Jim Goulart

Sounds, Brewers Extend Affiliation Nashville Sounds NASHVILLE, Tenn. - The Nashville Sounds and Milwaukee Brewers have extended their player development contract for two more years, ensuring that the working relationship between the clubs will continue through the completion of the 2012 season. The Sounds have served as the Brewers' Triple-A affiliate since the start of the 2005 season. The announcement was made jointly this afternoon by Sounds co-owner Frank Ward and Brewers executive vice president and general manager Doug Melvin. In six seasons as a Brewers affiliate, Nashville has produced five winning records, made the playoffs three times, and captured the 2005 Pacific Coast League title. The Sounds carry a 451-409 record over that stretch, the 4th-best mark among the 16 PCL clubs. "We are very pleased to continue our relationship with the Milwaukee Brewers and their staff. The product that they've put on the field here in Nashville speaks for itself," said Ward. "In addition, we are excited to know the Sounds will continue to play an integral role in developing the Brewers' prospects on their way to Milwaukee." Not including rehab players, 15 different Sounds players were promoted to Milwaukee this season. Twenty-four of the current 31 players on the Brewers' active roster have appeared for Nashville during their playing careers. "Frank Ward and his ownership group have provided our Nashville club with a number of our baseball-needed requests and the Brewers hope a new stadium is in the future plans," said Melvin. "We appreciate the fans who have supported both the Sounds and the Brewers players who have earned their way to Milwaukee." The Sounds kick off their 34th season of competition next April at Greer Stadium. Season ticket packages are currently on sale by calling (615) 690-HITS or visiting www.nashvillesounds.com.

Huntsville jersey auction That link is to the Stars' site, we also posted a message in our Trading Post Forum.

