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Cesar Nicloas fell behind 0-2 to start the home half of the ninth in a 1-1 ball game. He struck out on a breaking ball for the first out and then Billy Munoz put one in the right field corner for a double. Noel Trevino pinch ran just before JB Tucker roped one into left just beyond the third baseman’s glove to put runners on the corners. Derek Nicholson came up with still one out and got behind on two pitches 0-2, but put one about half way into right-center, but deep enough for the winning RBI.

Kieran Mattison(0-2) had a no-hitter into the sixth, and ended up with a first-class line of seven innings, giving up no runs on two hits, striking out four and only walking one, but still got a no decision.

The Pensacola Pelicans(5-5) were kept scoreless until the top of the ninth when Francisco Leandro drew a walk, Luis Guance singled to left and then Antoin Gray laid down a perfect two-strike bunt down the first base side to put runners on second and third. Rafael Alvarez was intentionally walked to put the double play into effect, but Chase Burch picked up a sacrifice fly to tie the game at one.

The only other time the Pelicans threatened was in the sixth. Pensacola put runners on the corners with one out. Mattison settled down and got two pop-ups in foul territory to escape.

This stops a three game losing streak for the AirHogs who will face the Shreveport-Bossier Pirates on Tuesday.

The AirHogs play the Shreveport Bossier Captains on Tuesday night at 7:05 p.m. at QuikTrip Park. Gates will open at 6 p.m. and game will feature Senior Night sponsored by North Lake College and Mountain View College. Plus: Fundraisers of the Alex Puente Memorial Scholarship Foundation will be on hand with members of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and Miss Dallas, Elise Martinez raising money for the scholarship by selling Leukemia Red RELENTLESS Bracelets FOR ONLY $1.

Pensacola’s Antoin Gray hit a three-run home run and had four RBI to lead the Pelicans to a 7-6 victory over the AirHogs Friday night in front of 4,243 fans at QuikTrip Park.

The loss dropped Grand Prairie’s record to 2-6 on the young season. Gray’s three-run blast off Grand Prairie starter Justin Garcia capped a five-run second inning for the Pelicans, who scored seven runs in the first three innings. The seven runs – all earned – were charged against Garcia, who lasted just 2 1/3 innings.

Pensacola (4-4) built a 7-3 lead after three innings but the AirHogs battled back with single runs in the fifth, sixth and seventh

innings. Noel Trevino’s RBI single scored Derek Nicholson from second base Nicholson singled and Brandon Carter walked.

Grand Prairie took advantage of two Pelican errors in the sixth to pull within 7-5 and Cesar Nicolas, who was 2-for-3 and two runs scored, singled home David Espinosa in the seventh to make it 7-6.

The AirHogs, who collected 14 hits, had taken a 2-1 lead in the first on back-to-back RBI singles by J.B. Tucker and Derek Nicholson. But Pensacola’s five-run second proved to be the difference.

Jimmy Mojica and Francisco Leandro had RBI singles prior to Gray’s three-run shot to left. Marcos Rodriguez’ RBI single scored Chase Burch in the third to give the Pelicans a 7-2 lead.

Carter and Trevino hit back-to-back doubles in the bottom of the second to make it 7-3.

The two teams will play the second game of their three-game series Saturday at 7:05 p.m. at QuikTrip Park.

Shreveport-Bossier Captains manager Ricky VanAsselberg doesn’t hesitate to give his players a talking to after a loss.

It didn’t take long for them to get that feisty post-game speech.

Grand Prairie dominated the Captains in a 15-2 win Wednesday at Fair Grounds Field. VanAsselberg had a closed door meeting with players that lasted more than 35 minutes. The two teams meet for the final game of the three-game series at 7:05 tonight at Fair Grounds Field. An announced crowd of 3,319 attended Wednesday’s 10 a.m. game. It was D.A.R.E. Day for Caddo Parish schools.

“The game got away early,” said VanAsselberg, who is described as a Lou Piniella-type by players. “I wasn’t happy with nothing I saw today. These guys all know me. They know what I expect. When I don’t get what I expect, then we got problems. What I can’t handle is mental mistakes.”

The game was decided in an ugly third inning. The AirHogs (2-4) sent 13 batters to the plate, scoring 10 runs on 10 hits. Captains left-hander Ronald Lowe (0-2) continually got behind in the count.

