The Pirates have played through inclement weather this season, but the team wants no part of Hurricane Isabel.
The Pirates moved today's home game against the Cincinnati Reds from 7:05 p.m. to 12:35 p.m. due to heavy rains caused by the hurricane that are expected late tonight and into Friday.
Isabel began disrupting sports schedules in the area and up and down the east coast long before it hit land.
Two other major league baseball Thursday night games were moved. The New York Yankees will now play the Orioles in Baltimore at 12:35 p.m. and the Florida Marlins will play the Philadelphia Phillies at 1:05 p.m.
The Pirates announced that fans unable to attend the rescheduled game may exchange their tickets for any of the season's final three home dates Friday, Saturday and Sunday against the Chicago Cubs.
The Penguins moved their preseason opener against Washington, originally scheduled for tonight in Wilkes-Barre, to 5 p.m. Sunday. They are still scheduled to play the New York Islanders in Wheeling, W.Va. Friday.
Local high school events could face major disruptions, particularly football Thursday and Friday.
The City League traditionally has difficulty rescheduling games, and with the artificial turf at Cupples Stadium, will likely go ahead with its schedule if at all possible. That includes two games today and two more Friday.
The WPIAL leaves decisions about playing through inclement weather to the schools, in large part due to the size of the district.
"It can be raining like crazy in Butler, but in Washington, they are basking in the sunshine," WPIAL Executive Director Larry Hanley said. "These are now our section games, so they have to be played, be that Friday, Saturday or Monday."
Most schools will wait until Friday to make a decision, though backup plans have been made in some cases. Kiski Area athletic director Harry Orbin said his school's home game against Indiana would be played 7:30 p.m. Saturday at Davis Field if they can't play Friday.
"We've certainly had enough warning," Orbin said. "Everybody has at least talked to each other and worked something out. Everybody would like to try to play on schedule. (Davis Field) drains well, but with the amount of rain they are talking about, I don't know how any grass field would hold up."
The WPIAL does not have set guidelines on when to stop play, though football games are stopped for lightning. The PIAA does publish the National Severe Storms Laboratory's recommendation that teams should wait at least 30 minutes from the last flash of lightning or sound of thunder before resuming play.
