monoblogue’s spring training

In about 3 weeks I’ll be returning to a tradition I began the first spring monoblogue operated – that of picking a Shorebird of the Week.

But there’s another pretty good team in town and for whatever reason I’d never gone to check them out until last week. At the time this game was played, SU reigned as the number one team in Division III college baseball. The opponent this day was the University of Mary Washington Eagles, who entered the Capital Athletic Conference tilt looking for their first conference victory of the season.

I saw this as an opportunity to enjoy a pleasant early spring day, check out some baseball, and work on my photography skills a little bit. The conditions were a bit different but I think I came up with some decent shots.

I’ve embedded a caption in each photo, so we’ll see how that works.

SU pitcher Eric Willey delivers to UMW batter Seamus Bergen early in the contest. The ball is actually just off Bergen's hip in the shot.

On the other side, SU batter Mike Celenza awaits the offering from UMW starter Andrew Cox.

In the third inning, Salisbury catcher Ryan Smith powered a two-run shot which put the SeaGulls up 4-1 at that point.

I took a more conventional shot of several batters to work on framing shots. Here is Salisbury's Chad Wolfe at the plate as UMW's catcher Nick Espinosa awaits the pitch as well.

One batter later, SU 3rd baseman Brian Green hit this lazy fly ball to right field to conclude the fifth inning.

As Mike Celenza of Salisbury awaited the pitch, it was interesting to note that most of the UMW players stood and watched the entire game much as they're shown here.

I call this one 'Pitcher Frame'. On deck for SU were right-handed hitter Cody Collins and left-hander Jordan Crystal, the pitcher was UMW reliever Dan Lockhart.

As would be expected, Salisbury came away with the win this day.

The outcome wasn't all that obvious until UMW fell apart in the 8th inning, committing three of its five errors and allowing the 8-spot in SU's 15-1 pounding of the Eagles.

Unfortunately, SU’s run at number one may have ended (at least temporarily) as they bowed last week at York College, 7-4. They were scheduled to play this weekend at home but rain washed out the three scheduled games, making their next home tilt a non-conference game against Virginia Wesleyan on March 26th. Their next several games will be in Florida as the team enjoys a Spring Break roadtrip.

Author: Michael

It's me from my laptop computer.