The Times Leader from Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania • 34

8C The Times Leader, Wilkes-Barre. PA, Sunday. April 25. 1993 Mill right groove." If Millette can get into a groove similar to the one he got into last year, when he hit .315 from May 14 through June 21. both he and .1 i -j 1..

1 IP. rorib1 i 1 I I Toledo Off Norfolk Norfolk Norfolk Rochester Rochester Mud Hens Tides Tides Tides Red Wings Red Wings I 2 p.m. 7 p.m. 7 p.m. 7 p.m.

7:05 p.m. 7:05 p.m. MOOSIC For the past three seasons, Joe Millette has been trying to prove to the world of professional baseball that he really Isn't a ninth-place hitter. "In college and my first year as a pro. I hit number two," said the Red Barons second baseman, whose two-out triple in the bottom of the eighth inning gave ScrantonWilkes-Barre a 7-5 victory over Toledo Saturday.

"Then one year. I hit .183," said Millette, referring to the 1990 season at Class A Clearwater. "I got labeled a number nine hitter. I ve hit well every year since then, but I got stuck there. But two's where Td always hit." With six hits in his past 1 1 at-bats.

Millette is acting more like a cleanup hitter than a guy In the number nine hole. He had three hits Saturday and has hit in 1 1 of his past 14 games. All this from a guy who found out only shortly before reporting to spring training that he had to switch from shortstop to second base to make room for highly regarded prospect Kevin Stocker. And all this from a guy whose ability in the field, not necessarily his hitting, got him, called up to Philadelphia for the first time in his career last year. "Joe's been incredible." said manager George Culver, him to the scrappy second baseman on the 1988 Maine Phillies team Culver managed, former Red Baron Tommy Barrett.

Brady and Sam Taylor and pitch- ers Ron Allen and Andy Carter, who could be among the first, players called up from Reading when and if the Red Barons lose any of their current players either to call-up, injuries or other player moves. Former Red Baron outfielder Braulio Castillo led the Pacific Coast League in hitting as of Fri- -day. Castillo, who nearly made the Colorado Rockies' opening day roster, was hitting .440 for the Rockies' Triple-A team In Colorado Springs. Another former Red Baron, pitcher Jason Grimsley, was put on the disabled list by Charlotte; shortly after pitching two games against the Red Barons two weeks ago. "He's one of the top Triple-A managers, he's won a lot of pennants and his clubs are always tough to beat," said Culver of Sparks, who going into Saturday had 1.266 minor league managerial victories, or 1,044 more than the Red Barons manager.

"Anytime you play a team he manages, he's the type of guy who will take advantage of your mistakes." Culver added. Ron Lockett, the first baseman beaten out by Sean Ryan for a spot on the Red Barons roster In spring training, hit two home runs, including a grand slam, on his first day back from the disabled list last week as Reading beat Binghamton In the Eastern League. Lockett is one of several players, including outfielders Pat Ritchie- making pitch for majors as Mud Hen If TIMES LEADERCARA MENICHEUJ The Red Barons' Joe Millette slides safely into first base as Toledo's first basemen Ivan Cruz attempts to tag him out Normally tough bullpen loses one for Mud Hens i Dili SaVSOe Diamond Dust "If there was ever a guy you pull for. It's him," said Culver. "He's a Tommy Barrett-type kid.

he wears his heart on his sleeve." For his part, Millette says it is Imperative that he not try to rely on his defensive reputation to get back to the majors. Tve got to hit," said the former St. Mary's College infielder. who hit .205 in 33 games for the Phillies last year. "Defense has always come first for me.

but lately it's been more like 50-50, because Tve had that number nine label To shed the Image that he isn't much of a hitter. Millette has worked hard, lifting weights and working with former big league coach Billy DeMars in spring training. "I think it, helped, the more knowledge you can get in anything, it helps you," he said of his work with DeMars, now a roving hitting Instructor In the Phillies' organization. "I think it's coming along." Millette said. Tve improved a lot in my swing.

I'm starting to find that "I would have been happy to stay with thePhilhes.Butit just didn't work out. If Wally Ritchie Former Red Baron tonWilkes-Barre fans were walking around wondering. "Why Wally After all, he's one of the most even-tempered, and probably most harmless, men in all of baseball. "That was two years ago," Ritchie said. "It's history." So is the ninth inning of Game 5 of last year's Governor's Cup championship series.

