Mike Cabrey visits Coca-Cola Park

Dramatic sunset pic

Once in a while, I actually do get to go to a sporting event without having to cover it. Monday was that day, as went to Allentown to catch the Lehigh Valley Ironpigs take on Charlotte Knights (the Chicago White Sox's AAA affiliate) at Coca-Cola Park. And since I have a forum to post things on the internet via this blog, I figure I'lll share a couple of picture I took at the game.

David Boreanaz, not a fan of the Mike Richards trade

Never shld of gotten rid of Mike Richards. Bad Move. Gonna hurtless than a minute ago via Echofon Favorite Retweet ReplyDavid Boreanaz
David_Boreanaz

David Boreanaz of Buffy, Angel and Bones fame and the son of former 6ABC weatherman Dave Roberts, is not too fond of the trade the Philadelphia Flyers made last Thursday that sent captain Mike Richards to the Los Angeles Kings.
Source: Twitter

A New Schenn-sation on Broad Street?

I plead for forgiveness on the headline, I couldn't resist.

If you like some poorly-lit highlights and the Beastie Boys, you will love this video showcasing the Philadelphia Flyers' newly acquired forward Brayden Schenn.



Schenn was among those on the move as the Flyers massively reordered its roster Thursday, sending Mike Richards to the Los Angeles Kings and Jeff Carter to the Columbus Blue Jackets in a pair of trades (which you can read more about here).

The fifth overall pick by the in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft, the 19-year-old Schenn compiled two assists and no goals in nine total games with the Kings and showed he can drop the gloves in this tussle with the Anaheim Duck's Luca Sbisa in the preseason last year.



One final video. With Richards leaving for Hollywood, let's remember perhaps the (now former) captain's top moment, his shorthanded goal in Game Five of the 2010 Eastern Conference Finals against the Montreal Canadiens.


-Mike Cabrey

Dodgers' fix long overdue

By Christiaan DeFranco
@cdefranco

It is rare that I side with Bud Selig.

Granted, his institution of the wild card turned out to be a good move, despite my initial skepticism as a baseball purist. It has added to the excitement of the playoffs and the pennant races without compromising the value of baseball's six-month, decisive, unequivocal, 162-game season.

Yet he also presided over the Steroid Era, turning a blind eye to a culture of cheating that dramatically and irreparably distorted the integrity and history of the game — more so than any of baseball's previous fluxuations and transgressions, including the travesty of segregation (although that's a whole other issue, the complexities of which warrant another discussion).

While the awkward and frequently incompetent Selig has lined owners' pockets, he has done more harm to the game than good.

But when it comes to the McCourts, I'm with Bud all the way.

Sleazy Frank and his wayward wife need to disappear. Now.

When you think of the great franchises of all time — in any sport — the Dodgers are right up there.

Not only do they have a decades-long tradition of winning, and not only did they venture baseball West (albeit to the justifiable dismay and disgust of Brooklyn fans), but they are the franchise of Jackie Robinson.

The Dodgers didn't just change the game, they helped change our country.

But for the past few years, they've been in the hands of a scumbag and his scummy wife (now ex-wife). And these two all-stars, despite running the organization into the ground and using it as their personal cash machine, are trying to cling to ownership.

By the way, if you don't know about Frank's background, he's a Boston real-estate developer who tried to buy the Red Sox and wanted to tear down Fenway in favor of a new stadium.

Get the picture?

I've also heard he hates Abe Lincoln and apple pie, but that's unconfirmed.

Then there was that debacle in which Frank decided security costs were too high at Dodger Stadium, despite a well-documented gang presence. So he slashed security, and on opening day this year a visiting Giants fan was beaten into a coma by a gangbanger in the parking lot. (Don't worry. Frank publicly derided the incident — a week after it happened.)

As for Jamie, she cheated on Frank after three decades of marriage but wanted to keep her share of the Dodgers because it was her cash cow. She knows nothing about baseball and doesn't care to, but she feels entitled.

Meanwhile, this historic, big-market club — a national treasure — has struggled to make payroll, foregone free-agent signings, and failed to re-sign important players who contributed to its recent playoff runs.

The other day, Frank and Jamie finalized their divorce, and Frank secured a $3-billion TV deal with Fox that would have paid Frank $385 million up-front (approximately $185 million of which he was going to use to pay off his divorce and dispose of his private debts).

Not so fast.

