Demopolis High graduate and professional baseball player Jason Smith was traded to the Detroit Tigers’ AAA affiliate, the Toledo Mudhens in 2003. On May 13, 2004 Smith was brought up to Detroit to replace second baseman Fernando Vina, who was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a strained right hamstring.

Since his arrival in Detroit Smith has played in nine games with 19 at bats. Smith is currently hitting .421 with eight hits, four runs and 3RBI’s. Smith has one double, one triple and one home run as a professional this season. He also has two stolen bases, one walk and a .737 slugging percentage.

In the field, Smith has started at second base in four of his nine games this season collecting seven put outs, 12 assist, two double plays and no errors.

Across the bag at short, Smith has started in two of his nine games this season, and has collected two put outs, five assists, one double play and no errors.

Detroit (30-33), who has won five of their last six games, are currently on the road in the middle of a three games Interleague series with the Philadelphia Phillies that concludes today with a 1:05 ET game at Citizens Bank Park.

Demopolis Academy graduate and minor league baseball player Andy Phillips, currently with the New York Yankee’s AAA affiliate, the Columbus Clippers, is reportedly doing better than ever this season after a sluggish 2003 season that left Phillips in need of surgery to repair wear and tear to a bone in his elbow.

Phillips is hitting .336 throughout 41 games played this season. In his 152 at bats, Phillips has collected 32 runs, 51 hits and 22 RBI’s. Phillips has seven doubles, two triples and nine home runs, which puts him just two back of Clippers leading home run batter Joe Deardorff (11).

Phillips currently has one of the best bats in Columbus hitting .336 with a .586 slugging percentage and a .413 on-base percentage.

The Clippers, who have won three of their last nine games, could be on their way to another six game wining streak as they head into a four game series with the Rochester Red Wings in Rochester, NY.

The Clippers were able to take game one of the four game series Tuesday night with a 6-3 win. Clipper’s Michael Vento went 2-for-4, including a three- run home run that capped off a five-run eighth inning to lead Columbus to the 6-3 win over Rochester. Andy Phillips chipped in with a solo homer and scored twice in the win. Mike Kelly added an RBI and a run scored.

Columbus improved to 34-29, and hold a one game lead over Toledo in the West Division.