Jim Goulart

Congratulations to your 2007 South Atlantic League Northern Division First-Half Champions, the West Virginia Power! See you in the postseason in September!

In progress: West Virginia 4, Lexington (Astros) 3, after six innings Unexpectedly, there's no video feed tonight, so sorry to those who sought that option; Greensboro is losing 5-3 after five innings -- this could be a clincher of a night...

Not officially a transaction, but heralded RHP Wily Peralta of the Dominican Republic, who signed for a $450,000 bouns at age 16 two offseasons ago, will be undergoing Tommy John surgery this week. Peralta debuted with the Arizona Brewers last summer. Here's the Baseball America report upon his signing, which actually was in November of '05. Peralta was barely 16 1/2 at that time. www.baseballamerica.com/t...ralta.html

Final, Game One: Lakeland (Tigers) 5, Brevard County 2 MiLB.com game Notes: Flying Tigers rally past Manatees Doubles from Justin Justice and Rafael Mendez capped a five-run seventh inning rally as Lakeland beat host Brevard County, 5-2, in the opener of Thursday's doubleheader. Trailing 2-0, in the top of the seventh, the Flying Tigers (26-31) broke through against the Manatees' bullpen. Justice drove in the tying and go-ahead runs with a one-out double to right field, scoring Ovandy Suero and Wilkin Ramirez. Mendez added an insurance run when he doubled in Justice. Leadoff man William Rhymes was 3-for-4 with an RBI. Paul Hammond (1-1) got the win in relief as he struck out two and gave up two hits in two scoreless innings. Starter Kyle Sleeth allowed one unearned run on two hits and a walk while striking out three in four frames. Brevard County (33-26) opened the scoring in the fourth when Mat Gamel punched an RBI single through the right side. Gamel went 2-for-3 with a double and a stolen base. Manatees reliever Kevin Roberts (2-1) took the loss after allowing three runs on four hits while retiring just two batters. Brevard County has dropped five straight. -- Michael Echan/MLB.com Brevard County Box Score: Vince Perkins and Kevin Roberts combine to lose a 2-0 final inning lead; as noted above, LHP David Welch continues to impress; Mat Gamel a surprising 9-for-11 in SB attempts... web.minorleaguebaseball.c...p;sid=t503 Brevard County Game Log: It's surprising this seven-inning game even lasted 2:11, given the several apparent "quick" innings detailed here... web.minorleaguebaseball.c...p;sid=t503

Link for Frank Kremblas photo while active, text follows: www.tennessean.com/apps/p...7706060444 Timeout with ... Frank Kremblas Nashville Sounds Manager Frank Kremblas is directly out of Central Casting: The quick-talking, straight-shooting, no-nonsense Kremblas is what you imagine in a professional baseball manager. He is in his third season with the Sounds and comes from a successful athletic background. His father, Frank Sr., who died last year, was the quarterback for Ohio State from 1956-58 and led the Buckeyes to a share of the national championship in 1957. Kremblas carried on the family tradition of winning when he led the Sounds to the Pacific Coast League championship in 2005. Kremblas, 40, who is not married but does have a girlfriend, played his college ball at Eastern Kentucky before playing eight years in the minors. He recently sat down with The Tennessean's Bryan Mullen to talk about the best player in baseball, the crowds on Thirsty Thursdays, Fletch and sushi. On a funny story from his playing days: "I played all nine positions in one game. Jim Tracy was the manager (for Double-A Chattanooga) and he figured out how to do it. It was one of those things where it was the last game of the year and we were out of the playoffs." On his pitching appearance in the game: "Struck the guy out." On the best minor league players he's managed: "Prince Fielder and Ryan Braun for many of the same reasons. They have plate discipline, power and the ability to make contact. I'd also put J.J. Hardy on there as well." On the crowds during Thirsty Thursdays: "They're great because there are a lot of good-looking girls in the crowd (laughs)." On his favorite movie of all time: "Fletch. That's the one I probably watch the most. I was in college when it came out. And I hate the baseball movies. They're not true representations, like Bull Durham. I'm sick of that movie." On the disappointment of not getting a new downtown ballpark: "I think Nashville is missing out on something that was going to be really nice. And obviously it would help the downtown area." On the best all-around player in baseball right now: "There are a lot of good hitters who are just average defensively, but I'd probably say Derek Jeter. He hits for average, plays pretty good defense, and knows how to win games." On his favorite restaurants: "I like sushi. Taste of Tokyo is good, and Rusan's is pretty good, too." On younger brother, Mike, whom Kremblas managed in Double-A Huntsville in 2003: "He lives in Knoxville now and sells BMWs. He has two kids. He told me he got a Wii (video game system) and his daughter, who's 2, scored two runs off of him in the baseball game." On his fondest memory of playing baseball at Eastern Kentucky: "Probably going to the (NCAA) Regionals. One year we played Oklahoma and Tulane and lost the first two games, of course. The other year we played Arizona and then Loyola Marymount. You didn't know what it would be like because back then (the NCAA Regionals) weren't on TV." On his hobbies: "Golf, fishing, that's about it really. I'm probably about a 10 handicap. Scrambling is my biggest strength because I'm not consistent hitting the darn thing." On his reading interests: "Go look at the top of my locker. I have about 12 or 13 books up there. I read all kinds. I like Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell books, anything with special ops or the CIA. I read some of James Grippando, who writes about a defense lawyer that gets mixed up with the wrong people." On his dream vacation: "I've never been on a vacation. I'd probably go somewhere where I could go fishing in the ocean. And it's got to be warm."

