Mark Maloney on Kentucky sports

Notes on a cold, rainy night.

University of Kentucky senior SS Molly Johnson is among 31 athletes who have accepted invitations to the 2010 USA Softball Women’s Team Selection Camp, to be held Jan. 4-8 at Chula Vista, Calif.

Senior shortstop Molly Johnson has established herself as a UK great.

A 17-member team, plus alternates, will be selected from the camp to represent USA Softball in 2010.

Johnson, who came to UK from Tucson, Ariz., but now calls Lexington home, helped Team USA win the Japan Cup last summer. Johnson went 3-for-5 over four games and led the team in runs scored (6).

Johnson, a UK team captain, has started all 162 games of her career, has twice had 10-game hitting streaks and has totaled 74 extra-base hits.

She is all over the UK career leaders lists, including: batting (.395) and slugging (.648), first in each; doubles (45), second; home runs (22), third; runs scored (113) and total bases (320), fourth in each; RBI (110), stolen bases (46) and defensive assists (379), fifth in each; hits (195), sixth; and triples (7), seventh.

Other players scheduled to attend the selection camp: Monica Abbott (Salinas, Calif.); Valerie Arioto (Pleasanton, Calif.); Brandice Balschmiter (Newark, N.Y.); Chelsea Bramlett (Cordova, Tenn.); Courtney Bures (Haymarket, Va.); Katie Burkhart (San Luis Obispo, Calif.); Eileen Canney (Paradise, Calif.); Ashley Charters (Beaverton, Ore.); Kaitlin Cochran (Yorba Linda, Calif.); Andrea Duran (Selma, Calif.); Jennie Finch (La Mirada, Calif.); Vicky Galindo (Union City, Calif.); Alissa Haber (Newark, Calif.); Ashley Hansen (Chandler, Ariz.); Ashley Holcombe (Fayetteville, Ga.); Megan Langenfeld (Bakersfield, Calif.); Lauren Lappin (Anaheim, Calif.); Brittany Lastrapes (Laguna Niguel, Calif); Jenae Leles (Fair Oaks, Calif.); Caitlin Lowe (Tustin, Calif.); Jessica Mendoza (Camarillo, Calif.); Stacey Nelson (Los Alamitos, Calif.); Cat Osterman (Houston); Amber Patton (Forsyth, Ill.); Brittany Rogers (Dacula, Ga.); Melissa Roth (Long Beach, Calif.); Taylor Schlopy (West Hills, Calif.); Angela Tincher (Eagle Rock, Mo.); Natasha Watley (Irvine, Calif.); and Tammy Williams (Roscoe, Mo.)

Legends, Reds, Astros and Wildcats — oh, my!

Individuals with ties to the Lexington Legends, Cincinnati Reds and University of Kentucky will play starring roles Jan. 21 at the 25th annual Houston Baseball Dinner, presented by the Houston Athletic Committee, Minute Maid, the Houston chapter of the Baseball Writers’ Association of America and the Houston Astros.

LHP Wandy Rodriguez, who went by the alias Eny Cabreja when he pitched for Lexington (2002), will be honored as the Astros Pitcher of the Year.

Washington Nationals 1B Adam Dunn, who began his big-league career with the Reds, is the Greater Houston Major League Player of the Year. A Houston native, Dunn resides in Montgomery, Texas.

Hall of Fame broadcaster Milo Hamilton will serve as master of ceremonies. Hamilton’s 59 years in broadcasting include a brief tenure with University of Kentucky basketball.

Others to be honored include CF Michael Bourn (Astros MVP), RHP Brian Moehler (Darryl Kile Award, reflecting decency and character), RHP Jeff Fulchino (Astros Rookie of the Year), 1B Lance Berkman (Allen Russell Distinguished Achievement Award) and long-time official scorer Ivy McLemore (Fred Hartman Award for Long and Meritorious Service to Baseball).

