7/29 CUP O' JO

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Recapping yesterday's action:

JOEY GOMES (DH, Joliet Jackhammers, Northern League IND):
7-28: Day off for Joliet. They face Schaumburg tonight.
7-27: Joliet almost had the league leading Fargo birds in hand again yesterday, but the Redhawks forced one of the longest games in League history, and came away with a walkoff win in 15 innings. After each team knocked in their first run during the 5th inning, the score remained tied at 1 apiece through 13 frames. Each club scored again in the 14th, but Fargo plated two on a walk off home run in the 15th... 5 hours and 48 minutes after the opening pitch. Joey, 0-6, put it in play every time but couldn't find a gap yesterday. .279 avg. Joliet (32-30) has won 5 of their last 10.

Jackhammer rubble: Sunday night's game might have been a different outcome if the Jackhammers most dependable bat, Doc Brooks, had not been tossed in the 11th. The guy is a great hitter, but is going to establish a new saber stat for playoff jeopardizing ejections and suspensions. With second - fourth place flip flopping on a daily basis, every win makes a difference.

CHAD FILLINGER - P, Joliet Jackhammers, Northern League - IND:
7-28: Day off for Joliet. They face Schaumburg tonight.
7-27: Pitched two scoreless innings for Joliet allowing 3 hits and striking out 2. 2.45 ERA.

LOUIS OTT (DH/INF Detroit Tigers Organization - Lakeland Flying Tigers, A):
LOUIS TRANSFERRED TO BACK TO CLASS A LAKELAND FLYING TIGERS ON 7-26-08 AFTER SUCCESSFUL STINT WITH AA ERIE BATTING .238
7/28: 2 for 4 with two singles and two K's in Lakeland's 5-6 loss to Tampa. .261 Avg.
Lakeland is in second place, 5 games back of Dunedin.

TOMMY EVERIDGE (1B, Oakland A's Organization - Midland Rockhounds, AA):
7-28: Tommy continued this week's offensive explosion with a 3 for 6 day as the Rockhounds swept Corpus Christi 11-2. He blasted his 19th HR, a two out two run shot, hit an RBI double, scored 3 runs, and saw his share of defensive action at 3B. .265 avg. Recap The Rockhounds are 6-4 in their last ten with a four game win streak, 4 games back of Division Leader, Frisco who they face in a three game series that begins tonight.

KONRAD SCHMIDT (C, Arizona Diamondbacks Organization - Visalia Oaks, High A):
PROMOTED TO CLASS A ADVANCED VISALIA OAKS 7-11-08
7-28: Night off for the Oaks.
7-27: 1 for 3 at catcher with a single in the Oaks' 0-5 loss to Rancho Cucamonga. .375 avg. The Oaks are 3-7 in their last 10 with a 2 game losing streak and 6 games back of Division leading Modesto.

Oaks Chatter: Konrad's former teammate, South Bend Silverhawk Josh Collmento is a finalist in the Mustaches in the Minors contest. He became the team's runaway favorite when Konrad and his horseshoe-and-patch combo were promoted to Visalia. No word on how well Konrad did with Visalia fans, but you can catch a glimpse in this MiLB slideshow featuring The Konrad Kombo.

STEPHEN PEARSON (1B, American Assn-Wichita Wingnuts, IND):
7-28: 0 for 3 playing LF in an 5-8 loss to Sioux City as the Wingnuts continue to lose ground in the Division. He did steal a base and score a run. 288 Avg. Wichita is in the cellar, 4-6 in their last ten with a 2 game losing streak, 5 games behind Lincoln, the Northern Division leader.

JONNY GOMES (DH, Tampa Bay Rays):
7-28: 0-1 as a pinch hitter with a fly to right last night as the Rays dropped the opener to Toronto. The Rays offense just couldn't get it done. Again. Fortunately, the Red Sox and Yankees both lost so Tampa Bay was able to maintain their razor thin lead in the AL East.

Rays Chatter: Two days before the deadline, the Rays rumor mill is eerily quiet. There just aren't many guys in play that meet the Rays needs without an exhorbitant price tag, but as the offense continues to stuggle, the natives are growing restless. And the Bandwagoners are going nuts.

BRANDON MORROW (P, Seattle Mariners):
7-28: Save number 10 for Brandon as the Mariners edged the Rangers 7-5 in Texas. Brandon allowed no runs, one hit and a walk and notched one strikeout in the four batters he faced. 1.51 ERA.

PTOWN's UP AND COMERS:

DJ GENTILE (OF, Mat-Su Miners (Palmer, AK), Alaska Baseball League, Amateur):
7-28: Night off for the Miners.
7-27: 1-3 with an RBI triple and a fly out playing RF as the Minors beat the Anchorage Bucs 7-2. As of 7-26, DJ is still leading the team by a 50 point margin with a .329 avg, .519 slugging avg, and .386 on base avg.

PETALUMA VALLEY LITTLE LEAGUE 12 Y.O. ALL-STAR TEAM
Petaluma Valley won the elimination game last night and it's a whole new season! Petaluma and Pleasanton each have one loss and play for the Northern California Division Championship tonight at 5:30 in Alameda. The winner will advance to the Regional Championship in San Bernardino... just one stop from Williamsport, PA. The forwarded email I received described a very close and exciting game full of dramatic long balls, great defense and well executed small ball.

Here's the game story from the Tri-Valley Herald newspaper in Pleasanton: http://www.insidebayarea.com/search/ci_10027686?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com

An extraordinary picture by D. Ross Cameron of the Oakland Tribune showing two Petaluma players going over the fence to try to rob Pleasanton of a home run in the top of the 6th: http://www.flickr.com/photos/drosscameron/2712085623/in/set-72157601382747382/ Alameda's lead off hitter drove a long ball that hit the top of the fence and bounced straight up. Two Petaluma OFs went for the ball and both hit the fence hard, nearly going over. One of the Valley fielders actually caught the ball, but couldn't hold onto it as he fought to stay in the park. What a great effort by both players and what a shot by the photographer!Bring home that flag tonight Petaluma!