The Pastime Baseball League

[EMSoccerCoach]

APRIL 18, 2017

Enter Sand-man
Chicago's Sanders first to 150-win plateau

CHICAGO -- Hitmen starter Ben Sanders has been the model of consistency since the Pastime Baseball League began in 2009. He has won at least 18 games in each season except his injury-shortened 2013 campaign, reaching 20 wins three times (Dontrelle Willis, who has done it twice, is the only pitcher to have done it more than once).

And so it's no surprise that Sanders became the first pitcher in PBL history to reach the 150-win milestone, doing so today in a 3-2 win over the Bangers.

"It's a pleasure to watch him work," says teammate Len Barker. "He has a gameplan and he just sticks to it and executes. He doesn't lead in strikeouts, doesn't blow guys away. But he throws strikes, keeps the ball in the yard and goes deep. There's not much else to it."

Sanders passed on much of the credit. "I've had the honor of playing on some really good teams, both here and in Arizona," Sanders said. "In the end, though, what I want is for some of these wins to bring a championship."

Sanders signed a five-year deal before last season, so he'll have his chance to fulfill that wish in Chicago, where's he'll likely reach the 200-win mark by the time the deal is done.

"I don't think that far ahead," Sanders said. "Right now, win 151 is all that matters."

Ben Sanders

[EMSoccerCoach]

APRIL 29, 2017

Cobb Hobbled Again
Idols star disabled again

ORLANDO -- It's happened again. The 'Peach' is bruised...more than bruised, actually.

The Los Angeles Idols announced today that Ty Cobb has torn a ligament in his ankle that will sideline him for somewhere in the vicinity of two months. Injuries are nothing new for Cobb, whose brilliance at the plate only adds to the frustration.

When the Los Angeles Idols reached rock-bottom going 63-99 in 2013, their hope was a strong draft class could bring them a new spark, new life. When they took Ty Cobb with the third pick in that November's amateur draft, they felt fortunate.

He was two-time batter of the month that year, winner of Southern League Rookie of the Year honors, and hit .359 - the fifth highest mark at the time in PBL history.

When 2015 came, Cobb suffered a rough start but picked up the pace, only to miss most of the last six weeks with a pair of injuries - an oblique strain and an ankle sprain - that both sent him to the DL.

Last season saw Cobb off to another great start. Then, on May 29 against St. Louis, Cobb went 5-for-5, but on his last at bat he slipped rounding first, ultimately tearing the meniscus in his knee. He returned in late August and hit brilliantly again. The team had traded for Oscar Charleston at the deadline, and L.A. fans imagined what having Charleston and Cobb in the lineup together could be like.

They saw it in September, and it was wonderful. Then Cobb suffered another oblique strain that sidelined him in the final week. He came back and on the last game of the season, he suffered another ankle sprain, one that ended his season.

He got his PBL Championship ring, but those close to Cobb say it gnawed at him that he wasn't a part of the brilliant playoff run that saw the Idols come back from two 3-1 series deficits to win the title. He hit .378 on the season, and won a ring, but was left unsatisfied.

Cobb, 22, said during this spring he was completely healthy, and he hit .371 during spring training. Now, he and his .308 average head back to the disabled list, hoping for another chance to take the field and be great. But as the injuries mount in his history, the question is how long can he stay the player he is?

Ty Cobb

[EMSoccerCoach]

May 1, 2017

Stargell Slams Charlotte
Memphis slugger rips three homers in win

MEMPHIS -- "Pops" has plenty to spare.

Memphis' Willie Stargell continues to assert himself as one of the PBL's premier run producers. Tonight, Stargell slammed a trio of homers as the Strummers rolled to an 8-5 win over the Charlotte Cougars.

Stargell, who has driven in more than 100 runs each of the past three seasons, went 4-for-4 on the night, improving his average to .327, while blasting shots 5, 6 and 7 for the last place Strummers, who have started the season 8-18.

