Category: Sports

Steelers Announces Jon Kolb as 2026 Salute to Service Award Nominee

(File Photo of the Pittsburgh Steelers Logo)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) The Pittsburgh Steelers announced yesterday their team’s nominee for the 2026 Salute to Service Award, presented by USAA.

This annual award recognizes NFL players, coaches, staff and alumni who demonstrate a commitment that is exceptional to supporting U.S. veterans, service members and their families.

The Steelers selected legendary Steelers offensive lineman Jon Kolb as their nominee for this award.

Kolb is the founder of Adventures in Training with a Purpose (ATP), which is a non-profit organization that focuses on improving the lives of men and women who served in the military through purposeful training to empower and provide them the
freedom to both move and perform daily tasks on their own.

The clients of ATP are active-duty military, first responders and veterans, who all receive services free of charge.

Kolb is one of 32 nominees who were announced yesterday by the NFL and USAA, which is an official NFL Salute to Service partner.

Fans can show their support by voting at NFL.com/SaluteFanVote from now
through Monday, November 30th at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time.

One vote per day per nominee is permitted.

Fan voting will help determine the three finalists for this award, and these individuals will be announced in January of 2027.

The recipient of this award will be recognized at NFL Honors, which is the league’s annual primetime awards special, during the week of Super Bowl LXI which is in Los Angeles.

Pirates second baseman Brandon Lowe named 2026 National League Silver Slugger Award finalist

(File Photo: Source for Photo: Pittsburgh Pirates’ Brandon Lowe follows through on a walk-off solo home run off Detroit Tigers pitcher Kenley Jansen during the ninth inning of a baseball game in Pittsburgh, Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsubrgh, PA) Pittsburgh Pirates second baseman Brandon Lowe was recently named a 2026 National League Silver Slugger Award finalist by Louisville Slugger. 

Lowe is seeking to win his first career Silver Slugger Award after his first season with the Pirates in 2026. 

He was acquired by the Pirates from the Tampa Bay Rays in a three-team trade that involved those two teams as well as the Houston Astros on December 19th, 2025. 

Lowe’s 33 home runs as a second baseman this season for the Pirates were the most in Pirates franchise history at that position since 1887, surpassing Neil Walker, who hit 23 from that position in 2014. 

If Lowe wins this award, he would become the third Pirates second baseman to win a Silver Slugger Award since its inception in 1980, joining Johnny Ray in 1983 and Walker in 2014. 

Lowe and Brice Turang of the Milwaukee Brewers became finalists for this award at second base this year. 

Lowe is the first Silver Slugger Award finalist for the Pirates since Bryan Reynolds in 2024, and if Lowe wins the award, he would become the 12th different Pittsburgh player or pitcher, in regards to the 22nd instance, to receive it. 

The Silver Slugger Award winners will be announced on Tuesday, November 17th by Louisville Slugger. 

Zacha scores twice to lead the Bruins to a 6-2 victory over the struggling Penguins

(File Photo: Source for Photo: Boston Bruins’ Elias Lindholm (28) gets a shot past Pittsburgh Penguins goaltender Arturs Silovs (37) for a goal during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Pittsburgh, Thursday, Nov. 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Pavel Zacha scored twice and the Boston Bruins beat the Pittsburgh Penguins 6-2 on Thursday night.

Morgan Geekie scored in his third straight game and had an assist. Elias Lindholm, Mark Kastelic and Fraser Minten also scored for the Bruins, who have won three straight. Boston has won 10 of its last 13 games overall.

David Pastrnak and JJ Peterka added two assists and Michael DiPietro stopped 16 shots for the Bruins, who snapped a three-game road losing streak. Boston has points in its last seven trips to Pittsburgh, dating to Nov. 1, 2022.

Justin Brazeau scored his first goal in his second game of the season since returning from a training camp injury. Nick Robertson also scored for the Penguins, who struggled defensively against the Bruins.

Pittsburgh captain Sidney Crosby did not record a point and remains tied with Marcel Dionne for sixth on the NHL’s all-time scoring list with 1,771 points.

Arturs Silovs made 18 saves for the Penguins, who lost their fourth straight. Pittsburgh has dropped eight of its last 10 games overall.

Boston led 3-1 after the first period and 5-2 through 40 minutes.

Zacha scored both of his goals on a 2-on-1, as did Minten. Geekie scored on a partial breakaway after a poor Pittsburgh line change, and Lindholm found the back of the net following an Erik Karlsson turnover in his own zone. Karlsson was a minus-4 for Pittsburgh.

Up next

Bruins: Open a four-game homestand Sunday against Florida. Boston plays 10 of its next 11 games at home.

Penguins: Begin a three-game West Coast trip Saturday at Los Angeles.

Savannah Bananas add third date in 2027 to play their wacky version of baseball at PNC Park

(Caption and Credit for Photo: Dakota Albritton pitches at PNC Park during the Savannah Bananas’ game Aug. 29, 2025, in Pittsburgh. (Massoud Hossaini | TribLive)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) The Savannah Bananas, a baseball team that does tricks and other wacky entertainment while playing their trademarked game of baseball called “Banana Ball,” have now added a third date to their schedule playing “Banana Ball” at PNC Park in 2027.

