Jim Goulart

Link while active, text follows: www.al.com/sports/huntsvi...amp;coll=1 Humble columnist proves to be a seer about the Stars Contact Mark McCarter at markcolumn@aol.com Huntsville Times Hate to say I told you so, but ...From these pages on May 21: "If Milwaukee doesn't poach too much more from the pitching staff, don't be stunned if the young players make sufficient adjustment at the plate to see them make a second-half pennant run." Hey, when your last correct prediction was Reagan over Mondale, you get to gloat a minute. The Huntsville Stars didn't just make a run. They made a sprint. They are in the Southern League playoffs, which begin Thursday in Chattanooga, finishing the second half at 43-26 after Monday's 1-0 win over Birmingham. They even had some fun doing so. Jeff Eure, valued for his versatility as much as his clutch hitting (team high 54 RBIs), played every position Monday, even earning the save. When the pennant prediction was made, there wasn't much fun. The Stars were on the way to losing 14 straight games and would eventually finish 24-45 in the first half. Historians among us were trying to determine if they were indeed the worst team to ever grace Joe W. Davis Stadium. Even if stats couldn't quantify it, it didn't seem like any team this side of "Chico's Bail Bonds" could be any worse. I really did believe they could be contenders. That's the beauty of the split-season in the minor leagues. It's the only fair thing, considering the fluid nature of the minors, with so many roster changes. (Confession time: I also believed they would run out of gas in late August and come up a little short of the playoffs, like a basketball team that cuts a 15-point lead but never gets over the hump to win the game.) Let's give much credit to the Stars' curmudgeonly manager, Don Money. As catcher Lou Palmisano joked recently, "You come to the field, you're happy, the atmosphere's great. Of course, Don's still grumpy." But he's not dopey. He should have been the league's Manager of the Year, for keeping this team together and shepherding it into the playoffs. There were key additions - pitchers Yovani Gallardo, Steve Hammond and Joe Valentine, third baseman Ryan Braun to name a few - but essentially it's the same team that went 24-45. What Money did was keep his patience. He didn't panic. He kept working and teaching, either through a barrage of ground balls during extra infield, or through grumpy lectures. Same for his coaches, Rich Sauveur and Sandy Guerrero. Somehow, he kept his players believing - at least partly - that a pennant run was possible. Though the candid Palmisano was probably speaking for a lot of his teammates: "I'm going to be amazed until next season," he said. "I never thought this would happen. You're always thinking positive. You want to be positive about your team and yourself, but when you're losing games like we did, it's like, 'What the heck is going on?' "Then, you get on a roll and it's like, 'Guys, we can do this.' It's like, let's go. Let's ride this out." From this corner, we'll not even risk making a prediction on how long the ride lasts.

Link while active, text follows: www.al.com/sports/huntsvi...amp;coll=1 Humble columnist proves to be a seer about the Stars Contact Mark McCarter at markcolumn@aol.com Huntsville Times Hate to say I told you so, but ...From these pages on May 21: "If Milwaukee doesn't poach too much more from the pitching staff, don't be stunned if the young players make sufficient adjustment at the plate to see them make a second-half pennant run." Hey, when your last correct prediction was Reagan over Mondale, you get to gloat a minute. The Huntsville Stars didn't just make a run. They made a sprint. They are in the Southern League playoffs, which begin Thursday in Chattanooga, finishing the second half at 43-26 after Monday's 1-0 win over Birmingham. They even had some fun doing so. Jeff Eure, valued for his versatility as much as his clutch hitting (team high 54 RBIs), played every position Monday, even earning the save. When the pennant prediction was made, there wasn't much fun. The Stars were on the way to losing 14 straight games and would eventually finish 24-45 in the first half. Historians among us were trying to determine if they were indeed the worst team to ever grace Joe W. Davis Stadium. Even if stats couldn't quantify it, it didn't seem like any team this side of "Chico's Bail Bonds" could be any worse. I really did believe they could be contenders. That's the beauty of the split-season in the minor leagues. It's the only fair thing, considering the fluid nature of the minors, with so many roster changes. (Confession time: I also believed they would run out of gas in late August and come up a little short of the playoffs, like a basketball team that cuts a 15-point lead but never gets over the hump to win the game.) Let's give much credit to the Stars' curmudgeonly manager, Don Money. As catcher Lou Palmisano joked recently, "You come to the field, you're happy, the atmosphere's great. Of course, Don's still grumpy." But he's not dopey. He should have been the league's Manager of the Year, for keeping this team together and shepherding it into the playoffs. There were key additions - pitchers Yovani Gallardo, Steve Hammond and Joe Valentine, third baseman Ryan Braun to name a few - but essentially it's the same team that went 24-45. What Money did was keep his patience. He didn't panic. He kept working and teaching, either through a barrage of ground balls during extra infield, or through grumpy lectures. Same for his coaches, Rich Sauveur and Sandy Guerrero. Somehow, he kept his players believing - at least partly - that a pennant run was possible. Though the candid Palmisano was probably speaking for a lot of his teammates: "I'm going to be amazed until next season," he said. "I never thought this would happen. You're always thinking positive. You want to be positive about your team and yourself, but when you're losing games like we did, it's like, 'What the heck is going on?' "Then, you get on a roll and it's like, 'Guys, we can do this.' It's like, let's go. Let's ride this out." From this corner, we'll not even risk making a prediction on how long the ride lasts.