"Good game for me and the team," Stargell said afterward. "Hopefully this can start something big for us."

Willie Stargell

[EMSoccerCoach]

May 4, 2017

Big Blow For Boston
Elbow surgery ends Tommy John's season

MEMPHIS -- Limited by a lackluster offense, Boston's Tommy John has had to battle to keep his team in games since his 2013 rookie campaign. He's put up a sub-4.00 ERA each season, shook off a 21-loss season in 2014, and become one of the league's steadiest pitchers.

This season, he seems to have made the leap. After Wednesday's 5-2 in at Memphis, John is 5-0 with a 2.23 ERA, and he hasn't allowed a homer in 48 1/3 innings. Boston, which stumbled out of the gate, has now won 6 of 7 and taken a 1-game lead over Louisville and Philadelphia.

Just like that, the season changed.

John left after 84 pitches, seeming strong, against Memphis. Then came report John felt discomfort. Then there were rumblings he would miss a start.

Now it's been revealed John has ruptured a ligament in his elbow that will require surgery, ending his season. The hope is that John will be ready for spring training next year.

"We're going to go in, get it fixed and get to work," the 25-year-old John said. "Not much else I can do except work to get back and pull for my teammates."

The hope is that Catfish Hunter, signed after being released by a Louisville team alarmed at his difficulty coming back from a back injury that ruined his season last year, can fill the void. But the 2015 All-Star seems a shell of his former self, and at this point is more a hope than a certainty.

Tommy John

[EMSoccerCoach]

May 31, 2017

Remy's streak ends
Orlando 2B falls short of PBL record hitting streak

ORLANDO -- It was a great run while it lasted, but in the end Jerry Remy came up four games short.

The Orcas' feisty second baseman had his 29-game hitting streak snapped tonight by Chicago's Ben Sanders.

"I've had a nice run," Remy said. "At least it was ended by one of the best in the game."

Remy, currently hitting .305, fell four games shy of the Pastime Baseball League's alltime mark of 33 games, set last year by rookie Richie Ashburn of Louisville. Remy tied the old record of 29, set by Ginger Beaumont with Sacramento in 2010 and matched by Jimmy Rollins with the Alabama Airmen back in 2011.

Jerry Remy

[EMSoccerCoach]

JUNE 5, 2017

Thompson joins 1,500 hit club
Arizona star is 4th to reach plateau

SACRAMENTO -- In what should be a landmark season for him, Arizona's Sam Thompson reached the first milestone tonight, becoming the fourth player in PBL history to amass 1,500 hits.

Thompson lined a one-out single to left in the first inning of a 6-3 loss to Sacramento, ripping a 1-1 fastball from Steve Rogers through the hole at short.

Los Angeles first baseman Dan Brouthers picked up his 1,500th hit in April, joining New Orleans' Jake Beckley and his fellow Idol Oscar Charleston.

"Just doing my job," Thompson said afterward. "A win would have made it easier to enjoy."

Thompson, a career .298 hitter, is batting .282 with 9 homers and 39 RBI. The PBL's alltime home run leader at 273, Thompson also is the career leader in RBIs at 979, and figures to reach the 1,000 RBI plateau sometime in July.

In May, Thompson, 33, signed a three-year extension that will keep him in Arizona through the 2020 season. He left New Orleans, where he played for six seasons, to come to Arizona after the 2014 campaign.

Sam Thompson

[kenyan_cheena]

Some nice articles there, EM. Great stuff.

[EMSoccerCoach]

Originally Posted by kenyan_cheena

Some nice articles there, EM. Great stuff.

Thanks, KC. Just trying to put a few things in there in between the sims to the All-Star Break and then the sim to Sept. 1 before I start doing the day-to-day pennant race stuff.

[EMSoccerCoach]

JUNE 13, 2017

Connor reaches milestone
Chicago first baseman gets 1,500th hit where he started

NEW YORK -- They haven't forgotten him here. And tonight they made sure he knew it.

