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Wednesday Local Scores
Jul 17, 2008
AAABA

Martella's Pharmacy - 6
Principle - 1

Delweld - 14
MCS Bulldogs - 2

GMI Renegades - 15
NORAC Lab - 5

Go Bowling With The Curve
Jul 16, 2008
The Altoona Curve and the Altoona Curve Booster Club are teaming up on Friday, July 18 to offer fun, affordable family entertainment after Friday’s home Curve game versus the Harrisburg Senators.

As part of the fourth annual Make-A-Wish Bowling Night, fans will have the chance to bowl with their favorite Curve players and participate in a bowling jersey-of-the-back silent auction. Friday’s event will be held at Holiday Bowl on Goods Lane and Plank Road. Other activities expected are door-prize giveaways, 50/50 drawings and special bowling prizes. Steamer and Diesel Dawg will also be there to add to the festivities!

Bowling will begin approximately one hour after the conclusion of Friday’s Curve game with Harrisburg. All proceeds of the event will benefit the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Western Pennsylvania and Southern West Virginia.

Cost for the event is $25 per person and will include two games of bowling, shoe rental, a door prize ticket and refreshments. Those wanting to pay at the door can do so.

Donations of prize packs will also be accepted. Those businesses interested in donating an item for the event should contact Elsie Zengel, Director of Community Relations at (814) 943-5400, ext. 129.

Space is limited, so those parties interested in participating should call 877-99-CURVE.

Steelers Sign Mike Humpal
Jul 16, 2008
The Steelers announced today the signing of 2008 draft pick, linebacker Mike Humpal. Financial terms of Humpal’s three-year contract were not released.

Humpal (6-3, 240) was the Steelers sixth round choice (188th overall) in this year’s draft out of Iowa. In his final 24 games he posted 172 tackles (69 solos), 10 tackles for loss, two forced fumbles, five pass deflections and six interceptions.

Humpal was named team captain for the 2007 season and was an All-Big Ten Conference second-team choice by the media, adding honorable mention from the league’s coaches.

Humpal was the first of two sixth round draft picks for the 2008 season (Ryan Mundy). He is the fifth of Pittsburgh’s seven draft choices to sign this year.

Former Curve Player Plays In All-Star Game
Jul 16, 2008
Former Altoona Curve outfielder and current Pittsburgh Pirate Nate McLouth became only the fourth former Curve player to play in the Major League Baseball All-Star Game Tuesday night during the 79th Midsummer Classic at Yankee Stadium in New York.

More notably, of the previous three Curve alums to be selected to participate in the MLB All-Star Game -- pitchers Bronson Arroyo and Brendan Donnelly and shortstop Jack Wilson -- McLouth is the first to have been drafted by Pittsburgh, play for the Curve, and be selected to play in the Mid-Summer Classic as a member of the Pirates.
Wilson played in Altoona in 2000 and was a Pirates' All-Star selection in 2004, but was originally drafted by St. Louis and traded to Pittsburgh in 2000. Arroyo, who was a member of the Curve's inaugural 1999 club, represented the Cincinnati Reds in the 2006 All-Star Game. Donnelly, who briefly appeared for Altoona in 1999, became the first-ever former Curve player to participate in an All-Star Game, when he was selected as a member of the Anaheim Angels in 2003.
McLouth, in his year as the Pirates' everyday center fielder, has enjoyed a breakthrough 2008 season, hitting .281 with 33 doubles, three triples, 19 home runs, 65 RBI's and 11 stolen bases in 90 games for the Bucs.
Originally drafted by Pittsburgh in the 25th round of the 2000 June Draft out of Whitehall High School in Michigan, McLouth arrived in Altoona in 2004 and starred on the only club in franchise history to reach the Eastern League Championship Series. The left-handed hitter primarily played right field for the 2004 Curve and hit .322 with 40 doubles, four triples, eight home runs, 73 RBI's and 31 stolen bases in a team-high 133 games. McLouth's 40 doubles and 166 hits established club records, which he continues to hold, while his .322 average and 93 runs scored rank second in the Curve's single-season record book.
Interestingly, despite his terrific 2004 season with Altoona, McLouth was not selected to either the Eastern League's mid-season or post-season All-Star Team. Recently, he was one of 15 players honored with a spot on the Curve's ceremonial Tenth Anniversary Team.