Standings through Sunday's action: Pacific Coast League (AAA) - American North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [b]Nashville 76 67 .531 - 42-29 34-38 W1[/b] Iowa 75 68 .524 1.0 43-28 32-40 W3 Memphis 58 85 .406 18.0 34-39 24-46 W1 Omaha 53 90 .371 23.0 31-40 22-50 L3 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Southern League (AA) - North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [b]Huntsville 42 26 .618 - 21-12 21-14 W1[/b] Tennessee 38 31 .551 4.5 21-13 17-18 W3 Chattanooga 37 32 .536 5.5 20-15 17-17 L2 West Tenn 31 38 .449 11.5 21-13 10-25 W2 Carolina 29 40 .420 13.5 21-13 8-27 L1 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Florida State League (A+) - East Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Palm Beach 36 29 .554 - 20-11 16-18 L2 Daytona 36 31 .537 1.0 24-15 12-16 L1 St. Lucie 37 32 .536 1.0 20-15 17-17 L2 [b]Brevard County 29 34 .460 6.0 14-14 15-20 W1[/b] Vero Beach 25 38 .397 10.0 16-16 9-22 W2 Jupiter 24 42 .364 12.5 14-20 10-22 W2 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- South Atlantic League (A) - Northern Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Lakewood 46 23 .667 - 25-9 21-14 L2 Lake County 35 32 .522 10.0 17-16 18-16 W2 [b]West Virginia 35 32 .522 10.0 21-12 14-20 L2[/b] Hickory 34 34 .500 11.5 17-20 17-14 W2 Greensboro 32 34 .485 12.5 16-18 16-16 L3 Lexington 30 38 .441 15.5 20-14 10-24 W4 Hagerstown 29 40 .420 17.0 17-19 12-21 W3 Delmarva 27 41 .397 18.5 17-16 10-25 L4 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Pioneer League (R+) - North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Billings 24 10 .706 - 14-3 10-7 W1 Missoula 22 12 .647 2.0 12-5 10-7 W5 [b]Helena 19 15 .559 5.0 11-6 8-9 L1[/b] Great Falls 8 26 .235 16.0 6-11 2-15 L5 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Arizona League (R) - Arizona League Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- AZL Angels 19 8 .704 - 6-3 13-5 W1 AZL Royals 19 9 .679 0.5 9-6 10-3 W2 AZL Padres 18 9 .667 1.0 11-4 7-5 L1 AZL Giants 16 11 .593 3.0 8-6 8-5 L1 AZL Athletics 14 13 .519 5.0 10-4 4-9 W3 AZL Cubs 11 16 .407 8.0 4-9 7-7 L2 AZL Mariners 11 16 .407 8.0 8-6 3-10 L3 AZL Rangers 8 20 .286 11.5 6-9 2-11 L4 [b]AZL Brewers 7 21 .250 12.5 5-9 2-12 W2[/b]

Standings through Sunday's action: Pacific Coast League (AAA) - American North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [b]Nashville 76 67 .531 - 42-29 34-38 W1[/b] Iowa 75 68 .524 1.0 43-28 32-40 W3 Memphis 58 85 .406 18.0 34-39 24-46 W1 Omaha 53 90 .371 23.0 31-40 22-50 L3 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Southern League (AA) - North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [b]Huntsville 42 26 .618 - 21-12 21-14 W1[/b] Tennessee 38 31 .551 4.5 21-13 17-18 W3 Chattanooga 37 32 .536 5.5 20-15 17-17 L2 West Tenn 31 38 .449 11.5 21-13 10-25 W2 Carolina 29 40 .420 13.5 21-13 8-27 L1 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Florida State League (A+) - East Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Palm Beach 36 29 .554 - 20-11 16-18 L2 Daytona 36 31 .537 1.0 24-15 12-16 L1 St. Lucie 37 32 .536 1.0 20-15 17-17 L2 [b]Brevard County 29 34 .460 6.0 14-14 15-20 W1[/b] Vero Beach 25 38 .397 10.0 16-16 9-22 W2 Jupiter 24 42 .364 12.5 14-20 10-22 W2 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- South Atlantic League (A) - Northern Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Lakewood 46 23 .667 - 25-9 21-14 L2 Lake County 35 32 .522 10.0 17-16 18-16 W2 [b]West Virginia 35 32 .522 10.0 21-12 14-20 L2[/b] Hickory 34 34 .500 11.5 17-20 17-14 W2 Greensboro 32 34 .485 12.5 16-18 16-16 L3 Lexington 30 38 .441 15.5 20-14 10-24 W4 Hagerstown 29 40 .420 17.0 17-19 12-21 W3 Delmarva 27 41 .397 18.5 17-16 10-25 L4 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Pioneer League (R+) - North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Billings 24 10 .706 - 14-3 10-7 W1 Missoula 22 12 .647 2.0 12-5 10-7 W5 [b]Helena 19 15 .559 5.0 11-6 8-9 L1[/b] Great Falls 8 26 .235 16.0 6-11 2-15 L5 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Arizona League (R) - Arizona League Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- AZL Angels 19 8 .704 - 6-3 13-5 W1 AZL Royals 19 9 .679 0.5 9-6 10-3 W2 AZL Padres 18 9 .667 1.0 11-4 7-5 L1 AZL Giants 16 11 .593 3.0 8-6 8-5 L1 AZL Athletics 14 13 .519 5.0 10-4 4-9 W3 AZL Cubs 11 16 .407 8.0 4-9 7-7 L2 AZL Mariners 11 16 .407 8.0 8-6 3-10 L3 AZL Rangers 8 20 .286 11.5 6-9 2-11 L4 [b]AZL Brewers 7 21 .250 12.5 5-9 2-12 W2[/b]

Follow Monday'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_nasaaa_1 Huntsville: www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_biraax_1 West Virginia: www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_hicafx_1 Helena: www.minorleaguebaseball.c...k_helrok_1

This link will be included in each daily report when the Nashville Sounds and/or Huntsville Stars are scheduled to play. Normally it is updated an hour or two prior to gametime: Nashville Media Notes (Adobe .pdf format): www.nashvillesounds.com/pdf/notes.pdf Following Nashville's lead, Huntsville now makes its media notes available as well, nice: www.huntsvillestars.com/i...eNotes.pdf NOTE: Huntsville notes haven't been updated as of this post since 8/24...