Selig rejected the deal, opening the door for MLB to seize control of the Dodgers and sell them to a new owner — and opening up MLB to a lawsuit challenging Selig's powers as commissioner.

Perhaps the commissioner's power needs to be challenged, perhaps not, but this isn't the case for that. My guess is that the McCourts will ultimately fail in their attempt to cling to the Dodgers, just as they've failed the Dodgers as owners. My guess is they'll be laughed out of court.

At least I hope so.

And if you love baseball, Dodger fan or not, you'll hope so too.

District One Spring Postseason

BASEBALL

Class AAAA

Five teams advance to states

First Round

Last Monday

(S8) West Chester Rustin 2, (N9) Central Bucks East 1

(N5) Owen J. Roberts 12, (S12) Penncrest 2, 6 innings STORY

(N11) Plymouth Whitemarsh 4, (S6) Interboro 3 STORY

(N8) North Penn 6, (S9) Kennett 0 STORY

(S5) Downingtown East 5, (N12) CB South 4, 8 innings STORY

(N10) Methacton 3, (S7) Strath Haven 2 STORY

(N6) Boyertown 4, (S11) Great Valley 3 STORY

Last Tuesday

(N7) Truman 5, (S10) Garnet Valley 0 STORY

Second Round

Last Wednesday

(N1) Council Rock North 3, (S8) West Chester Rustin 0

(N5) Owen J. Roberts 8, (S4) West Chester Henderson 2 STORY

(S2) West Chester East 12, (N7) Truman 2, 5 innings STORY

(N3) Spring-Ford 11, (N11) Ply. Whitemarsh 1, 5 innings STORY

(S1) Marple Newtown 9, (N8) North Penn 6 STORY

(N4) Council Rock South 6, (S5) Downingtown East 5 STORY

(N10) Methacton 7,  (N2) Pennridge 5 STORY

(S3) Conestoga 10, (N6) Boyertown 4 RECAP

Quarterfinals

Last Friday

(N1) Council Rock North 4, (N5) Owen J. Roberts 3 STORY

(N3) Spring-Ford 6, (S2) West Chester East 3 STORY

(S3) Conestoga 5, (N10) Methacton 4 STORY

Last Saturday

(N4) CR South 7, (S1) Marple Newtown 6, 13 innings STORY

Semifinals

Tuesday

(N3) Spring-Ford 9, (N1) Council Rock North 3 STORY

(S3) Conestoga 8, (N4) Council Rock South 7

Fifth Place Semifinals

Tuesday

(N10) Methacton 15, (N5) Owen J. Roberts 5 STORY

(S2) West Chester East 9, (S1) Marple Newtown 8 STORY

Final

Thursday at Glen Mills

(N3) Spring-Ford 22, (S3) Conestoga 11 STORY

Third Place

Thursday  at Council Rock North

(N1) Council Rock North 7, (N4) Council Rock South 5

Fifth Place

Thursday  at Devon Prep

(N10) Methacton 7, (S2) West Chester East 3 STORY

Class AAA

One teams advances to states

Quarterfinals

Last Tuesday

(8) Phoenixville 10, (1) Holy Ghost Prep 5 RECAP
(4) Pope John Paul II 8, (5) Lower Moreland 0 STORY

(2) Upper Moreland 6, (7) Upper Merion 5 STORY

(6) Octorara 10, (3) Chichester 4 STORY

Semifinals

Last Thursday

(4) Pope John Paul II 3, (8) Phoenixville 2 STORY

(2) Upper Moreland 5,  (6) Octorara 4, 8 innings STORY

Final

Wednesday at West Chester East

(2) Upper Moreland 9, (4) Pope John Paul II 2 STORY

Class AA

(Subregion with District 12)

Final

Last Friday at Neumann University

(2) Springfield (M) 8, (1) Devon Prep 4 STORY

Class A

One team advances to states

Quarterfinals

Last Tuesday

(8) Jenkintown 3, (1) Christopher Dock 2 STORY
(5) Calvary Christian 8, (4) Friends Select 6
(2) Bristol 6, (7) Delco Christian 1
(3) Morrisville 6, (6) Phil-Mont Christian 2

Semifinals

Last Thursday

(5) Calvary Christian 7, (8) Jenkintown 2

(3) Morrisville 9, (2) Bristol 5 RECAP

Final

Wednesday at West Chester Henderson

(5) Calvary Christian 3, (3) Morrisville 0

Putting the camera in harm's way

I covered back-to-back baseball games last Thursday and Friday. First was North Penn's 1-0 home loss to Central Bucks South, then the following day at Christopher Dock for the Pioneers' marathon contest with Souderton that the Indians ultimately won 14-12 in nine innings.

