[seth70liz76]

Cam's--home of the Drinking Illini!

It is always nice to be reminded of the hometown, even if it is a bar I never went to.

[batted balls]

Max Mercy, Jr. here again, folks . . .

This is Max Mercy, Jr. here to tell you that the Michigan State offense is the most spartan Ole Max has ever seen.

Now some of you alumni and fans may have said, "Hey, Max, you forgot to capitalize Spartan!" Well, folks, Ole Max knows the English language like he knows the ballparks of America. The reason I didn't capitalize spartan is because it's being used as an adjective, not a noun. It means "marked by simplicity, frugality or avoidance of luxury and comfort" according to Webster's New Collegiate Dictionary (which takes its rightful place on Ole Max's nightstand next to the Bartender's Bible).

Let Ole Max tell you folks this Michigan State lineup is marked by simplicity, frugality and avoidance when it comes to run support for the pitching staff. The numbers don't lie, folks. Michigan State is dead last in all the major offensive categories. When Ole Max says offensive, he means offensive:

*Team batting average--.199!
*Walks--232!
*Runs Scored--254!
*Home Runs--32!

Thirty two home runs! Mark McGwire of USC has 40 by himself for crying out loud. Speaking of crying out loud, you can bet the Michigan State pitching staff, coaches and alums are blubbering. Want more evidence? Center fielder Rick Miller leads the Spartans with a .280 average. First baseman Steve Garvey tops the team with six homers. Left fielder Dick Billings has the most RBIs with 37. Six players--count 'em, six--have an average below .200 (and a seventh, catcher Bruce Look, is at .201).

The poor pitchers! Three starters have ERAs below 3.00 and only one (Mark Mulder) has a winning record to show for it. Closer Dick "The Monster" Radatz has managed 23 saves, second best in the East. Imagine what he could do with any kind of an offense.

In parting, Ole Max is going to give some advice to the Michigan State athletic department. Want to cut back on your budget? Don't buy any more bats; your spartan offense doesn't need 'em!

This is Max Mercy, Jr. signing off . . .

[batted balls]

July 28, 2006

Stillwater, Okla.--Arizona left-hander Mike Paul lost his bid for a perfect game when Oklahoma State's Pete Incaviglia singled with two outs in the seventh inning.

"I gave it my best shot," Paul said afterward. "Pete is a dangerous hitter. I left my fastball up a bit (and) he jumped on it."

Unnerved a bit, Paul next walked Cowboy third baseman Danny Thompson but recovered to get Jerry Adair to pop out.

Paul wound up with a one-hitter as Arizona toppled Oklahoma State 4-0. For Paul (5-6), it was the first shutout of his career. Incaviglia and Thompson were the lone Oklahoma State players to reach base. Paul struck out a career-high 11.

"I felt strong coming out of the bullpen before the game," Paul said. "I've felt like that before, but this time it really carried over."

Arizona scored all the runs it needed in the third inning. Center fielder Kenny Lofton hit a grand slam off loser Joe Horlen (9-7) with one out. Lofton has three homers on the season.

Diamond Notes: Mark McGwire of USC has homered in his last three games to reach 40 on the season. The Trojan first baseman who got off to such a hot start this spring had only homered four times since May 29 until his recent longball surge . . . McGwire (shown below) became the first AABL player to top the 100-RBI plateau . . . Arizona State's Bob Horner has overtaken Bob Hamelin of UCLA 90-88 for second on the West RBI leader list . . . Pat Listach of Arizona State has a 13-game hitting streak . . . Steve Kemp of USC was the West Player of the Week. Kemp batted .435 with three home runs. The Trojan left-fielder slugged .826 for the week . . . Mark Prior continues to lead the loop in wins with 16 . . . Both Cal and Texas have won seven of 10 games to move in front of slipping Stanford in the West standings.

Stat of the Week: Arizona State's Eddie Bane is 4-0 with a microscopic 0.31 ERA in his last four outings. Bane has walked eight and struck out 22 in that span.

Upcoming Key Series: Arizona State at Southern California, three game beginning July 31

Standings
Arizona State 72-30 --
Southern Cal 65-37 -7
Oklahoma State 56-46 -16
UCLA 53-49 -19
Cal 50-52 -22
Texas 50-52 -22
Stanford 49-53 -23
Arizona 44-58 -28
Cal State Fulleron 44-58 -28
San Diego State 33-75 -45

[batted balls]

Max Mercy, Jr. here again, folks . . .

This time I'm joined by a friend, All-Star short stop from the Illiniois Fighting Illini, Lou Boudreau. Lou is the guy who has really put the "Fighting" into Illini. Some of you may have read that Lou was involved in a fracas of late. Well, Ole Max has the true story for you.

Max: Thanks for sitting down with me today, Lou.

Lou Boudreau: It's my pleasure, Max.

Max: Would you like a drink, Lou?

Boudreau: Sure, Max, you know me pretty well.

Max: Here you go. Now, tell us about the events that transpired that night at Cam's, the local watering hole in Champaign that you frequent.

Boudreau: First of all, I frequent nearly all of them, Max. Not just Cam's. I like to spread my business around. It's good for the local economy. Anyways, I was minding my own business, having a drink with the fellas after our ballgame . . .

Max: After your 2-1 loss to Notre Dame . . .

Boudreau: That's right. We had an off day the next day with LSU coming in. Anyways, this big guy comes up to me . . .

Max: Ever seen him before?

Boudreau: Not that I recall. Anyways, he starts mouthing off about us losing to Notre Dame and how could we lose to those bushers and on and on he goes. Finally, Don Lenhardt tells him to beat it. He gets mouthy with Don so being team captain I decide to intervene.

Max: What did you do?

Boudreau: In so many words, I told him to shut his mouth and get lost.

Max: So, what happened?

Boudreau: Like you may have heard, this big buffoon takes a swing at me . . .

Max: Did he connect?

Boudreau: Swing and a miss, Max.

Max: And then what happened?

Boudreau: I lost my temper, hauled off and decked him.

Max: One punch?

Boudreau: One punch, Max.

Max: Any regrets?

Boudreau: Just one Max.

Max: And that regret is?

Boudreau: That I used my right hand, my throwing hand, instead of my left.

Max: How bad did you hurt it?

Boudreau: Not bad enough to keep me out of action.

Max: You're sure about that?

Boudreau: Sure, I'm sure.

Max: Any problems with the police?

Boudreau: Maybe if we were on the road, but not in here in Champaign.

Max: Thanks for your time, Lou.

Boudreau: Thanks for the beer, Max.

This is Max Mercy, Jr. signing off . . .

[batted balls]

August 1, 2006

Miami, Fla.--Illinois continued a familiar pattern for success as the Illini received solid pitching and home runs to take the series opener against Miami.

Third baseman Scott Spiezio and left fielder Don Lenhardt each homered to propel the Illini to an 8-3 victory. The win pushed Illinois into a second-place tie with Miami. Both clubs are 62-44, six games behind All-American Baseball League East leader Ivy. Fourth-place Florida State defeated Ivy 1-0 as John Wasdin (11-7) outdueled Jim Beattie (12-3) in Tallahassee.

