McClelland Miscellanea

August 6, 2019 · 10:27 pm

Daniel McGrath: How good is this bloke?

Daniel McGrath has been exceptional for Portland lately

One run in the last 59 innings

(Portland ME) The question needs to be asked after the Australian continued on a roll that has had him allow only ONE run in his last fifty-nine innings of pitching for the Portland Sea Dogs.

Daniel was connected to the Doncaster Dragon in Melbourne (Australia) seven years ago as a 17-year-old. His pitching promise, while with the Dragons, attracted the interest of fifteen major league teams. The Red Sox signed him for $400,000.

Since then? He’s had his moments but has hardly turned a whole lot of heads……….until recently.

Daniel was the Player-of-the-Month in the Eastern League for July.

After tonight’s 1-0 win over the Erie SeaWolves, his ERA is a remarkable 1.34. Daniel toiled seven innings versus Erie and allowed only three hits. He’s struck out a season-high nine SeaWolves.

Daniel Pinero caught off base in the second inning

Erie had a great chance in the second to put a dent into Daniel’s ERA. The visitors had runners on first and third with no outs. But the lefty can not only pitch, he also has a nifty pickoff move. Daniel Pinero was victimized straying from first and then the next two batters were retired with no runs scoring.

I’ll admit that I didn’t go to Hadlock Field last night to see Daniel McGrath.

It was Casey Mize I wanted to get a look at. Casey is the Eastern League’s top prospect. He was the first pick in the major league draft in 2018. He dazzled at Auburn University averaging nearly thirteen strikeouts per game.

He was promoted to Erie this season after a few starts in the lower minors. Result? No-Hitter against Altoona in his first EL start!

Casey Mize gave up only five hits in six innings

Casey scuffled in his last start (Binghamton) allowing seven hits and six runs in 3 1/3 innings. He was much better tonight at Portland.

The native of Alabama allowed only five hits in six innings. Now 6-2, he is very good but on this night, it was Daniel McGrath that had the buzz-worthy performance.

To watch Daniel pitch as masterfully as he did, couldn’t have come at a better time for Red Sox fans. The last week has been a pitching nightmare for the Boston team. Those expensive arms on the Big Club have been a tough watch night after night.

Daniel pitched once at Pawtucket (AAA) this season. He certainly has earned some more time there. I hope it happens.

Nice crowd with nice weather.

Casey Mize was the first pick in the 2018 major league draft

I have always had the sense that most attendees to minor league games know little about the players. Tonight was a bit different. As I waited to get pictures of Casey Mize warming up, there was a good collection of fans nearby doing the same thing. They had heard about Casey Mize.

Casey, by the way, will reach the majors by this time next year. He’s just too good to hold back. Plus they invested $7,500,000 on him when they signed him.

Slugger was in camouflage gear carrying a branch. It is fair to say that the Big Guy can not be carrying things and expect to compete. The competition tonight was short in size as well as short in experience. The young opponent had to be guided onto the field, around the bases, and off the field………..and still he wasted Slugger. Embarrassing.

Thanks to Chris Cameron for arranging the pleasant visit for me.

(All of the pictures above and below will enlarge considerably if you click on them.)

Brett Netzer – had the Sea Dogs RBI

Casey Mize

CJ Chatham

CJ Chatham – leads EL in hitting

Daniel McGrath between innings

Derek Hill – 28th on Tigers prospect list

Luke Tendler (10) slides back into 3rd

Marcus Wilson – 18th on Red Sox prospect list

Matthew Gorst was signing before the game

Slugger’s opponent

Isaac Paredes 5th best prospect in the Detroit farm system

Jhon Nunez (catcher)

Joey Curletta

Josh Lester at 3B

Diving back to first

Leave a comment

Filed under Erie Seawolves, Portland, Portland Sea Dogs

Tagged as Casey Mize, Daniel McGrath

August 3, 2019 · 11:30 pm

Jake Hall returns to win the Bandits feature at Oxford Plains Speedway

Jake Hall celebrates with his children after winning the Bandits feature tonight

Mikey McKinney gets second place

(Oxford ME) The car wasn’t even his.

It belongs to Eric Parlin, and he wanted someone to “try it out and break it in.”

Jake Hall accepted the opportunity and drove Eric’s car to victory in the Bandits’ feature tonight at Oxford Plains Speedway.

This was Jake’s first race in the Bandits division this season.

“It was a perfect night, honestly,” said Jake afterwards. “I got the win. My kids got to see it. And my teammate (Mikey McKinney) got to finish second. You can’t beat that.”

Lineup for the start of the Bandits feature

Jake came in second in his heat to Dustin Salley but in the feature, it was a different story. Starting in the pole position, Jake led from beginning to end in the 20-lap race. “This thing is a rocket,” exclaimed Jake.

Mikey McKinney was quickly in second in the feature and the teammates (“I help Mikey with his car” – Jake) separated from the rest of the field.

No cautions cut the gap between cars and without cars to pass it was an easy win for Jake.

