A year ago, Tim Rall was an unproven independent league rookie who was ignored in the marathon Major League Baseball amateur draft.

He was still waiting to pitch his first game as a pro.

This year, he has 36 innings to his credit already. He has not only jumped from independent to affiliated minor league ball, he’s on a fast track to the big leagues.

Despite his status as a left-handed starting pitcher – something scouts and pro teams covet most – and an impressive outing at the Northeast League’s tryout camp in March of 2003, Rall lasted until the seventh pick of the NEL’s free agent draft.

Bangor Lumberjacks manager Kash Beauchamp was pleasantly surprised that Rall was still available when Bangor’s turn to pick came up. He thought Rall was the best player in the camp.

Beauchamp’s impressions were right on. After going 4-0 with a 1.81 ERA and striking out 58 batters in 60 innings, Rall was bought and signed by the Seattle Mariners.

The NEL All-Star and NEL pitcher of the week bypassed rookie league and was assigned to the California League’s Inland Empire 66ers – the Mariners’ high Single A team, which is the most advanced of the three Class A designations (the others are short season and low A).

After going 2-3 with a 3.65 ERA in four starts and 10 total appearances for Inland Empire last year with 30 strikeouts and nine walks in 37 innings. Rall was promoted to Double A this season and sent to the Texas League’s San Antonio Missions. Through Sunday night, Rall was 2-1 with a 3.55 ERA and an eye-catching 36 strikeouts and just six walks in 36 1/3 innings.

The 24-year-old lefty has made 18 appearances, all in relief.

Rall had a solid career at St. Andrews Presbyterian College in North Carolina, setting school career records for most appearances (120), innings pitched (300 2/3), and strikeouts (302). He also holds the school season records for wins (11, 2001) and appearances (34, in 1999 and 2000).

I-95 becoming Major route

It’s been a good week for former Portland Sea Dogs players trying to make their mark for the Boston Red Sox.

On Saturday, May 15, Kevin Youkilis homered in his first major league game and – one week later – relief pitcher Anastacio Martinez earned a win in his major league debut.

Martinez earned the win in relief of another, more famous Martinez – Pedro (no relation) – by pitching a 1-2-3 seventh inning with the game tied 2-2. He was lifted after allowing an infield single to lead off the eighth against Toronto.

The 25-year-old Martinez and Youkilis are two of the eight Portland players who were promoted to Triple A Pawtucket this season.

Youkilis, who was billed as the poster boy for plate patience in the Boston Red Sox minor league organization last year, is living up to expectations as he is currently batting .300 with an on-base percentage of .400.

He seems to be a new Fenway favorite as chants of “Youk, Youk” could be clearly heard every time he came to the plate this past weekend.

The 25-year-old third baseman has drawn four walks and scored seven runs in six games with the Red Sox. Youkilis has started five games in place of defending American League batting champion Bill Mueller, who is sidelined with mild tendinitis in his right knee.

Martinez went 3-1 with 14 saves and a 2.25 ERA in 34 appearances for Portland last season. Youkilis batted .327 with six home runs, 37 RBIs, and 74 runs. He also drew 86 walks in 312 at-bats.

Lumberjacks take axe to roster

The Bangor Lumberjacks got one step closer to the Northeast League’s 22-man roster limit Sunday by trimming three players.

One of the more notable parings was outfielder Schuyler Doakes, one of only seven players back from the 2003 Lumberjacks’ team roster. Doakes was traded to the league’s travelling fill-in team known as the Aces, who are filling the gap created in the league when the Allentown Ambassadors abruptly folded and ceased operations last month. Bangor will receive future considerations for Doakes.

The other two players cut were outfielder Hector Nunez, the first overall pick of the NEL 2004 tryout camp draft, and infielder Lance Woodcock, who was placed on the inactive list so he could attend to undisclosed family concerns.

The roster changes come on the heels of the release of Jay native Edwin Thompson, another 2003 Lumberjacks holdover, and fellow outfielder L.J. DeMaino last week.

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