June 29-30

Sunday afternoon: made my way west across the river for another Santander Stadium Sunday, the York Revolution hosted the Long Island Ducks at 5:05. One of York's most popular baseball personalities is a man known as Cannonball Charlie, he is stationed beyond the wall in right field and every time a Revs player hits a home run he fires a cannon that can be heard all over the neighborhood. This day was a "bring your dog to the game" day, for that reason Charlie was noticeably absent. It was noticeable because the Revs hit four home runs en route to a lopsided 10-0 victory. Justin Greene and former Philadelphia Phillie Wilson Valdez went back-to-back in the first inning, Travis Garcia and Eric Patterson added solo shots later in the game. Garcia had two hits and three RBI, Patterson finished with three hits and two runs batted in and Johan Limonta had a pair of RBI as well. Starting pitcher Logan Williamson won it with relief support from Bryan Morgado and Rommie Lewis. Had lunch at the mall on Monday morning, in the afternoon Dick Myers called. He was going to the evening's game in York and asked if I wanted to ride along. I hadn't planned on anything for the evening but since it was a new series I took him up on the offer. The Southern Maryland Blue Crabs (fresh from the weekend in Lancaster) were the opponent for the 6:30 start, for a second consecutive game the Revs won in convincing fashion. York scored twice in the first on a Chad Tracy sac fly and a Johan Limonta groundout, they added three in the third on a Tracy home run, an Ofilio Castro RBI double and a Travis Garcia single. In the sixth Garcia and Salvador Paniagua went yard back-to back to make it 7-0 (Cannonball Charlie was back in the house and the neighborhood knew it). The Crabs got on the board in the seventh but the Revs got two more in their half on RBI hits by Garcia and Sean Smith, a meaningless SM run in the ninth brought the final score to 9-2. Rev starter Jorge Martinez picked up the win. Take care, thanks for reading.

June 27-28

Friday night on North Prince Street at the ballpark, the Barnstormers hosted the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs. The Crabs were making their first visit to Lancaster in 2014, very unusual considering that it is late June. This was the second game of the series, the Stormers won the opener (a special kids' day afternoon game) on Thursday. The Barnstormers are celebrating their tenth year in the Atlantic League, part of that was the unveiling of a Ring Of Honor. On this night current Blue Crabs manager Lance Burkhart (a Barnstormer from 2005-2008) became the latest inductee, he joins previous honorees Ross Peeples ('05-current), Dwayne Pollok ('12-13), Blake Gailen ('12-14), Lloyd Turner ('08-10) and Tommy Everidge ('11-12). The ballgame itself was equal parts crazy and mundane. The Barnstormers put two on the board in the first on a Andrew Clark RBI hit and a SM error, the Crabs responded with three in the second to take the lead. The Stormers tied it in their half when Juan Apodaca reached on an error and scored on another Crab miscue, a third-inning two-run home run from Brock Kjeldgaard make it 5-3 for the home team. It stayed that way until the eighth when the Blue Crabs struck twice to tie the game, in their half the Stormers retook the lead when Lance Zawadzki was hit by the pitch and eventually scored on a fielders choice. The Crabs just wouldn't go away, they scratched out the tying run in the ninth and would win it in extra innings 7-6. Mark Rogers was the starting pitcher for the Stormers, Fu-Te Ni suffered the loss in relief. On Saturday we did our usual lunch in Quarryville, Jenny and her mother came into town for the evening's ballgame. After the craziness of Friday's game this night was tame by comparison as the Barnstormers recorded a 3-0 win. Wilson Batista accounted for all the runs with a solo home run in the first and a two-run shot in the third. Dan Osterbrock worked into the eighth inning for the win, Ross Peeples and Jason Urquidez finished it in relief. There was (of course) a fireworks show scheduled for after the game but we (of course) were gone before they ever went up. Take care, thanks for reading.

