Jim Goulart

Link while active, text follows: www.dailymail.com/story/S...e-victory/ Power ties franchise record with 12th consecutive victory Jacob Messer Charleston Daily Mail Sportswriter Shhh ... Don't tell the West Virginia Power coaches and players that their current winning streak is one of the longest in franchise history. West Virginia extended its winning streak to 12 games Wednesday with a 7-1 victory over host Lexington (Ky.) at Applebee's Park. The Power, which is in first place in the South Atlantic League's Northern Division first-half standings, improved to 14-3. The Legends dropped to 9-11. West Virginia's winning streak is believed to be a franchise record and matches the mark set by two other Charleston-based Class A clubs, the 1990 Wheelers and the 2004 Alley Cats. "I didn't know about it until you told me and I don't think any of the other guys know about it," Power left fielder Stephen Chapman said in a postgame telephone interview. "I'm glad no one is thinking about it right now. If you don't know about it, you can't worry about it. It's like if you go up to the plate trying to hit a home run, you're not going to hit a home run and you're probably going to strike out. "If we know we have a chance to break a record, then we're going to go out there trying not to lose instead of trying to win. We can't do that. As long as we play the way we have been playing, there aren't too many teams that can beat us right now." Power starter Zach Braddock (2-0) again was impressive on the mound. The left-hander allowed one run on four hits over six innings with eight strikeouts and no walks. "He did a beautiful job," West Virginia pitching coach John Curtis said. "He did a great job pitching to a tough hitting club. He threw well to both sides of the plate and he kept the ball down." The Legends' run in the sixth inning was the first and only one Braddock has surrendered in 19 innings this season. He had eight strikeouts and eight walks in his first two outings but has had 20 strikeouts and no walks in his last two outings. "His last two outings have been sensational," Curtis said. Power reliever Alex Periard pitched three scoreless innings to earn his second save. West Virginia committed two errors in the eighth, allowing Lexington to load the bases with one out. But Periard coaxed Jordan Parraz into a threat-killing and inning-ending double play from second baseman Kenny Holmberg to shortstop Brent Brewer to first baseman Taylor Green. "He did a good job of getting out of trouble," Curtis said. Brewer led the Power with three hits, including one triple. Chapman added two doubles and accounted for four of West Virginia's runs, scoring one and driving in three more. "Everybody is playing well and everybody is playing with that swagger," Chapman said. "We expect to win." The teams will continue their four-game series at 7:05 Thursday night (6:05 Central) at Applebee's Park. The Power will start left-hander Mike Ramlow (1-1, 6.39). The Legends will throw left-hander Polin Trinidad (1-2, 10.32). West Virginia will try to break the franchise record for Class A teams tonight, although coaches and players alike say that isn't on their minds. "We haven't really thought about that," said Power Manager Mike Guerrero, whose team scored two in the second, four in the fifth and one in the seventh. "It's great that we have a chance to break the record, but our concentration is on keeping everything as consistent as we can. "The thing is, we're playing like a team right now. When you do that and you play fundamental baseball and you get the pitching and you get the hitting and you play good defense and you run the bases well, you usually get the W."

By the way, pride from yours truly as a "northeasterner" -- current Assistant Director of Amateur Scouting Tony Blengino signed both LHP's Zach Braddock and Steve Garrison during his brief tenure as Northeast Area Scout. In a difficult part of the country to mine, Blengino also signed Angel Salome, Darren Ford, Derek Miller (another LH starter), and of course, has a huge vested interest in Mark Rogers.

Link while active, text follows: www.suburbanchicagonews.c...S1.article Ed Sedar enjoying first place with the Brewers By Dave Masterson Waukegan (IL) News-Sun The early-season success of the first-place Milwaukee baseball team is a point of particular pride for Waukegan native Ed Sedar, 45, the team's rookie first-base coach, who at one point or another has instructed or managed every team member coming through the Brewer's system. "I know just about every one of these guys," said Sedar, sitting in the visitor's dugout at Wrigley Field prior to Monday's game against the Cubs. "I was the outfield and base-running coordinator in the (Brewers) system from 1992-2006 and was responsible for instructing everyone in rookie ball where I took all newly drafted kids from 1998 until last year. So there's a real comfort level here. I see a lot of familiar faces. I've seen everybody come through, right from the start. I know them and they know me." But Milwaukee youngsters like slugger Prince Fielder, 22, can't possibly have the appreciation Sedar has for being in The Bigs. Twenty-six years have passed since the 1979 graduate of Waukegan West High School was drafted in the sixth round by the Chicago White Sox as an outfielder out of the College of Lake County. Only this year has he made it to the majors. Sedar toiled eight years as a player, reaching the Class AA minor league level, before injuries officially halted his career between the white lines. The White Sox organization liked his attitude and knowledge of the game, offering him a player/coach position in his final year as an outfielder at South Bend. By that time, Sedar says, "The thought had crossed my mind that my baseball career would involve coaching more than playing." He said he never once was discouraged or considered any other line of work. Baseball was his future. Sedar excelled at the sport from the very beginning. In 1978 he was MVP and 5-0 as a pitcher on an undefeated North Shore Colt baseball team that won the World Championship. In 1980, he starred on an American Legion team that went all the way to the World Series in Ely, Minn. Sedar was a rare four-sport letterman for the Raiders of Waukegan West, getting his "W" in baseball, football, wrestling and basketball. He wrestled for three seasons before switching to basketball his senior year. "I wrestled every weight from 98 to 130, but by senior year, I was getting pretty big and it was getting harder to lose weight," he said. "And I wanted to try basketball." Every team Sedar was on in high school had good success. He played wide receiver and safety for a 7-2 Raiders team considered one of the best ever to represent Waukegan (Gerald Green was a star running back on that team). "We were the WLS radio team of the week one week," he said. "That was a major deal. "The baseball team my senior year was ranked No. 1 in the state, then we lost our first game in the playoffs," he said, still wincing at the distant memory. "Wrestling at Waukegan is always good. And the basketball team (he played point and shooting guards and small forward) was pretty good too. But toward the end of the basketball season, I was ready for baseball. (Sedar played shortstop, outfield and pitched)." He is a member of the Waukegan Lions Club Hall of Fame and CLC's Sports Hall of Fame and a two-time All-American outfielder/pitcher at CLC where he established a record for stolen bases (70) in one season. In the minors, the self-described "gap hitter who could run and field" batted "anywhere from third to sixth in the lineup." Sedar joined the Brewers organization as a coach in 1992, and by 1998 was managing rookie-level teams in Ogden, Utah (where he still lives). He then managed the Helena Brewers of Montana from 2003-2006. While managing, he also served as a roving outfield and base-running instructor throughout the minors before finally stepping on a big league field in a major league uniform this season. Asked about the differences between the majors and minors, Sedar smiled. "The travel. You have charter flights compared to charter buses," he said. "The (clubhouse food) spreads are way better up here. And the meal money." Sedar said he was getting $20 a day in the minors but didn't know how much he got now. He guessed $70, but said whatever it was for sure it's more than he can spend. Besides the amenities, the consistently high caliber of player stands out. Sedar keeps in contact with a number of old friends from Waukegan. His Dad still lives in Waukegan and he has sisters in Third Lake and Chicago. When the team's in Milwaukee or Chicago, Sedar stays with one of the three relatives. On Monday, one of his sisters was scheduled to be sitting in the vicinity of the Brewer's dugout, all the better to watch brother Ed coach first. Prior to game time, Sedar throws batting practice to "extra players and pitchers," hits fungoes to the outfielders and puts players through base-running paces designed to help them get good jumps off a pitcher's delivery. During the game, he stands beyond the first-base coach's box; closer to first than the white lines would seemingly allow. His manner is undemonstrative, never excitable, even when a Brewer runner slides head first into the bag on a ground ball and is barely out. When a Milwaukee player reaches Sedar's station, the first-base coach has a routine of walking right up to the man between every pitch, cupping his left hand and whispering into the runner's ear as though he is telling a secret. He then retreats a few steps into foul territory. If there is a base runner at inning's end, Sedar hustles to where the runner is and retrieves batting helmets and gloves. At the end of each Milwaukee inning he can be seen offering words of encouragement to the young Milwaukee players, accompanied by a swipe on the rump. "I've always been happy doing what I've done in baseball," he said, reflecting on his career. "Obviously, I'm a lot happier now."

