Leetonia discussing football program

LEETONIA — The Leetonia School District is hosting a meeting today to discuss the football program.

Faced with rumors regarding the future of the football program, Leetonia administrators met with other Eastern Ohio Athletic Conference schools in December seeking scheduling relief. When that went nowhere, school officials said the Bears were committed to playing a full schedule this fall.

That appears to be in doubt as the Bears have, at the most, 18 high school players at the moment. Today’s meeting will be held at 6 p.m. in the home stands of the football stadium to hear from parents, student-athletes and community members and outline steps school officials are taking to address concerns.

West Branch volleyball

BELOIT — West Branch is looking for a seventh-grade grade volleyball coach for the 2025 season. The position is paid and will begin on Aug. 1. Interested applicants should send a cover letter and resume to athletic director Ryan Wolf at ryan.wolf@wbwarriors.org. The position will remain open until filled.

Parent/Child scramble set

COLUMBIANA — The annual Parent/Child Father/Son nine-hole scramble will be held July 12 at Valley Golf Club.

Cost is $45 per two-person team, all inclusive. To enter or for more infomation, call the pro shop at (330) 482-9464.

Chester routs South Hills

NEW MANCHESTER, W.Va. — Eric Sampson hit a double and two singles and Dave Smith had two singles in leading the Chester Oldtimers past Pittsburgh South Hills, 8-1, Sunday at Oak Glen High School.

Smith also picked up the win on the mound as Chester improved to 6-1.

Chester will play Poland at 3 p.m. July 13 at Oak Glen High School.

Steelers trade for Ramsey

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — The Miami Dolphins are sending All-Pro cornerback Jalen Ramsey, Pro Bowl tight end Jonnu Smith and a 2027 seventh-round draft pick to the Pittsburgh Steelers in exchange for All-Pro safety Minkah Fitzpatrick and a 2027 fifth-round pick.

Ramsey announced the trade Monday in a post on his X account. Both his representation and the Dolphins, where he spent the past two seasons, had mutually agreed earlier this year to part ways.

Neither Ramsey nor the Dolphins gave any insight into what went wrong. Dolphins general manager Chris Grier said in April that Ramsey did not ask for a trade or more money, but after weeks of conversations with Ramsey’s representation, both sides agreed that it would be best to move on.

Fitzpatrick returns to the team that drafted him 11th overall in 2018. He had been displeased with his role in Miami and requested a trade before being sent to the Steelers in 2019.

The terms have been agreed upon and are pending physicals.

The swap of Ramsey and Fitzpatrick, both three-time All-Pros, marks the third time since at least 2002 that players who had previously been All-Pros were traded for each other, according to Sportradar. The others were star receiver DeAndre Hopkins (three All-Pros) for running back David Johnson (1) in 2020, and tight end Jimmy Graham (1) for center Max Unger (1) in 2015.

Smith had one of the best years of his career in his lone season in Miami after signing a two-year deal as a free agent ahead of the 2024 season. The veteran tight end hoped that his career year might lead to a new contract with the Dolphins, with whom he preferred to stay. He had been away from the team during its offseason program as he sought a new contract.

Instead, he’s re-joining Arthur Smith, currently the offensive coordinator in Pittsburgh, whom he was with in Tennessee and Atlanta.

Smith will get a one-year contract extension worth as much as $12 million for 2026, agent Drew Rosenhaus confirmed.

In the aftermath of the trade, former Dolphins running back Raheem Mostert responded to the news with apparent criticism of his former team. Mostert was cut in February by Miami after his least productive season with the team in 2024, one year after making the Pro Bowl with the Dolphins.

“Hot take: Be a Pro-bowler on the Dolphins, get treated like (expletive),” Mostert wrote on X in response to the trades. “Happy for my guys though! GO BALL OUT!!”

It’s the latest in a series of retooling moves the Steelers have made this offseason in hopes that 2025 won’t end similarly as their past few seasons. Pittsburgh has reached the playoffs four times in the last five seasons, only to be quickly eliminated in lopsided fashion each time.

Since March, the Steelers have acquired two-time Pro Bowl wide receiver DK Metcalf from Seattle, signed four-time NFL MVP Aaron Rodgers and now they’ve added two more experienced veterans in Ramsey and Smith.

Trading Fitzpatrick, who emerged as one of the NFL’s premier safeties in his six seasons in Pittsburgh, likely could free up money for the Steelers to re-sign star linebacker TJ Watt, who is in the last year of his deal and skipped the offseason program as he seeks a new contract.

For the Dolphins, losing Smith is a huge blow to their offense, which heavily relied on the tight end in the passing game as teams limited big plays from receivers Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle. Smith’s 88 receptions and 884 receiving yards last season were the most by a tight end in franchise history.

The Dolphins did address a need at safety after starter Jevon Holland signed with the New York Giants in March, but they still will likely be on the hunt for a replacement for Ramsey to add a veteran to their mostly young cornerback group.

Heaney keys Pirates win

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Andrew Heaney carried a no-hitter into the sixth inning and Spencer Horwitz powered Pittsburgh’s offense as the Pirates cruised past the St. Louis Cardinals 7-0 on Monday night to match a season high with their fourth straight victory.

Heaney (4-7) allowed three hits and struck out seven with one walk on 95 pitches through 6 2/3 innings. After a 71-minute rain delay, he walked Brendan Donovan to start the game before retiring the next 16 batters.

Victor Scott II spoiled the no-hit bid with two outs in the sixth, lining the eighth pitch of his at-bat to left field for a single.

Heaney, a 34-year-old left-hander, gave up a combined 14 runs and 15 hits in eight innings across his previous two starts.

The last-place Pirates have outscored their past four opponents 37-4, including a lopsided three-game sweep of the New York Mets over the weekend.

Horwitz hit a leadoff homer against Erick Fedde (3-8) and finished with three RBIs.

Joey Bart and Isiah Kiner-Falefa had consecutive singles to begin a six-run fifth, Pittsburgh’s first hits since the opening inning. Horwitz followed with a two-run double, Nick Gonzales had an RBI double and Ke’Bryan Hayes added a two-run single. Tommy Pham capped the outburst with an RBI single.

Fedde gave up seven runs and 10 hits with three walks in five innings.

Pirates RHP Paul Skenes (4-7, 2.12 ERA) pitches Tuesday against Cardinals RHP Andre Pallante (5-4, 4.43).