eros prepare for title round
Tuesday, September 13, 2005
Dennis Manoloff
Plain Dealer Reporter

The Akron Aeros, who lost a franchise-record 12 straight during the
regular season, are one series victory away from the Class AA Eastern
League championship.

Akron opens the best-of-five final tonight on the road against the
Portland Sea Dogs, a Boston Red Sox affiliate. First pitch is
scheduled for 6 p.m. at Hadlock Field in Portland, Maine.

Game 2 will be Wednesday at Portland before the series shifts to Canal
Park for Game 3 Friday and, if necessary, Game 4 Saturday and Game 5
Sunday.
  Game 1 features a terrific pitching matchup. Akron left-hander Jeremy
Sowers, the sixth overall pick in 2004, combined for a 14-4 record and
2.37 ERA at three levels in the regular season and won the opening
game of the Southern Division playoff. Portland left-hander Jon
Lester, a second-round pick in 2002, was named Eastern League pitcher
of the year after going 11-6 with a league-best 2.61 ERA and 163
strikeouts.

Sowers beat Lester, 4-1, July 16 at Hadlock Field.

Akron won the season series, 6-2, including 3-1 at Portland.

The Aeros won the EL title in 2003; the Sea Dogs reached the
championship series on two previous occasions but failed to win.

Akron, the Southern Division regular-season leader at 84-58, advanced
to the final by defeating Altoona in the best-of-five division series,
3-2. Portland, Northern Division champ at 76-66, ousted Trenton, 3-2.

To reach this Plain Dealer reporter:

dmanoloff@..., 216-999-4677

For Aeros, it's relief to advance

Hibbard's Foley hunch pays off in clinching win

By Stephanie Storm

Beacon Journal sports writer

When the Aeros found themselves behind by three runs early in Sunday's
deciding Game 5 against the Altoona Curve, manager Torey Lovullo
wasn't worried about his offense.

During the second half of the regular season and throughout the first
round of the Eastern League playoffs, the Aeros always seemed to have
a rally or two in them.

Lovullo and pitching coach Greg Hibbard were more concerned with the
Aeros' shaky middle relief and how they were going to get three
innings of shutout relief while giving the hitters time to play catchup?

``What about Travis Foley?'' Hibbard suggested.

The right-hander is a starter-turned-reliever who had struggled
through most of the season after offseason elbow surgery.

While Foley had adjusted nicely to coming out of the bullpen during
the second half of the season, he'd never pitched consecutive games in
the role before.

Saturday night in Altoona, the Indians' fourth-round pick out of
Kentucky's Butler High School in the 2001 draft had thrown 21 pitches
in relief of starter Jake Dittler.

In many ways, the Aeros making it to the Eastern League Championship
Series to face the Portland Sea Dogs in Game 1 tonight came down to
whether Hibbard's gamble worked.

With rookie starter Tom Mastny having lasted just 4 1/3 innings, Foley
was summoned to take over. There was one out, the bases were loaded
and tough sluggers Josh Bonifay, Tom Evans and Adam Boeve were due up.

``There was only one guy who could help us,'' Lovullo said. ``And it
was Travis.''

Foley not only got out of the jam, he cruised through 3 1/3 innings.

``I stuck his neck out there on the line, and he came through,''
Hibbard said. ``It's especially rewarding because he has been through
so much to get to this point. After an injury, pitchers go through
doubts about their ability that affect them physically and mentally.''

But when the Aeros needed him most, Foley displayed the best command
of his fastball he'd had all year.

``I never went back-to-back before and I was surprised he kept me out
there that long,'' Foley said with a huge smile. ``But I was pitching
on pure adrenaline, and it felt great.''

Sunday's 6-4 victory was a roller-coaster ride of emotions for many,
including Lovullo.

``I felt like I was having a heart attack every time a guy on base,''
he said. ``Then Foley came in and gave us all a chance to catch our
breath. In the end, it was everything a Game 5 should be.''

That doesn't mean the Aeros would like to see one again this week
against the Sea Dogs.

After playing the first two games at Portland's Hadlock Field, the
teams have a day off Thursday for travel before the five-game series
resumes at Canal Park for the weekend.

The teams are familiar with each other, as it was just over a week ago
that the host Aeros completed the regular-season by winning
three-of-four from the Sea Dogs.

``I'd like to say we have the momentum, but Portland went through the
same thing we did in going up 2-0 then having it come down to winning
it in Game 5 (Sunday) night,'' Aeros catcher Javier Herrera said.
``So, there's no doubt it's going to be a dogfight.''

If so, the Aeros are sure glad to have Foley on their side.

Aeros advance with 6-4 win over Curve
Monday, September 12, 2005
From wire reports

John Van Every went 3-for-4 with a double and two RBI as Akron downed
Altoona to win the deciding game of the Southern Division playoffs of
the Eastern League at Canal Park.

Akron, who won the series, 3-2, will face Portland for the best-of-5
Eastern League championship beginning Tuesday at Portland.

Aeros 6, Curve 4

Aeros' resilience puts them in final

Rally from three-run deficit sets up series with Portland, starting
Tuesday. Van Every ends slump

By Stephanie Storm

Beacon Journal sports writer

Manager Torey Lovullo often refers to the young Aeros as
``battle-tested'' -- even though a majority of the players are
experiencing Double-A baseball for the first time.

``They're unfazed by playoff baseball,'' said Lovullo, a rookie
himself this season in Akron. ``Last year, they won five elimination
games (at Class-A Kinston) to win the Carolina League title.''

The Aeros passed their first elimination test at the Double-A level
Sunday, using a 6-4 come-from-behind victory over the Altoona Curve in
Game 5 of the Eastern League Southern Division to advance to the
championship series. The series begins Tuesday in Portland, Maine.

``I am so proud of this group to come back the way they did,
especially in a series in which the momentum was firmly on (Altoona's
side),'' Lovullo said.

A mini-celebration ensued afterward, but instead of champagne, the
team had to settle for cans of cold Miller Lite as it prepared to hop
on the team bus for a 10-hour drive to Maine.

That's where the Aeros will face the Portland Sea Dogs (Boston Red
Sox), a 9-2 winner over the Trenton Thunder on Sunday, a five-game
Northern Division series that mirrored the Akron/Altoona matchup.

``I told them to taste this victory, fully enjoy it, and then we'll
think about Portland on the long bus trip to Maine,'' Lovullo said.

The Aeros' road to the finals was far from the easy trip that it first
appeared to be when they coasted into the playoffs and them promptly
took a 2-0 series lead in the opening games at Canal Park.

But in Altoona, Pa., the Curve evened the series by winning two games,
forcing Sunday's deciding game.

Altoona took a 3-0 lead early in Sunday's game on the strength of two
home runs by Adam Boeve. But the Aeros had five consecutive hits in
the fourth inning to tie the score, a one-out rally capped by Javier
Herrera's two-run double.

When the Curve re-took the lead with a run in the fifth, the Aeros
tied the score an inning later on an Eider Torres' RBI single.

With the offense doing its job, reliever Travis Foley more than did
his, shutting out the explosive Curve in 3 1/3 innings of work -- and
after having pitched Saturday in Altoona.

``I stuck his neck on the line in there tonight, and he responded
better than anyone could have expected,'' pitching coach Greg Hibbard
said.

The Aeros didn't enjoy their first lead of the game until the seventh
inning when Jon Van Every singled home Ryan Mulhen for a 5-4 lead. Van
Every entered the game as the only Aeros regular hitless in postseason
play, having gone 0-for-13 in the first four games.

The slugger more than made up for it going 3-for-4. His effort
included an RBI-double and a run scored in the fourth, a single and a
run scored in the sixth and the big hit in the seventh that proved to
be the game-winner.

``They'd been throwing me away all series, and I was struggling,'' Van
Every said. ``So I came in with the mentality to try not do too much
and just focus on recognizing the pitch and jump on anything they
missed in.''

Pat Osborn, 10-for-18 in the series, gave the Aeros an insurance run
with an RBI single in the eighth that scored Torres, who reached on an
error.

``It was a heck of a series,'' Osborn said. ``It was exciting, we
fought back to get the win, and it gives us momentum going into the
next round.''

Sunday, September 11, 2005
From wire reports

Hansel Izquierdo pitched 6 1/3 solid innings and Josh Bonifay drove in
three runs as Altoona beat Akron, 6-3, on Saturday to even the Eastern
League first-round series. Izquierdo (1-0) held the Aeros to three
runs on five hits to force a decisive Game 5 in Akron. The
right-hander struck out five and did not issue a walk before Brady
Borner and Matthew Capps retired eight straight batters, with Capps
working the ninth for the save.

The 28-year-old Izquierdo went 10 innings Monday, when Altoona posted
a 4-1, 15-inning win over Bowie. The Curve completed a four-game sweep
of the Baysox the following night to secure a playoff berth for the
third straight season.