Two different fields, two totally different games. But in both, my nightmare scenario of having my Flip camera being smashed into the great tech beyond by a foul ball came probably not close, but close enough for me.

Based on my giggling immediately afterwards, the closer call came in the North Penn game (the first video).





BONUS VIDEO
In the "Life is all about timing" department, I was lucky able to get video of Christopher Dock sophomore Ryan Blough hitting a grand slam in last Friday's loss to Souderton.

Extra Innings: North Penn vs. LC Softball

It's always fun when North Penn and Lansdale Catholic met up and any sport and last Friday was the latest contest between the neighborhood rivals as the two school's softball team faced off at North Penn. Using some early offense and some solid pitching from senior Kellianna Bradstreet, North Penn earned a 7-0 victory over the Crusaders.

Below are video interviews of both team's coaches, starting first with North Penn's Rick Torresani then Lansdale Catholic's Paul Suder.

Wissahickon boys lacrosse's day of service at Prophecy Creek Park

The Wissahickon boys lacrosse team made an impact off the field on April 2 as the Trojans held a day of community service at Prophecy Creek Park in Whitpain Township.

The team, along with coaches and parents, have made it annual spring event to help the township with cleaning up and landscaping projects within its park system. This year, the Trojans raked leaves, planted shrubs, mulched flower beds and moved small boulders to stabilize the banks of an island in one of the park's ponds.

BASEBALL: Dock Gets Fenced In

Home runs were always possible at Christopher Dock's baseball field. But now, the Pioneers can now truly send the ball out of the yard.

Dock's home diamond has a new look as a chain-link fence now surrounds the outfield. The wall out in right field is 326 feet, center 385 feet and left field the shortest distance at 313 feet. The fence out in left field runs a few feet across a hill, adding a little character or difficulty, depending on how one looks at it, to that part of the outfield.

The fence is not the only addition to Dock's field as a scoreboard will be installed in a week or so.

The inaugural home run is still available for some player to earn, as no one was able to hit a ball over the fence as Christopher Dock opened its home schedule by defeating Plumstead Christian 14-6.

Christopher Dock has played just one game at home this season, that being Thursday's rainy Bicentennial Athletic League contest with Plumstead Christian.

District One Boys Basketball Postseason

CLASS AAAA

Nine teams advance to states

All games 7 p.m. unless noted

First Round
Friday, Feb. 18
(1) Chester 70, (32) Perkiomen Valley 36 STORY
(17) Springfield (D) 56 (16) Cheltenham 55 (OT) STORY
(8) North Penn 49, (25) Upper Dublin 38 STORY
(9) Bensalem 53, (24) Strath Haven 37 RECAP
(4) Upper Darby 71, (29) Kennett 37 STORY
(13) Lower Merion 63, (20) Methacton 57 STORY
(5) Neshaminy 55, (28) Central Bucks East 43 STORY
(12) Glen Mills 29, (21) Central Bucks West 28 (OT) STORY
(2) Council Rock North 43, (31) Great Valley 28 STORY
(15) Wissahickon 47, (18) Spring-Ford 43 STORY
(7) Norristown 47, (26) Ridley 41 STORY
(10) Coatesville 71, (23) Souderton 59 STORY
(3) Plymouth Whitemarsh 78, (30) Interboro 42 STORY
(14) Pennridge 74, (19) West Chester Henderson 54 STORY
(6) West Chester Rustin 48, (27) Penncrest 29 STORY
(11) Penn Wood 90, (22) Conestoga 65 STORY

Second Round
Last Tuesday
(1) Chester 72, (17) Springfield (D) 48 STORY
(9) Bensalem 36, (8) North Penn 33 STORY ANALYSIS
(13) Lower Merion 73, (4) Upper Darby 66 STORY
(5) Neshaminy 60, (12) Glen Mills 36 STORY
(2) Council Rock North 50, (15) Wissahickon 44 STORY
(7) Norristown 67, (10) Coatesville 62 STORY
(3) Plymouth Whitemarsh 50, (14) Pennridge 27 STORY
(6) West Chester Rustin 59, (11) Penn Wood 51 STORY

