Mark Maloney on Kentucky sports

Baseball

South Atlantic League

Lexington Legends
vs.
Kannapolis Intimidators

What: Four-game series

When: Thursday through Sunday (7:05 Thursday through Saturday nights; 1:35 Sunday)

Where: Whitaker Bank Ballpark

Tickets: Call (859) 422-7867

Major League affiliates: Houston Astros (Legends); Chicago White Sox

Probable pitchers (Legends listed first): Thursday, RH Tanner Bushue (0-1, 27.00) vs. RH Daniel Webb (0-1, 15.00); Friday, RH Jonas Dufek (0-0, 9.00) vs. LH Scott Snodgress (0-0, 13,50); Saturday, RH Nicholas Tropeano (0-0, 1.80) vs. RH Kevin Vance (0-0, 2.25); Sunday, LH Kyle Hallock (0-0, 54.00) vs. LH Brandon Parrent (0-0, 6.23).

Daniel Webb

Intimidator to watch: Thursday night starter Daniel Webb (6-foot-3, 210 pounds, from Paducah) was selected by the Toronto Blue Jays in the 18th round of the 2010 draft. Out of Heath High School, he had plans to attend Kentucky until John Cohen left to coach Mississippi State. Webb wound up at Northwest Florida State College, then spent the last two seasons in the Blue Jays system. The White Sox acquired him during the off-season. In 2010, Webb split time between the Auburn Doubledays of the New York-Penn League and Lansing of the Midwest League, going a combined 1-7 with a 4.74 ERA over 15 starts and 68 1/3 innings. He struck out 43 and walked 32. Last year, he played one game for the Gulf Coast League Blue Jays and 18 games for Lansing. With the Lugnuts, Webb went 4-5 with a 5.59 ERA, with 51 strikeouts and 24 walks over 18 games (12 starts) and 66 innings. In one appearance this season, against Hickory, Webb gave up seven runs, five earned, on eight hits over three innings. He struck out three and did not walk a batter.

Zach Johnson

Legend to watch: 1B/DH Zach Johnson (5-11, 200, from San Ramon, Calif.) is 10-for 25 (.400) through six games, with two homers, 11 RBI, a pair of doubles and two runs scored. A 15th-round draft pick of the Astros last June, out of Oklahoma State University, Johnson spent last season with the Tri-City ValleyCats of the NYPL. He played 72 games, batting .262 with five homers, 40 RBI, 12 doubles, a triple and 31 runs scored. In Wednesday’s 3-0 win at Hagerstown, Johnson led the Legends with a single, double and two RBI. The Oakland Athletics drafted Johnson in the 48th round in 2010, but were unable to come to terms. Johnson bats and throws right-handed. His father, not to be mistaken for the PGA Tour’s Zach Johnson, is a former professional golfer who went on to create a golf domain known as protourgroup.

Radio: WLXG-AM 1300

Baseball

South Atlantic League

Lexington Legends
vs. Hagerstown Suns

What: Three-game series

When: Monday through Wednesday (7:05 p.m. Monday and Tuesday; 10:35 a.m. Wednesday)

Where: Municipal Stadium (Hagerstown, Md.)

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

Probable pitchers (Legends listed first): Monday, RH Nicholas Tropeano (0-0, 0.00) vs. RH Christopher McKenzie (0-0, 0.00); Tuesday, RH Mike Foltynewicz (0-1, 6.75) vs. RH Wirkin Estevez (0-0, 13.50); Wednesday, RH Tanner Bushue (0-1, 27.00) vs. RH Brian Dupra (0-1, 8.10).

Jordan Scott

Legend to watch: LF Jordan Scott (6-foot-2, 180 pounds, from Greenville, S.C.) hit 8-for-13 (.615) in a season-opening four-game series at Greensboro. Scott, 20, bats left and throws right. He was selected by the Astros in the 14th round of the 2010 draft, out of Riverside High School in Greer, S.C. He made his pro debut that year with the Gulf Coast League Astros, hitting .301 with 10 RBI, 19 runs and six stolen bases over 42 games. Last year, he split time with the Greeneville Astros of the Appalachian League (60 games), the Tri-City ValleyCats of the New York-Penn League (5 games) and the Legends (14 games). Overall, he hit .323 with a homer, 43 RBI, 51 runs and 12 stolen bases.

Matthew Skole

Sun to watch: 3B Matthew Skole (6-4, 230, from Woodstock, Ga.) went 6-for-14 (.429) in Hagerstown’s season-opening four-game series. Included were two doubles, as he drove in seven runs and scored one. Like Scott, he bats left and throws right. The Nationals selected him in the fifth round of last year’s draft, out of Georgia Tech, where he clubbed 47 homers over three seasons. He made his pro debut with the Auburn Doubledays of the NYPL. He played 72 games, batting .290 with five homers, 48 RBI, 43 runs and a pair of stolen bases.

Radio: WLXG AM-1300