Follow Monday'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_nasaaa_1 Huntsville: www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_biraax_1 West Virginia: www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_hicafx_1 Helena: www.minorleaguebaseball.c...k_helrok_1

This link will be included in each daily report when the Nashville Sounds and/or Huntsville Stars are scheduled to play. Normally it is updated an hour or two prior to gametime: Nashville Media Notes (Adobe .pdf format): www.nashvillesounds.com/pdf/notes.pdf Following Nashville's lead, Huntsville now makes its media notes available as well, nice: www.huntsvillestars.com/i...eNotes.pdf NOTE: Huntsville notes haven't been updated as of this post since 8/24...

Monday's Daily Menu: All times Central; pitchers subject to change -- Nashville: RHP Ben Hendrickson at home vs. Round Rock (Astros), 11:40 AM pre-game; 12:00 PM gametime Audio link: www.nashvillesounds.com/listenlive/ Huntsville: RHP Mike Jones at Birmingham (White Sox), 12:20 PM pre-game, 12:35 gametime Audio link: www.espn1450radio.com/ Brevard County: Season completed West Virginia: LHP Steve Garrison at Hickory (Pirates), 10:50 AM pre-game, 11:00 gametime Audio link: www.sportsjuice.com/provi...e=wvpower. Helena: RHP Amaury Rivas at home vs. Great Falls (White Sox), 7:50 PM pre-game; 8:05 gametime Audio (click on "Listen Live"): www.helenabrewers.net/html2/index.php Arizona: Season completed

Monday's Daily Menu: All times Central; pitchers subject to change -- Nashville: RHP Ben Hendrickson at home vs. Round Rock (Astros), 11:40 AM pre-game; 12:00 PM gametime Audio link: www.nashvillesounds.com/listenlive/ Huntsville: RHP Mike Jones at Birmingham (White Sox), 12:20 PM pre-game, 12:35 gametime Audio link: www.espn1450radio.com/ Brevard County: Season completed West Virginia: LHP Steve Garrison at Hickory (Pirates), 10:50 AM pre-game, 11:00 gametime Audio link: www.sportsjuice.com/provi...e=wvpower. Helena: RHP Amaury Rivas at home vs. Great Falls (White Sox), 7:50 PM pre-game; 8:05 gametime Audio (click on "Listen Live"): www.helenabrewers.net/html2/index.php Arizona: Season completed

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

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

Link while active, text follows: tennessean.com/apps/pbcs....328/SPORTS Sounds crowned champs Nashville tops Round Rock, repeats in North By JESSICA HOPP Tennessean Staff Writer They say history repeats itself. Normally it's just not this soon. Exactly 365 days after the Sounds defeated Round Rock to claim the 2005 American Conference North Division title, Nashville did it again. By defeating Round Rock 4-2 in front of 5,667 at Greer Stadium on Sunday night, Nashville claimed its third division title in the last four years. The win earned Nashville ? the defending Pacific Coast League Champions ? its 12th postseason berth. "It's awesome to do it back-to-back," said Sounds shortstop Chris Barnwell who was 2-of-3 with two RBIs and a walk on Sunday. "Hopefully we can keep it going like last year and win the whole thing." The team celebrated by popping orange bottles of Paul Cheneau champagne near home plate and dousing Manager Frank Kremblas with orange Gatorade. "One was our magic number, and we wanted to win it ourselves instead of relying on Iowa to lose," Kremblas said before his soaking. "Round Rock was tough. It was not an easy team to do it against." With the game tied at 1-1 in the third, the Sounds put together back-to-back doubles by pitcher Justin Lehr and center fielder Tony Gwynn to put runners on second and third. Barnwell then hit a single down the right field line to drive in Lehr and Gwynn for a 3-1 Sounds lead. "I got it in the hole," Barnwell said. "It's nice that the ball found its way through." The Sounds will close out the regular season at noon today against Round Rock ? the American Southern champions ? and will face the Express again on Wednesday at Greer in the opening game of the best-of-five playoffs. What they said: "We should be ready by now.'' ? Kremblas on preparing his team for the playoffs. ***Link while active, text follows: tennessean.com/apps/pbcs....328/SPORTS Sounds face Express in first playoff round By JESSICA HOPP Tennessean Staff Writer The Sounds will close the regular season today with a noon game against Round Rock, but that won't be the last the Sounds see of the Express. Having claimed the American Conference North Division title on Sunday, the Sounds advanced to the playoffs where their first series opponent will be Round Rock. The Sounds are 10-5 against Round Rock. Twelve of those games have been decided by two or fewer runs. "We just have to keep the intensity up," Sounds shortstop Chris Barnwell said. "We know we have our hands full, but once the playoffs start it doesn't matter ? it's a new series." Nashville will host the first two games of the best-of-five series on Wednesday and Thursday. The remaining games will be played in Round Rock Friday, Saturday and Sunday as needed. Hackman on the mound: Right-handed pitcher Luther Hackman, who was called up from Double-A Huntsville on Friday, made his 2006 debut with the Sounds in the eighth inning. He pitched two innings, allowing no hits and striking out one to get the save. Hackman, who was with the Sounds in 2004, posted a 3-0 record with a 0.66 ERA in eight relief outings in Huntsville. He signed with the Brewers on Aug. 11 out of the Independent League. Lucky sevens: Three Sounds players extended their hitting streaks to seven games ? Barnwell, Graham Koonce and Brent Abernathy. For Abernathy and Koonce the streak was a season best. Barnwell had a 12 game-streak running from the end of April through early May. Cool in camo: At Saturday night's game the Sounds auctioned off their camouflage jerseys. On Sunday they wore them one last time before giving them to their new owners. The silent auction raised $1,445, which will be donated to an organization that helps families of deployed Tennessee National Guard soldiers. Gwynn and Jermaine Clark had the top-selling jerseys at $150 each. PCL playoffs: The American Conference North Division was the last race decided in the Pacific Coast League. Round Rock took the American Southern crown last week, and Tucson, which holds the best record in the league at 91-52, followed suit earning its first ticket to the playoffs since 1995 with a Pacific South title. Salt Lake claimed the Pacific North title on Monday. In 2005 all but one of the division races came down to the final two days of the season.

