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Randy's Ramblings
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   Randy Seidman is a constant at Washington games and has offered to file reports. We appreciate his hustle. Randy graduated from Washington, which his two sons have also attended. Randy is an award-winning producer of televised sporting events and now works for CN8, in addition to doing free-lance work for major networks. His career highlight -- producing games, on back-to-back days, when Julius Erving scored his 30,000th point and Mike Schmidt slammed his 500th homer. He may be reached at rseidman9@aol.com.
   Randy's reports from 2002 . 2003 . 2004 . 2005 . 2006 . 2007 . 2008
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   Welcome to Randy's Ramblings for the 8th straight season. Wow! Has it been that long? It seems like just yesterday that I was touting the efforts of Frankford's Joe Farina, or GAMP's David Scirrotto, or Washington's Rob Ritterson. Although the faces and names have changed, not much else has this last decade in the Public League. Frankford continues to lead the pack. Northeast, Central, GAMP and Washington are doing the chasing. Edison and Lincoln have few quality wins between them, and the eighth team in the division has been around for one season and then sent packing back to Division B. This year could be different.
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MAY 18
PUBLIC LEAGUE QUARTERFINALS
Washington 9, GAMP 7 
     For the third time in the last four seasons, Washington and GAMP met in the quarterfinals. In 2006 and 2007, then fourth-seeded GAMP defeated fifth-seeded GW. This time around, the fourth-seeded Eagles came out on top, 9-7, withstanding GAMP's last inning comeback. Washington (10-6) advances to the semifinals for the fifth time in the last seven seasons, and will play top-seeded Northeast (14-1). In the other semi, two-time defending champion and #3-seed Frankford (11-3) battles #2-seed Central (13-3). Those teams split their season series, with each team winning on the road. The semifinals are slated for Thursday, May 21, at Hank DeVincent Field on the campus of La Salle University. Semifinal winners meet for the Public League Championship on Tuesday, May 26, at Campbell's Field, home of the Camden Riversharks.
    This game was eerily similar to the last time these rivals met, May 8 at The GAMP Grounds. In each game, Eagles sr RHP Will McFillin was able to work out of trouble, and exited after six innings with a lead, and a triple-digit pitch count. Pioneers soph RHP Dom Raia pitched in relief each game with his team trailing, and was effective, helping GAMP get back in the game. Also, in each game GAMP made a furious seventh inning attempt to tie or win the game. A few weeks ago, GAMP was able to tie the game, and win it in extra innings, but in this game, Washington held on as Will McFillin earned the save for ... Will McFillin. The 6'4" senior started and pitched the first six innings, then went to shortstop, when soph IF/RHP Shelby Marion came in to pitch. The Pioneers didn't exactly smash the ball, but found the right spots, as singles started falling in. With two outs, the bases loaded, and GAMP trailing 9-7, McFillin was summoned back to the mound. After his mandated one warm-up pitch, Will went to work, and recorded his eighth strikeout of the day, allowing the Washington faithful to exhale. 
QUARTERFINAL QUICKIES
    * GW sr CF Nick Romaninsky once again was an offensive leader, stroking a two-run first inning single, and singling and scoring in the third and sixth innings.
    * GW sr RF Gavino Rodriguez had a sac fly in the four-run first inning against GAMP jr RHP James Coin. Two innings later, he laced a two-run single to right, to finish with 3 RBI on the day.
    * GAMP fr RF Tyler Criniti must like to hit in pressure situations. May 8 vs GW: seventh inning RBI ground out, game-winning single in eighth inning and May 18 quarterfinal vs GW: RBI single in seventh.
    * GAMP obviously missed catcher and team leader Eugene Aversa, who was ejected on an umpire's interpretation of the rules in the previous game. The ejection results in an automatic one-game suspension. Really a shame for the senior not to be able to play in such an important game. It is of little comfort, but GAMP and Aversa will have at least one more game, as they will represent the Pub and District XII as the Class A champion in the upcoming state playoffs. 
SEMIFINAL SHORTIES
    * Frankford is the only team to qualify for the Public League semifinals in each of the last ten seasons. They have won six of the nine championships in this decade, and have been in every title game since 2002.
    SINCE 2000              Semifinals        Titles Won        Runner-Up  
   FRANKFORD        10                 6                   1      
   CENTRAL               9                  2                   3      
   NORTHEAST           8                  0                   3      
   WASHINGTON       6                  0                   0       
   GAMP                      5                 1                    1      
   LINCOLN                1                 0                    1      
   BARTRAM                  1                 0                    0      
Note: Northeast's last championship was in 1999, and Washington's last title was in 1995.
    * This is the fifth time in the last ten years that the final four consisted of Northeast, Central, Frankford and Washington.
      Frankford won the championship the previous four times (2003, 2004, 2005, 2008) 
HOME RUN DERBY RECAP
    A great time was had by all at the 2009 Andrew Farrell Spirit of Courage Home Run Derby. Taking part were current players, former players, opposing players, dads, moms, friends, family, and Billy Coles.
Results in the 19 and under group:
Champion - Sean O’Hara, Conwell-Egan senior, will attend Rider (MAAC, Division I)
Runner Up - Steve Leibovitz, sophomore outfielder for the 2009 Eagles
Other Finalists - Stan Borodyansky (GW '08), Isaiah Johnson ('07), Mike LaRose ('09), Brandon Waldorf ('09), Damien Wilmer ('08)  
Results in the 20 and over group:
Champion – Thomas Wilmer, junior defensive back for Millersville University. This is Thomas’ third time winning the HR Derby. His longest shot exited the baseball field, entered the football stadium, and rolled past the goalpost, an estimated 412 feet. Matt Yankowitz, '05, says he is healthy and has issued a challenge to Thomas for 2010. Yank graduated this week from Penn State.
Runner Up - Ryan Adcock, Abington HS, walk-on at Pepperdine U, PenDel League (Glenside)
Other Finalists - Jay Welte ('02), Rob Ritterson ('03, played at Rowan), Ryan Hayes 
    Thanks to all who came out to support this very worthy cause. Special thanks for joining in the festivities go to current Northeast Vikings Seth Lempert and Lance Lempert, and former Central Lancer All-Pub Micah Winterstein, who redshirted and will play for Guilford (NC) next season.

