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Early hitting season continued as the Fightin’s smashed four home runs enroute to a 7 to 1 victory in the second game of this home series against the Washington Nationals.   Chase Utley smoked two long balls driving in three runs.  Utley now has seven home runs on the young season.  Raul Ibanez continued to impress as he stroked two more hits including his seventh home run of the season, a solo shot in the eighth inning.   Phillie fans have adopted a new chant of RAUUULL when Ibanez comes to the plate.  He has added alot to the team makeup both on and off the diamond, class act indeed !

Pedro Feliz also belted a home run, his second of the season.  Feliz had a two hit ballgame as well.  Shane Victorino had a two hit offensive effort also.   The only downer of the night was when starting pitcher Cole Hamels turned his ankle in the fifth inning while fielding a ground ball.  Hamels had to leave the contest and was in obvious pain.   We will have to wait and see how severe the injury is.  Chad Durbin threw three and two thirds innings of stellar relief behind Hamels and iron man pitcher Clay Condrey threw the ninth frame to close out the game.  With the win the Phillies record improved to 11 and 8, pending the outcome of the Marlins/Mets game they could wake up in first place in the N.L.  East in the morning.

Chattter

When Ibanez hit his grand slam home run last night it was the 26th grand slam in the majors this April !  That seems like an unreal number, maybe we need to launch an investigation into juiced baseballs again………. or bad pitching !   Carlos Ruiz suffered a setback in his rehab assignment at Triple A affiliate Lehigh Valley and was shut down again, Ruiz was back in Philly for medical review.  Brad Lidge has inflamation of the knee and according to the skipper is day to day.  The Hamels injury is concerning, last season the team went relatively injury free over the season’s course, J-Roll was hurt in the early part of the season and Utley played with a bad hip in the second half but for the most part the team avoided long term breaks in service.   The season is a marathon so the depth the team has built up in the minors will indeed be tested a bit it seems.  

It was Charlie Manuel bobblehead night at the park and the game was a sellout, look on e-bay for folks looking to sell ‘em!

Charlie Manuel has a saying that when the weather gets warm that it becomes “Hittin Season” as the air is still and humid and the ball pops off the bat.  Usually in those conditions the scores are high and the home runs aplenty in Citizens Bank Park……..well “Hittin Season” came a bit early as the Washington Nationals and the Phillies pounded each other in a hitting barrage ending in a 13 to 11 winning Phillies conclusion.

Joe Blanton started the game well for the Fightin’s as he struck out the side in the first inning but it was not a vision of things to come.  Blanton got tagged for six runs and eight hits and could only last 4 and 1/3 innings.  Scott Eyre also got tagged for four runs in relief as the Phillies had to use five relievers in the game.  Washington smoked five home runs including two long blasts by Ryan Zimmerman.   Nick Johnson, Adam Dunn and Elijah Dukes also belted taters.

The Fightins did some “hittin” on thier own.  Ryan Howard belted a grand slam in the fifth inning to bring the game to a 6 all tie.  The Fightins fell behind again  11 to 7 but the team kept battling and with the count 11 to 9 and bases juiced in the eighth Raul Ibanez hit another grand slamalie to put the game away !

Ryan Madson pitched the ninth frame to earn his first save of the season and the Fightins won another come from behind effort !   Ibanez and Jimmie Rollins each had three hit ballgames, great to see J-Roll bust out of his season long slump.   Shane Victorino, Chase Utley and Pedro Feliz each had two hit ballgames.   The Phillies pounded out 14 hits while the Nationals had 12………… “Hittin Season” indeed.

Chatter

Brad Lidge did not even warm up in this one and the ninth was indeed a save situation, not sure if it was just to rest him from throwing over 40 pitches on Saturday or if there is a problem otherwise.  Stay tuned,  Madson was chucking in the high 90′s in this one again but we need them both at the back end to win ballgames against the tough teams.

Clay Condrey threw well in relief again albeit he did walk in a run in an inherited bases loaded jam.  Condrey has three wins on the season and his sinker has been really good in the early season.