Closing this thread now that speculation is no longer needed -- please move to the discussion thread going forward.

Link while active, text follows: www.dailymail.com/story/S...justments/ Power pitcher making adjustments Jeff Bergren For the Charleston Daily Mail He finally found the "Wright" approach. After getting rocked for seven runs and six hits in only four innings during his last start, West Virginia Power pitcher Brae Wright decided to change his mindset. It worked. The left-hander pitched six strong innings while leading the Power to a 10-3 win over Greensboro Wednesday at Appalachian Power Park. Wright was so impressive, he threw only 77 pitches while limiting the Grasshoppers to one run on three hits. Not bad for a hurler that came into the game with a 3-3 record and an embarrassing 7.04 earned run average. "I think today I came out with a different mental approach," Wright said. "It's been a rocky season for me so far, but I've been working hard with J.C. (pitching coach John Curtis) to make a few adjustments. "I decided to take a little bit different of an approach, go out there and try to pitch a little bit instead of stressing out or trying to do too much. "I went back to the basics and threw strikes and tried to keep the ball down in the zone. I let the defense do the work behind me rather than try and strike everyone out and put too much pressure on myself." The Power hitters did the rest. For the seventh consecutive game the Power rapped double-figure hits (14) and put this one away early after battling from behind the night before against second-place Greensboro (31-28). The two-game series sweep reduced the Power's magic number for clinching the South Atlantic League's Northern Division to two. The Power (40-16) increased their lead to 10 1/2 games. West Virginia used a four-run third inning to spark the blowout and knocked in three more runs in the fourth to the delight of the 5,421 fans. Steve Chapman slammed a three-run home run in the third inning off Greensboro starting pitcher Hector Correa. It was Chapman's team-leading ninth homer of the season. Then, Chuckie Caufield and Andrew Lefave hit back-to-back RBI singles in the fourth to take over the game. That's the kind of explosive offense a pitcher has to appreciate. And Wright certainly does. "Of course, our offense has been phenomenal this year and they stuck with me through the rough times," said the left-hander. "I really appreciate those guys. "Individually, I want to turn things around and get more outings like this. I was happy to take a step in a positive direction. "Our staff gets to pitch with confidence because we know our team is going to play hard and battle for us and score runs. ... As a pitching staff, we always know we have a chance to win every time out as long as we keep it from getting out of hand." West Virginia also became only the eighth team in the 20-year history of Charleston's involvement in the SAL to win 40 games in a half. The most wins in a half was 47 posted by the 1990 Charleston Wheelers when they were an affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds. The best record in a half in terms of percentage was the 1991 team, which went 46-24 (.657). This team has a chance to surpass that total with 12 games remaining before the break. Chapman feels the sky's the limit for this team, especially if the pitching staff gets going. "We are hoping to get a ring this year," said the power-hitting left-fielder. "If our pitching is on, we know the hitting is going to be there. It has been there almost all season and hopefully it will stay there." "We play all nine innings; we come from behind a lot. If our pitching staff gets it done a little bit we know we can break it open. "Brae has been struggling a lot but he brought his 'A' game today and everyone knows he can pitch and, hopefully, it will continue." West Virginia's powerful offense is predicated on confidence and not being intimidated no matter what opposing pitcher is on the mound. "There is no way you can pitch around our entire lineup," Chapman said. "It doesn't matter how good a pitcher may be. He may get us for the first eight innings, but we will get them in the ninth. There is no pitcher out there that can bring it to us for the whole nine innings. "We are a solid lineup one through nine." Caufield, who was named the "Offensive Player of the Week" by the SAL, sees endless possibilities for the Power. Especially with the unique balance of speed and power the lineup possesses. "Each and everyone of us knows we have jobs to do in the game," said the right-fielder. "One day your role might be to get on base for someone else to drive you in. We try to play small ball and use our speed to the best of our ability. "I don't see a limit for this team. If we come out everyday and play like we are capable I don't see many teams beating us." If Wright's performance is any indication, the pitching is beginning to catch up to the hitting for the Power. POWER POINTS: Manager Mike Guerrero has been chosen to lead the Northern Division squad in the SAL All-Star Game on June 19 at State Mutual Stadium in Rome, Ga. ... West Virginia begins a four-game series against the Lexington Legends at Applebee's Park tonight. Mike Ramlow (2-2, 7.83) will be the Power's starting pitcher, while the Legends send Casey Hudspeth (2-4, 5.90) to the mound. Charleston Daily Mail Photos: Tom Hindman The West Virignia Power?s Brent Brewer hits a sacrifice bunt that turned into a single when he beat the throw to first during Wednesday?s game at Appalachian Power Park. http://www.dailymail.com/images/0607brewer.jpg The West Virginia Power?s Chuckie Caufield is safe at second base as the tag is put down by the Greensboro Grasshoppers? Justin Webb at Appalachian Power Park on Wednesday. Caufield was later tagged out at home while trying to score on a hit to center field. http://www.dailymail.com/images/0607power.jpg