From Huntsville GM Buck Rogers: Stars fans, we are auctioning off game worn jerseys. This auction will begin today and end Friday, September 24th, at 5:00 pm CT. Listed below are the jerseys and BP tops with colors, sizes and which player or coach wore the jersey. Bids will be accepted by email, mail or dropped off in person. Please state which jersey or jerseys that you're bidding on and provide your contact information, e.g.: Your Name: Johnny Jones Your Tel #: 555-555-5555 Email Address: johnnyjones@jonesnet.com Jersey: #3 White Bid: $150 Your Cap Size (6 7/8 - 7 7/8): 7 1/4 Your Cap Color (Red or Blue): Blue All winning jersey bids will receive their jersey, one (1) New Era 5950 fitted game cap for each jersey bid upon and free shipping to any US address. Those outside the states will incur a few extra bucks in shipping fees, all based on where you live. Bids must be in $5 increments and in the event that a winning bidder does not pay for his or her jersey we will open that jersey up for re-bids for 24 hours. There are no autographs on these jerseys or BP tops. The white (home) and gray (road) jerseys are full-button mesh. The white jerseys have the Stars alternate logo on the front (without Sharky the Rocket Ship). The gray jerseys have the name HUNTSVILLE on the front in NASA font. The blue BP tops are a nylon shell with the Brewers 'Wisconsin' logo embroidered on the left chest. The BP Tops also have mesh underarm/sides. These are the same BP tops worn in spring training. All three tops (home, road and BP) have sewn-on numbers on the back. A letter of authenticity will accompany all jerseys. In the event that there is a tie on any bids, the bid that arrived in our email in-box first will be declared the leading and/or winning bid. Please do not wait until the last second to submit a bid. You might send it on time but we may not receive it until after bidding closes. We are not responsible for bids being lost in cyberspace; please check the updated bids list on our website to ensure your bid was posted. If you have any questions or to place a bid via email, please email starsinfo@huntsvillestars.com. An updated list of highest bids will be posted after each business day on our website at www.huntsvillestars.com. Here is the list of jerseys and BP Tops that are available by color, size and player/coach...a blank box next to a jersey means it was unassigned: ## Size Color Players & Coaches Current Bid High Bidder 1 L White Anderson Machado, Kevin Melillo $150 1 L Gray Anderson Machado, Kevin Melillo $150 1 XL Blue BP Anderson Machado $150 2 L White Shane Justis $150 2 L Gray Shane Justis $150 2 XL Blue BP $150 3 L White Caleb Gindl $150 3 L Gray Caleb Gindl $150 3 XL Blue BP Caleb Gindl $150 4 XL White Chuckie Caufield $150 4 XL Gray Chuckie Caufield $150 4 XL Blue BP Chuckie Caufield $150 5 XL Blue BP Lee Haydel $150 6 XL White Jonathan Lucroy $150 6 XL Gray Jonathan Lucroy $150 6 XL Blue BP $150 7 XXL White Lee Haydel, Johnny Raburn $150 7 XXL Gray Lee Haydel, Johnny Raburn $150 8 XL White Mike Guerrero, Adam Stern $150 8 XL Gray Mike Guerrero, Adam Stern $150 8 XL Blue BP Mike Guerrero $150 9 XL White Taylor Green, Drew Anderson $150 9 XL Gray Taylor Green, Drew Anderson $150 10 XL White Sean McCraw $150 11 XL White Lorenzo Cain, Michael Fiers, Michael Garciaparra $150 11 XL Gray Lorenzo Cain, Michael Fiers, Michael Garciaparra $150 11 XL Blue BP Lorenzo Cain, Michael Fiers $150 12 XL White Donovan Hand, Anderson de la Rosa $150 12 XL Gray Donovan Hand, Anderson de la Rosa $150 12 XL Blue BP Donovan Hand, Anderson de la Rosa $150 13 XL White Brett Lawrie $150 13 XL Gray Brett Lawrie $150 13 XL Blue BP Brett Lawrie $150 14 XL White Steffan