Link while active, text follows: morningsentinel.mainetoda...48068.html Rogers coming back strong after surgery By PAUL BETIT Blethen Maine Newspapers Mark Rogers, the Milwaukee Brewers' first-round pick three years ago, doesn't know when he'll be able to pick up a baseball and pitch from a mound again. But the hard-throwing right-hander from Orr's Island does know he feels a lot better than he did before undergoing arthroscopic surgery three months ago. "I couldn't be happier than I am right now," he said. "My strength is coming back and I've had full range of motion for quite a while." In 2004, Rogers, 21, signed for $2.2 million after the Brewers made him the fifth pick in the major league draft following his senior year at Mt. Ararat High in Topsham. Last July, his third pro season was cut short after his throwing shoulder stiffened while he was pitching for the Brevard County Manatees in the Class A Florida State League, and he returned to Milwaukee's training complex in Marysville, Ariz. In January, Rogers underwent surgery in Fort Worth, Texas, to repair a torn labrum and tighten up a loose ligament in his right shoulder. More than three months after the surgery, Rogers appears to be recovering. "From all the reports, he's progressing well and they feel he's going to make a full recovery," said Jim Rooney, Milwaukee's coordinator of minor league pitching. Rooney made it clear the Brewers don't intend to rush Rogers back. "I don't know whether he will return this season," he said. "The medical staff will make that determination." Currently, Rogers reports to Milwaukee's training facility in Arizona at 7 a.m. Monday through Saturday for a morning of physical rehab work, mostly weight lifting and running. "Everything I do is monitored by a physicial therapist," he said. "He gives me a program every morning." After more than three months of rehabilitation, Rogers sees improvement. "I'm in the strengthening phase," he said. "I'm starting to do plyometrics, and I'm really, really starting to see results." Rogers is scheduled to start throwing a baseball May 7. "I'll start at 45 feet and gradually work my way back," he said. "I'll start throwing three times a week, and gradually move out to 50 feet, 60 feet, 90 feet, 120 feet." When will Rogers return to the mound? "It all depends on how well I progress and whether I have any setbacks," he said.

