WINNIPEG GOLDEYES DAILY CLIPPINGS

WEDNESDAY, JULY 18th, 2019

- Goldeyes’ Darvill Feasts on Canaries Pitching—Winnipeg Free Press (Mike McIntyre), 7/18/19 - Bats Stay Hot—Winnipeg Sun, 7/18/19 - Early Offence Supports Six Scoreless From French— (Steve Schuster), 7/17/19 - July 17th Game Highlights (Video Link)—Winnipeg Goldeyes (Jason Young), 7/17/19 - July 17th Postgame Interviews (Video Link)—Winnipeg Goldeyes (Nigel Batchelor), 7/17/19 - Birds Score Three in Ninth But Fall at Winnipeg— (Carter Woodiel), 7/17/19 - Top of Goldeyes Batting Order Producing—Winnipeg Sun, 7/18/19 - Goldeyes Shortstop Gets All-Star Nod—Winnipeg Sun, 7/16/19 - Canaries Player Chases Olympic Dream With Team Israel—Sioux Falls Argus Leader (Jack Williams), 7/15/19 - Tyler Hill Rides Streak—Winnipeg Sun, 7/14/19

EARLY OFFENCE SUPPORTS SIX SCORELESS FROM FRENCH STEVE SCHUSTER – WINNIPEG GOLDEYES – WEDNESDAY, JULY 17th WINNIPEG, MB – The Winnipeg Goldeyes (31-25) beat the Sioux Falls Canaries 9-3 at Shaw Park on Wednesday night.

Wes Darvill scored the game’s first run from second base on an errant pickoff throw by Canaries’ starting pitcher Luis Pollorena.

In the bottom of the second, Willy Garcia led off with a double off the wall in centre field. Three batters later, Alex Perez lined a two-out single to left that scored Garcia. Cody Young followed with an opposite-field double to right that scored Perez from first.

“The game went well today,” said Goldeyes’ manager Rick Forney. “We got a good start from Parker. He gave us six really good innings. We probably could have sent him out there for the seventh. He was throwing the ball well. Offensively, it went really well. A lot of guys had big days.”

The Goldeyes stretched the lead to 7-0 in the bottom of the third. An infield single from Darvill and walks to James Harris and Willy Garcia loaded the bases with one out. Dominic Ficociello launched a double to left that scored Darvill and Harris. After Reilly Hovis relieved Pollorena, Reggie Abercrombie smacked a two-run triple to right-centre that made it 7-0.

With two outs and no one on base in the bottom of the sixth, Tyler Hill singled to left to push his hitting streak to 17 consecutive games. On the next pitch, Darvill crushed a two-run home run to right-centre.

Parker French (3-3) started for the Goldeyes and earned the win, pitching six shutout innings on four hits. French walked one and struck out five.

“We don’t need (the starters) to go seven, eight, or nine innings,” Forney said. “Just six good ones and see where we are from there. It only takes one good start to get you on a roll, so hopefully that was Parker’s good start.”

Pollorena (4-2) took the loss, allowing seven runs, six earned, on six hits in two and one-third innings. Pollorena walked three and struck out three.

The Canaries (27-29) scored all three of their runs with two outs in the top of the ninth on a two-run double from Kevin Taylor and an RBI single from Alay Lago.

Joel Bender pitched two scoreless innings in relief of French. The Goldeyes have scored nine or more runs four times in the last five games.

The series concludes Thursday night at 6:05 p.m. Kevin McGovern (8-3, 3.93) faces right-hander Alex Boshers (4-2, 5.98). Advance tickets are on sale now by visiting www.goldeyes.com/tickets or by visiting the box office at Shaw Park.

For information on 2019 season tickets, 10-game mini packs, and group tickets, call the Goldeyes’ office at (204) 982-BASE, or visit the Goldeyes’ official website at www.goldeyes.com

BATS STAY HOT WINNIPEG SUN – THURSDAY, JULY 18th The Winnipeg Goldeyes beat the Sioux Falls Canaries 9-3 at Shaw Park on Wednesday night.

Darvill scored the game’s first run on a throwing error in the bottom of the first. Back-to-back two-out, RBI hits from Alex Perez and Cody Young in the second made it 3-0.

Winnipeg broke the game open with a four-run third. Dominic Ficociello crushed a two-run double with the bases loaded. After the Canaries made a pitching change, Reggie Abercrombie added a two-run triple.

Darvill hit his seventh home run of the year, a two-run shot in the bottom of the sixth. Hill singled during the sixth, and has now hit safely in 17 straight games.

Parker French earned his third win of the season, pitching six shutout innings with five strikeouts.