“I didn’t set hitters up like I expected to,” said Lowe, who has back-to-back losses for the first time in his pro career. “My game plan was off. It went backwards for me. You learn more when you lose. I just take it as a learning experience. I just got to do better next time.”

First baseman Cesar Nicolas had three RBIs in the inning. Second baseman Brandon Carter and leftfielder Noel Trevino — the AirHogs’ eighth and ninth hitters — each had two RBIs in the third. Trevino’s single to the right-field gap chased Lowe.

Lowe loaded the bases with no outs. Grand Prairie’s Derek Nicholson flied out to left for the first out, but Lowe wouldn’t get another out before being chased after just 2 1-3 innings. Reliever Josh Bone faced five more batters before the inning finally ended with a pop up to third baseman Aaron Cone.

Shreveport-Bossier’s defense turned out to be just as good as its pitching. The Captains (3-3) committed four errors, which led to three unearned runs.

With the game out of reach, utility player Albert Gonzalez replaced second baseman Richard Paz in the top of the fifth.

“We did that to give the rookie some at bats,” VanAsselberg said. “Albert needed to get some work in. Albert could be starting at second tomorrow and I might move Paz to third. We’ve got to shake things up because our defense right now ain’t very good. We’re going to make changes if we have to.”

Grand Prairie rallied to score four runs over the final two innings Sunday night as they defeated the Cats 4-1 in front of 3,662 at LaGrave Field.

With the win, the AirHogs salvaged the final game of the four-game series after the Cats had taken the first three.

After Aljay Davis and Cameron Blair executed a double steal in the third inning to give Fort Worth a 1-0 lead, the Cats held that advantage until the eighth inning when the AirHogs got a pair.

With one out, Billy Munoz belted his second home run in as many nights, a solo shot to right to tie the game 1-1. Two batters later, Jay Yaconetti singled home Derek Nicholson for a 2-1 Grand Prairie lead.

The Cats had an opportunity to tie the game in the bottom of the eighth, but stranded Brian Fryer, who had led off the inning with a single and stole both second and third.

In the ninth, Grand Prairie added to insurance runs on a two-run single by Cesar Nicolas.

James Morrison, who retired the final batter of the eighth inning, got the Cats in the ninth to nail down his first save of the season. Jose Cordero (1-0) earned the win in relief with 2 1/3 innings of scoreless baseball.

Kelly Casares (0-1) permitted two runs, one earned in 1 2/3 innings to suffer the loss. Cats’ starter Ryan Riddle went six shutout innings, allowing four hits and striking out three, but received no decision.

The Cats will open a three-game series with Sioux City on Monday night at LaGrave Field. Jae Jung will make his Cats’ debut and will be opposed by Sioux City’s Tim Layden. Game time is 7:05 p.m.

Fort Worth Cats fans who showed up to see major league pitching prospect Aaron Crow certainly enjoyed a fine performance Friday night at LaGrave Field.

For the second night in a row the Cats combined solid starting pitching and powerful offense to knock off the Grand Prairie AirHogs 8-5. The two area teams are playing a four-game, season-opening American Association series.

The Cats took an 8-0 lead into the ninth, but Grand Prairie scored five runs and had the bases loaded with two outs.

Reliever Dustin Cameron finally closed out the game and preserved Crow’s victory.

Crow finished with nine strikeouts against 18 batters, with two walks, two hits and no runs in five innings.

“I thought it went real well,” Crow said. “I threw a lot of strikes, my slider was working really well. So I’m really happy with how it went.”

Crow was the Big 12 Pitcher of the Year in 2008 after going 13-0 with a 2.35 ERA and 127 strikeouts (107 innings) for Missouri. He was drafted ninth overall by the Washington Nationals in 2008, but couldn’t reach a contract agreement and plans to re-enter the June draft.

He pitched himself into a bases loaded, one-out jam in the third inning, but escaped with a pair of strikeouts.

Crow then struck out three in a quick fourth inning. The fifth was nearly as impressive with two strikeouts and a popup to third base.

Fort Worth took a 1-0 lead in the third as center fielder Brian Fryer led off with a drive to the wall in left-center for a double. Right fielder Ryan Patterson drove him in with a single.

