battlekow

Interesting that Arias made the Helena cut but Garcia didn't.

Cape lefty Costello signs with Brewers Russ Charpentier Former Barnstable High School baseball star Matt Costello signed with the Milwaukee Brewers this week after being drafted in the 35th round. Costello, the 1,066th player drafted, will pitch for the Brewers team in the Arizona League, a rookie level league. "It's starting to wear off," the 6-1, 190-pound southpaw said yesterday from Phoenix, when asked if he was still on a high from being drafted. "Right now I'm not sure when I'll pitch. I'll probably throw Saturday or Sunday. I threw a bullpen today and it felt good." Costello was named a Division II All-American after a huge spring at Valdosta State. He went 9-3, 3.67 on the hill, and hit a whopping .462 with 11 homers. He tied an NCAA Division II record with 13 consecutive hits in March. But he's been drafted as a pitcher and understands the reality of his situation. "I'm a 22-year-old," he said. "I basically have to do real well to keep abreast. I'll get stronger and try to prepare." During the past two summers, Costello played in the Cape Cod Baseball League - with Cotuit in 2007 and Bourne in '08 - as a temporary player, before switching to the New England Collegiate Baseball League, where threw 35 innings and hit .315. http://images.capecodonline.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?Site=CC&Date=20090618&Category=SPORTS&ArtNo=90617030&Ref=AR&MaxW=570&MaxH=370&title=1&border=0 (Valdosta State)

Bellbrook junior eyes Major League Baseball draft Standout player hopes to follow Classics' teammate lead Dave Long BELLBROOK - The Major League Baseball amateur draft is no longer something that Jon Thacker just reads about online or in text messages. A Bellbrook High School junior, he is getting to know what the process is all about through Austin Pressley, a teammate on the Dayton Patterson Park Classics summer baseball team. Pressley, a recent graduate of Franklin-Monroe High School, was taken by the Milwaukee Brewers in the 23rd round of the amateur draft June 9-10. The 706th player taken, the 6-foot-5 right-handed pitcher has to make a decision. He could sign with the Brewers and end up in a rookie league or continue playing with Patterson Park and at Sinclair Community College. "It's different when one of your teammates get drafted than just hearing or reading about it," said Thacker. "You see what they and their parents are going through. All the things that go into deciding whether to go pro or not." Thacker, a pitcher/infielder, could be in the same position as Pressley in the next few years. He is one of the area's top baseball prospects. This spring he hit .515 for Bellbrook with 28 RBIs. He was one of two area players to make the Ohio High School Baseball Coaches Association Division II All-Ohio team (honorable mention). He was on the coaches All-Area squad and first team in the Southwestern Buckeye League all-league team. Plenty of scouts and college coaches will see him play this summer either in one of the 60-plus games Patterson Park has scheduled or in scouting showcases. "I'm like every other baseball player. I hope I get drafted," said Thacker. "Seeing what Austin is going through and talking to him gives you a good idea of what to expect if it happens." A utility worker Unlike Pressley, who has a 90 mph fastball, Thacker is more of a utility infielder who also pitches. His best asset is his bat. "Jon is an outstanding athlete so he can do a lot of things," said Bellbrook coach Tony Chitwood. "He's got great bat speed, a great eye and is a good contact hitter. "He hits for power and average. He didn't get to see a lot of good pitches this spring because teams would pitch around him. In summer ball they can't do that. So he'll get to swing the bat." Thacker played mostly first base for Bellbrook. For Patterson Park he has been at second and third base. "It doesn't matter where I play as long as I'm in the lineup," he said. "I guess first base would be my best spot when I'm not pitching. "I don't have a blazing fastball like Austin, but I throw in the upper 80s, have good breaking stuff and my control is good."

