Baseball in FLA

jetz · March 01, 2013, 07:59:38 AM

We start with the Bonnies tomorrow in chilly Port Charlotte. Temps in Florida in the high 50s/low 60s thru Monday. We'll take it but....jeez! We haven't scored more than three runs in a game this year. Gotta get the bats going on this trip.

LaPorteAveApostle · March 01, 2013, 08:17:56 AM

First couple weeks in March down here are the worst.

Still, "if thees ees torture, chain me to the WALL!"

valpotx · March 01, 2013, 11:51:48 AM

Hopefully we do get the bats going, as well as a solid defense behind our pitching!

valporun · March 02, 2013, 11:40:18 AM

Following the baseball game against St. Bonaventure, the @BonniesBaseball leads our Crusaders, 3-2, in the 6th. The "live stats" link on the d1baseball.com site is the Twitter feed for St. Bonaventure, so I didn't use the Twitter handle to upset the apple cart here. Kyle Wormington had the start, must have gone 5 innings, not real clear from Twitter, but we had a 2-1 lead after 4. Gave up a single, a double, and a single, to give up the lead in the 5th. We got the lead somewhere on 3 singles and a wild pitch, but like I said above, not real clear from Twitter.

valporun · March 02, 2013, 12:05:00 PM

Valpo pushes a run across on a saftey squeeze in the 8th to tie the game at 3.

valporun · March 02, 2013, 12:22:48 PM

The Bonnies retake the lead. It's now 4-3 in the 8th in Port Charlotte. Wish the Twitter update had a little more detail about how the run was scored.

valporun · March 02, 2013, 12:32:48 PM

Valpo scores two more to take a 5-4 lead into the 9th. Like I said, don't know how they scored. @BonniesBaseball isn't updating that very clearly.

valporun · March 02, 2013, 12:41:29 PM

A good start to the Florida trip. Valpo comes back in the bottom of the 8th to win the game, 5-4, over St. Bonaventure. Thanks to @BonniesBaseball for the Twitter updates. Ryan Wronkowicz told me in the past, and I'm sure valpotx can vouch for this, but a lot of the Florida Spring Break games are played at side fields on MLB Spring Training sites, most of which have been unused since the former occupants left for new Florida digs, or left Florida for Arizona. These parks aren't equipped with the amenities for audio/video and internet updating from a "press row" setting.

valpotx · March 02, 2013, 01:19:38 PM

Good to see, and I was disappointed at no live stats as well. The more wins we get in the early part of the season, the better! We usually start off pretty poor, so if we can stay close to .500, we will have a special season in regards to wins

jetz · March 02, 2013, 03:55:34 PM

I am here in FL and will have someone give decent updates for the game tomorrow. We will see how it goes from there. May have battery issues but we'll try. Log in here at game time for updates. You're welcome.

Enrico Palazzo · March 02, 2013, 07:26:21 PM

Wish I could give you guys live stats, but there is no internet connection out at the fields. To worsen that situation, I'm the official scorer for most, if not all, of the games at Port Charlotte & Winter Haven (which takes up 98% of my time). I wish I could do more for you guys, especially while in Florida.

VULB#62 · March 03, 2013, 07:23:10 AM

The boys take on Northeastern University today. Gotta beat those Huskies. Not often do I see Valpo competing against New England teams, so this is one of special interest for me.

The string of games against the Bonnies, NU, G'Town and Villanova is a good barometer of team readiness as compared to other cold weather programs. Doing that in the relative warmth of west FLA allows for loosening arms and speedier bats in a realistically competitive situation. USF will be within our competitive range as well. So far they are 3-6 and just split the first two of three with Toledo. They did hammer Purdue 20-2 back on 2/16 but lost all three vs. Florida State.

BTW, when the team plays at USF, here's where they'll be playing:

USF Baseball Stadium
Opened for the 2011 season, the USF Baseball Stadium lays on the foot print of its predecessor Red McEwen Field, which was home to USF baseball from 1967 to 2010.

It is a part of a shared complex with the equally impressive USF Softball Stadium, which it shares a concourse with.

It was was a piece of the $35 million dollar USF Athletic District facility upgrades, which included construction of new baseball and softball stadiums, a state-of-the-art basketball facility, new football practice fields and a new soccer stadium. The baseball stadium includes step-down team dugouts, bullpens, covered batting cages, multiple party pavilions, a press box and a 1,500 seat spectator grandstand with a shade canopy, an elevated, shaded hospitality deck and service amenities. The overall capacity of the stadium is 3,211 and is being designed to accommodate additional seating that will enable USF to host NCAA Regionals and Super Regionals.

jetz · March 03, 2013, 08:15:23 AM

Tentative plans for the Round Table in Port Charlotte: Tuesday, March 5 at 5:00p or so at Harpoon Harry's. This is where the team is staying--it's a condo/shopping/dining area called Fisherman's Wharf. Just park in visitor's parking, walk into the main shopping area in the middle, and walk to the back right on the water. You'll pass several stores on the way in the covered arcade. Here's the address and phone:

1200 W Retta Esplanade Punta Gorda, FL 33950
(941) 637-1177

All are welcome. We are seeing a couple of displaced Valpo fans down here. This will be one of three RT's we will host on this Florida trip.