In the meantime, Illinois right-hander Dick "Legs" Weik (5-0) came on in relief of starter Jeff Innis to pitch three innings, earning the win. Closer Donn Pall notched his 23rd save for Illinois. John Fulgham (10-11) took the loss for Miami.

Speizio extended his career-high hit streak to 17 games with a two-hit performance. Lenhardt's 13th longball of the year came in a four-run Illini ninth to put the game away. Lenhardt's blast was a three-run shot off Miami reliever Kurt Knudsen.

The Illinois victory extended its winning string to six straight. Miami is 8-2 in its last 10 games.

The two teams will play the second game of the series Sunday with Carl Lundgren (13-6) taking the mound for Illinois against Miami's Neal Heaton (9-7).

East Standings
Ivy 68-38 --
Illinois 62-44 -6
Miami 62-44 -6
Florida State 59-47 -9
Mississippi State 56-50 -12
Michigan 52-54 -16
Notre Dame 49-57 -19
Louisiana State 43-63 -25
Michigan State 41-65 -27
Minnesota 38-68 -30

Player of the Month: Will Clark, Mississippi State
Pitcher of the Month: Jim Brower, Minnesota
Stat of the Week: Ivy has the East's top three run scorers in Hughie Jennings (81), Lou Gehrig (71) and Steve Yorkes (70).

Team-by-Team July Review
Ivy: The Eagles continue to feature a balanced offense and pitching staff. While first baseman Lou Gehrig has slumped of late (3-for-his-last 20), third baseman Red Rolfe has been hot (7-for-his-last 18). Despite his recent woes, Gehrig still appears on track to East MVP with a .327 average, 14 home runs and 82 RBIs. Outfielder Sam Mele tops the East with 86 RBIs. Pitchers Pete Broberg (14-6, 2.67 ERA), Jim Beattie (12-3, 2.10), John Milligan (12-7, 3.64) and Ron Darling (6-3, 2.55) continue to be forces on the mound.
Illinois: Pitching and home run hitters have been the Illini recipe for winning. Illinois leads the AABL with a 2.65 team ERA. Showing the way are starters Carl Lundgren (13-6, 2.10 ERA) and Fred Beebe (12-7, 1.67). Closer Donn Pall has saved eight of his last nine opportunities. Lou Boudreau (14 home runs), Don Lenhardt (13) and Hoot Evers (11) have swung big bats.
Miami: The Hurricanes have been the hottest team in the AABL, winning 10 of their last 12 games. Pitching has been at the forefront of the Miami uprising. Starters Alex Fernandez (14-5, 3.25 ERA), Warren Bogle (13-5, 2.76) and Neal Heaton (9-7, 2.97) have supported by the East's best bullpen featuring setup men Kurt Knudsen (nine saves) and All-Star Oscar Munoz (16 saves). Closer Danny Graves (9 saves) is fresh off the DL for the stretch drive. Offensively, Pat Burrell (.256-12-47), Bobby Hill (.278-10-43), Jorge Fabergas (.305-9-45) and newcomer Mike Piazza (.237-5-19) have led the attack.
Florida State: The offense has virtually disappeared for the Seminoles. FSU has lost eight of its last 12 games. Pitchers John Wasdin (11-7, 2.54), Richie Lewis (11-4, 2.12) and Craig Skok (29 saves, 1.21) remain standouts. All-Star Mark Gilbert (.302-10-54) is the only Seminole above .300 in batting.
Mississippi State: The mystery team of the East. Some days the Bulldogs look like world beaters; the next day they look like the downtrodden. First baseman Will Clark (.325-12-58) and outfielder Rafael Palmeiro (.280-7-53) are the offense. Bobby Thigpen has racked up 17 saves in 19 attempts since taking over closer duties when Ken Tatum (6-5, 1.93) was moved to the starting rotation. Right-hander Jeff Brantley (8-6, 3.25) earned the East Player of the Week award.
Michigan: The lone East team without an All-Star representative is ranked in the second half of all offensive and pitching categories. Only two pitchers--Lary Sorensen (9-6) and Jim Abbott (4-3)--sport winning records. Short stop Barry Larkin (.282-7-34) has shown promise; catchers Mike Matheny and Bill Freehan (a combined .188-4-31) have not.
Notre Dame: The Irish are another team with efficient pitching but little offense. Starters Ed Reulbach (9-10, 2.40 ERA), Norwood Gibson (10-7, 1.84) and Dick Rusteck (9-7, 3.18) are backed by the bullpen combination of Jim Hannan (14 saves) and Brad Lidge (six saves). If opponents hold Cap Anson (.337-2-39) and Carl Yastrzemski (.276-9-48) in check, Notre Dame's offense is shut down.
LSU: The Tigers are one of the East's most puzzling team. When the starters hold opponents down, the offense disappears. When the offense scores big, the pitchers suddenly give away runs. All-Stars Warren Morris (.284-11-44), Joe Adcock (.286-9-47) and Buddy Blair (.287-8-60) at least provide Bayou fans with fireworks.
Michigan State: The Spartans' offensive woes are well documented. Michigan State is batting an AABL-low .198 with just 34 home runs on the season. Rick Miller (.279-6-34) and Steve Garvey (.237-3-33) are the best of the lot. Pitchers Mark Mulder (5-4, 2.76 ERA), Ed Pinnance (8-8, 2.95) and Dick Radatz (23 saves, 1.25) provide hope for the future. Robin Roberts (4-17, 5.13) is on his way to a 20-loss season.
Minnesota: The Golden Gophers have lost second baseman Brian Raabe (.169-0-5) for the season and outfielder Dave Winfield (.223-6-35) for at least another week with injuries. Brent Gates (.291-3-28) and Paul Molitor (.266-3-47) have shone promise. Short stop Jerry Kindall has 12 homers, yet is batting just .181. Despite a combined 12-27 record, starters Jim Brower, Bryan Hickerson and Steve Comer have improved in the season's second half. Brower, in fact, was named East Pitcher of the Month for July. The Minnesota right-hander was 2-1 with 16 strikeouts in 21 innings of work. His July ERA was an AABL-low 0.43. Brower (left) is shown below.

[batted balls]

August 1, 2006

Los Angeles--Southern California manager Rod Dedeaux is hopeful that the Trojans' 9-3 trouncing of Arizona State is a sign of good things to come.

"It's a great way to start our series," said Dedeaux of the USC victory. "We'd love to take all three games in this series."

The win cut Arizona State's lead to seven games in the All-American Baseball League West.

USC outfielders Steve Kemp and Fred Lynn combined for five hits and three RBIs to lead the Trojan attack. USC left-hander Barry Zito, who improved to 14-5, has won six straight decisions.

"Zito was tough today," said Arizona State manager Bobby Winkles. "In fact, Zito has been every bit as good as (Mark) Prior the last month or so."

USC broke out to a quick 5-0 lead after just three innings and coasted from there. All-Star selection Paul Moskau (9-4) took the loss for the Sun Devils.

Game two will pit USC's Tom Seaver (8-9, 3.48 ERA) against Gary Gentry (9-7, 3.98) for Arizona State.

