Sports briefs
Boys soccer
John Scott scored two goals in the first half and seventh-seeded Bentworth put together a dominant performance in a 5-0 victory over second-seeded Sewickley Academy in the WPIAL Class A quarterfinals Wednesday night at Avonworth High School.
Bentworth (16-2), which has won six straight, advances to the semifinals Monday against either No. 3 seed Burrell or No. 11 Trinity Christian.
The Bercats controlled play throughout against Sewickley Academy (13-3-1), the Section 1 champion.
Scott opened the scoring with a goal and added his second tally late in the first half to make it 2-0. Less than a minute later, Billy Moyer found the net with a shot to put the Bearcats up 3-0 at halftime.
Ryan Moessner made it 4-0 with 38:24 remaining and Ryan Colbert beat the Sewickley Academy goalkeeper with a penalty kick that made the score 5-0.
Goalkeeper D.J. Hays kept SA off the scoreboard.
In baseball
Sean Casey says he won’t return as hitting coach for the New York Yankees after a brief stint in pinstripes this season.
Casey, a 12-year major leaguer who went from television analyst to hitting instructor in July, announced his departure on his podcast, “The Mayor’s Office with Sean Casey,” on Wednesday. The 49-year-old said he informed Yankees manager Aaron Boone before the team made a formal offer to secure his return.
Casey, a three-time All-Star, said spending more time with his daughters, ages 13 and 17, is a priority after his divorce a few years ago.
“I have those girls 50 percent of the time,” Casey said. “I just can’t imagine being away for eight months in New York while they’re here in Pittsburgh,” which is Casey’s hometown.
- Dusty Baker has retired as manager of the Houston Astros, ending an illustrious 26-year career as a big league skipper highlighted by a World Series win last season.
Baker broke the news in an interview with USA Today.
“I’m very grateful and thankful to (owner) Jim Crane and the Houston Astros for giving me this opportunity, and to win a championship,” Baker told the newspaper. “I felt like they’ve been good for me, and I’ve been good for them.
- The Boston Red Sox have hired ex-pitcher Craig Breslow as their new chief baseball officer.
Breslow pitched for Boston in 2006 and again from 2012-15. Since 2019, he has worked in the Cubs front office, serving most recently as an assistant general manager. Boston said in its statement that Breslow will be responsible for all baseball operations matters.
In the NFL
Deshaun Watson won’t practice this week or play Sunday in Seattle.
Those are the only absolutes at this point as Cleveland’s quarterback continues to struggle with a right shoulder injury that started out as seemingly minor and become somewhat mysterious over the past month.
- San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy is in concussion protocol, putting his status for this week’s game against the Cincinnati Bengals in doubt.
Coach Kyle Shanahan said that Purdy reported symptoms on the flight home after Monday night’s loss in Minnesota and was placed in the protocol.
Purdy was feeling better Wednesday and took part in a portion of San Francisco’s walkthrough practice but still must clear several protocols in order to play Sunday.
Kansas City’s Nick Bolton had surgery in Los Angeles on his fractured wrist, though coach Andy Reid said he was not sure whether the linebacker would land on injured reserve or how long he might be out.