Jake and Mikey on the final turn

Jake was rookie-of-the-year in the Bandits division several years ago but has not raced much lately. “I’ve got a car, but I haven’t broken it out,” he said. “We bought a house and stuff, so finances weren’t there.”

This was only Mikey’s fourth race this season in the Bandits division and the best he had done previously was 14^th. “I haven’t raced much this year, but I’ve done well in the past,” Mikey told me afterwards.

Dustin Salley won his heat

Mr. Consistent (Dustin Salley) won his heat and came in third in the feature. “Consistent” describes Dustin because in thirteen races this season, he has never finished lower than fifth! He has also won five times.

Alex Mowatt, who has won twice, took fourth.

Chad Wills won the other Bandits heat.

I am starting to become a fan of the Rookie Division. There aren’t many cars but it’s highly competitive and there’s plenty of action. Last week, Brady Childs tried to catch Owen Stuart at the very end and crashed just before the finish line. Tonight, the same two were side by side and the next thing you knew Owen was spinning, and he and unfortunate Maddie Herrick collided. Maddie’s night ended but Owen returned. Brady won this race.

Cole Binette

How can you not pull for Cole Binette in that Rookie division? The young man is 10 years old! Tonight he got third.

Lovely night for racing.

Jake Hall: “Eric (Parlin) has only raced a couple of races but this car is a good one for him to start with. I’m going to run again on the 250 weekend with the Rebels. Then I’ll be down here helping Eric make sure that this car does for him what it did for me tonight.”

(All the pictures above and below will enlarge considerably if you click on them.)

Mikey McKinney chasing Jake Hall

Jake Hall and Mikey McKinney

Jake Hall gets out of the car

Dustin Salley (18), Alex Mowatt (11), Jeff Libby (44), and Caleb Proctor (04) chase the leaders

On the wall

Reid Lanpher (59) on the move

Chad Wills wins heat

Brady Childs

Brady Childs (1), Maddie Herrick (95), and Owen Stuart (8)

Leave a comment

Filed under Oxford, Oxford Plains Speedway

Tagged as Alex Mowatt, Cam Childs, Dustin Salley, Eric Parlin, Jake Hall, Maddie Herrick, Mikey McKinney, Owen Stuart

July 30, 2019 · 10:36 pm

Ruben Sanca and Karen Roa capture Yankee Homecoming 10-miler titles

Ruben Sanca

Karen Roa

Jeffrey Seelaus (2539) in the lead for good in the 5K

Yvonne Bungei wins the 5K

Ruben Sanca in the crowd with Eric Ashe nearby

(Newburyport MA) “Three miles in I was in a world of hurt”

“At five miles, in this weather, you start doubting yourself and your pace gets slower and slower. You try to hang on as best you can.”

Sounds unpleasant. And those were the words of the two top finishers (Ruben Sanca & Eric Ashe) in last night’s Yankee Homecoming 10-miler!

Margaret Njuguna (1581) leads but Karen Roa (1828) is nearby at the Cushing Museum

Imagine what the rest of the folks, running in heat in the mid-to-upper 80’s through the streets of Newburyport, must have felt like.

The women’s winner, Karen Roa, said that a key to handling the conditions was keeping hydrated. “It was a mental thing,” she said afterwards. “I wanted to go out conservative because of the weather.”

Mission accomplished for Karen. Cleveland Marathon winner Margaret Njuguna was also in the field and she started fast. Karen kept Margaret in her sights and eventually the conditions changed the positioning at the top.

“The young lady at the top kept looking back,” explained Karen, “so I thought that she was weakening. I kept after her and passed her at the seven-mile mark and didn’t look back.”

Enjoying the ride

Karen Roa won by nearly a minute (59:12).

Ruben Sanca captured the 10-mile event for the second straight year.

“I tried to take it out hard from the beginning,” said the UMass Lowell graduate. “My plan was to get away from everyone else. Unfortunately, because of how hot and humid it was I couldn’t maintain the fast pace.”

Enter Simmons University cross-country coach Eric Ashe.

“I tried to be a little conservative with the start and it almost worked,” he said. “I caught Ruben at about seven miles. I tried to make a final move to win.”

Ruben remembered it: “I knew someone was coming up on me. Eventually Eric caught me at eight miles. We ran together for about a mile. I knew the last mile pretty well and I started my kick and got the win.”

Justin Freeman shadows Brandon Newbould

Justin Freeman, the winner in 2011, came across third. “Last year I was in fifth coming up the last hill into the schoolyard and ended seventh. I tried to save a little more this time and take it easy. I settled behind Brandon Newbould (5^th) for about 4 ½ miles then moved ahead. I came up on Mark Hegarty (4^th) and created a little gap of about 30-35 yards. He (Mark) reeled about half of it back but I had something left at the end.”

One of the unique features of the 10-miler is that a 5K starts on the same route ten minutes earlier. That makes for some interacting of the two races about a mile in as well as at the finish. There are serious runners and there are those wanted to try it.

“There was a nice crowd,” said Eric Ashe. “It does get a little hectic at times trying to weave through the runners from the first race.”

