Mark Maloney on Kentucky sports

South Atlantic League baseball

Lexington Legends
at Augusta GreenJackets

What: Three-game series

When: Monday through Wednesday (7:05 Monday and Tuesday nights; 10:35 Wednesday morning)

Where: Lake Olmstead Stadium (Augusta, Ga.)

Major League affiliates: Kansas City Royals (Legends); San Francisco Giants (GreenJackets)

Probable pitchers (Legends listed first): Monday, RH Aroni Nina (0-0, 2.25) vs. RH Jose Reyes (0-1, 12.00); Tuesday, RH Bryan Brickhouse (0-2, 3.00) vs. RH Martin Agosta (1-1, 3.12); Wednesday, RH Miguel Almonte (0-2, 5.87) vs. RH Joan Gregorio (2-0, 0.82).

Fred Ford

Legend to watch: 1B/RF Fred Ford (6-foot-5, 206 pounds, age 21, from O’Fallon, Mo., bats and throws right) is batting .273 with five RBI through his first 11 games. He leads the Legends in homers (2), total bases (18), walks (6), on-base percentage (.385) and slugging (.545). A seventh-round draft pick last June, Ford led Fort Zumwalt South High School to the Missouri Class 4A championship in 2009, then helped Jefferson College (Hillsboro, Mo.) reach the National Junior College World Series in 2011 and 2012. After earning NJCAA All-America and Region XVI Player of the Year honors last year (.430, 16 HR, 75 RBI, 32 SB), he passed up an opportunity to play for Western Kentucky University. Instead, he broke into pro ball with the Burlington Royals. Ford hit .248 and finished third in the Appalachian League with 13 homers, tied for fourth in walks (36), tied for fifth in games played (62), seventh in OPS (.853) and ninth in slugging (.491).

Stephen Johnson

GreenJacket to watch: RHP Stephen Johnson (6-4, 205, age 22, from Boulder, Colo.) has yet to give up a run over five relief appearances spanning 6 1/3 innings. He has no decisions and two saves. A 2012 sixth-round draft pick out of St. Edward’s University in Texas, Johnson went 1-2 with a 1.45 ERA, 74 strikeouts in 43 1/3 innings and 18 saves for the Division II school last year. He split last summer between the Arizona League Giants (0-0, 4.50, two games, two innings) and the Salem-Keizer Volcanoes of the Northwest League (0-2, 4.66, 2 saves, 17 games, 19 1/3 innings).

Radio: WLXG-AM 1300

An on-the-rise Eastern Kentucky University men’s cross country team will travel to Nashville for Saturday’s Vanderbilt Commodore Classic.

The Colonels improved two spots to No. 27 in this week’s national poll, released by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association. EKU, No. 2 in the Southeast Region, is the only team from Kentucky or the Ohio Valley Conference to crack the national rankings.

EKU’s improvement in the ratings comes after a dominant showing at the Brooks Memphis Twilight Classic. The Colonels defeated 21 teams at Memphis, including regionally-ranked Ole Miss and Memphis. Soufiane Bouchikhi, a junior from Belgium, won the race on a muddy, four-mile course in 20 minutes, 43.95 seconds. Thijs Nijhuis and Ben Toroitich completed a 1-2-3 sweep for EKU, while freshman Amos Kosgey and sophomore Ole Hesselbjerg also placed in the top 10. In all, 13 of the first 22 finishers were Colonels.

EKU and Kentucky have both men’s and women’s teams among the top 15 in the Southeast Region rankings.

The Colonels are second in the men’s region, trailing only North Carolina State. EKU’s women are ranked No. 13 in the Southeast

Other state teams in the men’s regional rankings are Louisville at No. 7, Western Kentucky at 10 and UK at No. 15.

UK has the top-rated women’s team in the state, ranking 10th in the Southeast.

Western will join EKU in Nashville this week, while Louisville will travel to the Winthrop Invitational. UK has a weekend off before heading to Virginia on Sept. 22.

Nationally, the top 10 men’s teams are, in order: Wisconsin, Oklahoma State, Brigham Young, Oklahoma, Colorado, Texas, Portland, Iona, Stanford and Florida State. The top team from the Southeastern Conference is No. 15 Texas A&M. The Big East is led by No. 12 Syracuse.

The top 10 women’s teams are: Washington, Oregon, Florida State, Georgetown, Iowa State, Vanderbilt, Providence, Stanford, Arkansas and Villanova.

* Centre College has both of its teams ranked in the Division III South/Southeast Region. The Colonels are No. 3 in the men’s rankings, No. 4 on the women’s side.

Centre’s teams will be off for two weeks, competing next on Sept. 29 in the Greater Louisville Classic.

Gavin Smellie

Former Western Kentucky University Gavin Smellie is no longer on the bubble.

