Local sports briefs

Former WNC pitchers solid in minor leagues

Former Western Nevada College pitchers have made their mark in minor league baseball this year as the season winds down.

Jose Barajas, who began pitching this summer in the Baltimore Orioles chain, has already risen to the High A level in the Carolina League with Frederick.

Barajas began the summer in Rookie League with Bluefield and worked as a closer and relief pitcher. In 17 games, he posted a 1-0 record with a 2.75 earned run average and picked up seven saves. He also struck out 26 in 19.2 innings and walked just three.

Barajas has already bypassed the short-season A and low A levels and has been promoted to High A to finish the season. He's gotten off to a good start as on Monday, he pitched two scoreless innings, not allowing a hit and striking out one.

Meanwhile, Justin Garcia is making a run at South Atlantic League Pitcher of the Year honors at the low A level. At the Tampa Bay Rays affiliate in Columbus, Ga., Garcia has posted a 3-5 record with a 2.63 E.R.A. in 38 games. He's also worked as a closer, picking up six saves and has struck out 74 and walked 20 through 68.1 innings.

Stephen Sauer has also become the closer for the Chicago White Sox Rookie League affiliate in Great Falls, Mon. Sauer has posted a 3-2 record with a 3.41 E.R.A. and has picked up five saves. in 19 games he has struck out 27 and walked seven in 29 innings.

Two former WNC pitchers have overcome injuries to post solid numbers down the stretch for Atlanta Braves minor league teams. Pitching for Rome, Ga., in the South Atlantic League, Cole Rohrbough has lowered his E.R.A. to 4.94 after battling injuries throughout the summer.

He has a 3-4 record and has struck out 74 while walking 31 through 58.1 innings in 13 games. Wohlever has outstanding numbers for the Rookie League Gulf Coast Braves as he's 1-0 with a 2.79 E.R.A. in nine appearances.

Kyle Farrell is another former WNC pitcher with the Gulf Coast Braves and with the exception of one rough outing has been solid. He's 0-4 with a 4.45 E.R.A. through 32.1 innings.

WNC's current pitchers will be on display this weekend as the Wildcats begin their fall scrimmage schedule at John L. Harvey Field. WNC will play the Las Vegas Metro Stars in a doubleheader on Saturday, beginning at 11 a.m., and will play Las Vegas in a single game at 11 a.m. Sunday.

Clay USA Track and Field Athlete of the Week

2008 World Indoor champion Bryan Clay has been named USA Track & Field's Athlete of the Week after winning the gold medal in the decathlon at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China.

The first U.S. Olympic decathlon champ since Dan O'Brien in 1996, Clay amassed 8,791 points in capturing the Olympic gold medal. He won the event by 240 points over silver medalist Andrei Krauchanka of Belarus, which is the largest winning margin at an Olympic Games decathlon since 1972. Clay is coached by 1983 Carson High graduate Kevin Reid.

Thomas fires hole-in-one

Carson City's Bill "Doc" Thomas recently shot his first hole-in-one at Eagle Valley's East Course.

Thomas used a driver from the red tee on the 17th hole to fire his ace. Don Cunningham witnessed the shot.