2016 American Association/Can-Am All-Star Game Part 2: Lemurs and other creatures

In the middle of 16 games in 18 days so things are crazy here at The Battery...but I did want to get some more All-Star shots before they get too dusty.

One of the highlights of the St. Paul All-Star Game was photographing some of Laredo's top players. The Lemurs didn't have any games scheduled in 2015 or 2016 in Winnipeg so it was a rare opportunity.

Dennis Phipps was one of the participants in the Aug. 1 home run derby:

The following night we got to see some of Laredo's pitching crew: Ryan Beckman, Luis De La Cruz and Jeff Inman. Barret Loux was voted in but unable to participate, and I missed Jose Nivar unfortunately.

At the time, we hadn't seen the Wichita Wingnuts in two years in Winnipeg. That would change in a week or so when the Nuts did a four game trip to Shaw Park. But it was neat to get an advance preview of Harrison Kain and star closer Frankie Reed before they made it to The Peg.

And just before the night was through, I caught glimpse of the lone Joplin Blaster at the All-Star game, Victor Capellan. Lighting was poor by that point and I never did get a good shot of him. But oddly enough, the Goldeyes would make a cash deal for Capellan just ten days later. So I got a second chance to photograph the sideways-capped reliever right here in Winnipeg.

Laredo Lemurs take the American Association Championships

There will be a lot of questions about what went wrong for Sioux City in this year's American Association Championships. After a record-breaking season for wins, they were the heavy favourites matching up with Laredo. But it came down to pitching as it does so often. Should the Explorers have started Johnson one more time instead of Wordekemper for Game 4? One of many nagging questions that will trouble Explorers fans for a while. It will be interesting to see who Sioux City brings back next year after coming so close to nirvana.

American Association Championships Game 3

Laredo's Ryan Beckman worked 7 innings of relief and retired 15 straight batters to give the Lemurs a surprise 6-4 victory at Lewis and Clark Park tonight. Lemurs lead the series 2-1, something that I don't think many pundits envisioned at the start of these 2015 finals. After winning Game 1 by a huge margin, the Explorers have to be wondering where it's gone wrong so far in this series...and if the Lemurs have any more pitching surprises in store on the mound.

American Association Playoffs: Night Five

A comeback victory for Laredo as they take down Wichita 8-6 to move on to the American Association Finals. That late-season trade with Gary Southshore seems to have helped the Lemurs down the stretch! Tonight's photo comes courtesy of Fargo-based photographer Jennifer Andreachi, who was kind enough to share some of her Wingnut/Lemur shots from their games with the RedHawks earlier this year. Thanks Jennifer!

American Association Playoffs, Night Four

The St. Paul Saints amazing first season at CHS Field has come to an end, as Sioux City pulls out a narrow 2-1 victory. Lared and Wichita are going down to one last dance!

American Association Playoffs, Night Three

There's no place like home in the American Association, apparently, as the Wichita and St. Paul deliver wins in their own ballparks. By all reports, the crowd in St. Paul was electric (as they have been all season long), so good to see the fans were rewarded with a win.

American Association Playoffs, Night Two

Laredo and Sioux City jump to 2-0 leads in their respective series before hitting the road. The Explorers looked every bit like the record-setting team they've been all season long, but it was another tough night at the plate for St. Paul. While I've picked the Xs to go all the way this year (not a Nostradamus-level prediction by any means), I'd love to see St. Paul take this series the distance. The fans at CHS Field are going to be incredible, and these two teams deserve to play in front of a sold-out ballpark. Game 3 should be a treat!

American Association Playoffs, Night One

Game 1 is in the books for both of the American Association's playoff series. Laredo ripped up the visiting Nuts, while the Saints struggled at the plate in Sioux City. Game 2 in each respective series goes down tomorrow night. On a side note, tonight is the first appearance of a guest photographer to The Battery. Elizabeth Nelson, who has done an amazing job of capturing the action down in Fargo-Moorhead this season, was kind enough to provide me access to her archives for shots of the three "missing teams" who didn't get to Winnipeg this season (Laredo, Wichita and Grand Prairie). I will credit her shots whenever they appear; big thanks to Beth for allowing me to use her work on The Battery's twitter account and here.

Tenbrink, Sergey are American Association's Player and Pitcher of the Week

A .560 avg. at the plate earns Kansas City T-Bones Nate Tenbrink American Association Pointstreak Player of the Week honours, Aug. 24-30. Laredo Lemurs RHP Matt Sergey is this week’s Pointstreak Pitcher of the Week. Sergey tossed a complete game, one-hit shutout against the Grand Prairie Airhogs on Tuesday. Alas, Sergey and the Lemurs did not play in Winnipeg this season, so the ubiquitous Lemurs logo will have to suffice!