Baseball Dreams Come Alive For Bel Air Team At Cal Ripken World Series
August 14, 2008
“I’ve been dreaming of this since I was about 8…” said Tyler Woolsey. He is not alone. All of the Bel Air Braves are, and it was obvious as they participated in the Opening Day Ceremonies kicking off the ninth annual Cal Ripken World Series Friday night.
The Braves are the host team and as the representative of Harford County received a warm welcome from the crowd at Cal Sr.’s Yard. One by one, each of the 16 teams took to the field while every player, manager, ambassador and bat boy was announced. It was a moment of bliss for these young gamers standing on the cusp of the infield at Sr’s yard. Continue reading Baseball Dreams Come Alive For Bel Air Team At Cal Ripken World Series
Rolling Into The Cal Ripken World Series With Your Hometown Bel Air Braves
August 8, 2008
The Bel Air Braves have been priming up for the big dance- the Cal Ripken World Series- which begins Friday night (opening ceremonies) and competition starting Saturday. But first they took their talent on the road, participating in the Big Kahuna 12U tournament at the Ripken Experience in Myrtle Beach. Then they paired up with the visiting Australia team for a scrimmage this past Monday night and made some more memories. Continue reading Rolling Into The Cal Ripken World Series With Your Hometown Bel Air Braves
Bel Air Braves Battle Back To Represent Harford County In Ripken World Series
July 17, 2008
“It’s amazing, I mean, I’ve been dreaming of this since I was like six or seven. It’s great for the team, we’ve all wanted this all year and we’ve worked for this really hard,” says Sam Thornton, wide-eyed with anticipation. The dream: playing in the Cal Ripken World Series. The team: our very own Bel Air Braves.
It was an adrenaline-packed, emotionally-charged road for Bel Air as they earned their spot in the series by taking a chunk out of Emmorton’s aspirations to snatch the District V111 tournament. The battle was a nail-biter, but they took it in dramatic fashion, cementing their path on this yellow brick road. Continue reading Bel Air Braves Battle Back To Represent Harford County In Ripken World Series
Celebrating Baltimore’s Babe Ruth And The Final All-Star Game At The House He Built
July 14, 2008
“The only real game, I think, in the world is baseball.” So said Babe Ruth. Agree with him or not, I have no doubt that the grand-daddy of home runs is up in the baseball heavens, prepping himself to bid farewell to his iconic home.
Uh-huh. Yankee Stadium is going down and the ensuing countdown - considering the All-Star break typically marks the mid-point of the season - inevitably brings up times of reflection and moments to remember. While Yankee fans and baseball fans in general might mourn the destruction of the House That Ruth Built, they can take comfort in knowing that just because his stadium is getting bulldozed, the Sultan of Swat isn’t going anywhere - he’ll always be in our hearts. Continue reading Celebrating Baltimore’s Babe Ruth And The Final All-Star Game At The House He Built
NYC Is Just A Hop, Skip And Train Ride Away From Aberdeen Along the Rail Line
July 11, 2008
We get to the park and ride at 6:06 a.m. Wednesday, June 25. It costs nothing to park. Printing out tickets is a breeze - swipe your card, confirm, print. Departure is at 6:35 a.m. and it is ON TIME. Yay!
We sit in the café section of the Amtrak that has big open booths. My niece Paula sets up her iPod. I set up my laptop on the spacious table and plug it in - not wasting the battery. I’m on wireless so now I just have to get it working. When we begin to move, she looks around and takes it in, her eyes wide and that smile is just brewing. “This is amazing,” she says. I haven’t heard this 14-year old say much of anything with a 5 a.m. wake up call. We are in for a treat alright. Continue reading NYC Is Just A Hop, Skip And Train Ride Away From Aberdeen Along the Rail Line
Orioles Magic On And Off The Field: Buses For Baseball Introduces Pediatric Oncology Patients To Baltimore Ballplayers
June 28, 2008
Orioles magic was definitely in the air June 17 and it had nothing to do with the rebuilding franchise earning their major league leading 20th (and counting) come-from-behind win as they took the 6-5 victory over the Houston Astros. The magic was actually displayed before the first pitch was even thrown.