West Standings
Arizona State 74-32 --
Southern California 67-39 -7
Oklahoma State 57-49 -17
UCLA 57-49 -17
Cal 52-54 -22
Stanford 52-54 -22
Texas 51-55 -25
Cal State Fullerton 47-59 -27
Arizona 45-61 -29
San Diego State 28-78 -46

Player of the Month: Bob Horner, Arizona State (shown below)
Pitcher of the Month: Eddie Bane, Arizona State
Stat of the Week: Arizona State has a winning record against every West team except Southern California. The Sun Devils are 4-7 against USC.

Team-by-Team July Review
Arizona State: Manager Bobby Winkles' Sun Devils offense has carried the load of late. Arizona State ranks first in stolen bases, second in runs scored and home runs and is third is team average. West Player of the Month Bob Horner powers the Sun Devils (.297-30-93). Outfielders Reggie Jackson (.264-20-61-11 steals) and Oddibe McDowell (.260-26-67) are also offensive keys. Left-hander Eddie Bane (8-2, 1.60 ERA) has won six consecutive decisions and two straight Pitcher of the Month awards. Fellow lefty Floyd Bannister (11-5, 2.62 ERA) remains solid.
Southern California: The potent Trojan offense continues to click on all cylinders. MVP candidate Mark McGwire (.330-40-102) anchors a potent lineup that includes Fred Lynn (.377-16-75), Dave Kingman (.238-27-79) and Steve Kemp (.269-22-85). USC's pitching has really rounded into shape with a solid trio of starters that includes Mark Prior (16-6, 2.46 ERA), Barry Zito (14-5, 2.44) and Jim Barr (11-3, 2.76).
Oklahoma State: Manager Gary Ward has his Cowboys riding high. All-Star Pete Incaviglia (.265-29-70) leads the charge. Short stop Gary Green (.273-12-47) has been a solid contributor. Joe Horlen (10-7, 2.76) has emerged as the team's top starter.
UCLA: The Bruins are the most improved team in the AABL. UCLA sports the league's best fielding team (.985 with a league-low 67 errors). All-star Bob Hamelin (.276-31-93) remains an offensive force. Teammates Troy Glaus (.252-26-76), Jackie Robinson (.294-6-52-6 steals) and Chris Chambliss (.319-7-33) have chipped in as well. Right-hander Bill Bonham (9-4, 3.27 ERA) has rounded into form.
Cal: The Golden Bears are perhaps the league's most overlooked team. All-Star Orval Overall (12-8, 2.99 ERA) is a dependable, innings-eating starter. Relievers Mike Cather (14 saves), Chuck Cary (nine saves, 2.93) and Monte Pearson (two saves, 2.32) form a strong bullpen. Jeff Kent, the All-Star Game starter at second base for the West, leads the offense with a .273 average, 21 home runs and 63 RBIs.
Stanford: Offensive woes have lead to the Cardinal slide down the standings. All-Star Bob Boone (.277-6-39), Steve Buechele (.233-19-54) and Chuck Essegian (.245-10-35) are the best of this popgun offense. Starters Jim Lonborg (8-7, 2.28 ERA) and Mike Mussina (9-9, 2.30) remain among the West leaders in ERA but struggle for wins due to lack of support. Closer Steve Chitren (28 saves, 1.69) has struck out 40 batters in 42.2 innings.
Texas: The eyes of Texas may be upon this team but Longhorn eyes apparently aren't on the ball. Texas is just 16th in league batting (.226). All-Star Grady Hatton (.272-20-60) remains the best of the bunch. Left-hander Bruce Ruffin (8-10, 3.13 ERA) tops the Longhorn staff in wins. Greg Swindell (6-2, 2.88) has shown promise since moving into the starting rotation. Closer Hutson Street (20 saves, 2.23) is likely a future star.
Cal State Fullerton: Like Stanford, offense has hurt the Titans. Catcher Dan Whitmer (.258-10-37) and outfielder Dante Powell (.272-5-35) are the top Titans. Right-hander Jeff Robinson (2.76 ERA) leads CSF with 10 wins. Stopper Mike Schooler (19 saves, 1.21) has fanned 43 batters in just 37.1 innings.
Arizona: Poor pitching has plagued the Wildcats. Scott Erickson (9-7, 4.26 ERA) and Don Lee (5-1, 4.13) are the only starters with winning records. Lefty Joe Magrane (6-15, 4.27) has struggled mightily. Trevor Hoffman (25 saves, 4.14) remains the closer. Second baseman Jason Bates (.290-9-48) tops the offense.
San Diego State: The Aztecs are dead last in every major pitching category. With Don Shaw (0-8, 5.11 ERA) and Erik Plantenberg (3-3, 7.52) injured, things don't look any better. Starter Aaron Harang (6-9, 3.69) would greatly benefit from pitching for a better team. Despite the presence of All-Star snub Mark Grace (.330-5-33) and power man Travis Lee (.239-24-56), San Diego State is batting just .221 as a team.

[batted balls]

Los Angeles--Cal defeated UCLA 11-10, but the real story was the performance of Golden Bear second baseman Jeff Kent.

Kent homered three times and drove in five runs as the Golden Bears won the game in 12 innings. Kent, who started for the West All-Star team, hit home runs in his first three at-bats. The Bellflower, Calif. native hit home runs in the second and third innings off UCLA starter Bill Bonham. After teammate Sam Chapman hit a home run off UCLA reliever Tim Leary in the sixth, Kent deposited a Leary fastball into the left field seats.

"Sure, it was a heckuva day," said Kent, who went 5-for-7 in the game. "It wasn't for nothing I was an All-Star."

Kent narrowly missed a fourth home run in the eighth inning when he connected with a Floyd Chiffer fastball for a double high off the right-center field wall.

"I thought that ball was gone too," said Kent, who also scored five times.

Cal's Darren Lewis drove home the game-winner with a sharp single off UCLA's Jim York (3-2) in the 12th. Monte Pearson (3-1) earned the victory for Cal.

Kent, who was named West Player of the Week, joins Steve Kemp and Fred Lynn of USC, Rick Miller of Michigan State and Travis Lee of San Diego State as players who have hit three home runs in a game this season in the AABL.

The three home runs increased Kent's home run total to 24 on the year. He has driven home 68 runs.

[batted balls]

August 9, 2006

East Lansing, Mich.--Michigan State continues to free fall. In fact, it's gotten so bad that the Spartans may soon find themselves in last place of the All-American Baseball League East.

"We all have to accept responsiblity in this," said Michigan State left fielder Kirk Gibson who is batting just .177 on the season.

The Spartans have lost nine of their last 10 games and 16 of their last 17. Michigan State, 42-72, is just one game better than last-place Minnesota. The Golden Gophers are 4-6 in their last 10 to inch closer to Michigan State.

"We've done very little right the last few months," said Spartan Rick Miller, who has the highest average (.283) of any Michigan State player. "It's been a nightmare."

Michigan State ranks last in the AABL in team average (.197), home runs (35) and runs scored (276). In fact, the Spartans are averaging just 2.42 runs per game.