David Weiser's www.starsboxscore.com/ FOR OLD TIMESIt was just like old times. The question is --- is Mike Jones back? In spite of a sterling three-hit blanking over six innings, his ERA is still an-unattractive 6.27. The Brewers' heralded #1 draft pick in 2001 was 7-2 with a 2.40 ERA in 17 starts in 2003. He was just 19....... On a sunny Sunday April 12th, in his 2nd start, he out-dueled a very promising Dodger prospect by the name of Edwin Jackson, 7-0, giving up just two hits in six innings...... On May 10th, again at home against the Smokies, he gave up just two hits in eight innings, but did not figure in the 2-0 loss because of two 9th inning errors, one by reliever Ryan Miller....... On May 2nd, he dominated Chattanooga over seven innings, winning 1-0 on a game-saving catch by Dave Krynzel, described by former GM Bryan Dingo as "the greatest catch I've ever seen at Joe Davis Stadium"........ But he was shut down the entire 2nd half of the season with an ailing elbow. The next year, he was 1-4 with a 4.18 ERA in six starts. Eleven days after his last victory for the Stars, a combined two-hitter with Jeff Housman over Birmingham, he was placed on the disabled list with "shoulder discomfort.".......Surgery followed and he was out of action all of 2005. At his peak, he had a lively mid-90s fastball and a sharp curve.......Tonight, he was throwing 88-91 mph, with a little more velocity than announcer Brett Pollock had seen in his last three starts and he had thrown 75 pitches in five innings....... But all this came after struggling in three previous starts....... It's promising to see, but for Jones, who showed us a flash of his brilliance in 2003, it's still a long road ahead. Jonesy, fortunately, has an exceptional bullpen behind him this year...... After 18 games, the pen has an enviable 2.54 ERA with 77 strikeouts in 71 innings and a 4.53-1 strikeout-walk ratio....... Joe Thatcher got out of jams in his two innings, getting Fernando Perez to line into a double play with runners on 1st and 2nd and one out in the 7th...... Then in the 8th, after Jason Pridie led off with an infield single, Thatcher picked him off with dangerous Reid Brignac (4-for-9 in the first two games of this series) at the plate and one out....... Brignac already had three hits tonight, two of them doubles, when Pridie tried to steal 2nd. Steve Sollmann took Thatcher's pickoff throw and flung it to Yohannis Perez who tagged Pridie for the 2nd out, then Thatcher struck out Brignac.........Combining last year, Thatcher has a 1.15 ERA in 15 2/3 innings of relief with 17 strikeouts and four walks. Marino Salas, now with nine scoreless innings of relief over seven appearances, picked up his third save after giving up a one-out double to Chris Nowak and a walk to Steve Cumberland....... Salas came to the Stars with 48 saves over his last three seasons, all in the Baltimore chain...... He was 2-6 with a 2.92 ERA and 19 saves last year for Class AA-Bowie. The Stars, for once, were the team scoring the runs in the 1st inning...... Opponents, to date, have scored 27 runs off the Stars in the 1st, compared to 14 for all of April last year...... The Stars, counting tonight, have scored seven times....... Sollmann started the game with a single to center. Hernan Iribarren, 2-for his last-22 trips to the plate sacrificed him to 2nd with a bunt to the left side...... Watching Iribarren, I can say we truly have someone who can drop down a ball. In the past, that wasn't always the case...... Steve Moss then launched his 2nd home run of the season to give the Stars a 2-0 lead, driving the ball deep to left, extending his hitting streak to 11 games....... Moss has driven in eight runs during the streak and is 18-for-48 (.375)....... He is now 7th among Southern League batting leaders with a .333 average..... Sollmann, by the way, is 5th with a .365 mark. He's 10-for-23 in his last six games (.435) and has struck out just nine times in 52 at-bats....... The Stars scored their final run in the 9th after Mel Stocker's leadoff triple, his 3rd of the year, which was followed by a one-out single to center by Iribarren against a drawn-in infield....... The last Huntsville player to hit three triples in one month was Tony Gwynn, Jr. in July of 2005. Outside of the abbreviated Stars' series in Tennessee, it's the first series victory for the Stars this year........ In winning 3-of-5 to the team that beat us for the Southern League Championship last year, the Stars hit .250. They have hit .246 since April 16, which was the start of the Jacksonville series at the Joe........ With the Smokies' 16-7 loss to Mobile, the Stars are once again tied for 1st, even though they are 9-9. I'll take it. The Stars travel now up I-65 to Birmingham, losers of seven of their last eight, including being swept by the Mississippi Braves, after starting out 10-2 and on top of the Southern Division....... Sam Narron (0-1, 7.80) will face Adam Russell....... Russell was 4-3 for the Barons last year, but two of those losses came at the hands of the Stars, the last being a 1-0 victory on the last day of August. The other came on July 24th, when Jorge de la Rosa, in his 6th and final rehab start, got a five-run inning, capped by a three-run HR by Carlos Lee (the Astros' Carlos Lee's brother) to win, 8-2. Former Huntsville Star reliever Joe Winkelsas has not given up a run for Mississippi in 16 2/3 innings. He's 2nd among SL ERA leaders...... Despite the Stars' first shutout, they are 9th in the league in ERA (4.14)..... Jeff Housman and Bo Hall pitched two simulated innings this week. Pitching coach Rich Sauveur says he was "very pleased" with Housman's progress........ Manager Don Money returns to manage the club in Birmingham tomorrow for the first time since opening day. His father, Robert, passed away recently........ The Arizona Diamondbacks have placed former Huntsville Stars outfielder Dave Krynzel on the temporarily inactive list........ Former Stars pitcher Brian Adams, 29, has landed with Somerset of the independent Atlantic League. He led the Stars' pitching staff in appearances in 2004 with 52 and had a 3-2, 4.25 record. In 2003, he was 3-1 with a 2.95 ERA in 32 appearances. Hee Seop Choi, the former Diamond Jaxx 1st baseman who was once a #1 prospect of the Chicago Cubs, has been released by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. He leaves with a .275 average and 96 HRs in 507 minor league games. He's contemplating heading back to Korea.

Final: Huntsville 3, Montgomery (Devil Rays) 0 Huntsville Site game Summary: Link, text follows -- www.huntsvillestars.com/n...ewsId=1127 Stars Bounce Back to Blank Biscuits Mike Jones, Joe Thatcher and Marino Salas teamed up on a six-hit shutout, as Huntsville blanked Montgomery 3-0 Wednesday night at Riverwalk Stadium. The Stars took three out of five from the Biscuits to improve to 9-9 on the season and move back into a tie for first place with Tennessee in the North Division. The Stars won their first five-game set in three tries after losing decisive games at home to Mississippi and Jacksonville earlier in the year. Steve Sollmann started the game with a single, moved to second base on a Hernan Iribarren sacrifice bunt and scored when Moss launched his second home run of the season. The Stars? centerfielder extended his hitting streak to 11 games and knocked in eight runs in the series, driving in at least one run in four of the five games. Mike Prochaska held the Stars to two singles over the next six innings and left after seven frames, giving up two runs on four hits, while striking out seven. Richard De Los Santos worked a perfect eighth inning, his fourth perfect frame of the series, and the visitors were able to strike for a run in the ninth against Dale Thayer on a Mel Stocker leadoff triple and a one-out single by Iribarren against a drawn-in infield. Jones was aided by a ground ball double play and a sliding catch in left field by Mike Carlin after a leadoff walk in the third and got Chris Nowak to ground out with two runners aboard to end the sixth inning. The right-hander went six scoreless frames, in his longest outing since 2003, allowing three hits, all to Reid Brignac, walking two and fanning five to win for the first time this season and for the first time since June 20, 2004 at Birmingham. Thatcher got pinch-hitter Fernando Perez to pop out to second base with runners at first and second and one out in the seventh and Iribarren was able to double off John Jaso at first base after the Biscuits? catcher broke on a broken bat looper into shallow right field. Salas yielded a one-out double to Nowak, just the second hit he has permitted in nine innings, with one out in the ninth and walked Shaun Cumberland before retiring Gabriel Martinez and Jaso to end the game and preserve the Stars? first shutout of the season. Salas is three-for-three in save chances and has not been scored on in seven appearances. The Stars travel to Birmingham to start a five-game series Thursday evening with southpaw Sam Narron taking the hill against Barons? right-hander Adam Russell. 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.montgomeryadvertiser....002/SPORTS Early homer stands up for Stars By A. Stacy Long Montgomery Advertiser Biscuits pitcher Mike Prochaska made one early mistake in his start Wednesday against the Huntsville Stars. Steve Moss' no-doubt home run in the first inning was enough to leave Prochaska as the losing pitcher in Huntsville's 3-0 win at Riverwalk Stadium. Only Prochaska's performance was more notable than that. He responded to the home run by facing the minimum 20 hitters over the next 6 2/3 innings. "He knew he made a mistake, but he did what good pitchers do," Biscuits manager Billy Gardner said. "He put it behind him." Prochaska (0-2) allowed three more baserunners after Moss' majestic blast over the left-field wall, but picked two off and threw out another trying to advance. "I forced myself to not let that home run affect me," said Prochaska, who threw five shutout innings in his last start but left with a groin injury. "I knew the second inning was a big inning. I had to put a zero on the board. After that, I got some momentum going." But Moss' homer was too much for Montgomery to overcome. Huntsville starter Mike Jones (1-2) gave up three hits over six innings and two relievers finished a six-hitter. Jones had allowed 23 hits in 12 2/3 innings in his first three starts. "Coming in, the numbers didn't reflect that he could pitch that well," Gardner said. Moss, the third hitter of the game, jumped on a 2-0 Prochaska fastball to give Huntsville the lead. The Stars added a run in the ninth. "It was the wrong pitch on the wrong count," Prochaska said. "It was a mistake and he did what he should have done." ***Huntsville Box Score:Montgomery had not been shut out in 55 games; the Biscuits are 1-187 all-time when trailing after eight innings; in Mike Jones' first three starts, his batting average against was .390 -- what a turnaround in this one; Steve Moss struck out all three times up after his home run -- stay focused Steve, you're finally having the kind of start many have envisioned for some time; closer Marino Salas may be 26, but the recent waiver claim from the Orioles should still be considered as a "prospect"... www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_monaax_1 Huntsville Game Log: www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_monaax_1 Mike Jones Photo from the Stars' Site: http://www.huntsvillestars.com/images/news/07%20Mike%20Jones.jpg