The Bananas will be playing against the Indianapolis Clowns at PNC Park on August 8th, 2027, which was added to the Bananas’ other two dates at the same park on August 6th, 2027 and August 7th, 2027.

A ticket lottery for fans closed to new applicants on the date of October 31st, but people who want to see the Savannah Bananas can sign up for a ticket waiting list on the website of the team, bananaball.com.

You can join this ticket interest list by clicking here.

Steelers To Host College Flag Invitational at U. S. Steel Community Field at Hazelwood Green

(File Photo of the Pittsburgh Steelers Logo)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) The Pittsburgh Steelers are partnering with Giant Eagle to host the “Steel City College Flag Invitational” at U. S. Steel Community Field at Hazelwood Green on Saturday, November 14th from 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

The event is free to attend and local women’s college flag football teams will compete in a series of exhibition matches that are head-to-head, and these will feature club team and varsity match-ups.

This invitational is designed to celebrate the excitement and growth of flag football and highlight the opportunities that it creates for athletes of all ages to be part of that game.

Seven schools will participate in this event.

Varsity teams include the ones from California University of Pennsylvania, Franciscan University, Mercyhurst University and Point Park University.

Club teams which are participating in this event include Penn State University Flag Football, Slippery Rock University Women’s Club Flag Football and University of Pittsburgh Flag Football Club.

The event will also feature a special appearance from Laneah Bryan, who is the defensive back for the U.S. women’s flag football national team.

Tomas Hertl’s 2nd goal of the game with 32 seconds remaining helps Golden Knights defeat Penguins 3-2

(File Photo: Source for Photo: Vegas Golden Knights’ Tomas Hertl (48) checks Pittsburgh Penguins’ Ville Koivunen (41) off the puck during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Pittsburgh, Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Tomas Hertl’s second goal of the night with 32 seconds left in regulation lifted the Vegas Golden Knights past the Pittsburgh Penguins 3-2 on Tuesday night.

Vegas won in Pittsburgh for just the second time in franchise history when Hertl tipped a pass from Mark Stone past Pittsburgh goaltender Arturs Silovs. The winner came shortly after the Golden Knights killed a late 5-on-3 power play.

Pittsburgh forward Tommy Novak, who scored and added an assist during a third-period rally, was called for tripping shortly after the teams returned to even strength. Hertl’s second power-play goal of the night — and the second allowed by the Penguins’ penalty kill at home — sent Pittsburgh to a third straight loss.

Adin Hill stopped 23 shots for the Golden Knights, who found their legs late a night after a shootout loss in Boston.

Trevor Connelly’s breakaway goal with 8:41 left tied it after Novak and Rickard Rakell had erased a one-goal deficit to briefly give Pittsburgh the lead.

Silovs stopped 20 shots for the Penguins, who lost for the seventh time in nine games. Pittsburgh captain Sidney Crosby did not record a point and remains tied with Marcel Dionne for sixth on the NHL’s all-time scoring list with 1,771 points.

A little over two weeks after the Golden Knights drilled the Penguins in Las Vegas, the teams played on more even terms in the rematch.

Hertl’s sixth goal of the season late in the first period served as the only scoring in the first 40 minutes. Mitch Marner picked up the primary assist to push his points streak to 11 games.

Pittsburgh surged in the third thanks to Novak and Rakell, who scored for a fourth straight game.

It just wasn’t enough on a night the Penguins played without forward Evgeni Malkin, who sat out with a lower-body injury.

Up next

Golden Knights: Continue their road trip Thursday in Detroit.

Penguins: Welcome Boston to PPG Paints Arena on Thursday.

Pittsburgh Penguins unveil Hometown Remix uniforms

(Credit for Photo: Photo Courtesy of the Pittsburgh Penguins, Posted on Facebook on November 2nd, 2026)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) The Pittsburgh Penguins unveiled their Hometown Remix uniforms yesterday, which are the team’s newest set of alternate uniforms that are designed to celebrate the culture and fans of Pittsburgh.

These uniforms draw inspiration from both pop art and the team’s 60-year history.

Pop art is a style popularized by Pittsburgh native Andy Warhol and includes the blue color that is associated with the franchise’s inaugural season in 1967.

According to a media release from the Penguins, the design features layered colors, offset stitching and halftone textures.

The crest of the team receives the pop-art style, while the shoulder patches feature an igloo that represents the old Civic Arena and a triangle that represents Pittsburgh’s three rivers.

The Penguins will debut the uniforms tonight when they host the Vegas Golden Knights at PPG Paints Arena at 7 p.m.

The full schedule in which the Penguins will be wearing the Hometown Remix for the 2026-2027 NHL season are below:

  • November 3rd vs. Vegas Golden Knights
  • November 28th vs. Toronto Maple Leafs
  • December 6th vs. San Jose Sharks
  • December 18th vs. Seattle Kraken
  • January 21st vs. Anaheim Ducks
  • February 2nd vs. Tampa Bay Lightning
  • March 9th vs. Ottawa Senators
  • March 25th vs. New Jersey Devils
  • March 30th at Philadelphia Flyers
  • April 1st vs. New York Islanders

Hometown Remix-themed merchandise will also be made available as well as jerseys, and this includes headwear, hoodies, fleece, outerwear and T-shirts.

