Former Pirate Pitcher Bruce Kison Passes away at 68 years old

Bruce Kison dead at 68, won 2 World Series with Pirates
By TODD KARPOVICH, Associated Press
BALTIMORE (AP) — Bruce Kison, a pitcher who helped the Pittsburgh Pirates win the World Series in 1971 and 1979 and spent three decades in player development and scouting roles, has died of cancer. He was 68.
His wife, Anna Marie, said Kison died Saturday at the Tidewell Hospice in Bradenton, Florida, near his home. He had been diagnosed with renal cancer on Feb. 14.
Kison won Game 4 of the 1971 World Series — the first night game in World Series history — when he threw 6 1/3 scoreless innings of one-hit relief against Baltimore as a rookie, allowing only a bloop double to Paul Blair. He started and lost the 1979 opener against the Orioles, getting just one out and giving up five runs. He had a 5-1 record and 1.98 ERA in 10 postseason appearances, including four starts.
“Bruce will always be remembered as a great part of the Pittsburgh Pirates organization,” team president Frank Coonelly said in a statement.
Kison was selected by Pittsburgh in the 14th round of the 1968 amateur draft, made his big league debut on July 4, 1971, and went 115-88 with a 3.66 ERA, 12 saves and 1,073 strikeouts in 1,809 2/3 innings for the Pirates (1971-79), California Angels (1980-84) and Boston (1985).
Known for pitching inside, he hit 68 batters in 15 big league seasons. He was said to have once hit seven batters in a minor league game. On July 8, 1977, he sparked a fight when he hit Philadelphia’s Mike Schmidt on the back with a pitch, two batters after giving up a home run to Garry Maddox.
Kison threw a one-hitter at home against San Diego on June 3, 1979, giving up Barry Evans’ two-out double in the eighth. He pitched another one-hitter the following April 23, leading 17-0 at Minnesota when he allowed Ken Landreaux’s one-out double in the ninth.
After retiring as a player in 1985, he was a minor league pitching instructor for Pittsburgh, bullpen coach for Kansas City from 1992-93, the Royals pitching coach from 1994-98 and Baltimore’s pitching coach in 1999. He later worked as a scout for Baltimore until his retirement in December.
“Bruce was pure business,” Orioles manager Buck Showalter said. “It’s really sad. He retired basically at the end of the winter meetings. He was so excited. He was a big fisherman. I’d call him sometimes in the offseason. I’d say, ‘Where have you been?’ I didn’t hear from him. He’d say, ‘I’ve been out two miles off the coast.’ He loved to fish and he was looking forward to it.”
Kison was honored in January as a Legend in Scouting by the Professional Baseball Scouts Foundation.
“Our entire Orioles family is deeply saddened to learn of Bruce Kison’s passing,” Orioles owner Peter Angelos said in a statement. “For nearly two decades, Bruce played an integral role in all aspects of our organization as a pitching coach, a scout, and a trusted adviser. Bruce will be remembered for his tremendous work ethic, professionalism, and personality, as well as his dedication to the Orioles.”
He married the former Anna Marie Orlando in 1971, leaving Game 7 of the World Series at Baltimore’s Memorial Stadium by helicopter for a private flight to Pittsburgh, where he was met by a police escort to get to the wedding.
Kison is survived by his wife, son Robbie, daughter Jennifer Kison Goedde and four grandchildren. His wife said funeral arrangements are pending.
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More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball

PIAA Baseball & Softball First Round: June 4, 2018

BASEBALL

12:00pm
[2A] Neshannock vs. Rocky Grove (at Slippery Rock Univ.)

1:00pm
[3A] Brownsville vs. Mercyhurst Prep (at Washington & Jefferson)
[5A] West Allegheny vs. Erie Cathedral Prep (at UPMC Park, Erie)

2:00pm
[1A] Vincentian vs. Jamestown Area (at Seneca Valley)
[5A] North Hills vs. Red Land (at Wild Things Park, Washington)

2:30pm
[3A] South Side Beaver vs. Greenville (at Slippery Rock Univ.)

