Category: Sports

Indianapolis Indians minor league team to discuss name

Indianapolis Indians minor league team to discuss name
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — The Indianapolis Indians baseball team say they will form a committee to consider changing the team’s longtime name. Team officials say the name is derived from Indiana, which translates to “land of the Indians,” and the city name, which translates to “city of Indians.” It has been used since 1902. The team is the Triple A affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates. It is the most recent sports franchise with a Native American name to consider a change amid criticism that the names are insensitive or racist.

MLB temporarily suspends Marlins season through the weekend

MLB temporarily suspends Marlins season through the weekend
By STEVEN WINE AP Sports Writer
MIAMI (AP) — Major League Baseball has temporarily suspended the Miami Marlins’ season through Sunday because of their worsening coronavirus outbreak. And the three remaining games in this week’s New York Yankees-Philadelphia Phillies series also were postponed because of virus worries. In a statement Tuesday, MLB said it wanted to allow the Marlins time to focus on providing care for their players and plan for a resumption of play early next week. The Marlins remained stranded in Philadelphia, where they played last weekend. The Phillies-Yankees games through Thursday were postponed “out of an abundance of caution,” MLB said, although no Phillies players have tested positive.

Bucs Blow Four Run Lead in the Ninth. Lose in 11 Innings

By WILL GRAVES AP Sports Writer
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Eric Sogard doubled home Brock Holt in the 11th inning and the Milwaukee Brewers rallied for a rain-delayed 6-5 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates. The Brewers trailed by four entering the ninth but took advantage of another shaky performance by the Pittsburgh bullpen to force extra innings. Ryan Braun’s two-out, two-run double off Kyle Crick drew Milwaukee even. Sogard led off the 11th with a liner down the left-field line, allowing Holt to score easily from second as the automatic runner. Colin Moran hit two home runs for the Pirates.

Former Pirate Josh Harrison to Nationals after release from Phils

Josh Harrison to Nationals after release from Phils
By HOWARD FENDRICH AP Sports Writer
WASHINGTON (AP) — Utility player Josh Harrison has signed a one-year contract with the Washington Nationals less than a week after he was released by the Philadelphia Phillies. The Nationals added the 33-year-old Harrison to their 30-man active roster Monday. To make room, catcher Raudy Read was optioned to Washington’s alternate training site in Fredericksburg, Maryland. Harrison is a right-handed hitter and a two-time All-Star who has started games at second base, third base, shortstop and both corner outfield spots during his nine years in the majors. He played his first eight years with the Pirates and spent part of 2019 with the Tigers.

2 MLB games postponed as Marlins deal with virus outbreak

2 MLB games postponed as Marlins deal with virus outbreak
By STEVEN WINE AP Sports Writer
MIAMI (AP) — Two major league games scheduled for Monday night have been postponed as the Miami Marlins deal with a coronavirus outbreak that stranded them in Philadelphia. The Marlins’ home opener against Baltimore was called off, as was the New York Yankees’ game at Philadelphia. The Yankees would have been in the same clubhouse the Marlins used last weekend. Major League Baseball announced the cancellation of both games about 7 1/5 hours before the scheduled first pitch, saying additional COVID-19 testing was being conducted.

Bucs Beat Cards. Shelton Gets First Win as Major League Skipper

By JEFF MELNICK Associated Press
ST. LOUIS (AP) — Pittsburgh’s Derek Shelton staged baseball’s first major, socially distanced umpire argument, then got his first victory as a big league manager as the Pirates beat the St. Louis Cardinals 5-1. Shelton came out to argue with plate umpire Jordan Baker in the third inning after pitcher Derek Holland was ejected from the dugout for arguing balls and strikes. Shelton pulled a gaiter over his face as he left the dugout, and Baker pulled a face mask out of his pocket and held it to his face as Shelton argued from about six feet away. Baker let Shelton say his peace, and the first-year skipper was not ejected.

Cards beat Bucs 5-4 in opener

By STEVE OVERBEY Associated Press
ST. LOUIS (AP) — Jack Flaherty pitched seven solid innings, Paul DeJong hit a two-run homer and the St. Louis Cardinals opened the season by beating the Pittsburgh Pirates 5-4. Tyler O’Neill and Dexter Fowler added solo homers for St. Louis in the first game of an unprecedented 60-game season shortened due to the coronavirus pandemic. Flaherty, who went 7-2 with an 0.91 ERA over his final 15 regular season starts last year, did not give up a run until Jacob Stallings hit two-out, two-run single just under the glove of first baseman Paul Goldschmidt in the seventh.

Nick is Back as the Quips Boys Basketball Coach

Story by Beaver County Radio News Correspondent Sandy Giordano

(Aliquippa, Pa.) Nick Lackovich was hired as the Quips basketball coach  by the Aliquippa School Board last night.

Athletic Director Brandon LeDonne said this morning  5 candidates were interviewed prior to last night’s special meeting, and 2 candidates, one of them being  Lackovich , were presented to the board.
LeDonne said Coach Lackovich was ecstatic when he was approved.” He’s an Aliquippa guy, he’s passionate about being the basketball coach.”
Six letters of interest and resumes have been received for the girls basketball coaching position, he said.

Shelton Brings Positivity and Grit to Pirates

By WILL GRAVES AP Sports Writer
PITTSBURGH (AP) — First-year Pittsburgh Pirates manager Derek Shelton will have a homecoming of sorts when the club opens the 2020 season in St. Louis. Shelton grew up in southern Illinois and his parent’s first date was to a St. Louis Cardinals game. The former minor league catcher spent 14 seasons as a major league assistant before the Pirates hired him to replace Clint Hurdle last fall. The 49-year-old Shelton has won his players over with his upbeat attitude and his focus while trying to manage in the middle of a global pandemic.

Phil Bourque Talks About The Penguins & The 2020 Cup Playoffs With Matt Drzik

Usually the summertime for the National Hockey League means respite, reorganizing, and the frenzy of free agency that shakes up the rosters of all 31 NHL teams.

But in 2020, where everything in life has become unusual, 24 teams–including the Pittsburgh Penguins–are getting ready for a playoff run like never before.

Penguins color commentator (and two-time Stanley Cup champion) Phil Bourque talked to Matt Drzik on AM Beaver County to talk about the 2020 Stanley Cup playoffs, which begin August 1 and will include Game 1 of the best-of-5 series between the Pittsburgh Penguins (the #5 seed in the Eastern Conference) and Montreal Canadiens (#12).

Bourque spoke about the notion of this Cup run being tougher than any other in history, as the Pens will need 19 wins in order to hoist Cup #6 in franchise history. Phil also analyzed the return of Sidney Crosby to practice, the seemingly unending goalie controversy between Matt Murray and Tristan Jarry, and which player he believes will be the “x-factor” (for better or worse) for the Penguins as they traverse to Toronto for the playoffs.

Beaver County Radio will have all the coverage of the Pens’ playoff push, and Game 1 between Pittsburgh and Montreal will come your way on August 1; puck drop is set for 8:00 PM.

To hear the full interview with Matt and “The Ol’ 29er”, click on the player below!