Jim Goulart

Link while active, text follows: www.minorleaguebaseball.c...;fext=.jsp Brewers nearly throw another no-hitter By Daren Smith / MLB.com It took the Helena Brewers 27 years to throw their first no-hitter. It took two days for them to nearly throw their second. The Brewers came within four outs of another gem on Sunday before settling for a one-hitter and a 5-1 victory over the Billings Mustangs. On Friday night, Simon Beresford, Richard Breshears, David Welch and Wilfrido Laureano combined on a no-hitter in Helena's 11-0 home rout of the Mustangs. With the scene shifting to Billings, Will Inman held the Mustangs without a hit for seven innings. "Really, the only time I thought about (the no-hitter) was when (pitching coach Mark Littell) told me I was done," said Inman, an 18-year-old right-hander who was selected in the third round of the 2005 draft. Inman was working on an 80-pitch count and exited after throwing 82. He said he also developed a blister on a finger on his pitching hand. "I was pretty sure I wasn't going to pitch the whole game," Inman added. "(A no-hitter) would have been great, yes, but the 'W' is the main thing." Ryan Marion replaced Inman to start the bottom of the eighth and got two quick outs before issuing consecutive four-pitch walks to Christopher Denove and Kenny Lewis. Brandon Roberts worked the count to 2-2 before singling in front of center fielder Darren Ford. Josh Louis relieved Marion and retired all four batters he faced to finish off the Brewers' eighth straight win to start the second half of the Pioneer League season. Helena, which won the first-half North Division title, has held Billings to six hits in the last three games. Inman gives all the credit to Littell, who spent nine seasons in the Major Leagues with the Royals and Cardinals. "He tells us what we're doing wrong and what we're doing right," Inman said. "Everybody he sends out there seems to do the job really well."

Pacific Coast League (AAA) - American North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [b]Nashville 63 52 .548 - 31-29 32-23 L1[/b] Memphis 57 58 .496 6.0 30-30 27-28 W2 Omaha 54 61 .470 9.0 22-29 32-32 W2 Iowa 52 60 .464 9.5 33-27 19-33 W1 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Southern League (AA) - North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Carolina 26 14 .650 - 15-9 11-5 W3 West Tenn 25 17 .595 2.0 12-10 13-7 W1 [b]Huntsville 19 23 .452 8.0 7-13 12-10 L3[/b] Tennessee 18 24 .429 9.0 8-9 10-15 L5 Chattanooga 15 27 .357 12.0 8-16 7-11 L1 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Florida State League (A+) - East Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Vero Beach 28 14 .667 - 14-7 14-7 W2 [b]Brevard County 24 17 .585 3.5 9-10 15-7 W3[/b] Palm Beach 25 19 .568 4.0 11-11 14-8 L2 St. Lucie 23 18 .561 4.5 10-10 13-8 L2 Daytona 18 23 .439 9.5 11-12 7-11 W1 Jupiter 14 26 .350 13.0 11-11 3-15 L4 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- South Atlantic League (A) - Northern Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Delmarva 28 13 .683 - 17-3 11-10 W1 Hickory 25 17 .595 3.5 14-9 11-8 L1 Lexington 22 20 .524 6.5 14-11 8-9 W1 [b]West Virginia 22 20 .524 6.5 12-9 10-11 W1[/b] Lakewood 20 22 .476 8.5 12-11 8-11 W1 Lake County 19 23 .452 9.5 8-11 11-12 L1 Greensboro 18 24 .429 10.5 6-10 12-14 L1 Hagerstown 13 25 .342 13.5 5-12 8-13 L1 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Pioneer League (R+) - North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [b]Helena 8 0 1.000 - 3-0 5-0 W8[/b] Billings 3 5 .375 5.0 1-2 2-3 L5 Missoula 3 5 .375 5.0 2-3 1-2 W1 Great Falls 2 6 .250 6.0 1-4 1-2 L1 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Arizona League (R) - Arizona League Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- AZL Giants 7 1 .875 - 3-1 4-0 W6 AZL Mariners 7 2 .778 0.5 4-1 3-1 W2 AZL Athletics 5 4 .556 2.5 4-1 1-3 W3 AZL Rangers 5 5 .500 3.0 4-2 1-3 L2 [b]AZL Brewers 4 4 .500 3.0 1-3 3-1 L2[/b] AZL Padres 3 5 .375 4.0 1-3 2-2 W1 AZL Royals 3 5 .375 4.0 2-2 1-3 W1 AZL Angels 3 6 .333 4.5 1-1 2-5 L4 AZL Cubs 2 7 .222 5.5 1-4 1-3 W1Standings, Stats and League Leaders, USA Today (or go to MILB.com): www.usatoday.com/sports/b.../index.htm