3:00pm
[4A] Ringgold vs. St. Mary’s (at Punxsutawney)
[4A] South Fayette vs. Meadville (at Washington & Jefferson)

4:00pm
[1A] Union vs. Homer-Center (at White Township Complex, Indiana)
[2A] CW North Catholic vs. Union City (at Seneca Valley)
[2A] Serra Catholic vs. Southern Huntingdon (at Hollidaysburg)
[3A] Avonworth vs. Huntingdon (at Mount Aloysius College)
[6A] North Allegheny vs. Erie McDowell (at UPMC Park, Erie)
[6A] Canon-McMillan vs. Dallastown Area (at Wild Things Park, Washington)

4:30pm
[5A] Mars vs. Ephrata (at Red Lion)

5:00pm
[4A] Hopewell vs. Grove City (at Slippery Rock Univ.)

5:30pm
[1A] Greensburg Central Catholic vs. Dubois Central Catholic (at Punxsutawney)

SOFTBALL

11:30am
[6A] Baldwin vs. Mifflin County (at Nittany Lion Softball Park)

1:00pm
[2A] Mohawk vs. Cranberry (at Clarion-Limestone)
[5A] Albert Gallatin vs. DuBois Area (at Dubois City Park)

2:00pm
[1A] Monessen vs. Cambridge Springs (at Penn State-Behrend)
[1A] West Greene vs. Glendale (at Peterswood Park, Peters Twp.)
[3A] Avonworth vs. Hickory (at Allegheny College)
[4A] Belle Vernon vs. Bellefonte (at Peterswood Park, Peters Twp.)

2:30pm
[2A] Frazier vs. Mount Union (at Nittany Lion Softball Park)

3:00pm
[2A] Laurel vs. Cochranton (at North Allegheny HS)
[3A] South Park vs. Karns City (at Dubois City Park)
[5A] West Allegheny vs. Donegal (at Latrobe)

4:00pm
[2A] Chartiers-Houston vs. Saegertown (at Penn State-Behrend)
[4A] Mount Pleasant vs. Slippery Rock (at Allegheny College)

4:30pm
[1A] Union vs. Elk County Catholic (at Brockway)
[6A] Latrobe vs. Central Dauphin (at Millersville University)

5:00pm
[3A] Southmoreland vs. Central Martinsburg (at North Allegheny)
[4A] Elizabeth Forward vs. Punxsutawney (at DuBois City Park)
[5A] Thomas Jefferson vs. Twin Valley (at Lyons Park, Fleetwood)
[6A] Hempfield vs. Warwick (at Latrobe)

WPIAL Championship Baseball & Softball: May 31, 2018

BASEBALL

Wednesday’s Scores

Consolation Games
[4A] Hopewell 4, Greensburg-Salem 1
[2A] Neshannock 7, Shenango 3
[5A] West Allegheny 6, Hampton 5

WPIAL Championships
[3A] Brownsville 5, Avonworth 2
[5A] North Hills 3, Mars 2
[6A] Canon-McMillan 2, North Allegheny 1

SOFTBALL

Wednesday’s Scores

WPIAL Championships
[2A] Laurel 1, Frazier 0
[4A] Belle Vernon 5, Elizabeth Forward 4
[6A] Hempfield 2, Latrobe 1

Thursday’s Championships (all games at Seton Hill University)

12:00pm
[1A] West Greene vs. Monessen

2:15pm
[3A] Southmoreland vs. South Park

4:30pm
[5A] Thomas Jefferson vs. West Allegheny

Pro Sports Scores & Schedule: May 29, 2018

MLB

Monday’s Scores
Chi. Cubs 7, Pittsburgh 0
Atlanta 4, NY Mets 3
Detroit 9, LA Angels 3
Washington 6, Baltimore 0
Boston 8, Toronto 3
Milwaukee 8, St. Louis 3
Houston 5, NY Yankees 1
Cleveland 9, Chi. White Sox 6
Seattle 2, Texas 1
Tampa Bay 1, Oakland 0 (F/13)
Arizona 12, Cincinnati 5
Miami 7, San Diego 2
NY Mets 8, Atlanta 5
Colorado 6, San Francisco 5 (F/10)
Minnesota 8, Kansas City 5
LA Dodgers 5, Philadelphia 4

