Jim Goulart

Posted the same text in the Minor League Forum: Maybe the Brewers just needed to wait and give the young man the summer off after a 180-pitch performance on May 26th (in a game that was interrupted two hours after the first inning, no less!), but the Brewers have signed RHP D.J. Lidyard, their 43rd round draft choice in the 2006 draft. By the way, Lidyard pitched again on three days rest to end his season, allowed six hits and struck out four while pitching into the fifth inning. It is believed Lidyard pitched this summer with the Team USA entry in the Honkbal International Tournament, which began July 21 in Haarlem, located outside of Amsterdam in The Netherlands. Lidyard, who will turn 21 late this September, pitched his junior college ball at Lower Columbia College in Washington state. I would imagine that the contract begins in 2007, and thus his organization clock would begin next season. Lidyard's slider has been described as "nasty" and "the hardest pitch to hit in his league". Here's the game story link and text from Lidyard's season-ender: www.tdn.com/articles/2006...news08.txt Red Devils take tough loss in NWAACC Tournament opener By Rick McCorkle, Longview (WA) Daily News If the NWAACC Baseball Championships were won each year solely on gritty performances, then Lower Columbia College pitcher D.J. Lidyard would be packing home the title hardware. Lidyard, a sophomore pitcher from Cascade Christian High near Puyallup, threw an eye-popping 180 pitches and struck out 14 in a complete-game 12-inning effort. But the Red Devils couldn't reward him, dropping a 2-1 decision to Everett in the tournament's final opening-round matchup Friday at soggy David Story Field. "That was one of the guttiest performances I've ever seen," LCC coach Kelly Smith said of Lidyard, who was a 19th-round pick of Baltimore in the 2005 Major League Baseball Amateur Draft and has signed at Oregon State University. "He scattered 10 hits against a very good Everett team. We talked about getting him out of the game after nine innings, but he refused to come out. I've rarely had a guy tell me, 'No, I'm going back out there.'" "My hat's off to Everett because they (the Trojans) are a very good ballclub," Smith said. "I knew we had a bad draw when I saw the tournament bracket. I hate to lose any game, but that's as good a game as you'll see at the junior college level. They made the plays, and got the hits and sacrifices when they needed them." The contest was originally slated for 7:35 p.m. Thursday, but rain delayed the start to 9:35 on Friday morning. The inclement weather refused to go away, and the game was rescheduled for 2:35. Lidyard threw the top of the first inning and struck out three of the four Everett batters he faced before rain halted the contest. The game resumed two hours later, and he continued his mound mastery. "I don't know what to say because we should've had them, but we came up a little short," Lidyard said. "I had my best stuff, but they managed to get by us." Amazingly, his velocity didn't waiver much through the 12 innings. He was clocked at 94 miles per hour in the first inning, had a fastball that touched 91 in the 10th inning, and was in the mid-80s when he struck out Everett designated hitter Jake Northrup in the 12th. "I think I had a 140-pitch game in high school as a senior, but 100 is usually my limit," said Lidyard, who had 126 of his 180 pitches ---- mostly sliders and fastballs ---- cut across the plate for strikes. "I was in a groove and the adrenaline had me up. I hope to come back and pitch Monday or Tuesday if they need me." Smith's plan was to get as many innings as possible out of Lidyard to save his bullpen. "We thought he deserved to be out there, because it may be the last time he's on the mound for the Red Devils," he said. "He definitely saved our pitching by staying out there." LCC stranded 14 baserunners, including half in scoring position. By contrast, Everett left 11 baserunners, including five at either second or third base. "We were snakebit because we had the game won more than a few times," Smith said. "We had a ball caught up against the wall in left field, and a ball that a guy makes a tremendous catch on that was a double-deep hit to right-center field. If he's 6-foot (Everett center fielder Daniel Ulrich is 6-3) he doesn't catch it, but he's taller and he grabbed it." Devils first baseman Justin Burger launched a towering fly ball to left field in the ninth inning that was hauled in by Gavin Heinemann at the wall under the 326-foot sign, and Tony Jones had his looping drive to center caught by a stretching Ulrich to end the 10th. The Devils broke up a scoreless tie in the sixth inning when Drew George drilled a leadoff double over Ulrich's head in center field, moved to third on a groundout from Jonah Hobson, and scampered home when Jones hit a line drive through the middle of the infield. Everett countered with a run in the top of the seventh when Ulrich was hit by a Lidyard slider, went to second on a sacrifice bunt from Nick Fleck, and scored on a base hit from Kevin Owens. LCC had a chance to score the game-winning run in the eighth inning when David Hovde slapped a one-out single to left field and went to second on a wild pitch from Everett's Stephen Fife. But a base hit to left field by Garrett Brown was scooped up by Heinemann, who threw home to nail a sliding Hovde. Everett plated the game-winner in the 12th when Fleck slapped a one-out single to the right-center field gap, Owens hit a line drive down the right-field line that moved Fleck to third, and Jake Hammons lifted a fly ball to deep center field that scored Fleck. "It came down to a hit down the line," Smith said. "We probably lost the game in the early innings when we had a chance to score runs. In this tournament, you have to score runs every chance you get against good teams." Fife scattered six hits and struck out three batters through nine innings before yielding to Brandon Eagon, who gave up a hit through the final three innings. Brown and Hovde had two hits apiece for LCC. Everett's Micky Pingree had three hits, with Owens adding two singles and a double. http://lcc.ctc.edu/athletics/baseball/mens/2005/pics/prof32.jpg