During that span, the Columbus Clippers rallied from a 3-1 deficit to score three runs to win the game, and the Governor's Cup from the Red Barons, 4-3. Darrin Chapin gave up the final, game-winning hit in that series. But Ritchie called the Red Barons' version of former Phillie ace closer Tug McGraw by then-manager Lee Ella was the pitcher on the mound who allowed Columbus to begin that rally. And Ritchie was the guy tagged with the most crushing loss in Red Barons history. a relief pitcher, you have to let things go." said Ritchie, who pitched in 76 games, threw 260 2-3 innings and was 13-7 as a starter and reliever for the Red Barons.

"It wasn't a good game," Ritchie said of his final appearance in a Red Barons uniform. "I made some good pitches and they just had hits on them. After that, fs overT As a member of the Detroit organization, Ritchie is off to a good start Serving as a setup man out of the bullpen, Ritchie hasn't given up a run through five innings in five games. "I think opportunities are good here," Ritchie said. "I don't know how they work things.

But I'd assume if I pitch well, have as good a chance at going up as anybody else. "1 feel confident out there and I'm throwing strikes." That pattern is familiar, even if he isn't doing it off the mound of Lackawanna County Stadium anymore. "I have a lot of good memories here, a lot of good friends here," Ritchie said. "My wife and I enjoyed the time In Scran ton. Those are things I miss about it.

"But I still get to come and visit." 13 Off cam I fMt nee uic icu Dcuiuia will ouiciy ucuc- fit. And maybe, before long, hell be watching somebody else hit out of that nine hole. Of course, Millette bats eighth, not ninth, whenever the Red Barons play Norfolk, Ottawa or Richmond, the three other National League affiliates in the International League. Culver spent time as a pitcher in both the American and National leagues, but when he came up with the Cleveland Indians in 1966, the American League didn't have the designated hitter. And, 20 years after the DH was instituted.

Culver still isn't crazy about it. "I don't like American League rules, and it's beyond me why we're a National League team and we have to play American League rules when they come to our park." Culver said. In the IL, the only time National League rules are used is when two affiliates of teams from that league play each other. Any time an American League affiliate plays, at home or away, the designated hitter is used. 'Tve never been able to figure that out." said Culver, noting that he'd prefer that, at least, the rules Red Barons 7, Toledo TOLIDO Hurst ef Partdi8 28 Hariri Rowland Crui lb Ingram If Brogna dh Raimink 3b Goma: is KID BARONS brhbl 5 2 2 1 32 10 5 0 11 30 10 4 12 1 3 0 11 4 0 2 0 4 0 0 0 4 0 0 0 brhbl Stoekarsi 5 111 Mart ti If Amaro cf Minio dh-lb Ryan 1b Rodriguaz pr Williams rl Wallar3b lisbsrlhal 4 2 3 2 4 0 2 0 2 111 2 0 0 1 0 10 0 3 0 0 0 3 10 0 4 0 0 0 Militte2b 4 13 2 Totilt 39 6 10 4 Totals 31,7 10 7 Tolado tad Barsna 200 110 1008 100 030 OJx 7 E-Gomaz, Rowland.

Brink 2. Lieberthal. LOB Tolado 7, Red Barons 6. DP Tolado 1, Rad Barons 2. 2B Brogna, Cruz, Millatta.

Stockar. 3B-Hursl. Milletta. HR-Hurst (3), Marsh (1). Manlo (2).

SB-Marsh (2). CS-Millalla. SAC-C Williams. SF-Nona. BB-Toll-do: Paradss, Rowland.

Ingram. Brogna. Red Barons: Manto 2. Ryan, Walltr, SO Toledo: Hunt. Brogni 2, Gomez.

Red Barons: Stocker 2, Ryan. IP RER BB SO Tolado Gonzales 4 7 4 4 3 2 Johnson 3 10 0 0 1 1 2 3 3 1 0 Rad Baron Brink 623 5 3 2 4 Green, (1-0) 213 2 0 0 1 0 Gonzales pitched to three batters fiflh. HBP-Paredes (Brink), Ryan (Fraser), Umpires Long, Thibodtau, Naubert. How They Scored TOLEDO FIRST: Jody Hurst tripled and Johnny Paredes walked. Hurst scored on a ground-out by Shawn Hare.