WINNIPEG GOLDEYES 9, SIOUX FALLS CANARIES 3 WINNING PITCHER: WPG: Parker French (3-3) LOSING PITCHER: SF: Luis Pollorena (4-2) HOME RUN WPG: Wes Darville (7)

THE SKINNY: The Goldeyes built an early lead to support Parker French, who delivered six shutout innings in a 9-3 win over the Canaries.

PLAYER OF THE GAME: French held one of the league’s toughest offences off the scoreboard, scattering just four hits and allowing only one walk.

PLAY OF THE GAME: Third baseman Mitch Glasser robbed Wes Darvill with a diving stop on a ground ball to his left in the bottom of the eighth. After scrambling to his feet, Glasser narrowly threw out Darvill at first.

NEXT UP: The Goldeyes and Canaries conclude their series Thursday at 6:05 p.m. Kevin McGovern takes on former Goldeyes right-hander Alex Boshers. The game can be heard on 93.7 FM.

GOLDEYES’ DARVILL FEASTS ON CANARIES PITCHING MIKE MCINTYRE – WINNIPEG FREE PRESS – THURSDAY, JULY 18th Wes Darvill’s return to the Winnipeg Goldeyes this season could not have gone any better.

The 27-year-old infielder from Richmond, B.C., is having a tremendous season and helped lead his team to another victory Wednesday night at Shaw Park. Darvill had a single, double and home run and drove in two runs as the Fish beat the Sioux Falls Canaries 9-3 before 3,430 spectators.

Darvill is now hitting .332 on the year, which not only leads the Goldeyes but is among the best batters in the 12-team American Association. He’s been named an all-star for next week’s showcase event in St. Paul and is showing increased power at the plate, now with seven homers and 26 RBI, in addition to his usual sterling defence.

Darvill was a key part of the Goldeyes team that won back-to-back championships in 2016 and 2017, but headed south after the Los Angeles Dodgers organization signed him for the 2018 season. Darvill played as high as triple-A but was ultimately cut loose last winter.

The Goldeyes, of course, were happy to have him back. And Darvill hasn’t disappointed.

Darvill wasn’t the only star in Wednesday night’s lopsided win, which came on the heels of a similar 11-2 drubbing of Sioux Falls one night earlier. Third baseman Dominic Ficociello and veteran outfielder Reggie Abercrombie each drove in a pair of runs, while second baseman Alex Perez and catcher Cody Young also had run-scoring hits.

On the mound, pitcher Parker French had one of his best outings of the season. The 26-year-old righty from Texas scattered four hits over six scoreless innings, improving his personal record to 3-3. Joel Bender pitched two scoreless innings of relief before closer Victor Capellan, in to get some work in what was a 9-0 lead at the time, surrendered three runs in the ninth.

The Goldeyes got some help on the out-of-town scoreboard Wednesday as both Fargo-Moorhead and St. Paul lost. Winnipeg is now 61/2 games behind the front-running RedHawks and 41/2 behind the second-place Saints. The top two teams in the North Division make the playoffs, along with the top two from the South Division.

The Goldeyes will aim to sweep the Canaries when the three-game series wraps up tonight, with first pitch set for an earlier-than-usual 6 p.m.

VIDEO: JULY 17th GAME HIGHLIGHTS JASON YOUNG – WINNIPEG GOLDEYES – WEDNESDAY, JULY 17th LINK: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F2O0fUShY2g

VIDEO: JULY 17th POSTGAME INTERVIEWS NIGEL BATCHELOR – WINNIPEG GOLDEYES – WEDNESDAY, JULY 17th LINK: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F2O0fUShY2g

BIRDS SCORE THREE IN NINTH BUT FALL AT WINNIPEG CARTER WOODIEL – SIOUX FALLS CANARIES – WEDNESDAY, JULY 17th WINNIPEG, MB -- Winnipeg was too tough to handle for the Sioux Falls Canaries on Wednesday night. The Birds (27-29) lost 9-3 to the Winnipeg Goldeyes (31-25) on Wednesday at Shaw Park.

Birds starter Luis Pollorena allowed seven runs (six earned) in 2.1 innings of work. Winnipeg has won the first two games of the three-game series heading into Thursday's finale.

The Canaries rallied for three runs in the ninth inning, including RBI hits from Kevin Taylor and Alay Lago.

Winnipeg started their scoring in the bottom of the first. Pollorena made a wild throw to third base trying to catch Wes Darvill stealing, and Darvill scored on the error.

The Goldeyes added two more in the second on RBI hits from Alex Perez and Cody Young.

