Jim Goulart

Brett Lawrie will miss Saturday's game as he flies to Anaheim for the Futures Game to be played Sunday. *** Mark Rogers has allowed only a .201 batting average against, almost more free passes than base hits, in 76 innings (54 hits, 50 walks, 69 K's).

Chattanooga Times Free Press: After allowing leadoff hitter Dee Gordon's infield single to start the game and walking No. 2 batter Trayvon Robinson, Mark Rogers quickly induced a double play from Jerry Sands and faced only two batters over the mininum through the next four innings. "That was probably Mark's best game," Huntsville manager Mike Guerrero said of his pitcher.. "Once he got through the first inning he was in total control." Staff photo by Dan Henry/Chattanooga Times Free Press - Chattanooga shortstop Dee Gordon (5) jumps over Huntsville's Brett Lawrie (13) after failing to catch a hit to second at AT&T field Friday evening. http://media.timesfreepress.com/img/photos/2010/07/09/0710_web_ls_d5_lookouts_t305.jpg?ba7ba0dd8d7f1e464d5eb01fb9ba8c10bd9c61fe

Stars get strong pitching and hitting in win over Lookouts By Aaron Morse, Huntsville Stars Mark Rogers went five shutout innings, Brett Lawrie drove in three runs, and the Huntsville Stars (9-9, 42-46) knocked off the Chattanooga Lookouts (10-8, 43-44) by a final score of 8-2 Friday night. Rogers helped his own cause as he doubled with one away in the third inning. Then with two down, Caleb Gindl drilled a double to center, plating Rogers and giving the Stars a 1-0 lead. They got to Chattanooga starter Mario Alvarez again the very next inning. With one away, Alvarez didn’t help himself as he committed a throwing error, allowing Lee Haydel to reach safely. After Dayton Buller drew a walk, Rogers grounded out, moving both runners up 90 feet. The Stars were the beneficiaries of two-out lightning as Lawrie delivered a two-RBI single to center. The 3-0 lead was more than enough for the Stars’ pitching staff. Rogers (4-6) was dominant, surrendering only a lone infield single in his five innings of work. He walked three and struck-out seven along the way to picking up the win. The Stars got some insurance in the seventh against Chattanooga’s bullpen. New pitcher James Adkins replaced Alvarez, who only gave up one earned run in his six innings of work. Adkins retired the first batter he faced, but gave up a single to Gindl and proceeded to walk Drew Anderson. Zelous Wheeler (who reached base four times in five trips on the night) followed with a single up the gut to score Gindl and make the score 4-0. A walk loaded the bases and Steffan Wilson hit the ball deep enough into the outfield to score Anderson and give the Stars a 5-0 lead. Huntsville wasn’t done though. In the eighth, pinch hitter Juan Sanchez reached on an error. Lawrie doubled him home for his third RBI of the day. Then with two outs, Anderson connected for a mammoth two-run homer, extending the lead to 8-0. Eddie Morlan worked two scoreless innings of relief. Nick Green did have his issues, as he gave up a couple of runs in the eighth, but he worked a scoreless ninth to finish the game off. The Stars look to take the season series Saturday evening as it will be the last time the two teams meet this year. Huntsville is 10-9 against Chattanooga so far and they’ll send Lucas Luetge (1-0, 2.30 ERA) to the mound in their effort to finish off the series right before the All-Star break. You can catch all the action on the Stars Radio Network, beginning at 6:00 PM central time with the Window World Pre-Game Report.

