Jeff Ames and Clint Coulter both played high school baseball in Clark County, but it wasn’t until last week in the Florida State League where they squared off as pitcher and batter.
Coulter, the right fielder for the Brevard County Manatees (Milwaukee Brewers Class A affiliate), and Ames, a pitcher for the Charlotte Stone Crabs (Tampa Bay Rays Class A team) squared off twice in a four-game series between the clubs.
Coulter got the better of the matchup as far as getting on base. He doubled off Ames on July 10, and singled off him on July 12. But it was Ames’ team that won both games.
With the All-Star Break upon us, here’s an update of Clark County minor leaguers players who are part of Major League-affiliated teams (all stats are after Monday’s games):
• Jeff Ames (Skyview HS), Charlotte Stone Crabs, Rays-A — Ames has pitched in 22 games in a relief role for the Florida State League club this season. He is 1-2 with a 3.43 ERA and three saves in five save opportunities. He as struck out 34 batters and walked 23 in 39⅓ innings.
Charlotte won the first half of the FSL season, guaranteeing postseason games.
• Clint Coulter (Union HS), Brevard County Manatees, Brewers-A — Coulter, a right fielder for the Florida State League team, is hitting .257 this season in 88 games. He has 11 home runs and 44 RBI with an on-base percentage of .350.
• Greg Peavey (Hudson’s Bay HS), Rochester Red Wings, Twins-AAA — Peavey was promoted to Triple-A Rochester in late June after going 6-2 with a 4.66 ERA in 13 games with the Double-A Chattanooga Lookouts.
Since then Peavey is 0-4 with a 5.06 ERA in the International League. He’s thrown 26⅔ innings in five starts with 19 strikeouts and one walk.
• Thommy Thorpe (Evergreen HS), South Bend Cubs, Cubs-A — Thorpe is currently on the disabled list of the Midwest League team. He last pitched July 5.
He has a 2-5 record with 4.47 ERA. He has struck out 31 batter and walked 19 in 44⅓ innings.
• PJ Jones (Mountain View HS), Everett AquaSox, Mariners-A — In his first pro season, Jones has been primarily used as a designated hitter by his Northwest League team, but he is also a catcher. He is hitting .188 with two RBI in 10 games. Everett plays at Hillsboro on July 18-22.
• Taylor Williams (Camas), Brewers organization — Williams has yet to play this season due to elbow problems, but it still active. He pitched last season with the Class A-level Helena Brewers in the Pioneer League and Wisconsin Timber Rattlers in the Midwest League and went a combined 9-3 with a 2.72 ERA.
• Taylor Ard (Prairie), River City Rascals, independent — In his second season with the Frontier League team in Sauget, Ill., Ard, a third baseman, is hitting .279 with 17 home runs and 39 RBI in 50 games.
• Steve Ames (Hudson’s Bay), Bridgeport Bluefish, independent — Ames is pitching in the Atlantic League for the Connecticut-based team. He has pitched one inning in each of five game appearances and has a 3.60 ERA.
NOTE: If we are missing a local player who is with a minor league team affiliated with a major league club, please email us the information to sports@columbian.com.
