Matt Fitts
left school so he could pursue a football career. He was a football
prospect as well as baseball out of high school. | Texas
outfielder
Thomas Incaviglia
left the team for personal reasons.
After a very impressive Fall Ball, Jeff Stimpson
started his January strong with 3 1/3 no-hit innings on Sunday. With
some of the best pure stuff on the team, Stimpson really appears to be
finding his groove after a rocky sophomore campaign. On Sunday, he
proved to be unhittable racking up four strike outs along the way. All
signs are certainly pointing toward Stimpson playing a major role out of
the Cardinal bullpen this season. "
2006 ABL NOTES
2006 NBC Schedule
- .PDF Pic of Fuller, Medlen
(Thanks for heads-up, Zak!)
"The Mat-Su Miners of the Alaska Baseball League have hired a new manager, Matt Dorey, a former standout player at Mt. Hood Community College and currently a volunteer assistant coach at Washington State University. Dorey replaces Jimmy Smith, who led the Miners to a second-place finish in the ABL last season. Also, pitching coach John Hendricks will return for another season. Hendricks, a member of the Miners' 1997 National Baseball Congress World Series championship team, is the pitching coach at Lenoir-Rhyne College in North Carolina. Under Hendricks, the Miners pitching staff, feared to be a weakness at the beginning of last season, finished with a 2.37 ERA, second best in the league." - Daily News staff
Quinn Stewart
(05)
Tigers'
Stewart Seeing the Light - "I guess I found a love for the game
again,” the senior outfielder said. “I got a chance to get away, go have
fun, get some confidence back and just play. That’s really all it was. "
So Many Reasons to Love Baseball in Fairbanks "At Growden, where the box shakes and trembles in even a slight breeze, you take your chances every time you go up there. Covering a game during which your life is in danger surely changes your perspective."
"Jeff Culpepper of Woodinville has started his pro career where he left off in college. After 11 games he is leading the Boise Hawks with a .333 average & .467 on base %. He got his first pro home run this week ( a 2 run HR in the bottom of the 7th to tie the game which Boise won in the bottom of the 9th). He also has a .459 slugging % and has stolen 3 bases."
"Clinton's
EmersonFrostad finished second in the league's annual home run derby before Tuesday's Midwest League All-Star Game in Peoria, Ill. "
Solstice of Swing Shines on Alaska -"Scanning the stands, I notice a young woman selling beer. She has eyes like a husky and is wearing sandals. The temperature has dropped to the high 30s. I wonder how long I can hold out before sporting my embarrassing hat with the cozy earflaps. The loudspeaker blasts, "Good Day, Sunshine!"
FAIRBANKS DAILY TIMES STORY ON THE EARLIEST DOCUMENTED MIDNIGHT SOLSTICE GAME 6/22/1906
Big Ray Wheeler, Winner of first Goldpanners Midnight Sun Game
"It was top-notch competition. It really helped sharpen my skills. I got to look at top pitching from different parts of the country." - Kevin McReynolds
"I knew if I wanted to improve as a player, I'd have to play against the best, and all the best go to Alaska. Of the many stepping stones on my path to the major leagues, the Alaska League was one of the largest." - Alvin Davis
12/31/6: Sam
Suplizio (63)
"Sourdough
Sam" Dead at 74 Samuel Victor Suplizio died suddenly of
heart failure late Friday at his winter home in South Carolina. He
was 74.
12/5/6: Scott
Robinson (01-02 MVP) "The Kid" has successful "Tommy John"
surgery - left elbow ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction using
palmaris longus tendon graft-ulnar nerve transfer.
12/4/6:
Elliott Strankman (03-04-05-06)
Named Manager for Green
Bay Bullfrogs
12/4/6:
Bill Lee (66-67) New Video:
Spaceman, A Baseball Odyssey
"Throughout
the 1970's, Bill Lee was the ultimate gonzo baseball player, a
brilliant left-handed pitcher who flouted every manager or front
office executive who tried to control him. Blacklisted from
professional baseball in 1983, Lee was left to roam the world in
search of a chance to play the game he loves. The film follows Lee,
approaching sixty years young, on a road trip from his farm in
Vermont to the impoverished baseball mecca of Cuba and on to his
triumphant return to Fenway Park. Along the way, we hear from former
teammates, family members, sportswriters, fans, and especially Lee
himself about the unique life and career that spawned the legend of
a ballplayer who will forever be known as simply the SPACEMAN."
11/26/6: Adam Kennedy signs
with St. Louis; 3 years, 10 million.
10/29/6: Not
Lost From History - By Don Dennis "The Alaska League
is a term often referred to as a means of encompassing
baseball as it is known today in the 49th state. However, the words "Alaska League" are a bit of a misnomer. The best it
has ever been -- and that happens to be the era from 1998 to the present --
is a strong association of teams joining together to give the appearance of
a traditional league."
10/1/6: TIMMONS,
THOMPSON NAMED 2006 MVP //
MVPs
In 2006, Sean led the pitching staff with the lowest ERA
(1.17), tying for the team lead in wins with five. His
dominance on the mound boosted the club many times during the season --
providing a win when most needed. On the 11th of July,
Timmons caught Fire left fielder Steve Shaver looking at a pitch on the
outside part of the plate at Growden Memorial Park to tally his 274th
career strikeout, passing Brent Strom on the all-time list. “Ten years
to do it,” said Timmons. “Hey, it’s nice. It wasn’t
pretty, but hey I got it done. I don’t gotta worry about it anymore.”