Links to follow Monday's action as it happens: Nashville: www.minorleaguebaseball.c...a_slcaaa_1 Huntsville: www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_hunaax_1 Brevard County Completion of Suspended Game: www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_sluafx_1 Brevard County Regularly Scheduled Game: www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_sluafx_1 West Virginia: www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_gboafx_1 Helena: www.minorleaguebaseball.c...k_bilrok_1 Arizona: Not updated live, but usually later during the overnight... www.minorleaguebaseball.c...k_rngrok_1

Monday's Daily Menu: All times Central except for Arizona Rookie; pitchers subject to change -- Nashville: LHP Jeff Housman at Salt Lake (Angels), 7:40 PM pre-game, 8:00 gametime Audio link: www.nashvillesounds.com/listenlive/ Huntsville: LHP Josh Habel at home vs. Mobile (Padres), 6:50 PM pre-game, 7:05 gametime Audio link: www.espn1450.com/ If that link is down for bandwidth, use: specs.eyecentric.com/pres...opup.shtml Brevard County: First, it's the completion of Sunday's suspended game at St. Lucie (Mets), 4:00 PM, to be followed by the regularly scheduled game (pitcher TBD); RHP Carlos Villanueva pitched two scoreless innings Sunday as the Manatees lead 1-0 in the top of the third; no audio for this series West Virginia: LHP Greg Kloosterman at Greensboro (Marlins), 6:00 PM; Kloos looking to avoid loss # 17... Audio link: www.sportsjuice.com/provi...e=wvpower. Helena: RHP Robbie Wooley at Billings (Reds), 8:05 PM Audio link (opponent's): www.billingsmustangs.com/ Arizona: TBD at the rookie Rangers' complex, 7:00 PM local time; never any web audio for Arizona Rookie ball...

Final: Arizona Mariners 15, Arizona Brewers 10 No line score or game log, but box score is intact... Weather: 105 degrees, cloudy. Wind: 0 mph, None. T: 3:23. Att: 16. Arizona Box Score: Sorry Toby, RHP Roque Mercedes with perhaps the ugliest pitching line by a Brewer farmhand this season -- 14 of 21 batters reached, and throw in a balk on top of that; big 4-for-5 day for RF Lorenzo Cain, who probably should be in Helena... www.minorleaguebaseball.c...k_brrrok_1

