March 20

Got an e-mail on Saturday night from Phil Zangari, an old friend and street hockey colleague. He's the commissioner of an area APBA Baseball league, they were holding their annual free agent draft on Sunday afternoon. This league began way back in 1978, I was a charter member but it's been many years since I played. I attend the draft each year if I'm available, I help out with the record-keeping so the proceedings move at a good pace. After thirty-four years there are only three charter members of the league still playing (Phil, Woody Kleinhaus and Tom Doran) but I know almost everyone else in the current group as well. The draft got started around 1:30 or so, we were done by 4:30. Saw on the internet where the Royals won in Elmira on Sunday 2-0. According to the boxscore the game was relatively calm, there were only ten penalties called (all minors) as several of the Saturday troublemakers were not in uniform. The win is noteworthy as it clinches first place in the Atlantic Division and guarantees the club a top-three playoff berth. It is the second regular-season division title the organization has won, the 2005 Royals finished first as well. The boys travel south for a four-game swing later this week, the next home game is Wednesday the 30th. Take care, thanks for reading.