Stu's audio calls from the Nashville doubleheader -- Ben Johnson's two-run double in Game One / Mat Gamel go-ahead single in Game Two

Manatees walk-off with sweep of Dunedin By Frank Longobardo / Brevard County Manatees VIERA, Fla. - The Brevard County Manatees entered Friday night's game with the Dunedin Blue Jays seeking both its first series sweep and first three-game winning streak of the season. The Manatees got both in dramatic fashion with a 7-6 walk-off win in 12 innings. In the 12th inning, Manatees catcher Sean McCraw blooped a 1-2 pitch from Dunedin's Evan Crawford into center field to score Sergio Miranda from second with two outs and give Brevard County the win. After falling behind 1-0 in the top of the first, the Manatees took control of the game, in the bottom of the inning with three runs. A one-out single from Erik Komatsu scored Josh Prince and three batters later with two outs, Brock Kjeldgaard drove in Komatsu and Sean Halton with a two-out single to make it 3-1 Manatees. Scott Krieger led off the second with a triple and then scored on a sacrifice fly off the bat of Peter Fatse to give Brevard County a 4-1 lead. Manatees starting pitcher R.J. Seidel went three innings and allowed one run on four hits, while walking one and striking out five. Trey Watten relieved Seidel in the fourth and ran into some trouble. After getting Brian Van Kirk to ground into a double play, Watten gave up three straight singles, culminating with a RBI single by Justin McClanahan as the Manatees lead was cut to 4-2. In the fifth, John Tolisano and Travis d'Arnaud led off the frame with back-to-back singles for Dunedin off of Watten. After Michael McDade grounded out and moved both runners up 90 feet, Mark Sobowelski singled to left to score both Tolisano and d'Arnaud as the Blue Jays tied the game at 4-4. The game remained tied until the bottom of the seventh, with two outs and runners on the corners, Ross Buckwalter came in and was greeted rudely by Halton and he took the second pitch he saw and deposited it in left field to score Prince and make it 5-4. Next up was Miranda who singled to center to drive in Komatsu for a 6-4 Manatees lead. Brevard County's lead would not last for long though as Mike Ramlow, going into his third inning of work, gave up a two-out two-run bomb to Justin McClanahan in the top of the eighth as Dunedin tied the game once again. The Manatees got the go-ahead run to second base in both the eighth and ninth innings, but could not push it across as the game went into extra innings. Corey Frerichs came in for the Manatees in the ninth and was lights out as threw four perfect innings and struck out five to keep Brevard County alive. Brevard County was finally able to break through in the 12th as Miranda reached on a one-out infield single. He then stole second on a Kjeldgaard strikeout and then McCraw came up and took care of the rest. Both Komatsu and Halton went 3-for-6 while Miranda had two hits as well. The Manatees pitching staff struck out 15 and walked just two and Frerichs earned his sixth win of the season. With a six-game homestand complete, the Manatees will hit the road for a three-game series against the Tampa Yankees beginning on Saturday at 7:05 PM (6:05 Central). After an off-day on Tuesday, Brevard County will host the Charlotte Stone Crabs in a four-game set beginning on Wednesday, July 14 at Space Coast Stadium.

As my fellow Link Reporter TheCrew07 highlighted in Friday's Helena game report, 20-year-old RHP Adrian Rosario (career stats) has been bumped to Wisconsin. It'll be the first action above the rookie ball level for the 6'4" 20-year-old Dominican native. Not sure how the flight route works from Helena to Appleton, but I've always pictured these kids, particularly the young Latin players, making those trips and what thoughts run through their minds as they make their way. Just a hunch, but as the only other Dominican native on the Rattlers, RHP Santo Manzanillo will appreciate Rosario's presence and vice versa -- although both have been in the system for some time, which would lead you to believe they have made some progress in their English. Good luck as always. The Rattlers will need to make a move to free up a spot at some point this weekend prior to activating Rosario.

Hot off the Presses: TCU RHP Greg Holle is now officially a pro, joining the Milwaukee Brewers organization. Greg's dad Gary, a former Brewers farmhand himself (1978 stats), confirming the signing, which he said includes a significant bonus. The Brewers picked Greg in the 11th round - three years after the hard throwing righty declined to sign with the Yankees when they picked him in the 35th round. Holle, 6'8", was 2-1 in 16 appearances for Texas Christian this season. His most impressive stat, 38 k's in 24 innings. He's also worked it out so the costs of his final year of school at TCU will be covered as well. He'll report to the Brewers Class A affiliate in Arizona on Monday. Read colbyjack's scouting report which was included in our Draft Day coverage.

