 99.3 FM and beavercountyradio.com to talk about his 40 year career announcing local high school sports games. Hays started broadcasting in the early 80’s at WMBA and then made the move to Beaver County Radio in the late 1980’s.
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.
