Mark Maloney on Kentucky sports

Baseball

South Atlantic League

Lexington Legends
vs. Hagerstown Suns

What: Four-game series

When: Sunday through Wednesday (4:05 p.m. Sunday, then 7:05 each night)

Where: Municipal Stadium (Hagerstown, Md.)

Major League affiliates: Houston Astros (Legends), Washington Nationals

Quevedo

Bushue

Cruz

Foltynewicz

Probable pitchers (Legends listed first): Sunday, RH Carlos Quevedo (7-4, 3.93) vs. LH Ryan Demmin (2-2, 2.28); Monday, RH Tanner Bushue (6-4, 4.28) vs. LH Matt Swynenberg (5-1, 3.24); Tuesday, RH Mike Foltynewicz (5-9, 4.19) vs. LH Robbie Ray (2-2, 2.29); Wednesday, LH Luis Cruz (3-2, 4.18) vs. LH Paul Applebee (6-2, 3.52).

Mike Kvasnicka

Legend to watch: Switch-hitting all-star 3B Mike Kvasnicka (6-foot-2, 208 pounds, from Lakeville, Minn.) leads the Legends in games played (108 through Friday), at-bats (409), hits (113), doubles (26), triples (4) and total bases (156), and ranks second on the club in runs (49), RBI (51) and walks (38). In addition, he’s batting .276 with three homers, five stolen bases, a .724 OPS and a .908 fielding percentage. Kvasnicka has hits in seven of his last eight games, going 11-for-33 (.333). He’s been at his best when facing left-handers (.308 batting average), at home (.302) and with men-on-base-with-two-outs (.358). A first-round supplemental pick (33rd overall) in the 2010 draft, Kvasnicka followed in his father Jay‘s footsteps by playing at the University of Minnesota.  (Dad was an eighth-round pick of the Twins in 1988 and advanced to Triple-A ball.) Mike was a three-year starter for the Gophers, a two-time all-Big Ten outfielder and led the conference in doubles as a junior. Signed for $936,000, he reported to Tri-City last summer and hit .234 with five homers, 36 RBI and 31 runs over 68 games. Coming into this season, he was rated by Baseball America as the 14th-best prospect in the Astros system.

Jason Martinson

Sun to watch: SS Jason Martinson (6-1, 190, from Hurst, Texas) leads the Suns in stolen bases (23) and, through Friday, shares the team lead in homers (14) and games played (109). Overall, the right-handed batter/thrower is hitting .254 with 53 RBI and 52 runs scored. He has hit safely in five of his last six games, going 6-for-20 (.300) with a homer, four RBI and five runs. Selected by the Nationals in the fifth round of the 2010 draft, out of Texas State University, he came into this season rated by Baseball America as the No. 22 prospect in the Washington system. He broke into pro ball last year, batting .241 with two homers, 36 RBI, 38 runs and four stolen bases over 70 games with Vermont of the New York-Penn League.

Radio: WLXG AM-1300

Baseball

South Atlantic League

Lexington Legends vs. Hagerstown Suns

What: Four-game series

When: Monday through Thursday (7:05 each night)

Where: Whitaker Bank Ballpark

Tickets: Call (859) 422-7867

Major League affiliates: Houston Astros (Legends), Washington Nationals

Probable pitchers (Legends listed first): Monday: RH Juan Minaya (0-0, 0.00) vs. RH Taylor Jordan (1-0, 9.00); Tuesday, RH Mike Foltynewicz (0-1, 9.00) vs. RH Cameron Selik (0-0, 0.00); Wednesday, RH Tanner Bushue (1-0, 6.00) vs. LH Matt Grace (1-0, 0.00); Thursday, LH Brad Dydalewicz (0-0, 1.80) vs. RH Chris McKenzie (1-0, 1.80).

