Charlotte Stone Crabs vs Tampa Yankees

Port Charlotte, Florida: The Charlotte Stone Crabs were swept by the Tampa Yankees after being shut-out 7-0 on Wednesday night at Charlotte Sports Park. The Yankees posted their first run in the second inning as Seth Fortenberry led off with a triple to left. Luis Nunez followed with a sac fly to drive home Fortenberry and give the Yankees a 1-0 lead.

The Yankees struck for two more in the third. Daniel Brewer and Matt Cusick got it going with back to back singles with both runners advancing into scoring position on a throwing error by Omar Luna. David Adams then drove home the first run of the inning with a sac fly to score Brewer. Damon Sublett drew a walk to put runners at first and second. Cusick and Sublett then pulled a double steal with Cusick later scoring on a wild pitch by Alex Cobb to put Tampa ahead 3-0.

The Yankees then got another run in the sixth off a sac fly by Walter Ibarra to score Luis Nunez. The Tampa offense kept producing into the seventh inning as they struck for three more runs. An RBI triple by Damon Sublett to score David Adams produced the first run of the inning. Then Sublett scored on a wild pitch by Kevin Boggan for the second run. The third run came off an RBI single by Jose Gil to put the Yankees ahead 7-0, a lead they held to the end.

Alex Cobb was tagged for 4 runs of hits while striking out 4 and walking 4 in 5 2/3 innings while being charged with the loss. Kevin Boggan pitched 2 1/3 innings and surrendered 3 runs on 3 hits while walking 1. Shawn Williams switched from first base to the mound and pitched the ninth inning, allowing no runs on 2 hits and striking out 1 in his second appearance as a pitcher this season. David Phelps was the wining pitcher for Tampa.

For more pictures from the game, visit my Stone Crabs/Yankees gallery.

Koreshan State Historic Site

Estero, Florida: In 1894, Cyrus Teed ventured into rural southern Florida to establish a “New Jerusalem”, a utopia for the followers of Koreshanity. The utopia became known as the Koreshan Unity and was a was a self preserving society until the early 1900’s.

Teed was an eclectic physician who in 1869 suffered an electrical shock during an experiment which rendered him unconscious. While unconscious, Teed believed he had a divine inspiration and was the messiah of a new religious belief. He changed his name to Koresh which is Hebrew for Cyrus and began spreading the beliefs of Koreshanity.

The beliefs of Koreshanity revolved around the core belief of Cellular Cosmogony. They believed the earth and universe were contained inside a sphere known as a cell. They spent much of their time doing science experiments trying to prove this theory. They also believed in reincarnation, immortality, alchemy, communism and celibacy.

Teed began preaching his beliefs in New York. The followers of Koreshanity endured a hostile environment due to their controversial beliefs, causing them to relocate. They eventually moved to Florida in 1894.

They settled in rural Florida on a 320 acre tract on the banks of the Estero River. They built a village consisting of a bakery, printing house, the World College of Life, a general store, concrete works, a power plant and multiple housing buildings. The printing press produced the Flaming Sword which was in production until the press burnt down in 1949. The Koreshans raised enough money to form their own political party “The Progressive Liberty Party” and incorporate the town of Estero in 1904.

The unity membership began to dwindle following the death of Teed in 1908. The surviving member, Hedwig Michel, joined in 1940 after fleeing Nazi persecution in Germany. She later died on the property in 1981 and is the only member to be buried on the property. Prior to her death, she transferred the property to the State of Florida and the Koreshan State Park was opened in 1967. The settlement was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1976.

Today the 200 acres park is a mix of historical village and nature trails. The settlement has been preserved and is available for tour. The Art Hall, Planetary Court, Bakery, Power Plant, Founder’s Residence and many of the cottages are open for guest to take a look back into the lives of the Koreshans. After touring the village, cross the Victorian Bridge onto Monkey Puzzle Island and the Sunken Gardens. Here you can see the Monkey Puzzle Tree, sausage trees and many other exotic species. This is also the starting point for the nature trail which travels along side the Estero River. Many animals call the park home including bobcats, foxes, otters, alligators, manatees and over 100 species of birds. The park also provides a full service campground along with picnic pavilions and a kayak and canoe launch.

For more pictures, visit my Koreshan State Historic Park photo page.

Edited November 14, 2009

Charlotte Stone Crabs vs Tampa Yankees

Port Charlotte, Florida: The Charlotte Stone Crabs tried to mount a comeback in the late innings but fell short a run in a 3-2 loss to the Tampa Yankees Sunday evening at Charlotte Sports Park. Tampa’s big first inning doomed the Stone Crabs as they managed to out hit the Yankees 11-4 and only allowed one hit outside the first inning, but still fell short.