Link while active, text follows: www.billingsgazette.com/i...lenced.inc Ponies silenced again: Billings gets just 1 hit and suffers 5th straight loss By GREG RACHAC Of The Billings Gazette Staff Sunday afternoon at Cobb Field, the Helena Brewers were a mere four outs from their second no-hit performance over the Billings Mustangs in the last three days. But a Brandon Roberts single into right field in the bottom of the eighth inning broke up what would have been the continuation of an impressive Brewers pitching display. Still, Roberts' single - Billings' lone hit in the game - provided no consolation to the Mustangs, who fell 5-1 to the Brewers for their fifth straight loss. Helena, meanwhile, won for the eighth straight time to remain unbeaten in the second half of the Pioneer League season. "We've been shut down," said Mustangs manager Rick Burleson afterward, reflecting on his team's season-high losing streak. "Players go through offensive slumps, and we're in one right now. It's a matter of staying focused and playing the game pitch-by-pitch." Helena starter Will Inman was a vision of consistency through seven innings of work. Inman baffled the Mustangs' lineup to the tune of 10 strikeouts and just one walk. In the eighth, Inman gave way to relief pitcher Ryan Marion, who quickly got the first two hitters out before yielding the line drive hit to Roberts. The hit drove in Chris Denove, who reached on a walk, from second base for the Mustangs' only run. In the ninth, closer Josh Louis earned his third save of the year by closing out Billings in 1-2-3 fashion. The one-hit performance came on the heels of Friday's no-hitter in Helena, which Brewers pitchers Simon Beresford, Richard Breshears, David Welch and Wilfrido Laureano combined for. "We're just in a funk right now, and we can't seem to figure it out," said Roberts. "We're chasing a lot of balls out of the zone with two strikes and we're striking out a lot. We need to pick it up and get back to where we were earlier in the season." Roberts said Inman was having success versus the Mustangs' lineup with a split-finger fastball that was diving out of the zone. The hitters, however, couldn't seem to lay off the pitch and found themselves in trouble behind in the count on numerous occasions. "That's what happens when you swing at balls in the dirt," Roberts added. Inman threw first-pitch strikes to 18 of the 23 hitters he faced. Offensively for Helena, there wasn't a lot to speak of until the top of the eighth, when pinch hitter Adam Mannon tattooed a Jose Rojas offering well over the leftfield wall for a two-run homer that extended the Brewers' lead to 4-0. After that, cleanup hitter Mat Gamel drove in a run with a single. Gamel finished 3-for-4 at the plate and scored a run. Billings starter Sam LeCure gave up a run in the second inning on the first of two Freddy Parejo RBI singles, but otherwise was strong in the five innings he threw, striking out four and walking two while rendering three hits. But with the way they were pitching, the five runs the Brewers eventually scored were more than enough. "Our bullpen basically didn't get it done today," Burleson said. "And in the last three games we've had zero, five and one hits. So offensively we need to keep battling to get out of it. Things can turn around as fast as it has gone sour on us, but players are going to have to stay focused. "No amount of moping around or pointing fingers or trying to blame somebody else is going to make it change. That's the message I had for (the team) today." After splitting the first-half series with Helena, the Mustangs fell to 0-4 against the Brewers in the second half. Tonight's game between the teams at Cobb Field will pit Billings starter Carlos Fisher (4-1) against Helena's Robbie Wooley (4-3). The first pitch is slated for 7 p.m (8:00 Central). NOTES: Mustangs shortstop Eric Eymann returned to the lineup for the first time since July 5. Eymann was out with a broken hand. ? Helena's Agustin Septimo entered the game as a Mustang killer, having hit .333 with four homers against Billings this season. Septimo, however, was held in check Sunday and went 0-3 with three groundouts. Mustangs second baseman Mayker Sandoval turns the double play as Brewers baserunner Mat Gamel slides into second base. Photos by Stephen Brashear/ Billings Gazette Staff http://www.billingsgazette.com/rednews/2005/08/08/stories/sports/images/30-ponies-silenced2.jpg Billings Mustangs first baseman J.D. Roberts gets a pick off throw from from pitcher Jeff Stevens while Helena Brewers baserunner Darren Ford dives back to first base during their game at Cobb Field Saturday. http://www.billingsgazette.com/rednews/2005/08/07/build//sports/images/30-ponies-drop.jpg

Limber up those pitching arms Every fan will get to throw a 'first' pitch Scott Brown, Florida Today The creative minds at Space Coast Stadium obviously have shifted into another gear. On Aug. 27, a Brevard County Manatees baseball game will be sandwiched by an attempt to break a record for first pitches thrown and a wedding at home plate followed by heart-shaped fireworks and a complete fireworks show. What, no dancing elephants? "You know us," Manatees general manager Buck Rogers said, laughing. "We're a little twisted here." Rogers and his staff have planned a day that will have something for everybody. The gate for the 7 p.m. game against Palm Beach will open at 2 p.m., and anyone who buys a ticket will have an opportunity to throw a pitch from the Space Coast Stadium mound. It will be part of an effort to break the record recognized by Minor League Baseball for most first pitches thrown. Rogers said 1,200 balls will be available for the promotion. The record, he said, is 1,160, and Rogers would know. He worked for the Daytona Cubs when the record was set there in 2002. Participants will have an opportunity to throw as many pitches as they want, Rogers said. They simply have to go to the back of the line after their turn and wait to throw again. An added bonus, Rogers said, is that anyone who throws a pitch gets to keep the baseball. Rogers expects everyone from his staff to the Manatees players to take part in the quest. "Anybody who wants to throw a first pitch can do it," Rogers said. "We invite everybody." That will be the main attraction, but not the only one. A fireworks show will take place following the game -- and after a local man and woman exchange wedding vows at home plate. In all, the final Saturday home game of the season for the Manatees promises to be entertaining. "It's a fans day at its finest," Rogers said.