Final: Brevard County 3, Vero Beach (Devil Rays) 2 Brevard County Site Game Summary: Link for Steve Garrison photo, text follows -- www.minorleaguebaseball.c...p;sid=t503 Brevard comes from behind again to beat Vero Beach Scott Pinner Viera FL - The Manatees took the sting out of the visiting Vero Beach Devil Rays for a third and final game at Space Coast Stadium on Wednesday night. Starting pitcher Steve Garrison (1-1) got his first win of the season and lowered his era to 2.66 in the Manatees 3-2 victory. The Manatees had to again come from behind for the win. The Devil Rays struck first plating two runs in the top of the first inning. The D-Ray's picked up the first run on an error by Ryan Crew who was making his first start at third base this season. The second run scored on a base hit. This would be all the offense the Devil Rays could muster as the rest of the way the Manatees pitching staff shut them out. The Manatees got two runs in the sixth to tie the game on smart base running and timely hitting and then Mat Gamel's sacrifice fly in the seventh brought home the winning run. Starting pitcher Steve Garrison, in a post game radio interview said, "The team really backed me up on defense tonight. We saw some great plays on the dirt and out in the grass. It was a great team win for the ballclub." The win improved the Manatees to 10-8 on the season and moved them into a three-way tie for first place in the FSL Eastern Division. The Manatees hit the road Thursday and Friday for a two game road trip with the Port St. Lucie Mets at Tradition Field. Both games can be heard world wide right here at www.manateesbaseball.com. The Miller Lite pre-game show is scheduled for 6:45 PM (5:45 Central). ***Brevard County Game Summary from MiLB.com: Manatees edge Rays Steve Garrison pitched seven strong innings as Brevard County rallied for a 3-2 win over visiting Vero Beach on Wednesday. Garrison (1-1) yielded two runs -- one earned -- on four hits and a walk while striking out five. Ben Stanczyk struck out two in a perfect eighth before Dave Johnson gave up a hit and fanned two in a scoreless ninth to nab his first save for the Manatees (10-8). Devil Rays starter Michael Wlodarczyk allowed just two baserunners over the first five frames before Ryan Crew and Alcides Escobar started the sixth with consecutive singles. After Michael Bell sacrificed, catcher Christian Lopez dropped a third strike to Chris Errecart. Crew scored when Lopez threw out Errecart at first to cut the deficit to 2-1. Wlodarczyk walked Cole Gillespie and Carlos Corporan followed with a single to center field, plating Escobar with the tying run. Jeff Kamrath (1-3) replaced Wlodarczyk and struck out Charlie Fermaint to end the sixth. But Lorenzo Cain led off the seventh with a single, stole second and advanced to third on a throwing error by Lopez. One out later, pinch-hitter Mat Gamel lofted a sacrifice fly to center to give Brevard County a 3-2 lead. Kamrath (1-2) was charged with a run on two hits in 1 1/3 innings to raise his ERA to 6.10. Wlodarczyk allowed two runs -- one earned -- on four hits and a pair of walks while striking out four over 5 2/3 innings. Vero Beach (7-11) scored both its runs in the first. Erold Andrus delivered an RBI double and scored when third baseman Crew misplayed Patrick Cottrell's grounder. -- Peter Zellen/MLB.com Brevard County Box Score: www.minorleaguebaseball.c...a_breafa_1 Brevard County Game Log: www.minorleaguebaseball.c...a_breafa_1

