April 29, 2024 12:02 am
WPIAL baseball schedules are set to end this week for nearly all 6A-5A-4A teams with the three smaller classes set to end May 7. The top four teams in each section will qualify for the playoffs along with any unbreakable ties. The WPIAL Baseball Committee is scheduled to meet on May 10 to set the pairings for this year’s tournaments. Here’s a snapshot for each team in the Washington-Greene County area:
Baseball: 6A Canon-McMillan (7-5) is in third place, a half-game ahead of Norwin, three games up on Central Catholic. The Big Macs face Central Catholic in a three-game series this week, needing one win to clinch. C-M can finish anywhere from tied for first to out of the playoffs.
5A Trinity (5-3) clinched a playoff spot with a sweep of South Fayette last week. Now, the Hillers can claim a share of the section title with one win against Bethel Park. With a sweep, Trinity wins the title outright. Peters Township (3-5) plays a two-game set with Connellsville (4-4) needing a sweep to make the playoffs.
4A Ringgold (3-5) moved into playoff position with a two-game sweep of Laurel Highlands, eliminating the Mustangs. The Rams are tied with Uniontown and Albert Gallatin for the final two spots. Ringgold & AG play twice this week, each clinching a playoff spot with any win. Uniontown plays Laurel Highlands and will take a playoff spot with any win or if Ringgold & Albert Gallatin split their series.
3A Waynesburg (8-0) leads the way, one game up on Mount Pleasant (7-1) with the two playing their two-game series this week. Both teams have already clinched playoff spots. McGuffey (5-3) is third and battles Yough (4-4) this week. Waynesburg & McGuffey play their home-and-home series next week. Greensburg Salem (4-4) is also in the running for a playoff spot.
2A Burgettstown (6-1) took over first place with a wild win at Chartiers-Houston (6-2) in a make-up game. Charleroi (6-3), Wash High (4-4) and Beth-Center (3-5) follow. Bentworth (2-8) is in last place and has been eliminated. Burgettstown has Wash High twice Charleroi in a make-up game, then a pair with Frazier next week. Chartiers-Houston takes on Frazier twice this week, then closes with a series against Charleroi next week. After the Burgettstown series, Wash High has a home-and-home with Beth-Center, possibly deciding the final playoff spot. The Bulldogs play Bentworth home-and-home this week.
1A Fort Cherry (6-2) and Carmichaels (6-2) lead the way, one game up on Avella (5-3). The Rangers split a pair with West Greene (5-3) while Carmichaels swept Avella. Jeff-Morgan (4-6) and California (2-6) are still alive but sit three games back in the loss column with four to play. Mapletown (0-8) has been eliminated. Series this week include Fort Cherry vs. Mapletown, Carmichaels vs. West Greene and Avella vs. California.
April 29, 2024 12:01 am
Bentworth, Chartiers-Houston and Trinity continue to lead their softball sections heading into the final days of the regular season, though Trinity dropped into a four-way tie with a mid-week loss last week. The top six teams in Class 6A, along with the top four teams in every other section will qualify for the playoffs along with any unbreakable ties. The WPIAL Softball Committee is scheduled to meet on May 9 to set the pairings for this year’s tournaments. Here’s a snapshot for each team in the Washington-Greene County area:
Softball: 6A Canon-McMillan (4-7) is currently in 6th place, just a half-game up on resurgent Baldwin. The two will meet for the second time on Wednesday possibly deciding the final playoff spot. The Big Macs have four games this week including a home-and-home set with unbeaten Seneca Valley.
5A Trinity (6-3) visits Bethel Pak (5-4) Monday. A win by the Hillers or a Connellsville (6-3) loss at Peters Township (1-7) clinches at least a share of the section championship. Peters Township has been eliminated from the playoff race.
4A Ringgold (2-7) lost twice to Laurel Highlands last week. The Rams have been eliminated.
3A McGuffey (4-2) split a pair of section games last week, falling to South Park, then beating Waynesburg. McGuffey clinches a playoff spot with any win or with a loss by either Brownsville (2-5) or Seton-La Salle (2-5). Waynesburg (4-4) also clinches with a win or losses by either Brownsville or Seton. We’ll have the Keystone Oaks at McGuffey game for you live Monday afternoon on WJPA-AM (1450) and online.
2A Bentworth (9-0) finally allowed a run in a section game but still run-ruled Burgettstown (4-5) The Bearcats visit Beth-Center Monday, then are off for a week before facing second place OLSH with a chance to clinch the outright section title. Charleroi (6-3) plays OLSH Monday, then closes the regular season against the two eliminated teams: Wash High (1-6) and Fort Cherry (0-10). Burgettstown and Beth-Center meet next Monday, perhaps to decide the final spot. The Blue Devils won the first meeting, 5-2, last Wednesday. The Bulldogs have five games left, including Bentworth twice, plus OLSH, Wash High and Burgettstown.
1A Chartiers-Houston (8-0), Carmichaels (7-1) and West Greene (6-3) lead the way with Jeff-Morgan (5-4) and Mapletown (4-5) each a step further back. Avella (1-8) and California (0-10) have both been eliminated. Only Chartiers-Houston has clinched a playoff berth, though Carmichaels and West Greene each needs just one win in its final games to qualify. Jeff-Morgan and Mapletown play Tuesday, the Rockets looking to sweep the season series and clinch, the Maples hoping to pull even in the standings. Each has a game with Carmichaels left to close the season.