Bryce Harper

Sun to watch: OF Bryce Harper (6-foot-3, 225 pounds, from Las Vegas) was the first overall pick in the first-year player draft last June. He went 4-for-15 with three RBI in Hagerstown’s season-opening series against Rome, which ended Sunday. Out of the College of Southern Nevada, he won the Golden Spikes Award as the nation’s top amateur player. He was Scenic West Athletic Conference Player of the Year last year in a wood bat league, hitting .443 with 31 homers and 98 RBI, with a .987 slugging percentage, .526 on-base percentage and 20 stolen bases in 24 attempts over 66 games. Signed by the Nationals for $9.9 million, including a $6.25 million bonus. Rated by MLB.com as the No. 3 prospect overall and by Baseball America as the No. 1 prospect in the Nationals system. Labeled “Baseball’s Chosen One” in 2009, when he appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated at age 16. He signed too late to play minor-league ball last summer, but got 35 at-bats in the Arizona Fall League and hit .343 with one homer. Baseball America says “Harper’s raw tools are freakish” and rates his power and arm at the top of the 20-80 scale, where 50 represents the major-league average. He has hit 500-foot home runs and has thrown 95 mph. Batting and defense are rated at 60 each, speed at 55. Says Baseball America: “The most hyped prospect in draft history, Harper has superstar potential, and it’s hard to find an evaluator who thinks he’ll fall short of that ceiling. … A realistic big-league ETA for Harper is 2013 — when he’ll be just 20.”

Mike Kvasnicka

Legend to watch: 3B Mike Kvasnicka (6-2, 208, from Lakeville, Minn.) went 4-for-5, drove in three runs, scored three runs and stole a base during Sunday’s 12-4 win over Charleston. That gives him a .471 average (8-for-17) through four games, with a double, triple, six RBI and five runs. A switch-hitter, Kvasnicka also can catch or play outfield. A supplemental first-round (33rd overall) draft pick of the Astros last June, he played collegiate ball for Minnesota. A two-time All-Big Ten outfielder, he led the conference in doubles as a junior. He signed for $936,000, then played for the Tri-City ValleyCats of the New York-Penn League last summer. There he his .234 with five homers, 36 RBI and 31 runs over 68 games. He is rated by Baseball America as the No. 14 prospect in the Astros system. His father, Jay, also played collegiate ball at Minnesota and was an eighth-round draft pick of the Minnesota Twins in 1988.

Radio: WLXG AM-1300

Three players with Kentucky ties have been named to the United States roster for the 12th annual All-Star Futures Game, to be played July 11 at Anaheim, Calif.

Ben Revere

Lexington Catholic graduate Ben Revere, a Minnesota Twins prospect with the New Britain Rock Cats of the Eastern League (Class Double-A) is among five outfielders on the roster.

Jordan Lyles

Christian Friedrich

The 10-man pitching staff includes Double-A right-handers Christian Friedrich and Jordan Lyles. Friedrich, out of Eastern Kentucky University, is a Colorado Rockies prospect who is with the Tulsa Drillers of the Texas League. Lyles, who played for the Lexington Legends last season, is with the Texas League’s Corpus Christi Hooks.

Yonder Alonso

Phillippe Valiquette

The World roster includes a pair of Louisville Bats, Triple-A affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds: Cuban-born infielder Yonder Alonso and Canadian-native left-handed pitcher Phillippe Valiquette.

No Lexington Legends were named, but the South Atlantic League will be represented by a pair of players. Hagerstown Suns outfielder Eury Perez, a Dominican, is on the World roster. Lakewood BlueClaws right-hander Jarred Cosart is on the U.S. pitching staff.

The Futures Game, held in conjunction with the Major League All-Star Game, is a showcase event for top minor-league prospects. The July 11 game is part of “All-Star Sunday” and is scheduled to start at 6 p.m. EDT. The game will be televised on ESPN2 and MLB.TV. The Major League All-Star Game will be played at Angel Stadium on Tuesday, July 13.

The first 11 editions of the Futures Game has produced 62 Major League all-stars, including Bowling Green native Corey Hart and former Legends slugger Hunter Pence. There are 201 Futures Game graduates currently on big-league rosters, including Hart, Pence, University of Kentucky product Joe Blanton and former Legends John Buck and Fernando Nieve.

Taking a closer look at the Houston Astros’ selections in this week’s Major League Baseball Draft.

After all, this is where many of the 2010 Lexington Legends are sure to come from. Background info, courtesy of the Astros media relations staff.

