Rock Cats, Twins and CCSU Blue Devils?
FORT MYERS, Fla. -- A whole lot of New Britain was represented at the Minnesota Twins spring training site Tuesday.
Rock Cats radio voice Jeff Dooley is on hand this week doing interviews with current and former Rock Cats alike. New Britain Stadium box office manager Marissa Farris was putting some last-minute touches on her tan before flying home. Rock Cats team photographer Buddy Robinson was adding to his usual spring training portfolio with wife Lynne by his side.
But the biggest surprise came when former Central Connecticut State University coaches Ron Pringle and George Redman stopped by to say hello. Both are retired, but Pringle is down in Florida for some much deserved R & R after helping coach the New Britain High girls basketball team to its second straight Class LL championship.
Pringle is down at spring training for the first time.
"We're 71-years-old and we may not have a lot of time left, so why not?" quipped the long-time Blue Devils softball coach. Pringle and Redman also visited the campus of Florida Gulf Coast University in Fort Myers, which is the school that lost to Southern Connecticut State University in the recent NCAA Division II basketball championship. They were quite impressed with the school's facilities.
And sure enough, standing on the pitcher's mound for the Pawtucket Red Sox was former CCSU righthander Barry Hertzler. According to Boston Red Sox minor league pitching coordinator Ralph Trueul, Hertzler is still competing for a Triple-A job, but chances remain that he will end up pitching against the Rock Cats for the Portland Sea Dogs.
While Dooley, Farris, the Robinsons, Pringle and Redman enjoyed the minor league games, a ballpark full of fans packed adjacent Hammond Stadium for the Grapefruit League game between the Twins and New York Yankees -- at least it said "NY" on their caps.
Derek Jeter was not there. Neither was Alex Rodriguez nor former Twin and Rock Cat Doug Mientkiewicz. Johnny Damon wasn't there. No Jason Giambi, no Andy Pettitte. So much for emptying the old wallet for Grapefruit League expectations.
By the way, the Twins won the game 4-3 with two runs in the bottom of the ninth. Twins minor leaguer Toby Gardenhire, whose dad happens to be Minnesota manager Ron Gardenhire, knocked in the winning run with an infield grounder. Probable Rock Cats infielder Matt Tolbert drove in the tying run and scored the game-winner.
Two pitchers familiar with New Britain got starts. Boof Bonser, who pitched for the Rock Cats in 2004, continued to impress for the Twins and city native Carl Pavano (he was born at New Britain General) competed well for the Yanks.
Rock Cats radio voice Jeff Dooley is on hand this week doing interviews with current and former Rock Cats alike. New Britain Stadium box office manager Marissa Farris was putting some last-minute touches on her tan before flying home. Rock Cats team photographer Buddy Robinson was adding to his usual spring training portfolio with wife Lynne by his side.
But the biggest surprise came when former Central Connecticut State University coaches Ron Pringle and George Redman stopped by to say hello. Both are retired, but Pringle is down in Florida for some much deserved R & R after helping coach the New Britain High girls basketball team to its second straight Class LL championship.
Pringle is down at spring training for the first time.
"We're 71-years-old and we may not have a lot of time left, so why not?" quipped the long-time Blue Devils softball coach. Pringle and Redman also visited the campus of Florida Gulf Coast University in Fort Myers, which is the school that lost to Southern Connecticut State University in the recent NCAA Division II basketball championship. They were quite impressed with the school's facilities.
And sure enough, standing on the pitcher's mound for the Pawtucket Red Sox was former CCSU righthander Barry Hertzler. According to Boston Red Sox minor league pitching coordinator Ralph Trueul, Hertzler is still competing for a Triple-A job, but chances remain that he will end up pitching against the Rock Cats for the Portland Sea Dogs.
While Dooley, Farris, the Robinsons, Pringle and Redman enjoyed the minor league games, a ballpark full of fans packed adjacent Hammond Stadium for the Grapefruit League game between the Twins and New York Yankees -- at least it said "NY" on their caps.
Derek Jeter was not there. Neither was Alex Rodriguez nor former Twin and Rock Cat Doug Mientkiewicz. Johnny Damon wasn't there. No Jason Giambi, no Andy Pettitte. So much for emptying the old wallet for Grapefruit League expectations.
By the way, the Twins won the game 4-3 with two runs in the bottom of the ninth. Twins minor leaguer Toby Gardenhire, whose dad happens to be Minnesota manager Ron Gardenhire, knocked in the winning run with an infield grounder. Probable Rock Cats infielder Matt Tolbert drove in the tying run and scored the game-winner.
Two pitchers familiar with New Britain got starts. Boof Bonser, who pitched for the Rock Cats in 2004, continued to impress for the Twins and city native Carl Pavano (he was born at New Britain General) competed well for the Yanks.
posted by Ken Lipshez at
6:28 PM
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