Technically, it's still before the draft, right? Patience, thanks.... UPDATE: You'll have a new P50 to digest before you go to bed tonight, but it won't be online until mid-late evening Thursday. Sorry for the delay, your dedication to and interest in the P50 is both overwhelming and appreciated.

Standings through Wednesday's action: What a race between the Stars and Smokies -- every game critical down the stretch here; Brevard picked up a half-game last night... Pacific Coast League (AAA) - PCL American North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Iowa 35 23 .603 - 17-7 18-16 W2 Nashville 33 26 .559 2.5 21-10 12-16 W2 Omaha 30 29 .508 5.5 22-10 8-19 L2 Memphis 27 33 .450 9.0 17-15 10-18 L2 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Southern League (AA) - SOU North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Huntsville 32 26 .552 - 17-13 15-13 W1 Tennessee 32 26 .552 - 14-14 18-12 W1 Chattanooga 26 34 .433 7.0 17-18 9-16 L1 West Tenn 26 34 .433 7.0 16-14 10-20 W1 Carolina 20 40 .333 13.0 11-14 9-26 L9 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Florida State League (A+) - FSL East Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Brevard County 33 25 .569 - 19-8 14-17 L4 Palm Beach 31 27 .534 2.0 14-14 17-13 L2 Daytona 28 30 .483 5.0 17-11 11-19 W1 Vero Beach 27 31 .466 6.0 18-12 9-19 L2 Jupiter 26 32 .448 7.0 12-18 14-14 W1 St. Lucie 24 34 .414 9.0 11-17 13-17 L1 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- South Atlantic League (A) - SAL Northern Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- West Virginia 40 16 .714 - 20-10 20-6 W3 Greensboro 31 28 .525 10.5 19-9 12-19 L3 Lakewood 29 27 .518 11.0 14-17 15-10 W2 Delmarva 27 29 .482 13.0 16-12 11-17 W6 Lake County 27 31 .466 14.0 15-13 12-18 L3 Lexington 27 32 .458 14.5 15-16 12-16 W1 Hagerstown 24 34 .414 17.0 14-14 10-20 L2 Hickory 23 33 .411 17.0 10-13 13-20 L1