June 25-26

There is an old expression about how sometimes it's better to be lucky than good, that would sum up Wednesday to a tee. Jenny and I had lunch in the morning, she had asked if we could do it on this day rather than Thursday (no particular reason, she just felt like doing it a day early). All day long there were showers in the forecast, by 5:30 nothing had happened. We went to the rink for game #3 of the East and West finals. The first game was the West game at 7:00, there was a brief mist during the first period that lasted for about five minutes and moved on. Brendee's beat JBE Auto Transport to take a 2-1 series lead. The East game started at 8:00, during the latter part of the third period the wind shifted and picked up in velocity. We could also see some distant lightning approaching so we all knew it was just a matter of time. Under the circumstances the last thing we needed was a overtime period but that is exactly what we got. Dominion Pizza trailed by two goals with two minutes to go, they got back within one and then tied it with fifty-four seconds left in regulation. The overtime period was thankfully short, it took all of forty-two seconds for the Sandbaggers to notch the winning goal and retake the lead in their series. I got everything locked up securely and headed home, as I was walking into the house the skies opened up and it POURED. The rain kept up into the overnight hours but by Thursday morning it was long gone. Had a phone call from Jon Mitchell, the athletic director at McCaskey. He informed me that I had been selected for inclusion in the McCaskey HS Athletic Hall Of Fame. I have to admit it surprised me, I didn't even know I was being considered. It certainly isn't for any athletic prowess (I have none of that in any way), I guess they want to honor me for twenty-six years of PA work and the like. It's a nice honor but there are many others I could make a case for induction ahead of me. In the evening we were back at Reservoir Park, both series ended as the Sandbaggers and Brendee's won in regulation time to clinch their respective championships. The season began on April 14, eighty-eight regular season games plus seventeen playoff games later it's all over. The fall season starts in September. Take care, thanks for reading.

June 23-24

Monday morning lunch at the mall got the new week started, in the evening we were at the rink for the opening games of the best three-of-five Finals. The East championship featured the teams that finished first and second during the regular season, the West series was a matchup between the third and fourth-place finishers. In the openers on Monday the Sandbaggers won over Dominion Pizza and Brendee's defeated JBE Auto Transport. On Tuesday morning my mother had another eye appointment, things are better but she still isn't cleared to drive yet. In the evening we were back at Reservoir Park for the respective game #2s, Dominion Pizza and JBE Auto Transport returned serve and evened their series at a game apiece. That assured at least two more games in each series on Wednesday and Thursday with a possible fifth game if needed on Monday the 30th. The weather forecast for Wednesday is not promising, showers and thunderstorms are expected just about all day. We'll keep our fingers crossed and hope for the best. Take care, thanks for reading.

June 19-22

Not much going on Thursday morning since Jenny and I had done lunch on Wednesday. We figured on that day because of my mother's eye appointment, when that was switched to Tuesday we kept our plans intact. With street hockey semifinals completed and the finals not starting until Monday I had the opportunity to get over to the ballpark on Thursday evening, the Barnstormers were hosting the Sugar Land Skeeters. This was the third game of the series, the clubs had split the first two. On this night the Skeeters took an early 1-0 lead and upped it to 2-0 in the fifth. The Barnstormers got on the board in the sixth on an RBI double by newcomer Andrew Clark (one-time Texas Rangers property) but a three-run Skeeter eighth put it away as Sugar Land won it 5-1. Chris Schwinden (former big-leaguer with the New York Mets) started for the Stormers and took the loss, Ross Peeples and Jason Richardson worked in relief. On Friday the clubs concluded the four-game series, on this night the Stormers struck first on a Wilson Batista double and an Andrew Clark RBI groundout. Sugar Land replied quickly to take a 2-1 lead, it stayed that way until the eighth when Cole Garner reached on a fielder's choice and scored on a Casey Frawley sacrifice fly. The momentum did not last as the Skeeters scratched out a run in the ninth and took the 3-2 win. New addition Brandon Mann (a former Tampa Bay Rays prospect) got the start and worked into the fifth inning, Pete Parise suffered the loss in relief. The Barnstormers hit the road for a new series on Saturday, with the ballclub in York out of town as well the rest of the weekend was quiet save for a Saturday visit with Jenny. Take care, thanks for reading.

June 16-18

Monday morning at the mall for lunch as usual, in the evening we were at Reservoir Park for the start of playoffs. The top four finishers qualified in each division, the semifinals series are a best two-of-three format. In the openers on Monday the East Division played the early games, Dominion Pizza beat 915 Cafe and the Sandbaggers defeated the Kings. In the West Brendee's won over the Underdogs and JBE Auto Transport prevailed over the Misfits. On Tuesday my mother had another checkup for her eye, the appointment was at 10:00. At 10:45 they told me she would be there until at least 12:15 so I went out and about for lunch, the call to return finally came at 12:45. This appointment was supposed to be on Thursday but my mother got a call early on Tuesday morning asking if she could come in on this day instead. In the evening we were back for night #2 of hockey playoffs, three of the four series ended as the Sandbaggers, Dominion Pizza and Brendee's all advanced to their respective championship series. The only semifinal requiring a third game was the JBE/Misfits series, that was resolved on Wednesday when JBE won to advance to the West finals. That series and the East finals are set to begin on Monday the 23rd, both are best three-of-five format. As they say in horse racing we are headed down the home stretch. Take care, thanks for reading.

