John Phillips stories, Page 2
After challenging season, tradition-rich Beaver Falls eyes success in MAC
When your football program boasts 122 years of tradition, not to mention six WPIAL football titles, you can consider yourself among the elite programs in Western Pennsylvania’s storied history. Despite a winless 2024 season that included six shutouts and a scoring disparity of 306 points, things are trending up for...
A-K Valley legend Joe Stone, who helped Kiski Area, Pitt to championships, dies at age 70
When it comes to telling the story of the 1976 Pitt Panthers national championship football team, the tales usually begin and end with the kid from Hopewell Township, Tony Dorsett. The story that doesn’t get told is that a lanky, talented offensive lineman from the Alle-Kiski Valley named Joe Stone...
Shaler graduate Tim Grubbs makes debut as Minnesota Twins play-by-play announcer
The dream of being a play-by-play baseball announcer is a passion many young broadcasters have. With only 30 jobs available, becoming part of that field is truly rarefied air. Shaler native and 1991 graduate Tim Grubbs was among those with that goal. And his path to getting a shot at...
Riverhounds earn much-needed 3 points with victory over Rhode Island
Getting the first goal in any soccer game is always a big advantage when it comes to winning games and getting three points. When that goal comes from your big offseason free-agent signing who’s struggled all season, it’s even better. Pittsburgh Riverhounds forward Augi Williams took a poorly defended ball...
Riverhounds secure 1-1 draw with Miami FC in final seconds
With July heat and a Wicked (promotion of the night) second-half run to the USL Championship playoffs underway, the Pittsburgh Riverhounds hosted Miami FC on a very rare Tuesday evening game on the Mon. The visitors came into the contest clinging to the eighth and final playoff spot in the...
Pittsburgh native Kyler Fedko swinging hot bat for Wichita Wind Surge in Double-A Texas League
The road to the majors in baseball can be a long and arduous course. For some, they are gifted to the point that getting to the big leagues is merely a question of how fast. For others, that road can be much longer, one that may never lead to the...
Lernerville Speedway to welcome High Limit drivers for annual Don Martin Silver Cup
Dirt track racing is alive and well in America. But as an outdoor sporting event, the weather can throw the proverbial monkey wrench into the best planning. In 2025, Lernerville Speedway has been treated to one rainout after another, having just five live events so far. Rain has canceled quite...
Riverhounds play to a draw against Loudoun United
It was muggy and overcast at the ‘Mark on the Mon for Sunday’s USL Championship Eastern Conference match between the host Pittsburgh Riverhounds and Loudoun United. The visitors sat six points ahead of the local 11 entering play with 26 points off eight wins so far this season. If there...
After hitting post 3 times, Riverhounds break through in 2nd half, beat New Mexico
On the Fourth of July, the word “fireworks” tends to be used in a loose and abundant manner. With USL Western Conference foe New Mexico United in town for the Pittsburgh Riverhounds’ annual Independence Day home game at Highmark Stadium, the use of “fireworks” would be understated. New Mexico United...
Riverhounds pick up 1st win in USL Jagermeister Cup play
With the end of June on the horizon, the Pittsburgh Riverhounds closed the books on the first half of 2025 with a USL Jägermeister Cup contest Saturday at Highmark Stadium, hosting Westchester SC of the USL’s League One. Having suffered a pair of losses in their first two Group Cup...
Own goal, shot from Williams lift Riverhounds to win
The conditions for Saturday’s USL match between the Tampa Bay Rowdies and host Pittsburgh Riverhounds couldn’t have been better, even if Joe Denardo was still around. Against a clear blue sky and 90-degree weather at kick, the pitch was perfect for the host club, which walked away with a convincing...
Pro motocross series heads to Greene County’s Mt. Moris for Father’s Day weekend
For those who enjoy motorcycles, mixed with a bit of mud, then Saturday’s racing scheduled for High Point Raceway in Mt. Morris, Greene County, will serve as a main course of sorts as the top drivers descend on the Pennsylvania, West Virginia border for stop No. 4 in the 2025...