Huntsville Media Notes

Nashville Media Notes Rattler Radio: July 9, 2010: Game Notes July 9, 2010: Tonight's Starting Pitcher July 9, 2010: Lineup (No Kentrail)

RHP Jeff Bennett and his season-long ugly numbers for two organizations has landed on the Nashville DL.

Brevard swingman RHP Trey Watten had adjusted well to the bullpen in seven appearances there since being pulled from the rotation. He then spent eight days on the Manatee DL for an undisclosed injury, and is activated tonight to take Andre Lamontagne's open spot.

Link while active, text follows: Huntsville readies for another Southern League All-Star Game Mark McCarter, The Huntsville Times HUNTSVILLE, AL. -- The first pitch, the only other time the Southern League All-Star Game was played in Huntsville, was delivered by a young lefty named Tom Glavine. You may have heard of him. The last out was played with a considerable bit of bush-league hokiness to it. Richard Sterban, then a part-owner of the Huntsville Stars but better known as the "oom-pa-pa-mau-mau" bass voice from the Oak Ridge Boys, was inserted into the lineup to play right field. "I was just hoping they wouldn't hit the ball to me," Sterban confessed after the game. Perhaps sharing that sentiment was Jeff Conner, the pitcher for the Triple-A Nashville Sounds, who was wrapping up his team's 4-2 win over the Southern Leaguers. On Monday at 7:30 PM, the Southern League All-Star Game returns to Huntsville's Joe Davis Stadium for the first time since 1986. There are no guarantees, though it's quite likely, that a superstar-in-the-making like Glavine will appear. (File away the name Matt Dominguez of Jacksonville.) Nor are there guarantees, though it's quite unlikely, to see a musician enter the game. That said, somebody in the Stars' office may well have Bo Bice's cell number. Tickets for the game are $12 for reserved seats and $10 for general admission, though a number of free tickets are available through groups and companies - four per household by showing a Redstone Federal Credit Union check card at the box office, for instance - as Huntsville management strives to fill as many seats as possible. The All-Star Game has averaged more than 6,100 in the last nine years, with 7,127 at Birmingham last year. Challenged by the Huntsville organization's modest budget, there is little of extravagance planned for the two-day North vs. South All-Star event. On Sunday, the players will attend a meet-and-greet autograph session and party at the Grand Salon of the Holiday Inn Downtown from 6:00 PM until 8:00. A luncheon for players and guests will be there Monday at noon, with former major leaguer Jay Johnstone as the featured speaker. Huntsville general manager Buck Rogers decided to eschew the traditional home run derby and will instead showcase Huntsville's Miracle League, a baseball league for disabled youngsters, from 5:30 until 6:30. After the game, a private party will be held at the hotel for the players and team officials. Though the 1986 game was the last Southern League All-Star Game in Huntsville, then-owner Larry Schmittou lured the Double-A All-Star Game to the city in 1991. Only 4,022 attended the event, matching prospects from all three Double-A leagues. Slugger Jim Thome was among the three MVP winners that night. In 1986, Huntsville's second season in the league, there were some other big names at the Southern League All-Star Game. For instance, Yastrzemski and Ripken. Alas, it was Mike Yastrzemski, son of Carl, and Billy Ripken, brother of Cal. Terry Steinbach, the Huntsville catcher, was named MVP after hitting a homer, throwing out one would-be base-stealer and picking another man off. Two years later, Steinbach would be named MVP of the Major League All-Star Game with a homer and sacrifice fly. Glavine, on his way to an 11-6 mark for Greenville that season, pitched two innings of one-hit ball before giving way to Knoxville's Cliff Young, who got the loss when a shaky All-Star defense led to four runs in two innings, three of them unearned. Following Young to the mound was Todd Burns, still a Huntsville resident, who struck out two batters in a perfect fifth inning of work. The Stars will be represented by pitchers Michael Bowman and Amaury Rivas. Second baseman Brett Lawrie was selected to the team but is to appear in Sunday's Futures Game in Anaheim, Calif. He plans to fly back to Huntsville to participate in the festivities. Huntsville outfielder Lorenzo Cain and closer Brandon Kintzler, since promoted to Triple-A, were also selections.