In Huntsville: The announced crowd of 11,544 at Joe Davis Stadium enjoyed the sunny weather and a Christian concert by Scott Dawson ministries, "Safe at Home." While in Charleston: Pete Elliot, lead singer of Def Leppard, and guitarist Phil Collen belt out a song at Appalachian Power Park on Sunday. The rock band, whose hits included ?Pour Some Sugar On Me,? ?Foolin?? and ?Too Late for Love,? shared the bill with another ?80s icon, Bryan Adams. Charleston Gazette Photographer: Chip Ellis http://www.wvgazettemail.com/images/stories/Lep2.jpg

Don Money with a strong comment on Enrique Cruz's error Sunday: Link while active, text follows: www.al.com/sports/huntsvi...amp;coll=1 Stars doubled up, swept Huntsville drops pair, series in front of big home crowd By SKIP VAUGHN For The Times skipv@htimes.com The Huntsville Stars had a nice turnout for Sunday's doubleheader against the Mississippi Braves. The announced crowd of 11,544 at Joe Davis Stadium enjoyed the sunny weather and a Christian concert by Scott Dawson ministries, "Safe at Home." Birmingham radio personalities Rick and Bubba sang "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" before the sixth inning of the nightcap. But the Braves won both seven-inning games 7-2 and 3-2 as Mississippi swept the three-game series. "We played hard," said Stars second baseman Callix Crabbe, who had two hits and scored one run in the second game. "Mistakes are part of the game. Errors happen. But I think we played more aggressive in the second game. Things just didn't go our way." Mississippi (21-21 in the second half) rallied for three runs in the sixth, capped by Michael Rosamond's fifth homer. Two runs were unearned because of an error by Enrique Cruz. "An error by the shortstop cost us the ballgame," Stars manager Don Money said. "I know you can't anticipate a double play, but that's a double play there. That's just routine plays that have got to be made." Ty Taubenheim took the loss for Huntsville (19-23). Taubenheim (1-3) went six innings, allowing three runs, one earned, four hits, two walks and striking out four. Winning left-hander Brian O'Connor (8-6) went five innings, allowing two runs, one earned and seven hits. Joey Devine pitched the seventh for his fifth save. "When you let a team stay around - stay close to you - they'll come back and beat you," Money said. "When you're going bad, you make the error and they get three runs." Ben Van Iderstine singled and scored an unearned run for the Stars in the second. Crabbe singled, advanced to second on Cruz's groundout and scored on Vinny Rottino's RBI hit in the third. In Sunday's first game, Mississippi starter Paul Bush earned his first win. Bush (1-0) went 5 1/3 innings and allowed two earned runs, three hits, two walks, hit one batter and struck out three. "It's nice," he said of his first win in three starts at Double-A. "I was kind of thinking about it during the game." "I thought he pitched real well," Braves pitching coach Kent Willis said. "I thought he did a good job of attacking their hitters. When he was threatened he was able to make big pitches. He never let the game get away from him." Stars starter David Bradley (5-3) went only two innings and allowed five runs, three earned, five hits and two walks, one intentional. The Braves outhit the Stars 11-3. "I think it was one of those days where everything they hit found a hole," Bradley said. Both Huntsville runs came in the sixth inning when Brandon Gemoll had an RBI double and Brad Nelson had a run-scoring groundout. Tony Gwynn Jr. doubled and scored and Guilder Rodriguez walked and scored. "I think I did pretty well until the sixth inning and then I got away from what let me stay in the game for that long," said Bush, who relied primarily on his fastball through the first five innings. "I threw Tony Gwynn a changeup that he hit for a double. I probably should've thrown him a fastball." The Braves had a five-run second inning. Onil Joseph, Gregor Blanco and Luis Hernandez finished with two hits apiece. Joseph doubled and scored in the second. Huntsville will open a three-game series against Mobile tonight at 7:05 at Joe Davis Stadium.

