Penguins notebook: Jokinen’s faceoff skills may be needed

Josh Yohe — Mon, 20 May 2013 21:21:00 EST

By Josh Yohe, McKeesport Daily News
Jokinen could help on faceoffs OTTAWA — The Penguins have won only 45 percent of their faceoffs against the Ottawa Senators through three games in ...

Daily News roundup: Quinn Construction earns DNL victory

Staff Reports — Tue, 21 May 2013 00:03:00 EST

By Staff Reports
Cinello Insurance Agency almost made its Daily News League debut a memorable one. The last of the three DNL expansion teams to play a game ...

Improved depth could drive Pirates’ fortunes deep into season

Travis Sawchik — Mon, 20 May 2013 23:06:00 EST

By Travis Sawchik, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
Just beyond the season’s quarter pole, the Pirates are on pace to win 96 games. The club is off to its best start since 1992, ...

Cooke has been steadying force for Penguins in playoffs

Josh Yohe — Mon, 20 May 2013 22:57:00 EST

By Josh Yohe, McKeesport Daily News
OTTAWA — In the moments following Ottawa’s punch-to-the-gut, double-overtime victory against the Penguins on Sunday night, left wing Matt Cooke looked unflappable while standing in ...

Coach Tomlin, Steelers facing plenty of questions as OTAs start

Alan Robinson — Mon, 20 May 2013 19:45:00 EST

By Alan Robinson, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
Mike Tomlin said the Steelers plan to prove all of their doubters wrong starting in September in NFL stadiums. If they’re actually going to do ...

Some ‘food for thought’

Jeff Oliver — Tue, 21 May 2013 00:01:06 EST

By Jeff Oliver, Valley Independent
In the spirit of this day in which voters will hopefully think before they make some important decisions, here is some food for thought: • ...

Cal’s Clancy finds track stardom quickly

Jeff Oliver — Tue, 21 May 2013 00:01:05 EST

By Jeff Oliver, Valley Independent
When the PIAA Track and Field Championships are held Friday and Saturday at Shippensburg University, California Area’s Kailyn Clancy will be there competing for the ...

Springdale OKs Vlassich as new girls basketball coach

Bill West — Tue, 21 May 2013 00:00:01 EST

By Bill West, Valley News Dispatch
His resume lists several coaching positions at Class AAAA and AAA basketball programs, but George Vlassich has a soft spot for small-town teams. That’s how ...

Serra’s playoff run ends with loss to Neshannock

George Guido — Mon, 20 May 2013 23:42:00 EST

By George Guido
Defending PIAA Class A champion and top-seeded Neshannock showed no ill effects from a 16-day layoff in Monday afternoon’s WPIAL quarterfinal. The Lancers jumped on ...

Game commissioners come out in opposition to merger

Bob Frye — Mon, 20 May 2013 18:30:01 EST

By Bob Frye, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
HARRISBURG — It’s official: The state legislature is once again going to explore the idea of merging the Pennsylvania Game and Fish and Boat commissions. ...

Monday’s high school photos

Tribune-Review — Mon, 20 May 2013 23:36:00 EST

By Tribune-Review
Here’s a sampling of what Trib Total Media photographers shot at high school events May 20. ...

Riverside’s Wilson too much for Steel Valley in quarterfinals

Justin Criado — Mon, 20 May 2013 23:21:00 EST

By Justin Criado
Playing powerhouse Riverside in the WPIAL Class AA quarterfinals was a thought few outside the Steel Valley dugout believed was possible at the beginning of ...

Frazier softball team advances to WPIAL Class A semifinals

Jason Black — Mon, 20 May 2013 21:51:00 EST

By Jason Black, Daily Courier
After three straight seasons of frustration in the WPIAL Class A quarterfinals at Fairhaven Park, the Frazier softball team finally had a reason to celebrate ...

West Allegheny’s Lach comes through in quarterfinal win over EF

Mark Kaboly — Mon, 20 May 2013 21:30:00 EST

By Mark Kaboly, McKeesport Daily News
Brianna Lach knew something had to change when she came to the plate in the bottom of the sixth inning. During her first two plate ...

Hempfield headed to semifinals after topping Shaler

Dave Mackall — Mon, 20 May 2013 20:51:00 EST

By Dave Mackall, Tribune-Review
Just another day at the office for the Hempfield softball team. “It was a typical ballgame for us,” coach Bob Kalp said Monday after the ...

Peters Township’s Perich shuts out Latrobe in quarterfinals

Paul Schofield — Mon, 20 May 2013 20:24:01 EST

By Paul Schofield, Tribune-Review
Peters Township softball coach Bob Bowers calls his pitcher Kellyn Perich ‘KP.’ Well his star pitcher KO’d No. 2 Latrobe, 1-0, in a WPIAL Class ...

