Sunday, June 18, 1999
Another season of Great Falls baseball on deck
Dodgers' top three prospects will start careers in Montana
It's almost time for another season of Great Falls baseball.
The Dodgers of the Pioneer League will throw out the first pitch of the 1999 season on Tuesday, June 20 against the visiting Missoula Osprey.
Headlining this year's opening day lineup are recent draft picks Josh Hamilton (LF), Andrew Zarzour (LHP) and Josh Paul (C). Hamilton and Zarzour were playing high school ball just a few short weeks ago, virtually in the same neighborhood.
Hamilton was a star left-fielder and pitcher for Raleigh (N.C.) Athens Drive, which finished as the state Class 4A runner-up in 1998 and made it back to the state semifinals this season. Zarzour pitched for nearby Bunn (N.C.) High, a strong Class 1A team.
The two actually went head-to-head on the mound once this season, with Hamilton's Jaguars no-hitting Zarzour's Wildcats. A real cat-fight for sure, with Hamilton getting the only hits off Zarzour on the night.
Yes, it is true that Zarzour is taller than Randy Johnson, by several inches. Official Dodgers press material on Zarzour lists him at 7-foot-2. If he ever does make the Majors, he will be the tallest pitcher in league history. Imagine looking down on Randy Johnson.
With Hamilton and Paul powering the offense, and Zarzour projected as the No. 1 starter, the Rookie League Dodgers could be a force in the Pioneer League this season.
"We may not have these guys around for very long, however," said first-year Great Falls manager Tony Harris. "Zarzour, especially, could fast-track through our system, as we lack pitching depth down here on the farm."
Come on out to Legion Park for Opening Night. A fireworks celebration is planned after the game. The first 500 specatators will get free Great Falls posters. The first pitch is scheduled to go off at 7 p.m.