MassBrew

Beloit Game Summary (Cedar Rapids' Site): Matt Brown hit three home runs in a game for the second time this season against the Beloit Snappers. But it was Blake Balkcom?s second double of the game that proved to be the big blow for the Kernels on Friday night at Veterans Memorial Stadium Balkcom?s one-out, two-run double in the bottom of the ninth inning lifted the Kernels past the Beloit Snappers, 12-11, in a Midwest League baseball game played before a season-high crowd of 3,617. Brown?s third home run of the night, a solo blast in the seventh inning, gave the Kernels a 10-5 lead that appeared comfortable. But Will Lewis? eighth-inning grand slam cut the Kernels? lead to 10-9 and Vinny Rottino?s two-run blast in the ninth put Beloit ahead, 11-10. The Kernels, who rallied in the ninth to beat the Snappers 7-5 on Thursday, did it to them again on Friday. Brandon Wood singled and Aaron Peel was hit by a pitch to start the Kernels ninth. Sean Rodriguez?s sacrifice bunt moved the runners into scoring position. Brown was intentionally walked, loading the bases. Balkcom then rifled a 2-0 pitch from Tim Dillard (1-3) into the right-field gap for his game-winning hit. The win was the Kernels? eighth in nine games and moved them into second place in the Western Division, pending the outcome of a pair of late games Friday night. The Kernels (37-23) trail Kane County, which beat Quad Cities 7-1 in the first game of a doubleheader, by one-half a game. They moved past Peoria, which lost its doubleheader opener to Clinton 4-3, by one-half game. The Kernels tied their season highs for hits (18) and extra-base hits (10). Brown also hit three home runs against Beloit on May 13 in the first game of a doubleheader. Two of his homers in that game came off Beloit?s Brian Montalbo, who was on the mound for the Snappers again Friday night. Brown touched Montalbo again, lining a second-inning home run down the left-field line. Brown later hit solo home runs off Dan Grybash, in the sixth inning, and Dan McKenna in the seventh. He has hit six of his 14 home runs and accumulated 11 of his 46 RBI against Beloit. Brown is not the only Kernel feasting on Snappers. The Kernels have hit 16 home runs in six games against Beloit. Bobby Wilson and Tommy Duenas also hit home runs Friday night. Both men also had three hits. Speaking of feasting, tacos are on the menu Saturday at Cedar Rapids area Taco Bell restaurants. The Kernels hit the Taco Bell ?10 Spot?? eighth time this season. Patrons mentioning the Taco Bell ?10 Spot?? on Saturday will receive 39-cent beef tacos, with a limit of 10, at Cedar Rapids Taco Bell restaurants. NIBLETS ? The Kernels continue their four-game series against Beloit on Saturday night at 7. The series concludes Sunday at 2 p.m. with McDonalds Baseball Glove Day. The first 1,000 children 12-under will receive a free Louisville Slugger glove.

Huntsville Times Game Story: Giving away chase Stars hopes for first-half title fading away after 8-2 loss to Barons By PAUL GATTIS Times Sports Staff pgattis@htimes.com It looked a lot like the other games in recent days, an encore performance that seemingly won't end. The Huntsville Stars, desperately chasing the first-half title in the Southern League's Western Division, endured another whipping Friday night by the Birmingham Barons. The Barons scored seven runs in the last three innings in their 8-2 victory, their third straight win over the Stars and by a combined score of 24-6. The game went from bad to simply ugly for the Stars in the ninth inning. They committed three errors on wild throws before an announced crowd of 5,713 at Joe Davis Stadium. The Stars dropped four games back of first place Mobile and West Tenn with just eight games to play in the first half. And all eight are on the road. The Stars have now dropped nine of their last 11 games. The Barons, meanwhile, remain two games out of first after collecting 16 hits off three Stars pitchers. "It's disappointing," Stars manager Frank Kremblas said. "But you've got to be rational. We don't have a whole lot of experience at this level with our position players - especially the top of the lineup guys." Indeed, the highly regarded trio of Rickie Weeks, Tony Gwynn Jr. and Prince Fielder are in their first Double-A season. But Kremblas also pointed to a dangerous combination of an inconsistent offense meshed with a pitching staff that "tries to cover for them." "The pitchers want to come in and shut them out and they put too much pressure on themselves," Kremblas said. Stars starter Ryan Costello (3-1) held the Barons off for six innings. But after allowing back-to-back singles with one out in the seventh, he was relieved by Reggie Rivard - who allowed both runners to score as well as one of his own in working just 1/3 of an inning. Then Pete Zamora pitched the final two innings and surrendered two home runs and four runs. Birmingham's Aaron McNeal, who hit two home runs Thursday and drove in six, was 4-for-5 with two runs scored. Michael Morse had a two-run homer and drove in three. The Stars scratched out a 2-1 lead with runs in the second and fourth innings. In the second, Ryan Knox singled and scored on a throwing error by Barons catcher Chris Stewart. Then in the fourth, Chris Barnwell doubled and scored on a single by Johnny Raburn, who had three hits. But that was all the runs the Stars could produce with their 10 hits against Dennis Ulacia (4-3) and reliever Matt Smith, who got his third save. "I see our guys making adjustments," Kremblas said. "And the young guys (Weeks, Gwynn and Fielder) are doing a pretty good job and they have good at-bats. "But right now, we're scattering our hits too much. We're not going to be a team that puts up a lot of runs."

Huntsville Site Game Summary: The Barons scored eight for the third straight game to capture their third in a row from the Stars, 8-2, on Friday night at Joe Davis Stadium. Huntsville (30-32) has lost nine of its last 11 to drop four games out of first with just eight remaining in the first-half playoff chase. Birmingham (32-30) remains two back of the Southern League West co-leaders, West Tenn and Mobile, as the Barons travel to West Tenn for four against the Diamond Jaxx. In the decisive seventh, the powerful Barons rallied on Mike Spidale?s run-scoring infield single, Michael Morse?s sacrifice fly, and Aaron McNeal?s bloop-single. In all, four singles produced three runs to turn a 2-1 deficit into a 4-2 lead. Birmingham returned to its proven formula in the eighth and ninth, the long ball. After homering three times the night before, the Barons went deep twice to seal the contest. Normand Martel?s solo blast in the eighth, his third of the season, made it 5-2, Birmingham. Morse launched a deep opposite-field shot to right-center, a two-run bomb that put the Barons up, 7-2, and an unearned tally accounted for the game?s final run. Huntsville held a brief lead of 1-0 and a 2-1 advantage that held until the seventh. With runners at first and third and two outs in the second, Johnny Raburn broke for second on the pitch. Catcher Chris Stewart elected to whip a throw to third, where Ryan Knox scrambled back to the bag. The ball grazed Knox and third baseman Rob Sasser?s glove before bounding into foul territory. Knox motored home for the Stars? first run. In the fourth, Chris Barnwell doubled with two outs, took third on a wild pitch, and scored on Raburn?s two-out single to center. Dennis Ulacia (4-3) picked up his fourth win, permitting two runs, one earned, on eight hits and no walks while fanning six in 6 1/3 innings. Ryan Costello (3-1) absorbed his first loss, surrendering ten hits and three runs with one walk and five strikeouts in 6 1/3 innings. Mike Smith notched his third save, allowing two hits and fanning two over 2 2/3 scoreless frames. Huntsville now travels to Tennessee to take on the Smokies Saturday night. Right-hander Dennis Sarfate (3-5, 4.42) meets an unannounced Tennessee starter in game one of a four-game series at Smokies Park. Game time is 6:15 p.m. CT.

