Team Photo at Ripken: Tom Gillespie, Kyle Ober, Jack Keny, Christopher Kiley, Cole Flynn, Jihn Griffith, Quinn WAlsh, John Schlatter, Dan Salsberg, Kenny McCadden, Patrick Iorio and the Fire Coaches. Iorio, Ober, Flynn and Kiley On May 2 & 3rd the U9 Garden City FIRE Travel Baseball team headed to Maryland to play at the prestigious Cal Ripken Baseball Complex. The tournament featured some of the best competition from the East Coast with 12 teams at U9 age and 16 teams at u10 age. The FIRE's round robin bracket included The Baltimore Blue Claws, The Mays Landing Muckdogs and the Delaware Diamonds. The FIRE competed at replica fields of Wrigley field and Camden Yards (Cal Senior Yard) on opening day. The Cal Senior Yard game gave them the opportunity to play in a true stadium and was a totally awesome experience. Although the scoreboard had the Muckdogs and Diamonds winning on Saturday the FIRE completed and held their own in each game to the very end. The stadium game was tied heading into the 6th game and came down to a dramatic 6th inning bases loaded situation before the Diamonds pulled it out. The casual Saturday night hotel pool party, wiffle ball and team dinner provided almost as much fun for the boys and was a great team bonding night.

Kyle Ober lunges for a sinking line drive Sunday saw the FIRE against the top seeded Baltimore Blue Claws. With the backdrop of the Camden Yards Brick Hotel looming in the heavy fog the boys took the field. The Blue Claws had given up only 1 run in the tournament on Saturday and had won both games by the crush rule by a combined score of 29-1. The FIRE played outstanding well against one of the best teams they are likely to verse. By the middle of the game a hard steady rain poured down on the teams yet play continued on and the intensity increased as the rain got harder. The FIRE mounted a thrilling comeback and pulled to within 12-7 and loaded the bases before the Blue Claws got the final out. Both teams had a blast in the rain and mud . Soaking wet and totally drenched they all walked off the field with the biggest smiles and long lasting memories of a wonderful trip.

Since returning from Ripken the team has ripped off 4 straight solid victories in league play. The FIRE defeated the Roslyn Hurricanes 16-10 and 20-4, and followed it up this past week quality wins (9-3 and 12-5) against a tough Manhattan Frozen Ropes team. The wins improved their record to 7-3 and put the FIRE in a tie for 2nd place heading into the final 6 games of the spring season. GO FIRE!

Jack Kenny warms up in Cal Sr. Yard

Dan Salsberg pitches game#1 at Wrigley Replica Field The FIRE team dugout during the Cal Senior Yard at Ripken Patrick Iorio comes in to handle a fly ball Christopher Kiley runs out a hit in Cal Senior Yard Kenny McCadden on the mound at Wrigley Replcia Field