Mark Maloney on Kentucky sports

South Atlantic League baseball

Coming up

Lexington Legends vs. Asheville Tourists

What: Three-game series

When: Tuesday through Thurday (7:05 each night)

Where: McCormick Field (Asheville, N.C.)

Robert Bono

Legends RHP Ross Seaton is set to start Wednesday. (Staff photo/Mark Cornelison)

David Duncan

Probable pitchers (Legends listed first): Tuesday, RH Robert Bono (8-8, 3.41) vs. RH Alan DeRatt (2-3, 4.91); Wednesday, RH Ross Seaton (8-10, 3.31) vs. RH Carlos Luna (0-0, 7.56); Thursday, LH David Duncan (4-3, 4.24) vs. RH Juan Nicasio (8-3, 2.41).

Tourist to watch: Switch-hitting CF Delta Cleary Jr. (6-foot-3, 180 pounds, from Jonesboro, Ark.) entered the season as the 11th-best prospect in the Rockies system, according to Baseball America. Through Sunday, he is hitting .258 with seven homers and 43 RBI over 100 games. He has stolen 31 bases in 42 attempts and scored 50 runs. He had three hits in each game, Saturday and Sunday, at Bowling Green. Rated by Baseball America as “best athlete” in the Rockies system, Cleary is a cousin of NBA pro Shawn Marion. Cleary, a guard, averaged 13 points a game to help his high school to the Arkansas Class 6A state title. He also quarterbacked the football team. Cleary then led his junior-college baseball team to the Division II national championship. Selected by Colorado in the 37th round of the 2008 draft, out of Louisiana State-Eunice JC, Cleary broke in to pro ball last year with Casper of the Pioneer League. There, he hit .276 with three homers, nine RBI and four stolen bases in 27 games.

Michael Hacker

Legend to watch: LHP Michael Hacker (5-9, 175, from Folsom, Calif.) struck out two Saturday in a scoreless inning of relief against the Hickory Crawdads. That was his first appearance since July 16 and bodes well after a horrendous season up to that point. His numbers: 0-1, 2.69 ERA, 20 strikeouts, 15 walks. Selected by the Houston Astros in the 25th round of the 2008 draft, out of Cosumnes River (Calif.) Junior College, Hacker played for the Tri-City ValleyCats of the New York-Penn League last year. Over 23 appearances, all in relief, Hacker went 1-3 with five saves and a 2.73 ERA. He worked 26 1/3 innings, striking out 27 and walking 17. He held opposing batters to a .187 average and did not allow an earned run in his first 17 games. He was especially tough on the road, with an ERA of 1.08.

Radio: WLXG AM-1300

MVP Jordan Pacheco

Derek Norris, top prospect

Also of note: Former Lafayette High School and University of Kentucky standout Michael Bertram is the Eastern League Player of the Week. Bertram, a third baseman for the Double-A Erie (Pa.) SeaWolves, went 9-for-26 (.346) with two doubles, two triples and two homers. He drove in 11 runs, scored eight times, walked three times and finished with an .808 slugging percentage for six games. … No Legends were on the annual list of SAL all-stars revealed Monday. The Charleston RiverDogs led the way with three selections: RHP David Phelps, 3B Corban Joseph and Melky Mesa (utility OF). West Virginia’s Rudy Owens was named Most Outstanding Pitcher, going 10-1 with a 1.70 ERA over 19 games before being promoted to Lynchburg of the Carolina League. Hagerstown Suns catcher Derek Norris, batting .288 with 122 hits and 23 homers in 121 games, was tabbed Most Outstanding Major League Prospect. Asheville catcher Jordan Pacheco, batting .325 with 139 hits and 13 homers through 111 games, was named MVP. Selections came from a vote of SAL field managers, general managers, sportswriters and broadcasters. Lakewood’s Dusty Wathan was selected as manager, Greenville’s Bob Kipper as coach. Other players picked: Asheville’s Scott Robinson (OF); Hagerstown’s Stephen Lombardozzi (2B); Augusta’s Josh Mazzola (1B); Bowling Green’s Tim Beckham (SS); Delmarva’s Ronnie Welty (OF); Hickory’s Erik Morrison (utility IF), and Lakewood’s Anthony Gose (OF).

South Atlantic League baseball

Coming up

Lexington Legends vs. Augusta GreenJackets

What: Four-game series

When: Tuesday through Friday (7:05 each night)

Where: Lake Olmstead Stadium, Augusta, Ga.

Probable pitchers (Legends listed first): Tuesday, RH Ross Seaton (6-6, 2.57) vs. RH Eric Stolp (2-1, 2.61); Wednesday, RH Kyle Greenwalt (5-7, 3.74) vs. RH Kyle Nicholson (4-6, 3.72); Thursday, RH Jordan Lyles (4-7, 3.27) vs. LH Eric Surkamp (5-2, 3.59); Friday, LH Brad Dydalewicz (4-2, 2.64) vs. LH Art Ronick (5-4, 2.58).

