Jim Goulart

Helena KCAP Audio Pre-Game Interview with RF Caleb Gindl, the Brewers' 2007 5th round pick: We've been waiting for this one; be sure you're on the July 5th archive, then go to the 11:00 minute mark -- web.minorleaguebaseball.c.../audio.jsp

David Weiser's www.starsboxscore.com/ WHAT A DOG!JAKE CATCHES FLIES... SMOKIES HIT THEM OUT What do you do for an encore after a big fireworks show for the Fourth of July crowd of 11,000+? Well, you call Jake the Diamond Dog, a barnstorming act featuring a handsome golden retriever (everyone loves dogs, c'mon.) who can act as bat boy, ball boy, and water boy, shag flies and frisbees, and just charm the socks out of you just by being a dog....... Oh yes. The game was a dog, too. Kevin Hart, who held the Stars to two unearned runs over six innings back on June 20 at Smokies Park, did not let three errors by Carlos Rojas and three wild pitches of his own spoil a shutout bid this time, allowing just two hits en route to an 8-0 victory........ This wasn't a golden retriever. It was a hound. After the Smokies scored in the top of the 1st on a sacrifice fly, Hernan Iribarren attempted to get the Stars off to a good start with a bloop single that dropped in near the right field line. Carlos Rojas then turned a double play ball by Michael Brantley into a none-out, 1st-and-2nd situation, when his soft lob near the bag was too soft to be handled by 2nd baseman Gary Cates. But on the first pitch, a ball, to Steve Sollmann, Iribarren was easily thrown out trying to steal 3rd. On the next pitch, Hart's wild pitch moved Brantley 90 feet, and would have moved Iribarren, and possibly resulted in the Stars' 1st run. But it was of little consequence tonight....... Will Inman and David Johnson each gave up a pair of HRs, capped by Tyler Colvin's three-run shot that delivered the last nail in the coffin to give the Smokies an 8-0 lead........ Matt Craig's solo shot in the 3rd, an opposite-field HR to left that just carried over the Southern Jamm sign, made it 2-0........ Jason Fox, 2nd among Southern League HR leaders, hit one off the scoreboard in the 6th to make it 3-0, and Jemel Spearman greeted Johnson with a shot over the 2nd fence in left-center in the 7th to make it 4-0....... It was the 2nd time this season the Stars' pitching staff had allowed four dingers in a game. (Montgomery hit four in a 13-6 thumping on April 24). Just as it was a frustrating night on the mound for our guys, it was frustrating at the plate, too, as if it mattered........ Held to only two hits, the Stars were still the beneficiary of three walks, three errors, and three wild pitches -- none of which they could capitalize on. They could get only one runner around to third -- that coming after Brendan Katin's single to right to lead off the 7th....... A comebacker dropped by Grant Johnson moved him to 2nd and a grounder to short moved Katin to 3rd. But Mel Stocker ended the inning with another ground out....... Walks to Iribarren in the 8th and Steve Moss in the 9th turned out to be harmless....... The Stars are now 3-9 in shutout games this season. They are 27-51 in shutouts since 2004. Inman's ERA went down for the 3rd straight start, but he's given up five HRs in his five starts, and for the year, the Stars' staff has given up 64 homers (5th in the SL), while hitting just 42 themselves (last in the league)....... At the present rate, the Stars will end up with 68 HRs, missing the record low of 63 in 2005....... The Stars have not, as a team, hit 100 HRs since 2001. Adam Heether's six-game hitting streak came to an end, while Lou Palmisano's 0-for-July streak stretches to 16 at-bats....... David Johnson's ERA climbed by nearly two runs -- from 3.77 to 5.74 in a disastrous 7th inning....... To give the bullpen a rest, outfielder Ryan Crew was called in to mop up in the 9th. It was his 2nd appearance on the mound this year since joining the team on June 3rd. Crew may be qualified to become a closer if he keeps doing what he did tonight -- getting Matt Craig to look at a called strike three, much to his vocal displeasure to home plate ump Arthur Thigpen, and fanning Tyler Colvin on a 77 mph pitch....... Crew now has three Ks in two IP. His previous pitching appearance came at Pringles Park on June 8. Left-hander Derek Miller, who was promoted to the Stars earlier in the day, will start against curly-haired Mark Holliman, who threw a seven-inning no-hitter at the Stars on June 21....... Since then, Holliman has given up 17 hits and walked seven in 12 1/3 innings in two starts, losing one of them to Carolina on June 26......... Miller was 4-4 with a 3.71 ERA for Brevard County in 17 starts. He held his Florida State League opponents to a .240 average....... He left the Manatees with a 1-0 record and 6.75 ERA in his last three starts....... To free up the roster spot for Miller, Robert Hinton was sent down to Brevard......... After logging a 0.87 ERA in April, Hinton has gone 0-2 with a 10.21 ERA, giving up 36 hits and walking 14 in 19 appearances. Mat Gamel, Brevard's 3rd baseman, has hit safely in 32 consecutive games, getting a leadoff home run in the 7th inning in Thursday's game against Jupiter in a 12-3 loss...... But Gamel, who is hitting .315 for the Manatees, has also made 40 errors at 3rd. To put things in perspective, the Stars club record for errors by a 3rd baseman is 38 by Scott Hemond in 1988 and Stan Royer in 1990, and this season is far from over. Former Stars reliever Mitch Stetter is rehabbing with the Arizona Rookie League Brewers and was the starting pitcher in a 7-1 loss to the AZL Giants, July 4. The Stars double-header loss July 2 was their 3rd straight. That hadn't happened since the 1999 season....... Yohannis Perez is finding his stroke with Brevard County. The Manatees' shortstop is hitting .283 and hit .310 in June after being sent down to the Florida State League on June 18...... Jeff Eure's average has shrunk to .209 at Class AA-Wichita (Texas). He's 5-for-38 (.132) with three RBIs in his last ten games........ Joe Valentine has been signed by the Long Island Ducks of the independent Atlantic League. His contribution as a closer, saving 10 games for the Stars down the August-September stretch, was immeasurable, as it resulted in a Northern Division title and a championship berth last year....... Chris Saenz (Stars '03-'04) is getting shelled at Arkansas, the Angels' AA affiliate in the Texas League: a 1-6 record and a 7.68 ERA in 18 appearances, eight of them starts....... The Kansas City Royals purchased Tim Bausher (Stars '04) from Nashua in the independent Can-Am League, June 26. He's been assigned to Class AA-Wichita, former home to Mel Stocker. He was 4-2 with a 3.50 ERA at Nashua........ According to Baseball America, the Brewers have released Max St. Pierre for the second time this year. After making the Stars' opening day roster as a catcher, St. Pierre was released on May 2, then re-signed as a right-handed pitcher, but apparently, he was a bust there, too.

