*** This Week in Minor League Baseball - July 2 *** From The My Sportsbook

By Kevin Spiegel, Contributing Editor

Philadelphia, PA (My Sportsbook) - This week's top pitching performances go to Chris Coughlin of the Burlington Bees in the Single-A Midwest League and Jamie Vermilyea of the New Hampshire Fisher Cats in the Double-A Eastern League.

Coughlin, a 23-year-old righthander, tossed a nine-inning perfect game with a career-high 11 strikeouts on Wednesday, as the Bees blanked the Beloit Snappers, 3-0. It was the second perfect game in franchise history - Abelino Pena (July 25, 1975 vs. Cedar Rapids). However, it was the first the first nine-inning perfect game in the 83-year history of professional baseball in Burlington.

No-hitters seem to happen quite a bit in the Burlington franchise. There have been 15 total, including two this year. Dusty Hughes and Jake Mullis combined to no-hit Wisconsin back on April 12th.

Coughlin played his college ball at North Carolina-Wilmington and was signed by the Kansas City Royals last season as a nondrafted free agent. He played his first season in the Arizona Fall League and struggled in 12 starts. However, the Royals saw something in their young righthander and promoted him to Burlington. So far this season, he's made five starts and has a 2-1 record and a hefty 6.75 ERA.

As for Vermilyea, he threw a seven-inning perfect game Monday night against the New Britain Rock Cats. Vermilyea, a 22-year-old righthander, started the season at Dunedin (Florida State League) and moved up to New Hampshire after posting a 5-1 record and a 3.09 ERA in 18 games.

The Toronto Blue Jays drafted Vermilyea out of the University of New Mexico in the ninth round of the 2003 Draft.

As far as offense goes, Thursday's PCL game between Colorado Springs and Albuquerque tops the list. The two teams combined for 27 runs, including seven home runs, and 39 hits. Only the fifth inning was scoreless.

The hitting star was Colorado's Jorge Piedra, who was an incredible 6-for-6 with three home runs, six RBI, and five runs scored. All three of Piedra's home runs came in his first three at-bats. On the losing end of things was Albuquerque's Derek Wathan, who hit for the cycle, drove in three runs and scored three times.

PLAYERS OF THE WEEK

Triple-A

International League: Pitcher - Alex Graman, Columbus; Player - Jason Tyner, Richmond, OF; Pacific Coast League: Pitcher - Nick Regilio, Oklahoma; Player - Bucky Jacobsen, Tacoma, INF.

Double-A

Texas League: Pitcher - Mike Ziegler, Midland; Player - Shin-soo Choo, San Antonio, OF; Eastern League: Pitcher - Wilfredo Ledezma, Erie; Player - Ryan Howard, 1B; Southern League: Pitcher - Kyle Davies, Greenville; Player - Scott Thorman, Greenville, 1B.

Single-A

California League: Pitcher - Felix Hernandez, Inland Empire; Player - Isaac Garcia, Modesto, 3B; Carolina League: Pitcher - Jonah Bayliss, Wilmington; Player - Andy Gonzalez, Winston-Salem, 2B. Midwest League: Pitcher - Adam Harben, Quad Cities; Player - Brian Snyder, Kane County, INF. Florida State League: Pitcher - Michael O'Connor, Brevard County; Player - Brandon Sing, Daytona, 1B. New York-Penn League: Pitcher - Paul Estrada, Tri City; Player - Quincy Ascencion, Aberdeen; South Atlantic League: Pitcher - Luis Nunez, Hickory; Player - Luis Jimenez, Columbus, INF. Northwest League: Pitcher - Kendall Bergdall, Everett; Player - Javier Herrera, Vancouver, OF

Rookie

Appalachian League: Pitcher - Yesson Berroa, Pulaski; Player - Yuber Rodriguez, Pulaski, OF; Pioneer League: Pitcher - Ranier Feliz, Billings; Player - Cody Strait, Billings, OF

SOUTHERN LEAGUE ALL-STAR SKIPPERS

Mark DeJohn of the Tennessee Smokies and Gary Jones of the Mobile BayBears have been selected as Managers for the upcoming Southern League All-Star Game. The game is scheduled for July 13th at BellSouth Park in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

DeJohn's Smokies were the Eastern Division first-half champions with a 39-31 record, including a 9-1 mark down the stretch.

Jones guided his BayBears to a first-half title in the Western Division with a 40-30 record. Jones is a veteran of 13 minor league seasons as a manager and has won three league championships, including as skipper of the Huntsville Stars in 1994.

MCGILL CONTINUES TO WIN

The best pitcher in the Carolina League that no one has ever heard of is Wilmington's Trae McGill. The 26-year-old righthander is tearing up the Carolina League, especially at home. Overall, he's 8-0 with a 1.88 ERA and an amazing 5-0 at home with a miniscule 1.07 ERA. McGill will be one of four members of the Blue Rocks that will play in the All-Star Game later this month.

