Quad-City Times from Davenport, Iowa • 36

Midwest League D6 Monday, May 3, 2004 Quad-City Times WWW.QCTIMES.COMSPORTS AROUND THE LEAGUE Steroid Night draws questions from minor league officials Ugh-ly ninth Lansing likely will remember the one that got away Friday night. The Lugnuts watched Dayton score 1 1 runs in the top of the ninth inning to erase a six-run deficit and rally for a 12-7 win at Oldsmobile Park. The Dragons sent 15 batters to the plate and had 11 hits including three home runs in the inning. There's really no explanation for something like that," Lugnuts manager Julio Garcia told the Lansing State Journal. Garcia opted not to say a word to his team which sat in a silent clubhouse following the game.

Almost Kane County's Steve Bondurant came within two outs of a no-hitter Thursday. Bondurant struck out 14 batters before yielding a one-out single in the ninth to Fernando II stands 5-foot-10 and weighs 210 pounds, a few steaks shy of the weight his father played at while pitching for the Dodgers. Seasoned veterans According to statistics compiled annually by mwlguide.com, the Swing of the Quad-Cities is among the youngest teams in the Midwest League this year. The Swing had an average age of 21 .5 years on opening day, 12th among the 14 teams in the league. Kane County and Peoria are the oldest teams in the league, averaging 22.6 years, while Battle Creek is the youngest at 21 .2.

Clinton ranks sixth this season with an average age of 22.0 years. The oldest and youngest players in the league both wear South Bend uniforms. Pitcher Arlc Leclalr, born April 12, 1978, is the Midwest League's most seasoned citizen, while outfielder Carlos Gonzalez, born Oct. 17, 1985, is the youngest. stance that is being abused in America everywhere from the Olympics on down, and it is a particular problem in athletics." Baseball's well-publicized problems with steroids prompted Tornow to host the event last Thursday at a LumberKings game, where educational information was distributed in specimen cups as fans entered Alliant Energy Field.

"If we prevented one kid from taking steroids and raised awareness, the night was a cess," Tornow said. "I think we accomplished what we wanted to do." jet. I 7 j. fx 1 i mm jy fei i VVy Battle Creek's Erold Andrua at Elfstrom Stadium in a 20-0 Cougars' victory. He walked just one barter, retiring the first 13 he faced before giving up a walk that was erased by a double play in trie fifth inning.

Kane County continued to rough up the Yankees on Friday, posting a 10-0 win. Cheap suds Retro nights have become popular events at minor league stadiums recently, but at Battle Creek they're taking things one step further. At every Monday home game, the Yankees are holding Retro Beer Night, selling $1 cans of Pabst Blue Ribbon, Natural Light, Old Style, Schlitz, Black Label and Hamms beers. Steve Batterson can be contacted at (563) 383-2290 or sbattersoneqctimes.com. SWING THIS WEEK Today-Thursday What: Lansing Lugnuts at Swing of the Quad-Cities When: Today-Wednesday, 7 p.m.; Thursday, 1 1 a.m.

Where: John O'Donnell Stadium, Davenport. FYI: The Cubs affiliate makes its only Quad City appearance of the season this week. Manager Julio Garcia returns after guiding Lansing to the 2004 Midwest League pennant. This year's Lugnuts have hovered around .500 much of the season. Lansing's Jake Fox is eighth in the league in batting with a .338 average.

Pitching has been the Lugnuts' strength. The team is second in the league with a 2.65 team ERA, and Lansing features one of the league's top closers in Adalberto Mendez, who shares the league lead with seven saves. On tap: Today, Hitmen Fundraiser and day, Baseball Pop Star contest at 6:30 p.m.; Wednesday, Discount beverage night and pregame band performance on the party deck beginning at 5:30 p.m.; Thursday, Businessper- son's Special. Friday-Sunday What: Fort Wayne Wizards at Swing of the Quad-Cities. When: Friday-Saturday, 7 p.m.; Sunday, noon.

