May 27, 2012
Joker Marchant Stadium
Lakeland, Florida

By: Rocky Julich

Memorial Day Weekend. What did I see?

When was the last time we saw brothers as battery mates? This is something worth researching.
Does anyone remember the Cooper brothers, Mort and Walker? They were battery mates in 1945, while playing with the St. Louis Cardinals.

While a hurricane like storm brews to the North of Lakeland, during 88 degree temperature, the Tampa Yankees (23W-26L) vs. Lakeland Flying Tigers (23W-24L) in a game sure to make the MiLB website.

Pitching and catching for Lakeland are brothers, natives of Guatire, Miranda, Venezuela. No. 19, RHP Luis Angel Sanz throws to his sibling No. 47, catcher Luis Alberto Sanz.

It is the second start in eight games for Sanz (1-1, 7.13 ERA). The receptor Sanz is batting .194, 0HR-2RBI.

Tampa missed opportunities to score runs, leaving the bases loaded in the second and fourth innings.

The Yankees RHP Caleb Cotham (0-0, 1.50 ERA) starts in his second game and is relieved after three innings, four hits, four strikeouts, four walks, three runs. LHP Evan DeLuca pitched the bottom of the fourth inning. DeLuca pitched two innings, two hits, three strikeout and three walks. RHP Branden Pinder pitched the Yankees sixth and seventh innings, three hits, one strikeouts, one walk, one run. RHP Mark Montgomery closed out the game for Tampa pitching one inning and striking out two batters.

Lakeland RHP Luis Angel Sanz and catcher Luis Alberto Sanz held the Yankees scoreless through five innings with seven hits, five strikeouts, one walk, two hit by pitch, 0 runs. LHP Matt Crouse got the save, pitching four innings, one hit, two strikeouts, 0 runs. It was a shutout for the Flying Tigers vs. the Yankees.

Lakeland, Florida State League leader CF Nick Castellanos scored two runs (31), two hits (77), double (16), total bases (110), average (.410), slugging percentage (.546), on base percentage (.469).

Lakeland catcher Luis Alberto Sanz hit (8) RBI (3). DH Zachary Maggard hit (2), run scored (1). 1B Matt Perry hit (1), run scored (1).

And, that how the “A” Instructional Game was played.

Final Score: Lakeland Flying Tigers 4 – Tampa Yankees 0
WP: Luis Angel Sanz (2-1, 5.90 ERA)
LP: Caleb Cotham (0-1, 3.00 ERA)
Time: 2:55
Attendance: 843

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

May 12, 2012
By Rocky Julich

It’s a special Saturday Family Night at George M. Steinbrenner Field, PINK OUT NIGHT. It’s all about breast cancer awareness. On Sunday, the Yankees players in The Bronx will be decked out in Pink too; Pink Batting Gloves, Pink Bats, Pink Ribbons, Pink Wristbands and Pink Shoelaces. During cancer awareness, the Yankees honor the Mothers.

The Tampa Yankees will take the field wearing Pink Jerseys. During the game, the fans will be able to participate in a silent auction with the proceeds to benefit the H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Research Center.

The Lakeland Flying Tigers are at Tampa for a four game series. This is the second meeting of the teams this season with an overall win/loss record of Lakeland 2 – Tampa 1.

It’s the thirty-six game of the season for the T-Yanks with a record of 16W-19L. After three games were called due to rain, Lakeland is playing game thirty-four with a record at 17W–16L.

LHP Alex Burgos (1-4, 5.67 ERA) is the first game starter for Lakeland. LHP Nik Turley (2-0, 2.23 ERA) undefeated and looking for his third win, starts for Tampa.

Tampa’s RF Rob Segedin is on the bench due to a rib cage strain he suffered in the thirteenth inning of the May 6th game vs. the Bradenton Marauders. Segedin ran into the catcher as he attempted to score a game tying run. The game was played during eighteen innings with a loss to Tampa, final score 7 – 6.

The Lakeland Flying Tigers have six players in their line-up with thirteen RBI or more. 3B Nick Castellanos has twenty-four with RF Avisail Garcia following with eighteen RBI.

Rob Segedin is the leader on the Tampa team with twenty-one RBI. RF Neill Medchill is second with thirteen.

It is a winning night for cancer awareness.

Final: Lakeland Flying Tigers 4, Tampa Yankees 2
WP: Alex Burgos (2-4, 5.40 ERA)
LP: Nik Turley (2-1, 2.83 ERA)
Time: 2:37
Attendance: 2,586

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

May 3, 2012
By Rocky Julich

School Day sponsored by ESPN 1040 Radio.

The parking lot of George M. Steinbrenner Field is in bloom, with the color of yellow buses. It’s an early game, 11:00 a.m. first pitch. Tampa is humid from a recent show of rain. But, on this day, nothing could dampen the spirit of the children, 5,000 of them. In the stands, the children are identified by the school colors on their tee shirts, the colors of the rainbow. The ballpark is alive with the sounds of “glad to be out of the classroom”.

These young fans know that these are the Yankees and we know that these children are the future of this game, baseball.

The Brevard County Manatees vs. the Tampa Yankees in the third and final game of the series, with the Yankees taking the first two games 3-0, 3-2.

The starting pitchers: Yankees RHP Shane Greene (0-1, 3.60), Manatees, LHP Jed Bradley (2-2, 2.79).
In the top of the third inning, Shane Green loads the bases with the first three Manatees he faces. T.J Mittelstaedt follows with a triple to deep right centerfield, which clears the bases. Fifth in the line-up, Cody Hawn hits a sacrifice fly to left and Mittelstaedt scores the fourth run. Manatees 4, Yankees 0.

Yankees are up in the bottom of the third. Some of the children chant “Let’s Go Yankees, Let’s Go! Children near the Press Box chant “Let’s go the other team”. One youth chants “The other team is the Manatees”.

In the bottom of the fifth inning the Yankees get a run on the scoreboard by a single from Jose Toussen and an RBI from Jose Mojica.

Tampa LF Ramon Flores walks in the bottom of the sixth inning and Rob Segadin follows with a hit. Neil Medchill hits a triple to drive in the two runs. Kelvin Castro’s 6-3 for two outs scores Medchill after Manatees shortstop Cody Shaw fumbles the ball. The game is tied Manatees 4, Yankees 4.

Few children remain at the ballpark in the bottom of the seventh inning to sing “Take Me Out to the Ballgame, as most had exited to board the yellow buses that would return them to their schools.

With RHP Aaron Dott pitching for the Yankees in the top of the seventh inning, the bases are again loaded with Manatees. A double by Michael Walker drives in three runs. A single by Reggie Keen brings Walker home for the fourth run of the inning. Manatees 8, Yankees 4.

The Manatees score four additional runs in the top of the ninth inning. Shea Vucinich hits his first home run of the season. Cody Hawn, connects season third home run with three RBIs.

The Manatees bats were hot with thirteen hits and the Yankees pitchers lose the third game as Greene, Dott and Nuno each are charged with four runs earned.

Final: Manatees 12, Yankees 6

WP: Jed Bradley 3-2
LP: Aaron Dott 0-2
Time: 2:50
Attendance: 6,244 – thanks to the children

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