Sparks Centennial A's (Minors)

Sparks, NV (AP)---The A’s started the play-offs in good fashion, defeating a tough Indians team 15-7 Tuesday night.

The game was a big win for the A’s, getting the first round of the play-offs out of the way and taking the pressure off a little bit.

The A’s had to play catch up from the start, as the Indians came out swinging in the top of the first inning.  The A’s answered right back in the bottom half of the inning, using a two-out rally to tie the game.  The score went back and forth for the next three innings, until the A’s (using great hitting and patient at-bats) took the lead for good and never looked back.

Pitchers Jon Pinto, Don Gorum, Cameron Beard, Harlan Harrington, and Brendan Parisotto did a great job of working together to pitch their team to a victory.  Every pitcher stayed below the pitch limit, which means that Thursday’s play-off game will give us the full strength needed to go after the Angels.

Cameron Beard went 3-3 with two doubles; Brendan Parisotto added two solid hits and a walk of his own; Don Gorum crushed two hard singles in clutch situations to net three early RBI’s; Austin Burkhart and Bren Gilmore had big at-bats with key base hits to spark late inning rallies.  Jacob Stenvold and Ethan Ioli were very aggressive on the bases, as well as Harlan Harrington, who sprinted on the base-paths like a gazelle.  Once again, the Clabaugh brothers brought their skill and enthusiasm onto the field and into the dug-out, helping motivate the team to victory.  Great job, everyone!!!

The A’s will take on the Angels on Thursday at 7:45 p.m. (Golden Eagle)…be there at 6:30-6:45 and be ready to warm-up.  We have defeated the Angels twice this season, and both times, they have played us TOUGH!  So be ready for a battle…

NOTE:  Due to pitch counts (hopefully, for a potential Friday game)…some of the pitching strategies may change inning-per-inning.  Everyone, be ready.

Sparks, NV (AP)---The A’s Minors team finished an amazing 2008 regular season by defeating the Yankees, 13-9 in front of a large crowd Monday night.

Pitchers Jon Pinto, Harlan Harrington, Cameron Beard, Don Gorum, Brendan Parisotto, and first-time pitcher Jacob Stenvold limited the damage from the Yankees’ bats in helping to earn the victory.  With Jacob pitching, that means that EVERY player on the A’s roster pitched at some point during this great season!!!

Don Gorum and Brendan Parisotto had big hits with runs in scoring position, to put some distance between the A’s and Yankees in the fourth inning, when the A’s plated seven runs.

The A’s hope to take this momentum into the playoffs next week.  Play-off seeding will be determined by a “hat-draw” tonight…so, match-ups are coming!

We will have a practice this week…in the meantime, practice on your own every day and BE READY!!!  Have fun and enjoy the rest of this season, as it has truly been something special.

Sparks, NV (AP)---The A’s defeated the Rangers on Saturday afternoon, in front of a sun-drenched, enthusiastic crowd at the Shadow Mountain complex.

Pitchers Jon Pinto, Tanner Clabaugh, Cameron Beard, and Brendan Parisotto pitched the A’s to the victory, the third this season against a very tough and well-coached Rangers’ team.

The A’s hitters were patient and the base-running was very good…showing aggressiveness and taking advantage of defensive mis-cues.

This was definitely not the A’s best played game; however, it was a true sign of a good team…one that can win, even on a day when it is not at it’s best.

The A’s will play their last game of the regular season Monday at 5:30 p.m. against a good Yankees team, a tune up for the next weeks’ play-off game(s).

Be there and be ready!!!

There will be a practice this week…we’ll let you know the time and date soon!