Oberdorf brings heat as Greensburg Salem advances to semifinals

Dave Mackall — Mon, 20 May 2013 18:24:00 EST

By Dave Mackall, Tribune-Review
On a hot afternoon, Jayne Oberdorf was bringing the heat. Oberdorf pitched a four-hitter, and top-seeded Greensburg Salem pushed across single runs in the fifth ...

13th-seeded Beaver comes from behind to beat GCC

Keith Barnes — Mon, 20 May 2013 22:30:00 EST

By Keith Barnes, McKeesport Daily News
At a cursory glance it might have seemed like Greensburg Central Catholic had a cakewalk into the WPIAL Class AA semifinals when 13th-seeded Beaver pulled ...

Loss doesn’t put damper on Jeannette’s historic season

Mark Kaboly — Mon, 20 May 2013 19:54:00 EST

By Mark Kaboly, McKeesport Daily News
It just may have been one of her worst losses in her 15 years as Jeannette’s softball coach, and Dee Dee Cortazzo couldn’t have had ...

Pair of 3-run homers lifts West Mifflin softball team

Paul Schofield — Mon, 20 May 2013 22:12:00 EST

By Paul Schofield, Tribune-Review
The West Mifflin softball team hadn’t made the WPIAL playoffs since 1998. The Titans aren’t in a hurry to end the season soon. They believe ...

Canon-McMillan wrestling coach stepping down

Bill West — Mon, 20 May 2013 21:21:00 EST

By Bill West, Valley News Dispatch
The coach of the state’s premier Class AAA wrestling program during the past several years, Chris Mary now plans to turn his attention to another ...

Redbank Valley softball, Karns City baseball earn top seeds in D-9 playoffs

Matt Grubba — Mon, 20 May 2013 23:18:01 EST

By Matt Grubba, Leader Times
District 9 kicks off its baseball and softball playoffs this week, and a pair of Armstrong County teams have the top seed in their respective ...

North Allegheny holds off McKeesport in quarterfinals

Keith Barnes — Mon, 20 May 2013 20:15:01 EST

By Keith Barnes, McKeesport Daily News
Stuck in a tie late in the WPIAL Class AAAA quarterfinals against McKeesport, North Allegheny coach Rick Meister knew he needed an offensive spark to ...

Penguins’ breakdown on Alfredsson goal changes series

Rob Rossi — Mon, 20 May 2013 20:36:00 EST

By Rob Rossi, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
OTTAWA — Chris Kunitz would just as soon see The Breakdown become a footnote in the story of the 2013 Penguins. On Monday, though, neither ...

Kovacevic: Why did Pens even get Iginla?

Dejan Kovacevic — Mon, 20 May 2013 23:09:00 EST

By Dejan Kovacevic, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
OTTAWA — When the Penguins’ line of Jarome Iginla, Evgeni Malkin and James Neal broached the boards for the first time Sunday night, that actually ...

Pitt baseball team has a lot at stake

Jerry DiPaola — Mon, 20 May 2013 23:06:01 EST

By Jerry DiPaola, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
The NCAA invites 64 schools to its baseball tournament. In the most recent RPI rankings, Pitt was 64th — before it lost three in a ...

Senators exude confidence after stirring Game 3 victory

Tim Baines — Mon, 20 May 2013 23:06:00 EST

By Tim Baines
OTTAWA — The Ottawa Senators were 28.6 seconds away from being buried — as in stick a fork in them, they’re done. Now, a day ...

Deer Lakes softball rolls after early deficit

Bill Beckner Jr. — Mon, 20 May 2013 23:03:01 EST

By Bill Beckner Jr., Valley News Dispatch
The offensive machine that is the Deer Lakes softball team showed no ill-effects from a 10-day layoff when it finally opened the WPIAL playoffs Monday. ...

Penguins Insider: Players’ focus in right place

Rob Rossi — Mon, 20 May 2013 23:03:01 EST

By Rob Rossi, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
OTTAWA — Brooks Orpik is focused on the lead up to a letdown. Orpik said Monday he did not anticipate overcoming a Game 3 loss ...

High school roundup: No. 1 Canon-McMillan advances after topping Penn-Trafford

Staff Reports — Mon, 20 May 2013 22:03:00 EST

By Staff Reports
Home runs from Yaszmin Kotar and Tara Fowler, combined with the two-hit pitching performance by Alayna Astuto, helped No. 1 Canon-McMillan (19-1) to a 6-0 ...

