Hillcats Game Notes
Published on April 5, 2008 under Carolina League (CarL1)
Hill City Howlers News Release
THE HILLCATS: The Cats dropped their second straight season opener yesterday 7-3 to Frederick...Prior to that they had won five in a row...
2007 vs. FREDERICK: Last year the Hillcats dominated the series with the Keys, winning 15 out of 20 games in 2007...Including winning eight out of ten in Frederick...
RETURNING HILLCATS: Nine players on the Hillcats opening day roster donned the Green and Gold last season...Those nine are: Derek Antelo, Jake Cuffman, Brian Holliday, Blair Johnson, Kyle Pearson, Steve Lerud, Angel Gonzalez, Tony Mansolino, and Greg Picart...
FIRSTROUNDPICK: LHP Daniel Moskos was the Pirates first round draft pick (fourth overall) in the 2007 draft...Last season Moskos debuted with the GCL Pirates and finished the season with the State College Spikes...Finished season with a combined ERA of 3.45 in 13 appearances with no decisions and one save...Moskos finished his career at Clemson University with 16 saves and a 3.25 ERA in 81 appearances (10 starts)...
CHANGING THINGS UP: Baseball America said LHP Tony Watson has the "Best Changeup" in the Pirates minor league system...The ninth round selection in the 2007 struckout 58 batters in 67.2 ip and walked just eight...
KNOWN FOR HIS "D": INF Brian Friday was named the "Best Defensive Infielder" in the Pirates minor league organization by Baseball America prior to the start of the 2008 season...Friday was a third round pick of the Pirates in last year's draft out of Rice University...He was a member of their World Series teams in 2006 and 2007, which finished third in the country...
RACKING UP TH K'S: RHP Jared Hughes led all Pirate farmhands in strikeouts during the 2007 campaign with 109 in 145.1 ip...The 6'9" hurler started 27 games last year for the Hickory Crawdads, who advanced to the South Atlantic League playoffs...
RUN AND HE'LL GUN: C Steve Lerud led the Carolina League in caught stealing percentage in 2007 by throwing out nearly 40% of potential base thieves (48/73, .397)...
BACK IN ACTION: RHP Blair Johnson returns to the Hillcats this year after another injury plagued season in 2007...It was the third consecutive season that the former second round selection has been severely hampered by injuries...Johnson pitched for the Hawaii Winter Baseball champion North Shore Honu, and went 3-1 with a 3.26 ERA in the off0season...
TOP PROSPECTS: Three of the Pirates' top 30 prospects from Baseball America are beginning the year with the Hillcats...LHP Daniel Moskos (#5) posted a combined ERA of 3.45 in 13 appearances with no decisions and one save with the GCL Pirates and the State College Spikes...LHP Tony Watson (#11) went 6-1 with a 2.52 ERA in 10 starts in State College prior to a late season call-up to Hickory...Watson was named to the New York-Penn League mid-season All-Star team...INF Brian Friday (#12) batted .295 with two home runs and 13 RBI for State College in 40 games...
MEET THE STAFF: Jeff Branson, 41, enters his 5th season in the Pittsburgh organization and 2nd as manager of the Lynchburg Hillcats...The former Major Leaguer spent two years at the helm of the Hickory Crawdads prior to his arrival in Lynchburg...His career managerial record is 211-270 (.439)...Bob Milacki, 43, enters his fourth consecutive season as pitching coach of the Hillcats...The former major leaguer helped guide Hickory to the 2004 South Atlantic League championship...Chris Truby, 35, enters his first full season of coaching after serving as the hitting coach for the GCL Pirates at the end of last season...The former major leaguer retired last year while playing in the Pirates organization...
Carolina League Stories from April 5, 2008
- Rocks' Offense Manages Just Four Hits In 4-3 Setback - Wilmington Blue Rocks
- Pelicans Hold Off Rocks Charge To Win, 4-3 - Myrtle Beach Pelicans
- Avs zip past Nats - Salem RidgeYaks
- Warthogs Doubleheader with Kinston on Saturday Rained Out - Winston-Salem Dash
- Erbe Shuts Down Hillcats - Frederick Keys
- K-Tribe game for Saturday Night Rained Out - Kinston Indians
- CCU star and current PGA Tour member Dustin Johnson to throw out first pitch - Myrtle Beach Pelicans
- Hillcats Game Notes - Hill City Howlers
- Pelicans Game Notes - Myrtle Beach Pelicans
- Blue Rocks Drop Opening-Night Marathon To Pelicans, 2-1 - Wilmington Blue Rocks
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