Link while active, text follows: tennessean.com/apps/pbcs....328/SPORTS Sounds crowned champs Nashville tops Round Rock, repeats in North By JESSICA HOPP Tennessean Staff Writer They say history repeats itself. Normally it's just not this soon. Exactly 365 days after the Sounds defeated Round Rock to claim the 2005 American Conference North Division title, Nashville did it again. By defeating Round Rock 4-2 in front of 5,667 at Greer Stadium on Sunday night, Nashville claimed its third division title in the last four years. The win earned Nashville ? the defending Pacific Coast League Champions ? its 12th postseason berth. "It's awesome to do it back-to-back," said Sounds shortstop Chris Barnwell who was 2-of-3 with two RBIs and a walk on Sunday. "Hopefully we can keep it going like last year and win the whole thing." The team celebrated by popping orange bottles of Paul Cheneau champagne near home plate and dousing Manager Frank Kremblas with orange Gatorade. "One was our magic number, and we wanted to win it ourselves instead of relying on Iowa to lose," Kremblas said before his soaking. "Round Rock was tough. It was not an easy team to do it against." With the game tied at 1-1 in the third, the Sounds put together back-to-back doubles by pitcher Justin Lehr and center fielder Tony Gwynn to put runners on second and third. Barnwell then hit a single down the right field line to drive in Lehr and Gwynn for a 3-1 Sounds lead. "I got it in the hole," Barnwell said. "It's nice that the ball found its way through." The Sounds will close out the regular season at noon today against Round Rock ? the American Southern champions ? and will face the Express again on Wednesday at Greer in the opening game of the best-of-five playoffs. What they said: "We should be ready by now.'' ? Kremblas on preparing his team for the playoffs. ***Link while active, text follows: tennessean.com/apps/pbcs....328/SPORTS Sounds face Express in first playoff round By JESSICA HOPP Tennessean Staff Writer The Sounds will close the regular season today with a noon game against Round Rock, but that won't be the last the Sounds see of the Express. Having claimed the American Conference North Division title on Sunday, the Sounds advanced to the playoffs where their first series opponent will be Round Rock. The Sounds are 10-5 against Round Rock. Twelve of those games have been decided by two or fewer runs. "We just have to keep the intensity up," Sounds shortstop Chris Barnwell said. "We know we have our hands full, but once the playoffs start it doesn't matter ? it's a new series." Nashville will host the first two games of the best-of-five series on Wednesday and Thursday. The remaining games will be played in Round Rock Friday, Saturday and Sunday as needed. Hackman on the mound: Right-handed pitcher Luther Hackman, who was called up from Double-A Huntsville on Friday, made his 2006 debut with the Sounds in the eighth inning. He pitched two innings, allowing no hits and striking out one to get the save. Hackman, who was with the Sounds in 2004, posted a 3-0 record with a 0.66 ERA in eight relief outings in Huntsville. He signed with the Brewers on Aug. 11 out of the Independent League. Lucky sevens: Three Sounds players extended their hitting streaks to seven games ? Barnwell, Graham Koonce and Brent Abernathy. For Abernathy and Koonce the streak was a season best. Barnwell had a 12 game-streak running from the end of April through early May. Cool in camo: At Saturday night's game the Sounds auctioned off their camouflage jerseys. On Sunday they wore them one last time before giving them to their new owners. The silent auction raised $1,445, which will be donated to an organization that helps families of deployed Tennessee National Guard soldiers. Gwynn and Jermaine Clark had the top-selling jerseys at $150 each. PCL playoffs: The American Conference North Division was the last race decided in the Pacific Coast League. Round Rock took the American Southern crown last week, and Tucson, which holds the best record in the league at 91-52, followed suit earning its first ticket to the playoffs since 1995 with a Pacific South title. Salt Lake claimed the Pacific North title on Monday. In 2005 all but one of the division races came down to the final two days of the season.

