Lakeland Ledger Articles 2010

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Flying Tigers Fall In Bottom of Ninth

LEDGER NEWS SERVICES


Published: Thursday, August 5, 2010 at 11:41 p.m.
Last Modified: Thursday, August 5, 2010 at 11:41 p.m.
PORT CHARLOTTE | Michael Sheridan's bases-loaded single with one out in the bottom of the ninth gave the Charlotte Stone Crabs a 4-3 win over the Lakeland Flying Tigers in a Florida State League game on Thursday night.


Tim Beckham started the rally with a double off of Lakeland pitcher Jared Gayhart (1-2). A walk, a sacrifice bunt and an intentional walk loaded the bases for Sheridan.

Andy Sonnanstine, a reliever for the Tampa Bay Rays who is on the disabled list, started for the Stone Crabs, who are the Rays' Advanced Class A affiliate. Sonnanstine gave up two hits and one run in 1 1/3 innings.

Patrick McKenna went 2-for-4 for Lakeland to raise his average to .361.

The Flying Tigers and Stone Crabs meet again tonight at 7:05 p.m., in the third game of their four-game series.


Flying Tigers Fall In Bottom of Ninth | TheLedger.com

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Ninth-Inning Homer Lifts Clearwater Over Lakeland, 1-0

By DAVID YATES
LEDGER CORRESPONDENT


Published: Tuesday, August 10, 2010 at 12:18 a.m.
Last Modified: Tuesday, August 10, 2010 at 12:18 a.m.
LAKELAND | Clearwater left fielder Derrick Mitchell hit a rare home run off Lakeland reliever Jared Gayhart with two outs in the ninth inning as the Threshers defeated the Flying Tigers, 1-0, in Florida State League baseball at Marchant Stadium on Monday night.



Lakeland has played in the most one-run games in the 12-team league (43) and is now 20-23 in those contests. Six games have been decided by a 1-0 score, with the Flying Tigers winning three of the six.

The first five innings featured a superb pitching duel between Lakeland southpaw Jon Kibler and Clearwater right-hander Edgar Garcia.

Kibler allowed only two hits during that stretch, while Garcia gave up three.

Kibler tossed two more shutout innings and Garcia's replacement, B.J. Rosenberg, did the same. Each team threatened to score but pitchers worked out of every jam.

Lakeland put two runners on base in the first, third, and sixth innings, but could not get a runner all the way home.

Clearwater ran itself out of potential rallies in the first and seventh innings when Kibler picked off runners at first base. The seventh-inning baserunning blunder by Tim Kennelly cost the Threshers a run because Darin Ruf followed with a triple to deep left center.

Gayhart (1-3) retired the first two Clearwater hitters in the ninth but left an 0-1 fastball to Mitchell up in the zone and surrendered his first home run in 15 appearances out of the Lakeland bullpen. The win went to Derrick Loop (2-1), who lowered his earned run average to 0.54 while earning his second save.

The Flying Tigers (19-23) and the Threshers (19-25) will battle at Marchant again tonight at 7 in the second game of the three-game series.

Detroit's top pick in the 2009 draft, Jacob Turner (2-2, 4.75), is expected to oppose Clearwater right-hander Phillippe Aumont (2-3, 3.97).



Ninth-Inning Homer Lifts Clearwater Over Lakeland, 1-0 | TheLedger.com

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Rijo's Homer Helps Flying Tigers Win

By DAVID YATES
LEDGER CORRESPONDENT


Published: Wednesday, August 11, 2010 at 12:18 a.m.
Last Modified: Wednesday, August 11, 2010 at 12:18 a.m.
LAKELAND | Samir Rijo supported more outstanding Lakeland pitching with a two-run homer and an RBI single as Lakeland defeated Clearwater, 4-0, in Florida State League baseball at Joker Marchant Stadium on Tuesday night.



Rijo had just 10 homers in 662 at-bats in three years in the Dominican Summer League, and none in his first 59 at-bats in the FSL. But with one out in the fifth inning and Francisco Martinez aboard with a single, Rijo rocketed a 1-0 offering from Clearwater ace Jesus Sanchez onto the berm in left.

Sanchez (8-6) took the loss, while Lakeland starter Jacob Turner (3-2), Detroit's first pick in 2009, got the win.