Maybe the Brewers just needed to wait and give the young man the summer off after a 180-pitch performance on May 26th (in a game that was interrupted two hours after the first inning, no less!), but the Brewers have signed RHP D.J. Lidyard, their 43rd round draft choice in the 2006 draft. By the way, Lidyard pitched again on three days rest in his next outing to end his season, when he allowed six hits and struck out four while pitching into the fifth inning. It is believed Lidyard pitched this summer with the Team USA entry in the Honkbal International Tournament, which began July 21 in Haarlem, located outside of Amsterdam in The Netherlands. Lidyard, who will turn 21 late this September, pitched his junior college ball at Lower Columbia College in Washington state. I would imagine that the contract begins in 2007, and thus his organization clock would begin next season. Lidyard's slider has been described as "nasty" and "the hardest pitch to hit in his league". Here's the game story link and text from Lidyard's season-ender: www.tdn.com/articles/2006...news08.txt Red Devils take tough loss in NWAACC Tournament opener By Rick McCorkle, Longview (WA) Daily News If the NWAACC Baseball Championships were won each year solely on gritty performances, then Lower Columbia College pitcher D.J. Lidyard would be packing home the title hardware. Lidyard, a sophomore pitcher from Cascade Christian High near Puyallup, threw an eye-popping 180 pitches and struck out 14 in a complete-game 12-inning effort. But the Red Devils couldn't reward him, dropping a 2-1 decision to Everett in the tournament's final opening-round matchup Friday at soggy David Story Field. "That was one of the guttiest performances I've ever seen," LCC coach Kelly Smith said of Lidyard, who was a 19th-round pick of Baltimore in the 2005 Major League Baseball Amateur Draft and has signed at Oregon State University. "He scattered 10 hits against a very good Everett team. We talked about getting him out of the game after nine innings, but he refused to come out. I've rarely had a guy tell me, 'No, I'm going back out there.'" "My hat's off to Everett because they (the Trojans) are a very good ballclub," Smith said. "I knew we had a bad draw when I saw the tournament bracket. I hate to lose any game, but that's as good a game as you'll see at the junior college level. They made the plays, and got the hits and sacrifices when they needed them." The contest was originally slated for 7:35 p.m. Thursday, but rain delayed the start to 9:35 on Friday morning. The inclement weather refused to go away, and the game was rescheduled for 2:35. Lidyard threw the top of the first inning and struck out three of the four Everett batters he faced before rain halted the contest. The game resumed two hours later, and he continued his mound mastery. "I don't know what to say because we should've had them, but we came up a little short," Lidyard said. "I had my best stuff, but they managed to get by us." Amazingly, his velocity didn't waiver much through the 12 innings. He was clocked at 94 miles per hour in the first inning, had a fastball that touched 91 in the 10th inning, and was in the mid-80s when he struck out Everett designated hitter Jake Northrup in the 12th. "I think I had a 140-pitch game in high school as a senior, but 100 is usually my limit," said Lidyard, who had 126 of his 180 pitches ---- mostly sliders and fastballs ---- cut across the plate for strikes. "I was in a groove and the adrenaline had me up. I hope to come back and pitch Monday or Tuesday if they need me." Smith's plan was to get as many innings as possible out of Lidyard to save his bullpen. "We thought he deserved to be out there, because it may be the last time he's on the mound for the Red Devils," he said. "He definitely saved our pitching by staying out there." LCC stranded 14 baserunners, including half in scoring position. By contrast, Everett left 11 baserunners, including five at either second or third base. "We were snakebit because we had the game won more than a few times," Smith said. "We had a ball caught up against the wall in left field, and a ball that a guy makes a tremendous catch on that was a double-deep hit to right-center field. If he's 6-foot (Everett center fielder Daniel Ulrich is 6-3) he doesn't catch it, but he's taller and he grabbed it." Devils first baseman Justin Burger launched a towering fly ball to left field in the ninth inning that was hauled in by Gavin Heinemann at the wall under the 326-foot sign, and Tony Jones had his looping drive to center caught by a stretching Ulrich to end the 10th. The Devils broke up a scoreless tie in the sixth inning when Drew George drilled a leadoff double over Ulrich's head in center field, moved to third on a groundout from Jonah Hobson, and scampered home when Jones hit a line drive through the middle of the infield. Everett countered with a run in the top of the seventh when Ulrich was hit by a Lidyard slider, went to second on a sacrifice bunt from Nick Fleck, and scored on a base hit from Kevin Owens. LCC had a chance to score the game-winning run in the eighth inning when David Hovde slapped a one-out single to left field and went to second on a wild pitch from Everett's Stephen Fife. But a base hit to left field by Garrett Brown was scooped up by Heinemann, who threw home to nail a sliding Hovde. Everett plated the game-winner in the 12th when Fleck slapped a one-out single to the right-center field gap, Owens hit a line drive down the right-field line that moved Fleck to third, and Jake Hammons lifted a fly ball to deep center field that scored Fleck. "It came down to a hit down the line," Smith said. "We probably lost the game in the early innings when we had a chance to score runs. In this tournament, you have to score runs every chance you get against good teams." Fife scattered six hits and struck out three batters through nine innings before yielding to Brandon Eagon, who gave up a hit through the final three innings. Brown and Hovde had two hits apiece for LCC. Everett's Micky Pingree had three hits, with Owens adding two singles and a double. http://lcc.ctc.edu/athletics/baseball/mens/2005/pics/prof32.jpg

