Jim Goulart

Final: Billings (Reds) 14, Helena 13 Link while active, text follows: www.billingsgazette.net/a...stangs.txt Mustangs close in on playoff spot with win By BILL BIGHAUS Of The Billings Gazette Staff There was two pieces of good news involving the Billings Mustangs on Monday night. Danny Dorn socked a go-ahead three-run homer in the fifth inning, and the Mustangs survived a season-high 13 walks in outlasting the Helena Brewers 14-13 and clinching at least a tie for the Pioneer League's Northern Division first-half championship. Earlier in the evening, the Billings City Council, in a 10-1 vote, also approved a resolution seeking voter approval for a $12.5 million bond issue for a new stadium to replace the aging Cobb Field. The bond issue will be on the November ballot. In running their season record to 21-12, the Mustangs pounded out 12 hits - including Dorn's first professional home run. But seven Billings pitchers surrendered the 13 walks - four of them coming with the bases loaded. The Mustangs persevered, however, and now lead second-place Missoula (16-17) by five games with five games remaining on the first-half schedule. Missoula eliminated Great Falls from the race with a 6-5 win in 11 innings over the White Sox on Monday night. Any Billings win or Osprey loss over the next five games will secure the automatic playoff berth for the Mustangs. "It wasn't real pretty at the end," Billings manager Rick Burleson said at the conclusion of Monday's 3 hour, 39 minute marathon. "We did a nice job in certain situations offensively to get the job done tonight to build the lead after we were down 5-0," he added. "And our pitching has been good most of the year, but we walked 13 guys tonight and that's not going to get it done on a nightly basis. "The guys just need to relax, let it go and let their talents take over and not try to force pitches," said Burleson. "They all have the ability or they wouldn't be here. They big thing is a couple guys were aiming the ball a little bit late in that game. You can't do that and be successful." Dorn, who entered the game in the second inning after Maikol Mesa was injured in a collision with Helena first baseman Bill Rowe while beating out an infield hit, helped saved the day with his timely homer. "It was a change-up," said Dorn. "It kind of actually fooled me. I just tried to stay through it. I got a good piece of the bat on it and I was fortunate that it went out." Besides putting Billings ahead for good, Dorn also came away with a neat souvenir - the home-run ball. "It was cool," said Dorn. "A guy in the stands actually yelled down to me and threw me the ball. It's pretty cool that I could have that ball and I'd like to thank that fan." Helena, which entered the game with a four-game losing streak, used a three-run homer by Andy Bouchie and a two-run single by Taylor Green to build a 5-0 cushion in the second inning. The Brewers, in the fifth inning, benefited from three-straight bases-loaded walks to move ahead 8-5. Billings, however, took the lead for keeps, 10-8, in the bottom of the fifth. A sacrifice fly by Logan Parker and Chris Heisey's steal of home - his third of the season - pulled the Mustangs to within 8-7. The 6-foot-2, 205-pound Dorn then swatted a 1-0 pitch from reliever Travis Wendte over the right-field fence to give Billings its first lead at 10-8. The Mustangs stretched that advantage to 14-8, but the Brewers refused to go away. Helena used four walks, a throwing error and a passed ball to score four times in the eighth, closing the gap to 14-12. In the ninth, the Brewers took advantage of two walks and a bunt single by Stephen Chapman to quickly fill the bases against Billings reliever Jamie Arneson. After Arneson got Chris Errecart to swing at the first pitch and pop out to catcher Rey Gonzalez, Cole Gillespie singled to center field to score Chuckie Caufield and make it a 14-13 spread. But Bouchie then hit into a 6-4-3 double play to give Billings the crazy win. "It was a wild game," said Dorn. "It just shows that you can never take anything for granted in this game. You get a lead and you have to keep playing every single inning and every single pitch. We were fortunate enough to pull it out at the end with the double-play ball, but it was a little tight there for a little bit." Shortstop Chris Valaika batted 3-for-4 for the victors, while Dorn had a double to go along with his home run. "We did have a nice offensive night," said Burleson. "Our guys dug down deep at the end. We got the big pop up and the double play and we end up coming away with the W. It wasn't pretty, but they got it done." There were 20 walks in the game - 10 of them coming on 3-ball, 2-strike counts. Both teams rapped 12 hits, but the Brewers also committed three errors. "(Hitting coach) Jeff Young coached third tonight," Burleson noted afterward. "He's won three in a row down there. He scored two touchdowns for us. That's what it took to win." NOTES: This is the sixth time this season the Mustangs have won three straight games. They haven't won four consecutive, however. ...The Mustangs and Brewers will continue their three-game set tonight at Cobb Field at 7 p.m. Helena Box Score and Game Log Link: The three Helena moundsmen all struggled; Andy Bouchie reached four times... www.minorleaguebaseball.c...k_bilrok_1 Photo by Stephen Brashear / Billings Gazette Staff Billings Mustangs base runner Chris Heisey breaks up the double play as Helena Brewers second baseman Taylor Green throws to first during play at Cobb Field Monday. http://www.billingsgazette.net/content/articles/2006/07/25/sports/local/27-mustangs.jpg

