VOTE FOR DUFFY!!!

YOU CAN VOTE!

The Wilmington Blue Rocks are currently conducting a fan poll.

The Wilmington Blue Rocks currently have 5 of the top 6 prospects in the Kansas City Royals system; which player do you think will have the best Major League career?

--Danny Duffy

--Mike Moustakas

--Eric Hosmer

--Danny Gutierrez

--Mike Montgomery


We all know who the winner SHOULD BE so MAKE IT HAPPEN!

GO RIGHT NOW TO--

http://wilmington.bluerocks.milb.com/index.jsp?sid=t426

[Scroll down - its on the right hand side]

And vote for Duffy!!!!!!!!!!

Football, Strongman, & Good Girls [Updated Softball]

The football players don't have the practice concept to themselves - girls volleyball, cross-country, girls golf, and girls tennis, are all preparing for the fall season. The Cabrillo HS JV volleyball team (photo) already appear in sync.


FOOTBALL

Lompoc Strongman Competition

The Lompoc football team will hold its Strongman Competition fundraiser tonight at 7 p.m. at Huyck Stadium. The cost for admission is $5 with children under 6 free.

The competition is a fundraiser for the football team and features seven teams of six players.
Head Coach Robin Luken has strenuously denied that there will be a coaches team competing, but we continue to hope.

Strongman Competitions, popular on the East Coast, feature eight events, including the Farmer’s Walk, Tire Turn, Dead Lift, Sled Push, Log Press, Keg Carry and Telephone Pole Carry.

The Pole Carry will be the final event of the night and consists of participants carrying a 10-foot pole around the entire track (440 yards).


42nd Annual Kiwanis SB Co. All-Star Game/ Football CD's

Although there was not a large valley contingent playing in the game, notable performances were turned in by Favi Vargas & Nick Rotondi at linebacker, while Saul Dominguez on the D-line and Scott Aguailar at cornerback had extensive action. Brandon Whittaker returned a few kicks that were squibbed to avoid them going deep to Aguailar. Sean Allen was granted a minimal number of plays at QB, as the North fell 26-24 to the South to even the Series 19-19-4.

For those who would like to have a CD of the game, LHS football headman Robin Luken taped the entire game and it is now available. In addition, two LHS compilation CD's, "Greatest Offensive Plays" & "Greatest Hits", have also been released. Both of these CD's cover the period from 1991-2008. Contact coach Luken at Lompoc HS for more information.

SOFTBALL

ASA Western Nationals

Lompoc Smashers

The Lompoc Smashers 12U All-Star softball team started early on day two in Milwaukie, Oregon.

After winning Monday's first pool 'D' game, 4-2 over the Oregon Fever, the Smashers defeated Elk Grove 5-2, in an 8 a.m. game on an artificial field.

Angelina Melgoza led the offense - rapping two hits and scoring from third on a wild pitch, while Sydney Townes singled in a run. The squad also collected hits from Jenna Grossini, Trista Berryman, Wendy Rubio and Ali Nelson, and RBI's from Nelson and Megan Green.

It was also a good day for the battery, starter Madison McNamee earned the win in four innings and helped her own cause with an RBI sacrifice bunt, before turning the circle over to Trista Berryman. Each pitcher registered a strikeout, while catcher Wendy Rubio, threw out a base-runner on a steal attempt and tagged a runner out at home on Nelson's throw from centerfield.

Championship bracket play begins today, but the Smashers 1st place performance in pool 'D' helped earn them a 1st round bye. They are scheduled to play Thursday at 6 pm against the winner of the Chaos / North Shore Gold match-up. Both of those squads were 3rd place finishers in their respective pools.

Lompoc Bombers

The Lompoc Bombers U10 softball team fell in its first game of pool play in Salem, Oregon Tuesday afternoon.

The Bombers 15-2 loss to La Mirada put them into to the pool 'D' third place game versus the Clackamas Cavs, 4-0 losers to the Half Moon Bay Waves, on Wednesday (3pm). The Bomers bounced back in that one, defeating the Cavs 11-2.

The pool play results will determine the seeding in the championship bracket.

Thursday is an off day. In addition to the bracket draw at 4 p.m., there is skills competition fundraiser for Play For The Cure.

One of the early favorites in the tourney is the WAGS [Westlake Village and Agoura Hills] Thunder, who defeated the San Bruno Storm 11-0 Wednesday to go undefeated in pool play after trouncing the Rocklin (Calif.) ThunderCats 13-0 on Tuesday's.