Quarterfinals
Last Friday
(1) Chester 67, (9) Bensalem 39 STORY
(5) Neshaminy 64, (13) Lower Merion 61 STORY
(2) Council Rock North 56, (7) Norristown 55 (2OT) STORY
(3) Plymouth Whitemarsh 63, (6) West Chester Rustin 47 STORY

Semifinals
Tuesday, at The Pavilion, Villanova University
(2) Council Rock North 58, (3) Plymouth Whitemarsh 50 STORY
(1) Chester 77, (5) Neshaminy 67 STORY ANALYSIS

Final

Friday, at The Pavilion, Villanova University

(1) Chester 66, (2) Council Rock North 43 STORY ANALYSIS

THIRD PLACE CONSOLATION
Friday
(3) Plymouth Whitemarsh 67, (5) Neshaminy 61 STORY

FIFTH AND SEVENTH PLACE CONSOLATION

Semifinals
Tuesday
(13) Lower Merion 45, (9) Bensalem 44
(6) West Chester Rustin 57, (7) Norristown 50 STORY

Fifth Place Game
Friday
(6) West Chester Rustin 53, (13) Lower Merion 52 STORY

Seventh Place Game
Friday
(7) Norristown 48, (9) Bensalem 34 STORY

NINTH PLACE CONSOLATION

Quarterfinals

Friday

(8) North Penn 60, (17) Springfield (D) 41 STORY

(4) Upper Darby 52, (12) Glen Mills 34 STORY

(15) Wissahickon 77, (10) Coatesville 61 STORY

(11) Penn Wood 56, (14) Pennridge 32 STORY

Semifinals

Tuesday
(8) North Penn 59, (4) Upper Darby 43 STORY ANALYSIS
(15) Wissahickon 63, (11) Penn Wood 57 STORY

Ninth Place Game
Friday, at Council Rock South
(11) Penn Wood 47, (8) North Penn 27 STORY

CLASS AAA

Three teams advance to states

All games 7 p.m. unless noted

First Round
Last Wednesday
(9) Phoenixville 51, (8) Upper Merion 38 STORY
(7) Harriton 53, (10) Sun Valley 31 STORY
(6) Bishop Shanahan 51, (11) Upper Moreland 49 STORY

Quarterfinals
Last Saturday
(1) Octorara 69, (9) Phoenixville 58 STORY
(4) Pope John Paul II 56, (5) Pottstown 52 STORY
(2) Holy Ghost Prep 43, (7) Harriton 38 STORY
(6) Bishop Shanahan 44, (3) Lower Moreland 42 (OT) STORY

Semifinals
Wednesday, at Council Rock South
(2) Holy Ghost Prep 54, (6) Bishop Shanahan 44 STORY
(1) Octorara 53, (4) Pope John Paul II 40 STORY


Final
Saturday, at The Pavilion, Villanova University

(1) Octorara 46, (2) Holy Ghost Prep 41 STORY

THIRD PLACE CONSOLATION
Saturday, at Plymouth Whitemarsh
(4) Pope John Paul II 73, (6) Bishop Shanahan 65 STORY

CLASS AA

District 1/12 Subregion
Saturday, at St. Joseph's Prep
Prep Charter 60, Devon Prep 46

CLASS A

Three teams advances to states

Games 7 p.m. unless noted

First Round
Last Tuesday
(8) Morrisville 56, (9) Calvary Christian 53 STORY
(5) Plumstead Christian 65, (12) Friends Select 55
(10) Calvary Baptist 34, (7) Jenkintown 29 STORY
(6) Delco Christian 52, (11) Christopher Dock 34 STORY

Quarterfinals
Last Friday
(1) Church Farm 53, (8) Morrisville 25 STORY
(4) Girard College 40, (5) Plumstead Christian 33
(2) Phil-Mont Christian 60, (10) Calvary Baptist 39 STORY
(3) Faith Christian 71, (6) Delco Christian 55 RECAP

Semifinals
Tuesday, at Cheltenham
(3) Faith Christian 57, (2) Phil-Mont Christian 53 STORY
(1) Church Farm 60, (4) Girard College 47 STORY

Final
Saturday, at The Pavilion, Villanova University
(1) Church Farm 71, (3) Faith Christian 44 STORY

THIRD PLACE CONSOLATION
Friday, at Wissahickon
(2) Phil-Mont Christian 40, (4) Girard College 37