May 27-31

The holiday weekend was very slow and uneventful, visits and lunch with Jenny on Saturday and Monday were almost literally all that happened. I've always considered Memorial Day weekend to be the start of summer and the temperatures were indicative of that, it was in the 80s over the weekend and close to 90 on Monday. On Tuesday it was just as warm if not warmer, Jenny was with me as we started a three-game set in Reading against the Akron Aeros. Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Shane Victorino was in town on major league rehab, he's been on the disabled list in Philadelphia with a leg injury. After splitting four games in Erie over the weekend the R-Phils won on this night at home by a score of 4-2. Matt Rizzotti hit a two-run home run, Carlos Rivero added a solo homer in support of winning pitcher B.J. Rosenberg. Chris Kissock, Les Walrond and Just De Fratus worked in relief, De Fratus picked up the save. For the record Victorino was hitless in four at-bats but he moved very well in the field and played a strong game defensively, given the nature of his injury that's encouraging. The plan for now is for him to play all three games of this series with the possibility of being activated in Philadelphia by the weekend so we'll hope for the very best. The series continues on Wednesday with a 2:05 afternoon game followed by the annual morning game on Thursday at 9:35 (that's AM as in ante meridiem). Take care, thanks for reading.

May 26

On the road early for Baseballtown, we had our final school kids' day game of the season. It was 78 degrees at 11:05 game time and it only got warmer as the day wore on. We had over 8000 in attendance, at least 7000 were school kids. The ballclub lost its fourth consecutive game as Trenton finished off the series sweep with a 3-1 win. The only R-Phils run came in the ninth inning when Freddy Galvis doubled and scored on an RBI hit by Stephen Susdorf, B. J. Rosenberg started and took the loss. The ballclub's record stands at 24-21 (just 10-13 at home), the boys will spend the next four days on the road before returning home on the last day of the month. After a brief rest and supper at home we headed to the rink for four games of street hockey. During the afternoon we heard reports of major storms in the western half of the state, I guess we were hoping to through the night unscathed. It didn't happen. During the latter part of the second game it got very dark in the western sky and the wind shifted, during the first period of the third game the storm hit. It was quick-moving but the damage was done, that game and the 8:45 contest were postponed. The league continues on May 31 (no games on Memorial Day), with good fortune playoffs should start the following week. With the holiday weekend on the horizon there will be little going on the next four days, it will be a good opportunity to catch our breath and recharge the system. Take care, thanks for reading.

May 25

Another warm day with temperatures in the 80s but (more importantly) no rain. Back at the ballpark in the evening for the second game of the series with Trenton, the R-Phils' woes continued as they lost 4-3 in ten innings. It was 3-2 with two out in the ninth, Trenton tied it and won it in the next inning. Derrick Mitchell hit a two-run homer and Michael Spidale had an RBI hit as well. Ryan Edell started on the mound but he wasn't around for the end as Phillippe Aumont took the loss in relief. Close to 4700 in the park, the game started at 6:35 and wound down at 9:30. A quick turnaround in store as we start on Thursday morning at 11:05. Take care, thanks for reading.

May 24

This day came and went with nary a drop of rain to be seen, that is virtually cause for euphoria in and of itself. In the evening we were at the ballpark as the Trenton Thunder visited for game #1 of a three-game set. It was 78 degrees when we got started at 6:35. Trenton won on this night 5-2, Cody Overbeck's two-run homer in the eighth inning was the lone offensive highlight for the R-Phils. Austin Hyatt started and took the loss, Jordan Ellis, Chris Kissock and Jake Diekman worked in relief. We had a little less than 3900 in attendance, the game ended in good time at 9:10. The series continues on Wednesday evening and wraps up on Thursday with an 11:05 school kids day game. Take care, thanks for reading.

May 23

Monday morning in Quarryville with Jenny, we had lunch before her physical therapy appointment. We had this all arranged since I won't be around on Thursday because of morning baseball in Reading. It was a warm day with temperatures close to 80, around 4:30 it rained briefly but by 5:00 it was over. I went to the rink for street hockey, I wasn't there five minutes before it rained again. Like the first storm it blew through quickly, I got the rink cleaned up. Just before game time the precipitation started AGAIN, we played the first period in a steady rain. We actually delayed the start of the second period for the rain to let up, we continued in short order and by 7:00 it had turned into a nice evening. We were done shortly after 9:00 so all things considered we did well-all three games were played and nobody got hurt. Many people don't understand the thought process on playing versus postponing, we always try to make an informed decision. Sometimes it works out and sometimes it doesn't but it's never a knee-jerk reaction, we look at radar and forecasts but when weather is as unstable as it has been lately you make your choice and take your chances. Ron and Bebop reffed on this night, Wally ran the clock. Ron will be running the show the next two nights, I'll be at the ballpark as the Trenton Thunder come to Baseballtown. Take care, thanks for reading.