Link while active, text follows: www.al.com/stars/huntsvil...amp;coll=1 Stars notebook (through Friday's games) Mark McCarter, Huntsville Times There are, they say, two kinds of pitchers. Those who have had surgery, and those who will. The list of surgeries for the Stars staff grows by two. Manny Parra had surgery Thursday to clean up some frayed areas in his rotator cuff, nothing extensive and he'll be on an easy path to be ready for spring training 2006. Matt DeWitt will undergo Tommy John surgery on his elbow this week. There is a long line of top pitching prospects in the Milwaukee organization to have significant arm problems, some of which have been career-ending or career-threating, including high-round draft picks like Mike Jones, Nick Neugebauer and J.M. Gold. "It's alarming,'' farm director Reid Nichols said earlier this season. The Brewers brought together the trainers and medical staffs from all their teams last winter to brainstorm over the epidemic, but to some extent it's merely the hazard of pitching. Whatever the case, it's thinned out the Brewers' home-grown pitching crop. Consider this: On Friday, the Stars used four pitchers. Glenn Woolard (acquired from Giants), Jerome Gamble (Red Sox), Andy Pratt (Braves and Cubs) and Brian Wolfe (Twins). On Thursday, Alec Zumwalt (Braves) got the save. Elsewhere on the pitching injury front, Khalid Ballouli continues to rehab, with a chance he'll throw before the season ends. ... Jeff Winchester was charged with four passed balls Friday, one shy of the Southern League record held by Terry Clapp of Asheville, in 1973. ... The Stars lead the Southern League in passed balls, with 26. But they'll (hopefully) fall short of the league record of 42. ... At least there's no steroid suspicion: The Stars had only 56 homers as a team going into Saturday, worst in the league (Mississippi was second-worst, at 64.) And only 33 of those homers are from players currently on the Huntsville roster. ... Alumni update on two of the most popular ex-Stars: Bucky Jacobsen, recovering from knee surgery, will report this week to Seattle's Single-A team for a week, then move to Triple-A, with hopes of rejoining the Mariners in September. Derek Lee, the Stars' all-time leader in many pitching categories, was rescued from independent ball by the Texas Rangers, and is 3-1 at Triple-A Oklahoma with a 3.93 ERA in nine starts. Saturday's Fort Worth Star-Telegram, in Lee's hometown, reported the Rangers are considering him for a call-up to the majors. Around the league Ballots for MVP and Pitcher of the Year are due this week. Stars manager Don Money said he hesitates to vote for anyone who didn't spend nearly the entire season in the league, something that may hurt the chances of Montgomery's Delmon Young (.337, 20 HR, 71 RBIs), promoted on July 15. Well, that and Young's petulance may cost him some media votes. (He asked for "appearance fees" to do local TV interviews). ... West Tenn's Ricky Nolasco (10-2, 3.33, league lead in strikeouts) is the favorite for the pitching award. ... Montgomery's Elijah Dukes makes Young look like Miss Congeniality. He's been suspended again after his fifth ejection by umpires. ... West Tenn first baseman Brandon Sing was named the Southern League Player of the Month for July. ... Brush with celebrity: Tennessee reliever Casey Daigle, husband of Olympian Jennie Finch, faced Carolina's Rex Rundgren, son of rocker Todd, Friday night. ... The Smokies have been rained out at home this year on 5/5, 6/6 and 7/7. So they guarantee a game Monday (8/8) or fans can use the rain check for two future games.

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I believe the reward for winning both halves is an extra home game in the first round of the playoffs -- that's just from memory, though...

The Huntsville Times hasn't updated for Saturday stories as of this post, but should shortly. You might find a Stars-related Mark McCarter column in addition to the game story once they do: www.al.com/sports/huntsvilletimes/ The other boys here will take care of your Link Report needs the next couple of days -- it's off to Philly for me to see the Crew blast past .500, first with Massachusetts' own Chris Capuano http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/smile.gif . Have a great weekend!

