October 8-15

Had an e-mail from Jon Mitchell earlier in the week, Senior Night for the football team and cheerleaders was scheduled for Thursday the 8th at the stadium and he asked if I'd be able to preside over it. This would normally be held as part of a game night but with the attendance restrictions the school board has established it was rescheduled as a stand-alone event so the parents could be physically present. We got started shortly after 7:00 and it was all over in about twenty-five minutes, we recognized six cheerleaders and fourteen football players. As I was on my way out one of the parents approached me and thanked me for being there, he said it meant a great deal to a lot of people. I can completely understand his viewpoint since the parents have been shut out from seeing their kids perform in person (yes, the games have been livestreamed but it's not the same as actually being there). I thanked him for appreciating what I do, under normal circumstances I would have been there anyway so being present for this was no issue at all. Friday night was game night, JPM hosted Wilson for the last of four straight home dates. The Senior Night activities were recorded and broadcast on the livestream as a lead-in to the game itself. Wilson is traditionally one of the strongest programs in the state, on this night the competitive aspect was never in doubt. The visitors from suburban Reading scored three touchdowns in the first quarter and led 34-0 at the half. It was 41-0 with the mercy rule in effect in the fourth quarter, with six minutes left the Red Tornado scored defensively when Jose Garcia picked up a Wilson fumble and returned it 45 yards for the touchdown (Garcia ironically wears uniform #45). Sam Hershey's PAT was the last point of the night as Wilson took it 41-7. As it stands right now JPM has three games left and they are all on the road, Jon said he's working on getting some games added in November so we'll see what happens. Take care, thanks for reading.

October 1-7

As a well-known sportcaster from my younger years would have said: "time continues on its inexorable march". October is usually the time of year when we're gearing up for ice hockey season in Reading but at last look the Royals won't be starting until January at the earliest and there's no guarantee of that. We haven't played dek hockey at Reservoir Park since November of 2019, the city never officially opened the parks in the spring and since the rink is within a city park we're subject to that restriction. On the 2nd it was another Friday night at McCaskey as the Red Tornado hosted Hempfield for the season's second divisional game. Former JPM head coach Eric Spencer was in the house, he's on the Hempfield staff as an assistant coach. McCaskey's last victory was under his watch in week #3 of the 2018 season, on this night the program's losing streak reached an even twenty with a 45-7 setback. The lone score for McCaskey came in the second quarter on a 93-yard kickoff return by Issac Burks, JPM trailed at the half 22-7 and was outscored 23-0 after the break. The club's four-game homestand continues on the 9th when perennial powerhouse Wilson visits, from there (as it stands right now) the rest of the season is on the road. Take care, thanks for reading.

September 21-30

Back at McCaskey on the 25th for the second week of football season, Cedar Crest visited from Lebanon County for a divisional matchup. The setup remained the same in terms of procedure, no tickets sold or fans permitted but the game was livestreamed which will undoubtedly continue since by all accounts the first week went well. At halftime I was in the "comfort station" under the grandstand when one of Cedar Crest's bus drivers entered and said to me "sir, may I ask you a question? Are you 'Frenchy'?". This gentleman played in the old Lancaster Recreation Softball League at Conlin Field in the mid-1970s when I was cutting my teeth on the PA there as a teenager, he said he heard That Voice on this occasion and figured it had to be me. He told me he had been at a hockey game in Reading a few years back and recognized my voice there as well. It's always good to be noticed especially when it comes from someone who goes back forty-five years. In the game itself JPM led 3-0 at the half on a Sam Hershey 42-yard field goal, after the break Cedar Crest came alive and ran out to a 27-3 advantage. In the fourth quarter Issac Burks found the end zone on a 51-yard catch-and-run from Matthew Remash, the same combination hooked up for the two-point conversion to bring the final score to 27-11. The record drops to 0-2 and the road gets no easier, Hempfield visits on October 2 followed by Wilson on the 9th. Take care, thanks for reading.

September 1-20

The ninth month of 2020 began on a Tuesday, the following Monday was Labor Day aka The Last Day Of Summer (although a case can be made that we had very little summer and almost no spring at all). On the 8th the school board met and voted to green-light the fall sports season at McCaskey. It wasn't a landslide decision but many of the student-athletes were there and made their feelings known which certainly must have influenced the decision. On the 14th a federal judge in Pittsburgh ruled on a lawsuit brought against the governor by several businesses and other concerned parties. The verdict was that most of the governor's edicts and mandates were unconstitutional and in violation of the first and fourteenth amendments, as a result the stay-home orders, limits on public gatherings and "non-essential" business closures are null and void. The governor responded by announcing he will appeal the verdict and seek a stay of judgement. We all knew this was going to eventually get messier (it's been messy for months) but it's good to see somebody finally standing up to what has been in my opinion (and millions of others as well) a terrible example of government overreach. The football team at McCaskey was scheduled to play at Lebanon on the 11th, with the first three weeks of the season canceled that game instead became the team's only pre-season scrimmage. The schedule began for real at home on the 18th as Elizabethtown visited for the season's lone non-divisional game. Despite the federal ruling the school district barred fans from attending on this night, the only live spectators were the McCaskey band, the cheerleading squad and various members of each team's support staff. The school set up a live internet stream of the game which slightly affected the way I do my job, since the score and time remaining was not always on-screen I made a point to update the viewers periodically and especially on changes of possession. This was the start of my 33rd year on the PA at McCaskey and the second year for Sam London as head coach. The program was 0-10 in his first year, on this night the losing streak was extended as E-town won easily 42-6. The game was scoreless through one quarter, in the second the visitors struck for three touchdowns and led 21-0 at the half. The Red Tornado got on the board in the third quarter on a 12-yard scamper by Josiah Gray but E-town responded in kind on the next drive and the outcome was never really in doubt. Not the beginning anybody wanted but for me personally it felt damned good to be back in the Air Chair (for the first time since the Royals season ended early on March 8) even though it was strange with no fans in attendance. The most important thing is THE KIDS GOT TO PLAY. The club hosts Cedar Crest on the 25th. Take care, thanks for reading.