Low A team riding high with Brewers Wisconsin Timber Rattlers see attendance boost with new pact Cash Kruth APPLETON, Wis. -- Rob Zerjav had high expectations for the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers' first season as a Brewers affiliate. Even so, when Zerjav, who is in his seventh season as the president of the Brewers' new low Class A club, started fielding ticket requests for Opening Day, he was surprised at the number of people he had to turn away. "We sold out Opening Day for the first time ever," Zerjav said. "The biggest attendance was when [Fox Cities Stadium] opened in 1995, and that was about 3,700. We were at 5,500 this year, which is capacity. Literally, we could have sold probably 8,000 tickets that game." Although the April 9 opener was the first official game for the Timber Rattlers as a Brewers affiliate, the excitement of a potential relationship between the Appleton/Fox Cities community and Milwaukee started well before Opening Day. In fact, nearly a year and a half before the affiliation became official on Oct. 1, 2008, the possibility was brought to Zerjav's attention. A local newspaper reporter wrote that the Timber Rattlers' 16-year affiliation with the Mariners and the Brewers' contract with the West Virginia Power (Charleston, W.Va.) both ended in 2008. Once the word got out in the community that a Timber Rattlers/Brewers relationship was a possibility, Zerjav started hearing from fans. Due to Minor League rules, he couldn't talk to any other club while under contract with Seattle. But as the contract drew to an end, he started asking fans what they thought of a potential relationship with the state's only Major League team. The more people he talked to, the easier the decision became. "I really encouraged fans to give me their opinion and I took it all in," said Zerjav, who noted that numerous fans had shown up to games wearing Brewers gear in years past. "I don't want to say it made the decision really easy, but my job is to sell tickets and your fans are saying they want the Brewers -- and it wasn't just a majority, it was everybody. It was literally every single person I talked to told me I needed to do this." Fans have stuck to their word, and the Timber Rattlers are having one of their best attendance years ever. The average attendance per game is up by more than 1,000 fans through the same point last year. Through 24 games this season, an average of 3,259 fans passed through the Fox Cities Stadium turnstiles, compared to an average of 2,001 in 2008. On June 12, the Timber Rattlers broke the 100,000 attendance mark in the first half of the Midwest League season for the first time in their history. Angie Ceranski, the Timber Rattlers' vice president of marketing, said the new affiliation came at the perfect time. "The Brewers were coming off that awesome season last year and the economy as it is right now, and we are very, very fortunate to have this happen now," Ceranski said. "We are staying very steady where we're at financially and with the response from the community." The front offices of the two teams also have worked together with co-promotions, which have benefited both teams, as well as fans. There is an ongoing co-branded ticket package where fans can get a Brewers ticket, a Timber Rattlers ticket and a T-shirt for $15. There is a certain block of games for each team that fans can choose from, and Zerjav said those ticket sales have far exceeded expectations. On Sundays, the Timber Rattlers wear Brewers-themed jerseys with the Timber Rattlers logo and Brewers colors, and members of the game-day staff also wear shirts with the Brewers logo on it. The Timber Rattlers also played a game at Miller Park earlier this season with nearly 18,000 fans in attendance. "It was great exposure for us, a great revenue generator for the both of us, a great experience for the players and a great opportunity for fans in Milwaukee to see the young guys," Zerjav said. "It was just a real win, win, win for everybody." The boost in the attendance numbers and fan support in the community also has affected the players. Corey Kemp, who played for the Brewers' Rookie-level affiliate in Helena, Mont., last season, said fans make a huge difference during the grinding baseball season. "Sometimes the later the season goes, you kind of drag to the field ... and it wears on you when you get about 50 games in and you come to the ballpark and there are maybe 800 fans there and you see empty seats," Kemp said. "When you come here, you might wake up and be a little tired, but you come and see 5,000 people and that extra adrenaline helps." The players are also noticed when they go out in the community. "We walked into Wal-Mart the other day and the greeter was like, 'Hey guys!' She couldn't remember our names but she knew we were Timber Rattlers and it was interesting to walk in there and get noticed," outfielder Erik Miller said. "I actually saw her the other day here when I was in an autograph booth and she walked up and was like, "Hi! Do you remember me from Wal-Mart?' It was pretty cool." Nine months into a four-year player development deal, both parties are happy with the results thus far. "I think we would like to have a better record on the field there, but other than that, it has been a very successful relationship," Brewers assistant general manager Gord Ash said. "We have been able to use Appleton as a sort of springboard for some of our players out of [extended spring training], and the facility, of course, is top-notch." Both Ceranski and Zerjav said they hope 2009 is just the beginning of a long affiliation. "In talking with the Brewers -- you can sign a two-year or a four-year deal -- and when we sat down [in September] we decided on the four-year deal," Zerjav said. "But when both parties look at this, we look at this as a long-term relationship. With the way things are going so far, I'd say [continuing the relationship is] a no-brainer." http://milwaukee.brewers.mlb.com/images/2009/06/18/rgmUevPC.jpg Nearly 18,000 fans came to Miller Park to see the Timber Rattlers in April. (Wisconsin Timber Rattlers)

