April 30

Saturday morning in Quarryville for lunch with Jenny, in the afternoon she and Helen were along for game #2 against Portland. The R-Phils made it two straight over the Sea Dogs with an economical 5-2 win. Only one of the runs scored on a base hit, Matt Rizzotti had that RBI and a second "ribbie" on a groundout. Tuffy Gosewisch had an RBI groundout as well and Cody Overbeck added a run-scoring sacrifice fly, the last run scored on a wild pitch. The club had only six hits on the night but managed to get it done. J.C. Ramirez worked six innings for the victory, Justin De Fratus picked up the save. It was a comfortable night, 67 degrees at 6:05 game time. Better than 8000 in the park for the first fireworks night of the season but as is my wont we were out of there and gone as soon as my work was done. With a 1:05 game coming on Sunday that commodity called sleep is very valuable. Take care, thanks for reading.

April 29

Friday afternoon on the road north to Baseballtown as the ballclub hosted Portland in the opener of the weekend series. It was cloudy and somewhat chillier than it has been lately, there was a brief rain shower just as I was coming into Reading. At game time it was 58 degrees with a sharp 13MPH wind from left to right. The R-Phils won it 2-0, Cody Overbeck had a sacrifice fly RBI in the first inning and Tuffy Gosewisch hit a solo home run in the fifth. Josh Zeid was the winning pitcher as he, Mike Cisco and Phillippe Aumont combined on the shutout effort. We had better than 6100 in the park for Irish Heritage Night, it was billed as St. Patricks Day in April. The game was rapidly played, we started at 7:05 and ended at 9:15 (we'll take that any day). The series continues on Saturday night and Sunday afternoon, on Monday the New Hampshire Fisher Cats visit for a four-game set. Take care, thanks for reading.

April 27-28

The phone rang at 11:00 Wednesday morning, it was our dear friend Mazi. One of her newborn puppies was very sick and had to be taken to the veterinarian. After an examination and x-rays it was determined that the problem was a good old-fashioned case of indigestion. Apparently the dog simply overate and wasn't digesting it properly, the vet hydrated it's system and from what I'm told all is OK now. Mazi was worried to the point of tears but I guess all's well that ends well. In the evening we played street hockey at the rink, the East Division was scheduled. All day long the forecast was for strong storms, it began to rain during the second game. We managed to finish it in good order but the third game of the night was postponed. Ron and Bebop refereed, Brienna ran the clock. The rain hung around overnight, on Thursday morning it was pouring. Jenny had an appointment in the city at 9:00 and in Willow Street at 12:00, she brought the access van in from Quarryville. I met her at 10:00 and between the raindrops and the wind we killed some time and had lunch before heading to Willow Street, I took her home after her appointment there. In the afternoon the weather cleared up and we were good to go at the rink. We finished up the third week of the season as the West Division played, Don and Derek officiated with Wally on the clock. On Sunday the 1st we'll play a full day of games starting at 4:00 to make up for starting a week later than planned. I won't be there (at least at the start) because the R-Phils are at home, we open a homestand on Friday as the Portland Seas Dogs come to town. Take care, thanks for reading.

April 25-26

It's only the latter part of April but daytime highs approached 80 on Monday afternoon. In the evening we got the third week of street hockey underway at the rink, it was an East Division night with three games on the docket. Ronnie and Bebop officiated, Wally ran the clock. One of the games got somewhat testy as some of the guys in our league with higher IQ's (that's Idiot Quotient) were matched against each other. Between our league and sitting at ice level between the penalty boxes at Royals games I've heard some of the most creative and unrepeatable language you might imagine. The warm weather continued Tuesday, in the evening we were back at the rink for our first split night of the season. This was actually the third one scheduled but the first that actually came off as planned. On the 12th we were rained out completely, on the 19th the last game of the night was postponed by rain. On this night the West Division played its three games followed by an East game at 8:45. Every Monday and Wednesday there's one team in the East that doesn't play, we match those teams together on Tuesday so all seven teams play twice a week. We started at the usual 6:15 and were done shortly after 9:30, I was home before 10:00 (not bad at all for a four-game night). Don and Derek refereed, Devyn ran the clock. The weather is supposed to cool down by the weekend. Take care, thanks for reading.

