Category: Sports

Blackhawk girls basketball and Sewickley boys basketball move on to the 2026 PIAA high school basketball playoff semifinals

(File Photo of the Basketball Broadcast Schedule Logo)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Beaver County, PA) The PIAA boys and girls high school basketball quarterfinals wrapped up on Saturday and those games took place around the state of Pennsylvania. Two local teams remain in this year’s PIAA playoffs after their recent victories as they moved on to the semi-finals. The Blackhawk girls defeated another local team in North Catholic High School by a score of 59-37 on Saturday in McMurray and the Cougars will take on Oakland Catholic tomorrow at a site and time that is to be determined. The Sewickley Academy boys defeated McConnellsburg 49-38 on Saturday in Johnstown and the Panthers will play Mercyhurst Prep in a semifinal tomorrow at Sharon High School at 7 p.m. New Castle’s boys lost to Central Dauphin 54-43 in Johnstown on Saturday. Moon’s boys lost to West York 59-53 in Hollidaysburg on Friday. North Catholic’s boys lost to Carver Engineering and Science 68-61 in McConnellsburg on Friday.

Steelers sign Super Bowl champion defensive end Sebastian Joseph-Day for two years, $11 million

(Caption for Photo: Titans defensive end Sebastian Joseph-Day heads to the field before a game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026, in Jacksonville, Fla. Credit for Photo: Courtesy of the Associated Press)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Pittsburgh Steelers signed former Tennessee Titans defensive end Sebastian Joseph-Day, who signed a two-year deal that is worth $11 million with $6 million in 2026. Joseph-Day appeared in all 17 games in each of the last two seasons for the Titans and he recorded six tackles for loss in 2025. Joseph-Day also won Super Bowl LVI (56) on February 13th, 2022 in Inglewood, California when he was a member of the Los Angeles Rams. 

Pitt athletic director: Men’s basketball coach Jeff Capel will return next season despite missed expectations

(Caption for Photo: Pittsburgh head coach Jeff Capel reacts to a call during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against NC State in the second round of the Atlantic Coast Conference tournament in Charlotte, N.C., Wednesday, March 11th, 2026, Photo Courtesy of the Associated Press)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) Pitt men’s basketball coach Jeff Capel will return for his ninth season as the head coach of the Panthers next season despite no appearance in the 2026 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament and a 13-20 overall record this season. Pitt athletic director Allan Greene made the announcement on Friday in a letter that was sent out to Panther Nation after “evaluating every aspect” of the men’s basketball program. Capel is 127-127 in eight seasons as head coach at Pitt with just one NCAA tournament appearance to his credit in 2023. He earned honors as the ACC Coach of the Year that same season after leading the Panthers to a 21-10 regular season record while achieving a 14-6 record in ACC conference play. Capel is under contract through the 2029-2030 season after he signed an extension in 2024. 

Penguins rally from two-goal deficit to top Mammoth 4-3

 

(File Photo: Source for Photo: Pittsburgh Penguins center Tommy Novak (18) shoots the puck on net protected by Utah Mammoth goaltender Karel Vejmelka (70) during the first period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, March 14, 2026, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Tyler Tate)

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Noel Acciari scored the go-ahead goal at the 8:03 mark of the third period to lift the Pittsburgh Penguins past the Utah Mammoth 4-3 on Saturday night.

Acciari won a battle for the puck with Nick Schmaltz and scored on a close-range snap shot to help the Penguins complete a rally from an early two-goal deficit.

Stuart Skinner had 26 saves for Pittsburgh. Bryan Rust, Anthony Mantha and Thomas Novak also scored goals for the Penguins.

Dylan Guenther scored two unassisted goals in a 91-second span during the first period for Utah. Guenther, who leads the Mammoth with 33 goals, became only the second NHL player since the 2018-19 season to score two unassisted goals in less than two minutes.

Ian Cole completed the scoring for Utah. Karel Vejmelka made 19 stops for the Mammoth.