He’s in the Olympics.

Smellie was named to the Canadian Olympic track and field squad in the 4-by-100-meter relay over the weekend.

However, it was not certain at that time that Canada would be among the 16 relay teams to qualify for the Summer Olympic Games in London.

Word came Tuesday, though, that Canada will run as the No. 11 seed.

Smellie is the second Hilltopper to qualify for the London Olympics.

Claire Donahue qualified for the U.S. Swim Team last week, placing second in the 100-meter butterfly.

The Canadian track relay team qualified with a two-race average time of 38.64 seconds.  Jamaica qualified with the fastest time of 37.56.

A native of Etobicoke, Ontario, Smellie twice earned All-America honors during his career on the Hill from 2006-10.  He was part of the 2008 All-American 4-by-400-meter relay team at the 2008 NCAA Indoor championships, and won individual All-America recognition in the 200 meters at the 2009 Outdoor championships.  He was also the 2009 Mideast Regional champion in the 200.

Smellie was named all-Sun Belt Conference multiple times during his career, and was selected as the  Most Outstanding Performer at both the 2008 SBC Indoor Championships and 2009 Outdoors.

Among his international competition, Smellie ran in the 2009 World Championships in Berlin and finished sixth in the 200 at the 25th Summer Universiade in Belgrade, Serbia.

Okoro wins title in Africa

Former University of Louisville and Russell High School standout Chinwe Okoro won the women’s discus competition last weekend in the 18th African Senior Athletic Championships at Porto-Novo, Benin Republic.

Representing Nigeria, Okoro moved from fourth place to third by reaching 178 feet, 11 inches on her fourth attempt. She won on her sixth and final throw, 185-8.

Okoro also placed second in the shot put with a distance of 53-2 1/4.

In June of 2011, Okoro won the shot put at the 65th All Nigeria/Cross River State Athletics Championships.

Of Nigerian descent, Okoro is a native of Darien, Ill., and a three-time national All-Academic Team honoree who graduated with a 3.88 grade-point average in biology. Recently, she was named a 2011-12 Big East Conference Scholar-Athlete Sports Excellence Award winner.

Okoro helped U of L to a fifth straight Big East Conference outdoor title, winning her first league title in the shot put. She graduated as a three-time outdoor All-American.

Meanwhile, former Card and two-time NCAA champion Matt Hughes placed second in the 3,000-meter steeplechase at last weekend’s Canadian Olympic Trials, clocked in 8:47.65. And current U of L team member Michelle Theophille placed second in the women’s high jump by clearing 6 feet.

Neither performance Hughes nor Theophille met the Olympic standard, though.

Keep track, and in swim, of Olympic Trials

Here’s how Kentucky connections have fared so far in the U.S. Olympic Trials, Track and Field … and in the U.S. Olympic Trials, Swimming.

Check back here for updates as the Trials continue. (q = qualify; dnq = did not qualify; OLYMPIC QUALIFIERS IN CAPS)

Bonus coverage from Canada, Trinidad

Jenna Martin

Friday, June 29, at the Canadian Olympic Track and Field Trials, JENNA MARTIN (Kentucky) repeats as champion in the women’s 400 meters, and does so in Olympic “A” standard qualifying time, 51.53. … GAVIN SMELLIE (Western Kentucky) makes the Canadian team in the 4-by-100 relay. … Earlier this month, UK alums MIKEL THOMAS and RONDEL SORRILLO qualified for their second straight Olympic Games, representing Trinidad and Tobabo. Thomas placed third in the T&T 100-meter hurdles finals. Sorrillo won the 200 meters and placed third in the 100.

Track and field

Sunday, July 1

Women’s javelin finals – Dana Pounds-Lyon (Lexington) 180-11 (6th).

Friday, June 29

Mikel Thomas

Women’s 200-meter semifinals – Alexis Love (Murray State) 23.10 (dnq, 16th).

Women’s javelin prelims — Dana Pounds-Lyon (Lexington) 170-0 (q, 10th).

Thursday, June 28

Women’s shot put prelims — Ashley Muffet-Duncan  (Kentucky) 5-11 (dnq, 19th).

Men’s discus finals — Chase Madison (Kentucky) 178-9 (12th).

Women’s 200-meter prelims — Alexis Love (Murray State) 23.15 (q, 18th).

Rondel Sorrillo

Monday, June 25

Men’s discus prelims — Chase Madison (Kentucky) 195-4 (q, 10th).

Sunday, June 24

Men’s 100 meters semifinals — Tyson Gay (Lexington/Lafayette) 10.04 (q, 2nd).

Women’s discus finals – Jere’ Summers (U of L) 183-4 (10th); Mary Angell (Kentucky) 174-4 (11th).

