BRAVE FOOTBALL FIVE DAYS AWAY

BRAVE GRID FRIDAY

In just five days Lompoc Brave football will be broadcast live HERE.

Tune in right here at lompoclockerroom.com Friday night at 7:15 p.m. PDT for the pre-game show with GREGG RATCLIFF and MIKE LONEY. Game time vs. the Nipomo Titans is 7:30.

In 2007 the Titans defeated the Braves for the first time in school history. The Braves will be looking for, ummmm, revenge. Sophomore quarterback RYAN BOWER will be under center but 23 seniors remember last year very well.

VAI LEADS PACK RUSHERS; Lydell, Boo, Slaughter

TAUA LEADS NEVADA

VAI TAUA was Nevada’s leading rusher Saturday night as he led the Wolfpack to a crushing 49-13 victory over Grambling in College Football's debut weekend.


Taua scored Nevada’s third and fourth TD’s on a run of one yard in the second quarter and of four yards in the third. He carried the ball 12 times for 103 yards and included in his efforts was one spectacular run of 62 yards, all this despite not being in the starting lineup and not carrying the ball until the second quarter. In that quarter his 62-yarder took the Pack to the Grambling five. Three plays later he plunged across from the one.


“Our running backs are a tough, tough group,” cheered coach Chris Ault.


The 62-yard run in the second quarter was the longest of Taua’s college career. His previous long was 20 yards (vs. Nicholls State 2007). His two-touchdown performance was the first of his career and his 103 yards marked the first 100-yard rushing game of his Wolf Pack career.
Nevada next faces Texas Tech on Saturday.


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SARGEANT STARTS

LYDELL SARGEANT was the starter at right corner back as Penn State trampled Coastal Carolina Saturday afternoon 66-10. Sargeant contributed two solo tackles to the defensive effort in front of 110,000 at Penn State. It was CCU’s first-ever contest against a Bowl Division (formerly Division I) opponent. The Nittany Lions host Oregon State next Saturday.


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JACKSON SEES SPOT DUTY

BOO JACKSON mostly watched as the Wyoming Cowboys stormed from behind with a 13-play 84- yard drive with six minutes remaining to nip visiting Ohio 21-20. Starting Ohio quarterback Theo Scott connected on 26 of 35 passes for 224 yards and one touchdown but gave up an interception which ended the Bobcats’ drive to move into field goal range to retake the lead.


Jackson saw action in one critical sequence. With the Bobcats trying to expand a 17-14 lead and Scott having been sacked the starter threw incomplete. Boo replaced him for a crucial 3rd-and-15 play. He connected for 12-yarder, then on 4th-and-three he passed for eight yards and a first down. He opened the fourth quarter by passing for four more yards taking his team to the Wyoming 19, but then a two-yard running play and incompletion forced a field goal which was good making the score 20-14. Scott was reinserted after Wyoming took the lead.


Scott, billed as a dual threat for his running acumen, carried six times for 14 yards but fumbled twice. Ohio threw 42 passes compared to just 20 running plays. The Bobcats visit Ohio State next Saturday.


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SLAUGHTER IN ACTION


Linebacker MIKE SLAUGHTER contributed an assist as Upper Iowa fell to Drake Thursday night 17-13.

DUFFY SHUT DOWN, TO BE HONORED IN K.C.

DUFFY DONE AT BURLINGTON

DANNY DUFFY will pitch no more this summer but he will be honored in Kansas City.

That is the news today from the Kansas City Royals after a week of contradictory signals and a missed turn on the mound for the star left handed pitcher from Lompoc.

According to his father, Dan Sr., Duffy has reached the maximum number of innings the Royals feel is safe for a pitcher his age, and thus are giving him a rest. At the same time his sparkling 8-4 record, 2.20 ERA and whopping strikeout total of 102 have led the Royals to name him Burlington’s Pitcher of the Year.’

“As we understand it from the Royals Director of Minor League operations J.J. Picollo, Danny has reached his target innings that the club hoped for with 80-plus innings at Burlington and 30-40 innings at extended Spring Training. That puts him at the 110-120 innings that they planned on and the decision has been made to shut him down for the remainder of the season. Danny will remain with the club and in uniform but will not pitch in the playoffs,” said Duffy Sr.

In Burlington, Iowa with the Burlington Bees of the Class-A Midwest League Duffy last pitched on August 18 when in five innings he gave up none (zero) earned runs. The performance capped a 10-game streak in which he went 5-1 and posted a tiny earned run average of 1.14.

At first there was no explanation as to why Duffy did not pitch in his regular turn on August 23, then there was a report that he had a muscle pull in his shoulder but that he would return to pitch tonight. Officially he is listed on the 7-day Disabled List.

Duffy’s season placed him in the top echelon of pitchers at the A-ball level despite his tender age of 19. It was that tender age which dictated the premature end of his season. Studies of young pitchers indicate that 150 or 200 innings at Duffy’s age could damage his arm.

The pitcher was disappointed but resigned to the decision his father said. “I think Danny wants to pitch in the playoffs but understands the teams ‘big picture’ thinking. He will come home as soon as the season ends and has been invited back to Instructional League in late September or early October.”

Duffy also called attention to the Kansas City announcement today honoring his son. “Danny was named Burlington's Pitcher of the Year and will be going to Kansas City for the presentation of the award at Kaufman Stadium on Friday Sept.19 at what they call Futures Night.

“Apparently they will have all the award winners up on the entrance to the concourse for an autograph session for the fans and then will present their awards in a pregame ceremony on the field. It will be a good ending to a solid year.”

Duffy will be one of 16 Royals minor leaguers to be honored. He was the club’s third-round draft choice in June 2007. He spent 2007 in Surprise, Arizona with the Surprise Royals in the Arizona Rookie League.

Baseball Turning to Gridiron: Luken Sees Atlas

Midweek Wrap

Baseball

Ryan Church—

Earlier this month Mets manager Jerry Manuel talked about using Churchie in a right field platoon because he had been out so long after his two concussions. That talk evaporated Tuesday night when the Mets visited Philadelphia in a critical make-or-break two-game series.
"I think he's at the point now where he has to be one of those four or five guys who's in there every day," Manuel said about Church according to MLB.com

The others are obviously shortstop Jose Reyes, third baseman David Wright, centerfielder Carlos Beltran and first baseman Carlos Delgado.