Final: West Virginia 7, Lexington (Astros) 1 West Virginia Site Game Summary: BRADDOCK'S BRILLIANCE PROVIDES 12TH STRAIGHT WIN Zach Braddock allowed just one run on four hits and struck out eight Lexington batters through six innings of Wednesday night's game as the West Virginia Power extended their winning streak to 12 games, defeating the Lexington Legends 7-1. The Power used three doubles in the second inning to take a 2-0 lead. Kenny Holmberg began the second inning with his fifth double of the season and he scored moments later on Steve Chapman's two-bagger. Chapman scored two batters later on Taylor Green's run-scoring double. West Virginia plated four runs in the fifth inning to pull away. Michael Brantley reached on a bases loaded walk to score the first run, Chuckie Caufield scored on a wild pitch and Chapman doubled in the final two runs of the inning. Lexington scored their only run of the game on Cesar Quinteros RBI single in the sixth inning. The Power crossed the plate one final time in the seventh inning as Andy Bouchie scored on Brantley's sacrifice fly. Braddock (2-0) earned the victory. He fanned eight batters, giving him 20 strikeouts in his last two games, and he has only allowed one run in 19 innings of work this season. Alex Periard pitched three scoreless innings of two-hit ball in relief to secure his second save of the season and Bryan Hallberg (1-1) took the loss. The Power improved to 14-3 with the win and the Legends fell to 9-11 with the loss. Brent Brewer paced the Power with three hits while Chapman had two. Chapman drove in three of West Virignia's runs and Brantley knocked in two. The Power will continue the four game series against Lexington at Applebees Park on Thursday night. The Power will start left hander Mike Ramlow (1-1, 6.39) and the Legends will counter with left hander Polin Trinidad (1-2, 10.32). The first pitch is scheduled for 7:05 PM (6:05 Central). ***Link while active, text follows: www.kentucky.com/271/story/53295.html Power trip up Legends BRADDOCK, PERIARD COMBINE ON SIX-HITTER By Mark Maloney MMALONEY@HERALD-LEADER.COM Zach Braddock practically hypnotized Lexington batters, who were powerless in a 7-1 loss last night at Applebee's Park. "The chemistry of this team right now, it's pretty good," Manager Mike Guerrero said after West Virginia (14-3) won its 12th in a row. "We're running on high gear. Everything that we seem to try is going our way." Braddock, a 19-year-old left-hander who was an 18th-round draft pick of the Brewers in 2005, blanked the Legends through five innings. He went six innings in all, giving up a run on four hits and striking out eight. "A great performance by him," Guerrero said. "His command of his fastball was the best for him tonight, and he got it going. When he's going and you execute what you're supposed to do -- the plan on the pitching staff and on the field -- everything comes out pretty much your way." Alex Periard finished a combined six-hit, nine-strikeout, no-walk domination, picking up his second save. The Power lived up to their name, tagging three pitchers for 10 hits -- including a triple and five doubles. Brent Brewer had three hits and scored a run. Steve Chapman added two hits, three RBI and a run. The Legends (9-11) have lost four of their last five. "We're obviously giving up too many runs, and we didn't swing the bats overly well tonight," Manager Gregg Langbehn said. "Their guy did a good job. (Braddock) moved the ball in and out, up and down. He knows how to pitch. There's nothing overpowering." Lexington's only run came after No. 9 hitter Nick Moresi led off the sixth with a triple off the center-field wall. Cesar Quintero followed with a single to left. Until then, Braddock had yielded only a pair of Greg Buchanan singles. "I was just trying to see the ball and trying to take it the other way," Buchanan said. "Not try to do too much with it, take what he's giving me and trying to hit something hard." Legends starter Bryan Hallberg (1-1) wriggled out of a bases-loaded jam in the first, getting Brantley to ground into an inning-ending double play. Second-inning doubles by Kenny Holmberg, Chapman and Taylor Green gave Braddock an early 2-0 lead. The Power added four runs in the fifth. A bases-loaded walk to Michael Brantley finished Hallberg. All three runners inherited by Cesar Mayora scored via a wild pitch and Chapman's two-run double. Brantley added a sacrifice fly in the seventh. "It was tough," Buchanan said. "We didn't make too many adjustments at the plate and kind of got behind early, and couldn't catch up." West Virginia Box Score: Almost lost in Braddock's performances has been the continued excellence of fellow youngster Alex Periard; infielder Jimmy Mojica with only his first error at third base -- he's been so solid overall... www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_lexafx_1 West Virginia Game Log: www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_lexafx_1 Steve Chapman is 9-for-22 with seven RBIs and seven runs scored during a six-game hitting streak. (Archive Photo Courtesy of Helena Brewers) http://www.minorleaguebaseball.com/images/2007/04/26/ACoAWgc2.jpg

Through five more scoreless innings for LHP Zach Braddock (Power leads, 6-0, going for their 12th straight win): 2007 Braddock: 18 IP, 8 H, 0 R, 8 BB, 28 K Braddock won't even be 20 years old until August 23rd. I probably just jinxed him, but worth noting for sure; Braddock's last 12 innings over two starts -- 0 BB, 20 K, he's still on this evening.

Can it start pouring floodgates like right now?

Baseball America with comments on Braun and Gallardo, but moreso on Drew Anderson and Joe Dillon of the Sounds: www.baseballamerica.com/b...cts/?p=201

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. Zach Braddoch fans rejoice! web.minorleaguebaseball.c.../video.jsp

Standings: Today's standings include St. Lucie's victory over Jupiter in the Florida State League early Wednesday... Pacific Coast League (AAA) - PCL American North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Nashville 13 6 .684 - 7-4 6-2 W7 Memphis 10 10 .500 3.5 9-3 1-7 W4 Iowa 9 10 .474 4.0 6-2 3-8 L4 Omaha 7 13 .350 6.5 5-3 2-10 L4 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Southern League (AA) - SOU North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Tennessee 9 8 .529 - 3-4 6-4 L2 Huntsville 8 9 .471 1.0 4-6 4-3 L1 Chattanooga 8 11 .421 2.0 4-6 4-5 W1 West Tenn 7 12 .368 3.0 3-6 4-6 L2 Carolina 6 13 .316 4.0 4-5 2-8 L1 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Florida State League (A+) - FSL East Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Palm Beach 10 7 .588 - 5-5 5-2 W1 St. Lucie 10 8 .556 0.5 4-5 6-3 W1 Brevard County 9 8 .529 1.0 4-4 5-4 W2 Daytona 9 9 .500 1.5 6-4 3-5 L1 Jupiter 8 11 .421 3.0 3-5 5-6 L1 Vero Beach 7 10 .412 3.0 5-3 2-7 L2 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- South Atlantic League (A) - SAL Northern Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- West Virginia 13 3 .813 - 11-3 2-0 W11 Greensboro 11 7 .611 3.0 9-3 2-4 L1 Lexington 9 10 .474 5.5 6-5 3-5 W1 Delmarva 8 9 .471 5.5 3-3 5-6 W1 Lakewood 7 8 .467 5.5 4-5 3-3 L1 Lake County 8 10 .444 6.0 3-2 5-8 W2 Hickory 7 9 .438 6.0 2-3 5-6 L5 Hagerstown 6 13 .316 8.5 2-5 4-8 L3

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: Huntsville Media Notes (Adobe .pdf format): www.huntsvillestars.com/i...eNotes.pdf

Follow Wednesday's action as it happens: Here's what you do, right click on each of the links below and choose "Open in New Window". 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. Huntsville: www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_monaax_1 Brevard County: www.minorleaguebaseball.c...a_breafa_1 West Virginia: www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_lexafx_1

Wednesday's Daily Menu: All times Central; pitchers subject to change -- Nashville: Idle Huntsville: RHP Mike Jones at Montgomery (Devil Rays), 6:50 PM pre-game; 7:05 gametime Audio link: www.huntsvillestars.com/ Brevard County: LHP Steve Garrison at home vs. Vero Beach (Devil Rays), 5:50 PM pre-game, 6:00 gametime Audio link (game will also archive at this link): www.minorleaguebaseball.c.../audio.jsp West Virginia: LHP Zach Braddock 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

