Blog: Strong Side
Midnight Sun Game 2008 running blog
Published Saturday, June 21, 2008
2:00 a.m. -- End game (endgame?) -- Well, if you didn't feel the shockwave from the crowd's reaction to Crispin Tarango's strikeout to end the game: The Panners won 10-6, and 62-year-old Lee got the win.
I tried to get a word or two from Lee after the game, but he was swamped by fellow players and various other well-wishers.
Oh, and the Michigan group, the Great Lakes Project, showed up in the seventh inning. They brought a lot of energy to a crowd that began to feel it was 1 a.m., even if it didn't look that way.
The darkness made it really hard to folow the ball from the press box. Somehow, scorekeeper/announcer Gonzo could see everything pretty clearly with eyes at least 30 years older than mine with glasses at least a quarter-inch thicker than mine. Also, he can bend my eardrums with his exclamation of "Raooooooouuuuul" whenever Torrez takes the batter's box.
Well, that's it. I've almost worked until sunrise. Thanks for reading.
End 8th -- It looks like my next update will be the wrap-up. The Panners have cracked this one open and lead 10-4.
Mid 7th -- Shortstop Jake Dunning saves Lee's ongoing win, starting a 6-4-3 double play with the bases loaded. It's been a rough inning for third baseman Raoul Torrez though, who picked up an error despite his usually solid defense.
Bottom 6th -- After giving up a leadoff single, Lee is done for the night. He can still win it, but if the runner scores, it's a no decision.
Mid 6th -- 3 up, 3 down for Lee. Will he stay in?
Sorry folks, but I'm a newbie and need to tend to tomorrow ... er, today's paper. Updates will be scarce from here on out.
12:15 p.m. -- End 5th -- Lee gave up one run in the fifth, but Casey Stephenson put him back in contention for the win by knocking in Ryan Heroy with a sac fly to left field.
With the lead and a chance to win, he's staying in to begin the 6th.
12:04 p.m. -- End 4th -- Well, the sun's still out, kind of. More mic troubles during the flag song, but hey, if things were meant to be normal, we would be seeing the stars right now.
Oh, by the way, the Panners appreciated the pitching change and took the lead 4-3. Lee's staying in to try for the win, with the dusk making the ball hard to see for batters.
11:55 p.m. -- Bottom 4th -- Torrez once again hits in Newman, this time with a double, off relief pitcher Tyler Hamilton.
That's right: relief. Bill Lee has outlasted the SoCal starting pitcher.
At the end of the inning, it's been decreed, the Midnight Sun intermission will commence, with the singing of "Alaska's Flag."
11:47 p.m. -- Mid 4th -- The fans are getting ... um, well-lubricated as manager Tim Gloyd has a conference with Lee. The verdict: He stays in. But someone's in the bullpen, so it looks like his time at the mound is nearly done.
He gets out of the inning surrendering one run. 3-1 Birds.
11:32 p.m. -- Mid 3rd -- The midnight sun might be a wallflower tonight. It's dipping behind a cloud and might not pass through it before a half-hour is up.
The Panners retired the side. Maybe Spaceman has some juice left. 2-1 Birds.
11:24 p.m. -- End 2nd -- The Panners did something with their baserunners this time, as Raoul Torrez knocked one in. 2-1 Birds.
Fans have taken to the top of the Curling Club. That's not a bad idea, but I don't suspect it's a great view.
11:12 p.m. -- Mid 2nd -- Remember when Lee said he wasn't loose yet? It's kind of hard to tell if he still is. Then again, I'd imagine throwing a fastball with 60-year-old joints doesn't produce a motion like the 20-somethings we're used to seeing at a Panners game.
The Spaceman gave up two runs with only an out, but closed out the inning without any further damage. 2-0 Birds.
11:02 p.m. -- End 1st -- The Panners had the bases loaded for Ryan Heroy, who was hitting over .600 before yesterday, but Heroy filed out to right field for the third out.
10:55 p.m. -- Mid 1st -- Lee gave up one hit to Mitch Blackburn after striking out Sneddon. He then retired the side.
Sneddon was listed at left field but was replaced before taking the field.