Lompoc Strikerz

At Kaysville, Utah the local 14U Strikerz were blown up 12-2 in the 1st game of pool play (noon, Wednesday) by the West Grove Nitro, but recovered Wednesday evening (6 pm), defeating the Eastvale RUSH 6-4 to take 3rd place in pool 'H'.

They were assigned to play in one of Thursdays (8 am) Winners Bracket 'play-in' games, but fell 8-3 to the Central Grizzlies. In the subsequent 2 pm game, they were bounced 6-4 by the Chaos.

USA/ASA National [18U]

Fresno Force

The Force, with CHS Varsity player Kiley Shae Aldridge aboard, sailed into rocky waters in Las Vegas. After dropping their pool 'N' opener to the Illinois Thunder (10-3), they beat the Jersey Intensity Black squad (11-5) for third place in the pool. Placed in Wednesday's 10 am game 17 of the main bracket, they were nosed out 5-4 by the Bayside Blues. Their next game {#93} is on Thursday (2 pm) versus the Mankato Peppers (9-5 losers to the West Bay Nuggets). *** Unfortunately, the Force lost to the Peppers 11-6 in the Vegas heat. ***

Other Events:

High school football officials needed

The Los Padres Football Officials Association (LPFOA) is looking for interested men and women who would like to officiate football at the high school level this coming season.

The LPFOA covers youth, freshmen, JV and varsity football games from Santa Ynez to Paso Robles.

The LPFOA will hold meetings at Arroyo Grande High School all-purpose room on Tuesday, Aug. 11 (6:30 p.m.), and Tuesday, Aug. 18.

The high school season kicks off with Week Zero action on Friday night, Sept. 4.

Call Randy at 459-0391 for more details.

Merlo Memorial Golf Tournament

The Ninth Annual Merlo Memorial tournament will be held this Saturday, Aug. 1 at Rancho Maria Golf Course in Santa Maria.

Held in the memory of Jane Merlo, longtime coach at Allan Hancock College, mentor to several golf professionals, and donor of many hours to youth golf, the event is a fundraiser for youth golf scholarships.

Adults, $50 per person, will play a four-person scramble on the back nine holes (cart included), while youth ($15 each) play a four-person scramble on the front nine holes. Tee off for the shotgun start is at 12:30 p.m.

Call Rancho Maria at 937-2019 for more details.

All-Stars & Nationals

The Lompoc Smashers - the LGSA 12 & Under All-Stars




BASEBALL
CCL All-Star Game

The California Collegiate League All-Star Game at the MLB Youth Academy in Compton had a rather dis-proportionate percentage of Lompocans involved. Two of the Santa Maria Valley Packers selected for the 'National All-Stars' were recent LHS grads - Corey Dotzler and Ben Ornelas. In addition, the squad was managed by not-quite-so-recent LHS alum Roy Howell.

For those of you unfamiliar with the CCL, it is a 'summer-ball' league. Approximately 5000 players, mostly college and recent HS graduate athletes, compete each summer. This year there are 27 leagues fielding c. 150 teams nationwide. The most famous of these leagues is the Cape Cod League in the northeast, but the central coast's own 15 year-old CCL is rapidly gaining a fair amount of attention.

Two Championships in three years at the annual National Baseball Congress tournament in Wichita, KS by the perennial CCL powerhouse Santa Barbara Foresters, players from elite programs (ASU, Texas, etc) across the country, and an abundance of area talent, put some 30 MLB scouts (25 MLB teams) in the stands.

The CCL [ calsummerball.com ] split in two for the game with the Packers, MLB Academy, SoCal Blacksox, & SLO Rattlers under SLO boss Howell forming the 'Nationals', and Forresters chief Bill Pintard heading up the 'Americans' with players from the SLO Blues, Conejo Oaks, and his own squad.

Ornelas, fresh off of leading Lewis & Clark St. to the playoffs, was one of the bright spots for the Nationals going 2-3 and being hit by a pitch to help stake the team to a lead. Unfortunately, they were unable to hold it.

The game is in the regular rotation on Fox's PrimeTicket cable network [Comcast channel 33], and includes an interview with Howell.

Wrestling

Marcell Blow

Marcell, an underclassman at LHS last winter, has stepped up this summer -- both in weight class and in performance level. During the HS season he showed flashes of brilliance mostly wrestling at 125 to 135 pounds, but had problems with consistency. Representing the Lompoc Academy of Wrestling while grappling this summer in the Cadet division at 145 pounds, he has significantly raised expectations.

