Jon Tapper

Here's a photo of former Miners pitcher Jon Tapper and his new bride Kristi getting married last month in North Carolina. Just to remind us that there's more to these young men than just baseball.

Miners post win

Box Score
The Automated ScoreBook
Gateway Grizzlies at SI Miners
May 29, 2008 at Marion,Il (Rent One Park)

Gateway Grizzlies 4 (1-8)

Player AB R H RBI BB SO PO A LOB
------------------------------------------------------
Malone,R 2b.............. 4 0 1 0 1 2 0 0 0
Vincent,J lf............. 5 1 2 0 0 1 2 0 0
Campbell,M cf............ 3 0 0 1 1 0 3 0 1
Lisk,C c................. 5 0 0 0 0 0 9 1 1
Holdren,S rf............. 2 0 1 0 1 1 1 0 0
Breyman,M 1b............. 3 0 1 1 1 1 7 1 0
Owens,R 3b............... 4 0 0 0 0 3 0 2 5
Barbato,A dh............. 2 2 1 0 2 0 0 0 0
Minor,R ss............... 3 1 1 1 0 0 2 2 2
Blacksher,D p............ 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Mavroulis,C p........... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
Romero Jr,R p........... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
Totals................... 31 4 7 3 6 8 24 8 9

SI Miners 11 (5-4)

Player AB R H RBI BB SO PO A LOB
------------------------------------------------------
Roth,T 2b................ 4 2 1 0 1 0 1 2 3
Suttle,E cf.............. 2 2 2 0 2 0 5 0 0
Jones,B 3b............... 4 1 3 3 0 1 1 1 0
Arnett,B 3b............. 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0
Metropoulous 1b.......... 4 1 0 0 1 2 9 1 0
Keene,W lf............... 5 1 1 1 0 2 0 0 3
Dorn,T dh................ 4 1 1 2 1 1 0 0 0
Farkes,J rf.............. 5 1 3 3 0 2 0 0 1
Smith,J c................ 4 0 0 0 0 1 8 0 1
Scanzano,M ss............ 3 1 2 1 1 0 3 5 0
Little,C p............... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
Dixon,C p............... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Totals................... 36 11 14 10 6 9 27 10 8

Score by Innings R H E
-------------------------------------------
Gateway Grizzlies... 110 000 002 - 4 7 0
SI Miners........... 105 110 12X - 11 14 0
-------------------------------------------

DP - Miners 2. LOB - Grizzlies 9; Miners 8. 2B - Jones,B; Farkes,J;
Scanzano,M. 3B - Barbato,A; Roth,T; Suttle,E; Farkes,J. HR - Keene,W. HBP -
Holdren,S; Minor,R. SH - Suttle,E. SF - Campbell,M. SB - Vincent,J.

Gateway Grizzlies IP H R ER BB SO AB BF
-----------------------------------------------
Blacksher,D......... 4.0 7 7 7 4 5 18 23
Mavroulis,C......... 3.0 4 2 2 2 2 12 14
Romero Jr,R......... 1.0 3 2 2 0 2 6 6

SI Miners IP H R ER BB SO AB BF
-----------------------------------------------
Little,C............ 7.0 4 2 2 5 6 23 30
Dixon,C............. 2.0 3 2 2 1 2 8 10

Win - Little,C (1-0). Loss - Blacksher,D (0-2). Save - None.
WP - Blacksher,D; Little,C. HBP - by Little,C (Holdren,S); by Little,C
(Minor,R). PB - Lisk,C.
Umpires - HP: Shea Walker 1B: Matt Hughes 2B: Steve Dunahue
Start: 7:11 Time: 3:10 Attendance: 4079
Game: SIL05290

Southern Illinois at Gateway Grizzlies

The Automated ScoreBook
Southern Illinois at Gateway Grizzlies - Play-by-Play
May 21, 2008 at Sauget, IL (GCS Ballpark)


Score by Innings R H E
-------------------------------------------
Southern Illinois... 010 090 002 - 12 13 2
Gateway Grizzlies... 222 020 001 - 9 13 2
-------------------------------------------

