TERRE HAUTE —
A pair of former Indiana State relief pitchers recorded holds in major league outings this week.
Brian Omogrosso picked up his first major league hold for the Chicago White Sox at Kansas City on July 13, while Joe Thatcher earned his seventh hold of the season for San Diego in a game at the Los Angeles Dodgers two days later.
By the way, after allowing runs in his first two major league appearances, Omogrosso pitched scoreless innings in each of his next two games this week.
However, he was optioned to Charlotte on Saturday.
Notes — Clint Barmes has hit safely in five of his last six games for Pittsburgh … Brady Shoemaker is 8 for 13 (.615 batting average) in his last four games for Birmingham. … Jeremy Lucas was 3 for 4 with a pair of doubles for Mahoning Valley vs. State College on Wednesday. … Matt Zaleski has a 1.88 earned run average in his last 10 games, covering 57 1-3 innings. … Derek Eitel made his longest start of the season of eight innings for Mobile, evening his record at 7-7 with a win at Scranton-Wilkes Barre on Thursday. … Ryan Tatusko has a 2.25 earned run average covering 36 innings in his last 10 games for Harrisburg. … Jason Van Skike picked up his second save for Kannapolis at Greensboro on July 15. … Brett Merkley picked up his fourth save for Great Falls at Idaho Falls on Monday.
Transactions — Blake Drake was released by Rockford (Frontier League) on Friday. … Brian Omogrosso was optioned to Charlotte on Saturday.
Updates on former Indiana State, Rose-Hulman, Terre Haute Rex or Wabash Valley-connected players this week.
• Clint Barmes — Barmes was 4 for 19 with two RBI in five games for Pittsburgh.
• Nevin Ashley — Ashley was 7 for 14 with three doubles, one home run and three RBI in six games while still on a rehab assignment with the Gulf Coast League Rays. He has hit safely in his last four games and five of his last six games.
• Josh Phegley — Phegley was 3 for 16 with a double and RBI in four games for Charlotte.
• Brady Shoemaker — Shoemaker was 8 for 20 with four doubles, one home run and five RBI in six games for Birmingham.
• Ryan Strausborger — Strausborger was 6 for 20 with a double, triple and four RBI in five games for Frisco.
• 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 3 for 8 with two doubles for Mahoning Valley.
• Stephen Bruno — Bruno was 11 for 29 with two doubles, three RBI in seven games for Boise.
• Jake Eigsti — Eigsti was 5 for 20 with a double, home run and three RBI in six games for Camden.
• Pascual Del Real — Del Real was 0 for 7 with a RBI in two games for Edinburg.
• Alex Guthrie — Guthrie was a pinch runner in his only game played this week for Gateway.
• Joe Thatcher— Thatcher made two relief appearances for San Diego. In a combined 2 1-3 innings, allowing no runs, no hits, with no walks, three strikeouts.
• Brian Omogrosso — Omogrosso made two relief appearances for the Chicago White Sox. In a combined two innings, he allowed no runs, no hits with no walks, one strikeout.
• Matt Zaleski — Zaleski made two starts for Charlotte. In a combined 10 2-3 innings, he allowed three runs (two earned), 14 hits, with six walks, six strikeouts. He had a no-decision (July 14) and a loss (Thursday at Scranton Wilkes-Barre).
• Mitch Stetter — Stetter made two relief appearances for Huntsville. In a combined 1 2-3 innings, he allowed no runs, no hits, with two walks, two strikeouts. Both were no-decisions.
• Derek Eitel — Eitel made one start for Mobile. On July 15, he went eight innings, allowing three runs, four hits, with one walk, six strikeouts.
• Ryan Tatusko — Tatusko made one start for Harrisburg. On Tuesday, he went 6 2-3 innings, allowing two runs, one hits, with three walks, seven strikeouts in a no-decision at Akron.
• Jake Petricka — Petricka made one start for Winston-Salem. On Monday, he went six innings, allowing four runs, five hits, with four walks, six strikeouts in a no-decision at Carolina.
• Colin Rea — Rea made one start for Fort Wayne. On July 13, he went three innings, allowing six runs (five earned), four hits, with five walks, one strikeout in a loss at Beloit.