Link while active, text follows: www.wvgazette.com/section.../200508063 Tourists hold off Power By Mike Whiteford Charleston Gazette Staff writer The homer-friendly conditions at Charleston?s new East End ballpark are obviously enticing to a player like Asheville?s Joe Koshansky, a 6-foot-4, 230-pound first baseman who leads the South Atlantic League in home runs. But as a visitor to Appalachian Power Park, Koshansky must bear the burden of fame and, as a Class A celebrity, endure the relentless, if light-hearted, taunts of the park?s Toast Man, Rod Blackstone. ?It?s hard not to listen to him,?? Koshansky confessed. Apparently unfazed by another night of verbal shenanigans, Koshansky rocketed a line-drive home run, his 32nd of the season, into the right-center bleachers to lead off the seventh inning Friday night to help the Tourists edge the Power 6-5 at Appalachian Power Park. The game attracted a crowd of 3,457 on fireworks night, the final game of a homestand in which the Power finished with a 5-3 record. It was a team high for wins in a homestand this season. In addition to his 32 home runs, the Asheville first baseman entered the game with 108 strikeouts ? a shortcoming that Blackstone noted loudly and interminably each time Koshansky emerged from the dugout and stood in the on-deck circle. Blackstone even distributed cards that read: ?No No Joe Joe.?? Koshansky, a 23-year-old former University of Virginia player, knows, however, that rowdy fans are part of professional sports. ?You just have to go out there and do what you can to shut him up,?? he said. ?There?s going to be other fans along the way, and it?s going to get tougher as you go along. If you let this guy get to you, it?s going to affect you later on.?? In this case, the home run gave Koshansky a chance to verbally retaliate. As he trotted toward the visitors? dugout after his homer, he looked at Blackstone and delivered a zinger of his own. ?I told him to toast that,?? he said. Asheville?s Matt Miller followed Koshansky?s blast with a home run to center, and the Tourists added a third run in the inning, boosting their lead to 6-1. But the Power chipped away with a run in the bottom of the seventh and scored three more in the ninth, all with two out. The game ended with the potential tying and winning runs on second and third. The big blow in the ninth was a two-run single by first baseman Grant Richardson, who earlier in the game extended his on-base streak to 24 games. His two hits Friday lifted his average to .287 ? a rapid rise from his sub-.200 days of April. He also spent nearly a month on the disabled list with a dislocated rib in what looked like a lost season. ?This is my first 140-game professional season,?? said the 22-year-old Richardson, ?and it?s a tough summer. I was fortunate enough to come back strong after a tough start and an injury. I?ve been feeling well and seeing the ball well, and the team has been playing well.?? The most difficult aspect of the injury, he said, was his inability to contribute. ?Our team was going through troubles,?? he recalled. ?We had a tough start, and the hardest part of that whole thing was having to sit through it and watch the team go through troubles when there was nothing I could do about it.?? Power points The Power will visit Greensboro for a four-game series beginning tonight and will return to Appalachian Power Park for a four-game series against Lexington beginning Thursday. Bad base-running cost the Power in the fourth inning. Despite three hits, a walk and a hit batsman, the team scored just one run. Two runners were thrown out on the bases. Koshansky?s homer was his second of the four-game series. His other one landed on Morris Street and bounced against the warehouse. Entering Friday?s game, the Power?s average attendance of 3,587 ranked sixth in the 16-team league. Lakewood?s 6,446 was No. 1.

Link while active, text follows: www.helenair.com/articles...605_01.txt Brewers make history By TOM COTTON - IR Sports Editor On a history-making night at Kindrick Legion Field Simon Beresford was interested in the number zero. "I was first focused on my outing and putting up zeroes," he said. "Then we put up an eight spot and I was concentrating on the offense. It wasn't until the seventh inning that I was seeing zeroes on the scoreboard." Beresford, David Welch, Richard Breshears and Wilfredo Laureano put up a whole bunch of zeroes Friday night as they combined for a no-hitter in a 11-0 Pioneer League win over the Billings Mustangs. It was the first no-hitter in Helena Brewers history. The club began operations in 1978. "I have goosebumps," Welch said about the feat. "It is just awesome." The Brewer quartet was dominating against a Billings offense that had a respectable team batting average of .276. The foursome combined to strike out 12 and more impressively, the Mustangs didn't hit a ball out of the infield from the second inning until the ninth inning. "They challenged the hitters, changed speeds and the defense played a major part," said Brewer pitching coach Mark Littell. The start was Beresford's first since June 5 when he was a member of the Class A West Virginia Power of the South Atlantic League. After getting sent to Helena in late June, he was sidelined by a rib injury, but showed no signs of rust Friday, striking out three in three innings work. He was on a strict pitch count of 40 pitches in the contest. "I think the biggest thing was my control," said the right hander. "I was able to get my fastball and changeup over." Beresford and Welch, who are both Australians, were long time friends and teammates at different levels before coming to Helena. Welch said that Beresford set the tone for the evening. "Simon kept them off balance all night," Welch said. Beresford gave way to Breshears in the fourth who walked four, but also struck out five. Welch came in in the sixth before Laureano closed it out with a clean eighth and ninth innings. Welch got the win, moving his record to 2-0 on the season. It was his first appearance since July 12. "They kept the ball on the ground, which allowed them to use the defense," Littell said. There were very few close calls in terms of his for the Mustangs. The closest came in when Ned Yost nabbed a ball hit by J.D. Roberts in the sixth and tossed the ball to Welch, who covered first. Welch beat Roberts to first by a step. While the Mustangs could generate no offense, the Brewers had no such problems. The big inning came in the third, when Helena pushed across eight runs. The big hits in the frame were a two-run home run by Agustin Septimo. The shot over left-center field was Septimo's third round tripper in two games. Yost had a two-RBI single and Adam Mannon had a double that drove in two in the inning. Mannon, who came to Helena from West Virginia in late July, added a solo home run in the fifth inning. Yost was 3-for-5 at the plate for Helena and Mannon was 2-for-3. The win keeps Helena firmly in control of the Pioneer League's North Division. They are three games ahead of the Mustangs. The two teams will meet again tonight, but this time it will be in Billings for a three game set. First pitch will be at 7:05 p.m (8:05 Central). Jon Ebelt IR Staff Photographer - Billings shortstop Yoni Lasso, right, has the play at second base but Helena's Adam Mannon is able to break up the double play Friday at Kindrick Legion Field. Mannon's effort allowed teammate Agustin Septimo to reach first base. http://www.helenair.com/content/articles/2005/08/06/sports_top/b01080605_01.jpg

