Grizzlies Win Thriller in Michigan; Magic Number 1

Hello all!  After a thrilling 10-6 victory last night in Traverse City, Michigan, the Gateway Grizzlies are back home and looking to clinch the Frontier League West Division this weekend when they take on the Rockford RiverHawks.  The magic number was reduced to one with the Grizzlies win and Boomers loss Thursday night. 

Grizzlies DH Rogelio Noris had a career night last night in Traverse City.  He became the third Grizzlie to hit 3 HR's in a game and the first to do so since Ryan Sullivan in 2005.  It was also the first 3 HR game in the Frontier League since Travis Garcia in 2007.  Here's the Radio Call of Rogelio's third HR..it was undoubtedly my most excited call of the season.

Rogelio Noris 3rd HR @ Traverse City

The Grizzlies will look to become West Division Champions for the the first time since '07 when they take on the RiverHawks tonight at 7:05.  It would be the Grizzlies first playoff appearance since '08.  Can't wait!

     -Voice of the Grizzlies, Adam Young

Grizzlies Win 6th In A Row; Magic Number Is 4

Photo Courtesy of Paul Baillargeon

Hello all!  The Grizzlies picked up another series sweep this weekend to push their win streak to six.  Gateway is now 54-36 and their magic number to clinch the West Division is four heading into a series starting Tuesday @ Traverse City.  Below are Radio Highlights from Sunday's 11-7 win @ GCS Ballpark that gave the Grizzlies their second straight series sweep! 

Grizzlies Radio Highlights Sunday vs. Normal

We'll be on the bus traveling all day Monday to Michigan.  Due to rain Sunday, the Schaumburg Boomers series finale with Rockford was pushed back to Monday.  If the Boomers fall in that game, the Grizzlies magic number will be reduced to three games heading into Tuesday.  The earliest the Grizzlies could clinch would be on Wednesday.

Photo Courtesy of Paul Baillargeon

Jon Myers had six hits in the Normal series while Landon Hernandez had a huge game Sunday (2-for-3 with a double, a home run and 3 RBI).  Gateway's rotation sets up well in Michigan.  Paul Tremlin starts Tuesday, Alex Kaminsky throws Wednesday and the ace right-hander Tim Brown will get the nod on Thursday.  Will the Grizzlies clinch in Traverse City?? We'll see.  This is going to be an exciting final week of the regular season!

You can catch all the action in the Grizzlies upcoming series by tuning into the Grizzlies Radio Network (590 AM KFNS, 1400 AM KJFF, gatewaygrizzlies.com, kfns.com and the FREE KFNS App on your phone).  Talk to you Tuesday night!

-Voice of the Grizzlies, Adam Young

First Place Grizzlies Return Home

Photo courtesy of Paul Baillargeon

Hello all!  The Grizzlies are back home this weekend after a three-game series sweep of the ThunderBolts at Windy City.  Gateway moved two games ahead of Windy City and Schaumburg in the West Division after the sweep.  With only nine games remaining in the regular season, the Grizzlies are in a great position as we approach the final week.  Below are Radio Highlights from the recent series with the ThunderBolts.

Grizzlies Radio Highlights @ Windy City

Photo courtesy of Paul Baillargeon

Right-hander Tim Brown (10-2, 2.19) makes the start tonight for the Grizzlies.  Brown has gone nine innings in each of his last two starts.  The St. Louis native always gives the Grizzlies a chance to win and tonight should be no different.

After tonight, Gateway plays three road games @ Traverse City before returning home next weekend for the final three regular season games.  We hope to see you @ GCS Ballpark!

Grizzlies manager Phil Warren currently has 299 career managerial wins and will look to get #300 this evening.  I'll talk to you tonight on the Grizzlies Radio Network!

      -Voice of the Grizzlies, Adam Young

Grizzlies-ThunderBolts..Playoff Preview??

Photo courtesy of Paul Baillargeon

Hello all!  After a rough series @ Evansville, the Gateway Grizzlies  get set for the biggest series of the season.  With only 12 games left in the regular season, the Grizzlies are in the final stretch and in the thick of a tight playoff race.  They begin a three-game series with the Frontier League leading Windy
City ThunderBolts Tuesday.

Currently, the Grizzlies and Schaumburg Boomers trail Windy City by one game in the West Division.  The Boomers take on Evansville Tues-Thurs while the Grizzlies and T-Bolts battle in the biggest series of the season for both teams.  With a series win OR a sweep, the Grizzlies would put themselves in a GREAT position heading into the weekend @ home against the struggling Normal CornBelters.

Photo courtesy of Paul Baillargeon

Here's the rotation for this huge series @ Standard Bank Stadium in the suburbs of Chicago:

Tuesday: Chris Enourato (4-4, 4.60) vs. Mike Recchia (11-2, 2.40)
Wednesday: Paul Tremlin (5-3, 4.04) vs. Dustin Williams (10-6, 5.22)
Thursday: Alex Kaminsky 9-4, 3.66) vs. Blayne Weller (5-2, 4.12)

This is what's all about..playing important games in late August that have playoff implications.  This series will be a tough one for the Grizzlies.  Windy City has great starting pitching and Gateway will face three good ones in Recchia, Williams and Weller.  I'm interested to see how the Grizzlies respond after getting swept on three walk-offs @ Evansville over the weekend.  That was the second time it had happened this season (June 20th-22nd @ River City).  Can't wait for the series!