MAY 15
PUBLIC LEAGUE PLAYOFFS
ROUND OF 16
CLASS AAAA SECOND ROUND
Washington 6, Olney 1 
    The George Washington Eagles will once again advance to the Public League quarterfinals, but it was a close game all the way. It was a pitchers battle between a couple of junior righties: Aaron Wilmer and Jose DeLeon. Washington (9-6) scored twice in the second on Mike LaRose's single, a Nick Romaninsky RBI triple and Galvino Rodriguez' sac fly. Olney (8-4) got on the board in the fourth on a walk to fr 2B Raoul Escolatico and DeLeon's opposite-field RBI double, which was a one-hopper off The Gray Monster in right. In the top of the fifth, trailing 2-1, the Trojans 8-hole hitter fr 3B Heriberto Torres laced a 1-1 pitch to left for a double. He advanced to third on an infield ground out. That set the stage for the Randy's Ramblings Turning Point of the Game. Two outs, tying run on third, leadoff hitter jr Benji Cruz coming to the plate. The same Cruz who is soon to be an All-Pub selection. The same Cruz who had an excellent day in the field at short, and is a top pitcher. The same Cruz who was the only batter to have success against Wilmer, with clean singles to left and right in previous at-bats. Wilmer, another probable All-Pub selection, came out unblemished, as he fanned Cruz on three pitches, and stranded the runner at third. Aaron would be perfect the rest of the way, as he retired the final eight batters in order, five via strikeouts (8 K's for the game). The Eagles expanded their lead to 5-1, thanks to the future and the seniors. The future started it: jr IF/OF/RHP Shelby Marion (walk, run), fr C Dean Grande (double, run) and jr Aaron Wilmer (RBI single, run). The seniors then followed: SS/RHP Will McFillin (sac fly RBI), 1B Mike LaRose (walk, SB) and Nick Romaninsky (RBI single, SB). Grande, who moved from ninth to second in the order this season, would knock in the game's final run in the sixth, as he went the other way and knocked in Marion, who had reached on an error, stole second base, and then scored, despite a very obvious equipment malfunction. GW will advance to Monday's 3pm quarterfinal at The Eagles Nest. They will go in as the #4 seed, and will play the GAMP Pioneers, the #5 seed. 

ROMAN IS ROAMIN IN CENTER 
    Nick Romaninsky has made the most of his chance to be an everyday starter, and leader, on the Eagles. With his batting stroke, it was just a matter of time for the hits to fall, and fall they have. He has had the clutch hit in several rallies in the second half of the season. But it is in center field, where Nick is really getting noticed. He has the strongest, most accurate arm in center at GW since, well, since, well, for a long time, OK? Sorry, Brian Morgan (class of '04). Nick almost increased his outfield assist totals for the season, when an Olney base stealer decided to take third on an overthrow. Wisely, he retreated to second as he would literally have been out by a mile. Romo's teammates call him "Hobbs" for a reason.

MAY 13
PUBLIC LEAGUE
Washington 10, Edison 9 
    The Washington Eagles finished their regular season on a positive note ... well, sort of. Although their win against division rival Edison ran their season record to 8-6, it was hardly the kind of performance coach Max Bilkins was hoping for, as they now enter the playoffs. Edison's offense has given GW fits through the years, and this game was no exception. The Owls got on the board first, with a four-run third inning. The big hit of that frame belonged to Owls jr 1B Brian Santiago, whose two-out, two-run double to left against GW's Will McFillin scored jr CF Miguel Rodriguez and jr SS John Colon. GW was held scoreless by starter Miguel Delgado in his two innings. The soph allowed just a harmless two-out walk to jr 3B Aaron Wilmer. Delgado benefited from a defensive beauty. The Randy's Ramblings Recognition for Not Extending Your Pitcher Award goes to Edison fr LF Josh Fontanez. When Eagles so Dan Meade tomahawked a pitch up in the zone to left field, Fontanez first broke to his left, then put on the brakes, and laid out to his right to snare the ball which was curving wickedly into fair territory near the line. In the bottom of the third, Delgado went to third, and sr Orlando Rodriguez took the mound. The Eagles reclaimed the lead with a six-spot, as Shelby Marion had an RBI single, and Meade stroked a two-out, two-run single up the middle. In addition, the Edison defense committed two errors in the inning. That has been one of the knocks against the Owls - their defense. For the game, however, their team defense was pretty good, especially anchored by the athletic Delgado at third. GW increased the lead on RBI singles by McFillin and sr 1B Mike LaRose. Continuing his late season surge, sr CF Nick Romaninsky followed with a two-run single, and a 10-5 GW lead. That could have been, probably should have been, ball game. But coach Larry Oliver's Owls kept chipping away with two in the fifth (two-run single by Orlando Rodriguez), then made the score 10-9 with two more in the seventh (two-run single by sr C Josh Marrero). Shelby Marion earned his first save with two innings of relief, including a Brad Lidge-ish seventh inning. "That was intense," said a rather intense Marion. GW will return to action in the Public League AAAA Opening Round on Friday at home against Olney.
THE SECOND SEASON 
    The postseason is upon us, and seven of the eight teams in Division A could advance to the quarterfinal round next Monday, barring any upsets. If my trusty Public League Playoff Bracket Decoder Ring is working, here are possible quarterfinal matchups and seeds:  #6 Lincoln or Edison at #3 Frankford     #5 GAMP at #4 Washington     #7 Franklin Towne Charter at #2 Central     #8 Esperanza or Prep Charter at #1 Northeast    If these are not the matchups, sorry.

CONFLICT OF INTEREST
    I love the Public League semifinals. But I also love my family ... and Meredith Vieira! Therefore, I will be unable to attend the semis next Thursday (May 21st, Campbell's Field, Camden). I will be accompanying my son, former Washington RHP Corey Seidman, as he goes to New York for his next round of testing for "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?" 
A GREAT CAUSE
    This Saturday is the 2009 Home Run Derby at Washington's home field. Last year's winner of the Andrew Farrell Spirit of Courage Award will be in attendance. Stan (Man of Many Letters) Borodyansky just finished his freshman year at Penn State, and can't wait to show everybody that he indeed swings a bat better than Joe Paterno. Everyone is welcome! It has been great in years past to have players from other Public and Catholic League teams attend and take part in the HR contest. According to Las Vegas handicappers, Wilmer is this year's favorite to win the long ball contest. No, not Aaron Wilmer, the junior 3B/RHP, no, not Damien Wilmer, last season's First Team All-Pub performer, no, not brother Thomas Wilmer, a former winner of the event, but how 'bout dad Thomas Wilmer, Sr., the All-Pub selection at third base in 1985, from Mastbaum. With accomplice Phil Pane behind the mic, we will be bringing you all of the commentary, interviews, and assorted other hijinks from this great annual community event. Please, for more info, got to andrewfarrell.org.