Indianapolis Post-Game Notes: Charlotte plays in Fort Mill, South Carolina? FORT MILL, S.C. -- Clint Weibl held Charlotte to one run and three hits in 7 2/3 innings Friday night to lead the Indianapolis Indians to a 2-1 International League victory. Charlotte did not get its first hit until the fifth inning. Indianapolis snapped a 1-1 tie in the eighth inning on an RBI double by Chris Magruder. "The pressure is really off . . . we can relax and start chasing Columbus," Magruder said in a statement released by the team. The win snapped a four-game losing streak for the Indians (31-28) , who trail the Columbus Clippers (32-27) by one game in the West Division. "Our pitching and defense were superb . . . it's a good remedy for a win," Indians manager Cecil Cooper said.

WEST DIVISION W L PCT GB COLUMBUS CLIPPERS (NEW YORK YANKEES) 32 27 .542 [b]INDIANAPOLIS INDIANS (MILWAUKEE) 31 28 .525 1.0[/b] TOLEDO MUD HENS (DETROIT) 32 30 .516 1.5 LOUISVILLE BATS (CINCINNATI) 30 31 .492 3.0 WEST DIVISION W L PCT GB WEST TENN DIAMOND JAXX (CHICAGO CUBS) 34 28 .548 MOBILE BAY BEARS (SAN DIEGO) 34 28 .548 BIRMINGHAM BARONS (CHICAGO WHITE SOX) 32 30 .516 2.0 [b]HUNTSVILLE STARS (MILWAUKEE) 30 32 .484 4.0[/b] MONTGOMERY BISCUITS (TAMPA BAY) 26 36 .419 8.0 SOUTH DIVISION W L PCT GB LANCASTER JETHAWKS (ARIZONA) 38 23 .623 INLAND EMPIRE 66ERS (SEATTLE) 35 26 .574 3.0 LAKE ELSINORE STORM (SAN DIEGO) 31 30 .508 7.0 RANCHO CUCAMONGA QUAKES (ANAHEIM) 29 32 .475 9.0 [b]HIGH DESERT MAVERICKS (MILWAUKEE) 21 41 .339 17.5[/b] WESTERN DIVISION W L PCT GB KANE COUNTY COUGARS (OAKLAND) 37 23 .617 CEDAR RAPIDS KERNELS (ANAHEIM) 37 23 .617 PEORIA CHIEFS (ST.LOUIS) 36 24 .600 1.0 CLINTON LUMBER KINGS (TEXAS) 32 27 .542 4.5 [b]BELOIT SNAPPERS (MILWAUKEE) 32 29 .525 5.5[/b] QUAD CITY RIVER BANDITS (MINNESOTA) 27 30 .474 8.5 WISCONSIN TIMBER RATTLERS (SEATTLE) 26 34 .433 11.0 BURLINGTON BEES (KANSAS CITY) 19 42 .311 18.5

Fly ball base hit drops in after 5.1 hitless. I've got to find a better way to invite listeners to ongoing no-no's. pogokat and/or other late-nighters, do me the High Desert honors later on -- thanks, kids. G'night, John-boy. (Although I was always an Erin fan.)

In progress: High Desert 2, Inland Empire 0, top of the sixth in San Bernadino Don't want to jinx it, but the only two 66'er baserunners to reach thus far against RHP David Bradley are via the walk, if you know what I mean! For some reason, the Mavs aren't broadcasting this potential piece of history here, so here's the Inland Empire audio link -- join me -- I'm used to staying up this week! www.sportsjuice.com/provi...tname=ie66

Final: Cedar Rapids (Angels) 12, Beloit 11 Oh no -- closer Tim Dillard blows the save for the second consecutive night in this series -- this one after Vinny Rottino's almost game-winning heroics in the top of the ninth... Beloit Box Score: Cedar Rapids provides a fine game summary; we'll wait for that before trying to analyze too much here, although the Kernels' third baseman hit three solo HR's off three different Snapper pitchers! GAME DATE: 6/11/04 BLT at CR BELOIT 11 AT CEDAR RAPIDS 12 YTD YTD BELOIT AB R H BI AVG CEDAR RAPIDS AB R H BI AVG W.Lewis 2B 2 2 1 4 .316 N.Kimpton CF 5 0 2 1 .275 S.Moss CF 4 1 0 0 .211 M.Pali LF 3 1 1 0 .294 A.Heether 3B 4 1 1 1 .255 B.Wilson 1B 5 2 3 2 .309 L.Palmisano CAT 5 1 2 1 .303 B.Wood SS 5 1 1 0 .274 V.Rottino DH 5 1 1 2 .299 A.Peel DH 4 1 2 1 .245 D.Anderson LF 4 1 1 0 .262 S.Rodriguez 2B 4 0 0 0 .265 M.Ramirez 1B 5 1 1 0 .281 M.Brown 3B 4 3 3 3 .255 J.Murray SS 3 2 0 0 .187 B.Balkcom RF 5 2 3 2 .274 R.Deevers RF 4 1 2 1 .235 T.Duenas CAT 4 2 3 3 .222 B.Montalbo PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 N.Touchstone PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 D.Grybash PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 J.Smith PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 D.McKenna PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 D.Austen PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 T.Dillard PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 S.Hindman PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 W.Hedden PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 B.Zimmermann PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 TOTALS 36 11 9 9 TOTALS 39 12 18 12 BELOIT 0 0 4 0 1 0 0 4 2-11 9 0 CEDAR RAPIDS 0 2 2 1 1 3 1 0 2-12 18 3 E--B.Wood, M.Brown 2. DP--BELOIT 2, CEDAR RAPIDS 2. LOB--BELOIT 6, CEDAR RAPIDS 7. 2B--L.Palmisano (10), R.Deevers 2 (9), M.Pali (9), B.Wilson (11), B.Balkcom 2 (13), T.Duenas 2 (9). HR--W.Lewis (1), V.Rottino (7), B.Wilson (4), M.Brown 3 (14), T.Duenas (5). SB-- S.Moss (3), R.Deevers (4), N.Kimpton (8). CS--A.Peel. HBP--J.Murray, M.Pali, A.Peel. SH--W.Lewis, S.Moss, S.Rodriguez. YTD IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA BELOIT B.Montalbo 3.2 10 5 5 0 0 1 5.31 D.Grybash 1.1 5 4 4 1 1 3 5.73 D.McKenna 3.0 1 1 1 0 3 1 7.11 T.Dillard (L,1-3) 0.1 2 2 2 1 0 0 4.21 CEDAR RAPIDS N.Touchstone 3.0 3 4 2 2 1 0 4.24 J.Smith 1.2 1 1 1 2 1 0 6.47 D.Austen 2.1 1 0 0 0 1 0 1.17 S.Hindman 0.2 2 4 4 1 2 1 6.53 W.Hedden 0.1 0 0 0 0 0 0 8.49 B.Zimmermann (W,4-4) 1.0 2 2 1 0 0 1 2.05 HB--B.Montalbo, T.Dillard, S.Hindman. WP--S.Hindman. SO--S.Moss 2, V.Rottino, R.Deevers 2, M.Pali, A.Peel, S.Rodriguez, B.Balkcom. BB--W.Lewis 2, A.Heether, D.Anderson, J.Murray, M.Pali, M.Brown. T--3:13. A--3617Beloit Game Log: Will Lewis with a grand slam -- he's really been a huge spark since his promotion last week; the game log reveals Dan McKenna bailed the club out of an inherited jam as part of his three strong innings pitched... www.sportsnetwork.com/mer...MEID=12633