Maybe the Brewers just needed to wait and give the young man the summer off after a 180-pitch performance on May 26th (in a game that was interrupted two hours after the first inning, no less!), but the Brewers have signed RHP D.J. Lidyard, their 43rd round draft choice in the 2006 draft. By the way, Lidyard pitched again on three days rest in his next outing to end his season, when he allowed six hits and struck out four while pitching into the fifth inning. It is believed Lidyard pitched this summer with the Team USA entry in the Honkbal International Tournament, which began July 21 in Haarlem, located outside of Amsterdam in The Netherlands. Lidyard, who will turn 21 late this September, pitched his junior college ball at Lower Columbia College in Washington state. I would imagine that the contract begins in 2007, and thus his organization clock would begin next season. Lidyard's slider has been described as "nasty" and "the hardest pitch to hit in his league". Here's the game story link and text from Lidyard's season-ender: www.tdn.com/articles/2006...news08.txt Red Devils take tough loss in NWAACC Tournament opener By Rick McCorkle, Longview (WA) Daily News If the NWAACC Baseball Championships were won each year solely on gritty performances, then Lower Columbia College pitcher D.J. Lidyard would be packing home the title hardware. Lidyard, a sophomore pitcher from Cascade Christian High near Puyallup, threw an eye-popping 180 pitches and struck out 14 in a complete-game 12-inning effort. But the Red Devils couldn't reward him, dropping a 2-1 decision to Everett in the tournament's final opening-round matchup Friday at soggy David Story Field. "That was one of the guttiest performances I've ever seen," LCC coach Kelly Smith said of Lidyard, who was a 19th-round pick of Baltimore in the 2005 Major League Baseball Amateur Draft and has signed at Oregon State University. "He scattered 10 hits against a very good Everett team. We talked about getting him out of the game after nine innings, but he refused to come out. I've rarely had a guy tell me, 'No, I'm going back out there.'" "My hat's off to Everett because they (the Trojans) are a very good ballclub," Smith said. "I knew we had a bad draw when I saw the tournament bracket. I hate to lose any game, but that's as good a game as you'll see at the junior college level. They made the plays, and got the hits and sacrifices when they needed them." The contest was originally slated for 7:35 p.m. Thursday, but rain delayed the start to 9:35 on Friday morning. The inclement weather refused to go away, and the game was rescheduled for 2:35. Lidyard threw the top of the first inning and struck out three of the four Everett batters he faced before rain halted the contest. The game resumed two hours later, and he continued his mound mastery. "I don't know what to say because we should've had them, but we came up a little short," Lidyard said. "I had my best stuff, but they managed to get by us." Amazingly, his velocity didn't waiver much through the 12 innings. He was clocked at 94 miles per hour in the first inning, had a fastball that touched 91 in the 10th inning, and was in the mid-80s when he struck out Everett designated hitter Jake Northrup in the 12th. "I think I had a 140-pitch game in high school as a senior, but 100 is usually my limit," said Lidyard, who had 126 of his 180 pitches ---- mostly sliders and fastballs ---- cut across the plate for strikes. "I was in a groove and the adrenaline had me up. I hope to come back and pitch Monday or Tuesday if they need me." Smith's plan was to get as many innings as possible out of Lidyard to save his bullpen. "We thought he deserved to be out there, because it may be the last time he's on the mound for the Red Devils," he said. "He definitely saved our pitching by staying out there." LCC stranded 14 baserunners, including half in scoring position. By contrast, Everett left 11 baserunners, including five at either second or third base. "We were snakebit because we had the game won more than a few times," Smith said. "We had a ball caught up against the wall in left field, and a ball that a guy makes a tremendous catch on that was a double-deep hit to right-center field. If he's 6-foot (Everett center fielder Daniel Ulrich is 6-3) he doesn't catch it, but he's taller and he grabbed it." Devils first baseman Justin Burger launched a towering fly ball to left field in the ninth inning that was hauled in by Gavin Heinemann at the wall under the 326-foot sign, and Tony Jones had his looping drive to center caught by a stretching Ulrich to end the 10th. The Devils broke up a scoreless tie in the sixth inning when Drew George drilled a leadoff double over Ulrich's head in center field, moved to third on a groundout from Jonah Hobson, and scampered home when Jones hit a line drive through the middle of the infield. Everett countered with a run in the top of the seventh when Ulrich was hit by a Lidyard slider, went to second on a sacrifice bunt from Nick Fleck, and scored on a base hit from Kevin Owens. LCC had a chance to score the game-winning run in the eighth inning when David Hovde slapped a one-out single to left field and went to second on a wild pitch from Everett's Stephen Fife. But a base hit to left field by Garrett Brown was scooped up by Heinemann, who threw home to nail a sliding Hovde. Everett plated the game-winner in the 12th when Fleck slapped a one-out single to the right-center field gap, Owens hit a line drive down the right-field line that moved Fleck to third, and Jake Hammons lifted a fly ball to deep center field that scored Fleck. "It came down to a hit down the line," Smith said. "We probably lost the game in the early innings when we had a chance to score runs. In this tournament, you have to score runs every chance you get against good teams." Fife scattered six hits and struck out three batters through nine innings before yielding to Brandon Eagon, who gave up a hit through the final three innings. Brown and Hovde had two hits apiece for LCC. Everett's Micky Pingree had three hits, with Owens adding two singles and a double. http://lcc.ctc.edu/athletics/baseball/mens/2005/pics/prof32.jpg