Huntsville Site Game Summary: Link, text follows -- www.huntsvillestars.com/n...newsId=935 Lee Powers Stars Past Barons Carlos Lee collected three hits, including a three-run home run that capped a five-run fifth inning rally, as Huntsville beat Birmingham 8-2 Monday night in the opener of a five-game set at Joe Davis Stadium. The Stars won their second straight game to improve to 13-18 in the second half, while the Barons slipped to 15-16 and remained three games behind South Division leader Jacksonville, which fell to Montgomery. The Stars now lead the season series nine games to seven. Micah Schnurstein doubled to lead off the third inning, moved to third base on a wild pitch and scored on a Michael Myers double to give the visitors a 1-0 lead. Myers stole third base and scored when Pedro Lopez singled through a drawn-in infield to double the Birmingham advantage. Huntsville tied the game in the bottom half of the inning against Adam Russell, making his third start at the double-A level after going 7-3 with a 2.66 ERA in 17 starts at high class-A Winston-Salem. With runners at second and third, Callix Crabbe hit a ground ball to first baseman Corey Smith, who charged in, fielded the ball and threw wildly past the plate in an effort to cut down Guilder Rodriguez, who scored along with Steve Moss. Lee singled with one out in the fourth, stole second and scored the go-ahead run on a single by Travis Ezi with two outs. Ron Acuna singled with the bases loaded in the fifth inning to break an 0-for-11 drought and knock in two runs to push the home team?s lead to 5-2 before Lee slammed a 3-2 offering from Russell over the wall in left field for his first home run with the Stars. Lee had spent his entire career in the White Sox organization before being released earlier this season after picking up one hit in seven at-bats with the Barons. Stars? starter Jorge De La Rosa was charged with two runs on six hits over five frames in his sixth and final rehab start. He struck out nine, including the side in the first inning, and finished 3-1 with Huntsville. Gerrit Simpson tossed three scoreless innings in relief, allowing one hit, issuing two walks and striking out one. Khalid Ballouli retired all three hitters he faced in the ninth to close the game. The series continues Tuesday night with left-hander Steve Hammond starting for Huntsville against Barons? right-hander Lance Broadway. Coverage of the game begins at 6:50 p.m. central time and can be heard locally on ESPN Radio 1450 AM and through the internet at www.huntsvillestars.com.

Congrats to Chris Errecart, the Pioneer League's Player of the Week: .500 (14-28), 9 R, 0 2B, 0 3B, 4 HR, 7 RBI, 1 BB, 4 SO, 1 SB, .517 OBP, .929 SLG Errecart has hit safely in eight straight games, during which time his average increased from .229 to .290. The 20-year-old has bashed four home runs over his last 20 at-bats, after hitting just one over his first 104. Errecart homered twice against Ogden on Wednesday, and went 3-for-4 with a homer and four runs scored in Saturday's 16-9 loss against Orem.

