Nathan Ball, a 20-year-old lefty from Northeast Texas University, will start Saturday for the Bobcats in the second contest of a three-game set at Tradewater. Ball was called on to take the mound after Jared Long was injured in an automobile accident Thursday night with teammate Ethan Utley and his father, assistant coach Perry Utley.Long was placed on injured reserve and will likely miss half of the 2009 season with a broken collarbone.
Ball will face fellow southpaw Ryan Rogers in his first start for the Pirates.
