Sports briefs
PT’s Benson leads WPIAL golf
Ellie Benson earned medalist honors and will take a two-stroke lead into final round of the WPIAL Individual Girls Golf Championships oct. 4 at Diamond Run Golf Course in Sewickley.
Benson, a Peters Township sophomore, shot a 1-over-par 73 during the first round of the competition held Tuesday, also at Diamond Run. Benson has two-stroke lead over Mya Morgan of Elizabeth Forward and a six-shot advantage over Paige Meyers of Oakland Catholic.
Benson was one of five Indians to move on to the finals. Brooke Vowcheck is in eight place after shooting 85. Sophia Severns, Gabby Catalogna and Amelia Severns followed in 13th, 16th and 23rd positions, respectively.
The Indians are the defending WPIAL team champions and PIAA state runners-up. They recently completed an undefeated season in match play.
Boys soccer
Dylan Stewart scored three goals, including his 50th career tally, and Larry Goodman also scored three times, powering McGuffey to a 6-0 victory over Southmoreland on Tuesday night in Class 2A Section 3.
Stewart is the fourth player in McGuffey history to score 50 career goals.
The Highlanders stayed in the hunt for first place in the section. They are 6-2 in section and 9-3 overall. Southmoreland falls to 2-6 in section and 3-8 overall.
- Ringgold scored twice off corner kicks in the first half and won at Connellsville 2-1 in Class 3A Section 3.
Oliver Purcel scored the opening goal of the match, and 11 minutes later Isaiah Weaver tallied his first varsity goal.
Ringgold is in second place in the section at 7-2 and 9-2 overall.
- Dalton Taylor’s unassisted goal in overtime gave Waynesburg a 2-1 win over Brownsville in Class 2A Section 3.
Brownsville (0-9, 0-11) led 1-0 at halftime but Owen Haught’s goal off an assist by Ryon McCartney sent the game to overtime. Goalkeeper Jobe McCartney made five saves for Waynesburg (2-7, 3-8).
- Class 3A Section 3 leader Bethel Park was a 2-1 winner in overtime over Trinity.
The Hillers (5-4, 5-4) scored first on a goal by John Garcia 25 minutes into the first half.
- Peters Township routed Allderdice 7-0 in Class 4A Section 2.
The Indians (6-3, 7-3) led 6-0 at halftime. Alex Parise and Nathan Froelich led the way for PT with two goals each. Cam Glass, Kevin Kelly and Blake Gablehart tallied the other goals.
- Bentworth hammered Greensburg Central Catholic 10-0 in Class A Section 2.
The Bearcats (6-1, 10-1) led 9-0 at halftime. Aiden Murray led the attack with three goals. Ryan Colbert and John Scott each had two tallies and Dillan Colbert, Ryan Moessner and Billy Moyers each scored one goal. Moyer and Moessner were credited with two assists.
- Arlo McIntyre had a hat trick in Charleroi’s 7-0 victory over California in Class A Section 2.
Dylan Klinger, Jake Chambers, Landon Barcus and Bryce Large also scored for the undefeated Cougars (6-0, 10-0). Barcus had three assists and Chambers added two helpers. Ethan Hartley had one assist.
- Juan Melena scored for Chartiers-Houston, but the Buccaneers lost to Carlynton, 7-1, in Class A Section 4.
- Trevor Kovatch scored four goals in Belle Vernon’s 5-0 victory over Yough in Class 2A Section 3.
Logan Metzger had the other tally for the Leopards (7-1, 8-2). Brandon and Mason Yeschenko had two assists apiece and Jackson Coneybeer added an assist. Goalkeeper Bryce Burkhart made four saves for the shutout.
Girls soccer
Ella Miller had a hat trick and assisted on a goal in Waynesburg’s 5-1 victory over Monessen in Class A Section 2 Monday night.
Rylei Rastoka scored a goal and had two assists for Waynesburg (5-2, 7-2). Kaley Rohanna scored a goal, and Lake Litwiniovich and Brynn Kirby each finished with an assist each.
Samantha Saylor scored for Monessen (1-5-1, 3-6-1).
In basketball
The Oklahoma City Council voted Tuesday to set a Dec. 12 citywide vote on a proposed 1% sales tax for six years that would fund a new $900 million downtown arena and keep the NBA’s Thunder in the city through at least 2050.
The council also voted 7-2 to approve a letter of intent with the Thunder’s ownership group that would require the group to contribute $50 million toward the arena’s cost. The deal also calls for $70 million in city funds from an existing sales tax approved by voters in 2019 for upgrades to the current Paycom Center.
- Breanna Stewart earned the WNBA’s Most Valuable Player award for the second time in her career in a very close vote.
There were only 13 points separating Stewart from second-place finisher Alyssa Thomas of Connecticut and last year’s MVP A’ja Wilson of Las Vegas. Stewart received 446 points (20 first-place votes, 23 second-place votes and 17 third-place votes). Thomas had 439 points (23, 12 and 25). Wilson received 433 points (17, 25, 17 and 1).
In baseball
The series opener between the Miami Marlins and New York Mets was postponed Tuesday night because of unplayable field conditions caused by Tropical Storm Ophelia.
The game will be made up Wednesday as part of a doubleheader beginning at 4:10 p.m.
It’s a crucial series for Miami, which began the day one game out of a National League playoff spot with six to play. The Mets are eliminated from postseason contention.