Category: Sports

Brain games; Steelers want LB Bush to take mental leap

Brain games; Steelers want LB Bush to take mental leap
By WILL GRAVES AP Sports Writer
PITTSBURGH (AP) — The Pittsburgh Steelers liked what they saw from inside linebacker Devin Bush in 2019. They believe they need to see him do more than just chase down opposing ballcarriers in Year 2. The Steelers are giving Bush more responsibility in terms of helping set up the defense between plays. Head coach Mike Tomlin says he wants to see Bush make “dramatic improvement” in terms of being a communicator. Bush led the team in tackles last season but says he is more comfortable with the defense now and feels the game is slowing down for him.

P.I.A.A. Board clears fall school sports to begin

Pennsylvania board clears fall school sports to begin
By MICHAEL RUBINKAM Associated Press
The governing body for Pennsylvania interscholastic sports decided Friday to move forward with the fall season, rejecting the governor’s recommendation that all youth sports be postponed until 2021 to help stop the spread of the coronavirus. The board of the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association voted 25-5 to allow high school football, soccer, tennis, field hockey and other fall sports to go on as planned. The PIAA had delayed the start of fall sports by two weeks after Gov. Tom Wolf on Aug. 6 urged that scholastic and recreational youth sports be put off until January, citing the coronavirus pandemic. The PIAA has said it was blindsided and “tremendously disappointed” by the Wolf administration’s recommendation, which is not binding.

Bieber strikes out 11 as streaking Indians shut out Pirates

Bieber strikes out 11 as streaking Indians shut out Pirates
By JOHN PERROTTO Associated Press
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Unbeaten Shane Bieber racked up 11 more strikeouts and combined with four relievers on a seven-hitter Thursday night as the Cleveland Indians blanked the Pittsburgh Pirates 2-0 to win their sixth in a row and sweep the three-game series. The right-hander scattered six hits and did not walk a batter in six innings before being lifted after his pitch count reached 99. Beiber raised his season strikeout total to a major league-best 65 in 40 2/3 innings, an average of 14.4 per nine innings. Oliver Perez, Nick Wittgren, James Karinchak and Brad Hand finished the shutout.

Civale’s complete-game gem lifts Indians past Pirates 6-1

Civale’s complete-game gem lifts Indians past Pirates 6-1
By WILL GRAVES AP Sports Writer
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Cleveland’s Aaron Civale struck out six and didn’t issue a walk while picking up the first complete game of his young career as the Indians pushed their winning streak to five with a 6-1 win over Pittsburgh. Civale allowed just five hits and narrowly missed a shutout when Pittsburgh pushed across a run with a sacrifice fly in the ninth. Carlos Santana hit his second three-run home run in as many games for the Indians. Domingo Santana added a bases-clearing triple as the Indians improved to a season-best six games over .500.

Aliquippa School Board approves contracts for girls and boys Basketball Coaches

Story by Beaver County News Correspondent Sandy Giordano


(Aliquippa, Pa.) Girls basketball coach, Dwight “BO’  Lindsey’s  3 year contract was approved at last night’s meeting.  His salary is set at $4,500 per season.  Any season is subject to completion and further subject to pro-rated  of salary in the event of a shortened season.

Nick Lackovich head, boys basketball coach  will  earn $8,500 per season  and has the same stipulations in his contract as Lindsey’s . The 2 men   said they were very happy to receive the opportunity to coach  in their home district.

Collisions…or COVID-19? Pitt Relieved After Scare

PITTSBURGH (AP) — The Pitt football program is breathing a sigh of relief after dealing with a COVID-19 scare. Several players reported symptoms consistent with the novel coronavirus after the first day of padded practice. Head coach Pat Narduzzi ordered the affected players to contact the team’s trainer and canceled practice. The symptoms turned out to be a false alarm. The issues were the result of practicing, not COVID-19, and the Panthers returned to practice the following day after everyone involved tested negative. Narduzzi says he’s concerned about what happens when the university begins holding in-person classes later this month.

Penguins Star Malkin Undergoes Elbow Surgery

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Pittsburgh Penguins center Evgeni Malkin has undergone surgery to repair a left elbow injury. The team did not provide specifics on the nature of Malkin’s injury or when it occurred. The 34-year-old Malkin led the Penguins with 74 points during the regular season but was ineffective during a four-game loss to Montreal in the qualifying round of the playoffs. Malkin recorded just one assist during the series and had a minus-3 rating. The expected recovery time for Malkin is about a month, meaning he should be available whenever training camp for the 2020-21 season opens.

Reds, Pirates won’t play Monday, awaiting COVID test results

Reds, Pirates won’t play Monday, awaiting COVID test results
By JOE KAY AP Sports Writer
CINCINNATI (AP) — Reds players and staff were tested for COVID-19 again as Major League Baseball tried to determine if more than one Cincinnati player has been exposed to the coronavirus. The last two games of a series between the Reds and Pirates were postponed Saturday after the player tested positive. The Pirates worked out Sunday at Great American Ball Park and returned to Pittsburgh, where they will start a three-game series against the Cleveland Indians on Tuesday. The Reds expected to get results of their latest tests on Monday, when a decision will be made whether they can travel to Kansas City for a series that’s scheduled to begin Tuesday night.

Crowded house: Steelers backfield eyes consistency in 2020

Crowded house: Steelers backfield eyes consistency in 2020
By WILL GRAVES AP Sports Writer
PITTSBURGH (AP) — The Pittsburgh Steelers are hoping their running game can take a step forward following a miserable 2019. The Steelers finished 29th in the league in rushing last season. Defenses ganged up to stop the run after quarterback Ben Roethlisberger went down in Week 2 with a season-ending right elbow injury. James Conner, a Pro Bowler in 2018, is entering the final year of his rookie contract. Conner has struggled with injuries during his career. The former Pitt star understands he needs to prove his durability in 2020.

Pirates connect 3 times off DeSclafani, roll 9-6 over Reds

Pirates connect 3 times off DeSclafani, roll 9-6 over Reds
By JOE KAY AP Sports Writer
CINCINNATI (AP) — Adam Frazier hit the first of three homers off Anthony DeSclafani, who hasn’t beaten Pittsburgh in his last seven tries, and the Pirates returned from a three-day layoff with a flourish, beating the Cincinnati Reds 9-6. Pittsburgh’s three-game series in St. Louis was called off because of the Cardinals’ COVID-19 outbreak. The Pirates showed no rust against a pitcher they’ve dominated. Frazier connected on DeSclafani’s second pitch, and the rout was on. DeSclafani hasn’t beaten the Pirates since June 17, 2018, at PNC Park. Since then, he’s 0-5 in seven starts — all Pirates wins.