Similar to Virginian Will Inman, fellow Virginian Jeremy Jeffress would likely be a huge draw for the Power next year, if the Brewers are looking for selling points -- and yes, I know Virginia and West Virginia are different states http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/tongue.gif

Final: Huntsville 8, Birmingham (White Sox) 2 Huntsville Site Box Score and Game Log Link: Both Carlos Lee's, the two brothers, had big nights tonight; reliever Gerrit Simpson deserves a crack at AAA one of these days; 1,049 in attendance on a summer Monday, certainly not spectacular for the AA level, but the Stars have had so many stinkers this year at home -- tonight's crowd rewarded; details from the Stars' site later on... www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_hunaax_1

Final: Oklahoma (Rangers) 3, Nashville 2 Nashville Site Game Summary: Link, text follows -- www.nashvillesounds.com/n...ewsId=2075 Dickey, RedHawks Defeat Sounds, 3-2 OKLAHOMA CITY ? Nashville native R.A. Dickey led the Oklahoma RedHawks to a 3-2 victory over the Sounds on Monday evening at AT&T Bricktown Ballpark in the finale of a six-game series between the clubs. The loss resulted in a series split for the clubs with each team claiming three games apiece. Nashville (56-47) dropped its third straight contest and had its division lead reduced to just 2 ½ games over idle Iowa, its smallest margin since May 1st (also 2 ½ over Iowa). Dickey (5-6) earned a win for his second straight start and improved to 4-11 in his career against his hometown Sounds. The right-hander allowed two runs on seven hits over a season-high eight innings of work. The Sounds jumped out to an early lead with a pair of runs against Dickey in the top of the first inning. After the first two batters of the frame were retired, Dave Krynzel drew a walk and scored when Nelson Cruz ripped a double into the right-field corner. Graham Koonce capped off the scoring when he plated Cruz with an RBI single to left to make it a 2-0 contest. AUDIO: Nelson Cruz RBI Double -- www.nashvillesounds.com/a...207-24.mp3 Cruz?s two-bagger, his first of two during a 2-for-4 evening, extended his hitting streak to five games and resulted in the slugger?s 72nd RBI of the season. Wilton Chavez made his third spot start of the year for the Sounds and labored through a hitless, 34-pitch first inning. He walked the bases loaded with two outs before retiring Jamie Burke on a groundout to escape the jam unscathed. Oklahoma again loaded the bases against Chavez in the second, jamming the bags with none out on three hits that did not leave the infield. The veteran right-hander worked out of the jam with minimal damage as the RedHawks managed only one run when Jason Hart scored on a double-play grounder. Chavez retired Drew Meyer on a lineout to end the frame with the Sounds holding a 2-1 lead. The RedHawks, who had left five runners in scoring position over the first three innings of action, tied the game in the bottom of the fourth when Joaquin Arias doubled home Anthony Webster to make it a 2-2 contest. Chavez worked 3 2/3 frames for Nashville and allowed two runs on six hits and four walks while throwing 87 pitches. Oklahoma took its first lead of the night at 3-2 in the bottom of the seventh when Laynce Nix brought home former Sound Adam Hyzdu with an RBI double against Nashville reliever Mike Meyers. Sounds catcher Chad Moeller was ejected in the middle of the first at-bat of the inning by the home plate umpire, Nashville?s second ejection in as many nights. Brent Abernathy was ejected from the nightcap of Sunday?s doubleheader. The Sounds' bats went cold against Dickey after the first inning as they put only one baserunner into scoring position the rest of the ballgame. Cruz was stranded at second following a sixth-inning double. Scott Feldman relieved the knuckleballer in the ninth and worked a scoreless inning to notch his third save of the year and second in as many nights against Nashville. Meyers (3-5) worked the final 4 1/3 innings for the Sounds and took the loss after allowing one run on two hits while striking out three. The Sounds return to Greer Stadium on Tuesday to begin an eight-game homestand with the 7:00 p.m. opener of a four-game series against the Colorado Springs Sky Sox (AAA-Rockies). Right-hander Dennis Sarfate (7-6, 3.64) will make the start for Nashville and face Sky Sox right-hander Sun-Woo Kim (5-4, 4.58). Nashville Site Box Score and Game Log Link: www.minorleaguebaseball.c...a_orhaaa_1

Nashville Pre-Game Audio Chat with Starting Pitcher Zach Jackson: www.nashvillesounds.com/a...207-24.mp3

