On the 26th, I went to Mercer County Waterfront Park to watch the Erie Sea Wolves visit the Trenton Thunder.

Zach Samuels, a pitcher was talking to a coach about where to stay on the rubber as he threw. it was intresting to hear the conversation as if I was in the ‘pen. Here he is throwing.

For the first hour, I did not snag any baseballs. However, I did recieve Double Bubble from the catcher, Rob Brantly. He just walked up to me, opened his fist and told me to help myself.

I went to my usual spot near the dugout to collect autographs. As Jordan Lennerton was walking near the equiptment bag on the field from about 20 feet away, I called out to him and he tossed me my first baseball. Either I forgot to photograph it or I accidentially deleted the picture.

Anyway,  next, we returned to the bullpen area so I could get the baseball used to warm up Jared Wesson. I called out to him but he did not hear me. However, former Phillie Zack Segovia did and when Jared tossed him the ball, he flipped up number two.

No explaination is needed for the below screenshot taken from Twitter.

 I have tried this before. Uusally, the Tweet just never gets read. This time was different. In the third inning, the team photographer came up to me. He said that Josh saw the Tweet and wanted me to have a baseball. Using the profile photo with me and my dad, the man found me. This was number three of the day.

I don’t remember the exact inning but I think that in the sixth, a Thunder batter hit a foul ball. It bounced off of the dugout and went right to manager Chris Cron. I was the only person attempting to get the ball so I called out his named and got baseball number four of the day.

In the bottom of the ninth inning, I thought that I was done for the night in terms of snagging things. Little did I know, I still did not get the two most important items of the day. In the ninth inning, Erie was up 9 to 1. Neil Medchill of Trenton took a pitch deep to left field. It was a homerun that had bounced back on the field. The left fielder threw it to the third baseman and the third baseman threw it at me. Then I took another shot in which the baseball is completely out of focus.

I went to the end of the dugout to try to get a bat but was unsecessful. However, I did recieve the line up cards from Chris Cron, the man who gave me a foul ball earlier on. Wait, why am I so bad at taking pictures?

After the game, we hung out near the players entrance and I got nine more autographs, bringing my daily total to 24. Here you can see more of the lineup card.

 

During the game, we had good seats to take action photos in.

I think this is Jamie Johnson

Michael Dubee, son of the Phillies pitching coach

The Thunder mascot, Boomer.

Rob Brantly, the catcher who gave me gum

Niuman Romero tried to make it to third.

He did

He even scored!

Rawley Bishop got promoted to Toledo but two days ago, he was with Erie.

 His at-bat ended in a strike out.

Here is Kenny Faulk who yelled out “WAZZUP” to me before the game.

Oh and one last cool thing, after the game, I  got a high five from every player. I just stuck out my hand and recieved 27 high fives (24 Players, 3 Coaches)

2012

15 BASEBALLS (60 LIFETIME)

76 AUTOGRAPHS (PROBABLY OVER 1,000 LIFETIME)

3 PIECES OF GUM (8 LIFETIME)

 

 

I’m not writing an entry. I just wanted to show you this cool video from the Vancouver Canadiens.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TNU0OrvIENY

I had my tickets (and free food vouchers)

 But wait, guess what time the gates opened. 6:00 PM. After a traffic light issue, guess what time we got to Waterfront Parks gates. 6:05 PM. It was just one of those days.

We got to our spot a little late but not late enough that people were already there so, I guess we were fine.

Did we get our regular autographs? Yeah!

Actually, we got eight.

 However, I also met a guy who was the hitting coach for Harrisburgh, Eric Fox.

 So, we told him that we arrived late and missed BP. He told us that the wind was blowing in and we did not miss anything. I asked for a baseball to make up for it so he walked up to the bag that you can see two pictures up and threw me my first baseball of the night.

 I went over to the bullpen area. The man in the pull-over is pitching coach Paul Menhart.

 I asked him for a baseball. To be exact, I said “When Robert Gilliam (the guy pitching) is done, can you please throw me a baseball?” He replied “Since you asked nicely, I will” Anyway, a baseball went past the catcher Sandy Leon and he tossed me number two.

For the last out of the bottom of the ninth inning, Yadil Mujicia struck out.It was in the dirt so they had to throw to first. Tim Pahuta, the first baseman threw the baseball into the dugout. He took the warmup ball and flipped it to me. That was not my last baseball though.

Look at how empty it was in the stadium. I almost knew that I would snag a fourth baseball.

The last out of the bottom of the 10th inning was a fly ball to right fielder Chris Rahl. I was literally the only person trying to get a baseball so he had no choice but to give me number four, my fifty fifth lifetime ball. This was used in the game.

