Jim Goulart

Catcher Dustin Houle, so key to Helena's early success, returns to Montana in time for the postseason, from Wisconsin. Four catchers on Helena's roster now.

Since corrected on BA's site.

Helena Box Score 9th round Fresno State LHP Tyler Linehan and 4th-year Dominican native Eduard Reyes combined to allow just one single, two walks, and 12 K's. All ten Brewer hits were singles, Michael Ratterree and Jose Pena three apiece. Helena Game Log 3-0 lead became 7-0 lead in the 8th -- Helena Top of the 8th Dionis Hinojosa reaches on a fielding error by shortstop Ronald Bueno. Renaldo Jenkins singles on a line drive to left fielder Gabriel Rosa. Dionis Hinojosa to 2nd. Michael Ratterree singles on a bunt ground ball to pitcher Robert Lewis-Walker. Dionis Hinojosa to 3rd. Renaldo Jenkins to 2nd. Jose Pena singles on a line drive to right fielder Aristides Aquino. Dionis Hinojosa scores. Renaldo Jenkins to 3rd. Michael Ratterree to 2nd. Pitching Change: Fabian Roman replaces Robert Lewis-Walker. Dustin Houle out on a sacrifice fly to right fielder Aristides Aquino. Renaldo Jenkins scores. Michael Ratterree to 3rd. Jose Pena to 2nd. Clint Coulter reaches on a fielder's choice out, shortstop Ronald Bueno to catcher Jose Ortiz. Michael Ratterree out at home. Taylor Brennan walks. Jose Pena to 3rd. Clint Coulter to 2nd. Jalen Harris singles on a line drive to left fielder Gabriel Rosa. Jose Pena scores. Clint Coulter scores. Taylor Brennan to 3rd. Angel Ortega flies out to center fielder Kevin Garcia.

Final: Helena 7, @Billings 0 One-hitter! Not much detail online, but this is from the Billings Gazette -- Helena starter Tyler Linehan pounded the strike zone through six innings, and gave up just the one hit to Washington in the fourth. The left-handed Linehan (2-2) finished with seven strikeouts and one walk. Reliever Eduard Reyes gave up a harmless walk in three innings to earn a nine-out save. Reyes struck out five. “They both threw exceptionally well,” Kelly said. “Linehan set the tone. He ran some deep counts, but he made some really good 3-2 pitches and just didn’t give up any hits.” The Brewers’ Michael Ratteree, the league’s newly crowned MVP, went 3 for 5 with three singles. He scored two runs and had the game’s first RBI. Ratterree attempted a sacrifice bunt in the eighth inning, and the ball appeared to be going foul down the first-base line. But Mustangs pitcher Robert Lewis-Walker picked it up in fair territory, which loaded the bases. The Brewers scored four runs in the inning.

AUDIO: Helena Brewers first baseman Adam Giacalone talks about being named an All Star honorable mention and shares his thoughts on hitting *** AUDIO: Helena Brewers pitcher Taylor Williams (4th round, 2013) talks about routines and the work the coaching staff has done with pitchers this season

Helena: LHP Tyler Linehan at Billings (Reds), 7:45 PM pre-game, 8:05 gametime Free Live Audio Link Voice of the Helena Brewers Steve Wendt is back on board, and this year he's added Twitter to the mix @steve_wendt. We've been treated to Steve's work for many years now (ten!); he is among the very best at the art of the pre-game interview, especially considering how at ease he makes all these first-time professional ballplayers. *** Helena Media Notes *** Follow Tuesday's action as it happens with box score / game log links: Helena *** STANDINGS: Rookie Advanced - Pioneer League North Division NOTE: To view first half or overall standings for Helena, you'll notice an option at the link for that. Otherwise it's second-half standings as the default view for those this league. *** Weather.com: Billings, MT

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Not to be sly about it, but literally when rosters are announced around April 1st next year.