These links will be included in each daily report when the Nashville Sounds and/or Huntsville Stars are scheduled to play. Normally they are updated an hour or two prior to gametime, with Nashville's usually earlier: Nashville Media Notes (Adobe .pdf format): www.nashvillesounds.com/pdf/notes.pdf Huntsville Media Notes (Adobe .pdf format): www.huntsvillestars.com/i...eNotes.pdf

Hey, with no Brewer big-league game tonight, you can pony up $3.95 ($29.95 for the season) to watch tonight's Power and Legend game from Lexington. web.minorleaguebaseball.c...p;sid=t495

Follow Thursday's action as it happens: Here's what you do, right click on each of the links below and choose "Open in New Window". Open the Nashville Gameday. For the others, choose "Log". 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: www.minorleaguebaseball.c...a_omaaaa_1 Huntsville: www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_wtdaax_1 Brevard County Game One: www.minorleaguebaseball.c...a_breafa_1 Brevard County Game Two: www.minorleaguebaseball.c...a_breafa_2 West Virginia: www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_lexafx_1

Thursday's Daily Menu: All times Central; pitchers subject to change -- Nashville: RHP Yovani Gallardo at Omaha (Royals), 6:50 PM pre-game; 7:05 PM gametime; former Brewer Ben Hendrickson on the mound for Omaha Audio link: www.nashvillesounds.com/listenlive/ Huntsville: LHP Sam Narron at West Tenn (Mariners), 6:50 PM pre-game; 7:05 gametime Audio link: www.huntsvillestars.com/ Brevard County: TBD times two in a doubleheader (seven-inning games) at home vs. Lakeland (Tigers), 3:50 PM pre-game, 4:00 gametime; it's probably LHP's David Welch and Derek Miller Audio link (game will also archive at this link): www.minorleaguebaseball.c.../audio.jsp West Virginia: LHP Mike Ramlow at Lexington (Astros), 5:55 PM pre-game, 6:05 gametime Audio link (game will also archive at this link): www.minorleaguebaseball.c.../audio.jsp

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

RHP Patrick Ryan of the Manatees followed by his local paper, the St. Petersburg Times: www.sptimes.com/2007/06/0...seco.shtml Ryan made a homecoming of sorts last weekend. The former Central High star made two appearances at Legends Field as the Brevard County Manatees played a five-game series against the Tampa Yankees. A large contingent from Hernando County, including his parents, grandparents, wife and former coach at Central, made the 45-minute trip south to watch the 24-year-old pitch. He did not allow a run in either appearance, giving up one hit in one inning of work Tuesday and two hits in two innings Saturday. His final line for the series: three innings, three hits, three strikeouts, no walks, no runs allowed. In his five appearances since being called up from low-Class A West Virginia, Ryan is 1-0 with a 1.08 ERA, having allowed one run and seven hits in 8 1/3 innings.