1st Round (#21): SS Jiovanni Mier, Bonita (Calif.) H.S.; 6-2, 175
Year AVG AB  R  H   2B 3B HR RBI BB SO SB OBP
2009   .394   71  37 28   10     1     5    18   22     9   18   .545
Ranked 44th on Baseball America’s draft rankings, noted as having above average speed and a powerful arm that grades out to well-above-average. … Homered in his last at-bat for Bonita High. … Also pitched in high school, and reportedly had his fastball gunned in the 91-93 mph range. … Maintained a 2.80 ERA (4ER/10IP) through the 2008-09 season. … MVP of the Miramonte League in his 2007 junior season (.479 , 3 HR, 30 RBI, 5 SB). … Brother, Jessie Mier, is a catcher for Inland Empire, Class A affiliate of the Los Angeles Dodgers.
* * * * *
2nd Round (#69): RHP Tanner Bushue, South Central (Ill.) H.S.; 6-4, 190
Year ERA W-L G   IP   H  R ER BB SO
2009   0.62   8-3 13 68.1 31 15    6   22 140
No. 140 in Baseball America’s draft rankings. … As a junior in 2008, Midland Trail Conference Player of the Year (6-0, 2 sv, 47.2 ip, 11 h, 21 w, 126 so).
* * * * *
3rd Round (#100): OF Telvin Nash, Griffin (Ga.) H.S.; 6-2, 220
Year AVG AB  H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO OBP
2009   .527   78 39    7     1   10    40     9    9   .591
A Louisville Slugger High School Pre-Season All-Star in 2009.
* * * * *
3rd (Supplemental-#111): 3B Jonathan Meyer, Simi Valley (Calif.) H.S.; 6-1, 195
Year AVG  H 2B HR RBI BB SO SB
2009   .390 36   10    3     34  13    19    7
177th in Baseball America’s draft rankings. … As a junior in 2008 (.387 , 13 2B, 2 3B, 9 HR, 43 RBI, .802 SP), led Simi Valley to CIF title. … The Ventura County Star and the Daily News Player of the Year in 2008, as well as All-State First-Team, All-CIF Southern Section First-Team and L.A. Times All-County Team that year.
* * * * *
4th Round (#131): RHP B.J. Hyatt, South Carolina — Sumter; 6-4, 205
Year ERA W-L G/GS S   IP   H  R ER BB SO HR WP
2009   7.24   3-0   16/3   3 32.1 33 34  26   19   31     4     1
Former member of the Coastal Plain League’s Florence RedWolves.
* * * * *
5th Round (#161): SS Brandon Wickoff, Illinois; 5-9, 170
Year AVG  AB  R   H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO SB-ATT
2009   .373  228 56  85   17    5    4      41  25     7    10-13
Rivals.com Preseason All-Big Ten as junior this season. … All-Ping! Baseball second team. … Finished on a career-best 18-game hitting streak, including nine multiple-hit games, and reached base in every game except one this season. … Had 23 multi-hit games, second-best on team, and 10 multi-RBI games. … In 2008, All-Big Ten SS. … Started all 56 games and hit in No. 3 spot in 50 games. … Hit .369 with team-high 61 RBI, tied for team lead in doubles (12) and tied for Big Ten lead in sacrifice flies (9). … His 37 RBI in Big Ten games ranked second in the league and were third-most in Illini history. … Had 24 mult-hit games and 15 multi-RBI efforts. … Played 56 games in 2007, starting 54, all at third base. … Batted mostly in the No. 2 spot. … Led his high school team to the Illinois State Tournament in 2005 and 2006, placing fourth in his junior season. … 2006 All-State pick by Prep Baseball Report and the Chicago Tribune. (Peoria) Journal Star Player of the Year in 2005.
* * * * *
6th Round (#191): SS Enrique Hernandez, American Military Academy (Puerto Rico); 5-11, 170
2009 Puerto Rico High School Baseball All-Star.
* * * * *
7th Round (#221): LHP Dallas Keuchel, Arkansas; 6-2, 180
Year ERA W-L  G    IP    H  R ER BB SO
2009   4.04   7-3  16 98.0 106 54  44   28  62
