September 11

On the road in the afternoon for the ballpark on Centre Avenue in Reading for what would prove to be the final game of the season. The New Hampshire Fisher Cats won 4-2 to take the series and advance to the EL Finals. Tuffy Gosewisch gave the R-Phils a 1-0 lead with a second-inning home run, NH scored twice before Michael Spidale's RBI double tied it 2-2 in the seventh. In the ninth inning the 'Cats scored twice more to take the lead they would never lose, the R-Phils were retired in order in the bottom of the inning to end it. Mike Cisco took the hard-luck loss in relief of Tyson Brummett. The 'Cats will meet the Richmond Flying Squirrels in the championship series starting on Tuesday in Manchester, NH. The forty-fifth year of Reading Phillies baseball is now in the books and it was noteworthy in many ways. The ballclub finished with a winning record and qualified for the playoffs for the second time in three years. The franchise led the EL in attendance at 456,957 for 68 home dates, an average of 6719 per date. Matt Rizzotti won the Big Stick Award as the team's leader in home runs (24), Tuffy Gosewisch won the Gold Glove Award for fielding prowess, Austin Hyatt was the team's Pitcher of the Year (a league-leading twelve wins), Derrick Mitchell won the Unsung Hero Award, Tyler Cloyd won the Player Of The Game Award, Chris Kissock and B.J. Rosenberg were co-winners of the Community Service Award and Michael Spidale was voted team MVP. The 2012 season begins at home on April 5 when the Portland Sea Dogs visit for a doubleheader (on Opening Day-yes, you read that correctly). Take care, thanks for reading.