Paredes went to second on the ground-out and to third on an errant plckoff throw. He scored on Ivan Cruz' single. Toledo 2, Red Barons, 0. RED BARONS FIRST: Tom Marsh and Ruben Amaro singled. Jeff Manto walked.

Marsh scored on a walk to Sean Ryan. Toledo 2, Red Barons 1. TOLEDO FOURTH: Ivan Cruz doubled and scored on Rlccardo Ingram's single. Toledo 3, Red Barons 1. TOLEDO FIFTH: Jody Hurst led off with a home run to left field.

Toledo 4, Red Barons 1. RED BARON8 FIFTH: Joe Millette doubled and scored on Kevin Stocker's double. Tom Marsh hit a two-run home run to center field. Toledo 4, Red Barons 4. TOLEDO SEVENTH: Johnny Paredes and Shawn Hare singled.

Paredes scored on Rich Rowland's single and an error at the plate on the play. Toledo 5, Red Barons 4. RED BARONS EIGHTH: Jeff Manto led off with a home run to left field. Sean Ryan was hit by a pitch and replaced by pinch-runner Victor Rodriguez. After a sacrifice, Casey Waller was walked Intentionally.

Rodriguez and Waller scored on Joe Millette's triple. Red Barons 7, Toledo 5. Baron Banter BUSY DAY: Toledo starter Frank Gonzales was ejected from the game after he had been removed by manager Joe Sparks. Gonzales got Into an argument with home plate umpire Bob Long as he was leaving the mound, so Long ejected him. The umpires could have more work In store today.

Toledo reliever Willie Fraser hit Sean Ryan with a pitch In the eighth inning, forcing Ryan to leave the game. The Red Barons didn't retaliate with the game on the line in Saturday's ninth Inning. But today is a new game. RADIO 8UB: WILK sports director Joe Thomas joined Kent Westling on Saturday's radio broadcast, filling In for Mike Remlsh, who will not work most weekend games this season. Joe Zone, WILKs program director, was going to fill In on weekends, but since he Is going to Chicago to accept a TV job, he wonl be doing ft much.

POST-GAME: After Saturday's game, the University of Scranton baseball team played Delaware Valley at Lackawanna County Stadium, the Royals' home field. Westling, the voice of Scranton's mens' basketball team during the winter, somehow resisted the temptation to call Saturday's baseball action. Also after the game, the Red Barons held kangaroo court 1155 Main Street Swoyersville, PA 18704 237-2223 or (800)300-4343 of the home team would prevail, meaning that pitchers would bat at all Red Barons home games. He noted that that is the way it works at spring training, as well as in the World Series. When Culver managed Maine in 1988.

that team was arguably the worst team in the inaugural season of the Triple-A Alliance. On the other hand, Toledo manager Joe Sparks had the best team in that short-lived alliance of the IL and American Association. His Indianapolis team that year won the third of three straight American Association titles and went on to beat IL champion Rochester in the first Triple-A Classic. Sparks was the American Association Manager of the Year that season. 5 International League Standings Eastarn Division Pel.

OB Pawtucket (Red Sox) 8 .500 Ottawa (Expos) 6 6 Scranton-WB (Phillies) 8 Rochester (Orioles) 6 7 Syracuse (Blue Jays) 4 7 tVaatem Division Charlotte (Indians) 11 3 Toledo (Tigers) 7 5 Columbus (Yankees) 7 7 Richmond (Braves) 7 9 Norfolk (Mets) 5 8 .500 'A .462 A .364 1 'A .786 .583 3 .500 4 .438 5 .385 5'A Friday's Oamas Ottawa 14, Pawtucketl Columbus 5, Syracuse 3 Charlottes, Norfolk 2, 11 innings Rochester 6, Richmond 2 Toledo 7, Scranton-Wilkes Barre 1 Saturday's Camas Pawtucket at Ottawa Syracuse at Columbus Norfolk at Charlotte Richmond at Rochester Toledo at Scranton-Wilkes Barra Sunday's Oamea Pawtucket at Ottawa Syracuse at Columbus Norfolk at Charlotte Richmond at Rochester Toledo at Scranton-Wilkes Barra Red Barons Schedule (borne games in CAPS) April 25 TOLEDO 2 p.m. April 27 NORFOLK 7 p.m. April 28 -NORFOLK 7 p.m. April 29 NORFOLK 7 p.m. April 30 at Rochester 7:05 p.m." May 1 at Rochester 7:05 p.rn.

