American Association Baseball Insider

 A full slate of games that seemed to be in danger for a while as storms went through Kansas City pushing the game back by an hour.  Kane County 8 Chicago 4 It must've been the SpongeBob jerseys that did the trick at a hot Northwestern Medicine Field. Cougars manager George Tsamis won his 1000th game in June of 2018 wearing the famous Charlie Brown Yellow jersey with the zig zag around it. After the Cougarstook a 1-0 lead in the first inning, the Dogs did something that few teams have been able to do to Konnor Ash, scoring three runs. Ash settled down after that going seven innings allowing just five hits. Ash now leads the league in wins with six. The Cougars took back the lead with five runs in the fourth. Tripp Clark drove in a pair with a single and Claudio Finol doubled in two more runs, part of a 2-4 day with three runs batted in. Trendon Craig led of the game with a home run and had three hits for the day. Although there has been no official announcement made, its appea...

 Last Sunday we took a look at the West Division which record wise is looking like the strongest of the two divisions. This week we look at the East Division. Lake Country DockHounds 25-18 What's worked: The batting stats don't really pop out, strange considering the hitter friendly park the DockHounds they play in. The two that do stand out is Brian Rey who is hitting .314 and paces the DockHounds with nine home runs and 34 runs batted in. Daunte Stuart is batting .331 to lead the DockHounds with 22 runs batted in and fifteen stolen bases. The team ERA of 3.59 stands out as does the fact the Hounds have won 25 games but only one regular arm in the rotation has more than one win, Luke Hansel with four. What's not worked: Justifiably a big deal was made when Ryan Hernandez came back to Lake Country, but Hernandez only has three home runs in 133 at bats while only hitting .233. Demetrius Sims has nearly matched his home run total from last season with seven but his batting av...

 It was the last Saturday of June and we had a full slate of games in the American Associaiton. The big news of the day involved a trade. Fargo-Moorhead acquired slugger Jose Sermo from Cleburne in exchange for veteran reliever Tyler Wilson. Wilson returns to the Railroaders where he pitched in parts of four different seasons. Fargo's offense gets a badly needed boost and the Railroaders bullpen gets a familiar arm back. Sioux Falls 8 Sioux City 5 The Canaries took a 3-0 lead in the first inning, and in spite of the Explorers getting within two runs in the seventh, never trailed. In a rarity at the Birdcage, no Canaries had a home run, but Calvin Estrada singled in the first inning to extend his hitting streak to 24 games. Zach Vooletich homered for Sioux City, a three run shot as the Explorers tried to rally. Brendan Knoll picked up the win going six innings, allowing a run to pick up his fifth win.  Fargo-Moorhead 5 Lincoln 0  In his third start of the season, Jake Dykh...

 A full slate of games on a Friday throughout the Association with a couple of nail biters, and a few offensive explosions.  Chicago 3 Kane County 2 A seventh inning single by Dogs' Max Moris was the difference as the Dogs took the first game of the weekend set at Northwestern Medicine Field. Jacob Teter went 2-2 with two walks and drove in the other two Dogs runs. Jeff Lindgren picked up his fourth win pitching seven innings and allowing two runs. Chris Mazza threw well allowing three runs, two earned in seven innings also, but picked up the tough loss. Armand Upshaw was 3-4 for the Cougars. Lake Country 4 Cleburne 0 The DockHounds may have found a gem with Imanol Vargas. Vargas homered in the second on the back end of back to back homers after Ryan Hernandez went deep. Vargas connected again in the eighth, a two run shot to give the DockHounds a four run cushion. Vargas went 3-4 for the night and now has three home runs in his three games with Lake Country. Brett Conine shut...

 Seven games were played through the Association with the double header in Sioux City. There was a loss before the Explorers took the field as ace pitcher Zach Willeman had his contract transferred to the Reds. Winnipeg 5 Sioux City 4 (Game 1) Mitchell Lambson only allowed two hits in going the distance in Game one. One of those hits however was a grand slam to Henry George to knot the game at four after the Goldeyes had staked Lambson to a 4-0 lead in the top of the third. With the game knotted at four in the seventh, Jacob Robson singled in a run that proved to be the difference. It was Robson's third run batted in for the game.  Photo courtesy of Tim Tushla (Sioux City Explorers) Sioux City 1 Winnipeg 0 (Game 2)  A Nick Shumpert single drove in newcomer Carlos Castro to get the Explorers a split of the doubleheader at Mercy Field at Lewis and Clark Park. Jared Wetherbee won his fifth game to tie many for the league lead by throwing six shutout innings allowing two hits...