The Phillies came into this weekend’s three game series with Florida staggering a bit with a record of 6 wins and 8 losses coming off two straight series losses at home.   The offense was stagnant till the friday night ninth inning wakeup call where they scored seven runs.   On Saturday night they faced another of the Marlin’s young stud starters in Chris Volstad.    Volstad threw seven strong innings and left with a 4 to 3 lead.  The Marlin bullpen, however, once again blew the game as the Phillies tied the game in the ninth and won it in the tenth !   Big late game hits were delivered by Chase Utley, Ryan Howard, Matt Stairs and Raul Ibanez.   Ibanez is a true pro hitter and continues to be impressive in his game approach and delivery.   Chan Ho Park belted a solo home run early in the game and actually threw a nice game going seven innings while allowing four runs.

Ryan Madson picked up the win in relief and Brad Lidge earned his fourth save of the season albeit a bit shakey in the outing. 

On Sunday afternoon Jamie Moyer continued his dazzlement of the youthful Marlins as he tossed six innings to earn his third win of the young season.  The Phillies jumped on Florida starter Graham Taylor and knocked him out in the fourth inning.  Shane Victorino had a big offensive day out of the leadoff spot driving in four runs with two hits.  Ryan Howard had a two hit ballgame and Pedro Feliz had three hits in the game.  Chad Durbin and J.A. Happ finished up behind Moyer to close out the victory. 

With the sweep the Phillies increased the early season record to 9 and 8.  Florida has lost six straight and is now 11 and 7.

Chatter

It is true that the Marlins have great young starting pitching but they are lacking in the little things of the game, baserunning, fielding and common baseball sense are all things they severely lack in.   It is a reflection of having a young team that learns the trade in the major leagues rather than at the minor league level.  It is why, in my opinion, they will not win over the long haul of the season. 

Kudo’s to my son, Nolan, for completing his college baseball career this weekend.  He set a school record with 19 appearances this season as a pitcher including throwing in three consecutive games this weekend.  His final college game was an eight inning effort as a starter on Saturday, this after throwing two and 1/3 innings on Friday and 1/3 of an inning in game 1 of a doubleheader on Saturday.  He is a tough minded young man, not afraid of any situation or obstacle and always  the ultimate team player………. as his dad I am indeed very proud.  Good job Nolan !

With the death of Mr. Kalas earlier this week it has been hard to concentrate on baseball games for all in Philadelphia including me.  The mourning period continued prior to the game on Friday at Citizen’s Bank Park, ( the first home game post Harry), as there were ceremonies to honor Harry the K.  His three son’s each threw out first pitches, caught by Mike Schmidt, John Kruk and Jimmy Rollins respectively.  Kane Kalas then sang an opera version of our National Anthem that was very stirring and emotional.

Cole Hamels took the mound for the game and left with a  7 to 5 lead after seven but Ryan Madson got hit around in the eighth frame giving up three runs and the Phillies lost to San DIego 8 to 7.   Chase Utley homered in the first inning of the game and had two hits.  Shane Victorino, Chris Coste and Pedro Feliz each had two hits while Raul Ibanez had three.

On Saturday Harry Kalas’s body lay in repose at home plate of the stadium from 8 am to 3 pm as thousands of fan’s paid last respects.   A memorial service was held from 1:30 to 3.  RIP Harry, we finally must say good bye.

Saturday’s game started at 7 pm with Brett Myers taking the hill.  Raul Ibanez staked Myers to an early lead with a solo second inning home run.  The Padres scored the next three to go up 3 to 1 before Myers doubled in the fifth and eventually scored on a Shane Victorino sacrifice fly.  Ryan Howard tied the game in the sixth with a solo blast to left. 

Ryan Madson gave up the go ahead run to the Padres in the eighth as he struggled once again.  Chase Utley bailed Madson out with a solo homer in the home eighth to tie the game.  Raul Ibanez scored the go ahead run for the Phillies in the same inning as he singled, went to third on a Jayson Werth single and touched the plate on a Pedro Feliz sacrifice fly to right field. 

However, Brad Lidge could not hold the lead in the ninth, for the first time in his Phillie career, as the Padres initially scored the tieing run, LIdge’s streak of consecutive saves ended at 47 for regular season chances.  The Philly fans, albeit disappointed,  gave Lidge an ovation in acknowledging a remarkable run but were even more disappointed as Lidge then walked  two batters with two outs recorded and gave up a three run bomb to Kevin Kouzmanhoff to put the Fightin’s down by three !  Lidge was lifted at that point but did not hear any boo’s as he departed, one time courtesy I suspect.

