May 24-26

ECHL hockey update: IT'S ALL OVER. For the first time in the franchise's twelve-year history the Reading Royals are the Kelly Cup Champions. The boys took a 3-0 series lead into Friday's game in Stockton but the Thunder staved off elimination with a 4-3 win. In game #5 on Saturday the Royals finally nailed it down in resounding fashion. Mark Mitera scored the only goal the club would need in the first period to make it 1-0, in the second period the Royals ended the competitive aspect of the game in no uncertain terms. Brett Flemming, Ian O'Connor, T.J. Syner and Stanislav Galiev all lit the lamp as the club took a 5-0 lead. In the third period Joel Champagne put the cherry on the sundae as Riley Gill slammed the door at the other end, the Royals took it by the final count of 6-0. Gill was named playoff MVP for his efforts, in the postgame ceremonies ECHL Commissioner Brian McKenna and Commissioner Emeritus Patrick Kelly presented the trophy bearing Kelly's name to team captain Yannick Tifu. It was announced on the radio broadcast that there will be a public celebration at the Sovereign Center on Wednesday the 29th. Many in the club's fanbase have waited a long time for this and I count myself among that number. The Royals' championship was easily the highlight of the weekend, the weather was largely unpleasant. On Friday morning it was rainy and windy, in the evening the rain was gone but it was just plain flat-out cold. Saturday wasn't much better although not as damp, the Barnstormers were at home both nights but I elected to stay in and stay warm. On Sunday the winds finally diminished, in the evening Jenny, her mother and I were at the ballpark on North Prince Street. The Sugar Land Skeeters were the opponent, after splitting the first two games of the series the Barnstormers won on this night 3-0. The Stormers scored twice in the first inning on a Travis Denker sacrifice fly and an RBI hit by outfielder Ryan Harvey, they made it 3-0 in the second on a run-scoring hit by outfielder Jerry Owens. Starting pitcher Horacio Ramirez worked six innings for the win with relief support from Yoslan Herrera, Jason Ricardson and Jason Urquidez. The series concludes with a Monday evening holiday game, I may be there if the weather holds up. Take care, thanks for reading.