Archive for May 4th, 2012

MANATEES, YANKEES, CHILDREN, FANS

Posted by on Friday, 4 May, 2012

May 3, 2012
By Rocky Julich

School Day sponsored by ESPN 1040 Radio.

The parking lot of George M. Steinbrenner Field is in bloom, with the color of yellow buses. It’s an early game, 11:00 a.m. first pitch. Tampa is humid from a recent show of rain. But, on this day, nothing could dampen the spirit of the children, 5,000 of them. In the stands, the children are identified by the school colors on their tee shirts, the colors of the rainbow. The ballpark is alive with the sounds of “glad to be out of the classroom”.

These young fans know that these are the Yankees and we know that these children are the future of this game, baseball.

The Brevard County Manatees vs. the Tampa Yankees in the third and final game of the series, with the Yankees taking the first two games 3-0, 3-2.

The starting pitchers: Yankees RHP Shane Greene (0-1, 3.60), Manatees, LHP Jed Bradley (2-2, 2.79).
In the top of the third inning, Shane Green loads the bases with the first three Manatees he faces. T.J Mittelstaedt follows with a triple to deep right centerfield, which clears the bases. Fifth in the line-up, Cody Hawn hits a sacrifice fly to left and Mittelstaedt scores the fourth run. Manatees 4, Yankees 0.

Yankees are up in the bottom of the third. Some of the children chant “Let’s Go Yankees, Let’s Go! Children near the Press Box chant “Let’s go the other team”. One youth chants “The other team is the Manatees”.

In the bottom of the fifth inning the Yankees get a run on the scoreboard by a single from Jose Toussen and an RBI from Jose Mojica.

Tampa LF Ramon Flores walks in the bottom of the sixth inning and Rob Segadin follows with a hit. Neil Medchill hits a triple to drive in the two runs. Kelvin Castro’s 6-3 for two outs scores Medchill after Manatees shortstop Cody Shaw fumbles the ball. The game is tied Manatees 4, Yankees 4.

Few children remain at the ballpark in the bottom of the seventh inning to sing “Take Me Out to the Ballgame, as most had exited to board the yellow buses that would return them to their schools.

With RHP Aaron Dott pitching for the Yankees in the top of the seventh inning, the bases are again loaded with Manatees. A double by Michael Walker drives in three runs. A single by Reggie Keen brings Walker home for the fourth run of the inning. Manatees 8, Yankees 4.

The Manatees score four additional runs in the top of the ninth inning. Shea Vucinich hits his first home run of the season. Cody Hawn, connects season third home run with three RBIs.

The Manatees bats were hot with thirteen hits and the Yankees pitchers lose the third game as Greene, Dott and Nuno each are charged with four runs earned.

Final: Manatees 12, Yankees 6

WP: Jed Bradley 3-2
LP: Aaron Dott 0-2
Time: 2:50
Attendance: 6,244 – thanks to the children

This story was not subject to the approval of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues or its clubs.