"If you're one of those guys," Manuel said, "you have to play every day."

Church went 0-for-6 on Tuesday as the Mets fell in extra innings but he went 1-for-2 with two bases on balls on Wednesday as the Mets knotted the series. Since his return August 22 Church has been 6-for-20, exactly at .300. His average for the season is .307.

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Danny Duffy

Duffy missed a turn on the mound as the Royals seek to limit the number of innings the 19-year-old pitches. He has already thrown 81 innings, the most in his life. He is expected to come off the 7-day disabled list to start Friday at Beloit. His next turn would then be the Midwest League playoff opener on Wednesday in Burlington, Iowa.

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Chris White

White went 0-for-3 Wednesday night for the West Michigan Whitecaps but his batting average is a solid .313 after 19 games in the Midwest League.

Football

Boo Jackson

With Ohio University football opening Saturday at Wyoming Boo is still listed on the OU depth charts behind starter Theo Scott at quarterback. Scott played part of last season at OU while Boo was still at El Camino JC but Jackson’s numbers in the team’s spring scrimmage and both summer scrimmages have been as good or better.

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Cabrillo High football

New coach CRAIG KNOWLES expressed optimism on Lompoc Locker Room, the TV Show this week. Big DAVID KULP is moving from tackle to center where he will open holes for MATT ROTONDI and PAT COOK says the coach.

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Lompoc High football –

Coach ROBIN LUKEN could not hide his glee when he appeared on TV. He has 42 players, more than normal, and stronger. He is carrying seven sophomores, way more than normal, and he insists they earned their way.

Stronger? Luken says he spent $1500 of his own money for weight equipment. Not the usual barbells and weight benches, but kettle bells and sleds and kegs. Imagine “World’s Strongest Man” competition taking place on the LHS practice field only the participants here are not named Hans or Nels and they don’t come from Iceland or Norway.

“We always had weight training but it would take two years for the players to learn the right techniques. With these things you simply carry them as far as you can with everybody watching you.” Luken said

According to the coach Vanderbilt University uses the same type of training and that it can result in 40% increases in strength training. “Forty percent,” he exclaimed. “If I could get 20% I was happy.”

Luken reviewed his entire roster and found a good word for every player. He finished with senior tight end and linebacker NICK BRUNDY (pictured above) . “Brundy is Atlas,” Luken declared.

Junior quarterback RICHIE HIRZEL will miss the opening game (against Nipomo September 5) due to arthroscopic surgery on his shoulder, but Luken hopes to have him back by the time league play begins on October 10. In the meantime the signal-caller will be sophomore RYAN BOWER, who impressed as a freshman.

The opener, and all the Brave games, will be broadcast on Comcast Channel 23 and right here on lompoclockerroom.com via streaming audio.

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Lydell Sargeant

Penn State football opens Saturday with a cupcake in Coastal Carolina. The Nittany Lions have lost three defensive linemen to suspensions or injury but the defensive backfield will have three seniors, including Sargeant at cornerback

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Vai Taua

Nevada football will open against Grambling in Reno with VAI TAUA listed second on the depth chart at running back behind veteran Luke Lippincott. Lippincott was the starter last year but after his graduation ’09 and ’10 the job looks to be Vai’s.

DUFFY SIGNS WITH BORAS; Church; Prep football

DUFFY SIGNS WITH SCOTT BORAS

As tough as DANNY DUFFY has been this season (8-4, 2.20 and a five-inning no-hitter pictured here) Scott Boras is just as tough at the negotiating table.

Boras is widely considered among the most hard-nosed of the sports agents and represents such big names as Barry Zito, Carlos Beltran and Manny Ramirez, Jason Varitek, Johnny Damon and J.D. Drew.

Now Danny's mom alerts us that Duffy and Boras have teamed up--

"Just an FYI on Danny. He is scheduled to start this Friday at Beloit. The Bees clinched a playoff spot so life is good. I got these pix from a fan that was at the Peoria no-hitter game (Aug. 7). Left to Right is Ryan Eigsti (catcher), Danny, and Juan Abreu, the relief pitcher that follows Danny. Cool huh?

"Also, Danny was approached about a month ago by the Scott Boras Corp. After talking with them, and Dan & I meeting with them, Danny decided to have them represent him in his career. Exciting stuff for him. They are great at what they do & they have a top of the line facility in Southern California that they use for their athletes to work out in in the off season.. So, the Boras Corp has their first Cabrillo Alumni client. :) Deanna Duffy"

Here's the photo of Eigsti, Duffy and Abreu.

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Church Stays Hot

In case anyone thought RYAN CHURCH's extended stay on the DL hurt his eye or his stroke, just check this out. In the three games he has started since his return he is 5-for-11 or .454.

This after going 2-for-4 Monday night against Houston. For the season he's at .313.

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FOOTBALL SPONSORS STILL NEEDED

Remember, September 5 opens high school football which will be broadcast via the web right here on Lompoc Locker Room. And we still need a few sponsors. See below.

BRAVE FOOTBALL ON-LINE; Church, White

Football Going On-Line; Sponsors Needed

Press Box Productions will broadcast Lompoc High football for the seventh consecutive year on Comcast Channel 23.

“You guys are an institution,” confided a radio competitor during the summer. We aren’t sure about that, we think we have better vertical leap and lateral movement, but yes, we are still here. And the Lompoc Braves are gunning for a league title.

Known for its hometown color dished out liberally by play-by-play professional GREGG RATCLIFF and commentator JOHN McREYNOLDS, for the encyclopedic football insights of Mike 'Statmeister' LONEY, and for its up-to-the-minute out-of-town scoreboard, as well as for the bobble-heads and eye-popping graphics of BILL “Dr. Draw” SMITH, PBP’s Game of the Week has amassed a loyal following.