186th in Baseball America’s draft rankings. … Led Razorbacks in wins and innings pitched. … 4-3, 4.58 ERA, 61 strikeouts, 74.2 inning pitched and 11 starts in 2008. … Threw five or more innings in six of 11 starts and had 2-to-1 strikeout-to-walk ratio. … In SEC play, 2-1, 4.72, 30 strikeouts over 47.2 innings. … Pitched two seasons for Wareham Gatemen of Cape Cod League; a West Division all-star.
* * * * *
8th Round (#251): RHP Brandt Walker, Stanford; 6-3, 185
Year ERA W-L G    IP   R ER BB SO
2009   7.11   0-1 12 19.0  16   15  13  12
2008   4.50   0-0   6   6.0    5    3     7    4
Opened the year as a starter. … Sophomore season (2008), reached College World Series with the Cardinal. … Pitched in 15 games (two starts) over his first two seasons, going 0-1 with a 6.38 ERA (13er, 18.1 ip. …Graduated in 2006 from St. Stephens Episcopal School in Austin, Texas. … A 2006 first-team Preseason Louisville Slugger All-American. … Ranked No. 7 among 2006 Texas High School players. … Selected by the Texas Rangers in the 21st round of the 2006 MLB First-Year Player Draft.
* * * * *
9th Round (#281): SS Ben Orloff, Cal-Irvine; 5-11, 170
Year AVG GP AB  R  H 2B RBI BB SO SB-ATT
2009   .358  60  254 62  91 11     28   21   16    18-23
2008   .344  60  227 50  78 17     23   30   19    19-28
Named a Louisville Slugger Third Team All-American this year; Top 10 Returning Senior by Rivals.com; Brooks Wallace Award Preseason Watch List. … In 2008, All-Big West Conference first-team honoree; Lincoln NCAA Regional All-Tournament team. … Ranked 12th in the country in sacrifice bunts (16). … Tied for third on UCI career list with 44 stolen bases; seventh in games played (181); tied for 13th in runs (116); tied for 19th in hits (190). … Started 155 consecutive games. … Struck out 35 times in 481 at bats over his last two seasons.
* * * * *
10th Round (#311): 3B Erik Castro, San Diego State; 6-4, 200
Year AVG GP  AB  R  H 2B HR RBI BB SO SB-ATT
2009   .388   58  206 48 80  19   11     56   42   37     3-4
All-Mountain West Conference second team as utility/DH. … Homered in four consecutive games against three different opponents May 10-15 (vs. Air Force, San Francisco, Utah). … Two of his team-leading 11 home runs came at PETCO Park (home of the San Diego Padres) against UC Davis on April 3; the first player in the 10 col­legiate games played in the Major League stadium to hit two homers in a game. … .496 on-base percentage led the Aztecs. Also led in batting, homers and RBI. … Errorless in 19 games at catcher and four appearances at first base. .… Batted .446 (33-for- 74) with runners in scoring position … Hit .400 in league play with eight doubles, seven homers, 24 runs and 29 RBI.
* * * * *
11th Round (#341): C David “Bubby” Williams, Crowder (Mo.) College; 6-0, 190 
NJCAA Division I Baseball All-Region 16 Team in 2008. … As a freshman last year, 1st Team All Region and  Region 16 Player of the Year.
* * * * *
12th Round (#371): RHP Geoffrey Thomas, Stephenson (Ga.) H.S.; 6-0, 187
Year  ERA W-L     IP BB SO
2009    0.51   3-2  27.2    23   48
Team MVP in 2006 and 2008, all-county in 2007 and 2008. … Rawlings/Perfect Game USA Preseason All-Region Team this season. … Participated in the Major League Baseball Inaugural Break­through Series and was a MLB Urban Academy All-Star selection in 2008.
* * * * *
13th Round (#401): OF Jake Goebbert, Northwestern University; 6-0, 205
Year AVG GP AB  R  H 2B HR RBI BB SO SB-ATT
2009   .280  30  107 24 30  10     4     23   18   15     2-3
2008   .353  49  173 41 61  22   10     48   28   27     3-3
As a sophomore in 2008, second-team All-Big Ten. … The Wildcats’ Big Ten Sportsmanship Award recipient. … Broke a 31-year-old school season record by posting a Big Ten-leading 22 doubles; also led team in HR, RBI, BB and with .665 slugging percentage, . 458 on-base percentage. … Hit safely in 17 straight games. … Pitched twice, at Illinois and in a home win over Elmhurst, and did not allow a run. … ESPN the Magazine Academic All-District V team . … Academic All-Big Ten.