"That's unfathomable," said Florida State manager Mike Martin. "Those pitchers have to be wondering if they'd be better off hitting."

"We may have to give that a try," said Michigan State manager John Kobs.

Diamond Notes: Jim Burton of Michigan won the East Player of the Week award. The left-hander was 2-0 and did not allow an earned run in his two starts for the Wolverines . . . Cap Anson of Notre Dame remains the top hitter in the East with a .338 average . . . Don Lenhardt of Illinois has joined teammate Lou Boudreau and Lou Gehrig of Ivy as the East leader in home runs with 14 . . . Ivy is 8-2 in its last 10 games while Miami and Illinois both posted 7-3 records . . . LSU has won six straight games to move into a tie with Notre Dame in the standings. The Fighting Irish have lost eight in a row . . . Minnesota activated outfielder Dave Winfield (shown below) from the disabled list.

Stat of the Week: Michigan State has been shut out a league-high 23 times this season.

Standings
Ivy 75-39 --
Miami 68-46 -7
Illinois 67-47 -8
Florida State 61-53 -14
Mississippi State 61-53 -14
Michigan 57-57 -18
LSU 49-65 -26
Notre Dame 49-65 -26
Michigan State 42-72 -33
Minnesota 41-73 -34

[batted balls]

August 9, 2006

Fullerton, Calif.--Cal State Fullerton may not be the hottest team in baseball, but left fielder Aaron Rowand's bat is on fire.

Rowand earned All-American Baseball League West Player of the Week honors by collecting 14 hits in his last 26 at-bats (.538). In addition, Rowand (shown below) hit two home runs and drove in eight runs.

"This has been my best stretch of the season by far," said Rowand who is batting .267 for the year.

Titan manager Augie Garrido likes what he sees.

"Aaron has made some adjustments," Garrido said. "He's also a player who is willing to work at getting better. Aaron is one of the first players in the batting cage each day. I look for him to only get better over the next few seasons."

Rowand, a native of Portland, Oregon, has seven home runs and 41 RBIs on the season. His defense has also been a large part of his game.

"Playing good defense gives me as much satisfaciton as hitting a home run," said Rowand.

Diamond Notes: Arizona State now has a 10-game lead over second-place Southern California in the West standings . . . UCLA has moved into a third-place tie with Oklahoma State . . . Mark McGwire hit his AABL-leading 41st home run August 4 off Bud Black of San Diego State . . . Bob Hamelin of UCLA and Bob Horner of Arizona State both moved past the 100-RBI plateau this week . . . Arizona manager Jerry Kindall has his team running more. The Wildcats stole eight bases in the past week. As a result, Arizona won seven of its last 10 games and moved ahead of Cal State Fullerton in the standings. Wildcat teammates John Moses and Dan Meyer are tied for second in the West with 13 stolen bases each. Arizona State's Hubie Brooks leads the West with 19 steals . . . Stanford has lost Jim Lonborg for least three weeks with a strain in his pitching arm. Lonborg, 8-8, was fourth among ERA leaders at 2.56.

Stat of the Week: San Diego State equaled its season-high win streak by sweeping Oklahoma State in a three-game series. The Aztecs last won three games in a row in mid-April.

Standings
Arizona State 81-33 --
Southern California 71-43 -10
Oklahoma State 60-54 -21
UCLA 60-54 -21
Cal 55-59 -26
Stanford 55-59 -26
Texas 55-59 -26
Arizona 51-63 -30
Cal State Fullerton 50-64 -31
San Diege State 32-82 -49

[batted balls]

August 9, 2006

Berkley, Calif.--How close to perfection did Arizona left-hander Dave Rajsich come?

"A split second and about three inches," said Arizona short stop Eddie Leon after Cal pinch-hitter Chris Clapinski's hard ground ball eluded his glove to ruin Rajsich's bid for a pefect game.

The hit came with two outs in the ninth inning of Arizona's 3-0 victory over Cal. Rajsich then gave way to reliever Gil Heredia who gave up a single to Jerry Goff, another Cal pinch-hitter. Heredia departed in favor of Rich Hinton who got Bob Melvin to ground out, preserving the Arizona win and recording his second save of the season.

"I gave it everything I had," said Rajsich. "Sure, it's frustrating to come so close. But you've got to give credit to their pinch-hitter also."

Rajsich, 4-6, struck out three and used just 83 pitches. Prior to Clapinski's single the closest Cal came to a hit occured in the fifth inning when Bear short stop Geoff Blum blooped a soft pop up into short right field. Arizona second baseman Jason Bates made a diving catch to keep the perfect game intact.

Wildcat catcher Ron Hassey had given Arizona a 2-0 lead in the top half of the fifth with a two-out single off loser Bill "Bugs" Werle. Arizona added a third run on a Dave Stegman infield hit in the ninth. Werle, 7-10, took the loss.

Clapinski, a .256 hitter, ended the perfect game bid on a 1-1 fastball.

"I just tried to hit the ball hard somewhere," Clapinski said. "I didn't see it, but my teammates on the bench said Leon just missed making a diving stop. Could he have thrown me out? We'll never know, but it probably would have been close."

Close enough for perfection.

[batted balls]

August 11, 2006

Austin, Tex.-All season long Stanford manager Mark Marquess has wanted more offense. Left fielder Pete Stanicek obliged by hitting for the cycle. Still, it wasn't enough for a Stanford win.

"We haven't hit like this in a long time," said Marquess. "Unfortunately, today the pitching fell apart."

Despite a furious ninth-inning rally, Stanford was outslugged by Texas 10-9. In all, Stanicek collected a season-high five hits including a ninth-inning single to put the potential tying run into scoring position. However, Texas closer Huston Street came out the bullpen to strike out Ed Sprague and end the game. It was Street's 23rd save of the season.

Stanicek began his assault on Longhorn pitching by leading the game off with a triple. The Cardinal infielder then singled home a run in the third and doubled in the sixth. Stanicek completed his cycle with a two-run homer in the eighth. All four hits came off Texas starter Calvin Schiraldi.

"Pete hit me harder than anyone has all year long," Schiraldi said. "My cap's off to him."

Stanicek's homer was his first of the year. Yet, Texas' lead still seemed safe at 9-4.

"I've been hitting the ball much better lately than I was earlier this season," said Stanicek, who was sent to the minors briefly in June. At the time of his demotion, Stanicek was batting just .217. Since returning to the Stanford lineup July 19, Stanicek has raised his average to .266.

"I wasn't worried about the cycle," Stanicek said. "I was worried about us coming back to win today's game."

After Texas scored an insurance run in the bottom of the eighth, Stanford nearly did just that. The Cardinal rallied for five runs in the top of the ninth to make Longhorn manager Cliff Gustafson sweat things out.

"Sure I was worried," Gustafson said. "The way Stanford had grabbed momentum and the way Stanicek was swinging the bat you didn't know until the final out was in the books."

Texas chased Stanford starter Jack McDowell from the game after just 3.2 innings. All-Star Ernie Koy banged out four hits and Brooks Kieschnick hit a three-run homer as the Longhorns built a 9-1 lead. Dave Chalk was also 3-for-4 with a home run for Texas.