Wilson, Charlie Fermaint, Logan Shafer $150 14 XL Gray Steffan Wilson, Charlie Fermaint, Logan Shafer $150 14 XL Blue BP Steffan Wilson $150 15 XL White Jim Henderson $150 15 XL Gray Jim Henderson $150 16 XL Blue BP Jin Henderson $150 17 XL White Alex Periard $150 18 XL White Nick Green, Casey Baron $150 18 XL Gray Nick Green, Casey Baron $150 18 XL Blue BP $150 19 XL White Chris Cody, Jim Henderson $150 19 XL Gray Chris Cody, Jim Henderson, Dave Bush $150 19 XL Blue BP Chris Cody $150 20 XL Blue BP $150 21 XL White Jonathan Lucroy, Martin Maldonado, Patrick Arlis, Chris Cody, Wes Littleton $150 21 XL Gray Jonathan Lucroy, Martin Maldonado, Patrick Arlis, Chris Cody, Wes Littleton $150 21 XL Blue BP Patrick Arlis $150 22 XL White Chris Errecart, Nick Green $150 22 XL Gray Chris Errecart, Nick Green $150 23 XL White Mat Gamel, Donovan Hand, Mike Jones $150 23 XL Blue BP $150 24 XL White Mark Rogers, Frank Catalanotto $250 Emily Sullivan 24 XL Gray Mark Rogers, Frank Catalanotto $250 Emily Sullivan 25 XL White Brent Brewer, Dayton Buller, Alex Periard $150 25 XL Gray Brent Brewer, Dayton Buller, Alex Periard $150 25 XL Blue BP Dayton Buller $150 26 XL White Josh Butler, Wily Peralta $150 26 XL Gray Josh Butler, Wily Peralta $150 26 XL Blue BP Josh Butler, Wily Peralta $150 27 XL White Anderson de la Rosa, Mike Jones $150 27 XL Gray Anderson de la Rosa, Mike Jones $150 27 XL Blue BP $150 28 XL White Brandon Kintzler, Nick Bucci, Adam Heether $150 28 XL Gray Brandon Kintzler, Nick Bucci, Adam Heether $150 28 XL Blue BP $150 29 XL White Robert Hinton, Josh Wahpepah $150 29 XL Gray Robert Hinton, Josh Wahpepah $150 29 XL Blue BP Robert Hinton $150 30 XL White Evan Amundsen, Juan Sanchez $150 30 XL Gray Evan Amundsen, Juan Sanchez $150 30 XL Blue BP $150 31 XL White Casey Baron, Robert Hinton $150 31 XL Gray Casey Baron, Robert Hinton $150 31 XL Blue BP Casey Baron $150 32 XL White Zelous Wheeler, Brandon Kintzler, Freddie Parejo $150 32 XL Gray Zelous Wheeler, Brandon Kintzler, Freddie Parejo $150 32 XL Blue BP Zelous Wheeler $150 33 XL White Al LeBoeuf $150 33 XL Gray Al LeBoeuf $150 33 XL Blue BP Al LeBoeuf $150 34 XXL White Michael Bowman $150 34 XXL Gray Michael Bowman $150 34 XL Blue BP Michael Bowman $150 35 XXL White Drew Anderson, JR Hopf, Yohannis Perez $150 35 XXL Gray Drew Anderson, JR Hopf, Yohannis Perez $150 35 XL Blue BP Drew Anderson $150 36 XXL White Patrick Arlis, Chris Nowak $150 36 XXL Gray Patrick Arlis, Chris Nowak $150 36 XL Blue BP $150 37 XXL White Scott Krieger, Angel Salome, Omar Aguilar, Rob Wooten $150 37 XXL Gray Scott Krieger, Angel Salome, Omar Aguilar, Rob Wooten $150 38 XXL White John Curtis, David Welch $150 38 XXL Gray John Curtis, David Welch $150 38 XL Blue BP John Curtis $150 39 XXL White Mike McClendon, Eddie Morlan, Derrick Ellison $150 39 XXL Gray Mike McClendon, Eddie Morlan, Derrick Ellison $150 39 XL Blue BP Eddie Morlan $150 40 XXL White Lucas Luetge, Dan Merklinger, John Axford, Zach Braddock, Josh Butler $150 40 XXL Gray Lucas Luetge, Dan Merklinger, John Axford, Zach Braddock, Josh Butler $150 40 XL Blue BP Lucas Luetge $150 41 XXL White Jeremy Jeffress, Mark Willinsky, Mark Holliman $150 41 XXL Gray Jeremy Jeffress, Mark Willinsky, Mark Holliman $150 41 XL Blue BP $150 43 XXL White Amaury Rivas, Sam Narron $150 43 XXL Gray Amaury Rivas, Sam Narron $150 43 XL Blue BP Amaury Rivas $150 44 XXL White Andre Lamontagne, Mike McClendon $150 44 XXL Gray Andre Lamontagne, Mike McClendon $150 44 XL Blue BP Andre Lamontagne $150 45 XXL White Brett Dowdy $150 45 XXL Gray Brett Dowdy $150 45 XL Blue BP $150 46 XL Blue BP Chris Nowak $150 47 XL Blue BP $150 48 XL Blue BP $150 49 XL Blue BP $150 50 XL Blue BP Mark Rogers $150

