Your CCBC Players of the game for Avonworth and Aliquippa are:
Avonworth: Dimitri Velisaris
Aliquippa: Marques Council
You can see all of the past CCBC Players of the Game for High School Sports by clicking on the CCBC Logo Below:
(File Photo of a Basketball Broadcast Schedule Logo with a Basketball Picture)
Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News
(Aliquippa, PA) Josh Pratt, who is a senior that plays basketball as a guard for Lincoln Park High School, was ruled fully eligible for the 2025-2026 Western Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic League basketball season after a hearing on Tuesday by the WPIAL Board of Directors. According to WPIAL executive director Scott Seltzer, a hearing panel granted Pratt playoff eligibility. Pratt and his brother Jeremiah Pratt both transferred on June 12th, 2025 to Lincoln Park High School from Aliquippa High School. Pratt has college basketball offers including offers from Robert Morris University in Moon Township, Pennsylvania, along with Columbia University, Drexel University, Hofstra University, Robert Morris University and Northeastern University. Pratt has a Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Assoication and a WPIAL title as a sophomore playing for Aliquippa High School and went to the playoffs for both the PIAA and the WPIAL playing for Aliquippa High School as a junior. Pratt had 22 points, 3.9 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game as a junior and during that time, he became the WPIAL Class 3A player of the year. During Pratt’s sophomore and junior seasons playing for Aliquippa High School, Pratt was named in the Pennsylvania all-state teams for the PA Sports Writers. Pratt is hoping to get the Lincoln Park High School basketball team back on track now that he is on their team, because during the 2024-2025 basketball season, the Lincoln Park High School Leopards finished 0-12 in WPIAL Class 5A Section IV play and 2-20 overall.
(File Photo of a Football)
Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News
(Cranberry Township, PA) A Play It Again Sports store will be opening this weekend at 19097 Perry Highway in Cranberry Township. This store will be available for the public to buy apparel for sports. Play It Again Sports has a location in Greensburg, Pennsylvania and one currently in the works for Ross Township by a retailer with 275 stores located in the United States. Aaron and Rebecca Jaynes, who are a local husband and wife, decided to open this new Play It Again Sports store in Cranberry Township because they are the parents of a ten-year-old whose interest was passing in baseball, hockey and lacrosse, which resulted in bills that were substantial from their child switching sports. That got them motivated to open their own store after they shopped at a Play It Again Sports store located in Ohio.
(Photo Provided with Release)
Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News
(Pittsburgh, PA) According to a release from Acrisure Stadium, Acrisure Stadium and the Pittsburgh Steelers yesterday announced enhancements that have been made in the offseason to ensure a best-in-class gameday experience for Steelers fans during the 2025 football season. According to Steelers Senior Vice President of Business Operations Ryan Huzjak, “We are committed to constant improvement across every part of our business. “By listening to our fans and acting on their feedback, we’re making meaningful changes to enhance their gameday experience. Our goal is to ensure that the atmosphere and experience at Acrisure Stadium are among the best in all of sports.” According to that same release from Acrisure Stadium, here are the enhancements that have been made for Acrisure Stadium in 2025:
KEY ENHANCEMENTS
• A new 44 X 25-yard Football Field has been installed outside of Acrisure Stadium
near the Gate A Lawn. The synthetic field provides an area that will be utilized as
part of the 2026 NFL Draft taking place April 23-25, 2026. It will be a leave behind of
the world-class event and will be programmed by the Pittsburgh Steelers and the
University of Pittsburgh on event and game days.
• A New Marquee Videoboard installed on the east side of the stadium along Art
Rooney Avenue will support an enhanced fan experience. The new board increases
the size and clarity of the display. During Steelers home games it will also have the
ability to display the score of the game using dynamic graphics sure to captivate
audiences. The new board will also factor into the presentation of the 2026 NFL
Draft, elements of which will take place on the North Shore.
• A New and Upgraded Wi-Fi System has been added to Acrisure Stadium. The
system delivers an improved fan experience with better coverage, faster speeds,
and lower latency. The new Extreme Networks system features more than 1,300
access points via a combination of overhead and under-seat installations.