April 22-24

As predicted the weekend was relatively quiet although Saturday proved to be busier than expected. The Royals' playoff run ended on Friday in Kalamazoo as the K-Wings took the series in four straight games, the final three by identical scores of 5-4. On Saturday morning Don Tankesley called, he wanted to confirm that Jenny and I were free in the evening. Every year the street hockey league staff gets together for dinner at a local eatery, in 2010 it was early in January but this year it's been difficult to organize because of personal schedules. On this day the stars aligned perfectly as everyone invited was available to attend. There were fourteen of us altogether, Don and wife Brenda were there with grandson Logan (he'll be two in July), daughter Brienna, Derek and fiancee Kathy plus Devyn and his girlfriend. Ron and his wife Jody were there as well as Wally and brother Dave and of course Jenny and me. This is the third consecutive year we've eaten at the same restaurant, the food was as good as always. The league schedule continues on Monday, with the end of ECHL hockey for the season I'll be at the rink all four nights this week. The R-Phils return home on Friday for the start of a seven-day homestand. Take care, thanks for reading.

April 21

Headed to Quarryville in the morning to see Jenny and find out what was going on. She had a 12:30 appointment at the physical therapist and a 3:00 x-ray at the health clinic. We had lunch at the pizza parlor beforehand, she didn't seem to be having any trouble walking but she said it hurt. The therapist said it was a sprain and the health clinic agreed although the x-ray results are still forthcoming. She'll keep it wrapped for the time being until she gets further instruction. In the evening at the rink for street hockey as we wrapped up the second week of the season. This was my first look at the West Division, the six teams in that division play on Tuesday and Thursday. Don and middle son Derek refereed, youngest son Devyn ran the clock. Another good in-and-out night, we were done right around 9:00. The weekend ahead shapes up to be quiet, with no ballgames or hockey anywhere there will be little going on. Take care, thanks for reading.

April 20

The day started cloudy and chilly but it warmed into the 70s in the afternoon. In the evening we were at Reservoir Park for the first time in a week. This was an East Division night, six of the seven teams were in action. Ron worked all three games, the first with Bebop (Don's sons' team was playing) and the last two with Don. Brienna was there to run the clock. The night came and went with no issues, I was done and home shortly after 9:00. Talked to Jenny on the phone, she told me she had fallen at home and turned her left ankle. She has an appointment for it to be examined on Thursday, since I was going to visit anyway for lunch we'll see what I can do to help. There is little else going on Thursday besides street hockey so I can afford to hang around in Quarryville if need be. We'll see what the day brings. Take care, thanks for reading.

April 19

It started raining overnight into Tuesday morning, by 2:30 in the afternoon it was pouring. I called Tommy Viola (R-Phils PR Director), he said the game was still on so I made my way north on the thirty-three mile drive to the ballpark. It continued to rain until about an hour before game time, the field tarp was removed and we started right on time at 6:35. It was not a particularly good night for a game but in pro sports the general thought is if you can play you play. We had some misty rain in the middle innings but played through it, the game ended around 9:45. On this night the R-Phils came out on the good side with an 8-6 win over Erie. Cody Overbeck had another big game with a double, a home run and four RBI. Outfielder Steven Susdorf hit a two-run homer and Matt Rizzotti added an RBI single. Mike Cisco won it in relief of starter Ryan Edell, Justin DeFratus picked up the save. In the early part of the season it's not unusual for the crowds to be small on weeknights especially when there's no special promotion scheduled. This was one of those nights and with the weather factored in the attendance was uncommonly small, there were only 1300 or so who ventured out to brave the elements in Baseballtown. After an off-day on Wednesday the boys hit the road to Akron and Erie, we're back home on Friday the 29th when the Portland Sea Dogs come to town. Take care, thanks for reading.

April 18

Monday: in Baseballtown as the opening homestand continues, the Erie Seawolves were the opponent. The R-Phils' three-game win streak ended on this night with a 5-1 loss. The 'Wolves took an early 1-0 lead before Tuffy Gosewisch's RBI double in the sixth inning drew the Phillies even. In the ninth the club fell apart defensively as Erie took advantage of three fielding errors to score four unearned runs to claim the victory. Starting pitcher Austin Hyatt worked the first six innings but wasn't involved in the decision as Phillippe Aumont took the tough-luck loss in relief. A little over 2400 in the park, not unusual for a April weeknight non-promotion home date. One other thing of note on this night: would you believe ANOTHER broken press box window? This time it was in the booth used for television broadcasts (which fortunately was empty because this game wasn't televised). Three broken windows in four home dates thus far and the only one that wasn't completely shattered was mine. I guess I must live right or something, I have no other explanation. We'll be back at the ballpark one final time on Tuesday as the series with Erie concludes. Take care, thanks for reading.

