First Place Tornadoes Drown Defenders

WORCESTER, MA--- Worcester’s fifth consecutive win 10-6, coupled with a Thursday night come from behind Brockton win over New Jersey, puts the Tornadoes in first place by one half game in front of the Jackals.

Ryan Lobban (8-3) notched his league leading eighth win, fourth in a row, on this night with six quality innings of three run baseball. Lobban coughed up three two out runs in the first before settling into a four-strikeout outing.

The Tornadoes scored in four of the first five innings en route to a ten run, thirteen hit ballgame. Chris Colabello knocked out his sixth long ball of the season with two outs in the fourth was one of four extra base hits, the others a triple from Vinny Pennell and a pair of doubles from Omar Pena.

New Hampshire staged a mini-come back in the seventh with two outs against Nick Conway with three straight hits from Angel Molina, Chris Kelly, and Jabe Bergeron, but it was too little too late for the camo clad Defenders. Eddie Pena got the last out of the seventh and tossed in three outs a piece for the eighth and ninth as well to close out the visitors.

Worcester will get a chance to lengthen their lead on New Jersey tomorrow night when the Jackals breeze into the HIP for a three game set. Guiseppe Granitto (0-3) will throw for NJ in his fourth start against the Tornadoes. Worcester counters with rookie Ryan Quinn (0-0) making his second professional start.

Rude People Make Me Wanna Puke

Cross Posted from www.wesomorning.com

Tonight I am writing this from the Press Box at the Worcester Tornadoes game at Fitton Field in Worcester, Massachusetts. The Tornadoes belong to the Canadian American Independent League of baseball and a great team in this great city.

At the start of the game, as they do at most sporting events, they play the National Anthem. The announcer asks everyone to stand, and remove their caps for the playing of the National Anthem. Whilst the Anthem was playing I was scanning the crowd and low and behold, right in front of the Box was this (I wish I could use the word I ant to use) let's just call him a dope standing there with his hat on, beer in hand, and the other hand in his pocket. I had all I could do to refrain from screaming at this fine American! The kicker of the thing is his son was standing beside him with his hat off and over his heart and actually singing!

This really gets my goat. I cannot explain what this does to me to see disrespect like this. Earlier today I wrote a blog post about Shifty Powers of Band of Brothers fame and how he died in June and no one knew or or for that matter cared about it. Then I come to America's Game and see this PUTZ (I hope I spelled that right) disrespecting everything that we fought for. Well I guess he fought for the right for this dope to stand there with his hands in his pocket.

The utter disrespect we now see in this country is amazing. Just the fact that the announcer had to tell people to stand up and remove their caps should be enough... I don't know what to do about but rest assured I will make this my mission in life!

WORCESTER TAKES SUSSEX SERIES

AUGUSTA, NJ--- It took a little while for the Worcester bats to wake up this morning, but when they did it was all she wrote for Sussex. Ryan Lobban (0-1) got the ball for Worcester in the 10:05 start and gave up two runs early before settling down. He went five for Worcester striking out three but didn’t factor in the decision.

Down 2-0, the Tornadoes knotted things up in the fourth with RBI’s from Nick Salotti and Heath Keel. The offense went off again in the top of the eighth after Garrett Olson tripled, Chris Colabello walked and Alex Trezza singled off reliever Carter Clements (0-1) all with none out. Salotti’s sacrifice fly ended the scoring.

Right handed Santiago Ramirez (1-0) came on in the seventh and worked out of trouble to pick up the win. Josef Frias (0-0) tossed a perfect bottom of the eighth to set up another save for Anthony Sullivan. Both pitchers struck out two.

SkyHawk catcher Ray Serrano was ejected by home plate umpire Jon DeRosa in the bottom of the eighth for arguing balls and strikes, forcing a musical chairs of substitutions from manager Hal Lanier. Sussex starter Roger Lincoln (1-0) threw seven innings striking out six Tornadoes allowing one earned run.

Today’s game will be broadcast on tape delay on WTAG AM580, FM94.9, www.wtag.com at the normal time of 7:05pm. Alex Pena (1-0) is the scheduled starter for Worcester in the home opener against the American Defenders of New Hampshire June 4th at 7:05pm. Every fan in attendance will receive a magnetic schedule courtesy of Charter Communications.

Olson Powers Tornadoes Comeback

AUGUSTA, NJ- Garrett Olson was all the offense that Worcester needed tonight. He knocked in all three runs for the Tornadoes, the final two coming in the top of the ninth on a one out double of Sussex closer Mike Petrusek (0-1). Petrusek earned the save last night and led the league in saves least season with twenty-four.

Matt Weagle (0-1) did not have his best stuff tonight but still battled through five innings and kept his team in the game. He allowed two earned runs over five innings of work, striking out two, and received a no decision. Nick Conway (1-0) came on in relief and allowed just one hit, retiring the last six men he faced to get the win.

Rich Gedman had his closer warming up to begin the top of the eighth and it was a good thing. Anthony Sullivan (2 SV) converted his second save in as many appearances striking out the side in the ninth.

Both SkyHawk runs were scored on sacrifice flies, one off the bat of Ryan Crespi in the first, and another off of David Adamchick in the second. The Houston Astros purchased regular first baseman and clean-up hitter Matt Weston’s contract this morning. Weston was assigned to the single A Lancaster JetHawks.