Helena Box Score Charlie Markson pinch-hit and took over for CF Omar Garcia in the 6th, Garcia as hit by a pitch in the 1st, but unclear that the substitution was related. Jose Pena's OPS is up to .846. Adam Giacalone's scorching July return to Helena melded into just an "OK" .772 OPS in August. Helena Game Log

Photo Gallery from the Helena Independent Record

Final: Billings 6, @Helena 2 *** Late Rally Boosts Mustangs Billings scores four runs in final two frames By Zac Vierra / Helena Brewers Through the first seven innings on Monday afternoon, the Brewers and Mustangs were locked in a pitcher's duel at Kindrick Legion Field. But in the eighth inning the game got away from Helena as the Mustangs scored four runs in the final two frames en route to a 6-2 victory. The top of the eighth inning started harmlessly as Brandon Moore (photo below by Seth Eikomstead) struck out Avain Rachal to start things. Then it started to fall apart for the Brewers. Carlos Sanchez singled to right-center and Moore walked Adam Matthews. Jose Ortiz then put the Mustangs up for good as he pulled a double into the corner in left to plate Sanchez. That would be it for Moore as Tyler Alexander came into the game. Alexander struck out Daniel Paula but he then threw a wild pitch that allowed Matthews to score. It was the first inherited runner he allowed to come home all season. Things would not get better for Alexander in the ninth as Sanchez drove home Ty Washington, who had reached on a single, with a base hit up the box. After Sanchez took second on the throw home, he would advance to third on wild pitch, and score on the third wild pitch of the game by Alexander. It was a rocky outing for the southpaw who had only allowed one earned run coming into the game. "He could have been a little flat today. We have had two day games in a row, not that it will ever be any excuse, but the preparation could have been a little bit different and he could have been a little flat today, that's about all," said Helena manager Tony Diggs. The Brewers went down in order in the eighth and ninth inning as Austin Muehring pitched the final two frames for his sixth save. Moore would be given his second loss of the season after allowing three runs on three hits, including a game-tying homer by Paula in the sixth, in 3.1 innings of work. "I don't think he ran out of gas I think he was just trying to be a little to fine and when you try to be too fine you tend to make a mistake," said Diggs. Helena starter Trevor Seidenberger allowed just one run on three hits in four innings, but on an afternoon when Zach Weiss and Scott Brattvet allowed just one run each, the performance of Seidenberger and Moore was not enough. "They did do a good job. In a low scoring ballgame like that you have to have a little bit better. Not that they did a bad job but I'm quite sure that there are a couple of pitches that Moore would like to take back and probably Seidenberger too, but they did a pretty good job today," said Diggs. The Mustangs would take the first lead of the game in the fourth inning on a beautiful hit and run play. With two outs and runners on the corners, Nick Benedetto was put on the move and Carlton Daal hit the ball in the vacated hole at second base as Matthews scored from third. Helena would tie the game in the bottom of the frame when Jose Pena hit a solo homer to left-center. It was his third homer against Billings in two days and his seventh long ball against the Mustangs this season. "He stayed on the ball he hit another ball hard and he hit the ball hard all day so kudos to Pena again for coming up with a big one," said Diggs. The Brewers would grab a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the fifth when Charlie Markson scored on a wild pitch, but it wouldn't last long as Paula tied the game in the sixth and Ortiz put the Mustangs ahead in the eighth. Helena ended the five game homestand with a record of 5-2. The Brewers will head to Billings for a pair of games before returning home to face Great Falls on Thursday. http://www.milb.com/assets/images/2/1/8/59359218/cuts/31_Brandon_Moore_P_2_an210a3w_ot2zs2c5.jpg

Because it takes two to tango, and although Rogers has said all the right things, there will be no shortage of suitors for his services, and Mark is going to be very anxious to hear what they say and start clean elsewhere.

