Sports Briefs
Trinity wrestles first girls match
Under the spotlight at Mount Lebanon High School gymnasium history was made Wednesday as Trinity wrestled its first girls dual meet.
Eight bouts were contested, with girls from seventh to 12th grade, and Mt. Lebanon edged the Hillers, 5-3
The match started with two pins for Lebo followed by a fall by Trinity’s Nila Bland. The teams went back in forth the next four matches with Mount Lebo picking up 2 wins and Trinity picking up 2 wins.
Trinity coach Grant Lowther said, “This was a great battle to start the season off with. It was exceptionally rewarding to see how hard both teams wrestled tonight and the improvements they have made from day 1. I look forward to our rematch at Trinity in January. I am proud of every girl who stepped out there under the spotlight tonight to wrestle from both teams.”
Wild Things sign pitcher
The Wild Things have announced the signing of left-handed pitcher Zach Blankenship, who played in the United Shore Professional Baseball League in 2022.
Blankenship was 2-1 with a 3.89 ERA in 24 relief appearances for the Birmingham Bloomfield. In 34.2 innings, he struck out 39 and walked only 10 batters.
Blankenship played two seasons at St. Johns River State College. He transferred to Valdosta State, a Division II school, where he played for three seasons. In total, he had a 13-6 record in 39 games (29 starts) with one shutout.
PAC adds sport
The Presidents’ Athletic Conference has announced that it will sponsor men’s volleyball as an NCAA Division III sport, beginning in the 2024-25 academic year.
With the addition of men’s volleyball, the number of conference-sponsored championship sports will increase to 24 (13 men, 11 women).
There are currently three PAC schools fielding men’s volleyball teams: Geneva, Saint Vincent and Thiel. They compete as affiliate members in the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference and will transition to the PAC when league play begins in 2024-25.
Penguins injuries
The surging Pittsburgh Penguins will have to try to keep their hot streak going without defenseman Jeff Petry and forward Jason Zucker.
The Penguins have placed Petry on long-term injured reserve with an upper-body injury. Coach Mike Sullivan said Wednesday the team expects Petry to be out for an extended period.
In baseball
Pitcher Noah Syndergaard and the Los Angeles Dodgers have agreed to a $13 million, one-year deal, a person familiar with the negotiations told the Associated Press.
- Star shortstop Carlos Correa and the San Francisco Giants have agreed to a $350 million, 13-year contract, a person familiar with the negotiations told the Associated Press late Tuesday night.
Correction
Another female wrestling program has sprung up.
Trinity is the 86th female wrestling team in the state. If the number of teams reaches 100, then the PIAA will hold a state tournament.
The number is not expected to reach 100 until next season.