Bryan Popp (1748) and Nicholas Denari (513)

I have always positioned myself one mile from the start near the Cushing Museum. The top finishers always show themselves by that point. Case in point was today’s 5K. UMass Amherst graduate Jeffrey Seelaus was in front there. Same for Williams grad Yvonne Bungei among the women.

St. John’s Prep math teacher Nicholas Denari was poised behind Triton grad Bryan Popp at Cushing but moved on to take second at the finish.

A little more from the top finishers from my interviews:

Eric Ashe: “All the hoses along the way were really helpful. I’ll probably do the New England Grand Prix and the Cape Cod Marathon. Besides coaching at Simmons, I also work for Tracksmith (running company in Boston).”

Justin Freeman: “It was a lot cooler the time I won this race. I’ve been coming here for more than ten years. It’s fun to do an evening race. It’s nice to do the same race over and over and be able to make comparisons. I teach math at the American School in The Hague (Netherlands). I have a condo in New Hampshire and my family comes over here for seven weeks in the summer.”

Ruben Sanca

Ruben Sanca: “It was great to win for a second time. I was lucky this time because my strategy of going out fast wasn’t the best. I am training for the Chicago Marathon in October.”

Karen Roa: “Running is a mental thing for me. Very busy. I am a doctorate candidate taking classes. I had labs this morning. I stuck to one guy in this race from Whirlaway who helped me a lot.”

My curiosity is why area high school running standouts weren’t in this year’s race. Where were John Lucey, Peter Lopata, and Dreese Fadil?

Race results

(All of the pictures above and below will enlarge considerably if you click on them.)

Ziggy (800) 9th & Will (799) 3rd attend Midland High School in California

Ben Pare – 7th – 10-mile

Betsy Suda – 2nd – 5K

Brandon Newbould – 5th – 10-mile

Katherine Newberry (2492) 40th overall

David Metzger – 9th – 10-mile

Derek Walsh – 13th – Newburyport

Eric Ashe – 2nd – 10-mile

James Bailey – 8th – 10-mile

Jeffrey Seelaus leads

Justin Freeman – 3rd – 10-mile

Shane Whalen 6th – 10-mle

Wheeling along

Karen Roa 2nd at Cushing Museum

Kathryn White – Georgetown – 5K

Margaret Njuguma finished 14th overall

Mark Hegarty 4th – 10-mile

Robert Hollinger 4th – 5K

Leave a comment

Filed under Newburyport, Yankee Homecoming

Tagged as Eric Ashe, Jeffrey Seelaus, Justin Freeman, Karen Roa, Ruben Sanca, Yvonne Bungei

July 27, 2019 · 11:21 pm

Travis Verrill wins first Saturday night Bandits feature at Oxford Plains Speedway

Travis Verrill celebrates his first Saturday night feature win

In the final yards, Travis Verrill (24) holds off Jeff Libby (44) with three other cars close by

Start of the Bandits feature

(Oxford ME) They came around the final turn with the chance of a lifetime.

One driver had never won a Saturday night feature.

The other had never finished above third.

Travis Verrill got his first win; a Saturday night feature in the Bandits division at Oxford Plains Speedway.

“It was my first Saturday night win,” said an exuberant Travis afterwards. “We’ve got a couple of third places and fourth places on Saturdays. We’ve won some flag poles but never on a Saturday night.”

For Travis to get that first Saturday night checkered flag was exciting but the race itself (20 laps) was one of the best I’ve seen at OPS.

Jeff Libby (pardon the poor camera setting) finished second

It was highly competitive from start to finish. With no cautions sometimes the field spreads out and the outcome takes shape very early. This race wasn’t like that. Travis and Jeff Libby started at the front and never seemed to separate by more than a car length. Most of the time they were side by side.

Later in the race, three other drivers (Chad Wills, Dustin Salley, and Alex Mowatt) closed in on the top two. Dustin has multiple wins while Alex had a win two weeks ago. Any mistake up front and they were ready and in position to take the lead.

But it didn’t happen. Both Travis and Jeff were that good on this evening.

I asked Jeff about the race: “It was exciting to get second since third was the best I had ever done before this. The only chance I had to get past him (Travis Verrill) would have been to move him and I don’t race like that. It still was our best race so far.”

This is how it looked into the 19th lap

Travis used his car last Friday in a four-cylander, figure-eight race. Things didn’t go so well.

“We don’t usually do a race like that,” said Travis, “and we took a lot of damage. We had to replace everything in the left rear. We even missed the first practice today but got it together before the heat.”

Travis won the first heat ahead of Alex Mowatt.

Dustin Salley took the second heat.

“I figured that all the work these guys put in this week to get me back on the track, there was no way we were going home without that trophy,” said Travis.

Little room for error in the last lap

The Paris resident added, “We won this in front of a good crowd. I have a lot of fans who come out and support me. My mom makes everyone come whether they want to or not! But I appreciate everyone who comes. It’s really the only reason it’s worth it. You don’t make a million here.”