Round Rock 2B Brooks Conrad
(99-00) led the minors with 79 extra-base hits (40 doubles, 15 triples,
24 homers). He also led the PCL with 100 runs.
9/16/6:
Mike Young -
Figgins'
Cycles; Young Gets 200th Hit (4th Straight Year) in Win - "Young was
particularly relieved to reach the milestone because the Rangers could
finally take down the large banner in the upper deck in right field
counting down his hit total. "Hopefully we can rip that sign down now,"
Young said with a smile. "I didn't want to make everything about me."
Figgins' cycle was the Angels first since
Jeff DaVanon (92-94
Panners) did it on Aug. 25, 2004, against Kansas City."
9/16/6:
Ryan Garko (00) Up to Speed
For Indians - "In 35 games since being recalled from Triple-A
Buffalo, Garko is batting .310 with six homers and 30 RBIs. More
importantly for the Indians, Garko has improved defensively with his
glove as well as his footwork around the bag."
9/15/6:
Ryan Shaver (04) To Start SAL Championship Game /
MILB Page
9/15/6: Reid Hamblet (04)
Class A Delmarva RHF was named winner of the Elrod Hendricks Minor
League Community Service Award, named for the Orioles’ longtime player.
Hamblet went out of
his way to volunteer for numerous appearances, speaking at Dorchester
and Wicomico county libraries as part of the Shorebirds’ “Summer Reading
Program” and taking part in career days, charity golf outings and youth
baseball clincs on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. The Orioles’ 5th round pick
in the 2005 First Year Player Draft, Hamblet went 5-12 with one save in
31 games for Delmarva this season. "
If you're a Round Rock Express season ticket-holder
and didn't get a call from Brooks Conrad (99-00 MVP), you probably
weren't at home. The terrific second baseman called 800 of the fans on
his own time. I'm not sure, but I don't remember hearing that Barry
Bonds (83) does the same.
Indians rookie 1B Ryan Garko hit .333 with four
homers and 17 RBIs in his first 18 games after being called up from
Buffalo on Aug. 8.
Aaron Mathews collected five multiple-hit games and drove in
seven runs last week. He'll take the field for Dunedin in
the playoffs. (Jerry Hale/MiLB.com)
9/5/6: Aaron Mathews
(03)
Player of the Week.448 (13-29), 5 R, 2 2B, 1 3B, 2 HR, 7 RBI, 1 BB, 4
SO, 0 SB, .793 SLG - Mathews ended the season
in spectacular fashion, as he collected five multiple-hit games and
drove in seven runs. On Friday, the 24-year-old went 4-for-5 with two
homers, a double, and three runs scored, but Dunedin lost to Clearwater
by a score of 8-7. On Sunday, Mathews drove in a season-high four runs
as the Blue Jays pounded the Threshers, 15-8.
9/1/6:
Garko’s fast start: Yabba dabba doo! Indians rookie earning team’s respect -- Indians rookie Ryan
Garko’s teammates call him Fred Flintstone. Asked why, veteran Aaron Boone said:
“Have you seen him run and move around? “Looks like him, too.”
8/29/6:
Brendan Ryan (02) promoted to Triple-A Memphis
Springfield
Cardinals shortstop Brendan Ryan was promoted to Triple-A Memphis on
Tuesday after spending only 10 games with the Double-A club.
8/26/6:
Tulsa Wins! -
Marc Kaiser extended his scoreless streak to 18 innings with 6 shutout
frames.
8/24/6:
Ryan Garko (00)
Garko delivers game-winner in wild one "This is a tough game, but a
fun game, for that reason," Garko said. "You can have a tough day and
still have a chance to come up with a big hit." That's what Garko did
when he grounded a single to center to bring in Sizemore with the
go-ahead run. He tried to put the sweet feeling into words. "It's like
you're climbing a mountain," he said, "and you finally get to the top."
8/21/6: Marc Kaiser
(02)
Drillers’ Kaiser tosses first shutout Double-A Tulsa pitcher
MarcKaiser was the Texas League Pitcher of the Week, going 2-0
with a 1.72 ERA in 15 2/3 innings, including a complete-game shutout.
8/19/6:
Chad Corona (02)
Emergency medical technician in Escondido “He exemplifies all the
values that the Cannons team is about,” Hoang said. “He believes in the
community service aspect of it. As competitive as he is, he’s also a
good mentor to teach life lessons that parallel baseball.”
8/16/6:
Lower
Columbia Signees "Hip (Coach Hippi) searches the world over for
pitchers as his reputation extends beyond Washington and Oregon," Smith
said. "Alaska has been a pipeline for us since we got Ryan Shaver a few
years ago, and we like Rosen's size and how he throws nice and easy with
a free arm. Warnock chose us based on reputation, and he's a very
physical kid with some arm strength."
8/16/6:Marc Kaiser
(02)
Kaiser Baffles Hooks again
8/14/6: Beau
Mills:
Summer Shuffle - "The other significant transfer of the summer took
place in the Alaska League, as Fresno State's Beau Mills decided to
attend NAIA powerhouse Lewis-Clark (Idaho) State. Mills, who has hit 36
home runs in two seasons for the Bulldogs, was academically ineligible
at the end of the '06 season and missed Fresno State's regional. He
played for the Alaska Goldpanners in Fairbanks this summer under LCSC
coach Ed Cheff, batting .270-7-33 in 152 at-bats."