Reese Hoffa

Men’s shot put finals — REESE HOFFA (Louisville) 72-2 1/4 (1st).

Men’s 100 meters finals — TYSON GAY (Lexington/Lafayette) 9.86 (2nd).

Saturday, June 23

Men’s shot put prelims — Reese Hoffa (Louisville) 69-7 1/2 (q, 1st)

Women’s 100-meter hurdles semifinals — Danielle Carruthers (Paducah Tilghman) 13.09 (dnq, 16th).

Tyson Gay

Women’s 100 meters semifinals — Alexis Love (Murray State) 11.88 (dnq, 21st).

Men’s 100 meters prelims — Tyson Gay (Lexington/Lafayette) 10.00 (q, 2nd).

Friday, June 22

Women’s discus prelims — Jere’ Summers (U of L) 178-8 (q, 9th); Mary Angell (Kentucky) 176-11 (q, 12th).

Women’s 100-meter hurdles prelims — Danielle Carruthers (Paducah Tilghman) 12.88 (q, 4th).

Women’s 100 meters prelims — Alexis Love (Murray State) 11.49 (q, 21st).

Men’s 10,000-meter finals — Bobby Curtis (St. Xavier) 27:58.48 (10th).

Thursday, June 21

Women’s hammer throw prelims, finals — Kristin Smith (Kentucky) 215-2 (12th).

Men’s hammer throw prelims, finals — Andy Fryman (Mason County/Kentucky) 238-3 (6th).

Swimming

Sunday, July 1

Women’s 50 freestyle heats – Jennifer Bradford (Wildcat Aquatics) 25.65 (dnq, 22nd); Kristen Wilson (Wildcat Aquatics) 26.53 (dnq, tie 96th); Megan Eppler (Wildcat Aquatics) 26.68 (dnq, tie 120th); Aileen Cole (U of L) 26.86 (dnq, 132nd).

Saturday, June 30

Men’s 50 freestyle heats — Wyatt Ubellocker (unattached/Nebraska/Scott County H.S) 22.78 (dnq, 21st); Tyler Reed (Southern Ky./UK) 22.91 (dnq, tie 31st); Eric Bruck (Lexington/Dunbar H.S.) 23.23 (dnq, tie 58th); Matthew Schlytter (U of L) 24.04 (dnq, 159th); Colin Faris (Lexington/Beaumont YMCA/Henry Clay H.S. coach) 24.32 (dnq, 165th).

Women’s 800 freestyle semifinals — Emily Brunemann (Notre Dame Academy) 8:38.70 (dnq, 11th);  Leah Stevens (Lakeside Swim Club) 8:44.24 (dnq, 20th).

Men’s 100 butterfly heats — Maclin Simpson (Wildcat Aquatics) 55.44 (dnq, 96th).

Women’s 200 backstroke heats — Alexandrea Van Oost (Western Kentucky) 2:17.36 (dnq, 67th); Heidi Hatteberg (Lakeside Swim Club) 2:17.46 (dnq, 71st); Chatham Penrod (Wildcat Aquatics) 2:17.60 (dnq, 78th); Caitlyn Forman (Northern Ky. Clippers) 2:19.42 (dnq, tie 124th); Hilary Mishler (Western Kentucky) 2:23.43 (dnq, 182nd).

Friday, June 29

Women’s 100 freestyle heats — Kristen Wilson  (Wildcats Aquatics/Dunbar) 57.48 (dnq, 97th); Megan Eppler (Wildcat Aquatics) 57.75 (dnq, 110th).

Men’s 200 backstroke heats – David Duggans (Wildcat Aquatics) 2:09.05 (dnq, 102nd).

Women’s 200 breaststroke heats — Gisselle Kohoyda (U of L) 2:30.28 (dnq, tie 17th); Stephanie Martin (Western Kentucky) 2:37.46 (dnq, tie 78th). In swim-off to determine 17th place as top alternate to semifinals, Kohoyda finishes second in 2:30.72, behind Allie Szekely’s 2:30.03.

Clark Burckle

Men’s 200 individual medley heats — Michael Pryor (U of L) 2:04.59 (dnq, 33rd); Max Williamson (Northern Ky. Clippers) 2:07.62 (dnq, 93rd); Alex Burtch (U of L) 2:07.87 (dnq, 97th).

Men’s 200 breaststroke finals — CLARK BURCKLE (St. Xavier) 2:09.97 (2nd).

Women’s 200 butterly finals — Kelsey Floyd (Lexington/Tates Creek) 2:10.52 (8th)

Thursday, June 28

Men’s 100 freestyle heats – Tyler Reed  (Southern Ky./Kentucky) 49.90 (dnq, 19th); Wyatt Ubellacker (unattached/Nebraska/Scott County) 51.39 (dnq, 102nd); Eric Bruck (Clemson Aquatics/Lexington/Dunbar) 52.19 (dnq, 151st).

