Stars Clinch First Half Title

June 3, 2014 - Southern League (SL1)
Huntsville Stars News Release


Jackson, TN-The Huntsville Stars clinched the first half of the Southern League North Division Monday night with a 9-4 loss to the Jackson Generals. The game was called after the eighth inning due to rain. The Stars were able to clinch a playoff spot as Birmingham defeated Tennessee 10-5 officially eliminating Tennessee. The Stars have a 12.5 game lead on Tennessee with twelve games to play.

Jackson scored six runs against Stars starter Brent Suter in the first inning. Dario Pizzano highlighted the inning with a grand slam over the centerfield wall.

The Stars did not score until the fifth inning. Shea Vucinich got the Stars on the board with an rbi double. Greg Hopkins scored on a wild pitch and Nick Shaw provided a sacrifice fly cutting the deficit to 6-3.

In the bottom of the fifth, Many Pina hit a homer over the left field wall making it 7-3. Jack Marder later in the inning tripled to the alley in right center giving the Generals a comfortable 8-3 lead.

With the Stars trailing 9-3 in the seventh, Nick Ramirez singled home Vucinich making it 9-4.

The Stars were trailing 9-4 after they batted in the eighth inning. Rain had been coming down for the majority of the game. The umpires finally decided to call the game after a thirty minute delay.

Suter, who took the loss went five innings giving up nine hits on eight runs(seven earned). He walked three and struck out to as he fell to 6-4.

Even though the Stars lost to Jackson, they clinched a spot in the Southern League playoffs in September for winning the first half of the season. The Stars will play in the postseason for the first time since 2009. The Stars became the first team in all of minor league baseball to clinch a playoff spot.

The Stars are led by first year manager Carlos Subero. "It means a lot, says Subero. We're prepared to succeed. Our kids have been diligent. They grind it out. Every night is a different kid picking each other up. We still have a big challenge ahead of us. We still have twelve games to play in the first half and seventy in the second half. Still eighty two games left. We've got to go about it the right way the rest of the way," said Subero.

The Generals(24-33) lead the Stars(39-19) 2-1 in their five game series. Game four is Tuesday night. LHP Jed Bradley will make his Huntsville debut. Jackson's starter is RHP Victor Sanchez(1-1, 5.40). Tuesday's game can be heard with Steve Jarnicki starting at 6:50 PM CDT on 92.9 FM, 1450 AM and wtkiradio.com.



Southern League Stories from June 3, 2014


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