Community sports | Baseball returns to Bradenton
Pitchers and catchers won't report for the Pirates until Feb. 19 with the full squad joining them four days later, but Pittsburgh's first mini-camp began Monday at Pirate City in Bradenton and will conclude Friday.
The most notable player at the camp is probably infielder Jung-ho Kang, whose spectacular rookie season was cut short in September by a leg injury. New pitchers Trevor Williams, Jon Niese and Daniel Bard, and utility man John Jaso will also spend the week in Bradenton.
There's also a group of former Marauders returning to Bradenton before they make an appearance for spring training. Outfielder Gregory Polanco, pitcher Jameson Taillon, catcher Reese McGuire and infielder Josh Bell all pitched at Class A Advanced in recent seasons and have lockers set up at Pirate City.
Pittsburgh is also preparing for its pregame festivities at spring training. Those interested in auditioning to sing the national anthem before a
game at McKechnie Field this spring are invited to an audition Jan. 30 at 10 a.m. Singers will perform a cappella and must limit their rendition to two minutes or fewer. Pirate employees will supervise and decide who will perform this February or March.
U.S. Lacrosse puts on show
Three United States national lacrosse teams took the field at IMG Academy in Bradenton this week -- two against college teams and one against an opposing national team -- and in two games the United States showed why it's often the premier team in the world.
The USA Lacrosse Spring Premiere began early Sunday morning with the women's national team facing Syracuse, a perennial power in women's college lacrosse. With the help of two goals from former Orange attack Alyssa Murray, the national team blew out SU, 20-8. Syracuse cut the lead to four early in the second half before the US scored five unanswered to seal the victory.
Next, the men's national team met defending national champion Denver, which was limited to only 11 players by injury, illness and academics. Shorthanded, the Pioneers fell to the United States, 22-6, in John Danowski's debut as the U.S. head coach. Danowski, who is the head coach at Duke, got seven points from his son, Matt Danowski, to blow out Denver. Jordan Wolf, another former Blue Devil, added four goals in the rout.
The United States' only loss Sunday came in the U-19 men's competition when the Canadian national team won 14-13 in overtime. Canada overcame a late four-goal deficit to force overtime before Ryan Launchbury scored the game-winner with 49 seconds left in the second overtime period.
David B. Wilson, sports reporter, can be reached at 745-7057 or via email at dwilson@bradenton.com. Follow him on Twitter @DBWilson2.
This story was originally published January 12, 2016 at 12:49 AM with the headline "Community sports | Baseball returns to Bradenton ."