There probably could not have been a more obscure pitcher in the organization -- let's hope that nonsense ends there.

Final: Brevard County 3, Daytona (Cubs) 0 These guys are playing tough to the end, no moping, nice to see... Brevard County Box Score and Game Log: Mike Jones (only two innings?), Brandon Harmsen, Luis Pena (four innings for the win), and Josh Alliston combine on a four-hitter; Manatees only made three fly ball outs, but managed to get the win; Hernan Iribarren and Carlos Corporan two hits apiece; the Hurricane picked off second base with one out in the 2nd; left fielder and birthday boy (23) Ryan Crew with another outfield assist, nailing a runner at the plate to end the Cub 2nd... www.minorleaguebaseball.c...a_dbcafa_1

Final: Brevard County 3, Daytona (Cubs) 0 These guys are playing tough to the end, no moping, nice to see... Brevard County Box Score and Game Log: Mike Jones (only two innings?), Brandon Harmsen, Luis Pena (four innings for the win), and Josh Alliston combine on a four-hitter; Manatees only made three fly ball outs, but managed to get the win; Hernan Iribarren and Carlos Corporan two hits apiece; the Hurricane picked off second base with one out in the 2nd; left fielder and birthday boy (23) Ryan Crew with another outfield assist, nailing a runner at the plate to end the Cub 2nd... www.minorleaguebaseball.c...a_dbcafa_1

Link while active, text follows: www.minorleaguebaseball.c...;fext=.jsp Sally All-Star team proves Power-ful By Carl Dispoto / Special to MLB.com The South Atlantic League All-Star Team bears more than a passing resemblance to the starting lineup of the West Virginia Power. West Virginia's Will Inman, Angel Salome, Mat Gamel and Lorenzo Cain were named to the South Atlantic League All-Star Team on Wednesday, making up more than one-quarter of the roster. None of the other 16 teams in the league had more than two players chosen. Inman, with a 10-1 record and a 1.40 ERA, has 126 strikeouts in 103 innings and has allowed less than one baserunner per inning in 22 appearances, including 19 starts. Inman's battery mate Salome was selected at catcher, batting .292 with 10 homers and 85 RBIs. Gamel was chosen at third base for hitting .289 with 17 homers and 87 RBIs. Cain, who leads the Power with a .303 batting average, was one of four outfielders to make the squad. He has scored 87 runs this season and has swiped 32 bases near the top of West Virginia's potent lineup. The Power added a fifth selection in the form of manager Mike Lum, who was chosen as a coach. Augusta's Roberto Kelly was named manager of the All-Star Team. All-Star Matt Maloney of the Lakewood Blue Claws was named the league's Most Outstanding Pitcher. He leads the league with 16 wins and has the second-best ERA to Thomas Fairchild's 1.66 at 1.99. Maloney has tossed a league-high 162 2/3 innings and has set a team record with 172 strikeouts this season. Augusta GreenJackets second baseman Eugenio Velez was picked as the Most Valuable Player, batting a league-leading .310 with 14 homers and 88 RBIs. He also tops the field with 19 triples and has 60 stolen bases for Augusta, which boasts the league's best record. The Most Outstanding Major League Prospect honor went to outfielder Andrew McCutchen of the Hickory Crawdads. McCutchen is batting .291 with 14 homers, 77 runs scored, 62 RBIs and 22 stolen bases in just 114 games. Maloney's teammate Carlos Carrasco was also named an All-Star after going 11-6 with a 2.19 ERA in 25 starts. He has notched 152 strikeouts in 152 1/3 innings. Charleston first baseman Ben Jones and Rome infielder Eric Campbell, who are tied for the league lead with 21 homers, also earned All-Star spots. Tommy Manzella of Lexington was named at shortstop primarily because of his defense, and he has made just eight errors in 99 games. Asheville outfielders Cole Garner and Dexter Fowler were also chosen as All-Stars. Garner is batting .307 with 19 homers and 84 RBIs, and Fowler has posted a .300 average with 40 stolen bases and 87 runs scored. Hickory's Brad Corley was chosen as the designated hitter with a .283 batting average, 15 homers, a league-leading 96 RBIs and 85 runs scored. The team is voted on by the league's managers, general managers and media outlets, including print, television and radio. West Virginia battery mates Will Inman and Angel Salome get to turn two as teammates on the South Atlantic All-Star squad. (West Virginia Power/John M. Setzler Jr./MLB.com) http://www.minorleaguebaseball.com/images/2006/08/30/BgyOrNUb.jpg