Steelers Sign 2 Draft Picks
Jul 15, 2008
The Steelers announced today the signing of two of their draft picks for the 2008 season, quarterback Dennis Dixon and safety Ryan Mundy. Financial terms of both three-year contracts were not released.

Dixon (6-3, 195) was the Steelers fifth round choice (156th overall) in this year’s draft out of Oregon, where he was named the Pac-10 Conference’s Offensive Player of the Year in 2007, while guiding the Ducks to an 8-1 record and a No. 2 seed in the BCS standing before suffering a season-ending knee injury. He tallied 6,337 yards in total offense while setting the school’s QB rushing career record of 1,208 yards. Dixon completed 444-of-695 passes for 38 touchdowns during his career.

Mundy (6-1, 215) was the Steelers sixth round choice (194th overall) in this year’s draft out of West Virginia, where in 2007 he was the fourth-leading tackler for the Mountaineers with 62 tackles. He tied the team lead with three interceptions for 75 yards and also led the team in pass breakups with seven. Mundy spent his first four years as starting safety at the University of Michigan and then transferred to West Virginia as a post-graduate transfer. He finished his time at Michigan with 86 career tackles and three interceptions.

Dixon and Mundy join Tony Hills and Bruce Davis as the four 2008 draft picks the Steelers have signed for the upcoming season.

Monday Local Scores
Jul 15, 2008
Eastern League
Altoona 2, Erie 1

New York-Penn League
Brooklyn 7, State College 6

American Legion Playoffs
St. Michael 3, Ebensburg 1
Westmont 11, Claysburg 9

AAABA
Martella's 2, Delweld 0
Renegades 7, Principle 4
Bulldogs 6, NORAC 5

ATV Pros at Pleasure Valley
Jul 15, 2008
Houtzdale native John Natalie finishes 14th overall in the ATV Pro Series' stop at Pleasure Valley Raceway.

Bulldogs AAABA Win
Jul 15, 2008
MCS Bulldogs score five runs in the third inning and hold off Norac Lab to win 6-5 Monday night at Point Stadium.

St. Michael Takes First Game in Legion Semifinals
Jul 15, 2008
Saints down Ebensburg 3-1 in Cambria County American Legion Semifinals on Monday. St. Michael pitcher Steve Malesky threw a complete-game, three-hitter and struck out nine batters.

Spangler, Mertz, Glass and Marriott Win In Path Valley Sprints
Jul 14, 2008
Todd Spangler started third, quickly took the lead, and sailed away for a decisive win in the full size PA 305 Sprints Friday night at the Path Valley Speedway Park.

In other sprint car action, Rodney Glass, a former champion, returned to victory lane in the 600 Sprints; Tim Mertz came out of fifth place for the win in the Sidewinders, and Brian Marriott led every lap in the 270 Sprints.

In local stock cars Leroy Long beat Ricky Harper and a strong field of cars to the win in Mini Stocks and Terry Smith came out of seventh place and used patience and persistence to win the Thunder Car feature.

One final luck driver for the night was Levi Peck who won his heat race and then offered a marriage proposal to his girlfriend Ashley on the front stretch at half time. She said “yes.”

Goshorn Racing Supply will sponsor next week’s races including special features with the Late Models and Legends cars taking the place of the Sidewinders and 305 Sprints.

Rodney Glass has been a power at Path Valley for more than a decade. So given a chance to start on the pole in the 600 Sprint feature, he raced away with Kevin Steele and Tim Glatfelter in hot pursuit. Six cautions gave his pursuers chances to catch him but at the finish the front five were Glass, Steele, Glatfelter, Jake Murphy and Tom Kohler. Glass and Kohler won the heat races.

On a lap two restart Todd Spangler took the 305 Sprints lead from “Cowboy’ Jim Kennedy and from lap seven on raced just ahead of Craig Laudermilch to the finish. The front five were Spangler, Laudermilch, Michael Wagner, Mike Freet and Kennedy and the heat winners were Mike Heckman and Spangler.