June 13-15

Had my car at the service center on Friday morning, it was overdue for a grease and oil change. Marty, Dick and I had planned to go to Wilmington for the ballgame but afternoon thunderstorms around Lancaster and the forecast for more in Delaware during the evening hours canceled the trip. Saturday was spent largely at home save for my morning visit and lunch with Jenny. On Sunday Marty and I went over to York, the Revolution hosted the Camden Riversharks in a 5:00 start. This was my fourth Sunday visit to Santander Stadium and the fifth overall, the late-day start time makes all the difference. As a Lancaster resident I obviously make it to "the Clip" much more frequently but a game-day in York is just as enjoyable, the Revs' organization does a great job. Marty's daughter Alexis lives in York County, since this day was Father's Day she met us at the ballpark for some quality time with Dad. The Revs got on the board in the first inning on an Ofilio Castro RBI double and a Johan Limonta sac fly, Camden got single runs in the fifth and sixth to tie it at 2-2. The Sharks posted a five-spot in the seventh to break it open, York got two back in the eighth on a Brandon Chaves RBI groundout and another Castro run-scoring double but that was it as Camden held on for the 7-4 win. Stephen Penney was the losing pitcher in relief of Rev starter Beau Vaughan (a 2012 Barnstormer). The next "Sunday at Santander" is on the 29th against Long Island. Take care, thanks for reading.

June 9-12

Week #9 of street hockey season got underway on Monday, we had the final three games of the regular season still outstanding. The idea was to play these games, take Tuesday off and start playoffs on Wednesday. It didn't happen quite that way. All day long there were showers and thunderstorms in the forecast, as of 5:00 nothing had happened. We went to the rink and made ready, at 6:05 (ten minutes before faceoff) it began to rain. By the time the first period ended it was coming straight down and steady, we decided to postpone the remaining two games. The lone game played saw the Sandbaggers over the Brasserie in an East game that had no bearing on the standings. On Tuesday the rain was gone, we got the makeup games in without incident. Neither game meant anything in the standings but we still play them because it's the "professional" thing to do. In the East 915 Cafe beat the Kings, in the West JBE Auto Transport defeated McCleary's. It's worth noting that of the eighty-eight total games played during the regular season only two required a shootout to determine a winner. That might be a bad omen for the playoffs where overtime is played instead, time will tell. On Wednesday morning Jenny and I did our weekday lunch a day early since my mother had a eye doctor appointment on Thursday, the evening was uneventful due to our off-night at the rink. On Thursday my mother saw the eye doctor, her appointment was at 11:20 and she wasn't done until almost 2:00 (!!!!!). The weather forecast was calling for evening rain, around 4:30 or so Don and I talked it over and decided to err on the side of caution. It proved to be the right call, the rain moved in right before 5:00 and stayed for most of the evening. Take care, thanks for reading.

June 8

In my days in the industry I was never a fan of day games especially during the hot summer months. Sunday games on North Prince Street used to begin at 6:00 but that has been done away with, nowadays the Stormers play all Sunday games at 1:00. In York the Revolution plays at 5:00 on Sundays, at that hour it's still warm but the sun angles behind third base make a big difference. On this day the Revs hosted the Sugar Land Skeeters, I drove to Marty's place in Salunga and he drove from there. The Skeeters broke on top 3-0 in the first, they upped the lead to 4-0 in the third. York got on the board on a Johan Limonta RBI double but Sugar Land added a run in the seventh to make it 5-1. The Revs mounted a comeback in the eighth on a two-run double from Eric Patterson but the Skeeters got those two runs right back in the ninth and won it 7-3. York starter Chris Cody worked five innings and suffered the loss. The skies got very dark to the west in the latter part of the ballgame, as we were crossing the river we heard on the postgame radio show that it was pouring at the stadium. By the time I was home and out of the shower it was raining at my place. Guess we made it just in time. Take care, thanks for reading.