Turner, who is on a strict pitch limit because he turned 19 just three months ago, tossed five shutout innings for the third time in the last month. Lakeland's staff has now given up just one run in its last 30 innings, lowering the league's third-best staff ERA to 3.47.

Dan Gentzler, Shawn Teufel, and Jay Voss put all zeros up after Turner's departure to insure the team's 10th shutout.

In addition to Rijo, Jordan Lennerton enjoyed another productive night at the plate, doubling and singling in a run. Lennerton is now 12-for-28 (.429) over the last week.

The game also featured several outstanding defensive plays on both sides. Clearwater infielders Jim Murphy and Tim Kennelly and right-fielder Derrick Mitchell, and Lakeland shortstop Gustavo Nunez all turned in gems.

The Flying Tigers (20-23) and the Threshers (19-26) will battle at Marchant again tonight at 7 in the finale of the three-game series. Luke Putkonen (7-6. 3.51) is expected to oppose Clearwater right-hander Phillippe Aumont (2-3, 3.97).

Rijo's Homer Helps Flying Tigers Win | TheLedger.com

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Pitching Propels Lakeland to Win | TheLedger.com

Pitching Propels Lakeland to Win

By DAVID YATES
LEDGER CORRESPONDENT

Published: Thursday, August 12, 2010 at 11:09 p.m.
Last Modified: Thursday, August 12, 2010 at 11:09 p.m.
LAKELAND | Lakeland starting pitchers continue putting zeros on the scoreboard as the Flying Tigers defeated the Brevard County Manatees, 7-2, in Florida State League baseball at Joker Marchant Stadium on Thursday night.

Luke Putkonen (8-6) tossed six shutout innings to run the string of scoreless frames recorded by the team's starters to 26 1/3. Although the Lakeland bullpen did surrender a pair of run in the seventh inning, Flying Tigers' hurlers have given up just three runs in the last 39 innings.

In contrast, Lakeland batters abused Brevard starter R. J. Seidel (3-2) for eight hits and four runs in 2 1/3 innings, and then collected seven more hits and three more runs against Manatees' relievers.

Francisco Martinez powered the Flying Tigers' 15-hit attack with a double, two singles and three runs scored. Gustavo Nunez doubled, singled, and drove in three runs, while Jordan Lennerton doubled and singled twice.

Lakeland, which has been the FSL's top defensive team most of the season, turned four double plays and played errorless ball for the 49th time this season. With only 94 fielding mistakes in 114 games, the team is well on the way to breaking the franchise record of just 130 errors, set by the 2009 team.

The Flying Tigers (21-23) will now hit the road for five games, two in Brevard County and four in Clearwater, one of which is a make-up for Wednesday's rainout at Marchant. The Threshers do not visit Lakeland again this season.

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Tigers top 'Tees | Brevard County Manatees News

Tigers top 'Tees
BC's losing streak at three
By Frank Longobardo / Brevard County Manatees
08/13/2010 10:55 PM ET


VIERA, Fla. -After a 4-4 road trip, the Brevard County Manatees returned home to Space Coast Stadium on Friday night, but could only muster five hits in a 4-3 loss to the Lakeland Flying Tigers in front of 1,762 fans.

Manatees starter Darren Byrd went six innings and allowed three runs (two earned) on six hits, while tying his season-high in strikeouts with six. With the game tied 3-3 in the seventh, the ball was handed over to Daniel Meadows.

Meadows started the inning by allowing a single to John Murrian. After recording a strikeout, Francisco Martinez ripped a double to center field to put runners on second and third. Next up was Christopher Sedon who recorded a sacrifice fly to left to score Murrian and that was all the Tigers would end up needing to take the game.

Brevard County had a chance to even the game in the eighth when Erik Komatsu reached on a one-out double. Angel Salome then ripped a ball into the right center field gap, but Lakeland's center fielder Daniel Fields was able make a diving catch and double up Komatsu at second, who took off as soon as the ball was hit, thinking it dropped in for a hit.

The Manatees took an early 2-0 lead after two innings, thanks to a sacrifice fly off the bat of Komatsu in the first and a RBI ground out by Sean McCraw.

