Second Team on Long Island Hot News for Atlantic League

The Atlantic Leaguewas assured of a very good week long before the first baseball was rubbed up for its annual All-Starshowcase in York, PAbecause the 14-year-old circuit, which expects to entertain its 25 millionth fan later this summer, won a major step toward securing another coveted market.

“Some dynamic times are ahead for the Atlantic League,” Founder Frank Boultonexuded while negotiating some of metropolitan New York’smassive traffic, and as he ticked off various reasons, it seemed the top of the list had to be the decision in heavily-populated Nassau Countythat a Boulton-led bid had been chosen over one by a group wanting a New York Metsfarm club on Long Island.

This was only the first major hurdle before any of Long Island’s three million residents can line up at a ticket window, but it was a vital one.Now a majority of voters need to say yes to a $400 million bond issue August 1 in order for the new home for the New York Islandershockey team and the baseball stadium can be built.And there is opposition, especially since some seem to feel this is largely a real estate bonanza for Islanders Owner Charles Wang.

Boulton is a big player on Long Island himself, starting with putting together the Long Island Ducks,Independent Baseball’s annual attendance leader with capacity crowds of 6,000 the norm at Bethpage Ballpark.

“It’s a great site (the Mitchellathletic complex),” said Boulton, with “not a lot of site work to be done”.A 2013 opening is “without a doubt” possible, he explained, if shovels can get in the ground by next April.

The record crowd of 8,053 at Sovereign Bank Stadiumin York may well have been the No. 1 topic at Wednesday night’s Atlantic League All-Star Game since capacity is only listed at 5,000 although three home runs propelled Andy Etchebarren’s Freedom Divisionto a 7-0 victory over the Liberty Division.

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www.AtlanticLeagueBaseball.com ADDED TO www.IndyBaseballChatter.com

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‘We’re Trying Really Hard’, Says New Lake County GM

The uneven schedule thrust upon the new North American Leaguewhen it ended up with four of its 10 teams in Texas,four more in the western United Statesand Canadaplus single teams in Illinoisand the Hawaiian Islandof Mauihad some nightmares written all over it.They have happened, too.

The most interesting saga of all has to be emerging from the suburban Chicagotown of Zion.Hear me out.The second-year Lake County Fieldersplayed their first 32 games on the road, including two trips to Maui.They were still in their first home series when Manager Tim Johnsonwalked out over a pay dispute, and many of the players, smarting for the same reason, showed their sympathy.The Fielders are said to have traded nine players although it is not easy tracking all of them and released 14 others.That’s virtually the entire team.

But through it all, Lake County continues to lead the Western Division(25-16) and reported attendance has the Fielders averaging 2,182 for nine openings, which ranks fourth in the entire league.

In one contest as the exodus was taking place, interim Manager Pete LaCockused pitchers at most positions and visiting Yuma, AZskipper Jose Cansecocountered with a similar lineup, including himself as the pitcher for the first six innings.The Scorpions prevailed, 8-3.New Manager Chris Aragohad only 11 players in uniform for his first game, a 4-2 triumph over Chico, CA, although with veteran talent boss Nick Belmontereplenishing the roster the team web site had the roster back to 14 by Thursday.

“We’re trying really hard to make it work”, said General Manager Mike Kardamis, an Independent Baseball veteran on the job for three weeks.“I’m taking it day by day.”This is Kardamis’s first time in such a role since 2003 in Pittsfield, MA.

(This is an excerpt from the column Bob Wirz writes year round on Independent Baseball.Fans may subscribe at newly reduced rates at www.WirzandAssociates.com , enjoy his blogs, www.AtlanticLeagueBaseball.com and www.IndyBaseballChatter.com , or comment to RWirz@aol.com .The author has 16 years of major league baseball public relations experience with Kansas City and as spokesman for two Commissioners and lives in Stratford, CT.)