Bonifay, who homered in Altoona's 3-0 win on Friday, delivered a
run-scoring single with two outs in the fifth inning to make it 4-1.
		 Advertisement





Aeros starter Jake Dittler (0-1) went 6 1/3 innings, allowing six runs
on 12 hits and two walks with four strikeouts. Game 5 is 7:05 p.m. on
Sunday.

Curve 6, Aeros 3

Altoona gets even, forces deciding game

Aeros' celebration delayed as Curve win second in a row to tie playoff
series

By Stephanie Storm

Beacon Journal sports writer

ALTOONA, PA. - When the Aeros arrived in Altoona on Friday in need of
one win to advance to the Eastern League Championship series, there
was a multi-purpose room just outside the visitors' clubhouse with
clear sheets of plastic duct-taped to the walls and ceiling.

Why had the vacant room been prepared for a celebration even though
there were possibly three games to be played in the Southern Division
series?

Turns out the heads-up housekeeping was done in preparation of the
Aeros clinching the series, so that the visitors wouldn't leave the
locker room soaking wet from spraying champagne bottles.

An Aeros first-round clinch might still be the eventual outcome, but
it's not going to happen in Altoona. Facing a 2-0 deficit on Friday,
the Curve staved off elimination for the second consecutive night
Saturday night with a spirited 6-3 victory.

The Aeros and Curve are headed back to Akron for a deciding Game Five
tonight at Canal Park at 7:05 p.m.

``Emotionally, these guys are a little frustrated,'' Aeros manager
Torey Lovullo said in a near whisper amid a silent locker room. ``They
probably expected to get this done without having to go through this
first.''

Apparently, so did some of the Altoona front office. However, the
Curve continued to show their trademark resiliency in battering Aeros
starter Jake Dittler for six runs on 12 hits.

But it was Josh Bonifay's two-run home run that chased the Indians
second-round pick in the 2001 draft from the game in the seventh
inning, handing him the loss.

``I thought Jake was strong, he was throwing the ball well and he was
pounding the zone,'' Lovullo said. ``It was going to be his last
hitter, but I made the decision to allow him to pitch to Bonifay.
(Dittler) just made a mistake.''

Although it's always easy to second-guess a manager's decision after
the fact when something doesn't work, Dittler's performance was far
from solid.

The right-hander had a pair of second-inning walks come back to haunt
him as the Curve took an early 2-0 lead. And after the Aeros cut the
deficit in half when Ivan Ochoa doubled then scored on an Eider Torres
single in the third, Altoona promptly extended its lead with another
pair of runs two innings later.

Ninth batter Javier Guzman tripled to lead off the inning, scoring on
a single by Craig Stansberry. A Dittler wild pitch put Stansberry in
scoring position, and Bonifay knocked him home with a single.

But what crushed the Aeros' spirits the most was the fact that they
had just rallied again. Solo home runs by Ryan Mulhern and Shaun
Larkin had pulled them to within 4-3.

The tight game resulted in no pressure for the Curve.

``I've never had a team as focused, one that feels no pressure and
without even one guy who feels tight,'' Altoona manager Tony Beasley said.

Next round

Like Altoona, Trenton (New York Yankees) battled back from a 2-0 hole
in the Northern Division Series to win games three and four in
Trenton. Saturday, the Thunder sent the series back to Portland for
game five with a 3-2 come-from-behind win on a walk-off home run by
veteran outfielder Michael Coleman.

Up next

Aeros right-hander Tom Mastny (1-1, 2.18 ERA) is scheduled to face
Curve left-hander Shane Youman (8-6, 3.92 ERA) in tonight's deciding game.

Breaking down the SeaWolves' end-of-year freefall
By Ron Leonardi
ron.leonardi@...

As the Erie SeaWolves struggled through their season-ending, four-game
home series last week against Reading, catcher Mike Rabelo looked like
a player eager to put the season behind him.

"I don't want to talk about the last six weeks,"Rabelo said. "I don't
even want to think about it."

In mid-July, no one could have envisioned the freefall the SeaWolves
were about to embark on. Beset by injuries, player call-ups and dismal
play, the SeaWolves degenerated from a bona fide pennant and playoff
contender to a last-place 63-79 finish.

Erie's late-season collapse included a 7-23 August record, a 7-28
record in their final 35 games and a season-ending 10-game losing streak.

"I'm disappointed overall - that's my first reaction," manager Duffy
Dyer said. "I thought we'd do a lot better than we did. Our job is to
develop talent, but to win also. When you're losing, that's
unacceptable, so that part is very disappointing. You could use some
excuses that we've had a lot of injuries and we've lost a lot of
players, but so have a lot of other clubs. We just did not play good
baseball for the last six weeks."

On July 24, the SeaWolves still were playing good baseball. They were
in a solid position to contend for an Eastern League Southern Division
playoff berth. They were in second place with a 53-47 record, just 2˝
games behind the Akron Aeros, and still boasted one of the league's
better starting rotations.

But in the next three weeks, the SeaWolves lost four-fifths of their
rotation, including ace Justin Verlander, and slugger Kurt Airoso. The
SeaWolves eventually lost two more starters to injuries, and from
mid-July, 12 front-line players were sidelined for all or part of the
remainder of the season.

"If the rotation would have stayed intact, no matter what the offense
did, we were going to be in most ballgames," Airoso said. "When the
rotation went down and the bullpen started getting overworked, it was
just like a domino effect that affected the whole team."

The beginning of the mass exodus began July 15, when fireballing
right-hander Joel Zumaya -- one of minor league baseball's hottest
prospects -- was promoted to Triple-A Toledo. Zumaya spent the
remainder of the season with Toledo.

Three days after Zumaya got his Triple-A call-up, right-handed
reliever Mark Johnson was promoted to the Mud Hens. At the time of his
call-up, Johnson had been arguably the SeaWolves' most consistent
reliever over the previous month, pitching well in long relief and as
a dependable spot starter.

On July 30, the SeaWolves placed right-handed starter Nate Cornejo on
the disabled list for the remainder of the season with stiffness in
his throwing shoulder. Cornejo was on a rehabilitation assignment
after undergoing shoulder surgery in July 2004. He finished the season
4-12, losing his last eight decisions, and did not win a start after
May 24.

A few days after Cornjeo's departure, the SeaWolves lost another
starter to the disabled list -- right-hander Humberto Sanchez -- with
a strained groin. A week later, on Aug. 7, Sanchez came off the DL --
and pulled the groin after facing just two batters in the first inning
of a start that night. He was placed back on the DL Aug. 8 and
remained sidelined until Aug. 30.

The loss of Verlander, the Detroit Tigers' 2004 No. 1 draft pick, on
Aug. 7, may have been the most demoralizing to the club. Promoted to
the SeaWolves from Class A Lakeland on June 21, Verlander was nearly
unhittable in Double-A, going 2-0 with a 0.28 ERA in seven starts.

While with Erie, Verlander made two major league starts for the
Tigers. But during an Aug. 2 home start against Altoona, Verlander was
forced to leave after three innings because of inflammation behind his
throwing shoulder.

On Aug. 7, he was placed on the DL as a precautionary move and sent to
Lakeland, Fla., to begin a two-week rest, followed by a throwing program.

"Now I know for sure that starting pitching wins games," SeaWolves
outfielder David Espinosa said. "When you have guys like Zumaya and
Verlander in the rotation, those guys are lights out usually. We had
to make a lot of moves. Some pitchers struggled, the hitting
struggled. I can't explain it. It was frustrating to come out here and
lose all these games. We didn't have as good a team as we did before
the injuries, but I still think we had enough talent to win."

Erie's play during the last month of the season was consistently bad
in every phase. One night it was the pitching, the next a lack of
offense. Other constants were shoddy defense, bad baserunning, and an
ever-present shaky bullpen.

When Mark Johnson left in July, Dyer and pitching coach Mike Caldwell
were forced to move bullpen personnel into different roles -- moves
that did not yield intended results.

Erie's bullpen was the strength of the team during the first month and
a half of the season. But from mid-May, its inconsistency was almost
as inexplicable as the club's inability to win at home.

Once the SeaWolves lost all their starters to injuries, they had to
rely on a patchwork rotation that couldn't consistently provide them
with six-inning outings.

Some starters were pitching on rehab assignments and working on
moderate pitch counts, while others were just ineffective. The
new-look staff couldn't consistently soak up innings, forcing an
overworked bullpen to pick up the load, which it couldn't do.

Of several position players who were sidelined in the final month, the
biggest loss was designated hitter Kurt Airoso, who jammed his left
knee July 31 lunging for first base while running out a grounder.

It was two weeks before Airoso learned he had suffered a season-ending
injury. At the time, Airoso was among the league leaders in home runs
(22) and RBIs (71). A notoriously slow starter, Airoso had increased
his batting average to .281 at the end of July from .219 entering June.

"When we lost Airoso, that really hurt us offensively," Dyer said.
"But I thought we had some guys who were capable of coming in and
picking us up, and it really didn't happen too much."

