Recently the local newspaper ran a story about the ridiculously mild winter we had, the total snowfall for the season was a robust 0.9 inches. That all happened on one Wednesday morning back in January, we had a light dusting while I was with Jenny for lunch. An afternoon rain that very day washed it all away as quickly as it had arrived. Now that we're into April it's unlikely we'll see anything further but then again stranger things HAVE happened. Wednesday was baseball day at McCaskey, the Red Tornado hosted Penn Manor. With the new schedule format this was the first of three meetings between the schools, Penn Manor visits again on May 1. At 4:15 gametime it was 82 degrees, the wind straight in from centerfield. The visitors took a 1-0 lead into the bottom of the first, JPM tied it when Janpaul Rodriguez was hit by the pitch with the bases loaded. That would be the only run the club would score in a 6-1 loss, Adrian Rodriguez started and took the decision with Andrew Carlisle working in relief. The next home game is on the 12th but I'm out for the Royals, my next time there is on Monday the 17th. On Saturday we made our annual Northern Pilgrimage to Allentown to see the Royals' AHL affiliate, the Phantoms hosted the Springfield Thunderbirds (St. Louis Blues affiliate). The Good Guys rallied from down 3-1 in the third to win 4-3, the victory clinched the club's first playoff berth since 2018. Jordy Bellerive, Emil Andrae, Kevin Connauton and Olle Lycksell were the scorers, Samuel Ersson was the winning goaltender. The Phantoms currently have six ex-Royals on the roster, the only two in uniform were Max Willman ('19-'20 in Reading) and Nolan Maier serving as Ersson's backup. A game in Allentown is a trip we make only once a year (and once a year is enough) but it's worthwhile because it gives us a chance to watch a game together (in Reading that's obviously not the case because I'm working). Sunday was a holiday, Helen had a meal of ham, scalloped potatoes and green beans and invited me in. Jenny's older sister Carol was there as well and nobody went home hungry. Take care, thanks for reading.