Several Sounds photos here in this set from the clinching game (the Tennessean), including a big-time Gatorade dump shot on Frank Kremblas: tennessean.com/apps/pbcs....amp;Ref=PH

Several Sounds photos here in this set from the clinching game (the Tennessean), including a big-time Gatorade dump shot on Frank Kremblas: tennessean.com/apps/pbcs....amp;Ref=PH

Final: Nashville 4, Round Rock (Astros) 2 Nashville Site Game Summary: Link, text follows -- www.nashvillesounds.com/n...ewsId=2144 Sounds Clinch Division Title With 4-2 Win NASHVILLE, Tenn. ? Chris Barnwell?s two-run third-inning single put Nashville in front for good as the defending champion Sounds made their reservation for the 2006 Pacific Coast League postseason with a 4-2 division-clinching victory over the Round Rock Express in front of 5,667 exuberant fans on Sunday evening at Greer Stadium. The win gave the Sounds (76-67) the American Conference Northern Division title for the second straight season. The club advances to face American Southern Division-winning Express in the best-of-five PCL Conference Finals, beginning on Wednesday evening at Greer Stadium. The division title, Nashville?s third in the last four seasons, gives the Sounds the 12th postseason berth in the franchise?s 29-year history. Round Rock second baseman Brooks Conrad gave the visitors a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning with a two-out solo home run to right off Sounds starter Justin Lehr, his 24th roundtripper of the season. Dave Krynzel tied it at 1-1 for the Sounds with a second-inning RBI single that brought home Andrew Beattie, who had opened the inning with a single and stole second. Nashville pulled ahead 3-1 in the third against Express starter Philip Barzilla. Lehr and Tony Gwynn opened the frame with consecutive doubles to put runners on second and third for Barnwell, who plated both with a two-run single down the right field line. With the go-ahead hit, Barnwell extended his hitting streak to seven games. The visitors got a run back in the top of the fifth when Round Rock loaded the bases against Lehr with two outs before the hurler was replaced on the hill by Steve Bray, who uncorked a wild pitch during his first batter faced to allow Joe McEwing to score from third before striking out Eric Munson to escape the jam with the Sounds holding a 3-2 lead. The Sounds added an insurance run in the bottom of the eighth inning when Round Rock centerfielder Mike Rodriguez dropped a two-out Zach Sorensen fly ball in right-center, allowing Brent Abernathy, who had doubled to open the frame, to score from third and extend the Nashville advantage to 4-2. Graham Koonce and Abernathy each went 1-for-4 for Nashville to extend their season-best hit streaks to seven games each. Allan Simpson (2-4) worked two scoreless innings of relief to earn the victory for the Sounds, allowing only one hit. Luther Hackman made his 2006 Sounds debut and threw two scoreless innings, including a 1-2-3 ninth, to notch his first Triple-A save of the season. The right-hander previously pitched for Nashville in 2004 when the club was a Pittsburgh Pirates affiliate. Lehr did not pitch long enough to qualify for the win for Nashville. He allowed two runs on six hits while striking out four batters and walking four over his 4 2/3 frames of work. Barzilla (8-5) took the loss after surrendering three runs on eight hits over his six innings of action. The teams wrap up the 2006 regular season with a noon matinee on Monday afternoon. Right-hander Ben Hendrickson (9-7, 3.13) will toe the rubber for Nashville to face Express right-hander Ezequiel Astacio (7-4, 5.13). AUDIO: The Final Out Of The Game -- www.nashvillesounds.com/a...%209-3.mp3 Nashville Box Score and Game Log: www.minorleaguebaseball.c...a_nasaaa_1 Two players with tenuous 40-man roster spots -- no options remaining -- Ben Hendrickson and Dave Krynzel, celebrate: http://www.nashvillesounds.com/images/news/bendavechampagne.jpg

Final: Nashville 4, Round Rock (Astros) 2 Nashville Site Game Summary: Link, text follows -- www.nashvillesounds.com/n...ewsId=2144 Sounds Clinch Division Title With 4-2 Win NASHVILLE, Tenn. ? Chris Barnwell?s two-run third-inning single put Nashville in front for good as the defending champion Sounds made their reservation for the 2006 Pacific Coast League postseason with a 4-2 division-clinching victory over the Round Rock Express in front of 5,667 exuberant fans on Sunday evening at Greer Stadium. The win gave the Sounds (76-67) the American Conference Northern Division title for the second straight season. The club advances to face American Southern Division-winning Express in the best-of-five PCL Conference Finals, beginning on Wednesday evening at Greer Stadium. The division title, Nashville?s third in the last four seasons, gives the Sounds the 12th postseason berth in the franchise?s 29-year history. Round Rock second baseman Brooks Conrad gave the visitors a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning with a two-out solo home run to right off Sounds starter Justin Lehr, his 24th roundtripper of the season. Dave Krynzel tied it at 1-1 for the Sounds with a second-inning RBI single that brought home Andrew Beattie, who had opened the inning with a single and stole second. Nashville pulled ahead 3-1 in the third against Express starter Philip Barzilla. Lehr and Tony Gwynn opened the frame with consecutive doubles to put runners on second and third for Barnwell, who plated both with a two-run single down the right field line. With the go-ahead hit, Barnwell extended his hitting streak to seven games. The visitors got a run back in the top of the fifth when Round Rock loaded the bases against Lehr with two outs before the hurler was replaced on the hill by Steve Bray, who uncorked a wild pitch during his first batter faced to allow Joe McEwing to score from third before striking out Eric Munson to escape the jam with the Sounds holding a 3-2 lead. The Sounds added an insurance run in the bottom of the eighth inning when Round Rock centerfielder Mike Rodriguez dropped a two-out Zach Sorensen fly ball in right-center, allowing Brent Abernathy, who had doubled to open the frame, to score from third and extend the Nashville advantage to 4-2. Graham Koonce and Abernathy each went 1-for-4 for Nashville to extend their season-best hit streaks to seven games each. Allan Simpson (2-4) worked two scoreless innings of relief to earn the victory for the Sounds, allowing only one hit. Luther Hackman made his 2006 Sounds debut and threw two scoreless innings, including a 1-2-3 ninth, to notch his first Triple-A save of the season. The right-hander previously pitched for Nashville in 2004 when the club was a Pittsburgh Pirates affiliate. Lehr did not pitch long enough to qualify for the win for Nashville. He allowed two runs on six hits while striking out four batters and walking four over his 4 2/3 frames of work. Barzilla (8-5) took the loss after surrendering three runs on eight hits over his six innings of action. The teams wrap up the 2006 regular season with a noon matinee on Monday afternoon. Right-hander Ben Hendrickson (9-7, 3.13) will toe the rubber for Nashville to face Express right-hander Ezequiel Astacio (7-4, 5.13). AUDIO: The Final Out Of The Game -- www.nashvillesounds.com/a...%209-3.mp3 Nashville Box Score and Game Log: www.minorleaguebaseball.c...a_nasaaa_1 Two players with tenuous 40-man roster spots -- no options remaining -- Ben Hendrickson and Dave Krynzel, celebrate: http://www.nashvillesounds.com/images/news/bendavechampagne.jpg