Tampa struck first, tagging rehabbing Jake McGee for three runs in the first inning. Daniel Brewer singled to center to start the game. Brewer advanced to second on a sac bunt by Matt Cusick and then to third on a wild pitch. Austin Romaine followed with an RBI single to score Brewer. Brandon Laird then cleared the bases with a homer to put the Yankees ahead 3-0.

Tampa and Charlotte went out to out for the next six innings with neither team able to plate a run. But that all ended in the bottom of the eighth inning when the Stone Crabs took the zero off the board. Omar Luna and Shawn Riggans delivered back to back singles to start the inning. Then it was Ryan Royster’s single to left that score Luna and put the Stone Crabs on the scoreboard.

The Omar Luna/Shawn Riggans combo struck again in the ninth. This time it was Luna leading off with a single to center and Riggans driving him home with a double to center to pull the Stone Crabs to within one run of the Yankees. But they were unable to produce any more runs and the damage of the first inning was unable to be overcome as the Stone Crabs fell 3-2.

Jake McGee suffered the loss by surrendering 3 runs off 3 hits in 1 1/3 innings of work while recording a strikeout. Austin Hinkle followed by throwing 4 2/3 innings of no hit baseball while striking out 5 and walking 1. Kevin Boggan finished out the final 3 innings by giving up 1 hit and striking out 1. DJ Mitchell was the winning pitcher for Tampa.

For more photos from the game, visit my Stone Crabs/Yankees game gallery.

Charlotte Stone Crabs vs Clearwater Threshers

Port Charlotte, Florida: The Charlotte Stone Crabs were shut out by the Clearwater Threshers by the score of 2-0 on Friday night at Charlotte Sports Park. Both clubs starting pitchers, Charlotte’s Brian Flores and Clearwater’s Darren Byrd, dueled through five shutout innings before the scoreless tie was broken.

But in the top of the sixth inning, Clearwater was able to take the zero off the board by producing two runs in the inning. Michael Durant got the inning going with a single to left. Durant was then driven home on an RBI triple by Cody Overbeck. Fidel Hernandez followed with a single to left that scored Overbeck. Clearwater’s pitching remained strong as they kept Charlotte off the scoreboard and gave the Threshers a 2-0 win.

Brian Flores turn in an quality start, pitching 5 shutout innings allowing 5 hits and striking out 3 in the no decision. Justin Garcia came into the game in relief and was charged with the loss as he surrendered 2 runs on 3 hits while striking out 1 and walking 1. Tommy Rafferty pitched a shutout inning in the eighth allowing 1 hit and striking out 2. Brian Shouse finished out the final frame by pitching a perfect inning. Darren Byrd earned the win for Clearwater.

For more pictures from the game, visit my Stone Crabs/Threshers game gallery.

Charlotte Stone Crabs vs Jupiter Hammerheads

Port Charlotte, Florida: The Charlotte Stone Crabs swept the Jupiter Hammerheads by winning 4-2 on Friday night at Charlotte Sports Park. Jupiter got on the scoreboard first in the third inning. Miguel Fermin led off the inning with a single to short. Fermin stole second and advanced to third on a ground out by Osvaldo Martinez. Greg Burns followed with a sac fly to left to score Fermin and give the Hammerheads a 1-0 lead.

The lead held until the sixth inning when things fell apart for the Hammerheads and the Stone Crabs took advantage, striking for four runs in the inning. The inning started with a lead off double by Shawn Riggans. Henry Wrigley followed with an RBI single to right to score Riggans and tie the game. Ryan Royster was next to reach on a fielding error by Jupiter’s Luis Ott. John Matulia then delivered an RBI double to score Wrigley and move Royster to third. Ryan Royster then scored after being caught in a run down following Mike McCormick’s grounder, Royster was tagged out on the play but was ruled safe because Jupiter’s catcher did not have the ball in his glove when he tagged Royster. Matulia scored the final run of the inning on a sac bunt by Matt Hall and the Stone Crabs took the lead 4-1.

The Hammerheads scored another run in the seventh inning as Geraldo Valentin got things going with a triple to center. Valentin later scored on a single by Osvaldo Martinez to pull the Hammerheads within two. But the Stone Crabs closed the door and held on for the 4-2 victory.

