Game 7: Gone Fishin!

If you've followed our site for the past few years, probably the Bridgeport Bluefish have gotten the 2nd most coverage to our hometown Lancaster Barnstormers.  Bridgeport has always been our "other" team in the Atlantic League mostly because of Luis Lopez and Adam Greenberg.  They were in town this weekend and dad and Gavin were going over Saturday night.  Gavin was  really excited to get to see Luis again and was even sporting his all star shirt from 2011!  They got there early and Gavin had his Bluefish cards out to sign.  Adam Greenberg is on the DL and didn't make the trip but we did have other Bluefish cards to get signed. 

Gavin with Luis Lopez

2011 All Star shirt

Gavin got to talk to Luis for a while and fill him in on our seasons and hear about how the Bluefish were doing too.  One of our other favorite former Barnstormers, Iggy Suarez, is now with the Bluefish so it was fun catching up with him as well.  All the other guys signed and were really nice, especially Alexis Gomez.  He introduced himself to Gavin and talked for a couple of minutes while signing some cards.  After we went home we did find some more cards of him too!  We can't wait to see the Fish again and are excited because they will have a team card set this year for the first time since 2008! 

As for the game, it was a great pitchers duel that the Barnstormers won 1-0.  Post game fireworks shot off from the field ended a great night of baseball and catching up with some of our favorite ballplayers.  Luis gave Gavin his wristband after the game too...he has finally taken it off.  :)

Gavin with Luis' wrist band

He wore his new wrist band to bed!

Today's Autographs:  21
2013 Autographs: 110
2013 My donation: $5.50

The Real Good Guys

We attend many Atlantic League games during the season, but Saturday night we had the opportunity to watch one on ESPN.  The center of the baseball world has been firmly planted in Sugar Land, Texas this week with the much anticipated return to the mound of Roger Clemens.

Roger Clemens

Obviously the attention was all on Clemens.  As the lineups were given and the Skeeters took the field, the boys were cheering LOUD...but not for Clemens.  While they were excited to see him pitch like the rest of us, they were more excited to see the "other" guys...guys they know.

"Look dad, there's Vic!"  "Dad, Iggy is starting at short!"  "I can't believe Octavio gets to catch Roger Clemens". "Why is Hagen not starting?"  "There's Mr. Upshaw!"  "Mom, Luis is getting ready to bat" Those were just a few of the things Debbie and I got to hear as we were watching the game. 

While the opportunity to watch one of baseball's greatest pitchers of all time was special, we would never trade it for the impact the "other" guys have made on our boys lives.  The Atlantic League is full of these guys that we get to know and watch each summer.  While many said the Atlantic League would have a chance to shine Saturday night, it definitely did and continues to shine bright in our house...Thanks!

Luis Lopez

Octavio Martinez

Iggy Suarez

Matt Hagen

Vic Gutierrez