Dennis Clark
The Tribune-Star
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A trio of former Indiana State and Terre Haute players have assisted the Charlotte Knights into first place through the first half of the International League season.
The Knights sport a 50-42 record, promoted eight players to the Chicago White Sox and had four players named to the IL All-Star team.
Relief pitcher Brian Omogrosso is one of the eight reaching the White Sox roster, catcher Josh Phegley was an IL All-Star — he went 0 for 2 in the Triple-A All-Star game in Buffalo on Wednesday — and Matt Zaleski is a starting pitcher for the Knights.
Charlotte took over the top spot in the IL South Division June 5, currently owning a three-game lead over Norfolk prior to its current weekend series.
Notes — Brady Shoemaker batted .331 at Winston-Salem and is currently hitting .323 since being promoted to Birmingham. He has a four-game hitting streak, going 6 for 12 in that span. … Mitch Stetter recorded his ninth hold for Huntsville on July 6 vs. Chattanooga. … Derek Eitel has three losses and a no-decision in his last four starts for Mobile. … Jake Petricka has 16 strikeouts in his last 11 innings for Winston-Salem. … Brett Merkley earned his third save (July 7 vs. Billings) and his first hold (July 11 at Ogden) for Great Falls. … Dakota Bacus recorded his first save for the AZL A’s vs. the AZL Reds on July 6. … Blake Drake walked six batters in his first two innings since joining Rockford.
Transactions — none.
Updates on former Indiana State, Rose-Hulman, Terre Haute Rex or Wabash Valley-connected players this week:
• Clint Barmes — Barmes was 2 for 7 with one RBI in two games for Pittsburgh.
• Nevin Ashley — Ashley was 2 for 13 in four games on a rehab assignment with the Gulf Coast League Rays
• Josh Phegley — Phegley was 1 for 11 in three games for Charlotte.
• Ryan Strausborger — Strausborger was 6 for 23 with a home run and four RBI in six games for Frisco.
• Brady Shoemaker — Shoemaker ws 6 for 16 with a double, triple and four RBI in six games for Birmingham.
• Nick Ciolli — Ciolli remains on the 7-day DL for Winston-Salem.
• Kyle Lafrenz — Lafrenz remains on the 7-day DL for Clearwater.
• Jeremy Lucas — Lucas was 1 for 9 with one RBI for Mahoning Valley.
• Stephen Bruno — Bruno was 6 for 22 with two doubles in six games for Boise.
• Jake Eigsti — Eigsti was 3 for 13 with a double in four games for Camden.
• Pascual Del Real — Del Real was 1 for 9 in four games for Edinbug.
• Alex Guthrie — Guthrie was 3 for 11 with two RBI in three games for Gateway.
• Joe Thatcher— Thatcher made one relief appearance for San Diego. In 2⁄3 of an inning, he allowed no runs, no hits and no walks with one strikeout in a no-decision vs. Cincinnati on July 8.
• Brian Omogrosso — Omogrosso made one relief appearance for the Chicago White Sox. In 21⁄3 innings, he allowed one hit, two earned runs and three walks, with one strikeout in a no-decision vs. Toronto on July 8.
• Matt Zaleski — Zaleski made one start for Charlotte. He went four innings, allowing one unearned run, three hits, with one walk, two strikeouts in a no-decision vs. Norfolk on July 8.
• Mitch Stetter — Stetter made two relief appearances for Huntsville. In a combined 11⁄3 innings, he allowed no runs, no hits and no walks, with one strikeout.
• Derek Eitel — Eitel made one start for Mobile. In six innings, he allowed six runs (five earned), eight hits and one walk, with two strikeouts in a loss at Pensacola on July 9.
• Ryan Tatusko — Tatusko made one start and one long-relief appearance for Harrisburg. In a combined 121⁄3 innings, he allowed two earned runs, 12 hits, with four walks, 11 strikeouts. He had a win in the start at Bowie on July 6, then a no-decision in his long relief outing vs. Richmond on July 12.