Tomorrow at a special 10:05am start for School’s Day in Sussex, Ryan Lobban (0-1) will start for Worcester. Opposing him will be Roger Lincoln (1-0) for Sussex

Worcester Loses Opener to ’08 Champs

AUGUSTA, NJ--- Worcester drops to 2-3 on the season after losing the opener against the defending CanAm champion SkyHawks 4-3. Tornado starter Ryan Mitchell (0-0) was ‘nickel and dimed’ with ten hits, all of them singles, in five and two thirds innings of work while striking out four. He left down 3-2 and was on the hook for the loss until Vinny Pennell’s two out double in the seventh scored Jeff LaHair with two outs to tie the game at three.

PJ Thomas (0-1) began the bottom half of the seventh by walking lead off man Ron Perodin; a mistake that would prove costly. Perodin moved up to second on an errant pick off throw from Thomas, then swiped third. He would score the eventual winning run on a Matt Weston single, his fourth of the night.

SkyHawk starter Mike Schellinger (0-0) surrendered two first inning runs to Worcester then settled down. He did not factor in the decision, but reliever Jamie Douglas (1-0) after pitching the top of the seventh. Sandy Nin (0-0) and Matt Petrusek (SV 1) also threw perfect frames for Sussex.

Game two of the series begins at 7:05 tomorrow night, ace Matt Weagle (0-0) will be in search of his first victory of 2009.

REDS ACQUIRE COCHRAN FROM WORCESTER TORNADOES

Worcester, MA – The Worcester Tornadoes announced today that the Cincinnati Reds have bought the contract of LHP Tom Cochran.Cochran, 26, was signed by the Tornadoes on January 17, 2008. The Wilmington , DE resident went a perfect 11-0 in his first 11 starts of the year, and set a new Tornadoes franchise record for most wins (13) in a single season. His 13 victories tied for 1st in the league in 2008 and his 2.79 ERA placed 5th. Cochran's '08 season accolades include a Can-Am League Pitcher-of-the-Month honor for the month of June (5-0, 1.42 in 5 starts) and a complete game, five-hit shutout of Quebec on June 27th. Cochran's brilliant season earned him the nod as the Lefthanded Pitcher selection to the Can-Am League Postseason All-Star Team.

Tornadoes Sign Nick Conway

The Worcester Tornadoes announced today that they signed Massachusetts native Nick Conway on January, 26th. Conway formerly of UMass-Boston holds the Beacons record for innings pitched (245), strikeouts (234), and earned run average (3.49). During his four years at UMass-Boston he compiled a record of 14 wins and 20 losses. In 2006, he played with the Brewster Whitecaps of the Cape Cod Baseball league and saw action with Lowell All-Americans of the New England Collegiate Baseball League. Position: P Date of Birth: 8/6/86 Height: 6' 2" Weight: 205 lbs College Experience: University of Massachusetts (Boston) Bats: R Throws: R Resides: Methuen, MA

Manny Contract Update

January 30th, The Worcester Tornadoes would like to extend special thanks for all of the fans, and members of the media who have taken interest in the Manny Ramirez contract offer.

Though no word has yet been received from Manny Ramirez or his agent regarding the contract offer, the Tornadoes are confident that the former Red Sox slugger is seriously considering the offer. As many media outlets have expressed, the Tornadoes offer remains the only offer Manny Ramirez currently has from any professional baseball organization.

Tornadoes Director of Interactive Media Mike Tetler commented, "While we have received a great deal of press suggesting that we [The Tornadoes] have offered Manny a contract simply as a publicity stunt, we are quite serious about our offer, and $24,000 is waiting for Manny should he accept the contract. While we would like to offer him more, however, the CANAM league has a strict salary cap and we simply cannot exceed the current offer."

So far the story has been covered by FOX 25, The Los Angeles Times, USA Today Online, Fox Sports Online, The Wall Street Journal Online, The Providence Journal, and many fan blogs (Including this blog and my radio program Father Peter Live.)

The Tornadoes are eagerly awaiting a response from the Ramirez camp as Major League Baseball's spring training approaches and teams firm up their rosters. The Tornadoes enter their Fifth Anniversary Season in 2009. More information is available through www.worcestertornadoes.com or by calling the Tornadoes at (508)-792-2288.

Tornadoes Professional Baseball. Only In Worcester!

Worcester offers contract to Manny Ramirez

This is the best sports story of the season. The Worcester Tornadoes Baseball Team has offered a contract to Marry Ramirez.

According to the website, the team has offered Manny a contract for $24,000 for the teams 94 game season. That comes down to about $3,000 per month. So a wee bit of a salary cut but it might be the only deal that Manny gets this season.

“I feel Manny would really enjoy playing in Worcester and hitting in our ballpark. Although I would be concerned about the cars traveling on I-290 during his at bats, it’s a risk worth taking,” said General Manager, Jorg Bassiacos. Director of Player Personnel Brad Michals added, "Manny certainly has the stats to be amongst the leaders of the league next season. Although issues regarding health have surrounded him in the past, I think he will find that the shorter schedule will boost his performance to a new level and serve as the ultimate showcase for his natural skill."

The contract was sent to Ramirez around 2:00 EST on Tuesday, January 27, 2009.

Stay tuned for more news!