McCalvy: Guerrero brings praise for lower-level prospects

Stars finish with win, Rogers and Kjeldgaard finish as statistical champs by Mark McCarter, Huntsville Stars The Huntsville Stars clinched a pair of championships on Monday - just not championship that has eluded this franchise since 2001. Outfielder Brock Kjeldgaard blasted his 24th homer of the season in the Stars' 4-3 victory over Jackson in Monday's 2013 finale, giving him the league's home run title. It gives Huntsville back-to-back home run leaders (Hunter Morris had 28 last year) but only the fourth Star to lead in that category (Brendan Katin, 2007, and Mike Coolbaugh in 1997). First baseman Jason Rogers was 0-for-3, but his 87 RBIs won the RBI title. Rogers finished with 22 homers, second to Kjeldgaard. "A lot of good things happened," said manager Darnell Coles. "We had some pitchers that got better. We had (some palyers) called up and they'll eventually be called to the big leagues. Jason Rogers had a fantastic year. Nick Shaw and Hector Gomez were steady up the middle. We had some struggles, but palyer development is just that. "By no stretch of the imagination am I disappointed. The guys got better and I'm pleased with that." At the opposite end of the spectrum, the Stars finished the year 59-79 and were last in the Southern League in average attendance, at 1,877 per game in 66 dates. That's six straight losing seasons for the Stars since Don Money's clubs reached the Southern League championship series in back-to-back years in 2006-07 - and five straight losing seasons since Jack Zduriencik moved from his post as the Brewers' director of scouting to the Seattle Mariners. Of the Brewers' five minor league clubs, only short-season Helena finished with a winning record and is going into postseason play. Class AAA Nashville won its finale Monday, 2-1 over Iowa, with Huntsville's Hunter Morris socking a two-run first-inning home off the guitar-shaped scoreboard. Morris, last year's Southern League MVP, finished with 24 homers, 71 RBIs, a .242 average and .755 OPS. Only three minor league promotions to Milwaukee were announced Monday - outfielder Sean Halton, pitcher Johnny Hellweg and pitcher Jimmy Nelson, who began the season in Huntsville. The Stars' attendance, which has been at or near the bottom of the league the past decade, had a double-dose of bad luck. According to general manager Buck Rogers, some 40 percent of the dates were impacted by rain, either at the stadium or within the nucleus of the Huntsville fan base. Huntsville was also reported, along with Jackson, as one of the franchises most likely to be purchased and moved to Biloxi, Miss., where a new stadium is planned. While Biloxi still hasn't broken ground and organizers have backed off their initial plan to open the 2014 season with a team there, there is uncertainty where baseball will be here in 2015. Miles Prentice, the team's majority owner, did not attend a game in Huntsville this year and has reportedly not returned calls from local parties who are interested in pursuing a purchase of the club. "I have no clue. I hear the rumors like everybody else that the team is sold or it's moving downtown but I have heard nothing official from the league, from Minor League Baseball, from the ownership group or anybody building a ballpark downtown," said general manager Buck Rogers. "We're going to go box things up today, shipping things to (the Brewers' spring quarters in) Arizona, October first start going crazy for next year. I don't know anything beyond that. It's status quo. Keep on rocking on. We're going to start working on a promotion calendar and we're starting to renew season tickets for next year."

Outfield roulette in the Huntsville finale box score and game log

Via Jeff Hem's blog -- Audio from Nashville — “Mondays with Mike (Guerrero)” "Here this week’s — and the season’s final — installment of “Mondays with Mike” with Sounds manager Mike Guerrero, who discusses the team’s finish to the season, some of his favorite moments of the year, his favorite ballparks or cities in the Pacific Coast League and some of the players on other clubs that have impressed him this season."

Weather.com: Nashville, TN Huntsville, AL Burlington, IA Helena, MT

STANDINGS: AAA - Pacific Coast League American Northern Division AA - Southern League North Division High-A - Florida State League North Division A - Midwest League Western Division Rookie Advanced - Pioneer League North Division Rookie - Arizona Summer League DSL - Dominican Summer League San Pedro de Macoris Division *** NOTE: To view first half or overall standings for Huntsville, Brevard County, Wisconsin, Helena and Maryvale, you'll notice options at the respective links for that. Otherwise it's second-half standings as the default view for those three leagues.

Look for Nashville and Wisconsin media notes at the links just prior to their game times. New this season: Helena has media notes; it's a unique link each day, but look for it just prior to game time each day within the "Stats and Scores" banner here.

