IN BRIEF : Ex-Pirates Pitcher Admits Coke Use

RENO — Former Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Ron Scurry has pleaded guilty to a charge of possession of cocaine and could face up to six years in prison at his sentencing June 15.

Chief Deputy Dist. Atty. William Hehn and Scurry’s attorney worked out a plea bargain in which the prosecution will go along with probation if it is recommended by the Department of Parole and Probation.

Hehn also agreed in Wednesday’s court hearing, in exchange for Scurry’s guilty plea, to drop a second felony charge of using cocaine.

Scurry was arrested in December after he bought two rocks of crack cocaine from a house that was under police surveillance.

Scurry won Nevada AAA All-State honors at Reno’s Hug High School in 1974 and was a first-round draft choice of the Pirates that year. His best year in the majors was 1982, when he recorded 14 saves and a 1.76 earned run average in 76 appearances with the Pirates.