This year, the Cool Kids Campaign and Major League Baseball Players Association partnered up to give pediatric oncology patients and their families a night of fun at Camden Yards and they call it Buses for Baseball. This is how the press release reads: “Buses for Baseball gives underprivileged kids throughout the United States and Canada the chance to attend a Major League game and meet the players. The Players Trust partners with local transit authorities and Major League teams, as well as charitable organizations in all Major League cities, to share the thrill of a big league game with kids…” Continue reading Orioles Magic On And Off The Field: Buses For Baseball Introduces Pediatric Oncology Patients To Baltimore Ballplayers
IronBirds Come Back To Aberdeen For Home Opener After Historic Start To Season
June 20, 2008
The Aberdeen IronBirds are set to kick off their Opening Day of the 2008 season after coming home from Hudson Valley with two wins in their pocket. They dropped the finale Thursday night (10-5) but managed to create quite an uproar to get their season started and trek home with a 2-1 record.
History was in the air, both Tuesday and Wednesday night. Wednesday the IronBirds pitching staff platooned to throw the first ever one-hitter. Chris Salberg, Joe Esposito and Brandon Cooney made their mark in Aberdeen’s record book with this feat bringing home a 4-0 shutout win. Continue reading IronBirds Come Back To Aberdeen For Home Opener After Historic Start To Season
Basketball, Video Games And Shirley Temples With Extra Shirley - If Only All Pro Athletes Were Like Aberdeen’s Jai Lewis
June 16, 2008
I didn’t get “jobbed” by poor officiating. There was no weeping. No fainting. International professional basketball player Jai Lewis, as far as I know, didn’t contemplate a trip back into the NFL. (However, there was a time that I contemplated a new career path - more on that later.) No two-on-two with any other suckers looking on. No wheelchairs or off-the-wall antics. It was a night of straight-up fun.
There was a little nail-biting on my part. Jai didn’t get to the ESPN Zone for our big dance till late. It was about 8:45 p.m. So once 8:15 p.m. rolled around, I started clamming up and I wondered, what if he doesn’t show? Nah! By 8:30 p.m. I had called home to have Neil check my email. I texted Brian: “Jai’s not here.” By 8:31 p.m., I was contemplating my chosen career. What was I thinking? I can go back to waiting tables, I can run a snowball stand. Why’d I challenge him? Maybe my taunting went too far - after all he doesn’t really know me? Continue reading Basketball, Video Games And Shirley Temples With Extra Shirley - If Only All Pro Athletes Were Like Aberdeen’s Jai Lewis
From Australia to Havre de Grace: LPGA, Lobster and Lifelong Friends
June 11, 2008
John and Mary Thomas of Havre de Grace consider themselves weekend golfers. Actually “we’re hackers,” John said joking, or maybe he was serious. Who’s not a hacker when comparing skills to the girls of the LPGA that compete at Bulle Rock?
The Thomas’ are lifers in Harford County - prior to their move to Havre de Grace they lived in Bel Air. John is the owner of Mane Connection in Bel Air. Hackers or not, they’ve found another reason to embrace the LPGA and her name is Lindsey Wright.
Wright is an Australian golfer in the LPGA and she has stayed with the Thomas’ since the LPGA rolled into town in 2005. Continue reading From Australia to Havre de Grace: LPGA, Lobster and Lifelong Friends
Hoops Pro Jai Lewis Comes Home From Israel To Put A Dagger Writer In Her Place
June 10, 2008
He hails from Aberdeen, stands 6′7″, weighs 275 pounds, led his college basketball team to the NCAA Final Four, was signed out of college to play football in the NFL and now is a professional basketball player holding his own in Israel.
She hails from Joppatowne, stands 5′5″, won’t tell me how much she weighs, admits to occassionally “horsing around” with her neices on the basketball court, formerly covered all manner of sports for the local media and is now holding her own as sports director of The Dagger.
He is Jai Lewis. She is Molly Lauryssens. And at 8 p.m. Wednesday at ESPN Zone in downtown Baltimore’s Inner Harbor the two forces will meet in a head-to-head shoot out when Jai returns to town. Continue reading Hoops Pro Jai Lewis Comes Home From Israel To Put A Dagger Writer In Her Place
