Softball event helps Miracle LeagueCRANBERRY TWP — The Pittsburgh Power fast-pitch softball organization is holding a nine-team 12-under tournament this weekend at Graham Park to benefit the Miracle League field renovations there.Games will begin at 8 a.m. Saturday with the championship game slated for 5 p.m. Sunday.The Power will also host a 130-team tournament — covering eight states — July 4 weekend at Graham Park, Cranberry Park and Zelienople Park.

Grove City's Sansom takes Bethany postBETHANY, W.Va. — Griove City High School graduate Brian Sansom has been named head women's basketball coach at Bethany College.Sansom spent last season as an assistant coach at Farleigh Dickinson. He has also coached at Montclair State and Pitt-Bradford.

Thibodeau hired as T’wolves coachMINNEAPOLIS — The Minnesota Timberwolves have hired former Chicago Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau as coach and president of basketball operations.Thibodeau was the most coveted coach on the market, and he’s bringing his unparalleled intensity and hard-driving approach to a franchise that has not made the playoffs since 2004. He won nearly 65 percent of his games in five seasons with the Bulls, but was fired after last season amid speculation of a rift with general manager Gar Forman.

“Pearl” Washington dead at age 52SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Dwayne “Pearl” Washington, who went from New York City playground wonder to Big East star for Jim Boeheim at Syracuse, has died. He was 52.Washington died Wednesday of cancer, the university said.Washington was not particularly fast, nor could he jump particularly high. Neither mattered — he simply excited fans with his amazing ball-handling skills, an uncanny court sense, elusiveness, and the ability to pull off unbelievable plays at the right time.

Blackhawks’ Shaw suspended 1 gameCHICAGO — The NHL suspended Blackhawks forward Andrew Shaw for one game for yelling an anti-gay slur from the penalty box and fined him $5,000 for an inappropriate gesture toward the officials during Chicago’s Game 4 loss at home to the St. Louis Blues.Shaw will miss Game 5 in St. Louis on Thursday, and he will be required to undergo sensitivity training, according to the NHL announcement that came only hours after he quietly apologized for his outburst the previous night.

Top corner Norman becomes free agentCHARLOTTE, N.C. — Josh Norman, one of the NFL’s top cornerbacks, is now an unrestricted free agent after the Carolina Panthers surprisingly rescinded their non-exclusive franchise tag offer to the All-Pro.Norman did not sign the franchise tag offer.