Huntsville Site Game Summary: Link, text follows -- www.huntsvillestars.com/n...ewsId=1257 Smokies Turn on Power and Shut Down Stars Kevin Hart and Grant Johnson combined on a two-hit shutout and Tennessee blasted four home runs in an 8-0 blanking of Huntsville Thursday night in the second of a four-game set at Joe Davis Stadium. The Smokies improved to 10-8 in the second half and 46-40 overall but remain one game behind North Division leading Chattanooga, which won at Mississippi, while the Stars slumped to 7-11 in the second half and 44-42 overall. Huntsville was shut out for the ninth time this season and for the fourth time at home. The visitors plated the game?s first run in the first inning when Sam Fuld, singled, stole second, moved to third on a Jorge Cortes single and came home on a Matt Craig sacrifice fly. It marked the third time in three home starts that Will Inman has been scored on in the first inning. Craig extended the lead to 2-0 with a home run in the third and Jake Fox?s league-best 17th long ball in the fifth pushed the Smokies? lead to 3-0. Inman then gave up back-to-back singles to Casey McGehee and Cates before being taken out of the game and replaced by David Johnson. Inman suffered the loss and dropped to 1-4 after giving up three runs on eight hits, while striking out seven. Jemel Spearman led off the seventh inning with a pinch-hit home run and Tyler Colvin crushed a three-run bomb to left-center field to make it 7-0. It was Colvin?s first round tripper at the double-A level and the second time the Stars have allowed four homers in a game. Hart gave up a single to Hernan Iribarren, the first batter he faced, and did not allow a hit the rest of the way in his six innings of work. He struck out Steve Sollmann, Lou Palmisano and Brendan Katin in succession with runners at first and second and nobody out in the sixth while it was still a 3-0 game. Johnson allowed a leadoff single to Katin in the seventh and went three scoreless afterwards to earn his first save. He struck out one and walked two. The series continues Friday night with Huntsville southpaw Derek Miller making his double-A debut against Smokies? right-hander Mark Holliman, who no-hit the Stars on June 21. Coverage of the game begins at 6:50 p.m. central time and can be heard locally on SportsRadio 730 WUMP and through the internet at www.huntsvillestars.com. ***Link while active, text follows: www.al.com/sports/huntsvi...amp;coll=1 Smokies dig deep to shut out Stars Huntsville allows four homers in 8-0 lossto West Tenn By SKIP VAUGHN For The Huntsville Times, skip.vaughn@htimes.com The Huntsville Stars entered Thursday night's game against the Tennessee Smokies hoping to continue their modest two-game winning streak. Stars manager Don Money was philosophical about what his team needed to do to make that happen. "Don't shoot yourself in the foot," he said before the game. "Go out there and try to play the best game you can, which you try to do every night. Just try to not beat yourself. Get some timely hits and some good pitching. And I think every manager would say the same thing." But he didn't get his wish as the Stars lost to Tennessee 8-0 before an announced crowd of 1,381 at Joe Davis Stadium. "Four home runs (by the Smokies) and no hitting," Money said. "That's it." Huntsville's Brendan Katin and Hernan Iribarren had one hit apiece. "The guy (Smokies starter Kevin Hart) just had a good night," Katin said. "The way he was throwing wasn't really conducive to the approach we were taking as hitters." The Smokies went up 1-0 in the first on Matt Craig's sacrifice fly, scoring Sam Fuld from third base. Fuld hit a leadoff single, stole second, advanced to third on Jorge Cortes' hit and scored on Craig's flyout to center. Stars starter Will Inman (1-4) went 5 2/3 innings with seven strikeouts and allowed three runs and eight hits with no walks. Matt Craig upped Tennessee's lead to 2-0 with his home run to left in the third inning for his eighth homer of the year. Jake Fox added his 17th homer to left-center in the sixth. Hart (7-5) went six innings with six strikeouts and allowed one hit and one walk with three wild pitches. Grant Johnson earned his first save. Pinch hitter Jemel Spearman led off the seventh with his second homer of the year off Stars reliever David Johnson. Tyler Colvin belted a three-run homer for a 7-0 lead. In the eighth, Carlos Rojas doubled, advanced to third on a groundout and scored on a wild pitch by Stars reliever Luis Pena. Tennessee (10-8) outhit the Stars (7-11) by 11-2.

West Virginia Site Game Summary: CAUFIELD KNOCKS IN FOUR, POWER WIN Chuckie Caufield hit a two-run homer and knocked in four of West Virginia?s six runs on Thursday night as West Virginia took the third game of the series, defeating the Asheville Tourists 6-5 at Appalachian Power Park. Caufield?s two-run homer in the fourth inning snapped a scoreless tie and John Alonso hit a two-run blast later in the inning to give the Power a 4-0 edge. The Tourists plated their first run in the top of the fifth on an RBI single from Geoff Strickland but the Power answered a half inning later on Caufield?s run-scoring single. Mike McKenry?s second of three singles plated a run for Asheville in the sixth inning and Caufield?s sacrifice fly in the bottom of the seventh scored Brent Brewer for West Virginia?s final run. In the top of the eighth inning Jay Cox singled to bring in Matt Repec, bringing the Tourists within three. Anthony Jackson tripled in Strickland in the ninth inning and scored on Daniel Mayora?s groundout, but Omar Aguilar fanned Matt Repec during the next at bat to close out the game. Chris Toneguzzi (2-1) allowed just a run on five hits over five innings and struck out six to get the win, Aguilar (6) got the save and Simon Ferrer (5-6) was tagged with the loss after allowing six runs on eight hits through seven innings. The Power improved to 56-27 overall and 8-7 in the second half, while the Tourists fell to 51-33 overall and 9-6 in the second half with the win. Alonso, Caufield and Andrew Lefave all hit safely twice for the Power. The four RBI game tied a season high for Caufield. The Power will finish the four game series against the Tourists Friday night. The Power will start right hander Jeremy Jeffress (4-2, 2.54) and Asheville will start right hander Esmil Rogers (2-0, 2.66). The first pitch is scheduled for 7:05 PM (6:05 Central). ***Link while active, text follows: www.wvgazette.com/section...2007070552 No knuckling under Home runs carry Power to 6-5 win over Asheville By Tommy R. Atkinson Charleston Gazette Staff Writer Baseball is a game of subtle adjustments and that was never more evident than Thursday night at Appalachian Power Park. Asheville knuckleballer Simon Ferrer had the West Virginia Power hitters on their heels through the first three innings, allowing just one hit with a soft touch that barely registered 80 mph on the radar gun. All that changed when the Power batters made their second trip through the order. Chuckie Caufield and John Alonso each belted two-run home runs in the bottom of the fourth to propel the Power past the Asheville (N.C.) Tourists 6-5. A crowd of 3,567 attended the South Atlantic League matchup. The Power?s Andrew Lefave led off the fourth with a single on the second pitch from Ferrer and Caufield followed with a two-run round-tripper on the second pitch, depositing the clout onto Smith Street for a 2-0 lead. After the Power?s Brad Miller hit into a double play, Stephen Chapman singled on the third pitch to keep the inning alive. Alonso then smacked a two-run shot on his second pitch, sending the ball screaming down the left-field line and again onto Smith Street for a 4-0 advantage. ?John Alonso batted down in the lineup and he got a [double in the third inning] and he told me he scooted up in the box and it helped him to catch that thing before the bottom fell out of it,?? said Caufield, a Sally League Northern Division All-Star who tied a season-high with four RBIs Thursday. ?So I took his advice, just scooted up in the box and I was able to get one up in the zone. I stayed up in the box the rest of the game just to get closer, try to see the ball a little better so I could drive it.?? Caufield?s run-scoring single in the fifth extended the Power?s edge to 5-1 and his sacrifice fly in the seventh provided a 6-2 cushion. The Power needed the margin to withstand Asheville?s ninth-inning rally. It took Power reliever Omar Aguilar a little while to find the strike zone when he entered in the top of the ninth, leading 6-3. Aguilar walked Geoff Strickland, the Tourists? No. 9 hitter, to start the frame, then leadoff batter Anthony Jackson followed with an RBI triple to make it a two-run lead. Aguilar bore down and induced a foul pop for the first out from Asheville?s Hector Gomez, who had three hits in four previous at-bats. Aguilar forced the Tourists? Daniel Mayora to ground out to Lefave at first for the second out, but Jackson was too swift and beat Lefave?s throw home as Asheville closed within 6-5. Aguilar struck out the Tourists? Matt Repec on four pitches, the final a 92 mph fastball, to notch his sixth save. Power starter Chris Toneguzzi (2-1) turned in another solid performance, allowing an earned run on five hits in five innings with six strikeouts and two walks. Ferrer (5-6) took the loss, surrendering six earned runs on six hits in seven innings. Caufield said Thursday was only the second time in his career that he had faced a knuckleball pitcher. The first time was almost two months ago when the Power visited Asheville and Ferrer started. ?A guy like that could be one of your worst nightmares, especially when he?s got that ball dancing all over the place,?? Caufield said. ?It?s pretty different. You?ve got to really make yourself think about hitting the ball up the middle [or] hitting it the other way. ?You see the ball well because it?s coming a lot slower. You try to do a little bit more than you should. You try to lift the ball [or] hit the ball farther instead of sticking to your approach and letting the ball come to you. You got a few guys that had some success [Thursday], guys starting to trust themselves and start doing the same thing and we started putting up a few runs.?? The Power (8-7) will close out the four-game homestand with Asheville at 7:05 tonight (6:05 Central). The Power will send right-hander Jeremy Jeffress (4-2, 2.54 ERA) to the mound, while the Tourists (9-6) will counter with righty Esmil Rogers (2-0, 2.66 ERA). There will be fireworks after the game, weather permitting. Charleston Gazette Photographer: Chris Dorst West Virginia Power designated hitter John Alonso (right) is congratulated by teammate Steve Chapman after hitting a two-run home run in the fourth inning. http://www.wvgazettemail.com/images/stories/homerun.jpg

