By Tim Hayes
Sports Writer / Bristol Herald Courier
Published: June 26, 2009

Observations from Bristol’s 7-1 Appalachian League loss to the Princeton Rays on Friday night at DeVault Stadium:

—- For a team that has struggled at the plate in the first four games, it doesn’t help that one of their top hitters earned a promotion.

Daniel Black was called up to the Low-Class A Kannapolis (N.C.) Intimidators after hitting .333 (4-for-12) with a RBI in three games for the BriSox.

Black possesses power (he hit 36 home runs during three seasons at Purdue University) and versatility (he played both first and third in Bristol and has the ability to catch).

“That can only help you in this game,” Bristol manager Ryan Newman said of Black’s ability to play all over the field.

Black went 2-for-5 on Friday in his first game with Kannapolis.

—- Many times in the lower levels of the minor leagues, players will coach first base during the course of the game. In the final moments of Friday night’s game that duty fell to Harold Baines Jr.

It was ironic since Baines’ father, Harold Sr., is the first base coach for the Chicago White Sox.

—- Attendance to BriSox games has been very unimpressive. The Sox drew just 280 fans on Friday night.

—- Non-drafted free agent Dallas Williams started in right field and went 1-for-3. He collected his first professional hit in the second with a single to left field.

—- Friday’s matchup pitted the Appy League’s two youngest managers against each other. Bristol’s Ryan Newman is just 30-years-old, while Princeton skipper Jared Sandberg is 31.

—- The season is still young and Bristol is sure to at least get better at the plate as batters get more swings. The mood is still optimistic among team members that I’ve spoken with during this initial homestand.

“But the great thing about baseball, is we can come back and try again tomorrow,” Bristol catcher Robert Vaughn said.