Final: Huntsville 5, Birmingham (White Sox) 3 Huntsville Site Game Summary: Link, text follows -- www.huntsvillestars.com/n...newsId=999 Palmisano Pushes Stars to Comeback Victory Lou Palmisano doubled home the game-winning run in the eighth inning and Huntsville?s bullpen retired the last six hitters to preserve a 5-3 win over Birmingham Sunday night at the Hoover Met. The Stars have taken four out of five in the series to improve to 42-26 in the second half, while the Barons suffered their eighth loss in nine games to drop to 28-41 in the second half and 59-80 overall. The Stars have won eight of the last nine over the Barons and lead the season series 16-8 heading into Monday?s regular season finale. Dwayne Pollok opened the eighth inning on the hill for Birmingham and gave up a leadoff double to Brad Nelson that was followed by a Ron Acuna single. Palmisano then laced a 3-2 pitch into the alley in right-center field to score both runners to give Huntsville a 4-3 lead. Callix Crabbe led off the ninth inning against Ehren Wasserman with a walk, moved to third base on Ryan Braun?s second double of the night and scored an insurance run on a single by Nelson, who finished with three hits in a game for a seventh time this season. Gerrit Simpson retired the side in order in the eighth inning and Joe Valentine set down the Barons in turn in the ninth to earn his 13th save of the season and his tenth in a row since August 5 at Mobile. Valentine was a member of the Barons? 2002 Southern League championship team and established a team record that season with 36 saves. Tim Dillard retired the first eight hitters he faced and threw three scoreless innings before the home side scored in the fourth when Micah Schnurstein doubled home Chris Amador and came into score on a single by Donny Lucy, who knocked in his third run with the Barons. Ron Acuna singled in Brendan Katin and scored on a two-out infield hit by Ozzie Chavez in the sixth to knot the game at two. Dillard retired the side in order in the fifth and was lifted with a right forearm injury after Michael Myers walked to open the sixth and moved to third base on a Corey Smith single. Travis Phelps took over and got Schnurstein to pop out and Lucy to ground into an inning-ending double play to keep the game tied at two. Amador?s sacrifice fly in the home seventh scored Stefan Gartrell to give the Barons a 3-2 lead. The regular season comes to a close Monday afternoon with Stars? right-hander Mike Jones taking the hill against Barons? right-hander Jack Egbert. Coverage begins at 12:20 pm central time and can be heard locally on ESPN Radio 1450 AM and via the internet at www.huntsvillestars.com. Huntsville Box Score and Game Log: www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_biraax_1

Final: Huntsville 5, Birmingham (White Sox) 3 Huntsville Site Game Summary: Link, text follows -- www.huntsvillestars.com/n...newsId=999 Palmisano Pushes Stars to Comeback Victory Lou Palmisano doubled home the game-winning run in the eighth inning and Huntsville?s bullpen retired the last six hitters to preserve a 5-3 win over Birmingham Sunday night at the Hoover Met. The Stars have taken four out of five in the series to improve to 42-26 in the second half, while the Barons suffered their eighth loss in nine games to drop to 28-41 in the second half and 59-80 overall. The Stars have won eight of the last nine over the Barons and lead the season series 16-8 heading into Monday?s regular season finale. Dwayne Pollok opened the eighth inning on the hill for Birmingham and gave up a leadoff double to Brad Nelson that was followed by a Ron Acuna single. Palmisano then laced a 3-2 pitch into the alley in right-center field to score both runners to give Huntsville a 4-3 lead. Callix Crabbe led off the ninth inning against Ehren Wasserman with a walk, moved to third base on Ryan Braun?s second double of the night and scored an insurance run on a single by Nelson, who finished with three hits in a game for a seventh time this season. Gerrit Simpson retired the side in order in the eighth inning and Joe Valentine set down the Barons in turn in the ninth to earn his 13th save of the season and his tenth in a row since August 5 at Mobile. Valentine was a member of the Barons? 2002 Southern League championship team and established a team record that season with 36 saves. Tim Dillard retired the first eight hitters he faced and threw three scoreless innings before the home side scored in the fourth when Micah Schnurstein doubled home Chris Amador and came into score on a single by Donny Lucy, who knocked in his third run with the Barons. Ron Acuna singled in Brendan Katin and scored on a two-out infield hit by Ozzie Chavez in the sixth to knot the game at two. Dillard retired the side in order in the fifth and was lifted with a right forearm injury after Michael Myers walked to open the sixth and moved to third base on a Corey Smith single. Travis Phelps took over and got Schnurstein to pop out and Lucy to ground into an inning-ending double play to keep the game tied at two. Amador?s sacrifice fly in the home seventh scored Stefan Gartrell to give the Barons a 3-2 lead. The regular season comes to a close Monday afternoon with Stars? right-hander Mike Jones taking the hill against Barons? right-hander Jack Egbert. Coverage begins at 12:20 pm central time and can be heard locally on ESPN Radio 1450 AM and via the internet at www.huntsvillestars.com. Huntsville Box Score and Game Log: www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_biraax_1