Lakeland tied the game with two in the third and then took the lead with a solo homer from Jordan Lennerton in the fourth. The Manatees would counter with a solo shot of their own in the fourth off the bat of Sergio Miranda, his second of the season.

But after Miranda's homer, Brevard County would record just one more hit the rest of the game.

With the Flying Tigers taking the first two games in the series, the Manatees will look to salvage it by winning the series finale, Saturday beginning at 7:05 p.m. at Space Coast Stadium.

Brevard County will send Kyle Heckathorn (2-0, 2.70) to the hill to try and snap its three-game losing streak. Lakeland will counter with Adam Wilk (9-4, 2.99).

Don't forget that following Saturday's game, there will be a spectacular fireworks show to light up the skies at Space Coast Stadium!

This story was not subject to the approval of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues or its clubs.

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Kibler Pitches Lakeland to Win

LEDGER NEWS SERVICES


Published: Monday, August 16, 2010 at 12:32 a.m.
Last Modified: Monday, August 16, 2010 at 12:32 a.m.
CLEARWATER | Jon Kibler (4-4) pitched seven shutout innings and struck out six, and Brent Wyatt was 3-for-4 with a two-run homer to lead the Lakeland Flying Tigers past the Clearwater Threshers on Sunday.



Wyatt's homer came in the sixth after Lakeland had scored four runs in the fifth to break open a 0-0 tie. Jordan Lennerton's two-run double highlighted the fifth-inning rally.

Jay Voss worked the last two innings for Lakeland, striking out three.

The Flying Tigers and the Threshers will play a double-header today beginning at 5 p.m. One of the games is the make-up of a game that was postponed last Wednesday. Both games will be seven innings.

Kibler Pitches Lakeland to Win | TheLedger.com

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Threshers Spilt Twinbill As Cloyd Flirts With Perfection | Clearwater Threshers News

Threshers Spilt Twinbill As Cloyd Flirts With Perfection
By Adrian Martinez
08/16/2010 10:27 PM ET


CLEARWATER, Fla. - The Clearwater Threshers and Lakeland Flying Tigers split Monday night's doubleheader at Bright House Field. The Threshers dropped the first game 9-2 but came back with a 6-4 win as Tyler Cloyd took a perfect game into the fifth inning and finished with 10 strikeouts.

Cloyd, getting the spot start, was perfect through four innings with six punch outs. Then with two away in the fifth, Francisco Martinez legged out an infield single to break up the perfecto. Cloyd exited the game with one out in the sixth to make way for B.J. Rosenberg who struggled, giving up a pair of homers that leveled the game at four.

Then in the bottom half of the inning, Carlos Perdomo led off with a single to right field. After a sacrifice bunt by Bob Stumpo, Perdomo moved to third on a past ball then scored on a ground out by Gabriel Suarez. D'Arby Myers added an insurance run on the next pitch with his third home run of the year.

Darin Ruf also launched a homer in the contest, a two-run blast during the fifth inning and Chase Utley finished 1-for-3 with a triple and a run scored.

Utley played in both games for his major league rehab assignment, and will likely head back to Philadelphia to be revaluated and could possibly rejoin the Phillies.

Rosenberg wound up recording the victory for game two, his first win with the Threshers this season.

The Flying Tigers ran away with game one, scoring a pair of runs in the second and third and five in the seventh. The Threshers did score in the sixth and seventh to avoid the shutout. Ruf tallied three hits in three appearances and Utley recorded an RBI single.

Jesus Sanchez (8-7) struggled over four innings while Jacob Turner (4-2) tossed five frames of two-hit ball for the victory.

The series wraps up Tuesday night at 7 p.m. at Bright House Field as the first 125 kids 14 and under will receive a free Threshers back pack filled with school supplies for Back To School Night sponsored by the St. Petersburg Times. Don't forget that Tuesday is also $1 night as general admission, 12 oz. draft beers, and various concession items will be just one dollar all night.

This story was not subject to the approval of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues or its clubs.

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Flying Tigers Use Nine-Run Sixth To Beat Manatees

By DAVID YATES
LEDGER CORRESPONDENT


Published: Wednesday, August 18, 2010 at 11:24 p.m.
Last Modified: Wednesday, August 18, 2010 at 11:24 p.m.
LAKELAND | Hot-hitting Jordan Lennerton ignited Lakeland's nine-run, sixth-inning rally with another home run as the Flying Tigers defeated Brevard County, 9-2, in Florida State League baseball at Marchant Stadium on Wednesday night.