"We swung the balls well early," Gustafson said. "Ernie has been one of our best hitters all season long."

McDowell, 12-7, took the loss while Schiraldi improved to 8-11.

Stanicek became the first All-American Baseball League player to hit for the cycle since Arizona State's Duffy Dyer accomplished the feat on May 10.

[batted balls]

August 16, 2006

Bristol, Conn.-Illinois manager Tom Dedin figures this is as good a time as any to play first-place Ivy.

"We're playing our best ball of the season, why not play them now?" said Dedin on the eve of a three-game series at Eagles Nest Park.

Illinois, winners of seven straight games and 10 of its last 11, trails Ivy by five games in the standings. Dedin has his pitching rotation set so that his top three starters will face the Eagles.

Illini right-hander Carl Lundgren (16-6, 1.98 ERA) will oppose Ivy's Ron Darling (8-4, 2.45) in the opener. Fred Beebe (14-7, 1.53) is scheduled against Ted Olson (8-6, 2.95) in game two. The series finale will pit East strikeout leader Jeff Innis (11-8, 2.13) against Pete Broberg (15-7, 2.80).

"We couldn't ask for a better opportunity," said Dedin. "It's in our hands. Ivy is very talented, but we're ready for this series."

Lundgren (shown below), Beebe and Innis are a combined 8-0 in their last eight decisions.

"That trio is as tough as any three pitchers we've seen this year," said Minnesota infielder Paul Molitor.

In addition, the series will feature the East's top three home run hitters. Ivy first baseman Lou Gehrig and Illinois short stop Lou Boudreau are tied for the lead with 15 homers each. Illini outfielder Don Lenhardt has 14 home runs.

Meanwhile, the Eagles are 7-3 in their last 10 games. While Ivy has seen its lead in the East slip by three games in the past week, manager Bob Seddon likes his team's chances.

"The pressure is on Illinois," Seddon said. "We're playing in our home park. We're playing well. We're ready."

Ivy, in fact, is 42-20 at home this season. The Eagles haven't lost a series since mid-July.

"Illinois is coming here intend on sweeping us," Seddon said. "We'll have something to say about that."

Diamond Notes: Ivy right-hander Jim Beattie was selected as East Player of the Week. Beattie, who started the All-Star Game, was 2-0 with a 1.76 ERA for the week. Beattie, 14-4 with a 2.13 ERA, is fifth in the league in wins and sixth in ERA . . . Ivy outfielder Sam Mele is making his bid for MVP. Mele has taken over second place in batting (.325) while continuing to lead the East in RBIs (93) . . . Miami's Warren Bogle (16-5, 2.47) has taken over the East lead in victories . . . Mississippi State third baseman Bobby Etheridge (.178-2-35) is out indefinitely with a pulled tricep muscle. The Bulldogs have called up infielder Buddy Myer.

Stat of the Week: Mississippi State closer Bobby Thigpen has converted 17 straight save opportunities. Thigpen has 21 saves on the year.

Standings
Ivy 78-42 --
Illinois 73-47 -5
Miami 72-48 -6
Florida State 64-56 -14
Mississippi State 63-57 -15
Michigan 58-62 -20
LSU 53-67 -25
Notre Dame 52-68 -26
Michigan State 45-75 -33
Minnesota 42-78 -36

[batted balls]

August 16, 2006

Los Angeles-Southern California manager Rod Dedeaux realizes his Trojans are running out of time.

"This series is very, very important to us," said Dedeaux as his club gets set to host first-place Arizona State for three games.

Arizona State, 85-35, holds a 10-game lead over the second-place Trojans. With six weeks left in the season, USC needs to at least take two of the games. A sweep, however, is even more to the Trojans' liking.

"These games count double in a sense," said Dedeaux. "If we win, that means they lose. Every game has the potential to swing the standings substantially in our favor."

On the Arizona State side, manager Bobby Winkles wants his Sun Devils to conduct business as usual.

"The minute we start thinking and playing to just not get swept, that's when we're in trouble," Winkles said. "We want to win this series just as we have wanted to win each one this year."

Tuesday's series opener will match Craig Swan (11-3, 3.20 ERA) for Arizona State against All-Star Jim Barr (13-4, 3.17) for USC. Wednesday, the Sun Devils will send left-hander Eddie Bane (10-2, 1.56) against lefty Bill "The Spaceman" Lee (2-0, 2.37).

"Bill has really given us a lift," said Dedeaux of his decision to replace struggling Steve Busby in the rotation with Lee.

The series will conclude Thursday with USC ace Mark Prior (17-4, 2.34) against Arizona State's Floyd Bannister (13-5, 2.45). Both pitchers were All-Stars earlier this season.

"It's a big series both ways," said Prior. "We hope to climb back into the race quickly."

Diamond Notes: Arizona State and USC don't play again until a two-game series Sept. 20-21 in Tempe . . . USC third baseman Aaron Boone (shown below) has parlayed a 12-game hitting streak into a .332 average. The Trojans boast the All-American Baseball League West's top three hitters in Fred Lynn (.375), Boone and Mark McGwire (.325) . . . Lynn became the first West player to reach 100 runs scored in a 3-0 win over Oklahoma State . . . Although McGwire continues to lead the West in home runs (45) and RBIs (116), Bob Hamelin of UCLA (.282-37-108) and Bob Horner of Arizona State (.290-32-108) will likely garner some MVP considerations . . . Arizona State is likely to get outfielder Mike Devereaux off the disabled list in the next week or so. Devereaux (.322-6-35) tore a rib cage muscle June 20 and has been out of action since . . . Cal pitcher Monte Pearson (3-2, 2.51, 3 saves) is day-to-day with a back spasms.

Stat of the Week: While USC third baseman Aaron Boone is 17-for-his last 34, Trojan designated hitter Dave Kingman is just 1-for-his last 28 at-bats.

Standings
Arizona State 85-35 --
Southern California 75-45 -10
UCLA 64-56 -21
Oklahoma State 61-59 -24
Cal 60-60 -25
Texas 60-60 -25
Stanford 57-63 -28
Arizona 55-65 -30
Cal State Fullerton 51-69 -34
San Diege State 32-53 -53

[batted balls]

Max Mercy, Jr. here again, folks . . .

Lenny Randle, Fernando Vina, Ken Landreaux, Alvin Davis, Ken Phelps, Mike Kelly, Kevin Romine, Alan Bannister, Paul Lo Duca. Those names create a pretty darn good lineup for the Arizona State Sun Devils. The problem for those named above is that none of them are even on the big league roster for ASU. That's right, folks, all those named are playing in the Sun Devils' minor league system!

Ole Max is here to tell you this group could compete pretty well with many of the other teams in the All-American Baseball League. Heck, maybe the AABL should do like those blokes in English soccer and boot out the bottom teams and replace 'em next season with fresh faces. The English call it relegation. Ole Max calls it survival of the fittest.

There's no doubt in Max's mind that these farm hands are better than what Michigan State or Minnesota or San Diego State are trotting out on a daily basis. Heck, these Devils might even be able to beat Cal State Fullerton or Arizona or Notre Dame on a regular basis.