August 17-31

As the second half of August began there was major news breaking regarding high school athletics. The PIAA (the governing body of HS sports in Pennsylvania) announced a delay of the fall season, for football in particular the delay forces the first three weeks of the season to be canceled. The revised schedule called for practices to begin on the 31st with the first games on the weekend of September 18-19. For the Lancaster-Lebanon League that means each school plays just one non-league game followed by its six-game league schedule, at McCaskey that means four consecutive home games followed by the final three on the road. The city school board subsequently announced a vote scheduled for September 8 at which time the decision whether or not to proceed with all the fall sports programs will be made. I guess they want to monitor the first week of practices and if all goes well the green light will be given. There were several school districts across the state announcing they would not participate in the fall season, I certainly hope the rug doesn't get pulled out from under the kids at JPM. The spring sports teams lost their seasons and the various summer athletic programs (the county youth baseball league included) reported no massive outbreaks so maybe the worst of it is indeed behind us. There are those who believe it was never as dangerous as it was portrayed (and to a degree I'm one of them) and after five-and-a-half months of "two weeks to flatten the curve" the public-at-large has just about HAD IT. I never doubted from the start that the situation was real and caution was warranted but sooner or later the political games must end and the public MUST be allowed to make their own decisions without constant interference from the state government (which has been inconsistent and confusing at best). Take care, thanks for reading.

August 1-16

The county youth baseball league schedule leaked over into early August, there was one final game at Community Park on Wednesday the 5th. The 12u team in Section Three lost to Donegal Black finishing their season at 2-7. The Section Two team finished 6-4 and the Salsa club in the 10u league was 6-3. The entire league featured eighty-four teams among the three age groups (14u, 12u and 10u) and obviously there were many communities represented by multiple teams. For example Mountville fielded eleven different teams (Giants, Cubs, Indians, Nationals, Pirates, Tigers, Phillies, Yankees, Orioles, Red Sox and Angels), by contrast Lancaster did not field a team in the 14u division. Before the game on the 5th one of the coaches approached me and asked which of the players was "mine". I explained that I had no personal connections to anyone, I was just there to watch a ballgame. These are city kids, I'm a city guy, many of them may one day play at McCaskey and with my association there it's only right to come out and support them. He seemed to genuinely appreciate all that since most of the spectators at these games are related in some way to one or more of the players. The midpoint of the month marked a special occasion, the 16th was Jenny's birthday. There was a time when she looked forward to it but in recent years her enthusiasm has waned somewhat, I guess she thinks there's some sort of a stigma involved. None of that matters to me, we've been together for close to nineteen years and I love her as much as I ever have. Her birthday fell on a Sunday, I asked her if she wanted to do lunch on that day or on Saturday as usual, she elected the latter. She didn't ask for anything specific in terms of a gift but I think she'll like what she got. Take care, thanks for reading.

July 17-31

The latter part of July featured five nights of youth baseball, on the 20th and and 30th the 10u Salsa team played at Davey Arnold Field. On the 20th they lost to the Cocalico Eagles, on the 30th they won over Hempfield Red. The 12u team in Section Two played at Community Park on the 23rd and lost to the Mountville Yankees. The 12u Section Three club played on consecutive Fridays, winning over Hempfield on the 24th and losing to the Mountville Tigers on the 31st. On the 26th Jenny's friend had a birthday party for her older daughter at the same park south of town where she had her younger daughter's party in June. This gathering was somewhat better-attended than the previous get-together, I imagine a Sunday was just better for more people than that Saturday had been. Jenny and I have been doing our usual twice-weekly lunch dates although our usual spot has not yet reopened for eat-in service, I merely order our subs to go and we eat at her house. It has been better than four months since this "two weeks to flatten the curve" nonsense started in March and if our illustrious governor and secretary of health have their way there's no telling how much longer it will continue. As they used to say on TV: stay tuned. Take care, thanks for reading.