MAY 12
PUBLIC LEAGUE
Northeast 10, Frankford 6 
    In what could be a possible championship game preview, Northeast topped Frankford, 10-6, in their only meeting of this rain-shortened season. It was the usual recipe of success for the Vikings, with Brian Susten on the mound, Tim Freiling going yard, and contributions from all parts of the lineup. Let's start with Susten, my very unofficial choice for Public League Pitcher of the Year. The 6'1" senior southpaw once again showed how much potential is there. After yielding three runs in the home first to tie the score, Brian once again started to get stronger as the innings advanced. With the game on the line, he kept the always aggressive Pioneers off the board for the next few innings, letting Northeast's offense go to work. In his final five innings, Susten would allow just one run, while striking out seven more batters, for a game total of nine (four looking). In addition, he stranded seven Frankford runners. He will be attending Gwynedd-Mercy College, and be a lefty on head coach Paul Murphy's Griffins, out of the CSAC (Colonial States Athletic Conference, D-3).

    As for Freiling, Pub readers are well aware of his high school heroics by now. Not only is he an outstanding defensive backstop, but the 6'5" senior continues to come through at the plate in big-time situations. With the score tied at three, and the bases loaded, Freiling hit an absolute bullet down to third, where Frankford's Jose Sosa-Reyes was able to get leather on it. The sheer force of that tracer sent Sosa-Reyes and his glove backwards, as the ball fell in for an RBI single, and a 4-3 lead. Two innings later, with Sam Feldman and his boys still nursing the one-run lead, Freiling came up again, this time with a pair of runners on. He took a 2-1 pitch over the left-field fence, for a three-run dinger, as the Vikings took a 7-3 lead. If you make a mistake, he will crush the ball. "It was a change-up over the plate," said Tim.
    NE got production from all parts of the order: the guys at the top (Jose Delgado & Lance Lempert: 3 R, 3 RBI, 3 SB combined), in the middle (Susten, Freiling, Julius Spann: 2 R, 6 RBI), and the bottom (Anthony Rauscher, Mike Stampone, Chad O'Malley: 4 R, 3 SB). This team is out to prove that their recent lopsided loss to Central is not who they really are. The Vikings must have all phases of their game clicking if they intend to win their first Public League baseball championship since 1999.
STAR POWER 
    Even though Frankford lost to division rivals Northeast, Central and Washington this season, it would be foolish to overlook the Pioneers come playoff time. Head coach Juan Namnun has had a frustrating season, at times. But with the playoffs approaching, Frankford is still the two-time defending champions, with a bona fide star in senior Edwin "Tito" Rohena. Along with lots of previous playoff experience, this team also features Mr. X-Factor Himself, Wander Nunez. Not much is known, or has been written about the smooth-fielding right fielder. This much is known - he and his magic wooden bat, have traveled the Public League circuit in 2009, and mashed its pitching at every stop. Against Northeast, Wander struck out twice against Susten (stranding a runner each time), was hit by a pitch, then hit a screaming RBI double in the seventh against Lempert. In the postseason, when he makes contact, fielders beware!
DON'T YOU KNOW WHO BROUGHT YOU INTO THIS WORLD? 
    Top of the fourth ... Northeast leads 4-3 ... O'Malley single ... Lempert walk ... Freiling at the plate with two outs ... runners on second and third ... the 2-1 pitch ... long fly to left field ... back ... back ... back ... gone for a three-run homer, a 7-3 Vikings lead ... good timing for Northeast, terrible timing for Tim Freiling's mom, Barbara. Hustling from her kindergarten duties at Cramp Elementary to get to the field, she pulled into her parking spot, and as she approached the field, heard all kinds of commotion surrounding her son at home plate. He was being congratulated after clubbing that big three-run shot. "What's the matter you couldn't wait," was her obvious greeting to big Tim. Note to Cramp principal: Tim's mother should be scheduled for last period prep, so she can leave early, during any of the upcoming playoff games.
FIRST IN THE REGULAR SEASON 
    With their win at Frankford's fabled Pioneers Park at Pratt Place, the Vikings are on the doorstep of earning their first Public League regular season title in the tedsilary.com era (2000-present). In this decade, only two teams have been regular season champions: Washington, 2000-2001, and Frankford, 2002-2008.
MAY 11
CATHOLIC LEAGUE
West Catholic 9, Cardinal Dougherty 5
    DN story on Eddie Colon is here.    
    Years and years of watching Public League baseball properly prepared me for this clash of winless Catholic League teams. And after a first inning with numerous errors on a very uneven playing surface, I felt right at home. While it is true, that Dougherty has suffered through a winless season thus far, visiting West Catholic also had no wins this season, or the season before, or the season before that, and even the season before that, oh, and another season before that, too! No wins in each season since 2005, 81 total losses overall dating back to 2004. Yet there were the Burrs, on the threshold of entering the "W" column, as they held a 9-5 lead entering the bottom of the seventh. Of course, nothing would ever come easy for this team, so a leadoff double by Dougherty jr 1B Joe Halbherr, a walk to sr 2B Anthony Capaldi, and sr RF Willie Gonzalez getting plunked on the first pitch led to a bases-loaded two-out situation. Would West ultimately cough up the lead once again? It didn't happen this time as jr RHP Kevin Sessa, approaching 130 pitches on the day, reared back and recorded the looking strikeout to end the game. Sessa's fifth K of the game was about to lead to a wild celebration, where all of this pent up frustration had been building for years. Especially for the seniors like SS Eddie Colon, a four-year veteran of coming up on the short side. But then a very unusual and refreshing thing happened. The West Catholic players and coaches showed great sportsmanship and humility, and instead of high-fives all around, it was quickly into the handshake line with a dejected Dougherty squad. OK - so the fathers on the West side were jumping up and down like kids, but they are excused. After losing 81 straight, West will look to extend their win streak to two games when they play Cardinal Dougherty 24 hours later in the back end of a home-and-home series.
SIDELINE NOTES
* As the Burrs took the field with the lead in the bottom of the seventh, uncharted territory, one West player asked the sideline what inning it was. When the response was bottom of the seventh, there was almost a look of puzzlement.
* Both pitchers tossed complete games (and over 120 pitches). CD jr RHP Colin Strapp recorded eight whiffs, and was effective through four, but then tired in the fifth (37-pitch inning) when West tied the game. Sessa, in his first-ever complete game, allowed 13 base runners on ten hits, a walk and two hit batters, which led to ten stranded runners on the day. Big-time help to Sessa was provided by Dougherty's base-running, or lack thereof. Holding a 4-1 lead, Dougherty had a runner thrown out at the plate by a mile (at least 10 feet), made the first out at third in the next inning on a steal attempt, and had a runner thrown out at second the following inning.  