Fryer struck again in the fourth with a two-run double to give Fort Worth the 3-0 lead. Fryer also had two RBI in Thursday’s opener.

Fort Worth added five runs in the seventh, including a two-run double by John Allen.

The Sioux City Explorers lost the final game of the pre-season Tuesday 8-2 to Grand Prairie.

The AirHogs took a 1-0 lead in the first inning on a home run by JB Tucker off X’s starting hurler Tim Layden. Grand Prairie stretched the lead to 4-0 scoring three runs in the second inning off Layden.

Sioux City scored a run in the third inning when Derek Schmerhorn had a two-out single, stole second and scored on a single by Carlos Arroyo. The Explorers cut the lead in half when Brandon Jones had a two-out solo home run in the fourth inning as the Explorers trailed 4-2.

Grand Prairie banged out 14 hits off six Explorer hurlers in the victory, while the X’s were able to muster only five hits off five AirHog pitchers.

The Explorers finished the pre-season with a 1-2 record and will head to El Paso to open up the 2009 season against the Diablos on Thursday. Game time will be 8:05 at Cohen Stadium.

After a seven-game road trip to start the season the Explorers will have their home opener May 22nd at Lewis and Clark Park against the Wichita Wingnuts.

The Grand Prairie AirHogs will kick-off another exciting season of “HogWild” baseball fun and promotions when the team celebrates Opening Night at QuikTrip Park at Grand Prairie on Friday, May 22nd. Festivities for Opening Week will include a packed calendar of free giveaways, post-game fireworks, $1 beer and $1 hotdog nights, kids-run-the-bases and live music at the front gates. 2009 is expected to be a big second year for the organization, highlighted by the national attention secured by the “OctoMom Night” (June 13) and “A.I.G. Bailout Night” (June 16) promotions, in addition to the scheduling of an appearance by New York Times best-selling author Tucker Max (June 4) and a major summer concert featuring Bob Dylan, Willie Nelson, and John Mellancamp on August 7th.

Manager Pete Incaviglia released his 22-man roster this week, announcing the return of 15 players from 2008’s South Division Championship squad, including ace pitcher Kieran Mattison, and the notable additions of former-Detroit Tiger pitcher Jordan Tata and third baseman, Jay Yaconetti. The team will start the season on the road against the cross-town rival Fort Worth Cats on Thursday, May 14th before heading to Shreveport to face the Captains and will return to QuikTrip Park for the home opener on May 22nd. Check out the line-up for Opening Week….

22-May-09 7:05PM OPENING NIGHT “BACK IN BLACK” / BOOKBAG GIVEAWAY/HOGS GO GREEN

The AirHogs are BACK IN BLACK and will unveil new BLACK jerseys on Opening Night! Fans are encouraged to wear BLACK in support of their ‘Hogs! Gates open early at 5:30 p.m. and the first 1,500 fans through the gates will receive a FREE BOOKBAG courtesy of the City of Grand Prairie and Grand Prairie Disposal. PLUS: Free Magnet Schedules for everyone! Live music on the outdoor stage and a Jump Slide for the kids! Also, the AirHogs will kick-off their new “Go Green!” campaign with a commitment to awareness and on-site recycling. Post-game: Kids-Run-The-Bases!

23-May-09 7:05PM FIREWORKS

If it’s LOUD and it’s BRIGHT-It’s an AirHogs FIREWORKS NIGHT! Bring the whole family out for the first SATURDAY FIREWORKS Night of the season. Come early – and stay LATE-for post-game fireworks!

24-May-09 6:05PM FAMILY SUNDAY/TEXAS PTA CENTENNIAL NIGHT

It’s an AirHogs Family Sunday! Enjoy $1 HOTDOGS and $1 SODAS all day long! Plus: Come early and be greeted at the gates by AirHogs players and mascot Ace Bacon! Play pre-game Catch-on-the-Field and post-game Kids-Run-The-Bases! Also, It’s TEXAS PTA CENTENNIAL NIGHT which means fun for Parents and Teachers alike!

26-May-09 7:05PM HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS NIGHT

Sponsored by North Lake College and Mountain View College, it’s the second annual SENIORS NIGHT! We’re ringing in the High School Senior Class of 2009 in AirHogs style. PLUS: Grand Prairie Baseball will be featured in a pre-game on-field parade!

