Mark Maloney on Kentucky sports

Zach Grimmett

J.D. Martinez

Lexington Legends teammates Zach Grimmett, J.D. Martinez and Jake Goebbert are among 15 players named by the Houston Astros Player Development Department on Wednesday as Players of the Month for June. Monthly winners are chosen by the field staff of each team.

Former Legends honored include Jordan Lyles, Jhon Florentino, Patrick Urckfitz and Brandon Barnes.

A team-by-team breakdown follows.

Round Rock Express (Triple-A)

Pitcher: RH Josh Banks (3-1, 1.50 ERA, 30 innings pitched, four starts).
Offensive Player: OF Drew Locke (32-for-101, .317, 14 extra-base hits, 15 RBI, 28 games).
Defensive Player: C Jason Castro (15 June games before being promoted to Houston on June 22; season .994 fielding percentage, with 13 of 34 runners caught stealing).

Corpus Christi Hooks (Double-A)

Jordan Lyles

Pitcher: RH Jordan Lyles (1-2, 2.10 ERA, 30 innings, five games, four starts; also named to Texas League All-Star Game and All-Star Futures Game).
Offensive: OF J.B. Shuck (35-for-101, .347 batting, .426 on-base percentage, 7 RBI).
Defensive: 3B Jhon Florentino (season totals of 70 games, .936 fielding percentage).

Lancaster JetHawks (High-A)

Patrick Urckfitz

Brandon Barnes

Pitcher: LH Patrick Urckfitz (1-0, 2.08, 21 2/3 innings, six games, one start, 25 strikeouts, three walks).
Offensive: OF Lee Cruz (32-for-80, .400, 11 doubles, 3 homers, 21 RBI).
Defensive: OF Brandon Barnes (season totals of 15 assists and .969 fielding percentage, playing primarily in right field).

Lexington Legends (Low-A)

Jake Goebbert

Pitcher: RH Zach Grimmett (1-0, 1.80, 20 innings, seven games, 0.85 WHIP).
Offensive: J.D. Martinez (36-for-101, .356, 14 extra-base hits, .420 on-base percentage, 13 RBI, 25 games).
Defensive: LF Jake Goebbert (season fielding percentage of .985).

Dominican Summer League Astros (Rookie)

Pitcher: LH Francisco Baso (3-3, 1 save, 2.93, 15 1/3 innings, 6 games).
Offensive: 2B Yonathan Mejia (26-for-84, .310, 7 RBI).
Defensive: OF Ydarqui Marte (season totals: .983 fielding percentage, 4 assists, 31 games).

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.

South Atlantic League baseball

Coming up

Lexington Legends vs. Asheville Tourists

What: Four-game series

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

Where: Applebee’s Park

Tickets: Call (859) 422-7867

Probable pitchers (Legends listed first): Saturday, RH Ross Seaton (8-8, 2.67) vs. RH Dan Houston (5-8, 3.95); Sunday, LH David Duncan (1-3, 4.40) vs. RH Jonnathan Aristil (2-6, 4.70); Monday, RH Kyle Greenwalt (7-10, 3.81) vs. TBA; Tuesday, Jordan Lyles (6-10, 3.44) vs. TBA.

Tourist to watch: LF Scott Robinson (6-foot, 185 pounds, from McDonough, Ga.) leads the Tourists in runs (71), hits (124), doubles (27), stolen bases (37), games (97) and at-abats (391). He’s batting .317 with three homers and 31 RBI. Selected by the Colorado Rockies in the 30th round of the 2006 draft, Robinson played the 2007 season for the Casper Ghosts of the Pioneer League, compiling a .240 average, five homers, 25 RBI and 10 steals over 50 games. Last year, with the Tri-City Dust Devils of the Northwest League, he hit .268 with six homers, 25 RBI and 15 steals over 59 games.

Antonio Noguera

Legend to watch: LHP Antonio Noguera (6-3, 194, from Caracas, Venezuela) joined the Legends last week, promoted from the Tri-City ValleyCats of the New York-Penn League. The southpaw has made a pair of one-inning, shutout relief appearances for the Legends, with combined totals of one hit, one walk and one striketout. In 14 games with the ValleyCats, Noguera compiled a 2-0 record and 3.62 ERA, with eight walks to 21 strikeouts over 27 1/3 innings. Signed by the Houston Astros as a non-drafted free agent in September of 2004, when he was 16, Noguera also pitched for Tri-City last season. There, he was 2-8 with a 7.59 ERA over 15 games, including 13 starts. He walked 21 and struck out 24 over 53 1/3 innings. 

Radio: WLXG AM-1300

Jordan Lyles

Also of note: Jordan Lyles, scheduled to start Tuesday’s game for the Legends, is on Baseball America’s “Prospect Hot Sheet” this week. … Members of the Breathitt County Junior Red Cross Club will attend Saturday’s game. When massive flooding took place in Eastern Kentucky last May, club members voted to use all available funds to help those affected by the floods. That included money for the club’s annual trip to a Legends game, which is a reward to students for their service. Officials from several agencies, including the Legends, Central Bank and

Patrick Urckfitz

Jay Austin

Trust, Aramark and the Bluegrass Chapter of the American Red Cross stepped in to fund Saturday’s trip. … Fans are invited to come early for Tuesday’s game and take part in the Family Fun Fest, just outside the ballpark gates. The Fun Fest, free to the public opens at 4 p.m. More than 20 attractions will be available, including batting and pitching cages, bungee runs, super slides, bounce houses, video arcade, a “rookie

Andy Simunic

zone” and a minor-league museum. Fans also can put their own photos on free souvenir baseball cards or on a Sports Illustrated for Kids magazine cover. … Legends players of the month for July, as selected by the coaching staff, are LH Patrick Urckfitz (Pitcher), CF Jay Austin (Offensive) and IF Andy Simunic (Defensive). Urckfitz was 1-0 with a 0.77 ERA over 10 relief appearnaces. Austin was 31-for-107 (.290) with nine extra-base hits, 10 RBI and eight steals over 26 games. Simunic has a .973 fielding percentage (five errors in 184 chances) over 51 games this season. … Former Legends picking up team Player of the Month honors in the Astros system include: Round Rock Express OF Brian Bogusevic (Offensive); Corpus Christi Hooks IF Jhon Florentino (Defensive); and Lancaster JetHawks RH Leandro Cespedes (Pitcher). … Mike Tauser’s “Farmstros Five” of the week: Gulf Coast League Astros IF Enrique Hernandez; Lyles; Lancaster OF/C Koby Clemens; Corpus Christi OF Drew Locke; and “top performer” Wilton Lopez, RHP for Corpus Christi.