(All of the pictures above and below will enlarge considerably if you click on them.)

Brian Caswell (47) loses a tire

Rookie spinout – Brady Childs (1) and Dylan Cook (87)

Mark Turner (09) spins out in the Street Stocks

Leave a comment

Filed under Oxford Plains Speedway

Tagged as Alex Mowatt, Dustin Salley, Jeff Libby, Travis Verrill

July 24, 2019 · 9:13 pm

Hartford edges Portland 3-2 despite strong pitching by Bryan Mata

Bryan Mata continues to pitch well at Portland

Luis Castro slides home as catcher Jhan Nunez waits for throw

(Portland ME) Another beautiful day of baseball at Hadlock.

The Sea Dogs didn’t win (They lost 3-2 to Hartford) but the setting was great with a throng of brightly-dressed campers filling the seats.

The noon start gave summer camps from all over Maine (I saw a bus from Bangor) the time-frame needed to see an entertaining baseball game in an equally entertaining setting.

The weather was spot on with a ton of sun. I was near the Hartford dugout as one of the umpires came there early asking for sunscreen.

Portland has some attractive prospects (Bobby Dalbec, CJ Chatham, Bryan Mata, and Jarren Duran) and all were on the field today.

I am usually located at either the end of the Portland dugout or the visitor’s dugout. I consider myself an open target for a line drive, or a hot grounder, but if you want to get a good action shot, or an individual player shot, it’s where you must be. I did have a Binghamton Met’s reserve tell me he’d protect me!

Bobby Dalbec

The current player at-the-bat who scares me plenty is righty Bobby Dalbec. This kid is big and swings with authority. He leads the Eastern League in home runs and hits long shots to all fields. I always hope/pray, when he’s at bat, that the pitcher doesn’t throw a changeup for him to turn on. I had the same feeling last season when hard-swinging Bo Bichette batted for the NH Fisher Cats.

It’s not news but I am quite certain that Bobby will be moved to Pawtucket in August. He has power but he also leads the EL in walks. He was the DH this afternoon but in previous visits I have seen him play a solid third base.

Bryan Mata continues to pitch well with little to show for it. Today it was six innings and one earned run……….and the loss. He pitches in the mid-90s and is only 20 years old. You would think that with the current state of the Boston pitching staff, Bryan would be attracting plenty of interest from the Red Sox higher ups.

Jarren Duran takes a lead

It was nice to see the stands packed with kids. Some of the camps were organized enough to chant and cheer.

CJ Chatham was at short in this game. There have been reports that he would spend more time at second so that the way to the higher levels would be less difficult. Xander, current Red Sox shortstop, isn’t going anywhere, any time soon! CJ now leads the Eastern League in batting. Maybe CJ will get to Pawtucket before the season ends too.

Outfielders Jarren Duran and Marcus Wilson have plenty of speed. Today was my first look at Marcus. Both are twenty-two and should be with Portland into next season. They also could be trade bait in the coming days to fetch some relief help for the big team.

I also did my homework on the Sea Dogs’ opponent and their prospects. Hartford is in the Colorado Rockies system. I suspect that distance has a lot to do with the fact that only three of their top thirty prospects are in Connecticut.

Tyler Nevin is their 5^th best prospect. He was the Rockies first-round pick in 2015. The 22-year-old was in left today, although he does play first and third. Yes, he is Phil’s son. If you’re old enough to remember Phil, you’ll notice the facial resemblance. Phil, by the way, is now the third-base coach with the Yankees.

Colton Welker

I thought that I might see outfielder Colton Welker. He was in the dugout but on the 7-day DL.

They did have the usual race between a youngster and the Sea Dog mascot. Only problem was that Slugger wasn’t that mascot. First time I’ve seen that happen in all the years I’ve been coming to Hadlock. Slugger has never won this race and I can assure you that his replacement today, some sort of fish, was no better. He indeed was a fish out of water, and he was out of water as he reversed his way over first base. He was no competition for the speedy kid. I’d like to know what happened to Slugger. Maybe he needs some fresh legs.

I certainly appreciate the opportunity to be in the good spots at Hadlock to see the action. Much thanks to Chris Cameron for arranging my visits.

(All of the pictures above and below will enlarge considerably if you click on them.)

Tyler Nevin takes a practice swing

Tyler Nevin in left

Tyler Nevin

Play at second

Play at second base….CJ Chatham slides

Pickoff attempt

Hartford starter, and winning pitcher, Matt Dennis

Marcus Wilson

Manny Melendez leads off first base

Manny Melendez

Kid rounds third base

Manager Joe Oliver had a birthday today

Fish sets to swim

CJ Chatham

Catching lobsters

Carlos Herrera (shortstop)

Carlos Herrera (shortstop) starts a double play

Bryan Mata sets to throw to first

Catcher Brian Serven was impressive

Brett Netzer tags out Manny Melendez

Bobby Dalbec reports for work

Bobby Dalbec in the Portland dugout……..but for how long?