Dave Schultz State Freestyle Championships
At the state contest, he went 3-1 in qualifiers, losing only an 8-6 Technical Fall to West Coast Crew powerhouse Victor Pereira. He then lost his first two in the medal rounds, including another 8-6 TF to Pereira, but recovered to take 5th place in the tournament and qualify for the ....

USA Wrestling National Tournament
At Fargo, ND, Marcell wrestled for 'Team California' in the 145 pound Cadet Freestyle brackets. There were 58 competitors from across the country. 18 of them lost their first two matches and were eliminated. Marcell did better than that, he was one of 13 wrestlers who lost 2 of their first 3 (1 received a 1st round Bye). He dropped round 1, a narrow 3-2 dec., to Wyoming's Cormick Eaton. He decisioned Lee Davis (Georgia) in round 2, but was outpointed 5-1 in round 3 by Chris Castillo of Washington. Castillo finished 3rd at Nationals, and Pereira was 6th, Eaton went 3-2.

Not bad for a kid who has only been wrestling at 145 for a few months - among the 40 best in the country with most of his loses in tight matches against the Top 10 opponents.


Softball
Play begins with mostly 4-team pools, with each squad playing two seeding games. Pool play started on Monday (18U)/Tuesday and the championship bracket will be determined after the four-team pools are completed.

ASA Class B Fast Pitch Western Nationals

Don't forget that THREE LGSA All-star teams are starting Tournaments this week (July 27-August 2).

The Bombers, the age 10 & under team, go to the in Salem, Oregon. The Smashers (12 & under) are in Milwaukie, Oregon, and the Strikerz (14 & under) travel to Utah. Each team plays several pool-play games for seeding in the main double-elimination brackets.

The Smashers won the Tuesday 2:30 Pool D game 4-2 over the Oregon Fever, with an 8am contest with the Elk Grove All-Stars on Wednesday. The Strikerz are slated to play their Pool H opener Wednesday versus the West Grove Nitro at noon.

Unfortunately, at 10am on Tuesday, the Bombers dropped their Pool D opener 15-2 to La Mirada. On Wednesday, (3 pm) they face the Clackamas Cavs - 4-0 losers to the Half Moon Bay Waves.

USA/ASA Class A 18U National Tournament [Las Vegas, NV]

Kiley Shae Aldridge

The Cabrillo High School varsity softball player, playing for the Fresno Force, is currently in a very hot Las Vegas, Nevada competing with in some 140 teams from all over the country for a national softball tournament title.

Game 1:
With temperatures reaching a brutal 116 degrees during their first game on Monday at noon, the Force fell to the Illinois Thunder 10-3. The Thunder were leading 5-0 in the fourth, when the game was delayed for a half-hour while a replacement was located for an umpire who suffered heat exhaustion.

The Force did score three runs in the sixth inning, but the game was called at the end of the inning due to the time limit.

Tuesday, again at noon, the team rebounded, topping the Jersey Intensity Black 11-5 to finish third in pool 'N'.

They begin championship bracket play today - taking on the Pool 'F' champion Bayside Blues (MD.) at 10 am.

Swimming

2009 Long Course Central California Swimming Junior Olympics

A large contingent of swimmers from the Lompoc Tsunami Aquatics team will be competing in the event which will take place in Fresno at the Central Unified School District Aquatics Complex.

Team head coach Jeff Storie believes this will be the most swimmers in the club’s history ever to represent Lompoc at the JO's.

Running from Thursday, July 30 through Sunday, Aug 2, each day begins with prelims from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. The top 16 swimmers in each event will then swim in the finals each evening from 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Six Tsunami swimmers are returning to the JO’s, while seven additional swimmers making their Junior Olympic debuts.

The returning competitors are as follows, with their age in parenthesis and events:

Paola Hernandez (14), 50, 100, 200 freestyle, 100, 200 backstroke, 100, 200 butterfly, 200, 400 Individual Medley

Samantha Carroll (12), 50, 100, 200 freestyle, 50, 100 backstroke, 50, 100 butterfly, 200 Individual Medley

Eduardo Carenas (12) 50, 100, 200 freestyle, 50, 100 breaststroke, 50, 100 butterfly, 200 Individual Medley

Jake Robinson (10) 50, 100, 200 freestyle, 50, 100 breaststroke, 200 Individual Medley

Ryan Dang (9) 50, 100, 200 freestyle, 50, 100 breaststroke, 100 backstroke, 50, 100 butterfly, 200 Individual Medley

Nicole Zarine (9) 100, 200 freestyle, 50, 100 backstroke.