Tim Mertz passed Rick Hench on a lap seven restart and raced to the Sidewinders win with a lead of half the track and more. The front five were Mertz, Ryan Greth, Stanley Fleming, Rohan Beasley and Denny Landvater and Mertz and Greth won the heats.

Brian Marriott started on the pole and proved uncatchable in the 270 Sprints feature. He led by two turns as the race went with no cautions except for lap nine. At the pole the front five were Marriott, Sean McAndrews, Colby Dice, Jason Houtz, and Tom Tice and the heat winners were Tim McClelland and Levi Peck.

Leroy Long finally passed Mike Hawbaker for the Mini Stock lead on lap nine and, as the race went without caution, held off a determined Ricky Harper to win by a turn. Long, Harper, Frank Gordon, Hawbaker and Gary Newell were the front five finishers and Newell and Long won the heat races.

Terry Smith passed Mike Cordero for the Thunder Car lead on lap two after three restarts and then front lap six on stayed just ahead of Denny Scofield to the win. The front five were Smith, Scofield, Bill Kennedy, Randy Stull and Charles Kimmel and the heats went to Scofield and Smith.

The Path Valley Speedway Park is located in Spring Run PA a mile north on PA Route 641 from the intersection with PA Route 75, halfway between Port Royal and Hagerstown. It is five miles east from the Willow Hill Exit 14 of the PA Turnpike. From March to October, Path Valley races stock cars and sprints Friday nights and AMA bikes or Strictly Stock junkyard cars Saturday nights.

Gold Medalists Brings Camp To State College
Jul 14, 2008
Ken Chertow’s Gold Medal Training Camp will be conducting a beginners fitness program July 27th- 29th at the Ramada Inn Convention Center in State College. All ages are welcome and no wrestling experience is required. The program will consist of two- 30 minute sessions. The first session will be conducted by Dontey Brown, a Penn State student-athlete. The second session will be conducted by Ken Chertow. Coach Chertow is a U.S. Olympian, three-time NCAA All-American and three time NCAA Academic-All American. During Chertow’s years of coaching, he has helped hundreds of youth wrestlers learn and excel in the sport of wrestling.
The purpose of this program is to provide young athletes an introductory fitness program while possibly pursuing future interest in the sport of wrestling. The cost is $25 for unlimited sessions from 6-7pm. Those enrolled will receive a FREE t-shirt if registered by July 15th. If two siblings attend together, the second will only be charged $10 for unlimited sessions.
To find out more information on the program, visit www.kenchertow.com.

Curve Split Twinbill With SeaWolves
Jul 14, 2008
Jason Delaney and James Boone each knocked in a pair of runs and Corey Hamman tossed five strong innings in his return to the Curve starting rotation as Altoona defeated the Erie SeaWolves, 4-2, in the nightcap of a make-shift doubleheader Sunday afternoon at Jerry Uht Park in Erie. The SeaWolves outlasted Altoona, 12-11, in the day's earlier contest, which was suspended due to inclement weather on Saturday.

Delaney drilled an opposite-field, two-run home run in the top of the fourth inning to start the Curve scoring in the nightcap. The longball extended Delaney's hitting streak to 15 games, which matches the fourth-longest stretch in team history and is the longest streak since Chris Duffy hit safely in 15 straight during the 2004 season.

Boone increased the Curve's lead to 4-0 in the top of the fifth with a two-out, two-run double to right-center, which scored Miguel Perez and Melvin Dorta. Dorta singled ahead of Boone to extend his current hitting streak to nine games, during which he has 18 hits in 32 at-bats (.563).

Hamman (5-6), who earlier in the day was sent down from Triple-A Indianapolis, scattered six hits and allowed only two runs over five innings to earn his fifth win in his last six decisions with Altoona. The left-hander held Erie off the board over the first four innings before allowing two runs in the bottom of the fifth inning on a Ryan Roberson RBI double.

Juan Mateo pitched the sixth and seventh innings to pick up his second save in as many appearances.

In the earlier contest, which started Saturday and was completed on Sunday, Altoona lost an early four-run advantage, then nearly rallied from a five-run hole before dropping a 12-11 decision to the SeaWolves.