Charley Taylor

* Best wishes to Charley Taylor, the pitching coach in each of the Legends’ first eight seasons. A cancerous bladder caused him to miss last season and, soon after the season ended, another tumor was found. He has since undergone successful surgery in Houston and has been recovering at the home of Rod and Lynne Humphries — parents of former Legends slugger Justin Humphries. Taylor is now back at MD Anderson Hospital undergoing chemotherapy.

* Astros RHP Chris Sampson, also a former Legend, is co-owner of LoneStar Baseball Academy, which opened Nov. 16 in Baytown, Texas. Sampson’s co-owner is former Milwaukee Brewers prospect Kade Johnson. They hosted a clinic for 50 youths from the Baytown YMCA last weekend, assisted by Astros/former Legends catcher J.R. Towles, Washington Nationals pitcher Garrett Mock and others.

* Astros/Legends connections playing winter ball include: 3B Jhon Florentino, LHP Fernando Abad, RHP Sammy Gervacio, and LHP Polin Trinidad in the Dominican League; SS Wladimir Sutil, C Pedro Gonzales and LHP Doug Arguello in the Venezuelan League; and OF Brian Bogusevic, 2B Edwin Maysonet and 3B Chris Johnson in the Puerto Rican League. … In the Arizona Fall League: RHP Evan Englebrook finished with no decisions and a 7.71 ERA over 11 games and 12 2/3 innings, with 12 strikeouts and four walks; and RHP Daniel Meszaros wound up with one save over 12 games, working 11 2/3 innings. He struck out 15 and walked three.

* Former Legends now on the Astros 40-man roster: Abad, Bogusevic, Englebrook, Gervacio, Johnson, Maysonet, Rodriguez, Sampson, Sutil, Towles, Trinidad and SS Tommy Manzella, OF Hunter Pence and RHPs Bud Norris, Felipe Paulino and Henry Villar.

See Barenaked Ladies at the Winter Olympics

The lineup that will entertain during 12 nights of Victory Ceremonies at the Vancouver Winter Olympic Games include Canadian acts Barenaked Ladies, Nelly Furtado, Loverboy and Hedley.

The Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC) made the announcement Tuesday. The Victory Ceremonies, paying tribute to Games medalists each night, are scheduled Feb. 14-26 inside BC Place www.vancouver2010.com.

Grammy Award-winner Nelly Furtado will be first up, Feb. 14, when medals will be presented for speedskating and freestyle moguls.

The list of performers, host province and medal presentations follow.

Sunday, Feb. 14 — Nelly Furtado www.nellyfurtado.com, British Columbia Night. Medal presentations in short-track speedskating (men’s 1,500 meters), ladies’ freestyle moguls and speedskating (men’s 5,000 meters and ladies’ 3,000).

Monday, Feb. 15 — TBA, Quebec Night. Medals: Men’s freestyle skiing moguls.

Tuesday, Feb. 16 — Barenaked Ladies www.barenakedladies.com, Nova Scotia Night. Medals: Men’s and ladies’ snowboard cross, and men’s 500-meter speedskating.

Wednesday, Feb. 17 — Paul Brandt www.paulbrandt.com, Alberta Night. Medals: Ladies’ 500-meter speedskating.

Thursday, Feb. 18 — Hedley www.hedleyonline.com, Prince Edward Island Night. Medals: Ladies’ 500-meter short-track speedskating, men’s snowboard halfpipe, men’s and ladies’ 1,000-meter speedskating.

Friday, Feb. 19 — Theory of a Deadman www.theoryofadeadman.com, Northwest Territories’ Night. Medals: Ladies’ snowboard halfpipe.

Saturday, Feb. 20 — Stereophonics www.stereophonics.com, Yukon Night. No medal presentation.

Sunday, Feb. 21 — Trooper & Loverboy www.loverboyband.com, www.trooper.com, Nunavut Night. Medals: Ladies 1,500 meters and men’s 1,000 short-track speedskating, men’s 1,500 speedskating and men’s freestyle ski cross.