Where: John O'Donnell Stadium, Davenport. FYI: Fort Wayne's Drew Macias is ninth in the league with his .328 batting average. The Wizards' Dirk Hayhurst has not allowed a run in 19 innings of work this season, striking out 22 batters and walking one. The Wizards are affiliated with the Padres. The Wizards' roster includes Fernando Valenzuela Jr.

On tap: Friday, postgame fireworks; Saturday, Swing baseball giveaway to the first 1,000 fans; Sunday, Family Fun Day featuring player autographs, clowns, face painting and a chance for kids to run the bases following the game. LUMBERKINGS THIS WEEK Today-Thursday What: Clinton LumberKings at Battle Creek Yankees. When: Today-Thursday, 5 p.m. Where: CO. Brown Stadium, Battle Creek, Education was LumberKings' primary goal By Steve Batterson QUAD-CITY TIMES The report is on its way.

Minor league baseball officials asked for an explanation of the "Steroid Night" promotion that the Clinton LumberKings hosted last week, and general manager Ted Tornow said he will comply. "Our entire intent was to educate the public, nothing more or less," Tornow said. "It's a sub REPORT Clinton rallies past Beliot LumberKings use 3-runs in second, sixth to secure win STAFF REPORT CLINTON, Iowa Clinton answered Beloit's first run with a three-run second inning on the way to an 8-5 victory in Midwest League action Sunday at Alliant Energy Field. Justin Hatcher drove in the tying run with a one-out single up the middle that scored Emerson Frostad, who had doubled with one out. Brock Jacobsen followed by hitting into a force out, but he beat the relay throw to first base allowing Casey Benjamin to score from third base for a 2-1 lead.

Jacobsen then stole second and scored on a Juan Sen-reiso's single to center field. Clinton padded its lead with two runs in the fourth inning and then extended the advantage to 8-2 in the sixth. That was highlighted by a two-run double by Josh Kreuzer, who then scored on Frostad's single. Adam Heether drove in three of Beloit's runs. His ground out scored Vinny Rot-tino, who had led off Beloit's second inning with a triple, and he added a two-run home run in the eighth inning.

Matt Lorenzo (2-1) picked up the victory by pitching five innings of two-hit baseball. He walked two and struck out eight. Joldy Watts earned his first save by pitching the ninth. STADIUMS Continued from PageDl Vision Iowa funding to help pay for improvements at Alliant Energy Field. Expanded clubhouse facilities and additional seating are part of the "Things to Do with a River View" project in Clinton.

Burlington officials made their pitch to the Vision Iowa board during an April meeting in Davenport, hoping to secure funds that would upgrade their facility as well. "The people in both Clinton and Burlington are to be commended for looking into the future," Spelius said. "They've worked hard to maintain baseball in their communities and much like in Beloit where I come from, it can be done in smaller markets. "The work has to continue, though, and it can take time, but I'm encouraged because they are being proactive just like the people in the Quad-Cities." Steve Batterson can be contacted at (563) 383-2290 or sbatterson qctmes.com. The LumberKings also surveyed fans in attendance, and 85 percent responded that they wanted to see Major League Baseball add steroids to its banned substance list Clinton flexed its offensive muscles that night, scoring a 16-2 win over Beloit.

Fernando mania When Fort Wayne arrives at John O'Donnell Stadium later this week, there will be at least one familiar name on the field. Fernando Valenzuela Jr. plays first base for the Wizards. The second-year pro is off to a .278 start for Fort Wayne, a Padres affiliate, and while he shares the name of his father, that's about where the similarities end. "That's not the norm after a doubleheader that ends late the night before, but I felt like we needed to attack our mistakes right away," he said.

"I don't mind losing an hour or two of sleep if we need to get some good work in." It proved to be time well spent. After collecting nine hits in 16 innings Saturday, five of the Swing's 10 hits Sunday went for extra bases. "It looked like we had a better approach offensively in this game," Boles said. "I saw a lot of out of control swings Saturday night, especially with two strikes. Today, I saw us taking a lot of good swings.