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Link while active, text follows: www.minorleaguebaseball.c...p;sid=t503 Brevard comes back in 9th to tie, and again in 11th to win Scott Pinner Viera FL - The Manatees took the sting out of the visiting Vero Beach Devil Rays at Space Coast Stadium on Tuesday night. Starting pitcher Wil (Sir Winman) Inman continues his dominance on the mound. He struck out eight and gave up five hits in six innings of work and continued to pitch his way out of situations. The Devil Rays starter, Wade Davis was equally impressive. The big blow of the night was in the bottom of the ninth when Brevard County, down by one, got a solo monster HR from Chris Errecart to tie the game at 2 and force extra innings. The Manatees relief effort tonight also was stellar. Luis Pena, who closed out the game got the win to improve to 3-0. Jeremy Lewis and David Welch pitched very well in relief also. The Manatees entered the bottom of the eleventh inning down by one run and managed to get the bases loaded on timely hitting and smart base running. The tying run was forced home on a walk and then the winning run scored on Mat Gamel's rocket shot to the Vero first baseman who botched the throw home and allowed Bell to score the winning run. Manatees first baseman Chris Errecart, in a post game radio interview said, "We are really just beginning to click as a team. I came up in the ninth with the confidence I needed to put the bat on the ball and it all worked out. We really are just starting to see what this team is capable of." The win improved the Manatees to 9-8 on the season and moved them into a two-way tie for second in the FSL Eastern Division. The final game of the home series is Wednesday night at 7:00 PM (6:00 Central). The game can be heard world wide right here at www.manateesbaseball.com. The Miller Lite pre-game show is scheduled for 6:50 pm (5:50 Central). Manatees Radio dubs Wil Inman, "Sir Winman" (Manatees Media) http://www.minorleaguebaseball.com/images/2007/04/25/Y2N9k4fm.jpg

Link while active, text follows: www.dailymail.com/story/S...-momentum/ Power thrives on momentum Jacob Messer Charleston Daily Mail Sportswriter Hits and wins, the West Virginia Power players are proving, can come in bunches when a baseball team has momentum on its side. An Appalachian Power Park crowd of 3,552 watched West Virginia extend its winning streak to 11 games Tuesday with an 11-6 South Atlantic League victory over visiting Hickory (N.C.) on a warm East End evening. The Power increased its team batting average from .262 (sixth in the 16-team league) before the four-game series to .295 (first) after it. Conversely, the Crawdads' team earned run average ballooned from 5.38 (14th) to 6.37 (16th). West Virginia (13-3) finished the series with 26 extra-base hits against Hickory (7-9), which left Charleston on a five-game skid. "It's momentum," Power hitting coach Corey Hart said. "This game thrives off momentum. "Hits are contagious. The first guy comes up and gets a hit. Then, the next guy comes up and gets a hit. Then, the next thing you know you put three or four together and you are rolling." West Virginia is rolling as it enters an eight-game road trip that features a pair of four-game series at Lexington (Ky.) and Hagerstown (Md.), respectively. The Power has hit .319 as a team and scored 6.8 runs per game during its winning streak. "No matter what part of the lineup is at the plate, they are giving us good at-bats," said Power Manager Mike Guerrero, whose team sits alone atop the South Atlantic League's Northern Division first-half standings. "They are doing outstanding. "The guys are starting to understand the approach our hitting instructors are trying to establish. We want them to hit the ball in the middle of the field and in the gaps." The Power shined in front of Milwaukee director of player development Reid Nichols, who was in town for West Virginia's seven-game homestand. "I have been in the game for a while, and I have never seen anything like this," said Nichols, who has more than 30 years of Major League Baseball experience as a player, coach and executive. "They are dominating every night with their bats. "They have been playing pretty awesome." The Power took control in the first and second innings, when it scored six runs -- three in each frame -- off Crawdads starter Eric Krebs (1-1). West Virginia added five runs in the eighth off Hickory relievers Basilio Alvarez and Stephen MacFarland. That was more than enough to hold off the Crawdads, who tagged Power closer Omar Aguilar for three runs in the ninth. Neither team scored in the fourth through the seventh, but the Class A clubs provided some much-needed excitement in the sixth. That is when the benches cleared after Power starter Mike McClendon (1-0) threw a knee-level fastball behind Hickory designated hitter Jamie Romak, who hit a home run in his previous at-bat in the third. Romak started walking toward the mound before Power catcher Andy Bouchie restrained him. The two must have exchanged less-than-friendly words because Romak threw a punch at Bouchie's face within a few moments. It was unclear whether Bouchie retaliated. Some thought Bouchie was swinging at Romak. Others thought he was defending himself. Their teammates sprinted from the field and dugout to break up the melee. Home plate umpire Tripp Gibson ejected Bouchie, McClendon, Romak and Hickory reserve Francis Poni. Gibson also ejected Alvarez in the eighth after a couple of his fastballs came close to Kenny Holmberg's face on a four-pitch walk, including the final one. Gibson also tossed Crawdads Manager Gary Green after that incident. * * *WEST VIRGINIA'S winning streak isn't a franchise record for a Class A club despite initial reports to the contrary. The mark belongs to a pair of teams that each won 12 consecutive games. The 1990 Charleston Wheelers, a Cincinnati Reds farm team that was managed by Winfield native and Pittsburgh Pirates bench coach Jim Lett, accomplished the feat in August that year. They won 24 of their last 27 games that season, including all five of their playoff games, en route to the South Atlantic League championship. The 2004 Charleston Alley Cats, a Toronto Blue Jays farm team, matched that mark in April that year, which was their last season at Watt Powell Park. The South Atlantic League record for consecutive wins is 25, set by the 1966 Spartanburg (S.C.) Phillies. The Minor League Baseball mark is 29, set by the 1987 Salt Lake City Trappers of the Pioneer League. * * *POWER POINTS: West Virginia and Lexington will play Wednesday night at Applebee's Park. The Power will start left-hander Zach Braddock (1-0, 0.00). The Legends will counter with right-hander Bryan Hallberg (1-0, 5.54). Lexington (9-10) has lost seven of its last 10 games. Charleston Daily Mail Photo: Craig Cunningham The West Virginia Power?s Brent Brewer turns back to first base on a pickoff attempt in the second inning. At first base is Hickory?s Kent Sakamoto. http://www.dailymail.com/images/Power0425.jpg

WMEL will not be rebroadcasting the show as mentioned on Brewerfan.net. Not sure why that was placed on there, but from what I have been told the show will be available on the Manatees website. Not a big deal, but initially, the Manatees told us there would be two re-broadcasts in their entirety this week. Oh, well...

