Armada vs. Vipers in season opener

Published on May 20, 2009 under Golden Baseball League (GBL)
Long Beach Armada News Release


CALGARY, Alberta, Canada (May 20, 2009) -- The Long Beach Armada Professional Baseball Team opens the 2009 regular season on Thursday, May 21 as Jose Lima will take the mound to face the Calgary Vipers and starting pitcher Joe Sergent in the first game of a four-game series. First pitch is scheduled for 6:05pm PDT (7:05pm MDT in Calgary). All games will be broadcast through Teamline live, and the feed is accessible through www.longbeacharmada.com.

Lima headlines a strong starting rotation for manager Garry Templeton's team. The right-hander from the Dominica Republic won 89 games in the Major Leagues with the Tigers, Astros, Royals, Dodgers and Mets from 1994-2006. Lima made the 1999 National League All-Star team and finished the season with 21 wins. Five years later in 2004, he won perhaps the most memorable game of his career, a 5-hit shutout as the Dodgers defeated the St. Louis Cardinals for Los Angeles's first playoff win since the 1988 World Series.

LHP Ben Fox is scheduled to pitch on Friday, May 22 at 6:05pm PDT (7:05pm in Calgary) for Game 2 of the series against Calgary's Evan Greusel. Fox served as pitching coach for Templeton's Orange County Flyers in 2007 and had 3 complete games in 10 starts that season.

Saturday's game on May 23 at 4:05pm PDT (5:05pm in Calgary) will feature a match up between RHP Scott Lonergan and Calgary's Dallas Mahan. Lonergan was drafted by the Red Sox in 2007 and spent two seasons in their system, including a 4.1 inning appearance for AAA Pawtucket. Sunday's series-finale has Armada starter LHP Keith Ramsey facing off against Calgary's Hideki Nagasaka. Ramsey has a career record of 53-46 in seven professional seasons and reached as high as AAA playing for the Indians affiliate in Buffalo in the International League in 2004.

The Fleet's strong rotation, including fifth starter RHP Jamie Arneson, will be surrounded by a solid core of position players in 2009. Centerfielder Josh Womack, a former 2nd-round pick by the Mariners, anchors an outfield that also features AA-experienced J.J. Sherrill in right field and Casey Garrison, who hit .302 last season for Chico, in left field. Womack spent 2008 with the AAA Tacoma Rainiers (SEA) of the PCL. Returning for his second season with the Armada is shortstop Omar Bramasco, who hit .333 as a member of the Fleet in 2008. He is joined by United League veteran Daryl Jones on first base, second baseman Steve Young who played 95 games for the Frontier League's Traverse City in 2008, and third baseman Chad Miller who hit .310 for the Aiken Foxhounds in 2007 before being sidelined with an injury last season at spring training with the Los Angeles Angels.

Behind the plate, Templeton will have two options at catcher. David Ramirez returns for his fourth season in Long Beach. Ramirez survived a massive collision at the plate to make the tag against Orange County that put the Armada in the playoffs last August. Templeton's other option at catcher is Andy Bouchie, who spent the last three seasons in the Brewers system, playing for Brevard County in the Florida State League (A+) last season.

After the first four games against Calgary, the Armada travel north for a three-game series with Edmonton (May 25-27) followed by a three game series in Victoria (May 29-31). The team's home opener will be on Friday, June 12 against the Yuma Scorpions at 7:05pm at Blair Field. Tickets are still available by calling (562) 427-HITS (4487) today.

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



Golden Baseball League Stories from May 20, 2009


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central