20-year-old 1B/DH John Alonso, the Brewers 12th round pick in 2005, was named to the Arizona Rookie League postseason All-Star Squad. The right-handed stick led the league in extra-base hits, and carried an 872 OPS in 176 AB's. John Alonso Career Stats: www.minorleaguebaseball.c...pid=488661

Brevard County's Steve Sollmann has been activated from the disabled list, recovered from a thumb injury.

Brevard County's Steve Sollmann has been activated from the disabled list, recovered from a thumb injury.

Wednesday's Helena KCAP Pre-Game Audio Chat with Groundskeeper Nick Enright (Select date for August 30th, skip to the 13:00 minute mark) -- We'll post it because the kid is from the Milwaukee area as well.. www.minorleaguebaseball.c.../audio.jsp

Wednesday's Helena KCAP Pre-Game Audio Chat with Groundskeeper Nick Enright (Select date for August 30th, skip to the 13:00 minute mark) -- We'll post it because the kid is from the Milwaukee area as well.. www.minorleaguebaseball.c.../audio.jsp

Nashville Pre-Game Audio Chat with Utilityman Vinny Rottino: www.nashvillesounds.com/a...208-30.mp3

Nashville Pre-Game Audio Chat with Utilityman Vinny Rottino: www.nashvillesounds.com/a...208-30.mp3

Link while active, text follows: www.dailymail.com/news/Sp...006083128/ Greensboro pitcher has successful SAL debut against Power Michael A. Jones Charleston Daily Mail Staff The Power had climbed up to second place in the South Atlantic League standings with four consecutive victories, but a 22-year-old newcomer spoiled Fan Appreciation Night at Appalachian Power Park. West Virginia recorded 11 hits but dropped the penultimate game of its home schedule Wednesday night, 8-1. Greensboro starting pitcher Joel Fountain, making his first start since Aug. 19, limited West Virginia batters to five hits while breezing through five scoreless frames in his SAL debut. Fountain was forced to wait an extra 30 minutes to make his start after rain postponed the first pitch. Fountain had been promoted Saturday morning from the Florida Marlins' rookie-league affiliate after the club finished its season last week. The Power missed an opportunity against Fountain, a 25th round draft pick this year out of St. Mary's College, but couldn't cut into a three-run deficit in the fourth inning when it left runners on second and third with one out. Fountain quelled the rally when designated hitter Nate Yoho lined to first and shortstop Ryan Barba popped to shallow right. "The defense is a lot better here," Fountain said. "They really helped me out in some jams." Fountain was at home in Reno, N.V., when he received the phone call and took the mound five days later. "I wasn't really expecting to get called up," he said. "I just played catch, and it felt good. (I was) just trying to do what I could do." West Virginia left 12 men on base while Greensboro pounded out its eight runs on 11 hits. In the second, right fielder Brad Correll hit a solo blast -- his seventh in 31 games this season with Greensboro -- while Rod "The Toastman" Blackstone led a "2-for-11" cheer, alluding to his results at the plate in three previous games against the Power. After touching home, Correll jogged to the backstop netting and held three fingers in the air and shouted, "Make that 3-for-12," receiving a modest applause from the crowd. Correll ended the night 2-for-4 with a homer and double. The Grasshoppers scored once more off starter Shawn Ferguson in the second and again in the fourth. Julian Cordero relieved Ferguson, who fell to 2-3 after giving up three runs through four innings. Greensboro broke open the game in the sixth, scoring four runs off Cordero to improve its second-half record to 37-34. Barba helped West Virginia avoid the shutout by driving in catcher Brad Willcutt with a single in the eighth. The loss drops the Power's record to 34-29 in the second half. Power Manager Mike Guerrero said it was important for the team to finish the season strong. "This is a pretty fun team to manage," Guerrero said. "They go out there like they have something to prove. We won't make the playoffs, but it's important for every individual to play the game hard every day. "We've failed to close out ballgames, and that's cost us." The final home game of the 2006 schedule is set for 7:05 tonight (6:05 Central). * * *Former Power infielder Agustin Septimo was hitless in three at-bats Wednesday. He knocked in a run with a sacrifice bunt in the sixth. Septimo spent part of the 2005 season with West Virginia before he was acquired by the Florida Marlins in the minor-league Rule Five draft.