Competing at the Junior Olympics for the first time are:

Alfrado Navarro (14) 50, 100, 200 freestyle, Jamison Diep (12) 50, 100, 200 freestyle, Blake Espinoza (12) 50, 100 breaststroke, 50 butterfly, Abi Stangle (12) 100 breaststroke, Ciara Cardenas (9) 50, 100, 200 freestyle, Riqui Cardenas (10) 50, 100, 200 freestyle, Lia Zarinan (10) 50, 100, 200 freestyle, 100 breaststroke, 50, 100 backstroke, 200 Individual Medley.

Duffy Roughed Up

After three sparkling outings in a row DANNY DUFFY was returned to earth Tuesday night by the Lynchburg Hillcats.

The Cats rapped the Lompoc lefty for four earned runs in three and one-third innings. Duffy departed trailing 4-2 but his Wilmington mates scored big thereafter to win 6-4.

Duffy gave up five hits and one base on balls to the Pittsburgh Pirate farm team.

After 1-2-3 first and second innings Duffy was touched for a walk and then with two outs a single by .248 hitter Jose De Los Santos and a double by .238 hitter Jordy Mercer to score two.

In the fourth the Lynchburg assault continued with two singles and a double by the Hillcats’ 4, 5 and 6-hole hitters to plate two more.

In Duffy’s two previous performances opposite next-to-last place Lynchburg he had handcuffed them, allowing no runs in 10-plus innings.

Duffy’s statistics suffered. His earned run average jumped to 3.51. In the last 10 games that ERA has been 3.98, not in the two range as it had been in April, May and most of June.

Still, in 100 innings, 20 more than he has ever pitched in a season, he has given up only five home runs and his strikeout to walk ratio is 95-31. He was named to the Carolina League All-Star team and performed earlier this month in the MLB Futures Game representing the Kansas City Royals.

And he is still five months short of his 21st birthday.

Boo Jackson Optimistic about '09 Grid Season

Sees Four Victories to Open the Season

BOO JACKSON, quarterback of the University of Ohio Bobcats, believes the Cats can win all four early-season games, including one against highly-ranked Tennessee.

Jackson's interview will be aired Monday night on Lompoc Locker Room, the TV Show. The program is seen on TAP-TV Channel 25 on the Comcast cable at 5:30 p.m.

Also appearing will be Cabrillo track and football coach JAKE BROWN.

Duffy Bests Tim Hudson

Notches his Eighth Win

DANNY DUFFY won a memorable duel against rehabbing major leaguer Tim Hudson Thursday night and in so doing racked up his eighth victory of the season in a 5-3 win over Myrtle Beach.

Duffy allowed just one earned run in six and two-thirds innings while his Wilmington mates touched Hudson, preparing for a return to the Atlanta Braves after Tommy John surgery, for five hits and three earned runs in two and two-thirds.

Duffy gave up only five singles and one base on balls while striking out five.

In the fourth inning, after the Blue Rocks drove Hudson to the showers, Duffy saw his scoreless string of 13 innings over three games marred by a walk and two singles to score a run. Duffy kept his composure however and induced a ground ball double play to end the inning.

In the fifth the Pelicans scored again, unearned, this on a bunt and two throwing errors, one by Duffy.

Duffy’s earned run average improved to 3.26, fifth best in the Carolina League, and his strikeout to walk ratio to 92-30. The 92 K’s rank #3 in the CL. His eight wins rank #2.

Still only 20 years old, Duffy is at least a full year younger than the four pitchers ahead of him on the league ERA chart and the two with more strikeouts, and two years younger than the one ahead of him in wins.

Wilmington is affiliated with the Kansas City Royals.

Duffy Carolina Pitcher of the Week

Adds to his List of Feats

Wilmington, DE - What a week it was for Wilmington Blue Rocks starting pitcher Danny Duffy. First he pitched on national television in the All-Star Futures Game in St. Louis on July 12, and then he was named Carolina League Pitcher of the Week for games played from July 13-19.

Duffy made one start over that stretch for the Blue Crew, but it was a good one. He tossed his first career complete game as the Rocks beat the Frederick Keys 3-1.