Arvincent Perez practice swinging

Alexander Guillen

Leave a comment

Filed under Hartford Yard Goats, Portland Sea Dogs

Tagged as Bobby Dalbec, Bryan Mata, CJ Chatham, Jarren Duran, Marcus Wilson, Slugger

July 14, 2019 · 9:08 pm

Barrett Barnes homer and Tommy Wilson pitching get Binghamton past Portland 3-1

Brett Netzer slides as Jason Krizan takes throw

Barrett Barnes had the big hit for Binghamton (2-run homer)

(Portland ME) Barrett Barnes took Bryan Mata deep (2-run homer) in the first inning and those runs held up as Binghamton defeated Portland, 3-1, on Sunday afternoon at Hadlock Field.

The Sea Dogs have Eastern League leaders in hitting (CJ Chatham) and homers (Bobby Dalbec) but it didn’t matter as the Rumble Ponies still won four-of-five from Portland.

Plenty of entertainment at Hadlock today with princesses and pirates getting special attention.

I like to try to get pictures of Red Sox players who are likely to move on to Pawtucket before the season is over. CJ and Bobby are in that category.

CJ Chatham at shortstop this afternoon

When they started using CJ at second recently, instead of short, I suspected that Pawtucket/Boston could be in his future this season.

Both Bobby and CJ were drafted in 2016 by Boston.

I got my first look at Boston’s #22 prospect, Jarren Duran. Noted for his speed, I hoped he would try to steal. Didn’t happen.

Binghamton has ten of the New York Mets top thirty prospects on their roster. That is a lot!

#1 prospect Andres Gimenez (shortstop) was not in the lineup but was in the dugout. That was all I needed.

Plenty of sunshine with a brief interlude of rain late in the game.

Slugger continued his losing streak. He got himself matched up with a young, gifted speedster and was in trouble from the get-go. Slugger does not have a manager to tell him that wearing a sword while running has danger written all over it. He tried it anyhow and was lucky that he didn’t impale himself.

Slugger decides to run in costume wearing a sword

Winner eyes the competition as he heads for third.

Winner floats into third base

Winner hits the plate

Tommy Wilson notched first Double A win today

Very impressed with Binghamton starter Tommy Wilson. He held the Sea Dogs to just two hits during his six innings of pitching and ended up with his first Double A victory.

Thanks to Chris Cameron for arranging my visit.

(All of the pictures above and below will enlarge considerably if you click on them.)

Relaxing in the dugout

Brett Netzer

Andres Gimenez

Jarren Duran bats

Andres Gimenez and Luis Carpio

Baserunner Brett Netzer

Umpire Taka Matsuda and Portland manager Joe Oliver appear to be singing a duet

CJ Chatham in the air as Sam Haggerty slides in

Jarren Duran leaves Sea Dogs dugout

Brett Netzer checks positioning notes

Bryan Mata started for Portland

CJ Chatham leaves the Portland dugout

Konner Wade signs

Bobby Dalbec at 3B

CJ Chatham and Brett Netzer tangle at second base

David Thompson

Miss Maine was in the house

Bobby Dalbec leaves the dugout

Andres Gimenez looks out from the Binghamton dugout

CJ Chatham heads in from the clubhouse

Quinn Brodey bats

Leave a comment

Filed under Binghamton Mets, Portland, Portland Sea Dogs

Tagged as Andres Gimenez, Barrett Barnes, Bobby Dalbec, CJ Chatham, Jarren Duran, Tommy Wilson

July 7, 2019 · 9:54 pm

Rookie Alex Mowatt wins Race #1 in Bandit Triple Crown series at Oxford Plains Speedway

Alex Mowatt wins the first of three races in the Bandit Triple Crown series

Alex with trophy

(Oxford ME) Rookie Alex Mowatt won the first race in the 2019 Bandit Triple Crown series on Sunday night at Oxford Plains Speedway.

The second, of three races, in this series will be held on September 15^th at OPS.

Alex, of Norway, ran away and hid in his heat and then did the same thing in the 25-lap feature.

“I got off to a great start and Dustin (Salley) had trouble with his car,” Alex explained afterwards. (Dustin is the points leader among the Bandits and has won numerous races this season.)

The way Alex’s car was moving on this evening, however, I’m not sure Dustin would have stayed with him even if his car had worked well.

Chad Wills (Oxford) took second and Dustin, despite his gear trouble, was third.

What certainly helped Alex was the combination of a small field (12 cars?) and no cautions. Alex never had to weave through traffic, and he didn’t have to chance his lead with a restart.

It was clearly his day.

After one lap Alex (11) had control of his heat and later the feature.

Highlight of his racing career? “This was nice, but the racing highlight so far for me was the first race I won here earlier in the season,” said the 20-year-old from Norway.

Dustin Salley (18) and Chad Wills (54) battled for second place

I tried to figure out the way things go at the speedway. Sorting out drivers and cars was a challenge. No up-to-date rosters anywhere to be found in the press box certainly didn’t help.

Dustin Salley (3rd) with Alex after the race

I had planned to interview several drivers afterwards. That fell through because the inspection of the cars after the race seemed to last at least an hour. That left me little time to find the other drivers.