 Heath Bell pitched the ninth in each game to earn saves.  He leads the league in the early going in that category.

Chatter

Jamie Moyer goes tommorrow afternoon against the Padres in game three of the series.  The four game stint concludes on Monday evening.  This series represents the only San Diego visit to Philly this season.    The Phillies team record is now 4 wins and 6 losses.

1971 was the first year that I truly became enthraled with the Phillies as a fan.  It was the initial year of the new Veterans Stadium and also the beginning of a legendary broadcasting career.  Harry Kalas joined the Phillies that year replacing Bill Campbell in the booth.   I remember listening to games at night broadcast on the radio, (back in those days no cable and not every game was a TV broadcast!), with the melodic tones of Harry Kalas along with Richie Ashburn and Byrum Saam.   The team was not that good back in those days but Harry and Richie clicked in how they called games and to a young fan like myself painted a fascinating picture of the games they were describing. 

Some 38 years later, today in fact, Harry the K stopped calling Phillies games.  Harry was preparing for today’s broadcast of the game against the Washington Nationals and collapsed in the booth.   For Phillie fans today is a sad sad day as the voice that many of us grew up with has now joined Richie at the big ballyard in heaven. 

I never talked to Harry Kalas yet I feel that I knew him.  When my youngest son Nolan, some 22 years ago, was born I wrote to Mr. Kalas and asked if he could possibly send me an autographed baseball from Nolan Ryan as my wife and I had named our son after Mr. Ryan.   I did not truly expect that Mr. Kalas would actually answer my note but to my surprise a few weeks later we received two signed baseballs in the mail,  both signed by Nolan Ryan !  Mr. Kalas even put a note in the envelope congratulating us on our son’s birth and extoling Mr. Ryan as well as a great man to emulate!  A few years later we took our family to Clearwater to catch spring training.   My wife saw Mr. Kalas walking by on his way to the announcers booth and asked him if he might pose for a picture with our son Nolan.  He graciously allowed us to take the picture, she explained to him that we had sent him the autograph request years back and albeit I doubt he remembered our individual story he acknowledged such and made her feel very welcome in the conversation with him!  That was the only time we ever met but it was a lifetime impression!

During today’s telecast his fellow announcers struggled with keeping thier emotions but to a man recalled Harry as a truly kind and sincere man.  In particular Larry Anderson and Scott Frantzke on the radio had difficulty fighting back the tears as the game unfolded, it was a testiment in itself to the impact of Harry the K.  

No longer will we hear that terrific voice with his patented calls of “Long Drive, Watch that baby…..outta here” !   In fact yesterday’s homer by Matt Stairs in the ninth inning was his last home run call, what an honor for Stairs eh!   We will all truly miss those calls but more so we will miss the optimism of Harry, the “high hopes”  approach to the Fightin’s chances albeit there were many years that he called games for not so good clubs!  Harry always made you feel comfortable, he always described the game as it came, no words too many or too little, it was like watching a game with your buddy or your dad all rolled into one.  He was just the perfect guy to call our games, he was the Phillies and we will sorely miss that feeling he provided that we might always win!  Even when he got on umpires it was with distinction…..remember those “straight down the middle for a ball” calls he would throw out there!

Harry Kalas was our friend albeit many of us never spoke to him, he was the calm to let us know it was just a game and the excitement to let us know it was more than that!  I loved Harry Kalas as many of us did that root for the Phillies and looked forward to his voice each and every game.  He will be sorely missed and it will take us all awhile to get over our loss of such a great man. 

Thank you Harry for a lifetime of memories, may you rest in peace……..say hi to Richie for us, we miss you both.

Chatter

I have failed to mention that the FIghtins are on a three game winning streak, today they beat the Nationals 9 to 8 riding home runs by Shane Victorino (He pointed up to announcers booth after crossing plate to honor Harry), Ryan Howard and Raul Ibanez.  Brad Lidge earned his third save and Jamie Moyer got the win.   Yesterday Chase Utley and Matt Stairs hit two run home runs in the eighth and ninth innings to claim a comeback 7 to 5 win over Colorado. The team record is now 4 and 3……….. doesn’t seem so important right now………. will take awhile.