* * * * *
14th Round (#431): LHP David Berner, San Jose State; 6-2, 205
Year ERA W-L G/GS CG SV    IP  H  R ER BB SO
2009   3.20   7-2   13/13    3     0  95.2 84 43  34   15   84
In 2008, made 14 appearances, 13 starts. … Tossed 83.0 innings, second-most on the team and seventh-most in the WAC. … Led the Spartans with 67 strikeouts, fifth-most in the conference. … Went at least 4.2 innings in every start.
* * * * *
15th Round (#461): CF Ryan Humphrey, St. Louis Community College–Meramec; 6-0, 195
Year AVG GP-GS  AB  H 2B 3B HR RBI
2009   .278    44-44  133  37    6    0    0      21
* * * * *
16th Round (#491): 1B Ronald Sanchez, Manuela Toro (Puerto Rico) H.S.; 5-10, 170
* * * * *
17th Round (#521): RHP Justin Harper, Oklahoma City University; 6-3, 210
Year ERA W-L G/GS CG SV   IP   H    R ER BB SO
2009   4.94   9-3  15-14     4     0 71.0  63  44  39   38   86
Went 2-1 with 6.00 ERA as sophomore, fanning 42 over 36 innings. … Ranked as top junior-college prospect in Arizona by Baseball America. … 0-2, 3.24 ERA, 14 strikeouts, 25 innings as freshman. … All-state for Greenway High School in Phoenix, Ariz. 
* * * * *
18th Round (#551): RHP James (J.B.) MacDonald, Boston College; 6-2, 190
Year ERA W-L G/GS CG SV  IP   H  R ER BB SO
2009   4.86   5-7   15-15    1    0 96.1 96 58  52   32  71
Started 11 games and made one relief appearance as a junior in 2008, going 4-7. … As a sophomore, pitched in 13 games, totaling 28.1 innings; 1-0, one save, 23 strikeouts. … Went six straight appearances — 9.2 innings — without surrendering an earned run. … Played four years at Danvers High School, earning Northeastern Conference MVP and all-region honors in 2005.
* * * * *
19th Round (#581): CF Brian Kemp, St. Johns; 5-9, 180
Year AVG  GP-GS  AB  H  R 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO SB-ATT
2009    .379    52-52  219 83 68   13    3     3     35   25   25   16-21
2008 pre-season All-Big East selection as a sophomore. … Played 36 games, all starts, batting a team-high .360 with 20 RBI, three doubles, five triples and one home run. … Stole a team-best 16 bases in 21 attempts and had 15 multi-hit games. … Had a 15-game hitting streak. … As a freshman, started 56 games and batted .348, with team-bests of 53 runs and 25 stolen bases. … Louisville Slugger freshman All-American; All-Big East third team.
* * * * *
20th Round (#611): RF Julio (J.D.) Martinez, Nova Southeastern (Fla.); 6-3, 194
Year AVG GP-GS AB  H  R 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO SB-ATT E FLD%
2009   .428     55-55 187 80 73  15    2  15      57  41   26      8-9       6  .921
2008   .370     51-50 192 71 54  18    1  12      56  27   18      6-7       1  .989
Set single-season program record in runs scored (73) while placing second in batting average this season; top 10 season in slugging percentage (.770), hits, home runs, RBI, total bases (144) and walks. … Set NSU career home run record April 17 vs. Barry University, hitting his 31st. … Sophomore season of 2008, led team in RBI, second in at-bats, runs, hits, doubles, homers and total bases (124). …  First-Team All-Sunshine State Conference, Daktronics All-South Region Second-Team, NCBWA All-South Region First-Team, ABCA/Rawlings All-America Baseball third team. .. Finished with 21 multiple hit and 10 multiple RBI games. … As freshman in 2007, hit .379 with 5 HR, 29 RBI. … Back-to-back state title teams at Flanagan High School. … Team Gold Glove winner senior year. … 2006 MLB Draft 36th Round Pick of the Minnesota Twins.
* * * * *