Steelers reach agreement with sixth-round pick Williams

Alan Robinson — Mon, 20 May 2013 18:09:00 EST

By Alan Robinson, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
Vince Williams, a sixth-round draft pick who is expected to contribute from the start, on Monday became the second Steelers draft pick to reach contract ...

Blowing late lead not a good sign for Penguins

Rob Rossi — Mon, 20 May 2013 18:51:00 EST

By Rob Rossi, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
OTTAWA — History is now against the Penguins in the Stanley Cup playoffs. Their loss to the Ottawa Senators at Scotiabank Place on Sunday night ...

Senators notebook: MacLean impressed by Ottawa fans

Tim Baines — Mon, 20 May 2013 19:18:00 EST

By Tim Baines
Ottawa Senators coach Paul MacLean’s NHL playing days had stops in Winnipeg, Detroit and St. Louis. Detroit, often called Hockeytown, is among his coaching stops. ...

WPIAL softball playoff preview: Deer Lakes vs. McGuffey

Bill Beckner Jr. — Mon, 20 May 2013 13:42:01 EST

By Bill Beckner Jr., Valley News Dispatch
Class AA quarterfinals No. 1 seed Deer Lakes (16-0) vs. No. 9 McGuffey (15-5) 5 p.m. Monday at North Allegheny Coaches: Craig Taliani, Deer Lakes; ...

Kovacevic: It doesn’t have to be this hard

Dejan Kovacevic — Mon, 20 May 2013 00:03:00 EST

By Dejan Kovacevic, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
OTTAWA — Even at the end, it’s hard. After the two-month run, after all the bumps, bruises and butt-ends to the sternum, they wheel the ...

Pirates notebook: McCutchen scratched with soreness in right knee

Travis Sawchik — Sun, 19 May 2013 12:39:00 EST

By Travis Sawchik, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
Pirates center fielder Andrew McCutchen was scratched from the lineup Sunday because of right knee soreness, but he expects to return for the Pirates’ next ...

Goalie Anderson stands tall in Senators’ victory over Penguins

Josh Yohe — Sun, 19 May 2013 23:48:00 EST

By Josh Yohe, McKeesport Daily News
OTTAWA — The Ottawa Senators are alive in this series. More concerning for the Penguins is that Ottawa’s goalie is alive and well. The Penguins ...

WPIAL softball postseason newcomers making inroads

Mark Kaboly — Mon, 20 May 2013 01:46:00 EST

By Mark Kaboly, McKeesport Daily News
There’s no denying that the Serra Catholic baseball team has been there, done that. The Eagles have won two WPIAL titles, a state championship and ...

Daily News roundup: Clancy’s wins DNL opener

Staff Reports — Mon, 20 May 2013 01:45:00 EST

By Staff Reports
Clancy’s Pub waited a week to start its Daily News League season. It was well worth it. Joe Aul’s single in the bottom of the ...

MPIAA holds annual 100-inning softball game

Marilyn Forbes — Mon, 20 May 2013 01:41:00 EST

By Marilyn Forbes, Daily Courier
Blessed with a sunny day for the third year in a row, the Mt. Pleasant Independent Athletic Association held its annual 100-inning softball game and ...

Senators 2, Penguins 1, 2OT

Rob Rossi — Sun, 19 May 2013 23:48:01 EST

By Rob Rossi, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
OTTAWA — Daniel Alfredsson changed the conversation Sunday night. His Ottawa Senators will not be swept from the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs, ...

Outdoors notebook: Contest offers chance to reel in $2 million

Bob Frye — Sun, 19 May 2013 17:42:01 EST

By Bob Frye, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
A contest that gives Pennsylvania fishermen the chance to win up to $2 million in cash and prizes is under way. Cabela’s and the Pennsylvania ...

Rahal, Legge survive Bump Day at Indianapolis 500

Ralph N. Paulk — Sun, 19 May 2013 19:18:00 EST

By Ralph N. Paulk, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
INDIANAPOLIS — Graham Rahal didn’t expect to be in the unenviable position of having to slug it out with nine other drivers Sunday to put ...

Spezza gets back on ice for Senators

Tim Baines — Sun, 19 May 2013 22:42:00 EST

By Tim Baines
OTTAWA — Nearly four months of wondering when he would play hockey again ended for Jason Spezza on Sunday night. Sidelined by Feb. 1 surgery ...

Steelers rookie moves on after PSU scandal

Ralph N. Paulk — Sun, 19 May 2013 23:24:01 EST

By Ralph N. Paulk, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
When things began to unravel at Penn State amid the child sex abuse scandal involving former football assistant coach Jerry Sandusky, several players considered transferring ...