PBP was at Serra High in 2002 when the Braves led by ANDREW JONES brought home a CIF Southern Section title and at Huyck Stadium in 2003 when BOO JACKSON led a repeat.

This year two new elements will make PBP’s offerings even more exciting—the team will win more games and more people will be tuning in.

As DON CROSS returns to assist ROBIN LUKEN (in his 18th year, now THERE is an institution) Lompoc High’s coaching staff will be back to title-quality strength. The Braves fell short of the playoffs by 13 points last season but, “Having Donny is worth 21 points right there,” Luken declared earlier this summer. “We’re looking for a title.”

Besides that, PBP’s audio accounts will be available not only on Comcast Channel 23 but also via the internet RIGHT HERE ON THIS WEBSITE. Fans who have dish instead of cable or who live out-of-town are expected to double our listenership.

The season begins Friday night, September 5 when the Braves host the Nipomo Titans in hopes of avenging last year’s first-ever Titan victory over the Braves. In successive weeks LHS will face Santa Ynez, San Marcos and Dos Pueblos. On October 3 we will take a look at Cabrillo as the Conqs visit Santa Maria. Then it will be back to Lompoc for Pac-7 games vs. San Luis Obispo, Paso Robles, Arroyo Grande, Atascadero and Righetti. The regular season finale will be The Big Game—Lompoc-Cabrillo.

BUT WE NEED SPONSORS

Sponsors will receive mention on the broadcast plus logo placement on both video and internet in all 11 games. Internet logo’s will remain posted 24/7-- all for the same rate as ’07-- $250. Post season games, if any, would be billed separately at $35 per game.

Sign up by September 3 with a minimum $50 deposit… call Greg at 315-9015 or John at 291-0770. Make out checks to Press Box Productions and mail to 409 South A Street, Lompoc.

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Church Not Dizzy Any More

In New York RYAN CHURCH went 2-for-4 with a double Saturday night to lift his batting average to .311. He has three hits in two games since he was brought back from the Disabled List.

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White Sizzling Again

In the Midwest League CHRIS WHITE went 3-for-4 Friday night to boost his average to .328.

Church Gets Standing O on Return

50,000 Stand to Salute Church

NEW YORK -- As Ryan Church walked through the Mets' clubhouse on Friday afternoon, it marked a return to familiar surroundings.

After a six-game stint in the Minor Leagues as part of his rehabilitation process, as well as more than a month on the disabled list, Church could stand by his own locker. And he knew that the jerseys and pants inside would be just his size. "It's good to be back where they have uniforms that fit," he said.

The Mets activated Church from the disabled list on Friday and optioned catcher Robinson Cancel to Triple-A New Orleans. The outfielder played an integral part in the New York offense in the first half of the season batting .307 with 10 home runs and 36 RBIs before he was sent to the DL on July 8 for the second time with post-concussion syndrome.

"If we get what we had with him the first part of the year, it will be a great addition to our lineup," manager Jerry Manuel said. "A tremendous addition to our lineup and to our defense, as well."

But while the uniforms may match what Church was used to before he was placed on the DL, the team he came back to Friday is markedly different from the team he left. After walking off the field as part of a club that continued to hover around .500, the right fielder rejoins a team that boasts a 71-57 record and a first-place spot atop the National League East standings, entering Friday.

"I'm really excited to get back here," Church said. "We're in a race for the playoffs. Any time you have that situation, it's just an extra boost."

Church returned to the starting spot in right field Friday in the series opener against the Astros, batting seventh. He was given a standing ovation before his first at-bat, which resulted in an infield single. He went 1-for-3 overall.

After he appeared in only nine games between his two stints on the DL, the Mets were cautious about Church's rehab the second time around.

He played in six games with New York's Triple-A, Double-A and Gulf League affiliates. He hit just .105, and Church joked that he sent more bats into the stands than balls out of the park, because of new gloves that left him with a poor grip.

"Statistically, I pretty much blew that," he said. "But the biggest thing for me was going out there every day and making plays, running around, being on the bases, throwing and really testing my legs in the outfield."

Before he was activated, Church completed two nine-inning games with Double-A Binghamton to be sure he was prepared to compete at the big league level. He said the only real difference in his approach will be to keep his hands up higher while running the bases. Church didn't suffer any physical problems during the rehab process, and he said he sensed the progress during his time in the Gulf Coast League.

"After all the hard running I did, there were no setbacks, no dizziness or anything like that," Church said. "And I was kind of like, 'You know what, I think this is the turn right here.' And every day after that, it just got better and better."

The Mets managed to fill the hole left by Church's absence over the past two months, most notably due to the success of Fernando Tatis. But as he prepared to step back onto the field Friday, Church wasn't concerned about fitting back into his role with the team.

"Hopefully I can just fall right into it, jump into the flow of things, just help out," Church said. "It's all going to come. I've just got to be a piece of the puzzle."
Samantha Newman is an associate reporter for MLB.com

Manager Says Church WILL Start

Despite what Mets manager Jerry Manuel may have said on Wednesday, it now appears that RYAN CHURCH is likely to rejoin the Mets starting in right field as soon as tomorrow. This is the report from Jay Cohen of the Associated Press.

NEW YORK - Ryan Church could be back in the New York Mets' outfield for the opener of a four-game series against the Houston Astros on Friday night.

Church has been sidelined by post-concussion syndrome since he left a game on July 5 against the Philadelphia Phillies due to dizziness - six days after he came off the DL. He missed most of June following a May 20 concussion, his second in less than three months.

Church was scheduled to play another rehab game for Binghamton on Thursday night after going 0-for-4 and playing nine innings in right field for the Mets' double-A affiliate on Wednesday night.

"He's healthy, playing well, obviously getting the at-bats that he needs," Mets manager Jerry Manuel said Thursday before New York's game against the Atlanta Braves. "And he hasn't had any setbacks. So, with all those things being said, if he does have another good night he'll be playing right field (Friday) night."

[Editor’s note: Church played nine innings for Binghamton Thursday night going 0-for-4]

The return of Church would be a boost for NL East-leading New York, which had won eight of nine heading into Thursday. Church is batting .307 with 10 homers and 36 RBIs in 57 games this season.