MAY 8
PUBLIC LEAGUE
GAMP 6, Washington 5  (8 innings)

    The beauty of baseball is its unpredictability. How else to explain GAMP's 6-5 come-from-behind, extra-inning win against visiting Washington. Trailing 5-2 entering their last at bat, the Pioneers were able to score three runs to tie the game. They took advantage of a trio of GW errors, two of those fielding chances could have ended the game with an Eagles victory. It could have been a big win for Will McFillin, who pitched seven innings, and showed as much courage as any Eagles pitcher since the Marc Tankel era five years earlier. He recorded eleven strikeouts, but once again, the Eagles defense could not seal the deal. GAMP RF Tyler (He's A Freshman) Criniti not only contributed an RBI ground out in the seventh, but stroked the winning hit in the eighth, over first base and into a wide open patch of right field, scoring Anthony DiVincenzo with the winning run, and putting onto the streets of South Philly a bunch of Happy GAMPers.
GAME STUFF
    * GAMP so 3B/RHP Dom Raia was effective at the plate: 3-for-5, with key hits in scoring rallies in the third and seventh. However, it was Raia's mound performance, that proved to be the difference. He came in relief of DiVincenzo in the fifth and shut down the GW offense the rest of the way. His numbers: 3.1 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 5 K. Dom's return to his early-season form would be a welcome relief for head coach and GAMP counselor Art Kratchman.
    * GW sr 1B Mike LaRose, along with McFillin, was another senior co-captain who stepped up. His opposite field down-the-line, two-run triple broke open a 2-2 tie in the fifth, and might have been the game-winning hit, if not for the GAMP late inning comeback.
    * GW sr RHP Will McFillin - It was quite a scene watching this humble righty mature as the game went on. With key personnel not available for the game, it was up to "Dirt" to carry the team, and that's what he did. Hopefully, with the playoffs around the corner, there were many lessons learned from this game for both teams.
THE ROAD AHEAD
    This was a huge win for GAMP, as they improved their season record to 4-7. Decoding the Public League Master Schedule/Rainout Schedule/Playoff Alignment, makes it look like GAMP is now 4-7, with games next week at home vs Edison, and at Lincoln. Their other game vs Lincoln was a casualty of the weather and will not be made up. Kratchman will lead his troops into next Friday's Class A championship against Masterman or Boys Latin, and barring a major upset, would advance to the Public League overall quarterfinals as no lower than the #5 seed overall.
    This was a crushing loss for Washington, which dropped to 7-5. Most notably, an outstanding mound performance by McFillin was wasted. Couple that with the excellent outing by starter Aaron Wilmer two days earlier against Northeast (3-2 loss), and that was a potent 1-2 pitching effort that resulted in zero wins. GW finishes the season with a tough road assignment at Central with the home finale on Wednesday vs Edison. Washington will enter the playoffs next Friday, probably as the #4 seed, in the Opening Round of 16.
SIDELINE NOTABLES
    * Dave Connolly, the Public League's very busy baseball chairman and part-time meteorologist, was in attendance. He wanted to see for himself actual competition taking place, an unusual sight in these last few weeks.
    * With all of the games being lost to rain, Washington will lead the league in one category: games played. The Eagles could wind up with the full 14-game slate played. Coaching in the game after GW/GAMP was Philly character/Bok head coach Frank "Roscoe" Natale. His teams has played a grand total of six games thus far this season.
    *A couple of recent All-Public players were on the GAMP sideline. That is, if recent means the 1970s and the 1980s! A pair of seniors, in name only, Dom Raia, Sr. and Ron Malandro, Sr. starred at Southern High.
    The following is from the archives of tedsilary.com
  1972 - At Veterans Stadium
  Frankford 4, Southern 3     
    Mark Brenfleck pitched a three-hitter and became a winner when the Pioneers scored two in the home seventh. Mike Wistner and John Fitch both went 2-for-4 with an RBI. Ron Malandro had a two-run triple for Southern.
("I hit the 408-foot sign at the Vet," said Malandro, Sr.)
   * A pair of Wilmers were at the GAMP Grounds, in support of kid bro, Aaron Wilmer, who has had a splendid junior season. Damien Wilmer will be transferring from Albright to Temple and hopes to walk-on in football. Big brother, Thomas Wilmer, will return for his junior season as a safety for Millersville University, where he was 8th on the team with 42 tackles last season. Despite some of the long homers Damien and Aaron have hit, legend has it that Thomas is the family's real power hitter. He was the winner of the Andrew Farrell Spirit of Courage Fund home run hitting contest a few years back. This year's festivities are slated for Saturday, May 16. For more info, go to andrewfarrell.org
    * Speaking of football, former All-Pub Andrew Goodman, made the trek down I-95 to visit his old team. Goodman, All-Public in three sports as a senior in 2007-08, is on a break from Penn State. Guess what, folks - he is on the official Penn State football roster, listed as a freshman wide receiver. Andrew was actually part of the scout team for the nationally-ranked Nittany Lions in 2008, and accompanied the team to the Rose Bowl. He is very proud to be a part of such a program, and has promised to show me his Big Ten Championship Ring sometime soon. Goodman recently participated in the annual PSU Blue-White game before 75,000 frenzied fans. He stated that Hall-of-Fame coach Joe Paterno was really "hands-on" during the spring practice session, and is getting around with no problems. With Andrew, was another Drew, kind of, former GW player Andruw (Not Andre) Tepel.