Trailing 2-0 when they came up for their sixth at-bat, the Flying Tigers paraded 15 men to the plate in the biggest single-inning explosion since they scored 11 runs in the 7th inning of a 15-1 win over the Palm Beach Cardinals on July 14, 2004.

Lennerton started the rally with his 7th home run, the fourth in the last nine games for the 24-year-old Canadian first baseman. Lenerton's 14th inning home run powered Lakeland's 3-2 win at Clearwater on Tuesday and he is now 14-for-32 (.438) over those nine games.

Lakeland bunched six hits with six walks in its big inning. Catcher John Murrian doubled and singled, while Chris Sedon and Daniel Fields each singled in two runs.

Almost lost in all that offense was a quality start by Mark Sorenson (9-11), who received outstanding defensive support after a shaky first inning.

Sorenson went 7 1/3 innings, giving up a pair of first-inning runs and seven hits, while walking two and striking out four.

Lennerton, shortstop Gustavo Nunez, third baseman Francisco Martinez, and right fielder Chris White all turned in outstanding defensive plays for Lakeland, which also turned three double plays.

Winners of eight of their past 11 games, the Flying Tigers (26-25) will entertain the Manatees (30-23) again at Marchant tonight at 7. FSL pitcher of the week for August 2-8, Adam Wilk (9-4, 3.05) is expected to start for Lakeland.

Flying Tigers Use Nine-Run Sixth To Beat Manatees | TheLedger.com

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Manatees Hand Wilk Rare Loss

By DAVID YATES
LEDGER CORRESPONDENT


Published: Friday, August 20, 2010 at 12:42 a.m.
Last Modified: Friday, August 20, 2010 at 12:42 a.m.
( page of 2 )

LAKELAND | Lakeland ace Adam Wilk lost for the first time in nearly two months as Brevard County defeated the Flying Tigers, 5-2, in Florida State League baseball at Marchant Stadium on Wednesday night.



The Manatees collected seven hits and scored five times on Wilk (9-5) in the first three innings, although four of the runs were unearned. The 22-year-old California southpaw had not been defeated since the Daytona Cubs turned the trick with a 2-1 seven-inning win over Lakeland on June 22.

Matt Cline led off the game with a single, Juan Sanchez reached on an error, Erik Komatsu singled in Cline and Sean Holton brought Komatsu home with a sacrifice fly.

The Flying Tigers came right back to tie the game in the home half of the first. Gustavo Nunez and Francisco Martinez singled around a Jordan Lennerton double. The hit extended Lennerton's hitting streak to 10 games, during which he is batting .429 (15-for-35).

The Manatees went back ahead with a run in the second when Scott Krieger doubled and Cline singled him home.

The visitors from the East Coast scored their last two runs in the third inning on Shawn Zarraga's two-out, two-run double. The inning had been prolonged by Lakeland's second error so both of those runs were also unearned.

The game featured outstanding relief pitching on both sides. Matt Little, who was making his Lakeland debut, and Shawn Teufel combined for seven strikeouts over four scoreless innings out of the Lakeland bullpen. Daniel Meadows and Cofrey Frerichs just as effective for Brevard County, fanning five over the last three innings of the game.

Still winners of eight of their past 12 games, the Flying Tigers (26-26) will close out their season series against the Manatees (31-23) tonight at 7 in Viera. FSL pitcher of the week for August 9-15, Jon Kibler (4-4, 3.44) is expected to start for Lakeland.

The Flying Tigers will return to Marchant to host the first-place Tampa Yankees Saturday at 6 p.m. It will be both Bike Night and Law and Order Night, with various activities planned, including a bike parade around the stadium warning track.

Still winners of eight of their past 12 games, the Flying Tigers (26-26) will close out their season series against the Manatees (31-23) tonight at 7 in Viera. FSL pitcher of the week for August 9-15, Jon Kibler (4-4, 3.44) is expected to start for Lakeland.

The Flying Tigers will return to Marchant to host the first-place Tampa Yankees Saturday at 6 p.m. It will be both Bike Night and Law and Order Night, with various activities planned, including a bike parade around the stadium warning track.


