JACKSON TWP — Seven Seneca Valley football players were rewarded for their efforts this past season with Northern Five Conference First-Team honors.

They are: C.J. Brown (quarterback), Matt Plautz (wide receiver), Ryan Zipf (kicker), Jeff Scanlon (linebacker), Shaine Patsilevas (safety), Ryan Scheller (defensive end-punter) and Zach Eckstrom (defensive tackle).

The Raiders finished 6-4 overall and made the WPIAL playoffs for the first time in five seasons.

PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Pirates gave up on infielder Jose Castillo, releasing their former starting second baseman Thursday after claiming right-handed reliever Evan Meek in the Rule 5 draft.The 26-year-old Castillo, the Pirates' starting second baseman from 2004-06, was demoted to a utility infielder role last season and was used infrequently by former manager Jim Tracy.

PITTSBURGH — Mark Recchi, a career 510-goal scorer who was waived by the Pittsburgh Penguins earlier this week, was assigned Thursday to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the AHL.It is uncertain whether Recchi must report to the Penguins' top farm club. Recchi has not played in the minors since 1990.Recchi, with Pittsburgh for the third time in his career, has two goals and six assists in 19 games but only one goal in 18 games.Penguins coach Michel Therrien said the Penguins' younger players deserved more ice time than Recchi.