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The Prospector: Renegades Fall to ValleyCats 5-4 in Opening Game of Championship Series

The Renegades drop the first game of the New York-Penn League Championship Series to the Tri-City ValleyCats 5-4 in 10 innings. It's win-or-go-home time for the Gades.

Tuesday, Sept. 11—The Renegades dropped the first game of the League Championship Series to the Tri-City ValleyCats in Troy 5-4 in 10 innings, unable to preserve an early lead. The Gades return home to Dutchess Stadium Wednesday to face the Cats at 6:05 p.m. in Game 2 of the best-of-three series. If the Renegades win, they will play a decisive Game 3 Thursday and hope to clinch their first New York-Penn League championship since 1999; if the Cats win, they will claim their second championship in three seasons.

Unlike most games this season, the long ball was the deciding factor tonight. Luke Maile hit a two-run homer in the first inning as the Renegades took an early 3-0 lead. Dan Gulbransen replied with a two-run homer for the Cats in the second, and Catfish Elkins gave Tri-City a 4-3 lead with a two-run blast in the third. Leonardo Reginatto tied the game with a solo homer in the Renegades ninth. Preston Tucker triggered a jubilant celebration by the ValleyCats and their fans with a bases-loaded sacrifice fly to right field in the 10th that sent Ryan Dineen home with the winning run. Please click here to read the game story on the Gades’ Web site.

My son, Dave, was able to join me for the trip to Troy, as were Bob Hand and Mark, another regular at The Dutch. After a later start than planned, Dave and I picked up the rest of the quartet at Bob’s home in the Town of Newburgh around 3:20. After some discussion we decided that the four of us and our gear would all fit in my car (saving gas for a second car), so we loaded Big Red into the cargo area along with munchies and my stuff from the back seat. Dave and I took the front seats, Bob and Mark squeezed into the back (I was surprised they fit, but they claimed they were OK) and we were soon on our way via back roads to U.S Route 9W, then across New York Route 299 to Thruway Interchange 18 (New Paltz). From there it was excellent cruising at highway speed to Exit 23, then up Interstate 787 to Exit 8 and across New York Route 378 to U.S. Route 4 a little north of Bruno Stadium. We arrived at our supper destination, Deli and Brew, a few minutes after 5, where we were surprised to find Paul, who had originally not expected to make the trip.

Deli and Brew makes some of the largest individual wedges I have ever seen, a delicious and excellent value. I chose liverwurst with lettuce, tomato and American cheese and was barely able to finish it. Some of the others saved part of theirs for a second meal.

We got to The Joe after 5:30 and tailgated in the parking lot. Bob went to the will-call window and picked up our tickets. We entered the stadium just in time to fill in our scorecards before the national anthem and a moment of silence for 9/11, with flags at half-staff. Today is the 11th anniversary of the terrorist attacks that left nearly 3,000 people dead. May they rest in peace; may those responsible receive justice; may we all find a way to move beyond what led to this.   

After the anthem, Dave got me a cup of coffee and headed for Section 160, right behind the Renegades dugout, while I went over to Section 170 to see Scott.

“You got nothin’!” I said in our mutual greeting after saying hello to usher Denis McCarthy. I mentioned that I had just stopped by to say hello but Gary and Betty encouraged me to stay—despite my Renegades jersey and jacket, which I wore into the stadium on this chilly evening—so I joined Scott for the top of the first (first pitch 6:32), assuring everybody that I would be rejoining the Renegades tribe afterward. “You may be leaving sooner than that!” Gary said good-naturedly after Luke Maile’s homer.

The Joe wasn’t crowded (official attendance 1,567), so we were able to spread out a bit in Row L of Section 160. Southpaw never made it to our section but Pappy Southpaw did, complete with his oversize glove, and he posed for a picture. Dave used my mitt to keep watch for stray balls while I kept score. One foul ball landed a short distance away but otherwise there was no excitement on that front.

As the game ended I turned to a particularly vocal ValleyCat fan a few rows behind us and commended him on his spirited support (partisan but positive, not demeaning), not unlike the quantity and volume I give the Renegades. He in turn commended us for coming up and supporting our team and wished us a safe trip home, all of which I thought was pretty classy. Thank you, sir.

Sammy Baseball was back at The Joe for a special playoff appearance, and we renewed acquaintances with him on the concourse after the game. Southpaw joined us and I took a picture of Dave with them.

The mood by the Renegades bus was subdued but still supportive, with “We’ll win tomorrow!” a recurrent theme. Bev was offering brownies to the players, and I added a bag of pretzels to the menu. While running low, she was reluctant to break out a second pan, claiming they had not baked up to her standards (something involving the number of eggs). Bob retrieved the pan from their car, ate one and pronounced it fine, as did Bob, Dave and I in quick succession.