Final: Billings (Reds) 8, Helena 3 MiLB.com Helena Game Summary: Gressick, Turner lead Mustangs Anthony Gressick picked up his sixth win and Justin Turner homered as Billings downed visiting Helena, 8-3, on Sunday. Gressick (6-2) gave up three runs on seven hits and a walk while fanning three in five innings. His third straight victory moved him into a first-place tie for wins in the Pioneer League. Marcos Mateo tossed four scoreless frames, allowing two hits while fanning four and walking one to nab his first save. The Mustangs took a 3-1 lead in the first as Ryan Brown delivered a two-run double. Cole Gillespie and Bill Rowe smacked RBI singles in the third to lift the Brewers (19-15) into a 3-3 tie. Turner broke the deadlock in the bottom of the frame with a solo shot, his fifth. Denis Phipps, Logan Parker and Michael McKennon had RBI hits for Billings (24-10), whose magic number for clinching the North Division second-half title is down to three. Helena starter Brock Kjeldgaard (1-2) took the loss, giving up four runs on four hits over three innings with two walks and two strikeouts. -- Louice Thomas/MLB.com Helena Box Score and Game Log: Cole Gillespie on base three times... www.minorleaguebaseball.c...k_bilrok_1

Final: Billings (Reds) 8, Helena 3 MiLB.com Helena Game Summary: Gressick, Turner lead Mustangs Anthony Gressick picked up his sixth win and Justin Turner homered as Billings downed visiting Helena, 8-3, on Sunday. Gressick (6-2) gave up three runs on seven hits and a walk while fanning three in five innings. His third straight victory moved him into a first-place tie for wins in the Pioneer League. Marcos Mateo tossed four scoreless frames, allowing two hits while fanning four and walking one to nab his first save. The Mustangs took a 3-1 lead in the first as Ryan Brown delivered a two-run double. Cole Gillespie and Bill Rowe smacked RBI singles in the third to lift the Brewers (19-15) into a 3-3 tie. Turner broke the deadlock in the bottom of the frame with a solo shot, his fifth. Denis Phipps, Logan Parker and Michael McKennon had RBI hits for Billings (24-10), whose magic number for clinching the North Division second-half title is down to three. Helena starter Brock Kjeldgaard (1-2) took the loss, giving up four runs on four hits over three innings with two walks and two strikeouts. -- Louice Thomas/MLB.com Helena Box Score and Game Log: Cole Gillespie on base three times... www.minorleaguebaseball.c...k_bilrok_1

Final: Hickory (Pirates) 5, West Virginia 3 West Virginia Site Game Summary: INMAN TAKES LEAGUE LEAD IN ERA, POWER LOSE Power right hander Will Inman needed to pitch six and two thirds innings in his final start of the season on Sunday night against Hickory to make himself eligible for the South Atlantic League leader board in earned run average. Inman surrendered five runs on eight hits, and suffered his first loss since May 21st, but he pitched seven and two thirds innings, to put him at the top of the leader board in earned run average, as the Power fell to Hickory 5-3. The Crawdads scored four runs in the bottom of the fourth inning. Brad Corley and Tony Mansolino both hit two-run homers to give Hickory the lead. The Power scored all three of their runs in the top of the eighth inning. With two outs and Lorenzo Cain on second base, Mike Bell hit a routine fly ball into right field that was dropped by Corley, allowing Cain to score. Bell scored later in the inning on Michael Brantley?s base hit, and an errant throw from Hickory pitcher Matt Swanson scored Tony Festa. Cameron Blair scored the final run of the game for Hickory on a wild pitch in the bottom of the eighth inning. Despite the loss, Inman finishes the season with a 1.71 ERA on the season. Going into Sunday?s action, the league leader in ERA was Matt Maloney of Lakewood with a 1.99 ERA. Two years ago former Charleston Alley Cat Tom Mastny led the league with a 2.17 ERA. Inman also broke the club record for ERA in a season previously held by Tim Pugh who posted a 1.93 ERA in 1990. Todd Redmond (13-6) earned the victory, Justin Vaclavik (18) got the save and Inman (10-2) suffered the loss. The Power are 74-62 overall and 35-32 in the second half after the loss while the Crawdads improved to 67-70 overall and 34-34 in the second half after the win. The Power will end the season against the Hickory Crawdads at L.P. Frans Stadium on Monday. The Power will throw left hander Steve Garrison (7-6, 3.45) and Hickory will counter with right hander Luis Valdez (7-8, 4.28). The first pitch will be delivered at noon (11:00 AM Central). West Virginia Box Score and Game Log: No walks and eight K's for Inman, who finishes with a 134-to-24 K/BB ratio in 110.2 innings (75 hits) -- amazing... www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_hicafx_1 NOTE: The Hickory Record reports that Inman needed to pitch all nine innings and keep Hickory to three runs or less, to qualify for the lowest ERA in all of the the minor leagues. I believe that involves the new pitching award established this year that was mentioned on our forum a month or so ago.

