Sounds Highlights

Cruz, De La Rosa, Olmedo and
Almonte chat before a game.

The Sounds are battling for first place in the very tight PCL North Division. All four teams, including Iowa, Omaha and Memphis, have winning records and are within a game or so of each other.

Several Sounds players are playing particularly well this season.

Of the regulars, DH Erick Almonte has the highest BA at .308 with 56 hits.

Centerfielder Trent Oeltjen has the second-highest BA at .294 with 77 hits. Oeltjen is often the leadoff man. He has both speed and power and exhibiting both this season. He leads the team in SB's with 13. He also leads the team in doubles with 24 and has seven homers. Oeltjen spent several years in the Twins organization and came up through the ranks with players such as Joe Mauer and Justin Morneau.

Trent Oeltjen warms up on deck.

Shortstop Luis Cruz is batting .292 and is tied for the RBI team lead at 43. He leads the team in hits with 78. This smooth-fielding shortstop has spent considerable time in the majors with the Pirates.

Katin signs an autograph for a fan.

Brendan Katin is batting .291 with 34 hits. He leads the team with 10 home runs in 34 games.

Matt Gamel has been the regular third baseman lately and is batting .286.

First baseman Joe Koshansky is second in home runs with nine and is batting .259.

Koshansky with teammates after
a three-run homer.