Final: Birmingham (White Sox) 8, Huntsville 2 Stars allow four runs in the 8th, three more in the ninth... Huntsville Box Score: Some nice work from the lower half of the order but the big four up top go 1-for-16 with no walks.. GAME DATE: 6/11/04 BIR at HVL BIRMINGHAM 8 AT HUNTSVILLE 2 YTD YTD BIRMINGHAM AB R H BI AVG HUNTSVILLE AB R H BI AVG M.Spidale CF 4 1 1 1 .299 R.Weeks DH 4 0 1 0 .241 R.Yan 2B 3 1 1 0 .271 A.Gwynn CF 4 0 0 0 .244 M.Morse SS 4 1 1 3 .300 P.Fielder 1B 4 0 0 0 .266 A.McNeal 1B 5 2 4 1 .290 B.Nelson RF 4 0 0 0 .292 N.Murphy RF 5 0 3 0 .302 R.Knox LF 4 1 2 0 .276 C.Maldonado DH 5 0 0 0 .253 C.Barnwell 3B 4 1 2 0 .243 N.Martel LF 5 1 3 1 .338 J.Raburn 2B 4 0 3 1 .252 R.Sasser 3B 4 1 1 0 .229 K.Johnson CAT 4 0 0 0 .226 C.Stewart CAT 4 1 2 0 .232 O.Chavez SS 3 0 2 0 .221 D.Ulacia PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 R.Costello PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 M.Smith PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 R.Rivard PIT 0 0 0 0 .250 P.Zamora PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 TOTALS 39 8 16 6 TOTALS 35 2 10 1 BIRMINGHAM 0 0 0 1 0 0 3 1 3- 8 16 1 HUNTSVILLE 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0- 2 10 3 E--C.Stewart, J.Raburn, K.Johnson 2. DP--BIRMINGHAM 1, HUNTSVILLE 2. LOB--BIRMINGHAM 8, HUNTSVILLE 6. 2B--A.McNeal (14), C.Barnwell (10), O.Chavez (4). HR--M.Morse (11), N.Martel (3). SB--R.Yan 2 (14), J.Raburn (9). CS--R.Knox. HBP--R.Yan. SF--M.Morse. SH--M.Spidale. YTD IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA BIRMINGHAM D.Ulacia (W,4-3) 6.1 8 2 1 0 6 0 3.64 M.Smith (S,3) 2.2 2 0 0 0 2 0 1.18 HUNTSVILLE R.Costello (L,3-1) 6.1 10 3 3 1 5 0 4.69 R.Rivard 0.1 2 1 1 0 0 0 5.68 P.Zamora 2.1 4 4 3 0 1 2 4.97 HB--R.Rivard. WP--D.Ulacia, M.Smith. PB--K.Johnson. SO--M.Spidale, M.Morse 2, C.Maldonado, R.Sasser, C.Stewart, R.Weeks 2, A.Gwynn, P.Fielder, B.Nelson 2, K.Johnson 2. BB--R.Yan. T--2:56. A--5713Huntsville Game Log: What a hideous homestand -- I blame the new scoreboard... www.sportsnetwork.com/mer...MEID=12003

From huntsvillefan: I walked out on todays game because of something similar. Losing 7-1, Weeks & Fielder messed up a routine pop up foul ball between them. They then stood for a couple of minutes and laughed it up in front of the fans. Apparently messing up a chance for an out is just the funniest thing ever and they don't mind the fans knowing they think that way! Now granted, this is only one fan's version of an account he saw first-hand, but I am very surprised that several of you don't seem to have the least little concern for one incident. It is a total infinitesimal blip in the grand scheme of the likely wonderful careers of these two kids, but to write it off so casually without having it upset you gives me pause. Linkages: www.jsonline.com/sports/b.../68305.asp www.jsonline.com/sports/b.../68687.asp Again, it's nothing...but it is a little something at the same time.

Huntsville Times Game Story: Baron has a grand ol' time McNeal continues big series against Stars with slam, six RBIs By MARK McCARTER Times Sports Staff markcolumn@aol.com At game's end, Aaron McNeal threw his head back and pointed skyward. It was a traditional, prayerful salute toward heaven. Then again, he could have simply been looking up and seen one of his home run balls, completing still another orbit. McNeal, 26, is a soft-spoken, devout Christian who will begin study this fall at a divinity school in California. But the last two nights, the preacher-to-be has bedeviled the Huntsville Stars. McNeal mashed a grand slam, a solo homer and an RBI single, driving in six runs as the Barons clobbered the Stars 8-1 on Thursday night. That makes him 6-for-10 with eight RBIs in the past two games. Simply put, said Stars manager Frank Kremblas, "He's killed us.'' And perhaps killed their last hopes for a pennant. The Stars, who end their series with the Barons tonight at 7:05, have dropped seven of their last nine. At 30-31, they are in fourth place, three games behind West Tenn and Mobile (both 33-28) with nine games to play. But, bad streaks can U-turn with an instant, dramatic screech of tires and brakes. Witness Aaron McNeal. Coming into Wednesday's game, McNeal had gone hitless in his last 10 at-bats. Then he became the Terminator. "This game is day-by-day,'' McNeal said. "You have to take it a day at a time and go out there be confident and be positive.'' Some generosity from a Stars pitching staff that is struggling - 69 runs allowed in this nine-game stretch - hasn't hurt. Said Kremblas, "He's gotten good pitches to hit, and he's hit them.'' A year ago, Stars first baseman Prince Fielder batted .313 with 27 homers and 113 RBIs at Beloit in the Midwest League, and seamheads all over the country drooled at his potential. Four years earlier in the same league, McNeal made those numbers look skinny. He batted .310 with 38 homers and 131 RBIs. McNeal, in his ninth pro season and having bounced to his fifth organization, has had the misfortune of finding slugging outfielders and first basemen in his path with each employer, impeding his progress. Like Jeff Bagwell at Houston. Ryan Klesko at San Diego. Mo Vaughn with the Mets. Jim Thome with the Phillies. "I've been in that situation, but I've got to stay positive,'' McNeal said. "For me, God's in control of my life and whatever happens. I just go out with a positive attitude and play hard, and you never know.'' He was, in his own words, "on the fast track'' with Houston. Then he was injured. And, he confessed, even though he had grown up in the church, "I was doing some things I knew would ruin my testimony if I got to the big leagues. "I think,'' McNeal said, "the Lord really humbled me. And I thank him for it. I thank him for what I've been through because what I've been through, it's made me a lot stronger.'' McNeal, who had singled in the first two runs in Wednesday's 8-3 mauling of the Stars, got things going again Thursday. He blasted a solo homer, leading off the second, against Chris Saenz, who fell to 4-4 and, curiously, 3-3 with a 4.67 ERA in nine starts since pitching six shutout innings against St. Louis in his April 24 major league cameo. Scott Bikowski stretched it to 3-0 in the fourth on a two-run homer, then McNeal crunched his grand slam in the fifth, his 15th homer on the season. To assure equal treatment, he singled in a run in the sixth off reliever Jason Shelley. On the other side of the ledger, the Stars actually matched the Barons' total of 11 hits, with three from Chris Barnwell. But they left 12 runners on base. The Stars' lone run was a ninth-inning afterthought when Kade Johnson doubled and later scored on a Rickie Weeks sacrifice fly. "We swung the bats better,'' Kremblas said. "I thought they (Barons) did a good job of making pitches with guys in scoring position.'' They also did a good job of having Aaron McNeal hitting well with runners in scoring position. Of course, these days, McNeal merely walking to the plate puts himself in scoring position.