Here is where we were for both toss ups. Section 18, row D seat 10

 The Trenton Thunder posted this picture on their facebook page. you can see me at the end of the dugout with somebody signing for me. To make it easier, I circled myself.

Some shots from the game.

Craig Heyer pitching.

Jesue Valdez walking up to the plate.

And last but not least, Tony Franklin, the Thunder manager.

2012-

4 Games

10 Balls

52 autographs

I’m getting lazy with this blog. But, the show must go on so,our next contest has just been announced. If you win, you can get either a Trenton Thunder magnet schedule or a Thunder hat. I should get the hat by the 26th but if I can’t your just going to have to wait until May 11th. The same rules as always apply. Every comment and like counts as an entry. Instead of just randomly commenting, you have to comment on something in specific. Today, your comments are on the most memorable baseball that you caught. If you don’t have any, just say that.

Tommorow, I’m going to see the Trenton Thunder play the Ryan Tatuskoless Harrisburgh Senators. Hopefully, I can get my fifty fifth baseball, which is is only four away. I’m thinking at least one from players throwing in pregame, one from the Harrisburgh bullpen, a foul ball and a tossup from a player or coach as I will be sitting in the second row. Good night everyone!

As you read, I met Todd and Tim Cook. Here are some pictures Todd sent me.

We were talking and trying to get a baseball from someone on the Phillies.

 Here is the picture taken from PhanPhoto

Todd’s view of the photo.

 Here we are outside of the Bank.

Yesterday, we went to Citizens Bank Park to watch the Phillies play the New York Mets. I didn’t snag a lot but it was still a great time at the Bank.

 If you could not tell in the last photo, we were the first people in line.

 Later on, as more people arrived, I noticed two fans in Mariners jerseys. At first I did not recignize them but then I realized it was Todd and Tim Cook.

 Here they are in left field.

 Anyway, I went out to left field, for Phillies batting practice. my dad told me that the Mets were throwing in the bullpen so I ran over there. I took off my Phillies gear, put my mets shirt on and went to the pen. Johan Santana was throwing.

 After a few minutes, I had this beauty.

 After Santana, finished throwing, bullpen catcher Eric Langill ended up with the baseball. He was talking to Johan in the corner of the bullpen. I called out his name and got an easy toss up for my 50th carreer baseball.

We went back to Phillies batting practice and I stood in the center field camera well, which is open to fans during BP. I had the whole well to myself so any home runs hit there were sure to be mine.

Michael Stutes came and fielded a ball that was pretty much directly below me. I asked him for the baseball and he threw it up. The red line shows the patch of the ball and I guess the green represents me.

 Anyway, the ball tipped my gloved and bounced back on the field. Michael saw that and went to a better angle. I had my second baseball.

An usher gave Tim and I baseball cards.

 I told Tim that if he took off his Mariners gear and wore his blue little league shirt, which was blue, the players would toss him more baseballs. Right after, Tim Byrdak threw his his third of six baseballs.

 I look really weird in this photo with Rickey Bones

 Dylon Gee signed for me.

 Then, he posed for a picture.

 It appears that the Mets hate me. I went to right field for about five minutes. After I did not snag anything, i went back to left because that is where the homers were going. Suddenly, two consecutive homeruns were hit to right field .They both hit the same seat I was just in. I can not win.

If you don’t know, I don’t ballhawk during games. Since I am a Phillies fan, I like to just enjoy the game. This was my view of the field.

 The game was kids opening day. For every batters first at bat, instead of their picture going on the board, a childrens drawing was on. Here are some “Highlights”

Freddy Galvis.

 Ty “Long Neck” Wigginton

 ”The Mushroom” Hunter Pence.

 ”G-d Knows What This Is” Placido Polanco

 ”Yellow Skined and Uneven Hatted” Shane Victorino

 Here is Jon Neice pitching.

 John Mayberry Jr. walking up to the plate.

 Fans reaching for a foul ball.

 You can see the baseball in this shot.

 Ruben Tejada fielding a ball and throwing to first.

 Bobby Parnell going to the mound.

 From top left to bottom left, Scorecard, Carlos Ruiz limited edition print, Phillies program, David Cone card an usher gave me, Charlie Manuel baseball and stand and Charlie Manuel piggy bank.

 Here is the Hunter Pence cup sold at concession stands.

 Inside it says “Good Game, ‘Let’s Go Eat’”

2012-

3 Games

6 Balls

44 autographs

 

 

Thanks Philly!

Is awesome. Can’t write. Will post something for nybisons tonite. Going to Mets vs. phils tomorrow.

I know that I have no posted anything good in the last few days. I have been live Tweeting on Twitter. see me @ @phiballhawk

I literally have ti keave for school in four minutes. What is up with the Fightins. Bad start to the season. Anyway, have a nice day! Real entry coming in the PM. This is just a placeholder.