Women’s 200 butterfly heats — Kelsey Floyd (Lexington/Tates Creek) 2:09.02 (q, 3rd); Elaine Breeden (Lexington/Trinity Christian) 2:12.85 (dnq, 17th); Claire Donahue (Western Kentucky) 2:13.01 (dnq, 19th); Sharlene Brady (Northern Ky. Clippers) 2:18.22 (dnq, 83rd).

Men’s 200 breaststroke heats — Clark Burckle (Tucson Ford/St. Xavier) 2:10.30 (q, 1st); Addison Bray (U of L) 2:17.19 (dnq, tie 40th); Max Williamson (Northern Ky. Clippers) 2:18.55 (dnq, 55th); Kameron Chastain (U of L) 2:21.30 (dnq, 92nd).

Women’s 200 butterfly semifinals – Kelsey Floyd (Lexington/Tates Creek) 2:09.82 (q, 5th).

Men’s 200 breaststroke semifinals — Clark Burckle (Tucson Ford/St. Xavier) 2:10.01 (q, 1st).

Wednesday, June 27

Women’s 200 freestyle heats – Kelsey Floyd  (Lexington/Tates Creek) did not start.

Men’s 200 butterfly heats — Riley Martin (U of L) 2:02.55 (dnq, 58th); Maclin Simpson (Wildcat Aquatics) 2:05.41 (dnq, 110th); Kevin Bandy (U of L) 2:05.93 (dnq, 116th).

Women’s 200 individual medley heats — Hannah Runyon-Hass (Western Kentucky) 2:18.38 (dnq, 42nd); Abigail Chin (U of L) 2:21.22 (dnq, 84th).

Tuesday, June 26

Women’s 100 backstroke heats – Caitlyn Forman (Northern Kentucky Clippers) 1:03.84 (dnq, 72nd); Chatham Penrod (Wildcat Aquatics) 1:04.03 (dnq, 83rd); Heidi Hatteberg (Lakeside) 1:04.28 (dnq, 96th); Hilary Mishler (Western Kentucky) 1:04.39 (dnq, 100th); Kirsten Nitz (Thorobred Nautic) 1:05.54 (dnq, 144th); Kristina Brandenburg (U of L) 1:05.62 (dnq, 148th).

Men’s 200 freestyle heats — Tyler Reed (Southern Ky./Kentucky) 1:51.86 (dnq, 59th); Riley Martin (U of L) 1:56.62 (dnq, 124th).

Women’s 100 breaststroke heats — Gisselle Kohoyda (U of L) 1:11.58 (dnq, 58th); Kaylin Burchell (Madison Central) 11:11.73 (dnq, 63rd).

Men’s 100 backstroke heats — Lee Duggans (Wildcat Aquatics) 58.08 (dnq, 99th).

Claire Donahue

Women’s 400 freestyle heats — Leah Stevens (Lakeside) 4:15.44 (dnq, 29th); Emily Brunemann (Notre Dame Academy) 4:16.38 (dnq, 37th).

Women’s  100 butterfly finals — CLAIRE DONAHUE  (Western Kentucky) :57.57 (2nd); Kelsey Floyd (Lexington/Tates Creek) 58.22 (4th); Elaine Breeden (Lexington/Trinity Christian) 58.43 (5th).

Men’s 100 breaststroke finals — Clark Burckle (St. Xavier) 1:00.81 (7th).

Monday, June 25

Men’s 400 individual medley heats — Max Williamson (Northern Kentucky Clippers) 4:30.64 (dnq, 66th).

Women’s 100 butterfly heats — Claire Donahue (Western Kentucky) 57.82 (q, 2nd); Elaine Breeden (Lexington/Trinity Christian) 58.38 (q, 3rd);  Kelsey Floyd (Lexington/Tates Creek) 58.67 (q, 6th); Emily Conway (U of L)1:03.10  (dnq, 139); Kirsten Nitz (Thorobred Nautic) 1:03.47 (dnq, 147) .

Men’s 400 freestyle heats — Riley Martin (U of L) 4:02.39 (dnq, 83rd).

400 individual medley heats – Emily Brunemann (Notre Dame Academy) 4:50.03 (dnq, 20th); Hannah Runyon-Hass (Western Kentucky) 4:52.01 (dnq, 37th); Leah Stevens (Lakeside Swim Team) 4:53.28 (dnq, 42nd); Sharlene Brady (Northern Kentucky Clippers) 4:57.23 (dnq, 73rd); Abigail Chin (U of L) 5:01.15 (dnq, 104th).

