Burgamy's Blast Beats Bluefish, Bad Bullpen Battles, Bemusedly...

Brian Burgamy's three run homer in the seventh gave the 'Sharks a 7-3 lead, and for once, the bullpen didn't blow it. Camden held on to win 8-4, avoiding a series sweep by the Bridgeport Bluefish and snapping a three game losing streak in the process.

Mike McGuire got the start for the 'Sharks this morning and pitched fairly well, surrendering three runs on four hits in seven innings of work. He walked two and struck out four.

Camden scored three times in the first inning off Bridgeport's Brad Thomspon, getting consective, two out doubles from Burgamy, Pedro Feliz and Raul Padron. An Eduardo Perez RBI single capped the offensive outburst before Jake Eigsti grounded out to end the inning.

But the Bluefish answered right back in the second. Joey Gathright's sacrifice fly scored James Simmons to get Bridgeport on the board, and Brad Boyer launched a two run homer to right that tied the game 3-3.

Danny Santiesteban broke the tie in the fourth with an RBI double that scored Eigsti, and the 'Sharks caught a break in the fifth inning, when a combination of heads up defense and bad base running caused Bridgeport to hit into a 7-4 double play.

McGuire's departure in the seventh brought on the much maligned Riversharks bullpen. But despite our numerous prayers for rain, and both of them surrendering a couple hits, both Josh Walter and Leo Rosales got through two innings of relief relatively unscathed, surrendering just one run. Jake Eigsti's sac fly in the eighth added a bit more insurance for Rosales, who shut the door on the Bluefish in the ninth and sealed the win.

Camden Riversharks in the ABL

The Riversharks have the unique distinction of having four players who started 2012 playing in the Australian Baseball League. Pitcher Mike McGuire and first baseman Brian Burgamy spent time with the Canberra Cavalry, pitcher Kevin Reese with the Melbourne Aces, and pitcher Sean Jarrett with the Brisbane Bandits. Here's a great video in which all four describe their experiences playing down under:

McGuire's Matinee Masterpiece

In his longest outing of the season thus far, Mike McGuire threw seven and two thirds innings of absolutely stellar baseball this afternoon at Campbell's Field, holding the Lancaster Barnstormers to one run on five hits. The Riversharks went on to win 2-1, and now sit just a half game behind the first place Southern Maryland Blue Crabs in the Liberty Division.

The 'Sharks two runs each came on solo homers, from Raul Padron in the 2nd, and from Eddy Perez in the 3rd. Perez, a 2012 AL All Star, finished the day going 2 for 4 with a double and a home run. Not bad for a guy "we just picked up off the scrap heap until Pedro gets here..."

McGuire exited with two outs in the eighth, and Spencer Steedley threw exactly one pitch to Blake Gailen, getting the Lancaster left fielder to ground out to first to end the inning. John Lujan (incorrectly announced as "Josh Walter" by the guy who fills in for Kevin Casey) came on in the ninth. After loading the bases on a hit and two walks, Lujan got Bridger Hunt to ground into a 1-2-3 DP to end the game and pick up his 17th save of 2012.

Notes: Chris Walker came within a whisker of the dreaded Golden Sombrero, striking out in each of his first three at bats before finally grounding out to second base in the 8th. Still, 0 for 4 with three K's is a day I'm sure he'd rather forget.

Since returning from the DL on July 19th, Lloyd Turner has gone a worrisome 2 for 17.

McGuire One Hits 'Crabs, Goes Seven Scoreless, Finally Catches A Break

Mike McGuire tossed seven scoreless innings, struck out six and allowed just one hit tonight as the Camden Riversharks shutout the Southern Maryland Bluecrabs 6-0 at Campbell's Field.

McGuire had a no hitter going through seven, until with one out, Matt Padgett hit a ground ball that just got through the infield.

The 'Sharks offense erupted with eleven hits tonight. Chris Walker and Eduardo Perez combined to go 7 for 8 at the dish, with Walker collecting a home run in the sixth that put the 'Sharks up 6-0.

Zach Hammes and Josh Walter each threw a scoreless inning in relief of McGuire.

This is the third time in 2012 McGuire has gone seven innings, but those others starts ended in a loss and a no decision.

Mike McGuire Can't Catch A Break, Pt. III

Mike McGuire Can't Catch A Break, Pt. II

A RiverSharks Haiku

Eleven strikeouts
Aren't enough to stop the 'Crabs
Next time buy that comb.

Mike McGuire Can't Catch A Break

A three run Somerset fifth inning proved to be too much to overcome as the Camden Riversharks fell to the Somerset Patriots, 3-1, on Saturday afternoon. 