Final: West Virginia 2, Charleston (Yankees) 0, five innings, rain This Charleston is in South Carolina... West Virginia Site Game Summary: WELCH TOSSES COMPLETE GAME SHUTOUT In a rain shortened contest at Joseph P. Riley Jr. Park on Monday night, Power lefty Dave Welch tossed a complete game shutout, in a five-inning 2-0 Power victory over the Charleston Riverdogs. Lorenzo Cain singled into left field with Darren Ford on first base in the top of the first inning. The ball was booted by left fielder Estee Harris, allowing Ford to score the first run of the contest. In the top of the third inning Ford scored again on a sacrifice fly from Angel Salome. Welch pitched himself out of two jams during the contest. In the first inning the Riverdogs had runners on second and third with nobody out, but Welch induced a groundout to third and then struck out the next two batters to end the threat. Welch recorded a two-out strikeout in the fifth inning, leaving two runners in scoring position again, which proved to be the game-winning strikeout. The complete game shutout is the first this season for the Power, and it is their fifth shutout of the season. Welch (3-6) earned the victory, and Wilkins Arias (6-6) got the loss. The Power are 53-46 overall and 14-16 in the second half after the win while the Riverdogs fell to 51-50 overall and 13-18 in the second half after the loss. The Power will continue the four-game series against the Riverdogs Tuesday night. Right hander Erick Abreu (3-1, 2.66) will make the start for Charleston and the Power will counter with left hander Steve Garrison (4-3, 3.10). The first pitch is scheduled for 7:05 PM (6:05 Central). West Virginia Box Score and Game Log Link: Darren Ford on base three times, scores twice -- that's the way to do it; Dave Welch worked around three errors in the five-inning stint to maintain the shutout, the miscues committed by two guys who have really struggled defensively -- SS Mike Bell and RF Lorenzo Cain... www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_crdafx_1

Final: Clearwater (Phillies) 11, Brevard County 5 Brevard County Box Score and Game Log Link: Brendan Katin 3-for-4, two doubles -- smokin'; Ryan Crew and Steve Sollman reach three times apiece; lefty Joe Thatcher a nice three-inning relief stint; losing Steve Hammond and Yo Gallardo pretty much decimated this staff, we'll see what is gained down the road long-term from having current or former 40-man members Jones, Parra, Pena, and Narron do their comeback thing here... www.minorleaguebaseball.c...a_clrafa_1

Final: Arizona Giants 4, Arizona Brewers 3 Arizona Brewer Box Score and Game Log Link: Walk-off loss insignificant compared to Jeremy Jeffress' fine outing, as our daytime posters indicated above; converted infielder and developing closer Harold Mejia came within one out of saving the game; Canadian Craig Langille's ERA may be 1.00, but can't any Arizona reliever strand a runner -- three scored when Langille only needed one out; need to get Brent Brewer going offensively and defensively...... www.minorleaguebaseball.c...k_giarok_1

While Baseball America makes you pay for the info, Perfect Game provides the signing bonus info for the Top Ten Rounds free of charge: www.pgcrosschecker.com/dr...nuses.aspx 1. Jeffress: $1,550,000 2. Brewer: $600,000 3. Gillespie: $417,500 4. Anundsen: $282,000 5. Errecart: $166,000 6. Wright: $31,500 7. Bouchie: $115,000 8. Hill: $145,000 9. Ferguson: $10,000 10. McClendon: $60,000

Early returns: -- Nelson Cruz another extra-base hit (double) -- JDLR with (9) nine! K's through four IP, two runs -- The Manatee bullpen simply can't be expected to go six innings every night -- Rain delay after five innings for the Power, but they're up, and it's official -- Cole Gillespie back in the Helena lineup

Will Inman batting cleanup in this week's Baseball America Prospect Hot Sheet: www.baseballamerica.com/t...61998.html

Arizona Brewer left fielder Zach McAngus left today's Arizona Brewer game an inning after being hit by a pitch. Jeremy Jeffress with two scoreless innings thus far -- keep it up, kid....

