Final Roster Announced

The final cuts were made and the Opening Day roster was announced. Here's the team that will travel to Long Island tomorrow:

PITCHERS (14)
5	Ackerman, Eric	LHP	10/19/79	6'1	194	L	L	[More]
6	Brauer, Daniel	LHP	10/14/83	6'0	205	L	L	[More]
35	Cruz, Reymond	RHP	10/23/83	6'0	196	R	R	[More]
36	Fritz, Ben	RHP	3/29/81	6'4	230	R	R	[More]
9	Hall, Josh	RHP	12/16/80	6'3	195	R	R	[More]
24	Hamulack, Tim	LHP	11/14/76	6'4	220	L	L	[More]
31	Heuser, James	LHP	3/30/84	6'5	205	L	L	[More]
14	McBride, Macay	LHP	10/24/82	6'0	220	L	L	[More]
22	McNab, Tim	RHP	6/4/80	6'0	195	R	R	[More]
29	Muller, John	RHP	7/28/84	6'2	200	L	R	[More]
26	Patterson, Scott	RHP	6/20/79	6'6	230	R	R	[More]
23	Peeples, Ross	LHP	2/20/80	6'4	220	L	L	[More]
19	Sanchez, Jose	RHP	5/12/84	6'0	170	R	R	[More]
39	Simontacchi, Jason	RHP	11/13/73	6'1	205	R	R	[More]
CATCHERS (2)
21	Johnson, Josh	C	11/3/82	5'11	190	R	R	[More]
10	Witter, Adam	C	2/17/83	6'1	230	L	R	[More]
INFIELDERS (6)
2	Gutierrez, Vic	UTL	12/23/77	5'9	177	R	R	[More]
38	Harper, Brett	1B	7/31/81	6'4	245	L	R	[More]
18	Herr, Aaron	3B	03/07/81	5'11	180	R	R	[More]
37	Morris, Jed	UTL	3/4/80	5'11	187	L	R	[More]
25	Nelson, Bryant	SS	1/29/74	5'10	200	S	R	[More]
7	Nishi, Toshihisa	2B	10/4/71	5'7	170	R	R	[More]
OUTFIELDERS (4)
8	Gaetti, Joe	OF	10/16/81	6'0	212	R	R	[More]
12	Perry, Jason	OF	8/18/80	6'0	205	L	R	[More]
11	Turner, Lloyd	UTL	4/11/80	6'1	170	R	R	[More]
20	Watson, Matt	OF/DH	9/5/78	5'11	200	L	R	[More]

Barnstormers Shutout F&M

In a 6-inning game, the Barnstormers defeated the F&M Diplomats 7-0. The Barnstormers pitched for both teams, but that didn't keep Jason Perry from homering off of Reymond Cruz in the first inning. Perry ended up with 4 RBIs on the game. Good pitching on the Barnstormers side from Jose Sanchez, Scott Patterson, Eric Ackerman, Tim Hamulack and Tim McNab stifled the Diplomats' bats, as they just allowed one hit, an infield single to start the game. The Barnstormers now have a day off and have to make a few more cuts to get down to the final 25 man roster before leaving for Long Island Thursday morning for Opening Day against the Ducks. Keep an eye on the blog for final roster decisions tomorrow.

Barnstormers vs. F&M tonight

The Barnstormers play their last exhibition game of the season before Thursday's opener against Long Island. They take on on F&M at 5 PM, free admission for all, and it's dollar dog day!

Barnstormers fall to Blue Crabs

The Barnstormers didn't score a run after the Nishi RBI, and fell 8-1 (including the extra at-bats) to the Blue Crabs. While this definitely was a game to forget for the Barnstormers, the pitching of Daniel Brauer definitely was a highlight. Brauer pitched 2 innings, giving up just one hit in his outing. Tomorrow the Barnstormers play F&M here at Clipper Magazine Stadium with a 5:00 start in the last exhibition game of the season.

Nishi Drives In Run

We're into the "bonus" innings here, what would be the 11th inning, and finally the Barnstormers are on the board. With runners on the corners, Toshihisa Nishi laced one over the third baseman's head, scoring Brett Harper. It's the first run scored today for the Barnstormers, who finished the regulation game losing 8-0. After this inning finishes, there will be more one more half inning of the Barnstormers batting.

