Dec 12, 2017 3 min read

At The Meadows

Bessie pocketed Classical Annie from the gate and kept her there throughout the mile as she captured Tuesday’s $15,000 Filly & Mare Winners Over $10,000 Life Handicap Trot at The Meadows.

Bessie had little trouble thwarting the first-over challenge of Dreamsteeler for Jim Pantaleano, and she was just as strong late, downing Classical Annie by 3/4 lengths in 1:56.4 over a “good” surface. Dirty Secret was a ground-saving third.

Rick Clapper trains Bessie, a 6-year-old daughter of Equinox Bi-Cantab’s Chorine who now boasts $367,097 in career earnings, for Paula Clapper, Umholtz Racing Stable and Kennedy Sports Corp.

It was one of three wins for Pantaleano on the 13-race card.

Local trio honored

by ECAC

Three local college basketball players were honored by the Eastern College Athletic Conference with awards for their performances this past week.

Washington & Jefferson junior forward Danielle Parker, a Canon-McMillan graduate, earned ECAC Division III South Player of the Week.

Parker averaged 20.5 points, 11.5 rebounds and two blocks in two games for the Presidents in wins over Carnegie Mellon and Grove City last week.

Freshman guards Carlee Kilgus, a South Fayette graduate, and Matt Popeck, a Washington High School graduate, were honored as ECAC Division III South Rookies of the Week.

Kilgus, who cracked the starting lineup early at Saint Vincent, averaged seven points, 2.7 rebounds and 1.7 assists in the Bearcats’ three games. In a 86-69 victory over La Roche, she finished with 15 points.

Averaging a team-high 19 points in Waynesburg’s two games last week, Popeck continues to lead the Yellow Jackets in scoring with 16.4 points per game.

In the split contests, a loss to Bethany and comeback win over Thiel, he also averaged five rebounds and two steals. He scored a game-high 25 points. against the Bison.

Watson named

All-American

University of Pennsylvania senior wide receiver Justin Watson, a South Fayette graduate, was named a third-team Associated Press All-American.

Watson, who is only one of six wide receivers nationally to earn the honors, had 81 receptions for 1,083 yards and 14 touchdowns this season.

He was second in the Football Championship Subdivision in receiving touchdowns and was the first playing in Ivy League history with three career 1,000-yard seasons.

Watson tops the list at Penn in career receiving touchdowns (33), receptions (286), receiving yards (3,777) and all-purpose yards (4,116).

In high school wrestling

Avella defeated Washington 27-9 in a Section 1-AA match.

Randall Kidwell and Matt Kidwell each had individual wins for Avella.

Murray returns

from IR

The Pittsburgh Penguins have activated goaltender Matt Murray from injured reserve after missing the past five games with a lower-body injury.

Murray, who has played 21 games this season, was injured in the Nov. 27 game against cross-state rival Philadelphia.

The Penguins begin a three-game road trip starting Thursday night against Vegas.

Zalapski dies at 49

Former National Hockey League defenseman Zarley Zalapski passed away Tuesday.

Zalapski, 49, played 12 seasons with the Pittsburgh Penguins, Hartford Whalers, Calgary Flames, Montreal Canadiens and Philadelphia Flyers.

The cause of his death was not disclosed.

Zalapski was selected by the Penguins with the No. 4 pick in the 1986 NHL Draft. He played in 190 games over four seasons with Pittsburgh before being part of a trade that brought Ron Francis, Ulf Samuelsson and Grant Jennings to the Penguins.

He finished his career with 99 goals and 285 assists in 637 games.