PCL American North Club W L PCT GB *ELIM # Home Away L 10 Streak Memphis 48 39 .552 - - 25-16 23-23 6-4 W1 Omaha 46 39 .541 1.0 58 21-20 25-19 6-4 W3 Iowa 46 40 .535 1.5 57 25-23 21-17 5-5 W2 Nashville 45 41 .523 2.5 56 23-18 22-23 5-5 L3 SOU North Club W L PCT GB *ELIM # Home Away L 10 Streak Chattanooga 10 7 .588 - - 7-4 3-3 4-6 W1 Carolina 9 8 .529 1.0 53 4-2 5-6 7-3 W1 Huntsville 8 9 .471 2.0 52 3-3 5-6 6-4 L1 * Tennessee 8 9 .471 2.0 52 5-4 3-5 4-6 L4 West Tenn 6 11 .353 4.0 50 4-4 2-7 3-7 L1 FSL North Club W L PCT GB *ELIM # Home Away L 10 Streak Tampa 9 3 .750 - - 4-1 5-2 8-2 L1 Daytona 9 5 .643 1.0 57 6-1 3-4 6-4 W1 Brevard County 7 7 .500 3.0 55 6-4 1-3 5-5 W2 Clearwater 7 8 .467 3.5 54 5-1 2-7 5-5 W1 * Dunedin 6 8 .429 4.0 54 3-3 3-5 4-6 L2 Lakeland 3 10 .231 6.5 52 2-5 1-5 2-8 L1 MID Western Club W L PCT GB *ELIM # Home Away L 10 Streak Burlington 8 5 .615 - - 7-1 1-4 8-2 W2 Clinton 8 5 .615 - - 0-0 0-0 0-0 W1 Quad Cities 8 5 .615 - - 3-2 5-3 6-4 L1 * Cedar Rapids 7 7 .500 1.5 56 4-2 3-5 5-5 L2 Kane County 7 7 .500 1.5 56 4-2 3-5 5-5 W1 Beloit 6 8 .429 2.5 55 4-4 2-4 4-6 L1 Wisconsin 6 8 .429 2.5 55 4-2 2-6 3-7 W1 Peoria 4 9 .308 4.0 54 2-5 2-4 3-7 L1 PIO North Club W L PCT GB *ELIM # Home Away L 10 Streak Great Falls 11 7 .611 - - 4-5 7-2 7-3 W2 Helena 11 7 .611 - - 6-3 5-4 4-6 L2 Billings 7 11 .389 4.0 17 3-5 4-6 5-5 W1 Missoula 7 11 .389 4.0 17 5-5 2-6 4-6 L1 AZL Central Club W L PCT GB *ELIM # Home Away L 10 Streak AZL Brewers 11 4 .733 - - 1-2 0-1 1-3 W1 AZL Dodgers 9 6 .600 2.0 40 2-0 1-0 3-0 W3 AZL Reds 6 9 .400 5.0 37 0-1 1-1 1-2 L3 AZL Indians 5 10 .333 6.0 36 0-1 2-1 2-2 W2 DSL S.D. North Club W L PCT GB *ELIM # Home Away L 10 Streak DSL Cardinals 21 14 .600 - - 16-2 5-12 7-3 W3 DSL Mariners 18 16 .529 2.5 36 12-5 6-11 6-4 L1 DSL Brewers 16 18 .471 4.5 34 11-5 5-13 7-3 W1 DSL Athletics 14 21 .400 7.0 31 8-10 6-11 1-9 L9

Follow Friday's action as it happens: Here's what you do, right click on each of the links below and choose "Open in New Tab or New Window". Choose "Recap". While you're listening to your minor league game of choice (or watching/listening to the big league Crew when they are playing), simply refresh your game log browsers every so often. Nashville Game One (Gameday also available) Nashville Game Two (Gameday also available) Huntsville (Gameday also available) Brevard County Wisconsin Helena DSL Brewers

Nashville diehards can view the entire series in Memphis via a subscription to MiLB.TV. Also, Stu with a catching-up lengthy blog post fitting of the 20 innings the club played the other night.

