Weather delays rookie's debut

The Pirates' top draft pick from Williamsport will pitch tonight against the Scrappers.
By BILL SULLIVAN
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
NILES -- Pittsburgh Pirates fans will have to wait another day.
Left-handed pitcher Paul Maholm, the first-round pick of the Pirates and eighth overall selection in June's draft from Mississippi State, was scheduled to make his professional debut for the Williamsport Crosscutters on Wednesday against the Mahoning Valley Scrappers.
Just prior to game time, the National Weather Service issued a tornado warning for Trumbull County, and the New York-Penn League game was postponed.
Tonight, the teams will play two seven-inning games at Cafaro Field, beginning at 6:05.
Maholm, who signed with the Pirates on July 17, will start the first game tonight.
It's a day he's been looking forward to.
"There's not any pressure on me," Maholm said. "It's the same game I played since I was 5 years old.
"The only thing that changes is that the competition gets a little bit better," he added. "But, you still got to throw strikes. And, you still got to play defense. It's no different than what I've always played."
Good junior season
Maholm helped to lead the Bulldogs to the regional finals this spring as a junior. He went 9-2 with a 2.76 ERA in 1072/3 innings while striking out 101 hitters -- nearly one an inning.
It took the Pirates nearly a month to sign him.
"I took a couple of weeks off right there after our season was over, but I stayed around there at Mississippi State and I threw with our pitching coach," Maholm said. "I wanted to make sure that whenever I signed, I was pretty much ready to go."
But, he wasn't overly disappointed when the tarp couldn't be removed from the field Wednesday, delaying his pro debut.
"I can't let that bother me," Maholm said. "I just gotta wait until [today]. Tomorrow's a new day. I'll just have to go after it then.
"I'm anxious; this is something you always thought about as a kid, getting to play professionally," he added. "Now it is happening, it's fun. I'm just looking forward to getting the first one under my belt."
Well-prepared
Maholm was listed by Baseball America as the third-closest college pitcher ready to play in the major leagues.
Just prior to the 2003 draft, Baseball America ranked Maholm as the ninth-best pitcher and 17th best amateur prospect available.
He is scheduled to throw 50 pitches tonight.