8/13/6:
NBC Can't
Stand Still -- The tournament's success for the past 44 years
-- since the Fairbanks Goldpanners finished second to the Wichita Rapid
Transit Dreamliners in the 1962 World Series -- has been directly tied
to Alaska.
But the only Alaska representative in this year's tournament, Kenai,
finished 2-2 and never made it to the main stage.
Because of budget limitations in the Alaska League, Kenai was the
only team from that league to play in this year's World Series. No
Fairbanks, no Anchorage Glacier Pilots.
Alaska teams have won 16 championships since 1969 and finished second
another 13 times. They have produced a long list of players who went on
to become standouts in the big leagues.
The NBC has to find a way to keep Alaska involved and, hopefully,
with more than one representative.
8/11/6:
Ryan Garko (00) Called up
to Cleveland | Garko leads
way in romp - "Ryan Garko had acted out his first big
league homer many times as a youngster. Actually hitting it was an even
bigger thrill.
Garko had his first homer and drove in four runs to help Cliff Lee win
for the first time in nearly a month, leading the Cleveland Indians over
the Los Angeles Angels 14-2 Thursday night.
‘‘It’s a special feeling, one I dreamed about since I was a kid,’’ said
Garko, whose 431-foot drive over the center-field wall gave Cleveland a
13-2 lead in the sixth inning. ‘‘I didn’t know how to react. It sank in
when I got high-fives in the dugout. That’s when I realized, ‘I did it.’
’’
"When the next big earthquake hits,
John Luther Adams jokes, he’ll be running into the University of Alaska Museum
of the North while everyone else runs out. He won’t be able to resist
hearing music the quake generates in the provocative gallery he designed, The
Place Where You Go to Listen."
8/5/6:Mark ThompsonOilers stave off elimination - "Oilers leadoff batter Mark
Thompson, a pre-tournament addition from the Fairbanks
Goldpanners, continued his effective play. After reaching base
in each of his five plate appearances in the opener, Thompson
was on base four more times against Beatrice. That included his
triple to start the game."
Kenai Pnsla Oilers AB R H RBI BB SO HP
----------------------------------------------
Mark Thompson cf.. 2 1 2 0 2 0 1
Palm Spr CA Power AB R H BI
--------------------------------
Ray Ravago ss.............. 4 2 3 0
7/31/6:
Panners
beaten in finale - The Alaska Goldpanners of Fairbanks final
game of the summer was a mirror image of the entire season. The
Panners got off to a fast start, taking a 3-0 lead in the first
inning, but let the lead slip away due to some shabby fielding and
the Mat-Su Miners rallied to claim a 5-3 victory on Saturday evening
at Hermon Brothers Field in Palmer.
7/23/6: Paul Keck
(04) Signed a free agent contract with the Seattle Mariners.
He is playing Rookie ball with Matt Vogel at AZL
Mariners
6/28/6:
Royce Ring(00)
"Norfolk Tides pitcher Royce Ring has been selected to participate
in the 19th Annual Triple-A All-Star Game. Ring, 25, is
2-0 with a 1.48 ERA and five saves in 23 games pitched for the Tides
this year. He has held opponents to a .195 batting average against,
and has struck out 29 batters while walking just ten in 24.1 innings
pitched."
6/19/6:
Sports Illustrated: ABL a Major
League Pipeline - "Before he was a New York Yankee, Jason Giambi was
an Alaska Goldpanner in Fairbanks. He batted a team-high .377.
Sixteen years later, the All-Star slugger recalls the annual
Midnight Sun game held each summer solstice. The game begins at 10
p.m. and lasts past midnight, but has never used artificial lighting
in its 100-year history. “It was kind of tough to see for two
innings, but otherwise it was pretty cool to play in a game like
that,’’ said Giambi, then a freshman at Long Beach State."
Boston Red Sox manager Terry Francona
and Tim Wallach, who would go on to win three Golden Gloves
with the Montreal Expos, were assigned to run a clinic when
they played for the Goldpanners in 1978. “The second
day we got bored,’’ Francona said. “We went to McDonalds,
and the kids we were supposed to watch got into a rock
fight.’’ Francona, who guided the 2004 Boston Red Sox to
their first World Series title in 86 years, served out the
rest of the season as his star teammate’s chauffeur.
“Wallach was such a good player that my job was to make sure
he got to the ballpark,’’ Francona said. The following year,
Wallach won the Golden Spikes award for best college player
after leading Cal State-Fullerton to its first national
championship."
July 12:
Panners beaten by Pilots - "Anchorage's Lucas Waters clubbed a
two-run homer to cap the rally ad provide the winning margin. Morgan
was tagged with the loss even though Bird game up the game-winning
home run. The Panners managed seven hits in the game, led by Chris
Fox, who went 2-for-3 with two runs scored and one run batted in.
Chu Yuan-Chin was 1-for-2 and drove in a pair of runs."
7/12/6:
2006:
Sean Timmons
(94-98-99-00-01-02-03-04-05-06)
Sean Timmons sets strikeout record in Panners win
"Timmons caught Fire left fielder Steve Shaver looking at a pitch on
the outside part of the plate at Growden Memorial Park to tally his
274th career strikeout, passing Brent Strom on the all-time list.