Have a great time, pogokat! Pacific Coast League (AAA) - American North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [b]Nashville 62 51 .549 - 31-29 31-22 W2[/b] Memphis 55 58 .487 7.0 30-30 25-28 L1 Iowa 51 59 .464 9.5 32-26 19-33 L1 Omaha 52 61 .460 10.0 20-29 32-32 L1 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Southern League (AA) - North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Carolina 24 14 .632 - 13-9 11-5 W1 West Tenn 24 16 .600 1.0 12-10 12-6 W1 [b]Huntsville 19 21 .475 6.0 7-11 12-10 L1[/b] Tennessee 18 22 .450 7.0 8-9 10-13 L3 Chattanooga 14 26 .350 11.0 7-15 7-11 L1 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Florida State League (A+) - East Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Vero Beach 26 14 .650 - 14-7 12-7 L1 Palm Beach 25 17 .595 2.0 11-9 14-8 W2 [b]Brevard County 23 17 .575 3.0 9-10 14-7 W2[/b] St. Lucie 23 17 .575 3.0 10-9 13-8 L1 Daytona 17 23 .425 9.0 10-12 7-11 L1 Jupiter 14 25 .359 11.5 11-11 3-14 L3 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- South Atlantic League (A) - Northern Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Delmarva 27 12 .692 - 17-3 10-9 L2 Hickory 24 16 .600 3.5 13-8 11-8 W3 Lexington 21 19 .525 6.5 13-10 8-9 L2 [b]West Virginia 21 19 .525 6.5 12-9 9-10 L1[/b] Lakewood 19 22 .463 9.0 12-11 7-11 L3 Lake County 18 22 .450 9.5 8-11 10-11 W2 Greensboro 17 23 .425 10.5 5-9 12-14 W2 Hagerstown 12 24 .333 13.5 5-12 7-12 L2 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Pioneer League (R+) - North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [b]Helena 6 0 1.000 - 3-0 3-0 W6[/b] Billings 3 3 .500 3.0 1-0 2-3 L3 Missoula 2 4 .333 4.0 2-3 0-1 W1 Great Falls 1 5 .167 5.0 0-3 1-2 L1 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Arizona League (R) - Arizona League Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- AZL Giants 6 1 .857 - 3-1 3-0 W5 AZL Mariners 5 2 .714 1.0 3-1 2-1 L1 [b]AZL Brewers 4 2 .667 1.5 1-1 3-1 W3[/b] AZL Rangers 4 3 .571 2.0 3-1 1-2 L2 AZL Angels 3 3 .500 2.5 1-1 2-2 L1 AZL Athletics 3 4 .429 3.0 3-1 0-3 W1 AZL Padres 2 4 .333 3.5 1-2 1-2 W1 AZL Royals 2 4 .333 3.5 1-2 1-2 L4 AZL Cubs 0 6 .000 5.5 0-3 0-3 L6Stats and League Leaders, USA Today (or go to MILB.com): www.usatoday.com/sports/b.../index.htm

I can't copy the photo here, but at least for today, a nice photo heading for the above story of Beresford and Welch: www.minorleaguebaseball.c...p?cid=milb