The 20-year-old left-hander allowed one unearned run, yielded only two hits and struck out seven, as the Rocks took the opener of a twinbill with their CL North rival on July 18.

This accolade joins his appearance in the Futures Game, and his spot on the CL All-Star team at the top of the list of Duffy's achievements in 2009.

He begins the day tied for third in the league with 87 strikeouts, tied for sixth in the CL with seven wins, and fifth in the circuit with an ERA of 3.40.

Duffy is scheduled to make his next start on Thursday against rehabbing big leaguer Tim Hudson at Myrtle Beach against the Pelicans.

The top-ranked pitching prospect in the Royals system according to Baseball America becomes the third Blue Rock hurler honored by the league office this season.

Duffy Tosses first Complete Game

DANNY DUFFY led the Wilmington Blue Rocks to a headline victory in the opener of Saturday’s doubleheader with the Frederick Keys.

Duffy (7-3) tossed a masterpiece, allowing only a single unearned run on two hits over seven innings. He retired the last 14 batters he faced. It was the left-hander's first complete game of his career (doubleheader games are only seven innings in duration), and it equaled his longest outing of the season.

Duffy struck out seven, walked nobody, and gave up just two singles.

As noted he retired the Keys in order in the fourth, fifth, six and seventh innings.

The unearned run came on a single, an error, a bunt single and a sacrifice bunt.

Duffy lowered his earned run average to 3.40. After two sub-par outings he has now reeled off 10 and one-third innings without allowing an earned run.

His strikeout-to-walk ratio for the season is now 87-29. His 87 strikeouts rank #2 in the Carolina League.

Duffy's Clean 2/3; White Hot

FIRST TIME ON NATIONAL STAGE


Wilmington, DE - Wilmington Blue Rocks starting pitcher DANNY DUFFY (pictured here in this photo by MIKE COLLINS) may have missed his scheduled spot in the rotation on Sunday in Salem, but the 20-year-old southpaw had a pretty good excuse. He was busy pitching on national television for the U.S. team in the XM All-Star Futures Game.




Duffy entered the game in the fifth frame. He allowed two men to reach, one on a walk and the other on a single, but also managed to retire two batters before being replaced by Arizona farmhand Jarrod Parker.




Duffy's appearance made him the first ever active Wilmington Blue Rock to appear in the 11th annual edition of baseball's sneak peak into the future. Former Blue Crewers Dee Brown, Clay Buchholz, Jacoby Ellsbury and Rubén Gotay played in the game after finishing their tenure in Wilmington. Zack Greinke and Anibal Sanchez were selected to play in the game while on the Riverfront, but were promoted before the contest took place.




The contest was held in St. Louis (site of Tuesday's Major League All-Star game) and was shortened to seven innings thanks to rain, which also caused a four-hour delay.




The World Team staged a late rally to beat the U.S. squad, 7-5. The announced attendance was 36,311, but thanks to the wet weather, there were not nearly that many fans in Busch Stadium.

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CHRIS WHITE'S BLAZING WEEK

In Lakeland, Florida CHRIS WHITE added a 2-for-3 game Wednesday night against Dunedin to his two-hit game on Sunday against Brevard County. In his last three games the Lompoc centerfielder is 5-for-9 and has lifted his batting average to .240 in the Florida State League.

Church Meets the Braves; Duffy in Futures

Atlanta Already Knows he Plays Hard

DENVER -- When RYAN CHURCH suffered a concussion sliding into Yunel Escobar's knee last year, there were some Braves that thought he'd put himself in position to suffer the ailment with a late, high slide that could have injured Escobar.

But now that he's a member of their team, the Braves are going to enjoy the blue-collar, aggressive nature displayed by Church, who introduced himself to his teammates on Saturday afternoon and then found himself starting in right field a few hours later against the Rockies.

"He [plays hard]," Braves manager Bobby Cox said. "That's obvious to everybody."

Church, who was acquired from the Mets in exchange for Jeff Francoeur on Friday, actually suffered two concussions within a span two months last year, and after incurring that second one on May 20 at Turner Field, he found the Mets utilizing him as a pinch-hitter two nights later and a total of four times during the six days that followed.

"I took that first month off during the offseason, and it was just one of those things where I woke up and finally all of the symptoms were gone," Church said. "After that, I started working out and didn't have a problem. So I kept building on that and I haven't had any problems since then."