April 29, 2024 4:39 am
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Thairo Estrada and Mike Yastrzemski hit back-to-back home runs in the third inning, and rookie right-hander Keaton Winn delivered another strong start to lead the San Francisco Giants to a 3-2 victory and a series win over the Pittsburgh Pirates. Rookie shortstop Tyler Fitzgerald added three hits for the Giants, who took two of three from the Pirates and finished their longest homestand of the season 6-4. Pittsburgh lost for the 10th time in its past 13 games. Winn (3-3) held the Pirates to one run over six innings, his line over the past three starts, all victories.
April 28, 2024 7:42 am
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Bryan Reynolds and Ke’Bryan Hayes hit back-to-back homers in the 10th inning to help the Pittsburgh Pirates outlast the San Francisco Giants 4-3 on Saturday night. Reynolds led off with a two-run homer for a 3-1 lead, and Hayes followed with another shot to left off reliever Taylor Rogers (0-1). Jorge Soler answered with a two-run homer in the bottom of the inning, but David Bednar wrapped it up for his fifth save. Hunter Stratton (1-0) got the final two outs in the ninth for his first major league victory. Giants starter Jordan Hicks struck out nine and allowed a run in six-plus innings, and Pirates starter Martín Pérez also gave up a run in six innings.
April 28, 2024 7:55 am
DETROIT (AP) — The Chicago Bears picked USC quarterback Caleb Williams to open the 2024 NFL draft, the first of six QBs in the top 12 picks. The Commanders selected Jayden Daniels with the No. 2 pick overall. With the first pick since parting ways with Bill Belichick, the Patriots picked quarterback Drake Maye at No. 3 overall. The Falcons made the first stunning pick of the NFL draft by taking quarterback Michael Penix Jr. with the No. 8 pick overall. Then Minnesota traded up to take J.J. McCarthy at No. 10, and Bo Nix went to Denver at No. 12.
April 27, 2024 4:47 am
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Patrick Bailey hit a walk-off three-run homer and the San Francisco Giants beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 3-0 on Friday. The game was scoreless until the ninth, when Michael Conforto walked and Matt Chapman singled to begin the inning off Pirates reliever David Bednar. Bailey then drilled a homer to right field. Both starters, San Francisco’s Kyle Harrison, and Pittsburgh’s Quinn Priester, each pitched six innings. Harrison struck out seven and gave up five hits.
April 27, 2024 4:55 am
The Steelers continued to address their needs on day two of the NFL draft. Taking West Virginia center Zach Frazier with the 51st overall pick. With the first of their two selections in the third round, the Steelers took Michigan receiver Roman Wilson with the 84th overall pick. After using their first three selections on offense, the Steelers took N.C. State inside linebacker Payton Wilson, who ran a 4.43 40-yard dash at the combine, with their second pick in the third round.
April 27, 2024 4:49 am
Defense became the focus of the NFL draft on Friday night after a record-setting 23 offensive players were selected in the first round. The Atlanta Falcons, who shocked everyone by taking quarterback Michael Penix Jr. at No. 8, kicked off the shift by moving up to take Clemson defensive lineman Ruke Orhorhoro with the third pick of the second round. The Commanders then took Illinois defensive tackle Jer’Zhan Newton and a total of 20 defensive players went in a round that had seven trades as teams were wheeling and dealing to get their guy. The Titans took a chance on Texas defensive tackle T’Vondre Sweat with the 38th pick after he was arrested for driving while intoxicated.
April 27, 2024 4:50 am
AVONDALE, La. (AP) — Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry held onto a share of the lead Friday in the Zurich Classic of New Orleans, with the Irish duo shooting a 2-under 70 in alternate play in the PGA Tour’s only team event. The teams of Davis Thompson-Andrew Novak, Ryan Brehm-Mark Hubbard and Aaron Rai-David Lipsky matched McIlroy and Lowry at 13-under 131 at TPC Louisiana. They will play best ball Saturday and close with alternate shot Sunday. Patrick Cantlay and Xander Schauffele, the 2022 winners, were a stroke back with Callum Tarren-David Skinns, Nick Taylor-Adam Hadwin, Zach Johnson-Ryan Palmer, Luke List-Henrik Norlander and Corey Connors-Taylor Pendrith. McIlroy and Lowry, who opened Thursday with a best-ball 61, overcame Lowry’s mid-round putting woes to close with consecutive birdies.
April 26, 2024 4:34 am
PITTSBURGH (AP) — The Pittsburgh Steelers selected offensive tackle Troy Fautanu with the 20th overall pick in the first round of the NFL draft. The selection gives coach Mike Tomlin a potential bookend to last year’s top pick Broderick Jones. The 6-foot-4, 317-pound Fautanu started 15 games at left tackle last season as the Huskies reached the College Football Playoff final against Michigan. He won the Joe Moore Award, given annually to the top offensive lineman in the country, in the process. The 23-year-old Fautanu joins an offense that hit the reset button in the offseason. The Steelers have made several notable moves over the past two months, including signing quarterback Russell Wilson.
