(Credit for Photo: Photo Courtesy of Chris O’Meara/AP)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) The Pittsburgh Pirates announced today that ESPN’s number one baseball prospect for 2026, Konnor Griffin, has been promoted to the major leagues for the team’s home opener tomorrow against the Baltimore Orioles at PNC Park. The nineteen-year-old shortstop was the number nine overall pick in the 2024 MLB draft and he will turn twenty years old later this month. The Pirates sent him to the minor leagues to play for Triple-A Indianapolis on March 21st, 2026 and when he makes his Major League Baseball debut, Griffin will become the first teenager to play in an MLB game since Juan Soto in 2018. Griffin slashed a combined .333/.415/.527, along with 23 doubles, four triples, 21 home runs, 94 RBI and 65 steals in 122 games between Low-A Bradenton, High-A Greensboro and Double-A Altoona. He also won a minor-league Gold Glove playing in the position of shortstop.

(Credit for Photo: Photo Courtesy of Visit Pittsburgh)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) The National Football League announced the headlining acts for the free NFL Draft Entertainment Series presented by Bud Light in Pittsburgh, featuring award-winning global superstar Kane Brown, Pittsburgh native and Grammy-nominated recording artist Wiz Khalifa and Pittsburgh-area native Bret Michaels. All three of them will perform as part of an unforgettable three-day celebration at the 2026 NFL Draft,which will be from April 23rd-25th. According to a release from VisitPittsburgh today, here is what you need to know about these performances:

• To kick off Day 1 on Thurs., April 23, Pittsburgh-raised and jazz-trained artist KELS will perform the National Anthem. KELS toured and sold-out hundreds of shows across the country independently before her 2025 breakout single “Gone” put her on the map. Preceding the National Anthem, the James Weldon Johnson Foundation’s National Hymn Choir, featuring The Heritage Gospel Chorale of Pittsburgh, will perform the hymn Lift Every Voice and Sing – conducted by Grammy Award-winning, Dr. Jeffery Redding.
• As part of the Day 2 festivities on Fri., April 24, Pittsburgh natives Wiz Khalifa and Bret Michaels will perform at 5:15 p.m. ET ahead of the Draft rounds 2 and 3 that evening. Multi-platinum, Grammy- and Golden Globe-nominated artist Wiz Khalifa broke through with his major-label debut Rolling Papers, led by chart-topping hits including “Black and Yellow,” “See You Again” and “No Sleep.”
• Bret Michaels, iconic frontman of Poison with a multi-platinum-selling career in music spanning decades, will headline alongside Wiz Khalifa on Day 2 of the Draft, said, “I cannot be more honored, excited and fired up to be asked to perform at the Pittsburgh 2026 Draft on Friday night. As a Pittsburgh native and a diehard fan of the Steelers, the NFL and all things Pittsburgh, this is a dream come true.”
• After the Draft selections conclude on Sat., April 25, global superstar Kane Brown will take the stage for a high-energy finale to the 2026 NFL Draft Entertainment Series presented by Bud Light. Following the success of his widely acclaimed 2025 record, The High Road, the multi-Platinum-selling, award-winning singer/songwriter just released “Woman”.
• This year’s artists join an elite lineup of performers who have helped bring the Draft to life through music over the years, including Tim McGraw, Eminem, Dierks Bentley, Weezer, Brad Paisley, Mötley Crüe, Ice Cube, Marshmello, Kings of Leon, Fall Out Boy, Black Pumas, Big Sean and more.
• All performances as part of the NFL Draft Entertainment Series presented by Bud Light will take place at the Draft Theater adjacent to Acrisure Stadium. General fan viewing of the performances is free, and fans are encouraged to arrive early, as standing room will be on a first-come first-served basis.
• In addition to the live performances, the NFL will host the NFL Draft Experience presented by American Express, the league’s ultimate fan football festival that’s free to fans of all ages who can run the 40-yard dash, take on football drills, meet NFL Legends, grab photos with the Lombardi Trophy and all 58 Super Bowl rings, and enjoy food & beverage concessions. Fans will also be able to take the field of Acrisure Stadium to kick a field goal, participate in clinics and activities, and watch the NFL Draft happen live onscreen. Draft Experience presented by American Express will be free and open to the public from April 23-25.
• Fans planning to attend the free 2026 NFL Draft Experience should download the NFL OnePass app. Available through NFL.com/DraftAccess by clicking here, NFL OnePass is the must-have tool for navigating Draft weekend and provides real-time updates, a full schedule of interactive activities, Know-Before-You-Go information, and access to exclusive digital content and prizes, including a grand prize trip for two to Super Bowl LXI in Los Angeles.