Even when we were fouling the ball off, we were taking good cuts." Quad-Cities took control from the start. Matt Moses sent the Swing on again at the plate." Swing manager Kevin Boles liked Moses' approach. "He was more under control," Boles said. "He took some good swings today. We know from watching him hit that he's got a special talent.

He didn't look like himself Saturday, but he had been off for awhile. Today, I saw him square up the ball and make the adjustments he needed to make." Different series The Swing split its home-opening, four-game series with Burlington, and pitching coach Gary Lucas liked what he saw from his staff, which allowed just four earned runs in the four-game series. It looked even better when he compared it to the four-game sweep the Bees had against Quad-Cities in mid-April. In those four games, Swing pitchers allowed 22 earned runs. Viking sightings Augustana College Day brought at least 1 ,200 of the 4.203 fans in attendance.

Vocalists and musicians from the Rock Island college entertained during the game. Swing second baseman Alex Garcia, left, shows the umpire the ball after tagging out Burlington's Adam Keim. Kelm was trying to stretch a single Into a double. Q-C responds to wake-up call their way, belting a two-run home run to right in the bottom of the first inning to give starting pitcher Errol Simonitsch plenty of space to operate. "Getting off to that type of a start gives you a lot of confidence," Simonitsch said.

"It's always easier when you're working with a lead, especially when you get that lead in the first inning. Moses' home run got us going, and everybody came out and got after it." Simonitsch worked quickly and effectively, helping himself with first-pitch strikes en route to his second win in three decisions this season. The Swing left-hander struck out five and did not walk a batter while scattering four hits over six innings. Kevin Culpepper and Jon Uhl finished the five-hit effort that forced Burlington (10-13) to Read on The Swing hosted their first group of Swing into Reading program students. The program rewards students who achieve reading goals with a free game ticket.

A total of 568 students participated from among a group of 6,671 students at 36 Quad-City area schools who will be honored at seven games during the month of May. Schools in attendance included Wilson and Eisenhower schools of Davenport, Hayes and Lincoln-Irving schools of Moline, Neil Armstrong of Eldridge, Sacred Heart of Maquoketa, St. Anne's of East Moline, Erie Elementary, Math-erville Intermediate, Franklin of Muscatine, Durant Elementary and Lourdes Catholic of Bettendorf. On deck Lansing Lugnuts at Swing of the Quad-Cities, 7 p.m., today, John O'Donnell Stadium. Probable pitchers: Lansing, TBA; Ouad-Cities, Scott Tyler (0-0, 7.71 ERA).

Swing Into Reading Night and Swingol How they scored SWING FIRST: Denard Span walked, stole second. Alex Garcia new out to center Matt Moses homered to right, scoring Span. Brook Peterson reached on an Infield single. Kyle Phdlips Hew out to right R. John SchultZQUAD-CITY TIMES endure its seventh shutout loss of the season.

"All of our pitchers were very aggressive. We're trying to elim-' inate three-ball counts and induce contact earlier, and we took steps in that direction," Boles said. Brock Peterson and Scott Whitrock led Quad-Cities (11-12) with three hits apiece. "It was big for us to come out strong early and stay on top," said Whitrock, who drove home the Swing's final two runs with a fifth-inning triple. "We gave them those games Saturday and (Sunday), we got a big win to get us back to .500 at home.

We expect more than that, though, and we'll keep working at it." Steve Batterson can be contacted at (563) 383-2290 or sbattersonqctimes.com. Taylor flew out to center. 2 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, 1 left Swing 2. Bees 0. SWING SECOND: Scott Whitrock reached on an infield single, stole second, scored when Mark Zamojc doubled to right.

Justin Ameson struck out. Span grounded out to second, moving Zamojc to third. ZamoC scored when Garcia reached on an error by shortstop Alex Sanchez. Moses lined out to right. 2 runs.

2 hfts, 1 error, 1 left Swing 4, Bees 0. SWING THIRD: Peterson doubled to right, took third on a Phillips groundout. scored on a single to left by Taylor. Taylor stole second. Whitrock grounded out to shortstop.