Another factor compounding Erie's late-season collapse was the Tigers'
decision to not replenish Erie with some top Class A Lakeland
prospects, or anybody from Triple-A Toledo.

Under different circumstances, the SeaWolves probably would have
received help. The Tigers, however, did not want to break up Lakeland
or Toledo.

Lakeland cruised through the Florida State League regular season with
a league-best 85-47 record. Lakeland swept Dunedin in two games of
their best-of-three, first-round playoff series earlier this week.

Toledo clinched the International League West Division championship
and is playing Norfolk in the opening round of the playoffs.

But Lakeland's talent-laden team could pay off next year with several
top prospects earning promotions to Erie.

"From what I've heard, they have a lot of kids who are ready to play
here," Dyer said. "I think the future is bright for here next year."

Dyer expects to be part of that future next season with the SeaWolves.

"I don't know yet for sure, it's not official, but I think I'll be
back," he said.

RON LEONARDI can be reached at 870-1680 or by e-mail.

CURVE FORCE GAME 5

         Deciding game at Canal Park Sunday at 7:05 pm

Hansel Izquierdo pitched 6 1/3 solid innings and Josh Bonifay drove in
three runs as Altoona beat Akron, 6-3, on Saturday to even the Eastern
League first-round series.

Izquierdo (1-0) held the Aeros to three runs on five hits to force a
decisive Game 5 in Akron. The right-hander struck out five and did not
issue a walk before Brady Borner and Matthew Capps retired eight
straight batters, with Capps working the ninth for the save.

The 28-year-old Izquierdo went 10 innings Monday, when Altoona posted
a 4-1, 15-inning win over Bowie. The Curve completed a four-game sweep
of the Baysox the following night to secure a playoff berth for the
third straight season.

Bonifay, who homered in Altoona's 3-0 win on Friday, delivered a
run-scoring single with two outs in the fifth inning to make it 4-1.
After Akron scored a pair of runs in the top of the seventh, the first
baseman smacked a two-run homer in the bottom half to restore the
two-run lead.

Altoona grabbed an early lead for the second straight night. Aeros
starter Jake Dittler (0-1) issued consecutive one-out walks to Tom
Evans and Adam Boeve in the second inning before Jorge Cortes reached
on an infield single to load the bases. Carlos Maldonado grounded into
a forceout to plate Evans and Javier Guzman singled to left field to
score Boeve for a 2-0 lead.

The Aeros cut the deficit in half on an RBI single by Eider Torres
with two outs in the third.

Akron did no get another runner into scoring position until Ryan
Mulhern led off the sixth with a drive over the center-field fence for
his first homer of the series. One out later, Shaun Larkin hit his
second homer of the series to cut the deficit to 4-3 and chase Izquierdo.

Borner, the losing pitcher out of the bullpen in Game 2, came on and
retired Jonathan Van Every on a groundout before striking out Javi
Herrera to end the seventh.

Dittler went 6 1/3 innings, allowing six runs on 12 hits and two walks
with four strikeouts.

Game 5 is 7:05 p.m. on Sunday, with Shane Youman getting the baseball
for the Curve against Tom Mastny.

CURVE SILENCE AEROS
                                                              Altoona
stays alive with Game 3 win

Tom Gorzelanny picked a good time for his most dominant start of the
season.

Gorzelanny fired a four-hitter and set a franchise record with 13
strikeouts as the Curve avoided a sweep with a 3-0 victory over the
Aeros on Friday night at Blair County Park.

The 23-year-old Gorzelanny was in control from the outset, retiring
the first 17 batters before Ivan Ochoa lined a double to left field.
Ochoa, who homered in Akron's 11-7 win in Game 1 on Wednesday, was
stranded at second as Gorzelanny struck out Eider Torres to end the sixth.

"Everything was working, I was placing what I wanted, my slider was
going down in the dirt," Gorzelanny said. "Everything was good, I
threw the changeup to lefties more than before. Obviously, everything
was going good."

The only trouble Gorzelanny faced came in the seventh, when Brad
Snyder and Ryan Mulhern hit one-out singles. Pat Osborn followed with
an infield hit, but third baseman Tom Evans knocked down the ball and
tagged out Snyder as he overran the base.

It was the last opportunity for Akron as Gorzelanny retired Shaun
Larkin on a popout to end the inning and set down the last six
batters. His strikeout of Ochoa to end the eighth eclipsed the Curve
record of 12 set by Ian Snell against Erie on May 2, 2004.

The Aeros, who totaled 17 runs in winning the first two games of the
series at home, struggled against Gorzelanny this season. The
left-hander was 2-0 with a 3.00 ERA in four starts against Akron in
the regular season. He was unavailable for the first two games after
pitching five innings in last Saturday's win over Bowie.

A second-round pick of the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2003, Gorzelanny did
not know he would have his best stuff before taking the mound Friday.

"Whenever I do good in a game, I don't do good in the bullpen," said
Gorzelanny, who pitched a three-hitter with seven strikeouts in a
shutout of New Britain on June 26. "I try not to worry about the bullpen."

Gorzelanny received an early lead as Evans led off the bottom of the
second with a single and Adam Boeve followed with a blast over the
center-field fence for his second homer of the series.

Josh Bonifay led off the bottom of the fourth with a drive over the
left-field wall for Altoona's final run.

Aeros starter Rafael Perez (0-1) went six innings, allowing three runs
and six hits with one walk and six strikeouts.

Hansel Izquierdo will try to help the Curve even the series, when he
opposes Jake Dittler in Game 4 at 7:05 p.m. ET on Saturday.

Eastern League playoffs/Curve 3, Aeros 0

Curve stay alive with shutout win

Altoona's Gorzelanny prevents Aeros sweep with a standout start

By Stephanie Storm

Beacon Journal sports writer

ALTOONA, PA. - If the Aeros had any lingering questions as to just how
well the Altoona Curve play with their backs against the wall, it was
promptly answered Friday night at Blair County Ballpark.

The team that swept a four-game series at Bowie last week to get into
the Eastern League Southern Division playoffs staved off a three-game
sweep by the Aeros, thanks in large part to a complete-game shutout by
ace Tom Gorzelanny.

``I was throwing everything where I wanted to,'' said Gorzelanny, the
Pittsburgh Pirates' second-round selection in the 2003 draft. ``I was
just placing my pitches and everything was working.''

Gorzelanny was so dominant in Altoona's 3-0 victory, he not only
retired the first 10 batters he faced, but he also struck out 11 of
the first 19.

It wasn't until the seventh inning until the 6-foot-2, 207-pounder
failed to record at least one strikeout.

``He kept the ball down and was getting good strikes called at the
bottom of the zone,'' Aeros pitching coach Greg Hibbard said.

``Four or five of the fastballs we took (for called strikeouts) were
borderline balls at the bottom of the zone. But he established that
area early, and his change-up and slider just fed off that pitch.''

Gorzelanny was working on a perfect game through 5 2/3 innings before
Ivan Ochoa broke up the no-hit bid with a two-out double to left
field. Ochoa was left stranded when Gorzelanny struck out Eider Torres
for the second time to end the threat.

In nine innings, Gorzelanny struck out 13 -- a Curve franchise record.
He also sat down all but one Aeros batter (Ryan Mulhern) at least once
via a strikeout. The left-hander threw 105 pitches, allowing just four
hits and no walks.

``No walks, that was biggest thing for me,'' said Gorzelanny, who
admitted to being a bit shy after receiving a standing ovation at the
end of the game. ``Everyone told me to tip my cap, but I was kind of
embarrassed.''

The Curve gave Gorzelanny an early lead with which to work.

Tom Evans led off the second inning with a single off Aeros starter
Rafael Perez, and Adam Boeve followed with a home run to center field
to give Altoona a 2-0 lead.

Josh Bonifay made it a three unanswered runs, when he led off the
fourth inning with a solo blast to left field that not only cleared
the bleachers, but also bounced off the walkway beyond them.

``Almost all of their runs in this series have come via home runs,''
Aeros manager Torey Lovullo said. ``If we're losing ballgames that
way, I can live with that. It's a pace that's hard to keep up over too
long of a stretch.''

With Gorzelanny cruising, the Aeros' offense struggled to get on the
board. But in the seventh inning, they finally managed to string
together three consecutive hits.

But the Aeros' late rally was cut short, and they left a pair stranded
when Brad Snyder was caught off third base after rounding the bag too
far and Shaun Larkin fouled out.

``(Snyder's miscue) was the key play of the game,'' Lovullo said. ``We
kind of had (Gorzelanny) on the ropes a bit, with the bullpen
stirring. But we shot ourselves in the foot right there, and it cost us.''

Up next

With its win Friday, the Curve forced a fourth game, which will take
place tonight in Altoona at 7:05 at Blair County Ballpark. Aeros
right-hander Jake Dittler (10-9, 3.64 ERA) is scheduled to face
Altoona right-hander Hansel Izquierdo (7-5, 4.51 ERA).