While Church might finally feel normal, he still hasn't regained the form he'd displayed while hitting .311 with nine homers and a .913 OPS (on-base percentage plus slugging percentage) in the 42 games he'd played before suffering that second concussion.

In the 115 games that have followed, Church has hit .264 with five homers and a .686 OPS.
Part of this could be blamed on the fact that the Mets didn't allow him to gain the immediate rest that he's since been told that he needed. But the 30-year-old outfielder also didn't benefit from the pitcher-friendly dimensions at Citi Field, which the Mets opened this year.

During the 32 home games he played with the Mets this year, Church hit .216 with a .576 OPS. In 35 road games, he batted.326 with an .804 OPS.

"The park plays big, but everybody has to play in it, so you can't use it as an excuse," Church said. "At times, it could be frustrating. But what can you do? It's already built and it's concrete and it ain't moving."

With the trade, Church gained the opportunity to play with Chipper Jones, whom he'd adopted as his favorite player while growing up in Santa Barbara, Calif. (????) as a Braves fan.

Church, who will be utilized primarily in a right field platoon with Matt Diaz, showed his sense of humor when asked if there would be any animosity between himself and Escobar.

"I don't even remember any more, that's the good thing about it," Church said. "That's part of the game. It was unfortunate, but hey, we're teammates now."

When Friday's trade was completed, the wide-ranging thought was that it allowed two teams to move a pair of players that needed a change of scenery. Church is simply looking at it as one that could benefit him and Francoeur.

"I think it's going to work out for both of us in the end," Church said. "He's going to love it there. It's the biggest stage. At times, it can be tough. But he's a tough player and he plays hard. I think all you have to do in New York is play hard and they'll love you."
Mark Bowman is a reporter for MLB.com.

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Duffy Clean in Futures Game

In other pro baseball action DANNY DUFFY acquitted himself well in Major League Baseball's Futures Game Sunday at Busch Stadium in St. Louis. Representing the Kansas City Royals Duffy hurled two-thirds of an inning and gave up one harmless base hit.

Three LGSA Champs to Nationals

The Lompoc Bombers back row left to right are Olivia Gutierrez, Rylee Sager, Cheyenne Marmolejo, Jenna Daley, Cierra Green, and Carissa Sanchez. Front row are Alex Martinez, Felicity Montez, Jordan Spice, Adrianna Marshall, Vianney Tamayo and Anastazia Garcia. Team manager is Benny Garcia.

And They'll be on TV Too

Led by the Lompoc Bombers, three different Lompoc Girls Softball Association all-star teams have qualified for national tournaments.

And all three will appear on Lompoc Locker Room, the TV Show on Monday at 5:30 p.m. on Comcast Channel 25.

The Bombers, the age 10 & under team, have won 4 of 5 tournaments and go to Salem, Oregon July 27.

The Smashers (12 & under) have amassed a 15-4 record with nationals July 27-August 2 in Milwaukie, Oregon, and the Strikerz (14 & under) are have also qualified for nationals in Utah.

All three teams need your help to finance the trip. Here is a list of fundraising events where you can help.

Curb number painting – Smashers, call Brenda Liss @ 588-0498

Recycle – Smashers, call 291-2001 or 588-0498 or 736-0049

Sunday, July 12 – Strikerz, Pommerville car wash/4-8 pm Wal-Mart bake sale/Walgreen BBQ

Monday, July 13 – Strikerz, root beer floats at Albertsons

Tuesday, July 14 – Strikerz, root beer floats at Albertsons

Wednesday, July 15 – Strikerz, root beer floats at Albertsons

Thursday, July 16 – Strikerz, root beer floats at Albertsons

Friday, July 17 – Smashers, bake sale @ Wal-Mart and Papa Murphy’s 4-9. Strikerz, bake sale @ Albertsons 11-8 pm, batathon @ Thompson Park, bake sale @ Old Towne Faire

Saturday, July 18 – Smashers Pizza Garden 50% of profit with mention of “Smashers” 4-9. Strikerz, bake sale @ Albertsons 11-8, pizza @ Papa Murphy’s 4-8

Sunday, July 19 – Strikerz root beer floats @ Albertsons

Monday, July 20—Strikerz root beer floats @ Albertsons

Tuesday, July 21 – Strikerz root beer floats @ Albertsons

Wednesday, July 22 – Strikerz root beer floats @ Albertsons

Thursday, July 23 – Strikerz root beer floats @ Albertsons, spaghetti dinner @ Moose Lodge

Friday, July 24 – Strikerz root beer floats @ Albertsons, bake sale @ Olde Towne Faire


The Smashers include Madison McNamee, Sydney Townes, Trista Berryman, Jenna Grossini, Marci Chavez, Meagan Bower, Angelina Melgoza, Ali Nelson, Wendy Rubio, Megan Green, Lexie Barbosa, Cassi Colgan, and Larissa Gaitan. Team manager is Joe Gonzales.

