TERRE HAUTE —
Two former Wabash Valley players are hot as a firecracker, two more have joined new teams, and a fifth played a bit part in major league baseball history.
Josh Phegley and Brady Shoemaker, both former Wayne Newton Post 346 players, are the hot hitters. Phegley is hitting .349 with Charlotte (AAA), while Shoemaker checks in at .362 with Winston-Salem (A-advanced).
Shoemaker was 3 for 4 with a double and a pair of home runs to drive in all three runs to lead the Dash to a 3-2 victory vs. Wilmington on Thursday.
Mitch Stetter and Matt Zaleski, a pair of former Indiana State pitchers, found new teams this week.
Stetter had been released by the Texas Rangers in spring training, then entered a minor league deal with the Milwaukee Brewers — his original team. After a brief time in extended spring training in Arizona, he was assigned to Hunstville (AA).
Zaleski had started the season on the 7-day disabled list. He made his first appearance start of the season with Birmingham (AA) on Thursday.
Joe Thatcher, also a former ISU pitcher, appeared in San Diego’s game with Colorado where the Rockies’ 49-year-old pitcher Jamey Moyer became the oldest major league pitcher to win a game on Tuesday.
For the record, Thatcher — also a left-handed pitcher — has a ways to go to equal Moyer’s record, being “just” 31 years old.
Ryan Strausborger had a close-up view of the Texas Rangers’ new pitcher, Japanese star Yu Darvish, who signed a $60M multi-year contract during the winter.
Strausborger, a former ISU outfielder, was the first Texas hitter to face Darvish on the opening day of workouts for pitchers and catchers. Strausborger put one ball in play fair, hitting a weak grounder to shortstop off the end of his bat.
“I was excited to hear I was facing him and the first one out there,” said Strausborger. “It was definitely a pretty good experience seeing somebody who’s coming over here. He’s the big talk right now and it’s good to see a good arm and somebody with all the movement he has.”
Strausborger is currently playing for Frisco (AA) this season.
Updates on other former Indiana State, Rose-Hulman or Wabash Valley-connected players this week.
• Clint Barmes — Barmes was 2 for 17 in five games for Pittsburgh.
• Nevin Ashley — Ashley was 4 for 17 with a double and two RBI for Durham.
• Josh Phegley — Phegley was 8 for 20 with a double, home run and five RBI for Charlotte. He has a five-game hitting streak.
• Ryan Strausborger — Strausborger was 3 for 23 with a triple and two RBI in six games for Frisco. He has three extra basehits this season, all triples.
• Nick Ciolli — Ciolli was 3 for 18 with a double and two RBI in five games for Winston-Salem. He was 0 for 10 in his last three games.
• Brady Shoemaker — Shoemaker ws 7 for 22 with two doubles, two home runs and five RBI in six games for Winston-Salem.
• Kyle Lafrenz — Lafrenz was 0 for 4 with two strikeouts in one game for Clearwater.
• Jake Eigsti — Eigsti’s season begins on Thursday with Camden.
• Joe Thatcher— Thatcher made three relief appearances for San Diego. In 2-3 of an inning, he allowed two runs (one earned), no hits, with two walks, one strikeout. All three outings were no decisions.
• Brian Omogrosso — Omogrosso made two relief appearances for Charlotte. In 3 2-3 innings, he allowed four hits, three runs (all earned), with one walk and three strikeouts. All three games were no decisions.
• Matt Zaleski — Zaleski made his season debut in a starting role for Birmingham on Thursday. He went five innings, allowed two hits, two runs (all earned), with three walks, three strikeouts and allowed a home run. He was the losing pitcher, leaving the game trailing 2-1, in an eventual 9-2 loss at Chattanooga.
• Mitch Stetter — Stetter made his season debut for Birmingham on Thursday. In a relief outing, he went 1-3 of an inning, allowing no hits, one run (earned), with two walks and one strikeout. Despite the rocky outing, he earned a hold in a 9-7 win vs. Tennessee.
• Derek Eitel — Eitel made one start for Mobile. On Wednesday, he went four innings, allowing six hits, five runs (four earned), with two walks and no strikeouts. He was the losing pitcher in a 6-2 loss at Montgomery.
• Jake Petricka — Petricka made one start for Winston-Salem. On Tuesday, he went 3 2-3 innings, allowing six hits, eight runs (three earned), with three walks and five strikeouts. He was the losing pitcher in a 10-4 loss at Myrtle Beach,
• Colin Rea — Rea made three relief appearances for Fort Wayne. He went 3 2-3 innings, allowing five hits, two runs (one earned), with three walks and four strikeouts. He was the losing pitcher — allowing an unearned run — in a 5-4 loss at Great Lakes on Apr. 13.
• Jason Van Skike, Blake Drake, Brett Merkley, Ryan Tatusko — All four pitchers are listed as active in their respective organizations and have not been assigned to teams as of yet this season.
Dennis Clark can be reached at dennis.clark@tribstar.com and followed on Twitter @TribStarDennis.