AEROS WIN 6-4, TAKE TWO GAME SERIES LEAD
Akron one win from advancing to Eastern League Championship

This time the Aeros waited a little longer for their big inning.

Nathan Panther had two hits and two RBIs as Akron used a pair of
three-run innings to beat Altoona, 6-4, in Game 2 of their Eastern
League Division Championship Series on Thursday night.

Akron, which erupted for five runs in the first inning en route to an
11-7 victory on Wednesday, snapped a scoreless tie in this one with
three runs in the fourth. The Curve tied it in the sixth and went
ahead in the seventh, when Carlos Maldonado led off with a home run.

Brady Borner (0-1) retired the first two batters in the bottom of the
seventh, but Ivan Ochoa -- who homered for Akron in Game 1 -- started
the rally with an infield single. Eider Torres lined a single to left
field and Panther followed with a two-run double to put Akron ahead,
5-4. Brad Snyder laced a single up the middle to plate Panther for
Akron's final run.

Borner was charged with three runs and four hits with one strikeout in
1 1/3 innings.

Chris Cooper (1-0) gave up one hit and struck out two in 1 2/3
scoreless innings to get the win. Edward Mujica struck out two in the
ninth for the save. The right-hander gave up consecutive one-out
singles to Javier Guzman and Rich Thompson to bring the go-ahead run
to the plate, but fanned Craig Stansberry to end the threat.

Panther led off the fourth with a single off starter Matt Peterson and
went to third on Snyder's base hit to center. Ryan Mulhern doubled
home Panther and Pat Osborn followed with a run-scoring single to make
it 2-0. Akron had a chance at an even bigger inning, but Osborn was
doubled off first base on Shaun Larkin's sacrifice fly and Jonathan
Van Every grounded out to end the frame.

Aeros starter Brian Slocum coasted through the first five innings and
was replaced by Jacob Brooks with a runner on first and two outs in
the sixth. Brooks promptly cost Slocum a chance at the win as Tim
Evans lined a single to right and Adam Boeve followed with a blast
over the left-field wall to tie the game, 3-3.

Brooks got Jorge Cortes on a comebacker to end the sixth, but gave up
Maldonado's homer in the seventh. After retiring Javier Guzman on a
flyout, Brooks and was replaced by Cooper.

Akron can sweep the series with a win in Game 3 at Altoona on Friday
at 7:05 p.m. ET.

Aeros 6, Curve 4


Aeros fire off another playoff victory

Akron takes 2-0 lead in series, goes for sweep tonight against Curve

By Stephanie Storm

Beacon Journal sports writer


It all began with bugs.

Bugs so troublesome in the Altoona Curve bullpen during the Aeros' 6-
4 victory Thursday night that the Curve relievers had trouble warming
up. So the group decided the best thing to do to ward off the pesky
insects was to set a fire.

Yes, a fire in the Canal Park visitors' bullpen. Twice.

Officers from the Akron Police Department patrolling the game were
summoned. The mini-campfires were eventually squelched.

But today, Altoona is going to need more than smoke screens to dig
out of a two-game hole in the best-of-five Eastern League Southern
Division playoffs. An Aeros victory tonight in Altoona, Pa., would
give Akron the series sweep and put it into next week's championship
round.

``We expect to get the job done, and can beat you in a variety of
ways,'' Aeros manager Torey Lovullo said. ``Last night it was via
home runs. Tonight, it was clutch, two-out hitting. This is a battle-
tested team. It takes a lot to rattle them.''

Aeros starting pitcher Brian Slocum didn't have his command early,
but the right-hander was able to tiptoe out of danger as the Curve
struggled to do the little things.

Whether it was as simple as maintaining focus in the bullpen or
executing on the base paths, it's the little things that are
magnified in the postseason.

With Slocum searching for his command in the first inning, he walked
the bases loaded. But the Curve couldn't take advantage and left all
three stranded.

In the third inning, the Curve's Rich Thompson led off with a double,
but was soon picked off by catcher Javier Herrera to short-circuit
the rally.

An inning later, Altoona failed to advance runners at first and
second, when designated hitter Adam Boeve fouled out trying to lay
down a sacrifice bunt.

In the bottom of the inning, the Aeros tagged Curve starter Matt
Peterson for three runs that included a Ryan Mulhern two-run double.

Altoona didn't help itself by hitting into a pair of early double
plays, nor when it threw a ball away for an error in the bottom of
the sixth inning.

Yet, for all the Curve did wrong early on, a clutch three-run home
run by Boeve in the sixth inning appeared to erase the early misery --
  especially when a seventh-inning, lead-off home run by catcher
Carlos Maldonado gave the Curve a brief 4-3 lead.

But just as quickly as they lost the lead, the Aeros grabbed it back,
answering in the bottom of the inning with two outs. A four-hit rally
off reliever Brady Borner, featuring a Nate Panther three-run double,
did the damage, as Akron reclaimed the lead for good.

``It was a cutter up and away,'' Panther said. ``I was just trying to
get something up and hit it hard. I got lucky.''

With two outs and a pair of runners on in the ninth inning, Aeros
closer Ed Mujica won a battle with Craig Stansberry, striking him out
to end the game and earn his second save in as many games.

``Eddie thrives in those situations,'' Lovullo said. ``It's fun to
watch him execute in big games.''

It's one of the little things that championship teams do well.


----------------------------------------------------------------------
----------

AEROS OUTSLUG CURVE
Akron Leads Southern Division Series 1-0

Shaun Larkin launched a three-run homer as Akron defeated Altoona,
11-7, in Game 1 of the Eastern League's Southern Division Championship
Series Wednesday night.
The Aeros scored runs in seven of the game's nine innings, winning for
the 14th time in 20 meetings with the Curve this season.

Things didn't look so rosy from the start as Altoona opened the game
with three runs in the first off Akron ace Jeremy Sowers (1-0), a
22-year-old left-hander who ended the regular season with a 5-1 record
and 2.08 ERA.

"He just missed a couple spots and that kind of hurt him I guess,"
Mulhern said. "I think it's the first time all season I've seen him
have an inning like that."

It might also have been the last time Sowers appeared vulnerable,
holding the Curve scoreless on just one hit over the next six frames,
striking out six.

Meanwhile, the Aeros got to work offensively, responding to Altoona's
three-run spot with five runs of their own in the bottom frame against
right-hander Eddie Candelario (0-1).

Eider Torres and Nate Panther hit back-to-back triples leading off the
inning and Brad Snyder hit an RBI groundout to cut the Akron deficit
to one. Mulhern and Osborn each singled, setting up Larkin's three-run
bomb to right that put the Aeros on top.

Akron then peppered Candelario and three relievers with runs
throughout the remainder of the contest. Snyder doubled in two runs
and finished with three RBIs, while Torres went 2-for-4 and scored
three runs. Ivan Ochoa clubbed a solo shot and Panther had a
run-scoring single in addition to his RBI triple.

The Aeros did receive a slight scare when Altoona scored four runs in
the seventh to cut the Akron lead to two.

"Our bullpen's pretty tough, so I wasn't too concerned," said Mulhern,
who tripled, singled twice and scored three runs. "I figured we'd go
back up there and get some runs back."

Akron did exactly that, with two more runs in the bottom of the
eighth. It was the first meaningful game in over a week for the Aeros,
who clinched the division title on Aug. 29 and finished the year eight
games ahead of the second-place Curve.

"We were just gearing up for (the playoffs) since we clinched and I
guess it is kind of weird to finish up the season when the games don't
mean anything," said Mulhern. "But it's easy to get going again in the
playoffs."

Howie Clark led an 11-hit Altoona attack with a three-run homer in the
seventh. Craig Stansberry launched a solo shot and also singled and
walked in the contest, while Adam Boeve doubled twice and drove in two
runs. Rich Thompson also had a sacrifice fly in the losing effort.

Candelario lasted just 4 1/3 frames, surrendering eight runs on 12
hits and a walk. The 27-year-old Dominican fanned three.

The series continues with Game 2 on Thursday night at Canal Park.
Altoona seeks to even the series when it sends right-hander Matt
Peterson (11-9, 5.51) to the hill against Akron's Brian Slocum (7-5,
4.40).

Eastern League playoffs/Aeros 11, Curve 7

Sowers settles down, Aeros take opener

Curve start fast in the first inning, but Akron's Larkin leads
comeback with three-run home run

By Stephanie Storm

Beacon Journal sports writer

There was a lot of action early and even more later as the host Aeros
hung on for a wild 11-7 victory over the Altoona Curve on Wednesday
night in the first game of the Eastern League Southern Division Playoffs.

Buoyed by a five-run first inning, the Aeros built a 9-3 lead midway
through the game, only to see it shrink to two runs in the seventh
inning when the bullpen took over for starter Jeremy Sowers.

Altoona opened the game with three runs off Sowers in the first inning
before the lefty settled in to allow just one more hit through six
innings. He struck out six.