April 17

The Saturday rain moved out overnight, Sunday was chilly and windy. At the ballpark in the afternoon for the doubleheader with Akron, we got underway at the regular hour of 1:05. It was 56 degrees at game time with the wind gusting to right field at 24 miles per hour. In game #1 Cody Overbeck hit a two-run homer, Harold Garcia added a two-run shot of his own and Freddy Galvis scored on a steal of home plate to spark the R-Phils to a 5-2 win. J.C. Ramirez won it with relief help from Chance Chapman. In the second game things started with a bang as a foul ball came straight back and broke the window of my booth in the press box. That's the second one already this year, we had a window broken elsewhere in the press box on opening night as well. The club fell behind early 4-0 but Overbeck went yard again with two men on base and Derrick Mitchell hit a solo homer to pull things even. In extra innings Michael Spidale singled home Mitchell with the winning run as the club won 5-4 to sweep the doubleheader and run their mark to 8-3, Justin De Fratus picked up the win in relief. The game ended shortly before 6:00 so all in all things moved well. Sundays are kids' days at the ballpark with special activities for youngsters, attendance on this day was better than 7000. The homestand continues with the Erie Seawolves coming to town on Monday for a two-game set. Take care, thanks for reading.

April 16

The weather forecast for Saturday was right on, the rain moved in early in the morning and stayed most of the day. After lunch in Quarryville Jenny and Helen came back to the city with me for the start of an unusual day in Reading. At 2:15 I got a call from Mark Wallace (Royals GM), he said they had arranged for longtime Hershey PA announcer Don Scott to sit in for me since I was supposed to be absent. Waldo said it was decided to allow Don to work the hockey game even if the ballgame was postponed because he took time from his schedule to help us out. I understood the logic completely and had no problem with it because I'm not the type to say "OK I'm here now, you can leave" and besides Don is a friend of mine. Shortly after that I got word that the ballgame was indeed postponed, it was rescheduled immediately as a doubleheader for Sunday afternoon at 1:05. That news afforded us the luxury of relaxing for an extra hour or so before heading to the Sovereign Center for the hockey game. I went through my usual paces before the game even though I wasn't working, I saw Don and helped him out with a few questions he had. During the game I sat up on suite level with Jenny and Helen trying hard to keep a low profile. The game itself was another struggle for the Royals as they lost 5-4, Kalamazoo jumped out to a quick 3-0 first-period lead and were never headed. The series now moves to K-Zoo for three games, the boys must win at least two of them to stay alive and bring it back to Reading on April 26. We'll just keep the fingers crossed and hope for the best. Take care, thanks for reading.

April 15

Friday afternoon: with Jenny on 222 north to Reading and game #2 of the opening homestand. The R-Phils picked up their first home win with a 9-5 verdict over Akron. The club took an early 4-0 lead only to see the Aeros surge ahead 5-4. A sixth-inning run evened the score, a four-run seventh put it away. Thirdbaseman Carlos Rivero had a double, a home run and four RBI, Matt Rizzotti had three hits including a double and a home run. The club also got run-scoring hits from Harold Garcia and outfielder Derrick Mitchell, Freddy Galvis picked up a "ribbie" with a sacrifice bunt. Winning pitcher Mike Cisco pitched four shutout innings in relief of starter Chris Kissock. 6500 in attendance on a night much cooler than Thursday, 55 degrees at game time with a sharp 12-MPH wind blowing from right to left field. The series continues on Saturday with a 6:05 game but the weather forecast is not encouraging, there is an almost 100% chance of rain most of the day. Jenny and Helen are coming along, if the ballgame doesn't come off we'll head downtown for the Royals game at 7:05. Whether or not I would work that game would depend on when or if we get there, one of the off-ice officials is sitting in for me and if he starts it he is welcome to finish it as far as I'm concerned (my ego doesn't work that way). The Royals played the opener of their series with Kalamazoo on this night at the Sovereign Center and it did not go well as the K-Wings won 8-3. Saturday's game is a big one as the club looks to even it up before heading out to Michigan for the next three. It's playoff season, the only thing for sure is nothing's for sure. Take care, thanks for reading.

April 14

Jenny was in Willow Street in the morning for an appointment, we had lunch in Quarryville afterward. Later in the afternoon I headed for Reading AKA "Baseballtown" for the R-Phils' home opener. I arrived around 3:30 or so, the crowd was already lined up for the 4:00 gate opening. For most of the fans this was their first look at the renovations done over the off-season and by all accounts the response was overwhelmingly positive. The pregame festivities were typical of an opening night with all the pomp and circumstance as we celebrated "The Rebirth Of America's Classic Ballpark". Unfortunately the pregame activities were the high point of the night as the visiting Akron Aeros won the game 5-0. It was scoreless after seven innings as Phillies starting pitcher Ryan Edell kept the club in it but the Aeros broke through in the eighth against the bullpen and won it going away. The R-Phils could muster only two base hits, a single by Freddy Galvis and a double from Matt Rizzotti. Better than 8200 in the park on a mild April evening, it was 63 degrees at game time. We started a few minutes later than the normal 7:05 but we were still done by 9:45 so at least the game went relatively quickly. The series continues through Sunday, on Monday the Eries Seawolves come in for a two-game set. Take care, thanks for reading.