“Ten years to do it,” said Timmons who first toed the rubber for the
Panners in 1994 and is pitching in his 10th season. “It’s nice. It
wasn’t pretty, but hey I got it done. I don’t gotta worry about it
anymore.”
7/11/6:
July 10, vs AIA:
Mills’ homer propels Goldpanners -
"With the score knotted at zero in the third inning, Mills
stepped up to the plate with bases loaded and sent a 2-1
offering high over the right field wall for the Panners'
first slam of the summer. "Getting four runs up on the
board, I mean, that helps out any team and that's what I'm
here to do," said Mills. The slam was a league leading sixth
home run for Mills, who had two grand slams earlier this
year as a freshman at Fresno State."
Pictures by E. Chilton Hines
Record-Setting Night
7/10/6:
Panner bats too much for Fire
"It’s nice seeing our team come together like it is,” said
Panners designated hitter Beau Mills, who drove in two of
the Panners runs. “It’s nice, you know, going through a
little struggle and seeing the team come together and gel
together.”
Pictures by Sheena Cummings
Mai Chia-Yi
Joe Persichina
Beau Mills
Jesse Mier
Brad Schwarzenbach
Wu Cheng-Hsien
Chris Schwinden
Matt Stevens
Will Morgan
Brian Bird
Mark Thomspon
Brian Bird
Lan Shao-Bai
Tyler Cheney
7/7/6: Hernandez sharp as Panners top Bucs- Kevin Hernandez’s right arm did most of the work Thursday night at
Growden Memorial Park, but his legs assured the Alaska Goldpanners of a 3-1
victory over the Anchorage Bucs in the Alaska Baseball League game. With two
outs in the top of the ninth inning, Bucs left fielder Chris Raber
grounded Hernandez’s full-count pitch toward Goldpanners first
baseman Geoff Byrns. Hernandez outsprinted Raber to collect Byrns’
toss and tag the bag for the final out, giving Hernandez a 4-0
record after his first complete game of the season. “It kept the
blood flowing,'’ Hernandez said of his sprint to first base."
7/3/6:
Panners facing new challenges - "The Panners staff has given up
only 51 runs on the year, 30 less then their opponents, and had a
team ERA under 2.00 entering this weekend. One reason for that is
starter Kevin Hernandez who is 3-0 in three starts, with an ERA of
2.00. But pitching coach Gus Knickrehm thinks that his staff can be
even better. "It's coming together," Knickrehm said. "There are some
things that we need to work on, like command of pitches, commitment
of each pitch, getting after it, going as hard as you can each
pitch. Once they buy into that, I think this is going to be a pretty
good staff."
7/3/6: Brett
Andrade (03-04-05)
Added to Professionals:
Burlington Indians
7/3/6: Professionals: Minor
League Stats Added
Rookie League Burlington
(5-4) lost at Pulaski, 9-4. Trevor Mortensen (.400) was
2-for-4 with two runs to lead the offense. Rick Fairchild (0-1, 2.35
ERA) allowed five runs (two earned) over 4 2/3 innings
6/30/6: MSG: Midnight Games (Sporting News)
- "Fairbanks, Alaska, requires toughness. Living on the 65th
parallel, you don’t exactly spend time thinking about how the
petunias are coming along. The average high temperature in January
is 2-below. Extension cords dangle out of car grills, and most
parking spaces are equipped with electrical outlets. That’s because
if you parked for a few hours during an Alaska winter without
plugging in, your engine would become an Ice Pop."
6/28/6:
Royce Ring(00)
"Norfolk Tides pitcher Royce Ring has been selected to participate
in the 19th Annual Triple-A All-Star Game. Ring, 25, is
2-0 with a 1.48 ERA and five saves in 23 games pitched for the Tides
this year. He has held opponents to a .195 batting average against,
and has struck out 29 batters while walking just ten in 24.1 innings
pitched."
6/28/6:
Oilers photos from June 27
6/28/6:
June 27 vs. Peninsula Oilers
6/28/6: Brad
Schwarzenbach - Latest Panner Page!
6/26/6: MSG: Baseball at midnight? Only in
Alaska (Miami Herald)- ‘’It was weird,'’ said Brad Arnsberg,
a former Marlins pitching coach, of the Midnight Sun experience.
“You had to have foil on your bedroom windows just to keep the light
from jumping in when you were trying to sleep. I remember,
unfortunately, walking out of a couple of bars at three or four in
the morning and it was broad daylight. It was kind of an odd
feeling.'’
6/26/6: Timmons, Mier combine to pace
Goldpanners win - "Sean Timmons, the winningest pitcher in
Goldpanners history, pitched seven solid innings to add another
victory to his laurels and catcher Jessie Mier belted a three-run
homer that snapped a 3-3 tie as the Goldpanners downed the Anchorage
Bucs 10-3 before an appreciative gathering at Growden Memorial Park.
Cheff (Goldpanner manager Ed Cheff) made it a point to say that we
needed to do things differently,” Mier said of the Goldpanners’
offensive turnaround. “He just re-emphasized in a strong way the
things that needed to be done in order for us to have success,” said
Mier, who plays under Cheff’s direction at NAIA champion Lewis-Clark
State in Idaho. “The main thing was that we needed to be more
selective instead of chasing pitches.”