But it was my first time trying to cover a race where I interviewed participants, and I enjoyed being there. I am creating my own Bandits’ roster and I will know better what to expect next time.

I expect to be at OPS for the 250 late in August.

(All of the pictures above and below will enlarge considerably if you click on them.)

Alex with the victory flag

Alex’s car

Nick Ogden (9) leads Dustin Salley in heat

Chad Wills (54), Dustin Salley (18), and Travis Verrill (24)

Eddie MacDonald’s car

Alex finishes

Alex ahead of Dean Jordan (55) and Greg Sessions (91) in his heat

Alex alone on the corner

Leave a comment

Filed under Oxford Plains Speedway

Tagged as Alex Mowatt, Chad Wills, Dustin Salley, Oxford Plains Speedway, Travis Verrill

July 6, 2019 · 2:09 pm

Dominic Sclafani wins the 17th Harrison 5K Run by the Lake

Start of Harrison’s Run by the Lake

Dominic Sclafani finishes nearly two minutes ahead of everyone else

Dominic Sclafani near the finish

Natasha Leighton led the female finishers

(Harrison ME) Dominic Sclafani, of Harrison, won the 17^th Harrison 5K Run by the Lake for the third straight year on Saturday morning.

The Wheaton College (Norton MA) sophomore runs cross country there and easily bested the field today winning by over two minutes.

“It was just a workout,” he told me afterwards. “I raced two days ago (Bridgton 4 on the Fourth) and didn’t want to push it. I wanted to run a 5:20-5:30 pace per mile.”

Dominic finished in 16:48 and ran 5:25 miles.

Natasha Leighton, an experienced runner from Bridgton, led the women. She finished tenth overall (21:28).

“This was the first time I’ve done this race,” she said. “It’s actually hillier than I expected. I usually do a 4^th of July race but couldn’t so I decided to do this one instead.”

As I stated above, Dominic cruised in uncontested. The race for second? About as exciting as it could be! David Krall entered the final forty-yard (?) stretch on Lincoln Street with a ten-yard lead over Cameron Gilmore. Didn’t look as if there was enough race left for Cameron to catch Dave, but he did. Trust me, Dave didn’t slow down. It was about Cameron closing with a rush.

Plenty of heat around even for the 9AM morning start. Yesterday was in the 90’s.

This race has (always?) been run during Harrison’s Old Home Days Week in the past. Surprising (to me) OHD was called off……no carnival, no parade etc.. I thought that the 5K might suffer the same fate but saw it listed in the Bridgton News with day and time changes. It was formerly on Wednesdays starting at 7PM.

The changes certainly impacted the turnout. There were only sixty-four finishers and none from any of the nearby camps. Maybe next year?

Dominic: “I think I’ll run the race in Lovell (July 20^th) but that would be my last one before I get back to school on August 17^th. I have changed my major (formerly bio/chem) to physics/chemistry. I was always more interested in physics than I was in biology. I have increased my mileage since the summer started and it has helped taper my asthma a little bit.”

Natasha: “Marathons are kind of my thing. I have done twenty-four of them. I like to do 5K’s because it helps with my speed and leg turnover. I plan to do the Baystate Marathon in Lowell (MA) in October and the Boston Marathon in April. I have lived in Bridgton for five years and work at the Bridgton Hospital.”

Race results

(All of the pictures above and below will enlarge considerably if you click on them.)

Natasha Leighton finishes 10th

Natasha Leighton pre-race

Race underway

Bear Brooks – 4th

David Brooks – 5th

Bo Brooks (85) – 7th and Erik Martin (144) – 6th

Daniel Brabender – 8th

Noah Currier – 9th

1 Comment

Filed under Bridgton, Harrison 5K Run by the Lake, Harrison Old Home Days

Tagged as Dominic Sclafani, Harrison 5K Run by the Lake, Natasha Leighton

July 4, 2019 · 5:41 pm

Ryan Smith wins the 43rd Bridgton 4 on the Fourth

Start of the Bridgton 4 on the Fourth

Ryan Smith (2019) takes first in the 2019 Bridgton 4 on the Fourth

Ryan Smith and second-place finisher Moninda Marube

(Bridgton ME) How did they know?

Racing bibs are handed out randomly for the Bridgton 4 on the Fourth, aren’t they?

Then how did this year’s winner (Ryan Smith) end up with “2019?”

But that’s what happened as Ryan won the 43^rd edition of the Bridgton 4^th…..in 2019.

Ryan (20:16), from Farmington, left the start in a hurry and won easily.

“I took the lead from the front,” Ryan (24) told me afterwards. “There were people behind me for probably the first 1 ½ miles. I heard footsteps. After that I kind of pulled away on the hills.”

Dom Sclafani, who came in 7^th, was one of those chasing Ryan early. “I was with the leader for the first half mile. Then he picked it up a lot.”

That fast start cost Dom later: “My first mile was well under five minutes. I went too fast early. I was looking for 5:10 and I ran 4:55.”