Chicago's Roger Connor returned the place he called home for six stellar seasons, and was greeted by a two-minute standing ovation as the scoreboard flashed that the athletic lefty's sixth-inning leadoff double off the Heroes' John Lackey was his 1,500th career hit, making him the fifth player in history to reach that mark.

Had it happened later in an eventual 6-1 New York loss, the crowd may not have been so welcoming. But at that time, with the score only 2-1, it seemed possible to offer their respect for their longtime star.

"I would like to thank everyone here in New York for that," Connor said after the game. "The team went in a new direction at that point [after 2014] and I understood that. It's business. My leaving didn't mean I didn't appreciate how great these fans are."

Connor couldn't be blamed for their postseason failures, batting .305 in postseason play with nine homers, second only to Justin Morneau's 11, all with Sacramento.

Connor remains second in New York history in batting average, and is the franchise leader most offensive categories, including homers, RBIs, doubles, OPS and VORP. He won six straight division crowns here, but never won the championship. So when New York decided to turn its roster over, Connor took the best offer he could elsewhere. That came from Chicago, which handed him a five-year deal for more than $8.25 million a season.

"I wish we had won it here," Connor said. "But now my goal is to win with Chicago. Stats are nice, but I'd trade them all for a ring."

This season, Connor is batting .348 with 7 homers and 39 RBI.

Roger Connor

[EMSoccerCoach]

JUNE 22, 2017

Jones Jacks No. 250
Chicago slugger is third to reach homer milestone

ST. LOUIS -- Critics may get on Charley Jones for what he isn't, but what he is - and has been since the PBL's inception - is a prodigious home run threat. And now, he's in an exclusive club.

Jones homered off St. Louis starter Tommy Bond to become the third player in Pastime Baseball League history to hit 250 home runs. Jones joins Arizona's Sam Thompson and Los Angeles' Dan Brouthers as the only sluggers to reach the mark.

A career .241 hitter, Jones has won the Northern League home run title three times, and has topped 30 homers six times. Brouthers and Thompson have each done it five times.

At 34, Jones - who was drafted by the Philadelphia Ringers in the inaugural draft and left for a three-year deal with Chicago at the end of the 2014 season - believes he has plenty of miles left. He'll be a free agent at season's end, and will pose an interesting choice for Chicago. He's a formidable presence, with Roger Connor and Babe Ruth, in the middle of the order. But the Hitmen may choose to go with someone who gets on base more.

"I love it here," Jones said of playing in Chicago. "We've got a strong team and a chance at a ring. And that's what I want."

John O'Rourke of Indianapolis is next in line to 250, currently sitting at 247 homers.

Charley Jones

[EMSoccerCoach]

JULY 5, 2017

Thompson adds new milestone
Arizona star first to reach 1,000 RBIs

PHOENIX -- A month ago, Arizona's Sam Thompson became the fourth player in PBL history to amass 1,500 hits.

Tonight, he hit a sixth inning SAC Fly against Orlando's Denny McLain to drive home Mike Hargrove, and in so doing became the first player in PBL history to reach 1,000 RBIs.

As was the case in last month's milestone game, Arizona fell, this time losing 6-3.

"I shouldn't have any more of these kind of things this season," Thompson said afterward. "So maybe we'll get some wins."

The Sandmen have gotten plenty of those, and currently lead the Los Angeles Idols by four games in the Southern League West Division.

Sam Thompson

[EMSoccerCoach]

JULY 6, 2017

Heroes' Krause Suffers Major Injury
Torn elbow ligament could keep pitcher out until late 2018

NEW YORK -- What's been a disastrous season for the New York Heroes just got much worse.

Already in the cellar, 16 games out of the division lead, New York learned today that Harry Krause will undergo major reconstructive elbow surgery, ending his season and likely keeping him out until after the All-Star Break of next season as well.

Despondent skipper Bill McKechnie said the loss of Krause, who finished third in last season's Outstanding Pitcher voting, is "devastating."

