BASEBALL
Ryan picked as PCL all-star
New Orleans Zephyrs outfielder Michael Ryan has been selected to the 2009 Pacific Coast League All-Star team. An Indiana native, Ryan is a former AAABA League standout.
Ryan, who turned 32 on Monday, leads all qualifying Zephyrs hitters with a .314 batting average and is first on the club with nine home runs and 50 runs batted in. His
23 doubles ranks sixth in the PCL.
He was named the PCL Hitter of the Week for April 20-26, when he batted .476 with four doubles, two homers and compiled a .976 slugging percentage.
In his first full season in the Florida Marlins organization, Ryan was previously a postseason PCL All-Star in 2002 while playing for Edmonton in the Minnesota Twins system.
The Triple-A All-Star Game will take place July 15 in Portland, Ore., with the PCL squad facing the International League All-Stars. The game will be broadcast live on ESPN2.
HOCKEY
Somerset native joins NHL team
The Columbus Blue Jackets hired Somerset native and former Johnstown Chiefs radio announcer Bob McElligott. He will team with veteran play-by-play announcer George Matthews on all games broadcast via the Columbus Blue Jackets Radio Network.
In addition to his in-game duties, McElligott will serve as a host on both the radio pre- and post-game shows, as well as club ancillary programming. He will also be a regular contributor on BlueJackets.com, the club’s official website, through video features on Jackets TV as well as editorial content.
McElligott has spent the past
10 seasons serving as the broadcaster for the Syracuse Crunch, the Blue Jackets’ American Hockey League affiliate.
Prior to his arrival in Syracuse, McElligott worked with the ECHL’s Johnstown Chiefs as well as six years calling baseball action in the Carolina League (Single A) with Kinston, Wilmington, Prince William and Salem. He and his wife, Kathy, are the parents of sons, Matthew and Braden.
Chiefs again offer program
The Johnstown Chiefs will offer their Referral Rewards Program for next season.
“Our great fans showed last season that they enjoyed the opportunity to earn some cash while helping us to grow our fan base when we unveiled our Referral Rewards Program,” Chiefs General Manager Bill Bredin said. “Their participation made it an easy decision to bring back the program this season.”
The program lets fans earn cash by referring others to buy Chiefs ticket packages. For every ticket that a referred individual purchases through season tickets or a Total Choice Flex Plan, the fan holder who referred them gets a dollar. Fans can take their rewards in cash or use them as credit at the Chiefs Merchandise Shop.
Information: www.johnstown-chiefs.com.
TRACK
Rocco honored at Waynesburg
Northern Cambria High School graduate Marybeth Rocco was among five Waynesburg University women’s track and field athletes to earn All-Academic honors presented by the United States Track and Field and Cross County Coaches Association.
A first-year standout, Rocco was one of the team’s top throwers while also compiling a 4.0 grade point average as a marine biology major.
She finished second in the Presidents Athletic Conference Championships in the javelin and won the ECAC title in the event.
Rocco was among 274 selections from 91 NCAA Division III programs honored by the USTFCCCA.
Local Sports
Local Sports briefs 7/9/2009
- Local Sports
-
-
Pirates pick up fourth straight victory
There were times earlier in his career when James McDonald would run into trouble and innings would slow to a crawl. Even worse, runners would disappear, and not in a good way.
Too much thinking. Not enough attacking. -
Sympathetic Pirates add to Cubs’ slide
Andrew McCutchen and the Pittsburgh Pirates can relate to what the Chicago Cubs are going through.
Perhaps more than anyone, they know what it feels like to be on an extended losing streak
– 12 in a row, in the Cubs’ case. -
AAABA League will open after busy offseason
The AAABA League opens on Tuesday at Point Stadium with two new, but familiar managers, a new but familiar sponsor, an expanded interleague schedule and two new franchises committed to the 2013 season.
A lot of activity took place during the offseason, including the AAABA national committee’s vote to expand the age limit to 21 years old beginning in 2013. -
Richland's Lumley settles for pair of silver medals
Paige Lumley was on an emotional roller coaster and seeing silver on Saturday at the PIAA Track and Field Championships at Shippensburg University.
The Richland senior had state record jumps twice during the triple jump competition, but ended up with a silver–medal leap of 40 feet,
1¾ inches.
Defending state champion, second-seeded junior Lanae Newsome of Brookville, won with a jump of 40-3½. -
Ridge’s Dull takes second with school-record time
Matt Dull finished his athletic career with his best on Saturday at the PIAA Track and Field Championships at Shippensburg University.
The Chestnut Ridge senior ran a career-best time of 38.12 to finish second in the 300 hurdles final, also setting another school record. -
Hit batsman lifts Pirates over Cubs
Matt Hague was hit by a pitch from Rafael Dolis with the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth inning, and the Pittsburgh Pirates sent the Chicago Cubs to their 11th straight loss with a 3-2 victory Saturday night.
Hague took a 96 mph fastball from Dolis (2-4) in the back near the shoulder blade, scoring Jose Tabata and eliciting an incredulous look to the sky by the Cubs reliever. -
Generals return to defeat Sting
It’s been a dramatic month for the Johnstown Generals.
There were two postponed games that left the immediate and long-term future of the franchise in serious doubt just two weeks ago. -
Greater Johnstown Speedway failed to win the support of fans
Back in the late 1950’s, the area stock car racing landscape was populated by a very strong and popular three-track weekend circuit, consisting of the Windber Stadium Speedway, Jennerstown Speedway and the Ebensburg Fairgrounds Speedway.
Thus, it came as a major surprise when the announcement was made that a new track, the Greater Johnstown Speedway, would be built and begin operation in 1958. -
Final PIAA track update - No gold for local athletes
Richland senior Paige Lumley broke the state triple jump record twice in the PIAA Class AA Track and Field Championships today, but it wasn't enough to earn a gold medal.
-
PIAA track update - Central Cambria's Brandis earns medal
Central Cambria's Alyssa Brandis claimed the first local medal of this morning's action at the PIAA Track and Field Championshps.
- More Local Sports Headlines
-
Air Canada Plane Makes Emergency Landing
Raw Video: 19 Dead in Qatar Shopping Mall Fire
Beryl Makes Landfall on Florida Coast
Service Dogs Help Wash. Soldiers Battling PTSD
Raw Video: Heckler Bursts in on Blair Testimony
Japan Farmers Plant, Seek Radiation-free Rice
UN Blames Syrian Forces for Shelling Houla
Raw Video: Gay Protest Blocked in Moscow
Vatican in Chaos After Butler Arrested for Leaks
Jimmy Carter Endorses Egypt's Election Results
Biden Addresses West Point Graduating Class
Dozens of Children Killed in New Syria Attack
Raw Video: Activists Allege Massacre in Syria
NJ Man Charged With Murder in Death of Patz
Support, Fun for Kids of Fallen Soldiers at Camp
Fugitive Penguin Caught, Returned to Aquarium
50 Years Later, Underground Fire Still Burning
Light Show Transforms Sydney Opera House
Raw Video: Unruly Passenger Restrained in Miami
Raw Video: Robber Uses Drive-thru Window
