By MICHAEL RADANO
Courier-Post Staff
CAMDEN

For the Camden Riversharks all the losses are the same. Only the names will change.

Wednesday, the Sharks lost for the 10th time 11 games, this an 8-4 afternoon defeat by Nashua in front of 5,429 at Campbell's Field. Starter Anthony Briggs allowed five runs on 10 hits over the first four innings and reliever Rod Bolton allowed the final two over two innings of relief as the Sharks continue to struggle.

But the big news of the day was the trade of Kim Batiste.

Once considered the cornerstone of the new franchise, the Sharks officially cut their ties with third baseman Kim Batiste on Wednesday morning. In a swap with Nashua, the Sharks receive starting pitcher Mike Busby in return for the Sharks former captain.

"I don't have any comment," said Batiste, who debated joining Nashua when the trade first came down Tuesday night. After a night to think about it he decided to join the Pride.

Originally, Jacob Brumfield was also in the trade talk but he refused to report to the Pride. Unless his rights are traded, he remains the property of the Sharks. He is on the suspended list.

"I'm not sure of the situation with Jacob if he's coming or not," Nashua manager Butch Hobson said. "I've known Jake for a long time. He's a quality person and a quality outfielder. Hopefully he does."

Batiste was a disappointment from the outset. The former Phillie hit .246 in 65 games and missed most of the last month with an injury to his left leg. He managed a lone home run and 26 RBIs in just over three months. On the field his play at third was solid if not spectacular.

In Busby, the Sharks get much-needed innings.

A 28-year-old right-hander, Busby is 6-9 this year with an ERA just over six in 104 innings. The move allows the Sharks to move Jeff Love back to his setup/long relief roll. Love has been a solid 4-4 as a starter.

The moves come one day after the Sharks released pitcher Frankie Sanders and completed a trade with Newark that sent pitcher Silvio Censale to the Bears for pitcher Steve Reed.

Reed's minor-league totals are 30-32 with a 5.38 ERA. He threw two innings Wednesday and allowed only one runner.

The Sharks also received some good news, as Gil Martinez, who hit .311 in his month and a half with the team at the start of the season, will give the top of the lineup a much- needed boost.

"When he was here he looked real good," first baseman Dan Held said. "My only concern is that he's not rusty. Other than that he's a great bat to add to the lineup."

To compound problems the Sharks went up against Lenin Picota, who allowed four runs over seven innings to pick up his league-high 11th win.

The Sharks scored three runs in the third to take a 4-3 lead but Picota settled down after that and allowed only one hit after Guillermo Garcia's two-run single that gave the Sharks their final lead of the afternoon.

Nashua (47-45 overall, 17-12 half) scored in six of the nine innings. D.J. Boston led the attack as he went 4-for-5 with a pair of doubles, two runs scored and an RBI. He had help as Jose Malave went 2-for-5 with a double and a solo home run in the sixth.

The Sharks (33-59, 9-20) started off the day well as Haddon Township graduate Brad Strauss hit a home run on the first pitch in the bottom of the first to tie the game at 1- 1. Unfortunately, and this has been true all year, it wasn' t enough. The Sharks have shown an inability to come from behind as they lost for the 48th in 49 games in which they trailed going into the ninth.

"You have a chance to (make a run)," Sharks manager Wayne Krenchicki said. "But you have to put a streak together. Unless you get a run of eight, nine or 10 games in a row to do it. If the starting pitching can't go out and contain the other offenses we don't have a chance."

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