扣扣传媒

Farewell to a Sioux Falls Legend, Swifties Love Story in KCK among MLB Partner League highlights

罢丑别听扣扣传媒听season moves into its听final month of play, with pennant races heating up as the calendar flips to August. All AAPB games available for free live viewing at听.

Here are听10 (or so) Things to Know听about the AAPB this week:

• There is much to be positive about when checking听AAPB turnstile counts听among the league鈥檚 12 clubs. Over the weekend, the league听surpassed the 1 million fan mark. It鈥檚 the听earliest the circuit has reached that plateau since the 2019 season, when no one knew what COVID-19 was and the St. Paul Saints were still members of the league.听Cleburne (nearly 40%) leads the teams trending upwards, along with AAPB stalwarts Sioux Falls (+15%), Lincoln (+9%), Chicago (+6%), and Sioux City (+5%).

• Sunday was Bluey Day at Kane County, and the Cougars听with face painting and general excitement for their favorite Wackadoo characters Bluey and Bingo. And it was an extra special day for a听Make-A-Wish kid, who met players, got autographs, toured the clubhouse, and was the team鈥檚 Play Ball Kid (see photo below).

• Chicago had a record breaker as Dogs鈥� closer听Joey Marciano听(Chicago) snapped the听team mark for saves when he recorded his 19th听in Tuesday鈥檚 6-4 win over Kane County in the opener of a doubleheader in Geneva, Ill. The big lefty has recorded 19 saves this season at press time, seven more than the nearest challengers.

• Another team mark fell when听Ismael Alcantara听(El Mirage, Ariz.) swiped two bags to set a new听Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks single-season stolen base record听in a 4-3 loss to the Sioux Falls Canaries Tuesday night at Newman Outdoor Field. Alcantara has swiped a league-best 49 bags this year in 59 games through Tuesday.

• Kane County infielder听Josh Allen听(Bartow, Fla.) reached his 100th professional career home run against Milwaukee on Sunday. He鈥檚 in his fourth season with the Cougars and sixth overall in the AAPB, and is hitting .320 with seven homers and 30 RBI at press time.

• It was an off-the field milestone for Fargo-Moorhead Director of Business Development and PA announcer听Bob Roers, who last week听surpassed his 500th game called听as the RedHawks鈥� in-stadium PA announcer.

• Sad news from Sioux City as Canaries鈥� popular longtime usher听Clarence “Michael” McGee听. Per听, his first calling in life was to serve as an overdose response coordinator, working in treatment centers to help others overcome addiction. Loved by Canaries fans and many others in the area, he will be missed by all he encountered.

• It won鈥檛 be a Cruel Summer in Kansas City this year as the Monarchs will become the 鈥淜ansas Swiftie Monarchs鈥� on August 10 vs. the Milwaukee Milkmen, adopting a new logo for the night and filling the Blank Space with Taylor Swift music all game. Fans know All too Well this will be a great night, as听one lucky fan selected at random will receive two tickets to Swift’s Eras Tour concert听this November in Indianapolis. The rest will have to just Shake it Off.

• 罢丑别听Gary SouthShore RailCats have become a unifying force in Northwest Indiana, and a great example is听. Thirteen Chambers were represented on the day which included a RailCats game and ribbon cutting celebrating a million dollar ballpark renovation.

• 罢丑别听Lincoln Saltdogs also made a strong connection locally, setting up an opportunity for the Omaha Supernovas, Nebraska’s professional volleyball team and first Pro Volleyball Federation Champions, to听听at Haymarket Park.

• Last week, we noted the story of Cleburne Railroaders batting practice pitcher听Mike Weatherford, who served up dozens of blasts in the Home Run Challenge, leading to two Cleburne finalists in the competition and ultimately听Brian O鈥橤rady鈥檚听(Warminster, Pa.) title. On Saturday, in his last game of the season with the club, Weatherford was听听as he threw out the ceremonial first pitch.

• The Jamestown (N.D.) Sun听, who has听found a niche in the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks bullpen, tossing 25 1/3 innings over 16 games.

• Some fun theme nights听coming up:

  • Thursday, New American Night, Fargo-Moorhead

  • Friday through Sunday, Olympics Weekend, Lake Country

  • Friday, Harry Potter Night with specialty jerseys, Kane County

  • Saturday, Hawaiian Night with Aloha Chicago, Kane County

  • Sunday, Mexican Fiesta, Milwaukee