Josh Hamilton

Folks,

Sorry I have been delinquent for the last couple days.

That's what 12 game homestands do.

I have been busy writing for FullCountPitch.com.

Please read my Josh Hamilton article here.

I happen to think it's a pretty great story.

- Christian Liebenow

Living the Dream

In just over thirty minutes I will make the short drive to the Dell Diamond, home of the Round Rock Express. Last night I left the ballpark around 10:45 pm after a crowd-pleasing fireworks show as impressive as many town's Fourth of July fireworks shows. This morning I woke up at 5 am in order to clock in at Target at 6 am. You could say I'm living the dream.

Yesterday afternoon (Friday) I arrived at the the ballpark around 4 pm. By this time press had descended on the Express batting practice. Everyone including myself had a great view of Josh Hamilton and Nelson Cruz's batting practice. Express radio announcer Mike Capps and color analyst Jerry Grote closely watched Hamilton's batting practice which included many long home runs. Those familiar with the Dell Diamond will be impressed to hear that Hamilton hit the top of the centerfield batting cages, well past the 400 ft sign on the wall in dead centerfield.

During the game I tweeted Hamilton and Cruz's at bats (I will do so tonight and tomorrow). Hamilton began his night with a well-hit double to the rightfield gap. Cruz did not see a strike until the fourth pitch of his at bat. He promptly put the ball in the back of the berm in rightfield and gave the Express a lead at 2-1. The 9,999 fans in attendance roared in approval; they received their money's worth with those two hits.

Today I will watch batting practice amongst many other things. Maybe I'll even be able to wish a happy birthday to Josh Hamilton. You never know in baseball.

Beginnings

Exactly a week ago I concluded my third academic year at the University of Dallas. Endings are always tough, but I personally am always most excited about beginnings. And although I have already worked two games for the Round Rock Express, tonight is my official beginning as an intern for the first year AAA Rangers affiliate.

My family moved to Round Rock just over 11 years ago. The Express played their first game in Round Rock only months later. Thus, the Dell Diamond is the ballpark of my childhood. I grew up cheering for the Express despite my disdain for the Houston Astros (we moved to Texas from St. Louis). I thought that the grass berm in the outfield seating area was such a cool thing and that is where we sat many nights.

As I prepare to leave for the ballpark, I am as excited as I was before I departed on an 11 game MLB trip with my dad and brother. Part of my excitement is due to my childhood memories of the ballpark and it's location in the city I consider to be home, Round Rock, Texas. Another part of my excitement is a mixture of my childish love of the game and more mature realization. Rangers OF Josh Hamilton (and possibly OF Nelson Cruz) will be rehabbing for the Express on Friday night. Hamilton is one of my favorite players due to the incredible things I have seen him do on the baseball field in the last several years. I also admire Hamilton's faith and his boldness in sharing his story and his belief in Jesus Christ.

Those are both large reasons for my excitement. Another reason for my enthusiasm is my dream of another bigger opportunity beyond this one. This summer I will certainly meet many legends in baseball and the community at the Dell Diamond. I have already met Roger Clemens. But more than that there are two parts of my internship which I look forward to most. First, I look forward to sharing the joy of baseball on a nightly basis. I will undoubtedly write more on this topic, but the memories made at the ballpark are unique and unforgettable. Secondly, I am excited to learn about baseball operations from my boss, Gregg Miller, the VP of Business Development with the Express. His sales experience is vast and he is very passionate about baseball.

Check out my blog this summer as I will be posting about my experience at the ballpark along with the experiences of the Owners for a Night. I look forward to blogging here and writing for Gary Armida at FullCountPitch Magazine.

Crusaders fall to #15 Chapman, end regular season with 25-14 record

Two weekends after sweeping the then 13^th ranked team in the country, Trinity University, the Crusaders were swept by 15^th ranked Chapman University Panthers in Orange, California. Despite the three game sweep, Dallas finishes the regular season with a 25-14 record, which is in fact a complete reversal of last season’s 14-25 record.

“The turnaround from last year to this year has been unbelievable going from a 14 win team to a 25 win team,” stated third baseman Trevor Allred. “All of the credit has to go to the whole team really buying into what the coaches have been teaching about strong pitching and defense all year.”

The Crusaders’ three game series in California began well as Dallas scored two runs in the top of the 1^st inning in Saturday’s doubleheader. Leftfielder Devin Arnold reached base with a single and was brought home by a double from centerfielder Brian Shelburne who scored later in the inning. With two outs in the bottom of the 1^st inning, the Panthers brought home two runs with a double, tying the game at 2-2.

From here the game continued in a back and forth manner as the Crusaders briefly held the lead in the top of the 3^rd inning before the Panthers scored two runs to take a 4-3 lead. Michael Schweiss replaced Carkhuff in the top of the 4^th inning, and dominated the Chapman lineup, allowing only three singles and no earned runs in his first three innings of work.

Dallas tied the game in the 5^th inning on a solo shot from first baseman Andrew Bossert, his 4^th home run of the season. The Crusaders gave Schweiss a 5-4 lead in the 6^th inning as Shelburne’s RBI single brought home catcher Varea Costello. Only three outs away from victory over the 15^th-ranked team in the country, Schweiss surrendered a leadoff home run to Adam Kordich, his 4^th home run of the season. Schweiss stifled the Chapman offense for the more innings before Chapman scored the winning run on a two-out single in the 11^th inning.

While Dallas had several chances to beat Chapman in first game of Saturday’s doubleheader, the Crusaders were thoroughly beaten in the second game. Chapman scored four runs off Dallas starter Michael Byers in the 2^nd inning en route to a 10-1 victory. Byers bounced back from a rough 2^nd inning, lasting five innings in the loss.

Joel Hansen pitched a scoreless 6^th inning for Dallas before Chris Schierhorn threw the final two innings in which he surrendered two earned runs on only three hits. The Crusaders’ lone run came in the 5^th inning when second baseman Mark Carlson singled in shortstop David Rettinger.

Sunday’s game proved to be much better than Game 2 as Dallas led Chapman for several innings before eventually falling 7-2. Allred put the Crusaders on the board with an RBI single in the 3^rd inning before Ponce increased the Dallas lead to 2-0 with an RBI single of his own in the 4^th inning.

Having lasted just three innings in his Game 1 start, Carkhuff was given the Game 3 start from head coach Fraser Holmes. Carkhuff repaid his coach with four scoreless innings before getting into trouble in the 5^th inning. Dylan Myers, a left-handed pitcher, replaced Carkhuff in the 5^th inning. Myers worked himself into troubled before ending the inning on a groundout.

Trailing only 3-2, the Crusaders were unable to push the tying run across. Myers ran into trouble in the 8th inning, giving up four runs before retiring the third out. Dallas failed to score in the 8^th and 9^th inning, ending their regular season with a 7-2 loss in a game closer than the score indicated.

Dallas still has an outside chance at receiving an NCAA Tournament bid and thus the team will continue to practice for the next two weeks. As far as next season goes, Dallas will lose seniors Carkhuff, Ponce, Rettinger and Luke Kersting. “Although we are definitely going to miss the seniors I think everyone has high expectations for next year with the guys we have coming back,” said Allred, who will be a big part of Dallas’ team next season. Sophomore James Kerin reiterated Allred’s words about the difference from last season to this season. “We improved so much from last year to this year; it was an unbelievable transformation,” said Kerin. “I’m excited for the team next year.”