Jim Goulart

The home-grown Star, Hunter Morris, makes history in Huntsville's 2012 home debut By Mark McCarter, The Huntsville Times HUNTSVILLE, Alabama -- Linda Morris watches calmly, elbows on knees, chin in palm, as her son Hunter comes to bat. On the fifth pitch, he drives the ball into the right-centerfield gap for a double. Three hours earlier, his hitting coach, Dwayne Hosey, had said "he has a lot of thunder in his bat," and this is noisy evidence. Linda claps her hands proudly, then fishes a phone from her purse and texts a message to her daughter, Kaitlin, who wanted to be apprised of any news. Keeping up with Hunter Morris won't be such a long-distance proposition this summer. Today, as the Huntsville Stars open their 28th season (hosting Tennessee at 4:03 p.m. at Joe Davis Stadium), Morris becomes the first Huntsville native to begin the season in the Stars' lineup. "It's exciting for me," says Morris, 23, who played at Grissom High and Auburn University. "But it's added pressure." All those years, and lightning could strike again. The Brewers' top draft pick last season was Huntsville-born, left-handed pitcher Jed Bradley. He was reared in Michigan, but returned to the city and played his senior year at Huntsville High. He has yet to yield an earned run in two starts at Class A Brevard. Morris made history last summer as the first native to play for the Stars in a brief four-game midseason promotion. "To have that opportunity was an honor, with all the talent that's come through Huntsville," he says. Jeff Morris, Hunter's father, is fond of saying how odd that felt. "We'd leave the ballpark to go home," Jeff says, "but it felt like we were supposed to go to a Holiday Inn or something." Such is the life of a well-traveled baseball family, from little league to high school to college. Hunter was creating a buzz as a phenom when he was 8 years old. He estimates he played 200 games when he was 12 years old. Even that wasn't enough. He and lifelong friend Blake Martz would get out of the car from a tournament in Memphis or Atlanta or somewhere else and play catch in the driveway until bedtime. "He just loved the game," Linda says. "That's all he's wanted to do since he was big enough to hold a baseball." It is a description that now fits an 18-month-old named Jeffrey Hunter Morris III. Tripp is an adorable blond bundle of energy who can already throw a ball and quickly points to his father on the field as mom Macie holds onto him. Or tries to. The former Macie West was a softball player at Sparkman High and Auburn, and it makes her a little nervous to watch her husband play. "It's like I'm down on the field, too," she says. As Macie watches, Hunter slashes still another double, driving in a run. Jeff smiles contentedly. Linda fishes for her phone again. Hunter began the year 0-for-11, a customary slow start. Says Jeff, "He finishes spring training hot, and it's like somebody pours cold water on him on the plane." However, Morris would get a hit in 12 of his next 26 at-bats, including his first 4-for-4 game in the pros. Either way, hot or cold, you'd not know it. "That's one of my favorite things about him," Macie says. "He leaves everything on the field." "Hunter is a special young man," Stars manager Darnell Coles says. "He's got special ability. He can hit, he can hit for power. He's a run-producer. Now, it's about finding consistency." "Hunter definitely works hard," Hosey says. "I think he's going to be able to accomplish what he wants to accomplish in this game." That, alas, means keeping this homecoming parade as short as possible. Pro baseball is a matter of ladder-climbing, and Huntsville is two rungs from the majors. For now, bask in the history. As Hunter says, "I've been preparing for this for 20 years." Appreciate the benefits, and deal with the problems. Figure the Morris food bill will be a little higher this summer with visiting teammates, "but I'll take that for him to be home," Macie says. "For him to be in Huntsville, obviously it's a convenience," Jeff Morris says. Then, with equal parts hope and confidence, he adds, "It won't be that long he'll be playing that far away, where we won't be able to see him play as much."