Riverhounds drop home Jagermeister Cup game to Rhode Island
With May coming to a close, the Pittsburgh Riverhounds played Rhode Island on Saturday at Highmark Stadium in a Group 4 USL Jagermeister Cup match. The teams faced each other a week prior at the Pawtucket’s new 10,500 seat Centreville Bank Stadium. The Hounds handed Rhode Island a loss, the...
Riverhounds knocked out of U.S. Open Cup by cross-state nemesis Philadelphia
CHESTER — Along the banks of the Delaware River on Wednesday, a Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup match between the Pittsburgh Riverhounds and host Philadelphia Union unfolded. The location itself, Subaru Park in Chester, would have made George Washington nod in approval of this first matchup between the state’s two...
Despite early struggles this season, Riverhounds hope to rekindle U.S. Open Cup magic vs. Philadelphia
The Pittsburgh Riverhounds have had very little to get excited about since the 2025 USL Championship season began in early March. The team has won just twice, registering its most recent victory March 29. However, when it comes to the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, the Riverhounds have shown a...
Overflow crowd watches Pittsburgh Riveters women’s soccer team debut with scoreless draw
An overflow crowd at Highmark Stadium on a picture-perfect Friday night came to witness the debut of the Pittsburgh Riveters pre-professional women’s soccer club. A standing-room-only crowd of 6,077 witnessed the Riveters play the Cleveland Force to a scoreless draw in a USL W League game. It was the fourth-largest...
Riveters women’s pro soccer team ready for 1st game ever
Women’s Professional Soccer makes its debut Friday at Highmark Stadium as the Pittsburgh Riveters take on the Cleveland Force, with a kickoff set for 7:30 p.m. This will be the inaugural USL W League match for both teams. The ramp up to this has been a calculated one by the...
Riverhounds win US Open Cup game vs. MLS squad New York City FCVideo
Coming out to a sparse but lively crowd along the Downtown Pittsburgh cityscape Wednesday night, the Pittsburgh Riverhounds entered their Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Round of 32 game against New York City FC of MLS riding a four-game losing streak, all of which have come in USL Eastern Conference...
Riverhounds blanked by North Carolina FC, drop 4th straight league game
This time of year in Pittsburgh is the sweet spot after a viscous winter and the arrival of spring. Warmer climates make people smile. But fans of the local USL club came to Highmark Stadium on Saturday to see better play on the pitch. What they saw was a 2-0...
With familiar races and new wrinkles, green flag about to drop at Lernerville Speedway
With the arrival of spring, folks will start making their way to Sarver, much like they have over the past 58 years, as the season kicks into high gear at Lernerville Speedway. With a schedule that runs into October, expect plenty of rubbing and racing along the way. The first...
Riverview track teams quick off the starting blocks this season
Riverview boys and girls track coach Dave Ilnicki has seen quite a bit of running, throwing and jumping over the decades. Ilnicki, a teacher in the district, is in his 33rd year of guiding kids in the track program. It’s his 29th season in charge. “I was hired in 1992...
Penn-Trafford girls lacrosse ready to tackle tough competition in Class 3A
The Penn-Trafford girls lacrosse team is facing some stiff competition in 2025. After competing in Class 2A, the Warriors moved up to the rugged Section 1 in Class 3A. In 2024, Penn-Trafford lost in the WPIAL class 2A semis and made the PIAA tournament. So far in 2025, the Warriors...
Riverhounds show offensive spark in home win over Birmingham
After beating Hartford a week ago in the team’s 2025 home opener, Pittsburgh Riverhounds coach Bob Lilley said his goal scorers needed to finish better when on the attack. It seems that a week of messaging paid off for Lilley and his starting 11, as they dominated play from the...
Successful Florida trip gets Plum baseball warmed up for section schedule
After laboring through a long, cold winter, like many up north, visions of a beautiful Florida sun come March will always help with getting into a better mood. For the Plum baseball team, that formula was a winning one last week, as the team ventured to St. Petersburg to participate...
Riverhounds pick up 1st win of season in home opener
As the seconds ticked off the Highmark Stadium scoreboard Saturday along the banks of the Monongahela, Bob Lilley and his Pittsburgh Riverhounds found the much-needed first win and 3 points, putting together a 1-0 home-opener victory against Hartford Athletic. The game was played in brisk, windy conditions as 4,026 braved...