Southern Illinois starters: 1/cf Koski; 14/2b Roth; 35/1b Dorn; 31/dh Metropolous; 21/3b Jones; 25/lf
Keene; 12/rf Suttles; 6/c Smith; 10/ss Scanzano; 38/p Roark;
Gateway Grizzlies starters: 4/2b Malone; 9/3b Saltzgaber; 7/cf Campbell; 33/1b Breyman; 24/rf Holdren;
15/lf Paula; 41/dh Vincent; 21/c Lisk; 3/ss Minor; 2/p Dessau;

Southern Illinois 1st - Koski flied out to cf (0-0). Roth grounded out to 1b unassisted (1-2). Dorn lined
out to 2b (2-2). 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.

Gateway Grizzlies 1st - Malone grounded out to 1b unassisted (1-2). Saltzgaber hit by pitch (2-2). Campbell
homered to right center, 2 RBI (0-0); Saltzgaber scored. Breyman walked (3-2). Holdren struck out
swinging (1-2). Paula flied out to 3b (2-2). 2 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB.

Southern Illinois 2nd - Barbato to lf for Saltzgaber. Paula to 3b. Metropolous homered to left field, RBI
(3-2). Jones singled to left field (1-2). Keene flied out to 1b (0-1). Suttles lined into double play 2b
unassisted (1-1); Jones out on the play. 1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.

Gateway Grizzlies 2nd - Vincent singled to right field (1-2). Lisk reached on an error by 3b (1-1); Vincent
advanced to second. Minor grounded out to p, SAC (0-1); Lisk advanced to second; Vincent advanced to
third. Malone flied out to cf, SF, RBI (3-2); Lisk advanced to third; Vincent scored, unearned. Barbato
walked (3-2). Campbell singled to right field, RBI (2-2); Barbato advanced to second, advanced to third
on an error by rf, out at home rf to 2b to c; Lisk scored, unearned. 2 runs, 2 hits, 2 errors, 1 LOB.

Southern Illinois 3rd - Smith singled to left field (1-0). Scanzano struck out swinging (1-2). Koski out at
first 1b to p (2-0); Smith advanced to second. Roth grounded out to 2b (3-2). 0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1
LOB.

Gateway Grizzlies 3rd - Breyman struck out swinging (1-2). Holdren struck out swinging (1-2). Paula doubled
to left center (1-2). Vincent singled to center field, RBI (1-2); Paula scored. Lisk singled to center
field (2-1); Vincent advanced to third. Minor singled to left field, RBI (0-0); Lisk advanced to second;
Vincent scored. Malone struck out looking (1-2). 2 runs, 4 hits, 0 errors, 2 LOB.

Southern Illinois 4th - Dorn grounded out to ss (2-1). Metropolous struck out swinging (3-2). Jones lined
out to 1b (0-1). 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.

Gateway Grizzlies 4th - Arnett to lf for Koski. Keene to rf for Arnett. Suttles to cf. Arnett to lf for
Keene. McKenzie to p for Roark. Barbato struck out looking (1-2). Campbell grounded out to 2b (3-2).
Breyman grounded out to 2b (1-0). 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.

Southern Illinois 5th - Arnett to lf for Metropolous. Keene to dh for Arnett. Keene singled to center field
(3-2). Suttles doubled to left field (0-1); Keene advanced to third. Smith walked (3-2). Scanzano reached
on a fielder's choice, RBI (3-2); Smith advanced to second on an error by 2b; Suttles advanced to third;
Keene scored. Arnett to cf for Koski. Metropolous to lf for Arnett. Arnett homered to left field, 4 RBI
(2-1); Scanzano scored; Smith scored, unearned; Suttles scored. Herman to p for Dessau. Roth hit by pitch
(0-1). Dorn walked (3-0); Roth advanced to second. Metropolous singled to left field, RBI (0-0); Dorn
advanced to second; Roth scored. Jones singled to third base (1-0); Metropolous advanced to second; Dorn
advanced to third. Arnett to lf. Metropolous to dh. Keene to rf. Suttles to cf. Jones advanced to second;
Metropolous advanced to third; Dorn scored on a wild pitch. Keene flied out to 2b (1-2). Suttles flied
out to rf, SF, RBI (2-2); Jones advanced to third; Metropolous scored. Smith doubled to right field, RBI
(1-0); Jones scored. Scanzano grounded out to 3b. 9 runs, 6 hits, 1 error, 1 LOB.