• All times are local and may be subject to change.
• For fans not in Pittsburgh, the 2026 NFL Draft presented by Bud Light will be broadcast live on NFL Network, ABC, ESPN and ESPN Deportes and will be available to stream on NFL+. Round 1 begins Thursday, April 23, followed by Rounds 2–3 on Friday, April 24 and Rounds 4–7 on Saturday, April 25.
• For more information on the 2025 NFL Draft, including programming, special events, and registration, fans should visit NFL.com/DraftAccess by clicking here.

(Caption for Headline Photo and First Photo Below: Pitt’s Roman Siulepa shoots against Stanford on Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2026. Credit for Photo: (Charles Gatewood | Pitt Athletics)

Caption for Second Below: Pitt coach Jeff Capel greets forward Papa Kante during the Panthers’ win over Ohio State. Credit for Photo: (Charles Gatewood | Pitt Athletics)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) According to Johnathan Givony of Draft Express on Tuesday, Pitt freshman forward Roman Siulepa plans to enter the college basketball transfer portal. Siulepa is a native of Australia who averaged 10 points, 5.5 rebounds and one steal per game for the Panthers. He started all thirty-three of Pitt’s games this season and he is a former pro rugby prospect who played in the Australian semi-pro NBL1 beginning at age sixteen. Siulepa is the third Pitt college basketball player to enter the transfer portal this week, joining Senegalese sophomore forward from Senegal, Papa Amadou Kante and sophomore guard and former Lincoln Park standout Brandin Cummings. A report from Pittsburgh Sports Now on Tuesday confirms that Kante will be entering the transfer portal. Kante is a native of Senegal who finished his third season with the Panthers. Knee surgery sidelined him in early January, which was when he was averaging 2.8 points and 5.4 rebounds per game. Kante joined Pitt as a four-star recruit in 2023. Joe Tipton of On3 Sports notes that Cummings plans to enter the college basketball transfer portal after two seasons at Pitt. Cummings averaged 12.5 points per game this season in nineteen games. He started in nine of those games. The Midland native suffered a season-ending ankle injury halfway through this season. Cummings was one of the top-ranked recruits in Pennsylvania in high school and he was ranked among the state’s top-five players.

(File Photo: Source for Photo: FILE – Pittsburgh Pirates’ Konnor Griffin plays during a spring training baseball game, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026, in Clearwater. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum,File)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) Sources recently told ESPN that the Pittsburgh Pirates are deep into negotiations with Konnor Griffin with the two sides making their respective cases since early in spring training over what an appropriate deal would be for the 19-year-old shortstop. Griffin, who turns twenty years old later this month, was the number nine overall pick in the 2024 MLB draft and is ESPN’s number one baseball prospect for 2026. However, the Pirates sent him to Triple-A Indianapolis, where he has six hits in his first 13 at-bats. 

(File Photo: Source for Photo: Pittsburgh Pirates’ Oneil Cruz (15) celebrates with third base coach Tony Beasley (27) as he rounds the bases after hitting a three-run homer in the first inning of a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds in Cincinnati, Wednesday, April 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

CINCINNATI (AP) — Oneil Cruz had a three-run homer, his third in two games, Paul Skenes allowed one run in five innings and the Pittsburgh Pirates defeated the Cincinnati Reds 8-3 on Wednesday to take the three-game series.

