July 2009
Miller Dominate Out Of Beetles Bullpen
Alexandria relief pitcher Matt Miller (Michigan) did an excellent job shutting down the Bombers in the late innings. Miller entered the game in the eighth and pitched three innings of one-hit baseball. Miller would strike out seven batters, striking out the side in both the seventh and the eighth innings, and record his second victory of the season.
Baruwa Lights Out For Mallards
Dan Burawa (St. John's) entered the game in the sixth inning for the Madison Mallards and continued his recent dominance of opposing hitters by striking out seven batters in four innings to close out the Madison victory over the Wisconsin Woodchucks.
Sandersius Derails Express
Wisconsin Woodchucks starter Gabe Sandersius (Dallas) pitched all the way until the final out to pick up the victory in a 3-0 victory over first half South Division champion Eau Claire. Sandersius threw a gem for the Woodchucks, allowing just two hits in 8.2 innings of shutout baseball.
Gagnon’s Gem Gives Honkers Win
The Honkers got a gem from starter Drew Gagnon (Long Beach State) Wednesday to defeat the Duluth Huskies 6-0. Over seven innings Gagnon allowed just a single hit and two walks while striking out seven and allowing no runs to cross the plate. Gagnon’s effort earned him the win, moving his record to 3-1 on the season. Honorable Mention: Bryce Uhrig (Pepperdine) picked up his second win of the year, tossing seven innings of one-hit ball for the Alexandria Beetles. At one point, the righty faced 19 straight Waterloo batters without allowing a hit. He struck out four and walked two and gave up an unearned run in the Beetles 5-1 victory.
June 2009
Brown Shuts Out Duluth; Whitmore Blanks Eau Claire
Alexandria's Nick Brown (Iowa) tossed all nine innings, giving up just three singles in the Beetles 8-0 victory over Duluth. Brown struck out six and did not walk a batter, earning his second win in as many tries. Honorable Mention: Bennett Whitmore (Oregon) carried a perfect game into the sixth inning and finished with a complete game shutout for the Mankato MoonDogs. Whitmore held Eau Claire to six hits and struck out three.
Frymier Goes The Distance In River Bats Victory
Kurtis Frymier (Michigan State) tossed a complete game gem as the St. Cloud River Bats (13-18) defeated the Thunder Bay Border Cats (6-25) 10-2 at Port Arthur Stadium. Frymier (2-2) struck out eight batters and allowed just six hits to earn his second win in three starts.
Blank Helps Express Clinch South Division 1st Half Title
Trent Blank (Baylor) made his first start on the mound for the Express, who have lost a couple of key starting pitchers to injury and summer school. Blank did his job though in his first start of the season to earn the win. Blank pitched seven innings and gave up only two runs without walking a single batter and striking out five as the Express clinched the South Division first half title.
Varce Breaks Green Bay Single Season K Record
Zach Varce tossed 8 scoreless innings against the South Division leading Eau Claire Express but did not receive a decision as the as the game was scoreless until Eau Claire pushed across a run in the 10th inning to win. Varce gave up just five hits and recorded nine strikeouts to increase his league leading strikeout total to 60 on the season – 21 more than second place. He now owns the Green Bay single season record for strikeouts in a season. The previous record was held by Dave Roberts who fanned 59 during the Bullfrogs 2007 inaugural season. Saturday marks Varce's second Pitcher of the Night Award of the season.
Clement Closes Door For Madison
Denny Clement (Texas A&M) received his second win of the year after recording the game’s final eight outs without allowing a run (his ERA remains 0.00) in Madison's come-from-behind 3-2, 12 inning victory over division leading Eau Claire. Clement also struck out five Express batters. Clement has not allowed a run in his 8 2/3 innings pitched and has struck out 14 batters for the Mallards.
Holcomb Goes The Distance To Beat ‘Chucks
The Battle Creek Bombers used a complete game gem from Dan Holcomb (Evansville) as they defeated the Wisconsin Woodchucks by a final score of 5-1. Holcomb went the distance for the Bombers, allowing just one run and six hits while striking out five and walking just one. At one point he retired 9 straight batters. A solo home run in the 9th inning was the lone blemish for Holcomb.
O’Grady Extends Scoreless Innings Streak to 17
Dennis O'Grady (Duke) continued his dominance on the mound as he threw eight strong innings, allowed just three hits, walked only one, and struck out nine in the Lunkers victory over the Thunder Bay Border Cats, 5-0. He lowered his ERA to a league starting pitcher-best 0.29, picked up his second win in a Lunkers uniform, and didn't face more than four Thunder Bay hitters in any inning. O'Grady has now thrown 17 consecutive scoreless innings dating back to his start on June 16 against Duluth.
Griffin Continues Dominance For MoonDogs
Tim Griffin (Rollins) hurled yet another masterpiece as the righthander held St. Cloud to no runs on just three hits over seven innings, to give the MoonDogs a season-high fifth straight victory. Griffin moved to 2-1 on the season and combined with Chris Garrison (Oregon) to hurl the fifth MoonDogs shutout of the year. Griffin's ERA now stands at a paltry 1.10, with 39 strikeouts in 32.2 innings.