Five games into the season and the Phillies found themselves in desperate need of a starting pitcher to give them extended innings.  Brett Myers stepped up and did just that against the Colorado Rockies as he pitched seven innings giving up only four hits albeit they were all dingers!  Myers, who has never lost to the Rockies or at Coors Field,  was pulled for a pinch hitter in the top of the eighth holding a 6 to 4 lead.   Good Job Brett!

Shane Victorino and Pedro Feliz each had three hit games for the Phillies.  Ryan Howard delivered a key blow in the third inning as he belted a bases clearing double.  Jayson Werth slugged a two run triple in the fifth inning and Raul Ibanez smoked a solo home run in the seventh frame.  Chase Utley had two hits in the game including a RBI single in the eighth.

Ryan Madson pitched a perfect eighth inning and has been very impressive in the early going, Madson has faced six batters and retired them all!  He is throwing serious gas as the heater is rushing up there in the 95-96 range which makes his changeup a devastating pitch when he uses it.  Excellent job so far Mr. Madson!

Brad Lidge pitched the ninth even though it was a non save situation, ( Phillies led by 4), to close out the win.   Lidge also heated up the fastball in the 95-96 range and worked a perfect inning.  If Madson and Lidge continue to throw like that then the Fightin’s are gonna be tough to beat as long as the starter’s can get a lead to them!

Chatter

As reported after last evening’s game Carlos Ruiz was put on the fifteen day disabled list with a strained oblique muscle and Lou Marson was called up from Triple A to back up Chris Coste who will assume the starting catcher roll till Ruiz is healthy again.   The Phillies go at the Rockies again tommorrow with Chan Ho Park making his Phillies debut as a starter.

Ok so now I am starting to get annoyed a bit.  Joe Blanton started things well enough by striking out the first two hitters in the game but then got tagged for a double followed by a two run bomb by Bryan McCann.  For the third straight game in 2009 the FIghtins trailed in a home game before ever swinging a bat !   Is it a sign that our starting staff may be an achilles heel or do we stay with the standard theme that it is early and no worries yet, a bit of both but these games do count so it is time to wake up boys else we dig a hole too deep!

Raul Ibanez tied the game in the Phillies second with his own two run dinger scoring Ryan Howard in front of him but Blanton could not hold the score as Atlanta exploded for five runs in the third.  Blanton was done after four frames being tagged for seven runs on nine hits !  J.A. Happ got tagged for two runs in his stint, one a bomb by rookie Jordan Schafer, his second of the young season already!    Chad Durbin could not find the plate in the seventh and actually walked in a run before being replaced.   Not good indeed!  Down 10 to 3 after six and one half  of play not something to brag about !

And then…… we woke up, sort of.  Bobby Cox had to use four relievers in the home seventh including his normal fifth starter as the Fightins batted around plus four to score 8 runs while only collecting four hits!  The Atltanta pen walked in four runs with the bases juiced and collectively walked five batters and hit another!   Key singles were delivered by Ibanez, Shane Victorino and Pedro Feliz. Phillie batters showed alot of patience in their at bats en route to gaining the team’s first lead of the season.

Ryan Madson pitched a perfect eighth to set up his bullpen buddy Brad Lidge.   Raul Ibanez led off the home eighth with yet another walk!  Pedro Feliz was giving himself up attempting to bunt Ibanez over but Jorge Campillo (Atlanta’s fifth starter) could not throw him a strike and the count went to 3-0 and Charlie gave Pedro a green light, he promptly doubled to left to knock Campillo out of the game !  Jeff Bennett came in for Atlanta and gave up a sacrifice fly RBI to pinch hitter Eric Bruntlett before working out of the inning. 

Lidge worked the ninth to earn his first save of the season, he was tagged by Mike Diaz for a solo bomb but struck out two to close it!  FInal Count :  Phillies 12 Braves 11……. my wife said in the sixth that alot of game was left and to not count our boys out!  She is quite the prophet eh!

Javier Vazquez pitched six effective innings for the Braves and should have earned the win.  The statement of the series still was that Atltanta starters did what was expected and ours did not,  the Phillies had many poor at bats in the series which were a combination of good Atlanta starting  pitching and poor approach by the Fightin’s.   The seventh inning comeback erased some of that especially the at bat by Ibanez who showed his hitting prowess by taking an outside pitch to left for a single rather than attempting to pull it.  Now the team goes on the road and must do more of what they showed in the later stages of this game.  The Atlanta pen could be their issue this year in light of what we saw in this series in games one and three.