Wow, just listened to every pitch of the "wrong" game tonight -- Pogo will fill you in on Huntsville soon. And thanks to my bud Brad (pogo) upon a welcome return -- my burning both ends of the candle days can take a break for a while, at least on most nights. Thanks!

From June 9th, some Caleb Gindl for you: www.pensacolanewsjournal....0334/-1/bb by Chuck Corder, Pensacola (FL) News Journal You want a reality check? Get Caleb Gindl to tell you the story of occupying the same field with big-leaguers Prince Fielder and Miguel Cabrera last weekend. Gindl, runner-up for Florida's Mr. Baseball award, was in Milwaukee auditioning his lethal bat for the Brewers' brass while Fielder and Milwaukee hosted Cabrera's Florida Marlins at Miller Park. With the 2007 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft looming in a few days, Gindl knew he was taking hacks on a field he could one day call home. "I could get used to this," Gindl said he thought as he stepped onto the stadium's grass. "It made you feel real small, I can tell you that. As soon as I walked onto the field, I got chills all the way down my back. 'Wow, I'm actually walking on a major league field.' " The Brewers gave Gindl an even better experience, selecting him in the fifth round with the 161st overall pick late Thursday on the draft's first day. The former Pace High School star, who originally signed with Troy, expects to finalize terms and sign a contract when Milwaukee's area scout arrives from Tallahassee this morning. "I guess (the scout) wouldn't be driving all this way if I wasn't going to get what I wanted," said Gindl, the News Journal hitter of the year in 2006 and pitcher of the year last season. "I talked to 'em some more (Friday). It hasn't completely worked itself out yet, but we're feeling good." Pensacola Junior College also had a pair of signees drafted Friday. Both right-handed pitchers, Puerto Rican Joel Morales was a 16th-round selection of Milwaukee while countryman Rigoberto Lugo went to St. Louis in the 39th round. Gindl says he's hungry for baseball's biggest stage. "I just want to make it to 'The Show' one day. That's what I want," Gindl said. "I'll give 110 percent every day, day-in, day-out." He'd especially love to do for the Milwaukee fans. After Gindl's work out, he stayed at the ballpark and watched the home team win much to the delight of its fans. "I've been to some major league games, and I've never heard a crowd so loud," Gindl said. "They just kept cheering and cheering. They really appreciate players there." He could get used to that.

Not sure if he'll pick it back up this month, but Helena infielder Matt Cline chronicled his first month as a pro in June: lilbrewer.sampasite.com/b...2007-6.htm

