Monday night at Reservoir Park for the first time since what seems like Forever. Lancaster Dek Hockey has been a casualty of The Ongoing BS, the league last played in November of 2019. The rink is in a city park, when the parks were closed in the spring of 2020 we were shut down through no choice of our own. When the Sunday league in Rothsville started back in May a lot of the guys were asking when we would be back up and running in Lancaster, we told them it all depended on what the city was doing in terms of reopening. We had intended to run a summer draft league which didn't happen because of low registrations, on this night at the rink we had a meeting for the Fall season. There were four teams represented but there are always those who get in at the last minute, Don said we need at least six teams or we won't be able to operate. The last season we played had eight clubs, hopefully we can scrape at least six together for this season. Needless to say it's been a long time, hopefully the interest is still there. Time will tell. On Tuesday night we were at the ballpark, the Barnstormers were back in town for the opener of a three-game series with the Lexington Legends. The Atlantic League in 2021 has been equal parts Twilight Zone, Outer Limits and One Step Beyond (if you're a fan of old late '50s/early '60s TV you'll understand the references), this night was the latest example, The visitors from Kentucky took a 1-0 lead in the first, the Stormers tied it in the second when Devon Torrence singled and scored on Jake Hoover's RBI double. The Legends took a 4-1 lead in the fourth and added five more in the fourth, single runs in the sixth, seventh and eighth gave Lexington a 12-1 lead. At this point you would figure the game is over, right? WRONG. In the bottom of the eighth the Barnstormers came alive and put together an incredible rally. Kelly Dugan started it with a base hit and Trayvon Robinson drew a walk, Torrence was hit by the pitch to load the bases with one out. Anthony Peroni's two-run single made it 12-3, Hoover reached on an error allowing another run and Cleuluis Rondon singled to reload the bases. Caleb Gindl doubled into the alley scoring Peroni and Hoover to make it 12-6, Blake Allemand followed with a three-run rocket-shot over the picnic tents in right field to pull the Stormers to within three. Dugan put a cap on the outburst with a solo home run to right-center making it 12-10. In the ninth the Stormers had the tying runs on base with two out, the game ended with the runner on second picked off base on a snap-throw from the catcher. Zach Smith started for the Stormers and took the loss. The series continues on Wednesday and Thursday and one can only wonder: What Next? Take care, thanks for reading.
