Monday, Sep. 07, 2009

NWL championship series preview

By Jack Millikin, Herald staff writer

KEIZER, Ore. -- Here is a glance at the 2009 Northwest League championship series Salem-Keizer Volcanoes (49-27) vs. Tri-City Dust Devils (47-29).

Season series: Volcanoes 7-3 (4-1 in Keizer, 3-2 in Pasco)

NWL championship history: S-K: 7 appearances since 1997, 4 titles (1998, 2001, 2006, 2007); Tri-City: 1 appearance (2007) since 2001.

Key players: Salem-Keizer: RHP Jorge Bucardo (6-3, 2.64 ERA, 64 Ks); 3B Drew Biery (.326 BA, 48 RBI, 43 R); LHP Chris Gloor (7-1, 2.61, 48 Ks); 1B Luke Anders (.284, 41 RBI); CF Evan Crawford (.316, 23 R, 5 SB); 2B Juan Martinez (.285, 37 RBI, 44 R); RHP/CL Jose Casilla (1-1, 1.67, 12 svs); LF Dan Cook (.294, 37 RBI, 39 R).

Tri-City: DH Bo Bowman (.328, 46 RBI, 7 HR, 31 R); CF Tim Wheeler (.256, 35 RBI, 44 R); RF Kent Matthes (.289, 23 2B, 35 RBI, 39 R); RHP/CL Charlie Ruiz (1-0, 1.14 ERA, 17 sv); RHP Dan Perkins (3-2, 2.80 ERA, 55 Ks); 3B Joseph Sanders (.251, 33 RBI, 27 R); 2B Jeremiah Sammy (.316, 20 RBI, 32 R); LF Kevin Clark (.260, 28 RBI, 32 R, 19 SB).

Of note: Dust Devils have won 13 of last 16. Volcanoes have won 8 of last 10. ... Tri-City tops the NWL in ERA (3.43) but ranks seventh in batting average (.256). S-K is tied for second in batting (267) and second in ERA (3.54).