To see tweets as to when the Link Report has been technically "completed" with available links, as well as to know when the new day's Report has been posted, please follow @Mass_Haas on Twitter.

Follow Monday's action as it happens with box score / game log links: Nashville Huntsville Wisconsin Helena New MiLB.com feature -- organizational scoreboard, Brewers

Monday's Daily Menu: All times are Central Nashville: LHP Aaron Laffey at home vs. Iowa (Cubs), 11:45 AM pre-game, 12:05 PM gametime Free Live Audio Link Jeff Hem is the play-by-play voice of the Sounds; follow him on Twitter @jeffhempbp; we'll link to his blog updates at On the Air…and Off MiLB.TV -- for subscribers; all Nashville games, home and away, will be available to watch via MiLB.TV's $39.99 season-long package ($9.99 to pay for a single month). The audio feed is from the home team. All MiLB.TV details available at the link. ********** Huntsville: RHP Brooks Hall at home vs. Jackson (Mariners), 12:48 PM pre-game, 1:03 gametime Free Live Audio Link Alex Cohen is the play-by-play voice of the Stars; follow him on Twitter @alexmcohen. All games, home and away, are scheduled to be broadcast. It appears four Southern League teams air their home games on MiLB.TV, and we'll let you know when those dates pop up on the schedule. ********** Brevard County: Season complete (66-68), final individual stats found here ********** Wisconsin: RHP Austin Ross at Burlington (Angels), 1:40 PM pre-game, 2:00 gametime Free Live Audio Link - 1280 AM WNAM Chris Mehring is back to do his customary fantastic work as the Voice of the Rattlers. Follow him on Twitter @CMehring; we'll link to Chris' infamous blog often -- Rattler Radio. MiLB.TV -- for subscribers; Wisconsin is one of four Midwest League clubs that have all their home games available via MiLB.TV. So for the $39.95 season-long package, fans in Brewer Nation can watch all Sounds games, Stars' road games from four Southern League locales, and all Timber Rattlers home games and some road games. NOTE: Many of the Rattlers' 70 home games will be broadcast on TV this season. Time Warner Cable SportsChannel and WACY-TV My NEW32 will split duties. We'll let you know when and who, and will try to provide day-before DVR reminders, so regularly check with us. ********** Helena: LHP Trevor Seidenberger at home vs. Billings (Reds), 1:45 PM pre-game, 2:05 gametime Free Live Audio Link Voice of the Helena Brewers Steve Wendt is back on board, and this year he's added Twitter to the mix @steve_wendt. We've been treated to Steve's work for many years now (ten!); he is among the very best at the art of the pre-game interview, especially considering how at ease he makes all these first-time professional ballplayers. MiLB.TV -- When the H-Crew makes their way to Grand Junction (August), those games will be available for viewing online. ********** Arizona Rookie (Maryvale): Season complete (23-33), final individual stats found here ********** DSL Brewers: Season complete (26-45), final individual stats found here

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Reason via the radio booth: Nick Ramirez tied for the team record in homers so Ayrault is trying to get him as many chances as possible to break it.