Bryan Reynolds had a two-run shot, and Nick Gonzales added a two-run double during the ninth inning.

Eugenio Suárez had a pinch-hit, two-run homer in the sixth inning for the Reds.

Cruz went 5 for 13 with three home runs and six RBIs in the series. The power-hitting outfielder has gone deep nine times in the 19 games he has played in Cincinnati.

Reds starter Andrew Abbott (0-1) retired the first two Pirates hitters before Bryan Reynolds singled to right and Marcell Ozuna drew a walk. Cruz then connected on a 2-1 curveball that was over the bottom part of the plate and drove it 407 feet over the wall in right field.

Skenes (1-1) returned to his All-Star form after giving up five runs in two-thirds of an inning last Thursday in the season opener against the New York Mets. The reigning NL Cy Young winner allowed three hits, walked two and struck out five.

The right-hander gave up two walks in the first three innings before Elly De La Cruz led off the fourth with a base hit to right. Two batters later, Nathaniel Lowe had an RBI double to right-center, snapping the Reds’ 31-inning scoreless streak against Skenes.

Pittsburgh took a 4-1 lead in the sixth when Cruz scored after Spencer Horwitz was walked by Connor Phillips with the bases loaded.

Suárez got the Reds within a run in the bottom of the sixth with a two-run homer to left, his second of the season.

Up next

Pirates: Have their home opener on Friday against Baltimore. RHP Mitch Keller (0-0, 0.00 ERA) gets the start.

Reds: Open a seven-game road trip on Friday against Texas. RHP Brady Singer (0-0, 6.75 ERA) makes his second start.

(File Photo: Source for Photo: Pittsburgh Pirates’ Ryan O’Hearn follows through after hitting a three-run home run during the second inning of a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds, Tuesday, March 31, 2026, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Kareem Elgazzar)

CINCINNATI (AP) — Oneil Cruz homered twice and Ryan O’Hearn hit a three-run shot as the Pittsburgh Pirates beat the Cincinnati Reds 8-3 on Tuesday night.

O’Hearn and Bryan Reynolds went back-to-back in the second inning. Cruz finished with three hits and three RBIs. He also scored three times.

The Reds were held hitless until Jose Trevino singled off reliever Hunter Barco with one out in the seventh. Pirates rookie starter Bubba Chandler tossed 4 1/3 innings with six strikeouts, but also walked six.

Sal Stewart and Elly De La Cruz hit consecutive homers off Barco to trim the Pirates’ lead to 6-3 in the eighth.

Pittsburgh manager Don Kelly was ejected in the eighth for arguing with plate umpire Jordan Baker.

Cruz hit a solo homer in the fourth off left-hander Brandon Williamson, then provided insurance for Pittsburgh with a two-run homer off Pierce Johnson in the ninth.

Williamson made his first major league appearance since Sept. 1, 2024. He missed last season following left elbow surgery.

Williamson (0-1) allowed consecutive homers in the second to O’Hearn and Reynolds that made it 5-0.

It was the 139th career homer for Reynolds, tying Jason Bay for ninth on the franchise list.

Chandler issued three walks in the third but allowed only one run, helped when TJ Friedl popped into a double play attempting to bunt.

The Reds’ first run scored when Reynolds and Cruz allowed Ke’Bryan Hayes’ flyball to drop between them in left-center. It was initially ruled a single but later changed to an error on Reynolds in left, keeping the no-hit bid intact for a while.

Cincinnati had the bases loaded with one out in the fifth but Yohan Ramírez (1-0) struck out Matt McLain and De La Cruz to end the inning.

Up next

Pirates: RHP Paul Skenes (0-1) looks to rebound from a rough opener Wednesday.

Reds: LHP Andrew Abbott (0-0) tossed six shutout innings last Thursday.

