Erie native Tim Federowicz saw his 2012 baseball season conclude when the Albuquerque Isotopes were eliminated by the Omaha Storm Chasers in the first round of the Pacific Coast League playoffs.

Federowicz is a catcher for the Isotopes, the Triple-A affiliate of the Los Angeles Dodgers, while Omaha, the defending league champion, is in the Kansas City Royals’ chain.

Federowicz, 25, finished second in RBIs (76) for Albuquerque. He hit .294 in his first full season in the Dodgers’ system.

– Mike Copper

Wednesday saw wild-card qualifiers Reading and Bowie claim the first games of their respective Eastern League playoff series by the same score.

Reading, aided by solo home runs from Jake Fox, Tommy Joseph and Leandro Castro, doubled up the Eastern Division champion Trenton Thunder 4-2 in their best-of-five opener at FirstEnergy Stadium.

Bowie also beat Western Division winner Akron by that same final at Prince George’s Stadium. Rhyne Hughes, Ty Kelly and Ronnie Welty each homered for the Baysox.

The series continue Thursday at those same sites.

– Mike Copper

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An unforgettable game by Tony Plagman wasn’t enough to end a forgettable losing streak for the Erie SeaWolves.

Plagman poked two home runs, just missed a third, and totaled four hits and four RBIs against Harrisburg pitching Sunday afternoon. But the slugger still couldn’t produce enough offense to help the SeaWolves end their seven-game losing streak.

Harrisburg’s 8-6 victory over Erie at Jerry Uht Park reduced the SeaWolves’ playoff elimination number to one. At 53-73, they’re 14½ games behind second-place Bowie for the Eastern League’s Western Division wild-card berth.

– Mike Copper

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Starting lineups for Friday’s Eastern League game between the New Britain Rock Cats and the Erie SeaWolves at Jerry Uht Park:

New Britain Rock Cats (32-26): 1. Estarlin De Los Santos 2B, 2. Chris Herrmann LF, 3. Rene Tosoni RF, 4. Chris Colabello 1B, 5. Matt Rizzotti DH, 6. Deibinson Romero 3B, 7. James Beresford SS, 8. Mark Dolenc CF, 9. Danny Lehmann C.

Starting pitcher: Aaron Thompson LH (0-1, 6.75 ERA).

Erie SeaWolves (28-30): 1. Jamie Johnson CF, 2. Brandon Douglas SS, 3. Nick Castellanos 3B, 4. Jordan Lennerton 1B, 5. Rawley Bishop LF, 6. Bryan Pounds DH, 7. James McCann C, 8. Corey Jones 2B, 9. Michael Rockett RF.

Starting pitcher: James Avery RH (5-5, 3.57 ERA).

– Mike Copper

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