May 22

After a warm, sunny Saturday this day started cool, cloudy and windy. At the ballpark in the afternoon for the finale of the series with Richmond, the R-Phils lost it 3-2. The ballclub fell behind early 2-0 and didn't have a baserunner until the seventh inning when Matt Rizzotti singled with two out and Cody Overbeck hit a game-tying home run. In the next inning Richmond replied by scoring the winning run, J.C. Ramirez was the losing pitcher. 6600 in the house for another Sunday Kid's Day, the game started at 1:05 and ended shortly before 3:15 (nothing wrong with that at all). Later in the day we were at Reservoir Park for street hockey, we played four make-up games. We started at 5:30, played the West game from the 19th and followed with the three East games from the 16th. Ron worked all four, the first with Don and the last three with Bebop. Shift work on the clock as well, Devyn did the first game and Wally took over for the last three. We were done after 9:00, around 10:30 or so it opened up and poured for about ten minutes. The forecast for this week is as shaky as last week's was, I guess we'll just have to wait and see what happens. Take care, thanks for reading.

May 21

Rumor had it that this day was supposed to be the End Of The World, the fact that I'm here to post this entry proves that somebody somewhere didn't know what he was talking about. After five days of rain, rain and more rain this day started with an unusual object in the morning sky, it was something called "the sun". In Quarryville for lunch with Jenny, she and her mother were along in the afternoon for the drive to Baseballtown. We got underway at 6:05 under sunny skies, game time temperature 75 degrees. The R-Phils hosted their first major league rehab assignment of the season as pitcher Jose Contreras (on the disabled list in Philadelphia) was scheduled to appear in the game at some point. The R-Phils won on this night 4-3 as Carlos Rivero had a two-run double, Freddy Galvis hit a solo home run and Matt Miller added an RBI on a groundout. Josh Zeid pitched six innings to pick up the win, Contreras worked a scoreless inning and Justin De Fratus closed it out for the save. The game was played at a good pace, we ended shortly after 8:30 (I'll take that any time especially on a Saturday night). Over 9100 in the park for another fireworks show but you can guess where we were by the time they started. The series wraps up on Sunday afternoon, after an off-day on Monday the Trenton Thunder comes to town for three days. Take care, thanks for reading.

May 20

It may someday stop raining around here but Friday was not that day. It rained while I was out at lunch, from there I had a haircut appointment at 1:00. At 3:00 I hit the road for Reading, Jamie Burkholder was along for the ride. Just as we arrived it got very dark, the staff came out and put the tarp over the infield. It rained steadily for the better part of an hour but the start of the game was not delayed, we got underway at 7:05. During the middle innings it rained again, not enough to stop play but just enough to be annoying and send the crowd scurrying for shelter. The R-Phils lost to Richmond 4-3, the club got RBI doubles from Carlos Rivero and Tuffy Gosewisch. Tyson Brummett took the loss in relief of B.J. Rosenberg, B.J. usually pitches in relief as well but on this night he made the spot start. 7900 in attendance for post-game fireworks but Jamie knows the procedure: "when the game ends, head for the car". The game ended shortly before 10:00, we were back in Lancaster by 10:35. The series continues on Saturday night, Jenny and Helen will be coming to that game. Take care, thanks for reading.

May 19

Headed to Quarryville in the morning to see Jenny, she had a physical therapy appointment for her ankle at 11:00. While we were there it opened up and absolutely POURED, there was some hail mixed in as well. Once it let up we went to the pizza parlor for lunch, on the way back to the city it began to rain again. We got some hard stuff in town in the afternoon but by 4:00 the sun was trying to peek through the clouds. According to the radar we had the proverbial window of opportunity so at 5:00 we went to the rink and got things ready for the evening. Don and Derek were the referees, Devyn ran the clock. Just before game time at 6:15 it began to rain lightly, during the second game it picked up in intensity. We decided to postpone the last two games because the rink surface was beginning to puddle and when that happens on our dek surface that means there is a lot of water underneath. We'll be playing make-up games on Sunday the 22nd, I'll be there when I get in from Reading. The ballclub split a pair of games in Portland this week, we're at home on Friday as the Richmond Flying Squirrels visit for the first time this year. Take care, thanks for reading.

