Apr 19, 2019 4 min read

WPIAL softball finals to Peterswood Park

The WPIAL softball championships will be back in Washington County but not at their longtime home at California University.

The WPIAL announced that this year’s championships will be played at Peterswood Park in McMurray.

The softball finals were held for many years at California University’s Lilley Field but a renovation project there forced the WPIAL to move last year’s championships to Seton Hill University in Greensburg. Cal’s renovation project was originally planned to be completed by this spring but the field is not yet ready, which forced the WPIAL to find a new home for this year’s finals.

The bid for Peterswood was selected over bids from Seton Hill, Pitt, and Upper St. Clair’s Boyce-Mayview Park.

The six championship games will be played May 29 and 30.

Casino sues

over betting app

A casino operator is suing a tech company after a contract dispute shuttered its sports betting platform at two West Virginia casinos ahead of the NCAA Tournament.

A Friday news release from Delaware North says it’s filed a civil suit seeking monetary damages against United Kingdom-based Miomni Gaming and its CEO, Michael P. Venner.

Miomni’s contract dispute with a third-party technology supplier has prevented Delaware North’s Mardi Gras Casino in Nitro and the Wheeling Island Hotel-Casino-Racetrack from taking new sports wagers since March 6.

The casino operator’s lawsuit says Miomni misrepresented its ownership of a key part of the sports betting platform.

A voicemail left with Miomni was not immediately returned.

The suit was filed late Thursday in Delaware.

St. John’s

hires Anderson

After a meandering search, St. John’s finally settled on Mike Anderson as its new basketball coach.

Anderson was hired Friday by the Red Storm after getting fired at Arkansas last month. He also had head coaching stints with Missouri and UAB before leading the Razorbacks to five postseason appearances and a 169-102 record in eight seasons.

Once he was let go, it didn’t take long for Anderson to land another job. Terms of the contract were not disclosed.

“I’ve been dreaming about this moment for the last nine days,” St. John’s athletic director Mike Cragg said during a news conference at Madison Square Garden. “And I found the right guy. We are going to win championships.”

The 59-year-old Anderson takes over for former St. John’s star Chris Mullin, who resigned on April 9, citing a “recent personal loss.” His older brother, Roddy, died last month at 58 after battling cancer for years.

Anderson said he had not spoken to Mullin about the state of the program, but planned to reach out to him. Mullin guided the Red Storm to the NCAA Tournament this year for the only time in his four seasons at the helm. They were immediately eliminated by Arizona State in a First Four game, and the school doesn’t have an NCAA Tournament victory since 2000.

Red Wings

turn to Yzerman

Steve Yzerman is getting another chance to return the Detroit Red Wings to glory.

The Hockey Hall of Famer did it as one the game’s all-time great leaders, helping Detroit end a 42-year championship drought with the first of three Stanley Cup celebrations of his playing tenure in Detroit.

Now, he has a shot to do it as the Red Wings’ general manager.

The Captain is coming home, a move that fired up a fan base and drew emotional responses from ownership. Perhaps in vain, Yzerman tried to pump the brakes on all the excitement.

“This is going to take time,” Yzerman said repeatedly Friday as he made a plea for patience.