``The last time Jeremy faced (Altoona) he stayed away in the strike
zone and really made them establish that they could hit him out
there,'' Aeros pitching coach Greg Hibbard said. ``Tonight, they made
the adjustment early and took the outside of the plate away from him.''

But the Aeros promptly erased the deficit with five hits in the bottom
of the inning, highlighted by Shaun Larkin's three-run home run off
Altoona starter Eddie Candelario.

``After a 32-pitch first inning, us coming right back with five runs
was huge,'' Aeros manager Torey Lovullo said. ``It gave Jeremy time to
rest and reconsider his approach.

``It turned things around for him.''

The Aeros continued to add to their lead with one run in four of the
next five innings for a comfortable six-run lead.

Enter the usually steady Chris Cooper. He paid for a costly mistake to
Howie Clark, whose three-run home run helped Altoona rally in the
seventh inning.

``It was a middle fastball over the plate, but he was trying to get it
over and away,'' Hibbard said. ``But I'm not worried about Chris.
We're gonna run him right back out there (today).''

With the score a little too close for comfort late, Brad Snyder's
two-run double in the eighth inning was welcome insurance for the Aeros.

``Altoona was on a hot streak coming in,'' Snyder said. ``To get a
Game One win is big, especially here at home.''

Although the Aeros were 13-6 against Altoona in the regular season,
Lovullo warned his team not to take the resilient Curve lightly.

``You can't say what you did over the year will carry over into the
postseason,'' Lovullo said. ``When it comes to playoff baseball, you
have to throw everything out the window.''

Welcome back

It wasn't a current player walking around the Canal Park concourse
Wednesday wearing a Cooper jersey while asking fans to autograph a ball.

Instead, it was Lee Gronkiewicz -- a former Aeros closer who was
having a good time goofing around Wednesday during the game.
Gronkiewicz was Akron's closer in 2004, recording 20 saves.

This year, he split time at Double-A New Hampshire and Triple-A
Syracuse, combining for 30 saves and 71 strikeouts.

``I was on my way home from Syracuse,'' Gronkiewicz said. ``I think
I'll hang out for a couple days.''

Up next

The Aeros host Altoona again at 7:05 tonight at Canal Park in the
second game of the series.

Aeros right-hander Brian Slocum (7-5, 4.40 ERA) is scheduled to face
Curve right-hander Matt Peterson (11-9, 5.51 ERA).

Sharp lefty on fast track with Tribe

By Terry Pluto

It was a perfect night to do a little scouting.

The Aeros were home for the first game of an Eastern League playoff
series with the Altoona Curve. Jeremy Sowers was pitching, and this
kid just happens to be the hottest prospect in the entire Indians'
farm system.

Consider that Sowers is in his first pro season. Consider that his
record between Class A Kinston and Class AA Akron is 14-4. Consider
that his earned-run average is 2.37.

``Did you check out his strikeouts and walks?'' asked Tribe general
manager Mark Shapiro. ``Pretty phenomenal.''

Try 159 innings, 149 strikeouts, 29 walks.

You never would have guessed that in the first inning.

He gave up a homer. He gave up two doubles. He walked a guy. Before
you could even stretch in your seat, Altoona had a 3-0 lead.

Then, that was it.

Sowers went five more innings, and only one runner reached third. He
yielded only one more hit. He seems remarkably composed, completely
under control. His breaking pitches slice the outside corner at the
knees. His fastball sometimes zips right under a hitter's fists, other
times it seems to fade away.

He has a slightly jerky motion, the ball disappearing for just a blink
of the eye behind his leg -- then reappearing coming out of his hand.

Scouts call it ``sneaky fast,'' because of the deception.

That's especially true because he rarely throws anything straight --
except in the first inning.

One person who had watched Sowers pitch several times told me, ``Don't
be surprised if he gives up a homer in the first inning.''

Which he did.

``And don't be surprised if he gets better as the game goes on,'' I
was told.

And Sowers did in a game the Aeros eventually won 11-7.

Getting a good look

``Jeremy will get a good look in spring training,'' said Shapiro.
``He'll probably start at (Class AAA) Buffalo, but I wouldn't be
surprised if he's in the big leagues before the end of next season.''

Sowers is not a remarkable physical specimen. He's listed at 6-foot-1
and 174 pounds, and that's probably optimistic.

As Shapiro said: ``He doesn't look durable, but he is. The impressive
thing is how much pitchers get tired in their first pro season and
tend to tail off at the end. But not him.''

Sowers went to Vanderbilt, and college pitchers usually have one start
a week. The adjustment to every five days as a pro can lead to a tired
arm. But in 11 starts covering July and August, Sowers' ERA is 1.75
with a 6-0 record.

Keep in mind, he's only 22.

He's not a guy for those who believe the radar gun is the bottom line
to pitching. His fastball Wednesday night was in the 86-88 mph range.
He has been clocked as high as 90-91 mph, which is considered the
big-league average.

But rules are different for lefties, especially those with tea-cup
control. You know the kind: a guy holds up a tea cup and from 60 feet
away, the pitcher throws the ball in the cup.

That's Sowers' kind of control. That's why the Tribe made him their
No. 1 pick in 2004, paying a $2.6 million bonus. It's also why he has
bolted through the minors, and why Shapiro and the entire organization
are so excited about him.

Intelligence big plus

For fans who like to comparison shop, Sowers is a bit like Billy
Traber, only he throws a little harder. His fastball seems a little
more alive with a natural sink. He also has a better hard breaking pitch.

Remember that Traber was a superb prospect who threw a one-hitter
against the Yankees in 2003 before blowing out his elbow. The lefty is
now trying to make a comeback at Buffalo, where he has struggled after
a strong start at Akron.

Sowers is also like Cliff Lee, in that he strikes out out more hitters
than he should, unless you understand that changing speeds is just as
important as pure speed.

Like Lee, he seems to be able to throw just a little harder and have
his breaking pitches seem just a little sharper with men on base.

There's another reason for excitement.

``Jeremy is highly intelligent,'' said Shapiro. ``He is the kind of
guy who can really make good use of scouting reports because of his
intellect and his control.''

And in the majors, the scouting reports are more detailed.

Of course, the hitters are more powerful. Sowers will discover that
some of those fastballs that are around the belt will indeed be belted
-- a long way -- rather than become flyouts as they do in the minors.

But he should figure that out. Why not? He's handled every other
challenge facing him this season.

Cooper's inspiration comes from brother

Aeros reliever has life in perspective following sibling's death in 1995

By Stephanie Storm

Beacon Journal sports writer

Chris Cooper was a rookie just settling into the Aeros bullpen when he
found all the inspiration he would ever need to pitch in Akron.

It happened when he looked at the skyline around Canal Park and saw a
large building with the sign ``Children's'' in white script lettering.

Instinctively, Cooper knew it was a children's hospital. And that
could only mean Daniel was as close as ever.

Daniel Cooper is Chris' older brother who died from leukemia in 1995.
He was also Chris' best friend, a youth football and baseball player
whose goal had been to play sports in college.

``When I'm tired, feeling a little sore or I just get down thinking
I'm 26 and still in Double-A, all I have to do is look at that
building to put things in perspective,'' Cooper said.

Daniel Cooper was a freshman at North Allegheny High School in
Pennsylvania when the first sign appeared. When he fainted during
football practice one day, the Coopers -- a large Italian family of
six kids -- thought little about it.

``He was tired, it was hot out, we all just figured Daniel pushed
himself a little too hard,'' Chris Cooper said.

It made sense. Even at 14, Daniel was always the serious,
self-motivator, while the goofy, 12-year-old Chris was more of a
happy-go-lucky jokester.

When a medical checkup on Daniel revealed a lump in his armpit and
neck, a biopsy was performed and blood was drawn for analysis.

``Two weeks later, we found out there were cancer cells,'' Chris
Cooper said, tears beginning to moisten his eyes. ``It was leukemia.''

Daniel enjoyed four years of remission during treatment and graduated
from high school.

``For four years, everything was pretty normal,'' Cooper said. ``The
doctors' orders were for Daniel not to play football because of the
catheter in his chest for his medicine.

``But he played anyway. He was determined to be a normal kid and get
everything out of life he could.''

Prominently displayed on the top shelf of Cooper's locker in the Aeros
clubhouse is a framed picture of Daniel, kneeling with the ball in his
high school football uniform.

Cooper takes it with him on every road trip.

``When he told me his brother's story, I just felt horrible,'' Aeros
manager Torey Lovullo said. ``Chris is such a humble and proud person;
it's a credit to him to honor his brother.''

After high school, Daniel was set to leave for his father's alma mater
-- the University of New Mexico -- where he planned to surprise his
dad (with whom he shares his name) by walking on to the baseball team.

It was Aug. 10, 1995, during a routine checkup when Daniel and his
family learned the cancer had returned. He died on Nov. 27, a day
before he would have turned 19.