MAY 6
PUBLIC LEAGUE
Northeast 3, Washington 2
  In a crisply played seven innings, Northeast prevailed, 3-2, in a pitcher's duel, and ran their season record to 9-0. It was a hugely satisfying win for the Vikings, overcoming a 2-0 deficit with a sixth inning bases clearing double by sr C Tim Freiling. Washington (7-4) scored in the fourth when sr DH Brandon Waldorf stroked a two-run bases loaded single, up the middle with the infield playing in. That's it for the scoring summary of this game. Yes, an actual seven-inning, 3-2 game in The Pub. Outrageous, but not unprecedented! The real storyline of this one belonged to the complete-game pitchers, Northeast sr Brian Susten and Washington jr Aaron Wilmer. Susten earned the win by stranding nine GW runners, and getting solid defense (a DP, and a great catch of a bases loaded gapper by jr LF Dario Perez). Susten racked up seven K's, which more than offset the seven walks he allowed. The turning point was getting out of a bases loaded, no out situation with just two runs allowed. From that point on, the 6'1" Gwynedd-Mercy bound lefty was in the zone: Last 3 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 5 K. As for Wilmer, he was big-time in this game, and deserved a better fate. Through five innings, he allowed just two hits (both by sr SS Jose Delgado), with no walks and five strikeouts. In the fateful sixth, the Eagles defense came up small for Wilmer. As coach Max Bilkins is constantly harping, "You can't give the other team extra outs." By my count, Northeast was the benefactor of a five-out inning and as great teams will do, they took advantage of it. Of course, the above-mentioned Freiling is a big-time player, and has given GW fits at The Eagles Nest over his career, so it was kind of fitting that he hit the right-center field gap for the decisive three-run double. Northeast sweeps the very competitive season series, and this would make for a great Pub playoff matchup down the road.     

LEAGUE LEADERS ... IN HEIGHT
  It was definitely worthy of a photo op for tedsilary.com's Ted Silary. When G-Dub's Will McFillin led off in the bottom of the second, he exchanged pleasantries with Vikings C Tim Freiling. Both know each other from several seasons of competition, most recently when they handled kicking duties for their respective football teams. The 6'4" McFillin will attend Temple and hopes to walk-on, while the 6'5" Freiling will be a Golden Bear in the fall, as part of the Kutztown University football program. 
JOSE ... JOSE .. JOSE ... JOSE ... JOSE ... JOSE!
 Everyone knows all about the current Northeast stars, Tim Freiling and Brian Susten. Before them it was big Joe Breitweiser. These were the players getting all of the attention in the boxscores with their extra-base hits and recording big strikeout numbers (and wins) on the mound. But the one constant has been sr SS Jose Delgado. A leader on and off the field, he is the table-setter, the "Jimmy Rollins in a good year" kind of leadoff hitter. He plays a smooth shortstop, bringing continuity to an infield that has been through changes this season. To coach Sam Feldman, he is easily the real unsung hero of this squad.

APRIL 28
PUBLIC LEAGUE
Washington 14, GAMP 11
  In the latest chapter of the GAMP/Washington rivalry, there were so many tie scores and lead changes, that 76ers play-by-play guy Marc Zumoff would have exclaimed, "We are now on the seesaw!" After the Pioneers took a 9-8 lead in the top of the sixth on a sac fly by sr C Eugene Aversa, and an RBI single by fr LHP Tyler Criniti, the Eagles came storming back and posted six runs in the bottom of the inning. That was enough for Washington (6-2) to hold on and win their fifth straight game.
    When the game started it was like déjà vu for G-Dub. They stranded the bases loaded in the first and second innings, just as they had done 24 hours earlier in their win against Lincoln. Fortunately for Washington, Aaron Wilmer smashed a two-run homer in the first with no outs, so at least they put some runs up on the 20th century scoreboard. For Wilmer, it was his third straight game with a home run. He would later hit a two-run single and a two-run double to finish with six ribbies on the day. Other bright spots for the GW offense were sr CF Will Romaninsky (solo HR to right), fr C Dean Grande (4-4, 3 runs, 2 RBI) and jr Shelby Marion (2-3, 2 doubles). Marion played second, third and short as Max Bilkins trotted out three pitchers: starter Wilmer (4 IP), sr RH Will McFillin (1 IP, gets credit for the win) and so RH Tom Marano (2 IP, save). For GAMP (3-5), the offense was once again led by seniors Ron Malandro and Eugene Aversa. Malandro had a two-run single and a two-run double, while Aversa reached the right field fence twice resulting in a triple and a single. Malandro, who has moved to center and solidified the GAMP outfield, leads the Public League in decibel level for the second straight season. Like you wouldn't expect heavy acoustics from a guy that goes to a school with Music Program as part of its name!
GETTING ON THE SOAPBOX
    There were enough base running blunders and mishaps by both teams in this game. Guys were not running hard on pop ups (which fall in with regularity in the Pub), others were admiring the trajectory of their hits instead of running, and isn't it normal for forced runners to be going with a full count and two outs? Now I do realize these are high school kids, but they really should know better, especially at this point in the season - c'mon guys!
A POSITIVE NOTE TO GO OUT ON
    Two positive developments in the game for GW: sr DH Brandon Waldorf getting his stroke back with an opposite field double, and how 'bout so OF Steve Leibovitz taking advantage of an opportunity to play. He made contact and went the other way with two strikes, advancing a pair of runners.

APRIL 27
PUBLIC LEAGUE
Washington 15, Lincoln 5
  Sorry I was delayed in getting this report out, but I had to go to the doctor's office and get a tetanus shot after witnessing this latest Public League matchup. Lincoln pitchers issued 21 walks, and that was the good news, it could have been 22! Washington helped make this game a non-epic by refusing to score with the bases loaded in the first, second and third. Ouch! My arm will be swollen from the shot, but  I will not get sick from this game. Eagles jr 3B Aaron Wilmer and Lincoln sr OF Michael Vazquez each accounted for inside-the-park three-run home runs. Unfortunately at the temporary home for the Railsplitters, Lincoln Field at the Max Myers Miniplex, every home run is an inside-the parker. There are no dimensions (or outfield fences). So leave it to the Eagles free-spirit, sr DH Brandon Waldorf. He has to be different. He has to be the one to hit a mammoth shot three-fourths of the way up a tree down the left field line for a homer (estimated 375'). Rumor has it that said tree was planted by early founders of Northeast Philadelphia. It was so hot, that after rounding the bases, Waldorf needed a fan to cool off. Unfortunately for the chiseled Waldorf, that is what he did the rest of the afternoon ... fan! Mike Foley, GW jr RHP recorded eight K's in five innings of work, but unfortunately for Max Bilkins, his Eagles (5-2) were unable to establish a 10-run lead and were extended to play a full seven innings, not such a great thing when you have four games in five days. Anyway, it was good to see a pair of Pub games on the day. Stopped by Central at Frankford just to get another look at the Pioneers' Tito Rohena and Wander Nunez. Instead all I saw was Central base runners named Zach/Zack rounding third and scoring, and then scoring some more, and then scoring some more. After Tito was pulled in the third, I galloped over to the Little Linc for the Lincoln-Washington tilt. I guess it must be me, because each game ended 15-5. Central 10-run ruling Frankford, and GW scoring a zillion runs in the seventh to go into the twenties, but going into the official Randy's Ramblings scorebook as a 15-5 final. 