The Strikerz are composed of Meagan Handy, Kailee Nickerson, Eleesha Rodriguez, Jocelynn Terrones, Melissa Green, Brittney Tabin, C.J. Perry, Maria Chavez, Lyscna Navarrete, Samantha Warner, Ghrae Figueroa, and Priscilla Castellanos. Head coach is Joy Terrones.

Mets Send Church To Braves

Opt for Faded Star Francoeur

NEW YORK -- The Mets traded right fielder RYAN CHURCH to the Braves for Jeff Francoeur prior to tonight's contest with the Reds.

To make up for the slight difference in the players' salaries, the Braves also sent approximately $250,000 to New York.

Francoeur hit .250 with five home runs and 35 RBIs in 82 games for the Braves this season. Church, meanwhile, batted .280 with two homers and 22 RBIs in 67 games for the Mets.

"We've got to keep on trying to do these kinds of things," Mets General Manager Omar Minaya said. "We're not going to say, 'This is it.' As a front office, we're going to do some things to shake it up."

In getting Francoeur, the Mets dealt one of their few regulars remaining from Opening Day. Church, who had a stint on the disabled list that bridged the end of May and early June, seemed to find a rhythm with everyday playing time. In his 28 games since returning June 7, Church hit .290 with a home run and 14 RBIs while playing both right and center field.

"It was a shocker," Church said of the trade. "I have no hard feelings. I loved it here, got a chance to meet a lot of great people and play for a good team. I'm just looking at it as a new start. They've got a great organization in Atlanta."

Church, whom the Mets acquired after the 2007 season from the Nationals, got off to a sizzling start with the team last season. In the first 43 games of the year, Church hit .315 with nine home runs and 32 RBIs. Church, however, suffered a concussion -- ironically, in Atlanta -- near the end of May 2008, and never was able to regain his form at the plate. He finished the year batting .273 with 12 homers and 49 RBIs.

The Mets were widely criticized for how they handled Church's concussion, which included flying him to Colorado that week and reinserting him in the lineup before he was fully ready.
"It probably could have been handled a little different," Church said. "But it was just one of those things -- we were in uncharted water."

There was also talk earlier this season that manager Jerry Manuel was not Church's biggest fan. Church, for one, looks forward to getting back at his old team when the Braves host the Mets in a four-game series next weekend.

"They're going to have to change up a lot of signs," he joked. "I definitely know how to play a lot of these guys."

The Braves will likely platoon Church and Matt Diaz in right field. The left-handed Church has hit .282 with an .822 OPS in his career against right-handed pitchers, and .245 with a .683 OPS against left-handers.

Church's splits have been even more telling this season, as he's hit .310 with a .784 OPS against right-handers and only .167 with a .414 OPS in 48 at-bats against southpaws.

"We like the way he plays the game, and we think he brings some things to our team that we need," Brave General Manager Frank Wren said.

Church is expected to join the Braves in time for Saturday night's game against the Rockies.

Church's best Major League season came in 2007, when he hit .272 with 15 homers and 70 RBIs in 144 games with the Nationals.

"He's a good ballplayer," Brave manager Bobby Cox said. "He's always caught your eye."

Francoeur, 25, is known across the league for his defense in right field. He won a Gold Glove Award in 2007 and has more assists than any other big league outfielder since he made his Major League debut in July 2005.

Francoeur looked like a star when he burst onto the scene in 2005, hitting .300 with 14 home runs in 70 games for the Braves. He drove in more than 100 runs in each of his first two full seasons while playing all 162 games.

Francoeur tailed off in 2008, batting just .239 with 11 home runs and 71 RBIs. The biggest concern about him is his plate discipline, or lack thereof. Francoeur has walked a total of 127 times in 2,632 career plate appearances, or roughly once every 20 times up.

Tim Britton is an associate reporter for MLB.com.

Duffy Returning to Stride

Allows No Earned Runs


After two sub-par outings Lompoc lefty DANNY DUFFY got back to throwing scoreless innings Wednesday night.

