Salem-Keizer Volcanoes at Hillsboro Hops
June 23, 2015 - Northwest League (NWL1)
Hillsboro Hops News Release
TONIGHT: Hillsboro sends LHP Cody Reed to the mound to make his Hops' debut. Reed is the highest draft pick presently on the roster, selected in the 2nd round of the 2014 draft out of Ardmore High School in Alabama. He will be opposed by Spokane LHP Joe Palumbo, who will be making his first ever start above extended spring training.
2014 vs. SPOKANE: The Hops enjoyed success against the Indians last year, posting an 8-2 record. They took four out of five games in Spokane from 7/30-8/3, and again took four out of five in Hillsboro from 8/20-8/24. The Hops own a 15-5 record all time against the Indians.
A LATIN FLAIR: The Hops' opening-day roster has a strong Latin presence. Eight players hail from the Dominican Republic: RHP Ariel Hernandez, RHP Carlos Hernandez, RHP Jose Martinez, RHP Jeferson Mejia, IF Sergio Alcantara, IF Raymel Flores, IF Fernery Ozuna, and OF Luis Veras. There are also two Venezuelans on the roster: hitting coach Javier Colina and C Jose Queliz. FIVE FRIENDLY FACES: Five players from Hillsboro's championship run return to the Hops in 2015: LHP Jared Miller, RHP Mike Cetta, C Nate Irving, IF Galli Cribbs and UT Nate Robertson. Miller started the season at Long-A Kane County, where he struggled early, while all the others remained in extended spring training until the Short-Season clubs began play.
ANOTHER STACKED COACHING STAFF: The 2014 Hillsboro Hops had one of the best coaching staffs across Minor League Baseball, with J.R. House at the helm, Doug Drabek as the pitching coach, Mark Grace as the hitting coach, and Ben Petrick as a special consultant. Drabek and Petrick will reprise their roles with the Hops in 2015, while House has been promoted to run the Advanced-A Visalia Rawhide, who have already won the first half of the California League. Mark Grace was promoted to assistant hitting coach with the Arizona Diamondbacks. Taking over for Grace this year is Javier Colina, a 14-year minor-league veteran. Shelley Duncan takes over for the Hops in his first experience as a manager at any level.
LAST NIGHT: The Hops claimed their first victory of the 2015 season, as the bats came alive in a 10-3 Hillsboro victory. It was the first career managerial victory for new skipper Shelley Duncan. In his return to Hillsboro, LHP Jared Miller was dominant, setting a new career high in strikeouts with 9, while allowing one earned run over six innings.
GETTING THEIR FEET WET: Three of Arizona's first five selections in this year's First-Year Player Draft will begin their careers in the Northwest League with the Hillsboro Hops: 3rd round selection RHP Taylor Clarke, 4th round RHP Breckin Williams, and 5th round RHP Ryan Burr. First and second round selections, IF Dansby Swanson (Vanderbilt, and LHP Alex Young (Texas Christian), are still with their college teams competing in the College World Series, and have yet to sign professional contracts. Vanderbilt eliminated TCU in the College World Series last night with a 7-1 victory.
POWER IN A SMALL PACKAGE: Though standing just 5'8" tall and checking in at 170 pounds, IF Fernery Ozuna packs a punch. He hit a no-doubt 3- run home run last night to salt the game away for the Hops. Surprised? You shouldn't be. Ozuna hit 7 home runs in 73 games with Rookie League Missoula last year. The team high for Hillsboro last year was 6 (Gonzalez, Cron, Parr, and Trahan.)
ON THE AIR:
Hops games can be heard live on Rip City Radio 620 AM in Portland, and online at www.ripcityradio.com. Mobile listeners should download the iHeartRadio app.
Tonight's pregame show begins at 6:30. Matt Richert and Rich Burk will call the action. ON SOCIAL MEDIA: Rich Burk's Short Hops: RichBurk.mlblogs.com The Hop Stove: www.hillsborohops.wordpress.com Hops on Facebook: facebook.com/HillsboroHops Hops on Twitter: @HillsboroHops, @RichBurk1, @BarleytheHop
Northwest League Stories from June 23, 2015
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- McKay Leads Indians to Win in Pro Debut - Spokane Indians
- AquaSox Rally to Overcome 17 Strikeouts - Everett AquaSox
- Volcanoes Can't Come up with Big Hit in Loss - Salem-Keizer Volcanoes
- Hawks Can't Complete Comeback After Falling Behind Early - Boise Hawks
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