Manuel said Church could get some extra days off to ease him back into the regular lineup.

"He was a very good player for us for a while, a very good player - probably our best player for a period of time," Manuel said. "I would like to see him get back to that level. That would be a great, great addition to us."

Manuel said rookies Nick Evans and Daniel Murphy would continue to get most of the starts in left, and Fernando Tatis could spell Church in right. Tatis, who has come up with big hits this year, started in right against Atlanta and was batting .298 with 10 homers and 38 RBIs.

"Obviously when you head down the stretch, if you have three to choose from, two or three to choose from, you've just got to go with (who) you think is hotter, what's a good matchup," Manuel said.

CHURCH NOT GUARANTEED STARTING SPOT

Church May be Reserve Upon Return

NEW YORK -- When Ryan Church returns later this year -- if he returns later this year -- he may find a foreign situation awaiting him. Mets manager Jerry Manuel noted that much Wednesday, confirming that Church will no longer be his starting right fielder.

"When he does come back, we don't have to rely heavily on him playing every single day," Manuel said. "We feel very confident in the young players we have in left field, and also [Fernando] Tatis in right."

That's no slight of Church, but instead a recognition of Tatis, who has filled in admirably as the Mets' starting right fielder. Though Manuel does have the option of flipping Tatis to left field and starting Church regularly in right, he said he did not want to break up the current left-field platoon of rookies Nick Evans and Daniel Murphy. "I feel very good about what they have done, and how well they have played," Manuel said.

Such speculation, of course, hinges upon Church actually returning. He has now played in six rehab games over three Minor League levels, and on Wednesday bounced from Triple-A New Orleans to Double-A Binghamton, in order to avoid the hassle of Minor League travel.

Church went 0-for-4 Binghamton Wednesday night after going 1-for-3 with double for New Orleans on Tuesday. He had an 0-for-2 night Monday for New Orleans playing just five innings as the Mets eased him into playing shape. He played nine innings Tuesday and Wednesday

In 57 games serving mostly as the Mets' starting right fielder, Church produced a .307 average and 10 home runs, and was one of the more critical components of the team's early-season offense. But a concussion in late May -- his second in the span of three months -- has kept him planted on the disabled list for the better part of this summer.
Anthony DiComo is a reporter for MLB.com.

SARGEANT IN LINE FOR CORNER

At Penn State LYDELL SARGEANT is in line for a starting cornerback job in his senior year with the Nittany Lions. As a season preview we print the Penn State website's biography of him.

On a sun-splashed late March afternoon, a crowd estimated at 22,000 assembled on the Old Main lawn to hear U.S. Senator Barack Obama. As the enthusiastic throng patiently waited for the rally to begin, Nittany Lion senior Lydell Sargeant kicked off the festivities to the cheers of the crowd. A volunteer for the Obama campaign, Sargeant introduced Pennsylvania Senator Bob Casey, who introduced Obama. Sargeant presented Obama with a Penn State football jersey to the roar of the crowd before the eventual Democratic presidential nominee began his remarks.

You might think that speaking before more than 20,000 people or meeting the possible future President of the United States might cause some nervousness, but not so for the cool, calm and collected Sargeant. Having more than 108,000 people watch your every move at least seven times a year has a way of making a Penn State football student-athlete grow up fast and Sargeant relishes those opportunities.

The recipient of the 2007 Jim O'Hora Award as the defense's most improved player, the talented and hard-hitting Sargeant had a strong junior season, starting 10 games. He enters his senior season as one of the squad's most experienced defensive backs and should play a substantial role for the defense and special teams. He is a gifted athlete with good speed, skills and instincts and played an instrumental role in the success of Penn State's Top 10 defense last year. He played wide receiver as a true freshman.

Sargeant moved from Pittsburgh to California after his freshman year of high school. Following Justin King's announcement that he would attend Penn State, he didn't have to be very persuasive with Sargeant, his childhood friend who had become a standout running back in Lompoc, Calif., north of Santa Barbara. Although he lived near the California coast, his heart and mind were 2,500 miles away in the hills of football-crazed Pennsylvania and some day playing for Penn State. So, it came as no surprise that one day after King's announcement, the all-state athlete from the left coast also committed to the Nittany Lions.

Sargeant and King attended the Gateway school district in Monroeville, Pa. from third through the ninth grade. Then Sargeant's father, Drew, who is in the U.S. Air Force, was transferred, and the family moved to Lompoc, near Vandenberg Air Force Base. Sargeant quickly established himself as a multi-talented player at Cabrillo HS, but each summer he would return to Monroeville for two to three weeks to spend time and work out with King and his friends. Sargeant is an active member of Penn State's Student-Athlete Advisory Board (SAAB) and the Nagle CHAMPS/Life Skills program. Among some of his community service activities are: Speakers Bureau, Student-Athlete Shadow Day, Special Olympics Pennsylvania Summer Games and THON Make-A-Wish.

2007 Junior Season

Sargeant started the initial 10 games at cornerback and played in every contest. He was third on the team with 70 tackles (44 solo) and recorded two interceptions, 1.5 TFL and three pass breakups. Sargeant made five solo stops against Florida International in his first start. He made a career-best 10 stops (seven solo) at Michigan, with a tackle for loss, helping hold the Wolverines to 14 points. Sargeant also grabbed an interception in Penn State territory and returned it 31 yards. He made seven stops (five solo) and broke up one pass at Illinois. He delivered eight tackles (five solo) against Wisconsin, grabbing his second interception of the season and breaking up two passes in the 38-7 win over the No. 19 Badgers. He tied his career-high with 10 tackles (nine solo) against Ohio State and made four tackles against Purdue, helping keep the Boilermakers' offense out of the end zone for the second consecutive year. Sargeant made five stops in the win over Texas A&M in the Alamo Bowl. He saw action on 809 snaps, topped by 89 at Michigan and 87 at Indiana.

ANOTHER SHUTOUT BY DUFFY; White, Boo

DUFFY SHUTS DOWN QUAD CITIES


DANNY DUFFY put up his third straight shutout Monday night in the Midwest League.


