American Association Insider: Friday September 4th Takeaways

 Kevin Luckow

(non meymber of IBWAA)

Wow, so much to unpack. But some races got some clarity tonight.

Lake Country 12 Sioux City 11

Wow, if there is a game that personifies 2026 in the American Association, this one is the poster child. It looked like a DockHounds runaway as the Hounds got out to an 8-0 lead and all was festive among the campers at Kamp Oconomowoc. But the Explorers who had every reason to call it a night would have none of it, coming all the way back to take a lead in the fifth inning. The game became a 9-9 deadlock before three walks and a Joshua Mears broken bat single scored two runs. A bases loaded walk added another run that proved to be the difference as the Explorers came back to make it 12-11 on a Yorman Rodriguez two run home run. Mears' two RBI single gave him the all time league single season RBI record, and likely the inroad to MVP honors.  The dimensions at Kamp Oconomowoc are embarrassing for a professional ballpark. It does nobody any favors. A hitter puts up big numbers there, it gets diminished by how small the park plays. A pitcher pitches there, and it ruins ERA's. It's shocking how many DockHounds pitchers have been able to get signed in spite of pitching there. The DockHounds now sit two games behind the Milkmen for the East Division title. It was a huge loss for the Explorers because......

Sioux Falls 8 Lincoln 1

It took a while for the Canaries bats to get going. Going into the last half of the fifth, the Canaries were down 1-0 but took control scoring the last eight runs of the game. Anthony Hall and Michael Curialle both had two RBI triples for the Canaries. Josh Caravalho pitched seven innings allowing one run to pick up his professional win. It was the second night in a row that the Canaries got an excellent outing from their starter. All good news, right? Well, the bad news, and it's bad news for anyone that has followed this league, Jabari Henry suffered an injury trying to get back to third base to tag up on a fly ball. It looked to be a lower leg injury. Henry had to be taken off the field on a golf cart. Sources with inside knowledge have indicated that it is a serious injury. You hope this isn't the last we have seen of Jabari Henry. Best wishes for a quick and healthy recovery. The Canaries need one win or a Sioux City loss to clinch a playoff spot. 

Photo courtesy of Jennifer Andreachi


Fargo-Moorhead 4 Milwaukee 3

The RedHawks scored four runs in the third inning, three runs on Jose Sermo's 33rd home run and made it stick, defeating the Milkmen. With the win, the RedHawks clinched a playoff spot. The RedHawks sit two games in front of Sioux Falls and will need one win or a Canaries loss to lock in the #3 spot in the West. They still have a chance to catch Winnipeg for second, two games back of the Goldeyes, because......

Kansas City 16 Winnipeg 11

The Monarchs led this one 14-1 after four innings. The Goldeyes had every reason to fold and focus on tomorrow night, but would have none of it. Winnipeg outscored the Monarchs 10-2 the rest of the way. I thought Alex McGarry had the hitter of the week nailed down, but Ray-Patrick Didder entered the race, with two grand slams to spark the Goldeyes rally. Hudson Head had a grand slam of his own for the Monarchs with Tyler Gentry and Luken Baker also homered for the Monarchs. With the win, the Monarchs are the West Division Champions and have drawn even with the Milkmen for the best record in the league with a 57-40 mark. 

Kane County 6 Cleburne 2

The Cougars got a good start from Vin Timpanelli (one earned run in six innings) and Jake Gozzo picked up third save in his last three outings as they defeated the Railroaders at Northwestern Medicine Field. The news coming out of this was the announcement by the Railroaders earlier in the day that they were forgoing their home game in the first round of the playoffs due to logistics issues of having to travel home and coming right back up north after one game. The Cougars will need some help if they are to move up from 3rd place, sitting 1.5 back of Lake Country. 

Chicago 12 Gary SouthShore 11 (10 innings)

RBI singles in the 10th innings by Chance Sisco and Jalyn Williams gave the Impact Field crowd a reason to go home happy. Sisco went 3-6 with a home run and 3 RBI. Marc Flores was 4-5 with a home run and two RBI for the RailCats. 




















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