PLAYER / PITCHER OF THE WEEK #6

NAME	TEAM	AVG	SLG	G	AB	H	2B	3B	HR	R	RBI	K	W	IW	SB	CS	HBP
CANSECO,Jose	STO AL	.476	1.190	5	21	10	0	0	5	8	9	2	2	0	5	0	0

NAME	CLUB	G	W	L	S	ERA	IP	R	ER	H	K	BB	IBB	WP	BK	HB	HR
FERNANDEZ,Sid	MEX AL	1	1	0	0	0.00	9	0	0	2	5	4	1	0	0	0	0

NAME	TEAM	AVG	SLG	G	AB	H	2B	3B	HR	R	RBI	K	W	IW	SB	CS	HBP
VAN SLYKE,Andy	VAL NL	.429	.714	5	21	9	0	0	2	6	6	2	1	0	2	0	0

NAME	CLUB	G	W	L	S	ERA	IP	R	ER	H	K	BB	IBB	WP	BK	HB	HR
MILACKI,Bob	CLC NL	1	1	0	0	0.00	9	0	0	0	5	3	0	0	0	0	0

· Long Beach Titans @ Michigan Marauders
Series Preview	Merry Christmas! The Long Beach Titans come to Michigan to take on the Marauders.
Game #1:	Rick Rhoden vs. Don August Pat Sheridan hits a solo homer for the Titans, but it would be there only run of the game. Juan Samuel has a big game for Michigan and goes 3 for 3 including a homer. Frank Williams and Mike Hennaman secure the win. Michigan 3 Long Beach 1 W, August 2-2 L, Rhoden 2-3 S, Hennaman (9)
Game #2:	Jeff Robinson vs. Frank Tanana This is a mismatch on the mound. Tanana gets hit early, and Long Beach cruises to an easy win. Marvell Wynne with 3 RBIs for the Titans. Long Beach 9 Michigan 4 W, Jeff Robinson 3-2 L, Tanana 2-1
Game #3:	Viola vs. Langston 2 hard throwing leftys go at each other. Rafael Palmeiro gets 2 hits and 2 RBI to lead the way for the Marauders. Langston strikes out 13 in 8 innings. Michigan 3 Long Beach 2 W, Langston 2-3 L, Viola 4-2 S, Henneman (10)
Game #4:	Downs vs. Deshaies Bo Jackson and Gary Gaetti hit homers for Michigan. Jim Deshaies throws a solid 5 hit shutout to earn the Michigan victory. Michigan 3 Long Beach 0 W, Deshaies 3-2 L, Downs 0-4
Game #5:	Reuss vs. Higuera 2 solid leftys go to the mound. Brunansky and Glen Davis come up big for Michigan. Brunansky hits 1 homer and 3 RBIs for the Marauders. Davis has 3 hits and 1 homer. Higuera throws a 2-hitter. Michigan 5 Long Beach 0 W, Higuera 4-2 L, Reuss 2-2
Series Summary *	Michigan wins the series 4 games to 1. 3 leftys come up big as Langston, Deshaies and Higuera all pitch well.

Janesville Juggernauts @ California Quakes
Series Preview	Two poor performing teams face of in a series boasting terribly low attendance.
Series Summary *	California takes the series 3-2 behind three brilliant shut-outs from Zane Smith, Jose Bautista, and Paul Kilgus. Nolan Ryan and Dave Stieb starting both losing efforts. Ugh.

Stockton Wings @ Detroit Stars
Series Summary *	Detroit takes series over Stockton 3-2

Sugar Land Skeeters @ Steel City Sluggers
Series Summary *	Last place Sugar Land comes to town and nearly sweeps the Sluggers.