Final: Hickory (Pirates) 5, West Virginia 3 West Virginia Site Game Summary: INMAN TAKES LEAGUE LEAD IN ERA, POWER LOSE Power right hander Will Inman needed to pitch six and two thirds innings in his final start of the season on Sunday night against Hickory to make himself eligible for the South Atlantic League leader board in earned run average. Inman surrendered five runs on eight hits, and suffered his first loss since May 21st, but he pitched seven and two thirds innings, to put him at the top of the leader board in earned run average, as the Power fell to Hickory 5-3. The Crawdads scored four runs in the bottom of the fourth inning. Brad Corley and Tony Mansolino both hit two-run homers to give Hickory the lead. The Power scored all three of their runs in the top of the eighth inning. With two outs and Lorenzo Cain on second base, Mike Bell hit a routine fly ball into right field that was dropped by Corley, allowing Cain to score. Bell scored later in the inning on Michael Brantley?s base hit, and an errant throw from Hickory pitcher Matt Swanson scored Tony Festa. Cameron Blair scored the final run of the game for Hickory on a wild pitch in the bottom of the eighth inning. Despite the loss, Inman finishes the season with a 1.71 ERA on the season. Going into Sunday?s action, the league leader in ERA was Matt Maloney of Lakewood with a 1.99 ERA. Two years ago former Charleston Alley Cat Tom Mastny led the league with a 2.17 ERA. Inman also broke the club record for ERA in a season previously held by Tim Pugh who posted a 1.93 ERA in 1990. Todd Redmond (13-6) earned the victory, Justin Vaclavik (18) got the save and Inman (10-2) suffered the loss. The Power are 74-62 overall and 35-32 in the second half after the loss while the Crawdads improved to 67-70 overall and 34-34 in the second half after the win. The Power will end the season against the Hickory Crawdads at L.P. Frans Stadium on Monday. The Power will throw left hander Steve Garrison (7-6, 3.45) and Hickory will counter with right hander Luis Valdez (7-8, 4.28). The first pitch will be delivered at noon (11:00 AM Central). West Virginia Box Score and Game Log: No walks and eight K's for Inman, who finishes with a 134-to-24 K/BB ratio in 110.2 innings (75 hits) -- amazing... www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_hicafx_1 NOTE: The Hickory Record reports that Inman needed to pitch all nine innings and keep Hickory to three runs or less, to qualify for the lowest ERA in all of the the minor leagues. I believe that involves the new pitching award established this year that was mentioned on our forum a month or so ago.

Final, Game One: Daytona (Cubs) 4, Brevard County 1 Brevard County Site Game One Game Summary: Holliman, Cubs take opener Mark Holliman scattered six hits over 6 1/3 innings as visiting Dayton bested Brevard County, 4-1, in the opener of Sunday's doubleheader. Holliman (8-11), who won his first start since July 21, held the Manatees (27-34) scoreless until the seventh inning. He struck out three and walked two as he lowered his ERA to 4.38. Chris Robinson led the Cubs at the plate, going 3-for-4 with a two-run double in the third. Jeremy Williams, who recently joined Daytona from the Cubs' Arizona League affiliate, hit his second homer in six games with the Cubs in the second. Daytona (36-20) added a run in the sixth. Nate Spears singled to lead off the inning and advanced to third on Ryan Harvey's single before scoring on a balk by Brevard County reliever Bo Hall. Freddy Parejo scored the Manatees' only run in the seventh. Parejo singled with one out and advanced to third on a double by Ned Yost to force Holliman out of the game. Paul Schappert came on in relief and allowed an RBI groundout to J.R. Hopf. Schappert picked up his 20th save after getting Ryan Crew to line out to end the game. Sam Narron (2-4) took the loss for Brevard County, giving up three runs on three hits and two walks in three innings. Hall gave up a run on two hits in three innings of relief, and Ben Stanczyk pitched a scoreless seventh for the Manatees. -- Kristen Zimmerman/MLB.com Brevard County Game One Box Score and Game Log: www.minorleaguebaseball.c...a_breafa_1 ***Final, Game Two: Brevard County 4, Daytona (Cubs) 3 Brevard County Site Game Two Game Summary: Sollmann lifts Manatees Steven Sollmann's RBI single in the bottom of the seventh inning lifted Brevard County over Daytona, 4-3, as the teams split Sunday's doubleheader. Charlie Fermaint drew a one-out walk in the seventh, moved to second on a wild pitch by reliever Carlos Perez (5-8) and scored when Sollmann delivered a single to center field. Fermaint lifted a sacrifice fly in the first and smacked an RBI double in the third for the Manatees (28-34), who rebounded from a 4-1 loss in the opener. Ned Yost also drove in a run for Brevard County. Josh Alliston (5-3) picked up the win in relief, despite yielding two runs -- one earned -- on three hits over the final two innings. Starter Robert Hinton allowed a run on four hits in two innings before Brandon Harmsen kept the Cubs scoreless over the next three frames. Matthew Ciaramella, Chris Robinson and Matt Craig each drove in a run for the Cubs (36-21). Perez surrendered a run on two hits and three walks in 1 2/3 innings. Daytona starter Justin Berg gave up two runs on two hits and a walk in two innings. Stephen Bronder yielded a run on four hits over two frames, and Tim Layden tossed a scoreless fifth. -- Kristen Zimmerman/MLB.com Brevard County Game Two Box Score and Game Log: Alcides Escobar 3-for-3 with a walk; see you next year, Manatees! www.minorleaguebaseball.c...p;sid=t503