HOBBS
    Voting is still going on for the latest unscientific Ramblings Poll, "Which Pub Player looks more like Roy Hobbs from The Natural?" Of course, everybody knows (or should know) of Robert Redford's character from the movie. The finalists are Central Lancers RHP Stephen Schall and Washington Eagles OF Nick Romaninsky. Send your selections to rseidman9@aol.com. The winner gets ... well nothing ... the economy, you know.
STEPPING ON TED'S TOES
    OK, I know Teddy Ballgame himself was there to cover the Frankford-Central game. Yes it really was Ted Silary, better known as tedsilary.com (now at 6.7 million hits and growing!). There he was snapping away with his camera, and getting the game scoop, and I can't wait to read his take on the game. Two memorable moments: Lancers' Zach Magdovitz' beautiful bunt single down the third base line which ignited a big six-run inning against Frankford and Ian Lewis' classic at bat against Rohena, which resulted in a three-run triple.
TALKING HOOPS
    Ben Dubin, Frankford's boys' basketball coach, was in attendance hoping for a Frankford comeback. Speaking of comebacks, the fifth-year coach is very excited about former star hoopster Lewis Leonard coming back to the area. Leonard was named to the 2005 Philadelphia Daily News All-City second team and All-Public League Division B first team. He is projected as a starting guard for the St. Bonaventure Bonnies next basketball season. The Bonnies play in the A-10, so Lewis will be seeing plenty of time in Philly against LaSalle, Temple and Saint Joseph's. Lewis will have two years of eligibility remaining, after playing and starring at San Bernardino Valley College (CA), where he was named as the 2006-07 Foothill Conference Most Valuable Player.

APRIL 23
PUBLIC LEAGUE
Washington 15, Frankford 10
    When Public League sensation Edwin "Tito" Rohena stepped to the plate in the first inning with a runner on, and stroked a majestic shot over the fence in left for a 2-run homer, it looked like another Frankford rout was on the way. The Pioneers would score four in the inning. In recent seasons, being four down to Frankford meant game over. GW did plate a run in the home first, as jr RH Aaron Wilmer scored on a sharp RBI single to left by sr SS Will McFillin. The second inning of this game belonged to Wilmer. He retired the Pioneers in order, including an inning ending ground out to short by Rohena. After Frankford starting pitcher Cameron Stimpson walked the bases loaded, Wilmer was presented with a one-out opportunity. Aaron has had many big moments in his junior season. He will go down in Eagles lore as the QB that led his team to a Public League Championship AND the City Football Championship, with their "shock the world" win over La Salle High School. Wilmer added to his highlights reel when he then crushed an inside fastball over the left-center field fence for a grand slam and a 5-4 Eagles lead. The 370' blast was the first slam by GW since Isaiah Johnson's memorable game-winning 7th inning shot at Central in the 2007 opener. After Wilmer walked sr LF Jason Efre and sr SS Harry Davila to start the third, he retired the next three batters, including his fourth strikeout. In the bottom of the inning, the unthinkable happened. A combination of timely hitting, poor fielding and wild pitching led to the Eagles scoring an "8" spot. Against Frankford! Unheard of! Shelby Marion, the versatile junior infielder had one of seven singles in the inning. The Northeast transfer hit a tracer that went right over the third base bag, driving in a pair. After three innings the scoreboard read VISITOR 4 - EAGLES 13. After Frankford went down in order in the fourth, they were facing the possibility of the mercy rule being inflicted on them. The Pioneers had won 57 consecutive mercy-rule games dating back to 2001. They had beaten Washington by 10+ runs six times during that stretch. But it was not to be. The comeback everyone expected happened in the fifth. Back-to-back hit batters with the bases loaded, and a pinch hit grand slam by soph Jose Sosa-Reyes closed the gap to 13-10, and it was the Pioneers with the big momentum. From that point on, McFillin, the 6'4" Eagles RHP and co-captain, would throw 2.2 innings of scoreless relief with 4 K's. In the Eagles sixth, Wilmer would close the scoring on this one with a two-run single to center. It is only Washington's second win against Frankford since 2002. The Pioneers had won 15 of the previous 16 meetings, including playoffs, and allowed the most runs against any opponent since a loss to GW on May 9, 2001. Here is the recap from that game:

Washington 18, Frankford 8: The Eagles posted 10 in the third and six more in the fourth. Joe Sannutti went 3-for-3 with a double, grand slam, five RBI and four runs scored. Winner Andrew Farrell pitched the last three innings in the five-inning game.
 Note: In the fourth, Aaron Wilmer got Frankford so Mike McGroarty to ground out to open the inning. Which raises the question, when was the last time in the Pub that you had a quarterback pitching to another quarterback? 
SHORTIE IS STANDING TALL
  Two-time Public League Player of the Year Esteban "Shortie" Meletiche wasted no time getting noticed by scouts in his first year of collegiate baseball. Playing for Division III Keystone College in La Plume, PA, Shortie has been the catalyst for the Giants, who are currently riding a 19-game winning streak, with a 31-4 record. They moved up from #13 last week to the #5 spot in this week's polls. That is the highest ranking ever for Keystone. After starting the season 1-for-16, Shortie started to make things happen and was promoted to the leadoff spot, and became the starting shortstop. That combination provided a comfort zone for Meletiche and coincided with the team's hot streak. Shortie is currently batting .430, and leads the Colonial States Athletic Conference (CSAC) with 47 runs (in 34 games). His 54 hits are second only to teammate Eric Groff (Lebanon, PA), an almost certain selection in the upcoming pro draft.  
BEHIND THE DISH
    Look for catcher Chris Lopez to become an important part of the Pioneers for the next two seasons. The junior has the attributes, both physically and athletically, of a young Ivan Rodriguez. Against GW, he had five clean blocks on pitches in the dirt with runners on, and he also knows when to go out and talk to his pitcher. For fans of Frankford baseball, his instinct and leadership abilities are reminiscent of former Pioneer great Ramon Reyes. The 2006 Public League Player of the Year, Ramon is having an excellent season catching and batting cleanup for Eastern University. One of his college teammates is none other than the former boy wonder Harry Potter himself - Andrew Reynolds, who played for coach Bob Barthelmeh at Central.   
Reyes' stats in 2009: 29 games (all starts), .298 BA, 1 HR, 11 RBI, 19 BB, .424 OBP. 
LaROSE BY ANY OTHER NAME ...
    Eagles sr 1B Mike LaRose has been chipping in with key hits this season, and will be featured in next Wednesday's edition of the Northeast Times. With a staff photographer on site, and sports editor Melissa Yerkov conducting the interview, the West Chester bound LaRose surely was talking about how he got his nickname, "Scoops." 
AN APPLE FOR THE TEACHER
    Was it a flashback? Was it really the 2004 Public League Player of the Year wearing the blue-and-red of Frankford? Yes, it was Joe Farina, who was coming back to the Eagles Nest, where he constantly haunted the Eagles during his career. In his senior season, he blasted an almost identical pair of moon-shots over the right-center Gray Monster fence during a Pioneers win (4/28/04). Joe is an assistant coach for Juan Namnun this season, and can be a role model to all athletes in the Philadelphia Public League. Here is a guy who was a star athlete in high school (three sports), went away to college (East Stroudsburg) to play sports, wound up concentrating on his studies as a junior and senior, graduated, and now has a full-time job (with benefits!) from the School District of Philadelphia. Joe is a physical education teacher at West Philadelphia High. Way to go, Joe! Go Speedboys!
HOMECOMING
    Three former players who were on the squad that last beat Frankford (4/11/07) were on hand: "Mad Max" Fenster, Jon Wright, and Jim Galen. Also in attendance from the 2008 team was Andrew "Not Andre" Tepel.
SCHEDULE CHANGE
    Washington and Franklin Towne Charter have re-scheduled their game to next Friday, May 1. That means the Eagles will now have to wait a week to try and avenge an early season loss at Franklin Towne Charter. That "wake-up call" game was followed by the current three-game win streak at home against Central, Lincoln and Frankford.

APRIL 17
PUBLIC LEAGUE
Washington 19, Lincoln 4 (4 innings)
    Just 24 hours after posting an important, extra-inning win over Central, the George Washington Eagles focused their attention on the Abraham Lincoln Railsplitters ... just not in the top of the first inning! Before G-Dub knew what hit them, they were down 4-0. A walk to jr C Dylan Gallagher and a one-hop double to the right field fence by sr CF Andrew Burke put runners on second and third with the 3-hole hitter coming up. Mike Ulmer then delivered an opposite field RBI single to right, as a second run scored on an outfield error. Washington hurler Mike Foley then walked the next two batters to load the bases, but should have escaped further damage. An apparent double-play ball was booted and two more Railsplit guys scored. Foley, the junior RHP, then humped up and recorded back-to-back strikeouts to get out of the inning. GW plated three in their at-bat on one hit and three fielder's choices. After a 53 minute first inning Lincoln led 4-3. Pitchers Ulmer and Foley then threw shutout ball until the home fourth when the floodgates opened. Before it was all through in the bottom of the fourth, the Eagles would bat around twice on 11 hits, 5 walks, a hit batter and an error. There was only one out made, and that was on the basepaths! Among the highlights of the 16-run game-ending inning were: fr C Dean Grande - RBI single AND a two-run single, sr 1B/co-capt. Mike LaRose - 2-run single, and sr DH Brandon Waldorf - walkoff three-run double. The winning pitcher was so RH Tom Marano, who pitched one perfect inning with a strikeout.  

    Washington (3-2) will face the ultimate test on Monday and Tuesday when they play the unbeatens: Frankford and Northeast. The Pioneers are fresh off a home-and-home sweep of GAMP, and are 4-0 this season (other wins: vs Washington in Orlando, FL & Lincoln). Northeast (2-0) has wins against Edison and GAMP. As for Lincoln (0-5), they need to play like they did in the first three innings of this game. But, it has to be for the whole game, as I am sure head coach John Larsen must constantly preach. 
A 16-RUN INNING IS A LOT, BUT ...
    From the Ramblings Archive: May 17, 2004 -
Public League Round of 16 Playoffs
Washington 25, Roxborough 6
   Entering the playoffs as the #4 seed, the host George Washington Eagles dispatched Roxborough, 25-6, in the 3-inning playoff opener. In a first inning that took one hour and twelve minutes to complete, the Eagles scored 18 times. Washington (11-4) scored 7 more in the second inning. Roxborough (6-8) did scratch out 6 runs in the first 2 innings on 4 hits, 5 walks, and 2 errors, but when they took the field, it was a different story, and it wasn't pretty. Washington's first 17 batters reached: 9 hits, 6 walks, HBP, E, resulting in 16 runs...with no outs! The 18-run inning eclipses the Public League season-high of 16, set by Washington last week vs Lincoln.
SPECIAL LINCOLN DUO
  Wins are important in high school sports, but there are other more important issues in life. A pair of Lincoln baseball players, past and present, are providing shining examples of inspiration and courage. As for the current team, by now, everybody knows the story of senior pitcher Sean Cross, who lost an eye in that horrific, cowardly paintball act of terrorism. Yes, he was dealt a harsh blow. Yes, it just isn't fair. But instead of moping around, there he is on the sideline encouraging his teammates, and helping out the coaches. He has a strong desire to play this season, so stay tuned. Sean is amazed at all of the support he has received, and that includes his teachers, who have helped him ease back into his schoolwork. By the way, he was still talking about how big and tasty those cookies were that the Frankford Pioneers sent him as a get well soon treat.
    Representing the Railsplitters' past is former pitcher David Gibson. Now a junior left handed pitcher for the Virginia State Trojans, David had a great second half of the season, highlighted by being named to the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) All-Tournament Team. David was the winning pitcher, with a complete game performance, in the tourney opener against Shaw University (NC). That victory put VSU into the winners bracket, and they went on to win their third straight tournament championship. When he is available, David comes back to Lincoln to help the coaches out, and show the players that it is possible to get a college education and play sports at the same time. 
TITO SIGHTING
   When Washington hosts Frankford on Monday at 3:15, it will be the final Far-Northeast high school appearance of Pioneers' sensation Edwin "Tito" Rohena. Tito is considered the odds-on favorite to be the Public League Player of the Year. He would join other Frankford players this decade such as Esteban "Shortie" Meletiche (2007 & 2008), Ramon Reyes (2006), Luis Alicea (2005), Joe Farina (2004) and Carlos Rivera (2003). Rohena, a senior OF/RHP has accepted a scholarship to LaSalle University.  
THE WEEK AHEAD
    With all of the rainouts from previous weeks, the PL schedule should pose a real challenge for all teams in the final month of the season. Although, five of the eight teams in Division A have played five games to this point, the Northeast Vikings will need to use a GPS to find their home field. They have played just twice this season. Key matchups this week include: Monday-GAMP at Central, Tuesday-Washington at Northeast, Thursday-GAMP at Northeast.