Shut out, it was nearly armed robbery.


In five innings the Lompoc lefthander so handcuffed the Quad Cities River Bandits that he allowed only three balls to reach the outfield. He gave up just two hits, both singles, struck out seven and walked one. He was, in short, dominating.


The Bandits got only one runner to third base against him. That came in the second inning when Duffy found himself in his only jam by plunking the leadoff hitter, then giving up a single and a walk to find himself in a no-out bases-loaded situation.


No matter, he ripped off two strikeouts and retired the side on a fly ball.


In the first Duffy got all three Bandits in short order on a two pop-ups and a groundout. In the third it was back to cruise control—two strikeouts sandwiched around a popup—and in the fourth again the Bandits could not get the ball to the outfield. They mustered only a strikeout, a ground ball to shortstop, and a ground ball back to Duffy.


In the fifth QC got its second hit, and third ball to reach the outfield, on a two-out single to center. Again, no matter, Duffy ended the inning with another strikeout.


The zero earned run total was Duffy’s third outing in a row in which he did not permit an earned run and fifth in his last six appearances. His earned run average now stands at 2.20 and his ERA over his last ten outings an otherworldly 1.09. He has allowed 56 hits in 81 innings for the season and has fanned 102 while walking just 25. And in those last ten outings he has had 59 K’s and only 16 walks.


Back home in Vandenberg Village Duffy’s parents were on pins and needles because Duffy’s Burlington club could manage only one run in their son’s support. Duffy departed leading 1-0 but reliever Zach Peterson maintained the shutout to give Duffy his eighth victory.


“That was a nervous second inning but I was proud of him the way he hung tough,” said Deanna Duffy who listened to the game over the internet. “He’s just a bulldog. Actually I just talked to him. He was pleased.”


Also observing, from the stands in Davenport, Iowa were five of Duffy’s friends from Cabrillo--BRIAN GREGORY, JACOB RAMSEY, ALEX BELL, DAVID FUNDINGSLAND and ALEXA HETER. The quintet was present also for Duffy’s previous appearance, four innings against Clinton.


Duffy’s 2.20 ERA would rank fifth among MWL starting pitchers if he had sufficient innings to qualify for the league title. Two of the four hurlers with better records have been promoted and are no longer in the league.


Duffy was a third-round draft choice of the Kansas City Royals in 2007. The River Bandits are affiliated with the St. Louis Cardinals.


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WHITE STREAK ENDS


CHRIS WHITE’s five-game batting streak ended Monday night as he could not post a base hit in four trips to the plate in South Bend, Indiana.


White popped up, grounded out, flied out and struck out to end the Midwest League game as
his batting average slipped to .320.


White played center field for the West Michigan Whitecaps, a Detroit Tiger affiliate. The South Bend Silver Hawks, managed by ex-Lompocan MARK HALEY, are an Arizona Diamondback farm team.


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BOO INTERVIEW


If you’re following the BOO JACKSON saga you’ll be interested in the interview posted on BobcatAttack.com. Boo comments on a wide range of subjects for the Ohio University fan website at http://www.bobcatattack.com/football/story.asp?PID=566

WHITE CONTINUES TO RIP; Church, Blind Golf

White’s Tear Continues

CHRIS WHITE ripped two hits in five trips Sunday for the West Michigan Whitecaps as they stopped South Bend 9-4. The center fielder doubled and singled and lifted his batting average to .348.

This was the fifth straight game in which White has hit successfully. He is 9-for-18 in the stretch for a .500 average. He was promoted to West Michigan of the Class-A Midwest League a month ago and immediately caught fire after batting just .230 for Oneonta of the New York-Pennsylvania League.

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Church Expected Back in NY

The Mets think RYAN CHURCH may return to active duty before September. Church played in a second Minor League rehab game Saturday. Serving as the designated hitter, he went 0-for-3 with two strikeouts and an intentional walk for the Gulf Coast League Mets. The plan was to have him take off Sunday and play right field as well as bat on Monday somewhere in Florida, depending on weather forecasts. He could play again for the GCL Mets or for the Class A St. Lucie Mets in the Florida State League.


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Ninth Annual Blind Golf Classic Set

For the ninth year in a row the California Blind Golf Classic will return to the Central Coast—this time October 17-20 at Village Country Club.


To golf with the exceptional athletes of the U.S. Blind Golf Association on Saturday, September 18, call HOWARD SHAW without delay at 735-1807. He may be e-mailed at HEMKShaw@verizon.net

BOO COMPETITIVE AGAIN; White, Church

Boo Sharp In Second Scrum

Junior BOO JACKSON, listed as No. 2 quarterback, had a solid day through the air, completing 6-of-10 attempts for 66 yards in the second scrimmage of training camp Saturday for the University of Ohio Bobcats in Athens, Ohio.

Emphasis was on the running game but quarterback Theo Scott, listed No. 1 at the position, connected on 4-of-6 pass attempts, including a 25-yard scoring strike, while also running for 27 yards on five carries.

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White Keeps Hitting

CHRIS WHITE continued his hot hitting with an RBI double Saturday in three trips for the West Michigan Whitecaps of the Midwest League. This came on the heels of a 3-for-3 night on Friday. Saturday's contest took place in South Bend, Indiana against the South Bend Silver Hawks, managed by Lompocan MARK HALEY. White is now batting .341.

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Church in Action Again

RYAN CHURCH felt well enough today to play in his second straight game for the minor league Gulf Coast League Mets. Church served as DH once again, but this time was not pulled after five innings. He batted four times, garnered no hits but drew a base on balls, while striking out twice. Church is expected to spend at least a week in the GCL with his physical condition monitored closely as he continues to recover from post-concussion syndrome.

WHITE EXPLODES; Church Returns

WHITE ON FIRE AGAIN

CHRIS WHITE went 3-for-3 with two doubles, an RBI and a walk Friday night in the Midwest League as his West Michigan Whitecaps nipped the Lansing Lugnuts 4-3.

The perfect day for White capped a three-game span in which the speedy outfielder has amassed six hits in 10 at-bats. In so doing he lifted his batting average to a spectacular .342.