27-May-09 10:35AM SCHOOL DAY

Reading, Writing and AirHogs Baseball! Who doesn’t love a field-trip?! Ace Bacon and the AirHogs are hosting a special DAY-GAME for local schools!

28-May-09 7:05PM THIRSTY THURSDAY / SERVICE INDUSTRY NIGHT

It’s an AirHogs THIRSTY THURSDAY $1 BEER NIGHT sponsored by The Dallas Observer! Bring all of your friends and co-workers for the best deal in the Metroplex! Plus: It’s Service Industry Night – $3 Admission* (GA) for all service industry / food & beverage workers in town! Nationally renowned chef, Kent Rathbun will throw out the ceremonial first pitch! * Present your pay stub at the box office.

2009 Season Tickets (starting at only $6!) are on-sale now and can be purchased at the QuikTrip Box Office at 1600 Lone Star Parkway, Grand Prairie, TX 75050, between NOKIA Theatre and Lone Star Park. Fans can also call 972.504.9383 or log on to www.airhogsbaseball.com for tickets. Free Parking is available all season-long! For more information, call the AirHogs Front Office at 972.504.9383.

Covering Golden Gloves back in its heyday in Fort Worth made me a boxing fan for life, so it’s always fun to drop in and say hello to old friends during Oscar De La Hoya’s annual Fight Night promotion at Sundance Square.

Local promoter Lester Bedford, who puts the shows together for De La Hoya, had just 2 1/2 weeks to stage the sixth annual event at Sundance Square after it was originally scheduled for San Jose and then canceled.

Other than time, Bedford had to deal with the swine flu outbreak and myriad other problems, but the event still drew close to 2,000 fans and featured several good fights, including the main event between Craig McEwan of Scotland and Brian Vera of Fort Worth.

McEwan won a unanimous decision — it was the right call by the judges — but it was an entertaining fight, as was a first-round knockout by up-and-coming Dallas slugger Charles “The Future” Hatley.

McEwan’s trainer, by the way, is Freddie Roach, who just a week ago was in Manny Pacquiao’s corner in Las Vegas.

Spotted at the fights?…

Former local Gloves star Robert Chappa, who refereed the Hatley fight and the main event.

Former two-time world champion Paulie Ayala, who might soon be getting into the boxing promotion business himself. Watch for a show coming this summer at LaGrave Field.

Former Olympian and Fort Worth favorite Sergio Reyes.

Another Fort Worth favorite in Danny Trevino, who helps out with Golden Boy Productions in Texas.

Former Rangers slugger and current Grand Prairie Air Hogs manager Pete Incaviglia, who brought his team to the fights.

And in the front row, local attorney Danny Burns, a GG staple for the old Sheriff’s Club team in the ’70s. He was sitting with son Blake, who just began practicing law after winning All-America honors on Tarleton State’s 4×400 relay team in 2005.

Sioux City…..After a workout on Saturday, the Sioux City Explorers will not see the lights of Sioux City for nearly two weeks.

The X’s have a scheduled workout on Saturday at Lewis and Clark Park and then bus to the Lone Star State. First, the Explorers will play three exhibition games in the Metroplex. Sunday at 6:05pm, the X’s will travel to Grand Prairie to meet the AirHogs, Monday the Explorers will meet Fort Worth and then face Grand Prairie again on Tuesday. The Tuesday exhibition game will be broadcast on 1360 KSCJ starting at 6:35pm with the pre-game show.

“We are anxious to face some outside competition,” said Explorers manager Les Lancaster. “These three games will give us a good test on where we stand this early in the season. We have had some good workouts, but these three exhibition games will give our position players an opportunity to bat in different spots in the order. We will also have all of our pitchers throw during these three games,” concluded Lancaster. The Explorer will start the season with a 24-man roster, but will have to reduce that number to 22 two weeks into the season.

The Explorers will open the 2009 season on May 14th at El Paso with right hander Nick Singleton to be the opening night starter. After four games against the Diablos, the X’s will travel to Fort Worth for a three-game series starting on May 18th.

The defending second half champions of the North Division of the American Association will open the home season at Lewis and Clark Park on Friday, May 22nd against the Wichita Wingnuts.