NEW & UPGRADED FOOD & BEVERAGE
Improvements have been made to the stadium to improve fan experience, including:
FEATURED DESTINATIONS
• During the offseason, an official 2026 NFL Draft Countdown Clock was installed
on the North Shore Great Lawn. The eye-catching structure marks the days until one
of the most anticipated events in professional sports, which is set to bring hundreds
of thousands of fans to Pittsburgh next April. The countdown clock serves as both a
visual symbol of Pittsburgh’s growing excitement and a unique photo opportunity
for residents and visitors alike.
• Displayed on Art Rooney Avenue during Steelers gamedays, the 2026 NFL Draft
Mobile Exhibit showcases Pittsburgh’s deep Draft legacy—from the event’s origins
to the franchise’s evolving philosophy. It also celebrates western Pennsylvania’s
remarkable football pipeline: 150 NFL players from 58 local schools, including 23
Hall of Famers. When not featured on gamedays, the exhibit will be open
throughout the 2025 season in the FedEx Great Hall.
• The Steelers Hall of Honor Museum now features a new changing exhibit
commemorating the 20th anniversary of the Steelers Super Bowl XL victory. The
exhibit will allow fans to relive the 2005 season start to finish and is the latest
addition to the museum which is home to more than 50 Hall of Honor inductees and
over 10,000 square feet of Steelers history. The exhibit will run through the summer
of 2026. Tours can be booked at steelers.com/museum.
• As the Terrible Towel marks its 50th anniversary this season, fans can celebrate the
iconic symbol by visiting the Terrible Towel wall located in the FedEx Great Hall. The
installation is dedicated to the towel’s rich history and cultural impact dating back
to its creation by legendary Steelers broadcaster, Myron Cope. It also includes a massive 400-square-foot Terrible Towel, perfect for photo opportunities on
gamedays and during stadium tours.
• In addition to being filled wall-to-wall with Black & Gold gear, the Steelers Pro Shop
will also carry Exclusive Steelers Gear including the Ireland Collection, the 1933
Legacy Collection and 2026 NFL Draft merchandise. And just in time to celebrate
the 50th anniversary of this iconic symbol of Steelers Nation, a new Terrible Towel
Kiosk will be located inside Gate C (Heinz Gate).
IMPROVED TECHNOLOGY
Acrisure Stadium Mode, which is part of the Steelers mobile app, will continue to
enhance the Steelers fan experience on gameday from start to finish. The latest
amenities include:
NEW IN-GAME FEATURES & ENTERTAINMENT
• Fans will experience the best the game has to offer thanks to an updated graphics
package for the Steelers Scoreboard Show. Fans can expect an immersiveexperience using photorealistic environments creating exciting moments on
gameday.
• Fans will want to be in their seats early, so they don’t miss the New Team Entry
Video that precedes player introductions.
• An Updated Replay System and Audio Enhancements will also improve gameday
experience. With the ability to take in multiple cameras including in-house
scoreboard cameras and network cameras, fans will benefit from the best replay
angles throughout the game.
BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND
• Steelers Student Rush returns for 2025. The team’s signature program for college
students, Student Rush, offers affordable, authentic, and memorable Steelers football
experiences at Acrisure Stadium via a limited Standing Room Only ticket inventory for
each home game. Tickets are priced at a student-friendly rate. The program, now in its
third year, will include new features for the 2025 season. Students who respond to
secure tickets each week will be entered to win autographed giveaways as well as a
chance to bid on a pair of tickets and sideline passes. The highest bidder wins and
proceeds go to the Art Rooney Scholarship Fund. Additionally, students who refer the
most friends each month of the season will win sideline passes and game tickets,
autographed items, and Pro Shop gift cards.
• Fans can once again purchase a commemorative ticket to relive the moments of
each game of the 2025 season!
• In collaboration with Commonwealth Press, the Steelers will release 10
commemorative posters for the 2025 season – one for each home game, one for
the Ireland game, and one to commemorate the entire season.
• The historic Three Rivers Stadium Display, located in the West Main Concourse,
features actual Three Rivers Stadium lockers of former Steelers including Hall of
Famers Joe Greene, Franco Harris, and Bill Dudley.