Chatter

Pat Gillick was clearly overcome with emotion during the pre-game ring ceremony as he greeted each player, coach and clubhouse staff member to give them their rings.  Gillick’s tears symbolized heart felt emotions in conclusion of a great feat.  It was great to watch !  GIllick and team president David Montgomery will personally deliver the rings to each coach or player who could not attend the event, a real touch of class.  Speaking of a class act, So Taguchi did not attend the ceremony out of respect for his teammates this season on the Triple A Iowa Cubs, he felt that he should honor his committment to this year’s team instead, that is a team player truly defined ! 

Philly fans showed both sides of our colors by booing Adam Eaton and roundly cheering Pat Burrell.  Sometimes I just shake my head.   Cole Hamels takes the ball on Thursday in Colorado, perhaps the young ace can find our first starter’s win!  Stay tuned, still 159 to play.

Opening games always include alot of pre-game ceremony but especially when you are the defending champs.  The World Series Trophy was on prominent display as the team came onto the field from the stands amidst high fives from the fans!  Skipper Charlie Manuel helped raised the 2008 championship flag and player introductions were conducted for both teams.  It is time to play ball again and we as Phillies fans are more than ready!

Brett Myers toed the rubber for the opener for the Fightins vs Derek Lowe for the visiting Atlanta Braves.  Myers got juiced on a hanging changeup by Bryan McCann in the first inning for a two run homer scoring Chipper Jones in front of him.  Jeff Francour drilled a fastball over the left field wall to lead off the second and give Atlanta a three run lead, rookie Jordan Schafer then belted a solo home run as well in his first major league at bat!   Carlos Ruiz got the first 2009 Phillie hit as he doubled down the left field line in the bottom of the third.   At end of three though the count was 4-0 Braves.

Myers pitched six innings before being pulled for a pinch hitter.  He settled down after the second and held the Braves scoreless innings three thru six.   His curveball had that familiar bite in those innings as he went more to it and laid off the straight change which hurt him earlier.    Jack Taschner made his Phillies pitching debut in the 7th  and pitched a perfect inning striking out Chipper Jones to end the frame.    Scott Eyre and Chad Durbin combined to pitch a perfect eighth for the Fightins.  Lowe held the Phillies to only two hits thru eight frames as he excelled at being a ground ball machine by keeping the ball down in the zone whether it be sinkers or sliders.   He was excellent, would have looked nice in red pinstripes!   Brad Lidge pitched a perfect ninth for the Phillies.  

 Mike Gonzales came on for the ninth for Atlanta and was greeted by an Eric Bruntlett pinch double, after a flyout  he then scored on a Jayson Werth single.  Gonzales then made it interesting by walking Chase Utley but struck out Ryan Howard and Raul Ibanez to end the game.

  Final score Braves 4 Phillies 1, there goes the undefeated season !

Chatter

Jordan Schaffer became the 99th man in history to hit a home run in his first major league at bat.  Ryan Madson changed his uniform number to 46 instead of number 63 he has wore last season.  Jamie Moyer makes his 2009 debut on Tuesday night in game two going against Jair Jurrjens for the Braves. 

Tonight is opening night for the 2009 baseball season so it is time to make the old preseason picks as to how I expect the season to go.   It is great to be a fan of the defending champs but it will be just as great if the boys can do it again !   That being said here goes the picks for the season.

National League East

The Phillies have a tremendous nucleas, all of whom are in prime years of play.   The ability to run Ryan Howard, Chase Utley and Jimmy Rollins out there everyday will result in alot of wins.  Supplement that with folks like Shane Victorino, Jayson Werth, Raul Ibanez, Carlos Ruiz and Pedro Feliz and you have a very strong starting eight.  I think Werth is going to have a big year and also believe that Feliz will hit much better this year.  Ibanez is a pro and I think will be the “professional hitter” in the lineup that we missed at times last season. 

The key is pitching.  The starters were very good during the stretch run last season but that will need to be replicated and the pen has to be strong once again.  Brad Lidge most likely will not be perfect this year but he and Ryan Madson have to anchor the back end of games again for the team to win.