The Grand Prairie AirHogs confirmed today that Bob Dylan will be making a stop at QuikTrip Park at Grand Prairie on Friday, August 7th during his 2009 Ballpark Tour courtesy of Jam Productions, Ltd. Along with fellow troubadour Willie Nelson, this summer, the Bob Dylan Show will also feature John Mellencamp, marking just the second time in the past 24 years that these three performers have shared the concert stage.

AirHogs General Manager, Dave Burke, comments: “We are thrilled to bear host to such legendary talent, and are proud to make this show the first of many major shows we plan to bring to QuikTrip Park. I am confident based on my past relationship with the promoter, Jam Productions, that this show will blow everyone away with a ballpark experience they won’t forget.”

Since first embarking on a tour of minor league baseball parks in 2004, over a half-million fans have come together to spend a night under the stars. With free admittance for children*, these tours draw a multi-generational fan base rarely seen on the concert circuit, causing one reporter to describe it as, “More like a backyard party than a rock concert.” The Boston Globe ranked the tour amongst “The most relaxed, enjoyable shows of the year. “You can’t beat fun at the old ballpark,” came a headline from the Chicago Sun Times.

Besides performing over 100 concerts each year for the past 15 years, Bob Dylan drops into millions of households each week with his highly popular satellite radio program Theme Time Radio Hour. In recent years, he has also received the big-screen treatment, courtesy of film director Martin Scorcese, with the critically acclaimed release of No Direction Home, the first feature-length film biography of Bob Dylan. Prior to that, he spent over 20 weeks on the New York Times best seller list with the publication of Chronicles: Volume One, the first in a series of the artist’s self-penned personal histories. In between these high-water marks, Bob has earned multiple Grammy Awards, an Academy Award, a Golden Globe and a Kennedy Center Honor (the highest honor of artistic achievement given in the United States). As a recording artist, he continues to hit the long ball. After debuting at #1 with his last record, Modern Times, Bob Dylan is about to release a brand new studio album on April 28 through Columbia Records. Entitled Together Through Life, it has already received 4-star reviews from MOJO, The London Telegraph and the New York Times.

Over the course of a career that has spanned more than 30 years, John Mellencamp, consummate songwriter and performer, has released 23 albums with worldwide sales of over 40 million units while amassing 22 Top 40 hit songs. In 2008, the same year he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Life Death Love and Freedom, was issued which Rolling Stone called “one of the most compelling albums of Mellencamp’s career” and placed it among the top 5 albums of the year. Mellencamp’s ties to Willie Nelson date back to 1985, the year they joined forces to mount the first Farm Aid benefit concert that also featured a stellar set from Bob Dylan. Mellencamp and Bob Dylan have been friendly for the past 25 years. Besides rallying his friends each year to support Farm Aid, Willie Nelson is quite possibly the most prolific recording artist in any genre of music. In the past five years alone he’s released no less than a dozen records, and when he’s not in the studio recording new albums, he fills time writing books, acting in feature films and generally keeping a pace unimaginable for someone half his age. It’s a wonder he even finds the time to tour.

Tickets for the August 7th show will go on sale May 30 and can be purchased in-person at the QuikTrip Park Box Office (located at 1600 Lone Star Parkway, Grand Prairie, TX 75050) via telephone by calling 972.504.9383, and online at www.ticketmaster.com. All concert tickets are priced at $67.50, allowing fans to grab a seat in the stands or find a place to watch from the field and *children 14 and under get in FREE with each adult ticket holder. Showtime is 5:30pm and gates open at 5:00. There is no baseball game on the day of the show. For more information about the tour and pre-sale opportunities, visit www.bobdylan.com.

The AirHogs will start their season on May 14th, on the road versus Fort Worth before returning to QuikTrip Park for their Home Opener on May 22nd against the Pensacola Pelicans. In addition to the regular season, the AirHogs will host the 2009 American Association All-Star Game at QuikTrip Park on July 21st, featuring a Home Run Derby among many festivities in the league-wide affair. Tickets are on-sale now for both the All-Star Game and the 2009 AirHogs season and can be purchased in-person at the QuikTrip Park Box Office, located at 1600 Lone Star Parkway, Grand Prairie, TX 75050, by calling 972.504.9383 or visiting www.airhogsbaseball.com.