Link while active, text follows: www.dailymail.com/news/Sp...006083128/ Greensboro pitcher has successful SAL debut against Power Michael A. Jones Charleston Daily Mail Staff The Power had climbed up to second place in the South Atlantic League standings with four consecutive victories, but a 22-year-old newcomer spoiled Fan Appreciation Night at Appalachian Power Park. West Virginia recorded 11 hits but dropped the penultimate game of its home schedule Wednesday night, 8-1. Greensboro starting pitcher Joel Fountain, making his first start since Aug. 19, limited West Virginia batters to five hits while breezing through five scoreless frames in his SAL debut. Fountain was forced to wait an extra 30 minutes to make his start after rain postponed the first pitch. Fountain had been promoted Saturday morning from the Florida Marlins' rookie-league affiliate after the club finished its season last week. The Power missed an opportunity against Fountain, a 25th round draft pick this year out of St. Mary's College, but couldn't cut into a three-run deficit in the fourth inning when it left runners on second and third with one out. Fountain quelled the rally when designated hitter Nate Yoho lined to first and shortstop Ryan Barba popped to shallow right. "The defense is a lot better here," Fountain said. "They really helped me out in some jams." Fountain was at home in Reno, N.V., when he received the phone call and took the mound five days later. "I wasn't really expecting to get called up," he said. "I just played catch, and it felt good. (I was) just trying to do what I could do." West Virginia left 12 men on base while Greensboro pounded out its eight runs on 11 hits. In the second, right fielder Brad Correll hit a solo blast -- his seventh in 31 games this season with Greensboro -- while Rod "The Toastman" Blackstone led a "2-for-11" cheer, alluding to his results at the plate in three previous games against the Power. After touching home, Correll jogged to the backstop netting and held three fingers in the air and shouted, "Make that 3-for-12," receiving a modest applause from the crowd. Correll ended the night 2-for-4 with a homer and double. The Grasshoppers scored once more off starter Shawn Ferguson in the second and again in the fourth. Julian Cordero relieved Ferguson, who fell to 2-3 after giving up three runs through four innings. Greensboro broke open the game in the sixth, scoring four runs off Cordero to improve its second-half record to 37-34. Barba helped West Virginia avoid the shutout by driving in catcher Brad Willcutt with a single in the eighth. The loss drops the Power's record to 34-29 in the second half. Power Manager Mike Guerrero said it was important for the team to finish the season strong. "This is a pretty fun team to manage," Guerrero said. "They go out there like they have something to prove. We won't make the playoffs, but it's important for every individual to play the game hard every day. "We've failed to close out ballgames, and that's cost us." The final home game of the 2006 schedule is set for 7:05 tonight (6:05 Central). * * *Former Power infielder Agustin Septimo was hitless in three at-bats Wednesday. He knocked in a run with a sacrifice bunt in the sixth. Septimo spent part of the 2005 season with West Virginia before he was acquired by the Florida Marlins in the minor-league Rule Five draft.