Manatees Hand Wilk Rare Loss | TheLedger.com

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'Tees rally falls short in extras | Brevard County Manatees News

'Tees rally falls short in extras
BC drops two of three to Lakeland
By Frank Longobardo / Brevard County Manatees
08/20/2010 11:22 PM ET


VIERA, Fla. - The Brevard County Manatees battled back from a 4-0 deficit only to see it erased by one swing from Lakeland's Jordan Lennerton as the Manatees fell 5-4 in 10 innings to the Flying Tigers on Friday night at Space Coast Stadium.

After tying the game in the bottom of the eighth on a Sean McCraw RBI single, the game would go to extra innings and with one out in the top of the tenth, Lennerton took the 1-1 offering from Mark Willinsky and deposited it just over the outstretched arm of Brock Kjeldgaard and just over the left field fence.

Lakeland (64-59 overall, 27-26 second half) took the early advantage against Manatees starting pitcher Cody Scarpetta who allowed four runs (three earned) on four hits, while walking three and striking out four, in just four short innings.

Brevard County (58-66, 31-24) finally got on the board in the bottom of the fourth as Scott Krieger hit a two-run homer to right, his ninth of the season, to cut the Manatees' deficit in half, 4-2. The Manatees would plate another run in the fifth to make it a 4-3 game, on a RBI single by Sergio Miranda that scored Erik Komatsu.

Manatees reliever Ruben Flores kept Brevard County in the game as he threw three shutout innings and allowed just two hits, while striking out three. It was the longest relief appearance of the year for Flores and in 12 innings of work against the Flying Tigers, Flores has not given up a single earned run.

The Manatees completed its comeback and tied the game up in the eighth on a two-out RBI single from Sean McCraw. Brevard County had a chance to win it in the ninth as Matt Cline led off the inning with a single and then moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Komatsu, but Angel Salome struck out swinging and then Miranda grounded out to end the inning.

Then in the top of the tenth, with Brevard County reliever Mark Willinsky going into his third inning of work, he gave up the solo homer to Lennerton as Lakeland regained the lead, 5-4.

With two outs in the bottom of the inning, Krieger tried to get a rally going with two outs as he laced a single to right-center field, but McCraw would pop up to end the game as the Manatees dropped two of three to the Flying Tigers.

Cline, Krieger, McCraw and Sean Halton all had multi-hit games for the Manatees as Cline picked up three hits, while Krieger, McCraw and Halton had two each.

Brevard County - still 3 ½ games back of the North Division lead - will now square off with the Daytona Cubs in a pivotal three-game series to see who will take hold of second place going into final two weeks of the season.

The Manatees are 2 ½ games behind the Cubs for second place. Brevard County is just 5-11 against Daytona (67-57, 33-21) this season.

The three-game set will open in Daytona Beach on Saturday night at 7:05 p.m. as Dan Merklinger (6-5, 3.89) will take the hill for the Manatees.

The series will then come back to Viera on Sunday afternoon at 1:05 p.m. and then conclude back in Daytona on Monday night at 7:05 p.m.

This story was not subject to the approval of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues or its clubs.

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Four-Run 11th Lifts Lakeland Past Daytona | TheLedger.com

Four-Run 11th Lifts Lakeland Past Daytona

LEDGER NEWS SERVICES

Published: Friday, August 27, 2010 at 11:55 p.m.
Last Modified: Friday, August 27, 2010 at 11:55 p.m.

DAYTONA | Lakeland scored four runs in the top of the 11th to defeat Daytona, 5-1, in the opening of a three-game series.

The Flying Tigers put together five consecutive singles in the inning to grab the lead.

Luis Castillo started the rally with a single. He went to third on a bunt by Gustavo Nunez and a throwing error, and scored on a single by Patrick McKenna to break the 1-1 tie.

Jayson Gayhart (3-3) pitched three scoreless innings, striking out five to even his record.

The Flying Tigers improve to 30-30 in the second half of the FSL season.

Lakeland and Daytona will play Game 2 of their series tonight at 7:05 p.m.