Josh Mazzola

GreenJacket to watch: 1B Josh Mazzola (6-foot-2, 195 pounds, from San Diego) took a 12-game hitting streak (17-for-50, 4 HR, 17 RBI, 12 R) into Monday night’s game at Rome. Overall, he is hitting .284 over 65 games. He leads Augusta in homers (8), RBI (league-leading 54), hits (69) and total bases (113), and ranks second in runs (35), doubles (16), triples (3), slugging (.465) and OPS (.812). Mazzola is batting .336 at home, .226 on the road. After attending Grossmont College and Missouri State University, he signed a free-agent contract with the San Francisco Giants in 2008. Mazzola hit .324 with five homers and 35 RBI last year over 47 games with the Arizona League Giants.

Kyle Greenwalt

Legend to watch: RHP Kyle Greenwalt (6-0, 200, from Sellersville, Pa.) is gunning for a second consecutive win. At 5-7, 3.74, he will be making his 15th start of the season. Over 79 1/3 innings, he 44 strikeouts to 13 walks. Selected by the Houston Astros in the 20th round of the 2007 draft, out of Souderton Area High School, Greenwalt went 0-7 with a 7.53 ERA with Greeneville in 2007. He also spent most of 2008 with Greeneville, improving to 6-4 with a 3.14 ERA. He also appeared in two games for the Tri-City ValleyCats, going 1-0 with a 1.50 ERA.

Radio: WLXG AM-1300

Lexington Legends pitchers Robert Bono and Ross Seaton, along with third baseman Ebert Rosario, were named Monday to the South Atlantic League’s Southern Division all-star team.

Charley Taylor

Pitching coach Charley Taylor, who has been unable to join the team this season due to bladder cancer and subsequent surgery to remove his bladder and prostate, was honored by being named to the coaching staff.

Ebert Rosario

The 50th SAL All-Star game is schedule for 7:35 p.m., June 23 at Appalachian Power Park, home of the West Virginia Power in Charleston.

Rosario will start at third base. Through Sunday, he is batting .304 with four homers and 20 RBI.

Robert Bono

Ross Seaton

Bono is 5-2 and third in the league with a 1.93 ERA. Fellow right-hander Seaton is 6-5, 10th in the league with a 2.49 ERA and the only pitcher in the league to have thrown a nine-inning complete game shutout. (Two other pitchers threw seven-inning complete game shutouts.)

Former Eastern Kentucky University pitcher Christian Friedrich was selected for his work with the Asheville Tourists. However, Friedrich was promoted from Asheville to the High-A Modesto Nuts on May 20.

In eight starts for the Tourists, the left-hander was 3-3, ninth in the league with a 2.18 ERA and second in the league with 66 strikeouts. The Colorado Rockies selected Friedrich in the first round of the 2008 draft. In two starts for Modesto, he has no decisions and a 2.77 ERA.

Christian Friedrich

Greenville leads the Southern Division with five all-stars, including starting pitcher Casey Kelly and first baseman Anthony Rizzo. Greenville’s Kevin Boles will manage the squad, assisted by Charleston (S.C.) manager Torre Tyson and pitching coach Jeff Ware, Greenville hitting coach Billy McMillon and pitching coach Bob Kipper, and Taylor.

Asheville, Charleston and Savannah each have four players on the Southern roster, with two starters each: catcher Jordan Pacheco and center fielder Scott Robinson for the Tourists; right fielder Melky Mesa and designated hitter Daniel Brewer for the RiverDogs; and second baseman Joshua Satin and left fielder Sean Ratliff from the Sand Gnats.

Bowling Green and Augusta have two all-stars each. Bowling Green’s Tim Beckham will start at shortstop.

The Hickory Crawdads and Lakewood BlueClaws lead the Northern stars with six players each. Greensboro has four players and host West Virginia has three.

Lakewood’s Dusty Wathan will manager the Northern team, assisted by BlueClaws coach Tim Gradoville. Also assisting will be managers Gary Green of West Virginia and Ernie Young of Kannapolis, plus West Virginia pitching coach Jeff Johnson.

The 27-player rosters were selected by a vote of league managers and coaching staffs, media and front-office executives. 

South Atlantic League Baseball

Coming up

Lexington Legends vs. Bowling Green Hot Rods

What: Three-game series

When: Tuesday through Thursday (7:05 Central each night)

Where: Bowling Green (Ky.) Ballpark

Tickets:   (270) 901-2121  

Probable pitchers (Legends listed first): Tuesday, RH Robert Bono (5-1, 1.98) vs. pitcher to be named; Wednesday, RH Kyle Greenwalt (2-5, 2.98) vs. LH Frank De Los Santos (3-3, 3.38); Thursday, RH Jordan Lyles (2-5, 3.31) vs. RH Joe Cruz (1-2, 2.08).

Joe Cruz

Hot Rod to watch: Thursday’s starter, RHP Joe Cruz (6-foot-4, 190 pounds, from Baldwin Park, Calif.), hasn’t allowed more than two earned runs in any of his seven starts, and he’s only allowed two runs once. Over 30 1/3 innings, he has 34 strikeouts to eight walks, holding opponents to a .280 average. Selected by Tampa Bay in the 30th round of the 2007 draft, out of East Los Angeles Junior College, Cruz appeared in 16 games over the last season-plus (three games in 2007) for Princeton of the Appalachian League, where he went 3-3 with a 2.71 ERA, 75 strikeouts and 17 walks. Baseball America rates him 23rd among Tampa Bay prospects, noting that he has “demonstrated a live arm with above-average control.” He comes armed with a 90-94 mph fastball, a curveball and changeup.