May 18

With this post we mark an anniversary of sorts, this blog started elsewhere online in January of '09 but we've been here on blogger.com for six months now (since November 18, 2010). The uneven weather continues, we had some hard rain in the early afternoon but by 4:00 things were clean and green for the high school championship game at the ballpark. Twin Valley appeared in the title game for the second straight year, Governor Mifflin was back in after a year's absence (they won it in '08 and '09). It was a windy evening with temperatures in the mid 60s, we got started at 6:05. There are times when fate can be a very cruel hunter, this game was a classic example. The score was 2-2 in extra innings, the outfield grass was slick from a brief mist that fell earlier in the game. Mifflin was at bat with the winning run on first base, the batter hit a line drive into center field. The Twin Valley outfielder misjudged the flight of the ball, as he attempted to adjust he slipped and fell. The ball sailed over his head, by the time he recovered and threw the ball back to the infield the winning run had scored to give Mifflin a 3-2 win. I don't care who you are or who you play for, it's a shame to lose a game in that fashion. The game ended before 8:00, I was back in town by 8:45. Got word that the street hockey games were played as well, I'll be there on Thursday night if we can play (this week has been an adventure with weather). Take care, thanks for reading.

May 17

It rained hard in the early morning hours, for awhile it looked like the day might be another washout. In the afternoon the sun fought hard to break through the clouds, according to the radar we had a window of opportunity to play street hockey at the rink. I was there at 5:00 to get things cleaned up, we got started at 6:15. Don refereed the three West games with Derek and the 8:45 East game with Bebop, Devyn ran the clock. The weather wasn't entirely cooperative, we had some patchy mist here and three but nothing that threatened play. All things considered the night went well, I was home shortly before 10:00. The bottom line is it's four fewer games we have to worry about making up later on. The forecast for Wednesday is more of the same, who knows what might happen. As they say on television "stay tuned". Take care, thanks for reading.

May 16

There is talk of showers and thunderstorms every day this week, if Monday was any example it's not going to be any fun at all. Left at 2:00 in the afternoon for the ballpark, the Berks County high school playoff semifinals were booked for 4:00 and 7:00. Shortly after 3:00 it opened up and poured, I was in the dugout getting batting orders so I stayed there until the rain let up. The storm delayed the start of the first game until almost 5:25, the second game started at 7:40. Shortly before 10:00 it started to rain again, after close to fifteen minutes of hard rain the game was called and the result made official. In the opener Governor Mifflin (from Shillington) dethroned defending champion Conrad Weiser (Robesonia) 4-0, in the nightcap Twin Valley (Elverson) led Kutztown 6-1 in the last inning when the rains came. The championship game is on Wednesday at 6:00, for Twin Valley it marks a return to the title game as they lost to Weiser in 2010. With it all I got back to town a little before 11:00. Got word that the evening's street hockey schedule was postponed as well, I'll be at the rink on Tuesday weather-permitting. Take care, thanks for reading.

May 14-15

Headed to Quarryville on Saturday morning for lunch with Jenny, in the afternoon she and Helen brought an overnight bag along as we returned to the city. They usually don't do Sundays at the ballpark but this weekend was different because that was our annual Breast Cancer Awareness game, they were going to stay the night with us in town. On Saturday evening the R-Phils lost to New Hampshire 13-10 in a game that sounds closer than it was. The ballclub trailed 12-1 in the sixth inning before rallying late to get back within striking distance. Matt Rizzotti had a double and four RBI, Matt Miller had a triple and three ribbies, Steven Susdorf added an RBI hit and Carlos Rivero contributed an RBI groundout. Josh Zeid was the losing pitcher in a game that started at 6:05 and took three hours to play. We had more than 6800 in attendance for another fireworks show but needless to say we were gone as quickly as I could start my car's ignition. It misted lightly during the later part of the game, once we arrived back in Lancaster it rained solidly for the rest of the evening. After a comfortable night's sleep we were back at it in the afternoon for the finale of the series. The R-Phils won on this day 5-4 as Cody Overback and Derrick Mitchell each hit a two-run homer, Fidel Hernandez added a solo shot. J.C. Ramirez pitched eight strong innings for the victory, Phillippe Aumont survived a rocky ninth inning for the save. The ballclub wore special pink game jerseys, they were auctioned and raffled for breast cancer research after the game. It was another Kids Day as well, close to 5100 in attendance. With the end of this series the New Hampshire Fisher Cats are done in Reading for the year, thus far they are 6-5 against the R-Phils with all six of the wins coming in Baseballtown (the R-Phils won three games in NH back in April). The ballclub will have off on Monday before heading to Portland for three days, we're back home on Friday the 20th against Richmond. Take care, thanks for reading.