Link while active, text follows: www.nashvillecitypaper.co...s_id=56559 Dillard hopes to follow father?s footsteps to big league career By Nate Rau, Nashville City Paper Sports Correspondent More than anything else, Tim Dillard?s parents were relieved when it turned out their youngest son loved baseball. Dillard says he could have chosen any sport or any extra-curricular activity he wanted growing up. But when your dad is a former big league infielder, when both of your brothers go on to become star prep baseball players and when there?s a neatly manicured Little League field in your backyard, odds are pretty good you?re going to fall in line. Dillard?s dad Steve Dillard had a seven-year big league career with four different franchises. Steve then went on to become a minor league coach ? he?s the hitting instructor for Class A Palm Beach in the St. Louis Cardinals organization. ?We had three boys, and when they were younger, they were around the clubhouses when I was coaching in the minor leagues,? Steve Dillard said. ?They grew up around it. They saw the excitement, and they wanted to play.? Tim is the youngest of three boys, so he always had to work harder to keep up. His oldest brother Jeff went on to play college baseball at Mississippi State and middle brother Andy is currently playing in an independent league in New Hampshire. In order to relieve the strain on his mom, Tim was put in the same league as his older brother, meaning he was always the youngest on the team growing up. ?When he was real little, I?d put Jeff at short and Andy at third and hit ground balls at them,? Steve Dillard said. ?I had Tim over at first, and he sure did catch everything they fired over at him.? Tim initially thought catching was his calling. Twice the Milwaukee Brewers drafted him as a catcher, thinking that was his best position. But an injury to his left shoulder, coupled with a switch to the pitcher?s mound changed everything. During his junior season of high school, Tim was catching for the other kids trying out to fill the team?s pitching rotation. After a day of tryouts, Tim went to his coach with another option. ?I was catching them all day and I said to coach, ?I think we?re in trouble,?? Tim said. ?I thought I could do a better job.? Turns out, he was right. Dillard found his calling on the mound. Even though he says he?s still learning the position, Dillard has progressed steadily through the Brewers farm system. He?s spent one year at each stop along the way ? rookie ball, low Class A, high Class A, Double-A and then this year with Triple-A Nashville. There are still some kinks to be worked out. Sounds manager Stan Kyles points out Dillard uses too many pitches while not striking out enough batters. But for a 23-year-old still learning the position, Dillard is doing pretty well. He?s 3-3 with a 3.51 ERA. ?I think I?ve done all right. I do feel like I?m still learning, like figuring out how to pitch to the number-eight guy in the batting order because the pitcher?s on deck,? Dillard said. ?Little things like that. You?re always your own worst critic.? Now Dillard is on the doorstep of following in his father?s footsteps of a big league career. ?That?s the goal, that?s my dream,? Dillard said. ?I?d love to have a 10-year career and be an all-star. That should be every guy?s goal.? And the process of waiting for that dream to come true keeps the entire family, especially the proud father Steve, in constant suspense. ?My hope for him is that he that he gets up and stays up,? Steve Dillard said. ?I hope he doesn?t go up and then get sent back down. It is thrilling for me and the whole family. We see he?s doing what he?s supposed to do and we?re proud of him.?

Link while active, text follows: www.wvgazette.com/section...2007060632 Long ball sparks Power romp 10-3 win over Greensboro cuts magic number to 2 By Mitch Vingle Charleston Gazette Sports Editor Relative to his West Virginia Power baseball teammates, left fielder Steve Chapman is a different bird. Mixed within a flock of high-average hitters, he?s one that gives flight to a pitch. On Wednesday, Chapman sent a Hector Correa pitch sailing 390 feet over the Appalachian Power Park right-field wall, pushing the hosts to a 10-3 win over Greensboro and a step closer to the South Atlantic League Northern Division title. With two on base and his team up 2-0 in the third inning, Chapman ? a .261 hitter on a team with a whopping .303 average ? broke open the game with his bomb. The Power (40-16) then rolled, finishing with 14 hits. West Virginia has now recorded double digits in hits in each of its last seven games. Lefty Brae Wright moved to 4-3 with what he called his best outing of the season. ?I?ve been chasing changeups and sliders and everything away,?? Chapman said. ?I finally got a pitch to hit, made contact and it went somewhere. I was happy to get a couple of RBIs and break open the game for us a little bit.?? The Power has five starters hitting over .300. Chapman isn?t one of them. Yet he leads the team in home runs with nine. ?I?d rather be hitting .330 with two home runs than .250 with nine home runs,?? he said. ?But if that?s my role on this team ? driving home runs with runners on base ? I?ll take that too. As long as I?m in the lineup. It does feel good to hit home runs, but I?ve got to cut down on my strikeouts.?? The fact is, though, it never hurts a minor league career to be hitting homers. ?No, I?ll take ?em,?? Chapman said with a laugh. ?Bloops, home runs, anything I can get, I?ll take.?? The outfielder committed to play for Auburn before being drafted by Milwaukee in the sixth round in 2004. He played rookie ball in Arizona before spending his second season in Helena. In his third season, Chapman played in Charleston for a month, then went back to Helena. Now he?s here playing every day and hopes to stick via the homers. ?I?ve been more of a doubles, triples kind of guy before,?? Chapman said. ?For some reason they?ve been carrying a little more. Maybe it?s the [Power] fans blowing them out of here for me.?? Chapman finished the day 2-for-5 with four runs batted in and a run scored. Chuck Caufield, the Power?s right fielder, was 3-for-4 with two RBIs and a run. Brent Brewer, the shortstop, was 2-for-4 with three runs and three stolen bases. The only West Virginia starters not to have hits were Michael Brantley, who still managed to score, and third baseman Taylor Green, who entered the game batting .364 from the nine spot. And all the hitters needed was a little help from starter Wright, who did more than his fair share. Wright, a 2006 sixth-round draft pick, gave up but one hit over the first four innings. Relying heavily on changeups and sliders, he surrendered just three hits in six innings with four strikeouts on just 77 pitches. Three of his four victories this season have been against Greensboro, which fell to 31-28. ?As far as this season goes, this is my best outing yet,?? said Wright. ?I felt a lot more comfortable. I was throwing for more strikes than I have been. I got ahead more instead of pitching from behind and on the defensive.?? Wright entered the game as the underdog. He had a 7.04 earned run average, while Greensboro starter Correa toted one of 2.00. Correa struck out six in 3 1/3 innings but was lit up for eight earned runs on eight hits and four walks. ?It?s always a plus to see that,?? Wright said. ?Our guys are doing this day in and day out. ?All the credit goes to our offense and the way our defense has been playing. Our staff always feels we have a chance to win. It gives you a little extra confidence, even when you get on the mound and don?t feel your stuff is working.?? The win over the second-place Grasshoppers reduced the Power?s magic number to two. Any combination of Power wins and Greensboro losses totaling two clinches the franchise?s first Sally League postseason berth since 2004. Chances are it will happen away from Power Park. The Power begins a seven-game road trip tonight with the first of four games at Lexington.

