Results tagged ‘ Christian Colonel ’
What To Expect of the New Skipper
By Andrew Woerpel
In the wake of its manager Tom Runnells being promoted to t he Colorado Rockies, the Colorado Springs Sky Sox have turned to a familiar face in Stu Cole to lead the team.
Cole steps in as manager of the Sky Sox after spending the past three seasons, and the first part of this season, as the Tulsa Drillers skipper. Before joining the Sky Sox this season, Cole had the Drillers in second place of the Texas League North Division. In 2006, Cole won the North Division and led the Drillers to a 41-29 record claiming a playoff birth.
Stepping in to the managerial job with the Sky Sox is a reunion of sorts for Cole as he played for the Sky Sox from 1993-1995, winning a PCL championship in the process.
“I haven’t been here in quite a while and know there has been a lot of changes in the city,” Cole said. “It feels good to come back and have people recognize you from when you played and appreciate everything that you did. That’s what makes this game so special whenever you give your all, because people notice that and they never forget you.”
Cole is no stranger to the players he has inherited either, as he has managed many of them on their way up through the Rockies farm system.
“We try to preach to these guys down at the lower level to try and get better to the point where you can be consistent at the higher level,” Cole said. “To see these guys like Miller, Frey and Colonel; they look like stronger and better men because of it, so it’s a joy to see the way these guys develop year in and year out.”
Cole admits he is a very aggressive type of manager, which fits right in with the way the Sky Sox have played this season.
“I like to make guys run and steal bases and hit and run when you have to, just kind of put pressure on the defense,” Cole said.
As far as the players are concerned, they don’t have to worry about being second guessed when making plays on the field as Cole is a very confident and enthusiastic manager.
“I want to let the guys know that they have my support on everything they are going to do out there on the field, and there is not going to be anything that is going to be second guessed,” Cole explained.
When asked what Cole wanted to achieve this season as he inherits a first place club, he was quick to focus on the development of the players.
“I just want these guys to understand that I am coming in here to help them continue to be consistent and continue to get better every single day,” Cole said, “I just want to see the team continue to get better and progress.”
On May 31, 2009, the first game of the Stu Cole era took place at Security Service Field where the Sky Sox pummeled the Tacoma Rainiers into submission by a score of 12-4. When Cole was asked how it felt to get his first victory at the Triple-A level his response was simple.
“It feels good, I mean it’s better than getting a loss,” Cole admitted.
The Space Between
Today’s contest will be the first game in three and a half years that Tom Runnells will not have some kind of direct impact on. Even yesterday, the day he was promoted to be the Rockies new bench coach, Runnells actually made out the lineup. It sounds odd, but Runnells had actually filled out the day’s lineup the night before and left it on his desk in his office. After Runnells got the call to head up to Denver the lineup was still used that night. So, technically, last night’s lineup was Runnells’ last as the Sky Sox manager. With new manager Stu Cole not arriving in Colorado Springs until Sunday, today’s lineup was put together by interim skipper Rene Lachemann.
So here’s a look at Lachemann’s lineup for today’s match up with the Tacoma Rainiers in game two of the four-game series:
Eric Young Jr. – 2B
Jonathan Herrera – SS
Mike McCoy – RF
Carlos Gonzalez – CF
Matt Miller – LF
Kenny Perez – DH
Mark Bellhorn – 1B
Christian Colonel – 3B
Sal Fasano – C
An interesting move in the lineup today is McCoy playing in right. It’ll be his first start in the outfield this season but McCoy has played the outfield throughout his career having played 60 total games in the outfield before this season. On the season, McCoy has been an ultra utility player for the Sky Sox. Not only has McCoy been raking at the plate but he’s also played games at second, third, shortstop, designated hitter, pitcher and now outfield.
With McCoy in the outfield, that also makes room to get Colonel in the lineup again today at third which is good to see. Colonel, who has been battling a slump for most of the season, had a break out game last night going 2-for-5 with two runs, two RBIs and his first homer since May 5. An All-Star for the Sky Sox last year, Colonel comes into today hitting a very uncharacteristic .214 with just two homers and 15 RBIs.
Sky Sox Scrimmage
With the season opening game just two days away, the Sky Sox suited up for their first action of the season as the squad took the field against Colorado State University – Pueblo in a scrimmage at Security Service Field on Tuesday afternoon. Even though the Sky Sox Opening Day roster has not be finalized yet several players saw significant time today. The game started off with both teams putting up a few early runs but the Sox pulled away in the middle and late innings to top CSU Pueblo by the final tally of 17-2.
Here is skipper Tom Runnells’ starting lineup from today’s matchup:
1. Mike McCoy – 2B
2. Carlos Gonzalez – CF
3. Matt Miller – LF
4. Dan Ortmeier – 1B
5. Matt Murton – RF
6. Christian Colonel – 3B
7. Kenny Perez – DH
8. Edwin Bellorin – C
9. Jonathan Herrera – SS
10. Josh Fogg – SP
Sky Sox On the Mound: Fogg started the game and threw one inning while giving up the two CSU tallies on three hits. Right-hander Alan Johnson entered the game in the second and tossed five shutout innings to pick up the win. Johson surrendered just two hits, walked none and struck out three in his first appearance in a Sox uniform. He retired the final nine straight batters he faced before giving way to relievers Scott Munter, Matt Daley and Franklin Nunez who all worked a scoreless frame each.
Sky Sox at the Plate: Overall, the Sox bats cranked out 19 hits and drew seven walks en route to their 15 run victory. Several players turned in solid outings:
Chris Frey: 2-for-4, homer, double, walk, four RBIs
Kenny Perez: 3-for-5, homer, three RBIs
Chrisitan Colonel: 2-for-4, two doubles, walk, three RBIs
Matt Miller: 2-for-5, homer, double, three RBIs
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