Alex Cobb earned the victory, pitching 6 innings and surrendering 1 run on 4 hits while striking out 4 and walking 1. Justin Garcia pitched 1 2/3 innings and allowed a run on 3 hits while striking out 3 and walking 1. Austin Hinkle threw 2/3 innings of no hit relief and walked 2. Tommy Rafferty earned the save by pitching 2/3 of an inning and did not surrender a hit. Brett Harker was the losing pitcher for Jupiter.

For more pictures from the game, visit my Stone Crabs/Hammerheads game gallery.

Jupiter Hammerheads

Jupiter, Florida: The Jupiter Hammerheads are the A-Advanced affiliate of the Florida Marlins. The Hammerheads are in the South Division of the Florida State League.

The club was founded in 1998 as a Montreal Expos affiliate. Then in 2002, the clubs affiliation transferred to the Florida Marlins. The Hammerheads play their home games at Roger Dean Stadium, a shared facility with the Palm Beach Cardinals.

For more photos of the Hammerheads, visit my Jupiter Hammerheads photo page. Here you can find game photos and player photos.

Charlotte Stone Crabs at Sarasota Reds

Sarasota, Florida: The Charlotte Stone Crabs fell to the Sarasota Reds by the score of 6-1 on Saturday night at Ed Smith Stadium. The Reds hit the scoreboard first in the second inning. Neftali Soto lead off the inning with a double to center and later scored on an RBI single by Jason Louwsma to give the Reds a 1-0 lead.

The Stone Crabs battled back to tie the game in the top of the fourth. Henry Wrigley singled to left and Cody Cipriano was hit by a pitch to give the Stone Crabs runners on first and second. John Matulia followed with a line drive single to score Wrigley and tie the game at 1.

The Reds struck for four runs in the bottoms of the sixth to distance themselves from the Stone Crabs. The inning got started with a single by Neftali Soto who later scored on an RBI double by Jake Kahaulelio. Jason Louwsma followed with an RBI single to score Kahaulelio. Jose Gualdron then delivered a single to center to put two runners onboard for the Reds. Justin Tordi singled home Louwsma and Justin Reed singled home Gualdron to give the Reds a 5-1 lead. Sarasota added another run in the bottom of the eighth inning on a solo home run by Jose Gualdron and they held on for a 6-1 victory.

Alex Cobb pitched 5 innings in a no decision, allowing 1 run on 4 hits while striking out 3 and walking 1. Justin Garcia was the losing pitcher surrendering 4 runs off 6 hits in an inning worked. Tommy Rafferty finished the final 2 innings allowing 1 run on 1 hit while striking out 2. Luis Montano was the winning pitcher for Sarasota.

For more pictures from the game, visit my Stone Crabs/Reds game gallery.

Charlotte Stone Crabs vs Sarasota Reds

Port Charlotte, Florida: The Charlotte Stone Crabs rallied from a two run deficit in the late innings to defeat the Sarasota Reds 5-2 Sunday evening at Charlotte Sports Park. Sarasota scored first in the top of the third inning. The Reds led off the inning with back to back singles by Jose Gualdron and Justin Tordi. Justin Reed followed with a line drive down the first base line that was misplayed by Cody Cipriano allowing Gualdron to score. Tordi tried to come home on a wild pitch by Jeremy Hall but was out at the plate thanks to a great play by catcher Christian Lopez recovering the ball and flipping it back to Hall for the out.

Sarasota posted their second run of the night in the sixth inning. Denis Phipps got things going with a double and was later drove home by a single from the bat of Neftali Soto. Sarasota now held a 2-0 lead.

But they lead would quickly diminish as the Stone Crabs battled back to tie the game in the bottom of the sixth. Henry Wrigley led off the inning by drawing a walk and advanced to third on a double by John Matulia. Christian Lopez followed with a ground out to second that allowed Wrigley to score from third. Omar Luna reached on an error by Justin Tordi that scored Matulia and tied the game.

The Stone Crabs rally continues into the seventh as they posted three more runs to the scoreboard and took the lead. The inning started off by Shawn O’Malley getting hit by a pitch. Once on the bases, O’Malley stole second and advanced to third on a wild pitch. Emeel Salem followed with a double to right to score O’Malley and advanced to third as Denis Phipps misplayed the ball in the right field corner. Henry Wrigley delivered a double to score Salem and then later scored on a single by John Matulia to give the Stone Crabs a 5-2 lead and they never looked back.

Jeremy Hall earned the win by pitching 7 innings and surrendering 2 runs (1 earned) on 11 hits while striking out 6. Matt Gorgen came into the game in the eight inning and recorded his eleventh save by pitching 2 shutout innings and allowing 1 hit while striking out 2. Mark Pawelek was the losing pitcher for Sarasota.