Men’s 100 breaststroke heats — Clark Burckle (St. Xavier) 1:01.23 (q, 8th); Kameron Chastain (U of L) 1:03.30 (dnq, 42nd); Addison Bray (U of L) 1:04.32 (dnq, 75th); Luke Musser (Western Kentucky) 1:04.60 (dnq, 85th); Kenneth Crapse (Cardinal Aquatics/U of L) 10:4.74 (dnq, 89th); Michael Haefner (U of L) 1:05.73 (dnq, 125th).

Women’s 100 butterfly semifinals — Elaine Breeden (Lexington/Trinity Christian) 58.18 (q, 2nd); Kelsey Floyd (Lexington/Tates Creek) 58.53 (q, tie 6th); Claire Donahue (Western Kentucky) 58.53 (q, tie 6th).

Men’s 100 breaststroke semifinals — Clark Burckle (St. Xavier) 1:00.83 (q, 8th).

A tip of the cap to Adam Revelette, general manager of the Lexington Hustlers, for providing a season preview. …

The Lexington Hustlers open up their third season of play in the Great Lakes Summer Collegiate League on Friday, and possess a roster that gives head coach Kyle Medley a multitude of options. Lexington will represent 18 different collegiate institutions, several of which include conference champions and NCAA postseason contenders.

Hustlers season tickets will be on sale through Friday, and are $25/person. Upon purchase, season ticket holders will be put on a pass list that will get them into all regular season home games. General admission tickets are $5 each.

Here is a positional breakdown of the 2012 Hustlers roster:

Infielders

The 2012 Hustlers will flash some impressive leather at all infield positions. Morehead State’s Chase Greenwell had a phenomenal spring, batting .338 with a team-high 16 doubles in 2012. The Elizabethtown native also fielded an impressive .947 at shortstop for the Eagles.

Taylor Rozier will see most of his time at first base this summer, but can also play corner outfield. This past spring, Rozier batted .250 with six doubles in 29 games for Wofford College.

Corey Bays played in 20 games for Murray State as a true freshman, starting eight. Bays is an alum of Henry Clay High School, where the Hustlers will play their home games this summer.

Nick Sergakis, who redshirted this past season for Southern Conference champion Coastal Carolina, and Olney Central’s Caleb Eickhoff — who played for Medley’s Marion Bobcats last summer — will also play several infield positions over the summer. Another solid option is Matt Phipps, who played in 37 games for EKU in 2012, starting eight.

Also expected to be a solid contributor is Middle Tennessee’s Johnny Thomas, who was recently named to the All-Sun Belt Second Team. The native of Louisiana started all 59 games for the Blue Raiders this season, batting at a .277 clip with a team-leading 17 doubles and seven home runs. He made just five errors all season, turning in a sparkling .982 fielding percentage.

“We were really impressed with the success our infielders had this past spring, particularly with defense,” said Medley. “We know these guys are going to hit, but the ability to make the average play and to turn double plays is going to be very important. I also really like that most of these guys can play second, third and shortstop.”

Outfield

The Hustlers will boast an extremely talented and athletic core of outfielders this summer.

“I’m really excited to watch these guys play,” added Medley. “They all can really go get it in the outfield, and are going to be all over the base paths this summer.”

Duran Elmore, who made the OVC All-Freshman Team, started 50 games as a freshman at Morehead State, clubbing three home runs and swiping 16 bases for the Eagles.

David Simmons, who started 33 games for Western Kentucky, also has lightning speed and the ability to play all three outfield positions.

Matt Honchel, who earned MAC Freshman of the Year honors and was also a First-Team All-MAC selection, won the conference batting title, turning in a .401 clip during the regular season for the Miami Redhawks. Honchel, who prepped at Mercer County High School, led all NCAA freshmen in batting average.

2011 Great Lakes League All-Star Sam Kidd, who transferred from UK to Delta State, also returns for the summer. The Statesmen, who were NCAA Division II national runner-ups in 2012, started Kidd (who hit .310 with four  homers and stole 19 bases) in all 64 of their games this season.

Catchers

Medley will have the luxury of rotating three catchers in 2012, including Ryan Akins, who hit a blistering .340 at Berea College as a freshman. The versatile Stephen Hoagland will see action behind the plate and in both the infield and outfield this summer. The former Lexington Christian Academy standout appeared in eight games for Kentucky, who climbed to No. 1 in national polls this past spring. Steve Ferraro played in 25 games for OVC Champion Eastern Kentucky in 2012, starting 10.

Pitchers

The 2012 Hustlers will feature a balanced pitching staff this summer, with seven left-handers and seven right-handed arms.

“I’m looking forward to watching these guys settle into roles this summer,” said Medley. “We’re wide open in terms of our starting rotation and who were use out of the pen.”

Lefty Austin Clay went 4-4 in his freshman campaign at Western Kentucky, and emerged as one of the Hilltoppers’ top starting pitchers in 2012.

