Columbia-Catholic

Knowing the fact the Crusaders were suppose to have the best team around, I was looking for scores in the 70s. Myself and many others were predicting a night of disaster.
But it really wasn’t. While Friday’s game wasn’t a classic, it was still a good effort by the Tide, one they can be proud of and use as a steppng stone for their final two games of the regular season and the playoffs.
The Tide continued its improvement against Catholic.
Catholic, despite putting 49 points up on the scoreboard, didn’t dominate the game as man expected.
If Columbia doesn’t give the Crusaders two short fields to work with and converts two fourth and less than an inch, the game may have been a different story.
Would Columbia had won, probably not, but the outcome may have been a lot closer.
And no, I wasn’t drinking anything before the game. Catholic didn’t crush Columbia like many had thought. I sure the Catholic people would say otherwise, but so be it.
The fact that they had 60 plus players and Columbia barely enough for two teams might have had something to do with it.
Catholic didn’t drive the field up and down like some of the Tide opponents did earlier this season. In fact over the last three weeks, no team has really gone up and down the field against the Tide as will.
Columbia, with a variety of trick plays kept Catholic off balance on offense.
The Tide plays its final home game tomorrow night against Pequea Valley. Its a game they should dominate. They close the regular season next week against rival Donegal.
If all goes well, the Tide should have some momentum heading into the playoffs, where their likely first round opponent will be the best team in the state, Steel-High.
Like I said last week on line, I’m usually pretty upset if Columbia loses to Lancaster Catholic. Friday I was not because I thought the kids played well.
It also didn’t help matters that there were a couple of questionable calls, one that killed a Tide drive and another that kept a Catholic drive going.
Here’s hoping the home stands will be packed for the final time on Friday. I know they won’t be, but at least I can wish it.
The Tide played well despite some big odds last week and should use that to build on.

Who are the Rays?

Game two of the World Series is tonight between the Phillies and a bunch of nobodies called the Tampa Bay Rays. Since it is Halloween, I won’t use their former nickname, the Devils Rays. Also in the season of the great presidential race, I want to be politically correct as well.
So who are the Rays? They have no real history and probably their top fan is Dick Vitale. They only had one 3,000 hit player in their history in Wade Boggs and he got most of his hits with Boston and the Yankees. "Popeye" Don Zimmer is a senior advisor to the team and their first base coach is George Hendrick, who played with the good Cardinal teams in the late 1980s, early 1990s.
Their main broadcaster is Harry Kalas’ son, Todd.
They play in Tampa, which is near the Phillies’ spring training home in Clearwater and can’t seem to pack their house. And they are on the Phillies’ regular season schedule next year.
Off the top of my head, that’s all I know, honestly about the Rays. I know more about the Tampa Bay Bucs, than the baseball team, which is probably like the rest of the world. Been reading the last few days just to play catch up.
So, here is what I found out.
Their manager, Joe Maddon, not to be mistaken for John Madden, is a Hazleton native.  Like Charlie, he’s laid back and let’s the players play. I think Charlie might have the edge here.
As for the coaches, like I said the only one I recall is Hendrick. He coaches first, but has no edge over Davey Lopes.
On paper, it looks like both starting staffs are equal. Their top five starters all reached double figures in wins. Jamie Moyer, Cole Hamels and Brett Myers all reached double figures. The Phils have a big advantage in the bullpen with "Lights Out" Brad Lidge and the others. The Rays are using a rookie closer and have a guy named Wheeler coming out of the pen. Just the name alone makes me sick.
As for their starting nine, they have a few all-stars and will have the edge at third (Evan Longoria, not Eva Longoria over Pedro Feliz), at the dish, Dianore Navarro over Carlos Ruiz). They have a few guys such as Longoria, Carlos Pena and Eric Hinske that can hit the long ball.
Their leadoff hitter BJ Upton is an up and comer, with decent speed and their most known player might be outfielder Carl Crawford.
Despite having a week off, I like the Phillies in six games, which means next week at this time, there will be a massive parade in the City of Brotherly Love. I’d like to say four, but you got to give the Rays come credit.
And by the way, if I wake anyone up next week when I go around town blowing horns, oh well, this only happens say every 15 years.