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Cubs Blanked By Tigers | Daytona Cubs News

Cubs Blanked By Tigers
By Joe Rauschenberger
08/28/2010 9:56 PM E

DAYTONA - Pushing towards the playoffs, the Cubs came up empty against tough pitching as Daytona (70-61, 36-25) was shutout by Lakeland (68-63, 31-30) in a 3-0 defeat. Luke Putkonen went 7.2IP for the victory and Bruce Rondon closed the door for his first save of the season.

The Flying Tigers started the scoring in the third inning. With two outs, third basemen Francisco Martinez reached with a single. Jordan Lennerton followed and laced a full-count pitch into center for a single. Martinez, running on the pitch, hustled all the way around from first to score on a close play at the plate, making it 1-0 Lakeland.

The Tigers added insurance in the late innings, putting up single tallies. With two outs in the seventh Pat McKenna singled, stole second, and came around on Francisco Martinez' third base hit of the night to make it 2-0 Lakeland. In the ninth a leadoff walk and a stolen base from the Tigers Chris Sedon put him into position to score on an Alexander Moreno single, giving Lakeland a 3-0 lead they wouldn't relinquish.

Recently promoted Nicholas Struck (0-2) started for the Cubs and took the loss with four innings of one run work. Luke Putkonen (9-7) worked an effective 7.2 innings, inducing three double-plays to quell threats from the Cubs. 19 year old Venezuelan Bruce Rondon closed the door for his first save in the Florida State League, getting the Cubs in order in the ninth.

The Cubs will wrap up their 2010 regular season slate at Jackie Robinson Ballpark on Sunday night with first pitch scheduled for 5:35 p.m. It will be the final Palmer Chiropractic Family Day at the ballpark allowing all kids to run the bases after the game. It also will be the last Cubbie's Crew outing, and it will be Fan Appreciation Night, with lots of prizes to be handed out.

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Dunedin Edges Lakeland in Extras

By DAVID YATES
LEDGER CORRESPONDENT


Published: Tuesday, August 31, 2010 at 10:59 p.m.
Last Modified: Tuesday, August 31, 2010 at 10:59 p.m.
LAKELAND | Dunedin denied Lakeland right-hander Mark Sorensen's bid to win his sixth straight start as the Blue Jays defeated the Flying Tigers, 4-3, in 10 innings of Florida State League baseball at Joker Marchant Stadium Tuesday night.




Lakeland Flying Tiger Alexander Moreno steps on home plate after hitting a home run in the third inning against the Dunedin Blue Jays at Joker Marchant Stadium in Lakeland, Florida, Tuesday August 31, 2010. The Ledger/ Rick Runion Sorensen, who was 5-0 with a 2.01 ERA in his previous five starts, struck out eight, walked one, and took a 2-1 lead into his sixth and final inning on the mound, but was done in on an uncharacteristic Lakeland error.

The Flying Tigers have led the FSL in defense virtually the entire season, but fielding miscues in the sixth and eighth inning allowed the Blue Jays to score two unearned runs and cost Sorensen a win.

Chris Sedon provided Lakeland with a 1-0 lead by depositing a 2-2 pitch from Ryan Shopshire onto the berm beyond the left field wall leading off the third inning. The Flying Tigers then made it 2-0 later in the inning when Gustavo Nunez tripled and Pat McKenna doubled.

Both teams scored runs in the eighth and the Blue Jays won it in the 10th when Kenny Wilson walked, moved up on Ryan Schimpf's sacrificed bunt, and scored on Concepcion Rodriguez's single to center.

Every Lakeland starter had at least one hit in Lakeland's 15-hit attack. Jordan Lennerton doubled three times, falling one short of the FSL record of most doubles in a game.

The win went to Dan DeLucia (4-2), who retired Lennerton on a fly to center with runners on second and third in the bottom of the ninth.

Dunedin (28-36) and Lakeland (31-32) will meet at Marchant again tonight in the second game of the three-game series.


Dunedin Edges Lakeland in Extras | TheLedger.com

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LOL, they Ledger caption for the photo is a bit off because Chris Sedon look nothing like Alexander Moreno

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Gomes' Homer Leads Blue Jays | TheLedger.com

Gomes' Homer Leads Blue Jays

LEDGER NEWS SERVICES

Published: Friday, September 3, 2010 at 12:04 a.m.
Last Modified: Friday, September 3, 2010 at 12:04 a.m.