· Winnipeg Goldeyes @ Manhattan Gas Hornets
Series Preview	First off – Merry Christmas to all (and since I’m on the road next week) – Happy New Year too! Winnipeg comes to Manhattan – Gas Hornet try to continue some home field advantage, given that we head on the road next week against some better pitching – and we don’t hit good pitching well.
Game #1:	Things start poorly for the home team as the Goldeyes take game 1 4-2 (up 4-0 after 5) behind the 6 hit pitching of Ed Whitson (6-0) and the 4 for 4 day from Joe Orsulak (2 rbis, double and HR, #2). Costello pitches the 9th for the save (4). Reuschel seemingly an every other start wonder – wondered what happened in this one as he drops to 3-4.
Game #2:	Both teams showed lots of offense in the opening 5 innings with Manhattan up by 3-0 after 2, Winnipeg tying it with a 3 spot in the 3rd (Incaviglia 3 run jack (3). Manhattan getting the 3 back in the 4th on Joyner 3 run double for 6-3 lead. Incaviglia then smacks a 2 run HR (4) in the 5th to cut it to 6-5. Gas Hornets add an insurance run in the 6th and Hudson and Reardon (S – 6) make it stand up for 7-5 win. Inky’s 2 dingers account for all 5 Goldeye runs. Ballard goes 5 innings but gets the win (3-1), Glavine goes 5 innings (gives up 10 hits) and take the loss (0-4). Hope he turns it around sometime (maybe in other years!).
Game #3:	Winnipeg gets 2 in the 1st but Manhattan gets 3 (O’Neill HR – 2). Then the Gas Hornets plate 4 in the 2nd and go on to win 9-2. Dawson goes 3 for 5 with 3 rbis, and Schofield homers (1) and gets 2 hits and 2 rbis. McWilliams (2-2) the win, Hanson (0-2) the loss.
Game #4:	3 run blast by Riles (1) in the 9th for Winnipeg (with 2 outs) makes the final look close – but Manhattan prevails 5-4. Reardon, the save (7), despite giving up the 3 run jack. Leary the win (3-1), Moyer the loss (1-5).
Game #5:	This was one of those on again games fro Reuschel as he tosses a 3 hit CG shutout (W 4-4) as Manhattan wins 2-0 in the finale. Dawson homers (4). Bosio (3-2) gets the loss. Bad news in this game for Goldeyes came when Perry and Melvin collided trying to catch a foul pop. Ball hit the ground as Melvin and Perry hit each other. Perry out for 2 days – Melvin out for at least 13 days.
Series Summary *	Manhattan manages a 4-1 series win after dropping the opener. Now going to Long Beach for 5 games.

· Missouri Black Bears @ Clovis Cougars
Series Preview	First place showdown between Missouri Black Bears and Clovis Cougars.
Game #1:	Clovis rookie Bob Milacki just called up for his first major league start against first place Missouri who counters with the veteran Jack Morris. Milacki cruises through the first without a blemish before Morris heads out for the bottom of the first. Things don’t go as well for Missouri as Mickey Brantley takes one deep for a quick 2-1 Clovis lead. In the second and third Milacki walks one but gets out of the innings without any further damage. In the bottom of the third Murray singles in another Clovis run for a 3-0 lead. The fourth and fifth pass uneventfully, but the crowd is starting to buzz when they realize that the rookie still hasn’t given up a hit. Through seven and Morris departs the game for some bullpen help but Milacki is still in charge, one more walk but nothing else. Eighth inning Bears go three up and three down, the rookie has one more inning to get through. Ninth inning;Dunston grounds out, two more to go. Moseby comes up to pinch hit for Sundberg and draws a walk on 4 straight, could be trouble for the rookie. Jose Lind steps up and drives one to the track but Henderson runs it down easily. Two out, one on and Tony Gwynn standing between Milacki and history. 2-2 count, the pitch is called strike three as Gwynn stares in disbelief and the rest of the Cougars spill on to the field in a wild celebration as the rookie tosses a no-hitter in his very first big league game!!
Game #2:	Missouri 7 Clovis 0 Cougars still partying after the Milacki no-no but the Bears were looking for a measure of revenge as Santiago and Dunston chipped in 3 hits apiece for the 13 hit attack. Liebrandt went 8 strong before giving way to the pen.
Game #3:	Missouri 2 Clovis 0 Bears still smarting over the no-hitter continue to show Clovis what good pitching looks like. Ruyben Sierra’s 2 run 1st inning homer is all Mike Scott will need as he tosses a strong 3 hit shutout to cool off Clovis even more.
Game #4:	Clovis 8 Missouri 1 Brantley and Gantner lead a 14 hit Clovis attack with 3 hits each. Murray drives in a pair with the games only homer as Smiley bests Rasmussen.
Game #5:	Missouri 3 Clovis 0 Missouri does it again, shutting out Clovis for the third time to take the rubber game. Mussleman went 6 innings in outdueling Sutcliffe for the win.
Series Summary *	Great series, great pitching. And how about the rookie Bob Milacki, first game in the big leagues, no hits, no problem! Our nominee for pitcher of the week.