Why is that?Apparently because of mosquitos? Nah, our esteemed friend will back up his thoughts here at some point, I'm sure...

Bullpen holds strong, Brewers take Game 1 By Brett Billings/Helena Brewers The Helena Brewers took the first game of the Pioneer League Championship series against the Ogden Raptors on Wednesday night at Kindrick Legion Field. Helena trailed 2-1 in the fourth, but scored two unanswered runs as the bullpen tossed 5.1 innings of shutout baseball. The Brewers took an early lead in the in the third. John Dishon led the inning off with a walk and later scored after consecutive singles from Carlos George and Robbie Garvey. Ogden quickly answered back with a two-run fourth. Tyler Thornburg (0-0, 4.91) started on the mound and cruised through the first three innings, striking out seven batters. But after walking in a run in the fourth, he was replaced by Stosh Wawrzasek. Thornburg left after allowing two runs on two hits in 3.2 innings. He struck out nine and walked four. Helena didn't let the Raptors keep the lead for long. They scored in the fourth to tie the game thanks to a two-out RBI double from Rafael Neda. The Brewers took the lead and scored the final run of the game in the bottom of the fifth. This run was a bit of a gift. George drew a free pass to start the inning, advanced all the way to third on a wild pitch, and scored on a sacrifice fly from Garvey. Garvey finished the game 2 for 3 and was responsible for two of the Brewers' three RBI. Wawrzasek (1-0, 0.00) earned the win, throwing 2.1 innings without allowing a hit. He struck out three and walked two. Charly Bashara, who was promoted late in the regular season from the Arizona Rookie League, pitched two scoreless innings in relief while striking out three. Brian Garman closed the game with a scoreless ninth to earn the save. The Brewers' pitching staff combined to strikeout 17 Ogden batters and only allowed three hits. Helena now travels to Ogden for Game 2 and a third if necessary. Wednesday will be a travel day and the series will resume on Thursday at Ogden's Lindquist Field. *** One win shy of a title By AMBER KUEHN, Helena Independent Record What do you get when you strike out the best hitters in the Pioneer League 17 times and hold them to just two runs and three hits? A Game 1 win in the Pioneer League Championship. The Helena Brewers got another phenomenal performance from their pitchers and just enough timely base hits from their offense to move one game away from a ring, beating the Ogden Raptors 3-2 Tuesday at Kindrick Legion Field. “One more, baby!” first-year Helena manager Joe Ayrault yelled to his team in the clubhouse after the game. The Brewers head to Ogden to close out the best-of-three series, looking for their first title since 1996, which also came against the Raptors. This one couldn’t have started out any better. Helena starter Tyler Thornburg came out and struck out the side in the first inning and again in the third, finishing with nine strikeouts. A hot-hitting Ogden team that closed out the season batting .298 was fanned a season-high 17 times. “I guess that’s kind of the ideal way to start,” said the right-handed Thornburg, who worked a fastball into the low- to mid-90s. “It was definitely nerve-wracking because I hadn’t been out there in a couple weeks.” Thornburg hadn’t thrown since Aug. 31 but was practically unhittable, giving up just two singles to Ogden first baseman Blake Dean. The trouble came in the fourth inning, when he and reliever Stosh Wawrzasek walked four batters to bring in the Raptors’ lone runs and give the visitors the lead. Charly Bashara and Brian Garman combined for a one-hit shutout to close the game. “Offensively, we just didn’t show up,” Ogden manager Damon Berryhill said. “We tried to force too much tonight.” The Brewers drew first blood in the third, when Robbie Garvey pounded an RBI single to score John Dishon. Garvey would also bring in the game-winning score, on a sacrifice fly in the fifth that brought Carlos George home. Still, it was defense and pitching that prevailed in a game where the Brewers had just six hits. “The bats might be there, they might not,” said Brewers catcher Rafael Neda, who had the lone extra-base hit in the contest when he struck a double in the fourth frame. “But pitching should be there everyday ... pitchers are the ones that win the ring.” Pitching has been strong since the second half and through the postseason, but Ayrault hopes his defense continues to play the way it has been. “We made some big plays defensively,” the skipper said, referencing in particular Franklin Romero Jr.’s catch on the run in center to rob Dean of a double; Neda’s diving play on a pop up bunt by Leon Landry in foul ground; and a back-handed grab by George on Casio Grider’s ground ball that the shortstop flipped quickly to first for the second-to-last out in the contest. Ayrault also spoke highly of his pitching staff. “Tip your hat to Elvin Nina for having those guys ready to pitch playoff baseball,” he said. Now, a roster full of 19 first-year pros would love to remember Rookie ball with a ring. They can taste a title. “It’s really close but at the same time feels far away,” Neda said. “We know we can do it, but we’ve got to take it one pitch at a time, and one at-bat at a time.” The Brewers face Ogden in Game 2 at Lindquist Field on Thursday. Matt Miller is slated to start for Helena, against right-hander Red Patterson of Ogden. DIAMOND NOTES: Ogden catcher Mike Pericht was 0 for 3 in the contest, which snapped a 10-game hitting streak ... Pioneer League MVP Jake Lemmerman was just 1 for 3 while leadoff hitter Leon Landry struck out in four of his five at-bats ... the Raptors first four in the order were a combined 1 for 14. All photos by Dylan Brown Independent Record Helena's Carlos George comes across the plate to score the third run Tuesday night against the Ogden Raptors in the first game of the Pioneer League Championship Series. http://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/helenair.com/content/tncms/assets/editorial/5/83/f0f/583f0f64-c080-11df-a46e-001cc4c002e0-revisions/4c90492fcadfb.image.jpg George, left, is greeted by his teammates after scoring the third run of the night. http://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/helenair.com/content/tncms/assets/editorial/4/a2/a2f/4a2a2f12-c080-11df-a64a-001cc4c002e0-revisions/4c90491877a8c.image.jpg George hits a grounder for a single. http://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/helenair.com/content/tncms/assets/editorial/3/c3/63a/3c363aea-c080-11df-98ea-001cc4c002e0-revisions/4c904900e2dfd.image.jpg Helena's John Dishon slides safely into third before Ogden's Chris Henderson catches the ball. http://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/helenair.com/content/tncms/assets/editorial/2/d8/9eb/2d89eb22-c080-11df-916b-001cc4c002e0-revisions/4c9048e7cb3b8.image.jpg

