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.

Remy recovering

NESN announced yesterday Red Sox color commentator Jerry Remy is taking an indefinite leave of absence to recover fully from the effects of cancer surgery, which he underwent late last year.

“I want to focus on completing my recovery so that I can return to work without distractions or interruptions,” Remy said in a report on NESN.com.

Remy is a former smoker who underwent surgery for lung cancer. He expected a more immediate return, the report said, but suffered a setback due to an infection and subsequent case of pneumonia.The Red Sox expressed their concern for Remy last night.

“We’re certainly thinking about him,” manager Terry Francona said. “He’s a good friend to everybody.”

“It’s something you don’t want to hear,” David Ortiz said. “I’m keeping him in my prayers, and I hope he gets better.”

Remy joined NESN in 1988 and has teamed with play-by-play announcer Don Orsillo since 2001.

Dennis Eckersley will be in the booth with Orsillo for the remainder of this five-game homestand. Dave Roberts will provide color commentary during next week’s West Coast trip that ends May 17. No decision has been made about who will sit in for Remy beyond that.

From the Worcester Telegram

Jacoby Steals Home

The rare steal of home in baseball has to be the most exciting and also most humiliating play (for the other team) in the game. Jacoby Ellsbury stole home for the Sox the other night against the Yanks:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0P1b0RN2sB4

Exciting Masters

This story has to be the most exciting golf story of its kind since, well, Mark O'Meara at least. We will see if Kenny Perry can pull it off. I remember when Jack won the Masters at age 46 and how it was seen as such a triumph for an oldster (in the sports sense). Nowadays golfers no doubt mirror in their own way the habits of other athletes - strength training, diet, etc. - look at how jacked Tiger is these days - and the story this time round is remarkable more because Perry has never won a major than his age, which was the main point of interest when the Golden Bear won in '86.

Thompson Day 1

Today saw the resumption of racing at the Thompson International Speedway. I have begun to write a column for the Long Island Motorsports News covering Thompson and maybe Stafford when the season gets going full speed (pun intended).

Rather than posting my column here I will just link to it. So click here for As Thompson Turns.

Thompson Ready for Ice Breaker

Thompson, CT--- Anticipation and excitement are in the air at the Thompson International Speedway. Race fans and competitors alike are excited about the season-opening ICEBREAKER event this weekend at the historic Thompson oval. With a near perfect weather forecast being predicted, winter weary fans are ready to kick off a brand new racing season in sunny and warm conditions.

Race teams have spent the entire off-season preparing for the start of the 2009 campaign. Many have tested their cars during recent open practice sessions at Thompson and are now ready for the opening of the racing season.

The NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour (WMT) will begin its 25th anniversary year at the ICEBREAKER. This year’s event will mark the 107th time that the WMT has raced at Thompson since the formation of the Tour in 1985. An outstanding field of WMT competitors will attempt to qualify this Saturday afternoon for a starting spot in the 150-lap main event which will be run on Sunday. The WMT will be joined by Thompson’s “Super 6” NASCAR Whelen All American Series divisions in this two-day racing spectacle that has ushered in the beginning of the auto racing season in New England for well over 40 years.

The track will open for practice Saturday morning at 9 AM with grandstand gates opening at 9:30 AM. Qualifying will begin at 1:30 PM. Thompson’s “Super 6” divisions will qualify in heat races while the WMT will use time trials to determine starting positions. The Sunoco Modifieds and Late Models will then compete in the first of two feature event races for those divisions.

Sunday’s schedule has gates to the speedway opening at 9:30 AM with pre-race ceremonies beginning shortly after 11:30 AM. The WMT drivers will participate in a thirty minute autograph session at 12 Noon and the first feature event of the day is also slated for a 12 Noon start. The estimated start time for the 150-lap WMT main event is 3:15 PM.

Race fans are urged to arrive early so that they can avoid the long lines at the ticket booths and take advantage of the displays on the midway. The Tri-State Kart Club will be on hand to offer information on go-kart racing at their track in Pomfret, CT. King Cadillac-GMC of Putnam and Putnam Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep will have displays of vehicles from their dealerships, the Soldier’s Angels and AMVETS will also be in attendance. Ken Bouchard’s Race to Victory Lane and the Racing School will also be on hand to explain to fans just how they can have the opportunity to drive a real race car at Thompson.

ICEBREAKER weekend is the most anticipated racing program in New England each and every year. Fans come from far and wide to be part of the beginning of a brand new year of exciting, high-speed competition. Thompson Speedway rolls out the red carpet in an effort to be a welcoming host to the racing community with its additional offerings of free self-contained camping, a professional golf course, driving range, restaurant, lounge and a full weekend of racing activity.

The entire ICEBREAKER weekend schedule along with WMT entries and driver’s rosters may be found on the track’s web page at www.thompsonspeedway.com.