Standings through Sunday's action: Pacific Coast League (AAA) - American North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [b]Nashville 56 46 .549 - 32-20 24-26 L2[/b] Iowa 53 49 .520 3.0 30-24 23-25 W5 Memphis 40 62 .392 16.0 22-29 18-33 L5 Omaha 40 62 .392 16.0 25-26 15-36 L3 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Southern League (AA) - North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chattanooga 17 13 .567 - 10-5 7-8 W1 Tennessee 16 14 .533 1.0 8-7 8-7 W2 West Tenn 16 14 .533 1.0 11-4 5-10 W3 Carolina 12 18 .400 5.0 8-7 4-11 L1 [b]Huntsville 12 18 .400 5.0 5-10 7-8 W1[/b] ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Florida State League (A+) - East Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Daytona 19 9 .679 - 12-6 7-3 W1 St. Lucie 16 13 .552 3.5 9-8 7-5 L3 Palm Beach 13 18 .419 7.5 6-6 7-12 W1 [b]Brevard County 12 17 .414 7.5 6-5 6-12 L1[/b] Vero Beach 11 19 .367 9.0 5-10 6-9 L3 Jupiter 10 19 .345 9.5 6-12 4-7 L6 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- South Atlantic League (A) - Northern Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Lakewood 21 9 .700 - 9-2 12-7 W1 Lake County 17 12 .586 3.5 9-5 8-7 W1 Hickory 14 16 .467 7.0 8-12 6-4 L1 Greensboro 13 15 .464 7.0 8-9 5-6 W1 [b]West Virginia 13 16 .448 7.5 7-6 6-10 L1[/b] Hagerstown 12 17 .414 8.5 5-12 7-5 W4 Lexington 11 19 .367 10.0 7-9 4-10 L5 Delmarva 10 18 .357 10.0 5-7 5-11 L1 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Pioneer League (R+) - North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Billings 20 12 .625 - 11-4 9-8 W2 Great Falls 16 17 .485 4.5 6-9 10-8 L2 Missoula 15 17 .469 5.0 9-8 6-9 W1 [b]Helena 12 21 .364 8.5 6-12 6-9 L4[/b] ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Arizona League (R) - Arizona League Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- AZL Padres 16 9 .640 - 5-6 11-3 W1 AZL Giants 16 10 .615 0.5 8-5 8-5 L1 AZL Royals 16 10 .615 0.5 9-4 7-6 W1 AZL Mariners 14 12 .538 2.5 8-4 6-8 W1 AZL Angels 13 13 .500 3.5 10-8 3-5 L2 [b]AZL Brewers 12 13 .480 4.0 6-7 6-6 W3[/b] AZL Athletics 10 16 .385 6.5 5-7 5-9 L3 AZL Rangers 10 16 .385 6.5 6-6 4-10 W2 AZL Cubs 9 17 .346 7.5 5-7 4-10 L1

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 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_orhaaa_1 Huntsville: www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_hunaax_1 Brevard County: www.minorleaguebaseball.c...a_clrafa_1 West Virginia: www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_crdafx_1 Helena: www.minorleaguebaseball.c...k_bilrok_1 Arizona Rookie: www.minorleaguebaseball.c...k_giarok_1

Monday's Daily Menu: All times Central; pitchers subject to change -- Nashville: RHP Wilton Chavez at Oklahoma (Rangers), 6:45 PM pre-game, 7:05 gametime Audio link: www.nashvillesounds.com/listenlive/ Huntsville: Rehabbing LHP Jorge de la Rosa at home vs. Birmingham (White Sox), 6:50 PM pre-game, 7:05 gametime Audio link: www.espn1450radio.com/ Brevard County: TBD at Clearwater (Phillies), 6:05 gametime; sorry, no audio for this series West Virginia: LHP Dave Welch at Charleston (Yankees), 5:55 PM pre-game, 6:05 gametime Audio link: www.sportsjuice.com/provi...e=wvpower. Helena: LHP Brandon Parillo at Billings (Reds), 7:50 PM pre-game; 8:05 gametime Audio (click on "Listen Live"): www.helenabrewers.net/html2/index.php Arizona: RHP Jeremy Jeffress at the Giants' complex vs. the rookie San Fran kids, 12:30 PM Central time, 10:30 AM local, never any web audio for the Arizona League