I thought I remembered a post here asking for the complete South Atlantic League All-Star roster -- this multi-page article includes the list: www.wvgazette.com/section...2007060633

The Late Show Top 10 List with Bob Barker

Flying Tigers, Manatees rained out Wednesday's Florida State League game between Lakeland and Brevard County was postponed due to rain at Space Coast Stadium. The game will be made up as part of a doubleheader Thursday, starting at 5:00 PM (4:00 Central).

Final: Huntsville 8, Chattanooga (Reds) 4 Huntsville Site Game Summary: Link, text follows -- www.huntsvillestars.com/n...ewsId=1201 Stars Finish Strong and Finish Off Looks Brendan Katin knocked in two runs and the struggling bullpen worked 3 1/3 scoreless innings to preserve Huntsville?s 8-4 win over Chattanooga Wednesday afternoon in the last of a five-game set at AT&T Field. The Stars took three out of five to improve to 32-26 and maintained at least their share of the lead in the North Division, pending the outcome of tonight?s game between Birmingham and Tennessee, while the Lookouts dropped to 26-34 and seven games off the pace. The Stars have taken six out of 10 from the Looks and wound up scoring 31 runs on 57 hits in the series. Steve Moss singled with one out in the third, moved to second base when Guilder Rodriguez drew a walk, advanced to third when Steve Sollmann was hit by a pitch and scored on a Katin sacrifice fly, his sixth of the year. Rodriguez moved to third on the scoring fly ball and came home to make it 2-0 when starter Luke Lockwood uncorked his second wild pitch of the season. Lockwood kept the Stars off the board in innings three through five before the visitors erupted for four in the sixth, stringing together six consecutive hits and a sacrifice fly to push the margin to 6-0. Adam Heether started the rally with a one-out double to break up a nine at-bat hitless drought and came in to score on a base hit by Yohannis Perez, who had been hitless in eight at-bats. Moss and Rodriguez drove in runs with singles and Steve Sollmann?s scoring fly ball capped the rally. Carlos Corporan was the only Stars? position player not to collect a hit and score a run, as Huntsville posted at least five runs in every game in the series and totaled 12 hits in four of the contests. Stars? starter Lindsay Gulin, who had a key bunt base hit in the sixth inning rally, had blanked the home side on four singles through five frames but got knocked out in the sixth. Luis Bolivar singled to open the frame and advanced to third base on two wild pitches and scored on a two-out single by Enrique Cruz, who knocked in his sixth run against his former team. Cody Strait worked a walk and Marland Williams followed with a home run high off the scoreboard in left field to cut the Stars? lead to 6-4. It was his third long ball of the series and the fourth time in the set that the Lookouts had plated at least four runs in a frame. Luis Pena took over for Gulin after the home run and fanned Caonabo Cosme to end the sixth and retired the home side in order in the seventh. Drew Anderson reached on a Rodriguez fielding error in the eighth, moved to second on an errant pick-off attempt and advanced to third on Enrique Cruz?s third single of the day but stayed put when Cody Strait struck out and Williams lined out to center to end the threat. Pena struck out three and allowed one hit in his 2 1/3 scoreless before Marino Salas came on to toss a shutout ninth inning to end the game. The Stars open a five-game series Thursday night at West Tenn and will send southpaw Sam Narron to the hill against Lookouts? left-hander Justin Thomas. 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. Huntsville Box Score: Steve Moss and Ryan Crew on base four times apiece, Guilder Rodriguez and Steve Sollmann three times; Marion Salas is darn near the Stars' equivalent of Francisco Cordero... www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_cngaax_1 Huntsville Game Log: www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_cngaax_1

