The Pittsburgh Penguins moved quickly Tuesday to replace assistant coach Rick Tocchet, who was officially hired by the Arizona Coyotes as their new head coach. The Pens announced Mark Recchi, who was recently announced as a Hockey Hall of Fame inductee, to replace Tocchet on the bench.
The Butler BlueSox took both ends of a doubleheader with the Chillicothe Paints last night. The Sox won the first game 3-1. James Meeker pitched into the seventh inning for the Sox, allowing just one unearned run. In game two, starting pitcher Connor Coward allowed just two runs on five hits while striking out 11 in a 4-2 victory. He improved to 3-0. Patrick Ferguson hit his league-leading 11th home run of the season for the Sox. He is now tied with David Marcus for the all-time BlueSox home run record in a single season.
The wins boosted the Sox into second place in the Prospect League Eastern Division. They are 20-17 overall, and 2-1/2 games behind first-place Champion City. The Sox host Chillicothe again tonight at 6:35pm. It is Butler Radion Network Night at the ballpark. Festivities with games and giveaways are planned beginning at 5pm. The local music group Lions In America will be performing an acoustic set. The BlueSox and Stadium Authority will donate $3 from each ticket purchased toward the benefit of the recent West End flood victims.
The American League defeated the National League 2-1 in 10-inning last night in the Major League Baseball All-Star Game. Seattle’s Robinson Cano hit a home run of Chicago Cubs pitcher Wade Davis to win the game in the 10th inning. It was the first go-ahead home run in extra innings since Tony Perez of the Cincinnati Reds in 1967.
Three Pittsburgh Pirates minor league players will be at the Triple-A All-Star Game today in Tacoma, Washington. Starting pitchers Steven Brault and Drew Hutchison along with utility player Chris Bostick are on the roster. Brault has had an ERA of 2.00 for the first half of the season.
Robert Morris football coach and former Pittsburgh Steelers defensive end John Banaszak will be inducted into the United States Marine Corps Hall of Fame tonight at the National Museum of the Marine Corps in Quantico, Virginia. Banaszak went into an NFL career after a two-year stint in the Marines. Only 45 people, including the late Roberto Clemente, have been inducted into the USMC Sports Hall of Fame since its inception in 2001.
Joe Gibbs Racing announced Tuesday that Erik Jones will replace Matt Kenseth in the number-20 Toyota next season. Jones has previously races with the Gibbs organization last year in the X-Finity Series. He won Camping World Truck Series championship with Kyle Busch Motorsports in 2015. Jones is currently in the Furniture Row number-77 car this season at the Cup level, but that team may not have funding to operate next season. Kenseth currently does not have a ride for 2018.
Richmond International Raceway announced it will rebrand itself as Richmond Raceway and invest $30 million to completely modernize its infield. The new infield will feature expansive social areas with concessions, new fan walkways in the garage and technical inspection areas with unprecedented access, and Gatorade Victory Lane will now be staged in view of the grandstands. The infield will be ready by its very first NASCAR playoff weekend in September of 2018.