Indomitable Huntsville GM Buck Rogers with some high praise and thanks -- *** Stars fans, of all the highlights, lowlights, and things in between of this season, there are many people that make this operation work. These people don’t get the respect or thanks they deserve and they give up their summers for the game of baseball. I know, it’s a choice, nobody’s forcing them to work in baseball, but it gets in your blood and it’s like a fast moving train…you just can’t jump off once you get started in it. It’s something special to be a part of this game even knowing that you’re not going to sit down and watch it. But when all is said and done and I reflect on this season there is one individual who has gone above and beyond to make this game more rewarding than I could ever expect. He’s out there day-in, day-out, always with a smile and kind word of encouragement. On your worst day on earth he’s the guy you’d want by your side and that man is Stars Manager Darnell Coles. I’ve been blessed to have some really great managers on the teams that I’ve worked for, even some slightly crazy ones that are really driven and one that was the most fined manager in league history, but there is nobody in the game of baseball that is the whole package like DC. Forget the World Series ring. Forget the 13-year MLB playing career. Forget all that because DC doesn’t wear his past and accomplishments on his ring finger. He lives in the here and now and makes sure that everybody around him excels and improves to the best of their ability. Every day DC’s first stop at the ballpark is to our offices to say hi to the staff and ask if there is anything he can do to help. It’s not a front, it’s entirely genuine and once you meet him you’ll understand that that is the way he’s programmed. I think one of our interns (Amanda Stinson) summed it up best: The "good" in him practically radiates when he walks into a room, and you can tell he is sincere. He truly is one in a million! He understands completely about human nature, the life behind the scenes at a stadium and not just the baseball players’ side of it. He is in touch with what’s going on around him and has the compassion, the empathy, and he provides the encouragement to get the most out of the people around him. Many of the things DC has done for this community will never be public knowledge. Heck, I find out things after the fact and only because somebody comes into the stadium and relays a story about something DC did in the community. Like donating a pair of season tickets to a school for encouraging kids to learn. An old friend of DC’s came to town and bought a pair of season tickets as a thank you for something DC did many years ago. He gave them to DC and asked him to pay it forward. DC and his wife, Sheri, found a school and walked in to meet the principal and explain how the tickets came about. He instilled the community involvement into the players and set the example by going on many trips himself, not pushing it off onto the players. He spoke to Kiwanis breakfasts and ate breakfast with the Huntsville Little Leaguers. He sacrificed sleep on off days to improve the relationship between the team and the community. He made sure he thanked national anthem singers. Gave many of them a team autographed baseball. Ensured the security and concession folks got souvenirs at season’s end. He ran the bases with kids after games and he caught first pitches before games because it was important and he wanted his players to understand that. He’s stopped by the office daily for a few words of support and a cold soda. He gets it…he understands the entire operation. One day we were pulling tarp for the umpteenth time; the staff totally smoked and ready to throw in the jock. DC came out and grabbed a handle and pulled it with us. He knew we were toast and that one extra person on that tarp would make all the difference in the world. He just nodded in an understanding way and went back to the clubhouse afterwards. In 17 years I’ve never had a manger pull tarp…a couple players once or twice, but never the manager. None of this normal for a baseball team’s manager at any level. It’s unheard of! He knows fans on a first name basis. Took the team bowling when asked by the fan club. Talked to sponsors and thanked them for their support to this team. I asked each person on our staff to write down one thing about DC that will stand out. Just about every note referred to the respect they had for him because of his commitment, compassion, caring, and approach to life. Not just the game of baseball, but towards life. Fans in Milwaukee…Hey! Wake up. Are you paying attention here? This guy and his childhood sweetheart wife are diamonds on - and off - the diamond and they’re just a short hop, skip, and jump from Miller Park. When DC deservedly gets his big league opportunity in the near future Milwaukee will have to hold on for what’s coming because he will raise the bar to new heights. He’ll take the baseball experience to the next level. This is the guy you want in the foxhole with you when you’re knee deep in grenade pins because he doesn’t know the word quit. You’re going to have to trust me on this one. For those that have come on out and weathered the storms with us this season, we thank you for sticking by us in this 29th season of Huntsville Stars baseball. The ballpark isn’t state-of-the-art and we lack a lot of the amenities, but we do the best that we can with the hand we’re dealt and we thank you for hanging in there with us. If you haven’t been to a game this season, you have one last shot tomorrow at 1:03 pm. I’m sure Mother Nature will throw one last change-up at us, but at this point, well, we’re going to do whatever it takes to make sure she doesn’t get the win. If you’ve been to game but haven’t had the chance to meet DC, stop down in the stands by the dugout before the game because you won’t meet anybody like him again in the baseball world and that is as good as it gets for a season finale when your heart breaks as another season comes to an end! Here’s to all the people that made this a very rewarding season: fans, corporate partners, staff, booster club, fan club, players and coaches, and our ownership group. I’ll never be able to thank all of you, but know that I will never forget the efforts and sacrifices you make every night. Let’s wrap up this season tomorrow with a win and cherish the memories. Rock On!