Pics by Sheena Cummings
Mark Thompson
Timmons, Mier
Beau Mills
Chris Fox
Timmons, Mier
Pics by E. Chilton Hines
Timmons, Mier
Will Morgan
Sean Timmons
Bucs
Pitcher Roger Clemens (83R), center, talks
with Round Rock Express third baseman Brooks Conrad
(99-00 MVP), left, as they await a relief
pitcher during the sixth inning of a baseball game the New
Orleans Zephyrs Friday, June 16, 2006, in Round Rock, Texas.
Express manager Jackie Moore, right, pulled Clemens from the
game. Clemens gave up five hits and three runs in the game. (AP
Photo/Harry Cabluck)
6/23/6: 2006:
Panners erupt to win ABL opener
- "The Alaska Goldpanners opened league play with a bang,
routing the Athletes in Action Fire, 16-3 Friday night at Growden
Memorial Park. The Panners (1-0 ABL, 6-3 overall) used three big
innings and a solid pitching performance from starter Kevin
Hernandez to spoil the Fire’s (1-3 ABL, 3-5 overall) first game in
Fairbanks this season."
6/23/6:
June 23, 2006
- Alaska Goldpanners vs.
Athletes in Action
6/23/6:
Chris Kissock (06) - Latest Panner Page!
mp3 file/podcast
AccuWeather News Director,
Steve Penstone, speaks with Alaska Goldpanners General Manager
Don Dennis about tonight's 100th Midnight Sun baseball game in
Fairbanks.
Download the mp3 file to listen. (3020k)
6/21/6: 2006:
Midnight Sun Game tonight
By MATIAS SAARI, Staff Writer
"Unless they get serious
about baseball in Scandinavia or some other place near the Arctic
Circle, Fairbanks will continue to have the market on games under
the Midnight Sun just as it has for the past century. “It’s unique.
We’re the only people that have it,” said Don Dennis, the Alaska
Goldpanners’ general manager since 1968. “Nobody else can do it.”
6/21/6:
6/21/6: Justin Fuller (05
MVP)
2006 Draft Picks Assigned to Ogden -
Raptors
6/21/6: June 20 -
Alaska Goldpanners vs. Beatrice Bruins
2006 "Midnight Sun Series"
Beatrice Bruins, Led By Bob Steinkamp
CHATHAM - Allan
Dykstra (05) of Wake Forest knocked in the go-ahead runs on
a two-run home run in the sixth inning to pace the Athletics over
the visiting Mariners.
California Running Birds
6/19/6: 2006:
Panners salvage split with Birds
- "Mark Thompson made several spectacular plays on grounders
deep in the hole at shortstop and registered six assists. He also
stole two bases, reached base three times and scored a run, while
Chu Yuan-Chin and Jovanny Bramasco had RBI hits in the third inning
as the Goldpanners improved to 4-1."
6/19/6: June 18 -
Alaska Goldpanners vs. California Running Birds 2/2
6/17/6:
2006:
Davidson has big night for Panners
"Davidson was recommended to Cheff by former Alaska manager Jim
Dietz, now a high school baseball coach in Oregon. Davidson worked
out late in the season with the Lewis-Clark State College baseball
team in Lewiston, Idaho, which Cheff coaches and recently guided to
its 14th NAIA national championship."
6/17/6:
June 16th vs. Stockton Senators- Scorecast
6/16/6: Baseball loaded with family ties
- By Josh Niva, Anchorage Daily News "Dennis might not be a
player, but he credits his success to a coach — his longtime
employer, mentor and father, Goldpanners general manager Don Dennis.
For both Dennises, and thousands of others who play or follow the
game, baseball is as much about family as it is sport."
6/16/6:
2006:
Byrns and Dunn propel Panners -
"the Goldpanners’ 13-5 romp at Growden Memorial Park showed it
was a stroke of genius for him to have Geoff Byrns batting in the
No. 3 spot and Joey Dunn hitting right behind him. The two combined
for six hits, six runs batted in and five runs scored." -- SEAN TIMMONS WINS! WITHIN SIX
STRIKEOUTS OF ALL-TIME RECORD HELD BY BRENT STROM
June 15th vs. Stockton Senators
Pics by John Luther Adams
6/15/6:
2006:
Panners get off to fast start
against Stars- "With barely half the team having arrived in
Fairbanks, head coach Ed Cheff was hesitant to offer an assessment
of this year’s team. The 2005 squad went 39-12 overall and dominated
the Alaska Baseball League with a 28-6 record. “It’s pretty hard to
make an evaluation for about a week,” said Cheff, last year’s ABL
Coach of the Year, who arrived in Fairbanks on Monday."
6/15/6: The Ranger agreed to terms Wednesday with Shannon Wirth
(Lewis-Clark State, 32nd), and Austin Weilep
(Lewis-Clark State, 34th).
6/13/6: 2006: Players from Taiwan ready to join
Panners - Bob Eley "The Panners aren’t changing uniforms and
the coaching staff remains intact, but four of the new players on
this year’s team are from Taiwan and attend college at the Taiwan
National College of Physical Education. Whiile none of the
four speak much English, Dennis said that coach Ed Cheff isn’t
anticipating any communication problems. “Coach Cheff’s plan is for
them to learn English baseball terms and have the rest of the guys
learn to speak Taiwanese for the social aspects,” Dennis said."