June 6-7

Friday night at the ballpark on North Prince Street, the Barnstormers hosted the Camden Riversharks in the opener of a weekend series. In the Atlantic League roster turnover is to be expected, earlier in the week Blake Gailen left the club for an opportunity in the Mexican League. In addition several others on the roster are battling through nagging injuries which have handicapped the club in recent days. The Stormers lost three of four on the road during the week, on this night the struggles continued as the Sharks won easily 9-3. Camden scored three in the second, added five in the fourth and were never headed. Wilson Batista had two RBI (one on a single and the other on a sac fly). catcher Juan Apodaca (from the Tampa Bay Rays organization) contributed a run-scoring single. Dan Osterbrock worked into the fifth inning and took the loss. On Saturday we did our usual lunch in Quarryville, Jenny and her mother were along in the evening for game #2. The Stormers got back into the win column with a 6-4 victory. The Sharks scored first but the Stormers took the lead in the fourth on a Batista RBI hit and a Camden error. The visitors went up 3-2 in the sixth but the home team replied quickly with four in their half. Run-scoring hits by Batista and Casey Frawley and an RBI double from infielder Amos Ramon (from Winnipeg of the American Association) keyed the rally, a bases-loaded walk drawn by fellow infielder Yusuke Kajimoto (from Osaka, Japan) scored the last run. Pete Parise (former St. Louis Cardinal) won it in relief of Shunsuke Watanabe, Jason Urquidez saved it. As as usually the case there was a fireworks show after the game, as is usually the case we were gone before it ever started. Take care, thanks for reading.

June 4-5

The Royals' new affiliation with the Flyers became official on Wednesday afternoon with a press conference at the Arena, later in the day the ECHL released the schedule for the 2014-15 season. The Royals' home opener is on October 25 against Elmira, the season ends at home on April 11 against the brand-new Indianapolis Fuel (Indy's marketing slogan is "Fill 'Er Up"-you gotta love it). In the evening we were at the rink for three games, this was supposed to be the final night of the regular season but the previous week's rainouts changed everything. In the evening's East game the Sandbaggers beat 915 Cafe, in the West Brendee's won over the BallBlasters and the Underdogs defeated the Misfits. On Thursday morning I was with Jenny for our usual lunch date, in the evening we finished the week at Reservoir Park. These were the games rescheduled from May 27, in the West the Misfits prevailed over the BallBlasters and Brendee's beat the Underdogs. In the East games Dominion Pizza defeated the Brasserie and the Sandbaggers won over 915 Cafe (a rare regular season back-to-back thanks to the postponement). Don, Ron and Derek rotated through as referees, Wally ran the clock both nights. As it stands the regular season should wrap up on Monday the 9th, playoffs would begin on the 11th as long as the weather cooperates. Take care, thanks for reading.

June 1-3

Big news from Reading over the weekend, the Royals announced an affiliation agreement with the NHL Philadelphia Flyers. Ever since the club started in 2001 there has been talk of how a Flyers/Royals association would make perfect sense, it never happened until now for political reasons (the best way I can think of to describe it). The Flyers' AHL club begins play in Allentown (as the Lehigh Valley Phantoms) in the fall, with Allentown thirty-five miles northeast and Philadelphia sixty miles southeast of Reading it makes all the geographical sense in the world. There is a possibility that the Royals may maintain a secondary relationship with Washington and Hershey but nothing on that front is definite yet. On Monday we began the eighth week of street hockey at the rink, in the East the Kings beat the Brasserie and Dominion Pizza defeated 915 Cafe. The West games saw the Misfits over JBE Auto Transport and the Underdogs over McCleary's. On Tuesday morning I had my mother at the eye doctor for another follow-up. The healing is going well but he wants to see her again on the 10th. In the evening we were back at Reservoir Park for another four-game night. The West games played first on this night with Brendee's over McCleary's and JBE Auto Transport over the BallBlasters, in the East Dominion Pizza beat the Kings and the Sandbaggers won over the Brasserie. Ron and Derek refereed both nights with Don subbing in on Tuesday when Derek played. Devyn ran the clock on Monday, Wally had the Tuesday duties. It began to rain during the third period of the last game, as the game ended it opened up and poured. Take care, thanks for reading.