Winnipeg added four more runs in the third, all charged to Pollorena. Dominic Ficociello knocked a two-run double to make it 5-0, chasing Pollorena from the game.

Reilly Hovis came on to pitch for Sioux Falls, allowing a two-run triple from Reggie Abercrombie that made the score 7-0.

Hovis settled down after the triple. He'd allow just two hits and no runs in 2.2 innings. He struck out six, a new season high for a Canary reliever.

The Birds didn't register an extra-base hit until the ninth inning. Goldeyes starter Parker French threw six shutout frames to earn the win.

The Birds' got to Goldeyes closer Victor Capellan in the ninth. Jordan Ebert singled and Graham Low walked to put men on first and second. Three batters later, Taylor delivered a two-out two-run double. He finished the game 3-for-5.

Lago knocked an RBI single through the shortstop hole make it 9-3, but Burt Reynolds struck out to end the game.

UP NEXT The Canaries and Goldeyes play their series finale Thursday night at 6 p.m. Alex Boshers will start for the Birds; Kevin McGovern will get the ball for Winnipeg. Birds fans can listen to the game on Sioux Falls Sports Radio 98.1 FM and AM 1230 KWSN.

TOP OF GOLDEYES BATTING ORDER PRODUCING WINNIPEG SUN – THURSDAY, JULY 18th Goldeyes manager Rick Forney has been pleased with how the top of his lineup is gelling.

Winnipeg’s 11-2 win over the Sioux Falls Canaries on Tuesday marked the third time in four games the Goldeyes have scored at least nine runs.

Left fielder and three-hole hitter James Harris showcased his diverse skill set with two hits, two walks, two RBI, two stolen bases, and two runs scored.

“His walks are higher than his strikeouts,” Forney said on Harris, who entered play Wednesday with 35 walks against only 31 strikeouts. “We’re just trying to find guys with really good on-base percentages and batting averages, and put them at the top of the order.”

With a .391 on-base percentage, Harris now ranks in the American Association’s top-20, as does Wes Darvill who has settled into the two-hole with a .392 mark.

Leadoff man Tyler Hill joined the Goldeyes midway through the season and is still short of qualifying for the league’s rate statistics. His .485 on-base percentage would lead the circuit.

The trio also has combined for 29 stolen bases, and the Goldeyes went into play Wednesday tied for second in the league in that category.

“We’ve got to do stuff with our legs,” Forney said. “We’re stealing some bags, and I think we’re doing a much better job going first to third.”

The Goldeyes recently completed a stretch of 20 consecutive games without a day off in which they were 8-12. The Fish are still within 5.5 games of a potential postseason berth, and have 14 games remaining on their schedule with division rivals Fargo-Moorhead and St. Paul.

“We just kind of hit a tough stretch,” said Forney. “When you’ve got some injuries to deal with and you’re trying to piece things together, it’s not really a great time to have 20 straight. The schedule is what it is, and we have to continue to play through it.”

Forney is hoping the recent offensive surge can help the club move up the standings. The Goldeyes have 44 games remaining including tonight.

“We do have time,” said Forney. “But with that being said, we’ve got to play with a sense of urgency to try to start making up some ground. We’re not in a position where we can go 4-6 or 5-5 anymore. We’ve got to start having some 6-4 and some 7-3 10-day stretches if we’re going to get ourselves back into it.”

SUNDAY SCARE Goldeyes starting pitcher Mitchell Lambson earned his sixth win of the year on Tuesday, and lowered his ERA to 2.93.

While sitting in the dugout Sunday at St. Paul, the left-hander was struck above the right eye by a foul ball.

Lambson and the Goldeyes breathed a sigh of relief when he was evaluated Monday. No structural damage was found and there were no effects on Lambson’s vision.

“They got most of the swelling out of it,” Forney said. “He came over to the park Monday and felt fine. That’s just the way it goes for us. You’re not safe from injury no matter where you’re at on our team. The dugout can be dangerous. You have to pay attention at all times. The moment you’re not paying attention, something bad can happen.”

GOLDEYES SHORTSTOP GETS ALL-STAR NOD WINNIPEG SUN – TUESDAY, JULY 16th Wes Darvill will represent the Goldeyes at the American Association All-Star Game next Tuesday in St. Paul.

Darvill was voted in as the starting shortstop for the North Division. Longtime St. Paul Saints’ manager George Tsamis leads the North squad and has high praise for the Canadian infielder.

“Wes Darvill, he’s a top-10 player for me in all the years I’ve been managing,” said Tsamis. “He plays third, plays short, and we can never get him out. He always gets hits (against the Saints). We talk about it in the dugout how we can never get him out, and we still don’t get him out. He’s an excellent player.”

