Week 11: June 9th – 15th
This was the week that two players, at either end of the professional careers, put pen to paper on a contract for 2044. Both were funnily enough to receive almost the same amount of money for the year. 33-yr-old Tony Alomar signed a one-year extension deal worth $2.86 million while the franchise’s #1 pick, 21-yr-old Josh Hayworth signed a minor league contract with a $2.85 million bonus. Hayworth will open his pro career next week in the #4 rotation slot at Columbus.
Game 65 vs Edmonton Jackrabbits
6/9 @ Edmonton L 4-6 (31,156)
Jackrabbits took the series when they scored two runs in the second & fourth innings. Aviators did score a run in four of the last five innings, but unfortunately Edmonton added a couple more as well. Hedde Aalbers went 3-4, scoring twice and driving a run in. Aalbers also stole his sixth base of the season, completed two double plays and made his 13th error at SS which cost Aviators two unearned runs.
Games 66, 67 & 68 @ Mexico City Aztecs
6/12 @ Mexico City L 3-6
6/13 @ Mexico City L 0-3
6/13 @ Mexico City W 9-4
Aztecs wasted no time getting ahead in game one, scoring two runs in the bottom of the first innings and although Aviators got it back to 1-2 & 2-3, three runs in the bottom of the sixth took the game away. Jason Bowen went 3-4 including a sixth innings solo homer and scored once more as well. Jesus Arce came on and pitched the last three innings in relief for Wichita giving up nothing but three hits, but the damage had been done. In the first game then of a double header Aviators weren’t at the races. The lead-off duo of Jorge Rincon & Juan Roman were the only two Aviators to get a hit while Rincon & Damon Tipping contributed an error each as well. Tipping pitched six innings and although he allowed just seven hits, one walk and two runs he was credited with his fifth loss of the season. In the day’s nightcap Wichita made use of two walks coupled with a pair of hits in the first innings to help to get four runs home. By the time Mexico City got their first two runs in the fourth innings they were already 7-0 down. Duane Whitley Jr went 4-5, scoring once and driving two runs in. Chet Dickinson pitched seven innings allowing 10 hits and three runs while striking out four batters to post his second ever BBA win
Games 69 & 70 @ Las Vegas Hustlers
6/14 @ Las Vegas L 3-8
6/15 @ Las Vegas W 7-4
In game one both sides scored a run each in the first & third innings, but the Hustlers broke the game open in the fourth innings. They scored five runs and coasted the rest of the way. Jose Montoya only lasted 3.1 innings, giving up seven runs (five earned) but unusually failed to walk anyone. In the second game a 2-run homer from Duane Whitley Jr in the top of the first opened the scoring, but Hustlers were 3-2 ahead after three innings. A solo homer by Jason Bowen tied the game in the fourth and then Wichita steadily added runs over the next few innings to take the game away from Las Vegas. Bowen ended up going 3-4 with a walk including two homers and three RBI. Takanori Goto improved his record to 4-4 despite walking another four batters in six innings and Tony Alomar celebrated his new contract by collecting his 10th save of 2043
Regular Season Standings (June 15th)
2043 Record v Johnson League
| Frontier | HW | HL | AW | AL | Atlantic | HW | HL | AW | AL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boise | 1 | 2 | 0 | 4 | Atlantic City | - | - | 2 | 1 |
| Calgary | 1 | 3 | 2 | 1 | Brooklyn | 1 | 1 | - | - |
| Edmonton | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | Charlotte | - | - | - | - |
| Las Vegas | 1 | 3 | 4 | 2 | Charm City | - | - | - | - |
| Mexico City | 1 | 5 | 1 | 2 | Jacksonville | 2 | 1 | - | - |
| Phoenix | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | Montreal | 0 | 3 | - | - |
| San Antonio | 0 | 3 | 1 | 2 | New Orleans | - | - | 0 | 3 |
| Wichita | X | X | X | X | Rockville | - | - | 1 | 2 |
| TOTALS | 6 | 19 | 12 | 16 | TOTALS | 3 | 5 | 3 | 6 |
Pitcher of the Week: 24-yr-old reliever Sergio Rojas pitched a total of 10.1 innings in three games this week. He allowed six hits, two walks and three runs; he didn’t get any decisions but struck out five batters.
Batter of the Week: 32-yr-old Duane Whitley Jr hit .421/.450/.421 in five games. He walked once, scored twice and drove in four runs.