The perfect day also made fans remember July 30 when White debuted with the Whitecaps with a 3-for-3 game in the first half of a doubleheader and ripped another hit in the second game and followed the next day with a home run. That was a 5-for-7 streak.

CHURCH BACK ON THE FIELD

RYAN CHURCH took the field in a baseball game Friday night for the first time since July 5.

He served as the designated hitter in a Gulf Coast rookie league game in Florida and had a run-scoring single in three at-bats with one strike out.

He played five innings. How he feels today will determine whether and how much he plays in today’s GCL game. He almost certainly will serve as the DH. Yesterday the GCL Mets outlasted the GCL Cardinals 11-8.

Speculation in New York is that approximately a week of games in Florida may be enough to prepare Church to return to the major leagues. Church has missed more than six weeks due to post-concussion syndrome after being kicked in the head in Atlanta when he tried to break up a double play.

Duffy Takes Over Team ERA Lead, #3 in MWL?

Duffy Sinks ERA to 2.35

DANNY DUFFY came away with an untidy line score but zero earned runs Wednesday night in Clinton, Iowa, and thus became his team’s leader in that statistical category.

With four more innings clean of earned runs Duffy sank his all-important Earned Run Average to 2.35, best among Burlington’s starting pitchers and equal to third best in the Class A Midwest League.

In a sloppy game against the Clinton Lumber Kings that was tied 10-10 after nine innings Duffy authored masterful innings in the first, third and fourth frames. The first and fourth went three-up-three-down and the third was marred only by a base on balls.

But oh the second inning.

Duffy retired, he thought, both of the first two hitters but the second batter struck out on a pitch which escaped to the screen. The overjoyed batter then dashed safely to first base.

An infield single placed runners on first and second. Duffy seemed to have retired the next batter on a ground ball to first base but a throw from first to third attempting to force the lead runner went wild, allowing the runner to take not only third but to score. If you are keeping track, that was the runner who reached base after striking out. The inning by all rights should have ended at this point with no score at all against Duffy…. But….. it didn’t.

A sacrifice fly (in effect the fourth out of the inning) scored a second unearned run and a double scored another before Duffy recorded a strikeout (fifth out of the inning) to finally end the bloodshed.

Ugly as it was, Duffy gave up only two hits, and struck out eight compared to two bases on balls. Statistically, it was another blue-chip performance.

Duffy now in 76 innings has allowed only 54 hits, one per inning being the norm, and just 20 earned runs. He has struck out 95, again one per inning being good, and walked just 24.

Duffy’s ERA of 2.35 would rank him #5 among starting pitchers in the MWL if he had enough innings to qualify. Of the four pitchers in the league with better ERA’s two have already been promoted to a higher circuit.

So …one COULD ARGUE (and we, being HOMERS, of course WILL argue) that Duffy is the No. 3 starting pitcher in the MWL.

Burlington is a Kansas City Royal farm team, Clinton a Texas Ranger affiliate.

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Elsewhere in the MWL CHRIS WHITE went 2-for-3 Tuesday night and notched a base hit in four trips Wednesday night for the West Michigan White Caps to lift his batting average to .286. White’s club is with the Detroit Tigers.

BOO 10-for-14 in Scrum

BOO STARS IN BOBCATS' FIRST SCRIMMAGE

ATHENS, Ohio - The Ohio University football team took part in its first full-contact scrimmage of fall camp on Tuesday afternoon, contesting 83 plays over approximately two hours of action.

Junior quarterback BOO JACKSON and sophomore wide receiver Terrence McCrae hooked up for three touchdowns, including a 54-yard catch and run during which the latter eluded several tackles, to headline the day on offense.

Jackson completed 10-of-14 passes for 192 yards and three touchdowns on the day, while McCrae finished with four catches for 106 yards and those three scores.

Junior quarterback Theo Scott also had a productive day on Tuesday, tacking 105 rushing yards onto a 6-of-10 passing day that also saw him throw for a score. Classmate Josh Febus connected on 7-of-12 attempts for 108 yards on the afternoon, while fellow junior signalcaller Brandon Jones hit on 6-of-9 passes for 77 yards.

Head coach Frank Solich---

On the Bobcats' success through the air on Tuesday: "I need to take a look at the film, but we seemed to throw the ball pretty well. All of our quarterbacks made some plays throwing the ball, and they scrambled for nice gains, which we expect to see this year. The wide receivers, for the most part, did a good job of catching the ball. A couple wide receivers broke tackles, and Terrence McCrae had a couple of nice plays. There were some great individual efforts, but we need to start combining that into a unit of 11 players.

On junior quarterback Theo Scott's big running day during the scrimmage: His speed is really at a high level right now. He was fast when he came to campus, but I think he's gotten a little faster. When he runs, he's capable of making a big play.

Junior quarterback Boo Jackson---

On his performance during Tuesday's scrimmage: "I don't know what it is, but I feel comfortable out there. I must be more of a game-time player than a practice player. Throughout fall camp, I've been missing a little bit, but today I was basically right on with all my throws. I just felt comfortable in the scrimmage, I guess."

On the offense creating big plays during the session: "I threw three touchdowns, and they were all to Terrence (McCrae). During this fall camp, I probably hadn't hit him once. He had an amazing run on that one score, and he fought for one on a jump ball. He was great. Theo (Scott) was great with his legs, too. He's probably the fastest guy on our team. He was running for 30 or 40 yards and no one could catch him. Josh Febus played as well today as I've ever seen. We've got a bunch of big-time players here this year."

On his comfort level in Ohio's offense: "The more I practice, the more I get used to the offense. In the spring, I got off to a slow start, but I finally got into it in the first scrimmage. Now that we're in fall camp, I was struggling a little but once we got to the first scrimmage I felt good. It just takes time to get used to the offense and get a rhythm, so when we get a break, I like to get back as soon as possible."

Sophomore wide receiver Terrence McCrae---

"On his chemistry with quarterback Boo Jackson: We did a lot of passing during the summer and got a good feel for each other. It feels natural. He throws nice balls, and places them where I can get them, so I feel like we're a good fit for each other."