May 12-13

Thursday morning in Quarryville with Jenny, she had a physical therapy appointment at 11:20. After that we had lunch at the pizza parlor then I brought her into Willow Street for a 2:00 appointment (the access van was going to take her home afterward). In the afternoon we were headed north on 222. The New Hampshire Fisher Cats played in Reading from May 2-5, after that they went home for six days while the R-Phils hit the road. The clubs reconvened on this night in Baseballtown for a five-game series, the F-Cats took the opener 8-5. Cody Overbeck hit a two-run homer, Carlos Rivero had an RBI double, Matt Miller had a run-scoring single and Derrick Mitchell had a sacrifice fly. Jordan Ellis took the loss in relief of Ryan Edell, we had better than 4200 in the house on a warm evening (74 degrees at game time). It was cooler on Friday, daytime highs only in the mid 60s. Dick Myers joined me for the afternoon drive north as we played a doubleheader to make up the May 4 rainout. In game #1 the beat continued as the R-Phils lost 7-1. Freddy Galvis had an RBI hit to account for the only run, Chris Kissock took the loss. In the nightcap the ballclub finally broke through with an 8-3 victory. Carlos Rivero hit two home runs, Freddy Galvis had a two-run double, Matt Miller had two hits and two RBI, Fidel Hernandez picked up a ribbie on a groundout and Tuffy Gosewisch had a sacrifice fly RBI. Tyson Brummett made the spot start and won it with relief support from Jake Diekman. All things considered the night moved well, we started at 6:05 and ended shortly before 11:00. We had more than 9100 in the park for a fireworks show but Dick and I were gone before they ever lit the fuse. Jenny and Helen will be along for the games on Saturday and Sunday. Take care, thanks for reading.

May 10-11

Tuesday and Wednesday were very similar: errand runs in the morning, street hockey in the evening. On Tuesday we played four games, three West and one East. On a night like that you know we'll be there until at least 9:45 (the last game is scheduled for 8:45) but on this evening we weren't done until after 10:00. Three of the four games required a shootout, I suppose we were lucky it wasn't all four. Don and Derek officiated, Devyn ran the clock. On Wednesday the East Division was there for its usual three-game docket, Ron and Bebop refereed while Wally ran the clock. It was a testy night for some reason, one game was called early because it became uncompetitive and neither team was really interested in playing hockey anymore. Ronnie was wondering if it was a full moon, I said it was probably something in the water. Every once in a while you get a night where it seems like the only reason anyone showed up was to make trouble, this was one of them. The last game ended after 9:00, it's a good thing there was no 8:45 game scheduled. The week wraps up on Thursday, I will be absent since the R-Phils return home for a five-game weekend series. The boys went 4-2 on the road trip, let's see if the good times keep rolling at home. Take care, thanks for reading.

May 6-9

A slow weekend as expected, an errand run on Friday and lunch with Jenny on Saturday was about it. Sunday was a strange day, I spent half of the afternoon napping in front of the TV. It was mostly psychological, since nothing was going on there was no reason to have any energy (why warm up when there's no game to play). On Monday we made the usual morning run, in the evening we started the fifth week of street hockey season. The East Division played its three-game schedule, Ron and Bebop were the referees and Wally ran the clock. We started at 6:15 and ended in good order at 9:00. On Tuesday the West Division plays, I'll be there and on Wednesday as well before the R-Phils return home on Thursday. Take care, thanks for reading.

May 5

Thursday morning: on the road again for Reading shortly after 8:00. All things were as they were on Wednesday with one major exception: there was no rain. It was chilly and windy with in-and-out sunlight most of the day. Before the game it was announced that the make-up date for the Wednesday rainout will be on Friday the 13th. After three straight wins to start the homestand the ballclub lost its third straight to New Hampshire by a count of 10-5. Matt Rizzotti had a home run and two RBI, Matt Miller had a base hit and two ribbies and Carlos Rivero also had an RBI hit. J.C. Ramirez started and took the loss. We had a little over 6900 in the park and probably 6000 of them were school kids. We started right on the dot at 11:05 and ended shortly before 2:00. The club heads to the road for six days before returning home on May 12 when the F-Cats will return as well (gotta love that schedule). In the evening we were at Reservoir Park as we wrapped up the fourth week of the season. The East Division reached its midpoint on Wednesday (28 games down, 28 to go), on this night each of the West clubs played their eighth game. Don and Derek officiated, Wally ran the clock. This weekend should be quiet with little going on but after eleven days between the ballpark and the rink a few days to recharge the system won't be a bad thing. Take care, thanks for reading.