Winner Mary Pardi with race director Bill Graham

Mary Pardi (24:36) had an easy time of it in the women’s division. “I am in really good shape,” the 49-year-old said. “I had the lead from the start. I knew that I needed to stay strong in the second mile because it’s all uphill. The third mile is tough, and the fourth mile is beautiful. My final mile was 5:52.”

Amanda Dearborn (26:10) from Chicago finished second.

Last year’s winner, Moninda Marube, from Auburn (ME) came across second.

Moninda (20:53) had run against Ryan Smith before: “He’s a young guy, full of energy.”

“I did not try to run with him,” Moninda said. “I had a race plan and that is what I stuck with. I did not necessarily come here to win. I came here to reach a target preparing for the Maine Marathon.”

Moninda (41) has won the Bridgton 4^th four times. “I love racing this race,” he smiled. “I love the people. This race is as well run as any I race in.”

“It’s my birthday,” he laughed. “What better place to celebrate it?”

Tim Poitras (5th)

Tim Poitras (Dracut MA) crossed fifth and came about as close as you want to get to not even getting into the race. “I got the last number (2057),” he said smiling. “I found out about the race Tuesday. It was 7:55PM and the entries closed at 8PM. I quickly signed up and got the confirmation at 7:59!”

Tim (graduate of UMass Lowell in 2018)) said that he had always been in the area on the 4^th but never had run the race.

“This is definitely not an easy course,” Tim (21:40) said. “It is well organized, and everyone seems to be having a great time.”

Nick Brown (21:20) from Madison (NH) took third edging Adam Goode (21:24) of Topsham (ME).

Nick runs cross country at UNH and will be a senior.

Adam went to UMaine and is the cross-country coach at Bangor High School. Adam (35) spent four terms as a state representative for a section of Bangor.

Silas Eastman (11th)

Former winner Silas Eastman (24) was in the field. Silas (24) finished 11^th.

“I think it’s my 17^th year in a row being in this race,” the Colby graduate told me. “I love coming here. They said that there were people from every state here today. It’s fun to run with that many people.”

Lack of conditioning has caught up to Silas. “I’m doing a lot less training. Once I got out of college and away from the structure, life got in the way.”

Silas: “Right now I’m working on a crop farm in Fryeburg. I am also an assistant coach with the Fryeburg Academy ski team in the winter. I am working toward starting my own furniture-making business.”

Ryan: “I went to Goshen College (northern Indiana) and graduated two years ago. I’ve done the LL Bean two years in a row (he won both times) and decided to try something different this year. I ran a marathon twelve days ago and wasn’t sure where I’d be today condition-wise. I am planning to run the Beach to Beacon. I am an operations coordinator at a pellet mill in Strong, Maine. I do some accounting and a little bit of everything there.”

Mary Pardi at the start

Mary: “I’m guessing that I’ve done this race five times and finished in the top five each time. It was either this race or the LL Bean 10K. This is a little bit shorter but they’re both hard races. I’ve been home with my kids for a long time. I manage some property that we have. I love the small-town feel of the Bridgton race.”

Tim: “I have a busy schedule of running ahead. I am also looking for a job in the environmental sciences. I am planning to do the Yankee Homecoming race in Newburyport (MA) the end of the month.”

Bill Graham was the race director and did a terrific job.

Race results

(All of the pictures above and below will enlarge considerably if you click on them.)

Tim Poitras, Nick Brown, Moninda Marube, Ryan Smith

Ryan Smith breaks through the finish banner

Ryan Smith waits for his award

Ryan Smith right after the race

Nick Brown (3rd) and Adam Goode (4th)

Moninda Marube close to the finish

Moninda Marube finishes

Wearing/Carrying the colors

Runner carrying his running shoes

Bowman Schneider (Camp Owatonna)

Women finishers; Amanda Dearborn (2nd), Laura Pulito (3rd), and Maia Vinhateiro (4th)

Emily Dexter of Belmont (MA)

Dominic Sclafani (7th)

Anthem singer

Leave a comment

Filed under Bridgton, Bridgton 4 on the Fourth

Tagged as Adam Goode, Mary Pardi, Moninda Marube, Nick Brown, Ryan Smith, Silas Eastman, Tim Poitras

June 22, 2019 · 9:28 pm

Manchester-Essex wins first Division 4 title 5-2 over Tahanto

Dylan Wilson catches the final out

Hornets celebrate

Hornets behind the banner

Jimmy Railsback and Harry Painter

(Lowell MA) Manchester-Essex seniors filled the big moments for the Hornets this afternoon leading the team to its first baseball state title, 5-2, over Tahanto at LeLacheur Park.

“The seniors have absolutely led this season from beginning to end,” said ME coach BJ Weed afterwards as he dried off from a post-game dousing.

Seniors Luke Leavitt (2 hits, 2 runs, 1 RBI), Harry Painter (3 hits, 1 run, 2 RBI), and Dylan Wilson (2 hits, 2 RBI) supplied the firepower in ME’s five runs.