• A variety of Acrisure Stadium tours are available year-round for fans wanting the
full Acrisure Stadium experience. Gameday Weekend tours offer fans a special
behind the scenes look at gameday prep.
(File Photo: Source for Photo: Pittsburgh Steelers running back Jaylen Warren runs against the Carolina Panthers during the first half of an NFL preseason football game, Thursday, Aug. 21, 2025, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Scott Kisner)
PITTSBURGH (AP) — When Jaylen Warren arrived in Pittsburgh in the spring of 2022 as an undrafted rookie free agent running back, he was hoping he could do enough to earn a spot on the practice squad.
Warren has done far more than that.
Six months after letting former first-round pick Najee Harris leave in free agency, the Steelers on Monday signed Warren to a three-year contract extension that erased any doubt about his status going into 2025 and beyond.
“It’s a great feeling knowing they have my back,” Warren said shortly after the deal was announced. “I’m going to do what I can to have their back.”
Heady territory for a player who reported to Snow College in Ephraim, Utah, (about two hours south of Salt Lake City) as a freshman in 2017 a little “pudgy,” according to one of the coaches.
The staff at Snow told Warren that if he could get in shape, his future might change considerably.
He did. And it has.
Playing with a physicality that belies his size (5-foot-8, 215 pounds), Warren has methodically risen from Snow to Utah State to Oklahoma State to a surprise roster addition in 2022 to — after three years coming off the bench to spell Harris — an NFL starter.
When the Steelers open the season at the New York Jets on Sunday, Warren will run out onto the field alongside Aaron Rodgers, DK Metcalf and Pat Freiermuth.
While admitting his journey has been “surreal,” Warren likely won’t stop carrying the chip that’s been visible from his first padded practice at training camp in the summer of 2022, when he opened eyes during the traditional “backs on (line)backers” drill by holding his own against bigger, more experienced defenders.
“If anything, it’s going to add more chips,” Warren said.
He believes there are still naysayers out there who might doubt his ability to handle a heavier workload. Warren has never carried the ball more than 15 times in a game as a pro, though most of that is due to Harris’ durability and the way the club split the workload between the two.
Warren has thrived as a role player, averaging 4.8 yards per carry over the course of his career while being a capable receiver out of the backfield. He also has proven ferociously effective as a blocker, even if it has sometimes crossed the line in the eyes of the NFL.
Steelers All-Pro outside linebacker T.J. Watt joked that Warren’s deal means he can recoup some of the money in fines he’s piled up over the years.
“(It’s) awesome, but don’t mistake it for all the hard work that he’s done and how it’s truly well-deserved,” Watt said. “And he’s going to continue to earn it, I know that.”
The extension comes just months after the Steelers drafted former Iowa star Kaleb Johnson in the third round. While the 6-foot-1, 224-pound Johnson profiles as more of the traditional NFL running back, Warren made it a point not to view Johnson’s arrival as an imminent sign of his own departure.
Turns out, he was right.
“I wasn’t concerned,” Warren said. “I stay present in my moment, my lane. I was glad we got Kaleb. He’s a baller. The more weapons, the better for the team.”
Warren will head into the opener fresh. He played sparingly in the preseason, a nod of respect from coach Mike Tomlin on how vital he is to Pittsburgh’s success.
While the addition of Rodgers, Metcalf and tight end Jonnu Smith in the offseason gives the Steelers plenty of established star power in the passing game, there won’t be much change to offensive coordinator Arthur Smith’s formula of being more run-heavy than most teams in the league.
“Protect Aaron and run the ball,” left tackle Broderick Jones said Monday when asked to describe the team’s philosophy.
That’s fine by Warren, who plans to do plenty of both. He’s well aware that the list of junior college players who receive second contracts in the NFL is not lengthy. He now finds himself on it thanks to the firm belief that he always belonged.
“Everyone who goes to JuCo (this) is what they dream about, being in a situation like mine,” he said. “And so I hope I can be the one they look up to when you’re in those hard situations in JuCo … because that life is … not easy.”