Tuesday, Feb. 23 — Billy Talent www.billytalent.com, Saskatchewan Night. Medals: Ladies’ freestyle ski cross and men’s 10,000-meter speedskating.

Wednesday, Feb. 24 — INXS www.inxs.com, Ontario Night. Medals: Ladies’ 5,000-meter speedskating.

Thursday, Feb. 25 — Burton Cummings www.officialburtoncummings.com, Manitoba Night. Medals: Short-track speedskating (ladies’ 3,000-meter relay) and ladies’ freestyle skiing aerials.

Friday, Feb. 26 — Great Big Sea www.greatbigsea.com, Newfoundland and Labrador Night. Medals: Men’s freestyle skiing aerials and ladies’ snowboarding parallel giant slalom.

Coming up

Lexington Legends vs. Bowling Green Hot Rods

What: Four-game series (Final series of the 2009 season)

When: Friday through Monday (7:05 Friday and Saturday nights; 5:05 Sunday; 1:05 Monday)

Where: Bowling Green Ballpark, Bowling Green, Ky.

Probable pitchers (Legends listed first): Friday, RH Kyle Greenwalt (8-13, 4.10) vs. RH Chris Andujar (10-4, 2.74); Saturday, RH Jordan Lyles (6-11, 3.31) vs. TBA; Sunday, LH Brad Dydalewicz (7-5, 3.87) vs. LH Frank De Los Santos (4-10, 3.79); Monday, RH Robert Bono (8-8, 3.41) vs. TBA.

Chris Andujar

Hot Rod to watch: All-star RHP Chris Andujar (6-foot, 182 pounds, from San Pedro de Macoris, Dominican Republic) gets the start Friday. Andujar’s 10 victories are tied for third-best in the league (through Tuesday) and his 2.74 ERA ranks fourth. Over 30 appearances, including 16 starts, Andujar has worked 115 innings, striking out 76 and walking 39. Signed by Tampa Bay as a free agent on April 25, 2006. With Hudson Valley of the New York-Penn League last year, Andujar went 3-4 with a 5.65 ERA. He averaged nearly a strikeout per inning, fanning 57 over 65 2/3 innings.

Brian Pellegrini

Legends to watch: 1B/LF/DH Brian Pellegrini (6-1, 240, from Willoughby, Ohio) smashed the franchise records for career homers (28, by Tommy Whiteman and Justin Humphries) earlier this season and needs just one more to take sole possession of the team’s single-season record. He goes into the series with 46 bombs as a Legend. His 25 this season lead the league and match the single-season record set by Beau Hearod and tied by Hunter Pence. Pellegrini played his first 30 games of the season for High-A Lancaster, hitting another seven homers. Through Wednesday, Pellegrini is hitting .290, with 68 RBI and 60 runs scored, over 98 games with the Legends. He was selected by the Houston Astros in the 12th round of the 2007 draft, out of St. Bonaventure University, where he was the Atlantic 10 Player of the Year in 2006. He played five games for Tri-City in 2007. Last year, in 87 games with the Legends, Pellegrini hit .226 with 21 homers 69 RBI and 50 runs scored. Despite his linebacker-type build, Pellegrini is surprisingly quick. He stole 13 bases last season and has nine this year. 

Radio: WLXG AM-1300

Bud Norris

Henry Villar

Matt Nevarez

Also of note: Former Legend RHP Bud Norris, now with the Astros, has been named Pitcher of the Year in the Pacific Coast League, where he played for the Round Rock Express. Norris went 4-9, but led the PCL with a 2.63 ERA over 19 starts. Since being called up by the Astros, Norris is 3-3 with a 6.61 ERA over six starts. … Mike Tauser’s “Farmstros Five” for the week, all RHPs, includes Legends Henry Villar and Matt Nevarez. Corpus Christi’s Chia-jen Lo tops the list, joined by Jose Cisnero of Greeneville and Kirk Clark of Tri-City. For more on the Farmstros, see Tauser’s blog: http://farmstros.blogspot.com/