Dylan also came on to protect the Hornets’ 5-2 lead over the final two innings.

“I was lucky enough to come in and close the game,” said Dylan. “We were up 5-2. I was just trying to pump the zone with a good defense behind me. Just throw strikes and let my defense work.”

Dylan Wilson pitched the final two innings for ME

Some might dispute Dylan’s “let the defense work” line during the final inning. Why? There were two popups in the last inning and Dylan was all over both of them. The game-clinching out was a popup that Dylan caught in the righthand batter’s box.

“I knew coming in that I wanted to get the last out,” Dylan said smiling afterwards. “I saw that last popup and said to myself, ‘I’m not letting anyone else get this.’”

Tahanto, from Boylston, had a very young team. They started three freshmen and an eighth grader (catcher Andrew Brown).

The Stags tied the score (1-1) in the first and only trailed 3-2 after three innings.

The fourth inning was decisive. The Hornets (20-5) pushed across two runs and had the pitching the rest of the way to make that 5-2 lead stand up.

Sophomore Will Levendusky led off the fourth inning with a bunt single. Later, with two outs, Luke Leavitt doubled to right scoring Will. Harry Painter (3 hits) followed with a double over Matt St. Denis (LF) to bring Luke home with the 5^th ME run.

Freshman Kellen Heney pitched 4 2/3 innings

Freshman Kellen Heney pitched the first 4 2/3 innings for the Hornets. The Stags (17-7) threatened to get runs back against Kellen in their half of the fifth with two on, two out. But Coach Weed summoned Vaughn O’Leary and the freshman struck out Derek Arcand to end the inning.

Another chance for Tahanto in the 6^th but again with two on, and two out, the Hornets got yet another strikeout (Ryan Walton), this time from Dylan Wilson, to frustrate the Central champs.

Freshman Trevor Grady doubled in the 7^th with two outs but Dylan Wilson reeled in the last out.

Manchester-Essex got a run in the first inning. Harry Painter doubled, went to 2B on a wild pitch, and scored on Dylan Wilson’s single to right.

Adam Fuller scores as catcher Mike Quill reaches to tag

Tahanto got that run back in their half of the first. Adam Fuller walked, stole second, and was driven in by Ethan Sauriol (3 hits) with a two-out single to left.

Two runs for ME in the third. Will Janowicz (bunt single) and Luke Leavitt (walk) led off the inning. Harry Painter singled and the throw home allowed Will to score and Luke to get to third. Dylan Wilson’s single brought Luke home.

Taranto receives their trophy

Tahanto coach Neil Greewald: “It wasn’t our best game for sure. Hats off to Manchester-Essex. They out-pitched us, out-hit us, and played better defense.”

Mike Quill (catcher): “It was incredible to win this. Everyone has worked hard all year and it has paid off. Kellen (Heney) is a young kid with composure.”

Bennett O’Leary (shortstop): “All year long people doubted us because we got eliminated in the first round of the playoffs last year. We used it to motivate us. We had one goal this entire season and that was to win the state championship and we did it.”

Luke Leavitt (Southern Maine commit): “We put it together this whole post-season. We were never losing. We never found out what it was like to be chasing. I told the younger guys yesterday, ‘There’s no better feeling than to win something like this with your best friends.’”

Luke Leavitt

Franklin Wood (reserve): “It was amazing. So much fun to be a part of this. It was great to see us keep battling the whole game and having our captains lead us through was awesome. Usually a Catholic school wins D4. It was good to see a public school do it.”

Harry Painter (UMass Lowell commit): This will be my home field for the next four years. It’s beautiful. I can’t wait. We worked hard; early mornings, late nights. It all paid off. Every one of my hits came off a fast ball. I tried to stay off the curve balls as much as I could. I wanted to get into good counts and drive the ball. At UMass Lowell I’m thinking of studying sports physical therapy. I learned a lot when I had surgery on my arm.”

Coach Weed: “This is almost like a dream to me. I can’t say enough about this team. I am almost speechless. We’ve had the goal to win a championship since we started five years ago. We started Harry (Painter) slowly this year because of his injury last year. He got better every outing and he hit .544.”

Dylan Wilson: “I will be going to UMass Amherst to study Biology.”

Tahanto was the #7 seed in the Central. They are in the Midland Wachusett League.

Matt St. Denis

In 2017, the Stags were 22-1 losing in the state semi-finals that season.

Today’s game was the first state final Taranto has been in since 1993.

Manchester-Essex won ten straight including five in the tournament.

Harry Painter was the Player-of-the-Year in the Cape Ann League. Harry, Bennett O’Leary, and Dylan Wilson were on the CAL First Team. Luke Leavitt and Mike Quill made the CAL second team. Coach Weed was Coach-of-the-Year.

Beautiful weather for today’s noon start.

Busy twenty-four hours for Hornets’ fans. The girls lacrosse team was in the state finals last night.

Disappointed that the MIAA had no programs for a game of this importance.

Manchester-Essex box

Tahanto box

(All of the pictures above and below will enlarge considerably if you click on them.)