Published: August 27, 2008 11:17 pm      

Local sports briefs 8/28

BASEBALL

Jay Sox host Labor Day event

The Johnstown Jay Sox traveling fall baseball team will host its second Labor Day Weekend Tournament on Friday and Saturday.

Gary Dudukovich manages the Jay Sox, with Chance Osborne as his assistant. Dee Dee Osborne is the general manager of the fall team. The tournament also will include Pennsylvania Select; Virginia Barnstormers; Chuck Faris Kansas City Royals; Allegheny Pittsburgh Pirates; and Dean Albany’s Baltimore Oriolelanders.

The tournament has strong ties to the AAABA Tournament. Faris is a former Washington D.C. manager and AAABA Hall of Famer. Albany has led Youse’s Maryland Orioles of Baltimore to six consecutive AAABA Tournament crowns, including this year. Dee Dee Osborne was inducted to the AAABA Hall of Fame on Aug. 9.

Play begins Friday with a Roxbury doubleheader and one game at Pitt-Johnstown. Six Saturday games will be played at Roxbury, Mount Aloysius College and UPJ.

Friday’s schedule includes: Pennsylvania Select vs. Virginia Barnstormers, Roxbury, 4 p.m.; Chuck Faris Kansas City Royals vs. Johnstown Jay Sox, UPJ, 4 p.m.; and Allegheny Pittsburgh Pirates vs. Dean Albany’s Baltimore Oriolelanders, Roxbury, 7 p.m.

“Many colleges and pro scouts will be in attendance to watch these kids showcase their skills,” Dee Dee Osborne said. “This is the second year we’ve held it. It was a success last year.”

Curve announce 2009 schedule

ALTOONA – The Altoona Curve announced their schedule for the 2009 Eastern League season. The club will once again play 71 home games at Blair County Ballpark, beginning with the Home Opener on April 16 against the Erie SeaWolves. The Curve will open the season with a seven-game road trip from April 8-15 at Erie and Akron.

The April 16th opener represents the latest date for a first game at Blair County Ballpark in the 11-year history of the franchise. Most noteworthy about the Curve’s schedule is the fact that the club will play only seven April home dates, while hosting 31 games during a 48-day stretch from June 16-August 2.

The Curve’s most common opponent in 2009 will be the Erie SeaWolves (25 games), followed by Southern Division rivals Akron (24), Bowie (21) and Reading (21).



HOCKEY

Chiefs deal defenseman Coutu

The ECHL’s Johnstown Chiefs traded defenseman Justin Coutu to the Mississippi Sea Wolves for future considerations on Wednesday.

Johnstown originally had acquired Coutu in a Dec. 7 trade with the Augusta Lynx for B.J. Crum. In 30 games with the Chiefs, Coutu had six points, 39 penalty minutes and a plus-5 rating. The Maple Ridge, British Columbia, native also had three assists and 20 penalty minutes in 13 games with Augusta last season.



BASKETBALL

Flash hire women’s assistant

LORETTO – St. Francis women’s basketball coach Susan Robinson Fruchtl announced that Crystal Horton has been added to her coaching staff. Horton joins Tiffani Selhorst and Joe Haigh as assistants.

Horton comes to Loretto after spending the 2006-07 season as an assistant to Central Michigan coach Eileen Kleinfelter. While there, she supervised strength and conditioning, and headed the community outreach program, among other duties.

Horton played basketball at Geneva University for two years before moving to Cedarville University in Ohio.



GOLF

GJGA sets senior dates

The Greater Johnstown Golf Association has announced that the Senior Tournament will be played Sept. 17 and 18 at North Fork and Windber Country Club, respectively.

The tournament is open to members of the association clubs who have turned 50 on or before Sept. 17. The cost is $90 per player, which includes green fees, carts, dinner and prizes. Entries may be made at each pro shop.