Connor Asay returns to the Hustlers for 2012. The versatile right-hander, who redshirted at USC-Sumpter this past season, threw 34.2 innings for the Hustlers in 2011 and started three games.

Brent Cobb pitched in 25 games for EKU this past spring, holding opponents to a .239 batting average against. Fellow Colonel Austin Rexroat, who appeared in 15 games, will also bolster the bullpen for the Hustlers in 2012. RHP Clay Cinnamon, another Mercer County product, appeared in eight games for Miami University, starting two.

Southpaw Jordan Cooper maintained a 3.74 ERA for Middle Tennessee in 2012, holding opposing batters to a .220 batting average.

Left-handers Jakson Deyer and Clay Hall, who  redshirted at Louisville and Georgetown (respectively) this past season, will also contribute valuable innings for Lexington.

Western Kentucky’s Ian Tompkins, who averaged better than a strikeout per inning in 21 appearances, is another southpaw that joins the squad for the summer.

RHP Trent Martin, who will be a redshirt freshman at Morehead State next fall, is a hard-throwing option out of the bullpen.

Georgetown College’s Shaun Meyer went 3-0 for the Tigers, owning a masterful 1.27 ERA. He surrendered just 18 hits in 35.1 innings, good for a .145 batting average against.

LHP Jake Hall went 5-3 with a 3.78 ERA at Lincoln Trail this past season. Logan Shaftner owned a 2-0 record for Parkland College, turning in a 4.82 ERA for the Cobras. Both will contend for starting roles.

Rounding out the staff, southpaw Matthew Miller will also see substantial innings for the Hustlers. Miller pitched in 20 games for the Atlantic 10 Champion Dayton Flyers.

“It’s going to be a blast to watch our players develop this summer,” Medley said. “Everyone in our organization is looking forward to a truly great season.”

The Hustlers host the Xenia Scouts on June 8 to open up their Great Lakes Summer Collegiate League season. First pitch is set for 7:05 p.m. All fans in attendance will receive a free magnetic schedule, while supplies last.

Baseball

                           South Atlantic League

Lexington Legends vs. Augusta GreenJackets

What: Four-game series

When: Wednesday through Saturday (7:05 each night)

Where: Whitaker Bank Ballpark

Tickets: Call (859) 422-7867

Major League affiliates: Houston Astros (Legends), San Francisco Giants

Bushue

Foltynewicz

Cruz

Alaniz

Probable pitchers (Legends listed first): Wednesday, RH Tanner Bushue (6-3, 3.72) vs. RH Taylor Rogers (7-9, 3.27); Thursday, RH Mike Foltynewicz (5-8, 4.28) vs. LH Mike Kickham (3-7, 4.81); Friday, RH Ruben Alaniz (6-9, 4.43) vs. LH Ryan Bradley (1-1, 4.41); Saturday, LH Luis Cruz (3-2, 4.18) vs. LH Gaspar Santiago (3-6, 4.17).

Adam Duvall

GreenJacket to watch: All-star 3B Adam Duvall (6-foot-1, 205 pounds, from Louisville) ranks third in the league in homers (20), RBI (76), total bases (192), slugging (.547) and in homer-to-at-bat ratio (1/17.55). He leads Augusta in OPS (.938), ranks second in runs (59), walks (49) and on-base percentage (.391), and is third in batting average (.291). In eight games against the Legends, Duvall has four homers and six RBI. A Butler High School graduate and a 2010 11th-round draft pick out of the University of Louisville, Duvall began his collegiate career at Western Kentucky and transferred to Chipola Junior College before landing at U of L. He is batting .330 against left-handers, .276 against righties. Duvall broke into pro ball last summer with Salem-Keizer of the Northwest League, batting .245 with four homers, 18 RBI and 30 runs over 54 games.

Mike Foltynewicz (Herald-Leader/Mark Cornelison)

Legend to watch: Thursday starting pitcher Mike Foltynewicz (6-4, 200, from Minooka, Ill.) has knocked nearly 2.5 runs off his ERA since May 11, when he stood at 6.63. Now at 4.28, the right-hander has won five of his last seven decisions. His 22 starts lead the staff and 115.2 innings pitched rank second on the team. He is fourth on the team with 72 strikeouts. In two outings against the GreenJackets, Foltynewicz is 1-1 with a 4.63 ERA over 11.2 innings. Selected by the Astros in the first round (19th overall) of the 2010 draft out of Minooka Community High School, he passed up a scholarship to Texas and signed for a bonus of $1.305 million. He made 12 starts for the Greeneville Astros of the Appalachian League last season, going 0-3 with a 4.03 ERA over 44.2 innings. Coming into this season, Baseball America rated him the fourth-best prospect in the Astros system and wrote that he “has the best raw arm in the system and flashes three plus pitches” — a 96 mph fastball, changeup and a slurvy breaking ball. 