Friday's Daily Menu: TGIF! Times Central; pitchers subject to change -- Nashville: RHP's Marty McLeary and Tim Dillard at Memphis (Cardinals), 5:50 PM pre-game; 6:05 gametime; each contest slated for seven innings Live Audio Link Huntsville: RHP Mark Rogers at Chattanooga (Dodgers), 6:00 PM pre-game; 6:15 gametime Live Audio Link Brevard County: RHP R.J. Seidel at home vs. Dunedin (Blue Jays), 6:05 PM gametime Sorry, no audio for this series... Wisconsin: RHP Maverick Lasker at Beloit (Twins), 6:40 PM pre-game; 7:00 gametime Live Audio Link Helena: RHP Matt Miller at home vs. Great Falls (White Sox), 7:50 PM pre-game; 8:05 gametime Live Audio Link Arizona Rookie (Maryvale): Idle DSL Brewers: at home vs. the DSL Cardinals, 9:30 AM

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Nice to see performance rewarded -- Andre Lamontagne skyrocketing... RHP Donovan Hand promoted to Nashville from Huntsville. RHP Andre Lamontagne promoted to Huntsville from Brevard County. OF (and new dad) Adam Stern activated from the Temporary Inactive list at Nashville. There will need to be a spot freed up at AAA, we'll probably find out later today.

Here's the odd final half-inning sequence when Orton Rodriguez lasted only one batter behind the plate: DSL Athletics Bottom 10th Defensive Substitution: Hitaniel Arias replaces Erickson Salaya, batting 4th, playing first base. Orton Rodriguez remains in the game as the catcher. Alfredo Sosa grounds out, pitcher Rigoberto Almonte to first baseman Hitaniel Arias. Defensive switch from third base to catcher for Allixon Cequea. Defensive switch from first base to third base for Hitaniel Arias. Defensive switch from catcher to first base for Orton Rodriguez. Luis Osorio singles on a ground ball to third baseman Hitaniel Arias. Wilfredo Solano grounds into double play, second baseman Yonki Hernandez to shortstop Andres Martinez to first baseman Orton Rodriguez. Luis Osorio out at 2nd. Great game for Ronny Puello, but how do you get picked off third base with the bases loaded and two out? Trying to score on a wild pitch? DSL Brewers Top 7th Pitcher Change: William Bautista replaces Alexis Juma. Juan De Leon pops out to second baseman Luis Osorio. Ronny Puello singles on a line drive to right fielder Jose Sayegh. Jose Pena doubles (6) on a ground ball to left fielder Alfredo Sosa. Ronny Puello to 3rd. Jose R. Garcia pops out to first baseman Jose Rosario. Pitcher Change: Victor Trinidad replaces William Bautista. Julio Sotelo walks. With Andres Martinez batting, Ronny Puello picked off and caught stealing home, catcher Abraham De Leon to third baseman Wilman Martinez.