First Brewers' no-hitter has roots Down Under By Daren Smith / MLB.com The first no-hitter in Helena Brewers' history had a distinctly Australian flair. Aussies Simon Beresford and David Welch were among the four Brewers who combined on a no-hitter on Friday night as Helena rolled to an 11-0 victory over the Billings Mustangs. Beresford and Welch were unlikely participants in Pioneer League history. A 32nd-round pick in the 2002 draft, Beresford had not pitched since June 5 due to a broken rib. Welch, selected by Milwaukee in the 20th round of the 2005 draft, had not pitched since July 12 due to a strained shoulder. "It's absolutely amazing," Welch said. "Both of us, we hadn't pitched in (at least) three weeks. Both of us had come off the DL and we weren't expecting this at all. We were just trying to get back into it and all of a sudden, it was lights-out." Making his Helena debut, Beresford set down all nine batters he faced, striking out three. He was followed by Richard Breshears, who walked four and fanned five over 2 1/3 innings. Working with an 11-run lead, Welch cruised, retiring the five batters he faced. "At that time, when I came in, we weren't thinking of a no-hitter," he said. "I just wanted to go in there, throw the ball over the plate. The lead helped a lot, it was amazing." Welch, who attended Texarkana Junior College, had never been involved in a no-hitter. "No one said a word," he said. "But everyone kind of had that look in their eye. In the eighth inning, with two outs, it was dead quiet (in the dugout)." Wilfrido Laureano, who had replaced Welch to start the eighth, was two outs away from completing the gem when J.D. Roberts hit a liner to right field that was snagged by Freddy Parejo. "It was an absolute rope," Welch said. "He really turned on it. I thought it was getting down. A ball hit straight at one of your outfielders, that's one of the hardest plays to do. But (Parejo) got it right by his hip. That was it right there, that saved it." Laureano struck out Jose Ronda to end the game, setting off a celebration among the 1,008 at Kindrick Field. "I'm stoked," said Welch, who was credited with the win, but won't have much time to celebrate with the Brewers slated to catch an early-morning bus for the ride to Billings.

Standings, Stats and League Leaders, USA Today (or go to MILB.com): www.usatoday.com/sports/b.../index.htm

Links to follow Sunday's action as it happens: Nashville: www.minorleaguebaseball.c...a_cspaaa_1 Huntsville: Game One www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_hunaax_1 Game Two www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_hunaax_2 Brevard County: www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_sluafx_1 West Virginia: www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_gboafx_1 Helena: www.minorleaguebaseball.c...k_bilrok_1 Arizona: Not updated live, but usually later during the overnight... www.minorleaguebaseball.c...k_brrrok_1

Links to follow Saturday's action as it happens: Nashville: www.minorleaguebaseball.c...a_cspaaa_1 Huntsville: www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_hunaax_1 Brevard County: www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_sluafx_1 West Virginia: www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_gboafx_1 Helena: www.minorleaguebaseball.c...k_bilrok_1

Sunday's Daily Menu: All times Central except for Arizona Rookie; pitchers subject to change -- Nashville: RHP Ben Hendrickson at Colorado Springs (Rockies), 1:45 PM pre-game, 2:05 gametime Audio link: www.nashvillesounds.com/listenlive/ Huntsville: RHPs David Bradley and Ty Taubenheim in a twinbill at home vs. Mississippi (Braves), 12:50 PM pre-game, 1:05 gametime Audio link: www.espn1450.com/ If that link is down for bandwidth, use: specs.eyecentric.com/pres...opup.shtml Brevard County: TBD (RHP Carlos Villanueva is next in line) at St. Lucie (Mets), 4:00 PM; no audio for this series West Virginia: RHP Yovani Gallardo at Greensboro (Marlins), 4:00 PM Audio link: www.sportsjuice.com/provi...e=wvpower. Helena: RHP's Ryan Marion and Will Inman are expected to piggy-back at Billings (Reds), 5:05 PM Audio link (opponent's): www.billingsmustangs.com/ Arizona: TBD vs. the not-ready-for-seafaring Mariners at home in the Maryvale complex, 7:00 PM local time; never any web audio for Arizona Rookie ball...

Saturday's Daily Menu: All times Central; pitchers subject to change -- Nashville: RHP Mike Meyers at Colorado Springs (Rockies), 7:45 PM pre-game, 8:05 gametime Audio link: www.nashvillesounds.com/listenlive/ Huntsville: RHP Keith Stamler at home vs. Mississippi (Braves), 5:50 PM pre-game, 6:05 gametime Audio link: www.espn1450.com/ If that link is down for bandwidth, use: specs.eyecentric.com/pres...opup.shtml Brevard County: TBD at St. Lucie (Mets), 6:00 PM; no audio for this series West Virginia: LHP Derek Miller at Greensboro (Marlins), 6:05 PM Audio link: www.sportsjuice.com/provi...e=wvpower. Helena: RHP Tyler Morrison at Billings (Reds), 8:05 PM Audio link (opponent's): www.billingsmustangs.com/ Arizona: Idle

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