September 3

Tuesday night at the ballpark as the Barnstormers opened a series with the Somerset Patriots, this was the first time I had a chance to see Somerset this season. This was the Patriots' third visit to Lancaster in 2013, the first two were midweek series back in May and June during street hockey season. The Barnstormers have had their share of difficulties this season, this game may have been the definitive example. It was scoreless into the fourth inning before Somerset scored three runs, another three-spot in the fifth made it 6-0 Patriots. In the seventh the Stormers climbed back into it on a three-run home run by Kyle Russell, a three-run bomb into the wind and onto the hill in left field by Ryan Harvey tied it 6-6 in the eighth. In the ninth inning the Barnstormers loaded the bases with one out but were unable to end it, the second out came on a line drive directly at a perfectly-positioned fielder and the inning concluded on a loud fly ball caught at the base of the wall in right field. In the tenth inning the Patriots had their opportunity and capitalized, the Stormers could not respond in their half as Somerset won it 7-6. Rich Rundles started and worked into the fifth inning, Brodie Downs suffered the tough-luck loss in relief. The series continues through Thursday before Southern Maryland visits for the weekend. Take care, thanks for reading.