(Photo Courtesy of the Savannah Bananas)
Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News
(Pittsburgh, PA) The Savannah Bananas, a baseball team from Savannah, Georgia that is known for their wacky and unique style of baseball, are coming to Pittsburgh tomorrow and Saturday as a part of their tour called “The Banana Ball World Tour” at PNC Park. The Savannah Bananas play Banana Ball, which is their style of baseball that has its own points, rules, acts and tricks, which is a comparison to how the Harlem Globetrotters play in their trick-filled games of basketball. Every Banana Ball inning except for the last one is worth one point, and every run counts. A hitter will get ejected from Banana Ball if they bunt and if a fan catches a foul ball from a hitter during Banana Ball, it will be an out instead of a strike. Every Banana Ball game can also not last over two hours. The Savannah Bananas also have over ten million TikTok followers and their team includes Ryan Cox of Aliquippa and Alex Ziegler of Butler. Both shows and the entire lineup for “The Banana Ball World Tour” are already sold out. However, there are links for more information on how to get tickets for the Savannah Bananas in the future, which can be found below:
Click here for more information about Savannah Bananas Tickets | The Savannah Bananas
Click here for a link to a ticket website. gobananas.fansfirsttickets.com
(File Photo: Source for Photo: FILE – Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce (87) and Taylor Swift kiss after the Chiefs defeated the San Francisco 49ers in the NFL Super Bowl 58 football game on Feb. 11, 2024, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher, File)
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — It’s a love story and, baby, she said yes: Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce are engaged, they announced Tuesday.
In a five-photo joint post on Instagram, the superstar singer and football player revealed their engagement, the fairytale culmination of a courtship that for two years has thrilled and fascinated millions around the world, but especially Swifties, the pop star’s enormous and ardent fan base.
“Your English teacher and your gym teacher are getting married,” the caption read, accompanied by an emoji of a dynamite stick.
Kelce was a famous football player when they met — a star tight end for the Kansas City Chiefs and a Super Bowl champion — but Swift’s unique level of fame catapulted him into a different orbit entirely. Their relationship was documented in countless shots of Swift celebrating at Chiefs games and fan videos of Kelce dancing along at Swift’s Eras concert tour as it traveled the globe.
There were those who speculated, with no evidence, that the relationship was not genuine but a cynical ploy for more fame, while some even theorized it was a plot to influence the U.S. elections. In the end, those voices were quieted by a happy couple who simply looked in love — now with an engagement ring rivaling the size of Kelce’s three Super Bowl rings.
It’s unclear when and where the two, both 35, got engaged. Representatives for Swift and Kelce did not immediately respond to The Associated Press’ request for comment on that detail, though Swift publicist Tree Paine confirmed the engagement ring was an old mine brilliant-cut diamond from Kindred Lubeck. Scarcely over an hour later, Kelce was stretching for practice in Kansas City, Missouri.
The Chiefs do not anticipate making Kelce available until next week in Brazil, where they open the season against the Chargers in Sao Paulo.
It’s been just two weeks since Swift — and Kelce — last ignited a media frenzy, with the announcement of her new album, “The Life of a Showgirl.” (It comes out Oct. 3.) Kelce and his brother, former Philadelphia Eagles center Jason Kelce, assisted Swift with the rollout, hosting her on their typically football-oriented podcast, “New Heights.” During the episode, she likened her career to her now-fiance’s, saying their jobs were “to entertain people for three hours in NFL stadiums.”
When Jason Kelce asked his brother and Swift, sitting side-by-side, how they handled the discourse around their relationship, Swift said they just didn’t.
“We don’t, really. I don’t see a lot of things,” she said. “My name can be in the actual headline, and it’s none of my business.”
The pair started dating during Swift’s landmark Eras tour — though Kelce, despite bearing a friendship bracelet, was thwarted in his first attempt to meet Swift at her concert at Arrowhead Stadium. But by September, Swift was back at the Kansas City stadium, cheering on Kelce next to his mother. Less than two months later, she was changing lyrics onstage: “Karma is the guy on the Chiefs, coming straight home to me,” she sang in Argentina as Kelce beamed from the audience. And come the 2024 Super Bowl, she raced across time zones and was there on the field when he won his third championship.
