ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Knoch graduate Natalie Beilstein remained unbeaten as a freshman gymnast at the University of Michigan, winning the floor exercise and the vault against Michigan State Wednesday.

Beilstein scored a 9.825 on the floor to share that title with teammate Kylee Botterman. Her winning vault score was 9.875.

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Moniteau graduate Chad Wiest, a senior on the top-ranked University of Illinois men's gymnastics team, was named Illini Athlete of the Week.Wiest took first place in the floor exercise at the recent Windy City Invitational, posting a career-high score of 15.650.

PITTSBURGH — Al Everest was hired Thursday as the Pittsburgh Steelers' special teams coordinator after being let go by the San Francisco 49ers.Everest has been an NFL special teams coach for 13 seasons with the Cardinals (1996-99), Saints (2000-05) and 49ers (2007-09). In 2002, the Saints had three kickoff return touchdowns and blocked five kicks.Everest replaces Bob Ligashesky, who was fired after three seasons. The Steelers allowed an NFL-high four kickoff return touchdowns this season, all in a five-game span, and were among the NFL's worst teams in kickoff and punt return coverage.

PITTSBURGH — Octavio Dotel agreed Thursday to a $3.5 million, one-year contract with the Pittsburgh Pirates, the only club that offered him the chance to be a closer.The deal calls for a $3.25 million salary next season and includes a $4.5 million club option for 2011 with a $250,000 buyout. If Dotel is traded, the option becomes mutual.The 36-year-old Dotel hasn't been a closer since 2007, when he had 11 saves for Kansas City. He had one save the past two seasons as a setup man for the Chicago White Sox, going 3-3 with a 3.32 ERA with 75 strikeouts in 62½ innings last year.

FORT WORTH, Texas — Bobby Bragan, a former major league manager dubbed "Mr. Baseball" for his decades of dedication to the game, has died.A statement today on the Web site for the Bobby Bragan Youth Foundation announced his death Thursday night at his Fort Worth home. Bragan was 92.Bragan spent seven seasons as a major league manager for Pittsburgh (1956-57), Cleveland (1958) and the Milwaukee (1963-65) and Atlanta (1966) Braves. He compiled a record of 443-478.

MONTREAL — Right wing Georges Laraque has played his last game for the Montreal Canadiens.Laraque is not happy with the decision, or the timing of Thursday's announcement. The Montreal native is of Haitian descent and has family members who have been devastated by last week's earthquake.The 13-year NHL veteran will be paid his $1.5 million salary this season and remain on the roster.General manager Bob Gainey says Laraque has not been productive and has become a distraction.Laraque is in the second year of a three-year, $4.5-million contract that included a no movement clause, which means the Canadiens could not place him on waivers or send him to the American Hockey League.