 We've had more exciting nights of American Association Baseball. One game was completed this afternoon, four relatively non competitive games were played and the other, Sioux City hosting Winnipeg was rained out.  Kane County Cougars 9 Gary SouthShore 6 Last year in what was also a disastrous season for the RailCats, they were a pain in the butt to the Cougars. This has not been the case this season as the Cougars have now taken four of five from the RailCats in 2025. The Cougars took a 7-0 lead in the fourth inning and that was more than enough to take down the RailCats at US Steel Yard. Marcus Chiu drove in three runs and Claudio Finol in a quest to find his 2024 form went 3-5 with two runs batted in. Westin Muir in a rare bullpen appearance got the win going 2.2 scoreless innings.  Lake Country 10 Cleburne 6 All the scoring in this one was in the first five innings. Lake Country scored five in the fifth to pull away. Brian Rey drove in three runs. Imanol Vargas in his...

 Five new series kicked off tonight with Milwaukee and Fargo-Moorhead continuing their series that began on Monday Sioux City 7 Winnipeg 6' It was a tough day in Sioux City for long time supporters of the Explorers and frankly for many of us that have followed the American Association. Dave Nitz who was the Sioux City Explorers play by play voice after the Shreveport-Bossier Captains left the American Association following the 2011 season through 2017, passed away at the age of 82. I got the chance to meet Nitz in the CHS Field Press Box in 2015 and talked to him several times the next few years. You were fine with a rain delay when Sioux City was in town as it meant Dave Nitz story time in the Press Box. I'd like to think he was watching over the Explorers tonight as the Explorers rallied from a 6-0 deficit after half an inning to defeat the Goldeyes on a Nick Shumpert walk off single in the 10th inning. Abdiel Layer hit a three run home run in the second inning to get the Exp...

 Six games on slate for Sunday, here's how they went down. Sioux Falls 3 Fargo-Moorhead 0 The Canaries finished off a sweep of the RedHawks with a noon time victory at a hot Birdcage where only 357 fans decided to brave the heat. Both teams combined for a total of eight hits. Josh Rehwaldt had two of them, and one of them was the difference in the game as he connected for a three run home run for the only scoring of the game. Brendan Knoll must've have read my criticism of the Canaries rotation after the top two starters and went out and threw 5.2 scoreless innings dodging damage from six walks, earning his fourth win. Christian Cosby extended his scoreless inning streak to 17.2 innings picking up the save. It was the first sweep of the RedHawks in Sioux Falls since August 9-11, 2018. Winnipeg 12 Sioux City 4 The middle innings were kind to the home team as the Goldeyes scored a total of nine runs in the 4-6th innings to take the series finale and the weekend set 2-1.  Ray-Pat...

 The mid season point is approaching soon. Teams will be at the 50 game mark in a little more than a week. It's a good time to see what has worked and what hasn't gone as well for the teams in the American Association. This week we'll break down the West Division, next Sunday we look at the East. We'll go in the order of the standings as of June 20. Sioux City Explorers 25-14 What's worked: The move of former bullpen pieces Kyle Marman and Zach Willeman raised some eyebrows. It has worked fabulously as Willeman has won four games to go with a 2.34 ERA and Marman has two wins and a 2.95 ERA. With the great start for Jake Wetherbee and Austin Drury, the Explorers have a real deep rotation. It left a question as to who would be the closer but Felix Cepeda has filled in nicely with 10 saves and 1.68 ERA. Henry George has been a surprise hitting .330. The former UMD Bulldog has a .449 on base percentage. What has not worked: It was something that caught the eyes of us ve...

 Full slate of games on a steamy Saturday night in the American Association. Sioux Falls 8 Fargo-Moorhead 6 It was a rare 3pm start at the Birdcage, not the best timing as it was 96 degrees at first pitch with a hot wind blowing out to left. The RedHawks had got out to a 5-1 lead in the top of the third, but the Canaries scored seven of the last eight runs of the game. Josh Rehwaldt had a four hit game including home run number 12 of the season. Calvin Estrada racked up three more hits to bump his batting average up to .361. Estrada extended his hitting streak to 19 games (five 3 hit games during the streak). Dillon Thomas and Miguel Ojeda Jr. both homered for the RedHawks. Tyler Jandron got the loss for the RedHawks, but credit him for going 6.2 innings in the heat. The Canaries announced that Sunday's game has been bumped up to a noon start due to what will be another day of extreme heat in Siouxland. Milwaukee 8 Lake Country 6 The Milkmen jumped out to a 6-2 lead and was able to...