BTW, my wife has a hotspot so we will have updates here during the game. I'll use a bunch of parents to take turns, so it should be interesting. Ask questions if you'd like. Joe and Lesa Vavra have offered us all free tickets to the Twins game after we play today. Not sure how many are going but it's a nice offer...

My quick takes on yesterday--Mahar was excellent. Came in the game in the sixth w/ bases loaded, no out, and got out of it with no damage. Great slider yesterday fooled the home plate ump a couple of times. Best he's been at Valpo.

Worm was average. Velo in the mid 80's, and they had a few multiple hit innings against him. We didn't help him defensively by booting a couple of balls. Martin came alive at the plate with three hits and four times on base. Mahoney had a huge hit in the eighth. Vavra beat out a two out bunt to tie the game. We are showing a spark of offense. Need Manning and Loeffler to come alive. More later...

Valposter · March 03, 2013, 10:03:36 AM

Quote from: jetz on March 03, 2013, 08:15:23 AM
Tentative plans for the Round Table in Port Charlotte: Tuesday, March 5 at 5:00p or so at Harpoon Harry's. This is where the team is staying--it's a condo/shopping/dining area called Fisherman's Wharf. Just park in visitor's parking, walk into the main shopping area in the middle, and walk to the back right on the water. You'll pass several stores on the way in the covered arcade. Here's the address and phone:

1200 W Retta Esplanade Punta Gorda, FL 33950
(941) 637-1177

All are welcome. We are seeing a couple of displaced Valpo fans down here. This will be one of three RT's we will host on this Florida trip.

BTW, my wife has a hotspot so we will have updates here during the game. I'll use a bunch of parents to take turns, so it should be interesting. Ask questions if you'd like. Joe and Lesa Vavra have offered us all free tickets to the Twins game after we play today. Not sure how many are going but it's a nice offer...

My quick takes on yesterday--Mahar was excellent. Came in the game in the sixth w/ bases loaded, no out, and got out of it with no damage. Great slider yesterday fooled the home plate ump a couple of times. Best he's been at Valpo.

Worm was average. Velo in the mid 80's, and they had a few multiple hit innings against him. We didn't help him defensively by booting a couple of balls. Martin came alive at the plate with three hits and four times on base. Mahoney had a huge hit in the eighth. Vavra beat out a two out bunt to tie the game. We are showing a spark of offense. Need Manning and Loeffler to come alive. More later...

Thanks for the updates Jetz! For those of us following the team closely from the Midwest, it is much appreciated! By the way, how did Karch look yesterday?

jetz · March 03, 2013, 10:11:24 AM

Valpo is Visitors today. In top of 1st inning, Vavra stranded after getting a single with 1 out.

jetz · March 03, 2013, 10:14:33 AM

Webb strikes out first two batters and gets a lazy fly to RF to end inning.

jetz · March 03, 2013, 10:17:11 AM

Mahoney leads off 2nd with line double down RF line. Steals 3B w no throw. Manning called out on strikes.

jetz · March 03, 2013, 10:20:02 AM

Cribbs lines single between short and third to give Valpo the lead. Hara called out on wide curve ball.

jetz · March 03, 2013, 10:25:37 AM

Leadoff man in 2nd for Northeastern pops to CF. Next batter is frozen on inside fast ball on full count for 2nd out. Next batter grounds to Mahoney at short. 3 up; 3 down. After 2, Valpo 1, NE 0.

jetz · March 03, 2013, 10:31:14 AM

Bain leads off 3rd with well hit fly to CF for 1st out. Vavra hit by pitch. Mormon lines to RF with hit and run on. Vavra cannot get back to first in time so inning ends on the DP.

jetz · March 03, 2013, 10:36:42 AM

Lead off man for NE grounds out to Mahoney @ SS. Webb strikes out next batter swinging at a nasty change. Next batter lines to Mormon in right to end inning. After 3, Valpo 1, NE 0.

jetz · March 03, 2013, 10:40:07 AM

Elliott Martin leads off 4th. Martin batting clean up today. He one hops one to 3B for 1st out. Bynum is DHing today and batting 5th. Bynum tops a slow roller that 3B cannot handle for an error.

jetz · March 03, 2013, 10:43:13 AM

Mahoney lays down a sacrifice and they just get him at first. Manning up with a runner in scoring position. Manning hits a screamer but a terrific play by NE SS as he jumps high to get it and end inning. Webb to face the top of the order in bottom of 4.

jetz · March 03, 2013, 10:45:50 AM

Leadoff man is hit with 2nd pitch but umpire rules it a strike. Mild argument goes nowhere and Martin catches soft liner to 3B for 1st out.

jetz · March 03, 2013, 10:48:36 AM

Next batter hits 2 hopper to Vavra @ 2B for 2nd out. 3rd hitter grounds a full count fast ball to Mahoney @ SS to end the inning. Still 1-0 Valpo after 4.