EL1 Erie SeaWolves

Erie SeaWolves at Bowie Baysox Game Notes

Published on April 3, 2008 under Eastern League (EL1)
Erie SeaWolves News Release


ERIE SEAWOLVES (0-0, 1st PLACE, 0.0 GB) vs. BOWIE BAYSOX (0-0, 1st PLACE, 0.0 GB)

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LHP JON CONNOLLY (0-0, 0.00 ERA) vs. RHP Chorye Spoone (0-0, 0.00 ERA)

THURSDAY, APRIL 3 * 7:05 PM * RADIO COVERAGE: FOX SPORTS RADIO 1330 AM, WWW.SEAWOLVES.COM

PRINCE GEORGE'S STADIUM * GAME #1 * ROAD GAME #1 * NIGHT GAME #1

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SEAWOLVES OPENING DAY LINEUP -

1 - FREDDY GUZMAN - CF

2 - WILL RHYMES - 2B

3 - JEFF FRAZIER - DH

4 - DEIK SCRAM - RF

5 - RYAN ROBERSON - 1B

6 - WILKIN RAMIREZ - LF

7 - DUSTY RYAN - C

8 - KODY KIRKLAND - 3B

9 - DANNY WORTH - SS

SP - LHP JON CONNOLLY

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ENTERING TONIGHT'S ACTION...

Tonight marks the beginning of the 14th season of Erie SeaWolves baseball and the 10th season of Double-A Baseball in the city on the lake. The defending Southern Division Champions open up the '08 campaign on a seven-game road trip with four games against tonight's opponent, the Bowie Baysox (Baltimore Orioles) and a

three-game series against the Harrisburg Senators (Washington Nationals). It is the first of 21 meetings between the 'Wolves and the Baysox this season...Each team

features a new skipper in 2008. Tom Brookens, the 2007 "Midwest League Manager of the Year" takes over the SeaWolves after winning a championship with the Tigers Class-A affiliate in West Michigan last season. Brookens is the second consecutive Erie manager to have won both a Midwest League title and "Manager of the Year"

honors prior to coming to Erie. The Baysox will be led by Brad Komminsk. Komminsk won an Eastern League title with Akron in 2003...LHP Jon Connolly takes the mound for Erie. Connolly has spent parts of the last three seasons with the SeaWolves. Last season, Connolly went 7-7 in 21 appearances (19 starts) for Erie with a 4.58 ERA...RHP Chorye Spoone takes the mound for the Baysox. Spoone was 10-9 with a 3.26 ERA in 26 appearances (25 starts) for the Orioles Class-A affiliate in Frederick in 2007. He struck out 133 batters and tossed three complete games.

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LAST SEASON -

- The SeaWolves finished out their 2007 season with the club's first Southern Division title since the 2001

season and their first playoff appearance since 2004.

- Jeff Larish led the league with 28 home runs and 101 RBI. The 101 RBI tied for second in SeaWolves history with Mike Rivera (2001). Only Erie Munson (2001) had more RBI in a single season (102) than Larish and Rivera.

- The SeaWolves fell in the Southern Division Championship series to Akron 3-games to-1.

- Eddie Bonine was Erie's first 14-game winner since Rick Kirsten in 2001.

- Larish finished second in the league MVP and "Rookie of the Year" voting.

- Matt Walbeck was the first Erie skipper to be named "Eastern League Manager of the Year."

2008 SEAWOLVES AT A GLANCE -

- 12 of the 24 players on the squad have spent parts of or entire seasons with the SeaWolves. Those players include starting pitchers Andrew Kown and Jon Connolly; relievers Matt Rusch, Danny Zell and Anthony Tomey. Nick McIntyre, Kody Kirkland, Danny Worth, Max Leon and Will Rhymes will be back in the Howlers infield while only one outfielder returns in Wilkin Ramirez.

- Kody Kirkland makes his return to Erie for the third straight season to man the hot corner. The highly touted Danny Worth made a splash in Erie at the end of the 2007 campaign batting .429 in five regular season games and starting in all four of Erie's playoff games. Worth is ranked as the eighth-best prospect in the Tigers organization by Baseball America. Will Rhymes, Nick McIntyre and Max Leon also return along with newcomer 1B Ryan Roberson.

- Manning the outfield will be Wilkin Ramirez, Deik Scram, Jeff Frazier and Freddy Guzman. Ramirez is ranked 14th while Guzman is ranked 15th in the top 30 prospects by Baseball America. Guzman led the Pacific Coast League with 56 stolen bases in 2007 while playing for Oklahoma (Triple-A Texas). Scram spent time with both West Michigan and Lakeland in '07. Ramirez began last season with Lakeland and was called up to Erie on July 20. He finished third among all Tigers minor leaguers with 34 stolen bases last season.

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TODAY'S NOTABLES -

- 2008 is the 14th season of Erie SeaWolves baseball, the 10th season of Double-A Baseball and the eighth season of the 'Wolves affiliation with the Detroit Tigers.

- Erie won the 2007 season series against the Baysox 16-7. It marked the first

winning season against Bowie in three years.

- The two clubs will meet in three series at Prince George's Stadium and three series at Jerry Uht Park.

- Erie is looking to make it two straight Opening Day victories. Last season, Erie defeated Binghamton at Jerry Uht Park on April 9 by a score of 8-0.

- The last time Erie opened on the road in 2006, the club fell in 10 innings to Harrisburg 2-1.

- Erie is looking to break a trend following playoff seasons. In the nine-year history of the SeaWolves at the Double-A level, the club has never appeared in back-to-back post-seasons.

- Tom Brookens is the 14th manager in SeaWolves history. Joining Brookens from West Michigan will be pitching coach Ray Burris. The only returning member of the field staff is hitting coach Glenn Adams.

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UPCOMING SCHEDULE AND STARTING PITCHERS -

FRIDAY at BOWIE - 7:05 FIRST PITCH

RHP Ben Fritz (0-0, 0.00 ERA) vs. RHP David Hernandez (0-0, 0.00 ERA)

SATURDAY at BOWIE - 2:05 FIRST PITCH

LHP Luke French (0-0, 0.00 ERA) vs. LHP Chris Waters (0-0, 0.00 ERA)

SUNDAY at BOWIE - 2:05 FIRST PITCH

RHP Andrew Kown (0-0, 0.00 ERA) vs. RHP Jason Berken (0-0, 0.00 ERA)

MONDAY at HARRISBURG - 6:05 FIRST PITCH

LHP Danny Christensen (0-0, 0.00 ERA) vs. TBA (0-0, 0.00 ERA)

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The SeaWolves return home on April 10 for their home opener against the Binghamton Mets. It will be a Throwback Thursday. SeaWolves players will wear throwback uniforms from the 1999-2000 seasons as a part of our 10-seasons of Double-A celebration. The first 1,000 fans through the gates will receive a SeaWolves 12-month calendar. The first 1,500 fans through the gates will receive the 1999 SeaWolves MVP Oversized Baseball Card Giveaway.

Check out the Erie SeaWolves Statistics

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Eastern League Stories from April 3, 2008


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