• Jason Van Skike — Van Skike made one relief appearance for Kannapolis. On July 15, he went 3 1-3 innings, allowing one unearned run, one hit, with one walk, two strikeouts.
• Brett Merkley — Merkley made one relief appearance for Great Falls. On Monday, he went one inning, allowing one no runs, one hits, with no walks, one strikeout.
• Brandon Dorsett — Dorsett made one relief appearance for Bluefield. On Wednesday, he went two innings, allowing no runs, no hits, with no walks, no strikeouts in a no-decision vs. Princeton.
• Dakota Bacus — Bacus made two relief appearance for the AZL A’s. In a combined 3 2-3 innings, he allowed one run, three hits, with no walks, three strikeouts. He picked up his first blown save vs. the AZL Giants ton Wednesday.
• Blake Drake — Drake made three relief appearances for Rockford. In a combined two innings, he allowed seven runs (six earned), four hits, with four walks, one strikeout. All were no-decisions.
Dennis Clark can be reached at dennis.clark@tribstar.com and followed on Twitter @TribStarDennis.
Sports Columns
FROM TERRE HAUTE TO THE MAJOR LEAGUES: Former Sycamores strong in relief
- Sports Columns
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TILL IT'S OVER: Terre Haute Triathlon's new race director seeks more events for his hometown
Today is the day for the Thunder in the Valley, and the Terre Haute Triathlon is under new leadership in 2013, the 28th year for the event at Hawthorn Park.
A former Terre Haute North track and cross country standout, Ethan Page is the race director as the race falls under the reign of Page’s new company, Crossroads Events. -
TODD GOLDEN: Don't give up on ISU baseball just yet
If you had to pick one word that would describe the 2013 Indiana State baseball season, it would have to be frustration.
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TRACKSIDE: Terre Haute's Carmichael enjoying strong spring in modifieds, stocks
It might have been cold and blustery at Charleston Speedway on Saturday night, but for Terre Haute driver Kenny Carmichael the evening couldn’t have been more pleasant.
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From Terre Haute to the major leagues: Phegley's play could earn him promotion to Chicago
Josh Phegley's debut in the Major Leagues could be coming to a ballpark near you.
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There's an expert at Parker's Archery
As I was driving the winding roadways of southern Indiana, a rustic building caught my attention and the sign on the front revealed it to be an archery shop called Parkers Archery.
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TRACKSIDE: Rain still a pain for Wabash Valley racing organizers
Soggy weather conditions, which have rightfully drawn the ire of Wabash Valley race fans and crews in recent days, continue to plague promoters where it hurts the most — their pocketbooks.
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RAMBLIN’ RECK: Pacers having a ‘Garden Party’
The Indiana Pacers are back in form and looking good.
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KENNY BAYLESS: Sponsors sought for 'Ladies Only' event at Terre Haute Sporting Clays
Sponsors are being sought at the Ladies Only event at Terre Haute Sporting Clays on Saturday at 10 a.m. Sponsors should be willing to donate $1 or more for every broken bird. Each lady is allowed 25 shots. Flat donations are gladly accepted. Also, organizers are looking for more ladies to participate. Ammo, clay birds, and guns (if needed) will be furnished.
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College Report: Lively earned collegiate upgrade with strong play
Hillary Lively signed to play Division II basketball at Maryville (Mo.) during her senior year at North Vermillion, but those plans changed and she would up at nearby Danville Area Community College — where she recently concluded an outstanding two-year career.
Lively was impressive enough to earn a Division I scholarship to Southeast Missouri State of the Ohio Valley Conference, and both her future and past college coaches think she will continue to succeed there.
“She fits what we need,” SEMO coach Ty Margenthaler said. “She has college experience, she is strong and physical and plays well around the basket and moves well.
“Her strength, rebounding and touch around the basket will be a big help. On the defensive end, she’ll be able to guard a true center.” -
RAMBLIN' RECK: It’s May … a time for horses and horsepower
It’s the first day of May, a great month for sports.
It begins with the Kentucky Derby on Saturday. My Old Kentucky Home is played before the start of the race on which hundreds of bets will be placed by folks who ordinarily don’t bet on thoroughbred horse racing.