 Six games on a hot Friday night throughout the American Association Chicago 7 Gary SouthShore 2 The Dogs remained hot, taking down the RailCats in the series opener at Impact Field. Proving what I've always said, dogs are superior to cats. Jacob Teter went 2-4 with four runs batted in, and Brantley Bell added a solo home run for the Dogs, his seventh of the season. Connor Curlis earned his fourth win of the season throwing five shutout innings allowing three hits. Lake Country 12 Milwaukee 6 The DockHounds used the big inning to defeat the Milkmen scoring four in the fourth and six in the sixth inning. Brian Rey homered as part of a four hit night, driving in two runs. Demitrius Sims homered and drove in two runs while Adam Cootway homered for the first time as a DockHound in his third game with Lake Country. Erik Ostberg hit a grand slam, his eighth home run of the season and Chase Estep hit his second of the season. Sioux Falls 6 Fargo-Moorhead 1 The Canaries took a 2-0 lead ear...

 It was a long and hard to keep track of night in the American Association with three doubleheaders and a continuation of a suspended game. Sioux City 3 Fargo-Moorhead 2 In a baseball version of the old game show Beat the Clock, with the Explorers down 2-1, a Nick Shumpert sacrifice fly tied the game in the seventh right before a monsoon arrived. Without it, the RedHawks would've won with the game being called official after six inning. In the continuation, it was Shumpert coming through again with a single that proved to be the difference. Felix Cepeda recorded a one out save for his 10th of the season. Sioux City Fargo-Moorhead (Game 2) Juan Fernandez homered and drove in a pair of runs as the RedHawks defeated the Explorers to end Sioux City's six game winning streak. Kyle Crigger got the win going six innings allowing three runs on five hits, his fifth win of the season. Colten Davis got the last four outs to pick up his first professional save.  Gary SouthShore 10 Kane Co...

 In what turned out to be a partial schedule due to weather, there were rainouts in Milwaukee, Lake Country and Kane County only got one of their two games scheduled for today. Fargo-Moorhead vs. Sioux City was suspended in the top of the seventh with the game tied at two. Kane County 3 Gary SouthShore 1 Konnor Ash continued to do Konnor Ash things, this time the victims were the RailCats. Ash went the distance striking out 10 and allowed a run on a Jairus Richards home run, while striking 10. Nick Dalesandro went 2-2 with a pair of runs batted in while Todd Lott returned to the lineup and drove in the other Cougars run with a single in a 2-3 effort. Siou x Falls 15 Winnipeg 2 A nine run fourth inning put this one out of reach early as the Canaries cruised to a victory. The Birds had three home runs in the decisive inning as Jabari Henry hit a two run bomb to center. Josh Rehwaldt followed next with a solo. Later in the inning Matt Ruiz connected for a three run homer, part of a 3-...

  Chicago 5 Milwaukee 3 If there is a Wikipedia page for the Milwaukee Milkmen, I'm expecting a Chicago Dogs fan to go on it and change the team owners to the Chicago Dogs, as the Dogs have now defeated Milwaukee in all four meetings this season. John Baker got the win allowing three runs in 5.2 innings as the Dogs took the lead for good with three runs in the top of the sixth. Alex McGarry went deep twice for the Dogs driving in three runs for the night. Glenn Santiago extended his hitting streak to 24 games for the Milkmen. Photo courtesy of Jennifer Andreachi Winnipeg 9 Sioux Falls 3 The Goldeyes took a 6-1 lead after five innings and did not look back defeating the Canaries at Blue Cross Park. The loss ended a six game road winning streak for the Canaries. Max Murphy (8) and Tanner O'Tremba (3) homered for the home team while Peter Zimmerman connected on his seventh home run for the Canaries. Zimmerman has now homered in five of his last eight games. Landen Bourassa picked ...

