Minor League Exhibitions Discussion & Boxes 4-1-2008

Looks like the Smokies got beat out by Lady Vol basketball. :(

Was gonna post that. I think this is Cuse's doing.

I-Cubs starting lineup:

2B E. Patterson

DH L. Figueroa

LF M. Murton

1B M. Hoffpauir

RF J. Fox

CF J. Kroeger

3B C. McGehee

C K. Hill

SS A. Blanco

P G. Jones

It's 0-0 after 3 innings in Des Moines. EPatt has the lone I-Cub hit, a single. Neal Cotts relieved Geoff Jones to pitch the 3rd inning and now Les Walrond is coming in for the 4th.

Geoff Jones: 2 IP, 0 R, 2 H, 1 K/0 BB

Neal Cotts: 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 3 K/0 BB

Both boxes posted - check out how they spell some of the Smokies' names on the Walters State box score.

IowaCubs.com[/url]"]Cubs Open Season Against Hawkeyes

Cubs win exhibition game 3-1

By Andrea Breen / Iowa Cubs

 

Jake Fox hit a RBI double in the fifth.

 

Print this page E-mail this page With frosty temperatures the Iowa Cubs warmed up their season with an exhibition game against the University of Iowa Hawkeyes Tuesday night at Principal Park. The Cubs defeated the Hawkeyes, 3-1, in a seven-inning contest.

The Iowa Cubs right fielder Jake Fox kicked off the scoring in the fifth inning with a RBI double, to put the Cubs up 1-0.

 

The Hawkeye offense was led by Kurtis Muller with an RBI double in the seventh to score Ryan Gryzwa.

 

The Iowa Cubs used five pitchers who combined to allow one run on four hits.

SmokiesBaseball.com[/url]"]Smokies power past Walters State, 9-1

 

SEVIERVILLE, Tenn. – The 2008 Tennessee Smokies got off to a fast offensive start to the season in a 9-1 victory over the Walters State Senators in the 3rd annual Smoky Mountain Showdown at Smokies Park. The Smokies begin their regular season Southern League campaign on Thursday night in Birmingham against the Barons.

 

Kyle Reynolds provided the early offense for the Smokies with a three-run blast over the right field fence in the first inning. Reynolds went 3-3 on the night, driving in three runs and scoring twice. Ryan Harvey provided some late game fireworks with a three-run shot of his own to deep left center field.

 

Walters State managed one run in the top of the fourth inning, which could have been two if not for a great defensive play by the Smokies. After pitcher Jeff Samardzija struck out Chad Hunter, the Senators smacked back-to-back singles of the bats of Cody Hawn and Adam Stooksberry. Center fielder Adam Milligan then ripped a triple off the right field fence to score Hawn, but Stooksberry was gunned down at the plate thanks to a great throw by Smokies right fielder Matt Camp and second baseman Nate Spears.

 

Donnie Veal notched the win as the Smokies pitching staff combined to give up just four hits on the night.

Knoxville News-Sentinel[/url]"]Donnie Veal started for Tennessee and pitched two scoreless innings. He allowed a hit and struck out two.

 

Pitching appears to be Tennessee's strength. Veal and five relievers combined for a four-hitter.

 

"I feel good about the staff," pitching coach Dennis Lewallyn said.

 

Reynolds, the son of former major league shortstop Craig Reynolds, slammed nine homers and had 35 RBIs in 35 games with the Smokies last season. He was 3-for-3.

 

"I hope he leaves here after about 70 games and drives in a hundred," Bailey said.

Oh, found this pic on the Knoxville News-Sentinel web site:

http://media.knoxnews.com/kns/content/img/photos/2008/04/01/040208smokies1_t600.jpg

Nate Spears of the Tennessee Smokies jumps over Matt Camp after missing a ball against Walters State on Tuesday at Smokies Park.

Glad to see Kroeger in CF. I hope that's not just because Fuld is hurt - I'd like to see him get time there more often!

 

Tennessee Smokies are up 4-1 on a 3-run HR from Reynolds.

Fuld has a thumb injury, don't know how serious.