Scoreless skid doesn’t dampen All-Star game

It’s hard enough to remain optimistic and upbeat when your team’s in the middle of a losing streak, but when you’re in the midst of an even longer-running scoreless streak … Well, that’s the epitome of frustration.

Such was the case with the Bangor Lumberjacks last week as they suffered through a five-game losing streak and went 52 consecutive innings without scoring a single run.

But hey, it could be worse. You could be Lumberjacks manager Kash Beauchamp or relief pitcher Santiago Henry and have an additional game and nine innings added onto those respective streaks.

Beauchamp was also the manager of the “world” team in last Tuesday’s Northeast League All-Star game while Henry was picked to be a reliever on the same squad. Four other Lumberjack players – starting pitcher Kevin Pincavitch, third baseman Donnie Ross, catcher Brad Hargreaves, and starting pitcher Jerry Long – also took part in the game, but they all played for the U.S. squad.

Pincavitch threw two shutout innings of relief while Long threw one, along with six other pitchers, to shut the international team out 3-0. Ross also figured in the game with a sacrifice fly.

The irony was not lost on Beauchamp, whose ‘Jacks had been shut out by Elmira and New Jersey in the four games prior to the all-star break.

“Well, this was the fifth shutout in a row I’ve managed,” Beauchamp said. “Shoot, I couldn’t even get a run with an all-star team.”

Friends of his were not bashful about pointing the streak out to Beauchamp.

“Oh no, I was the butt of a few jokes,” he said with a chuckle.

The streaks continued for one more game in Quebec City, but Bangor broke both with an extra-inning 5-4 win over the Capitales Thursday night.

Despite getting the loss and having his all-star managerial record dip to 1-2, Beauchamp enjoyed the experience thoroughly.

“The whole experience was something that was great to be part of. [Brockton manager] Ed Nottle said at the dinner that he could never understand the attitude of someone not wanting to go to the all-star game. I think that’s why you play, that and going to the playoffs. It’s an honor and a privilege.”

Beauchamp said the difficult part is making sure you don’t let any trade secrets slip and tell one of your all-star pitchers something about one of Bangor’s players on the U.S. team that would help him beyond the all-star game.

“You want to win, but you don’t want to give away anything like ‘This guy can’t hit a breaking ball in the dirt’ or something,” he said.

Seventy and counting

Former Portland Sea Dog third baseman Kevin Youkilis hit an RBI single in the first inning of Sunday’s game against Buffalo to extend his streak to 70 consecutive games reaching base.

The 2001 eighth-round draft pick of the Boston Red Sox was promoted to Pawtucket almost two weeks ago. His streak was at 62 games when he was promoted last Monday and went to 63 in his first game with the PawSox, thanks to getting hit by a pitch – the 16th time that’s happened this season.

Boston’s 24-year-old poster boy for plate discipline hit .327 with a .487 on-base percentage with the Sea Dogs this year, but is only hitting .185 after eight games and 27 at-bats with Pawtucket.

The minor league record for consecutive games reaching base is 71, set in 1997 by former Sea Dog and current Boston first baseman Kevin Millar.

Washed-out campout back on

The Bangor Lumberjacks have rescheduled the Boy Scout Campout Night that was supposed to be held after the June 14 night game, which was rained out.

The campout will be held Saturday at Mahaney Diamond in Orono. The event allows members of the Boy Scouts of America to camp out in tents on the outfield grass of Mahaney Diamond following Bangor’s Northeast League game. More information can be obtained by calling Ryan Conley at 947-1900.

Andrew Neff can be reached at 990-8205, 1-800-310-8600, or aneff@bangordailynews.net