Monday 31 August: Princeton 6, at Greeneville 2

As the season dwindles down, the P-Rays are playing very complete baseball.
Strong starting pitching, solid work from the bullpen, error-free defense, timely hitting and a little power. All the elements were there again tonight.

Here's the boxscore:
http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?gid=2009_08_31_prirok_gvlrok_1&t=g_box&did=milb

And the recap:
http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_log&gid=2009_08_31_prirok_gvlrok_1


Believe it or not, tomorrow is the final game of the 2009 season. The P-Rays close out their series at Greeneville, and we'll bring it to you on Classic Rock 102 The River (WMTD 102.3 FM) and theriver102.com. Our broadcast begins with the P-Rays Pre-Game Show at 6:30 pm EDT; game time is scheduled for 7:00 pm at beautiful Pioneer Park.

Reminder: During the "Dugout Show" segment of the pre-game show, we'll bring you part two of our conversation with Mitch Lukevics, the Tampa Bay Rays' Director of Minor League Operations.

Sunday 30 August: Princeton 7, at Greeneville 3

Princeton clinched a winning season with its doubleheader split at Johnson City yesterday.
Today, the P-Rays clinched 2nd place in the Appalachian League Eastern Division.
Not a bad day at all.

Today's decisive inning was the top of the 5th. Princeton scored five runs, highlighted by two-run home runs from Alejandro Torres and Ryan Wiegand.

Here's today's boxscore:
http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?gid=2009_08_30_prirok_gvlrok_1&t=g_box&did=milb

And the recap:
http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_log&gid=2009_08_30_prirok_gvlrok_1


Hard to believe, but we're down to the last two games of the season.
We'll bring you the penultimate game tomorrow night (Monday 31 August) on Classic Rock 102 The River (WMTD 102.3 FM) and theriver102.com.
Our broadcast begins with the P-Rays Pre-Game Show at 6:30 pm EDT. The P-Rays and Greeneville Astros play the second of their three-game series starting at 7:00 pm EDT.

Note: During the final two P-Rays Pre-Game Shows, we'll feature an interview with Mitch Luckevics, the Tampa Bay Rays' Director of Minor League Operations.
Mitch is a good guy and long-time baseball man. It'll be an interesting and informative conversation.

Thursday 27 August: Princeton 14, at Johnson City 2 (7 Inning Game)

Maybe this is the kind of game that will lift the P-Rays for the rest of the season.
The highlight of the contest was Princeton's first grand slam of the season, delivered by young 3B Julio Cedeno in the top of the 3rd.
Cedeno went 4-5 with two doubles, two runs scored and six RBIs.

Here's the boxscore:
http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?gid=2009_08_27_prirok_jcyrok_1&t=g_box&did=milb

And the recap (it'll take some time to read):
http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_log&gid=2009_08_27_prirok_jcyrok_1


The P-Rays and Cardinals now brace for a quick turnaround and a doubleheader tomorrow morning.
We'll start our broadcast with the P-Rays Pre-Game Show at 11:00 am EDT, with first pitch set for 11:30 am. There will be two seven-inning games.
Tune in to Classic Rock 102 The River (WMTD 102.3 FM) or log on to theriver102.com.

Thursday 27 August: Princeton 7, Johnson City 4

It took nearly 34 days, or approximately 816 hours (give or take), but it was worth the wait.
The P-Rays claimed victory in the completion of a game suspended by bad weather back on July 25 in Princeton.
The P-Rays broke open a close contest with a four-run 7th inning, highlighted Jason Patton's bases-loaded, two-run double.
The victory snapped the Princeton's three-game losing streak and was their 18th in 31 road games.

Boxscore:
http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?gid=2009_07_25_jcyrok_prirok_1&t=g_box&did=milb

Recap:
http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_log&gid=2009_07_25_jcyrok_prirok_1


The P-Rays and Cardinals are scheduled to play a seven-inning game later today at Howard Johnson Field.
But at the time of this writing (6:15 pm EDT), bad weather is threatening and the start of the game is in doubt.

26 August: at Bluefield 6, Princeton 3

The most important number tonight was: 2-12 RISP.