6/13/6: ABLBlog:
Palmer and Fairbanks
players added to roster of Mat-Su Miners
6/11/6: Jon McCaslin (03)
Eighty-eight golfers are competing
in first Capitol City Amateur since 1998 "McCaslin, a
22-year-old graduate of North Thurston who played baseball for
Lewis-Clark State College, was considered one of the favorites to
win the tournament, according to McNelly. However, during Saturday’s
opening round of “scrambling golf,” McCaslin shot a 7-over-par 79.
“Golf is a funny game,” McCaslin said after coming off the 18th
hole. “One day you can shoot in the 60s, and the next day you can
shoot an 80.” As a 1-handicap, McCaslin said he needed to stay
mentally prepared and not lose composure. “If I make it in the
money, I will be happy,” McCaslin said. “I’m going home to watch
‘Tin Cup’ tonight.”
MSG Tickets now purchased online will be have to be picked up at the Ticket
Booth prior to 5pm on the 21st. They will also be
available during games prior to the 21st.
FSL PLAYER OF
THE WEEK: Mathews has collected at least two hits in each of
his last seven games. On Monday, the 24-year-old center
fielder had a game to remember, going 6-for-7 with six runs
scored as Dunedin defeated Vero Beach, 19-12. On Friday,
Mathews went 4-for-4 with a double and a triple. On May 5,
he was batting .209. His average currently sits at .390.
6/9/6: Kody Valverde (05) Valverde Has Seen the
Light “(Coach Cheff) worked with
us every day to be mentally tougher,” Valverde said. “I don’t know
if he did something special to us or whether we did it ourselves,
but it was a fun summer. “It’s miraculous,” Alabama coach Jim Wells
said. “He went from a guy who hit .238 or .240, who swung and missed
a lot, and he’s just better all the way around. That had to happen
for us to be successful.”
"Even though Jason Aspito
(99) had a four-hit
night including two home runs (9), the Frisco RoughRiders (27-25)
pounded three home runs and 17 hits en route to an 11-6 victory over
the Arkansas Travelers (17-35)."
6/5/6:
Brad Davis (03) Named to Florida State League
2006 All-Star Team
6/3/6:
Lewis-Clark Wins NAIA National Championship! -
Box Score |
Play-by-Play //
Shannon Wirth (05
MVP) Wins Game, Allen Balmer (04) MVP!
"After
Cumberland scored a run
in the bottom of the sixth to tie the contest at 4-4, neither team
could score until the 11th. That's when Mark Thompson (05-06R) started the rally by being hit a
pitch, one of nine hit batters in the game. Matt Vogel (05) singled Thompson to third and then stole second
base. With first base open,
Cumberland elected to intentionally walk Series MVP
Allen Balmer (04) to load the bases. Jose Castenon (04) then drew a full-count walk to
force in the decisive run."
Shelly and Moku Paiva (89) star in the
premiere of
"Hawaii Love Stories"
5/19/6: Moku Paiva
(89)
The wedding video that everyone gets to see "Former UH baseball pitcher Moku Paiva married fellow Honolulu
Police Department officer Shelly Silva in April and all Hawaii is
invited.. on TV."
5/17/6: Allen Dykstra(05)Leaving ACC Foes in
His Wake"Dykstra is hitting .335 and leads the Atlantic
Coast Conference with 14 homers and 55 RBIs on a team that is 32-17.
He also has 16 doubles and has struck out just 26 times in 233 plate
appearances."
2006 All-NAIA Region I Team: Justin Fuller,
Allen Balmer, Mark Thompson, Jessie Miller and Austin Weilip. Justin
Fuller, a second baseman, was the player of the year.
Wake Forest and Florida State played
the longest game in the 53-year history of the ACC on Saturday, May
6. The previous record in unknown, but the 20-inning affair turned
out to be the 12th in NCAA Division I history to ever reach the 20th
inning and only the third to do so since 1974. Wake Forest first
baseman
Allan Dykstra recorded 26 putouts, not only an ACC record, but
the second most in NCAA Division I history.
The 22nd-ranked Washington baseball
team couldn't overcome an early deficit as the NAIA's top-ranked
team, Lewis-Clark State, handed the Huskies a 9-7 loss Tuesday night
at Husky Ballpark. Lewis-Clark State (39-4), which had a
26-game win streak broken last weekend, used a six-run third inning
to build a 7-1 lead against the Huskies (30-17), who rallied for one
in the seventh and four in the eighth to close the gap.
5/3/6:
DeadSpin
Baseball //
Plane Crash Clip - "We’d never seen this before, but it’s pretty
amazing: During an Alaska Goldpanners of Fairbanks game, a plane
crashes just beyond the left field fence. We’ve watched this about
four times in the last 20 minutes. The best part has to be the
announcer. You think you’ve prepared for everything. You’ve got your
player notes, and your scoresheet, and your public service
announcements. And then a plane crashes in left field."
4/29/6:
Don Sneddon Profile"KCAL 9 aired a
feature on Santa Ana College (SAC) baseball coach Don Sneddon
becoming California community college's all-time winningest baseball
coach on April 15. Sneddon took over the top spot on March 21 when
the Dons beat Riverside Community College (RCC), 2-1, in Orange
Empire Conference baseball action. The feature, hosted by Gary
Miller, will can be viewed by clicking on the link."