Following a 7-for-13 performance at CHS Field last weekend, Darvill is now a .353 career hitter in 41 games against St. Paul pitching. Darvill has hit 12 home runs during his three seasons with the Goldeyes, five of which have come against the Saints.

‘ENJOY THE GREATNESS’ Goldeyes’ outfielder Tyler Hill takes a 15-game hitting streak into tonight’s series-opener versus Sioux Falls.

Hill grew up in Delaware, but is an avid fan of the National Football League’s New England Patriots who recently won their sixth Super Bowl in the last 18 years.

It can be difficult to find middle ground among football fans when it comes to the defending champions, and Hill is steadfast in his support for anyone that is opposed to the dynastic nature of the franchise.

“Stop hating and enjoy,” laughed Hill. “Enjoy the greatness. It’s awesome. This is a once in a lifetime thing. (Patriots’ Head Coach) Bill Belichick, he’s running something unreal over there. Whether you hate them or think they’re cheaters, they’re doing it right. They’re winning, and that’s all that matters.”

IMMEDIATE IMPACT Infielder Dominic Ficociello was 4-for-12 in his return from injury, and is batting .326 in his last 23 games dating back to June 9th. In addition to his own production, Ficociello’s presence has helped stretch out the middle of the Goldeyes’ lineup.

“He changes our lineup,” Goldeyes’ manager Rick Forney said on Ficociello. “With Dominic being a switch-hitter, we have a little balance (in the lineup) right now. We’re trying to find the right pieces and get the right connections in there to get things going. We haven’t really been able to do that all year because of injuries, but I really like what’s happening with the first three guys at the top of the order in Hill, Darvill, and Harris.”

PAYING IT FORWARD St. Paul Saints’ pitcher Eddie Medina tossed a no-hitter earlier this season, and will join six of his teammates in his home ballpark at next Tuesday’s All- Star Game.

The Staten Island, NY native has reached the American Association Championship Series each of the past three years and has grown into both a premier starter and a clubhouse leader since first joining the league in 2015.

“This is my fifth season (in the American Association),” Medina said. “It’s a great place to play. I try to do my part as one of the older guys now, taking the younger guys and letting them know that, ‘hey, with this indy ball route, there’s opportunity here. Guys do get signed.’”

“What I’ve come to find from a lot of guys that have played affiliated ball is that they’re much happier in these independent leagues,” added Medina. “They get to be themselves. You get to grow and figure things out on your own and learn who you are as an individual.”

UP NEXT: The Goldeyes open a three-game series at Shaw Park tonight against the Sioux Falls Canaries. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. The Canaries were swept in three one-run games over the weekend, but had won nine of their previous 12. Mike Meyer’s club is tied for third in the American Association South, and just 3.0 games out of first place. Tuesday’s game can be heard on 93.7 FM.

CANARIES PLAYER CHASES OLYMPIC DREAM WITH TEAM ISRAEL JACK WILLIAMS – SIOUX FALLS ARGUS LEADER – MONDAY, JULY 15th Canaries infielder and hitting coach Mitch Glasser has been making an impact far away from the Birdcage in Sioux Falls.

Earlier this month, Glasser played a key role in Team Israel's undefeated pool play finish at the European Championships in Bulgaria. That milestone finish for the Israelis kept their dreams alive for a chance to play in the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo.

"Baseball is a funny game," said Glasser, 29, a former White Sox draft pick. "All it takes is one good game. Anything is possible and we're going to keep believing."

Israel defeated Russia 5-3 on July 6 to earn its first pool win in program history, and the team kept rolling with victories over Serbia, Bulgaria, Greece and Ireland, setting up a playoff series for qualifying later this month.

In many ways, Glasser's road to success on the Olympic qualifying stage has been years in the making. His Jewish heritage has brought him further than he and his team could have imagined.

'Amazing opportunity' Glasser's journey began in 2016 when he was called by Team Israel manager Jerry Weinstein to play in the World Baseball Classic qualifier. While Glasser did represent Israel in the qualifier, he didn't make the cut for the 2017 World Baseball Classic roster, which was heavy on major-league players.

This year, the opportunity arose again for Glasser to represent Israel at the European Baseball Championships, and the Canaries agreed to help him chase the dream.

"We were putting together his contract this year and he said he would be missing potentially 15 games for the qualifiers," Canaries manager Mike Meyer said. "I said that it was an amazing opportunity and that we were going to make it work."