Mariners acquire relief pitcher Isaac Mattson from Pirates off waivers

(Caption for Photo: Pirates reliever Isaac Mattson pitches to the Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani on Sept. 2, 2025, at PNC Park. Credit for Photo: (Christopher Horner | TribLive)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Seattle, WA) Seattle Mariners Executive Vice President & General Manager of Baseball Operations Justin Hollander announced yesterday that the Mariners have claimed right-handed relief pitcher Isaac Mattson off waivers from the Pittsburgh Pirates.

The thirty-one-year-old Mattson appeared in 38 games with the Pirates in 2026 and posted a 5.35 ERA (23 earned runs, 38.2 innings pitched), along with 18 walks, 36 strikeouts and a 1.60 WHIP. 

Pirates extend qualifying offer of $23.15 million, one year deal to second baseman Brandon Lowe

(Caption for Photo: Pirates second baseman Brandon Lowe celebrates his RBI single against the Red Sox next to first base coach Tarrik Brock on Sunday, Aug. 16, 2026 at PNC Park. Credit for Photo: (Christopher Horner | TribLive))

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) The Pittsburgh Pirates extended a qualifying offer of $23.15 million on a one-year contract to second baseman Brandon Lowe yesterday, which guarantees that the team will receive a compensatory draft pick if he opts to sign somewhere else in free agency.

The 32-year-old Lowe is a two-time MLB All-Star who the Pirates acquired from the Tampa Bay Rays in a three-team trade on December 19th, 2025.

Lowe led the Pirates with 35 home runs, 96 RBIs, a .493 slugging percentage and an .824 OPS this season.

Lowe is the first player that the Pirates have extended a qualifying offer to since November 3rd, 2014, which was when both catcher Russell Martin and left-handed starting pitcher Francisco Liriano declined one-year deals for $15.3 million.   

MLB players have until 4 p.m. on Tuesday, November 17th to accept or reject qualifying offers that they have received.

2026 WPIAL high school football playoff brackets revealed

(File Photo of the WPIAL Logo)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Beaver County, PA) The 2026 WPIAL high school football playoff brackets were revealed on Saturday after this year’s regular season ended and seven Beaver County teams will begin their quest for a state championship.

The first-round games from Classes 1A-5A will begin this Friday, November 6th and the Class 6A semifinals will begin on Friday, November 13th, with every game starting at 7 p.m.

According to a report from the Beaver County Times, here are the 2026 WPIAL playoff bracket matchups and where they will be played, with the Beaver County/Beaver Valley teams in bold:

Class 6A Bracket

No. 4 Hempfield at No. 1 Central Catholic

No. 3 North Allegheny at No. 2 Canon-McMillan

 

Class 5A Bracket

No. 1 Pine-Richland (Bye)

No. 9 Greater Latrobe at No. 8 Trinity

No. 4 North Hills (Bye)

No. 12 Gateway at No. 5 West Allegheny 

No. 2 Penn-Trafford (Bye)

No. 10 Moon Area at No. 7 Thomas Jefferson

No. 3 Upper St. Clair (Bye)

No. 11 Armstrong at No. 6 Woodland Hills

 

Class 4A Bracket

No. 8 Kiski Area at No. 1 South Fayette

No. 5 Chartiers Valley at No. 4 New Castle

No. 7 Shaler at No. 2 Montour

No. 6 Blackhawk at No. 3 McKeesport

 

Class 3A

No. 16 Deer Lakes at No. 1 Avonworth

No. 9 West Mifflin at No. 8 Freeport

No. 13 Shady Side Academy at No. 4 Belle Vernon

No. 12 Highlands at No. 5 Elizabeth Forward

No. 15 Burrell at No. 2 Propel Braddock Hills

No. 10 Waynesburg Central at No. 7 Aliquippa

No. 14 Mt. Pleasant at No. 3 Hopewell

No. 11 Beaver Area at No. 6 North Catholic, at Mars Athletic Complex

 

Class 2A

No. 1 Bishop Canevin (Bye)

No. 9 Beaver Falls at No. 8 McGuffey

No. 13 Freedom Area at No. 4 Steel Valley

No. 12 Chartiers-Houston at No. 5 Western Beaver

No. 2 Seton LaSalle (Bye)

No. 10 Riverside at No. 7 Ligonier Valley

No. 3 Apollo-Ridge (Bye)

No. 11 South Allegheny at No. 6 Neshannock

 

Class 1A Bracket

No. 16 Frazier at No. 1 Washington

No. 9 Burgettstown at No. 8 Beth-Center

No. 13 Avella at No. 4 Fort Cherry

No. 12 Greensburg Central Catholic at No. 5 Laurel

No. 15 Serra Catholic at No. 2 Shenango

No. 10 Monnessen at No. 7 Jeannette

No. 14 Union at No. 3 Clairton

No. 11 Northgate at No. 6 California