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All five Brewer Player Development Contracts are up for renewal this year (Nashville, Huntsville, Brevard County, West Virginia and Helena), and to our knowledge, none has been extended yet. We'll do our best (as should you, please) to keep news (and discussion) on this topic to this one thread, for all affiliates. Thanks. Link while active, text follows: www.dailymail.com/news/Sports/200607247/ Power officials face difficult decision after season ends Jack Bogaczyk Charleston Daily Mail Sports Editor Inside the foul lines at Appalachian Power Park, the West Virginia Power has 21 home games in a 30-day August span. Outside the lines is where Charleston's Class A South Atlantic League baseball club may play the biggest game. The Power-parent Milwaukee Brewers are hanging on in the National League wild card chase. Four rungs lower in the system, they could be playing for more than a Southern Division title. That's because this is the second season of a two-year Player Development contract between West Virginia Baseball LLC and the Brewers. Club management and ownership won't talk about affiliation speculation and changes. The National Association (i.e. Minor League Baseball) has threatened stiff fines to clubs that gab. From inside the Power clubhouse, the word is that Milwaukee wants a renewal. Why not? No surprise there. These Baby Brewers play in a nice park, where paid attendance is pushing a record 4,000 per game. The Power is 13 games better at home than on the road this season. However, Milwaukee's two short-season clubs aren't as successful as in the previous two years, and those are the players that would fill the Power roster in 2007 and ?08. The plus is, the Power management knows Milwaukee is a club committed to building with prospects, not throwing big bucks at free agents. The question is whether West Virginia Baseball will re-up with Milwaukee, or, after a Sept. 11 end to exclusivity dealings, see who's available. If the latter happens, the Charleston club's future might be affected elsewhere in West Virginia. The optimum situation for the Power, as far as adding to a fan base that has grown, thanks to the new yard, would be an affiliation with a regional Major League club. It isn't going to get Cincinnati or Cleveland, which have low Class A affiliates in neighboring Dayton and Lake County, respectively. That leaves Pittsburgh. There is speculation the Pirates might be sold by the ontrolling ownership (25 percent), the Nutting family of Wheeling. There's talk Dallas Mavericks' owner Mark Cuban might invest in his hometown club, as well as help purchase the NHL Penguins. More likely is the potential the Nuttings, who own and operate Ogden Newspapers, will continue to take more control and a greater active role in running the Pirates. Then, if managing partner Kevin McClatchy steps aside, a domino might fall that could affect the South Atlantic League. One of the Pirates' voting shares belongs to Don Beaver, a longtime baseball man who owns the Hickory Crawdads, the Bucs' low Class A club. If there's movement by Beaver away from the Pirates, the club's affiliation with Pittsburgh could end, too -- leaving the Pirates looking for another SAL team. Perhaps, if the Nuttings are to run the Pirates, they might want the Mountain State's only full-season minor league club in their corner, adding to a regional affiliation base that already includes Altoona and Williamsport, Pa. There already are deep roots for the Pirates in the Kanawha Valley, thanks to memories of the minor league heyday here with the Class AAA Charlies (1971-76). Count the Charlies' jerseys in the stands at Power games these days ... or go to the souvenir stand, where they're still sold ... or listen to Wheeler Bob hawk them row after row many nights. The call on whether the Power remains a Brew crew is going to belong to the club's managing owner Alan Levin and General Manager Andy Milovich. It won't be an easy one. The Brewers had a mediocre club here last season, the first in a new park and market. The Power was 20 games under .500 in the SAL first half, then went 35-33 the second half. The first half this season was a 39-30 finish thanks to a late charge, then sub-.500 ball to date this half. That's only part of the equation. It's about what club's low A affiliation is available in the SAL or Midwest League, what franchises the Power perceive care about building with prospects, and who gets an extension with whom before season's end. Forget it, Yankee fans, the Steinbrenners are signed with the other SAL Charleston through 2008. Houston recently renewed with Lexington, too. The Cardinals, Cubs, Red Sox and Tigers aren't available, either. In case you're wondering, the PDC's in low Class A that end in 2006 are with the Royals, Rangers, Athletics, Blue Jays, Diamondbacks, Devil Rays, Rockies, Dodgers, Orioles, Mets, White Sox, Pirates, Indians (fuggedabout it), Phillies, Nationals and Brewers. Whether West Virginia joins the musical chairs depends on how August plays out on and off the field at Appalachian Power Park.