Garcia Homers Off Fritz

Ben Fritz came in to the game in the 9th, and pitched decently, striking out one and getting two others to ground out, however, the close right field wall at Clipper Magazine Stadium bit Fritz, as Travis Garcia was able to just barely get one over the fence in right. The score is now 8-0 as we go to the bottom of the 9th. As a reminder, the managers agreed before the game that after 9 innings, the Barnstormers would bat for another three half innings to give the Blue Crabs pitchers a bit more experience. As of now, that is still the plan.

Heuser Records Perfect Inning

Jim Heuser came in in the 8th inning and set the tone by shattering the bat of Shaun Cumberland. The bat simply split down the middle, long-wise, in grounding the ball back to Heuser. He finished the ending by striking out Daisuke Yoshida on a nasty breaking ball, getting the 1-2-3 inning.

Barnstormers Strand Another

The Barnstormers stranded another runner in scoring position, this time it was Bryant Nelson who was stranded on third after the Blue Crabs infield pulled off a really nice 5-4-3 double play that featured a beautiful turn at second to get out of the inning.

Ross Peeples Takes Mound

After two solid innings from Brauer, and the Barnstormers going down 1-2-3 in the bottom of the 6th, Ross Peeples takes the mound for the Barnstormers. He begins the 7th with the Blue Crabs leading 7-0. In the 7th, he gave up one hit, a double down the third baseline to Brian McFall, and got out of the inning unscathed as we hit the seventh inning stretch.

Brauer Shows Off Stuff

Daniel Brauer, who is one of the pitchers competing for a spot on the club, threw another good inning in the 6th. He only gave up one hit, a single to right field to Travis Garcia, and got out of the inning unscathed. He showed very good command in the outing, staying ahead of the batters he faced and only giving up the one hit in two innings.

Nishi Shows Hustle

While the Barnstormers didn't score in the fifth, international sensation Toshihisa Nishi showed good hustle in the inning. After working the count to draw a walk, he sprinted down to first when he realized that the pitch had got past the catch, thinking about possibly even taking second on the play. He then went on to steal second base, making a nice slide into the base to avoid the tag. The was stranded on second, but definitely showed what he can bring to the lineup this year.

Brauer Impresses

Daniel Brauer took the mound looking for a good outing, and he certainly started well, retiring the Blue Crabs 1-2-3. After striking out the first batter, he got help from a nice play by Jed Morris at first, making a stab on a ball that took an awkward hop. He then got Octavio Martinez to ground out to Nishi for a 1-2-3 inning.

Nelson Out At Home

The bottom of the fourth started out well for the Barnstormers, with Bryant Nelson doubling to deep center field. However, Perry and Herr would each fly out, and then on a single to center field by Brett Harper, Nelson tried to score from second. Centerfielder Jeremy Owens made a great throw, one hopping it to the plate and they were able to place the tag on Nelson. Daniel Brauer takes the mound now for the Barnstormers.

No Changes in Score

The Barnstormers went down 1-2-3 in the bottom of the third, and then Jason Simontacchi came out in the 4th, only allowing one runner to reach base, due to an error by third baseman Aaron Herr, before getting out of the inning unscathed. The Blue Crabs lead 7-0 and Jarrett Grube takes the mound for the bottom of the fourth.

Simontacchi gives up one

Jason Simontacchi was hit well during the third inning. The Blue Crabs had four singles in a row to open the inning, scoring one. However, he was able to strike out the next two batters and then got the final batter to ground out to Bryant Nelson to end the inning. The score is now 7-0.

Barnstormers Can't Capitalize

After Brett Harper grounded out to lead off the inning, Joe Gaetti and Matt Watson had back to back singles. However, the Barnstormers were unable to take advantage of the runner in scoring position, as Nishi was struck out on a pitch that just caught the outside corner and Witter grounded out to second. The Blue Crabs still lead 6-0.

More Miscues for the Barnstormers

Jason Simontacchi came in and and retired the first batter he faced. However, the next batter, Patrick Osborn, smoked a pitch down the third baseline that right through the legs of third baseman Aaron Herr. All three runners on base scored and Osborn ended up on second. Simontacchi then retired the next two batters, and as we go to the bottom of the second, the Blue Crabs lead 6-0.

Control Problems Continue For Miller

Miller's day is done as he walks off the mound four batters into the second inning. He hit three batters in the second inning, and just barely missed hitting the fourth, ending up walking him. The score is 3-0 with the bases loaded and nobody out as Jason Simontacchi takes over on the mound for the Barnstormers.