GOOD START FOR PULASKI

The Pulaski Blue Jays of the Single-A Appalachian League got off to a good start to open the season. They opened the season with nine straight wins, including six in a row on the road. They swept the weekly Batter and Pitcher of the Week honors, as slugger Yuber Rodriguez hit a robust .400 during the week with two homers and 14 RBI. Yesson Berroa collected a pair of wins, allowing just one earned run in 11 2/3rd innings.

TUESDAY NIGHT MAGIC - PART I

Jamie Vermilyea threw a seven inning perfect game as the New Hampshire Fisher Cats defeated the New Britain Rock Cats, 2-0, in the second game of their doubleheader. New Hampshire won game one, 5-4. This was Vermilyea's third appearance in Double-A and his first start. He was drafted by the Blue Jays in the ninth round of the 2003 draft out of the University of New Mexico. The Tucson native was 5-1 at Dunedin (Florida State) with a 3.09 ERA before being promoted to New Hampshire.

TUESDAY NIGHT MAGIC - PART II

Spokane's Brandon Cashman broke a Northwest League record, smashing an amazing four home runs and also tied a NWL record with nine RBI to power the Spokane Indians to a 18-9 pounding of the Everett AquaSox. Cashman had two two-run homers, a solo shot, and a grand slam on the night. The previous record of three homers in game was last accomplished by Lamont Matthews of Yakima in 1999. Cashman tied Brian McCall (1962) and Wilfredo Quintana (2000) with the nine RBI performance.

THE SUMMER IN ALTOONA

Everyone knows that the month of June brings the start of summer and vacations. However, it means a lot more to the Altoona Curve of the Double-A Eastern League. Last year, the Curve set a franchise record with 19 wins. Following a three-game losing streak, the Curve won seven straight and 10 of the next 11. They topped off their record-breaking month with win #20, Wednesday against Reading. The Curve finished the month with a 20-8 record and currently sit atop the Southern Division.

THE BEST OF THE BEST (Triple-A): Batting Average - Charles Thomas, Richmond (.358). Home Runs - Calvin Pickering, Omaha (25), Marcus Thames, Toledo (24), Bucky Jacobsen, Tacoma (24). On-Base Percentage - Calvin Pickering, Omaha (.462), Mike Rose, Sacramento (.449), Maicer Izturis, Edmonton (.443), Ryan Church, Edmonton (.443). Slugging Percentage - Calvin Pickering, Omaha (.759), Marcus Thames, Toledo (.735). Hits - Clint Barmes, Colorado Springs (114), Jhonny Peralta, Buffalo (104). Runs Batted In - Bucky Jacobsen, Tacoma (76), Dan Johnson, Sacramento (73), Andy Tracy, Colorado Springs (66), Ernie Young, Buffalo (63). Stolen Bases - Nook Logan, Toledo (34). (Note: Minimum 30 games).

(Double-A): Batting Average - Jeff Keppinger, Altoona (.386). Home Runs - Ryan Howard, Reading (31). On-Base Percentage - David Wright, Binghamton (.467). Slugging Percentage - Ryan Howard, Reading (.691), Dallas McPherson, Arkansas (.660). Hits - Jeff Keppinger, Altoona (98). Runs Batted In - Ryan Howard, Reading (81). Stolen Bases - Wayne Lydon, Binghamton (44), Dwaine Bacon, West Tenn (41). (Note: Minimum 30 games).

(Single-A): Batting Average - Ian Kinsler, Clinton (.402), Brant Colamarino, Modesto (.355), Alejandro Machado, Brevard County (.355), Howard Kendrick, Cedar Rapids (.355). Home Runs - Brandon Sing, Daytona (25), Brian Dopirak, Lansing (22), Kevin Collins, Lansing (21), Michael Napoli, Rancho Cucamonga (19). On-Base Percentage - Ian Kinsler, Clinton (.465), Brant Colamarino, Modesto (.450). Slugging Percentage - Ian Kinsler, Clinton (.692), Brandon Sing, Daytona (.659). Hits - Jeff Salazar, Visalia (107), Erick Aybar, Rancho Cucamonga (103), Brandon Moss, Augusta (99). Runs Batted In - Michael Napoli, Rancho Cucamonga (75), Brandon Sing, Daytona (74), Ian Bladergroen, Capital City (74). Stolen Bases - Josh Anderson, Lexington (48), Erick Aybar, Rancho Cucamonga (35), Nyjer Morgan, Hickory (35), Chris Walker, Lansing (32), Rajai Davis, Lynchburg (31), Javon Moran Lakewood (31). (Note: Minimum 30 games).