Brian Pellegrini

Legend to watch: 1B/OF Brian Pellegrini (6-1, 240, from Willoughby, Ohio) joined the Legends on May 16 after starting the season with High-A Lancaster. He was Lexington’s primary power hitter last season, when he hit 21 homers and drove in 69 runs over 87 games. He hit .226, with a .331 on-base percentage and .503 slugging. Selected by the Astros in the 12th round of the 2007 draft, out of St. Bonaventure University, he was Atlantic 10 player of the year and an all-star in 2006. At Lancaster this season, Pellegrini hit .171 with seven homers and 15 RBI over 30 games. In 15 games with the Legends, he is hitting .294 with four homers and 12 RBI. He also has drawn nine walks and struck out 14 times. Monday, his three-run homer in the first inning fueled a 5-0 victory over the Augusta GreenJackets.

Jay Austin

Also of note: The Legends made a roster change Monday. CF Jay Austin was placed on the disabled list. He suffered a concussion when he collided with SS Jorge De Leon during the first inning of Saturday’s game. Taking Austin’s spot on the roster is OF Eric Suttle, who comes from Lancaster. In 12 games with the JetHawks, Suttle hit .375 and drove in 12 runs. He played for Southern Illinois of the Frontier League last season. He made his Legends debut Monday, batting second and playing in left. Suttle was 0-for-2, but drew two walks and scored a run in a 5-0 win over Augusta.

Radio: WLXG AM-1300

Coming up

Lexington Legends vs. Augusta GreenJackets

What: Four-game series

When: Friday through Monday (7:05 each night, except Sunday at 2:05 p.m.)

Where: Applebee’s Park

Tickets: Call   (859) 422-7867  

Probable pitchers (Legends listed first): Friday, RH Kyle Greenwalt vs. LH Eric Surkamp (2-1, 4.54); Saturday, RH Jordan Lyles (2-4, 2.96) vs. RH Kyle Nicholson (3-4, 4.14); Sunday, LH Brad Dydalewicz (3-0, 0.38) vs. LH Ari Ronick (3-3, 3.76); Monday, RH Ross Seaton (5-4, 2.88) vs. LH Aaron King (1-2, 5.27).

Juan Perez

GreenJacket to watch: 3B Juan Perez (5-foot-11, 185 pounds, from Bronx, N.Y.) comes in with a six-game hitting streak (7-for-21, 4 RBI, 4 runs). Overall, he is hitting .279 with five homers, 19 RBI and 23 runs over 43 games. He is tied for fourth in the South Atlantic League (through Wednesday) with 15 doubles and tied for 12th with 46 hits. He also has six stolen bases in seven attempts. After batting .215 in April, Perez is hitting .337 in May. The Giants selected Perez in the 13th round of last year’s draft, out of Western Oklahoma State Junior College.

Brad Dydalewicz

Legend to watch: Sunday starter Brad Dydalewicz (6-1, 180, from Spicewood, Texas) will be making his first home appearance since April 17. He spent three weeks on the disabled list before being activated May 20 at Charleston, S.C. He pitched two innings that night, and was the winner with a five-inning start Monday at Savannah. Over those two games, he has given up a run, five hits and five walks, while striking out four. Overall, Dydalewicz has worked 24 innings over five starts, allowing just two runs (one earned), while going 3-0 with an 0.38 ERA. The Astros selected him in the eighth round of last year’s draft, out of Lake Travis (Texas) High School.

Phil Disher

Ricky Bennett

Also of note: Legends 1B Phil Disher is scheduled to travel to Houston for evaluation by team doctors. He has been bothered most of the season with a hip injury. … C Max Sapp, a member of the Legends the past two seasons, continues to recover at his home in Florida after suffering a life-threatening bout of viral meningitis and seizures. According to Ricky Bennett, assistant general manager and director of player development for the Astros, Sapp is schedule to remain on medication until mid-July. Bennett said he doesn’t expect Sapp to play this season, but may make his return in fall instructional ball or in a winter league. … Friday is Blue Grass Energy Night and Cartoon Character Night at Applebee’s Park. The Cat in the Hat, Franklin the Turtle, Buzz Lightyear, Wilma Flinstone, George Jetson and some of the characters from Scooby Doo are scheduled to be on hand. Miss Kentucky USA, Maria Montgomery of Danville, will throw a ceremonial first pitch. A fireworks show is scheduled after the game. … Saturday’s game will include entertainment by Chicago-based percussion group The Bucket Boys. A Girl Scout campout in the outfield will follow the game. … Sunday’s game will be preceded by a youth baseball clinic. After the game, kids can run the bases. … Monday is “Kids Eat Free Night.” Children under 12 will receive vouchers for a kids’ combo meal (hot dog, chips and drink) as they enter the park. 

Radio: WLXG AM-1300