Listen live all week on the Grizzlies Radio Network (590 AM KFNS, 1400 AM KJFF, gatewaygrizzlies.com, kfns.com and the FREE KFNS App on your phone).  Budweiser Pregame Show will begin at 6:50 CT all three nights.  Talk to you tomorrow..Go Grizzlies! 

    -Voice of the Grizzlies, Adam Young

Grizzlies Playoff Push Continues

Photo courtesy of Paul Baillargeon/ActionImaging

Hello all!  Only 17 games remain in the 2012 regular season and the Grizzlies enter action tonight a half game back of Windy City for the lead in the Frontier League West Division.  The Grizzlies are currently hanging on to the fourth and final playoff spot in the league. 

Gateway is coming off their franchise-best 8th shutout win of the season in a 5-0 victory last night against Washington.  Below are highlights from last night and from the recent series with the Southern Illinois Miners! 

Grizzlies Radio Highlights (Southern Illinois & Washington Series)

Tonight, the Grizzlies look to improve to 47-33 and win the series with the Wild Things.  Right-hander Chris Enourato (3-4) makes the start for the Grizzlies.  He looks for his first win since July 1st.  Chris will be opposed by 2011 Frontier League East Division All-Star starter, Casey Barnes (4-6).  Go Grizzlies!

      -Voice of the Grizzlies, Adam Young 

Grizzlies Return Home For Series vs. Washington

Photo Courtesy of Paul Baillargeon/ActionImaging.com

Hello all!  Gateway finished up their three-game series with the Southern Illinois Miners on Sunday night in Marion, IL.  Southern Illinois took down Gateway 4-2 to win the series and pull a game ahead of the Grizzlies in the Frontier League wild card standings.  If the playoffs started today; Traverse City, Windy City, Southern Illinois and Gateway would be in the playoffs..in that order.  Gateway is now 1 1/2 games back of Windy City in the Frontier League West Division. 

After winning 9 straight series the Grizzlies have now lost two straight series for the first time in nearly two months.  Gateway has two series coming up with team's that have losing records (home vs. Washington and away @ Evansville).  The Grizzlies would love to get back to winning series.  After an off day Monday, ace right-hander Tim Brown will try to get the Grizzlies back on track Tuesday night.

Photo Courtesy of Paul Baillargeon

Landon Hernandez caught fire with a 5-hit series @ Southern Illinois.  Watch out for 'Lando' down the stretch, he has really looked good in August (hitting over .400 for the month).  Also, keep an eye on Jon Myers who has been hitting for power AND average as of late.

Only 18 games remain in the 2012 regular season.  This is going to be a fun of couple of weeks with the Grizzlies chasing down a playoff spot.  I can't wait to see how this unfolds in the next three weeks.  HERE WE GO!  Go Grizzlies!

         -Voice of the Grizzlies, Adam Young

Grizzlies Move Into First Place; Look For 9th Straight Series Win

Photo courtesy of Paul Baillargeon

For the first time this season, we can say the 'first-place Grizzlies' return to action night!  How about that??  Gateway picked up another convincing win, taking down River City by the score of 9-0 last night @ GCS Ballpark.  Gateway hit 4 HR's (Hernandez 2, Shelby and Noris) and cruised to the easy victory.  Paul Tremlin fired seven scoreless innings to pick up his 5th win this season.  Below are Radio Highlights from the win last night, as heard on the Gateway Grizzlies Radio Network.

Grizzlies Radio Highlights August 3rd vs. Rascals

The Grizzlies are currently tied with the Schaumburg Boomers for the first place spot in the West Division.  Gateway has won 14 of 18..they are 16-6 in the 2nd half and are looking for their 9th straight series win tonight.

Paul Baillargeon Photo

The pitching matchup certainly favors Gateway in tonight's game, which is game 5 of a 9-game homestand.  RHP Tim Brown (7-2, 2.24) hurls for GWY while RCY goes with rookie LHP Cory Caruso (0-0, 5.28) who makes his first professional start tonight.  Below are some tidbits on the St. Louis, MO native, Tim Brown.

• Has gone into the 7th inning in all 14 starts this season
• 2-0 in his last 3 starts
• His last loss was all the way back on June 6th @ Schaumburg
• Has gone at least 7 innings in his last 6 starts
• Brown is 2nd in the Frontier League in ERA and Innings
• In his 4 starts in the 2nd half, he has only walked 5 batters

First pitch is at 7:05 CT tonight.  I'll talk to you on the Grizzlies Radio Network (590 AM KFNS, 1400 AM KJFF, www.gatewaygrizzlies.com, www.kfns.com and the FREE KFNS App) at 6:50 with the Budweiser Pregame Show!  Go Grizzlies!

      -Voice of the Grizzlies, Adam Young