For more game pictures, visit my Stone Crabs/Reds game gallery.

Charlotte Stone Crabs vs Fort Myers Miracle

Port Charlotte, Florida: The post game fireworks show was not the only thing exploding in front of the record crowd of 7,340 at Charlotte Sports Park, the explosive offense of the Charlotte Stone Crabs put nine runs on the scoreboard enroute to a 9-2 victory over the Fort Myers Miracle on Saturday night.

The Stone Crabs celebrated Independence Day by wearing special edition red, white and blue uniforms and wasted no time getting things going by putting three runs on the board n the second inning. Ryan Royster got things started with a single to center and then advanced to second on a balk by Fort Myers pitcher Steve Hirschfeld. Reid Fronk drew a walk. Royster was eliminated on a force out at third on the following play as Ian Paxton grounded into a force out, but the Stone Crabs still had runners at first and second. Omar Luna followed with a single to right to score Fronk. Matt Hall singled home Luna and then later scored on an RBI single by Shawn O’Malley to give the Stone Crabs a 3-0 lead.

Fort Myers battled back in the fourth by posting two runs. The first was on an RBI double by Evan Bigley that scored Chris Parmelee. The second came on a fielding error by Henry Wrigley that allowed Evan Bigley to score.

The Stone Crabs answered in the bottom of the inning by adding five more runs to their total. The Stone Crabs were aided by three hit batters in the inning. Shawn O’Malley was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to allow Reid Fronk to score. Then Emeel Salem followed with a two run single that scored Ian Paxton and Omar Luna. Henry Wrigley delivered a sacrifice fly to score Shawn O’Malley. And its was a bunt single by Ryan Royster to score Emeel Salem for the fifth run of the inning to give the Stone Crabs an 8-2 lead.

The Stone Crabs picked up another run in the sixth innings off an RBI single by Ryan Royster to score Emeel Salem and give the Stone Crabs the 9-2 margin of victory.

David Newmann was the winner pitching 5 innings and allowing 2 runs (1 earned) on 6 hits while walking 3. Jose Mejias picked up a save by pitching 4 shut-out innings giving up 2 hits and walking 2. Steve Hirschfeld was the losing pitcher for Fort Myers.

For more pictures of the game, visit my Stone Crabs/Miracle game gallery.

Charlotte Stone Crabs vs Brevard County Manatees (Game One)

Port Charlotte, Florida: The Charlotte Stone Crabs fell to the Brevard County Manatees in game one of Thursday’s doubleheader at Charlotte Sports Park. The Stone Crabs took an early lead in the first inning off an RBI single by Cody Cipriano to score John Matulia. Cipriano later scored on a Henry Wrigley single and the Stone Crabs took a 2-0 lead.

The Manatees came back to take the lead in the top of the second inning. Caleb Gindl and Eric Farris led off the inning with back to back singles. Zelous Wheeler advanced the runners on a sacrifice bunt. Sergio Miranda followed with a two run double to right field. Logan Schafer singled home Miranda for the third run of the inning and Brevard County took the lead 3-2.

The Manatees added four more runs to their lead in the third inning. Zelous Wheeler drove home two runs with a single to right that scored Steffan Wilson and Caleb Gindl. Sergio Miranda followed with a single that scored Eric Farris. Then it was Carlos Corporan to drive home Zelous Wheeler and the Manatees had a 7-2 lead.

The Stone Crabs put another run on the board in the bottom of the third. John Matulia led off the inning with a double to right. Matulia later scored on a double by Henry Wrigley to pull the Stone Crabs within 4, 7-3.

Brevard County did not sit quietly as they added yet another run in the fourth on an RBI single by Eric Farris. The Stone Crabs countered in the bottom of the inning with an RBI single by John Matulia to score Ian Paxton. The Manatees still held the lead 8-4.

The Manatees picked up another run in the top of the seventh. Zelous Wheeler led off the inning with a double to right and later scored on a fielding error by Cody Cipriano. The Manatees took the win 9-4.

Brevard County’s catcher Carlos Corporan was ejected by home plate umpire in the bottom of the seventh for arguing balls and strikes. John Matulia drew a walk and Corporan displeased with the call began arguing and even through the ball in the direction of the umpire.

Jesse Darcy took the loss for the Stone Crabs allowing 8 runs on 13 hits while striking out 1 and walking 2. Kevin Boggan finished out the game allowing 1 unearned run off 3 hits in 3 innings of work. Amaury Rivas was the winner for Brevard County.

For more pictures from game one of the doubleheader, visit my Stone Crabs/Manatees game gallery.