Really surprising in this era of shrinking newspaper coverage to see an article on Escobar from the opposition's newspaper, but it's certainly welcome. We don't get to hear quotes directly from Alcides very often. Prospect braces for promotion Matt Peterson The braces on his teeth and the mild case of acne make Alcides Escobar look like any other high school or college student. In reality, Escobar is the top prospect in the Milwaukee Brewers' organization and among the top prospects in all of baseball, according to mlb.com, Baseball America and just about every other media outlet that covers the game. Escobar came away with just one walk in five plate appearances in Nashville's 8-7, 11-inning loss to Oklahoma City on Thursday night at AT&T Bricktown Ballpark. Escobar is hitting a solid .297 in his first full season of Triple-A. But where Escobar dazzles is in the field. He lasered a throw to home plate in Thursday night's game, which wiped out a RedHawk runner at the plate. "I'm feeling good," the 22-year-old said. "I'm playing every day. I'm trying to work into some good at bats. I'm hitting too many ground balls, so I need to work on that, but overall this has been a good season for me." The Brewers have suffered some injuries this season, including the loss of second baseman Rickie Weeks. That forced some shuffling in the infield. The organization even worked Escobar at second base a few times after Weeks' injury. "I can learn to play second, but my natural position is shortstop. That's where I have the most chance for success," he said. Given the injuries and the shuffling, the question he's asked most is when, not if. His arrival at Miller Park in Milwaukee seems all but a certainty at some point this season. Escobar isn't a power hitter, with just three homers on the season, but he makes lots of contact and can steal bases. He stole 34 last season. "I'm waiting for that. I think I'm ready to play in the big leagues," Escobar said. "But that's their decision. I just have to wait and see what happens. I'm 22 years old, I'm playing with guys who are in their late 20s and their 30s, so that's a good experience." He has talked with top-hitting prospect Mat Gamel, who was called up shortly before interleague play began. Gamel hasn't been a huge success since his promotion, but he has played steady defense. Most importantly, to Escobar, Gamel has provided some intel on what it's like in the big leagues. "Mat has told me to just relax and see what happens," Escobar said. "He said it's a lot of fun in the big leagues, and that's where I want to be. I just don't let the pressure get to me." Milwaukee Brewers prospect Alcides Escobar, right, jumps over Oklahoma City RedHawks base stealer Julio Borbon during Thursday night's game at AT&T Bricktown Ballpark. Escobar is playing for the Brewers' top farm team, the Nashville Sounds. (OKLAHOMAN PHOTO BY BRYAN TERRY) http://photos.newsok.com/2/showimage/581584/gallery_photo

Did they just now put the videos behind a subscriber firewall? I watched the Indians video as well but now can't watch any of them, Brewers included.

Nashville scored a run in the top of the 11th, but Sam Narron gave up two in the bottom.

Is Aaron Tullo in the 17th round of 2006 the highest pick we've failed to sign since Jemile Weeks? Connor Hoehn (21st round) and Marcus Knecht (23rd round) were the top unsigned picks in the 2007 and 2008 drafts, respectively, I think. I agree, Howell is the guy I want more than anyone.

Mike Vass deserves some compliments for a 2-2 game with three walks and a double.

Really cool. Thanks for sharing that, colby. I didn't realize Hall was so inexperienced on the mound. They seem to think of Howell & Gennett as fallback options if some of the top picks (Davis, Hall, Richardson) don't sign, but I wonder if the rumors the Brewers trying to work out an over-slot deal with a prep arm before the draft don't portend some more extravagant spending, relatively speaking.

Salome and Green both went deep. Awesome.

Lawrie apparently has a tight groin and was worried he'd pull it.

