Category: Sports

Brad Keselowski Purchases Stake in Roush Fenway Racing: Will Drive 6 Car Starting in 2022

By STEVE REED AP Sports Writer
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Roush Fenway Racing is adding NASCAR driver Brad Keselowski as a new partner. Keselowski is leaving Team Penske at the end of the season. He won the 2012 championship at Penske, but wants an ownership role in an organization to help build his legacy. With Roush Fenway, Keselowski will not only drive the No. 6 Ford next season but have a visible and considerable role on the competition team. Keselowski will replace Ryan Newman, who drove the Roush flagship car the past three seasons.

Pirates Drop Opener to Diamondbacks 4-2

By DAVID BRANDT AP Sports Writer
PHOENIX (AP) — Caleb Smith pitched 6 2/3 stellar innings, Eduardo Escobar hit a two-run homer for the second straight game and the Arizona Diamondbacks beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 4-2. It was a nice bounce-back outing for Smith, who was rocked for nine earned runs in one inning during a 22-1 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers just before the All-Star break. The left-hander even earned his first career stolen base, surprising the Pirates by getting a huge jump and swiping second. Escobar’s homer was his 22nd of the season.

Steelers Open Camp with New Faces, Same Expectations

Steelers open camp with new faces, same expectations
By The Associated Press undefined
The Pittsburgh Steelers open training camp with plenty of new faces on offense following a busy offseason. Perennial Pro Bowl offensive linemen Maurkice Pouncey, David DeCastro and Alejandro Villanueva are gone. In their place are newcomers such as rookie center Kendrick Green and free-agent signee Trai Turner. How quickly the line jells is vital. Pittsburgh is hoping rookie running back Najee Harris takes some of the pressure off veteran quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. Finding competent line play will help speed up Harris’ learning curve.

Cowher Caps Unlikely Success Story with Hall of Fame Nod

By WILL GRAVES AP Sports Writer
Bill Cowher’s long road from journeyman linebacker to Pro Football Hall of Famer is complete. The former Pittsburgh Steelers coach will be inducted into the Hall of Fame next month, 15 years after his coaching career ended. Cowher guided the Steelers to victory in one Super Bowl and a berth in another after being hired to replace four-time champion Chuck Noll. Cowher was just 34 when he was asked to take over for Noll in 1991. Cowher says he never worried about trying to live up to the standard Noll set, because it was impossible.

Bucs Sign First Overall Pick

By WILL GRAVES AP Sports Writer
PITTSBURGH (AP) — The top overall pick in baseball’s amateur draft is ready to get to work. Henry Davis signed with the Pittsburgh Pirates just a week after being taking No. 1. The hard-hitting catcher from Louisville agreed to a signing bonus of $6.5 million, nearly $2 million below the maximum he could have signed for. The Pirates plan to use the savings to lock down some of the other 20 players they took in the draft. Davis will begin his professional career playing in the Florida Complex League.

Pirates Blow Lead in the Ninth and Fall to the Mets

Conforto HR in 9th, Mets overcome early gaffe to top Pirates
By ALAN SAUNDERS Associated Press
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Michael Conforto hit a two-run homer in the ninth inning to complete a huge comeback and the New York Mets overcame an embarrassing gaffe by All-Star pitcher Taijuan Walker to beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 7-6. Trailing 6-0 in the first inning, the Mets rallied to salvage a rugged weekend at PNC Park. The NL East leaders lost stars Jacob deGrom and Francisco Lindor to injuries, then dropped Saturday night’s game when closer Edwin Diaz gave up a two-out grand slam in the ninth. Conforto connected off closer Richard Rodriguez. Walker gave up six quick runs. Three of them scored when he swatted at a slow roller up the third base line with the bases loaded, thinking it was foul.

VIDEO: National Champion U15 Girl’s Soccer Squad Features Several Beaver County Athletes

The toils and tribulation of hard work and matches against top-tier competition can be exhausting and draining, but they instantly become worth it when the gold is earned.

With their 1-0 win over Utah in the President’s Cup finals, the Century West U15 girl’s soccer team did just that.

Head coach Chris Lantzy joined Matt Drzik on A.M. Beaver County to talk about Century West’s national championship, coming after a season that started back in March and took a year’s worth of preparation to fully achieve. Coach Chris talked about the levels of talent, discipline, and sportsmanship that these young ladies showcased while climbing the ladder towards their golden victory earlier this month.

Seven players on the Century West roster hail from Beaver County Schools:

* Morgan Keller (Freedom/Sophomore)
* Gabriella “Gigi” Finch (Riverside/Freshman)
* Emerson Connelly (Beaver/Freshman)
* Lilia Battalini (Beaver/Freshman)
* Sydney Chontos (Beaver/Freshman)
* Dionna “Tiger” Santia (Hopewell/Sophomore)
* Bella Gold (Hopewell/Sophomore)
For more information on Century West or to get involved with the program, visit their website at centurywestsoccer.org.
To watch the full interview with Matt and Coach Chris, click on the Facebook feed below!

Austin Cindric to Replace Brad Keselowski in Penske’s iconic No. 2 next season

Austin Cindric to drive Penske’s iconic No. 2 next season
By JENNA FRYER AP Auto Racing Writer
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Austin Cindric will replace Brad Keselowski in Team Penske’s flagship No. 2 Ford next season. Cindric was already headed toward a Cup Series promotion but was slated to drive the No. 21 Ford for Wood Brothers Racing. Keselowski has since decided to leave Team Penske at the end of his 12th season with the team. Now Cindric will take his seat. The Wood Brothers seat will be filled by 20-year-old Harrison Burton. The Thursday announcements put Matt DiBenedetto out of a ride after two seasons with the Wood Brothers.

Reynolds’ Walk-off Walk Gives Pirates 2-1 Win Over Braves

Reynolds’ walk-off walk gives Pirates 2-1 win over Braves
By JOHN PERROTTO Associated Press
PITTSBRUGH (AP) — Bryan Reynolds drew a four-pitch walk from a Tyler Matzek, forcing in the winning run in the ninth inning and giving the Pittsburgh Pirates a 2-1 victory over the Atlanta Braves and a three-game winning streak. Rookie Rodolfo Castro, recalled from Double-A Altoona before the game, worked an eight-pitch walk from Matzek leading off. Adam Frazier slapped a single though a big hole at shortstop that was vacated because of an infield shift, and Ke’Bryan Hayes on a full count and Reynolds got the second game-ending RBI of his career. Matzek threw just eight of 20 pitches for strikes.