Sports
FROM TERRE HAUTE TO THE MAJOR LEAGUES
- Sports
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Tribune-Star/Jim Avelis Longest: Terre Haute South's Tyler Seibert took just one jump, at 20 feet, 7 and three quarters of an inch, to qualify for the finals of the event in the boys track sectional Thursday evening.
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Big group of Wabash Valley boys head to Evansville looking for state berths
The top four finishers in each event from last week’s Terre Haute North, Evansville Central, Jasper and Princeton boys high school track and field sectionals will converge on Evansville Central today for regional competition.
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West Vigo comes up short against 19-9 Brown County softball
West Vigo got off to a good start but Brown County finished better in Class 3A high school softball sectional semifinal action Tuesday night at Edgewood.
The Eagles bested the Vikings 7-5 and will meet South Vermillion, a 12-7 winner over Owen Valley, for the sectional championship on Thursday starting at 6 p.m.
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Valley baseball teams have been keeping busy heading into sectionals
When high school baseball sectionals begin around the Wabash Valley today, one complaint that’s not expected to be heard from any coach is that his team has had too much time off.
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Northview powers way past Terre Haute South in sectional semifinal
Northview unleashed power rarely seen in high school girls softball Tuesday night to eliminate Terre Haute South 8-1 in the Class 4A Sectional at Martinsville High School.
The Knights hit three home runs in an eight-run third inning to reach the championship game. -
TRACKSIDE: Local drivers, owners looking to have strong night at Tony Hulman Classic
In its rich 43-year history, the Tony Hulman Sprint Car Classic has long carried on a strong local racing tradition.
From its early beginnings starting in 1971, the U.S. Auto Club-sanctioned event has been the annual centerpiece of the racing calendar at the Terre Haute Action Track as well as a key stop on the USAC sprint schedule and one of the most sought after wins in big league sprint-car racing. -
Terre Haute North dominates field at regional
Keirra Porter took first place in two individual events and helped Terre Haute North win one of its relays as the Patriots captured the Evansville Central Regional team championship in girls high school track and field Tuesday night.
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Manaea's shoulder causing him latest pain
Indiana State pitcher Sean Manaea has battled through so many aches and pains during the 2013 season that it can be hard to discern the serious pain from the pain he pitches through.
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PREP ROUNDUP: South tennis cruises into regional final
Terre Haute South didn’t lose a game en route to blanking Seeger 5-0 in girls high school tennis Tuesday to advance to today’s championship match against Crawfordsville in the Greencastle Regional.
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Terry enjoys strong year with Wildcats, and still enjoying suiting up to play
South Vermillion’s Tim Terry is the longest tenured coach in Wabash Valley high school baseball as his Wildcats are set to begin sectional play Thursday against Owen Valley.
But on the Yankees, a 35-and-over team in the Terre Haute Men’s Senior Baseball League, Terry is “just a youngster” if you ask Larry Roesch, his 68-year-old teammate on the Volkers Group Yankees. -
ISU's Negele answers call in big way in wake of Manaea injury
When Indiana State starting pitcher Sean Manaea slumped on the mound in obvious pain after he took his warm-up pitches, red flags raised for ISU’s Missouri Valley Conference tournament hopes.
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Big group of Wabash Valley boys head to Evansville looking for state berths
- Local Interest
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Coach: Tim Terry is the South Vermillion baseball coach and plays in the senior league on Sunday afternoons.
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Terry enjoys strong year with Wildcats, and still enjoying suiting up to play
South Vermillion’s Tim Terry is the longest tenured coach in Wabash Valley high school baseball as his Wildcats are set to begin sectional play Thursday against Owen Valley.
But on the Yankees, a 35-and-over team in the Terre Haute Men’s Senior Baseball League, Terry is “just a youngster” if you ask Larry Roesch, his 68-year-old teammate on the Volkers Group Yankees. -
Softball sectionals up for grabs
All three Vigo County high schools and Northview appear to have a realistic chance of winning sectional championships in softball this week.
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Indiana State baseball series canceled
Heavy rain from Thursday through Saturday has forced Indiana State and Tennessee Martin to cancel their three-game weekend baseball series in northwest Tennessee.
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METRO ROUNDUP: Rose-Hulman baseball to play DePauw on Thursday after Tuesday's rain
The Rose-Hulman baseball team has rescheduled its non-conference game with DePauw to Thursday night.
The start time remains 7 p.m. for the single nine-inning game that was originally scheduled for today. Tuesday’s scheduled Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference game at Anderson was moved to Sunday because of rain. -
Vigo County Youth Soccer Association to host Indiana Soccer Cup Games
The Vigo County Youth Soccer Association will welcome more than 7,000 people to its Springhill Drive facility through two tournaments in the next five weeks.
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Terry enjoys strong year with Wildcats, and still enjoying suiting up to play
- High School
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Big group of Wabash Valley boys head to Evansville looking for state berths
The top four finishers in each event from last week’s Terre Haute North, Evansville Central, Jasper and Princeton boys high school track and field sectionals will converge on Evansville Central today for regional competition.
