Mark Maloney on Kentucky sports

Baseball

South Atlantic
    League
 

Lexington Legends vs. Delmarva Shorebirds

What: Five-game series

When: Friday through Tuesday (7:05 each night except Sunday, 5:05 p.m.)

Where: Arthur W. Perdue Stadium (Salisbury, Md.)

Major League affiliates: Houston Astros (Legends), Baltimore Orioles

Juan Minaya

Jose Cisnero

Luis Cruz

Zach Grimmett

Tanner Bushue

Probable pitchers (Legends listed first): Friday, RH Juan Minaya (4-10, 5.17) vs. RH Brent Allar (2-1, 4.50); Saturday, RH Jose Cisnero (6-5, 4.00) vs. RH Kenny Moreland (6-5, 3.33); Sunday, LH Luis Cruz (5-3, 3.60) vs. RH Jesse Beal (7-6, 3.86); Monday, RH Zach Grimmett (4-2, 3.81) vs. RH Pat Kantakevich (0-4, 3.98); Tuesday, RH Tanner Bushue (5-6, 4.32) vs. RH Bobby Bundy (2-4, 3.96).

Michael Flacco

Shorebird to watch: 1B/3B Michael Flacco (6-foot-5, 220 pounds, from Audobon, N.J.) is 11-for-32 (.344) with an RBI and a run scored in nine games since being promoted from the Aberdeen IronBirds of the New York-Penn League. Over 30 games with Aberdeen, Flacco hit .250 with 16 RBI and 12 runs. The younger brother of Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco, he was selected by the Orioles in the 31st round of the 2009 draft, out of the Community College of Baltimore County-Catonsville. Flacco played 65 games last season — 60 with the Bluefield Orioles of the Appalachian League and five with Delmarva — and hit a combined .263 with three homers, 35 RBI and 28 runs. Before turning pro, he missed two seasons of athletic competition due to a stress fracture in his back.

Bubby Williams

Legends to watch: C David “Bubby” Williams (6-0, 190, from Las Vegas, Nev.) joined the Legends on Thursday, taking the roster spot vacated when C Jordan Comadena was transferred to the Lancaster JetHawks of the California League. Williams, an 11th round draft pick of the Astros last year, hit .244 with five homers, 12 RBI and 14 runs scored over 25 games this season with the Greeneville Astros of the Appalachian League. Over 11 road games, Williams hit .429, but over 14 home games his average was .093. Drafted out of Crowder (Mo.) Community College, Williams played 39 games with Greeneville last year, hitting .202 with four homers, 16 RBI and 17 runs scored. A free swinger, over his 64 pro games, Williams has struck out 60 times while drawing five walks.

Radio: WLXG AM-1300

The Cincinnati Bengals announced Friday that they and Georgetown College have agreed to a one-year extension of the team’s contract to hold training camp at the school’s East Campus Athletic Complex. The agreement now runs through 2011, which will be the Bengals’ 15 consecutive year at Georgetown.

“The length of the relationship is reflective of the college’s excellent facilities and professional staff,” Troy Blackburn, Bengals vice president, said in a press release issued by the team. “We remain convinced of the benefits of starting our season in a camp situation and Georgetown provides us with exactly what we need, including a location (an hour from Cincinnati) that makes camp visits possible for many of our fans.”

Last season, Cincinnati’s seventh with Marvin Lewis as head coach, the Bengals went 6-0 in divisional play and won the AFC North title with a 10-6 regular-season record. The New York Jets knocked off the Bengals in the first round of the playoffs, 24-14.

Before coming to Georgetown, the Bengals held pre-season camp at Wilmington (Ohio) College for 29 years. Players report to this season’s camp Wednesday, with first drills scheduled Thursday.

Said Eric Ward, Georgetown athletic director: “It will be our goal, just as it has been for the past 13 years, to create a suitable environment for the Bengals to prepare for a Super Bowl and the fans to enjoy a unique training camp experience.”

The Bengals begin exhibition play Aug. 8, facing the Dallas Cowboys in the Hall of Fame Game at Canton, Ohio. The exhibition home opener will be Aug. 15 against the Denver Broncos.  Cincinnati will open the regular season Sept. 12, visiting the New England Patriots, with the home opener Sept. 19 against the Baltimore Ravens.

For the full schedule, visit: Bengals schedule

From the Cincinnati Bengals comes this report.

Single-game tickets for Cincinnati Bengals home games will be available for purchase as of this Saturday, July 17, at 10 a.m. The defending AFC North Division champions’ home schedule includes an opener against highly regarded rival Baltimore, a date against the defending NFL champion New Orleans Saints, an ESPN Monday night game against Pittsburgh and an NBC Sunday night game against San Diego.

            Sales options beginning Saturday will include:

            * Ticketmaster, by phone at 800-745-3000, on-line at www.ticketmaster.com or at any Ticketmaster outlet.

            * The Bengals Ticket Hotline at 866-621-TDTD (8383).

            In addition, fans also may visit in person at Paul Brown Stadium’s South Ticket Office during regular office hours, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

            Single-game ticket prices range from $65-$85.

            Season tickets, which offer the best seating locations as well as priority for any post-season home games, are currently available through the Bengals Ticket Hotline.

Begals add new features to fan experience 

            The Bengals today announced that Paul Brown Stadium will offer the NFL RedZone as a new service for all home games this season. The service will be free to fans and will provide fans with an enhanced game day experience.

            For home subscribers on cable and satellite systems, NFL RedZone provides continuous live highlight coverage on game days. NFL RedZone’s live feed will be broadcast on numerous screens throughout Paul Brown Stadium’s concourse and concession areas, and in their seats, fans will enjoy RedZone updates and multiple highlight packages, broadcast on the stadium’s JungleVision video boards.

            “Our focus is creating the best possible environment for our fans,” said Katie Blackburn, Bengals executive vice-president. “NFL RedZone has proven to be one of the most popular new products in sports television, and we’re excited to bring it to our most loyal fans — the ones in the stadium on Sundays.”

            Also this season, the PBS scoreboards and ribbon boards will feature enhanced in-game reports on player and game statistics from other NFL action.

            “We believe this information is what fans are looking for during the game,” said Blackburn, “and particularly so in the case of fantasy football players. Again, we want our fans to have the best of both worlds — all the information from other games while also being able to enjoy the unique and unmatched experience of seeing our games in person.”

            As has always been the case at Bengals home games, full replays of all the in-stadium action will be provided on the JungleVision video boards.