Guenther threaded the puck around Skinner’s skate at the 5:06 mark of the first to get Utah on the board. Then he tapped the puck over the line amid traffic, scoring on a power play at the 6:37 mark of the first to put the Mammoth up 2-0.

Pittsburgh erased the deficit late in the second period. Mantha scored the Penguins’ first power-play goal with 5:12 left in the second. Novak then equalized on a wrist shot with 2:34 remaining in the period.

The Penguins took their first lead at the 1:24 mark of the third when Rust snapped the puck home for a second power-play goal.

Utah equalized on Cole’s 30-foot wrist shot at the 4:17 mark of the third.

Up next

Penguins: at Colorado on Monday night.

Mammoth: at Dallas on Monday night.

 

Americans to Legally Wager $3.3 Billion on March Madness; Nearly Half of Digital Sports Betting Ads Now Come from Prediction Market Platforms

(Photo Provided with Release Courtesy of the American Gaming Association)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Washington, D.C.) According to a release today in Washington D.C. from the American Gaming Association, (AGA), they estimate that Americans will legally wager $3.3 billion on the NCAA Division I Women’s and Men’s Basketball Tournaments this year, which is a 54% increase over the past three years. This continued growth reflects the strength of the legal state and tribal-regulated sports betting market and the increasing consumer confidence in regulated wagering options. Here are some more statistics, according to that same release from the AGA:

Prediction Market Advertising Surges

  • Sensor Tower data compiled by the AGA shows that prediction market platforms have rapidly increased their presence in sports betting advertising. While digital ad impressions for online sportsbooks declined nearly 14 percent in 2025, impressions tied to prediction market advertising surged dramatically.
  • With the expansion of prediction market advertising, nearly one in five (15%) digital sports betting ads seen by consumers last year did not comply with state-mandated responsible gaming messages. Kalshi alone became the third largest sports betting advertiser by digital impressions in 2025.

Through the first two months of 2026:

  • Nearly half (43%) of digital sports betting ads seen by U.S. consumers did not comply with state gaming regulations requiring responsible gaming messaging since they came from prediction market operators.
  • Kalshi is currently the most visible sports betting brand by digital ad impressions, with consumers exposed to its advertising approximately 5.2 billion times this year, compared with 2.9 billion impressions for FanDuel, the next most frequent sportsbook advertiser.

State- and Tribal Operated Sports Betting Advertising Declining

A Nielsen study commissioned by the AGA shows that despite increased betting activity, overall sportsbook advertising volume has continued its multi-year decline.

  • Total sports betting advertising spend fell 5 percent year-over-year.
  • Sports betting ad volume across all channels declined 1 percent year-over-year and is 27 percent lower than the 2021 peak.
  • Sports Betting TV advertising volume declined 9% and has decreased 50% since 2021

The data show sports betting advertising represents just a small portion of U.S. television advertising.

  • In 2025, sports betting accounted for just 0.9 percent of TV advertising spend, compared with 1.5 percent for alcohol advertising.
  • Sports betting advertising volume (0.3%) is half that of the alcohol industry (0.6%) and dwarfed by pharmaceuticals at 13.9%
    • For every sports betting commercial aired on television in 2025, 39 pharmaceutical advertisements aired.

Bob Walk reports on new Pittsburgh Pirates

With so many new players on the roster, Pittsburgh Pirates fans might need awhile to familiarize themselves with the roster.

To help, Beaver County Radio Morning Host Scott Tady went around the horn with Pirates broadcaster Bob Walk on Friday, asking for Walk’s scouting report on specific new players.

If you missed Walk’s live interview, no worries: Here it is:

 

Bob Walk, Pittsburgh Pirates broadcaster. Photo: Pittsburgh Pirates.