Daily Press High Desert Game Story: Mavericks snap 11-game losing streak Hinton's grand slam powers High Desert past Lancaster By TIM HARAN/Staff Writer ADELANTO ? Mired in a season-long losing streak, the High Desert Mavericks insisted it was only a matter of time before the team put together all the pieces and started to turn things around. It happened, at least for one night, Thursday as the Mavs topped the Lancaster JetHawks 10-6 in front of 1,590 at Mavericks Stadium. High Desert hit three home runs, including a grand slam by first baseman Travis Hinton, while starting pitcher Jesse Harper allowed just two runs on four hits in 4 1-3 innings. Ahead of his first start for the Mavs, the right-handed Harper acknowledged that it might take a few games for him to feel comfortable throwing in the California League. It took the 6-foot-4 hurler, who had pitched in the Florida State League before being picked up off waivers this week from the Toronto Blue Jays, about two-thirds of an inning to settle in and help the Mavericks snap their 11-game losing streak. "We've heard good things about him and they were correct," High Desert manager Mel Queen said. "He knows how to pitch, moves the ball around, doesn't beat himself." Harper, who struck out the JetHawks' first batter of the game on three pitches, remained in control much of the night. He struck out six and walked two. At the plate, the Mavericks batted around in the third inning, loaded the bases twice and exploded for five runs on three hits. Hinton, who had hit a two-run homer in the first inning, launched a first-pitch fastball over the right-centerfield wall to drive in four Mavericks. Hinton has hit three home runs in his last two games and now has nine on the year. "My second time they had just walked the bases loaded and I thought he was going to try and get in on me again, so I was just ready for it," Hinton said. "Any time you get up with the bases loaded and no outs, you hope to cash in on some of the runs." The JetHawks cut High Desert's lead to two runs in the sixth before Dan Boyd, who hit a solo home run on Wednesday, jumped on the first pitch thrown by Lancaster reliever Jered Liebeck in the seventh inning and hit a two-run homer to give the Mavs a cushion. "We've been swinging the bat all along," Queen said. "Every run's important but you think that when you've got a fairly decent lead you might be safe. But if (Boyd) doesn't hit that two-run home run they make it a one-run game (the next inning)." Mavs' reliever Eric Henderson picked up the win, which was the team's first since May 28. It did much to help eliminate the sour taste of losing. "It's the first time we've seen smiles in the clubhouse for about two weeks," Hinton said. "I think that says it all." High Desert (21-40) will travel to San Bernardino tonight for the first game of a three-game series against the 66ers. NOTES: Outfielder Chris Morris returned to the Mavs' lineup Thursday after missing the last seven games with an injured lower back. Morris, who is second in the Cal League in stolen bases with 24, went 1-for-3 and drew a walk. ... Hinton, who went 3-for-4 with six RBIs, extended his hitting streak to seven games. Tim Haran can be reached at 955-5303 or via e-mail at tim_haran@link.freedom.com Aaron J.H. Walker/Victor Valley Daily Press Staff Photographer High Desert's Kennard Bibbs gets a base hit to start the Mavericks' two-run first inning Thursday. The Mavericks beat the JetHawks 10-6. http://www.vvdailypress.com/storypics2/061104_mavs.jpg

Friday's Daily Menu: All times Central; pitchers subject to change; pre-game audio begins approx. 15 minutes prior to game time listed... INDIANAPOLIS: RHP Clint Weibl at Charlotte (White Sox), 6:15 PM Audio link: www.newstalk1430.com/ Alternate audio link (Knights' feed): www.charlotteknights.com/.../index.htm HUNTSVILLE: LHP Ryan Costello at home vs. Birmingham (White Sox), 7:05 PM Audio link: www.espn1450.com/ HIGH DESERT: RHP David Bradley at Inland Empire (Mariners), 9:11 PM Audio link: www.hdmavs.com/listen_live.htm BELOIT: RHP Brian Montalbo at Cedar Rapids (Angels), 7:00 PM Audio link (Kernels' feed): www.kernels.com/radio.html

WEST DIVISION W L PCT GB COLUMBUS CLIPPERS (NEW YORK YANKEES) 32 26 .552 TOLEDO MUD HENS (DETROIT) 32 29 .525 1.5 [b]INDIANAPOLIS INDIANS (MILWAUKEE) 30 28 .517 2.0[/b] LOUISVILLE BATS (CINCINNATI) 30 30 .500 3.0 WEST DIVISION W L PCT GB WEST TENN DIAMOND JAXX (CHICAGO CUBS) 33 28 .541 MOBILE BAY BEARS (SAN DIEGO) 33 28 .541 BIRMINGHAM BARONS (CHICAGO WHITE SOX) 31 30 .508 2.0 [b]HUNTSVILLE STARS (MILWAUKEE) 30 31 .492 3.0[/b] MONTGOMERY BISCUITS (TAMPA BAY) 26 35 .426 7.0 SOUTH DIVISION W L PCT GB LANCASTER JETHAWKS (ARIZONA) 37 23 .617 INLAND EMPIRE 66ERS (SEATTLE) 34 26 .567 3.0 LAKE ELSINORE STORM (SAN DIEGO) 31 29 .517 6.0 RANCHO CUCAMONGA QUAKES (ANAHEIM) 29 31 .483 8.0 [b]HIGH DESERT MAVERICKS (MILWAUKEE) 21 40 .344 16.5[/b] WESTERN DIVISION W L PCT GB PEORIA CHIEFS (ST.LOUIS) 36 22 .621 KANE COUNTY COUGARS (OAKLAND) 36 22 .621 CEDAR RAPIDS KERNELS (ANAHEIM) 36 23 .610 .5 [b]BELOIT SNAPPERS (MILWAUKEE) 32 28 .533 5.0[/b] CLINTON LUMBER KINGS (TEXAS) 30 27 .526 5.5 QUAD CITY RIVER BANDITS (MINNESOTA) 26 29 .473 8.5 WISCONSIN TIMBER RATTLERS (SEATTLE) 25 33 .431 11.0 BURLINGTON BEES (KANSAS CITY) 18 41 .305 18.5

