When “major technical problems” derailed WSPA‘s ability to show video during Todd Summers‘ sports report, the sports anchor for the Greenville, SC, CBS affiliate used his imagination, a souvenir football and a mini baseball bat to bring the games to life…well sort of.

One highlight: While describing the Atlanta Braves win against the Florida Marlins, Summers showed off his ability to hit the curve. “In the bottom of the first,” said Summers. “It went something like this. Justin Upton at the plate…and…WHAM!” Summers said while swinging a mini bat at what may have been a whiffle ball tossed from off camera.

[FTVLive]

Sports director Bob Irzyk is leaving KOCO after three years with the Oklahoma City ABC affiliate, The Oklahoman reports.

Irzyk, who appears on the station’s weekday evening newscasts, officially signs off today. Before joining KOCO, he worked at WFLD in Chicago, WFTS in Tampa and KDAF in Dallas.

“I’m exploring other opportunities right now,” Irzyk told The Oklahoman in an email.

KVIA has announced sports director Paul Cicala (pictured left) is leaving the El Paso ABC affiliate and will join Tucson NBC affiliate KVOA.

“We are sad to lose such a talented, genuine person like Paul,” said KVIA news director Brenda De Anda-Swann in a statement. “He is a truly unique, authentic talent and his enthusiasm is always contagious. He has a special bond with the audience and I know he’ll be missed.”

Cicala is moving to Tucson to tend to family matters, the station said.

The station also announced Asher Wildman (pictured right) will step into Cicala’s sports director role as soon as Cicala leaves in one month.

Wildman has worked at KVIA for more than a year. Prior to working at KVIA, he was host of Golfweek TV in Orlando, FL.

[El Paso Times]

KC Kantz has been promoted to sports director at WTAJ, Nexstar’s CBS affiliate in Altoona, Pa.

“KC has been an important part of our sports team and the television station for some years now.  His dedication to local, college and professional sports has been outstanding,” WTAJ VP-GM Phil Dubrow said in a statement. “Now he will elevate WTAJ’s sports even further as he carries on a strong tradition of Nittany Nation and Steeler Nation coverage as well as our award winning High School sports coverage.”

Kantz joined the station in 2010 as weekend sports anchor. He has previously worked at WSEE, the CBS affiliate in Erie, Pa.

Larry Smith is joining Atlanta CBS affiliate WGCL as sports director, Access Atlanta reports.

Smith worked at CNN from 1993 to 2009 before joining Turner Sports as a host. Most recently, he worked at WCPO in Cincinnati. The hire is part of WGCL’s decision to revive its sports department after four years of outsourcing sports coverage to a local radio station.

“We are taking a more nontraditional approach to sports moving forward,” WGCL news director Trey Fabacher wrote in an email to Access Atlanta. “Larry is not just a sports anchor, but a sports reporter and producer.  We envisioned this role to be very active in the field and Larry’s talents were as strong behind the camera as well as in front of the camera.”

Smith will handle “breaking stories and features” as well as anchoring a weekly Saturday night sports show starting next month.

Ryan Recker is joining WTAE as the morning sports anchor and reporter, the Pittsburgh ABC affiliate announced this afternoon. He begins July 18.

Recker, a Pittsburgh native, comes from KVOA in Tucson, where he has been the sports director for six years. He has also worked at WTOV in Stubenville, Ohio.

“When Ryan first visited us he made an immediate connection with our newsroom, especially the morning team. WTAE is happy to see a home-grown storyteller come back to Pittsburgh in this role,” news director Justin Antoniotti said in a statement.

WRC sports director Dan Hellie is leaving the NBC owned station in Washington, D.C. to join the NFL Network. He will begin next month as the host of “NFL Total Access,” the network’s signature show.

“Coming from the D.C. market where he covered one of the league’s most storied franchises for a number of years, Dan brings a unique perspective along with his reporting skills and on-camera presence,” NFL Network executive producer Eric Weinberger said in a statement.

Hellie joined WRC in 2006. He has previously worked in Orlando, West Palm Beach and Florence, S.C.

“It’s been an unbelievable ride spending seven years in my hometown covering the teams I grew up rooting for,” Hellie said. “I never thought I was going to leave, but the opportunity to be a part of the NFL Network and be able to cover the NFL on a daily basis was impossible to pass up.”

Tom Helmer is joining KCNC, the CBS O&O in Denver, as a sports anchor. He will begin on July 22.

“We are really excited to have Tom join the CBS4 team,” KCNC news director Tim Wieland said in a statement. “He makes fan involvement key in sharing sports with viewers and his experience is a great fit for our station.”

Helmer joins the station from Root Sports, where he co-hosted broadcasts of Colorado Rockies games and covered collegiate and high school athletics. He has also worked at KXTV in Sacramento and WZZM in Grand Rapids.

Amy Campbell, reporter for FOX Sports NEXT was doing an interview on the sidelines of “The Opening” an elite high school football recruiting event at Nike’s Beaverton, OR, headquarters when she ended up on the wrong side of a touchdown catch.

Campbell told FOX Sports.com, she saw Chad Simmons, scout and NEXT recruiting analyst, turn before recruit Ermon Lane plowed into her after making the grab. “The next thing I saw was grass in my face.” In the video you can see the referee give the touchdown signal after the play. “That to me is just the icing on the cake right there,” said Campbell who later tweeted, “Guys, really. I’m fine.”

Lane and Campbell later took a picture together to show there were no hard feelings. You can see the photo after the jump. FOX Sports.com has more details on the hit including a breakdown in pictures. Click here to view. Read more

For most of the day, Boston stations have been in continuing coverage of the of arrest of NFL player Aaron Hernandez, who has been charged with murder of a 27-year-old semipro football player was found close to Hernandez’s home. The New England Patriots tight end was dropped by the team shortly after he was arrested at his home around 8:45 a.m.

On WCVB, Bianca de la Garza and Susan Wornick anchored coverage. The ABC affiliate had investigative reporter Kathy Curran reporting from the newsroom, Pam Cross reporting from the Attleborough courthouse and John Atwater at the North Attleborough police station.

On WHDH, Kayna Whitworth and Tim Caputo anchored coverage. Sportscaster Rhett Lewis reported for the NBC affiliate from Gillette Stadium, the home of the New England Patriots. Byron Barnett reported from the courthouse, with Alexandra Field at the police station and Victoria Warren at Hernandez’s house.

CBS O&O WBZ had Kate Merrill and David Wade anchoring in the morning and Paula Ebben and Jonathan Elias anchoring in the afternoon. Bill Shields reported from the courthouse and Michelle Roberts reported from Gillette Stadium.

Shannon Mulaire and Gene Lavanchy anchored on Fox O&O WFXT in the morning, and Maria Stephanos and Mark Ockerbloom took over in the afternoon. Crystal Haynes reported from the North Attlebourough police station and Sharman Sacchetti was live from the courthouse.