(Caption for Photo: Pitt’s Brandin Cummings plays against Hofstra on Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025. Credit for Photo: Photo Courtesy of Andrew Leon | Pitt Athletics)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) According to Joe Tipton of On3 Sports, sophomore guard and former Lincoln Park boys high school basketball standout Brandin Cummings plans to enter the college basketball transfer portal after two seasons at Pitt. Cummings averaged 12.5 points per game this season in nineteen games. He started in nine of those games. The Midland native suffered a season-ending ankle injury halfway through this season. Cummings was one of the top-ranked recruits in Pennsylvania in high school and he was ranked among the state’s top-five players. Brandin also joined his brother, Nelly Cummings as a 2,000 point scorer during his career at Lincoln Park. Nelly Cummings also played college basketball for Pitt.

(Photo Provided with Release Courtesy of CCBC)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Monaca, PA) According to a release from the Community College of Beaver County (CCBC), CCBC recently appointed Marcus Burrows as the inaugural head coach of its new men’s soccer program in Monaca, as the college prepares to kick off its first-ever intercollegiate soccer season in the fall of 2026. Burrows brings international coaching experience as well as a strong background in player development and deep local ties to Beaver County when he will lead the Titans Men’s Soccer team. Burrows holds a bachelor’s degree in Sports Strength and Conditioning and has built his coaching career around high-performance environments, player development, and cultivating strong team culture and he is a UEFA B Licensed and UEFA B Youth Licensed coach. Burrows coached at Wexford Football Club before joining CCBC. He served as the head coach of the U15 and U17 men’s teams for Wexford Football Club. His squads reached three national finals at the League of Ireland academy level during his tenure, winning one national championship: a title that remains the only national championship in the club’s history. He has also worked closely with international-level players and helped
develop athletes who advanced to compete at the senior League of Ireland level.
Burrows has also served as Director of Soccer Operations at BC United, a
competitive youth soccer club in Beaver County, overseeing player development pathways, coaching support, programming, and overall club operations for the past four and a half years. CCBC announced earlier this year that men’s soccer will begin competing in the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) in the fall of 2026, with women’s soccer anticipated to follow in the fall of 2027. The addition of soccer to the CCBC sports line up represents a historic expansion of Titan Athletics and creates new pathways for student athletes across the region.

(File Photo: Source for Photo: Pittsburgh Penguins’ Sidney Crosby (87) watches as New York Islanders goaltender Ilya Sorokin (30) stops a shot during the first period of an NHL hockey game Monday, March 30, 2026, in Elmont, N.Y. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

NEW YORK (AP) — Sidney Crosby returned to the lineup for the Pittsburgh Penguins at the New York Islanders on Monday night after a brief injury absence and had a pair of assists in an 8-3 win.

Coach Dan Muse called the 38-year-old captain a game-time decision when asked following his team’s optional morning skate. Crosby and several other veteran players did not participate.

Crosby centered Pittsburgh’s top line between Bryan Rust and Egor Chinakhov and skated 21 shifts for just under 17 minutes of ice time. The Penguins erased a multigoal deficit to move into second place in the Metropolitan Division.

Crosby did not play Saturday at home against the Dallas Stars, scratched with what the team called a lower-body injury. He missed the first 11 games out of the Olympic break after hurting his right leg while representing Canada in Milan, an injury that does not appear to be the same as this one.

Longtime running mate Evgeni Malkin missed his fourth consecutive game because of injury and is considered day to day. Pittsburgh ruled Malkin out several hours before puck drop.

The Penguins are in the thick of a competitive race to make the playoffs in the Eastern Conference, going into Monday night holding a spot — third place in the Metropolitan Division — with nine games left. They have not made the playoffs the past three seasons and last advanced in 2018, the year after winning the second of back-to-back Stanley Cup championships.

Crosby, Malkin and defenseman Kris Letang are the only players left with the organization who also hoisted the Cup in 2009.