May 2 at Rochester 2:05 p.m. May 3 at Syracuse 1 2:30 p.m. May 4 at Syracuse 7 p.m. May 7 CHARLOTTE 7 p.m. May 8 CHARLOTTE 2 p.m.

May 9 CHARLOTTE 2 p.m. May 1 0 at Pawtucket 6 p.m. May 1 1 at Pawtucket 6 p.m. May 1 2 at Pawtucket 6 p.m. May 13 PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES 6:30 p.m.

May14 at Toledo 7 p.m. May IS at Toledo 7 p.m. May 16 at Toledo 2 p.m. May 1 7 at Toledo 7 p.m. May 1 8 OTTAWA 7 p.m.

May 19-OTTAWA 7p.m. May 20 -OTTAWA 7 p.m. May 21 ROCHESTER 7 p.m. May 22 -ROCHESTER 7 p.m. May 23 ROCHESTER 2 p.m.

May 26 PAWTUCKET 7 p.m. May 27 PAWTUCKET 1 1 ,30 am. May 28 at Ottawa 7:35 p.m. May 29 at Ottawa 2:05 p.m. May 30 at Ottawa 2:05 p.m.

May 31 -COLUMBUS 6 pm. June 1 COLUMBUS 7:30 p.m. June 2 COLUMBUS 7:30 p.m. June 4 at Syracuse 7 p.m. June 5 at Syracuse 7 p.m.

June 6 at Syracuse 6 p.m. June 7 at Richmond 7 p.m. June 6 at Richmond 7 p.m. June 9 at Norfolk 7:15 p.m. June 1 0 at Norfolk 7: 1 5 p.m.

June 1 1 at Norfolk 7: 1 5 p.m. June 1 2 TOLEDO 7:30 p.m. June 1 3 TOLEDO 6 p.m. June 14 NORFOLK 7:30 p.m. June 15 NORFOLK 7:30 p.m.

June 16 NORFOLK 7:30 p.m. June 17-NORFOLK 7:30 p.m. June 1 8 at Toledo 7 p.m. June 1 9 at Toledo 7 p.m. June 20 at Toledo 2 p.m.

June21 at Columbus 7:05 p.m. June 22 at Columbus 7:05 p.m. June 23 at Columbus 12:35 p.m. June 24 at Columbus 7:05 p.m. June 25 RICHMOND 7:30 p.m.

June 26 RICHMOND 7:30 p.m. June 27 RICHMOND 6 pis. June 29 CHARLOTTE 7:30 p.m. June 30-TOLEDO July.1 TOLEDO 7:30 p.m. July 2 -OTTAWA 7:30 p.m.

July 3 OTTAWA 2 p.m. July 4 -OTTAWA 7:30 p.m. July 5 -OTTAWA 7:30 p.m. July 7 at Columbus 7:05 p.m. July 8 at Columbus 7:05 p.m.

July 9 at Columbus 6:05 p.m. July 10 at Ottawa 7:35 p.m. July 1 1 at Ottawa 2:05 p.m. July 12-at Ottawa July p.m. July 16 SYRACUSE 7:30 p.m.

Jufy17 atPatuckt7p.m. July 16 at Pawtucket 1 p.m. July 19 at Syracuse 7p.m. July 20 at Syracuse 7 p.m. July 21 OTTAWA 7:30 p.m.

July 22 OTTAWA 7:30 m. July 23 ROCHESTER 7:30 p.m. Juty 24 ROCHESTER 7:30 p.m. For batter looking, Ion par lasting cart. uS n--T nil-I his ERA at 0.00 this season, but only because of some breaks in the seventh inning.

Scranton Wilkes-Barre shortstop Joe Millette singled to start the seventh against Johnson, but was quickly 'J picked off first base by Mud Hens catcher Rich Rowland for the in- nings first out Two batters later, -Tom Marsh singled on a wicked one-hopper to shortstop, stole second and kept going to third on -a throwing error. But Ruben Am-aro. 2-for-3 to that point, filed out to end the inning. Of course. Millette made up for his baserunning mistake by deliv- -ering the game-winning, two-run triple that gave the Red Barons victory against Fraser, who entered the game with a 3.00 ERA in six appearances.

