Today

The graphic in the photo is the sticker that was worn on the
back of the batting helmets this season

TODAY

TODAY is September 11, 2011.  10 years ago, our lives were changed forever.  It was one of those days where people vividly remember where they were and what they were doing when they got the news.  I was at home that morning watching TV, Lois & Clark actually.  The phone rang and it was my uncle telling mom to turn on channel 3, a plane had crashed into the World Trade Center.  I can still tell you the exact episode and the moment in the episode that was on when the TV changed to the horrific image of the towers with smoke billowing.  I couldn’t even imagine what was to follow.  None of us could.

TODAY, we honor the heroes.  The first responders who ran into disaster, never stopping to think what may happen to them.  The passengers aboard flight 93, who fought with their last breathes to see that their plane did not reach it’s intended target.  All those who died that day, in New York, Washington DC, and Pennsylvania, and to the families they left behind.  The brave men and women who put it all on the line everyday to keep us safe, and to their families at home as well.  Thank you all.

TODAY, take the time to let your friends and family know that you love them.  Don’t sweat the small stuff.  Also, take the time to thank the heroes that are in your community everyday.  Those in the military, both home and away, ready to do what is asked of them, and much more.  Also, the first responders, who are ready to respond to the call, not always sure exactly what they are headed for.  If you see a man or woman in uniform today, say thank you.  It is something they are not told enough.

TODAY, and everyday, I am proud to be an American.

15 years later.

Have you ever been to a game where there home team wins 11-7 but most of the celebration doesn’t happen until 1 hour and 20 minutes after the game concluded?  Probably not, but that is exactly what happened at Centennial Field.

After finishing 1 and a half innings down 5-0, there was only one thing to do.  The Lake Monsters answered back by scoring 5 runs of their own in the bottom of the second inning.  From there, the Monsters would take the lead by scoring 1 run in each of the next 2 innings, only to have the ValleyCats tie it up again with 2 runs in the sixth.  Apparently all the Monsters needed was to stretch along with the crowd to “Take Me Out To The Ballgame” because the bottom of the seventh brought in 3 more runs, giving them the lead again, this time for good.  They would even add on an insurance run in the eighth bringing them to an 11-7 win.  This was only have the battle though.

Bobby Crocker slides into home during the Lake Monsters
second inning 5 run rally.

Despite the win, the Lake Monsters season still would have come to an end today if the Connecticut Tigers defeated the Lowell Spinners.  Thanks to this, you could go to almost anywhere in the ballpark and find fans using their phones to try and find out how the other game was going.  As a matter of fact, when I went up to the press box to find out the score update, I stuck my head in the door and Paul, the head of Media Relations, told me the answer before I even had to ask.  Even though there were so many sources being tapped to find the score, fans were still anxiously awaiting the “Out Of Town Scoreboard”.  A loud collective sigh could be heard through out the stands when it was announced that Connecticut had won their game 6-5.  That meant that, no matter what happened then, the Lake Monsters season was over.

As everyone was settling in to watch the end of what was still a great game, an interesting bit of news was coming to light.  That’s when Rich Haskell’s voice came over the P.A. system with some of the best news he has announced in his 18 seasons as the stadium announcer.  Connecticut’s winning run was reversed as a result of runner interference.  The resulting cheer was far louder than the sigh that had preceded it.  It wasn’t over, the Monsters could still take the title.

Following the conclusion of the game in Vermont, the stadium music was replaced by the play by play radio coverage of the game in Connecticut.  Looking at all the fans in the stands, you’d have know idea that the current game was actually happening 272 miles away, and not right in front of them.  Then all we could do was wait.  After the call was reversed in the ninth inning, the game would go into extra innings…..a lot of extra innings.  Everyone sat there as the game rolled on.  A rollercoaster of reactions went along with the game.  Cheers came as Lowell made a good play, followed by moans as Connecticut managed to get out of it, time after time.

Finally, in the top of the sixteenth inning, Lowell scored a run.  Again, the resulting cheer sounded as if the runner had crossed home plate right there in Centennial.  Now we just had to wait for Connecticut to get 3 outs…..yikes.  Suddenly, it was over, Lowell had won the game!  In all the years I have been a part of the Vermont Expos/Lake Monsters, I have never cheered for the Spinners (despite being a Boston fan), but tonight their winning was just as important as the Monsters winning.

Lake Monsters owner, Ray Pecor, celebrates after the
Monsters win the Stedler Division title.

It really happened, the Vermont Lake Monsters are the Stedler Division Champions!  15 years might not rank as a full “Curse” but the fans had become accustomed to the year ending with the regular season.  Being a New England team, maybe there was some significance to the fact that the end our title drought rested on the Boston Red Sox affiliate Lowell Spinners.