Link while active, text follows: tennessean.com/apps/pbcs....328/SPORTS Barnwell strikes back Hits two homers as Sounds win By MAURICE PATTON Tennessean Staff Writer Chris Barnwell's second-inning strikeout with the bases loaded and no outs during the Nashville Sounds' morning matchup Tuesday with visiting Iowa looked like a costly one. The veteran infielder, however, atoned with home runs in each of his next two at-bats, including a towering two-run shot to key a four-run sixth inning as the Sounds extended their winning streak to seven games with a 7-1 victory before 9,777 at Greer Stadium. "I think I got a little jumpy and tried to do too much," Barnwell said of his first at-bat. "On the next two, I relaxed, kept my head on the ball a little better and put some better swings on it." Barnwell's long balls ? a solo shot in the fourth preceded the two-run homer ? were his first two of the season and gave him his first career two-homer game. Much-needed punch The Sounds needed an offensive jolt, particularly after the second inning. Barnwell's strikeout followed a leadoff walk to Andy Abad and back-to-back base hits by Joe Dillon and Ozzie Chavez. "He chased some pitches, got a little overanxious, instead of relaxing like he did on the next two at-bats," Nashville Manager Frank Kremblas said of Barnwell. "But (Iowa starter Carlos) Marmol is good. He's got some good stuff." Following the strikeout, starting pitcher Yovani Gallardo drew a run-scoring walk, but Drew Anderson popped out and Vinny Rottino then struck out. "That was a good at-bat by Gallardo to work the walk," Kremblas said. "I thought that might open the floodgates. But Marmol did a good job pitching out of that." Eventually, though, the Sounds were able to put together five hits and score four runs against Marmol, while Gallardo was holding the Cubs in check. "I had good fastball command, and my curveball was pretty good," said Gallardo, who has won his last three starts. "I felt like my slider was a little off, but I was able to throw it and give them a little different look." What they said: "If we look at past years, we may need a bigger cushion than we're building. All we're trying to do is go out, give a good effort and see what happens." ? Kremblas, regarding the team's three-game lead in the PCL American Northern Division. ***Link while active, text follows: tennessean.com/apps/pbcs....328/SPORTS Gallardo remains in the zone By MAURICE PATTON Tennessean Staff Writer With seven strikeouts in the Nashville Sounds' 7-1 win Tuesday over visiting Iowa, Yovani Gallardo has a total of 33, which leads the Pacific Coast League. Gallardo is tied with Thomas Hanson, who pitches for the Braves' Single-A affiliate in Rome, Ga., for the top figure in all of minor league baseball. In his last three starts ? all wins ? Gallardo has 26 strikeouts over 18 innings while allowing just two runs on seven hits. "He's relaxing, making pitches and mixing speeds, and just being a good pitcher," Nashville Manager Frank Kremblas said. One and done: Both Jose Macias and Brad Nelson, who were held out of Tuesday's starting lineup, lost hitting streaks during the win. Macias grounded out during a sixth-inning pinch-hit at-bat, ending his six-game string. Nelson flew out in an eighth-inning pinch-hit at-bat, stopping his eight-game streak and his string of three consecutive games with a home run as well. Get it started: Drew Anderson became the third Sounds player to bat in the leadoff position this season. In the previous 18 games, either Macias or Callix Crabbe has started there. Anderson went 1-for-5, after 10 previous starts in the No. 2 spot and four at No. 3. Getting it done: With his fourth-inning home run, Chris Barnwell has reached base either by hit or by walk in each of his last 14 games. Shut 'em down: The Sounds allowed just one earned run in Tuesday's win to trim their PCL-leading ERA to 2.77. Heading into Tuesday's games, Nashville was the only team in the PCL with an ERA below 3.00; Oklahoma was second at 3.39. Struggling: Nashville catcher J.D. Closser went 0-for-2 Tuesday, leaving him hitless in his last 14 at-bats ? the longest current hitless streak by a Sounds player. Broom time: The Sounds' first four-game series sweep of the season was a decisive one, as Nashville outscored Iowa 20-4 ? allowing one run in each of the contests. Over the team's current seven-game winning streak, the Sounds have allowed 11 runs. The streak is the longest since the 2003 team won eight straight games ? including a doubleheader sweep ? from June 18-24. The Sounds swept four series last season: against visiting Oklahoma and Memphis, and at New Orleans and Memphis. Tennessean Photo Gallery, Monday's Game Tennessean Photo Gallery, Tuesday's Game

Link while active, text follows: www.nashvillecitypaper.co...s_id=55833 Sounds get lucky number seven By Nate Rau, Nashville City Paper Sports Correspondent The lucky number seven rained down on 9,777 fans at Greer Stadium on Tuesday morning. That?s because seven was the number of runs the home team scored in the Sounds? 7-1 win over Iowa, giving them a series sweep. Seven is also the number of consecutive wins Nashville has strung together, which is its longest winning streak since 2003. ?We?re just a good team with a good group of guys,? Nashville?s Chris Barnwell said. ?We have good pitching and we?ve got quite a few guys that know how to lead a team.? The Sounds got great pitching on Tuesday, again, this time from top prospect Yovani Gallardo. For the third-straight start, Gallardo was dazzling. He went six innings, allowed just one run and struck out seven. Gallardo (3-1) became the Pacific Coast League?s strikeout leader with the effort ? he has 33 on the season. Like top offensive prospect Ryan Braun (2-for-3), Gallardo has lived up to the hype this season. In his last three starts, Gallardo has yielded just two earned runs and seven hits while fanning 26 over 18 innings. ?He?s pitched a little bit better than the first time out,? Sounds manager Frank Kremblas said. ?The first time he was a little amped up, rushing through his delivery a little bit, his stuff was not quite as sharp as it?s been. ?Now he?s back to relaxing, making pitches, mixing up speeds with certain pitches and just being a very good pitcher.? The match-up of Gallardo for the Sounds (13-6) against Carlos Marmol for Iowa (9-10) amounted to a pitching duel. But Nashville did the job on Marmol, who walked four and allowed four runs over 5.1 innings. Barnwell did the most damage, collecting two solo homers. It was the first time in his career Barnwell has homered twice in a game. Ozzie Chavez went 3-for-4 with two RBIs and two runs for the Sounds. ?We?re just playing relaxed,? Barnwell said. ?That will happen when you know you?re going to get good pitching game in and game out.? Sounds pitchers have allowed just 11 runs over the seven-game win streak. Next the Sounds head to Omaha for a four-game series beginning Thursday.