Gonzalez homer lifts Stars past Tennessee in home opener By Mark McCarter, The Huntsville Times HUNTSVILLE, Alabama --Andy Gonzalez has had more professional baseball opening days than anyone on the Huntsville roster. For that matter, the Stars third baseman has more than the rest of the infield put together. But the 30-year-old Gonzalez hasn't had one like this one ever before. He smacked an eighth-inning, tie-breaking home run to give Huntsville a 5-4 win over the Tennessee Smokies Sunday afternoon in the Stars' 2012 home opener. "I've never hit a home run on opening day," said Gonzalez, now in his 12th professional season. "It's a good opening day. It's a good day overall. We had a good crowd, we played good and we won the game." It was an important win for the Stars, coming in front of an announced crowd of 6,103 and moving them to 5-6 on the season after a long 10-day road trip to begin the season. "You couldn't have scripted it any better," manager Darnell Coles proclaimed. Well...only if hometown Star Hunter Morris had been the one with the homer. Morris did go 2-for-3 in this milestone game in which he became the first Huntsville-born player in a Stars' home-opener. Said Coles, "He did enough for the day." Though the Smokies played a defensive shift against Morris with three fielders on the right side of second, he defied that defense and stretched his hot streak to 15-for-33 after an 0-for-11 start. "Any opening day is special," Coles said, "but here after being on the road as long as we were, and come home for Hunter's debut in front of all his friends and family and relatives and coaches and people that he's grown up with was special." As memorable as this opening day was for Gonzalez, he'll never forget his first. "I went 0-for-4," he said. "And actually it was a struggle the rest of the year. But you learn from that." He was a member of the White Sox organization at the time. He eventually reached the majors with the Sox in 2007, and has a total of 91 games in the big leagues with Chicago, Cleveland and the Marlins. He keeps plugging away in Class AA wanting an encore, wanting "to play in the big leagues again," he said. "I love playing this game. I don't know what I'd do without it. This is what I know. I'm trying to get another trip to the big leagues, so you do what you've got to do." "He's a little older player and he understands how to play," Coles said. "He puts a lot of pressure on himself. He takes a lot of time teaching the younger guys a lot of things. He takes pride in that. He's just a gamer. He understands his role and he relishes it." Gonzalez had delivered the Stars' first run as well, in one of those only-in-America moments: A Puerto Rican outfielder hits a fly off a pitcher from Damascus (OK, it's Damascus, Oregon, to be honest) to a South Korean outfielder (Jae-Hoon Ha) to drive home a Canadian player (Brock Kjeldgaard). His homer led off the eighth inning, then Rob Wooten shut down the Smokies in order in the ninth for his third save. The Stars host Tennessee, the Chicago Cubs' Double-A affiliate again tonight at 6:43 in the second of a 10-game homestand. Photo gallery from Opening Day

Brevard County Manatees enjoy well-armed pitching staff Starters have given up few runs by Michael Parsons, FLORIDA TODAY VIERA — Coming into the season, the starting pitchers were the talk of the Brevard County Manatees. After nine games, they have not disappointed. In fact, they may be better than advertised. Brevard pitchers have logged 50 2/3 innings this season and have given up just nine earned runs. Yes, nine. “This is a great group of guys,” Manatees manager Joe Ayrault said before a recent game. “I just hope we can keep them here all season and develop these guys.” That could be tough the way they are throwing. First-round draft pick Jed Bradley has yet to give up an earned run after two starts with the Manatees. Over 13 innings, the left-hander has given up just six hits. “There are always some things you need to work on, but I am happy with my start,” Bradley said. “We’ve got arms. Starters and relievers, we are deep. It’s exciting to go out not only the day you are pitching, but the day you are charting and watch and see our staff work. “It is a pretty special thing to have guys like this around you.” Another one of the special starters in this rotation is Jimmy Nelson. The second-round pick in the 2010 draft has also gotten off to a fast start, allowing just one earned run in 10 innings of work. He has been pitching between the Brewers’ two first-round picks in 2011 — Taylor Jungmann and Bradley. And been doing it well. “He has always had the stuff,” Ayrault said. “His confidence is up and he is learning to pitch.” Nelson has struck out 14 while walking just four in two starts. He is scheduled to start tonight at Space Coast Stadium against Lakeland. “We have five guys who could be No. 1 starters,” Jungmann said. But Jungmann has been that guy this season. The first pick for the Milwaukee Brewers in last year’s draft, Jungmann has logged the most innings this season. Through three starts, Jungmann has thrown 17 2/3 innings with an ERA of 3.06. “I am getting in a routine, so far it is just about getting comfortable,” Jungmann said. “Just getting in a routine and used to everything.” But this is where the Manatees differ from other teams. Because it is not just the top three starters who have been throwing well. It actually seems like whoever the team starts, they give them five great innings. Austin Ross has made two starts and given up just one run and Hiram Burgos made his first start of the season Friday against first-place Dunedin and shut them out over six innings, allowing just three hits. But Aryault is not surprised by the start. “I have been around the core of this group and knew they had this kind of talent,” Aryault said. “I am not surprised at all.”

