Stormer’s start it up at home

By Sam Valentin- 

This time the Barnstormer’s did not have to wait until the ninth inning to produce runs.

Lancaster came out swinging last night in their home opener scoring four runs in the first inning. While in their previous two wins against the Blue Crabs they had to rally in the final frame.

John Halama picked up his first win in the home opener for the Barnstormers Tuesday night. Photo by Gabbi Bauman.

In front of a sellout crowd of 7,088, the stormers started off a very strong offensive night. In the first inning, Somerset pitcher, Doug Arguello had a tough outing not even retiring a batter before his night was ended. The Stormers bats came alive early to get four runs to make the score four to one.

They never looked back.

“I like when we can get off early like that,” ‘Stormers skipper Butch Hobson said.

Although Stormer’s starter, John Halama did give up an early run in the first, he only gave up another run. Only one was earned. Halama (1-1) earned the win for the Barnstormers, allowing six hits and two runs (one earned) in a six-inning quality start. The bullpen combination of Beau Vaughan and Ching-Lung Lo pitched a no-no for the rest of the outing.

“The big thing is getting stretched out,” said Halama, who threw 84 pitches. “Hopefully, next outing I can get close to that 100-pitch count.”

The Barnstormers scored their final three runs in the fourth inning off of Somerset’s, Mike Solbach. Kody Kirkland blasted a solo shot to lead off the fourth. It was his second of the season. Adam Goodwin scored off a passed third strike to Terry Tiffee. Jesus Merchan who went two for five on the night doubled down the third base line to end the offensive storm.

The Pat’s scored another in the sixth off of a laser double by slugger Jesse Hoorelbeke. This ended the scoring for the night.

Lancaster will send J.D. Durbin (0-0) to the hill on Wednesday evening against right-hander Mike McDonald (0-0) for game two of the three game series with the Patriot’s. The game is scheduled to start at 7:00 p.m.

In note: Leasean McCoy threw out the ceremonial first pitch to start off anpother baseball season in Lancaster. He was there promoting his foundation, the Lesean McCoy Foundation. His appearance was to raise money and awareness for ALS. McCoy’s grandmother recently succumbed to ALS and the LeSean McCoy Foundation is set up to help battle the disease. He will also be having a football camp at Penn Manor this summer through his foundation.

The Barnstormer’s recently signed outfielder, Brandon Haverman who has spent some time in the Mariner’s system after graduating from Purdue.

Also last years Freedom division MVP, Tommy Everidge recorded his first hit last night in the win.

Barnstomer’s head into Decisive Game Five Tonight

By Sam Valentin-

The Lancaster Barnstormers have evened up the best of five series with a 6-1 victory over the York Revolution Sunday night at Clipper Magazine Stadium.

Tommy Everidge, Lancaster's slugging first baseman. Photo courtesy of lancasterbarnstomers.com.

The possibility of a game five seemed unlikely to players in both clubhouses about four days ago when the Revs’ were in control of the series after two quick wins in York.

For some reason the Barnstormers strong offense went dormant when the playoffs started. But even after going down two games to York, the Barnstormers never lost focus or energy.

“I told them they were destined to win it and I still believe that,” Lancaster manager Butch Hobson said of his team after their game two lost.

And then the ‘Stormers came back east of the Susquehanna, found their bats and went back to their winning ways taking two in a row from the Revolution.

Game three was a masterful pitching performance from pitcher John  Halama. He led Lancaster to a 5-1 win with help from Tommy Everidge, Travis Metcalf and Terry Tiffee who all sent balls flying over the outfield fence.

“He was outstanding,” Hobson said in an interview about Halama who threw 112 pitches, surrendering a lone run and only giving up two hits over the course of the entire game.  “He’s a big-game pitcher.”

In game four, Matt Wright was on the mound and followed in Halama’s footsteps Sunday night with a great pitching performance in his return from a left knee injury. He allowed one run, giving up only three hits to the Revs’ over six innings pitched.

Tonight the ‘Stormers look to win game five which they knew was theirs from the start.

“After we win three at home, you guys can say Butch knows what he’s talking about,” said Hobson “We’re going to go home and win it in front of our fans. That’s what I wanted to do.”

They hope to do just that tonight at Clipper Magazine Stadium at 6:30pm in front of what they hope is a huge crowd that can witness history.