Safety and former Penn State standout Jaquan Brisker signs one-year, $5.5 million deal with the Steelers

(File Photo: Source for Photo: Bears safety Jaquan Brisker reacts after collecting a sack against the Rams during a playoff game in January. Credit for Photo: Photo Courtesy of the Assoicated Press)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) The agents of safety Jaquan Brisker recently told NFL Network that the Pittsburgh Steelers have agreed to a one-year, $5.5 million deal with Brisker. Brisker was drafted by the Chicago Bears in 2022 with the No. 48 pick in the 2022 NFL Draft. The former Penn State standout has played 52 games in four seasons and has four interceptions, 21 passes defended, four forced fumbles and 342 tackles.

Steelers tight end/fullback Connor Heyward, the younger brother of Steelers defensive tackle Cameron Heyward, signs two-year deal with the Las Vegas Raiders

(File Photo: Source for Photo: Photo Courtesy of the Associated Press)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Las Vegas, NV) NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported yesterday that the Las Vegas Raiders signed Pittsburgh Steelers tight end/fullback Connor Heyward to a two-year, $5.5 million maximum value deal. Connor is the younger brother of Steelers All-Pro defensive tackle Cameron Heyward, who just recently agreed to a contract extension with the Steelers that will reduce his salary cap hit in 2025. Connor Heyward played 68 games while catching 44 passes for 379 yards and a touchdown in four years with the Steelers after they selected him in the sixth round of the 2022 NFL Draft out of Michigan State.  

WPIAL releases football conference realignment for upcoming cycle

(File Photo of the WPIAL Logo)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Beaver County, PA) The WPIAL released its league calendar for the upcoming cycle and its conference realignment yesterday. The PIAA’s current two-year classification cycle will end at the end of the 2025-2026 high school athletic calendar year. The two-year cycle will run through the 2027-2028 season, with Week 1 beginning on Friday, August 28th as the first play date for teams.

According to a report from the Beaver County Times, here is a look at the updated conference realignment featuring Beaver Valley programs:

Class 5A Conference II

  • Armstrong
  • Moon Area
  • North Hills
  • Penn Hills
  • Pine-Richland
  • Plum

Conference III

  • Bethel Park
  • Peters Township
  • Thomas Jefferson
  • Trinity
  • Upper St. Clair
  • West Allegheny

Class 4A Conference II

  • Blackhawk
  • Central Valley
  • Mars
  • Montour
  • New Castle (Lawrence County)

Class 3A Conference IV

  • Aliquippa
  • Ambridge
  • Beaver Area
  • Ellwood City
  • Hopewell
  • OLSH

Class 2A Conference I

  • Bishop Canevin
  • Carlynton
  • Chartiers Houston
  • Keystone Oaks
  • McGuffey
  • Quaker Valley
  • Seton LaSalle

Conference III

  • Beaver Falls
  • Freedom Area
  • Mohawk
  • Neshannock
  • New Brighton
  • Riverside
  • Western Beaver

Class 1A Section III

  • Cornell
  • Laurel
  • Northgate
  • Rochester
  • Shenango
  • South Side
  • Summit Academy
  • Union

Steelers wide receiver Calvin Austin III signs one-year, $4.5 million deal with the New York Giants

(File Photo; Source for Photo: Stellers wide receiver Calvin Austin III celebrates a go-ahead touchdown in the fourth quarter against the Jets at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on Sunday, Sept. 7th, 2025. The Steelers topped against the Jets 34-32 on the road. (Sebastian Foltz/Post-Gazette)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(East Ruthrford, NJ) Drew Rosenhaus and Kyle Lincoln, the agents of free agent wide receiver Calvin Austin III, told ESPN’s Adam Schefter yesterday that Austin is signing a one-year deal worth up to $4.5 million with the New York Giants. The 5-foot 9-inch Austin recorded three touchdowns and 372 receiving yards on 31 catches in an injury-shortened 2025 season for the Steelers, who drafted him in the fourth-round of the 2022 NFL draft pick out of Memphis. Austin had 1,110 yards, eight touchdowns and 84 catches in three seasons after missing his rookie season with a foot injury that he suffered in training camp in 2022.