Final: DSL Brewers 4, DSL Ahletics 3, ten innings DSL Brewers Box Score Three hours and 40 minutes and all hands on deck; game looks entertaining from a late drama level -- Brewers could do little until a three-run 8th to take a 3-2 lead; busy closer Rigoberto Almonte walked the leadoff man in the bottom of the 9th which set up a small-ball tieing run for the A's; the mound men acquitted themselves well, including newcomer RHP Juan Francisco in his second pro outing; there were 12 walks combined in the game, but the A's pitchers were particularly generous late in the game, which led to the victory; Ronny Puello, the DH in this one, was 4-for-4 with two doubles and a walk, as his numbers approach the hot pace he established in 12 games in 2009 before a season-ending injury; 3B Allixon Cequea was 3-for-5 and actually moved behind the plate in the 10th, for the first time we remember -- Orton Rodriguez has only been used in very limited duty, normally a catcher, he's apparently unable to play defense thus far, so despite a couple of game-winning RBI, including via a walk in the one, Cequea was needed behind the dish... DSL Brewers Game Log For a while here, it looked like the boys were going to let an absolutely golden opportunity slip in the go-ahead 10th -- DSL Brewers Top 10th Defensive switch from second base to first base for Luis Osorio. Rodolfo Penalo remains in the game as the second baseman. Allixon Cequea singles on a line drive to left fielder Alfredo Sosa. With Juan De Leon batting, Allixon Cequea advances to 2nd on a balk. Juan De Leon walks. Offensive Substitution: Pinch runner Erickson Salaya replaces Juan De Leon. Ronny Puello walks. Allixon Cequea to 3rd. Erickson Salaya to 2nd. Jose Pena pops out to second baseman Rodolfo Penalo. Jose R. Garcia pops out to shortstop Wilfredo Solano. Offensive Substitution: Pinch hitter Orton Rodriguez replaces Jhonatan Diaz. Orton Rodriguez walks. Allixon Cequea scores. Erickson Salaya to 3rd. Ronny Puello to 2nd. Andres Martinez strikes out swinging.

Link while active, text follows: BREWIN' WITH KUEHN Bivens making up for lost time on diamond By AMBER KUEHN, Helena Independent Record John Bivens is pure athlete — a 6-foot-2, 210-pound specimin as Helena Brewers manager Joe Ayrault likes to call him. It’s evidenced in his speed and shown in his powerful arm. Like in Wednesday’s game, when he threw a bullet from left field to get a Great Falls player out at home plate. Rarely does he need a cutoff man, easily getting the ball across the infield. Still, Bivens had just four hits in his last 23 at-bats heading into Thursday night’s game. He’s been caught stealing five times because his sliding could use a little work. They’re fundamental things that can be forgiven, however, considering how little action the 22-year-old has seen on the diamond these past few years. Injuries, knee surgery and a stint playing college football limited Bivens’ time playing the sport he says was his first love. Coming out of high school in Prince George, Va., Bivens had an opportunity to sign a contract to play pro ball, but said he never could come to monetary terms on his contract. “(The University of) Virginia had prestigious academics and I was promised the chance to play football and baseball and that swayed my decision,” he said. “That, and I figured I could get my degree.” After Cavaliers football coach Al Groh saw tape of Bivens, the three-sport prep athlete was offered a place on the team on the spot. It came as a surprise to Bivens, who missed out on the year high school athletes are primarily recruited after sitting out the junior grid season to focus on baseball. “I was told I was going to have the opportunity to play both sports as soon as I set foot on campus and unfortunately, it didn’t work out that way,” recalled Bivens, who saw action in seven games with UVA, mostly on special teams. “I lost two years of baseball because of it