Zamojc flew out to right. 1 run, 2 hfts, 0 errors, 1 left. Swing 5, Bees 0. SWING FIFTH: Moses grounded out to second. Peterson walked.

Phillips flew out to right. Taylor doubled to right, moving Peterson to third, Whitrock tripled to right-center, scoring Peterson and Taylor. Zamojc struck out. 2 runs, 2 hrts, 0 errors, 1 reft Swtng 7, Bess a The box score Burlington Lubanskicf Sanchez ss Graham ff Figuereodh Kaaihue 1b Donachiec Ketm2b Gaffney3b McFaH rf hbl Oud-CrtJea 4 0 0 0 Span cf 4 0 10 Garcia ss 4 0 10 Moses dh 3 0 0 0 Peterson 3b 4 0 0 0 Phillips 3 0 0 0 Taylor 2b 3 0 2 0 Whitrock rf 3 0 10 Zamojc lb 2 0 0 0 Ameson If 30 0 0 Totals hbi 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 2 2 3 0 0 0 0 1 2 1 1 3 2 1 1 1 0 0 0 Totals 35 710 6 Burlington 000 000 000 0 Quad-Cities 22 020 OOx 7 Sanchez, Taylor 2 DP Quad-Cities 3 LOB Burlington 5, OuaoOties 6. 2B Zamojc.

Peterson, Taylor 3B Whitrock. HH Moses (3). SB Sanchez (6). Span (9). Whitrock (4).

Taylor (5) Burlington tP ER BB SO McOellan Ouad-Cftles Simonitsch (W, 2-1) Culpepper 3 6 2 Uhl PB Donachle. Chris Bakke. Bob Davidson After being swept Saturday, Swing blank Burlington By Steve Batterson QUAD-CITY TIMES Rise and shine. An early wake-up call Sunday led the Swing of the Quad-Cities to an eye-opening performance at John O'Donnell Stadium. "What a difference a day makes," Swing manager Kevin Boles said after his team blanked Burlington 7-0 in front of a Midwest League matinee audience of 4,203.

After being swept by the Bees 3-2 and 3-0 in an error-filled dou-bleheader Saturday night, Boles brought his team in at 9:30 a.m. Sunday for some early work. SWING-BEES SCOREBOARD The score Swing 7, Bees 0 Moses breaks out Matt Moses looked like, well, Matt Moses on Sunday. After striking out four times and going a combined 1-for-8 in a Saturday double-header loss to Burlington, the Swing of the Quad-Cities infielder returned to his normal form Sunday. Moses belted the first home run at renovated John O'Donnell Stadium, a towering two-run shot in the first inning of Sunday's 7-0 win over the Bees.

His third home run of the season cleared the berm in right field but didn't make It to the Mississippi. "I came out today with intentions of going 4-for-4, but I'm happy with my performance after Saturday," said Moses, a first-round pick in the 2003 draft who was in his second day of action after missing 10 days with a knee injury. Moses went 1-for-4, but made contact in each of his four plate appearances. "Being out for awhile set me back a bit. It's good to finally seeing live pitching again," Moses said.

"I'm doing what I can to get back as quickly as I can. "I felt like I made some strides today. I'm starting to feel confident Mich. FYI: Clinton begins an eight-' day swing through Michigan today, beginning with a four-game series at Battle Creek. The Yankees are hitting .258 as a team, third in the league, but have a pitching staff which ranks last in the league with its collective 5.00 ERA.

Melky Cabrera leads Battle Creek with a .328 average. His nine doubles trails only the LumberKings' Ian Kinsler among Midwest League hitlers. Friday-Sunday What: Clinton LumberKings at West Michigan Whitecaps. When: Friday, 5:30 p.m.; Saturday-Sunday, 1 p.m. Where: Fifth Third Field, Comstock Park, Mich.

FYI: The Tigers affiliate has struggled out of the gates this season, falling seven games off the pace set by South Bend in the East. Only three teams in the league have scored fewer than the 85 runs scored by West Michigan. Tony Giarratano is hitting .325 to lead West Michigan at the plate. 2:02 A.