Interleague: Brewers: AT BOS, AT NYY, AT MIN VS. TB, VS. MIN *** Cardinals: AT BAL, AT TB, AT KC VS. KC, VS. TOR *** Reds: AT BAL, AT TB, AT CLE VS. CLE, VS. TOR, VS. NYY Yeah, that's fair. http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/tongue.gif

Not an accidental double-post: Ogden Top of the 3rd Casio Grider strikes out swinging. Leon Landry strikes out swinging. Robert Coyle strikes out swinging. Thornburg throwing about 95% heat, in the mid-90 range, according to Steve. That's seven K's, all swinging, through three innings. Helena up, 1-0, and threatening for more, bottom of the 3rd.

Nice season-ending blog post from Stu Paul. Our pleasure this year, Stu, and should the Sounds / Brewer connection somehow continue, we'll hear you in 2011.

An Ogden flyout in the 2nd inning ended a stretch going back to the finale against Great Falls in which Helena pitchers tossed scoreless ball while recording 11 outs (though not consecutively), all by strikeout. Did I word that OK? I think you get it.

Thornburg strikes out the side in order in the 1st! Ogden Top of the 1st Leon Landry strikes out swinging. Robert Coyle strikes out swinging. Jake Lemmerman strikes out swinging. Anybody ready to Photoshop a Lincecum haircut? http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/images/players/mugshot/ph_592804.jpg

Posted by vgmastr: The Brewers actually open on Thursday, March 31 in Cincinnati then have an off day on Friday. The home opener is on April 4 against the Braves. As speculated, the interleague schedule is home against Tampa, at Boston and the Yankees, and the usual home-and-home with the Twins. With the opener being on a Thursday, I'll just have to make it a five day weekend so I can watch it on TV and then go to the home opener the following Monday. Only five games are scheduled for the 31st, everyone else opens on the 1st.

Thanks for the bump, but let's start with a clean thread here, posted at the same time. We'll paste your comments there.

Schedule Link INTERLEAGUE: 15 games starting June 17th -- at Boston, home to Tampa Bay, home to Minnesota, at the Yankees, at Minnesota Yikes, just hope for 7-8 somehow; that'd be impressive. A nine-game road trip and a ten-game road trip before May 9th arrives. 15 of 19 at home starting May 9th Only one southern California trip -- a quick trip at that, two games at LA and two games at SD in May An 11-game trip to Col, AZ, SF in July Clinch a playoff spot on the final weekend home against Pittsburgh *** I'm deflated. Brutal, brutal...

A call for the locals to attend tonight

Helena: RHP Matt Miller at Ogden (Dodgers), 7:40 PM Central pre-game; 8:00 gametime Live Audio Link *** Box Score / Game Log

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

Baseball America reports that the Padres released Jody Gerut.