4/29/6: Allen Dykstra(05)
Wake Photo Gallery
4/27/6:Rick Monday (64)Two-time All Star,
All-Time Hero - “I don’t know anybody who
wouldn’t have done the same thing, if they were in the same
position,” Monday was saying the other day from Los Angeles, where
he threw out the ceremonial first pitch Sunday as the Dodgers
celebrated the anniversary of his heroics with a video tribute. “I’m
just glad I was close enough to do something about it.'’
Justin Fuller's
two-run triple in the top of the eighth inning gave Lewis-Clark
State the lead for good Wednesday as the No. 1 ranked Warriors
extended their winning streak to 21 games by outlasting Albertson
11-8 at Simplot Stadium in Caldwell.
Brooks Conrad (99-00
MVP) slammed two homers, including a walk-off blast in
the ninth inning, to power Round Rock to a 6-4 victory over visiting
Iowa on Sunday.
Greg Sain (99-00)
homered in his third straight game as visiting Huntsville topped
Montgomery, 5-2, on Monday. The Stars never trailed after taking a
3-0 lead in the first inning on Sain's two-run homer and Callix
Crabbe's solo shot. Sain has four homers and 10 RBIs in eight games.
"In
other news, the Stars have determined their likely first baseman for
the season. Greg
Sain, who led the Southern League
with 28 homers for Mobile in 2004, is expected to start in
Huntsville. He split last season between Double-A and Triple-A."
Mike Lissman matched his career
high for hits by going 4-for-5. Lissman tallied seven hits in the
first two games of the USC series || Jeff Culpepper (03)
Was called up to play for the Cubs big league team vs. Oakland. He
got into the game in the 7th inning playing LF. In his only AB he
grounded out to 2B.
3/12/6: Jason Lane (96-97)
Adapts to meet the challenge
"Lane hit a respectable .259 with eight homers and 18 RBIs in June
and .317 with three homers and 11 RBIs in July. Despite his
resurgence in June, he was hitting only .234 (65-for-278) when he
headed to the All-Star break.After the break, he hit .305
(73-for-239) to finish the season with a .267 batting average, 26
home runs and 78 RBIs. Despite having 39 fewer at-bats after the
All-Star break, his 12 home runs and 38 RBIs after the break were
not far off his 14 homers and 40 RBIs from before the break. "
3/12/6: Matt
Rasmussen(06)
Leads Bearcats in 8-run fifth inning
Fear Itself
makes its 2006 debut at the Smiling Moose in Pittsburgh on
Wednesday, February 22. Satanic Bat opens the show starting at 10pm,
and admission is free. We hope to see you arriving late to work on
Thursday
2/21/6: Brad E. Davis (03)
Davis caught by
early catching bug - "He's a great guy to throw to," Vargas
said. "I've thrown to him a couple of years now between college and
the Minors, and he's a great guy behind the plate. I trust throwing
to him. His size hasn't been an issue for me. He just might not have
grown into his body yet. He's still young, like all of us here. But
he's learned how to call and catch from a great pitching coach [Troy
Buckley at LBS]. And for me, personally, he calls a good game."
Meanwhile, Springfield shortstop
Brendan Ryan, who like Hanson is about to take part in his first
big-league spring training camp, arrived in Jupiter, Fla., earlier
this week. With his ears, of course, still ringing from a mountain
of advice from prospects like Anthony Reyes, who have been there
before and have implored Ryan to follow proper etiquette. Said Ryan,
"I guess I'll be calling everybody, 'Mister.' "
2/18/6: Brendan Ryan(02)
Signed to One-Year Contract with St. Louis Cardinals (On Cardinals'
40-man roster to protect him from Rule 5 Draft.)
2/17/6: Kody Valverde (05)
Valverde powering
the Tide early "Valverde hit a two-run homer in Saturday's loss
to the Eagles and won the game with a three-run homer on Sunday. The
senior has also accomplished something rare for him: He has walked
five times in Alabama's first four games, matching his walk total
from all of last year. "
2/17/6: Travis Lee (93/MVP-94)
Rays sign Lee, avoiding arbitration "Lee, 30, is major league
baseball's all-time career fielding percentage leader (.997) among
first baseman with 750 or more games played. He has finished in the
top three in his league in fielding all six years in which first
base was his primary position."
HOUSTON -- Houston Astros outfielder Jason Lane
was the guest on the club's
popular Astroline off-season, call-in radio show Wednesday, February
15 at 7:00 p.m. Hosted by Hall of Fame broadcaster Milo
Hamilton. The show airs on the club's flagship
station, KTRH 740 AM, and on the internet at
www.astros.com.
Lane hit .267 with 26 home runs and 78 RBI in 145 games for the
Astros during the 2005 season.
Texas second baseman Clay Van Hook (05)
reaches down to tag out UH
center fielder Mark McGonigle on a failed steal attempt in the
fifth inning Friday at Minute Maid Park. BRETT COOMER
"The things I remember best about
playing at USC are that we worked hard, learned a lot and had a
really great time doing it,” Seaver once said. “I learned more in
one year at USC under coach Dedeaux than I would have in two or
three seasons in the low minors. I learned concentration and to stay
in the game mentally."
Jerry Modene Posted:
Three-part story...It was my only time as an emcee and being
able to turn these incidents into a nifty warmup story is
one of my nicest memories, especially in light of Tug's
passing.