What’s next?  Well, onward and upward of course.  Tuesday night, the Lake Monsters start their playoff run against the Auburn Doubledays.  The Doubledays are the affiliate of the Washington Nationals, who were the parent club of the Vermont franchise from 1994 until 2010.  This should be quite a game as the Auburn team will include some faces familiar to Vermont fans.

With the momentum of these last 2 victories behind them, I believe your Vermont Lake Monsters are ready to start this post season off right.  Be sure to come out to Centennial Field on Tuesday for the 7:05 pm game.  There is a special playoff price of $3 a ticket, so come cheer them on as they begin this run for the Champioship.

See you at the ballpark.

1 game out, that's it, 1 game out. Seems simple enough, right?

Not exactly, but it is very far from impossible.

Heading into today's game, the Lake Monsters are extremely close to taking the Stedler Division title.  This has not happened for the franchise since 1996, the team's 3rd year of being in Vermont.  Now, in the 18th season, they are so close that the team and fans can taste it.

In order to get there, however, two things need to happen today.  First, of course, the Lake Monsters need to win.  After the huge 13-0 win over the Tri-City Valley Cats (Houston Astros affiliate) last night, hopes are certainly high for the Monsters to close the regular season with a win.  The second thing that has to happen is that the Connecticut Tigers (Detroit Tigers affiliate) need to lose to the Lowell Spinners (Boston Red Sox affiliate).  Both games start at 1:05 pm today.  So come on out to Centennial Field today to cheer on your Vermont Lake Monsters as they play for their chance at the team’s first division title in 15 years!

See you at the ballpark.

Hot Dog Heaven

"A hot dog at the ballpark is better than roast beef at the Ritz." - Humphrey Bogart

I wonder what he would have thought about 6,000 hot dogs.  That is the total of hot dogs sold tonight at Centennial Field during the "Hot Dog Heaven" promotion.  Speaking as someone who spent 7 seasons cooking those hot dogs at Centennial, it was always scary to know this night was coming up.  It would turn out great every year, but no matter how many times we'd go through it, the concept of a stadium full of over 3,000 people coming for $0.25 hot dogs would make anyone nervous, even Champ.

Unfortunately, the Lake Monsters fell 9-1 to the Staten Island Yankees.  This puts them 1-2 overall in this series against the Yankees but they still hold a strong 14-7 record on the season.  Now, the Monsters head to Ripken Stadium in Maryland to start a split series against the Aberdeen Iron Birds.  They will play 3 games there before both teams travel north to Burlington to play 3 more in Historic Centennial Field.  These will be the only 6 games between the 2 teams for the regular season.  Fans will have the opportunity to watch the 3 games in Aberdeen on MiLB.TV.  If you can't make it out to the ballpark when the Monsters return, be sure to tune in to 101.3 ESPN for full coverage of the home stand against the Iron Birds.

See you at the ballpark.

Welcome to the 405

A cool summer breeze whisks through the air.  The sound of cracking peanut shells can by heard under the feet of the kids, rushing to see the mascot dancing on the dugout.  The crowd erupts with cheers as the next batter approaches the plate.  These are the sounds of summer, these are the sounds of Minor League Baseball.

Over the past few seasons, there has been some doubt over these sounds remaining at Historic Centennial Field in Burlington, Vermont.  I am very happy to say that they could all be heard as the Vermont Lake Monsters took the field for their 2011 home opener.

The action returned to Centennial Field for tonight's game against the Tri-City ValleyCats from Troy, New York.  After going 2-1 in the series to start the season in Troy, the Monsters defeated the ValleyCats 7-4 and now have a 9-5 record.  This victory also marks the 600th win for the Vermont franchise.

The Lake Monsters will finish the 2 game homestand with Tri-City tomorrow night before heading to Troy to play 2 more games with the ValleyCats at Joseph Bruno Stadium in Troy, NY.  They will then head to Brooklyn to take on the New York Mets affiliate, the Brooklyn Cyclones.  Play returns to Centennial for 3 nights starting next Saturday as they take on the Staten Island Yankees.

Next Sunday fans will be able to meet wrestling star Brutus "The Barber" Beefcake.  Monday will be "Hot Dog Heaven" with $0.25 hot dogs.  It's a great deal to feed the family, or yourself if you're feeling hungry.  For $0.25, why not?  For the first time, the Lake Monsters will have 2 "Hot Dog Heaven" promotions with the second being held on Monday, August 22.

Be sure to take note of the back of the players' batting helmets while you're at the game.  As a tribute to the victims of 9/11 and to the brave men and women defending our freedom, the New York-Penn League issued special stickers to be worn on the helmets.

If you're looking for something great to do on this Independence Day weekend, why not enjoy the American Pastime at historic Centennial Field. Start time for Sunday games is 1:05 pm with gates opening at 12:00 pm.

See you at the ballpark.