 | MID News: Playoffs begin
Tuesday, September 8th, 2009: "Baseball is a marathon," or so the saying goes. But once the Midwest League playoffs start today, it's a sprint to the finish. One false move, one errant miscue, one pressure-packed flub will end your team's chances of winning the the title. It could be over in a moment. On the other hand, one swing of the bat or a fastball blown by the last hitter could just as easily send your team parading down Main Street, hoisting a 24-carat gold-studded Round 2 trophy before an adoring crowd. The contending ballclubs are all poised and ready -- the playoffs begin today with several Round 1 showdowns:
South Bend Silver Hawks versus Kane County Cougars and Cedar Rapids Kernels versus Fort Wayne TinCaps. |
| MID News: Regular Season ends
Tuesday, September 8th, 2009: Another Midwest League season has come to a close. The clubs that made the playoffs will be doing battle in a few days, while the also-rans will go home with their heads hung low, thinking of what might have been. The playoffs will culminate with the two best teams going head-to-head for the league's title in the Round 2. To win it, you need talent, skill and a little luck. |
 | Cedar Rapids Dazzled, Parker Hurls No-Hitter
Monday, September 7th, 2009: The Clinton LumberKings relied on no-hit stuff from Kyle Parker to defeat the Cedar Rapids Kernels 8-0 at Veterans Memorial Stadium.
"It's quite a thrill," a candid Parker told the media afterward, "This is a top-notch league. A no-hitter against any team in the league is something special. I can't believe I did it."
To get his name logged in the records, he stopped Cedar Rapids cold, with no hits, surrendering 1 walk and fanning 5 batters, facing only 29 batters.
Parker said in a postgame interview, "Games like this are something special. They don't come around very often, if ever. I knew from the fifth inning that I had a no-hitter working. I just tried to get it out of my mind, but you just can't. They have too many scoreboards in the park. They are everywhere you look."
In a jovial mood, his manager kiddingly told the reporters, "He definitely made it easy for me today. I didn't have any great decisions to make like I usually have to do. Didn't even have to come up with a pinch hitter. I love it when my pitchers pitch a no-hitter."
To date this season Parker has compiled a 3-3 record with a 3.69 ERA in 10 starts. |
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