- West Vigo comes up short against 19-9 Brown County softball
- Valley baseball teams have been keeping busy heading into sectionals
- Northview powers way past Terre Haute South in sectional semifinal
- Terre Haute North dominates field at regional
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- College
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Manaea's shoulder causing him latest pain
Indiana State pitcher Sean Manaea has battled through so many aches and pains during the 2013 season that it can be hard to discern the serious pain from the pain he pitches through.
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ISU's Negele answers call in big way in wake of Manaea injury
When Indiana State starting pitcher Sean Manaea slumped on the mound in obvious pain after he took his warm-up pitches, red flags raised for ISU’s Missouri Valley Conference tournament hopes.
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ISU baseball hoping Manaea can get its MVC Tournament moving in right direction
Indiana State’s baseball team has been waiting all season for its stars to align.
But this is the 2013 Sycamores, after all, and after a season in which seemingly little has gone right, it appears its stars will remain crossed at the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament. -
ISU track sending record 22 to postseason
On the heels of their thrilling double victory at the 2013 Missouri Valley Conference Outdoor Track & Field Championships both the Indiana State men and women moved up in the national rankings which were released Tuesday by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA).
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ISU's athletic treasure trove
Think of every championship that Indiana State has won in each of its sports, past and present. Think of every tournament — postseason or regular season — which the Sycamores have claimed as their own.
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Manaea's shoulder causing him latest pain
- Sports Columns
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TRACKSIDE: Local drivers, owners looking to have strong night at Tony Hulman Classic
In its rich 43-year history, the Tony Hulman Sprint Car Classic has long carried on a strong local racing tradition.
From its early beginnings starting in 1971, the U.S. Auto Club-sanctioned event has been the annual centerpiece of the racing calendar at the Terre Haute Action Track as well as a key stop on the USAC sprint schedule and one of the most sought after wins in big league sprint-car racing. - Shooters compete to fight cancer
- TILL IT'S OVER: Terre Haute Triathlon's new race director seeks more events for his hometown
- TODD GOLDEN: Don't give up on ISU baseball just yet
- TRACKSIDE: Terre Haute's Carmichael enjoying strong spring in modifieds, stocks
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TRACKSIDE: Local drivers, owners looking to have strong night at Tony Hulman Classic
- Pro Sports
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Colts hoping for more high marks on draft picks
A year ago, the Indianapolis Colts received high marks for the impact players the team added through the NFL draft.
Of the 10 players selected, five ended up either starting or seeing extensive playing time (quarterback Andrew Luck, tight ends Coby Fleener and Dwayne Allen, wide receiver T.Y. Hilton and running back Vick Ballard) during the Colts’ 11-5 season.
While this year’s class may not rival that group in terms of name recognition and flash, it may produce just as many major contributors once the 2013 season gets underway. - Colts in wait-and-see mode for tonight’s NFL draft
- Colts sign Matt Hasselbeck to back up Luck
- Colts introduce free-agent signees
- Indianapolis franchises punter McAfee
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Colts hoping for more high marks on draft picks
- Terre Haute Rex
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Consultation: Rex manager Brian Dorsett talks with his pitcher and players during a time-out Sunday, July 15, at Sycamore Field. (Tribune-Star file/Bob Poynter)
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2012 an up, down season for Rex
The Terre Haute Rex went through plenty of trials and tribulations during the summer of 2012.
The team got off to a sluggish start to settle for third place during the first half of the Prospect League race, but manager Brian Dorsett rallied the troops to a second-half title. - Metro Roundup: Dorsett, Rex players honored in Prospect League postseason awards
- Rex out of playoffs
- Rex mix, match their way to win
- Rex turn eye to Prospect playoffs
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2012 an up, down season for Rex
- Colts
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Colts' coordinators enjoying getting rookies acclimated
While the Indianapolis Colts put their rookies and a handful of second-year players through workouts this weekend at the team’s Indiana Farm Bureau Football Center, a pair of first-year coordinators are getting a chance to do some valuable on-field work as well.
- Werner, 36 others open Colts’ mini camp
- Colts hoping for more high marks on draft picks
- Werner at top of game
- Colts select pass rusher Werner in first round
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Colts' coordinators enjoying getting rookies acclimated
- Auto Racing
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TRACKSIDE: Local drivers, owners looking to have strong night at Tony Hulman Classic
In its rich 43-year history, the Tony Hulman Sprint Car Classic has long carried on a strong local racing tradition.
From its early beginnings starting in 1971, the U.S. Auto Club-sanctioned event has been the annual centerpiece of the racing calendar at the Terre Haute Action Track as well as a key stop on the USAC sprint schedule and one of the most sought after wins in big league sprint-car racing. - Carpenter arrives as Indy 500 threat
- Carpenter wins Indy 500 pole
- TRACKSIDE: Rain still a pain for Wabash Valley racing organizers
- TRACKSIDE: Tough to rise from sprint-car racing, especially in challenging financial times
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TRACKSIDE: Local drivers, owners looking to have strong night at Tony Hulman Classic