A week later, practice begins for the Indianapolis 500.
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Terre Haute runner sets up race to help Boston
Having competed in the Boston Marathon once before in 2003, 35-year-old Majel Wells of Terre Haute thought she should give it another try in 2013.
“My goal was just to finish and enjoy Boston,” she reflected this week. “I had an injury [runner’s knee] beforehand, so I wasn’t too worried about beating my time from 2003 [4 hours, 10.20 seconds].
“But nobody cares about what your time is at Boston anyway.”
From what I’ve heard over the years, she’s right. Unless you’re a super-serious runner, the Boston Marathon has been more about taking in the atmosphere and having fun than placing in the top 50, although Wells was pleased that she beat her previous time by finishing in 3:55.19 on April 15.
Obviously, her race time wasn’t the most vivid memory that Wells took away from her 2013 Boston experience. -
Amey Takes Aim: NHL playoffs to put TVs to good use
If Jenny had known, she probably wouldn’t have bought that TV.
But four or five years ago, my Fathers Day present — for those unfamiliar with Amey family traditions, the Fathers Day one is “let’s get something we all really want and pretend it’s a gift for Dad” — was a 42-inch Vizio. It’s been used even more than the cell phone I never would have bought for myself, or the TomTom that disappeared since Jenny’s smartphone arrived.
And it came with high-def.
I’m not going to insult you by telling you how great high-def is, because to do so would be to imply that you are even farther behind the technological curve than I am. I’m guessing, however, that not all of you have yet discovered what it does for hockey. -
Foot Notes: ISU track athletes looking to keep improving at Drake Relays
Indiana State’s track schedule has helped its men’s and women’s teams escape the glacial Wabash Valley weather and enjoy warm days in Auburn, Ala., and Knoxville, Tenn.
With the Sycamores’ track facility basically laid to rest for competition and construction on a new one planned near the Wabash River to begin in 2014, major kudos go to everyone involved for continuing to produce athletes that are NCAA contenders who race with some of the world’s best.
Some of ISU’s current athletes are hoping for season-best performances this weekend against strong competition in the Drake Relays.
Former Sycamore NCAA pole-vault champion Kylie Hutson, who competes professionally for Nike and trains in her hometown of Terre Haute, also has been in Des Moines, Iowa, to compete in the Pole Vault in the Mall on Wednesday night. -
REDNECK QUAKER: Variety of birds to search for in turkey hunting
My father-in-law, Donnell Dunn of Jacksonville, Fla., is a retired engineer from J.I. Case and an avid reader and loves information on anything he takes interest in. He has five patents under his belt during his career.
Donnell took great interest in the Turkey World Slam display at Gander Mountain and thought each bird needed some info to help people understand more about them. -
TRACKSIDE: USAC racing picking up, including Sunday's stop in Terre Haute
With a break in the weather, U.S. Auto Club-sanctioned racing will kick into high gear on the area motorsports scene this weekend with events scheduled at three Indiana ovals.
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Ramblin’ Reck: Sato first Foyt winner since 2002
Takuma Sato made Izod IndyCar Series history Sunday when he won the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach.
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Former South players to play in Saylor benefit game
I had my first phone conversation with Mike Saylor since mid-February on Thursday and he sounded good.
The former Terre Haute South High School boys basketball coach, who’s been battling cancer this year, has been traveling back and forth to the MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston for chemotherapy treatments. -
COLLEGE REPORT: Valley prep athletes getting ready for next level
The NCAA “regular” signing period begins Wednesday for all sports except football, field hockey, soccer, track and field, cross country and men’s water polo.
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RAMBLIN’ RECK: Pacers closing out a nice season
In case you hadn’t noticed, the final games of the regular season will be played this week in the National Basketball Association.
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Amey Takes Aim: Can’t bottle the joy of Amey vacations
The first bad sign was the Gatorade bottle.
In the Bataan-Death-March drive to Orlando that got the Amey family spring break vacation off to a bad start, seeing it between lanes of I-24 — as we zipped along at a 100-miles-in-five-hours clip — filled with an ominous yellow liquid was a little bit scary. And although we didn't stop to check for sure, I'm fairly certain I knew about its contents.