www.infosports.us/basebal...5228.shtml June 17, 2007 Casey's Journal - Week #1 First Year of Pro Baseball LHP Casey Baron For the first time ever, Major League Baseball's June 2007 draft was televised on ESPN2 this year. Emotions ran high during the first day draft. Personally, I did not expect to hear my name on day one. So after the completion of ESPN2?s first day of the draft the selections began on day two around 11:30 a.m., and then continued for 50-rounds (over 1500 selections). As I watched the first round of the draft unfold, my Dad & I noticed two players selected that I competed against in the Atlantic Coast Conference. This included Ga. Tech?s catcher Matt Weiters and LHP Andrew Brackman from N.C. State. To see other players that I competed against, as my father, Tom ?Bear? Baron says ?succeeded against,? and watch each selected in the first round and on television got me more excited. I remember telephoning my fellow Terp and friend, LHP Brett Cecil after he was selected by the Blue Jay as the 38th pick. I was excited for him. I also remember trying to play a practical joke on my mom, Karan Baron, as she returned home from her elementary teacher?s job. As she walked through the door I told her that I was almost selected in the first round. She asked what happened. I told her that a guy by the name of Casey was chosen, but it was the wrong last name. The first day of the draft would select the first five rounds of free agents. My dream of playing baseball professionally became reality on Friday June 8th, the second day of MLB?s amateur draft. For me, and my family, it was a day of emotions. I had been in contact with a few MLB parent clubs. I was startled by their question to see if I was interested in playing pro ball. Who wouldn?t want the opportunity to play pro baseball? The teams that were interested were the Diamondbacks, Braves, Dodgers, Royals and the Milwaukee Brewers. The second day draft began at 11:30 AM. The perception I had was that I would be selected near the 25th round, so I had awhile to wait. I did ask my Dad his thoughts. My Dad said he thought the over-under for my round is the 33rd round. At the Baron household, three of us who would sit in front of the computer constantly keeping an eye on it as the draft picks for each round was posted on the internet. My Dad, my fiancée Kari Gamberini and I watched the computer screen but it was Kari who kept the closest eye on each round. My Dad and I were keeping busy watching the NCAA D1 College Baseball Super Regional on ESPN. I was nervous trying to keep my mind off the draft. The wait was too nerve racking especially as the afternoon continued, my anxiety grew. The 25th round of the draft was upon us and my attention completely shifted to the computer to see if my name would appear. No luck. More names appeared and Casey Baron was not one of them. It is now the 31st round and I could not watch the computer screen anymore. I had to go out with Kari somewhere and since I wanted new shorts we went shopping (that was my excuse, anyway). We headed to a store. Of course Mom said to pick up some milk while out. While driving over to the shopping center, I began to wonder if I was going to get drafted. Kari reassured me that it was going to happen, that I needed patience and to keep the faith. While at the shopping center, I received a phone call from the area Brewer amateur scout, Tim McIlvaine. Tim said the ?Brew Crew? was going to select me in the 34th round and he was asked what I was doing. I told him I was picking up some milk for my mom. Tim got a good laugh. Kari is ecstatic at the fact that the Brewers drafted me since she and her family are from Fond du Lac, Wisconsin. Kari ran up and down the store isles because she is so excited. Tim McIlvaine said he plans to come over to my house tonight so I can sign a minor league player contract with the Milwaukee Brewers. What a turn of events. On the way to the store I am wondering if I am going to be drafted. On the way home I am thinking that I am a professional baseball player, a dream come true. As it turns out, Mr. McIlvaine could not make the trip over to the house that night, so we set up a meeting for 2 PM the next day, on Saturday. Before the day is over, Jimmy Curtice, my life-long best friend, next door neighbor and planned best man, stops by for a visit. Jimmy came to every single home game I pitched in during my four year college career. Before visiting, Jimmy manages to make it to a hat store, to purchase a Brewer hat. Upon arrival he says congratulations as he hands me the Brewer hat. Jimmy and I, just as we did throughout our entire childhood, grab a baseball bat, large bag of tennis balls and we go play home-run derby, sometimes referred to by my Dad as line-ball outside on our driveway. Jimmy hits first. Jimmy declares that only he deserves the first at-bat against me as a professional baseball player. First pitch of the derby, Jimmy launches one out past our imaginary fence and asks ?Is that the best you got?? Brewer?s Scout - Pro Contract & Signing I cannot sleep Friday night. I am so elated the next day my dream is becoming a reality. Saturday morning, scout Tim McIlvaine arrives. As I am in the process of signing my first professional contract, I am in a state of euphoria. I am actually signing a pro contract that says I am going to be paid to play baseball. I never thought that I would be in this position. The contract states that I will head out to Phoenix, Arizona, for a ?Brew-Crew? mini-camp before being assigned to Helena, Montana, to begin short-season rookie ball. Kari is taking pictures throughout the entire pro contract signing process. As it turns out, Mr. McIlvaine is a left-handed hitting catcher, just like my Dad. They had plenty to talk about. Something about catchers. Especially left handed hitting catchers. Must be similar to when LHP get together. As it turns out, the contract is missing a clause that my Dad negotiated. We need to print off a new contract. There is now a problem. There are two printers in the house, however, one is out of ink and the other is jammed. Of course what else would happen? Dad soon realized a solution ?It takes a village to raise a child?. Kari and I go ask the neighbors if we can use their printer to print the addendum to the player contract. Finally, I sign the contract and I am officially a professional baseball player. Tim says I leave for Phoenix on Monday morning. Following the contract signing, I ask the man who is most responsible and influential in my life, along with baseball, for a game of catch. The baseball world knows him as ?The Bear,? I call him Dad. We have our game of catch and as we always do, at the end of the game of catch we play another game that is known as 3-2-1. The rules of 3-2-1 are simple. You are rewarded points for throwing the baseball to certain parts of the body. The winner of the game is the first one to get to twenty-one. As things stay the same, yet some things never change, my Dad beats me once again. After he wins, he proclaims ?Well, I guess I never need to play this game again, considering that I just beat a professional baseball player!? The pride within him cannot be contained. Milwaukee Brewers Mini-Camp in Phoenix On Monday, I head out to Phoenix to attend the Brewers mini-camp. I am nervous and ecstatic as I have ever been in my life. My dream is actually coming true. I am going to play professional baseball. I do not know what to expect. The first day that I am in the Brewers? mini-camp, I am not allowed to participate because I need to pass a physical. So my first day I watch. This aids my nervousness because I watched how efficient a pro practice is conducted. It was nothing new to me. It was the same type of practice I have experienced my whole life when my Dad ran practices. Well, actually there was something new. The team bus left for the ball field at 5:30 in the morning. By mid morning temperatures reached 110 degrees, but other than that, it was baseball. It was the same game that my Dad taught me how to love. Dad would say, if he could teach me how to love the game of baseball, things would always work out. Preparing to Begin My Pro Baseball Career After a week, the players from the mini-camp in Phoenix went different directions. The players heading for the Pioneer League left Phoenix for Helena, Montana early Saturday morning on the June 16th. I am prepared to see another part of the country I thought I would see sometime. During the plane ride, we passed over the Grand Canyon, an amazing sight. After landing at one of the smallest airports I have ever been in, the players are greeted by a Helena welcoming committee. It seems the baseball fans of Helena are just as excited for the season to begin as the players are. I cannot believe I am in Helena, Montana, preparing to begin my professional baseball career. This is something I have dreamed about for years. In four days it begins. As we loaded the bus to head to the field in Helena toward the Rocky Mountains, there was the first of many ?Welcome to Montana? moments. It began to hail, and baseball size. I am prepared. Casey Baron was born and raised in Montgomery County, Maryland. Casey played youth baseball in Montgomery County, in the MCBBA, Baltimore Metro, Arundel County and around the State. The teams he played on won the 2001 Walter Johnson Wood Bat Fall League, 2002 American Legion Cissel Saxon Maryland State Champions, 2003 MPSSA Paint Branch HS 3A/4A Division Champs, 2001, 2002 & 2003 Gazette & Journal 1st Team All-County, 2003 Pre-Season MSABC All-Star Selection, 2003 Washington Post 1st team All Met (as an Outfielder), 2003 Florida League Bradenton All Star, 2004 Clark Griffith Wood Bat College League Champions, 2005 Madison Mallards ? South Division Northwood?s League Champ, top five single season innings pitched record while playing four years for the University of Maryland, and the 2006 & 2007 Friday night ACC Conference Starter for the Terps, and selected in the 34th Round by the Milwaukee Brewers. Casey is well-liked by Teachers, Youth Ministers, HS, Summer Fall and College Coaches, and all that have played with and competed against him. ***Casey Baron wrote on the same site as a 12-year-old, a tale of Eric Milton and J.D. Drew: www.infosports.com/baseba...h/1447.htm

Link while active (photos as well, PDF file), text follows: www.londonmajors.com/docu...07_000.pdf 3 Majors turn in their uniforms for a shot at the majors By SEAN MEYER, The Londoner Chris Dennis wouldn't be the first, or likely the last, 18-year-old to spend the better part of a spring day in front of his computer. However, in this particular case, Chris wasn't playing the latest video game or an intense game of solitaire. No, Chris was instead anxiously waiting to find out about his future - well, as far as the world of baseball goes at least. Chris, a catcher and outfielder with the London Majors, was selected in the 13th round, 401st overall, by the Milwaukee Brewers in the Major League Baseball amateur draft. While the first round was actually televised this year, the rest of the draft is conducted online with young men like Chris waiting sometimes long hours to find out if some team is willing to take a chance on them. For Chris though, he had a pretty good idea where he would be selected. "My agent had been talking to Milwaukee, they said they were going to take me. We didn't know the exact round, but they said they would take me somewhere between the sixth round and the 13th," Chris says. "So I spent a lot of time just waiting. I kind of knew where they said they would take me, but you just never know. When my name came up, when I got the call from the Brewers, it was pretty exciting. It was something I have wanted ever since I was a little kid." Chris actually put his major league dreams temporarily on hold last year when he was selected in 38th round by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. After declining to sign with Tampa, he went back into this year's draft - but not before signing with London. "I knew I had to work hard, to improve my draft position. So when Roop (Chanderdat, the Majors' co-owner, general manager and field manager) called and asked me to come play for him, I thought this was a great opportunity," says Chris, who signed with London back in February. "I think I got a great opportunity here, great coaching. I don't think there is any question this is a great program and being here gave me an opportunity to show what I can do." As for what he can do, Roop says the sky is the limit for Chris. "Chris needs to keep improving, keep working on those baseball skills. He has tremendous raw power. He is physically remarkably strong. But there is more to playing in the Majors than strength," Roop says. "Chris needs to find a position, show he can play defense at the Major League level, show he can hit the outside pitch to the opposite field. But in our league, in just a short time, he showed he can do that. So I think there is no question he has the ability." Chris will be reporting to Maryvale, Arizona and the Brewers' rookie league affiliate. However, he won't be going alone. Adam Arnold knows the excitement Chris is feeling. The 21-year-old Majors' pitcher was drafted in the 41st round, also by the Brewers. "It's so exciting; you just aren't sure what is going to happen. Where you are going to be selected, what team, what round. My emotions were really stirring all day," Adam says. "I was sitting there in front of my computer from about 11:30 a.m. till after 5 p.m. and I needed a break. I went, took a shower, went and relaxed. Then I heard my sister yelling my name . . . it was just a great feeling. I had talked to the Brewers; they had shown a lot of interest. But when it finally happened it was like a dream come true." Before leaving for the desert southwest, Adam was quick to point out he recognizes that being drafted is just the first step in the long journey he now has to take. "Nobody knows what will happen, but I know I have an opportunity. That's all I could ask for. Once I'm down there I know I will have to stay mentally focused, learn all I can," Adam says. "I know I have great arm strength, I have velocity. But I have only been pitching for three years. I know I have a lot to still learn." Chris and Adam weren't the only Majors selected in the draft as Mitch Delaney, 18, was selected in the 21st round by the Chicago White Sox. While Chris and Adam have signed Major League contracts, Mitch is still weighing his decision. And whether Mitch should choose to sign with the White Sox or remain another year with the Majors, Roop says he is thrilled for all three young men and excited about their futures. However, at the same time he knows it makes his life more difficult as the Majors' field manager and general manager. "It's really typical of our league, you have to go out and find the talent. You have some successes, you have some failures. This year when we started I knew we had some young players who could be drafted, but that's what we want. We want players who are eager to learn, guys who want to play," Roop says. "Sure, now we've lost three top notch guys, it's going to hurt for a while. But it will also give an opportunity to guys here still on this roster to step up and hopefully they will do that." And while Roop deals with lineup issues as the field manager, he says he will also have to put in more work while wearing his general manager's hat too. "It shows me I need to go out and recruit more. Chris Dennis was one of our best power hitters through the first nine games, you don't easily replace that," Roop says. "We have to replace Mitch and we need another pitcher now. Actually, we probably need another pitcher too besides replacing Adam. It just reminds me there is always work to be done."

