Tuesday, July 17th, 2007
Luebke doing well in minor leagues
By Gary R. Rasberry
Compiled by Gary R. Rasberry
Marion Local graduate Cory Luebke continues to shine playing for the Eugene Emeralds of the Northwest League.
Luebke made his second start of the season on Sunday against the Vancouver Canadians, going four innings and allowing five hits and a run before leaving with a no-decision. The Emeralds went on to beat the Canadians, 18-7.
In five games, two starts, Luebke is 1-0 with a 1.38 ERA. In 13 innings, Luebke has yet to issue a walk and has 13 strikeouts while opponents are batting just .226 against the southpaw.
The Emeralds, the Short-Season Class A affiliate of the San Diego Padres, move to 18-8 on the season, three games back of Salem-Keizer in the NWL West Standings.
Stammen helping P-Nats
Versailles native Craig Stammen continues to be one of the workhorses for the Potomac Nationals, the Class A team of the Washington Nationals.
Stammen earned a no-decision on Saturday against Wilmington, going 41/3 innings and allowing eight hits and three runs. The P-Nats rallied to take the lead in the 10th to beat Wilmington, 7-6, in the battle of the two top teams in the second half of the Carolina League Northern Division.
Stammen has appeared in 19 games this season with 18 starts, going 6-5 with a 4.35 ERA. In 971/3 innings, Stammen has struck out 68 batters to lead the P-Nats pitching staff.
Football
Franzer, Pirates head to CIFL title game
The Michigan Pirates, formerly the Port Huron Pirates, defeated the Kalamazoo Xplosion 37-29 on Friday to capture the CIFL Great Lakes Division Championship in Flint, Michigan.
The Pirates, 13-0, won the GLIFL championship, the precursor of the CIFL, with an undefeated record and will look to extend their winning streak on July 28 in the CIFL title game against Atlantic Division winner Rochester (NY), which beat the New England Surge 80-45.
The Pirates extended their winning streak to 26 games with the win.
Pirates quarterback Shane Franzer, from Coldwater, has been potent again this season, passing for 59 touchdowns and completing 62 percent of his passes (150-for-242) with only seven interceptions. Franzer also had 18 rushing touchdowns in carrying the ball 55 times for 475 yards.
Franzer threw for two touchdowns and ran in for another in the win over the Xplosion.
The CIFL title game is slated for July 28. The higher-seeded team will host. The Pirates, with a perfect record, will likely host the game in Flint.