Link while active, text follows: www.helenair.com/articles...723231.txt Brewers eliminated from first-half race By TOM STUBER, Independent Record Sports Writer The Helena Brewers are ready for the second half of the Pioneer League season to begin after a 3-1 loss to Orem Sunday afternoon. Not only are the Brewers mathematically eliminated from the first half race, but seem to have lost their patience with the way things have gone. Manager Ed Sedar was ejected in the sixth after vehemently arguing a close call at first base that went against the Brewers. Helena second baseman Taylor Green started the play when he fielded the ball and flipped it back to shortstop Brad Miller for a force out. Miller then rifled it to first in hopes of a double play. Field umpire Brian Hertzog ruled Orem?s Scott Knazek safe on a very close play. Sedar appeared calm and collected as he strode out of the dugout to visit with Hertzog. Turns out he was just setting him up. The first three words out of Sedar?s mouth were all Hertzog needed to hear as he gave Sedar the hook. The fun had just begun, however, as Sedar didn?t let up for about three minutes. After a tough game less than 24 hours earlier the Brewers got a solid outing from their pitching staff, but it couldn?t match Orem starter Sean O?Sullivan and two relievers. O?Sullivan threw six shutout innings, allowing just two hits and fanning three for the win. Helena starter Amaury Rivas went five innings and gave up just one run, but took the loss. Chris Pettit hammered a two-run home run in the eighth to put the Owlz up 3-0. Helena got its lone run in its half of the eighth when Miller drove home Bill Rowe with a sacrifice fly. Garry Savas led the Brewers with two singles and a stolen base. The Brewers will travel to Billings to play the Mustangs today. The first pitch is scheduled for 7:05 PM (8:05 Central).

Final, Game One: Oklahoma (Rangers) 4, Nashville 2 Final, Game Two: Oklahoma 7, Nashville 3 Nashville Site Doubleheader Summary: Link, text follows -- www.nashvillesounds.com/n...ewsId=2074 OKLAHOMA CITY ? The Nashville Sounds were swept by the Oklahoma RedHawks in a doubleheader on Sunday evening, losing 4-2 and 7-3 in the pair of seven-inning contests at AT&T Bricktown Ballpark. The doubleheader sweep was the second suffered by Nashville (56-46) in its three twinbills played this season. The two losses combined with Iowa's doubleheader sweep of Iowa earlier in the day reduced the Sounds' division lead to three games. The first contest was a makeup of a June 18th postponed game between the clubs at Greer Stadium and therefore, Nashville served as the home team for the contest. Kennard Bibbs spotted the Sounds a 1-0 advantage in the opener when he led off with his first career Triple-A home run, a blast to right off Oklahoma starter Edinson Volquez. It was his first longball of the season and Nashville?s second leadoff blast. The RedHawks responded with three runs of their own in the top of the second against knuckleballer Jared Fernandez. All the runs came with two outs as Oklahoma grabbed a 3-1 lead. Oklahoma center fielder Laynce Nix upped the advantage to 4-1 in the sixth with a solo homer to right-center off Fernandez, his tenth blast of the year. The Sounds tallied one final run in the bottom of the seventh against a tiring Volquez as the right-hander attempted to finish off a complete game. Dave Krynzel singled to open the frame but the next two batters were retired. Volquez then proceeded to issue three consecutive walks to Vinny Rottino, Chad Moeller, and Jermaine Clark to force home Krynzel to bring the score to 4-2. Josh Rupe relieved Volquez and induced a bases-loaded, game-ending lineout from Ozzie Chavez to secure his second save of the season. Fernandez (6-3) took the loss in the opener but worked his PCL-leading fourth complete game of the year for the Sounds. He allowed four runs on seven hits in seven innings. Oklahoma jumped all over Nashville starter Zach Jackson in the nightcap, plating four runs in the bottom of the first inning en route to a 7-3 victory. Former Sound Adam Hyzdu opened the scoring with a two-run homer to left, his 13th of the year, and Aarom Baldiris added a two-out, two-run single later in the frame. After the RedHawks added an unearned run in the fourth to make it a 5-0 contest, Krynzel put the Sounds on the board in the fifth with an RBI single off Oklahoma reliever Ryan Bukvich, who replaced spot start Kevin Walker after the lefty worked four scoreless frames to open the contest. Jason Hart slugged a two-run home run off Jackson in the bottom of the fifth to extend the home team?s advantage to 7-3. It was his 13th roundtripper of the year. Nashville tacked on single runs in the top of the sixth and seventh to bring the score to its final 7-3. Bibbs plated the Sounds? second run with an RBI groundout and Graham Koonce laced a two-out RBI single for the other. Nelson Cruz went 3-for-4 in the nightcap, Nashville?s best individual hitting effort on the evening. Bukvich (1-1) picked up the victory despite allowing a run in his lone inning of work for Oklahoma. Scott Feldman struck out Rottino with two on in the seventh, his lone batter faced, to notch his second save. Jackson (2-3) took a loss in his first PCL start since late May after surrendering seven runs (six earned) on nine hits in five innings of work. The teams wrap up the six-game series with a 7:05 p.m. finale on Monday evening. Right-hander Wilton Chavez (3-1, 3.55) will make a spot start for the Sounds and face Oklahoma right-hander and Nashville native R.A. Dickey (4-6, 5.57). Nashville Game One Box Score and Game Log Link: www.minorleaguebaseball.c...a_nasaaa_1 Nashville Game Two Box Score and Game Log Link: Brent Abernathy ejected to open the 7th inning... www.minorleaguebaseball.c...a_orhaaa_2

