Crystal and Carissa Chilcott, ages 14 and 11 respectively, recently earned gold medals in figure skating competition.

Crystal, an eighth-grader at Butler Junior High, won gold in her free skate program at the Mountain Laurel U.S. Figure Skating Association competition in Johnstown.

Carissa, a fifth-grader at McQuistion Elementary, received her gold for her free skate program and in compulsory during the Robert Morris University Island Sports Center Shamrock Skate competition.

PITTSBURGH — Paul Maholm allowed only three singles in his first career complete game and the Pittsburgh Pirates avoided their longest home losing streak to start a season in 109 years, beating the Houston Astros 3-0 on Tuesday night.Playing only their fifth home game — they lost their first four — the Pirates got their best-pitched game so far this season from Maholm (1-2), who hadn't won since Sept. 15, and a pair of run-scoring hits from Jason Bay.The left-handed Maholm faced only 29 batters, two over the minimum, while giving up three hits and walking one. Craig Biggio, who had two of Houston's three hits, was thrown out trying to steal second in the fourth. He also was retired on a double-play grounder after hitting a line-drive single to left field on Maholm's first pitch of the game.