Huntsville Times Mark McCarter focuses on the tribute to Don Mincher at the Stars' Opening Day celebration (and celebration of his life).

Brooks Conrad (shoulder) activated at Nashville Sunday, does not appear a corresponding move was necessary because of the Eric Farris recall, but one will be needed upon Farris' return to AAA.

Appleton Post-Crescent: OF/1B/DH Jason Rogers video interview, feature article, plus a bit of game story and photos from the Sun. 4/15 game

Wisconsin Video Highlights

Huntsville Media Notes

16-year-old future Pulitzer Prize winner Curt interviewed Brock Kjeldgaard

Nashville Media Notes *** Wisconsin Lineup & Game Notes courtesy of Carl, the rain hating camel

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.

STANDINGS: AAA - Pacific Coast League American Northern Division AA - Southern League North Division Florida State League North Division Midwest League Western Division

Follow Sunday's action as it happens with box score / game log links: Nashville Huntsville Brevard County Wisconsin

Sunday's Daily Menu: All times are Central Nashville: RHP Wily Peralta at home vs. New Orleans (Marlins), 1:50 PM pre-game, 2:05 gametime Free Live Audio Link Jeff Hem is the new 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). We imagine the audio feed is from the home team. All MiLB.TV details available at the link. ********** Huntsville: Soon-to-be 23-year-old RHP Brandon Williamson at home vs. Tennessee (Cubs), 3:48 PM pre-game, 4:03 gametime; this is Williamson's first game at AA (skipped High-A), no pressure -- just the home opener Free Live Audio Link -- Select the Huntsville feed from the MiLB main audio page I-Phone friendly audio link Alex Cohen is the new play-by-play voice of the Stars; follow him on Twitter @alexmcohen. It's fantastic that Huntsville is returning to what will be a traditional broadcast format this year. All games, home and away, are scheduled to be broadcast. MiLB.TV subsciption note: A total of 24 Stars' games (in Jacksonville and Tennessee) will be broadcast. ********** Brevard County: RHP Taylor Jungmann at home vs. Lakeland (Tigers), 4:05 PM gametime Sorry, no audio for this series... Once again this season, Brevard does not have its own audio coverage. It appears two teams in the Manatees North Division (within which the majority of games are played) have audio, and all six teams in the South Division have audio (at least for their home games), so there will be opportunities to listen to approx. 70% or Brevard's games this season, just all from the opponent's perspective. There are no Florida State League games on MiLB.TV this year. ********** Wisconsin: RHP Andy Moye at home vs. Peoria (Cubs), 12:45 PM pre-game, 1:05 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 only two (Great Lakes) Midwest League clubs that have all their home games available via MiLB.TV; Chris' call provides the audio. So for the $39.95 season-long package, fans in Brewer Nation can watch all Sounds games, all Timber Rattlers home games, and 24 Stars' road games (one Helena series this summer, too).

http://www.brewerfan.net/images/store/dailylinkreport.jpg

Tweeted this the other day, not sure if mentioned here -- nine games into the Brevard season, still waiting for an Eric Arnett sighting -- he is on the active roster.