July 1-16

The second half of 2020 started the same way the first half ended with everyday life existing in a continual state of uncertainty. I contacted Jon Mitchell at McCaskey to let him know I'm still around, he said the fall sports season and any involved protocols are still being discussed. The start of the county youth baseball league has restored a small degree of normalcy, through the first half of the month I enjoyed five nights of warm sunshine and fresh air outdoors (which any doctor would tell you is much more beneficial than being locked up inside all day long). On back-to-back Thursdays I was at Community Park for games with the 12u club in Section Two, on the 2nd they won over the Mountville Phillies and on the 9th they defeated the Cocalico White Eagles. On the 13th I was at Davy Arnold Field (an old familiar haunt from my days as a teenager) for a game in the 10u league. The team at this level is officially known as Lancaster Salsa, on this night they lost to the Mountville Nationals. In the summer of 1972 I was involved with a Midget League team that played a number of games at Davy Arnold Field, the place hasn't changed much from those days (except for the lights for games after dark, they've been gone for decades). On the 15th at Community Park the 12u Section Three team lost to Solanco Gray, the next night the Section Two club lost to the Manheim Township Thunder. As it stands there are six more games I can get to before the season ends providing the weather cooperates. Jenny and I are having our regular twice-weekly lunch dates, we missed out for better than two months because of what can only be called government overreach so we're making up for lost time (as will most of our society once this ongoing BS is finally ended). Take care, thanks for reading.

June 16-30

Time marches on in what some are calling a "new normal" but to me it's nothing but temporary BS. Jenny has a friend with two young daughters, on Saturday the 20th she held a birthday party for her three-year-old at a county park just south of the city. The get-together lasted for about two hours, just long enough for the little one to understand it was all for her. Jenny, her mother and I were among the ten or twelve people there, others were invited but apparently either had plans or were perhaps hesitant over being out and about. For my part I'm long since past any so-called fear because it's been largely disproved, when I'm in public I can give other people their space and not crowd anyone unnecessarily. I'm not around anybody in particular for long enough to be overly concerned, the only people I see with any regularity are Jenny and her mother and that's usually just two days a week for lunch. When I'm there we sit apart in an attempt for security and so far we've all been fine. The last time they were at my place was in February before the hockey season ended early, they haven't been in since because baseball season never started at all. On Monday the 29th I was out of the house after the supper hour for the first time in SIXTEEN WEEKS, the county's youth baseball league belatedly started its season. The high school age division was canceled completely because most of its teams use school-property facilities which remain unavailable but the 14-and-under, 12-and-under and 10-and-under divisions are playing on fields in public parks. The city's recreation commission sponsers two teams in the 12u league and one in the 10u league, on this night the 12u team in Section Three played a home game in Lancaster Community Park (on the west side of town about three miles from my place). The boys lost to Donegal Green (from Mount Joy) but for me it just felt good to be out in the fresh air and sunshine at a game again. Yes, it wasn't a pro game or even a college or high school game but it was a BALLGAME and that's all that mattered. The 12u team in Section Two also plays at Community Park, the 10u team plays its games at Davy Arnold Field which is only about a mile from my house. The season runs through the month of July. Take care, thanks for reading.

June 1-15

The sixth month of 2020 began on a Monday with our county in the sixty-seventh day of "lockdown" and the nation-at-large in virtual chaos. Jenny and I spoke on the phone in the evening, she and her mother were cleaning up the apartment and wanted to move some furniture around. I told her I would come to visit for lunch on Tuesday and help them. At this point I don't much care about the so-called regulations anymore, what legitimate purpose they may have ever served has long since expired and the public-at-large has realized it. I hadn't been to their apartment since the stupidity started on March 27 and it felt damn good to be there, as far as I'm concerned we're getting back on schedule no matter what anyone says. There has been a lot of criticism of the way the governor and the secretary of health have handled this matter (and in my opinion most of it is warranted), on June 3 the simmering pot finally boiled over. A rally was held on that day in the state capital which on the surface was commendable because the cause was worthy, it's one I can easily support myself. The problems arose when the governor elected to actively participate and by doing so violated most every edict he has forced on the public since March. The gathering numbered more than 25 people (which is supposed to be outlawed), there was very little "social distancing" (which is what the public is supposed to be doing) and many in the group were not wearing facemasks (perhaps the biggest no-no of the bunch). His actions came under fire almost immediately and it only worsened when a photo of him at the rally featured a citizen in the background holding a sign bearing a very strong anti-police sentiment. His involvement was explained away as being "necessary" during troubled times but it still flies in the face of what the public has been advised (or "told") to do. Public health advocates added fuel to the fire by claiming that protesting is a civil right (even during an alleged pandemic) and a gathering of that type is not to be confused with other types of similar gatherings especially those for protest of stay-home orders. The level of hypocrisy in that statement is absolutely embarrassing, it's as if the virus can tell WHY your group has assembled, how many people are in it and will attack accordingly. It would be hilarious if it wasn't so ridiculous. On June 9 the state legislature finally acted with the bipartisan passing of a resolution immediately ending the governor's emergency proclamation (originally issued in March and renewed when it expired on June 6), he responded by refusing to acknowledge the legislature's right to do so and reaffirming his proclamation. A nasty court battle is in the offing regarding who has power over who (one state senator called it a "constitutional crisis") and it's not hyperbole to say the future of this entire state could be in the balance. Take care, friends. Thanks for reading.