David Weiser's www.starsboxscore.com Huntsville update: ONE-MAN WRECKING CREW SINKS STARSTonight was Baseball Card Night, a popular promotion for the Stars. They've had one every year of their existence but one......... The cards were sponsored by Colonial Graphics, who do such a fantastic job on the Stars' yearbooks, of which there will be two versions this year........ The cards are still the usual paper thin, smaller-than-standard fare we've gotten since Burger King sponsored the first several nights in the beginning of the franchise...... The cards have predominantly green, diamond-themed borders, with a blue, gradient inner border that frames the photo......... The players name is set inside the bottom of the blue border in a conservative font style, with the team on the top part of the border, in 1985-style lettering......... The concession stand is now selling the Southern League All-Star set and they look very nice this year. Even though they're still only three games back with nine to go, the Stars fell to 4th place and like a boat with a leak, fans are watching the whole spectacle from our life rafts...... They've lost eight of their last ten and fall to 3-8 in June, the worst start for that month since 1987. Eleven hits for Birmingham. Eleven hits for Huntsville....... That looks even, yet the game was anything but......... Longball made the big difference in Birmingham's 8-1 victory, the Stars scoring as the result of a sacrifice fly in the 9th inning....... It was Earl Weaver baseball, not Birmingham pitching that dominated ....... Get that big inning and do it with home runs. Drive them in once they get on base....... Five of the Barons' eight runs came with two out, and they were the big ones --- Carlos Maldonado's 2-run HR in the 4th and Aaron McNeal's grand-slam in the 5th. The Stars? Twelve runners stranded, half of them in scoring position. Twice leaving the bases full. First inning. Tony Gwynn hits a one-out double, his first extra-base hit since May 21. Prince Fielder draws a walk, but gets picked off for the second out....... On Brad Nelson's single, Gwynn is thrown out at home on a good throw by left fielder Normand Martel. Second inning. Chris Barnwell reaches base on a bunt single, and extends his hitting streak to seven games, but is stranded at second when Kade Johnson is struck out on one of the many change-ups Birmingham pitcher Heath Phillips throws tonight........ Barnwell, June's hottest hitter, is 11-for-25 (.440) on his streak, 14-for-39 (.359) for the month. Fourth inning. The Stars load the bases with one out, but once again, Kade strikes out on a change and Ozzie Chavez slides into first to try to beat out a dragged out grounder, but loses the bang-bang play. With the Barons ahead by a 3-0 count, this was the best chance to take momentum in this ballgame....... The Stars were hitting Phillips, and had they scored two or three runs, they might have been in this game to the end, one way or another. Sixth inning. Ryan Knox hits a leadoff single, but is stranded at third when Chavez hits into a force. By this time, it's too late for the Stars. The Barons have a 7-0 lead halfway into this game, and they only got tougher. Josh Fields struck out the top of the Stars order in the 7th. Brian McNichol had a tougher go, allowing a leadoff double to Kade Johnson, who went to third on a single and scored on Rickie Weeks' deep fly ball to right. Gwynn was grazed by a pitch putting runners on 1st and 2nd, but Nelson struck out on a 2-2 pitch, mercifully ending one boring game Aaron McNeal's leadoff HR in the 2nd was a bomb........ It cleared the Corr Wireless sign in left by a good margin and probably climbed the hill in back of it........ Chris Saenz tried to jam him in the 5th, but McNeal brought his foot back to get around on the pitch, and cranked it deep to centerfield. Gwynn gave it a chase and climbed the wall for it, but all he could do was watch it go over for a grand-slam........ Maldonado struck his two-out, two-run HR when the Barons were ahead, 1-0. A punishing breaking ball hitter by the book, Saenz threw him, yep, a breaking ball and he lofted it over the boards to the right of the scoreboard. Jason Shelley entered the game in the 6th, and had a 21-pitch (at least) inning, then stuck around to throw 31 more in the 7th. A newly-installed net in front of the visiting dugout saved a run in the 6th inning. Rickie Weeks made a nice backhand stop of a sharp Maldonado grounder in the hole, spun around, and made a wide and wild throw that bounced off the netting into the field of play. In older days, the ball would have wound up in the dugout for a two-base error, which would eventually have scored Maldonado with the following single by Nate Murphy. The Stars' capacity for getting hit by pitches continues, as they run the season total to 43. That's already more purple hearts than in six previous seasons --- 1985, 86, 88, 89, 90, and 92........ The Stars are destined to break their club record of 79 and possibly the league record of 91 by the 1999 Diamond Jaxx....... Weeks is just one away from tying the team record set by Ramon Hernandez in 1998. The Stars will pit lefty Ryan Costello (3-0, 4.76) against lefty Dennis Ulacia (3-3, 3.91) for a Fireworks Friday night. A Boy Scout overnight sleepover after the game under the tent should attract a nice large crowd........ The Stars would need a crowd of 6,121 to hit the 100,000 mark in attendance this year, ahead of last year's pace. For you homies wondering about the scoreboard situation, two CPUs that operate in the back of the scoreboard (there are four more in the booth) overheated and have to be replaced. Someone from Las Vegas will be in Huntsville, Friday, to replace them and install an A/C unit to keep them cool....... Someone from Canada will be on his heels to get the pitch speed thingy working. That may come while the Stars are on their next road trip to Smokies Park and Birmingham........ The Rickwood Classic is next Thursday, and I'll be there to give you my insights and thoughts on one of baseball's oldest parks. I haven't seen it since I saw my first Stars game in 1985.