10:47 p.m. -- Sneddon goes down in three pitches. Foul ball. Strike looking. Strike swinging. It was so quick, I honestly almost missed it.
10:45 p.m. Play ball. It's Lee vs. Sneddon.
10:40 p.m. -- A breakdown of the pregame festivities:
The Goldpanners alumni class of 2008 was named. The biggest cheers came when the microphone projected clear sound, since most of the time the speaker's voice was fighting with feedback, and losing. That's not to say Sean Timmons (who pitched a few nights ago) , Zack Basch, Don Sneddon, Tim Gloyd, Al Coutts and Bill Lee.
Isn't it odd that three of the alumni will have played this season?
After a community service award to the Jim Deringer and Sam Woodke, the players were introduced with yet more mic troubles.
The Eielson Color Guard presented the flag as the silence from the crowd was pierced by kids playing behind the bleachers
The crowd was jolted back to noisiness when jets from Eielson did a fly-by at the end of "The Star Spangled Banner." Fists went up; beers went up. Kids cringed. One little girl looked like she was going to be stuck with a permanent grimace. Those jets really took her by surprise.
10:12 p.m. -- The young Michigan crew who are regulars at the MSG have yet to be seen. Word is they're at the Midnight Sun Run, which should have started 10 minutes ago. Let's hope they have the strength to make it here after 10 kilometers on foot.
Before I head down to the stands again, the starting lineups:
Southern California Running Birds 1) 19 Don Sneddon-lf 2) 4 Mitch Blackburn-3b 3) 20 Kyle Hardman-1b 4) 24 Crispin Tarango-ss 5) 7 Casey Rihn-DH 6) 2 James Davis-c 7) 10 Derek Eligo-rf 8) 15 Brandon Pesante-2b 9) 9 Erik Rodriguiez-cf Pitcher: 18 Bobby Shore
Alaska Goldpanners 1) 20 Nick Ciolli-cf 2) 10 Raoul Torrez-3b 3) 9 Ryan Scoma-lf 4) 19 Jeremy Gillian-c 5) 21 Thomas Myers-DH 6) 42 Ryan Heroy-1b 7) 7 Casey Stephenson-2b 8) 11 Matt Newman-rf 9) 24 Jake Dunning-ss Pitcher: 337 Bill Lee
10:03 p.m. -- The lines started long tonight and haven't changed.
When I got here at 9, there were about 50 people waiting for the ticket booth to open. The young lady at the front of the line said she'd been there since 7. The man and son behind her didn't arrive until 8:20.
"You can say that I'm stupid," she said. I disagree; she's just patient.
The line has grown from there, snaking through the dirt parking lot in the construction zone that used to be Wilbur Avenue.
The refreshments line isn't any better. It might be a good strategy to pick your least favorite half-inning and sacrifice that for the good of your stomach. Rep. Gabrielle LeDoux is waiting to shake hands halfway through the queue. She's probably not the only Alaska politician in attendance, but I haven't scanned the crowd for any others.
9:47 p.m. -- THE BAND IS ON THE FIELD!
Well, they're supposed to be there. The Frigid-aires are laying some mellow funk on the full beachers. Sadly, Frigid-aire Karl Carlson can't be here tonight, as he passed away recently, though I'm sure he's here in spirit.
9:38 p.m. -- Lee is sporting No. 337, which is "Lee" upside-down. He took a few healthy cuts in the batting box, but he told me he's "not quite loose yet" while he sat at his autograph table afterward.
As a friend sat down next to him with a fresh Budweiser, he joked, "Why didn't you bring enough for everyone?"
I like this guy already.
9:10 p.m. -- For the 103rd time, the Midnight Sun Game will deliver late-night baseball without artificial light.
It's 9:10 p.m. and the bleachers are full from third to first. A few families have already camped out in the grassy area near shallow right field.
Tonight's game should open with a showdown of geriatric ... ahem, legendary proportions. Bill "Spaceman" Lee is here to start the game for the Goldpanners. Not to be outdone, fellow former Goldpanner Don Sneddon will be at the plate. Will there be a hit? Will there be a K? Will there be an Ensure break? Stay tuned to find out.
Three pitches for Lee to take down Sneddon? No. 337 is <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leet">31337</a>.
...I think my screenname says it all
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