Herald staff report

CURVE, Pa. -- The Altoona Curve and the ALS Association are teaming up for a special event this Sunday, August 26 at Peoples Natural Gas Field by hosting a "Tie On for Taillon" fundraiser benefitting the family of former Curve intern Maggie Neil whose mother, Sandy, suffers from ALS.

Sunday night, Jameson Taillon, the Pirates' 2010 first round pick and number-two prospect in their organization as rated by Baseball America, will make his Double-A home debut in Curve, Pa. when the Curve host the Richmond Flying Squirrels at 6 p.m. Coinciding with the right-hander's first home Eastern League outing, Sunday's "Tie On for Taillon" fundraiser is a play on the 2010 first rounder's name (pronounced "Tie-on"). Taillon began the year with the Marauders -- Pirates' High-Single A affiliate in Bradenton, Fla.

Through Saturday, fans are invited to donate their old or unused neckties which will then be autographed by Taillon and sold for $10 at Sunday evening's game with proceeds from the sale going to "Operation Sandy Sunshine," as the Neil family's caregiving effort has been dubbed.