Better Than Opening Night

While Game One was exciting, Matt Skole made sure that Game Two had a better result for Senators fans. Leading off the bottom of the 11th, Matt launched a drive the opposite way. My only hesitation was whether the ball would reach the corner of Ollie's Cheap Seats or bang off the wall beside them at the 335 mark.

Matt took a walk-off stroll around the bases, Paul Demny racked up the Senators' first W after 2 IP, and the home crowd enjoyed the game-ending fireworks as much as the post-game version. Even the weather cooperated and remained a good ten degrees warmer than Thursday night.

For the second straight game, the one-run difference featured our first MLB rehab participant, Pirates catcher Chris Stewart. Although Chris went 0-2 in the opener, he notched a pair of singles (2-4) in Game Two as he nurses a right hamstring injury.

Newcomer Joe Ross pitched the first 4 innings. Derek Self and Robert Benincasa followed with 5 scoreless frames to set up Demny and Skole's dramatic finish.

Oh, and the dancers returned, receiving a healthy round of applause following their between-inning performance. This is a must-see.

Paolo Espino, who held Eastern League hitters to a .229 average through 29 appearances (16 starts) with the Senators last year, takes the hill tonight. His mound opponent will be the Pirates' #1 prospect (according to MLB and Baseball America), Tyler Glasnow. This will be his first game at the AA level.

Opening Day Eve

Welcome Back Senators Night reunited the team, front office, media and Fan Club members last night (Tuesday, April 7th) at the West Shore Elks Lodge. We also greeted new Senators players and some new attendees that we look forward to seeing at Metro Bank Park this season.

What I most enjoyed from last evening's event:

Just seeing my "baseball family" again ... dinner with Matt Skole ... all the smiles as we celebrated the return of the game we love ... words of wisdom and "Harrisburg hospitality" from Mayor Reed ... words of excitement from the Senators' new principal owner, Mark Butler ... the beaming faces of youth from CD Rec Softball at Linglestown and New Cumberland Minor Athletics as they interacted with Senators players ... my beaming face as I welcomed back manager Brian Daubauch, Ricky Hague, hitting coach Mark Harris, Bryan Harper, new first base coach Devin Ivany, et al. ... Randy Whitaker's "all-time alphabetical modern Senators" ... the fact that Devin Ivany made that list! ... President Kevin Kulp announcing the 2015 front office roster ...more youth attendees ....

The Elks' fantastic spread of hors d'oeuvres, dinner and dessert ... the "home run trot" of each prize winner (I really wanted to win those Spot Dogs! The Spot makes baseball season on City Island doubly awesome.) ... Baseball historian and author Andrew Linker getting snubbed for an autograph of his first pair of books prize ... After winning the second set that Andy donated as prizes, Ricky Hague accepting Andy's autographs. (Now Ricky can enjoy some fine road trip reading.) ... Meeting new Senators players ... Brian Daubach introducing the coaches and players ... Kevin Kulp leading us in "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" to honor the memory of long-time Fan Club member Nancy Tacchi.


Just as it had 28 times before, the 29th annual Welcome Back Senators Night has now ushered in the new 2015 season. As Mayor Reed reminded us, this traditional celebration began in Harrisburg and is now celebrated by minor league teams everywhere.

We can be proud of this and all of our Harrisburg baseball traditions. I certainly delight in those traditions today.

And tomorrow? The latest Senators team takes the field.


Brian Williams, President
"From Deep Short"