ASU has the top-ranked minor league system. That's top-ranked according to Ole Max as well as the folks down at Baseball America and Collegiate Baseball. These Sun Devils remind me of those great New York Yankee teams of the '50s. Those poor souls who found themselves stuck in the minors behind the likes of Mantle, Ford and Berra could sympathize with these current ASU bush leaguers.

There's a world of difference between the bigs and the minors . . . transportation, accomodations, ballpark lighting, clubhouse spreads; you name it. Too bad for those named Randle, Vina, Landreaux, Davis, Phelps, Kelly, Romine, Bannister and Lo Duca.

This is Max Mercy, Jr. signing off until next time . . . See you at the ballyard.

[batted balls]

August 20, 2006

Both All-American Baseball League division leaders took away two victories from key series against their second-place rivals.

Ivy blew out Illinois 16-3 Thursday in the rubber game of the series. Each team had taken a one-run victory in the series' first two games. Ivy rallied from a two-run deficit to win the opener 8-7. Eagle Sam Mele was 3-for-4 with two RBIs. Illinois took game two 1-0 behind the combined pitching efforts of Fred Beebe, Dick Weik and Donn Pall. Illini right fielder George Halas provided the game's lone run with a home run off hard-luck loser Pete Broberg (15-8). The homer was Halas' sixth of the season.

"Of course you always want the sweep in a series like this, but we're happy to have won two games against a quality opponent," said Ivy manager Bob Seddon.

The deciding game was scheduled to be a pitching duel between Jeff Innis of Illinois and Ted Olson of Ivy. Innis, however, could not start because of the stomach flu. That forced Jack Thies to take the mound for Illinois. Ivy hammered the Illinois right-hander for three home runs--two by Hughie Jennings and one by Lou Gehrig en route to the rout.

"Not having Jeff is no excuse," said Illinois manager Tom Dedin. "Ivy took it to us."

Ivy, 81-43 overall, holds a six-game lead over Illinois in the AABL East. The Illini, 75-49, slipped into third place as Miami swept its three-game series at Mississippi State. The Hurricanes trail Ivy by five games. Miami will open a three-game series at Ivy on Saturday. Illinois plays at LSU.

Arizona State, meanwhile, lost the series opener 5-4 Tuesday at Southern California. USC All-Star pitcher Jim Barr (11-4) bested Craig Swan (11-4) of Arizona State. Outfielder Ron Fairly drove home two key runs for the Trojans.

The Sun Devils rallied from three runs down to send game two into extra innings. Arizona State won the game 4-3 when third baseman Bob Horner singled in two runs off reliever and losing pitcher Randy Johnson (4-2) in the 10th inning. Sun Devil reliever Larrin LaGrow (shown below) earned his sixth save of the year by inticing Trojan pinch-hitter Gary Sutherland to pop out with the bases loaded to end the game. Ed Vande Berg (9-2) earned the win.

"That was a big win for us," said Arizona State manager Bobby Winkles. "USC had momentum building. Bob Horner helped us break that momentum."

The series finale wound up being a Sun Devil 7-3 victory. Arizona State's Reggie Jackson tied the game with an eighth-inning home run on an 0-2 pitch by Steve Busby. An inning later, Jackson singled in what proved to be the winning run off loser Ray Lamb (2-4). The single ignited a four-run inning for Arizona State. Earlier in the game, Jackson doubled in two runs off USC starter Barry Zito.

"I like to perform when the bright lights are shining," said Jackson of his 3-for-5, four-RBI night.

The series victory gives Arizona State an 11-game lead in the AABL West over USC. The Sun Devils open a three-game series at Stanford Saturday while USC travels to Cal State Fullerton.

[batted balls]

August 23, 2006

Bristol, Conn.-Miami completed a three-game sweep of the Ivy Eagles Monday to pull within two games of first place in the All-American Baseball League East.

Right-hander Alex Fernandez (shown below) matched teammate Warren Bogle by picking up his East-leading 17th victory as the Hurricanes edged Ivy 3-2 to finish off the sweep of the first-place Eagles.

"We knew that we were capable of this," said Fernandez (17-5). "This gets us closer, but we can't let down now."

Miami, 79-48, now travels to LSU for a three-game series. The Hurricanes have won seven straight games and are 9-1 in their last 10.

"We're clicking right now for sure," said Miami manager Ron Fraser. "We're peaking at a good time."

Ivy, meanwhile, opens a three-game series at Michigan. The Eagles are 4-6 in their last 10 games.

"It's not time to panic," said Ivy manager Bob Seddon. "It's time to regroup and refocus."

Miami took a 2-0 lead in the first inning of the series finale. Catcher Jorge Fabergas delivered the runs with a sharp single to right field. Second baseman Dave Berg drove home a much-needed insurance run in the sixth inning. Fernandez allowed just one Ivy run in his 5.1 innings of work before giving way to relievers Kurt Knudsen and Danny Graves. Graves notched his 15th save despite giving up a ninth-inning home run to Doug Glanville. All-Star selection Pete Broberg (15-9) took the loss for Ivy.

Miami won the first game of the series 4-2 as designated hitter Mike Piazza went 3-for-4 with a home run. Right-hander John Fulgham (12-12) of the Hurricanes bested Jim Beattie (14-5) of Ivy. Beattie is just 4-4 since starting the All-Star Game for the East.

The Hurricanes blasted the Eagles 15-5 in the second game of the series. Miami hit five home runs (two coming off the bat of Pat Burrell) in the rout. Berg went 3-for-5, hit a homer and drove in five runs. Bogle (17-5) earned the easy victory for Miami while John Milligan (14-8) was the loser for Ivy. Eagle first baseman Lou Gehrig hit his East-leading 17th home run in the loss.

Diamond Notes: Ivy placed infielder Gene Larkin on the 15-day disabled list with an injured right shoulder. Larkin was hitting .324 in limited action. Eddie Grant was called up from Triple-A ball . . . Jeff Brantley of Mississippi State was chosen as the East Player of the Week for the second time this season. The Bulldog right-hander was 2-0 with a miniscule 0.57 ERA. Brantley, 10-7, shut out Michigan State . . . Cap Anson of Notre Dame holds a slim lead in the East batting race. Anson is batting .328, just one point better than Ivy's Lou Gehrig (.327). Gehrig's teammate Sam Mele is third at .325 . . . Gehrig and Mele are tied for the RBI lead at 96 apiece . . . Miami infielder Bobby Hill has a season-high 17 game hitting string . . . Illinois swept LSU in Baton Rouge to pull within three games of Ivy. The Illini host Michigan State in a three-game set in Champaign.

Stat of the Week: Miami is 34-12 since the All-Star break. The Hurricanes were 17-8 in July and are 17-4 thus far in August.

Standings
Ivy 81-46 --
Miami 79-48 -2
Illinois 78-49 -3
Florida State 67-60 -14
Mississippi State 67-60 -14
Michigan 62-65 -19
Notre Dame 56-71 -25
LSU 54-73 -27
Michigan State 46-81 -35
Minnesota 45-82 -36

[batted balls]

August 23, 2006

San Diego--Cal right-hander Andy Messersmith's one-hitter was bitter sweet for the Golden Bears. The 23-year-old starter was placed on the 15-day disabled list following his 9-0 gem over San Diego State.