All the Power's games at Lexington this week will be broadcast by MiLB.TV. So with the Brewers off on Thursday, what better time to pony up the $3.95 for all those that have said they'd love to see this club in action. You may even see a playoff-clinching celebration Thursday night! We'll provide details on that option in Thursday's Link Report.

West Virginia Site Game Summary: POWER WIN 40TH GAME The West Virginia Power used a four-run third inning and a three-run fourth inning to win their 40th game of the season, defeating the Greensboro Grasshoppers 10-3 on Wednesday morning at Appalachian Power Park. Chuckie Caufield?s two-out RBI double in the first inning gave the Power an early lead. In the third, Brent Brewer scored on a wild pitch and Steve Chapman hit a three-run bomb, his ninth of the year. The Power pulled further away with a three-run fourth inning. Caufield and Andrew Lefave hit back-to-back RBI singles and Kenny Holmberg was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded. The Grasshoppers plated their first run of the game in the fifth inning on Justin Webb?s sacrifice fly. The ?Hoppers scored two more times in the top of the eighth inning. Logan Morrison walked with the bases loaded and Spike McDougall reached on Brent Brewer?s error, plating Guillermo Martinez. The Power answered with two runs in the bottom of the inning. Kenny Holmberg knocked in the first run on a sacrifice fly and Steve Chapman drove in the final run with a base hit. Brae Wright (4-3) was outstanding through six innings, allowing just a run on three hits with four strikeouts and got the win, while Hector Correa (0-2) was tagged with the loss. The Power improved to 40-16 with the win and the Grasshoppers fell to 31-28 with the loss. Three Power players knocked in multiple runs, including Chapman who paced the Power with four. The Power have now recorded double digit hits in their last seven games. West Virginia?s magic number is two. They can wrap up the division as early as Thursday. The Power will begin a four game series against the Lexington Legends at Applebee?s Park on Thursday night. The Power will start left hander Mike Ramlow (2-2, 7.83) and Lexington will counter with Casey Hudspeth (2-4, 5.90). The first pitch is scheduled for 7:05 PM (6:05 Central).

