Jun 21, 2019 4 min read

Pens to play Sabres in home opener

The Pittsburgh Penguins will take on Jack Eichel and the Buffalo Sabres in the team’s home opener on Oct. 3 at PPG Paints Arena.

The Penguins’ full 2019-20 regular season schedule will be announced on Tuesday at noon on NHL Network.

This season will mark the third time Pittsburgh has faced off against the Sabres in their home opener. The most recent occurrence was an 8-3 Penguins win Oct. 13, 1987.

In golf

Zack Sucher shot a 5-under 65 in the rain Friday morning and his 11-under 129 total held up in the afternoon sunshine for a two-stroke lead midway through the Travelers Championship.

The 32-year-old from Alabama says he’s finally feeling healthy again after knee surgery sidelined him for 13 months following the 2017 Travelers.

Chez Reavie and Keegan Bradley each shot 66 to reach 9 under. Ryan Moore (64) and Bronson Burgoon (68) followed at 8 under.

Two of the bigger names in the tournament missed the cut at TPC River Highlands.

Jordan Spieth, the 2017 winner, followed an opening 73 with a 69 to finish at 2 over. Two-time champion Phil Mickelson finished at 3 over after a 76.

• Jerry Kelly shot a 7-under 65 to take the first-round lead in his hometown American Family Insurance Championship.

Kelly played the back nine at University Ridge in 5-under 31. He has three PGA Tour Champions victories after winning three times on the PGA Tour.

David Frost was a stroke back, and tournament host Steve Stricker was at 67 with Kirk Triplett, David Toms, Duffy Waldorf, Corey Pavin and Tom Gillis. John Daly topped the group at 68.

Hall of Fame pitcher John Smoltz opened with a 76 in his third tour start. The former Atlanta Braves star got into the field on a sponsor exemption.

• Hannah Green twice escaped trouble with unlikely par saves, including one shot she holed from off the green, and made four birdies for a 3-under 69 and took a three-shot lead into the weekend at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship.

It’s the first time she has held the 36-hole lead in her second year on the LPGA Tour.

The 22-year-old Australian has made one bogey over 36 holes at Hazeltine National, one of the strongest tests of the year. Ariya Jutanugarn, a two-time major champion, closed within one shot until a series of misplays on the back nine. She had another 70.

Legion baseball

Belle Vernon broke open a close game by scoring four runs in the top of the fifth inning to defeat Waynesburg 7-2 in a Fayette American Legion Baseball League game Friday night.

Belle Vernon led 3-2 before the breakout inning. Three Belle Vernon pitchers held Waynesburg to six hits, all singles.

Martin Jr. to replace father as FSU coach

Longtime assistant Mike Martin Jr. was promoted to head coach at Florida State on Friday, taking over the program where his father became the career wins leader in all NCAA sports.

The announcement of his hiring came two days after the Seminoles ended their 23rd College World Series appearance, and 17th under Martin Sr., who won 2,029 games over 40 seasons.

Martin Jr. has spent all 22 of his years in coaching as an assistant to his father, focusing on hitting and recruiting. The former All-America catcher has put together eight straight top-10 recruiting classes and his offenses have a combined .300 batting average since 1998.

“I have every confidence Mike Martin Jr. will carry on the winning tradition of Florida State University baseball,” FSU president John Thrasher said. “For more than two decades as an assistant coach, he has shown he is a talented recruiter, passionate competitor and respected mentor to our student-athletes. While Mike Martin Jr. brings his own strengths and style of coaching to the program, his values, integrity and love for this university will carry on the proud legacy of his father.”

Under Martin Sr., the Seminoles won at least 40 games and played in the NCAA Tournament every year.