With his contract set in Sioux Falls, Glasser spent three months in Israel obtaining citizenship. His Jewish heritage is what makes him eligible to play for the team, but the European Baseball Championship requires players to show eligibility of citizenship of the country they are representing.

Making the trip After exploring Jerusalem with his wife and practicing with the team in Tel Aviv, Glasser headed to Bulgaria. The 24-man roster was a mix of American- born and Israeli players, and that mix of experience helped give the team an edge in the tournament.

"There's got to be 40 to 50 years of (experience) that played on the roster," Glasser said. "We have the older guys who have played for the national team in the past and then we have all the younger guys. They supply a lot of energy and it's a little different from what you'd see in the U.S."

Team Israel scored 61 runs over six games to make the perfect record possible, while the pitching staff was steady. Glasser also stepped up when it mattered most, hitting a pivotal grand slam in a 11-1 win over Serbia.

Though Glasser's absence was certainly felt in Sioux Falls, the Canaries had enough talent on the roster to find success without him.

"Our depth this year has been huge for us," Meyer said.

National Pride Winning the tournament in Bulgaria advanced Team Israel to a three-game playoff series against Lithuania at the end of July, and the winner of that series will move up to Pool A, to be played in early September.

As Glasser prepares to head back for that playoff series, he feels a sense of pride for a team that is attempting to make history.

"Everyone has a different reason why they play baseball," he said. "Some of us play professionally and it's a way to pay the bills. For other guys it's a way to represent their country, and for others it's a hobby. No matter what their reason for playing, they still had 'Israel' across their chest and they were there to win."

Israeli born players see this as an opportunity to grow the game in a country dominated by soccer and basketball. Glasser finds himself caught up in the moment as the long-distance journey continues.

"It feels like there's something there that's a little more important than just yourself," he said. "There's a feeling that you get inside and some energy exists there that I felt I had. Even to my family, my grandparents would be so proud knowing that I'm playing for Israel. It's something that makes me smile that I can make my family proud."

TYLER HILL RIDES STREAK WINNIPEG SUN – SUNDAY, JULY 14th Goldeyes’ outfielder Tyler Hill has taken full advantage of his first opportunity in independent baseball.

The Delaware native has showcased a rare combination of power and speed, and entered Saturday’s game at St. Paul riding a 13-game hitting streak. Hill has been off to such a hot start in a Goldeyes’ uniform that his 2-for-6 performance on Friday night actually lowered his batting average to .397.

“It’s been great,” Hill said. “The difference between affiliated ball and indy ball—I actually like it a lot better here. Everyone is competing to win. Everybody plays for the team. It’s not an individualized kind of game here. Playing in all of these stadiums has been awesome, and the home crowd in Winnipeg’s been great. I’ve been having a great time.”

As a former high school draft pick, Hill is just 23 years old despite 2019 being his sixth year of professional baseball. His performance, experience level, and relative youth should make the right-handed hitter attractive to Major League organizations.

Since Hill arrived in late-June, Goldeyes’ manager Rick Forney has been impressed with the outfielder’s diverse skill set. Hill has nine stolen bases in just 11 attempts in addition to his production in the batter’s box.

Forney also lauded Hill for grinding through a pre-game illness on Friday.

“He probably shouldn’t have played (Friday),” said Forney. “I mean, he was sick after batting practice. He wasn’t feeling well, and he still gets two hits for us.”

Veteran outfielders Reggie Abercrombie and Willy Garcia, both of whom have Major League experience, have had a positive influence on Hill.

A product of the Delaware Military Academy in his hometown of Wilmington, Hill has credited both Abercrombie and Garcia for his seamless transition from affiliated ball.

“I try to pick their brains as much as I can,” Hill said on the pair of former Big Leaguers. “They’ve been to where I want to be. I try to listen as much as I can, and just try to be the best ballplayer I can. Having those guys in the clubhouse, it’s been fun playing with them.”

Drafted by the Boston Red Sox in 2014, Hill interestingly played for the rival New York Yankees’ organization earlier this year. The Detroit Tigers selected Hill from the Red Sox in the minor league phase of last December’s Rule V Draft before subsequently dealing him to New York.

Hill observed that both of the storied Major League franchises have clear expectations for their players from the Major Leagues all the way down to the lowest levels of the minors.

“There are a lot of expectations coming out of those organizations,” Hill said on playing in the Red Sox and Yankee farm systems. “You have to be professional at all times. That’s the main point. You have to understand that you’re not just representing yourself or the name on your back. You’re representing the whole organization, the whole fan base, and the players that came before you. It’s a lot bigger than just the individual. It was pressure, but it was good pressure.”