STARS 13TH; Church Begins Workouts

Lompoc Stars 13th out of 36

The Lompoc Stars won three out of five at the under-10 Western Nationals Softball championships last weekend in Las Vegas to place in the top 40% of the field.


The Stars started out with an 8-6 victory over San Bruno by scoring three runs in the first inning and never trailing. Sydney Townes, Anastazia Garcia, and Madison McNamee rapped two hits each and McNamee pitched a complete game giving up one earned run and striking out five.


In their second game the Stars stopped the Vegas Heat 7-4 by coming from behind for five runs led by Cheyenne Marmolejo. McNamee fanned 13 in this one.


But in Game 3 the Stars met a great all-around team in Cerritos and fell out of the winners bracket 16-0. They rebounded gamely to down Vegas Majestix 5-1 as Lexie Barbosa stole three bases, Cierra Green laid down a perfect bunt single and McNamee struck out 10 but then were eliminated by Cypress 12-1.


The entire team posted statistics to be proud of. Center fielder Cheyenne Marmolejo had eight hits and pitcher Madison McNamee had a home run, six hits and six RBI's. She pitched 25 innings and gave up just 18 hits, and 10 earned runs, and struck out a whopping 39.


Shortstop Rylee Sager ripped six hits and sparkled defensively. Despite the heat catcher Marci Chavez caught all but two innings and had five hits.


Second baseman Sydney Townes batted leadoff and boomed a home run and three hits while third baseman/pitcher Lexie Barbosa played a great third base and led the team in walks and had three hits. She also pitched five innings.

Right fielder Anastazia Garcia collected three hits and made several great catches. First baseman Kinsley Edman played great defensively and added three hits.


Outfielder Cierra Green had three hits and bunted real well, according to her manager Craig McNamee. “Vianney Tamayo had a stolen base and played great in the outfield,” he added. “Carissa Sanchez had two hits and pitched three innings.


"These girls represented Lompoc very well,” said McNamee. “We as coaches are very proud of the way they played. With the heat at 111 degrees at times our girls handled it and never gave up."Special thanks to my coaches, Carl Sager, Muchie Marmolejo, Larry Barbosa, and Marc Townes. Their help made my job easier."





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Church Works Out

NEW YORK -- Similar to how it's been throughout RYAN CHURCH's attempt for a return to normalcy, another phase of an evolving plan has been set forth.


He'll leave for Port St. Lucie, Fla., and start working out Sunday and potentially participate in games through the week.


Here, there or anywhere, manager Jerry Manuel wants to see Church play. Although Church has sported a fine swing in the batting cages, Manuel doesn't expect to see Church at all next week, and he won't have to bide his time in right field. As it has been for much of the season, Church will stay out of Manuel's mind.






"He could run sprints out there all day," Manuel said. "For me, I want to see how he responds after playing in games. "We'll just see how he's doing. We'll probably evaluate him after three or four games, speed up the process, slow it down or whatever."






While the incumbent right fielder breaks himself back into shape with five-inning stints as a designated hitter and then running down fly balls in full games, Manuel will still maintain flexibility in the Mets' lineup. Fernando Tatis is solidly in place at both corners, and the hot play of rookie Daniel Murphy and a serviceable first-year player in Nick Evans has allowed Manuel to mix and match from game to game.

CHURCH CLEARED TO PLAY

CHURCH TO RETURN TO THE FIELD

NEW YORK -- The words the Mets had been anxiously awaiting for weeks finally were spoken Friday. Doctors told Ryan Church: "Play ball."


The Mets right fielder, missing in action since July 5, received medical clearance to resume playing and is to leave the team after a workout Saturday to begin a rehab assignment in Florida next week.


Neither the Mets nor the 29-year-old outfielder provided any sense of when he might rejoin the big league club -- or even precisely when he will resume playing in the Minor Leagues. Both were delighted by the latest development involving Church, however.


Church has been lost to the Mets almost continually since he suffered a concussion May 20 in Atlanta. He was inadvertently kicked in the head by Braves shortstop Yunel Escobar that night, and his absence and the uncertainty about his condition have been as damaging and unsettling as any other development the Mets have endured this season.


"He was having an All-Star-type year when he got hurt," David Wright said Friday night after the club announced Church's return. "Getting him back would be a great lift for us."


Church said he might serve as a designated hitter temporarily as "I get my legs back under me." He noted he had experienced none of the symptoms of post-concussion syndrome for weeks.


"It will be good to get back to playing," Church said.


Church had been examined by a neurologist on Thursday. The club still was awaiting test results when the Mets began their 58th game without him on Friday. General manager Omar Minaya said the results of the examination wouldn't dictate a timetable for Church. All they will determine, Minaya said, is whether Church has progressed since last being assigned to the disabled list July 8, retroactive to July 6.


Church's return will add to the depth and left-handed/right-handed balance of the batting order. He has batted .307 with 36 RBIs, 10 home runs, a .512 slugging percentage and a .370 on-base percentage in 57 games and 231 plate appearances. He had 44 at-bats in 15 games between the date of the concussion and his July assignment to the disabled list.


Church arguably was the team's most valued asset at the time of his injury, his second concussion in less than three months. He had suffered the first in a collision with Marlon Anderson in Spring Training.

Marty Noble is a reporter for MLB.com.

DUFFY NO-HITS PEORIA; White 2-for-4

DUFFY NO-HITTER

It just keeps getting better for DANNY DUFFY.

The Cabrillo lefty posted his most impressive performance of a star-studded summer Thursday night in Peoria, Illinois with a six-inning no-hitter in the Class-A Midwest League.

On the road facing the Peoria Chiefs, a Chicago Cubs affiliate, Duffy gave up only two bases on balls while retiring 18 Chiefs, four on strikeouts, as his Burlington Bees rolled 10-0.

He put down the side in order in the first, but gave up a one-out walk in the second before retiring the side on two force outs. He walked the leadoff hitter in the third but shut down the next three hitters on two fly balls and a strikeout. He retired the final nine batters to face him in the fourth, fifth and sixth in order. He stopped six hitters on ground balls, eight on balls hit in the air.

