Lancaster Loses League Home Run Leader Jason Perry

Lancastertook it on the chin four times in five meetings with the Atlantic League’shottest team, Bridgeport, this week, but that is only the start of the potential problems facing the Barnstormers, who cling to a two-game lead in the Freedom Divisionrace.

They have to figure out a way to replace league home run leader and No. 3 hitter Jason Perry, who left after Wednesday night to return to Georgia Techto finish up a degree.  He is gone for the season.

And, while Lancaster has dropped six of its last 10 games and first-half winner Yorkhas lost eight of 10, both teams need to look over their shoulder because they have allowed two-time defending champion Somerset, despite its near season-long struggles, to pull within three games of the top spot.  Newarktrails by only four.

Lancaster and York go head-to-head this weekend, with the Barnstormers as hosts.  Newark visits Somerset.

“We need guys to pick up the slack (in Perry’s absence)”, Manager Tom Herrtold the hometown Intelligencer Journal , adding that first baseman-catcher-DH Adam Witterwill be in the No. 3 slot for now.  “I’m encouraged (by) what I see from Witter, so he’s going to continue to be in there”.  Knowing Perry was leaving, Herr told this corner earlier in the week that while “we’re in the hunt” he still is on the lookout for another middle-of-the-order hitter.  Witter’s contributions have been sizeable with six home runs in the 13 games he has played since coming off the disabled list late last month. 

Perry finishes with 150 career homers, including the 22 he hit this season, along with driving in 72 runs and playing in 97 of the first 102 games.  Perry came out of his final game after homering in the fourth inning and with Lancaster ahead, 11-1.

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A Fast Start in Newark

Of all the recent player transactions in the Atlantic League, it would be tough to quarrel with Newark’sacquisition of outfielder Tim Raines, Jr.as the most interesting.  He re-joined his father, Tim, Sr.,the Bears’manager.

Raines, who had hit .286 in 86 games for Somerset, walked, stole a base and scored in his first trip to the plate.  He is now 3-for-10 in three games.

  Chiaravalloti Shelved, Again

So much for Vito Chiaravallotihaving nearly two weeks to concentrate on baseball without his teaching or studying duties getting in the way.  The Camdenfirst baseman hyper-extended his left elbow diving for a ball, and has not played this week.

          (These are excerpts from the Atlantic League Notebook.  Subscriptions to the full Notebook are available via www.AtlanticLeagueBaseball.com or www.WirzandAssociates.com .  Bob Wirz also writes a weekly column, the Independent Baseball Insider, as well as a blog, www.IndyBaseballChatter.com. The author has 16 years of major league baseball public relations experience with Kansas City and as chief spokesman for two Commissioners and lives in Stratford, CT.)