And the person stuck in the same traffic jam with us, the one with the existential license plate YMIHR4, couldn’t have asked a more pertinent question.
But, after seeing a lot more of Oak Grove, Ky., than we’d planned, and after enduring more traffic slowdowns in Nashville, we were on our way. Even some rain in the dark in the Smokies didn’t slow us down much, so you would think our first-day troubles were over.
You would be wrong. -
Redneck Quaker: Mascari gets thrills from turkey hunting
Annie Mascari is a beautiful, vibrant, 26-year-old lady that loves the outdoors.
She comes from a large family of four brothers and a sister and lives the teachings of good family values.
Olivia Rightly let me know that I “should talk to my teacher at St. Pats School, Ms. Mascari, because she’s taken a turkey.”
As I shook Annie’s hand, I could feel the energy she has for life. As proof, the first time she went up in an airplane, she jumped out of it!
She’s also quite the hunter. Mascari picked up a used PSE bow for $30, one for a left-hander because her left eye is dominate for shooting. The Page Arrows are her choice for broadheads. -
RAMBLIN’ RECK: Louisville gets two shots at NCAA title
Louisville met Michigan in the championship game of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament on Monday. Louisville faces Connecticut in the title tilt of the women’s tournament tonight.
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REDNECK QUAKER: Learning to shoot clays a great experience
Tom Mitchell from Burnett is an all-around outdoor enthusiast. His passions are motorcycles, cars, and most of all, shooting sports. When he sights in on metal target shooting with a hand gun or rifle you will hear a lot of “clang” noises, he can shoot very quiet also, because he is licensed to own suppressers.
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TRACKSIDE: Racing season picking up speed
With several tracks already open and others scheduled to get underway this weekend it’s a sure sign the area motorsports campaign has taken the green flag for the 2013 season.
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RAMBLIN’ RECK: Out with the hoops, in with the bats
It’s a super week for sports fans — college basketball comes to a close and the first baseball games are played in the major leagues.
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COLLEGE REPORT: Conferences honor Valley softball players
Several Wabash Valley area college softball players have been honored by their respective conferences for outstanding play this spring.
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FROM THE PRESSBOX: Content McKenna has enjoyed seeing ISU's progress
It all happened so fast in June 2010.
One minute, Kevin McKenna was head coach of the Indiana State men’s basketball program. Then — poof! — he was gone.
McKenna resigned from his head coaching position at ISU on June 13, 2010 to take an assistant coach position on Dana Altman’s then-burgeoning University of Oregon staff. -
FROM THE PRESSBOX: NCAA got it right with Louisville in Indianapolis
The worst decision and the best decisions made by the NCAA Tournament selection committee shared space on Lucas Oil Stadium’s hardwood Friday night.
The Midwest Regional’s opener pitted Louisville and Oregon, two teams that were on the opposite sides of the NCAA’s coin on Selection Sunday.
Oregon, winner of the Pac-12 Tournament and Pac-12 runner-up in the regular season, was shockingly seeded 12th in the Midwest Region. -
ANDY AMEY: Farewell to basketball
I believe you’ve heard me say before — just about a year ago, perhaps — that a boys high school basketball season that ends with the Tribune-Star in Bankers Life Fieldhouse can’t be considered a bad one, which is why we have a little celebrating to do thanks to the Linton Miners.
Lover of irony that I am, I’ve also got to point out that this season was another branch sprouting from the Wabash Valley’s most legendary coaching tree, that of Joe Hart.
Joe never got much credit for his work at Dugger, but he took Brody Boyd, Clark Golish and the Bulldogs to a state championship game in 2000, and since then three of his former players — Joe Pigg, Clint Swan and now Joey Hart, his son — also have coached teams in the final game of the season.
Joe probably wishes he could take credit for Doc Nash, another down-home type who gave a banjo lesson earlier Saturday in leading Borden past a bigger, more athletic Triton team (banjo lesson is a Howard Sharpism, for you younger readers), but his lineage is still the best I can think of around here. -
RAMBLIN’ RECK: Field down to 16 — but one No. 1 is out
The field is down to 16 in the NCAA Men’s Basketball Championship with most of the top teams still in the field.
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