Gateway Grizzlies 5th - Holdren struck out swinging (2-2). Paula lined out to 3b (2-2). Vincent singled to
center field (2-2). Lisk homered to left field, 2 RBI (1-1); Vincent scored. Minor flied out to c (0-0).
2 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.

Southern Illinois 6th - Santerre to p for Herman. Arnett flied out to rf (2-1). Roth walked (3-1). Roth
advanced to second on an error by c, advanced to third. Dorn out at first p to ss to 1b (2-1).
Metropolous grounded out to 2b (0-0). 0 runs, 0 hits, 1 error, 1 LOB.

Gateway Grizzlies 6th - Malone flied out to ss (2-2). Barbato doubled to right center (1-1). Barbato
advanced to third on a wild pitch. Campbell flied out to 1b (2-2). Breyman lined out to 1b (2-2). 0 runs,
1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB.

Southern Illinois 7th - Jones lined out to 2b (1-0). Keene grounded out to ss (2-1). Suttles walked (3-1).
Smith singled to left field (2-2); Suttles advanced to second. Scanzano struck out looking (1-2). 0 runs,
1 hit, 0 errors, 2 LOB.

Gateway Grizzlies 7th - Bailey to p for McKenzie. Holdren singled to right field (0-0). Paula hit into
double play 3b to 2b to 1b (2-2); Holdren out on the play. Vincent flied out to lf (1-0). 0 runs, 1 hit,
0 errors, 0 LOB.

Southern Illinois 8th - Merricks to p for Santerre. Arnett struck out swinging (1-2). Roth grounded out to

The Automated ScoreBook
Southern Illinois at Gateway Grizzlies - Play-by-Play
May 21, 2008 at Sauget, IL (GCS Ballpark)

2b (2-2). Dorn struck out swinging (0-2). 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.

Gateway Grizzlies 8th - Zavada to p for Bailey. Lisk struck out swinging (2-2). Minor struck out swinging
(2-2). Malone struck out swinging, out at first c to 1b (1-2). 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.

Southern Illinois 9th - Metropolous struck out swinging (2-2). Jones singled to center field (0-2). Keene
homered to right center, 2 RBI (1-2); Jones scored. Suttles walked (3-0). Smith singled to right center
(0-1); Suttles advanced to third. Scanzano struck out looking (1-2). Arnett flied out to rf (1-2). 2
runs, 3 hits, 0 errors, 2 LOB.

Gateway Grizzlies 9th - Farkes to rf for Keene. Milner to c for Smith. McMurran to p for Zavada. Barbato
singled to right field (3-1). Campbell doubled to right field (0-1); Barbato advanced to third. Breyman
struck out swinging (2-2). Holdren grounded out to 2b, RBI (0-1); Campbell advanced to third; Barbato
scored. Hope to p for McMurran. Paula flied out to cf (2-1). 1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB.

Miners top Railcats to win opener

BY D.W. NORRIS, For the Southern

MARION - Southern Illinois manager Mike Pinto said he wanted to see how his pitching staff would react to live batters in Saturday's exhibition game with the Gary South Shore Railcats.

He got his answer as seven Miners (1-0) combined to twirl a one-hitter in a 1-0 victory over the Railcats before 1,287 fans at Rent One Park.

Third baseman Brandon Jones drove in shortstop Mike Scanzano for the game-winning run on a fielder's choice in the third inning.

But obviously, the night's storyline was pitching and defense.

The Miners retired the Railcats' final 16 batters and held them hitless after the second inning. None of the Railcats five base runners advanced past second. Only starter Ryan Quigley allowed a hit.

"I saw a lot of good things (out of my pitchers)," Pinto said. "(Jake) McMurran, I liked the way the ball came out of his hand. Brian Blomquist did a very good job. He had a high percentage of first-pitch strikes. I want to say he was near 80 percent."