It’s the first engagement for both Kelce — who once had his own reality dating show, “Catching Kelce” — and Swift, whose past relationships with high-profile celebrities including Joe Alwyn, Jake Gyllenhaal and Harry Styles, have been inspiration for her music.
The news broke in the middle of the Kansas City Chiefs’ media availability, though after head coach Andy Reid had departed. That left Chiefs defensive end Mike Danna to field questions about his teammate’s engagement.
“Man, it’s incredible. I was caught off guard but you know, great for them,” Danna said, a few minutes after the news raced across social media. “That’s a blessing. Any time you find that type of joy, blessing, love — that’s a beautiful thing.”
Like many of the Chiefs, Danna has spent time with Swift and Kelce at a New Year’s party and after most of their home games.
“I’ll think of a good little engagement gift,” Danna said. “Maybe some Pop-Tarts back to her. It won’t be homemade.”
The NFL, which has gained untold numbers of fans since the relationship became public, posted the news on X with their congratulations — then quickly deleted it and reposted it when they realized they tagged the wrong Swift account.
“Two of the most genuine people meet & fall in love. Just so happy for these two,” Brittany Mahomes, the wife of Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, said on Instagram. Brittany Mahomes and Swift have frequently shared a suite for games at Arrowhead Stadium. Meanwhile the Cleveland Guardians, the baseball team Kelce grew up rooting for, joked online: “Thanks a lot, Taylor Swift. Now no one cares that next year’s schedule is out.”
Kelce and Swift’s relationship featured prominently in the just-released six-part ESPN documentary “The Kingdom,” which chronicles the franchise’s ultimately foiled pursuit of an unprecedented third consecutive Super Bowl title last season. Kelce was joined by his parents, Donna and Ed Kelce, on the red carpet last Sunday for the premiere at the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts in Kansas City.
“She’s very good for him. I don’t hesitate in saying that,” Ed Kelce said of his future daughter-in-law. “They are two people that truly deserve each other.”
(File Photo: Source for Photo: FILE – Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Bubba Chandler delivers in the third inning of a spring training baseball game against the Minnesota Twins in Fort Myers, Fla., Thursday, Feb. 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert, File)
PITTSBURGH (AP) — The Pittsburgh Pirates have decided to promote 22-year-old right-hander Bubba Chandler — baseball’s top pitching prospect — ahead of their game Friday against the Colorado Rockies.
Pirates manager Don Kelly said he’s excited to add Chandler to a staff that already includes 2024 NL Rookie of the Year Paul Skenes.
“He’s going to have an opportunity to earn starts like all of our guys have,” Kelly said following a 2-1 win over the Toronto Blue Jays on Wednesday. “Just excited to add him and his stuff. He’s going to add a lot to the ballclub.”
Chandler is expected to initially work in a bulk bullpen role. He got off to a hot start in Triple-A this year, but has stumbled lately and is currently 5-6 with a 4.05 ERA in 100 innings pitched this year for Indianapolis.
Braxton Ashcraft, a 25-year-old rookie right-hander, was used in a similar fashion after being promoted May 26. He is 3-2 with a 3.02 ERA in 19 games (three starts).
“Just getting him up here in the big leagues and getting him in that role,” Kelly said. “You saw Ashcraft really thrive in it. He got his feet wet in the bullpen, had some really big outings. … He’s bounced around, done some different things, starting and being in the pen. To have (Chandler) in a situation like that, can go out in the pen and work on things at the big league level and be here to learn from the guys up here, and learn from the staff, the players and get feedback from major league meetings. It’s really, really important for him and for us.”
Chandler, like Ashcraft, will land in the starting rotation at some point. Ashcraft has started in his last two appearances, allowing two runs and six hits in a combined 8 1/3 innings.
“For me, I think it made me a better pitcher,” Ashcraft said. “And will continue to make me a better pitcher because it’s different. You grow up doing one thing your entire life and the game kind of falls into some sort of, like, just monotony. And having something like that where you come in, you’re forced to be in a different role, something that’s unfamiliar, you respond one of two ways — you compete your tail off or you don’t.