Link while active, text follows: www.al.com/stars/huntsvil...amp;coll=1 Expect heat in Birmingham Stars games against Barons frequently emotional affairs By MARK McCARTER Huntsville Times Sports Staff, markcolumn@aol.com When we last left the Huntsville Stars and Birmingham Barons, the game ended in a testosterone explosion. Tempers rose, benches emptied and naughty words were exchanged. No damage done. Stars relief ace Joe Valentine, a former Baron, was wrapping up the save for Huntsville. Birmingham players were jawing in the dugout; veterans Corey Smith and Corwin Malone, who didn't make it past the fifth inning as the Barons' starter that night, were reportedly the prime culprits. As the Stars congratulated each other on the field on their fifth straight win, things grew more heated. Now, the Barons will likely have to sit and watch the Stars celebrate clinching the Southern League North second-half championship on Birmingham territory in the near future. The Stars (38-25) open a six-game series with the Barons tonight at the Hoover Met and can assure themselves a playoff spot with a win tonight, coupled with losses by Tennessee and Chattanooga (both 35-30). Huntsville needs only two wins in Birmingham to clinch, no matter what its two pursuers do. As for the feud between Valentine and his ex-teammates, "It's over," Valentine said. "(Malone) had a little blurb about it; he said it was nothing personal. I think it was unprofessional. "But in the heat of battle, sometimes you don't know what you're saying." Malone had told The Birmingham News the next day, "I was just ragging the guy. I didn't say anything personal. I'd never do that. "We're friends." Throughout history, the Stars and Barons haven't been very friendly. The rivalry became especially testy in 2002 and 2003, when Wally Backman managed the Barons. "Wally was a firecracker," Valentine said. "And Frank Kremblas, who was here, was a firecracker. I don't think it was anything personal. It was two good teams. They played us well. "It was one of those things that just coincides." In 2001, Huntsville knocked off the Barons in Birmingham in game five en route to sharing the league title with Jacksonville. In 2002, the Barons knocked off Huntsville in the final game to spoil the Stars' playoff hopes. Another coincidence: In 2003, the last Huntsville post-season appearance, the Stars clinched the first-half title during a visit to Birmingham, then wrapped up the division series in a game five at the Hoover Met. "It's special wherever you clinch," Valentine said. "I've still got a lot of fans (in Birmingham) that pull for me. "It can be special doing it there in front of them."

Link while active, text follows: www.al.com/stars/huntsvil...amp;coll=1 Expect heat in Birmingham Stars games against Barons frequently emotional affairs By MARK McCARTER Huntsville Times Sports Staff, markcolumn@aol.com When we last left the Huntsville Stars and Birmingham Barons, the game ended in a testosterone explosion. Tempers rose, benches emptied and naughty words were exchanged. No damage done. Stars relief ace Joe Valentine, a former Baron, was wrapping up the save for Huntsville. Birmingham players were jawing in the dugout; veterans Corey Smith and Corwin Malone, who didn't make it past the fifth inning as the Barons' starter that night, were reportedly the prime culprits. As the Stars congratulated each other on the field on their fifth straight win, things grew more heated. Now, the Barons will likely have to sit and watch the Stars celebrate clinching the Southern League North second-half championship on Birmingham territory in the near future. The Stars (38-25) open a six-game series with the Barons tonight at the Hoover Met and can assure themselves a playoff spot with a win tonight, coupled with losses by Tennessee and Chattanooga (both 35-30). Huntsville needs only two wins in Birmingham to clinch, no matter what its two pursuers do. As for the feud between Valentine and his ex-teammates, "It's over," Valentine said. "(Malone) had a little blurb about it; he said it was nothing personal. I think it was unprofessional. "But in the heat of battle, sometimes you don't know what you're saying." Malone had told The Birmingham News the next day, "I was just ragging the guy. I didn't say anything personal. I'd never do that. "We're friends." Throughout history, the Stars and Barons haven't been very friendly. The rivalry became especially testy in 2002 and 2003, when Wally Backman managed the Barons. "Wally was a firecracker," Valentine said. "And Frank Kremblas, who was here, was a firecracker. I don't think it was anything personal. It was two good teams. They played us well. "It was one of those things that just coincides." In 2001, Huntsville knocked off the Barons in Birmingham in game five en route to sharing the league title with Jacksonville. In 2002, the Barons knocked off Huntsville in the final game to spoil the Stars' playoff hopes. Another coincidence: In 2003, the last Huntsville post-season appearance, the Stars clinched the first-half title during a visit to Birmingham, then wrapped up the division series in a game five at the Hoover Met. "It's special wherever you clinch," Valentine said. "I've still got a lot of fans (in Birmingham) that pull for me. "It can be special doing it there in front of them."