Duffy was followed the mound by reliever Juan Abreu who continued the no-hitter, the first for Burlington in four years, to ensure the evening will earn a spot in the MWL record books.

"This was a team no-hitter, that's for sure," said Duffy, still just 19 years old. "You had two pitchers involved and the team scored 10 runs, so it was a solid win for the whole team.
"This was the first time in a long time I had all my pitches working the way I wanted. I didn't realize it was a no-hitter until the sixth. When we got through the eighth, people were telling me this could really happen."

"When I'm in the bullpen, I don't look at the score," added Abreu, who had never been involved in a no-hitter before. "But when he came out of the game, Duffy told me, 'We've got a no-hitter going. You can do it.'" Duffy said his last no-no was in Little League and "doesn't count."
Abreu, a 23-year-old righty, has saved all of Duffy's seven wins this year.

"He was 'nails' tonight," Duffy said. "His curve was unbelievable. It's great to have a pitcher like that coming in after you."

With this masterful effort Duffy lowered his ERA 22 points to 2.48 and notched his seventh victory of the season against four losses, five of those wins coming in his last six decisions. In his last 20 innings he has allowed only a single earned run.

In 72 innings this summer for Burlington Duffy has allowed only 52 hits. He has struck out 87 and walked but 22, nearly a 4-1 ratio.

Duffy was a third-round draft pick in 2007 for the Bee’s parent club, the Kansas City Royals. He spent 2007 in the Arizona Rookie League where he blazed the best ERA of any rookie pitcher.

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WHITE 2-for-4

Elsewhere in the MWL outfielder CHRIS WHITE went 2-for-4 Wednesday night for the West Michigan Whitecaps to lift his batting average to .333.

Kennedy Elevated to College White Hat

Kennedy to Ref College

SCOTT KENNEDY has been named to referee a full complement of nine college football games this season.

The Southern California Collegiate Football Officials Association made the announcement Friday with its release of its fall schedule.

"As I pick myself off the floor I come to find out that I was promoted to Referee (white hat) in college," Kennedy told Lompoc Locker Room. "I am nervious but, hey, it's a challange for me. It is an honor that my supervisor thinks that I am capable of doing this. JC football in California is the best there is and to be asked to be a referee is a honor. I had no idea that I was going to get promoted this year."

Kennedy will start work Sept. 13 handling Reedley at Hancock. After that it will be Santa Barbara at Ventura, LA Harbor at Golden West, West LA at LA Valley, Santa Barbara at Santa Monica, Golden West at Compton, Bakersfield at Ventura, LA Pierce at Antelope Valley, and Santa Barbara at East LA.

The Force is not enough...

Club Softball

ASA 16U National Championships

Dan Adridge checks infrom Owensboro with news on the Fresno Force-

Although no tornadoes hit, the storm delayed play by 4 hours on Thursday. The 10am game turned into a 2pm game.

Emily Cloyes again pitched for the Force, and with a 4-1 lead going into the 7th, the Competitors put together 5 hits including a home run to score 8 runs. The girls weren't able to bounce back from that, losing 9-4.

Kiley Shae went 1-2 with a walk and scored a run. It's a tough way to end the summer, but it happens!

ASA 10U National Championships (West)

Meanwhile in Las Vegas the Lompoc Stars seemed to be battling all the elements! As a result of pool play, the girls were stuck into what was essentially a play-in game against the San Bruno Storm. The noon game on Wednesday was a close affair but the locals prevailed 8-6. That meant, however, that they had very little time to prepare for their next game at 6pm.

In that game they had to deal with the both the Las Vegas heat and the Las Vegas Heat. They beat the Heat 7-5 to set up a second round showdown with the Cerritos Xtreme at 10 am on Thursday. That match-up didn't go so well, as the Stars were bounced into the losers bracket 16-0 - extreme indeed! So, when last heard from the Stars were awaiting a Friday nooner versus the winner of a game between the Vegas Lights & the Majestix.

The only other area team in the competition - the Goleta Thunder, did better in pool play and went directly to the first round. They didn't fare so well, losing 6-2 to the Las Cruces Synergy. But, they recovered in their initial Losers Bracket game defeating the HMB Waves 9-3, and were set to play the Ft Collins Stars at noon on Friday.

DUFFY STREAK FINALLY ENDS AT 12; White Hot

DUFFY STREAK TO 12

DANNY DUFFY pushed his string of scoreless innings to 12 Friday night in Burlington, Iowa before finally giving up an earned run in the third inning to the Fort Wayne Wizards. It was Duffy’s longest shutout streak of his superb Midwest League season.

After two five-inning shutouts in his two previous outings Duffy gave up a two-out single in the first but retired the side on ground ball. In the second he relinquished a base on balls but promptly picked the runner off first base. Then two strikeouts brought his scoreless inning string to 12.

Unfortunately in the third the Wizards worked Duffy for another walk and after a pop out another walk. A ground single to right scored the run.

Duffy escaped further damage with two strikeouts. In the fourth a leadoff single was erased when after two more strikeouts Duffy picked the runner off first.

For the game Duffy allowed one run on three hits over four frames. He struck out six and walked three. He lowered his earned run average three points further to 2.70 after 66 and two-thirds innings. For the season he has given up just 52 hits. His strikeout total is 83, his walks 20.

If Duffy had sufficient innings his 2.70 ERA would place him in the Top Ten in the league. Since he did not arrive in Burlington until late May his innings are insufficient for him to be counted. Still he is just 19 years old. Of the eight pitchers with lower official ERA’s only two are Duffy’s age. And four of the eight have already been promoted out of the MWL.

Burlington is a Kansas City Royal affiliate. Fort Wayne is with the San Diego Padres.

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WHITE’S RAMPAGE CONTINUES

After arriving last weekend in the Midwest League CHRIS WHITE rapped four hits in six trips in a double header on Wednesday. Then on Thursday he continued his assault with his first home run of his MWL career.

White’s batting average right now is .500. He is with the West Michigan Whitecaps, a Detroit Tiger affiliate.