APRIL 13
PUBLIC LEAGUE
Franklin Towne Charter 3, Washington 1
    It is now official - the Franklin Towne Charter Coyotes have arrived in Division A. After receiving a rude welcome to the division with a pair of double-digit losses to GAMP and Central, FTC regrouped and won their first game of the season by playing sound defense, and scoring runners from third with less than two outs. The Coyotes took a 1-0 lead in the second on a center field triple by sr 3B/RHP Jason Krajewski and an RBI groundout by sr 2B Mike Skinner. In the fourth, they added another run on a groundout. Winning pitcher Ryan Kubacki led off the inning with a bad-hop double, and eventually scored on a grounder by so 1B Tyler Landis. On the mound, Kubacki was dealing. Although he couldn't locate his breaking pitches, he was around the plate with his fastball, and the Eagles batters were slow to get around. He allowed just three hits in his first-ever complete game, but walked five and hit a batter. He was able to survive because: 1) he had 6 K's - 3 looking, 3 swinging, 2) his fielders were making the routine plays, which was not evident in their first two games at the Coyotes Den, and 3) Washington was 0-for-8 with runners in scoring position. The Eagles' hard-luck loser was jr RHP Mike Foley (5 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 6 K). Foley had GW's lone extra-base hit of the game, an opposite field triple to right in the fifth. It was Washington's first hit of the game. The Coyotes (1-2) will try to continue their success with a home-and-home series against Edison this week. GW (1-2) will need to come up with big efforts against Lincoln and Central as they visit the Eagles Nest. Of course, weather permitting ...   
PLAYERS TO WATCH
  Each team's lineup featured five seniors, with four underclassmen sprinkled in. For Washington, so 3B Dan Meade has a strong, accurate arm while fr C Dean Grande was behind the plate. Eagles coach Max Bilkins has not started many freshmen in recent times. FTC featured fr SS Angel Lazu, who impressed with his range.     
A CLASS ACT
  With his team and fans still buzzing after their historic win, Coyotes coach Kyle Riley took time to send his best wishes to Lincoln pitcher Sean Cross, who is recuperating from that horrible paintball incident which led to the removal of his left eye. The Coyotes players were wishing him well and hoping to play against him later this season. Sean, you are one tough Philly guy, and everybody is behind you!

MARCH 23
PUBLIC LEAGUE
GAMP 11, Franklin Towne Charter 1
    It was the season opener in the Public League - at least for games played outside of Florida. (Frankford defeated Washington, 11-4, last Friday in Orlando to officially get the season underway.) This matchup pitted The World According to GAMP's Art Kratchman against the New Kid on the Block, Kyle Riley. Kratchman is the veteran GAMP coach, who won it all in 2002, and continues to demand the most from his players. Riley had the right stuff as he coached FTC to the Public League B title a year ago. He has been at the school for ten years, and head of the baseball team since its inception six years ago. The Coyotes have made the long trek from the lower divisions to reach The Gold Division.
    As for the game itself, well let's just say it was what you would expect from an opener. Not a lot execution on both sides. Not much control from the pitchers. Not likely to be featured as The Philadelphia School District Game of the Week on their almost modern website. One key stat emerged - only 2 of the first 20 batters in this game had a first pitch strike thrown to them. Walks, hit by pitch, 3-ball counts, you get the picture, right? As the season wears on, both teams can use the lessons learned from this game: errors, base-running mishaps, communication, etc. Offensively, Dom Raia clubbed a 3-run homer to center in the first inning, and went 2-for-3 with 3 RBI. The 6'0" soph righthander started and pitched 4 innings for the win with 7 K's. Raia allowed only a lone hit, a triple to FTC soph CF Marcus Malave in the second inning. The good news for Franklin Towne Charter: their first official hit in Division A. The bad news: Malave's triple came on the 49th pitch thrown by Raia, the first time FTC made contact. Pioneer sr RF Ron Malandro had 2 runs and 2 RBI, and jr SS Anthony DiVincenzo went 1-3, with 3 runs scored. Kudos to Coyotes' starting pitcher Jason Krajewski. The senior would admit it probably wasn't his finest outing, as his pitch count would confirm. But he was able to overcome a shaky first inning and keep his young teammates in the game, giving them a degree of confidence. You want to talk about leading by example: trailing 5-1 in the third inning, with one on and one out, Dom Raia absolutely scorched an aluminum-bat line drive directly back at Krajewski's foot for a single. It looked serious, but fortunately Jason limped it off, took a couple of practice pitches and said he was ready to go. And he continued on. However, the Pioneers posted a 6-spot in the fifth inning with contributions by soph 3B Joe Garofalo (bunt single to start the rally) and fr CF Tyler Criniti (sac fly). Junior RHP James Coin tossed a 1-2-3 inning of relief (mercifully) to end the game.
DON’T FORGET THE GPS
  Way to go to the traveling band of GAMP parents! Considering most of the division is clustered in Northeast Philly, GAMP-dads and GAMP-moms always lead the league in mileage.
COLORS OF THE RAINBOW
  It was tough to tell which was more entertaining: watching Dom Raia’s gallop on a 3-run dinger, or watching Dom Raia, Sr’s reaction to it. The elder Dom, the one-time Southern High great, was jumping all around, and his face turned many different shades of red cheering his son on.
IT DOESN'T GET ANY EASIER
  On a season opening 5-game homestand, Franklin Towne Charter continues play at The Coyotes Den with games against Central, Frankford and Washington. Last season, those three teams had a combined record of 32-10 (.762).
BRACKETOLOGY
  President Barack Obama filled out his brackets for the NCAA tournament, and simply did not have the time to respond to a request for the predicted order of finish for the 2009 Philadelphia Public League baseball season. So instead, here is my forecast:
1) Frankford, 2) Northeast, 3) Central, 4-tie) GAMP & Washington, 6) Lincoln, 7) Franklin Towne Charter, 8) Edison.
I welcome and challenge all players and coaches to prove otherwise.