Link while active, text follows: www.tru.ca/athletic/news/news87.htm TRU's Arnold gets pro contract By Tracy Watson Thompson Rivers University Daily News Sports Reporter (From June 11, 2007) A scream from his sister Danielle alerted Adam Arnold to the fact that his life had just changed for the better. The right-handed pitcher from the Thompson Rivers University WolfPack had just been selected by the Milwaukee Brewers in the 41st round, 1,224th overall, of the Major League Baseball draft, making Friday a great day in the Arnold household in St.Thomas, Ontario. Saturday was even better. Arnold immediately signed with the Brewers, marking the end of his college career with the WolfPack. The 6-foot-0, 187-pounder leaves for Milwaukee in 1.5 weeks for physical testing, after which he will travel to Arizona for summer league ball. "I'm pretty excited about it," said Arnold, 21, from his home in St. Thomas, 30 minutes south of London. "I haven't had time to sit down and take it in. ?It was a sigh of relief," he continued, recalling draft day. "The day was getting long and (I was thining), 'Am I going to get a chance to play? Is it going to happen? Am I going to have to go back out there and work hard again and hope for next year?' "I heard (Danielle, 19) scream before I looked at the computer. I though, 'Oh no, what happened?' My name had popped up." That was Friday at about 5:30 p.m. - the rest has been a blur. But, then, so has Arnold's pitching career. Three years ago he was trying to make it to the big leagues at third base. That plan changed when Walt Burrows, the Canadian supervisor of Major League Baseball's Scouting Bureau, saw him throw across the field. "He said, 'This guy ought to become a pitcher,' " Arnold recalled. So he did, for two years at a college in Port Huron, Mich. But he still wasn't getting anywhere. Then Burrows and Jay Lapp, a friend from London who also happens to be the Brewers' Eastern Canadian amateur scout, suggested he attend TRU and get to know coach Ray Chadwick, a former major league pitcher. Those of you with long memories may recall that Lapp also was the first head coach of TRU's baseball team when it began in 1999-2000 as the UCC Sun Demons. Arnold took the advice and joined the WolfPack in January. The semester stay changed his life, he said. "They said Ray would be the guy that could help me take that next step, and he definitely was," Arnold said. "I learned more in two weeks than I had in my life. He's a phenomenal coach. If you want to play, he'll work with you. It was definitely a great learning experience - best I've had yet." According to TRU's website, Arnold went 3-1 as a starter and had one save en route to a 2.54 ERA in helping the WolfPack win the Canadian College Baseball Conference championship. He recorded 46 strikeouts in 39 innings, and didn't allow even one triple or a home run. Opposing batters hit .105 against him. Chadwick said the Brewers were no doubt attracted by Arnold's arm strength - he was clocked at 94 m.p.h. "He always had a strong arm, but he was never given the chance to pitch," said Chadwick. "My thing was to get him here and give him a chance to fail or succeed. And he showed them. He made a bunch of steps." "It hasn't been an easy path," Arnold said, "but you work hard and something's bound to happen." Jennifer Robertson Photo http://www.tru.ca/athletic/teams/baseball/images/basaarnold.jpg Jay Lapp, former UCC baseball coach and now Milwaukee Brewers Eastern Canadian amateur scout, congratulates Adam Arnold on his new contract. http://www.tru.ca/athletic/teams/baseball/images/aarnoldsigning.jpg

Can someone post a link to the other thread where it had all the other baseball team's message boards? I can't seem to find that link. Thanks p092.ezboard.com/fbrewers...=729.topic

Mat Gamel homers in his 3rd AB leading off the 7th to extend his hitting streak to 32 games. The Manatees trailed after his blast, 8-3. Congrats again to Mat.

Final: Arizona Royals 13, Arizona Brewers 3 Six Brewer hits outnumbered by eight Brewer errors, four by second baseman Carlos Hereaud -- ugh... Arizona Box Score: Well, the A-Crew did draw 13 walks, so they stranded a ghastly 19, including 11 LOB in scoring position with two out; just focus on Joel Morales' starting effort on the mound and leave it at that... web.minorleaguebaseball.c...k_brrrok_1 Arizona Game Log: Yeah, the LOB story is all detailed right here... web.minorleaguebaseball.c...k_brrrok_1

Huntsville Site -- Card Set Available

Hinton is one of the best relief prospects in the Brewers farm system...a rough 10 innings doesn't change that... When those innings are as bad as those were, apparently it does matter -- if Robert's indeed healthy, a definite step back and a wake-up call. See the Transaction Thread.

News from Huntsville: The Milwaukee Brewers have promoted left-hand pitcher Derek Miller to Huntsville from high class-A Brevard County in the Florida State League and sent pitcher Robert Hinton from Huntsville to Brevard. Miller is scheduled to make his first double-A start on Friday night in the third of a four-game set with the Tennessee Smokies. Hinton is expected to be in uniform for Brevard County on Saturday night. Miller was 4-4 with a 3.71 earned run average in 17 starts with the Manatees. He had struck out 75 and walked 25 in 94 2/3 innings of work and had won each of his last two decisions. Hinton was 1-2 with a 7.46 earned run mark with the Stars in 27 appearances in relief.

In order to make room for LHP Chris Cody on the Brevard County roster, RHP Josh Baker lands on the disabled list once again. Good luck to Josh. Also, we've learned that LHP Derek Miller has been promoted to AA Huntsville, in a move many considered overdue. This means that a spot has to be freed up at AA, and there's a spot open at Brevard. We'll keep you posted. Miller's a 25-year-old New England kid. Here's the link to his 2007 numbers, 2006 totals at bottom of the linked page: web.minorleaguebaseball.c...pid=460311

In progress: Arizona Brewers 2, Arizona Royals 1, after five innings 17-year-olds who have only walked one batter in 11 pro innings (not to mention 102 degree heat today) are indeed "cool" -- nice job, Joel Morales

I really thought that the Huntsville players were unfairly jabbed recently for their apparent lack of effort within the community. This was in the thread discussing the state of the future of baseball in Huntsville and Joe Davis Stadium. Just because a charitable appearance isn't trumpeted by the club, doesn't mean it does not take place. We have definitely posted to photos of Stars' players making hospital visits in the past. Here's an example of Brewer farmhands in the community at West Virginia today -- At 11:00 AM local time today, members of the West Virginia Power baseball team share their love of the game and reading at two local libraries. Come Meet team members and share a story. All ages! We know the Stars have contributed in the past, as excerpted from this link, just one example of several: In 2005, Stars players and/or mascot visited the Rocket City Marathon, Walmart, Arthritis Walk, Ashley Furniture Homestore, Madison Square Mall, Earlyworks Children's Museum,Carlton Cove Retirement Community, the Women and Children's Hospital of Huntsville, and various schools, little league opening day ceremonies, church events and many more. www.huntsvillestars.com/f...?pageId=58 Not sure if the Stars have been out in such force yet in 2007, but unless one is absolutely sure that any of the affiliates are doing nothing at all in their respective communities, it's better not to indicate as such.

