Game 116: Bears 12-7

	Chris Steinborn 1-3, 7.06 ERA		Mike Bumstead 13-6, 5.22 ERA

There are a handful of players who definitely deserve another shot at affiliated ball. Yet, for one reason or another, they’re still hanging around the Atlantic League.

* Long Island’s Ray Navarrete
* Camden’s Nic Jackson
* Southern Maryland’s Pat Osborn
* Somerset’s Brandon Larson

Those guys are regarded as the cream of the crop. You know who else belongs on that list? Mike Woods. The outfielder’s stats have climbed into the stratosphere lately. He’s hitting .315 with 15 homers and 53 RBIs in 111 games. He set a franchise record with 94 runs scored, leads the team with a .418 on-base percentage and leads the league with 30 steals.

Despite all of that production, Woods remains in Lancaster.

“You always hope that somebody is out there watching you and would like to give you a chance,” Woods said. “But I just try not to think about it. I just try to go out there and play every game like it’s going to be my last time stepping on the field.”

Woods is the classic example of a late bloomer. Scouts saw his prodigious talent when he was Rickie Weeks’ double play partner at Southern University. The Tigers took Woods with the 32nd overall pick in 2001 and expected him to become a star. Woods never put up big numbers in the minors and never advanced past Double-A Erie.

It’s comical to think about now, but Woods — who didn’t play at all in 2006 — wasn’t even a starter when he joined the Barnstormers in 2007. He was the backup to Bo Hart. Over the past two seasons he has transformed into an elite player at this level. With his 28th birthday looming next month, you wonder if his development came too late.

“Right now I think the organizations are on this youth kick,” Woods said. “I feel better than I did when I was 22 or 23. I’m definitely healthier. It’s just fine tuning. That’s what I’m all about right now.”

No one seems to appreciate the game more than Woods. No one plays harder. No one signs more autographs or carries himself with a more pleasant demeanor. No one has better tools. No one on the Barnstormers has produced better stats. Woods has earned a second chance in affiliated ball. Let’s hope someone gives it to him.

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NEW ADDITIONS:

The Barnstormers have signed P Wes Wilkerson and OF Bryan Sabatella. Wilkerson was with Bridgeport for most of the season. He went 1-8 with an 8.94 ERA in 39 games. Sabatella played for the Alexandria Aces of the independent United League. He batted .340 with 14 homers, 54 RBIs and 36 stolen bases in 84 games. Sabatella is expected to join the team Friday, assuming he passes a physical.

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Lineups …

23-22	20-25
Vic Gutierrez, 2B	Mike Woods, LF
Ramon Castro, SS	Lloyd Turner, 2B
Jose Herrera, DH	Matt LeCroy, DH
Willis Otanez, 3B	Ian Bladergroen, 1B
Ruben Mateo, LF	Brian Munhall, RF
Raul Gonzalez, RF	Ivanon Coffie, 3B
Randall Simon, 1B	David Castillo, C
Ramon Nivar, CF	Jutt Hileman, CF
Scott Knazek, C	Mike Caruso, SS

Scoring summary …

Bears	000	603	30x	12	16	2
Barnstormers	014	100	01xx	7	10	0

FINAL: Bears 12, Barnstormers 7

Stormers 2nd: Castillo’s single scores Bladergroen.
Lancaster leads 1-0.

Stormers 3rd: Otanez’s fielding error scores Caruso and Woods. Bladergroen’s single scores Turner and LeCroy.
Lancaster leads 5-0.

Bears 4th: Mateo’s single scores Castro. Gonzalez’s double scores Herrera and Otanez. Simon’s home run scores Mateo and Gonzalez.
Newark leads 6-5.

Bears 6th: Knazek scores on wild pitch. Herrera’s single scores Gutierrez. Otanez’s double-play grounder scores Castro.
Newark leads 9-5.

Bears 7th: Nivar’s triple scores Gonzalez and Simon. Nivar scores on wild pitch.
Newark leads 12-5.

Stormers 7th: Turner hits solo home run.
Newark leads 12-6.

Stormers 8th: Turner’s sacrifice fly scores Hileman.
Newark leads 12-7.