Brewers brush aside Great Falls, will play for Pioneer League title By AMBER KUEHN, Helena Independent Record GREAT FALLS — With a Pioneer League North Division Championship hanging in the balance, Brian Garman did what he’s done all season. On a 2-2 count to Great Falls catcher Mike Blanke, the Helena Brewers closer sent a nasty slider over the middle of the plate to strike out the side for a 9-5 win at Centene Stadium on Sunday. This win was bigger than most. The Brewers overcame adversity to win a game 3 of the best-of-three Pioneer League North Division playoff series on the road, beating the team with the best overall record in the Pioneer League and the North squad that had won both halves. “It was a relief to get it over with, it was exhilarating after I got it out of the way,” the southpaw Garman said of getting the final out. Helena advances to the Pioneer League Championship Series for the first time since 2005. The Brewers will face Southern Division champ Ogden in game one of the best-of-three series Tuesday at Kindrick Legion Field. First pitch is slated for 7:05 PM (8:05 Central). “This is great, this is what we’ve been playing for since day one,” said first-year Brewers manager Joe Ayrault. Ayrault laid out three goals for his team at the beginning of the year: make the playoffs, win the North Division and win a Pioneer League championship ring. Helena can cross two of those off the list. “We’ve got the confidence rolling and great team chemistry,” the skipper said. “It’s a great feeling, but we’ve still got some unfinished business to take care of.” Brewers starter Tyler Cravy was tenacious through six tough innings, working out of several jams and leaving many Voyagers baserunners stranded. Cravy earned his first win of the postseason after striking out seven against seven hits, four runs and two walks. “I was pretty nervous, and I didn’t have my best stuff so it was good to get a lot of run support,” Cravy said. “I think the last time I was in any kind of championship game was when I was 14 or 15.” Voyagers starter Steven Upchurch was not the master on the mound Sunday as he had been all season. Upchurch struggled from the get-go, and was done after 2 1/3 innings after allowing six earned runs on six its and walking three Brewers. “We did a great job getting on Upchurch early,” Ayrault said. “He was a guy who had done well against us all year.” The Brewers had the better bullpen in this one. Garman was the third different pitcher for the Brewers to strike out the side in an inning, after Cravy did so in the fourth — after giving up a leadoff double to Rafael Vera — and Eric Marzec fanned six of the eight batters he faced. Great Falls was 2 for 11 with runners in scoring position in the contest, while Helena was 6 for 13 after struggling in that area the first two games of the series. If the Helena pitchers were the stars, the Brewers’ bats were the supporting cast. The visitors pounded out 11 hits, and were led at the plate by Cody Hawn, who batted the Brewers’ first two runs in, and Rafael Neda, who was 3 for 4 with two RBIs and a double—his first extra-base hit in a Helena uniform. “It was a great feeling,” said the catcher, who was promoted from the Arizona League a few weeks ago. “I just wanted to help my team.” A night after Great Falls used a four-run sixth inning to push ahead of Helena, the Brewers got a big inning of their own, scoring five runs in the third frame. They also had a strong night defensively in the field, not recording a single error. Ross Wilson homered for the Voyagers, while first baseman Ryan Hamme was 3 for 4 with an RBI. Rafael Vera, who had a perfect night at the plate in Great Falls’ lone win of the series, was 2 for 4 with two doubles. “In order to win games like this, with so much on the line, we have to do it as a team,” Garman said. “Our offense did well, pitching was good, defense was good...it was a good day for baseball.” Ogden 12, Orem 9 OGDEN, Utah—After giving up seven runs in the first inning, the Ogden Raptors battled back to tie the Pioneer League South Division Championship in the fourth frame, then go on to beat the defending league champion Orem Owlz to set up a title matchup with Helena. The Raptors held Orem scoreless over the final four frames while pushing across five more runs for the victory. Six different players for Ogden had multiple hits, including league MVP Jake Lemmerman, who was 2 for 4 with a double, two runs scored and an RBI. Center fielder Leon Landry turned in a 3-for-4 performance, came home three times and pounded two of his teammates in.

