March 11, 2015
(There is an exclusive in-game video in this blog at the end...)
Also this is a rather lengthy blog due to the combination of the days.
But please share, comment, or tweet this blog, or save any photos you would like.
10:00 amWe gathered in the lobby of the hotel and departed the parking lot on the bus to spend the rest of the day on the beach and at a Spring Training professional baseball game.
After the 1hour 15minute drive, Robbie Osterer, Travis Bigelow, Brandon Welch, Bryce Macdonald-Wilson and myself got dropped off to take in the ballgame at the Phillies Spring Training field in Clearwater, FL. We arrived approximately an hour and a half early, so we decided to walk around the magnificent park.
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It was such a beautiful park, with palm trees in right field, a standing-room grassy area in center, and a Tiki House in left.    "You know you've made it big time when your BP balls are white."  
PGA tour golfer Luke Guthrie threw out the Ceremonial First Pitch before the start of the game.
Cole Hamels tossed as the starting pitcher for the Phillies...
^...Francisco Cervelli Vs. Cole Hamels....^
Grady Sizemore
The Legendary Phillie Phanatic
Right ON the dugout.
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The other guys from the bus went to the beach.....
They went swimming, and skidooing in the ocean.
(L>R: ItsYaBoyZLaw, Dom, Keenan, Mancini, Krotje, Kev, Wilson, and Juan)
5:50pm
On the trip back after the bus picked us up, the bridge that goes across from Tampa to Clearwater was blocked just as we got to it due to an accident. A couple dozen police cars swarmed the scene, so we had to go all the way around....
We ended up taking nearly 3 hours, and it started raining just before we got back to the hotel. It was a good thing that it was a beautiful day while we were out, and that the rain held up until our day was done outside.
8:00 pm
We went bowling as a squad when we got back
 
Squad Goals...
Born to BaseBowl
(L>R: Schindler, Mike, GDobes, Sledge, Dan, Jaime, me, and GBaby)
March 12, 2015
6:15 am
Coach and Phil woke up before me, and so they decided to wake me up with an unsuspected photo using a camera with flash from Phil. Which was followed up with, "Happy Birthday!" Not necessarily how I wanted to start the day, but I appreciated their thoughts. The expectation was that we would leave at 7:00am for the 9:00am game. The game, however, was delayed after the previous night's rain and dew kept the field in puddles. We left instead at around 8:30am, and arrived at 9:00am, The air was humid, and the field still damp, but the groundscrew worked diligently to soak up the moisture prior to the game.
  
With the skies finally opening up just in time for the start of the game, the Roos took the field.
                     
READY TO PLAY BALL
 
RooNation SQUAD GOALS
First Game Recap
Wilson Matos started the 1st game of the doubleheader against the Fredonia Blue Devils with a walk. He went on to steal second base and scored on a sacrifice fly by Seth Douglas. Matos also sparked in the 3rd inning, in which he doubled to deep center field. Chayan Flores walked and was hit by a pitch. Seth also singled in the game;.... Brandon Welch tore a double over the center fielder's head;.....Cruz singled after Welch;... Derrick Machado made a few nice plays at third
Roos Took a tough loss in the day's opener.
Tough Loss in Game 1 Makes Roos Think about what they can do to Win the next Game
 REMEMBER: THERE IS AN EXCLUSIVE IN-GAME VIDEO
AFTER THE NEXT GAME'S RECAP.
In the second game Travis Bigelow was the starting pitcher. In the top of the first, Matt Hall fielded a ground ball with runners on the corners, and he shoveled a perfect backhand toss to shortstop Wilson Matos, who was covering second base, which initiated the double play. Wilson then turned and made the throw on to first to complete the double play. Derrick Machado snagged a shot to the Hot Corner later in the inning, and completed the throw to first to get the runner. Christian Nazario-Cruz started the bottom of the first by hustling to beat out an infield single up the middle. He stole second base on the next pitch after reaching, and Matos moved him to third. Jeremy Baez brought Cruz in from third and beat out the throw to get on first with an infield single. Christian was clearly fired up after the frustrating loss in the first game, and his energy rubbed off on the Roos.
Brandon Welch nabbed yet another runner trying ti steal, when he sniped down to second base and Wilson made a clean tag. Travis followed that up with a strikeout on the batter with a powerful fastball.
In the bottom of the inning, Machado was hit by a pitch after working the count full. Chris Jones bunted Machado over to second and almost beat it out himself for a single. Hall came up big with a huge line-drive single to right-center field to break the tie, and put Canton up 2-1.
In the third, Jones made a few defensive stops on a couple of high choppers to the right side of the infield. The leadoff batter chopped one to him and he made a nice play and took it himself to the bag to retire the runner. The next batter chopped one to the second and first base hole, where Jones cut it off and tossed to Travis covering the bag. For the final play of the inning, Matos fielded a sharply hit ball to shortstop by attacking it, fielding it cleanly, and then firing on to first. That half an inning showcased the Roos true defensive capabilities, as they sent the Blue Devils down 1-2-3, and also quieted down their loudmouth bench a bit.
 
