Game 66: Foster released, Junge activated

	Eric Junge 4-1, 1.73 ERA		Dan Foli 2-8, 6.42 ERA

The Barnstormers released Quincy Foster following Saturday night’s game. The outfielder hit .180 with one extra-base hit in 50 at-bats after signing on June 12. This was his fourth season in Lancaster. He also played here from 2005-07.

The team needed to make a roster move in order to activate P Eric Junge in time for Sunday’s start. Junge was on the inactive list while he negotiated a contract with a club in Korea. When that deal was not finalized, the team reinstated him. That put the roster at 26 and forced the corresponding move with Foster.

Game 65: Revolution 9-2

	Zack Parker 0-1, 2.87 ERA		Dan Harikkala 3-1, 4.55 ERA

Two items of note:

*OF L.J. Biernbaum has been activated from the disabled list and will be available for pinch hitting duties tonight.

*P Eric Junge, the Atlantic League pitcher of the month for June, is the scheduled starter for Sunday.

Game 64: Revolution 4-0

	Jason Scobie 3-3, 8.17 ERA		Corey Thurman 3-3, 3.94 ERA

UPDATE: P Trey Hodges has been activated from the disabled list and will be available in the bullpen tonight.

*INF Vic Gutierrez is in the lineup batting ninth and playing SS tonight. This will be his Barnstormers debut.

*Former Barnstormers P Charlie Weatherby has been signed by the Astros and was assigned to Double-A Corpus Christi.

RECORD OVERALL: 30-33

VS. REVOLUTION: 6-1

Thursday night was a perfectly constructed win for the Barnstormers. Eric Ackerman pitched seven strong innings. Aaron Herr hit two doubles. Lloyd Turner made two terrific plays at shortstop. Antonio Alfonseca closed the door for his first Atlantic League save.

It was a pretty good formula for long-term success:

Gutierrez signs

The Barnstormers have signed Atlantic League veteran Vic Gutierrez. The 5-9, 170-pound infielder last played for Newark last season. He batted .301 with no homers and 22 RBIs in 65 games. Gutierrez, 31, resides in Harrisburg and drove down to Clipper Magazine Stadium for a workout Wednesday afternoon. He was signed today after the team lost Quincy Foster and Danny Bravo to injury. Gutierrez has played second base, shortstop and third base in his career. He’s active for tonight.

Gutierrez’s career stats are here.

Game 63: Stormers 3-1

	Eric Ackerman 2-5, 3.56 ERA		Shane Youman 0-2, 5.16 ERA

UPDATE: Eric Junge named Atlantic League pitcher of the month for June. The righthander was 4-1 with a 1.73 ERA in five appearances.

Somerset made it official Wednesday night. The Patriots secured the first-half title in the Freedom Division and clinched their eighth playoff appearance in the last 10 years. There really was no celebration on the field following the game, giving one the sense that Somerset felt its first-place finish was inevitable all along. After a while, the rest of the division felt the same way.

“It’s nice to have a celebration, but we didn’t win anything yet,” Somerset manager Sparky Lyle told Burt Wilson of Lancaster Newspapers. “We just won the right to go to the playoffs.”

The second half looks wide open without a clear favorite between the Barnstormers, Revs and Bears.

Game 62: Patriots 4-2

	Ben Fritz 3-3, 3.73 ERA		Jim Magrane 8-1, 2.48 ERA

One of the reasons Somerset is at the top of the standings is it finds players like Jim Magrane. The 6-2, 200-pound righthander began last season with the Long Island Ducks but was released after just three starts. Somerset scooped him up, got a serviceable year out of him in 2008 and has watched him blossom into an all-star.

The Barnstormers counter with Fritz, who has lifted his performance recently. The righthander was 2-2 with a 3.21 ERA in June.

Game 61: Patriots 6-4 in 10

	Ricardo Gomez 1-1, 6.75 ERA		Jason Standridge 0-2, 9.35 ERA

The ghost of Lance Odom was revived at the Clip Monday night. This time it was Tip Fairchild throwing the pitch, Jed Morris scoring from home and the Barnstormers celebrating a bizarre extra-inning victory.

What are the odds the same two teams could be involved in a game-winning wild pitch on an intentional walk in the span of two years? Roughly the same as publisher’s clearinghouse showing up at your door with a giant novelty check. But it happened and it was another reminder that anything is possible on the diamond.

Game 60: Stormers 4-3 in 12

	Zack Parker 0-1, 3.08 ERA		Kip Bouknight 4-4, 4.23 ERA

Somerset has a six-game lead with 10 to play in the first half. The Patriots are a virtual lock to qualify for the playoffs for the eighth time in 10 years. They didn’t make it in 2004, the season before the Barnstormers were born, and 2006 — when BASA was running their baseball operations. That’s an impressive run.

Game 59: Blue Crabs 9-6

	Jason Scobie 3-3, 8.04ERA		Ryan Bicondoa 5-2, 3.52 ERA

Southern Maryland is in good position to win the first half in the Liberty Division and match the Barnstormers’ feat of qualifying for the playoffs in the franchise’s second season. The Blue Crabs are four games up with 13 to play. They have weathered a recent storm of player departures to take two of three so far in this series.

SoMd lost its best starter (John Halama), its best hitter (Eric Crozier) and its closer (Jim Ed Warden) shortly before the break. When it comes to managing an independent league roster, Butch Hobson is as good as it gets.

Game 58: Blue Crabs 8-0

	Eric Ackerman 2-4, 3.49 ERA		Kenny Rayborn 4-4, 3.58 ERA

Game 57 box

Barnstormers stats

Blue Crabs stats