LAKELAND | Yan Gomes' two-out, two-run homer in the sixth propelled the Dunedin Blue Jays to a 4-1 win over the Lakeland Flying Tigers in the final game of a three-game series at Marchant Stadium on Thursday night.

Gomes' homer followed a two-out single by Jon Talley and broke a 1-1 tie.

Lakeland had taken a 1-0 lead in the third when Luis Castillo singled to score Alexander Moreno, who had walked and stole second and third.

Dunedin tied it in the fifth when Welinton Ramirez reached on a two-base error, went to third on a balk and scored on an infield grounder. Moises Sierra's sacrifice fly in the seventh brought home Dunedin's final run.

Reliever Michael Torrealba () took the loss giving up four hits and three runs in two innings.

Lakeland hosts Daytona tonight at 7.

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Our local writer is in New Endgland this week, hence the lack of articles.

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Ledger photo link for 9-15-10, Scott Wheeler: http://www.theledger.com/apps/pbcs.d...99&Ref=PH&pl=1

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Lakeland Loses Season Finale 6-0

Lakeland Loses Season Finale 6-0
September 5, 2010 | Wayne Koehler | Your Thoughts?

Lakeland closed out the 2010 season by being shutout by Daytona 6-0 on Sunday. The Flying Tigers, held to just three hits, finish the season with a 71-67 record, just the second season since 1997 that they have won 70 or more games. The Lakeland defense set a team record this season with just 118 errors, eclipsing the old mark of 130 set in 2009. Lakeland also finished with a season attendance of 64,010 – the most ever in franchise history.

Chris Sedon (left), Dan Gentzler

photo credit: Tom Hagerty for Lakeland Local

Bio: Wayne Koehler has worked in the Florida State League since 1983. He began as the Public Address Announcer for the Winter Haven Red Sox from 1983-84 before moving to the Lakeland press box in 1985-86 as a reporter for the Tampa Tribune. Koehler then moved to the game operations staff in 1987 and has worked in some capacity ever since including 11 seasons as the PA voice of the Tigers. Currently he is a statistical reporter for Minor League Baseball covering the Flying Tigers. His "day job" is as assistant webmaster and staff photographer for Florida Southern College where he has worked since his graduation from the college in 1983. He spend 15 of those years as the college's director of sports information. A native of Cincinnati, Ohio, Koehler grew up in St. Petersburg and moved to Lakeland in 1981.

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Flying Tigers' 2010 Season A Success on Many Levels | TheLedger.com

FLYING TIGERS SEASON RECAP
Flying Tigers' 2010 Season A Success on Many Levels


Lakeland Flying Tigers' players say goodbye to fans and sign autographs after their final game of the season against the Daytona Cubs at Joker Marchant Stadium in Lakeland, FL on Sunday September 5, 2010. The Cubs spoiled the final game for the Flying Tigers, winning 6-0. Scott Wheeler/The Ledger

Ledger Correspondent

Published: Sunday, September 5, 2010 at 11:58 p.m.
Last Modified: Sunday, September 5, 2010 at 11:58 p.m.



LAKELAND | What makes a successful season for a professional baseball team?

You want the fans to come out, you want to win and, if you're talking about a minor league baseball team, you want to move players up the ladder.

By that measure, the Lakeland Flying Tigers completed a very successful season.

The Flying Tigers set a team record for season attendance, finishing with 64,010 fans following Sunday's 6-0 loss to the Daytona Cubs at Joker Marchant Stadium.

Despite the loss, Lakeland finishes with 71 wins, making it just the second time since 1997 that Lakeland has finished with more than 70 wins.

Although they missed the playoffs, Lakeland reached the 70-win plateau despite a revolving door of transactions - 125 in all - that saw the team finish with just three players from the opening-day roster.

"I thought it (player development) was tremendously successful," manager Andy Barkett said. "Basically, our whole starting team to start the season are in Double-A and Triple-A, and they're doing a great job."

Four players who moved up were first baseman Rawley Bishop (6 HR, .385), second baseman Alden Carrithers (1 HR, .359), right fielder Kody Kaiser (5 HR, .325) and top pitcher Charles Furbush (4-5, 3.39 ERA). Barkett was especially high on Bishop, who finished with 15 homers and 87 RBIs in 475 at-bats split between Lakeland and Double-A Erie.