Blomquist (1-0) had arguably the most effective night in the "Johnny Wholestaff" win, striking out three in two innings. He also started the Railcats' hitless streak.

McMurran tossed a 1-2-3 eighth inning and Griffin Bailey nailed down the win in the ninth.

The guys behind and in front of the pitchers did their jobs, too. The Miners' defense was rock solid up the middle in the win.

"The guys did a good job. We made a lot of nice plays," Pinto said. "The two double plays early on, (catcher) Jake Smith throwing two guys out at second base really showed me something."

All three plays came in the game's first three frames and all three ended what could have turned into big innings for the Railcats (3-1).

"Certainly the pitching staff and the defense of the Miners tonight were sensational," Railcats manager Greg Tagert said.

Scanzano and second baseman Tony Roth turned double plays that ended both the first and second innings with runners on first and second base. Miners first base coach Ralph Santana and Scanzano were the Frontier League's most electrifying double-play combination last season.

Scanzano said he didn't miss a beat with Roth as his pivot man.

"He's great," Scanzano said. "He gets rid of it quick and he did a great job tonight for us."

Smith had a twin killing of his own in the third after lefty George Biddle walked back-to-back batters. Smith easily gunned down Railcats leadoff hitter Mike Reese and right fielder John McCarthy.

"Oh man, he's got a cannon," Scanzano said. "I was definitely impressed. He threw out some quick runners ? he's got a plus-plus arm."

Aside from his defense, Scanzano provided the spark in the Miners' run-scoring third inning with the best at-bat of the night. Scanzano battled back from a 1-2 hole to run the count full. He fouled off a handful of pitches before slicing a leadoff single to right field.

Centerfielder Kevin Koski followed with an infield single. Roth advanced both runners with a sacrifice bunt to the right side of the infield to set the stage for Jones' RBI.

First baseman Tim Dorn paced the Miners with a pair of hard-hit singles in his two at-bats.

"It's early, but I'm going to take it as a good thing," Dorn said. "I'm striking the ball well and I just want to keep it rolling day by day."

Left fielder Eric Suttle provided Southern Illinois with its only other hit and designated hitter Joey Metropolous drew a walk. Quigley walked two and hit a batter in his two-inning start. Nick Tisone allowed a walk in the fourth inning.

Up next for the Miners is a pair of exhibition games Monday with host Schaumburg Flyers and the Windy City Thunderbolts, the defending Frontier League champions

INDIVIDUAL GAME TICKETS AVAILABLE SATURDAY

MARION, Ill. – Fans can purchase tickets for individual Southern Illinois Miners home games at Rent One Park starting Saturday, May 3 at 10 a.m. Tickets will be available at the Rent One Park box office as well as the Miners website, www.southernillinoisminers.com. ; The box office will be open until 4 p.m.



“Saturday will be an exciting day for us and our fans,” Miners General Manager Tim Arseneau said. “I recommend that fans looking to buy Opening Day tickets get here early because I anticipate that game selling out pretty quickly.”



Tickets will be $8 for box seats, $6 for reserved seats and $4 for general admission and lawn seats. The Golden Corral Fun Zone will also open at 10 a.m. Saturday, and the first 100 fans will receive a free hot dog.



The Miners home opener is scheduled for Saturday, May 24 at 7:05 p.m. For the latest Miners news and updates, visit www.southernillinoisminers.com.

MINERS ANNOUNCE WEBCASTS FOR ALL 2008 GAMES

MARION, Ill. – Thanks to a deal with Interactive Broadcast Network Sports (iBN Sports), Southern Illinois Miners fans will be able to watch and listen to all 96 Miners games live over the Internet this season. IBN Sports is a premiere Internet-based broadcast sports television network and will broadcast all Miners home and road games over the iBN Sports Baseball Channel (www.ibnsports.com). ;



“This partnership will be great for the organization and our fans,” Miners General Manager Tim Arseneau said. “Not only will it be great for Miners fans who can’t make it out to every single game, but the exposure will help our players too.”



The Miners are the first team in the Frontier League to have video webcasts available for all of its games. The webcasts will feature live video from the game along with the voice of Miners radio play-by-play announcer Scott Gierman.