David Weiser's www.starsboxscore.com/ DiFELICE DOES IT ALLSCORELESS STREAK ENDS AT 36 IP IN FRONT OF TOP CROWD Already named to be the starting pitcher in the Southern League All-Star game, and already the record-holder for consecutive shutout innings pitched, Mark DiFelice cemented his legacy as one of the greatest single-season wonders in Stars history tonight........ Engaging himself in a pitching duel with Tennessee's Justin Berg before the 5th-largest crowd at Joe Davis Stadium since becoming a Milwaukee affiliate, DiFelice socked a two-run double to break a scoreless tie in the 5th, then proceeded to extend his record streak to 36 innings as the Stars satisfied a crowd of 11,455 on the nation's birthday with a 6-3 victory....... On this 4th of July, the Stars had the 2nd largest attendance for a game behind Birmingham's 12,354, as they beat the Diamond Jaxx....... The turnout raised the average attendance for the year from 2,336 per game to 2,558 and it puts the Stars over the 100,000 mark this year. It was good to see the park filled up from the furthest region of the metal bleachers way out in left to the other end of the field. Had there been metal bleachers in right, as they once were in the early years before the picnic tent came along, they would have been occupied, too. From my vantage point high up on the first base side, I could still see cars stream into the stadium as late as the 4th and 5th innings....... Knowing this city as I do, most of those who came out were there for the first time this year, and probably won't be back, but I hope I'm wrong. Because this is the way to spend a summer. The best way, as far as I'm concerned. The Stars have gotten off to a slow start in the 2nd half (7-10 after winning two straight)........ They came in with a 2nd half batting average of .240 to support a rotation ERA of 4.22 and a bullpen ERA of 5.47, which must improve if the Stars are to capture the 2nd half as well, but even if they don't, the Stars won't get far in the playoffs without a reliable bullpen, and it's been overworked....... After giving up just two runs in 14 innings to start the 2nd half, they've given up 31 earned runs on 57 hits in those 43 2/3 -- all in the last ten games. DiFelice, for the entire season, has been a model of consistency in the bullpen, and maybe it's crossed your mind that why take a guy out of a pen that has had to work 43 2/3 innings those ten games........ But DiFelice, who made his third start in as many straight appearances tonight, was once a starter with the Carolina Mudcats in 2000 and 2001 when they were the Rockies' farm club. He was a combined 11-9 with a 3.38 ERA in 42 appearances, only once from out of the pen....... Whether he'll remain in the rotation is something that remains to be seen. Or will he get a deserved bump to Nashville where the team is already 1st in ERA in the PCL at 3.71?...... I think the Stars' brain trust is counting on DiFelice to strengthen a rotation weakened by the loss of Manny Parra and the earlier loss of Adam Pettyjohn, and the failures of Sam Narron (1-3, 6.30 since June 1), Steve Hammond, who has been moved to the bullpen where he has, so far, been more successful, and Corey Thurman, who has given up 17 runs in 16 innings in his four starts, and served up 12 HRs, five coming in June....... Only Lindsay Gulin (5-1, 2.76 since June 1) has had any real consistent success. The first four innings went by at lightning speed, with only one hit in the game -- a single up the middle by Matt Craig to lead off the 2nd....... Justin Berg, (4-6, 5.62), who gave up eight runs on 13 hits in 10 1/3 innings over two previous appearances against the Stars this year, including a frigid April 13 game at Smokies Park, was working on a no-hitter....... Alcides Escobar had been the only runner, reaching on a one-out walk in the 3rd, then moving to 2nd after a sac bunt by DiFelice. With two out in the 5th and two runners on base, DiFelice came back from an 0-2 hole to break the scoreless deadlock....... DiFelice crushed a 2-2 fastball and drove it all the way to the alley in center to score Steve Moss and Escobar for a 2-0 lead...... DiFelice, meanwhile, continued his mastery on the mound, allowing just a two-out hit to right-center by Issmael Salas in the 5th, and a one-out grounder through the infield to left by Gary Cates in the 6th..... (Time to credit Escobar for stealing a couple of hits away from Cates in the 1st by snagging a liner and intercepting a grounder that nearly got through the middle in the 4th, and noteworthy snags by Michael Brantley in the 5th, Brendan Katin, who went to the wall to rob Jorge Cortes in the 7th, and Steve Sollmann, who plucked a liner that was stamped extra bases in the 7th.) The Stars wore Berg down some more in the 6th as they extended their lead...... Brantley, who walked four times in Monday's game, led off the inning with a walk on a 3-2 pitch, giving him seven walks in four games. After striking out Sollmann, threatening a unique feat of never going hitless in consecutive games this season, it became someone's idea to intentionally walk Lou Palmisano, who was riding an 0-for-11 slump, to pitch to Adam Heether, who came in 10-for-20 in his last five games. Figure that one out........ As expected, Heether came through with an excuse-me swing that generated an RBI single, dropping in near the right field line, scoring the speedy Brantley from 2nd, and moving Palmisano to 3rd....... Katin and Moss followed with singles to left that ran the Stars lead up to 5-0, forcing Berg's exit from the game........ They were important runs as it turned out. Going into the 7th inning, DiFelice had thrown an increditble 78.3% of his 74 pitches for strikes, including 18 of 21 first-pitch strikes. But all things must pass, as George Harrison once stated on a post-Beatle album. DiFelice's amazing streak of 36 consecutive scoreless innings came to an end after Casey McGehee doubled down the left field line, sending leadoff hitter Matt Craig to 3rd...... Issmael Salas followed it up by pulling a ball down the right field line for a two-run single. The Smokies, winners of four of their last five games, were on the board........ (Actually DiFelice passed up Glenn Woolard's record of 29 1/3 consecutive scoreless innings in his last start on June 29.) Bo Hall, who finished with a June ERA of 3.86 and was lit for two runs on four hits in 1 2/3 IP in relief in Tuesday's first game, held the Smokies hitless for 2 1/3, but loaded the bases with one out in the 9th........ With the game on the line for the first time, Marino Salas faced Gary Cates with the bases loaded and two out, but Cates, 1-for-8 with the bases full this season, hit a deep fly to Katin in right to end the game, and give Salas his first save since June 8. Will Inman, who held the Diamond Jaxx to just one hit in six innings last Saturday, will get the ball for the Stars, Thursday, facing right-hander Kevin Hart (6-5, 4.75)........Hart has not lost since May 24 and is 4-0 with a 2.72 ERA in his last seven starts. Outfielder Ruben Mateo has been released....... The former major leaguer with four different teams leaves the Stars with five HRs, 15 RBIs, and a .240 average. Mateo joined the team on May 18. His biggest day was a two HR, five RBI game against the Diamond Jaxx the next day. But Mateo never fully recovered from a hamstring injury which he re-aggravated after a recent game against Chattanooga. Ryan Crew came off the disabled list, filling his spot on the roster........ Grandstand's new Huntsville set of minor league baseball cards is out and selling for $5 at the Stars' souvenir stand, as well as the 2007 Southern League minor league set........ Seven Stars were named to the All-Star team last June 26. Named along with DiFelice is Brendan Katin, Steve Sollmann, Lou Palmisano (an All-Star last year), Steve Moss, Lindsay Gulin, and Marino Salas...... Moss hit just .204 in June after a .240 May........ Palmisano has started off July with an 0-for-12 slump....... Sollmann got his hit in the 7th inning -- a clean single to center....... And Katin is riding a seven-game hitting streak (10-for-28), his longest of the season. Alcides Escobar is complementing his fine defense with a four-game hitting streak, in which he has gone 6-for-14.......Despite his consistent hitting, Steve Sollmann has driven in only three runs in his last 19 games.