It's great the Post-Crescent plans on doing these player profiles again this season -- you'll be reminded of what RHP Tommy Toledo's been through after reading this one.

Timber Rattlers and Midwest League leaders by Jim Oskola on PostCrescent.com Who's gotten off to a hot start in the Midwest League this season? Lake County's LaVon Washington, Kane County's Jorge Bonifacio and Burlington's Chad Oberacker for starters. The trio is batting .480, .433 and .419, respectively, according to the most recent Midwest League stats. The leading Timber Rattlers hitter? Yadiel Rivera at .333 with eight hits in 24 at-bats. Beloit's Miguel Sano (future Minnesota Twins star if you believe the chatter) leads the league with with three home runs 11 RBI. He has, however, struck out 11 times in 30 at-bats. Kane County as a team is batting .281 to lead the league in that category. The Timber Rattlers are 11th with a .231 team batting average. So far, Lansing has the league's best pitching staff with a 2.81 ERA. The Timber Rattlers are 13th with a 3.53 ERA. The individual strikeout leaders are Frank Garces of Fort Wayne and Austin Wood of Cedar Rapids with 15 strikeouts. The Rattlers' Matt Miller is tied for third with 14. A favorite stat for pitching is WHIP (walks and hits per inning). The Midwest League's early leaders are Garces at .55 and Adyss Portillo of Fort Wayne at .66. As we get deeper into the season, we'll provide more number crunching like "who's hot, who's not" on the Rattlers roster.

BIRMINGHAM, Ala .- The Huntsville Stars were unable to win their second consecutive series, as they fell to the Birmingham Barons by a score of 6-2 on Saturday night at Regions Park. The Stars took a 1-0 lead in the first inning when centerfielder Josh Prince led off the game with a triple and then scored on a sacrifice fly by shortstop Domnit Bolivar. It wouldn’t be enough for the win, however, as the Barons dominated the rest of the contest. From the second inning to the eighth, Birmingham scored six unanswered runs to clinch their first series win of 2012. Centerfielder Jared Mitchell led the way with an RBI triple, and right fielder Jose Martinez added a double and three RBI’s. The Stars added another run in the top of the ninth on an RBI single by catcher Jason Jaramillo. For the night, Jaramillo, left fielder Khris Davis and third baseman Andy Gonzalez accounted for six of the Stars’ 10 hits with two apiece. Huntsville out-hit Birmingham, but just couldn’t capitalize as they left eight runners on base. They were also just 1-for-7 with runners in scoring position. On the pitching side, the Stars were shut down by Barons starting pitcher Pedro Hernandez. The 26-year-old lefty cruised to his first victory of the season by limiting the Huntsville bats to one run and seven hits over six innings pitched. For Huntsville, RHP R.J Seidel fell to 0-2 on the season as he gave up three runs in four innings of work. With the loss, the Stars finished off their ten-game road trip to start off the 2012 season with a record of 4-6. On Sunday, the Stars return to Joe Davis Stadium for their home opener against the Tennessee Smokies and the first of ten straight games at “The Joe”. The Stars will honor the life of Don Mincher in a special pre-game ceremony. Gates open at 2:30 p.m for a first pitch at 4:03.

Nashville's Jeff Hem adds a Martin Maldonado interview to the one we linked with Josh Butler earlier

Huntsville Media Notes

Kyle's BrewCallPost we linked to above has been updated and also includes audio interview links with: RHP Mark Williams OF John Dishon RHP David Goforth Kudos...

Video highlights from the Rattlers game

Nashville Media Notes *** Kyle from BCB is at the Rattlers Game today, with updates and interview quotes

I was looking the other day myself and see no sign of any podcasts - to my mild dismay. New link for interviews, but not for game recap / highlights. Nice not to have to worry about the JS pay wall on these....