Chris Cooper was by his brother's bedside during Daniel's last
moments, before his ventilator was removed. It was then that he vowed
to never take anything for granted and to make it to New Mexico to
play in honor of his brother.

``But I threw just 82-84 mph, was a little short (5-11, 190 pounds)
and I had to beg people to come see me throw,'' said Cooper, who wears
No. 27 in honor of his brother.

It took stops at the University of Maryland, Okaloosa-Walton Community
College (Fla.) and Delaware Technical Community College (Del.). But
five years ago, Chris Cooper finally suited up as a Lobo.

``It was such an emotional time for us,'' Cooper's father, Daniel,
said. ``I remember when the boys were growing up, they'd be running
around playing catch and yelling, `I'm gonna be a Lobo!' ''

Chris Cooper had fulfilled his promise to Daniel by making it to New
Mexico and playing Division I baseball. So when he won the Lobos' No.
1 starting job and for the first time in 15 years the Lobos made it to
NCAA regional play, Cooper chalked it up to his brother's inspiration.

Then came good news, when the Indians selected him in the 35th round
of the 2001 draft.

``It's all so weird because I never thought of getting drafted,''
Cooper said. ``I just wanted to get to New Mexico for my brother.''

Cooper throws between 86-88 mph and has become the Aeros' most
consistent relief pitcher. In 43 appearances, he is 4-1 with a 2.08
ERA, having walked just 18 batters while striking out 60. In July, he
was called up to Buffalo to make his Triple-A debut.

Often, his mom and dad make the hour and 20-minute trip to Akron from
their home in Sewickley, Pa., a town just north of Pittsburgh.

What Cooper does for the Aeros goes beyond the playing field.

When volunteers are needed to make player appearances at Children's
Hospital twice a season, Cooper is the first to sign up. Then he
recruits as many of his teammates as he can.

``I know it's hard to see the kids there,'' Cooper said.

``But they get so excited, and my brother always appreciated people
visiting him. For me, it's another way to honor him.''

EASTERN LEAGUE PLAYOFFS

Aeros vs. Curve

What: Southern Division playoff series

Schedule:

Game 1 -- 7:05 tonight at Canal Park.

Game 2 -- 7:05 p.m. Thursday at Canal Park.

Game 3 -- 7:05 p.m. Friday at Altoona.

Game 4 (if necessary) -- 7:05 p.m. Saturday at Altoona.

Game 5 (if necessary) -- 7:05 p.m. Sunday at Canal Park.

Records: The Aeros hada league-best 84-58 record; Altoona was 76-66,
eight games behind.

Managers: Torey Lovullo, first season, Aeros; Tony Beasley, second
season, Curve.

Players to watch:

Aeros: Pitcher Jeremy Sowers has become the ace since joining the team
midseason, racking up 70 strikeouts compared with nine walks. First
baseman Ryan Mulhern has a combined 32 home runs between Class-A
Kinston and the Aeros. Outfielder Jon Van Every's 27 home runs tied
the franchise record.

Curve: Infielder Josh Bonifay is batting .282 with 25 homers, 22
doubles and 77 RBI in 103 games. Third baseman Tom Evans is batting
.278 with 22 doubles and 15 home runs in 100 games. Center fielder
Rajai Davis is batting .281 with 22 doubles in 123 games.

Pitching rotation:

Game 1: Aeros left-hander Jeremy Sowers (5-1, 2.08 ERA) vs. Curve
right-hander Eddie Candelario (3-4, 3.12 ERA).

Game 2: Aeros right-hander Brian Slocum (7-5, 4.40 ERA) vs. Curve
right-hander Matt Peterson (11-9, 5.51 ERA).

Game 3: Aeros left-hander Rafael Perez (4-3, 1.76 ERA) vs. Curve
left-hander Tom Gorzelanny (8-5, 3.26 ERA).

Game 4: Aeros right-hander Jake Dittler (10-9, 3.64 ERA) vs. Curve
right-hander Hansel Izquierdo (7-5, 4.51 ERA).

Game 5: Aeros right-hander Tom Mastny (1-1, 2.18 ERA) vs. Curve
left-hander Shane Youman (8-6, 3.92 ERA).

Tickets: $10 (adult reserved); $8 for children 12-under & adults
60-over. Bleacher seats are $1 less.

Radio: WARF (1350-AM).

Information: Call 330-253-5151, or go to www.akronaeros.com on the
Internet.

Notebook: This season is the third time in four seasons the Aeros have
advanced to postseason play, including winning the 2003 Eastern League
championship. Altoona is making its third consecutive appearance.

Aeros 8, Sea Dogs 1

Curve first up for Aeros

Game 1 of playoffs Wednesday at home

By Stephanie Storm

Beacon Journal sports writer

The Aeros were leading the Portland Sea Dogs by three runs in the top
of the fifth inning in Monday's 8-1 victory when they learned who
would be their opponent for the Eastern League Southern Division playoffs.

And the winner is the division-rival Altoona Curve.

Completing an improbable four-game road sweep, the visiting Curve
defeated the Bowie Baysox 4-2 Monday to become the Southern Division
wild-card winner.

``We're familiar with their personnel, who can beat us and who to keep
off the bases,'' said Aeros manager Torey Lovullo, whose team was 13-6
against the Curve in regular-season play this year. ``But when it
comes to playoff baseball, you really have to throw everything out the
window. It's a totally different game.''

The Curve travels to Canal Park on Wednesday to take on the Aeros in
Game 1, beginning at 7:05 p.m.

``Altoona and Bowie, they were already in the playoffs as far as I'm
concerned,'' Portland manager Todd Claus said. ``Akron separated
themselves a little bit with the best record in the league, and we
were able to clinch a little early, too. But there was a whole lot of
good teams bunched up in the middle together.''

Late Sunday night, the Sea Dogs were happy to learn that the Trenton
Thunder had topped the Harrisburg Senators, 7-5, to clinch the
Northern Division wild card. Which of course, pits a New York Yankees
affiliate against a Boston Red Sox affiliate.

``Their record (73-68) really isn't indicative of how good of a team
they are,'' Claus said. ``And they really get up to play us. In fact,
the New York/Boston rivalry goes all the way back to A-ball, probably
even into the New York Penn League as well.''

On Monday afternoon, the Aeros took an early lead en route to the
victory that gave them a league best 84-58 regular-season record.

Eider Torres sparked the offense with a leadoff home run in a two-run
first inning. Shaun Larkin followed suit with a solo shot to start the
second inning.

Against Sea Dogs starter Chris Smith in the third, Brad Snyder tripled
with two outs and scored on a throwing error by Portland catcher
Alberto Concepcion.

Facing the Sea Dogs bullpen the rest of the way, with Claus looking to
save his starting pitching for the playoffs, the Aeros added an
insurance run in each of the sixth and seventh innings before Pat
Osborn and Jon Van Every hit solo homers in the eighth inning.

Van Every's 27th homer of the season tied the franchise record for
most home runs in a season. Rod McCall set the record in 1996.

Home run record

The Aeros set a franchise record for home runs, finishing the regular
season with 151 thanks to four solo homers -- Torres, Larkin, Osborn
and Van Every -- in Monday's game. The previous mark of 150 was held
by the 2002 team.

Up next

The Aeros have today off in preparation for the first game of the
playoffs at 7:05 p.m. Wednesday at Canal Park. Games 1, 2 and 5, if
necessary, will be played at home.

Swift exit
Players go separate ways after disastrous end

By Ron Leonardi
ron.leonardi@...

Minutes after their season concluded with a 10th straight loss, the
Erie SeaWolves' Jerry Uht Park clubhouse bustled with activity Monday
afternoon.

Luggage and gear bags littered the hallway and locker stalls. Most
players quickly ate from the postgame spread and began cleaning up,
packing gear and making final arrangements to return home.

Their 5-1 loss to the Reading Phillies on Buck Day seemed
inconsequential and their last-place 63-79 record already a distant
memory from a season that concluded with 28 losses in the last 35 games.

Players and coaches shook hands and wished each other luck as they
spoke of offseason plans, from playing more baseball to relaxing to
working.

SeaWolves reliever Mark Johnson, who started the season finale, will
become a free agent this offseason, but you can bet on seeing him back
in Erie soon. On Oct. 1, Johnson plans to wed Mary Kay McClelland of
Girard in a home-plate ceremony at Jerry Uht Park.



Erie SeaWolves reliever Lee Rodney, left, bids farewell to pitcher
Virgil Vasquez after Monday's 5-1 loss to the Reading Phillies at Uht
Park. (Rob Engelhardt / Erie Times-News)

Zoom
Buy this Photo
"We were thinking of places to get married and we said, 'Why not?"'
Johnson said. "We thought it would be interesting to do it at the
ballpark if we could. If anyone on the team would like to come,
they're more than welcome."

Johnson, who has pitched with the SeaWolves for parts of three
seasons, has lived in Honolulu during past offseasons, but said he and
his fiancee probably will make Erie their permanent home.