The Mets will be in the mix again, they also have two top notch players in David Wright and Jose Reyes.  Carlos Delgado and Carlos Beltran are also very good hitters in the core of the lineup.  They beefed up the pen with J.J. Putz and Francisco Rodriquez which was the achilles heal last season.  I don’t like their starting pitching so much and even with the addition of Gary Sheffield I don’t think the corner outfield spots are so strong.   In my opinion they are not as good as the Fightin’s and and I do not see them overtaking the Phillies.

Atlanta added Derek Lowe who I lobbied hard as a fan for the Phillies to pick up, he is a legit number one and will definitely help the Braves.  Beyond him I am not so sure they have alot of depth, the pen is anchored by Mike Gonzalez but I am not in love with the starting staff and middle pen, I think they could struggle there.  Brian McCann, Yunell Escobar and Chipper Jones present a very good offensive nucleas and Jeff Francour, Casey Kotchman and Kelly Johnson are all good players but I just don’t think this team is good enough to win the division.  Bobby Cox  is a very good manager so he will keep the team up and they will win games, just don’t think enough to make playoffs.

Florida is an interesting team and perhaps has the best starting pitching staff in the division.  Young arms like Ricky Nolasco, Chris Volstad and Josh Johnson are very formidable.  Matt Lindstrom throws bullets out of the pen but we will see if he can be consistent.  Hanley Ramirez is as good as anybody at shortstop and is capable of a MVP season.   I think they fall short in the outfield and not so sure that other than Dan Uggla and Jorge Cantu that anyone else offensively scares me too much.  I think they will surprise early and will ride the pitching but just don’t see them strong enough to win the division.

The Nationals added Adam Dunn to the offense and he will hit alot of bombs for Washington, he will also strike out alot as well!  They too have some young arms that could shine starting with John Lannan and the addition of  Scott Olsen from Florida.  Ryan Zimmerman may be the best third sacker in the league and Christian Guzman, Ronnie Belliard are good hitters.  The key to this team may be young outfielders Elijah Dukes and Lastings Milledge, if they play to potential then this team could move up in the division.

That all being said here is how I think it plays out :

1.  Phillies  2. Braves  3.  Mets  4.  Nationals  5.  Marlins

I think the Fightins have too much for the others in comparison, the key will be staying healthy as to how far they stretch ahead of the rest and/or if the divsion race is close. 

GO FIGHTINS !!!!!

Manny finally signed a contract, woohoo!  Seriously, does anyone outside of L.A. care ?  When alot of folks in the real world are either struggling to find work, worrying about losing work or working for not enough to pay their bills do we really care about this guy “struggling” to get his $45 million over two years ?  Manny being Manny wore thin last season and even more so this offseason.

Phillies Spring week in Review

The Phillies went 3 and 1 during the last four spring games beginning 3/1 with a win over the Atlanta Braves.  They then beat WBC Team Canada and the Toronto Jays but fell to WBC Team U.S.A.   Pitching highlights of the week were the spring debuts of Brett Myers and Cole Hamels.  Kyle Kendrick, J.A. Happ, Chan Ho Park and  Carlos Carrasco all threw during the week albeit none stood out with superior outings. 

On the offensive side Marcus Giles had a couple knocks against his old team, the Braves.  Ryan Howard belted a true bomb against the Jays while Raul Ibanez smoked a couple of doubles.  John Mayberry Jr. belted a dinger against Team Canada as did non roster invitee Jeremy Slayden.  Howard added another blast against Team U.S.A as did Jason Donald.

Injury Updates

Chris Coste continued to battle hamstring woes while Jayson Werth is taking it slow with leg issues.  Brad Lidge experienced shoulder tightness and also was taking a slow approach.  Better now than when the season starts!

Chatter

Nomar Garciappara signed a contract with the Oakland A’s ending speculation that he might become a Phillie.  That would seem to leave that right handed bat spot open to the likes of Ronny Paulino, Chris Coste, John Mayberry Jr. or perhaps Jeremy Slayden ???   Ok, maybe Slayden is a stretch but he is having a good spring at the least. 

Let me tell ya the Cal Ripken Experience baseball facilities in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina are top drawer!  Spent the week there and if the weather had cooperated it would have been great.  It was in the high 30′s for most of the week so not so great baseball weather.  I would recommend the site however to any college or high school team looking for a spring site for a great baseball experience!