Jun 6, 2014 1 min read

MURRYSVILLE – Pittsburgh Pirates manager Clint Hurdle told graduates of a suburban high school that they will benefit from being “strong” when one of their fellow students attacked 20 of them and a school security guard with knives nearly two months ago.

Hurdle was invited to speak at Franklin Regional High School’s baccalaureate service, a nondenominational gathering Thursday, on the eve of the school’s Friday graduation.

Hurdle received a standing ovation from about 500 people in attendance, including nearly all of the school’s 306 graduates and their families.

Hurdle was invited to speak at the event by two youth pastors in Murrysville, the suburb about 15 miles east of Pittsburgh where the attacks occurred April 9.

Sophomore Alex Hribal remains in a juvenile detention center charged with attempted homicide, aggravated assault and a weapons count.