Link while active, text follows: www.dailymail.com/story/S...chers+pay/ Caufield makes pitchers pay Michael Dailey Charleston Daily Mail Sportswriter As a quarterback at Oklahoma's Ada High School, Chuckie Caufield played well enough to garner scholarship offers from Oklahoma and Tennessee. Now, a year after being chosen in the 39th round (1,172nd overall) of the 2006 Major League Baseball Draft, the 23-year old is opening eyes and turning heads on the baseball diamond. Nearly halfway through the South Atlantic League season, the West Virginia Power outfielder sits near the top of the league's standings in several offensive categories. The reigning SAL Player of the Week, Caufield has a league-best 74 hits, having batted a torrid 11-for-26, with a pair of homers and 10 RBI in six games from May 29 to June 3. Caufield is batting .329 in 55 games, after finishing his first professional season with a .284 average last year. So, just what is Caufield's secret for success in his second professional season? "I hit pitchers' mistakes," Caufield said before the Power rallied to beat Greensboro 8-6 Tuesday night at Appalachian Power Park. "The pitches I do hit are mistakes and I haven't missed them for the most part. "But the main thing is not to try to get too big. The thing that's helped me is that I've been satisfied with the base hits, trying to maintain a good attitude and be humble. "I've used a short stroke to just get the ball in play and hit the ball to all fields." Caufield credits his age and maturity level for his ability to remain level headed while trying to master the toughest task in professional athletics. "The main thing is to be consistent with your hitting by coming out everyday and doing the same thing over and over," Caufield said. "At my age, I feel a little more mature. When I used to get out, I'd get upset and throw a helmet here and there, but I'm past that stage in my life. "Now when I strike out or do something else negative, I walk back to the dugout knowing that I'll have another shot at it. I don't see it at as the end of the world anymore. I just try to keep a level head out there. "In the game of baseball, it always comes back around. You'll have another shot sooner or later. A lot of guys beat themselves down early in the game, sometimes in the first or second inning. "You can't down on yourself because there's still seven more innings to play and there's going to be at least two or three more chances to get the job done." Power hitting coach Corey Hart also credits Caufield's maturity level for his success at the plate. "He's one of the older guys that played in college, so he knows how to make adjustments at the plate when he needs to," Hart said. "He makes them from pitch to pitch and from at bat to at bat. Some of the younger guys might make an adjustment day to day or from week to week. "Being mature and being around the game, he knows his swing and how to be successful. "He doesn't try to do too much. He knows what kind of player he is. He's not a player that hits a lot of home runs, so he doesn't try to do that. He has his plan at the plate and he sticks to it." That wasn't always the case for Caufield. After one season at Seminole (Okla.) Junior College, Caufield was drafted by the San Diego Padres in the 25th round of the 2003 draft. However, his lack of baseball maturity led him back to school for his sophomore season. "I was just 18 years old and I really didn't know too much about baseball," Caufield said. "I played football, basketball and baseball from my freshmen to senior years in high school. I just went season to season, so I didn't really concentrate on one sport. "I really just got by on my athletic ability and I still had a lot to learn. I wasn't mature enough in the game of baseball to go out on my own and be thrown into this game. "In junior college, I had a chance to play in the fall and spring and got a lot of baseball work in. I was able to iron some things out before I signed with Oklahoma." After a pair of successful seasons with the Sooners, Caufield felt ready when the Brewers came calling last season. And while he naturally would like to have been drafted higher in the draft, Caufield knows that draft status doesn't mean much once you look past signing bonuses. "Every player wants to go high in the draft and sometimes it can bother you a little bit, but the main thing is that I did get drafted," he said. "So many people don't have the opportunity to do what I do. Plus, we all go to the same place once your drafted, so we all have to go through the same thing. "We go through the same spring training, we go to the same teams, so the only thing that matters is what I do now, not what I did then. "Other players may have gotten a bigger signing bonus, but every player's goal is not to be drafted and get a big signing bonus. It's to play Major League baseball, so we're all still working to reach that ultimate goal. "I just want to stay humble and let the good happen for you. Don't be too greedy, just stay consistent and maintain a steady mindset." Charleston Daily Mail Photos: Craig Cunningham West Virginia Power outfielder Chuckie Caufield on Tuesday was named the South Atlantic League's Player of the Week. http://www.dailymail.com/images/Acaufield6607.jpg Oklahoma and Tennessee wanted Power outfielder Chuckie Caufield to play quarterback for their college football teams. http://www.dailymail.com/images/ABcaufield2.jpg

Final: West Virginia 10, Greensboro (Marlins) 3 Magic number down to 2! West Virginia Box Score: Team mashes extra-base hits, team steals bases, team takes walks, team is solid defensively, team is a joy... www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_wvaafx_1 West Virginia Game Log: LHP Brae Wright's best start of the season... www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_wvaafx_1