"I was throwing the ball better than I have in a long time," said Messersmith (shown below). "Then, afterward, came the pain."

That pain was in his right shoulder. Cal management decided to play things safe and shut Messersmith down for two weeks.

"We're not going to win the West this season," said Cal manager Clint Evans. "Andy has a very bright future. We've got to think about that."

Messersmith will join teammate Mike Cather on the DL. Cather, who leads the Golden Bears with 14 saves, suffered a pulled triceps muscle two days ago. Cather had been off the DL just eight days before returning to the injured list.

Messersmith gave up just one hit--a fourth-inning single to Mark Grace--during Monday's Cal victory. Messersmith threw 106 pitches (65 for strikes) as he walked just one and struck out seven. It was the first shutout of his career. Messersmith improved to 10-7.

Cal left fielder Sam Chapman provided all the offense the Golden Bears needed. Chapman hit two home runs and drove home three. Chapman has 22 homers on the year.

Juan Eichelberger and Larry Colton, both right-handers, were called up from the minors to take the spots vacated when Cather and Messersmith went on the DL.

Diamond Notes: San Diego State first baseman/designated hitter Travis Lee earned the West Player of the Week award. Lee hit .550 with five RBIs for the week. The 23-year-old is batting .259 with a team-high 26 homers and 70 RBIs on the season . . . After winning 2-1 in 12 innings, Arizona State lost two straight games at Stanford . . . UCLA first baseman Bob Hamelin hit his 40th home run off Arizona starter Scott Erickson . . . Six of the top 11 home run leaders in the West play for either USC or Arizona State . . . Since the All-Star break Oklahoma State has won just 17 of 46 games. The Cowboys dropped from third place into sixth . . . USC, UCLA, Cal and Texas all posted 7-3 records in their last 10 games. Ironically, those teams occupy second through fifth positions in the West standings.

Stat of the Week: USC has the top three West pitchers in terms of victories. Mark Prior leads with a 17-8 record while Barry Zito is second at 16-6. Jim Barr is third at 15-4.

Standings
Arizona State 89-38 --
Southern Cal 80-47 -9
UCLA 68-59 -21
Cal 65-62 -24
Texas 64-63 -25
Oklahoma State 63-64 -26
Stanford 61-66 -28
Arizona 58-69 -31
Cal State Fullerton 53-74 -36
San Diego State 34-93 -55

[chilliputt]

Go Canes! Thats what I'm talking about. Sweep the Tigers and 1st is around the corner.

[batted balls]

August 31, 2006

Minneapolis, Minn.--A three-run seventh inning lifted Minnesota to a 4-2 victory over Michigan and out of last place in the All-American Baseball League East.

The Golden Gophers' win, coupled with a Michigan State loss to Ivy, improved their record to 49-83. Minnesota is a respectable 22-29 since the All-Star break.

"We've made strides, there's no doubt," said Minnesota manager Dick Siebert (shown below). "We want to finish strong and build for next year."

Lead-off hitter J.T. Bruett drove in the tying and lead runs with a single off Michigan starter Lary Sorensen. Dave Winfield then doubled home Bruett with an insurance run.

Siebert then used four relievers to nail down the victory. Jeff Schmidt (5-4) earned the win while Bill Davis picked up his second save. Sorensen (11-9) took the loss.

"To other teams this may not seem like a big deal," said Breutt, who was 3-for-4 in the game. "But to us, this is huge. We don't want to turn around and fall back into last again."

Minnesota has won four straight games and is 7-3 in its last 10.

East Standings
Ivy 88-47 --
Miami 81-51 -4
Illinois 80-52 -5
Florida State 69-63 -16
Mississippi State 69-63 -16
Michigan 63-69 -22
Notre Dame 59-73 -26
Louisiana State 57-75 -28
Minnesota 49-83 -36
Michigan State 48-84 -37


Player of the Month: Mike Piazza, Miami
Pitcher of the Month: Fred Beebe, Illinois

Player of the Week: Alex Fernandez, Miami

Stat of the Week: Three of Ivy outfielder Doug Glanville's eight home runs have come in the last week.

Key Series: Illinois at Miami & Ivy at Michigan State

Team-by-Team August Review

Ivy: After stumbling in a three-game series with Miami, the Eagles appear to have righted the ship. First baseman Lou Gehrig (.326-18-100) leads the East in all three Triple Crown statistics. Sam Mele (.315-9-96) has also been dangerous. Pitchers Pete Broberg (16-9, 2.71 ERA), Jim Beattie (14-6, 2.12), John Milligan (15-8, 3.36) and Ron Darling (9-4, 2.36) continue to shine. The bullpen has been shaky at times. Closer Dave Sisler (21 saves, 2.53) has been strong however.
Miami: Ron Fraser's Hurricanes have been the AABL's hottest team in the second half (36-15). Strong pitching has been the key. Alex Fernandez (18-5, 3.03 ERA) and Warren Bogle (17-6, 2.65) are Golden Arm candidates. The bullpen features three solid closer-types in All-Star Oscar Munoz (18 saves), Danny Graves (16) and Kurt Knudsen (11). Jorge Fabergas (.302-10-62), Pat Burrell (.250-10-53) and Mike Piazza (.293-8-33 in just 174 at-bats) spearhead the offense.
Illinois: Starters Carl Lundgren (17-6, 2.01 ERA), Fred Beebe (14-7, East-leading 1.45 ERA) and Jeff Innis (12-8, 2.13, East-leading 168 strikeouts) set the tone. Stopper Donn Pall (28 saves, 1.88) closes the door. Longball artists Lou Boudreau (17 home runs) and Don Lenhardt (16) spark the Illini offense.
Florida State: The Seminoles have dropped into fourth place by going 21-30 since the break. All-Star closer Craig Skok (35 saves, 1.41 ERA) has been lights out. John Wasdin (14-9, 2.64) has been the best of the starters. All-Star Mark Gilbert (.303-11-66) leads a slumping offense.
Mississippi State: The Bulldogs have pulled into a fourth-place tie with Florida State. Pitchers Jeff Brantley (10-8, 3.03 ERA) and Bobby Thigpen (24 saves, 2.19) have given manager Ron Polk hope for next season. Will Clark (.318-14-71), Rafael Palmeiro (.271-8-60) and Adam Piatt (.288-5-57) are the Bulldog offensive threats.
Michigan: The Wolverines continue to be one of the East's biggest puzzles. Lary Sorensen (11-9, 2.73 ERA) is the lone starter with double-digit wins. Opponents are hitting just .230 against closer Steve Howe (23 saves, 2.00). Barry Larkin (.283-9-41) and Chris Sabo (.243-4-48) are tops on offense. Pitcher Scott Kamieniecki (3-5, 3.34) is on the disabled list with back ailments.
Notre Dame: The Fighting Irish are batting just .217, 19th in the AABL. Notre Dame averages just 2.93 runs per game. Cap Anson (.323-3-43) continues to contend for the East batting crown. Carl Yastrzemski (.277-10-55) and Red Murray (.264-13-55) have shown promise but the rest of the offense has been poor. Starter Ed Reulbach (11-12, 2.43 ERA) has struggled since returning from the disabled list. Norwood Gibson has the East's second-best ERA (1.91) yet is just 11-11 on the year.
LSU: The Tigers are a team of streaks. LSU will win seven of 10, then turn around and lose seven of the next 10. Closer Chad Ogea (27 saves, 2.74 ERA) has emerged. All-Star picks Warren Morris (.280-14-63), Joe Adcock (.278-11-59) and Buddy Blair (.256-8-65) comprise the heart of the lineup.
Minnesota: The Golden Gophers have been quite respectable since the All-Star break. Starter Steve Comer (7-11, 2.79 ERA) has been Minnesota's best pitcher. Stopper Gregg Olson (15 saves) has struck out a batter per inning in 78 frames. Paul Molitor (.273-4-54) has become the team's most dangerous hitter. All-Star catcher Dan Wilson (.284-5-33) is batting .300 on the road.
Michigan State: The Spartans remain last in every major offensive category. Michigan State averages just 1.75 runs per game and has been shut out a league-high 24 times. Mark Mulder (7-6, 2.99 ERA) is the only Spartan starter with a winning record. All-Star selection Dick Radatz (24 saves, 1.40) has saved just three games in the second half. Starter Robin Roberts became a 20-game loser this past week.