then last year ran into a couple injuries and left the football team on my own terms.” Bivens joined the baseball team in 2009, but only had 25 plate appearances. He then transferred to Virginia State to play baseball this past spring, and was drafted by Milwaukee in the 12th round last month. “I couldn’t ask for a better story, because baseball was always my first love,” Bivens said. “It’s my passion. What I always wanted to do was be a pro baseball player. God has been really good to me, he’s blessed me with this opportunity and I love that I can just solely focus on baseball. It’s great to be able to get my career started and just try to get better everyday.” Bivens has gotten some advice from a former Helena Brewer, Mike Roberts. Roberts and Bivens grew up together in the same hometown and Bivens considers him a good friend. “He and his whole family really took me in,” he said. “I’m like an extended part of their family, I talk to him all the time. “He tells me to just get out there, stay focused, and play ball.” Strasburg’s big fans There are two pitchers on the Great Falls Voyagers’ roster that say the transition from college to professional baseball was not all that difficult. Maybe that’s because they were teammates with a big-league caliber player at San Diego State. Goldy Simmons was drafted in 2009 by the White Sox, the same year Aztecs ace Stephen Strasburg was taken first overall by the Washington Nationals. Addison Reed, who closed games for Strasburg at San Diego State then followed in the stars’ footsteps as the team’s ace, joined Simmons on the Great Falls roster this year after being drafted in the third round. The two have nothing but good things to say about their former teammate, and weren’t the least bit surprised Strasburg had the successful start he did in the majors. Nor did they mind playing second fiddle to the phenom in college. “I thought it was awesome being around a guy getting that much attention,” said Simmons, who is 2-0 with a 2.89 ERA for the Voyagers this season. “It honestly felt like being around a big-leaguer the whole time...it was cool to go out there and know you were playing with a guy that’s elite.” Simmons said Strasburg serves as inspiration to rookie hurlers in the minors, guys trying to get where he is even if they’re not taking the same fast track. “He’s a perfect example of hard work pays off,” Simmons said. Reed was an All-American who led the nation in saves in 2009 while closing for Strasburg. Now, he’s back in a starting role for Great Falls. He has a 4.50 ERA in two starts this season. He said he still keeps in touch with Strasburg. “It’s awesome to just see what he’s going to do next,” Reed said. Strasburg gets the nod for the Nationals tonight. He is 2-2 with a 2.45 ERA in six starts. He has struck out 53 and walked eight in 36 2/3 innings. “Playing with him was just kind of like another teammate; after that you see him on ESPN everyday,” Reed said. “It was kind of weird at first. “A guy like him doesn’t come around often, and I don’ t know if there’s been a pitching prospect that’s had as much attention as he has.” Familiar faces Helena’s Cody Hawn and Great Falls’ Stephen McCray both played their college ball at the University of Tennessee last season. Helena hurler Jimmy Nelson and Voyagers second baseman Ross Wilson were teammates for three seasons at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa. Great Falls catcher Rafael Vera attended the same high school in Sarasota, Fla., as Brewers manager Joe Ayrault, and Vera’s dad later worked as a trainer on the same squad as the Helena skipper. Saying goodbye Former Helena Brewer Geoff Jenkins will retire as a Milwaukee Brewer today. He ranks second in the big league team’s franchise history with 212 home runs. Jenkins, who won a World Series ring with Philadelphia in 2008, will throw out the ceremonial first pitch tonight when Milwaukee takes on the Pirates.

