Billy Rice Picked Up By White Sox

'Sharks outfielder Billy Rice has been picked up by the Chicago White Sox, and will be added to the roster of the Class A Kannapolis Intimidators of the South Atlantic League.

In 17 games with Camden this season, Rice was batting .300 with 3 triples. His OPS was among the best on the team at .827. He once got a lousy fade from his barber that made him go 3 for 5.

Ah Yes, The Old 3-5-2-5-4-5 Double Play. That Old Chestnut.

Colina is never, EVER getting this jersey back.

It didn't take long for Scott Knazek to make an impact with his new squad.

The 27 year old catcher was released from the Rockland Boulders of the Can-Am League on Wednesday. Tonight, inserted into the 'Sharks lineup and wearing Alvin Colina's #25 jersey, Knazek launched the first pitch he saw from 'Stormers righty Mark Brackman over the left field wall.

The Barnstormers got on the board first, when in the top of the first Fehlandt Lentini took a Keith Weiser fastball deep over the wall in left center. But the 'Sharks answered back in the bottom of the frame when Drew Macias homered to right to tie it at 1-1.

Macias blasted a line drive over the right field wall to tie the game.

Billy Rice took advantage of right fielder Ryan Harvey's fielding error in the bottom of the second, stretching a ball that should have been caught into a one out triple. Then Steven Doetsch hit into the weirdest double play I've ever seen, going 3-5-2-5-4-5 to get Rice breaking for home and Doetsch halfway between 2nd and 3rd.

Knazek's 2 run homer followed in the 3rd. Lancaster would tie the game at 3 in the fourth, when a Jaime Pedroza single scored Jesus Merchan and Kody Kirkland. But the Riversharks pulled ahead in the bottom of the frame when RBI singles from Knazek, Chris Walker and Lloyd Turner made it 6-3.

The bullpen combo of Kyle Reese, Jason Bergamann and John Lujan combined for 7 strikeouts in relief of Weiser, and shut the door on any hopes of a 'Stormers late inning rally. Weiser gets the win, his first of 2012. Lujan gets the save, his second.

Sharks win!! 

Billy Rice's Bad Haircut Made Him Go 3 For 5 With A Triple And 3 Runs Scored.

Just sayin', Bill. Looks good to me.

I Don't Know How To Put This, But Brian Burgamy Is (Still) Kind Of A Big Deal. People Know Him.

The Camden Riversharks weren't having the greatest night.

Starter Humberto Sanchez was yanked after just an inning and two-thirds of work. The 'Sharks scored first, when a Lloyd Turner double scored Billy Rice to make it 1-0. But the 'Stormers took advantage of Sanchez' early control issues when right fielder Fehlandt Lentini crushed a three run homer to right to take a 3-1 lead.

Out of the bullpen, Kevin Reese pitched remarkably well, scattering four hits over five and one-third innings, striking out one, and more importantly keeping the 'Stormers from pulling too far ahead (see: last night's game).

Meanwhile, Camden slowly crept back into it. Scoring once in the fifth when Brian Burgamy singled in Rice to make it 3-2, and once more in the seventh when an error by "Stormers first baseman Tommy Everidge again allowed Rice to score, the game was knotted up at three going into the top of the ninth.

Then 'Stormers left fielder Blake Gailen absolutely murdered a fastball from John Lujan over the wall in left center (it actually hit the Wawa sign with an extremely loud, echoing THUD). Lancaster led 4-3, and all looked bleak for the Mudville Nine.

But the 'Sharks had apparently saved their best for last. In the ninth, Lloyd Turner led off with a single. Felix Pie seemed destined to hit into a double play but "Stormers shortstop Jesus Merchan, who had such an amazing game last night, couldn't field the ball cleanly. Lancaster wound up only getting Turner, Pie was safe on a fielder's choice.

Pie came up limping after his run to first, and after getting checked out by trainers and coaches, walked off the field under his own power, seemingly alright.

Patty Matera pinch runs for Pie, with Brian Burgamy due up. It's at this point that I yelled: "Hey Brian!! You're going to have to hit it to the f#cking moon if you want Matera to score from first!!"

He must've heard me.

Burgamy took 'Stormers reliever Jeff Bennett's 1-0 fastball deep to straight away center.

Home run. Ballgame. 'Sharks win in walk-off, wild fashion 5-3.