Duffy allowed only one unearned run over three and two-thirds innings at Lynchburg, Virginia though his Wilmington club lost 3-2.

Duffy had to struggle for his clean slate however as only the third inning went 1-2-3.

He gave up a single and a wild pitch before retiring the side in the first.

In the second an error, another wild pitch, a single, and a sac fly produced the Hillcats’ unearned run. Duffy gave up an infield single and a walk before closing the frame.

In the fourth Duffy departed with two out and the bags loaded after a single, a bunt single, a throwing error, and a walk

Duffy struck out five and walked two. He is scheduled for the Major League Baseball Futures Game later this month.

Church Bat Still Blazing

Brings Average to .300

RYAN CHURCH continued to wield a blazing bat Friday night at Philadelphia as he rapped a double and two singles in four trips to the plate.

The New York Met centerfielder has been white hot over the past five games going 13-for-22 to lift his season batting average from .267 to .300, a level he has not seen since his roaring start in April when he stood at .419 after nine games.

Besides his contribution at the plate Church also pulled up a nifty sliding catch to rob Jimmy Rollins in the second inning.

Unfortunately the Mets still lost 7-2.

Church RBI Wins Another; Duffy Rocky

Church Encore

For the second game in a row RYAN CHURCH drove in the winning run for the New York Mets. This transpired on Thursday in Pittsburgh.

PITTSBURGH -- The Mets made sure their largest comeback of the season stood up with a 9-8, 10-inning win Thursday in front of 14,321 at PNC Park. Francisco Rodriguez, who blew the save in the ninth, went back out for the 10th and earned the victory.

Ryan Church singled in the winning run with a two-out RBI. That brought home Fernando Tatis, who had reached by getting hit by a pitch for the second time in the game. He then stole second base to set up the game-winning hit.

"Tatis took off 3-1, [Matt Capps] threw me a changeup, [and I] swung through it, [then] the catcher went out there to talk to Capps," Church explained. "I thought for sure they were going to throw me another changeup, so I was sitting offspeed. I think they helped me out because he threw a two-seamer away and I was just able to use my hands, go right back up the middle."

The largest deficit the Mets overcame this season before Thursday was four runs against the Giants on May 15. It is the biggest comeback of any kind since they beat the Cardinals on Aug. 22, 2006, 8-7, after falling behind 7-1. The Mets have now won back-to-back games after a five-game losing streak.

"Just a freaking roller coaster, man, especially how the day started," Church said. "It just shows you that we're resilient. Regardless [of] who's here, we play as a team."

Church also collected two other base hits to drive his batting average to .292.

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Second Rocky Outing for Duffy

After the hoopla of being named to two all-star games, DANNY DUFFY now suffers the agony of two successive rocky appearances.

Thursday the Kinston Indians racked up six runs in the fourth inning to drive Duffy from the mound and defeat Wilmington 6-1.

Duffy, who two games ago carried a nice 2.85 earned run average, saw his ERA zoom to 3.86 after giving up five hits, five bases on balls and five earned runs in three and one-third innings.

Duffy sailed through the first three innings striking out six and allowing just one hit and one walk but in the fourth the wheels came off. A walk, two singles, an error, a bases-loaded walk, a single, a double, and two more bases on balls told the ugly story.

Just last Friday Duffy gave up six earned runs, his shortest professional outing since 2006.

Church Drives in Game Winner

Mets Snap Loss String

MILWUAKEE -- Mike Pelfrey held the Brewers scoreless for 7 2/3 innings, and RYAN CHURCH drove in the only run, as the Mets beat the Brewers, 1-0, at Miller Park Wednesday afternoon to break a five-game losing streak and avoid a series sweep.

A pitchers' duel throughout the afternoon, Pelfrey and Brewers starter Yovani Gallardo held both offenses in check.

Neither team scored until Church lined an RBI single up the middle in the sixth inning to score Luis Castillo, who led off the inning with a double.

"He's nasty. He's got great stuff and he controls all of his pitches," Church said of Gallardo (8-5), who struck out a career-high 12 batters while taking the loss. "Today he was able to keep everybody guessing and he was throwing that curveball in the dirt."

Church, the Mets' cleanup hitter with stars Carlos Beltran and Carlos Delgado on the Disabled List, also reached base on a walk. His 1-for-3 day and his 7-for-12 pace over the past three games has lifted his batting average to .286-- the highest it has risen since May 4.