"He started slow this year, but was getting better and better. He's thrown great his last six or seven starts, like the guy we saw last year," McKechnie said.

Krause, drafted in the first round of the November 2013 draft, went 17-10 with a 2.96 ERA last season. He posted an ERA over 5.00 over the first two months this year, but put up a 3.05 ERA in June. Even yesterday, Krause had hurled 4 1/3 scoreless innings when he came out of the game.

The team hopes another pitcher who needed elbow surgery, Rick Sutcliffe, who went down last August, will be back shortly after the All-Star Break.

Harry Krause

[EMSoccerCoach]

ALL-STAR BREAK STANDINGS

Northern League Standings
East	W	L	PCT	GB
Louisville Racers	53	35	.602	-
Boston Riders	46	42	.523	7.0
Philadelphia Ringers	46	42	.523	7.0
Charlotte Cougars	40	48	.455	13.0
New York Heroes	36	52	.409	17.0
West	W	L	PCT	GB
Sacramento Stingers	48	40	.545	-
Chicago Hitmen	47	41	.534	1.0
Milwaukee Bangers	47	41	.534	1.0
Wichita Brigade	41	47	.466	7.0
Indianapolis Engines	34	54	.386	14.0

Southern League Standings
East	W	L	PCT	GB
St. Louis Tides	51	37	.580	-
New Orleans Knights	46	42	.523	5.0
Alabama Airmen	42	46	.477	9.0
Orlando Orcas	40	48	.455	11.0
Memphis Strummers	36	52	.409	15.0
West	W	L	PCT	GB
Arizona Sandmen	55	33	.625	-
Los Angeles Idols	49	39	.557	6.0
San Antonio Sheriffs	45	43	.511	10.0
Las Vegas Bosses	40	48	.455	15.0
Oklahoma City Scorpions	38	50	.432	17.0

[EMSoccerCoach]

ALL STAR ROSTERS



SP Denny Lemaster (11-4, 2.61) (CHI)
SP Ed Walsh (11-6, 2.71) (PHI)
SP Carlos Marmol (8-5, 2.87) (PHI)
SP John Montefusco (11-4, 3.03) (MIL)
SP Mickey Harris (11-4, 3.42) (LOU)
SP Mark Mulder (11-0, 3.01) (SAC)
CL Brandon Lyon (7-3, 16 SV, 2.82) (CHI)
CL Ron Davis 3-1, 16 SV, 1.86) (MIL)
CL Joe Wood (4-0, 15 SV, 3.16) (WIC)
CL Doug Corbett (3-3, 14 SV, .1.65) (PHI)
CL Brad Lidge (3-3, 17 SV, 4.76) (LOU)
CL Tom Hume (0-4, 13 SV, 2.89) (BOS)
RF Jerry Mumphrey (.349-6-41) (LOU)
LF Joe Jackson (.357-2-56) (LOU)
1B Albert Pujols (.297-18-49) (CHA)
2B Eddie Collins (.338-2-25) (WIC)
CF Richie Ashburn (.317-4-41) (LOU)
3B Al Rosen (.294-12-53) (MIL)
SS Dobie Moore (.283-7-38) (CHA)
C Biz Mackey (.320-3-26) (CHI)
C Smoky Burgess (.289-5-51) (LOU)
RF Ken Griffey (.314-7-52) (WIC)
1B Roger Connor (.303-9-51) (CHI)
1B Ted Kluszewski (.291-16-64) (SAC)
LF Geroge Shuba (.311-5-34) (SAC)
RF Elmer Flick (.293-4-29) (BOS)
3B Frank Baker (.310-3-41) (CHI)
RF Stan Musial (.295-11-31) (IND)

NOTABLE OMISSIONS: Both homerun leader Babe Ruth of Chicago (19) and RBI leader Rico Petrocelli of Louisville (68) are missing, as is saves leader Nick Maddox of Charlotte (17), whose ERA is 2 runs lower than Brad Lidge's.