"That was a big hit," Sparks said. "He (Fraser) was one batter away from getting through the eighth inning." "It helps encouragement in the team, too," Millette said of his big blow. His shot came four batters af- ter Jeff Manto tied the game, 5-5, with a long home run. ByPAULSOKOLOSKI Times Leader Sports Writer MOOSIC There was a hint of disappointment, maybe even a little frustration, in Wally Ritchie's voice as he spoke. For parts of four baseball seasons, Wallace Reid Ritchie called Lackawanna County Stadium home.

He was an original ScrantonWilkes-Barre Red Baron when the Philadelphia Phillies moved their Class AAA franchise here In 1989. He was a goat in the team's first game and a goat In the Red Barons final, fateful Inning of their last playoff game In fipntpmhpr But in between, he did nothing but give his heart and soul and even part of his pitching shoulder to the Phillies organization. He gave the Phillies his best since he broke into professional baseball in 1985 with Bend. And after last season, the organization rewarded him by releasing the 27-year-old left-handed pitcher. "I would have been happy to stay with the Phillies," said Ritchie, who showed up again at Lackawanna County Stadium this past weekend as a key member of the Toledo Mud Hens bullpen.

"But it Just didn't work out." He signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers' organization and worked through most of spring training with that organization, until the Dodgers released him, too. So Ritchie, being his old. resilient self, signed with the Detroit Tigers and was assigned to their Class AAA team. Tve been pitching well, we have a good team and I'm having a lot of fun," Ritchie said. Tve gotten to know everybody and the way things work In this organization, I'm enjoying myself." Like good pitchers do.

he's forgotten about the past Well, maybe not everything from his former pitching life. "'I-said'Hf-to-verybodyr Ritchie said of his former ScrantonWilkes-Barre teammates. played with most everybody that's over there the last two or three years, so I have some good friends." 1 r-1 1 wunc iic was a nea oaron. was tough for any fan of the team not to pull for the cool left-hander. He still is ranked among the top 10 among many Scran ton Wilkes-Barre record categories.

When he fought back from a shoulder operation In 1990 to make the parent Phillies, most Red Baron fans wished him luck. "That was three years ago," Ritchie said. "I Just had a lot of garbage in it, really. They Just had to take out some calcium deposits. It was fine." When Atlanta Braves outfielder Otis Nixon charged the mound and beat him up in a 1991 game against the Phillies, most Scran- ByPAULSOKOLOSKI Times Leader Staff Writer MOOSIC For once, the normally sound) Toledo bullpen finally failed.

And the ScrantonWilkes-Barre Red Barons took full advantage Saturday. Toledo reliever Willie Fraser couldn't hold a one-run lead in the eighth inning after Dave Johnson barely escaped allowing his first run of the season to score in the seventh inning. 'That's the first time." Toledo Manager Joe Sparks said of his bullpen's failure during Scran-tonWilkes-Barre's 7-5 victory at Lackawanna County Stadium. "They've been doing the job all year." After Toledo starter Frank Gonzales surrendered Tom Marsh's game-tying, two-run homer in the fifth Inning. Johnson was summoned to the mound for Toledo.

A former member of the Baltimore Orioles' starting rotation. Johnson easily retired the first six men he faced in the fifth and sixth innings. Johnson did manage to keep mmSH TRANSPORTATION Atlantic Qty Casino Service To iB ALLY'S PARK PLACE CASINO Every Suru, Thun. 121 ItoundTiipf 12" Rebates) '2 SeriorCHzen Discount Puthast Tickets And LeM fom Thee Locations: nOXETTS CHASCL 675-451 1 HOLIDAY PANCAKE HOUSE: 288-5528 PATH'S SPORTS BAJL 824-8015 PARRISH TUWrUNAb (Plttston By Pass) Cal in aJvax (or pnined seating Oft CALL 1-800-331-3412 OR 654-7162 THE INTERNATIONAL 10DD GOLF SCHOOL Weekly Schedule Morning Classes One-Day Schools Women's Programs Junior Day Camps PGA Director For FREE brochure Wormafton, cat Mil RACE GOLF CAMPING RESORT Rt. 487, Benton 925-2040 Pre-Season Specials! SPECIALS on SETS Woods and Irons.

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