6:10pm
Chi. White Sox at Cleveland

7:05pm
Chi. Cubs at Pittsburgh
Houston at NY Yankees
Washington at Baltimore

7:10pm
LA Angels at Detroit
Toronto at Boston

7:35pm
NY Mets at Atlanta

7:40pm
St. Louis at Milwaukee

8:15pm
Minnesota at Kansas City

8:40pm
San Francisco at Colorado

9:40pm
Cincinnati at Arizona

10:05pm
Tampa Bay at Oakland

10:10pm
Philadelphia at LA Dodgers
Miami at San Diego
Texas at Seattle

NHL

Monday’s Score
Vegas 6, Washington 4
[Golden Knights lead series 1-0]

NBA

Monday’s Score
Golden State 101, Houston 92
[Warriors win series 4-3]

WPIAL Baseball & Softball Playoffs: May 23, 2018

BASEBALL

Tuesday’s Scores
[4A] South Fayette 1, Hopewell 0
[3A] Avonworth 13, South Side Beaver 2
[3A] Brownsville 6, Riverside 5
[2A] CW North Catholic 9, Neshannock 2
[1A] Union 6, Greensburg Central Catholic 1
[1A] Vincentian 6, Jeannette 0
[6A] Central Catholic 6, Butler 0
[6A] Canon-McMillan 2, Plum 1
[6A] North Allegheny 3, Bethel Park 1
[6A] Hempfield 9, Pine-Richland 1
[5A] Mars 6, Laurel Highlands 2
[5A] North Hills 7, Franklin Regional 1

2:00pm
[4A] Ringgold vs. Greensburg-Salem (at Washington & Jefferson)

4:00pm
[6A] Canon-McMillan vs. Central Catholic (at Boyce-Mayview Park, Upper St. Clair)

4:30pm
[2A] Shenango vs. Serra Catholic (at Washington & Jefferson)

6:00pm
[5A] Hampton vs. Moon (at North Allegheny)

7:00pm
[5A] West Allegheny vs. Chartiers Valley (at Washington & Jefferson)
[6A] North Allegheny vs. Hempfield (at Boyce-Mayview Park, Upper St. Clair)

SOFTBALL

2:00pm
[1A] Leechburg vs. Monessen (at Peterswood Park, Peters Twp.)
[3A] Southmoreland vs. Freeport (at West Mifflin)
[4A] Yough vs. Elizabeth Forward (at Seton Hill University)
[6A] Latrobe vs. Baldwin (at Boyce-Mayview Park, Upper St. Clair)

4:00pm
[1A] Union vs. West Greene (at Peterswood Park, Peters Twp.)
[2A] Chartiers-Houston vs. Laurel (at West Allegheny)
[3A] Avonworth vs. South Park (at West Mifflin)
[4A] Belle Vernon vs. Mount Pleasant (at Baldwin)
[5A] Thomas Jefferson vs. Albert Gallatin (at Boyce-Mayview Park, Upper St. Clair)
[6A] Norwin vs. Hempfield (at Seton Hill University)

6:00pm
[2A] Mohawk vs. Frazier (at West Allegheny)
[5A] West Allegheny vs. Connellsville (at Baldwin)

WPIAL Playoff Baseball & Softball: May 22, 2018

BASEBALL

Monday’s Scores

[4A] Hopewell 8, Knoch 6
[4A] Greensburg-Salem 1, Blackhawk 0
[3A] South Side Beaver 4, Burrell 3
[3A] Riverside 3, Steel Valley 1
[1A] Jeannette 5, Quigley Catholic 3
[1A] Vincentian 7, Cornell 0
[4A] Ringgold 5, New Castle 4
[4A] South Fayette 14, West Mifflin 4
[3A] Avonworth 8, Shady Side Academy 6
[3A] Brownsville 6, Steel Valley 1
[2A] CW North Catholic 8, Carlynton 4
[2A] Serra Catholic 5, Laurel 0
[2A] Neshannock 6, Brentwood 2
[2A] Shenango 15, Carmichaels 7
[1A] Greensburg Central Catholic 9, Eden Christian 7
[1A] Union 7, Monessen 6