April 13

The rain hung around overnight into Wednesday afternoon, for awhile it was doubtful for street hockey in the evening. In the latter part of the afternoon the rain stopped, the sky brightened up and according the radar the rain was largely out of the area. I talked to Don around 4:50 or so, we agreed all systems were go for 6:15 at the rink. It was another East Division night, Don and Ron refereed while Don's daughter Brienna was there to run the clock. It was Wally's night to work but he called earlier in the day and said he wasn't feeling well so Bri worked on an emergency basis. Don's three sons are playing this season as teammates but on this night their team was off so Don officiated the full evening. Now that all three of his sons are playing Don wants to avoid working their games so there can be no charges of favoritism and one can certainly see his point. Just as the last game was ending at 9:00 it began to mist lightly but it was no factor at all, I was home and dry by 9:15. Thursday night's games will wrap up the first week of league play as the rain-delayed West Division finally gets to start its season. Ron will supervising in my stead as I will be in Berks County for the Reading Phillies' home opener and the start of the franchise's forty-fifth year as the Philadelphia Phillies' "AA" affiliate. The ballclub played their first seven games on the road and went 5-2, hopefully they find the home cooking equally to their liking. Take care, thanks for reading.

April 11-12

The usual Monday morning errand run got the new week started, in the evening we were at Reservoir Park on East King Street for the opening night of the Spring street hockey league. We have thirteen teams playing in two divisions, on this night the East Division played. There are seven teams in the East, their schedule features three games each Monday and Wednesday plus a single game on Tuesdays allowing each team to play twice a week. The rumored precipitation never materialized until 8:00, we played a good part of the last game in a steady rain but got it all in. We started at 6:15 and were done by 9:00 despite the weather. Wally Burkholder was there to run the clock, Ron Mongeau and Robert Bloom were the referees. Robert is best known as "Bebop", he has played in the league for many years and has officiated before, he'll be working on a regular basis this season. Tuesday was a complete washout, the Monday rain hung around into the evening and forced postponement of the West Division's openers. The weather is expected to improve sometime on Wednesday, I guess we'll see how our luck runs. Take care, thanks for reading.

April 8-10

Quiet weekend for the most part, Friday was a rainy day. Stopped by the hockey rink on Saturday morning to test the scoreboard clock for the new season, from there I was in Q-ville for a visit and lunch with Jenny. Good news on the ECHL front as the Royals finished off the series with Cincinnati, they won both games in Cincinnati on the weekend to seal the deal. They won the third game 3-0 behind Matt Dalton's shutout effort and took game four when Ryan Cruthers scored the series-clinching goal in double overtime (deja vu). After losing in the playoffs to the Cyclones in two of the last three years this is a great victory for the club, it eliminates an old antagonist and exorcises a few demons as well. The team moves on to the Eastern Conference semifinals and a best-of-seven matchup with the Kalamazoo Wings. The K-Wings were only a rumor in Reading this season-although they are a conference opponent they never played at the Sovereign Center, both games in the season series were in Kalamazoo. There are many things about the ECHL schedule that make little sense and that was one of them right there. The Royals met the K-Wings in a first-round series in 2010, the deciding game went into OT at the Sovereign Center as Andrew Sarauer scored the GWG. This upcoming series begins in Reading on the 15th and 16th (bad for me both nights because of baseball), the middle three are in K-Zoo. If it goes beyond that we're back at home on the 26th and 27th (no baseball). Street hockey season starts on Monday, they are calling for rain during the day. Take care, thanks for reading.