“Knowing Bubba, knowing the person that he is, like, he’s an unbelievable competitor. I have no doubt in my mind that it’ll be good for him.”
The Pirates have been careful with Chandler’s workload since he moved to pitching full-time ahead of the 2023 season after being projected as a two-way player when he was drafted in 2021. Chandler saw time at shortstop and as a designated hitter early in his minor league career but struggled at the plate, hitting just .184 with Class-A Greensboro in 2022.
Asked in February if he missed hitting, Chandler joked he learned in the minors that for a position player, he’s a pretty good pitcher.
And potentially a very good one. Yet Pittsburgh has been cautious in bringing Chandler along. He pitched 106 innings in 2023 and 119 innings last season.
Chandler got off to a scorching start at Triple-A this spring, posting a 1.33 ERA in April and a 2.54 ERA in May. Pirates general manager Ben Cherington, however, had been hesitant to promote Chandler, citing his relative inexperience as opposed to Skenes, who had a standout career at LSU before the Pirates called him up in May 2024.
Chandler’s effectiveness has waned of late. He went 0-2 with a 7.50 ERA in three starts this month for Indianapolis.
Yet with Pittsburgh heading for a last-place finish in the NL Central, Chandler will get an extended audition in the majors as the club points toward 2026.
“He’s an extreme competitor,” Ashcraft said. “He did the same type of stuff that I grew up doing — playing football and baseball, and any other sport you can get your hands on. What that boils down to is just enjoying to compete and he’ll excel in any opportunity he has to do that.”
The top of the Pirates’ rotation for next year appears to be set with Skenes and Mitch Keller. The other three spots are a question mark at the moment, with Jared Jones (who has missed all season after having Tommy John surgery), Mike Burrows, Ashcraft and Johan Oviedo (who made his second start on Wednesday after having Tommy John surgery of his own in late 2023), all in the mix.
Chandler can join them with a solid showing, with the club likely looking for chances to put him in low-leverage situations. In that way, having him available for a weekend series against MLB-worst Colorado makes sense.
“It’s fun to see everybody kind of get here to the big leagues, for the most part, excluding a few guys, for now,” Ashcraft said. “But yeah, like, it’s a cool thing to be able to step into a clubhouse knowing you’re going to be with guys that have helped you get to this point, directly. Just excited to see what next year and the following years after that have to bring to us and to Pittsburgh.”
(File Photo of the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association Logo)
Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News
(Indianapolis, IN) Almost 200,000 more high school athletes competed in high school athletics in 2024-2025 compared to the previous season, which is a record high. Pennsylvania is currently fourth in the country in participation of high school athletes, with a total of 333,123 athletes participating this past season. The top three states in athlete participation that season in the order of one, two and three are Texas, California and Ohio, while the rest of the top ten states for that athlete participation in that order from five to ten are Illinois, New York, Florida, Michigan, New Jersey and Minnesota. Across 51 National Federation of High School Associations member state associations, student athletes totaling just over 8.62 million showed their participation in sports during high school in 2024-2025 in the United States. According to figures obtained from the 51 National Federation of High School member state associations, which includes the District of Columbia, 4,723,907 boys and 3,536,984 girls participated in high school sports in 2024-2025, which are both record-high numbers.
(File Photo of the Aliquippa Quips Logo on a Flag)
Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News
(Aliquippa, PA) Mrryce Smith was approved as the new Aliquippa High School head boy’s basketball coach on Wednesday by the Aliquippa school board. The Aliquippa school board voted at a meeting on June 11th, 2025 to not renew the contract of the previous Aliquippa head boy’s basketball coach, Nick Lackovich. Smith was also one of the assistant boy’s basketball coaches to serve with Lackovich for Aliquippa High School. For the past 25 years, Smith has been an assistant coach that has coached in that position across a wide array of Aliquippa teams. Smith is presently a sixth grade teacher at Aliquippa School District and he graduated from Aliquippa High School in 1992, teaching within the Aliquippa School District for twenty-nine years.