SP Shawn Chacon (11-5, 2.72) (LA)
SP Mike LaCoss (10-6, 2.52) (ARI)
SP Dutch Leonard (14-4, 3.26) (ARI)
SP Dan Haren (9-6, 2.69) (ALA)
SP Britt Burns (8-8, 2.88) (OKC)
SP Sammy Ellis (8-4, 2.46) (NO)
CL Joe Sambito (2-1, 17 SV, 1.74) (STL)
CL Jose Valverde (5-2, 13 SV, 3.41) (ARI)
CL Francisco Rodriguez (2-1, 11 SV, 1.82) (SA)
SP Herb Pennock (7-5, 3.68) (STL)
MR Billy McCool (3-0, 2.55) (LA)
MR Joe Hoerner (2-0, 4 SV, 1.80) (STL)
1B Dan Brouthers (.336-15-59) (LA)
LF Norm Miller (.306-9-52) (NO)
CF Ruppert Jones (.308-7-48) (ARI)
2B Pete Rose (.305-4-42) (NO)
RF Sam Thompson (.292-11-61) (ARI)
SS Luke Easter (.317-9-55) (LA)
3B Chad Tracy (.265-14-48) (NO)
C Fred Carroll (.268-8-41) (NO)
C Ted Easterly (.313-1-32) (ORL)
1B Mike Hargrove (.323-5-58) (ARI)
1B Rusty Staub (.321-10-57) (STL)
LF Tim Raines (.296-3-38) (SA)
CF Oscar Charleston (.299-8-37) (LA)
1B Harry Davis (.256-15-59) (LV)
CF Tris Speaker (.310-1-30) (STL)
SS Buddy Kerr (.316-0-29) (ALA)

NOTABLE OMISSIONS: The shocking home run leader is Josh Willingham of Oklahoma City (16). Willingham was taken by Memphis in the inaugural draft back in 2009. He hit .241 with 14 homers and 14 RBI in 140 games. Since then, he had hit 16 homers over parts of 7 seasons before this year. Now 35, Willingham is providing pop, but little else...he's batting .199, the reason for his omission.

[EMSoccerCoach]