May 4

The rain moved into Lancaster overnight, it was coming hard in the morning. I headed north shortly after 8:00, the rain never stopped all the way to Reading. I arrived shortly after 9:00, by 9:20 the game was called. No make-up date was immediately announced but it will happen when New Hampshire returns to town May 12 through 15. Talk about strange scheduling-the Fisher Cats play twice in Reading this season, each time for four days and they are all within a two-week period. The clubs will finish the current series with another 11:05 start on Thursday. It was still raining when I returned home in late morning but in the afternoon it cleared off and brightened up, in the evening we played street hockey at the rink. It was an East Division night, three games on the schedule. Don and Ron refereed, Brienna ran the clock. The rain wasn't gone completely, we had a few drops here and there but nothing that mattered. It was windy and chilly, it felt more like November than May. It's supposed to be somewhat more comfortable on Thursday, at least the rain will be gone. Take care, thanks for reading.

May 3

Tuesday evening at the ballpark for game #2 with New Hampshire. There were reports of strong storms moving through the western part of the state, we started at 6:35 and got into the bottom of the ninth inning with no issues. Suddenly the wind shifted, the rain rolled in and we were delayed for twenty-seven minutes. Once the game resumed it took all of two minutes to finish it, the R-Phils suffering their second straight loss by a score of 7-2. Matt Rizzotti hit a solo home run and Carlos Rivero had an RBI hit but it wasn't enough to save starting pitcher Chris Kissock from the loss. The game ended at 9:40, we would have been done at 9:15 if not for the rain. We had about 2700 in the house but less than 100 were still around for the end. The ballclub will try to right the ship on Wednesday, we get started early at 11:05 on School Kids Day. Take care, thanks for reading.

May 2

Spent a rare Monday morning in Quarryville with Jenny. She had a 10:00 appointment at the health clinic and since we can't have lunch on Thursday this week because of baseball we had it on this day instead. On the way to the ballpark in the afternoon there was a work crew on route 222 fixing a guard rail, with the warmer weather coming on I'm sure it won't be long before 222 resumes its summer status as the Road Of Perpetual Disrepair. At the ballpark for a 6:35 game with New Hampshire, the first of a four-game series. There was little to cheer about on this night as the R-Phils lost 5-0. Michael Spidale had four base hits and outfielder Matt Miller (assigned from the Phillies' AAA club in Allentown) added two of his own but the club was unable to dent home plate. Ryan Edell started and pitched well but took the tough-luck loss. Another light weeknight crowd of better than 2700 on a Monday evening in Baseballtown. We had some misty rain during the middle innings but played through it, after the game I drove through a downpour between the Turnpike and Ephrata exits but the city was dry when I arrived at home. I guess it all depends where you are and when. Take care, thanks for reading.

May 1

Sunday morning: on the road at 10:00 for the ballgame, it was "Mascot Mania" day for the kids. A good number of characters from area schools, businesses and other teams were there including Royals mascot Slapshot. In the game itself the R-Phils finished a series sweep with a 3-2 win over Portland. Cody Overbeck hit two home runs, Derrick Mitchell added an RBI on a bases-loaded walk. The key defensive play occurred in the eighth inning when Michael Spidale fielded a base hit in left field and threw out the would-be tying run at home plate. Austin Hyatt was the winning pitcher with relief support from Tyson Brummett and Justin DeFratus. Better than 6100 in attendance for the kids' day activities. The game started at 1:05 and ended around 3:45, I was home by 4:30. Had a quick bite to eat and headed to the rink for what remained of the day's street hockey schedule. This was the only scheduled Sunday date, these were in essence "regularly scheduled make-up games" because of Memorial Day at the end of the month. I took over for Ronnie as supervisor since he was refereeing, with it all we were there until 9:30 or so since six games were played. We won't have any more Sunday games unless we get backed up with postponements but so far so good, let's keep it that way. I won't be at the rink again until Wednesday, the homestand in Reading continues as the New Hampshire Fisher Cats visit for night games on Monday and Tuesday and morning games (11:05) on Wednesday and Thursday. Take care, thanks for reading.