Published: July 25, 2007 10:52 pm      

Wooley lands in different independent league

Robbie Wooley has experienced his share of highs and lows during his professional career. This week brought another ride on the roller-coaster of emotions.

The Southern Illinois Miners of the Frontier League traded the Taylor High School product to the Sioux City Explorers of the American Association for a player to be named later. Each league is independent. Sioux City is located in western Iowa, within short proximity of Nebraska and South Dakota.

“I wasn’t really sure what to think,” Wooley said of his initial reaction to the trade. “First off, I didn’t know if I wanted to drive all the way to Sioux City, Iowa, to play baseball, but then I realized that it was a job for me and it was a starting spot. They said I was going to get a chance to pitch a lot. And, I knew there was only a month left in the season, so I went ahead and took my chances.”

The Miners informed Wooley of the trade Monday afternoon. He returned home to Kokomo that night, grabbed about five hours of sleep and then hit the road on Tuesday. He drove 101/2 hours and arrived at Lewis & Clark Explorers Park in time to make a relief appearance against the St. Joe Blacksnakes. He worked 11/3 innings to cap off a whirlwind stretch. The Blacksnakes won 5-4 in 14 innings.

“I felt very comfortable on the mound,” he said. “There were not nearly as many people in the stands [compared to Miners’ games], but the fans seem to be into the game a little more which is cool.

“I feel like I am going to have a lot of fun with this team. There are a lot of good guys on the team.”

The American Association was founded in 2005 and features 10 teams. Sioux City is joined in the North Division by St. Paul, Minn.; Sioux Falls, S.D.; Lincoln, Neb.; and St. Joe, Mo. The South Division offers Fort Worth, Texas; El Paso, Texas; Pensacola, Fla.; Shreveport, La.; and Coastal Bend in Robstown, Texas.

The Explorers led the North Division through Tuesday’s games with a 13-6 record.

“From what I’ve been told, this league is better than the Frontier League because there are older, more experienced players,” said Wooley, a former Milwaukee Brewers farmhand.

The Explorers plan on using Wooley as a starter. He is scheduled to make his first start for the club Friday against the St. Paul Saints in the second game of a three-game series at St. Paul. Wooley noted the Explorers carry fewer pitchers than his former team, which means he will have the opportunity to pitch more innings.

Wooley went 4-2 with a 3.51 ERA in 10 appearances for Southern Illinois. He worked 511/3 innings, allowed 45 hits and 33 walks and struck out 42. He earned a spot in the Frontier League all-star game, which was played on July 11 in Florence, Ky.