Brewers down Voyagers, claim Northern Division By MIKE TOWNE, Great Falls Tribune Sports Writer The Great Falls Voyagers rallied for numerous victories on their home turf this summer, but on Sunday the Helena Brewers put the Pioneer League's winningest team in an early hole it couldn't climb out of. The Brewers took a 1-0 lead in the first inning, then exploded for five runs on four hits in the third to go up 6-0. The Voyagers got no closer than three runs the rest of the way and Helena left Centene Stadium with a 9-5 win and its first Northern Division championship since 2005. After going 6-10 against Great Falls in the regular season, Helena won the playoff series 2-1. The Brewers took the opener 5-3 Friday night in Helena and lost 6-2 in Great Falls on Saturday. Helena (43-35) will play host to the Ogden Raptors in the first game of the best-of-three league championship series, set for Tuesday night. Ogden defeated the defending champion Orem Owlz 12-9 on Sunday to win the Southern Division championship series two games to one. The loss ended a fine season for the Voyagers. Manager Chris Cron's club won both the first- and second-half Northern Division titles and had the league's best regular-season record (47-28). Helena catcher Rafael Neda led an 11-hit attack with two singles and a double. Cody Hawn, Greg Hopkins and Mike Walker each chipped in a pair of hits. Walker, Shea Vucinich and Robbie Garvey each scored two runs, and Neda, Hawn and John Dishon had two RBIs apiece. Starting pitcher Tyler Cravy worked six solid innings, surrendering four runs on seven hits while walking two and striking out seven. Eric Marzec and Brian Garman, the Brewers' second and third relievers, combined to allow no runs on three hits while striking out seven in the final 2 1/3 frames. Garman struck out the side in the ninth. "Baseball starts with starting pitching, and Cravy did a great job for us," said Hawn, who played well despite a bad hamstring. "But everyone did their job. We were looking forward to this game. We came ready to play, for sure." "Great Falls is a heck of a team and Chris Cron is a great manager. We had a lot of good battles this season," Helena manager Joe Ayrault said. "Our goal was to get to the divisional series and win it. Now we'll go for the ring. "We have a lot of great guys, great team chemistry," he added. "I couldn't be happier." Cron had good things to say about the Brewers. "Helena plays the game right. We wish them luck (in the championship series)," he said. He was sorry to see the season come to an end, of course, but not disappointed with his team's effort on Sunday. "We just couldn't get over the hump. Our guys weren't going to quit," he said. "We battled back and battled back, but Helena kept battling. They won more battles than we did. "I think there definitely were no doubts in (the Brewers') minds that we wouldn't quit, that we were still in it (until the final out)." Garvey opened the game by drawing a walk on five pitches by Steven Upchurch. He advanced to second on a ground-out and made it 1-0 when Hawn ripped a double to center field. Helena sent 10 batters to the plate in the third inning. Hawn, Walker and Neda each had RBI-singles, expanding the Brewers' lead to 4-0. Dishon drew a bases-loaded walk, scoring Walker and spelling the end for Upchurch, who gave up six runs on six hits in 2 1/3 innings. Carlos George hit a sacrifice fly off Nelson Curry, plating Kenny Allison to give Helena a 6-0 lead. Ross Wilson hit a solo home run in Great Falls' half of the third, but the Brewers got that run back on an RBI-single by Hopkins in the top of the fourth. The Voyagers scored single runs in both the fifth and sixth innings, on Michael Earley's towering home run over the center field wall and Dusty Harvard's single to left, to whittle the deficit to 7-4. But Helena came right back again, scoring two runs in the top of the seventh. Neda doubled home Hopkins, who had led off with a single against Jacob Wilson. Walker singled and scored on a sacrifice fly by Dishon, making it 9-4. In Great Falls' half of the seventh, Ryan Hamme's third hit of the game, a single to right, scored Ross Wilson for the game's final run. Wilson and Vera had two hits each for the Voyagers. Earley and Wilson scored two runs apiece, and Wilson had a two RBIs. "We can't be disappointed with what we accomplished. But doggone it, we lost the last game, and that leaves a pit in your stomach," he added. "We'll step back in a few days and be proud of what we did. "Every one of our players got better. I'm proud of what we accomplished."

John Sickels discusses RHP Michael Fiers here as a guy who transitioned well to AA.

Helena wins, 9-5 and it's on to the Pioneer League Finals! Relievers Eric Marzec and Brian Garman recorded the final seven Great Falls outs via the strikeout route. Tyler Cravy gutted out a six-inning start, and every position player contributed. (Hey, Steve just said Cravy "gutted out" as well as I typed, and I hadn't hit "post" yet.) A five-run 3rd inning gave the H-Crew a 6-0 lead. Details during the overnight -- the Brewers will host either Orem or Ogden, and what a series that's been. Ogden has come back from a 7-0 deficit after the top of the 1st to take a 10-9 lead in the 7th. Congrats, guys!

Peter Gammons on Mark Rogers

Nice start, 1-0: Helena Top of the 1st Robert Garvey walks. Shea Vucinich grounds out, third baseman Andy Wilkins to first baseman Ryan Hamme. Robert Garvey to 2nd. Cody Hawn doubles (3) on a fly ball to right fielder Michael Earley. Robert Garvey scores. Gregory Hopkins grounds out, shortstop Kyle Davis to first baseman Ryan Hamme. Cody Hawn to 3rd. Michael Walker flies out to center fielder Randall Thorpe.

RHP Tyler Cravy is your starter today. Here's your lineup -- Player Pos AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO AVG Garvey LF 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .375 Vucinich 2B 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 Hawn DH 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .333 Hopkins 3B 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .375 Walker 1B 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .429 Allison CF 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 Neda C 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .333 Dishon RF 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .143 George SS 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .125 Cravy P 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 I just joked with Steve that my Patriots are done, and that the Packers aren't the distraction for me it is for many of you folks...

The lead post in this thread has been updated to reflect Sunday's updated info and box score / game log links.