ARMCHAIR COMMENT

Weller shines after advancing

BY RALPH MORROW

MANAGING EDITOR

Blayne Weller didn’t just stop with the July 4 no-hitter about which we reported recently.

Pitching for South Bend in the Class A Midwest League, the Key West High School grad stopped Dayton on no hits and was immediately promoted to Advanced Class A Visalia in the California League.

The 6-5, 220-pound righthander is recognized as a strikeout pitcher who allows few walks. Once he got his first two games out of the way, Weller improved on that reputation in pitching for his new team.

In his first game, on July 20, he started, but gave up three earned runs (five total) in three innings, allowing three hits, while walking four and fanning three.

Six days later, he started again and picked up a victory, going seven innings, again allowing three runs, but on seven hits, while walking four and striking out six.

Those were just preludes to what he accomplished Thursday night. Facing Modesto, he went eight innings, held the visiting team to but two runs on six hits and one walk. But get this, he struck out 16 and is now 2-0 for the Rawhide.

This is probably an important season for Weller. He’s 24 years old and while he has older pitching teammates, at his age he’s getting a late chance at advancing his baseball career. Weller was drafted by the Minnesota Twins in the 14th round of the 2008 draft following his senior year with the Conchs. Despite his propensity for strikeouts over walks, the Twins dropped him after the 2011 season. In 2012, he pitched for an independent team before the Arizona Razorbacks picked him up prior to last season.

A year ago, he pitched for three Razorback minor league teams, including one shutout inning for Reno in the Triple A Pacific Coast League. This year, he was 5-4 with an earned run average of 4.03 at South Bend before moving up to Visalia.

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