· Montana Cutthroats @ Cedar Park Bears
Series Preview	Montana, last in the strong AL East vs Cedar Park, first in a well balanced AL West.
Game #1:	The Bears score 11 time off 16 hits without any HRs, Will Clark drove in 3. The Cuttroats get 11 hits but manage only 5 runs. Ellis Burks and Ron Kittle HR but both were solo shots. Final: Cedar Park 11 Montana 5 W Cerutti 1-1 2.13 L Smitson 1-5 4.34
Game #2:	20 more hits score 17 runs as the Bears power their way to a win. They score 6 runs in both the 5th and 8th. HRs by Washington, Polonia, Clark and Hudler, and Hudler added a double on the way to 5 RBIs. Rex scored twice, went 3 for 4 and stole a base. Burks HRd again for Montana and drove in 3. Final: Cedar Park 17 Montana 4 WR Honeycutt 2-2 1.02 L Forsch 1-5 6.70
Game #3:	Will Clark HRd and drove in 2 as both teams’ offense cooled a bit. Swindell almost went the distance but Pena was called in to close it out when Swindell tired in the 9th. Final: Cedar Park 4 Montana 1 W Swindell 4-2 2.96 Pena S-4 L Andujar 1-5 4.38
Game #4:	Cedar Park looked ready to win its 4 straight over the Cuttroats when they lead 5-2 after 6. The visitors, however, chipped away with a run in the 7th and 8th, and took the lead with 2 in the 9th. Keith Atheron and Paul Assenmacher came in to shut the door on the Bears after they had taken the lead, gaining the win and the save. Al Pena has struggled out of the BP for CP and he failed to close it out for Mike Moore. Final: Montana 6 Cedar Park 5. WR Atherton 5-0 1.45 Assenmacher S-2 LR Pena 0-1 4.50 BS-1
Game #5:	Steve Balboni‘s 3-run HR in the 7th broke open a 2-2 tie and earned the Cutthroats a 2d straight win over the Rangers. Larkin also HRd, Burks tripled, doubled and drove in 2. Evans HRd for CP Hudler tripled but they could only garner 2 runs from 8 hits as Fraser out pitcher Dopson. Final: Montana 6 Cedar Park 2 W Fraser 1-5 6.88 L Dopson 3-2 3.54
Series Summary *	By taking the 1st 3 games, Cedar Park wins the series 3-2 but Montana shows resilience by taking the last 2. Both teams showed a lot of offense, but well balanced and no one in particular stands out. Clark had 8 RBIs for CP, Burks had a good series for Montana.

· Fort Worth Panthers @ Old Mill Legends
Series Preview	Fort Worth visits Old Mill for a 5 game series.
Game #1:	Darling vs Rijo. This game was all Old Mill as they win 9-1. Rijo gets the win and Molitor has 2 HRs and 5 RBIs.
Game #2:	Anderson vs Candelaria. Express win 4-2 as the “Candy Man” gets the win and Jones the save. Meyer and Ramirez homer.
Game #3:	Soto vs Maddux. Maddux gets his 1st win of the year as Severn rolls 15-4. Winfield has 7 RBIs and Boone has 5 more.
Game #4:	Valenzuela vs Terry. Fernando pitches a complete game, but allows 2 runs in the 9th to give the home team a 2-1 win. Agosto gets the win in relief.
Game #5:	Wegman vs Knepper. Panthers win this one 7-1. Jim Rice had 2 HRs and 3 RBIs.
Series Summary *	Legends win 4 of 5.

· Valdosta Bombers @ Germantown Grays
Series Summary *	No News out of Germantown.