Quevedo

Quevedo honored: Legends RH Carlos Quevedo is the SAL Pitcher of the Week for Aug. 1-7. Quevedo made one start, throwing seven scoreless innings in a 5-1 victory over the Kannapolis Intimidators. He struck out seven and did not walk a batter while earning his team-leading seventh victory. Quevedo (7-4) has walked only 12 batters all season, spanning 124.2 innings. Said Andy Shea, general manager of the Legends: “Carlos has been consistently strong this season and his control has been excellent. It’s great to see him receive this league-wide recognition.”

Radio: WLXG AM-1300

Baseball

                                South Atlantic League

Lexington Legends vs. Augusta GreenJackets

What: Four-game series

When: Sunday through Wednesday (5:35 p.m. Sunday, 7:05 p.m. Monday and Tuesday, 12:05 p.m. Wednesday)

Where: Lake Olmstead Stadium (Augusta, Ga.)

Major League affiliates: Houston Astros (Legends), San Francisco Giants

Quevedo

Sogard

Alaniz

Foltynewicz

Probable pitchers (Legends listed first): Sunday, RH Carlos Quevedo (4-3, 5.10) vs. RH Justin Schumer (2-2, 6.19); Monday, LH Alex Sogard (1-1, 3.48) vs. RH Taylor Rogers (5-6, 2.52); Tuesday, RH Mike Foltynewicz (2-6, 4.90) vs. LH Mike Kickham (1-3, 4.11); Wednesday, RH Ruben Alaniz (4-4, 5.23) vs. LH Gaspar Santiago (1-2, 5.06).

Gabriel Garcia

Legend to watch: LHP Gabriel Garcia (5-foot-11, 164 pounds, from Charallave, Venezuela) has made 12 relief appearances, going 1-1 with one save and a 3.29 ERA over 27 1/3 innings. Signed as a non-drafted free agent on May 18, 2007, a week after his 18th birthday, Garcia spent two seasons with the Venezuelan Summer League Astros, followed by two years with the Greeneville Astros of the Appalachian League. With the VSL Astros, Garcia fashioned back-to-back 3-3 seasons with ERAs of 3.58 and 3.46, combining for 64 strikeouts to 13 walks. With the Tennessee team, Garcia went 0-4, 7.91, followed by 0-1, 3.86. With 30 strikeouts and six walks this season, his career totals are 143 whiffs and 28 bases on balls. He has held opponents to a .202 batting average this season

Adam Duvall

GreenJacket to watch: All-star 3B Adam Duvall (6-1, 205, from Louisville) is batting .254 with 14 homers, 44 RBI and 34 runs over 59 games through Friday. A Butler High School graduate and a 2010 11th-round draft pick out of the University of Louisville, Duvall began his collegiate career at Western Kentucky and transferred to Chipola Junior College before landing at U of L. He is batting .328 against left-handers, .229 against righties. Duvall broke into pro ball last summer with Salem-Keizer of the Northwest League, batting .245 with four homers, 18 RBI and 30 runs over 54 games.

Radio: WLXG AM-1300

A tip of the hat to Adam Revelette, general manager of the Lexington Hustlers, for the following information.

The Hustlers are set to begin their second season in the Great Lakes Summer Collegiate (Baseball) League on Tuesday.

The Hustlers, who will play home games primarily at Lexington Catholic High School, will be in the GLSCL South Division, with the Cincinnati Steam, Hamilton Joes, Southern Ohio Copperheads and Xenia Scouts. The GLSCL  North is made up of the Grand Lake Mariners, Lake Erie Monarchs, Licking County Settlers, Lima Locos and Stark County Terriers.

The league all-star game is scheduled July 13 at Great American Ball Park, home of the Cincinnati Reds.

The GLSCL prides itself on providing collegiate student-athletes an opportunity to compete against nationally elite players. As a non-profit organization, it was the first league to be sanctioned by the NCAA and receive funding from Major League Baseball. Now in its 24th season, the GLSCL has had more than 70 players who went on to reach the major leagues.

The Hustlers will begin their 46-game schedule Tuesday with an exhibition against the Kentucky Baseball Club, set for 4 p.m., at Transylvania University. A full schedule and season-tickets sales are available via the team website: www.lexingtonhustlers.com

In their inaugural season, the Hustlers featured 24 players from Kentucky. This year, the team has 22 Kentuckians.