Pastime Baseball League's 9th Annual All-Star Game

Tuesday, July 11th, 2017 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E Southern League 1 1 0 3 0 0 0 0 1 6 10 1 Northern League 0 2 0 2 0 1 0 4 X 9 14 0
Southern AB R H RBI BB K LOB AVG HR RBI T. Raines LF 3 0 1 1 0 0 1 .295 3 38 a-S. Thompson PH 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .288 11 61 c-M. Hargrove 2B 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 .325 5 58 P. Rose 2B 2 1 1 0 1 0 0 .306 5 43 b-T. Speaker PH, CF 2 0 1 1 1 0 1 .312 1 30 D. Brouthers 1B 2 2 1 1 1 0 2 .338 15 59 d-R. Jones PH, LF 2 0 0 0 1 0 2 .314 7 50 O. Charleston CF, LF 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 .295 8 37 e-B. Kerr PH, 1B 2 0 2 0 0 0 0 .316 0 29 H. Davis DH 4 0 1 0 1 3 8 .256 15 59 R. Staub RF 2 0 1 3 1 1 0 .324 10 57 f-N. Miller PH, RF 2 0 0 0 0 1 4 .303 9 53 L. Easter SS 4 1 0 0 1 1 7 .316 9 55 F. Carroll C 4 1 1 0 0 1 0 .271 8 41 g-T. Easterly PH 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .312 1 32 C. Tracy 3B 4 1 0 0 1 2 3 .263 14 48 Totals 36 6 10 6 12 9 30 a - S. Thompson pinch hit for T. Raines in the 5th b - T. Speaker pinch hit for P. Rose in the 5th c - M. Hargrove substituted for S. Thompson in the 5th d - R. Jones pinch hit for D. Brouthers in the 6th e - B. Kerr pinch hit for O. Charleston in the 6th f - N. Miller pinch hit for R. Staub in the 6th g - T. Easterly pinch hit for F. Carroll in the 9th BATTING Doubles: T. Speaker (19, 9th Inning off M. Mulder, 2 on, 2 outs) Total Bases: D. Brouthers , T. Raines , R. Staub , P. Rose , H. Davis , F. Carroll , S. Thompson , T. Speaker 2 , B. Kerr 2 2-out RBI: , R. Staub 2 , T. Speaker Runners left in scoring position, 2 outs: H. Davis , L. Easter 3 , R. Jones , N. Miller Team LOB: 15 BASERUNNING CS: T. Speaker (4) FIELDING Errors: M. Hargrove Double Plays: 1 (Miller-Carroll)	Northern AB R H RBI BB K LOB AVG HR RBI E. Collins 2B 5 1 2 1 0 0 1 .336 2 25 F. Baker 3B 3 0 1 0 0 0 1 .311 3 41 a-A. Rosen PH, 3B 2 0 1 1 0 0 1 .290 12 53 J. Jackson RF 2 0 0 0 1 1 1 .352 2 56 b-J. Mumphrey PH, RF 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 .353 6 41 R. Connor 1B 3 1 1 0 0 1 3 .299 9 51 c-A. Pujols PH, 1B 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 .299 19 52 S. Burgess C 5 1 2 0 0 0 4 .289 5 51 R. Ashburn CF 3 1 1 2 0 1 3 .318 4 42 d-T. Kluszewski PH 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .290 17 65 e-E. Flick PR, CF 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 .293 4 29 K. Griffey DH 4 2 3 2 0 1 0 .313 7 52 G. Shuba LF 3 0 0 0 0 0 1 .306 5 34 f-B. Mackey PH 1 1 1 2 0 0 0 .319 3 26 g-S. Musial LF 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .291 11 31 D. Moore SS 4 1 1 1 0 0 2 .282 7 38 Totals 38 9 14 9 3 4 17 a - A. Rosen pinch hit for F. Baker in the 6th b - J. Mumphrey pinch hit for J. Jackson in