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The Post-St. Patty's Day Weekend Has Plenty To Offer, Too!

Baseball season is around the corner: Get ready for it at Gecko's.

If you're up for it after a wild St. Patrick's Day weekend, there's still more to do in Bradenton THIS weekend! Check out the events below, including a visit to a local bar/restaurant by members of the Pittsburgh Pirates. For those of you new to Bradenton - or baseball, the Pirates and the city of Pittsburgh have close ties with this gulf coast city. Bradenton has established a sort of "sister city" relationship with Pittsburgh, and they promote Bradenton and its lovely weather, awesome downtown and area beaches as a winter destination. And the Pirates have trained at our beautiful McKechnie Field since 1969 - one of the longest city-Major League Baseball team relationships in the game today. So remember the Pirates when you're not …

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Athlete Of The Week

Stephanie Shoup, SCF Softball

Sophomore center fielder is in her second season as the Manatees' captain. The 4.0 student was named a 2009-10 National Fastpitch Coaches Association All-Academic Scholar Athlete and a 2010 All-Suncoast Conference selection.

How many years have you played softball?: Since I was about 6. My older sister (Sara) actually played, and I would always be out there watching her and my dad (Kurt) coaching her. Actually, I started playing because they needed an extra player. They threw a jersey on me and threw me out in the outfield. That's how I started playing. Do you have a favorite softball memory?: I was going through a really bad hitting slump last year. The coaches and I worked on a ton of different drills — both fundamental and swing-wise. Then, we played Central Florida Community College (in a doubleheader) and I ended going something like 4-for-7 with my first grand slam and another home run. It was just a great way to get out of a slump. With a 4.0 GPA, is it…

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Pirates Report

Pirates Report: March 9

Your daily guide to what's happening with the Pittsburgh Pirates in Bradenton for spring training.

YANKEES 4, PIRATES 2: The Pittsburgh Pirates served up home runs to Russell Martin and Andruw Jones as they dropped a 4-2 decision to the New York Yankees on Wednesday Night at George M. Steinbrenner Field in Tampa. Andrew McCutchen went 2-for-4 for the Pirates (6-7). Starter Kevin Correia was saddled with the loss, allowing three earned runs on six hits over four innings of work. The Pirates swiped two bases and now lead the Grapefruit League with 18 steals after finishing last spring with 16. UP NEXT (MARCH 10): The Pirates host the Baltimore Orioles in a 7:05 p.m. meeting Thursday at McKechnie Field, Pittsburgh's only night game at home this spring. Paul Maholm is expected to start for Pittsburgh against Baltimore’s Brad Bergesen. Jeff …

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Viewfinder: Photos From Pirates' First Week Of Spring Training Action

Our weekly photo gallery presents images of places and people around Bradenton.

It's been an exciting first week of spring training action at McKechnie Field. Bradenton Patch stopped by three games to check out the Pittsburgh Pirates take on the State College of Florida, the Tampa Bay Rays and the New York Yankees at McKechnie Field. Here are just some of the sights spotted around the ballpark. Want to see more? Look for our daily Pirates Report to keep yourself updated on the latest Grapefruit League happenings this season. Planning a trip out to the ballgame? Check our our complete fan's guide to spring training in Bradenton.

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Pirates Rough Up Rays In Spring Opener At McKechnie

Pittsburgh made its 2011 spring training home debut Sunday with a win over Tampa Bay.

Big league baseball made its return to McKechnie Field when the Pittsburgh Pirates hosted the hometown Tampa Bay Rays on Sunday in Bradenton's first spring training game of 2011. The Pirates got the best of the Rays, winning 10-3 before a packed house of 6,376. Mayor Wayne Poston threw out the ceremonial first pitch to kick off another season of Pirates baseball in Bradenton, the club's 43rd in the Friendly City. Before the game, the team also held a moment of silence in remembrance of two losses the Pirates family suffered in the past year — special assistant Bill Lajoie, and former manager Chuck Tanner, who led the club to the World Series title in 1979.

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5 Pirates Games To Watch This Spring

Patch picks the five best games on the spring training slate in 2011.

Planning to head out to the ballpark this spring to watch some major league action? Here are our picks for five Pittsburgh Pirates games to watch at McKechnie Field this season: 1. Pirates vs. Yankees, March 1: The Bronx Bombers always draw a big crowd, and this Tuesday afternoon tilt will be no exception. The Yanks have brought down some big stars to Bradenton the past few years, including Derek Jeter and Alex Rodriguez. 2. Pirates vs. Rays, Feb. 27: The Pirates' first home game of the spring, against hometown Tampa Bay. James Shields is scheduled to start for the Rays in this one on Sunday, and you might also get your first glimpse of Johnny Damon or Manny Ramirez in a Rays uniform, either here or in the teams' McKechnie rematch on March…

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Pirates Report

Pirates Report: Feb. 25

Your daily guide to what's going on with the Pittsburgh Pirates this spring in Bradenton.

PIRATES 21, SCF 1 The Pittsburgh Pirates blasted the State College of Florida baseball team 21-1 on Friday before a crowd of 1,862 at McKechnie Field in their annual seven-inning charity game. Steve Pearce went 2-for-2 with two doubles, four RBIs and three runs scored while playing the first three innings at first base for the Pirates. Former Manatee High pitching standout Josh Clemen took the loss for the Manatees. Proceeds from the $7 tickets will beneft the Manatee Education Foundation, Wakeland Elementary School and Rogers Garden Elementary School. Check back with Bradenton Patch tomorrow for complete coverage of the game and hear what the Manatees had to say about their big league experience. UP NEXT (FEB. 26): The Pirates officially …

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Pirates Report

Pirates Report: Feb. 22

Your daily guide to what's going on with the Pittsburgh Pirates this spring in Bradenton.

YESTERDAY AT CAMP (FEB. 21): TODAY AT CAMP (FEB. 22): Players generally hit the field between 9 a.m. and 12:45 p.m. daily during workouts. Practices are free and open to the publc. Schedules are subject to change. Want to know more? Check our our Fan's Guide To Spring Training for everything you need to know about Pirates camp in Bradenton.

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5 Pirates Players To Watch This Spring

Here's who to keep an eye on during spring training in Bradenton.

As the Pittsburgh Pirates assemble Saturday in Bradenton for their first full-squad workout, it's time to take a closer look at the team. Here are five players to watch this spring, from budding superstars to promising prospects. These are the guys you'll want to keep your camera focused on and try to target for autographs: 1. CF Andrew McCutchen: The youngster is just 24 but was recently picked as MLB Network's best center fielder in the game. If his trademark dreadlocks didn't already make him stand out on the field, his raw talent would still be easy to spot. McCutchen, Pittsburgh's version of former Tampa Bay Ray Carl Crawford, may have the best shot at being the team's All-Star representative in 2011. 2. 3B Pedro Alvarez: As a rookie …

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Pirates, Fans Start Fresh As Pitchers And Catchers Report to Bradenton

Hope springs eternal at Pirate City with the opening of another season.

The boys of spring are back in Bradenton, and so are their fans. Under a picture-perfect blue sky and with temperatures holding steady in the low 70s, the Pittsburgh Pirates observed the annual rite of spring training Monday as pitchers and catchers held their first workout at Pirate City. More than 40 players turned out to take physicals and then hit the practice fields for soft tossing, fielding drills and batting practice. "It's always refreshing to be out here," said third baseman Pedro Alvarez, the Pirates' top draft pick in 2008, who hit 16 home runs in 95 games with the big-league club last year. "It's nice to finally get in the swing of things." The team donned its new yellow workout jerseys, adding even more color to the already …

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