2:00pm
[4A] Hopewell vs. South Fayette (at Burkett Complex)
[3A] South Side Beaver vs. Avonworth (at Washington & Jefferson)
[1A] Union vs. Greensburg Central Catholic (at Fox Chapel)
[5A] Mars vs. Laurel Highlands (at West Mifflin)
[6A] Butler vs. Central Catholic (at Boyce-Mayview Park, Upper St. Clair)

4:00pm
[5A] Franklin Regional at North Hills
[6A] Plum vs. Canon-McMillan (at North Allegheny)

4:30pm
[3A] Riverside vs. Brownsville (at Washington & Jefferson)
[2A] CW North Catholic vs. Neshannock (at Burkett Complex, Robinson Twp.)
[1A] Jeannette vs. Vincentian (at Fox Chapel)

7:00pm
[5A] Hampton vs. Moon (at North Allegheny)
[5A] West Allegheny vs. Chartiers Valley (at USC)
[4A] Ringgold vs. Greensburg-Salem (at Burkett Complex, Robinson Twp.)
[2A] Shenango vs. Serra Catholic (at Washington & Jefferson)

SOFTBALL

Monday’s Scores

[4A] Elizabeth Forward 4, Beaver 1
[4A] Belle Vernon 3, Ambridge 0
[3A] South Park 17, Ellwood City 9
[5A] West Allegheny 4, Trinity 3
[1A] Leechburg 8, Sewickley Academy 4
[6A] Baldwin 4, Mt. Lebanon 1
[6A] Norwin 2, North Allegheny 1
[6A] Latrobe 10, Peters Twp. 0
[6A] Hempfield 3, Canon-McMillan 2
[5A] Albert Gallatin 6, Kiski Area 5
[5A] Thomas Jefferson 7, Penn-Trafford 4
[5A] Connellsville 4, Franklin Regional 0
[4A] Yough 3, Indiana 0
[4A] Mt. Pleasant 10, Knoch 0
[3A] Southmoreland 6, Steel Valley 5
[3A] Avonworth 3, Burrell 0
[3A] Freeport 10, Waynesburg Central 4
[2A] Chartiers-Houston 7, Serra Catholic 1
[2A] Frazier 9, Neshannock 5
[2A] Mohawk 9, CW North Catholic 6
[2A] Laurel 5, Seton-LaSalle 3
[1A] Monessen 8, Riverview 0
[1A] West Greene 14, St. Joseph 0
[1A] Union 10, Bishop Canevin 0

WPIAL Baseball & Softball Quarterfinals: May 21, 2018

SOFTBALL

2:00pm
[3A] Ellwood City vs. South Park (at West Mifflin)
[1A] Leechburg vs. Hampton (at Hampton Community Park)
[4A] Indiana vs. Yough (at Seton Hill University)

3:00pm
[2A] Mohawk vs. CW North Catholic (at North Allegheny)
[3A] Waynesburg Central vs. Freeport (at Plum)
[4A] Mount Pleasant vs. Knoch (at Fox Chapel)

4:00pm
[4A] Ambridge vs. Belle Vernon (at Baldwin)
[1A] Monessen vs. Riverview (at Canon-McMillan)
[1A] Bishop Canevin vs. Union (at Hampton Community Park)
[2A] Serra Catholic vs. Chartiers-Houston (at West Allegheny)
[2A] Frazier vs. Neshannock (at Trinity Middle School)
[3A] Avonworth vs. Burrell (at West Mifflin)
[5A] Albert Gallatin vs. Kiski Area (at Boyce-Mayview Park, Upper St. Clair)
[6A] Latrobe vs. Peters Twp. (at Seton Hill University)

5:00pm
[2A] Seton-LaSalle vs. Laurel (at North Allegheny)
[5A] Franklin Regional vs. Connellsville (at Plum)
[5A] Thomas Jefferson vs. Penn-Trafford (at Latrobe)
[6A] North Allegheny vs. Norwin (at Fox Chapel)