Link while active, text follows: www.dailymail.com/story/S...for+Power/ No fireworks for Power Asheville right-hander quiets West Virginia bats in eight sharp innings Jacob Messer Charleston Daily Mail Sportswriter In honor of the Fourth of July holiday, West Virginia Power players wore camouflage jerseys. The black, brown and green shirts worked. That way the team Kanawha Valley baseball fans are used to watching was nowhere to be seen for the first eight innings Wednesday evening, as visiting Asheville cruised to a 10-4 win over West Virginia. An Appalachian Power Park crowd of 6,028 watched Asheville starter Aneury Rodriguez baffle West Virginia hitters in an impressive eight-inning, 104-pitch performance. The Power (55-27 overall and 7-7 in the second half) managed only four hits and one run off Rodriguez, a 6-foot-3, 205-pound right-hander who recorded eight strikeouts compared to two walks. Center fielder Charlie Fermaint had two of those hits with a first-inning single and an eighth-inning homer. The others were sixth-inning singles by shortstop Brent Brewer and left fielder Steve Chapman. "He kept the ball down and he hit his spots," West Virginia Manager Mike Guerrero said of Rodriguez, whom Baseball America ranks as the 21st overall prospect in the Colorado Rockies' farm system. "When you can pitch in and out, back and forth, it makes it tough." Rodriguez entered the game with a 3-6 record and 5.57 earned run average. "I had to forget about all of the bad outings," Rodriguez said through Asheville hitting coach Houston Jimenez, who translated for the Spanish-speaking pitcher from Higuey in the Dominican Republic. "I put it in the past and I started over again." Asheville pitching coach Bryan Harvey said Wednesday's effort was Rodriguez's second-best outing this season. "He had another one just like this down in Greenville (S.C.)," Harvey said of Rodriguez, who allowed no runs and one hit in seven innings with six strikeouts and two walks in that April 24 road game. "He's a 19-year-old kid who is really inconsistent in his mechanics. Today, he was able to maintain the angle all day and he had a good day. When he does that, he throws the ball very well. When he loses his angle, they hit the ball around on him, as you can tell by his numbers." Rodriguez, who improved his record to 4-6 and lowered his ERA to 5.18, mixed his 87 to 94 mph fastball with his 75 to 80 mph hard and soft curveballs to keep the Power hitters off balance. He also threw his 78 to 82 mph changeup a couple of times, but that pitch "is still a work in progress," Harvey said. His performance is even more impressive considering West Virginia's reputation as the South Atlantic League's best hitting team and most explosive offense. The Power has a .298 batting average and averages 6.6 runs per game. The low Class A club leads the 16-team circuit in both categories. "They swing the bat very well," Harvey said. "But he kept the ball down. They went down and hit some balls hard, but luckily they were right at guys." Rodriguez retired 11 hitters in a row at one point. "The most important thing I was doing today was throwing strikes," Rodriguez said. "I was coming downhill (to take advantage of my height), and I kept the ball down. I located my pitches real well and I had a great command of the strike zone." The Tourists (51-32, 9-5) wasted no time getting on the scoreboard. Asheville second baseman Daniel Mayora hit a two-out home run off West Virginia starter Mike Ramlow in the top of the first inning. Ramlow responded with a rare feat in the second, striking out four batters after one of them reached on a wild pitch. He finished with six strikeouts. Ramlow (4-3) took the loss. The 6-foot-6, 185-pound left-hander allowed two runs on three hits and three walks in four innings. Asheville added another run in the fourth on right fielder Victor Ferrante's sacrifice fly. The Tourists torched reliever D.J. Lidyard for four runs in the fifth on first baseman Mike Paulk's run-scoring single and designated hitter Mike McKenry's three-run homer. Asheville added another run in the sixth on Mayora's two-out single. The Tourists finished their scoring spree in the ninth, manufacturing three runs off reliever Jared Sutton via a walk, single, double, wild pitch and groundout. The Power tagged reliever James Burok for three runs in the ninth on a wild pitch, walk, single, groundout, balk and another single, but it was too little too late. The teams will continue their four-game series at 7:05 tonight (6:05 Central). The Power will start right-hander Chris Toneguzzi (1-1, 5.14). The Tourists will throw right-hander Simon Ferrer (5-5, 4.67). Charleston Daily Mail Photos: Bob Wojcieszak West Virginia Power shortstop Brent Brewer throws out Asheville Tourists Hector Gomez at first base during their game Wednesday at Appalachian Power Park. http://www.dailymail.com/images/070507Power.jpg West Virginia Power?s Andrew Lefave takes home plate from the Tourists catcher Jhaysson Agustin during the ninth inning of their game at Appalachian Power Park on Wednesday. http://www.dailymail.com/images/070507Power2.jpg

Standings through Wednesday's action: Pacific Coast League (AAA) - PCL American North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Nashville 51 35 .593 - 29-13 22-22 L2 Iowa 46 40 .535 5.0 25-19 21-21 L8 Omaha 40 47 .460 11.5 27-16 13-31 L2 Memphis 36 51 .414 15.5 18-26 18-25 L1 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Southern League (AA) - SOU North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chattanooga 10 7 .588 - 6-4 4-3 L1 Tennessee 9 8 .529 1.0 7-3 2-5 L2 Carolina 7 10 .412 3.0 4-3 3-7 L2 Huntsville 7 10 .412 3.0 3-4 4-6 W2 West Tenn 5 12 .294 5.0 5-5 0-7 L2 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Florida State League (A+) - FSL East Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Brevard County 8 5 .615 - 3-2 5-3 W4 Palm Beach 7 5 .583 0.5 4-4 3-1 L2 St. Lucie 5 6 .455 2.0 3-4 2-2 W2 Jupiter 5 7 .417 2.5 3-2 2-5 L2 Daytona 5 8 .385 3.0 4-4 1-4 W3 Vero Beach 3 10 .231 5.0 1-3 2-7 L10 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- South Atlantic League (A) - SAL Northern Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Lake County 10 3 .769 - 5-1 5-2 W3 Lakewood 8 5 .615 2.0 5-2 3-3 L1 Hickory 7 7 .500 3.5 4-4 3-3 L1 West Virginia 7 7 .500 3.5 3-3 4-4 L1 Delmarva 5 8 .385 5.0 2-4 3-4 W1 Greensboro 4 10 .286 6.5 3-3 1-7 W2 Hagerstown 3 10 .231 7.0 3-4 0-6 L2 Lexington 3 10 .231 7.0 2-3 1-7 L4 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Pioneer League (R+) - PIO North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Great Falls 9 7 .563 - 5-3 4-4 W2 Helena 9 7 .563 - 3-5 6-2 W1 Billings 7 9 .438 2.0 4-3 3-6 L3 Missoula 7 9 .438 2.0 4-5 3-4 L1 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Arizona League (R) - Arizona League Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- AZL Mariners 9 2 .818 - 4-1 5-1 L1 AZL Angels 8 2 .800 0.5 6-0 2-2 W3 AZL Cubs 6 5 .545 3.0 4-2 2-3 W2 AZL Rangers 6 5 .545 3.0 2-3 4-2 W1 AZL Padres 5 5 .500 3.5 3-2 2-3 W1 AZL Giants 5 6 .455 4.0 3-3 2-3 W1 AZL Brewers 3 7 .300 5.5 1-4 2-3 L4 AZL Athletics 3 8 .273 6.0 2-2 1-6 L2 AZL Royals 3 8 .273 6.0 3-3 0-5 L1

Remember though, new information came out -- the record is 36, not 31.