Shortstop joins pro ranks Daniel Chalcraft Kyle Dhanani was a bundle of mixed emotions and frazzled nerves as he listened hopefully for his name to be called during last week's Major League Baseball draft. And then, finally, relief, when the Milwaukee Brewers selected him in the 43rd round. "I was pretty nervous, and when my name came up I was pretty relieved (since) I didn't expect to go that early," said the 21-year-old Thompson Rivers University shortstop, who grew up playing ball in the White Rock-South Surrey Baseball Association and still calls the Peninsula home. "It didn't fully sink in (at first). It is a big step to be moving forward and it is big for my career... it's a dream come true." The six-foot-two, 195-pound infielder signed a pro contract almost immediately, and has his ticket punched for Helena, Mont., where he'll play in the Pioneer League for Brewers' advanced rookie league team. After a stellar campaign at Thompson Rivers University - where he batted .356 - Dhanani was on the radar screen of a number of Major League teams prior to the draft. In addition to his high batting average, he also hit four home runs and stole 30 bases and was named to the first-team all conference team. His performance caught the eye of Peninsula native Marty Lehn, who happens to be the Western Canadian scout for the Brewers. Brewers' scouts think Dhanani has the ability to play second base, shortstop, or third base in the pros - similar to current Brewers utility infielder Craig Counsel. "(Kyle) has got a big league arm and above average baseball instincts," said Ray Chadwick, the head coach at TRU. "When he got here three years ago he worked hard and it paid off for him." Dhanani - who was the second former White Rock Triton selected by Milwaukee, after Chad Stang went in the eighth round - was "the offensive spark plug for our team," Chadwick added. Earlier in his playing days, Dhanani spent time at Lehn's Big League Experience baseball camp in Oliver, and he also spent time as a youngster playing under former Little League coach Al McNabb. "He was focused, easy to coach, and of all the kids, he was the one that I could see making it to the majors," McNabb said. http://media.bclocalnews.com/images/400*362/25683whiterockdhanani-01.jpg With Brewers' scout Marty Lehn watching, Kyle Dhanani signs his first professional contract.

MLB drafts 3 Keller ISD playersRandy Sachs Three players with Keller ISD ties were tabbed by Major League Baseball teams during last week's entry draft. Picked up in the 21st round by the Milwaukee Brewers was 2009 Fossil Ridge graduate Brian Vigo-Suarez, as a shortstop. Vigo-Suarez was the 646th overall pick. The Cincinnati Reds picked up former Keller player and recent Lubbock Christian University graduate Will Stramp. He was the 989th player selected and although he switched to the outfield in his senior season at LCU, the Reds have initially noted they see Stramp at his previous position of third base, but that second or the outfield are still potential slots. Trading in his Keller Indians jersey for a potential Cleveland Indians uniform is Max Muncy. He was taken at pick number 1,235 as a catcher. For Vigo-Suarez and Muncy, decisions are still to be made as to whether to take a pro offer or to follow through on collegiate commitments. Vigo-Suarez has signed with Navarro Junior College, while Muncy has committed to Baylor. Both said they will continue their summer league seasons and will wait for offers from their respective teams to weigh against playing college ball. Once they enter college they would not be eligible for another pro draft until after their second year of college enrollment. Nonetheless, the excitement for all three is understandable, as a childhood dream could be fulfilled. Vigo-Suarez and his family moved to Keller at the start of high school from Puerto Rico to make the most of opportunities of education and baseball. "We're really surprised about the round," Vigo-Suarez said of the 21st round selection. "My parents are very happy and really proud." The same pride and excitement was conveyed by Vigo-Suarez's head coach at Ridge, Doug Dulany, who commented that he had received some attention earlier in the fall, but was also surprised by the higher round selection. "I'm really happy and proud of him," Dulany said. Dulany's previous highest-round draft pick was six years ago when a player went in the 48th round.