[batted balls]

August 31, 2006

Tempe, Ariz.--Mark Prior of Southern California may get most of the ink, but Floyd Bannister now has two All-American Baseball League West Pitcher of the Month awards. The Arizona State left-hander was honored Wednesday by league officials.

"Both Mark and Floyd are having great years," said Arizona State manager Bobby Winkles who had both pitchers on his West All-Star team. "We're fortunate to have Floyd on our side."

Bannister, 14-5 with a 2.34 ERA, was 3-0 in August. The Sun Devil lefty ranks third in ERA and is fifth in wins. Bannister's August ERA was just 1.30 in 41.2 innings.

"I feel honored to be selected for this award," Bannister said. "At the same time, though, it's even better to be on a first-place ballclub."

Arizona State continues to lead the AABL West with a 93-39 record. The Sun Devils lead second-place USC by nine games.

West Standings
Arizona State 93-39 --
Southern Cal 84-48 -9
UCLA 71-61 -22
Cal 69-63 -24
Texas 66-66 -27
Oklahoma State 64-68 -29
Stanford 63-69 -30
Arizona 58-74 -35
Cal State Fullerton 56-76 -37
San Diego State 36-96 -57

Player of the Month: Bob Hamelin, UCLA
Pitcher of the Month: Floyd Bannister, Arizona State (shown below)

Player of the Week: Dave Kingman, USC

Stat of the Week: Oklahoma State was shut out three straight days in a series sweep at the hands of Arizona State.

Team-by-Team August Review
Arizona State: The Sun Devils can beat you in so many different ways. Ranked first in stolen bases, second in home runs and third in team average, Arizona State can put runs on the scoreboard. Pitching continues to be sharp as well. All five starters are in double digits in the win category. In addition, reliever Sean Lowe is 11-1. Outfielder Mike Devereaux (.306-6-35) is back from the disabled list. Bob Horner (.281-33-114), Oddibe McDowell (.252-29-78) and Reggie Jackson (.272-24-76) have proven to be lethal.
USC: Staff ace Mark Prior (18-8, 2.31 ERA) has been joined by lefty Barry Zito (18-6. 2.55) and righty Jim Barr (15-4, 3.09) in keeping batters off base. Mark McGwire (.310-48-123) remains the front-runner for West MVP while Fred Lynn (.368-20-94-105 runs scored), Steve Kemp (.268-24-96) and Dave Kingman (.234-34-93) add to the onslaught. Second baseman John Berardino is out with an injury clearing the way for prospect Bret Boone (24 homers in Triple-A) to be promoted.
UCLA: First baseman Bob Hamelin (.284-42-122) leads the Bruin offensive attack. Troy Glaus (.252-31-99) and Jackie Robinson (.294-9-68-6 steals) have produced solid second halves. UCLA pitching, however, has kept the Bruins from gaining ground on Arizona State and USC.
Cal: The Golden Bears have continued to rise in the standings despite losing pitchers Andy Messersmith (10-7, 2.67 ERA) and Mike Cather (14 saves, 3.40) to the disabled list. All-Star Orval Overall (15-8, 2.76) quietly continues to win. Jeff Kent (.279-27-80), Sam Chapman (.257-22-55) and Geoff Blum (.279-5-42) ignite the offense.
Texas: Manager Cliff Gustafson likes what he saw in August from his Longhorns. Hard-throwing Roger Clemens (10-14, 2.76 ERA) recently tossed a two-hitter at Cal for his second shutout of the year. Minor league call-up Greg Swindell (6-3, 3.35) is a strong bet for a slot in next season's rotation. Huston Street (26 saves, 2.35) can close out any game. Only a lackluster offense (.227 team average) has kept Texas from climbing higher in the standings.
Oklahoma State: The Cowboy offense has dropped off the map of late. Manager Gary Ward's club was shut out eight times in August. Joe Horlen (12-10, 2.65 ERA) and All-Star pick Tim Pugh (11-8, 3.03, 3 shutouts) give OSU a solid 1-2 punch. Pete Incaviglia (.255-34-82) has an outside shot at 100 RBIs.
Stanford: Strong pitching and little offense continues to be the Cardinal way. Right-hander Jack McDowell (13-9, 3.14 ERA) has emerged in the second half while All-Star Mike Mussina (11-12, 2.44) continues to suffer from lack of offensive support. Opponents are batting just .157 against closer Steve Chitren (31 saves, 1.78). Third baseman Steve Buechele (.222-20-69) leads the team in home runs and RBIs.
Arizona: Manager Jerry Kindall's Wildcats have run their way into a tie for first in team stolen bases with rival Arizona State. Leading the way are outfielders Dan Meyer and John Moses (14 steals each) and Kenny Lofton (six). Jason Bates (.281-14-62) is Arizona's biggest threat in the lineup. Stopper Trevor Hoffman (31 saves, 3.78) has tied Stanford's Steve Chitren for the West lead in saves.
Cal State Fullerton: A trio of pitchers has given manager Augie Garrido hope for 2007. Starters Mike Harkey (11-8, 2.80 ERA) and Jeff Robinson (10-13, 3.12) have been impressive at times. Relief ace Mike Schooler (22 saves, 1.30) has 55 strikeouts in just 48 innings. Catcher Dan Whitmer (.255-12-46) has given Dante Powell (.265-5-42) and Aaron Rowand (.265-7-44) some offensive help.
San Diego State: The worst pitching in the AABL isn't getting any better. Right-hander Aaron Harang (7-10, 3.31 ERA) is the lone Aztec starter whose ERA is under 5.00. Mark Grace (.327-7-45), Travis Lee (.255-28-75) and player-manager Tony Gwynn (.249-13-59) supply most of the offense. With a month yet to play, the Aztecs may reach the 115-loss mark.