Wednesday afternoon at McCaskey, the Red Tornado was on the field against defending state champion Hempfield. They won the title in '24 with a largely underclassman roster, with the way things are going for us one figured this to be a game that could either be very quick or very long. Hempfield predictably won the game but it was not the runaway one may have expected, JPM hung tough and made them work for it. JPM trailed 4-0 in the third when Josh Reyes was hit by the pitch with the base loaded to put the home team on the board. It was 10-1 in the fifth inning before the Red Tornado put together a four-run uprising. Bases-loaded walks to Reyes and Eli Morales scored two runs, Niko Bergeron's two-run single made it 10-5. In the last inning Bergeron picked up another "ribbie" on a two-out hit but Hempfield took it by a score of 13-6. Bergeron got the start and went into the fourth with Morales finishing in relief. The Atlantic League season begins on April 25, on Saturday the Stormers held their annual Fanfest event at newly-renamed Penn Medicine Park (the ballpark's naming rights were exchanged in the offseason). Ross Peeples is back as manager for his eighth season, returnees from 2024 on the preseason roster include pitchers A.J. Alexy, Phil Diehl, Scott Engler, Kyle Johnson, Michael McAvene, Jackson Rees, Christian Scarfidi and Matt Swarmer, infielders Joseph Carpenter, Trace Loehr and Mason Martin plus outfielder Nick Lucky. Also back after time elsewhere are infielders Yeison Coca and Kelly Dugan along with outfielder LeDarious Clark. The Stormers start with a six-game road trip, the home opener is on May 2nd. Sunday was the Easter holiday, Helen made ham loaf with scalloped potatoes and nobody went home hungry. Take care, thanks for reading.