Luis Munoz (1-3) took the loss in his first start for Altoona after being optioned from Pittsburgh, where he spent two days with the Pirates. The right-hander was tagged for seven runs and eight hits over 2 1/3 innings.

Trailing 9-4 after six innings, the Curve began their valiant comeback attempt in the top of the sixth, when Brad Corley belted a solo home run -- his ninth of the season. Down 12-10 entering the ninth, Altoona loaded the bases with one out and cut the lead to one on a Jason Bowers RBI single. However, Erie right-hander Matt Rusch retired the next two batters to preserve a slim victory for the SeaWolves.

Dorta, Corley, Steve Lerud and Luis Cruz each posted two-hit games in the game one loss.

Altoona (40-54) can earn a series victory against Erie (39-57) with a win in Monday's series finale at Jerry Uht Park. The Curve will send left-hander Kyle Bloom (1-4, 4.57) to the mound for the 7:05 p.m. contest against righty Eddie Bonine, who was optioned by the Detroit Tigers over the weekend. Following Monday's game, the Curve will enjoy the two-day Eastern League All-Star Break.

Boone's Blast Lifts Curve To 7-2 Win At Trenton
Jul 10, 2008
James Boone belted a go-ahead, three-run home run in the top of the sixth inning to propel the Altoona Curve to a 7-2 win over the first-place Trenton Thunder Wednesday evening at Waterfront Park in Trenton. The victory evens the three-game set at one game apiece after the Thunder blanked Altoona, 8-0, in Tuesday's series opener.

The Curve trailed 2-0 and had managed only one hit over the first five innings against Thunder left-hander Phil Coke, but Boone, batting with Steve Lerud and Jason Bowers on base, hit a towering blast over the left-field wall to give Altoona its first lead in the series. The longball was Boone's first home run since April 21.

Bowers and Jonel Pacheco delivered key two-RBI singles as part of a four-run ninth to seal the win.

Left-hander Kyle Bloom (1-4) shook off a two-run Thunder first inning and turned in his best effort of the season to earn his first win. Bloom, who was winless over his first 12 starts and 18 overall outings, worked a season-high 5 2/3 innings and allowed only two runs and four hits, while striking out seven. The two runs he gave up in the first were unearned.

Meanwhile, the Curve bullpen, which has struggled in recent games, turned in a strong performance to nail down just the Curve's fifth win in 17 games. Ronald Belisario retired all four batters he faced between the sixth and seventh innings and Juan Mateo worked two scoreless innings to notch his first save.

Coke (7-4) was handed the loss for Trenton, allowing three runs -- all on the Boone home run -- over six innings.

Jason Delaney recorded a second-inning single to extend his current team-high hitting streak to 11 games. Delaney is just one game shy of matching Brad Corley's season-long, 12-game streak, which was turned in from April 22-May 5.

The Curve will complete their three-game series against Trenton Thursday evening at Waterfront Park. First pitch is set for 7:05 p.m. Altoona will send right-hander Luis Munoz (1-2, 5.09) to the mound against Thunder righty Eric Hacker (4-1, 2.05). Fans can hear all the action on Real Oldies 93.5 FM and the Curve Radio Network beginning at 6:50 with the Curve GameDay Show presented by the Hotel Belmar and Budget Beverage. The game can also be heard live and for free on-line at AltoonaCurve.com.

Malkin Staying
Jul 03, 2008
Evgeni Malkin is staying in Pittsburgh for
quite some time.
The Penguins signed the MVP finalist to a five-year extension
worth $43.5 million, a deal that will keep him under contract until
the 2013-14 season. The 21-year-old forward still has one year left
on his initial three-year, entry level contract.
His deal is equal to one signed by teammate Sidney Crosby that
begins with the upcoming season.
Signing Malkin was key to the Penguins, who lost Marian Hossa to
the Stanley Cup champion Detroit Red Wings earlier in the day.
Malkin could've become a free agent after next season if he didn't
have a new deal.
Malkin is arguably the team's best player besides Crosby. He
scored 106 points, including 47 goals, last season and was an
All-Star and a finalist for the Hart Trophy, which is given to the
NHL's most valuable player.