High Desert Site Game Summary: MAVS BREAK LOSING STREAKThe High Desert Mavericks? dugout, bullpen, and positional players all congregated toward the mound amidst smiles and high-fives at the game?s conclusion. It was something they haven?t been able to do in nearly two weeks. The Mavericks, behind a monstrous night at the plate by Travis Hinton and a five-run, ten-batter third inning, romped over the Lancaster JetHawks 10-6 before 1,590 at Mavericks Stadium on Thursday night, snapping their season-long 11-game losing streak and longest skid in four years. Hinton, who finished 3-for-4 at the plate with two homers and six RBI?s, highlighted the third with a grand-slam to the power-alley in right, his second homer of the game and ninth of the 2004 campaign, off Lancaster starter Jared Doyle. Bogged down with a rough outing, Doyle (0-2) was lifted for reliever Cliff McMachen, who proceeded to load the bases on two walks and a single, and forced in the fifth run of the inning by giving up a bases-loaded walk to Troy Farnsworth, hiking the Mavs lead to 7-1. Lancaster (37-23) made things interesting by scoring four unanswered runs in the fifth and sixth to cut the lead to 7-5. The Mavs (21-40) retaliated with the last three runs of the game, when Dan Boyd belted an opposite-field two-run homer to right in the seventh and Enrique Cruz lifted an RBI sacrifice fly to right, pacing the Mavs out to the 10-6 score. The road was not easy to victory though, as the JetHawks stranded seven runners on base and had a chance to tie the game in the eighth with the bases loaded and down four runs. Phil Avlas drilled a Nick Slack pitch to deep left-center, but Kennard Bibbs was able to come down with the fly ball just a foot shy of the wall. High Desert answered Lancaster?s initial first-inning run with two of their own in the bottom of the inning, on Travis Hinton?s two-run skyscraping homer that caught a strong, windy jetstream and carried out of the yard toward the right-field line. Buried amongst the Mavs offensive flurry was a strong outing by starter Jesse Harper, who took a no-decision in his Mavericks debut after the Milwaukee Brewers claimed the prospect off waivers from Toronto. Harper, who was on a 70-pitch count, scattered two runs on four hits in 4.1 innings, striking out six. Eric Henderson (3-4) picked up the win in 2.1 innings of relief. High Desert takes to the road for six games, beginning with three in San Bernardino against the Inland Empire 66ers, as David Bradley (3-3) will take the hill for the Mavs against the Sixers? Felix Hernandez (6-3) on Friday night at 7:11 PM (9:11 Central).

Indianapolis Post-Game Notes: One hour and 34 minutes of rain delays wasn?t enough to dampen the spirits of the Scarnton/Wilkes-Barre Red Barons Thursday night before 6,613 fans at Victory Field. The Red Barons banged out 13 hits against four Indianapolis pitchers and cruised to a 7-1 win, sweeping the series against the Indians and giving Scranton a 7-1 record against Indianapolis this year. The game was delayed 34 minutes at the start and another hour in the middle of the sixth inning. After the rain delay, the Red Barons added a run in the top of the eighth inning on a solo home run by shortstop Anderson Machado. Indianapolis loaded the bases in the bottom of the eighth with one out for its first scoring threat of the game, but pinch-hitter Jon Nunnally struck out and second baseman Luis Figueroa grounded to first to end the threat. The Indians managed one run in the bottom of the ninth when Brandon Gemoll opened with a standup double and scored on a single by Chris Magruder. Cecil Cooper's comments: "We played awful," said Cooper. "We didn't play defense and we didn't play offense. We got showed up tonight." TRIBE NOTES: The four-game losing streak is the longest of the season for the Indians. Third baseman Chris Coste saw his first action since coming off the disabled list and went two for three. The Indians are 8-16 against IL North opponents and 16-15 at Victory Field.

Beloit Game Summary form the Cedar Rapids' Site: Brandon Wood?s two-out, three-run home run in the bottom of the ninth inning rallied the Kernels past the Beloit Snappers, 7-5, Thursday night in a Midwest League baseball game played before a crowd of 2,649 at soggy Veterans Memorial Stadium. Howie Kendrick led off the Kernels ninth with a single and Matt Pali followed with a bunt single. Bobby Wilson and Blake Balkcom hit into fielder?s choice grounders. Wood then took a called strike before turning on a hanging breaking ball and launching his seventh home run onto the Randy Kuehl Honfidence Pavilion, a three-run shot that lifted the Kernels to their seventh win in their last eight games. The first six innings of the game was played in a steady rain. The Kernels (36-23) closed to within one-half game of Western Division leaders Kane County and Peoria. Kane County and Peoria both were rained out Thursday night and play doubleheaders Friday night. The top two teams in each division at the end of the first half qualify for the postseason playoffs. The Kernels have 10 games remaining in the first half, Kane County and Peoria each have 11 games left. The Kernels almost were undone by four errors that led to two unearned runs. Beloit scored an unearned run in the first inning and used a pair of doubles to score two runs in the second in building a 3-0 lead. Wilson?s two-run single in the third inning pulled the Kernels within 3-2. Pali?s home run in the Kernels? fifth tied the game, 3-3. Beloit reclaimed the lead, 5-3, on Adam Heether?s two-run home run in the sixth inning. Quan Cosby?s check-swing infield tapper down the third-base line in the bottom of the sixth scored Caleb Maher, who had tripled, and cut Beloit?s lead to 5-4.

Huntsville Site Game Summary: The Stars? first-half title hopes took a severe blow Thursday night at Joe Davis Stadium. Huntsville (30-31) lost to Birmingham (31-30), 8-1, and dropped into fourth place in the Southern League West, three games out of first with nine to go. The Stars fell under .500 for the first time since April 17. The Barons? Aaron McNeal was a one-man wrecking crew, clubbing two homeruns, including a grand slam, and finishing 3-for-5 with six runs batted in. Carlos Maldonado also homered, a two-run shot to left in the fourth that made it 3-0, Barons. McNeal?s second-inning solo homer put Birmingham on the board, and the grand slam, his 15th homerun this season, put the game away. After a walk and a pair of infield singles loaded the bases in the fifth, McNeal launched a two-out blast to right center for a 7-0 Barons lead. McNeal?s seventh-inning single plated Ruddy Yan to make it 8-0. Huntsville equaled the Barons? hit total, 11, but managed only one run. The Stars stranded 12 runners in the game, including leaving the bases full twice, once after loading them with one out in the fourth. Rickie Weeks broke up the shutout with a ninth-inning sacrifice fly that scored Kade Johnson, who returned to the Stars? lineup after clearing wavers at noon on Wednesday. Heath Phillips (5-5) notched his fifth win, scattering eight hits, two walks and one hit batter over six scoreless innings. Chris Saenz (4-4) suffered his fourth defeat, surrendering seven runs on six hits and two walks with four strikeouts in five innings. Huntsville pits lefty Ryan Costello (3-0, 4.76) against Barons lefty Dennis Ulacia (3-3, 3.91) in the series finale on a Fireworks Friday night. Game time is 7:05 p.m. at Joe Davis Stadium, with fireworks after the game.