Here's the boxscore:
http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?gid=2009_08_26_prirok_blurok_1&t=g_box&did=milb

Here's the recap:
http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_log&gid=2009_08_26_prirok_blurok_1

Despite the loss -- the 16th in the last 24 games for Princeton -- the P-Rays still lead Bluefield for 2nd place in the Appy League East by .0005 in winning percentage.

Princeton visits Johnson City tomorrow. The two teams will complete their suspended game from July 25 at Hunnicutt Field (tied 2-2 after four innings), then play a seven-inning game.
The broadcast on Classic Rock 102 The River (WMTD 102.3 FM) and theriver102.com begins at 3:30 pm EDT.

Tuesday 25 August:: Burlington 2, at Princeton 1

Princeton snapped an 18-inning scoreless streak with a run in the bottom of the 9th.

But that lone run was not enough as the P-Rays dropped this series (2-1), and the season series (5-4) to the worst team in the Appalachian League.

To make matters worse, Princeton finishes 2009 with a losing record at home (14-16).

Princeton hit just .204 in this series -- after a ten-hit outburst in a victory in game one. Burlington hit only .149, but won the last two games by virtue of a 6-3 advantage in extra-base hits.

Tuesday's boxscore:
http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?gid=2009_08_25_brlrok_prirok_1&t=g_box&did=milb

And the recap:
http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_log&gid=2009_08_25_brlrok_prirok_1

The P-Rays start a season-ending nine-game road trip with a single game at Bluefield tomorrow night (Wednesday 26 August).
Princeton has already secured this year's Mercer Cup series against the Orioles, but needs a win to hang on to second place in the Appy League East.
We'll start our broadcast with the P-Rays Pre-Game Show at 6:30 pm EDT. Game time at historic Bowen Field is scheduled for 7:00 pm.
Tune in to Classic Rock 102 The River (WMTD 102.3 FM) or log on to theriver102.com.

Princeton needs to win four games on this road trip to insure a winning season.

Monday 24 August: Burlington 3, at Princeton 0

Manager Jared Sandberg has spoken about how some P-Rays players may be "counting down the days" until the end of the season, especially after Princeton faded out of the pennant race in the Appalachian League Eastern Division.
Tonight, to put it bluntly, it looked that way.
The P-Rays got shut out by the worst team in the league, mustering only three hits and falling below .500 at home for the season.
Oh, well, that's baseball.

Here's tonight's boxscore:
http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?gid=2009_08_24_brlrok_prirok_1&t=g_box&did=milb

And tonight's recap:
http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=g_log&gid=2009_08_24_brlrok_prirok_1


The P-Rays play their final home game of 2009 tomorrow night (Tuesday 25 August), hosting the Burlington Royals.
We'll bring it to you starting at with the P-Rays Pre-Game Show at 6:30 pm EDT. First pitch is scheduled for 7:00 pm. Tune in to Classic Rock 102 The River (WMTD 102.3 FM) and/or to theriver102.com.


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NOTE:

Games times have been changed for Princeton's series at Johnson City later this week.

On Thursday 27 August, the P-Rays and Cardinals will resume their suspended game from July 25 (it was tied 2-2 after four innings), then will play a seven-inning regulation game.
Those games will start at 4:00 pm EDT, with an air-time of 3:30 pm.

On Friday 28 August there will be a 7-inning doubleheader, with an early start time of 11:30 am EDT. The doubleheader will help the teams make up the game they lost to rain at Hunnicutt Field on July 26.
The early start time is set to accommodate the start of the high school football season in Tennessee that night. Our air-time will be at 11:00 am EDT.

The series concludes with a 6:00 pm game on Saturday 29 August.
Due to Concord University football on Classic Rock 102 The River (102.3 FM WMTD) and theriver102.com, the P-Rays game will be moved to News Radio 620 WWNR in Beckley (which simulcasts on 101.1 FM). Princeton residents will also be able to hear the game on AM 1490 WAEY, and the game will be webcast on wwnrradio.com.
Paul Van Scott, a former P-Rays announcer, will fill on play-by-play on Saturday night.

The Concord football game at Southern Virginia University on Saturday 29 August will be broadcast on Classic Rock 102 The River and webcast on theriver102.com starting with the Mountain Lion Preview Show at 5:30 pm EDT. Kickoff will be at 6:00 pm.
I'll have the call of that game and will be joined in the booth by former Mountain Lion coach and athletic director Greg Quick.