Blue Crabs Player Injured

Christian Lopez, a catcher for the Blue Crabs, was just hit in the knee by a pitch from Greg Miller. It was a hard fastball right to the knee, and the impact could be heard clearly from the press box. After talking to the trainer, he limped back to the dugout, and was replaced on the bases by Jason Funkhouser.

Barnstormers Unable to Respond

After a rough top half of the inning, the Barnstormers tried to strike back against the Blue Crabs in the bottom of the first. Lloyd Turner worked the count before drawing a walk and then Bryant Nelson laced a single to right as Turner scampered to third. However, starting pitcher Kenny Rayborn was able to bear down, getting Jason Perry to fly out to shallow left-center, not far enough to score Turner, and then Aaron Herr hit into a 6-4-3 double play. Miller now comes out for his second inning of work.

Rough Start for Miller

A rough first inning for Miller where he had trouble finding the plate. He walked the first two batters before getting Travis Garcia to ground into a 6-4-3 double play. However, he walked the next batter, and on the fourth ball, the pitch got behind catcher Adam Witter to allow Rob Giannotti to score from third. He then walked Matt Craig to put runners on first and second. Jeremy Owens hit a single to right to score another run as Craig moved to third. He then walked his fifth batter of the inning to load the bases. He then got Kody Kirkland to ground out to Nishi, playing second, to end the inning.

Miller's line for the inning: 2 ER, 1 hit, 5 walks.

Barnstormers take the field

Barnstormers taking the field now to a nice ovation from the crowd. A few hundred fans in attendance right now, but if it's like Friday, more should join us here at Clipper Magazine Stadium as the game progresses.

Greg Miller taking his warm-up pitches now with Adam Witter behind the plate. Miller was a top prospect in the Dodgers organization, and one of the top pitching prospects in baseball, before having surgery in 2004.

A Few Notes Before First Pitch

Just a few notes:

This will the be the Barnstormers last spring training game against Atlantic League competition. Tomorrow's exhibition game against F&M will be the last before Thursday's regular season opener at Long Island.

Umpires for today: Don Warner behind the plate, Roger Wolfe at first, Mike Weaver at second and Bob Brown at third.

Barnstormers are wearing their red jerseys with white pants, while the Blue Crabs are wearing grey with blue lettering.

Eric Crozier returns ton Lancaster wearing the visitor's uniform, though he will not play today due to injury.

Starting Lineups

10 position starters for Southern Maryland, 11 for Lancaster

Blue Crabs:
Rich Gianotti RF
Casey Benjamin 2B
Travis Garcia SS
Patrick Osborn DH
Matt Craig DH
Jeremy Owens CF
Brian McFall LF
Kody Kirkland 3B
Christian Lopez C
Octavio Martinez 1B

Kenny Rayborn RHP


Barnstormers:
Lloyd Turner LF
Bryant Nelson SS
Jason Perry RF
Aaron Herr 3B
Brett Harper 1B
Joe Gaetti CF
Matt Watson DH
Toshihisa Nishi 2B
Adam Witter C
Vic Gutierrez DH
Jed Morris DH

Greg Miller LHP

Interesting Format Change for Game

So, for any of you who have been to the ballpark for the exhibition games, or were able to listen to our broadcast on Thursday, spring training games sometimes get played under odd rules. Players can be subbed out at any time, and then subbed back in, and typically teams have more than 9 batters in their lineup. Well, there's a new wrinkle to this game, and anybody who comes to the ballpark will be treated to a little bit of extra baseball. I just received word that after the normal 9 innings, the Barnstormers will be batting for an extra 3 half innings because Southern Maryland would like to get in some extra work for their pitchers. So basically, as of now, the Barnstormers will simply bat for three straight half innings after the normal 9 inning game. You have to love spring training. Keep checking here for the starting lineups and the expected pitchers for today's game as they come in.

Barnstormers vs. Southern Maryland 4/19

Good morning everyone. I'll be writing live coverage of the exhibition game vs. Southern Maryland today, giving updates at least every half inning. So keep checking in around 12:30 for starting lineups and a look at the game. If you have any questions or comments, feel free to leave them in the comments section and I'll try to answer your questions.

Welcome

Hello everyone. I'm Aaron Oster, one of the recent additions to the Barnstormers club for the 2010 season. In this blog, I'll discuss what's going on with the Barnstormers, as well as do a live blog for certain games. I look forward to hearing from you, so please feel free to comment on each post.