Final: High Desert 10, Lancaster (Diamondbacks) 6 Party like it's 1999, kids, the streak is over at 11! High Desert Box Score: Travis Hinton with two bombs, one a grand salami; Dan Boyd with one; welcome to the family, Jesse Harper -- the Mavs are undefeated when he starts... GAME DATE: 6/10/04 LNC at HD LANCASTER 6 AT HIGH DESERT 10 YTD YTD LANCASTER AB R H BI AVG HIGH DESERT AB R H BI AVG D.Richar SS 4 0 1 0 .343 C.Morris DH 3 1 1 0 .287 N.Brown 2B 4 0 0 1 .293 P.Rasmusen PH 1 0 0 0 .219 C.Jackson LF 5 1 1 0 .342 K.Bibbs CF 5 2 3 0 .306 C.Quentin DH 4 2 2 0 .297 C.Crabbe 2B 3 2 1 0 .301 J.D'Antona 3B 4 0 1 0 .322 T.Hinton 1B 4 2 3 6 .322 S.Luellwitz 1B 4 1 1 0 .247 D.Boyd LF 3 2 1 2 .302 J.Ball RF 3 2 2 2 .288 S.Candelaria RF 4 0 2 0 .251 J.Ball CF 0 0 0 0 .288 F.Villanueva CAT 3 0 0 0 .237 P.Avlas CAT 3 0 2 2 .306 T.Farnsworth 3B 3 1 2 1 .200 B.Simon CF 2 0 0 0 .151 E.Cruz SS 3 0 0 1 .213 M.Morgan RF 1 0 0 0 .250 J.Harper PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 M.Morgan PH 1 0 0 0 .250 E.Henderson PIT 0 0 0 0 .167 J.Doyle PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 N.Slack PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 C.McMachen PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 H.Rivera PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 R.Holsten PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 C.Wells PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 J.Liebeck PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 M.Watson PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 TOTALS 35 6 10 5 TOTALS 32 10 13 10 LANCASTER 1 0 0 0 1 3 0 1 0- 6 10 2 HIGH DESERT 2 0 5 0 0 0 2 1 X-10 13 2 E--M.Morgan, J.Doyle, T.Farnsworth, E.Cruz. DP--LANCASTER 4, HIGH DESERT 1. LOB--LANCASTER 7, HIGH DESERT 4. 2B--C.Crabbe (11), T.Farnsworth (4). 3B--C.Jackson (2), J.Ball (5). HR--T.Hinton 2 (9), D.Boyd (9). CS--J.Ball. SF--P.Avlas, E.Cruz. SH--N.Brown. YTD IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA LANCASTER J.Doyle (L,0-2) 2.0 6 6 6 2 0 2 14.06 C.McMachen 1.1 3 1 1 3 2 0 4.07 R.Holsten 1.2 1 0 0 0 0 0 7.54 C.Wells 1.1 1 1 1 0 1 0 2.61 J.Liebeck 0.2 1 1 1 0 1 1 27.00 M.Watson 1.0 1 1 0 0 0 0 6.82 HIGH DESERT J.Harper 4.1 4 2 2 2 6 0 4.15 E.Henderson (W,3-4) 2.1 4 3 3 0 1 0 7.19 N.Slack 1.1 1 1 1 1 2 0 5.93 H.Rivera 1.0 1 0 0 0 1 0 4.82 WP--J.Harper. PB--P.Avlas. SO--D.Richar, N.Brown, C.Quentin, J.D'Antona 2, S.Luellwitz, J.Ball, P.Avlas, B.Simon, M.Morgan, C.Morris, K.Bibbs, C.Crabbe, S.Candelaria. BB--D.Richar, C.Quentin, J.Ball, C.Morris, C.Crabbe, D.Boyd, F.Villanueva, T.Farnsworth. T--2:46. A--1590High Desert Game Log: Mavericks kept hitting into double plays, otherwise it'd have been an even bigger night... www.sportsnetwork.com/mer...MEID=17914

No way any pitcher but Jeff Bennett cost us this one...

Final: Scranton / Wilkes-Barre (Phillies) 7, Indianapolis 1 The Tribe is now a shell of its former self... Indianapolis Box Score: Jim Rushford killed his old club in two recent series... GAME DATE: 6/10/04 SWB at IND SCRANTON-WB 7 AT INDIANAPOLIS 1 YTD YTD SCRANTON-WB AB R H BI AVG INDIANAPOLIS AB R H BI AVG A.Machado SS 4 2 2 1 .252 P.Bergeron CF 5 0 1 0 .214 M.Budzinski CF 4 0 2 2 .231 C.Magruder LF 4 0 1 1 .267 L.Collier LF 5 1 1 0 .326 C.Hart RF 5 0 1 0 .285 J.Rushford 1B 5 1 3 1 .327 C.Coste 3B 3 0 2 0 .329 S.Wooten 3B 4 1 2 1 .182 S.Sheldon 1B 3 0 1 0 .230 P.Ozuna 2B 5 0 1 0 .251 D.Reichert PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 M.Hernandez CAT 5 0 1 1 .208 J.Nunnally PH 1 0 0 0 .250 J.Padilla RF 3 1 0 0 .253 R.Giron PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 E.Yarnall PIT 1 1 1 1 .667 L.Figueroa 2B 3 0 0 0 .280 S.Lee PIT 1 0 0 0 .333 M.Erickson SS 2 0 0 0 .220 S.Lundberg PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 P.Stewart PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 B.Gemoll 1B 2 1 1 0 .238 A.Delgado CAT 4 0 1 0 .169 A.Hernandez PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 S.Scarbrough SS 3 0 0 0 .211 TOTALS 37 7 13 7 TOTALS 35 1 8 1 SCRANTON-WB 1 1 1 2 1 0 0 1 0- 7 13 3 INDIANAPOLIS 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1- 1 8 0 E--L.Collier, S.Wooten, S.Lee. DP--SCRANTON-WB 1, INDIANAPOLIS 2. LOB--SCRANTON-WB 10, INDIANAPOLIS 11. 2B--A.Machado (6), M.Budzinski (8), E.Yarnall (1), P.Bergeron (1), B.Gemoll (2), A.Delgado (2). 3B-- M.Budzinski (6). HR--A.Machado (3), S.Wooten (1). SB--L.Collier (9). CS--P.Ozuna, C.Coste. HBP--S.Wooten, J.Padilla, C.Magruder, C.Coste. SH--A.Hernandez. YTD IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA SCRANTON-WB E.Yarnall (W,2-0) 5.0 3 0 0 1 2 0 2.89 S.Lee 3.0 3 0 0 0 3 0 3.16 S.Lundberg 1.0 2 1 0 0 2 0 4.50 INDIANAPOLIS A.Hernandez (L,0-3) 4.0 7 5 5 2 3 1 7.91 P.Stewart 2.0 3 1 1 2 1 0 8.59 D.Reichert 2.0 2 1 1 1 2 1 1.43 R.Giron 1.0 1 0 0 0 0 0 4.91 HB--E.Yarnall, S.Lee, A.Hernandez, P.Stewart. WP--A.Hernandez. SO--L.Collier, J.Rushford, P.Ozuna, J.Padilla 2, S.Lee, S.Sheldon, J.Nunnally, L.Figueroa, M.Erickson, B.Gemoll, A.Delgado, S.Scarbrough. BB--A.Machado, M.Budzinski, J.Padilla, E.Yarnall 2, L.Figueroa. T--2:40. A--6613Indianapolis Game Log: Adrian Hernandez - yuck; Indy strands 'em as well as Huntsville tonight... www.sportsnetwork.com/mer...MEID=14159