Link while active, text follows: www.wvgazette.com/section...2007042435 Power punches to 11 in a row 11-6 win over Hickory features bench-clearing brawl By Tommy R. Atkinson Charleston Gazette Staff Writer Hickory didn?t have a fighting chance Tuesday night against the West Virginia Power ? although the Crawdads tried to pull a few punches. In spite of the fact the Power had its starting pitcher and catcher ejected, West Virginia never lost focus and hammered out its 11th straight victory, an 11-6 decision over Hickory (N.C.). A paid crowd of 3,552 attended the South Atlantic League game at Appalachian Power Park. Power starter Mike McClendon, who picked up his first win despite getting tossed, threw a pitch behind Crawdads designated hitter Jamie Romak, who belted a solo home run in the top of the first, that sparked a bench-clearing brawl in the top of the sixth. West Virginia catcher Andy Bouchie was also ejected after he exchanged punches with Romak, and Hickory catcher Francis Poni was thrown out when he ran onto the field from the bullpen to bring to four the total ejections in the inning. The fireworks continued in the bottom of the eighth when Hickory reliever Basilio Alvarez was ejected after throwing a pitch up-and-in and very close to the head of Power second baseman Kenny Holmberg. Hickory manager Gary Green was also tossed. Power reliever Patrick Ryan picked up McClendon, allowing one hit in three scoreless innings. West Virginia held a 6-3 lead in the eighth before exploding for five runs after Alvarez?s ejection to take an 11-3 advantage. West Virginia first baseman Taylor Green, who entered after Martin Maldonado had to move from first to catcher after Bouchie was thrown out, lofted a two-run bloop single to center field. Anderson De La Rosa, who was hitting in the No. 9 slot in the batting order, laced a two-run double down the third-base line. De La Rosa came around to score on an error to complete the Power?s scoring. The Northern Division-leading Power (12-3) swept its third straight series. ?It?s incredible,?? said Power first baseman John Alonso, who left after the bottom of the second after his hamstring cramped up when he tried to stretch a double into a triple. ?Like you saw tonight, we?re sticking up for each other. We?re going to battle [and] stick it to everyone we face. ?We?ve got a great bunch of guys. They?re all about winning, they?re all about working hard [and] they?re all about playing the game right. We?ve just got a good bunch of attitudes. We?re ready to play.?? The Power jumped out to a 6-1 lead after the first two innings. Power right fielder Chuckie Caufield remained as hot as his team, coming up with a two-run double in the bottom of the first inning to give the Power the lead for good at 2-1. Caufield added a two-out, run-scoring double in the second as West Virginia plated three more runs. Caufield finished 2-for-4 with a double, triple, two runs scored and three RBIs Tuesday after going 3-for-6 with three runs scored and two RBIs Monday. The Power needed those extra runs as Hickory touched up Power reliever Omar Aguilar, who had two saves and had tossed 4 1/3 scoreless innings, for three runs in the top of the ninth to close to 11-6 with a runner on first. Aguilar struck out the first batter he faced and forced the next to ground out to second, but he gave up four straight hits before retiring Crawdads leadoff hitter Alex Presley, who finished 2-for-4 with a triple, on a deep fly ball to right field to end the game. ?They do so many good things,?? said Green, the Hickory manager. ?Their speed and they put the ball in play. It?s going to cause problems.?? McClendeon (1-1) allowed three earned runs on six hits with four strikeouts and no walks. McClendon earned his first win in his fourth start despite entering Tuesday?s game with a microscopic 0.64 earned run average. The Power had four doubles and two triples, and Alonso said there?s more to come from the Power. ?It?s still the beginning of the season and there?s a lot of potential here,?? he said. ?There?s a lot more behind this team and we?re going to show it.?? The Power will hit the road and play at the Lexington (Ky.) Legends at 7:05 PM Wednesday (6:05 Central) to begin an eight-game road trip. After a four-game series at Lexington, the Power will then head to Hagerstown (Md.) for another four-game set before returning home May 4. Charleston Gazette Photographer: Chip Ellis Hickory batter Jamie Romak (left) got angry when West Virginia Power pitcher Mike McClendon (not pictured) threw a pitch behind him, and ended up in a tussle with Power catcher Andy Bouchie (center). The benches cleared and Romak, McClendon and Bouchie were all ejected. http://www.wvgazettemail.com/images/stories/Power.jpg

Link while active, text follows: www.al.com/stars/huntsvil...amp;coll=1 Star in the spotlight: Mel Stocker Mark McCarter, Huntsville Times Position: Outfield Age: 26 Hometown: Tucson, Ariz. College: Arizona State Stats: .182, 3 RBIs, 7 SBs, .333 OBP in 15 games Years with Stars: First Equipment: Louisville Slugger C243 model, 33-inch bat. Akadema glove AMJ34. Current residence: Panama City, Fla. "My wife (Diane) had an offer from a local aquarium to be a sea lion and dolphin trainer." How much do you know about sea lions and dolphins?: "A little bit. I've helped her a little bit in college and how they kind of act like children and when you're trying to teach them things you have to teach them like you're teaching kids. I swam with dolphins on our honeymoon at Discovery Cove (at Orlando's SeaWorld)." Favorite player growing up: Rickey Henderson and Kirby Puckett. "Henderson because he was a leadoff guy with power and speed can kill you when he gets on. And Kirby Puckett for the way he went about his job. He always gave 100 percent and was a happy-go-lucky guy." What skills do you have in other sports: "I played about every sport. I don't like to toot my own horn, but being a short guy (5-foot-9) dunking is a pretty good accomplishment. I can actually dunk two-handed." If you weren't a baseball player: "I'd probably still be pursuing something in sports. In the offseason I'm a personal trainer, so I'd probably still be in sports, a coach or trainer." Best baseball movie ever: "Major League" Worst baseball movie ever: "Rookie of the Year" Most annoying celebrity: Paris Hilton Funniest person on earth: Chris Tucker or Dave Chappell Favorite TV show: "Baseball Tonight" on ESPN How do you pass time on a long bus trip: Reading. "The Essentials To Strength and Conditioning" is the current book. The schedule: The Stars' next home game is May 2 against Chattanooga.

Montgomery Advertiser: Position pitcher: Huntsville?s Jeff Eure is listed as a catcher, but also regularly plays third base, left field or first base. Tuesday, he went to the mound. With the game out of hand, the Stars moved Eure to pitcher for the ninth inning. He issued a leadoff walk before sitting the next three Biscuits down, including Evan Longoria on an inning-ending strikeout. ?I just try to throw strikes and have fun with it, but not make a mockery of the game,? Eure said. ?I?m out there to save the bullpen from having to throw an inning.? Eure last pitched in the final regular-season game of 2006. The Stars had already clinched a playoff spot and Eure played all nine positions, finishing up at pitcher in the ninth. He notched a save for Huntsville?s 1-0 victory. ?I know he can pitch if we get in a little sticky situation,? Stars pitching coach Rich Sauveur said. ?When you?re down eight runs, it?s time to get a position player in and he knows how to pitch.? Longoria didn?t want to discuss his three-pitch strikeout against Eure, who whiffed him with an 88-mph fastball, but said he?ll ?pay the full fine? in kangaroo court. That?s $5. ?That?s usually what happens when a position player comes in,? Biscuits pitcher Chris Mason said. ?You don?t want to hit because if you get out, you get ragged. But you do want to hit because you think you can pad your stats. ?It?s the classic win, win, lose, lose situation.? NUMBERS GAME 18: Straight strikes thrown by Montgomery starter Chris Mason to start Tuesday?s game. He threw nine pitches to strike out all three Huntsville batters he faced in the second inning.