I’m not sure if it has ever happened, but if it hasn’t, it has now.

Eastern Ohio currently has three players in Major League Baseball – and all three saw action last weekend.

St. Clairsville’s Jeremy Sowers was the starting pitcher for the Cleveland Indians; Dustin Nippert, a Beallsville alum, saw relief action for the Texas Rangers; and Steubenville product Paul Hoover had a single in three trips to the plate for Florida.

I know the Ohio Valley has had its share of professional baseball players, but have three played on the same day?

SOWERS, a lefty who has struggled mightily, got a no decision in the Tribe’s 5-2 triumph over Tampa Bay, which knocked the surprising Rays out of first place in the A.L. East.

The Vanderbilt University product only hurled four innings, yielding just three hits and two earned runs. He struck out a career-high eight batters, but allowed seven walks – also a career-high.

The score was tied at 2-all when he departed.

After going 7-4 in an impressive 2006 MLB debut, Sowers, who attended high school in Kentucky, has found the going rather tough as he has only won one of his last 23 starts!

Despite his recent struggles, Cleveland manager Eric Wedge is encouraged by the way the 6-ft.-1, 180-pounder has pitched in his last two outings.

NIPPERT, who recently authored a seven-inning no-hitter for Class AAA Oklahoma City, was called out of the bullpen to replace starter Matt Harrison who couldn’t get out of the third inning of an eventual 12-11 win over the Chicago White Sox.

The 6-ft.-8 former Blue Devil and WVU ace worked 2 2/3 innings, giving up seven hits, but only allowed one run – it being earned. He fanned one and issued a pair of base-on-balls.

Nippert started his professional career with the Arizona Diamondbacks, but was traded to Texas March 28. He had a rough start to this season, prompting a demotion to Triple-A. He then spent time on the disabled list before being activated two weeks ago.

HOOVER, who might be the most obscure of the trio, has been up-and-down most of his career, but is finally getting a shot due to an injury to Marlins’ starting backstop Matt Trainor.

The Kent State University product has played for the defunct Montreal Expos (now the Washington Nationals), Tampa Bay and Florida. He has played in 26 MLB games with a career batting average of .243 (17-70). He has scored four runs, rapped one double and knocked in five runs.

The 6-ft.-1, 200-pounder was initially drafted in the 64th round of the 1994 amateur draft by the Houston Astros, but did not sign and opted for college. He eventually signed with the Rays after being selected in the 23rd round of the 1997 draft.

Hopefully this won’t be the last time that the threesome sees action on the same day, but if it is, they will always have something to remember.

ANINA Quaranto recently graduated from Chaminade University in Honolulu.

Her mother, Donna (Zacchini) Quaranto is a graduate of Bellaire High School and The Ohio State University.

Anina was a four-year softball performer at Chaminade and played against the U.S. Olympic team. She also plays for a summer travelling team out of Toledo.

Her grandparents are Romulo and Nina Zacchini. Her aunts and uncles include Mary Jo and Steve Kurko and Linda and John Marinacci, all of Bellaire.

North can be reached at knorth@timesleaderonline.com