the 7th c - A. Pujols pinch hit for R. Connor in the 7th d - T. Kluszewski pinch hit for R. Ashburn in the 8th e - E. Flick pinch ran for T. Kluszewski in the 8th f - B. Mackey pinch hit for G. Shuba in the 8th g - S. Musial substituted for B. Mackey in the 9th BATTING Doubles: E. Collins (14, 3rd Inning off B. McCool, 0 on, 1 out) K. Griffey (22, 8th Inning off J. Sambito, 1 on, 0 outs) A. Rosen (10, 8th Inning off F. Rodriguez, 1 on, 1 out) Home Runs: R. Ashburn (4, 4th Inning off H. Pennock, 1 on, 0 outs) K. Griffey (7, 2nd Inning off M. LaCoss, 1 on, 2 outs) D. Moore Total Bases: R. Connor , E. Collins 3 , R. Ashburn 4 , K. Griffey 7 , D. Moore 4 , F. BakerS. Burgess 2 , A. Rosen 2 , T. Kluszewski , B. Mackey (7, 6th Inning off D. Leonard, 0 on, 2 outs) , 2-out RBI: K. Griffey , D. Moore Runners left in scoring position, 2 outs: R. Connor , E. Collins , R. Ashburn Team LOB: 9 BASERUNNING SB: E. Collins (20)
Southern IP H R ER BB K HR PI PS ERA M. LaCoss 2.0 2 2 2 0 0 1 32 21 2.52 B. McCool 1.0 1 0 0 1 0 0 23 14 2.55 H. Pennock 1.0 3 2 2 0 0 1 16 13 3.68 B. Burns H (0) 1.0 2 0 0 0 3 0 23 15 2.88 D. Leonard BS (0) 1.0 1 1 1 0 1 1 18 12 3.26 D. Haren 1.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 8 5 2.69 J. Sambito L (2-1) 0.1 4 4 4 0 0 0 22 16 1.74 F. Rodriguez 0.2 1 0 0 2 0 0 14 6 1.82 PITCHING Game Score: M. LaCoss 40 Batters Faced: M. LaCoss 8, B. McCool 5, H. Pennock 6, B. Burns 5, D. Leonard 5, D. HarenJ. Sambito 5, F. Rodriguez 4 Ground Outs - Fly Outs: M. LaCoss 2-4, B. McCool 2-1, H. Pennock 1-2, B. Burns 0-0, D. Leonard 2-0, D. Haren 2-1, J. Sambito 1-0, F. Rodriguez 0-1 Pitches - Strikes: M. LaCoss 32-21, B. McCoolH. Pennock 16-13, B. Burns 23-15, D. Leonard 18-12, D. Haren 8-5, J. SambitoF. Rodriguez 14-6 Inherited Runners - Scored: F. Rodriguez 3, 23-14, 22-16, 1-1	Northern IP H R ER BB K HR PI PS ERA M. Harris 2.0 3 2 2 5 1 0 59 30 3.42 J. Wood 1.0 0 0 0 0 1 0 9 5 3.08 D. Corbett 1.0 2 3 3 3 1 0 30 14 1.65 C. Marmol 1.0 1 0 0 0 2 0 20 15 2.87 E. Walsh 1.0 1 0 0 1 2 0 25 15 2.71 D. Lemaster 1.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 16 8 2.61 T. Hume W (0-4) 1.0 2 0 0 1 1 0 20 14 2.82 M. Mulder 1.0 1 1 1 2 1 0 26 13 3.01 PITCHING Game Score: M. Harris 34 Batters Faced: M. Harris 14, J. Wood 3, D. Corbett 8, C. Marmol 4, E. Walsh 5, D. Lemaster 3, T. Hume 5, M. Mulder 6 Ground Outs - Fly Outs: M. Harris 4-1, J. Wood 2-0, D. Corbett 0-2, C. Marmol 1-0, E. Walsh 1-0, D. Lemaster 2-1, T. Hume 0-1, M. Mulder 0-2 Pitches - Strikes: M. Harris 59-30, J. WoodD. Corbett 30-14, C. Marmol 20-15, E. Walsh 25-15, D. Lemaster 16-8, T. HumeM. Mulder 26-13 WP: M. Harris 9-5, 20-14,
GAME NOTES Player of the Game: K. Griffey Ballpark: Riders Ballpark Weather: Partly Cloudy (72 degrees), wind blowing out to center at 12 mph Start Time: 7:05 pm Time: 4:00 Attendance: 30885

