SAL1 Charleston Dirty Birds

Power Game Notes

Published on April 12, 2012 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Charleston Dirty Birds News Release


Greenville Drive (4-3) at West Virginia Power (1-6)

Game 8 | April 12, 2012 | Appalachian Power Park | Charleston, WV

Radio: Power Baseball Network and wvpower.com Play-by-Play: Adam Marco Airtime: 6:45 pm

TONIGHT'S MATCHUP

LH Henry Owens (1-0, 15.00) vs. RH Matt Benedict (0-0, 0.00)

Owens: Surrendered 5 R on 5 H with 2 BB and 7 K over 3.0 relief IP in 4/07 Win vs. LWD (11-6 GRV)

Benedict: Allowed 3 R (0 ER) on 3 H with 3 BB and 7 K over 4.2 IP in 4/07 ND @ HAG (4-3 Suns)

POWER REPLAY: West Virginia lost 10-6 on Wednesday in the road trip finale at Asheville. The Tourists jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first off of Power starter Mike Jefferson, added a run in the third, and three more in the fourth. Josh Bell hit his first professional home run in the fifth; a three-run shot off of Geoff Parker to bring the Power within three runs at 7-4. Asheville countered with three more runs before Greg Polanco's first home run of the year closed out the scoring from both sides. Jefferson took the loss while Parker earned the win.

TOO MANY FREE PASSES: West Virginia pitchers have combined to walk 39 batters over the first seven games of the 2012 season (an average of 5.57 per game). In 2011, Power pitchers walked 43 batters during the entire month of April spanning 22 games (an average of 1.95 per game).

HISTORY IS IN THE PAST: West Virginia teams have gotten off to rough starts in six of their eight seasons, regardless of affiliation with Milwaukee (2005 - 08) or Pittsburgh (2009 - present). Power clubs are 8-21 combined during their first series of each season from 2005 though 2012, including the recent series at Hagerstown.

NEW SKIPPER FOR THE NEW SEASON: West Virginia will be run by a new face in 2012. Rick Sofield takes over as manager this season in his return to professional baseball. Sofield served as the Pirates Minor League Coordinator in 2002 but spent the last five years helping build the baseball program at the University of South Carolina-Beaufort from scratch. Former manager Gary Robinson was promoted to a professional scouting position with Pittsburgh.

COACHING STAFF CHANGES: Pittsburgh has assigned a new coaching staff to the Power for the 2012 season. Willie Glen pitched professionally for ten seasons, including 23 games as a member of the Charleston Alley Cats in 2001, and will serve as West Virginia's pitching coach. Edgar Varela returns to the Power after having spent 2011 with State College. Varela was West Virginia's hitting coach in 2009 and 2010, and returns to that role this year. Vince Harrison played professionally for nine seasons and turns to coaching this season on the Power bench. Harrison's younger brother Josh is a member of the Pirates 40-Man roster.

STREAKS STOPPED: Jodaneli Carvajal's hitting streak was snapped at five games after an 0-3 Tuesday night. The infielder has played each game this season and has eight hits in 22 at bats. Jose Osuna's hitting streak was stopped at four games with an 0-5 performance on Tuesday. Junior Sosa has the longest active streak at four straight games.

PROMO UPDATE- APRIL 12: West Virginia will play Greenville and Asheville during its opening homestand from April 12-18 at Appalachian Power Park. To commemorate the home opener this tonight, the Power will give away refrigerator magnets with the 2012 schedule and have a fireworks show after the game.

POWER POINTS: Copies of the 2012 Media Guide are available upon request... West Virginia is batting .291 after seven games, the third highest team average in the SAL. They also have a staff ERA of 6.75, the second highest in the 14-team league.

AROUND THE ORGANIZATION: Pittsburgh lost 4-1 at Los Angeles. Clint Barmes hit a solo home run to provide the lone Pirate run support... Indianapolis edged Columbus 8-6... Altoona did not play... Bradenton lost 10-4 at Palm Beach.

ON THE AIR: All 140 West Virginia Power games can be heard on ESPN 104.5 FM and 1490 AM in Charleston, WV, across the state on the Power Radio Network, and online at milb.com. Adam Marco will call the action for each of the 70 home games this season, while the home team will provide coverage while the Power are on the road.

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South Atlantic League Stories from April 12, 2012


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