Standings through Wednesday's action: Pacific Coast League (AAA) - American North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [b]Nashville 75 64 .540 - 41-27 34-37 W1[/b] Iowa 72 67 .518 3.0 43-28 29-39 W1 Memphis 56 83 .403 19.0 34-39 22-44 W1 Omaha 52 87 .374 23.0 31-37 21-50 L1 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Southern League (AA) - North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [b]Huntsville 38 25 .603 - 21-12 17-13 W7[/b] Chattanooga 35 30 .538 4.0 20-15 15-15 L1 Tennessee 35 30 .538 4.0 18-12 17-18 L1 West Tenn 29 36 .446 10.0 19-11 10-25 L8 Carolina 27 38 .415 12.0 19-11 8-27 W1 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Florida State League (A+) - East Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Palm Beach 34 27 .557 - 18-11 16-16 L1 Daytona 35 28 .556 - 24-13 11-15 L1 St. Lucie 35 30 .538 1.0 18-15 17-15 W1 [b]Brevard County 26 33 .441 7.0 13-13 13-20 W3[/b] Vero Beach 23 36 .390 10.0 14-16 9-20 W2 Jupiter 22 40 .355 12.5 12-20 10-20 L2 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- South Atlantic League (A) - Northern Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Lakewood 44 21 .677 - 24-7 20-14 L2 [b]West Virginia 34 30 .531 9.5 21-12 13-18 L1[/b] Greensboro 32 31 .508 11.0 16-18 16-13 W1 Lake County 32 31 .508 11.0 17-16 15-15 L4 Hickory 32 33 .492 12.0 15-19 17-14 L1 Delmarva 27 37 .422 16.5 17-15 10-22 W2 Lexington 27 38 .415 17.0 17-14 10-24 W1 Hagerstown 26 39 .400 18.0 14-18 12-21 W3 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Pioneer League (R+) - North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Billings 22 9 .710 - 12-2 10-7 W3 Missoula 19 12 .613 3.0 12-5 7-7 W2 [b]Helena 18 13 .581 4.0 11-6 7-7 W5[/b] Great Falls 8 23 .258 14.0 6-8 2-15 L2 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 Wednesday's action: Pacific Coast League (AAA) - American North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [b]Nashville 75 64 .540 - 41-27 34-37 W1[/b] Iowa 72 67 .518 3.0 43-28 29-39 W1 Memphis 56 83 .403 19.0 34-39 22-44 W1 Omaha 52 87 .374 23.0 31-37 21-50 L1 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Southern League (AA) - North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [b]Huntsville 38 25 .603 - 21-12 17-13 W7[/b] Chattanooga 35 30 .538 4.0 20-15 15-15 L1 Tennessee 35 30 .538 4.0 18-12 17-18 L1 West Tenn 29 36 .446 10.0 19-11 10-25 L8 Carolina 27 38 .415 12.0 19-11 8-27 W1 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Florida State League (A+) - East Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Palm Beach 34 27 .557 - 18-11 16-16 L1 Daytona 35 28 .556 - 24-13 11-15 L1 St. Lucie 35 30 .538 1.0 18-15 17-15 W1 [b]Brevard County 26 33 .441 7.0 13-13 13-20 W3[/b] Vero Beach 23 36 .390 10.0 14-16 9-20 W2 Jupiter 22 40 .355 12.5 12-20 10-20 L2 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- South Atlantic League (A) - Northern Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Lakewood 44 21 .677 - 24-7 20-14 L2 [b]West Virginia 34 30 .531 9.5 21-12 13-18 L1[/b] Greensboro 32 31 .508 11.0 16-18 16-13 W1 Lake County 32 31 .508 11.0 17-16 15-15 L4 Hickory 32 33 .492 12.0 15-19 17-14 L1 Delmarva 27 37 .422 16.5 17-15 10-22 W2 Lexington 27 38 .415 17.0 17-14 10-24 W1 Hagerstown 26 39 .400 18.0 14-18 12-21 W3 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Pioneer League (R+) - North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Billings 22 9 .710 - 12-2 10-7 W3 Missoula 19 12 .613 3.0 12-5 7-7 W2 [b]Helena 18 13 .581 4.0 11-6 7-7 W5[/b] Great Falls 8 23 .258 14.0 6-8 2-15 L2 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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]

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

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

Follow Thursday's action as it happens: Here's what you do, right click on each of the links below and choose "Open in New Window". Open the Nashville Gameday. For the others, choose "Log". While you're listening to your minor league game of choice (or watching/listening to the big league Crew when they are playing), simply refresh your game log browsers every so often. Nashville: www.minorleaguebaseball.c...a_albaaa_1 Huntsville: www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_biraax_1 Brevard County: www.minorleaguebaseball.c...a_dbcafa_1 West Virginia: www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_wvaafx_1

Follow Thursday's action as it happens: Here's what you do, right click on each of the links below and choose "Open in New Window". Open the Nashville Gameday. For the others, choose "Log". While you're listening to your minor league game of choice (or watching/listening to the big league Crew when they are playing), simply refresh your game log browsers every so often. Nashville: www.minorleaguebaseball.c...a_albaaa_1 Huntsville: www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_biraax_1 Brevard County: www.minorleaguebaseball.c...a_dbcafa_1 West Virginia: www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_wvaafx_1

Thursday's Daily Menu: All times Central; pitchers subject to change -- Nashville: LHP Zach Jackson at Albuquerque (Marlins), 7:20 PM pre-game; 7:35 gametime Audio link: www.nashvillesounds.com/listenlive/ Huntsville: LHP Manny Parra at Birmingham (White Sox), 6:50 PM pre-game, 7:05 gametime Audio link: www.espn1450radio.com/ Brevard County: TBD at Daytona (Cubs), 6:05 PM Audio link (opponent's) -- www.daytonacubs.com/ West Virginia: LHP Dave Welch at home vs. Greensboro (Marlins), 5:55 PM pre-game, 6:05 gametime Audio link: www.sportsjuice.com/provi...e=wvpower. Helena: Idle Arizona: Season completed