Cruz sent a rocket into left field in the bottom of the inning.
Travis came back out and started the inning strong by striking out the first batter, and then the next two batters grounded out to end the inning 1-2-3 again.
Welch's offensive abilities continues to shine as he sent a looping line drive down the left field line for a base hit. Baez rocked a shot over the left fielder, but Fredonia got lucky with a good bounce for them off the left field wall, and Jeremy held at first with a very long single.
 
Jamie Ashton pinch ran for Baez and stole second base to put a runner in scoring position.With just one out, of course, Welch came up in this situation and showed that he is clutch as well, and plated Jamie to tie it up.
 Dalton Demarco kept the inning alive with a 2 out single to center.  
With Travis still pitching, the first batter chopped a pitch over his head, and the mound, but Matos cut it off between the mound and second base and then threw the runner out at first. The next batter hit a pitch over to Hall at second, who went on to retire him at first as well. With two outs, the Roos were looking for another 1-2-3 inning, however the third batter of the inning hit another chopped ground ball to Hall, and the ball hit the edge of the grass and popped over into right field for a hit. Travis showed good leadership and composure, and said "It's all good."
Another awkward hit put runners on 1st and third. The game was tied, with two outs, in the top of the 7th. This indeed was a pressure situation. The 5th batter of the inning knocked a shot high into the sky in right-center field, but Jamie came over, glided under it, and made a nice catch to end the Blue Devils' threat.
Matos singled in the bottom of the 7th, with 2 outs to get on board give the Roos a chance...
                Here is a link to the walk-off video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aCbqwvepSPM&feature=youtu.be The players, were thrilled to come out with the well deserved win, by fighting back after a tough loss. 
Travis Bigelow was named the USCAA Pitcher of the week earlier this week after his dominant first start (LINK To Nathan Hart's Article):
He continued his dominance in yesterday's start to earn the win.
And Christian Nazario-Cruz was named a Roo of the Week. Alongside the softball team's Kelsey Morgan, he was recognized for his hot hitting and defensive presence in the past week for the Canton Roos here in Florida:
Post game:
We traveled back to Lakeland, where we celebrated the win and my birthday as a team and watched the North Carolina/Louisville game at Hooters. It was the first time I had ever been to the restaurant chain, and it was not what I was expecting. For what it is seen as, it was as classy as it could possibly be. At the end of the meal the waitresses and the guys were clapping, cheering, and chanting to recognize me. The whole restaurant was echoing with the birthday chants, and clapping. It was so cool, that I can't really describe how awesome this moment was for me besides saying that I could not stop smiling for the rest of the night.
I also received another ball from coach, and over the past 2 days, I have gotten 3 autographed baseballs, and I would like to thank the coaches (Coach Vic, Coach Johnston, Coach Smith, and Coach Carbone) for their generosity and thoughtfulness:
(L>R: Anthony Telford{Expos, Orioles, & Rangers}, Mr. Luis Clemente, and Manny Sanguillen{Pirates & Athletics)
Thank you everyone who was a part of this day for making it a memorable experience that I will never forget.
I have spent approximately 9 hours on this post alone, so I apologize that it is being published later than when I wanted it to be. Again, share this post, and save any photos that you would like,
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