Published: July 08, 2009 11:37 pm      

Local Sports briefs 7/9/2009

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.