SeaWolves reliever John Birtwell plans to spend another offseason as a
substitute teacher in his hometown of Walpole, Mass. During the past
couple of offseasons, Birtwell has taught science, art and Spanish to
students in grades six through eight.

"I teach anything and everything," Birtwell said. "I'm a Renaissance
man, I guess. I never thought my Harvard degree would be paying off in
this venue. Hopefully, I won't corrupt anybody. It's easy to be the
cool teacher because I have nothing to lose. I make sure the work gets
done, but I also let them play games. The sixth-graders and
seventh-graders will listen for the simple reason that they don't know
any better and I'm bigger than all of them. That always pays dividends."

As he hurried to pack, catcher Mike Rabelo threw on an old T-shirt
picturing several bass and placed his fishing pole upright next to his
locker. He planned to leave Erie early Monday evening and drive
straight through to New Port Richey, Fla., just south of Tampa.

"I'll be fishing Wednesday morning with my father," Rabelo said. "On
the weekend, my buddies and I are going out offshore."

Rabelo's offseason usually centers around fishing and working. He
often participates as an instructor in baseball camps and tryouts and
works in the fishing and outdoor department at the Sports Authority, a
sporting goods chain store near his hometown.

After Monday's game, Erie left-hander Matt Beech was still awaiting
word from the Detroit Tigers on whether they would allow him to pitch
for the Long Island Ducks this week in the independent Atlantic League
playoffs.

"Hopefully, the Tigers won't have a problem with that," said Beech,
33, a former major leaguer with the Philadelphia Phillies from
1996-98. "They're in the process of giving me permission. I'm sure
there's some type of paper work. Hopefully they'll allow me to pitch
for the Ducks and give me an opportunity to win a championship."

Beech, who lives in Clearwater, Fla., signed a minor league,
free-agent contract with the Tigers on Aug. 9 and was assigned to
Erie. He pitched well in a handful of starts, and hopes the Tigers
will offer him a contract for spring training.

Designated hitter Kurt Airoso will spend at least another two weeks in
Erie rehabilitating his injured left knee before he returns home to
Tulare, Calif., which is located near Fresno.

"I'll work out a lot and get ready for next season," Airoso said.
"I'll travel a little bit and play some cards, play a lot of poker,
and take a month off and just relax."

Airoso suffered a season-ending injury July 31 and still wears a brace
on the knee after undergoing arthroscopic surgery to repair a
cartilage tear a few weeks ago.

Airoso's contract expires Oct. 15, at which time he can become a free
agent. He doesn't know if he'll be back with the SeaWolves next season.

"My agent lives down by where that hurricane hit and I haven't heard
from him," Airoso said. "His phone has been out for a week. I'll see
what these guys (Tigers) will offer me to sign back, and if not, I'll
become a free agent."

There's no way Airoso could attempt to drive the cross-country trip to
California until his knee is better.

"I can't leave until I can drive," Airoso said. "I can drive to my
apartment here, but I can't drive 40 or more hours to California. The
swelling goes down to my foot and then my foot falls asleep. I'd have
to stop every half hour. I'll just wait until I'm ready to go."

Erie second baseman Juan Francia is headed for instructional ball,
while outfielder David Espinosa and right-hander Humberto Sanchez will
continue playing later this month in the Arizona Fall League. Erie
right-hander Preston Larrison, who was on a rehabilitation assignment
this season, also was scheduled to pitch in Arizona, but the Tigers
decided two weeks ago to shut him down for the season.

Manager Duffy Dyer and his wife plan to fly back to their home in
Phoenix today. Dyer said he plans to do as little as possible this
offseason.

"I'm going to go home and play with my grandchildren and hopefully
play a little golf and relax for a while," Dyer said. "But in a about
a month to six weeks, you'll start getting the itch again and start
looking forward to spring training."

eros 11, Sea Dogs 4

Torres remains solid for Aeros

Second baseman has 4-for-5 night in win

By Stephanie Storm

Beacon Journal sports writer

Eider Torres could be the most underrated member of the Aeros this
season, having quietly gone about his business.

Not necessarily flashy, but certainly a solid defender, the second
baseman is batting .282 and has a knack for coming up with clutch hits.

Saturday night, the quiet, 5-foot-8, 160-pounder wasn't so much clutch
as he was consistent, leading the Aeros to an 11-4 victory over the
Portland Sea Dogs Saturday night at Canal Park with a 4-for-5 effort
that included three runs scored and two RBI.

``I've always maintained that if he and Ivan Ochoa get on base, we're
going to score a lot of runs,'' Aeros manager Torey Lovullo said.

Torres wasn't the only one to swing the bat Saturday night. Every
member of the Aeros' starting lineup recorded at least one hit,
driving Portland starting pitcher Anibal Sanchez from the mound after
just four innings.

As Aeros starter Brian Slocum mowed through the Sea Dogs' lineup for
four innings -- allowing just two hits along the way -- Sanchez
struggled from the start.

The Aeros used a trio of hits to score their initial run, with Ryan
Mulhern singling home Torres in the first inning.

In the second inning, a Sanchez throwing error, a wild pitch, double
steal and a hit batsman combined to produce another Aeros run before
the right-hander gathered himself and struck out the side.

The Aeros were just getting started.

After Sanchez struck out Shaun Larkin to begin the third inning, he
labored to get the next out. He gave up three runs and faced a
bases-loaded jam before the Aeros ran themselves out of the inning
with a gift-wrapped double play.

In the fourth, Anthony Lunetta worked a full-count double, Torres
smacked his third single of the game and Larkin promptly drove in the
pair to send Sanchez to the showers early.

``(Sanchez) was just a little out of sync tonight,'' Portland manager
Todd Claus said. ``He's really done a great job for us this season.''

Slocum lasted just four innings, but for a different reason. The
right-hander had been on the disabled list battling a nagging blister
on his finger, and was on a strict three-inning or 50-pitch limit.

``Because he cruised through the first three innings so easily, we
sent him back out for the fourth,'' Lovullo said. ``He was outstanding
tonight.''

Familiar face

Scott Youngbauer found his way back to Canal Park nearly three months
after being released by the Aeros, this time as a member of the Sea Dogs.

After leaving Akron, the utility man had to start over in the Boston
Red Sox's chain at Class-A Wilmington, where he hit .321 with five
doubles, five triples, a pair of home runs and 18 RBI in 27 games.

Youngbauer was called up to Portland on July 21 and has hit .307 with
five homers and 20 RBI since.

Thursday, Youngbauer contributed an eighth-inning, bases-loaded walk
to help the Sea Dogs clinch the Northern Division title with a 7-6,
come-from-behind win over the Altoona Curve.

Up next

The Aeros continue this holiday weekend homestand against Portland
with a 2:05 p.m. game today. The Aeros are expected to call up
right-hander Aaron Laffey from Class-A Lake County to make a spot
start, while the Sea Dogs will send right-hander David Pauley (9-6,
3.64 ERA) to the mound.

Disaster hits home for SeaWolves pitcher


Mike Woods (Rob Engelhardt / Erie Times-News)

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By Ron Leonardi
ron.leonardi@...

Shortly after the Erie SeaWolves finish their season today, outfielder
Mike Woods will clean out his locker, pack his bags, and begin the
long drive home to Baton Rouge, La.

Woods, 24, is just thankful he has a home to go to and that his
parents, brother and sister all are safe after Hurricane Katrina's
devastating assault on the Gulf Coast last week. Baton Rouge is about
70 miles northwest of New Orleans.

Woods has watched television images of New Orleans all week and still
has trouble grasping the full scope of possibly the worst natural
disaster in the nation's history.

"They were showing footage of the Lake Pontchartrain Causeway, and
I've driven across that bridge many times," Woods said. "Just to see
parts of it gone, parts covered by water made me worry, because I can
only imagine what it would have done to Baton Rouge if it would have
taken a direct hit."

Woods, who weathered Hurricane Andrew in 1992, was glued to a
television set last Monday when Katrina swept ashore as a category 4
storm, packing winds of 145 mph.

It wasn't until Wednesday, however, that Woods was able to contact his
mother, Wendolyn, to learn that his family was safe and their home did
not sustain any damage.

"It didn't get that bad in Baton Rouge," Woods said. "Power has been
out there and my cell phone wasn't working, and that is my only means
of communication with them. Even now, contact has been pretty limited."

Thousands of evacuees who left New Orleans before and after Hurricane
Katrina devastated the Gulf coastline from Louisiana to Alabama have
taken up residence in Baton Rouge. The town's population has nearly
tripled in the past week.

"You have all these people and it's pretty chaotic right now,"Woods
said. "There's a lot of looting and a lot of muggings going on right
now in Baton Rouge. It's a concern to me. It's kind of rough out there
right now."

Woods hopes to arrive home Tuesday and begin fall classes at Southern
University A&M in Baton Rouge on Wednesday. He is two semesters shy of
earning his undergraduate degree in math education, and hopes he can
complete one semester before spring training.