Oh Canada! slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Baseba...92246.html Milwaukee likes home-Brews Bob Elliott explains how the Milwaukee Brewers are set to become Canada's ball team By BOB ELLIOTT -- Toronto Sun Say hello to Canada's team -- the Milwaukee Brewers. Maybe the Brewers aren't No. 1 in Pointe Aux Trembles, Que., or with those lining up to buy tickets in front of the SkyDome. Yet, in the 17-to-21, cleat-wearing, dream-chasing demographic, the Brewers are No. 1. The annual Major League Baseball draft of high schoolers and collegians concluded yesterday with the Atlanta Braves picking in the 50th round with the 1,498th overall selection. 37 CANADIANS OVERALL A total of 37 Canadians were picked, the least since 2000 when 35 were chosen. Clubs, or at least some, were operating without a net in the wake of the US work visa situation. The U.S. cap for any work visa was reached in March, so players can be signed only to 2005 contracts, but they can attend instructional league in the fall. Still, the Brewers drafted more than twice as many (seven) players as any other team. The Atlanta Braves and the Jays were next with three each. Look for Brewer caps coming to a diamond near you, although we think that Cheesehead triangle might be a little tough to deal with while wearing a batting helmet. Chatham's Doug Melvin is the Brewers general manager and Gord Ash, former Blue Jays GM, is Melvin's assistant. Dick Groch of Marysville, Mich., is the man responsible for putting together the scouting network across Canada. Groch's group includes Halifax's Brad Lalor, J.P. Roy of Quebec City, Kingston's Sam Dempster, Toronto's Paul Solarski, Richard Cleamons of Richmond Hill, Jay Lapp of London, Ont., Mike Labossiere of Brandon, Man., Dale Tilleman of Tabor, Man., and John Harr of Surrey, B.C. During his days with the New York Yankees, Groch signed Derek Jeter. The Brewers chose right-hander Craig Langille of Bedford, N.S., as the top Canuck high schooler in the seventh round, much like in 2001 when Steve Nelson of Cole Harbour, N.S., was the top high schooler going to the Dodgers. He bumped himself in his final two starts, a no-hitter in front of former Seattle Mariners GM Pat Gillick and Jays director of Canadian scouting Kevin Briand. Milwaukee also drafted lefty Andrew Albers of North Battleford, Sask., in the 12th; righty Alexandre Periard of St-Eustache, Que., in the 16th; righty Ryan Patterson of Duncan, B.C., in the 29th; righty Kris Dabrowiecki of Toronto in the 34th; catcher Chris Copat of Calgary in the 35th and reliever Jamie Metzner of Langley, B.C., in the 46th. As a reference point for where the Brewers' seven selections stand, the Anaheim Angels led all teams with five Canadians selected in 2003; the Dodgers were top dogs in 2002 with seven; the Jays had eight in 2001 and six in 2000. During that time frame, the Brewers drafted two Canadians: Caledon's Judd Richardson in 2001 and Thornhill's Michael Reiss in 2000. The top area high schooler was outfielder Tim Smith, selected in the 21st round by the New York Mets. Smith showed well for Team Ontario and the Team Canada Junior Team, so well that Mets scout Claude Pelletier selected him. Pelletier is the scout, who, while working for the Dodgers, found free-agent Eric Gagne, the reigning National League Cy Young award winner. Smith was followed closely by Waterloo infielder Steve Hornastaj of the Ontario Blue Jays. Toronto selected Bobby Scott of Victoria, B.C., in the 20th round, the highest Jays pick since Pickering's Mike Roga went in the 12th in 2002. The Jays' other Canadian picks were lefty Jon Hesketh in the 42nd and first baseman Jordan Lennerton, both of Langley, B.C. Looks like the Metzner kid goes by Jamie and not Louis as listed -- MassBrew

In progress: High Desert 7, Lancaster (Diamondbacks) 1, after four innings Kind of a shame the Brewers are opposite this one; it appears as though RHP Jesse Harper's Brewer organization debut is off to a solid start and deserves our attention tonight...

Final: Birmingham (White Sox) 8, Huntsville 1 Huntsville Box Score: Easily Chris Saenz' roughest outing of the season... GAME DATE: 6/10/04 BIR at HVL BIRMINGHAM 8 AT HUNTSVILLE 1 YTD YTD BIRMINGHAM AB R H BI AVG HUNTSVILLE AB R H BI AVG N.Martel LF 5 0 1 0 .317 R.Weeks 2B 4 0 1 1 .241 R.Yan 2B 4 2 2 0 .270 A.Gwynn CF 4 0 1 0 .248 M.Morse SS 5 1 2 0 .301 P.Fielder 1B 3 0 0 0 .271 A.McNeal 1B 5 2 3 6 .279 B.Nelson DH 4 0 2 0 .297 S.Bikowski RF 4 1 0 0 .263 R.Knox LF 4 0 1 0 .264 C.Maldonado DH 5 1 1 2 .260 C.Barnwell 3B 4 0 3 0 .238 N.Murphy CF 3 0 2 0 .294 J.Raburn RF 4 0 1 0 .236 R.Sasser 3B 4 0 0 0 .229 K.Johnson CAT 4 1 1 0 .233 C.Stewart CAT 2 1 0 0 .225 O.Chavez SS 4 0 1 0 .200 H.Phillips PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 C.Saenz PIT 0 0 0 0 .350 J.Fields PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 J.Shelley PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 B.McNichol PIT 0 0 0 0 .000 F.Rijo PIT 0 0 0 0 .333 TOTALS 37 8 11 8 TOTALS 35 1 11 1 BIRMINGHAM 0 1 0 2 4 0 1 0 0- 8 11 0 HUNTSVILLE 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1- 1 11 1 E--R.Weeks. DP--BIRMINGHAM 0, HUNTSVILLE 1. LOB--BIRMINGHAM 7, HUNTSVILLE 12. 2B--A.Gwynn (8), K.Johnson (7). HR--A.McNeal 2 (15), C.Maldonado (4). HBP--A.Gwynn, B.Nelson. SF--R.Weeks. YTD IP H R ER BB SO HR ERA BIRMINGHAM H.Phillips (W,5-5) 6.0 8 0 0 2 4 0 3.72 J.Fields 1.0 0 0 0 0 3 0 1.76 B.McNichol 2.0 3 1 1 0 1 0 1.98 HUNTSVILLE C.Saenz (L,4-4) 5.0 6 7 7 2 3 3 4.41 J.Shelley 3.0 5 1 1 3 1 0 2.25 F.Rijo 1.0 0 0 0 0 1 0 4.71 HB--H.Phillips, B.McNichol. SO--N.Martel, A.McNeal 2, C.Maldonado, R.Sasser, R.Weeks, A.Gwynn, P.Fielder, B.Nelson, R.Knox, J.Raburn, K.Johnson 2. BB--R.Yan, S.Bikowski, N.Murphy, C.Stewart 2, P.Fielder 2. T--2:46. A--2197Huntsville Game Log: Baserunners stranded throughout... www.sportsnetwork.com/mer...MEID=12002