An Infield Clinic, instructed by Devin Hurt of the Bryant Black Sox American Legion World Series team of 2007, will be held Saturday, Aug. 14, at 2 p.m. at Diamond Sports. Cost is $15 for non-members, free for members.

This clinic is designed for infield position players. Topics will include footwork, fielding double plays and ground balls, and situational drills.

Call or email the Diamond Sports office to register soon. 501-653-BATS (2287)

PHILADELPHIA — Through eight innings, Travis Wood of Bryant has retired every batter he's faced in the Cincinnati Reds' game against the defending National League champion Philadelphia Phillies. He has struck out eight in a scoreless duel with former Cy Young Award winner Roy Halladay. It is just Wood's third start in the Major Leagues.

Carlos Ruiz led off the ninth inning with a double into the gap in left-center to break up the perfect game and no-hitter but Wood worked around it and the game went to the 10th inning with no score.

In the top of the 10th, Laynce Nix pinch-hit for Wood as the Reds loaded the bases. But Philadelphia's Brad Lidge got out of the jam so Wood was denied his first win of the season as the game went to the bottom of the 10th.

The Bryant Black Sox Senior American Legion team's doubleheader against Zone 4 rival Texarkana has been postponed by rain until Sunday at 1 p.m.

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For Bryant star pitcher Travis Wood make his third start for the Cincinnati Reds tonight at Philadelphia against the Phillies and ace right-hander Roy Halladay. While, in Arlington, Texas, former Benton and University of Arkansas star, Cliff Lee makes his first start for the Texas Rangers against the Baltimore Orioles after Lee was obtained by trade on Friday from the Seattle Mariners. 

Wood is 0-0 with a 3.86 earned run average since being called up by the Reds earlier this month.

Lee, a former American League Cy Young Award winner, was 8-3 with the Mariners with a 2.34 ERA. He was named to the American League All-Star team earlier this month and, last year, helped the Phillies reach the World Series. 

NEW YORK — Travis Wood of Bryant was scheduled to start for the Cincinnati Reds on Tuesday against the New York Mets. But when Monday's starter, veteran right-hander Aaron Harang felt a twinge in his back before the game at Citi Field, Wood was called on as the emergency starter on just three days rest.

And, as it turned out, the lefty came within an out of picking up his first Major League victory in the Reds' 8-6 win.

Here's the MLB.com story:

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20100701&content_id=11805498&vkey=recap&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb

Travis Wood's Major League debut for the Cincinnati Reds at Wrigley Field against the Chicago Cubs on Thursday could've hardly been more impressive: Seven shutout innings, working into the eighth, leaving with a 2-0 lead, retiring 13 in a row at one point.

Congratulations, Mr. Wood! You may never see the Minor Leagues again. 

Back before the baseball season began, Jimi Easterling, the senior quarterback for the Bryant Hornets football team last fall, bought tickets to a Chicago Cubs game at venerable old Wrigley Field for Thursday, July 1. The visiting team was set to be the Cincinnati Reds.

No doubt, Easterling was hoping that Bryant's Travis Wood might be a member of the Reds' pitching staff by this time in the season. Wood nearly made the opening day rotation as the No. 5 starter but was beaten out by Mike Leake, a rookie sensation thus far for the team. Wood was optioned to the Louisville Bats and has been pitching there so far this season. And lately, he's been the best pitcher in the Reds' Minor League system.

Until today.

The Cincinnati Reds have optioned rookie right-handed starter Sam LeCure back to Louisville after an ineffective start on Saturday against Cleveland. In six starts, LeCure was 1-4 after being called up to replace the injured Homer Bailey.

This from the Cincinnati Enquirer:

Either Travis Wood or Matt Maloney has to be the guy for Thursday’s start against the Cubs in Wrigley.

NORFOLK, Va. — Travis Wood of Bryant turned in a dominating performance on Friday night, shutting out the Norfolk Tides on just five hits over eight innings in the Louisville Bats’ 7-0 road win in International League action.

Wood struck out nine and walked just one while improving his record to 5-6 and lowering his earned run average to 3.12.

Diamond Sports of Bryant has announced the addition of two new instructors including one who will be conducting a catching and throwing clinic on Sunday, July 18.

The new additions are Bryan Jones, a hitting and catching instructor, and Mike Campbell.

Jones was a standout at Richland College where, as catcher, he helped the Thunderducks finish second at the JUCO World Series in Batavia, N.Y. Jones received All-Region honors and All-Tournament honors at the World Series.

From Richland, he moved to Ouachita Baptist University where he was voted to the All-Gulf South Conference team for his work behind the plate. Coach Jones served as a graduate assistant for two years at OBU and saw the Tigers reach the GSC tournament for the first time in school history. Since then, he has coached at Benton High School and Pulaski Academy.

LOUISVILLE — Travis Wood, the Louisville Bats’ starting pitcher from Bryant, endured another game in which his earned run average went down but he absorbed a loss.

The Bats, the AAA affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds, managed just one run against the Durham Bulls (Tampa Bay Rays) on Sunday so the two that Wood allowed in his 6 2/3 innings were one too many. Durham wound up with a 5-1 win with three more runs late in the International League contest.