6:00pm
[4A] Beaver vs. Elizabeth Forward (at West Allegheny)
[5A] Trinity vs. West Allegheny (at Baldwin)
[1A] St. Joseph vs. West Greene (at Canon-McMillan)
[3A] Steel Valley vs. Southmoreland (at Trinity Middle School)
[6A] Baldwin vs. Mt. Lebanon (at Boyce-Mayview Park, Upper St. Clair)

7:00pm
[6A] Canon-McMillan vs. Hempfield (at Latrobe)

BASEBALL

2:00pm
[1A] Greensburg Central Catholic vs. Eden Christian (at Fox Chapel)
[1A] Monessen vs. Union (at Burkett Complex, Robinson Twp.)
[2A] Carlynton vs. CW North Catholic (at Seneca Valley)

4:00pm
[1A] Cornell vs. Vincentian Academy (at Matulevic Field, Shaler)
[3A] Burrell vs. South Side Beaver (at Peterswood Park, Peters Twp.)
[4A] Hopewell vs. Knoch (at Hampton)
[2A] Serra Catholic vs. Laurel (at West Mifflin)
[2A] Neshannock vs. Brentwood (at Chippewa Park)
[4A] New Castle vs. Ringgold (at Washington & Jefferson College)

4:30pm
[1A] Quigley Catholic vs. Jeannette (at Fox Chapel)
[4A] Greensburg-Salem vs. Blackhawk (at Seneca Valley)
[3A] Shady Side Academy vs. Avonworth (at Burkett Complex, Robinson Twp.)
[3A] Brownsville vs. Valley (at Washington & Jefferson College)

6:30pm
[4A] South Fayette vs. West Mifflin (at Peterswood Park, Peters Twp.)

7:00pm
[3A] Riverside vs. Steel Valley (at Burkett Complex, Robinson Twp.)
[2A] Shenango vs. Carmichaels (at Washington & Jefferson College)

Tom Hays Joins Slam To Discuss His Career At Beaver County Radio

He’s been in Beaver County his whole life, he’s been with Beaver County Radio since 1981, and Tom Hays has seen the evolution of Beaver County and its illustrious sports history with an eye few can lay claim to.

In conjunction with our 70th Anniversary at WBVP & WMBA, Tom Hays joined Matt Drzik and Greg Benedetti on the Saturday Sports Slam to discuss his long and eventful (not to mention ongoing) career in the booth, covering high school sports for nearly four decades. Hays also talked about some of his favorite moments in broadcasting, as well as his views on the changes in high school athletics from the start of his tenure to the present day.

To hear the FULL interview with Tom Hays, click on the players below.

Part 1

Part 2

 

The Saturday Sports Slam is hosted by Greg Benedetti and Matt Drzik and runs every Saturday on Beaver County Radio from 8:05 until 10:00 AM.

Pirates beat Padres 5-4 for 8th win in 9 games!!!