Local Sports Scores 7/3
Jul 03, 2008
WEDNESDAY'S SCORES

Major League Baseball

Pittsburgh 9, Cincinnati 5

New York Penn League

Vermont 7, State College 2

Eastern League

Altoona 3, Binghamton 1

Pecora Fills Athletic Director Spot
Jul 03, 2008
Pitt-Johnstown will have a familiar face in charge of their athletic department.

Pat Pecora, head coach of the nationally-ranked Mountain Cats wrestling team, was appointed the school's interim Athletic Director on Wednesday. He will continue his duties as head coach of the wrestling team.

Pecora was hired by the university in 1976 as its head soccer and wrestling coach. In his 32 years at Pitt-Johnstown, his wrestling teams have won two National Championships and captured 20 NCAA Regional Championships. Pecora has coached 84 NWCA All-Academic Wrestling Team members and has been inducted into the Pennsylvania Wrestling Coaches Hall of Fame and the NCAA Division II Wrestling Hall of Fame.

Pecora fills the Athletic Director spot left vacant by Mike Castner, who parted ways with UPJ in May.

Information from the Pitt-Johnstown Athletic Department was used in this story

Construction On New Penguins Stadium Set To Begin
Jul 03, 2008
Construction on a new $290 million arena for
the Pittsburgh Penguins is scheduled to begin within weeks.
The city-county Sports and Exhibition Authority on Wednesday
authorized payments of more than $50 million to begin clearing
debris and excavating land at the site.
The agency's executive director says construction-related earth
moving should begin by the end of the month or early August.
Mary Conturo says the arena is scheduled to be completed in time
for the 2010-11 hockey season.
The new multipurpose arena will replace Mellon Arena, which was
built in 1961.

Local Sports Scores 7/1
Jul 01, 2008
MONDAY'S SCORES

Major League Baseball

Cincinnati 4, Pittsburgh 3

New York Penn League

Williamsport 4, State College 0

Eastern League

Binghamton 7, Altoona 3

AAABA

Delweld 6, Renegades 5

Thursday's Local Scores
Jun 27, 2008
New York Penn League
State College 9, Auburn 6

Eastern League
Binghamton 4, Altoona 3

One-Of-A-Kind Bike Makes Appearance At Thunder
Jun 24, 2008
A quarter million dollar bike will be on display this week in Downtown Johnstown during Thunder In The Valley. The bike, which was unveiled during a celebrity packed event in Hollywood on June 16th, arrived today in Johnstown.
Pastor Sam Childers, who's mission and his humanitarian organization, "Angels of East Africa", plan to raffle the bike off. The money raised will go towards his ongoing efforts to rescue and help refugees and orphans in crisis in the areas of Sudan and Uganda.
Th one-of-a-kind "chromed-out" chopper, designed by Jesse James was funded by an anonymous donor. It features a $30,000 paint job and autographs from Jesse James, Sandra Bullock, Peter Fonda, Kelly Lynch and Big N' Rick. Other celebritites including ZZ Top, Bob Seiger and Kid Rock plan to sign the bike in the near future.
Childer's and the bike, are now kicking off a year-long nationwide tour. Childers hopes to increase attention of the plight of Sudanese and Ugandan citizens caught in the crossfire of the rebel atrocities taking place in theregion. At the end of the tour, the bike will be raffled off at next years Thunder In The Valley. Childers is hoping to sell 300,000 tickets over the next year, raising about $6,000,000.00 for his mission. The money will then be used to purchase a much-need airplan that will be used to resuce the chilren, as well as carry food, supplies and medicine to those who desperately need help.
Tickets can be purchased for $20 a piece during Thunder In The Valley, or you can buy them on-line starting Friday by logging onto their website
Central Mountain 5, Hollidaysburg 3 (D-6 "AAAA" championship)*

Northern Bedford 7, Conemaugh Twp. 2 (D-5 "A" semifinal)

Meyersdale 5, Tussey Mountain 1 (D-5 "A" semifinal)

AAABA

Martella's 3, NORAC 2

Renegades 4, MCS Bulldogs 1

National League

Cincinnati 9, Pittsburgh 1

Eastern League

Altoona 8, Bowie 2