Link while active, text follows: Great Falls crushes Helena, moves into tie for first place By AMBER KUEHN, Helena Independent Record Helena was the hottest hitting team in the Pioneer League North through the first 17 games, but you wouldn’t have known it Thursday night. The Brewers had just four hits and recorded a season-high five errors, as the Great Falls Voyagers took advantage of a disasterous defensive outing by the hosts to win 15-2. With the victory, the Voyagers moved into a tie for first place, and can claim sole possession of the standings lead by completing the sweep tonight at Kindrick Field. “It was a tough one,” Helena manager Joe Ayrault said. “We had some errors, pitchers fell behind in the count early, and we got hit pretty hard tonight. You’re going to go through (games like this) at some point ... a lot can be said about the makeup of players, how they respond when they’re down.” Helena has shown the ability to respond to adversity multiple times this season by clawing back from big deficits, but this was the most the team had trailed by all year. Just how bad did it get for the Brewers? The pitching staff threw five wild pitches and combined for 10 walks—half of which came in the final inning—and after blowing through three relievers the Helena staff turned to infielder Connor Lind to get the final out. Meanwhile, Great Falls had an offensive outburst with 13 hits and 15 runs, including plating 10 over the third and fourth stanzas off of Helena starter Seth Lintz (0-1). The Voyagers were also sound defensively, turning three double plays and getting a solid outing from right-hander Thomas Royse. Royse got his first win as a pro in his longest outing of the season, giving up just three hits, one earned run and striking out a pair in five innings of work. Designated hitter Rafael Vera led the Voyagers, going 3 for 4 with a a double and two RBIs to lift his average above .500. No Helena player had a multi-hit game. “It just happens; it’s baseball,” said Helena first baseman Cody Hawn, whose home run in the first inning provided the lone bright spot for the Brewers. “You can’t get down. We try to play our best game everyday and (Great Falls) did. It seemed like they made every play and hit every ball hard. We’ve just got to come back out and do what we do best tomorrow.” Helena had played clean ball up until Thursday, registering just 18 errors over the first 17 contests. But the Brewers had back-to-back errors by third baseman Mike Walker in the third inning, and shortstop Carlos George has made four miscues over the last two games. “We’ve just got to clean it up,” Hawn said. “It’s going to happen though, it’s part of growing up. We’ll be ready to play (tonight).” A cold night at the plate was a rarity for the Brewers, who entered hitting .291 as a team. But Helena is without its most power, Greg Hopkins, for at least a few more games after he suffered a concussion in Tuesday night’s game. “Having a guy like Hopkins out definitely puts a dent in things, and these guys are going to have to pick up slack while he’s out,” Ayrault said. “He’s probably going to be out until maybe Sunday, Monday, we’re being cautious with him. But having one of your best guys out of the lineup is tough.” Steven Upchurch is Great Falls’ probable starter for today’s series finale, while undefeated hurler Matt Miller takes the mound for the Brewers. DIAMOND NOTES: The Brewers donned their purple jerseys Thursday night in support of Relay for Life and the American Cancer Society ... The uniforms will be auctioned off to raise money for awareness ... Helena hitting coach Ned Yost IV celebrated his 28th birthday Thursday ... The loss to the Voyagers marked the first time this season the Brewers had dropped back-to-back games. All Photos By Dylan Brown, Helena Independent Record Helena's Reggie Keen hits a pop-fly to left field Thursday night at Kindrick field, while playing Great Falls. http://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/helenair.com/content/tncms/assets/editorial/9/87/2d3/9872d3be-8b0f-11df-bd0a-001cc4c03286-revisions/4c36a0b253a0c.image.jpg Helena's second pitcher, Rob Currie, is pulled out in the sixth inning Thursday night, after his own solid outing, even as the team fared poorly. http://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/helenair.com/content/tncms/assets/editorial/5/c3/92c/5c392c5e-8b0f-11df-a03c-001cc4c03286-revisions/4c36a04d9fda3.image.jpg Great Falls' Ross Wilson throws a ball to first for a double play Thursday night, while Helena's Shea Vucinich slides in. http://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/helenair.com/content/tncms/assets/editorial/6/d3/db1/6d3db1fa-8b0f-11df-9a64-001cc4c03286-revisions/4c36a069b2fd1.image.jpgHelena's Carlos George catches a high throw Thursday night, while Great Falls' Michael Earley slides in safe at second. http://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/helenair.com/content/tncms/assets/editorial/7/91/262/791262be-8b0f-11df-b36c-001cc4c03286-revisions/4c36a07da0d0b.image.jpg

A night to forget Helena Brewers Site The Helena Brewers (11-7) dropped their second game in a row Thursday night as the Great Falls Voyagers (11-7) pounded out 15 runs on 13 hits en route to a 15-2 victory. The loss moves the Voyagers even with the Brewers in first place in the Pioneer League North. Helena had the lead for a brief moment. Cody Hawn hit a solo shot over the right field fence in the first inning to give the Brewers an early advantage. Great Falls scored four runs in the third inning and six more in the fourth. They added two in the sixth and three in the final frame. Connor Lind, an infielder for the Brewers, made an appearance on the mound in the top half of the ninth inning. He faced one batter and recorded the out. Robert Currie continued his impressive start to the season, pitching 2.1 innings without allowing a run. The Brewers look to avoid the sweep tomorrow as they host the Voyagers for the final game of the three-game series. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 (8:05 Central).

Infielder Connor Lind came in and stranded three runners or the line would have been even uglier (and Robert Currie saved Frederickson). Hard to fret after two outings for Keeling, who knows what changes the coaches are trying to implement. A bit longer track records thus far for the, I like that moniker, the "aforementioned four". Credit to Eric Arnett for taking whatever he's doing in Maryvale to heart. Humbling, but hopefully successful.

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