April 6-7

Jenny was in town on Wednesday on business, in the afternoon we back on the "triple-deuce" for game #2 at the Sovereign Center. The Royals won in double-overtime 5-4 to even the series at a game apiece. There were parts of this game that were very similar to Tuesday although in somewhat reverse order. In game one the Royals held an early 2-0 lead before giving up five straight goals, on this night the club fell behind early but led 4-2 in the third period before Cincinnati struck twice to tie it and force overtime. In the first twenty-minute extra session both team had their chances but the goalies were better, it finally ended eight minutes into OT period #2 when Ben Gordon controlled a deflected shot attempt and rammed it home for the game-winner to the delight of the Reading faithful. Olivier Labelle (two goals), Ryan Cruthers and Yannick Riendeau scored in regulation, Matt Dalton was the winning goaltender. In 2008 we had a playoff game with Elmira at the Sovereign Center that also went two overtimes, on that night the game went thirty-two minutes into OT before the Royals' Kevin Saurette ended it. With this win the club draws even at 1-1, they now head to Cincinnati for the next two games of what has become a best-of-three series. If they split as they did in Reading the deciding game is at the Sovereign Center on Monday the 11th. Needless to say it was a long night, the game started at 7:05 and ended at 10:45. Not much going on Thursday besides lunch with Jenny. The Eastern League season started on Thursday evening, the Reading Phillies play the first seven days on the road before the home opener on the 14th. The R-Phils' roster was released on Monday, eighteen of the twenty-four active players have played in Baseballtown previously. Among the returnees are pitchers Phillippe Aumont, Tyson Brummett, Chance Chapman, Mike Cisco, Justin De Fratus, Austin Hyatt, Chris Kissock, J. C. Ramirez and B. J. Rosenberg, catcher Tuffy Gosewisch, infielders Freddy Galvis, Harold Garcia, Fidel Hernandez, Cody Overbeck and Matt Rizzotti plus outfielder Michael Spidale. We'll see how it all comes together on the road trip. Take care, thanks for reading.

April 4-5

Warm day on Monday, the daytime highs were in the 70s. Met with Don Tankesley at his place in the evening, we firmed up the format and divisional alignment for the Spring street hockey league. All the details are available at www.lancasterdekhockey.blogspot.com, we get started on Monday the 11th. It rained heavily overnight into Tuesday, in the morning I dropped off the league schedules with Don's wife Brenda (she works in the city not too far from where I live). After lunch it was south to Quarryville for Jenny, later in the afternoon it was north to Reading for the Royals' playoff opener with Cincinnati. This is a best-of-five Eastern Conference Quarterfinal series, game #1 started nicely for the Home Team as Matt Caruana and Chris Blight scored early on to give the Royals a 2-0 lead. For the first seventeen minutes the Royals were in total control, over the last forty-three it was all Cyclones with a vengeance as five unanswered goals sealed a 5-2 Cincinnati win. Matt Dalton was the goalie of record for the Royals as the club falls behind one game to none in the series, game #2 is on Wednesday night at the Sovereign Center. Needless to say it is a huge game, a Royals win would even up the series while the Cyclones could take a stranglehold on things with a win (although we all saw last year that a stranglehold can be broken under the right conditions). We'll see what happens on Wednesday. Take care, thanks for reading.

March 31-April 3

It was raining on Thursday morning (it actually started late Wednesday night as we were driving back from Reading), there was a dusting of snow on the ground in Quarryville. Not much going on that day or Friday outside of lunch dates with Jenny. Major league baseball got underway on Friday, both the Phillies and the Orioles recorded opening-day wins. On Saturday morning Jenny and her mother were along for a full day in Berks County, first stop was the ballpark for the annual walk-through day. FirstEnergy Stadium underwent a ten-million dollar renovation over the winter, the work is almost done and should be complete by opening night on April 14th. Our ballpark has been around since 1951 and the renovations are certainly for the better, I doubt anyone will be disappointed. Every year we have this walk-through day where we practice the various games and contests we do in-between innings. I've been doing it for years, it's more for the benefit of our front office interns because it's all new to them but it doesn't hurt me to get back into the groove either. In the evening we were downtown as the Royals wrapped up the regular season schedule, after a Friday win in Trenton the boys lost the back end of the home-and-home as the T-Devs took it 5-2. Yannick Riendeau and Olivier Labelle scored for the Royals, Daren Machesney took the loss in net. We had a sellout crowd of better than 7100 on hand for Fan Appreciation Night, before the game the team awards were announced. Ben Gordon was team MVP while Andrew Sarauer led the club in scoring with 67 points (25 goals, 42 assists), he and Chris Blight tied for the club lead with 25 goals each. The final record was 44-23-5 (22-11-3 at home), good enough for a division title and the #2 seed in the conference playoffs. The boys will face the #7 seed Cincinnati Cyclones in the first round (it's a best three-of-five series), the first two games are at the Sovereign Center on Tuesday the 5th and Wednesday the 6th. The teams met four times during the season, the Royals won three of them but all three were in overtime or shootout. These two clubs have a playoff history, they met in '08 in a best-of-seven in which Cincinnati came back from a 3-2 deficit to win the series. In 2010 the teams met again and no Royals fan needs to be reminded of what happened in that series. What may occur this time around is anyone's guess, we'll find out starting Tuesday. Take care, thanks for reading.