CLARINDA A's ARE NBC CENTRAL USA REGIONAL CHAMPIONS - the team, with Manager Ryan Eberly (with plaque) and A's board president Gary Ulmer (far left) are pictured after their 7-4 win over the Chillicothe Mudcats.

It took two games Monday evening for the A's to take the title. Going into the championship game undefeated, they lost the first game 15-5 and had to come from a 3-0 deficit to win the double elimination tournament.

Winning the NBC Central USA Regional sends the A's the Wichita, KS for the National Baseball Congress World Series which begins August 1. Clarinda will play its first game of the NBC World Series on Tuesday August 5th with game time yet to be determined.

The Clarinda A's will again host the 2008 Central USA Central Regional Tournament which will run from Friday, July 25 through Monday, July 28.

Participating in this year's event are the A's, Chillicothe Mudcats, FCA Grays, Omaha Diamond Spirit and Omaha D J's Dugout. Beatrice Bruins, last year's defending champion will not participate as they have already qualified for the NBC World Series in Wichita by winning the MINK League.

Winner of the regional tournament will advance to the World Series which runs August 1-15.

FORMER A's PITCHER SIGNS WITH CUBS

Andrew Cashner who pitched for the A's in the seasons of 2006 and 2007 has signed a contract with the Chicago Cubs. They reached an agreement July 10 and he received a 1.54 million dollar signing bonus plus $75,000 for future college expenses and an invitation to 2009 major league spring training. Cashner was the Cubs first round draft selection and the 19th pick overall in the June draft...

Due to the district and sub-state high school tournament being held in Clarinda starting July 5, the usual Baseball Day schedule had to be changed...

A's new bus was on display Wednesday, June 25 as the Hy-Vee and Page County Cattlemen set up for the cookout fund raiser prior to the A's game...

2008 CLARINDA IOWA A's

Front row (l to r) - Michael Ghutzman, Stephen Szkotak; Keith Hustedt, Ryan Peterson, batboy J J Clark, Jake Rowell, John Fugazi, Marc Mericle.

2nd row (l to r) -Marsalis Charles, Josh Krummel, Reese McCully, Mgr. Ryan Eberly, Stewart Davis , Dustin Lloyd, Zack Taylor

3rd row (l to r) - Brian Justice, Leroy Urbina, Elroy Urbina, Johnny Brummett, Alex Johnson , Brent McKinnon, Brandon Mikkelson,

Back row (l to r) -Jack Wortley, Adam Shupe, Leo Garcia, Chad McLin, Taylor Reid, David Small

Help continues to come in for the A's following the loss of the bus, all their equipment and uniforms June 1st. Elroy Urbina, Jake Rowell, Dustin Lloyd and Stephen Szkotak are pictured opening just two of the boxes received Wednesday, June 18 from the Philadelphia Phillies. The organization sent bats, balls, batting helmets and catcher's gear. Although not yet confirmed, the A's feel certain that Jerry Lafferty and Mike Arbuckle are responsible for this gift. Both have been friends of the A's program since their days as scouts and are now regional scout and scouting director for the Phillies...

A's ARE BACK ON THE ROAD

Tuesday, June 23 the team loaded up on the newly acquired bus to head to Beatrice for a MINK League game.

Blue Goose IV was a 1983 New Jersey transit bus, with Goose V being a 1994 Greyhound...