Scott eventually joined us and I was able to introduce him to pitcher Dylan Floro, with whom he shares a California State-Fullerton connection. Charles Epperson told us his mom was feeling better and expected to be at the game Wednesday. Jared Sandberg thanked us all for making the trek and supporting the team.

We socialized for a short time after the bus left. I took up an order for the drive-up window at Wendy’s, then Dave and I went over to get the food (just coffee for me; I was still fairly full from my wedge).

I suggested that, in the interest of comfort, I run Scott home while the others remained, but, since Dave, Bob and Mark had to get up early, the consensus was that Bob, Mark and Scott could survive being crowded into the back seat for the short trip. Somehow they fit and we got Scott home without mishap. Dallas and Peanut, Scott’s beagles, howled a welcome from the back yard. After Scott calmed them down, we said some quick (for us) goodbyes, possibly for a while if Scott does not make it to Dutchess Stadium this week.

We were on our way at 12:22 a.m., retracing our route down I-787 and the Thruway to Interchange 17 (I-84 and Newburgh), with the others sleeping most of the way. We then went up Route 9W and local streets to Bob’s house. We quickly redistributed our gear, and Dave and I were on our way a few minutes later. We filled my car’s tank at a Valero station on 9W for $3.979 a gallon and arrived home safe and sound, thank God, around 2:45.

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Peter Goodson May 18, 2013 at 08:58 am
Well MJ, of course you would be against a business being allowed to decide not to lose a substantialRead More amount of money because of a liberal social program. No surprise there. I don't speak or write for anybody, but Dwight Douglas is very respected and had been for many years. He resigned over the mess and for being betrayed. The rest of the board are useless. If they weren't so partisan they would have resigned too. As for the forensic audit, at least we agree on something. When Frank wins I hope he does one right away. Lots of money disappearing over the last 6 years, especially a huge fund balance that is now all gone.
W Kelly May 18, 2013 at 07:22 am
Peter Goodson I disagree it was initiated by the HVHC and they are stupid to think a loss of 200K aRead More year is enough cause for me or the rest of the community to believe a closure is necessary. Federspiel thinks Peekskill is bias, better check again we are pretty damn wise. The powers at be could have made a move and didn't. Greg Ball could have raised that money with one event. He is always in the media for his fundraiser at HVHC. This is an absolute mess. Mary Foster has always responded to my e-mails and always claimed she was in opposition. I have emailed her twice in the past 24 hours with no response. You can run Mary but you can't hide!
Mary Jane May 17, 2013 at 11:20 pm
That's exactly right. It was a business decision that your Republican buddies supported whole-hogRead More with their sneaky silence. The real issue is that your Republican buddies are as dirty as the day is long and they're of the same mold as this lousy administration. Check out my first post. You political blowhards don't give a rat's whisker about the taxpayers in this city. Seems Frank can't even get his allegiance straight. He's defending a "highly respected" Planning Board. Interesting choice of words. By his own admission, he's defending those "100% Dems." Forensic Audit all the way. And take it back to the last 10 years. Mr. Goodson, stick to writing Uncle Vinnie's press releases.
Teleman May 17, 2013 at 05:27 pm
Rose, why is it that you would call me a name? Why not have a productive debate about the issueRead More instead of name call? I'm sure the anti-gun lobby does not like those numbers- but they are the facts. I know it flies in the face of all of the propaganda- millions of gun purchases and gun crime goes down? This is what we've been saying all along. Leave my natural rights as affirmed by the Constitution alone.
Rose Rowland May 17, 2013 at 11:32 am
Go away, you Troll.
Teleman May 16, 2013 at 10:23 pm
Plenty of laws on the books- they are obviously working ok, and would probably work even better ifRead More vigorously enforced.
Teleman May 15, 2013 at 04:11 pm
I stand by my statement- until these contracts are fully re-negotiated and the unions startRead More contributing to their benefits and taking zero % or minimal raises, the taxes will continue to increase year after year- Buchanan will no longer be the so-called "bargain" some claim it is.
Sick of the Lies May 10, 2013 at 10:04 am
Hey Fly, before you make comments, you should check the facts. The contracts are alive and well.Read More Mr. Donahue should try learning to read and checking the facts before sending his brilliant letters to the editor in for publishing. They are almost always entirely fictional....but perhaps he really believes what he says. Yeah, right. He intentionally makes up stories to sucker people like you into believing his nonsense.
Fly on the Wall May 10, 2013 at 02:47 am
All of those lucrative 2% contract raises have since expired! DUH. Unlike the 15% raises yourRead More glorious mayor has doled out with great regularity.