• Jake Petricka — Petricka made one start for Winston-Salem. In six innings, he allowed three earned runs, four hits, with three walks, eight strikeouts in a win vs. Lynchburg on July 9.
• Colin Rea — Rea made one start for Fort Wayne. In 31⁄3 innings, he allowed three runs (two earned), eight hits, with two walks, three strikeeouts in a loss vs. Bowling Green on July 6.
• Jason Van Skike — Van Skike made one relief appearance for Kannapolis. In two innings, he allowed no runs, no hits, with two walks, two strikeouts in a no-decision on July 11.
• Brett Merkley — Merkley made two relief appearances for Great Falls. In a combined three innings, he allowed no runs, three hits, with two walks, two strikeouts.
• Brandon Dorsett — Dorsett made two relief appearances for Bluefield. In a combined four innings, he allowed no runs, two hits, with no walks, three strikeouts at Burlington (July 8) and at Pulaski (July 12).
• Dakota Bacus — Bacus made two relief appearances for the AZL A’s. In a combined 31⁄3 innings, he allowed two earned runs, five hits, with one walk, one strikeout.
• Blake Drake — Drake made two relief appearances for Rockford. In a combined one innings, he allowed two earned runs, no hits, with four walks, no strikeouts.
Through games of Thursday
Position players
Player (Team; Class/Parent club) AB R H HR RBI Avg.
Clint Barmes (Pittsburgh) 245 15 60 4 22 .204
Nevin Ashley (Durham; AAA/Tampa Bay) 69 9 17 1 4 .246
Josh Phegley (Charlotte; AAA/CWS) 293 23 77 1 30 .263
Ryan Strausborger (Frisco; AA/Texas) 297 42 74 3 32 .249
Brady Shoemaker (Birmingham; AA/CWS) 315 66 104 14 64 .330
Nick Ciolli (Winston-Salem; A-Adv./CWS) 160 27 43 4 25 .269
Kyle Lafrenz (Clearwater; A-Adv./Phil.) 47 3 7 0 2 .149
Jeremy Lucas (Mahoning Valley; A-Clev.) 31 2 9 0 3 .290
Stephen Bruno (Boise; A/Cubs) 73 16 23 0 7 .315
Jake Eigsti (Camden; Ind.) 224 24 54 2 26 .241
Pascual Del Real (Edinburg; Ind.) 125 11 26 0 13 .208
Alex Guthrie (Gateway; Ind.) 30 4 8 0 4 .267
Pitchers
Pitcher (Team; Class-Parent club) IP H BB SO W-L Sv ERA
Joe Thatcher (San Diego) 22.1 18 9 24 0-2 14 2.82
Brian Omogrosso (Chi. White Sox) 4.0 5 3 2 0-0 0 6.75
Matt Zaleski (Charlotte; AAA/CWS) 86.1 84 37 50 3-3 0 3.96
Derek Eitel (Mobile; AA/Arizona) 97.1 110 30 59 6-7 0 4.53
Mitch Stetter (Huntsville; AA/Milwaukee)
20.1 11 7 25 1-0 0 1.77
Ryan Tatusko (Harrisburg; AA/Washington)
44.1 43 24 37 2-2 0 4.06
Jake Petricka (Winston-Salem/A-Adv./CWS)
81.2 91 49 84 5-6 0 6.29
Colin Rea (Ft. Wayne; A/San Diego) 64.0 63 27 53 2-5 0 3.23
Jason Van Skike (Kannapolis; A/CWS) 18.2 16 8 15 3-0 1 4.82
Brett Merkley (Great Falls; R/CWS) 13.0 17 6 9 1-1 3 2.77
Brandon Dorsett (Bluefield; R/Tor.) 11.0 9 1 8 1-0 0 0.82
Dakota Bacus (AZL A’s; R/Oakland) 6.1 6 1 2 2-0 1 2.84
Blake Drake (Rockford; Ind.) 2.0 0 6 1 0-0 0 9.00
Dennis Clark can be reached at dennis.clark@tribstar.com and followed on Twitter @TribStarDennis.