In 1972, I was a kid of 14 in the bleachers at Candlestick
before a Mets-Giants game in early July. Tug McGraw is
shagging flies and I holler out, "Hey, Tug, congratulations
on making the all-star team!" Tug looked up in my general
direction and hollered back, "Hey, thanks!".
In 1978 I was in the right field box seats at the Astrodome
watching Floyd Bannister warm up for his start that night. I
didn't need to shout, but I did say in a reasonably loud
voice, "Hey, Floyd, I used to watch you pitch in Fairbanks
for the Goldpanners". Bannister didn't even look up and
said, "Who cares?"
Flash forward to 1989. By this time, I'm working in the
communications office of the Governor of Guam, and Tug
McGraw was on island for a week. As the resident baseball
maven in the office, it fell upon me to emcee a dinner at
the mansion one evening, so as part of my introduction for
Tug, I told both the stories above. Nice chuckles from the
audience. Long pause by me.
Then I said, "Now, you'll notice that Floyd Bannister is not
here tonight." And the place roared, and Tug clapped his
hands.
2/7/6: Tom Seaver (64-65)
Added
TomTerrificSeaver.com - Official Website "He offered Tom a full
scholarship and asked him to test his skill in first-class
competition. Dedeaux wanted Tom to go to Alaska and pitch for the
Goldpanners. The spring session had ended at Fresno City, so Tom got
on a plane to Fairbanks. Upon his arrival in Alaska, he was greeted
by Goldpanners manager Red Boucher. Mr. Boucher gave Tom a uniform
and drove directly to the ballpark, where the Goldpanners were
playing the Washington State Bellingham Bells. The score was tied
2-2. Tom was asked to get in uniform and go to the bullpen. By the
sixth inning, Tom was brought into the game, having just got off the
plane. He struck out the first batter he faced, got the next one to
pop up, and went on to win the game. At the end of the summer
season, Tom was named to the All-Tournament team at the National
Baseball Conference tournament in Wichita, Kansas. There was no
question that he would get a scholarship to USC."
2/7/6: Jason Giambi (90)
More From Giambi in 2006? - "The thing that impressed me the
most about Giambi's year was his .440 on-base percentage, which led
the AL. Even during the early months of the season, when Giambi was
struggling at the plate, he kept his approach and took walks when
pitchers were willing to give them to him. "
2/7/6: Barry Bonds (83)
ESPN plans reality show around home run record chase
2/7/6:Outside
Links: Added
MVP 2006 NCAA
BASEBALL - XBOX, PS2 -
Ebay
1/31/6:
Dermot Cole Goldpanner Shoutout - "MIGHTY QUINN: Last summer one
of the stars of the Alaska Goldpanners was Quinn Stewart of LSU
Tigers. In a recent article in the Baton Rouge Advocate, Stewart
said that summer in Fairbanks was like the movie "Groundhog Day," in
which the same day is repeated over and over again. "You wake up, go
to the field, come home, take a nap, get up, go to the field, play a
game, go hang out, get something to eat, go to sleep, get up and do
the same thing over and over," he said. He said he'd like to visit
Fairbanks in the winter, to see what it's like "when it's dark all
the time."
1/31/6: Garet Hill,
Justin Fuller
-
Rated in top five best NAIA prospects - "Dinkelman was rated the
fifth-best NAIA prospect for the 2006 major league baseball amateur
draft by Baseball America. Rated ahead of him were Garet Hill, a
righthanded pitcher from Biola (Calif.) College; Jon Forest, a
righthanded pitcher from British Columbia; Justin Fuller, a
shortstop from Lewis-Clark State (Idaho); and Jeff Tobin, a
lefthanded pitcher from British Columbia. "
1/31/6: Jason
Phillips (96)
Signed by Toronto, Invited to Spring Training
1/31/6: Aaron Heilman (98)
Ready to battle for fifth spot
1/30/6: Paul Keck (04)
Keck Transfers to Lee from LC "Assistant coach Mark Brew called
Keck "a tremendous catcher with great accolades. He has played in
great programs and is a leader behind the plate," noted Brew. "Paul
is an excellent sign for us this late in the summer. He has a great
arm, good power and above average speed. We are looking forward to
an excellent year from Paul." 1/30/6: Allen Dykstra (05)
In the dugout with Dykstra
1/27/6: Jim Sundberg (71)
Sundberg speaks at First Pitch Luncheon - "What it does,
is just show that we're normal people as well and we love to go out
and encourage them to see some games and watch us on TV," he said.
"If we can help motivate somebody, or help somebody keep going, or
brighten somebody's day, that's kinda what I get out of it."
1/20/6:
Milo Griffin (67-68-69)
Griffin's '44' retired in style - "An accomplished tennis
player and golfer, Griffin also played with the Alaska Goldpanners of
Fairbanks baseball team from 1967-68 as an outfielder and first
baseman."
1/15/6: Quinn Stewart
(05)
Tigers'
Stewart Seeing the Light - "“I guess I found a love for the game
again,” the senior outfielder said. “I got a chance to get away, go have
fun, get some confidence back and just play. That’s really all it was.
Last year took a toll, struggling as much as I did. "
1/9/6:
Ed Cheff (02-03-04-05-06R)
Inducted into ABCA Hall of Fame "During his tenure, Lewis-Clark
State College has won 13 NAIA national titles. From 1982 through 1992,
Cheff's Warriors played in 11 consecutive NAIA national championship
games and won eight championships and his teams hold a part of more than
25 NAIA World Series records."
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