I'm talking baseball....

Now that we've seen the team from Texas (the Sugarland Skeeters), the remaining competitions will be more local -- teams from Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Connecticut and Maryland.  Which means it's possible for the visiting team's fans to come to our park to see a game.  Truthfully, the only time I've actually seen it was during the playoff games. 

Last night's schedule brought us the Lancaster Barnstormers, with fireworks after the game.  In fact, w got a bit of a sneak preview during the National Anthem ("the rockets' red glare") and again during "God Bless America" in the middle of the 7th inning.

The starting pitcher for Lancaster was a guy named Shunsuke Watanabe.  Very unusual style, Drew told me he's a "submarine pitcher".  I had to take some video.




And the game? Lancaster took an early lead, scoring in the top of the first inning.   Bottom of the 8th, Lancaster was ahead 5-3.  The Ducks loaded the bases but failed to score. Top of the 9th and Lancaster added  a run to their lead,

Were it not for the fireworks, I think most people would have left the ballpark at that point.

And they would have missed a spectacular ending.

The Ducks' bats come alive.  They score two runs.  It's now 6-5.

Two outs, the bases are loaded...and it starts to rain.

The batter pops it up.  It looks like an easy play for the catcher,  He makes a diving catch...and drops the ball.  A run scores.

7,000 people start screaming.

A walk-off single wins the game.

7,000 people go crazy.

And then we all stood in the rain to watch the fireworks.