AA Edition
Week 22: Aug. 25-31
By Rick Mariotti
Minor Leagues Beat Writer
Chicago Sports Online
Beloit, Wis. - The Beloit Blue Sox won their division title last week as they went 4-2 and clinched the first DNL Mid-Central crown in franchise history.
Although the Blue Sox won the Warren Cox League championship last season, they got into the playoffs via a wild card slot after finishing in second place, 19 games behind Duluth. Beloit ousted Duluth in the first round of the playoffs 2 games to 1.
Now, Beloit must finish off the final game in their regular season schedule (an away game at Weymouth), and then face the tough St. Joseph Butchers in the first round of the Cox League playoffs.
“Everything will be extra hard from here on in,” said Manager Javier Montero. “St. Joseph is an excellent team, and it goes without saying that anyone we’d have the good fortune to face after them will be excellent, too. But I believe in our guys and in our team. We’re got as good a shot as anyone.”
Week 22 Scores
At St. Joseph
08-25: St. Joseph 3, Beloit 1
At Beloit
08-26: Beloit 21, Sioux City 3
08-27: Beloit 18, Sioux City 1
08-28: Beloit 3, Sioux City 1
At Weymouth
08-30: Weymouth 11, Beloit 10
08-31: Beloit 7, Weymouth 4
Record as of Aug. 31
W-L Record for Week 22: 4-2
Overall Record: 92-47, .662
Position in Standings: Clinched 1st Place in DNL Mid-Central Division, 2 games ahead of St. Joseph. 1st Division Championship in franchise history.
Position Players of Interest
| Player | Slash Line | OPS | HR | RBI | WAR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paul Kemp, OF/SP | .349/.427/.579 | 1.007 | 17 | 63 | 2.9 |
| Robby Clements, 1B | .276/.369/.466 | .835 | 22 | 78 | 1.8 |
| Jeffrey Cote, 2B | .271/.388/.461 | .849 | 16 | 65 | 4.4 |
| Shannon Morrison, SS* | .268/.355/.436 | .791 | 7 | 27 | 1.9 |
| Juan Benitez, OF | .250/.320/.460 | .780 | 13 | 44 | 0.5 |
| Danny Bennett, OF | .298/.398/.596 | .993 | 31 | 102 | 3.5 |
| Ricardo Torres, OF** | .326/.440/.582 | 1.022 | 23 | 81 | 5.2 |
** Promoted to Chicago 7-27; demoted to Beloit Aug. 11
Pitchers of Interest
| Pitcher | ERA | W-L-SV | IP | K's | BB's | WAR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ichchaam Chepchumba, SP** | 5.67 | 1-3-0 | 60.1 | 50 | 33 | 1.1 |
| Paul Kemp, SP/LF | 3.52 | 10-5-0 | 161.0 | 105 | 42 | 4.3 |
| Romeu Tameiro, SP | 4.49 | 11-9-0 | 152.1 | 111 | 52 | 3.1 |
| Carlos Vázquez, SP | 4.38 | 12-8-0 | 168.1 | 87 | 54 | 2.8 |
| Orlando Barries | 2.98 | 11-2-2 | 117.2 | 92 | 52 | 1.9 |
| Christian Rhodes, CL | 2.27 | 7-3-2 | 63.1 | 59 | 27 | 1.8 |
| Gilberto Cordero, CL | 0.76 | 3-0-23 | 35.1 | 48 | 8 | 2.4 |
| Raúl Ortíz, RP* | 1.78 | 6-0-10 | 30.1 | 45 | 15 | 1.4 |
1 Game at Weymouth