Everything X touches turns to gold. Aguilar turned in a Jeffress-y inning, walking a couple guys and then, after an error that should have gotten him out of it, allowing a huge XBH: Birmingham Bottom 8th Pitcher Change: Omar Aguilar replaces Mike McClendon. David Cook flies out to center fielder Adam Stern. Stefan Gartrell strikes out swinging. Javier Colina singles on a ground ball to left fielder Drew T. Anderson. With C. J. Lang batting, Javier Colina steals (1) 2nd base. C. J. Lang walks. Coaching visit to mound. John Shelby walks. Javier Colina to 3rd. C. Lang to 2nd. C. J. Retherford reaches on force attempt, throwing error by shortstop John Raburn. Javier Colina scores. C. Lang to 3rd. John Shelby to 2nd. With Tyler Flowers batting, wild pitch by Omar Aguilar, C. J. Lang scores. John Shelby to 3rd. C. Retherford to 2nd. Tyler Flowers homers (9) on a fly ball to left center field. John Shelby scores. C. Retherford scores. Brandon Allen flies out to right fielder Freddy Parejo. Man, he's been terrible this year.

Schreiber undecided Dave Boehler Kimberly senior Brad Schreiber has about two months to decide whether to sign with the Milwaukee Brewers or play at Purdue University. "I'm keeping my options open, so you never know what can happen," said Schreiber, who allowed three earned runs and 11 hits in a 4-3 loss to Wilmot. "I have to make my decision by Aug. 15, I believe [it's actually the 17th]. I really can't say right now." Schreiber was drafted by Milwaukee in the 42nd round last week. "It was pretty sweet because ever since I was a little kid, my favorite team has been the Milwaukee Brewers," Schreiber said. He will play in a wood-bat league for Menasha this summer after three years on varsity at Kimberly. "He continues to get better," Kimberly coach Ryan McGinnis said. "He's still got a ways to go and he knows that. Mechanics-wise, he needs to get more consistent. But he's got an outstanding breaking ball, obviously a very good fastball and he's got the development of a curveball."

Patience pays off for Jones County standout Tyler Roberts Jonathan Heeter GRAY - Tyler Roberts had his patience tested June 10. The Jones County catcher waited through nine rounds of the Major League Baseball draft to hear his name called by the Milwaukee Brewers in the 10th round. The recent graduate thought he could be drafted as early as the third round, so the wait wore on him. But Roberts, the Telegraph's All-Middle Georgia GHSA baseball player of the year for the second straight year, was accustomed to being patient. Roberts started getting walked regularly as a sophomore, and the trend continued through the past two years. He walked nearly a third of the time he stepped to the plate this season. It meant that he had to focus on driving that one good pitch he might see in a game. "A lot of games, I knew I was going to get one at bat where I'd see good pitches," Roberts said. "It was usually the first at bat, and then I would get walked two or three times." But as the season went on, Roberts got more opportunities as Zack Blount developed into a dangerous clean-up hitter. "It was a big stress relief," Roberts said. "Zach started making people pay for walking me. I still got walked, but not as much as before." Roberts finished the season hitting .584 with six doubles, 13 home runs, 51 RBI and 37 walks. Roberts led Middle Georgia in batting average, home runs and RBI. "It's almost like watching Barry Bonds," Jones County head coach Barry Veal said. "You have all the walks, and then when he sees a pitch and hits a single up the middle, you think, 'That's it?' It just shows you what everyone expects to see out of him." Jones County fans grew accustomed to watching Roberts hitting tape-measure blasts around the railroad tracks that sit more than 400 feet behind centerfield. He hit 46 home runs in his prep career, standing alongside Justin Tyler and Rondell White as one of the greatest hitters in school history. "I've been coaching high school baseball for 20 years, and this is by far the best offensive season I've ever seen," Veal said. "He is such a great hitter and never gets frustrated. He stays patient and produces." Roberts also stood out defensively. Veal said Roberts only yielded 10 stolen bases during the past two years. He averaged about one pickoff at first base per game and picked up multiple runners at second base.

Third round.

