The last week of 2022 began in the typical Monday manner, on Wednesday night we were all together in downtown Reading for the final home game of the calendar year. The Royals hosted longtime rival Wheeling for the last of the Nailers' three regular-season visits to Berks County. Offensive highlights were in short supply for the Royals on this night, the club trailed 2-0 late into the third period. Jacob Gaucher broke the shutout bid in the final four minutes but the Royals could not find the equalizer, Kaden Fulcher was goalie of record in the tough 2-1 loss. The club finishes the '22 portion of its home schedule at 9-4 (thirteen down, twenty-three to go), the overmark stands at 16-8-1. The Royals play their next four on the road, the next home date is on January 7. On Thursday we were back at McCaskey after a two-game absence, this was night #2 of our annual holiday tournament. Perennial participant York was in along with Harrisburg, Lampeter-Strasburg (from LL League Section III) completed the field. L-S beat Harrisburg in the consolation game, the championship game between JPM and York required overtime. With one-tenth of a second (that's 0.1) left in regulation and McCaskey trailing by one Jonathan Byrd was fouled and awarded two free throws. He missed the first but converted the second to tie the score and force OT, in the extra period York outscored JPM 7-2 and took it 75-70. Jon was the Red Tornado's tournament all-star team selection but after the game he took personal responsibility for the loss (which was of course in no way his fault). The loss ends a five-game win streak after starting 0-3, the boys carry a 2-0 division record and an overall 5-4 mark into the New Year. The old year ended on a wet Saturday with temperatures in the 50s (this after the previous weekend when it felt like the start of a new Ice Age), we had our usual lunch visit in Quarryville. There was a New Years celebration scheduled in downtown Lancaster in the evening but I was home warm and dry, since my party days are long over and I don't own a scuba outfit I couldn't have cared less. Thanks as always for joining me, my friends. See you in 2023, take care.