[EMSoccerCoach]

JULY 15, 2017

Sheer Willingham
Oklahoma City's surprising slugger rips three homers

PHOENIX -- Four days ago, the Pastime Baseball League held its 9th Annual All-Star Game. The Southern League's home run leader, Oklahoma City's Josh Willingham wasn't part of it.

Tonight, he responded.

Willingham slammed three homers in a 12-9 Oklahoma City win, hitting two off Ted Breitenstein and another off Clark Griffith.

Willingham has hit only 30 homers in his last eight seasons, with 14 of those coming in his rookie season. Now, he's hit 19 in his re-emergence.

"I'd be lying if I said I could explain it," Willingham said. "I'm just seeing the ball really well and feeling relaxed."

Seeing the ball well may be overstating it, as he's still hitting only .204. But there's no doubt Willingham is enjoying his finest season.

"He's been a bright spot," said manager Pat Moran, of a season where such bright spots have been rare. Oklahoma City remains last in the Southern League West.

Josh Willingham

[EMSoccerCoach]

JULY 18, 2017

Brouthers Belts Three Bombs
Idols first baseman stays hot to start second half

MILWAUKEE -- Add another to Dan Brouthers' list of accomplishments.

The Los Angeles first baseman already reached the 1,500 hit mark this season, and will likely pass 1,000 RBIs by season's end. But tonight, he did something he'd never done before: slamming three homers against the Milwaukee Bangers, including a game-winning shot in the 9th inning of an 11-10 Idols victory.

Brouthers went 3-for-4, hitting two homers off Milwaukee starter Craig Swan before taking Roy Patterson deep in the ninth.

The two-time Northern League Outstanding Hitter may well become the first player to win the award in both leagues, as well as the first to win the Triple Crown. He's currently first in average at .343, second in homers with 18, and second in RBIs with 67.

Dan Brouthers

[EMSoccerCoach]

JULY 22, 2017

New Team, Old Talent
In first start after trade, Hahn calls on old form

LAS VEGAS -- Talk about turning back the clock!

Noodles Hahn had done it before. He had turned 20 a month before when, in 2009, the first overall draft pick in PBL history struck out 16 Indianapolis Engines for a record that still stands - though matched three times by Rube Waddell.

Hahn struck out a record 383 batters that first season. The game has changed since. The strike zone shrunk it seems, the ball has a little less juice. But Hahn struggled after that dominant rookie campaign.

His K/rate collapsed to a little more than 5 per 9 innings from the 10 of his rookie campaign the next season, and his ERA more than doubled. He lost his rotation spot in 2011, was sent to the reserve squad in 2013 and spent all of 2014 and most of 2015 there.

He's gone 17-16 with a 3.85 ERA the past two seasons, a nice comeback story, but far from what he was.

Three days ago, San Antonio cut ties with the first pick in league history. Hahn was traded to the lowly Las Vegas Bosses for infielder Denis Menke.

Hahn made his debut tonight. And, in his words, "it was '09 all over again."

Hahn struck out 15 Los Angeles Idols in a complete game effort. He lost the game 2-1 - it is Las Vegas, after all - but the fact he notched 15 Ks 8 years after doing it for the only other time in his career is, quite simply, remarkable.

"I'm only 28," Hahn pointed out in a postgame interview. "I was 19 when I was drafted. Maybe I didn't take care of myself. Maybe success went to my head. I don't know. But I know that I have a chance to carve out a great career for myself. And that's what I want."

"I faced him when we broke in when this thing [the PBL] started," Idols slugger Dan Brouthers, who began his career with Louisville, said after the game. "That guy today...that was the same guy. I haven't seen him in a while. And I hope I don't again."

Noodles Hahn

[EMSoccerCoach]

JULY 26, 2017

Ames Done For Season
Reigning SL Outstanding Pitcher Sidelined

SAN ANTONIO -- A week after dealing Noodles Hahn to Las Vegas, the San Antonio Sheriffs have lost their ace.

Red Ames has been diagnosed with a torn rotator cuff and will need surgery, ending his season.

Ames posted an even 5.00 ERA over the season's first two months, but since June 1 has put up a 2.76 mark, though he's only gone 5-4 over those 11 starts, limited by San Antonio's poor offense, which ranks 8th in the Southern League. Overall, Ames is 9-10 with a 3.92 ERA.

Last season, Ames went 18-12 with a 2.48 ERA.

King Cole will take Ames' spot in the rotation.

Red Ames

[EMSoccerCoach]

JULY 26, 2017

Jones is Hit-man
Chicago star first to hit for cycle this season

INDIANAPOLIS -- He can do more than just hit homers.

Chicago Hitmen outfielder Charley Jones did go deep tonight against the Indianapolis Engines. But he also hit a single, double and triple, becoming the first player in the Pastime Baseball League to hit for the cycle this season.

Jones became the first player to do so since Philadelphia's Jason Thompson against the Louisville Racers last September 25.

The triple was Jones' first, the double only his 16th.

"It's nice for the resume," Jones said with a smile. "But we're chasing Sacramento for a division title. That's what matters."

Charley Jones