Wednesday Dish: Escobar, Salome Getting Up To Speed In Nashville Jim Shonerd One year ago, Alcides Escobar and Angel Salome were part of a prospect-laden lineup at Double-A Huntsville, a lineup that also included Matt LaPorta and Mat Gamel and was easily the most prolific offense in the Southern League. These days, Gamel is in the majors and LaPorta is in the Indians' organization after being the centerpiece of the package for C.C. Sabathia, while Escobar and Salome have been trying to find their way with Triple-A Nashville. Escobar has been answering doubts about his hitting for three years now, beginning with when he hit .325 in 63 games for high Class A Brevard County and earned a promotion to Double-A as a 20-year-old in 2007. He returned to Hunstville last year and was even better, leading the Southern League in hits (179) and finishing third in the batting race with a .328/.363/.434 line in 546 at-bats. However, the jump to Triple-A didn't go quite as smoothly for Escobar, a shortstop signed out of Venezuela for $33,000 in 2003. He hit .276 in April, but his average has been climbing ever since. He batted .306 in May and is hitting a scorching .340 so far in 53 June at-bats, bringing his line for the year to .303/.342/.432. "He came into his own last year on the offensive side," Nashville manager Don Money said. "He's always been a well-oriented defensive player. Last year, he hit well over .300 and played very well. This year, he got off to a little bit of a rough start, offensively, but he's picked it up and he's hitting over .300 now and playing solid in the field. He's just a good player. He's maturing into a major league player. "Going to Triple-A, you've had some pitchers that were pitchers, not throwers. They would throw breaking balls when they were behind in the count or in 3-2 counts and you can't sit back and look at fastballs all the time. It takes a while for a young player to pick that up." Power isn't Escobar's calling card offensively. He has only three home runs all season and 18 for his career in 2,409 at-bats. Of course, there are other ways to contribute to a big league offense, and that's where the focus has been for Escobar and his coaches in Nashville. He's maintained his gap-to-gap approach, as evidenced by his being tied for the Sounds team leads in both doubles (17) and triples (4), and continued using his plus speed. Escobar improved his base stealing aptitude last year, going 34-for-42, an 81 percent success rate that easily bested his previous career high of 70 percent, and he's picked up where he left off with Nashville, going 25-for-31 to rank third in the Pacific Coast League. Escobar has also worked hard on his bunting, as he leads the PCL in sacrifices with 13 and has beaten out a number of bunt singles. Defensively, Escobar has come as advertised. He's made nine errors on the season, but four of those came in a four-game span, when the Sounds had him play second base just let him get a look at the position in case he's asked to play there at the next level. "(Second base) is a little different with how the ball comes off the bat," Money said. "He can play it though. He played about seven games there and had about four or five errors. Most of them were throwing just because it's a different kind of a throw, that's all. Defensively, he's the real deal." Salome's offense has likewise been slow to come around, as he's hitting only .255/.316/.359 for the year and .267 in June. However, there's not a whole lot Money and the Sounds coaches can do, given the righthanded swinging Salome's unorthodox style in which he steps toward third base and flies open. But there's no arguing Salome's results coming into this year. He won the SL batting title in 2008 with a .360 average and was a .322/.370/.497 career hitter. "I don't know how he does it," Money said. "You can't teach it. You can't change it, so you just let him go do his business. I think it all boils down to getting to Triple-A, learning the pitchers, learning how they're going to pitch you. That's what young guys have to do." Despite his offensive struggles in the Triple-A, the biggest obstacle the 23-year-old catcher has to overcome to reach the majors is his defense, particularly his game-calling. Salome has a strong arm and blocks balls well, but he has a tendency to fall in love with calling certain pitches and strays from the game plan for attacking certain hitters. "He just needs more experience," Money said. "He's halfway through his first year of Triple-A and at times, he looks real good. At other times, he needs a lot more help. It's just going to take time with him." Both were September callups last year and should expect the same this year, although the pressure on the Brewers to promote Escobar sooner could mount if he continues his hitting success with Nashville while J.J. Hardy (currently batting .212/.292/.325) continues to scuffle in the majors. But Money cautioned against expecting too much out of Escobar if he were promoted in the near future, stating he would need time to get his feet wet in the majors just as Mat Gamel has with Milwaukee and Escobar did in Triple-A.