The Miners home opener is scheduled for Saturday, May 24 at 7:05 p.m. For the latest Miners news and updates, visit www.southernillinoisminers.com.

Hey Miners fans

One month to go!!!!!!!!!!!

KEENE, SUTTLE SET TO RETURN

MARION, Ill. – The Southern Illinois Miners are announcing the return of outfielders Eric Suttle and Willie Keene for the 2008 season. Both players were members of the Miners 2007 inaugural team.



In 57 games Keene hit .263 with 12 doubles, three triples and four home runs. He drove in 31 runs. He was hitting over .300 as late as Aug. 5 but recorded just four hits in his final 14 games.



“Willie and Eric both did a nice job for us last season,” Miners Manager Mike Pinto said. “Willie hit a wall late in the season after a full college and pro season, and I know he has worked hard to get ready for a full pro season this year. He adds plus power to the outfield mix.”



Suttle played in 56 games, hitting .252 with 10 doubles, two home runs with 18 RBI. The strong-armed outfielder recorded five assists.

“Eric was hitting near .300 before running into the right field wall,” Pinto said, “which really affected him the last few weeks of the season. He runs well, plays excellent defense and adds some speed to our outfield mix.”



The Miners home opener is scheduled for Saturday, May 24 at 7:05 p.m. For the latest Miners news and updates, visit www.southernillinoisminers.com.

Frontier League Tryout Camp And Draft to be held at Rent One Park

On Sunday, May 4th and Monday, May 5th, the Frontier League will host its annual Tryout Camp and Draft at Rent One Park in Marion, IL. The Southern Illinois Miners, the League’s newest member, will serve as the host team.

“We are ecstatic to be partnering with the Miners to host this event,” Commissioner Bill Lee said. “They are a first class organization and they have a first class facility.”

The Tryout Camp and Draft is open to all baseball players who were 27 years old (or younger) on January 1, 2008 and over the age of 18.

“This is the best way for aspiring players to make a Frontier League roster,” Lee said. “All twelve teams will be represented. Each club will draft at least two players to take to spring training.”

Players interested in trying out can register online at www.frontierleague.com/tryouts.php Registration will also be available in person at 8am on Sunday, March 4th at Rent One Park. For more information, contact Kevin Rouch at the Frontier League office via e-mail at krouch@frontierleague.com or telephone at (614) 203-7911.

MINERS INK BIDDLE FOR '08 SEASON

MARION, Ill. – The Southern Illinois Miners have signed right-handed pitcher George Biddle for the 2008 season. Biddle spent the 2007 season with the Kansas City Royals organization.



Biddle, 23, split time between three teams in the Royals system in 2007 reaching as high as the Burlington (Iowa) Bees of the Midwest League. Overall, he posted a 3-4 record with a 4.55 ERA in 14 games, four of them starts. He struck out 25 batters in 31.2 innings.



“George is a command pitcher who will work with his sinker in the upper 80s to low 90s,” Miners Manager Mike Pinto said. “He is efficient on the mound, controls the strike zone and keeps the ball on the ground. We see him as a guy in the rotation for us.”



Biddle finished his impressive college career at Eastern Michigan University ranking second all-time in EMU history with 327.1 innings pitched, sixth all-time with 20 wins and 10th all-time with 172 strikeouts. In 2007, he made 15 appearances and put together an 8-4 record (7-1 conference) and a team best 2.42 ERA. He was also a first team All-Mid-American Conference selection as he finished the season ranked second in the MAC in ERA (2.25), wins (7) and shutouts (2) and ranked third in games started (13) and complete games (2).



Following his 2006 college season, Biddle pitched for the Edenton (N.C.) Steamers of the Coastal Plain League along with current Miners teammate Ben Norton. For Edenton he carried a 1.85 ERA, striking out 33 and walking 18 over 43 innings. Opposing hitters hit .238 against him. He and Norton helped lead the Steamers to a Division Championship.



The Miners home opener is scheduled for Saturday, May 24 at 7:05 p.m. For the latest Miners news and updates, visit www.southernillinoisminers.com.