Nashville Pre-Game Audio Chat with Starting Pitcher Dennis Sarfate: Plenty of discussion about his move to the pen -- he'll get one more start first... www.nashvillesounds.com/a...207-23.mp3

Final: Clearwater (Phillies) 7, Brevard County 3 Brevard County Site Game Summary: Winchester, Threshers slam Manatees Former Brewer farmhand Jeff Winchester broke a sixth-inning tie with a grand slam to help Clearwater breeze past visiting Brevard County, 7-3, on Sunday. Mired in a 2-for-12 slump, the 26-year-old catcher made his only hit count, sending the Threshers (16-12) to their second win in three games. Brendan Katin got the scoring started with an RBI single in the second for the Manatees before Michael Costanzo tied it in the third with a run-scoring single. Both teams scored twice in the fourth when Freddy Parejo rapped an RBI double for Brevard County and J.J. Johnson lifted a two-run blast, his ninth of the season, in the bottom of the inning. Katin went 3-for-4 while Hernan Iribarren and Parejo finished with two hits apiece to pace Brevard Country (12-16). Patrick Overholt (1-0) came on to replace starter Luke Lockwood with two outs in sixth to earn his first victory. Overholt gave up one hit and struck out one in 2 1/3 scoreless innings. Lockwood was touched for three runs on nine hits with six strikeouts in 5 2/3 innings. Reliever Jeremy Lewis (1-6) took the loss, he allowed four runs on three hits while walking two in three innings. -- Louice Thomas/MLB.com Brevard County Box Score and Game Log Link: Manatee batters don't draw a walk, fan nine times... www.minorleaguebaseball.c...a_clrafa_1

Final: Lake County (Indians) 10, West Virginia 2 West Virginia Site Game Summary: QUICK START PUTS CAPTAINS OVER POWER The Lake County Captains sent 12 batters to the plate in the top of the first inning of Sunday evening?s game and scored eight runs on six hits to defeat the West Virginia Power by the final score of 10-2 and split the four-game series with the Power at Appalachian Power Park. Max Ramirez knocked in the first run on an RBI single. Nick Petrucci was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to drive in the second run, which preceded back-to-back RBI singles from Fernando Pacheco and Matt Fornasiere. Chris De La Cruz ripped a two-run single which was followed by a two-run double from Juan Valdes to complete the eight-run inning. Lake County added two more runs in the top of the third. Chris Gimenez knocked in Valdes on an RBI single and he scored later in the inning on Mike Conroy?s sacrifice fly. The Power scored their first run on an RBI single from Tony Festa, and Darren Ford delivered a run-scoring single in the ninth inning to plate their final run. Power catcher Brad Willcutt, and utility player Festa combined to pitch back-to-back perfect innings in their professional pitching debuts. Jim Deters (8-7) earned the victory, and Shawn Ferguson (0-1) got the loss. The Power are 52-46 overall and 13-16 in the second half after the loss while the Captains improved to 40-53 overall and 17-12 in the second half after the win. The Power will begin a four-game series against the Charleston Riverdogs at J.P. Riley Stadium on Monday night. Left hander Wilkins Arias (6-5, 3.96) will make the start for Charleston and the Power will counter with left hander Dave Welch (2-6, 3.06). The first pitch is scheduled for 7:05 PM (6:05 Central). West Virginia Box Score and Game Log Link: Four of the five hits against Shawn Ferguson were ground ball singles -- that doesn't mean they weren't hit hard, of course; Josh Louis did what he could to save the bullpen, but three inherited runners scored upon his arrival... www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_wvaafx_1