MLB draft 2009: Oregon recruit Altobelli drafted by Milwaukee in 49th roundJeff Smith Oregon recruit J.J. Altobelli was selected by the Milwaukee Brewers on Thursday in the 49th round of the Major League Baseball first-year player draft. Altobelli, who was the 1,486th overall selection, is a high school shortstop from Newport Beach, Calif. The 6-foot-1, 190-pounder batted .455 as a senior and .456 as a junior. Oregon coach George Horton also raved about Altobelli's defense and expects him to compete for a starting job if he chooses to come to Eugene. Horton said Altobelli is a little under the radar because of shoulder surgery one year ago that limited his defensive playing time. Even while recovering from the surgery, Altobelli remained in games as a designated hitter and excelled. Here's his complete UO recruiting bio: J.J. Altobelli SS ? R/R 6-1 190 Newport Beach,Calif./Woodbridge HSScouting Report: Led Woodbridge HS and finished fourth in the Sea View League with a .455 (40-for-88) batting average in 2009...also finished fifth in the SVL with a .659 slugging percentage and fourth with nine stolen bases...scored 29 runs with 17 RBIs, nine doubles, three triples and one home run...as a junior in 2008, led Woodbridge and the SVL batting .456...named first-team all-Sea View League and second-team all-county by OCVarsity.com...in 2008 had 41 hits, 26 runs scored, 13 RBIs, four home runs, a .515 on-base percentage and .722 slugging percentage.

I forgot we were supposed to be noting these in the Transactions thread: Second-round prep catcher Cameron Garfield has signed. Kind of odd that he's headed to Helena, no? Max Walla is going to Arizona.

No Lawrie today?

It's not so much what's in the water, but the water that's in the air.

Draft day brings different feelings for Terriers Bill Doucet Chandler McLaren and Mitch Clarke are at the opposite ends of the spectrum. McLaren is just happy to be drafted by a major league baseball team, while Clark is wondering why he slipped down the ladder to the 19th round, when he was projected to go much higher. McLaren, a 17-year-old outfielder with the Terriers, wasn't even ranked by the MLB Central Scouting Bureau, but he turned a few heads in March in Florida when scouts were lining up to see teammates Clarke and Jeff Hunt. Hunt was drafted in the 15th round by the Los Angeles Dodgers last week and Clarke was taken by the Cincinnati Reds. The Guelph native caught the eye of the Cincinnati Reds, Milwaukee Brewers and Seattle Mariners, and come draft day, the Brewers grabbed him in the 29th round. The Brewers didn't even invite him to a pre-draft camp in fear that another team might hear about him and scoop him up. That was before they realized two other teams coveted him, too. "They were the only scouts who really saw me because I didn't have a lot of exposure," McLaren said near the end of a Terriers 8-3 loss on Sunday in Game 1 of a doubleheader against the Ontario Blue Jays at Riverside Park. "All the other teams know what players you bring to your camp, so Jay (Lapp) was talking to my dad saying that he didn't want to bring too much attention to me and kind of hide me from other teams. But then he found out later Cincinnati and Seattle asked. "It was nice (to get drafted). It was kind of unexpected at the same time because I was only put on the radar in March, so it happened really fast." McLaren knew that it would be one of two teams that would take him, so going to the Brewers wasn't much of a shock. "It was between Seattle and Milwaukee, because I had a pretty good connection with the Seattle scout. Wayne (Norton) and Jay were the two scouts that always talked to my dad, and Jay came to my house to talk to my parents and tell me what the draft was like and the minor leagues." The question now is: what to do? McLaren can sign with the Brewers or continue looking at his NCAA options. "I'm not 100 per cent sure," he said. "I have a late birthday so I can come back and play another year with the Terriers, too. But if I did end up signing I could actually do two years of rookie ball, so that would work out well because you get a lot of repetition when you play. I'll just see how it plays out."

JSU's Miller signs with Brewers Times Staff Reports Former Hokes Bluff and Jacksonville State pitcher Mitch Miller has signed a free-agent contract with the Milwaukee Brewers, the major league team announced Monday. Miller was a four-year letterman for the Gamecocks and led the team with 62 career appearances on the mound. He posted an 0-1 mark this season with a 6.37 ERA while earning saves against Middle Tennessee and UAB. The senior threw 121 1/3 innings during his Gamecock career with 82 strikeouts and seven career saves, while posting a 3-5 career record. A 6-foot-3 right-hander, Miller was recognized as a Class 4A first-team all-state selection following his senior season at Hokes Bluff in 2004. Miller becomes the third Jacksonville State player to be picked by a Major League Baseball team this year, joining third-round draft pick Ben Tootle (Minnesota Twins) and 36th round draft selection Jason Zylstra (Minnesota Twins). http://www.gadsdentimes.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?Site=GT&Date=20090616&Category=NEWS&ArtNo=906169988&Ref=AR JSU | Steve Latham