Woods considers himself lucky he can enroll in a university that still
can offer classes, unlike several colleges and universities in New
Orleans.

"We've experienced a couple of hurricanes before and you can prepare
for them," Woods said. "Growing up, we all heard how New Orleans was
under sea level, but nothing could have prepared us for this. I have
numerous friends and I know a lot of people in New Orleans and my
heart goes out to all those folks. I just wonder how long it will take
to restore order."


RON LEONARDI, can be reached at 870-1680 or by e-mail.

Out at home


Reading Phillies baserunner Jim Deschaine gives up on making it safe
to second base as Erie SeaWolves second baseman Juan Francia turns the
pivot for a double play during Sunday's game at Jerry Uht Park. (Erie
Times-News)

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By Ron Leonardi
ron.leonardi@...

Clinching last place in the Eastern League Southern Division is not
exactly what the Erie SeaWolves had in mind Sunday on fan appreciation
day at Jerry Uht Park.

There has been little about the team's performance to appreciate in
recent weeks, and Sunday's 7-1 loss to the Reading Phillies before
3,184 fans merely produced the last-place finish which has seemed
inevitable throughout their late-season funk.

"To be first, second or third most of the year and to end up in last
is somewhat embarrassing," SeaWolves reliever John Birtwell said,
"but, more importantly, it pains me to lose, especially when you know
the ability and quality of people we have on this team. Unfortunately,
we're in a situation where we have no choice but to look to next
season. Our biggest problem is we just haven't been playing good
baseball as a team. The responsibility lies with each one of us for
our inability to win ballgames."

Should the SeaWolves (63-78) lose today against Reading in the last
game of the regular season, they will finish the season with 10
straight losses. Erie has dropped 17 of its past 20 games and 27-of-34
during a five-week descent from playoff contender to worst in the
division.

"It bothers me that we're not in the playoffs and it bothers me that
we didn't play .500," SeaWolves manager Duffy Dyer said. "It hurts
that we're going to finish last. That will bother me all winter. But
there's nothing we can do about it. We're going to have to learn from
it and just get better."

Sunday's game pretty much went according to the deflated club's
month-long losing script -- fall behind early and try to rely on a
feeble offense that seems incapable of scoring more than two runs a game.

"It wasn't a very good year and most of us ought to be disappointed,"
Dyer said. "We, including myself and the staff, didn't have a very
good year. Hopefully, we can learn from it and improve for next year
because, for a lot of us, our careers are based on it and, for some of
us, it's our job and we have to do better."

Notes: The SeaWolves conclude their season today at 1:05 p.m. with a
Buck Day game against Reading. ... Right-hander Mark Johnson (4-2,
5.28) will start for Erie. ... Erie pitchers have allowed 90 runs in
the first three innings of games since Aug. 1. Erie starters have won
only three times in the past 26 games. The SeaWolves are 35-53 this
season when giving up a run in the first three innings. ...
Left-hander Brian Hensen pitched the ninth inning of Sunday's game in
his debut with the SeaWolves. Hensen was promoted to Erie on Friday
from Class A Lakeland.

SeaWolves Notebook
# Detroit Tigers manager Alan Trammell said earlier this week it is
unlikely Erie SeaWolves right-handerJustin Verlander will pitch again
in the majors this season.

"It's not 100 percent, but it's not looking like we'll bring him
up,"Trammell told the Detroit News. "At this point, the (Florida)
Instructional League is more likely -so he doesn't do anything to try
and impress here."

Verlander was 2-0 with a 0.28 ERA in seven Erie starts. Verlander was
placed on the disabled list Aug. 7 because of shoulder inflammation
behind his throwing shoulder.

Verlander made major league starts this season against the Cleveland
Indians and Minnesota Twins. He has spent the past month in Lakeland, Fla.

After taking two weeks of rest following his shoulder problem,
Verlander is currently continuing his throwing program.

# Triple-A Toledo clinched the International League West Division
championship on Monday with a 6-2 win over Louisville.

It was the Mud Hens' second division title in four years. Toledo,
which was 87-54 before Saturday's game at Columbus, will play the
South Division-champion Norfolk Tides in the opening round of the IL
playoffs beginning Wednesday.

Norfolk will host the first two games of the best-of-five series on
Wednesday and Thursday. Toledo will host Game 3 on Friday and Games 4
and 5, if necessary, on Sept. 10-11.

# Outfielder Curtis Grandersonwas named to the International League's
postseason All-Star team earlier this week and Toledo's Larry Parrish
was selected the league's manager of the year.

Granderson, who played with Erie last season, is in his second call-up
with the Detroit Tigers this season. Granderson was recalled by the
Tigers on Aug. 15 and was hitting .254 (16-for-63) with four homers
and nine RBIs in 18 games with Detroit.

Granderson hit .290 with 15 homers, 29 doubles and 13 triples in 111
games with Toledo.

Parrish, 51, is in his third season as Toledo's manager. Parrish is
the first Toledo manager to win an IL manager of the year award since
Jack Tighe won it in 1967-68.



-- Ron Leonardi

Navs owner in market for change
ASSOCIATED PRESS

NORWICH, Conn. -- Even at Harvard Law School, Robb Fox knew his friend
Lou DiBella wasn't suited to work for a large law firm.

"Lou was never going to take a button-down corporate career," Fox
said. "I knew he loved sports and entertainment."

Fox was right.

DiBella spent four years working at a New York law firm paying off
$100,000 in student loans before diving into sports law.

He spent 11 years with HBO Sports before leaving in 2000 to begin his
own boxing promotion company.

Now he's taking a swing at baseball.

DiBella bought the Norwich Navigators, the Double-A franchise of the
San Francisco Giants, in April. The 45-year-old began an aggressive
marketing campaign to spur attendance at Thomas Dodd Stadium, bringing
in boxing promoter Don King, Grammy-award winners Willie Nelson and
Bob Dylan and Gov. M. Jodi Rell for appearances.

"He's a marketing person and I think that's what we need here," said
Richard Podurgiel, Norwich city manager.

Navigators general manager Keith Hallal said DiBella's charismatic
personality is an asset.

"He's got one of those contagious personalities," Hallal said. "You'll
see people take to that. He's very personable and outgoing. His
personality is a tremendous asset for the franchise."

Though the team drew more than 281,000 in its inaugural season in
1995, attendance has fallen to the bottom of the 12-team Eastern
League. The Navigators attracted 168,559 fans in 2004, but have a
chance to eclipse that mark with its final homestand that will close
the season Monday. In contrast, the cross-state New Britain Rock Cats
brought in more than 315,000 fans this season.

DiBella already has plans for next season to attract new fans. He's
begun a contest to rename the Navigators and will create a new logo.
He also plans to build a new scoreboard, resurface the field and
renovate the souvenir shop.

But DiBella's biggest challenge is improving community relations.

"We have to reconnect with the fans, the community and I think we're
starting to do that," DiBella said.

DiBella has opened the gates for a free game to rally support for the
sub base in Groton and held a "Dead Day", where players wore tie-dyed
jerseys during the game. DiBella also organized a massive sporting of
Groucho Marx glasses at the stadium that was marked in the Guinness
Book of World Records.

DiBella said he learned many marketing tactics as a limited partner
for the Altoona Curve, a minor league team in central Pennsylvania
that has become a local success.

"It was a beautifully run team," he said. "They had great promotional
nights. It got to the point where the stadium was filled every night.
We are a long way from that."

When King came out to support the Navigators, hundreds of fans
received wigs that mimicked King's silver spiky hair. Even DiBella
wigged out. Despite the over-the-top promotion, only half the stadium
was filled that evening.

Gary Riddell, a fan from of Colchester who saw the patches of empty
seats when King came to town, was not discouraged.

"They have to fight for the entertainment dollar," Riddell said
referring to competition from casinos and the WNBA's Connecticut Sun.
"It takes time to get people to come back here."

The Navigators will stay at the stadium at least until 2009 in a lease
agreement signed in June with the city. The deal runs through 2013 at
the team's discretion. Under the terms, the city agreed to pay for
police coverage and the cost of resurfacing the field, according to
Podurgiel, who chaired the committee to oversee negotiations of the
new lease.

A graduate of Tufts University, DiBella lives on New York's Long
Island. The oldest of four children, DiBella says he grew up in a
working class neighborhood in Brooklyn playing stickball on the street
alongside a "rainbow coalition of kids."

DiBella worked for HBO Sports first as a lawyer and then as a boxing
promoter. He recruited and signed boxing champions like Oscar De La
Hoya and Roy Jones, Jr.

In 2000, he launched DiBella Entertainment, a sports and entertainment
company.

"I'm not looking to get out of boxing but I am looking for more
balance in my life," he said. "Minor League baseball is very
different. It's family entertainment."

------

On the Web:

Norwich Navigators: www.gators.com

Eastern League: www.easternleague.com