Ayala’s Return Gives Sparky Lyle’s Team Big Boost

If anyone heard what sounded like a collective sigh of relief recently, it probably came from the Somerset Patriotsclubhouse because pesky Elliott Ayalahad shaken off the effects of being hit squarely on the mouth with a pitch sufficiently to get back in the lineup.

“That’s a guy that we need,” Manager Sparky Lyletold MyCentralJersey.com during the 5-foot-9 infielder-outfielder’s week on the sidelines.  “We’re winning without him now, but it’s not an unknown fact that he’s always in the middle of everything.”

Ayala has already helped Somerset to a pair of Atlantic Leaguechampionships, and is being counted on to carry some of the load as the Patriots try to three-peat, which would be their sixth title overall.  Ayala, either 30 or 31 depending on the source, has gone 6-for-22 (.273) in six games since his return, which is barely below his .283 season average.  He has contributed 56 runs and 31 RBI in 105 games.

Alums Patterson, Watson, Pascucci Contributing

While catcher Mike Rivera (Atlantic City)is the only Atlantic Leaguegrad who has benefitted from the September expansion of major league rosters so far, various 2010 alums of the league are prominent in affiliated playoffs.

Former Lancastercloser Scott Patterson’stwo scoreless innings (three strikeouts) saved Tacoma’sfirst Pacific Coast Leagueplayoff victory, a series the Seattlefarmhands now lead, 2-0.  Playoff foe Sacramentohas Barnstormersoutfielder Matt Watsonhitting cleanup (2-for-8, one RBI).

Patterson had a positive season after leaving Lancaster, winning two of three decisions and saving six games in 29 appearances (2.67 ERA) and his typical solid control, but just as big of an impression had to be left by early-season Camdenoutfielder Valentino Pascucci, who homered every 11.2 at-bats for the New York Mets’ Buffalofarm club.  The 6-foot-6, 270-pound Pascucci hit 17 round-trippers in only 72 games, and with three homers for the Riversharksnow has 235 for his professional career.

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This ‘n That

It does not appear San Diegoplans to add Wily Mo Penato its roster despite the fact the 28-year-old slugger hit .324 (.365 with runners in scoring position) with nine homers and 34 RBI in 40 games for Portland, ORafter purchasing his contract from Bridgeport…The Hoorelbekebrothers are in the independent Northern Leagueplayoffs, one year after playing at Bridgeport.  Caseyled the Northern League in earned run average (1.84), a tough feat for a reliever, but he qualified with 83 innings and allowed only 56 hits while winning 10 of 15 decisions and saving seven games. Jessewas second in home runs (29), then hit a three-run blast in the opening playoff victory for Fargo, ND.

(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.)