Polanco, Pirates beat Padres 5-4 for 8th win in 9 games
By JOHN PERROTTO, Associated Press
PITTSBURGH (AP) — The Pittsburgh Pirates weren’t expected to contend in the strong NL Central this season, especially after trading stars Andrew McCutchen and Gerrit Cole in January.
Yet the Pirates are on top of a division in which four of the five teams are at least four games over .500.
Gregory Polanco led off the seventh inning with a double and scored the go-ahead run on an error, leading the Pirates over the San Diego Padres 5-4 Thursday night for their eighth win in nine games.
Polanco took third on Francisco Cervelli’s deep flyball, then came home when rookie third baseman Christian Villanueva misplayed Corey Dickerson’s two-out grounder.
Pittsburgh (26-17) moved nine games over .500.
“You really can’t predict baseball,” Dickerson said. “Every year you have teams that have good seasons when they aren’t expected to, players who no one knows about who end up having big years. You just never know in this game. We’re playing very well, and we feel like we have a very good team.”
Pittsburgh’s Josh Bell and Sean Rodriguez each had two hits.
Eric Hosmer drove in three runs for San Diego. Freddy Galvis had two hits before being ejected by home plate umpire Will Little after taking a called third strike from Michael Feliz to end the eighth inning.
Rookie Edgar Santana (2-0) retired the only batter he faced, getting Jose Pirela to ground out to end the seventh with a runner on second. He was credited with another win a day after notching his first major league victory against the Chicago White Sox.
“It’s fun to get a chance to pitch in those situations,” Santana said. “The hitters are up looking for RBIs and you know they are going to try a little extra hard to drive in the run. I try to use that to my advantage and stay calm.”
Felipe Vazquez worked a 1-2-3 ninth to earn his ninth save in as many opportunities.
Matt Strahm (0-1) took the loss.
“He did everything he had to do to get the groundball to get out of that inning,” San Diego manager Andy Green. “We didn’t make the play for him there.”
Both starters were chased in the fifth inning as Padres rookie left-hander Eric Lauer and Chad Kuhl allowed four runs and six hits each.
“I had some trouble pitching out of the stretch and that hurt me,” Kuhl said.
The Pirates tied the score at 4 on Bell’s RBI single in the fifth. Hosmer hit a two-run double in the top of the inning.
The Padres opened the scoring with a two-run third as Travis Jankowski hit an RBI single and Hosmer drove into a run with a grounder.
The Pirates answered with three runs in the fourth. Dickerson doubled in a run, David Freese hit a sacrifice fly and Rodriguez capped the inning with an RBI double.
“Things were going smooth then all of a sudden I wouldn’t say I lost it, but I started making worse pitches,” Lauer said. “Just missing spots by a little bit.”
MEADOWS ON THE WAY
The Pirates plan to recall top outfield prospect Austin Meadows from Triple-A Indianapolis in time for Friday night’s game. The announcement came while center fielder Starling Marte missed his second straight game with a strained right oblique.
Meadows, 23, is hitting .281 with one home run, 15 RBIs and eight stolen bases in 31 games. The Pirates selected him in the first round of the 2013 amateur draft with the ninth overall pick from Grayson High School in Loganville, Georgia.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Pirates: While Marte was out of the lineup, Cervelli (bruised right forearm) returned after sitting out Wednesday and the catcher went 0 for 2 with two walks. … RHP Joe Musgrove (strained right shoulder) is scheduled to make his last rehab start for Triple-A Indianapolis on Friday. … 2B Josh Harrison (broken left hand) is 1 for 8 in his first two rehab games with Double-A Altoona.
Padres: OF Hunter Renfroe (right elbow inflammation) began a rehab assignment Thursday with Triple-A El Paso. He has been out since April 18. … LHP Joey Lucchesi (strained right hip) played catch and the Padres are hopeful he will miss only one start. . C Austin Hedges (right elbow tendinitis) has been serving as a designated hitter in extended spring training games but not been cleared to throw.
UP NEXT
Padres: RHP Tyson Ross (2-3, 3.40 ERA) is 0-2 in his last five starts despite a 3.34 ERA.
Pirates: RHP Ivan Nova (2-5, 5.01) is 0-2 with a 10.22 ERA in his past three starts, pitching a combined 12 1/3 innings.

WPIAL Baseball & Softball Playoffs: May 17, 2018

BASEBALL

Wednesday’s Scores
[1A] Cornell 5, West Greene 0
[2A] Shenango 2, Bishop Canevin 1
[3A] Burrell 12, Mount Pleasant 5
[3A] Shady Side Academy 6, Waynesburg Central 5
[6A] North Allegheny 6, Penn-Trafford 0

SOFTBALL

Wednesday’s Scores
[1A] Riverview 21, Quigley Catholic 0
[5A] Thomas Jefferson 3, Moon 2
[2A] Mohawk 15, Apollo-Ridge 0
[2A] Seton-LaSalle 11, Beth-Center 1
[2A] Serra Catholic 5, Shenango 2
[2A] Neshannock 16, Shady Side Academy 0
[2A] Chartiers-Houston 15, Northgate 0
[5A] Kiski Area 8, Mars 3
[5A] Connellsville 7, Hampton 4
[5A] Trinity 12, Gateway 2