Link while active, text follows: www.billingsgazette.net/a...ponies.txt Ponies shut out on four hits in loss to Helena By MIKE SCHERTING Of The Billings Gazette Staff The Billings Mustangs were the victims of a four-hit, 2-0 shutout at the hands of the Helena Brewers in their return to Cobb Field Wednesday afternoon. You could blame it on a lot of things, like the still-lingering effects of a six-game road trip that saw the Mustangs lose in just about every heartbreaking way possible, including Tuesday's night's walk-off grand slam setback to the Missoula Osprey. You could blame it on the fact the Mustangs didn't return from Missoula until 5 a.m. Wednesday morning, then had to suit up for the 4 p.m. start just a few hours later in 95-degree heat. Maybe you could even blame those special red, white and blue socks and jerseys the players were wearing as part of a July 4 promotion. But the Mustangs didn't. Helena's Roque Mercedes and Robert Bryson combined on the shutout for a reason. "We can't make excuses," said Mustangs shortstop Justin Tordi, who had one of the team's hits. "We have to be out here ready to play every day. They beat us today, hands down." Even though the Mustangs were 1-5 on their road trip, their offense had been clicking. But they showed no signs of having been the team that scored double-digit runs four times on the trip, amassing 52 overall. Instead, Mercedes (2-1) allowed three hits and struck out five over seven innings, while Bryson gave up one hit in two innings to pick up his second save. No Mustang reached second base and they sent just three batters to the plate in six of the nine innings. Helena catcher Eric Fryer threw out Kel Jones trying to steal second to end the third and the Brewers turned a double play to end the fifth. "We've had some tough games the last six games and I think they were just flat-out trying too hard," Mustangs manager Joe Kruzel said of his team. "They were trying to create stuff that's not there." There was a bit of positive news for the Mustangs. Enerio Del Rosario and Phil Valiquette turned in a pitching performance that stopped some of the bleeding from the tough road trip. Mustangs pitchers have given up double-digit runs in four of the previous five games, but Del Rosario (1-2), who started and gave up both runs, and Valiquette kept the team in the game. Valiquette, in particular was strong, giving up just one hit and no walks in 4 2/3 innings. He came on with runners on first and second with one out in the fifth and stranded the runners there. The team's offense, however, provided no help as the Mustangs dropped their third straight. "We always feel a little pressure because we always want to perform well no matter what," said Valiquette, who has probably been the Mustangs most consistent pitcher. "Obviously, we felt a little bit of pressure to keep the game close and that's what we did. It didn't turn out that we won the game, but the rest of the team did a good job making the plays behind me and Del Rosario and that was good for the team." NOTES: The Mustangs dropped to a season-low 7-9. ... Angel Cabrera had two hits for the Mustangs. ... Catcher Frank Meade threw out two Helena would-be base stealers and had a diving catch of a foul ball behind home plate. Meade had to push batter Eric Newton out of the way to make the catch. ... Paid attendance was announced as 3,408, the highest of the season. ... The special red jerseys and multi-striped red socks, which featured a thick blue stripe sandwiched by two thin white stripes, were auctioned off to fans following the game. Photo by CASEY RIFFE / Billings Gazette Staff Mustangs shortstop Justin Tordi tags out Helena Brewers baserunner Lee Haydel on a steal attempt of second base to end the top of the third inning at Cobb Field on Wednesday. The Brewers beat the Mustangs 2-0. http://images.townnews.com/billingsgazette.net/content/articles/2007/07/05/sports/local/20-ponies.jpg

Link Report Special: Link while active, text follows: www.helenair.com/articles...507_01.txt Former Brewer hammering AAA after playing in majors By TOM COTTON, Helena Independent Record Sports Editor When talking about Vinny Rottino, Wally Cox gives the former Helena Brewer the greatest complement a baseball player can receive. "Out of everybody I have hosted, he was a ball player," said Cox, who hosted 15 Helena Brewers over five years. "If anybody was going to make it, it was going to be him." Rottino, who played for Helena in 2003, has made it in a sense, getting a cup of coffee in the major leagues last season for Milwaukee. He, however, is making much more of an impact in Class AAA this season, playing well for Milwaukee's affiliate, the Nashville Sounds. This season he has appeared in 69 games and is hitting .294 with seven home runs. That comes on the heels of a 2006 season in which he hit .314 and drove in 42. "The game gets cleaner," he said comparing playing in rookie ball to playing in Class AAA. "The game gets better and is faster." While playing in the Music City has been nice, the highlight of last season was the nine games he spent in his home state. Rottino is a native of Racine, Wis., so playing in the friendly confines of Miller Park was a fairy tale that came true. "Growing up following the Brewers, it was incredibly special all the way around," Rottino said. His first major-league at bat came in a key situation and it didn't have a Hollywood ending as veteran closer Joe Borowski struck out Rottino to end a game against the Florida Marlins. "I was kind of numb at that point," Rottino said. He stayed with the big club for 31 days last season and batted .214 in his stint there. That was a long ways from 2003, when Rottino was an undrafted free agent. He played college baseball at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse and is among the school's best in several categories. Despite a career batting average of .336 for the Eagles he went unnoticed in the First Year Player Draft. A year after finishing in college, he was glad to get the call to come to Montana. "I was pretty excited to be in Helena," he said. "Helena was a smaller city, but it was a nice city. Playing in the ball park was nice. I was introduced to Eddie Sedar which was unbelievable." Sedar, the manager of the Brewers in 2003, 2004 and 2006, was noted for his ability to teach the game and is now the first-base coach for Milwaukee. "He really preached playing the game right," Rottino said. "One of the main things he taught players was 'you can't control a lot of things in the game, but you can control hustle and attitude.' " That first season in Helena he batted .311, but he was most noted for his ability as a utility guy, playing both corner infield positions as well as catcher and the outfield. He said he prefers playing catcher. "It's kind of like being the quarterback out there," he said. "You get in the flow of the game, having an idea where to pitch certain hitters. I think that is my best position as well." Cox said that Rottino would be able to play at whatever position he was asked. "When I watched him play, he was just a natural," Cox said. "I just knew out of all the players he was a guy that was going to make it - his physique, the way he handled himself, the way he batted and the way he would run and catch. He was just a natural and made the hard plays look easy." Cox added that Rottino was as good of a citizen off the field as he was a player on the field. Cox called him a gentleman whom he treated like a son. "I always kept an extra used car (for the players)" Cox said. "Vinny was very respectful. He took care of the car and kept gas in it." Despite his rapid rise in the Milwaukee organization, Rottino still has ties to Helena. He has maintained friendships with former Helena players like Drew Anderson, who he currently plays with in Nashville, and Dana Eveland, who is now in the Arizona organization. He remembers fondly his time on the Capital City. "It (Kindrick Legion Field) was sold out all the time and it was fun to play there," he said. His goal however, is to turn last year's test run with Milwaukee into a more permanent position. "I feel blessed to play the game and move up," he said. "The Brewers didn't have to give me the opportunity and I have made the most of it so far. Hopefully, I will continue to do that." Photo contributed by Nashville Sounds - Former Helena Brewer Vinny Rottino waits for the pitch during a game with the AAA Nashville Sounds this season. Rottino played with the Milwaukee Brewers for 31 days last season and is now batting .294 with seven home runs. http://images.townnews.com/helenair.com/content/articles/2007/07/05/sports_top/b01070507_01.jpg