South Atlantic League baseball

Coming up

Lexington Legends vs. Greenville Drive

What: Three-game series

When: Saturday through Monday (7:05 Saturday and Monday nights, 2:05 Sunday afternoon)

Where: Applebee’s Park

Tickets: (859) 422-7867

Probable pitchers (Legends listed first): Saturday, RH Kyle Greenwalt (8-12, 3.85) vs. RH Stolmy Pimental (9-7, 3.76); Sunday, RH Jordan Lyles (6-11, 3.23) vs. LH Fabian Williamson (10-4, 2.30); Monday, LH Brad Dydalewicz (7-5, 3.87) vs. RH Jeremy Kehrt (1-1, 3.51).

Will Middlebrooks

Drive to watch: 3B Will Middlebrooks (6-foot-3, 197 pounds, from Wake Village, Texas) took a 12-game hitting streak into Friday’s game against Kannapolis. Overall, Middlebrooks is batting .265 with seven homers and 54 RBI over 94 games. He has scored 49 runs and stolen five bases. Selected by the Boston Red Sox in the fifth round of the 2007 draft, he was 61-for-110 (.555) with five homers, 48 RBI and 22 steals in 38 games that year for Liberty-Eylau High School in Texarkana, Texas, and also went 13-0 pitching. With the Lowell Spinners last year, Middlebrooks hit .254 and led the team with 17 doubles. He also ranked second or third on the team in games (59), steals (10-for-10), hits (53) and extra-base hits (20). He led third basemen in the New York-Penn League with a fielding percentage of .927. Rated by Baseball America as having the “best infield arm” in the Red Sox system the last two years.

Russell Dixon

Legend to watch: RF Russell Dixon (6-2, 205, from Houston) has come alive at the plate, with hits in seven consecutive games until going 0-for-4 Thurday. Over those seven games, Dixon went 10-for-25 (.400), with six RBI and four runs scored. Included in that span were a two-hit game and a three-hit game — all five hits being doubles. Dixon struggled early in the season, hitting .134 over 30 games with the Legends. That earned him a demotion to extended spring training. He then moved to Tri-City of the New York-Penn League, where he hit .302 with a homer and 11 RBI over 38 games. In 12 games since rejoining the Legends, Dixon is hitting .244. Selected by the Houston Astros in the seventh round of the 2007 draft, out of Auburn University, Dixon hit .237 for the Legends last season, with three homers, 33 RBI and 15 stolen bases in 19 attempts.

Radio: WLXG AM-1300

Travis Driskill

Also of note: CF Jay Austin and LHP Michael Hacker have been activated from the disabled list. OF Steve Brown has been promoted to High-A Lancaster, while LHP Antonio Noguera moves to the inactive list. … The Astros have ticketed 10 Legends for Instructional League work, starting in mid-September: Austin, 2B Albert Cartwright, LHP Brad Dydalewicz, C Federico Hernandez, RHP Arcenio Leon, RHP Jordan Lyles, RHP Matt Nevarez, RHP Ross Seaton, RHP Henry Villar and SS Brandon Wikoff. Also scheduled to attend is LHP Patrick Urckfitz, who was recently promoted to High-A Lancaster. Instructors include Legends pitching coach Travis Driskill and two former Lexington staffers: Stubby Clapp (hitting coach) and Mike Smith (strength and conditioning coordinator). Pitching coach Charley Taylor, who missed this season due to bladder-cancer surgery, also plans to attend. … Mike Tauser’s most recent “Farmstros Five” players of the week is topped by Corpus Christi OF Drew Locke. The other four: Wikoff, Greeneville RHP Abraham Gonzalez and a pair of former Legends — Round Rock LHP Josh Muecke and Lancaster DH/OF/C Koby Clemens. For more details, see http://farmstros.blogspot.com/