The roster includes three pitchers from Eastern Kentucky University (Chase Greene, Matt Harris and Brent Cobb); Georgetown pitcher Jason McGinnis; Kentucky pitcher Sam Kidd and multi-positional J.T. Riddle; Louisville catcher Kyle Gibson; Morehead State’s Noah Smallwood (pitcher), Eric Bainer (catcher) and Bud Morton (infielder); Northern Kentucky outfielder Taylor Russell; St. Catharine pitcher Josh Jillson; and Western Kentucky outfielder Tanner Smith.

Adam Revelette

“We are very excited about our second year of operations with the Hustler,” Revelette said. “We have a fantastic group of players and are looking forward to providing them with a great experience this summer. Our goal this year is to improve everything, great and small, and I’m certain we’re on our way in doing that. Our current focus is establishing host families for our out-of-town players. Since our roster will be changing all summer long, it’s important that we have the luxury to add players from outside the Central Kentucky area if necessary.”

Ways to support the team include sponsorships, contributions, purchase of merchandise and/or tickets, and board membership.

For more information, see the team website: www.lexingtonhustlers.com

For information on becoming a host family, contact: lexingtonhustlers@gmail.com 

Valerie Brown

Former Western Kentucky University standout Valerie Brown is among 18 individuals awarded grants by The William E. Simon Olympic Endowment for the Support of Athletes. Grants totaling $61,000 are aimed at helping athletes pursue dreams of representing the United States at the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Brown, from Albany, Ga., holds WKU school records in the 200 meters (23.74) and 400 (52.74), set during her senior season of 2009, as well as being part of the Hilltoppers’ record-setting mile and 4-by-400 relays.

Established in 1998 with a $1 million gift from William Simon, the endowment provides funds to supplement training and competition expenses. Since the inception of the program, trustees have awarded $600,000 to 125 athletes.

The 2011 recipients (with current residence:
Keshia Baker, track & field (Olympic hopeful – Los Angeles
Grace Boutot, biathlon (Olympic hopeful – Fort Kent, Maine)
Valerie Brown, track & field (Olympic hopeful – Bowling Green)
Kelsie Chaudoin, rowing (Olympic hopeful – Princeton, N.J.)
Zena Cole, track & field (Paralympic hopeful – Oregon, Ohio)
Jayson Grant, taekwondo (Olympic hopeful – Worcester, Mass.)
Kelly Gunther, speedskating (Olympic hopeful – West Jordan, Utah)
Michael Hughes, swimming (Paralympic hopeful – Cary, N.C.)
Mikayla Magee, gymnastics (Olympic hopeful – League City, Texas)
Kristen Messer, track & field (Paralympic hopeful – Austin, Texas)
Jimmy Moody, fencing (Olympic hopeful – Colorado Springs, Colo.)
Ibtihaj Muhammad, fencing (Olympic hopeful – Maplewood, N.J.)
John Orozco, gymnastics (Olympic hopeful – Bronx, N.Y.)
Alexis Page, gymnastics (Olympic hopeful – Harlem, N.Y.)
Daniel Rizzieri, track & tield (Paralympic hopeful – Cohocton, N.Y.)
Ileana Rodriguez, swimming (Paralympic hopeful – Colorado Springs, Colo.)
Joseph Underwood, swimming (Paralympic hopeful – Phoenix)
Daphne Wright, track & field (Paralympic hopeful – Los Angeles)

Soufiane Bouchikhi

Eastern Kentucky’s Soufiane Bouchikhi and Picoty Leitich each shared Ohio Valley Conference Cross Country Runner of the Week honors.

Bouchikhi, a freshman from Belgium, earned Male honors for a third week in a row. Co-Male Runner of the Week is Colin Johnson of Tennessee-Martin.

Competing in the Greater Louisville Classic on Saturday, Bouchikhi led EKU to fourth place in the premier Gold Division. Placing ninth in a field of 323 runners, Bouchikhi covered 8,000 meters in 23:41.66. EKU, missing two of its top five runners due to injury, nevertheless beat regionally ranked foes that included Southern Illinois (No. 9 in the Midwest), Georgia (No. 5 in the South), Ole Miss (No. 6 in the South), Missouri (No. 15 in the Midwest), Kentucky (No. 14 in the Southeast) and Mississippi State (No. 8 in the South), as well as in-state rival Western Kentucky.

Picoty Leitich

Leitich, the defending OVC champion, edged teammate Kat Pagano and placed 19th out of 302 runners in the Gold Division. Her time for 5,000 meters was an OVC-best 17:37.53. The Colonels placed eighth and beat regionally ranked UK (No. 7 Southeast), Mississippi State (No. 13 South) and Georgia Tech (No. 14 South).

* The EKU men dropped one spot in the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Association ranking of the NCAA Southeast Region, to No. 7. Louisville moved up to No. 6.

EKU’s women moved up two spots to No. 11 in the Southeast, one spot behind Western Kentucky. UK dropped from No. 7 to No. 12.