"I think he has the shot to be a productive hitter in the big leagues," Barkett said.

n the year of the pitcher in the big leagues, that certainly was the case for the Flying Tigers, who finished second in the league with a 3.29 ERA.

"Our pitching staff has been tremendous all season long," Barkett said. "Without them, we wouldn't have been over .500. With players moving all over the place, the pitching staff stayed firm and stayed strong and kept our heads above water."

Jacob Turner, the Tigers first-round pick in the 2009 draft, was stellar in his 13 starts, going 4-2 with a 2.93 ERA.

Cole Nelson, the Tigers' 10th-round pick out of Auburn, allowed just 1 run in 12 innings since being called up from the Gulf Coast League. In his first 27 1/3 innings of professional ball, he allowed just two earned runs and struck out 36.

Heading into Sunday's final game, Lakeland starters compiled a 0.95 ERA in their last 11 games before Mark Sorenson was tagged for three runs, only two earned, on eight hits in six innings Sunday.

Sorenson, one of the three remaining Lakeland players who were on the opening-day roster, finished the season 10-12 with a 4.03 ERA. Prior to a no-decision in his previous outing, Sorenson won five consecutive starts.

Of the players who ended the season in Lakeland, third baseman Franciso Martinez (3 HR, 29 RBI, .271), outfielder Daniel Fields (8 HR, 47 RBI, .240) and shortstop Gustavo Nunez are among the top prospects. The speedy, slick-fielding Nunez was ranked the Tigers' seventh-best prospect by Baseball America before the season, struggled at the plate, hitting just .222.

He's got to learn to be a more complete hitter and develop a better game plan," Barkett said. "We've worked with him all year. He scores a ton of runs. When he gets on base, things happen. The problem is we have to get him on base more. You can't steal first."

[MIgal1]

^^^^^ I see someone I know in that picture

[fyrftrjim]

Experienced Huppert Takes Over Flying Tigers

By Tom Zebold
THE LEDGER




Published: Wednesday, December 15, 2010 at 5:09 a.m.
Last Modified: Wednesday, December 15, 2010 at 5:09 a.m.
( page 1 of 2 )

LAKELAND | The Flying Tigers' new manager has a boatload of baseball experience and says he's happy to be bringing it to Lakeland.


Click to enlarge The Detroit Tigers announced Monday that Dave Huppert will guide their players at the Single-A level after Andy Barkett, the Flying Tigers' manager for the past three years, decided to take a job with the Florida Marlins organization at the Double-A level in Jacksonville.

"(Huppert) will add a lot to our organization, having him in the system to manage," said Dan Lunetta, director of the Tigers' minor league operations. "※ He's a good man. He's a good baseball man."

The 53-year-old Huppert played 10 seasons of pro baseball in the Orioles, Twins and Brewers organizations before spending 21 seasons in the minor leagues as a manager. He spent the past five seasons in the Phillies' organization and managed at the Triple-A level the past three.

Huppert earned manager of the year honors twice -- 1988 in Single-A in the California League and 2001 in Single-A in the Florida State League -- and he's led two teams to league titles, the latest being the FSL's Clearwater Threshers in 2007.

Huppert didn't mention wins when talking about why he enjoys coaching in the minors.

"You get to see the young, raw prospects, and you get to help move them into being better ballplayers," Huppert said in a phone interview Tuesday. "They are still very eager to learn. It's a lot of fun at this level."

Now he'll be teaching in Lakeland, and he's already familiar with the Tigers after working with some of the same staff members when he was with the Marlins.

"It will be a very easy transformation to move over here," Huppert said.

Huppert won't have to go far to clock in, either, because he lives in Zephyrhills.

"It allows him the opportunity to get over here on an as-needed basis during the offseason if we need him," Lunetta said.

Huppert was one of a half-dozen candidates considered for the position, and Lunetta said his name was very appealing while the Tigers looked for a veteran manager the thoroughly understands the developmental process.

"A guy like that sort of jumps to the top of the list," Lunetta said.


Experienced Huppert Takes Over Flying Tigers | TheLedger.com