48th Round (#1451): LHP Steven Rodriguez, Gulliver Prep (Fla.) H.S.; 6-3, 215
A 2008 Under Armour All-American. … Also named an All-American Prospect.
* * * * *

49th Round (#1481): 1B Matthew Smith, Mississippi; 6-3, 230
Year AVG GP AB   H  R 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO SB-ATT FLD%

2009   .336   64  232 78 52 15    2    8    59    30    57     4-6        .988

Appeared in 61 games, drawing 60 starts in 2008. … Hit .283, with 40 RBI, 39 runs, 11 doubles, a triple and 14 home runs. … His 14 home runs set the Ole Miss freshman record as he posted a .527 slug­ging percentage. … Also drew 22 walks and posted 17 multiple-hit games, 11 multiple-RBI games.
* * * * *

50th Round (#1511): LHP Spencer Hylander, Oklahoma Baptist; 6-1, 195
Year ERA W-L G/GS CG SV IP   H   R ER BB SO

2009   5.02   5-1   16/10   4   0   61.0 61 34 26   26   56
* * * * *

Fernando Nieve

Hard to tell in snowy Central Kentucky, but baseball season soon will be here. (Not soon enough, though!)

The Houston Astros, parent club of the Lexington Legends, open spring training at Kissimmee, Fla., on Feb. 14, when pitchers and catchers are due to report. Position players report for the first full-squad workout on Feb. 17.

Eleven Astros are on provisional rosters for the World Baseball Classic, including former Legends pitchers Wandy Rodriguez (Dominican Republic) and Fernando Nieve (Venezuela). Rodriguez, known as Eny Cabreja during his time in Lexington, recently signed a one-year deal worth $2.6 million, plus incentives.

Spring training invitees include past Legends Sergio Perez, Chris Johnson, Lou Santangelo and Bud Norris.

Watch out for camels

Meanwhile, the Legends annual radio caravan will visit Cynthiana, Somerset, Richmond, Danville and Lexington, Tuesday through Thursday, Feb. 10-12.

Atlanta Braves outfielder Josh Anderson, a former Legend and Eastern Kentucky University standout, will join the Caravan for its visit to Somerset. Anderson is a native of nearby Eubank.

Another former EKU Colonel, Legends pitching coach Charley Taylor, will be along for Caravan stops at Somerset and Richmond.

The final stop, at Applebee’s Park, will feature Lexington’s Michael Bertram, Doug Flynn, Ben Revere and John Shelby.

Bertram, a third baseman, hit .285 with eight homers, 55 RBI and 51 runs over 102 games last year with the Detroit Tigers’ Class A Lakeland, Fla., team. Bertram has risen through the minors with Ryan Strieby, a teammate on Kentucky’s 2006 Southeastern Conference co-championship team.

Flynn won World Series titles with Cincinnati’s “Big Red Machine” in 1975 and ’76. He also won a Gold Glove in 1980 as second baseman for the New York Mets.

Minnesota Twins prospect Revere earned MVP honors in the Midwest League last season, leading all of minor-league ball with a .379 average for the Class A Beloit Snappers. He also had a homer, 43 RBI, 51 runs and 44 stolen bases (57 attempts) over 83 games. He had nearly as many walks (27) as strikeouts (31).

Shelby, a Chicago White Sox prospect, was a teammate of Bertram on UK’s SEC co-championship team. He hit .295 with 15 homers, 80 RBI and 81 runs over 114 games for High-A Winston-Salem last season. In addition, he stole 33 bases in 38 attempts. His father, a former big-league outfielder of the same name, is first-base coach for the Baltimore Orioles.

The Legends note that other guests may be added, and that the schedule of guests is subject to change.

The schduled stops:

Tuesday, Feb. 10 – Live broadcast (8-9 a.m.) of Coffee Break with Rick Chasteen on WCYN-AM 1400, Biancke’s Restaurant, 102 South Main, Cynthiana. Harrison County High School coach Mac Whitaker will be a special guest.

Wednesday, Feb. 11 – Backyard Burgers (3-4 p.m.), Highway 27, Somerset; and

Powell Building (5:15-6:15 p.m.), Eastern Kentucky University, Richmond.

Thursday, Feb. 12 — Danville (details incomplete); and

Maker’s Mark Club (5:30-6:30 p.m.), Applebee’s Park, Lexington.

Talking Legends baseball

Keith Elkins hosts a weekly radio show, Legends Inside Scoop, on WLXG-AM 1300, Tuesdays from 7:20-8 p.m.

Recent guests include Manager Tom Lawless, pitching coach Charley Taylor and Astros “Scout of the Year” Nick Venuto.

* The Legends will host their annual national anthem tryouts Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 14-15, at Lexington’s Fayette Mall.

The auditons will take place in the mall wing nearest Dick’s Sporting Goods, noon-3 p.m. Saturday and 1-4 p.m. Sunday.

For details, or to reserve an audition time, call the Legends at   (859) 252-4487  . Walk-up entrants also are welcome.

* You say you’ll save the fans from your vocals, but you’d still like to be at the park?

Well, senior slugger, the Legends have a pitch to make to you about the Silver Sluggers Club.

SSC membership, for fans 55 and over, costs $30. That will get you “a special package of gifts,” as well as Sunday tickets for half price, meal vouchers for Sunday games and “exclusive sale opportunities at the Legends Locker merchandise store.” Those registering before April 1 will receive a free box seat to the April 13 home opener.

Club members who attend six Sunday home games will receive a dinner for two in the Maker’s Mark Club. Those who attend all 10 Sunday home games will receive an autographed set of team cards. More details are available from the Legends:   (859) 252-4487  .