 Happy Father's Day for all you dads out there whether it's regular dads, step dads, or in my case dog dads. A full slate around the league today, plus the AA Insider Power Rankings that I didn't get around to putting in the Sunday Insider.  Sioux Falls 10 Kane County  6 A seven run second inning and a three run ninth got the job done as the Canaries won their sixth game in a row, all on the road as part of a nine game road trip. Peter Zimmerman, Jordan Barth and Cal Estrada all homered for the Canaries. Estrada drove in four runs and has quietly moved into a tie for third for RBI's tying Isiah Gilliam of Kansas City with 31 and his 356 batting average is fifth in the league. Two weeks after writing his retirement eulogy, Ryan Zimmerman picked up the win getting two outs allowing just a walk. 5559 saw it at Northwestern Medicine Field. Lake Country 8 Fargo-Moorhead 3 A sixth run fifth was the dagger as the DockHounds took the rubber game of the series and wrapped up a s...

There were times while doing This Week in the Association where I wished we'd take an occasional Monday off. It is quite a commitment to dedicate yourself to doing something on a weekly basis on top of everyday life. But when it's gone, you don't realize how much you miss it. It's been a tough start of the season. Sitting at home watching the games, not really feeling like doing anything else. Other than the occasional Townball game, I've felt detached from the outside world. Although I said my time was going to be limited on the road this season due to other commitments, I was feeling stir crazy. Then I discovered I could do a road trip where I was only gone for four days, I could see five games in three cities, checking out seven of the 12 teams in the league in the process. More importantly though, it was about seeing friends, old and new from around the league. Saturday and Sunday in Sioux Falls for the Canaries vs. Kane County Cougars, Monday night in Lincoln f...

  Chicago 7 Cleburne 4 The Dogs offensive attack put them ahead 7-0 after five innings and rode it out for a 7-4 win over the Railroaders on Friday night in front of 3621 at Impact Field. Brantley Bell went 3-5 with two runs scored. Alex McGarry drove in a pair on a 2-2 effort at the plate. Keoni Cavaco defeated Cleburne for the second time in a row pitching five shutout innings. Sioux Falls 7 Kane County 4 A three run Sioux Fall eighth inning proved decisive as the Canaries won their fourth game in a row in front of 4296 at Northwestern Medicine Field. Jabari Henry had a two run RBI double  in the eighth where three Cougars fielders converged on a ball in short right field but none of them could make a play that gave the Canaries the lead. Henry scored on the next play as a Josh Rehwaldt hit a line drive that tipped off of Josh Allen's glove into right center field. Kansas City 11 Milwaukee 3 Jorge Bonafacio, Ross Adolph and Josh Bissonette all collected three hits to pace a ...

 All three series wrapped up tonight with a slew of nailbiters throughout the league. Chicago 3 Winnipeg 0 Brantley Bell hit a pair of solo home runs to back three pitchers throwing a combined four hitter in front of 2717 at Impact Field as the Dogs managed to avoid a sweep at the hands of the Goldeyes. Kane County 5 Cleburne 2 Konnor Ash was brilliant once again throwing seven innings of two run ball, allowing four hits and striking out six as the Cougars took the rubber game of the series. Down 2-1 heading into the last of the fourth inning, the Cougars scored the last four runs of the game, sending an 80's night crowd of 4932 home happy. Fargo-Moorhead 9 Kansas City 6 The RedHawks wrapped up a seven games in seven days roadtrip on a high note defeating Kansas City and taking the rubber match of the series. Juan Fernandez connected for his second home run in two days, but tonight's was a grand slam. Alexfri Planez added a two run home run. Tyler Jandron got the win allowing o...

Kansas City    5 Fargo-Moorhead 4 The RedHawks took a 4-0 lead over four innings, but it was all Kansas City from there as the Monarchs take game two of the series. A Robbie Glendinning two run double was followed by a game tying single by Jailyn Williams. The deciding run came from the long ball from who else but Isiah Gilliam in the 7th inning, his 10th of the season. Juan Fernandez and Robert Perez Jr. both had home runs for the RedHawks. 4614 on Kid's Day at Legends Field saw the game.  Winnipeg 11 Chicago 2 For the second straight night at Impact Field, the Goldeyes put on an offensive show in defeating the Dogs. Max Murphy homered twice, Matthew Warkentin homered for the second game in a row and Andy Armstrong hit his first. Landen Bourassa gave the Goldeyes seven innings of two run ball to pick up his third win of the season. 3197 on hand at Impact Field. Cleburne 15 Kane County 9 You had to feel good if you were a Cougars fan, up 8-1 after five innings. But the Ra...