For the third time in two days the Sharks (17-19) jumped out to an early lead over the Pats (15-20). The scoring got started in the fourth when Steve Doetsch led off the inning with a triple to right center. Two outs later catcher Scott Knazek came up with a three-bagger of his own to give the Sharks a 1-0 lead. 

Camden starter Mike McGuire (2-4) retired nine of the first ten he faced before Patriot first baseman Adam Donachie doubled to start the fifth inning. One out later Rex Rundgren singled home Donachie to tie the game at 1. The big blow came five batters later when Jeff Nettles ripped a two out, bases loaded double plating two more runs to the Pats a 3-1 lead. 

The Sharks would get one back in the bottom of the eighth when a one out Eduardo Perez double scored Brian Burgamy from first to cut the deficit to one. 

Camden would have a chance to tie it in the bottom of the ninth when Drew Macias led off with a pinch-hit single. A Chris Walker sacrifice would advance him to second and then third after a Lloyd Turner grounded out. With two away Marquez Smith hit a slow roller to third, but a great catch and tag from first baseman Adam Donachie saved Jeff Nettles from an error and preserved a 3-2 win for the Patriots. 

Eigsti's 3 RBI & Solid Bullpen Lift Sharks Over Pats

Mike McGuire looked like he was in trouble.

After walking Somerset's lead off man Johnny Tucker and giving up a Texas Leaguer to second baseman Freddie Bynum, a Freddy Sandoval RBI single made it 1-0 Pats in the top of the first.

But after picking off Sandoval, McGuire retired the next two batters to end the inning and minimize the damage. He settled in, retiring the next six batters he faced, and only really got in trouble in the 4th, when Jesse Hoorelbeke crushed a 2 run homer to left, making it 3-0 Pats.

The 'Sharks countered in the bottom of the 4th when Jake Eigsti drove in newly acquired third baseman Marquez Smith with a one out grounder to third.

Camden tied the game in the 6th when Eigsti doubled down the left field line to score Lloyd Turner and Brian Burgamy. Somerset manager Sparky Lyle came out to argue the ball was foul, but after the umpires converged (and talk for a LONG time, meaning: nobody really had a good view of the play) the call stood, and it was 3-3 'Sharks after 6.

Somerset took the lead again in the top of the 7th on a sac fly to left from Sandoval. But the 'Sharks again rallied after the stretch when Smith's 2 out, 2 RBI single scored Chris Walker and Colin Roberson.

The bullpen combo of Zach Hammes, Jason Bergmann, and John Lujan combined to blank the Pats the rest of the game, allowing no run and no hits through 2 2/3 innings. Hammes gets the win, and Lujan struck out two in the 9th to earn his fourth save of the season.

Halama's Gem Sinks Sharks, 5-2

Barnstormers lefty John Halama went the distance against the Riversharks this afternoon, allowing two runs on eight hits while striking out seven.

Lancaster got to 'Sharks starter Mike McGuire early. In the 2nd, Brad Boyer tripled to score Ryan Harvey, and Jaime Pedroza singled in Boyer to take a 2-0 lead.

The 'Stormers tacked on two more runs in the 4th when a sac fly from Francisco Hernandez scored Blake Gailen, and Adam Godwin's single to left scored Boyer.

Camden's only runs came in the bottom of the 5th, after a series of errors by Lancaster infielders Paddy Matera and Steven Doetsch both scored, cutting the 'Sharks deficit in half at 4-2.

The 'Stormers added an insurance run in the 8th, when Boyer again singled in Ryan Harvey, making it 5-2.

The win marked a milestone for Barnstormers manager Butch Hobson, as he notched his 1500 win in pro ball. 

In Which The City Of Bridgeport Conspires To Give Me Hypothermia.

Note to self: Bridgeport in April is a miserable place to watch a baseball game.

Thursday night, the Camden Riversharks began the 2012 season by blowing a four run lead and eventually losing 9-7 to the Bridgeport Bluefish. Starter Mike McGuire surrendered five runs on seven hits in just over 5 innings of work, but the line of the night came from his relief, Mike Mehlich. Lasting 1/3 of an inning, Mehlich gave up 6 runs on 4 hits, walking FOUR BATTERS before being yanked for Zach Hammes.

ABL MVP and all around big deal Brian Burgamy went 3 for 4, and Jake "Von" Eigsti went 2 for 4 with a double, 3 RBI and a run scored. That covers just about all the good news from game one of this series.

It rained off and on for the entire game, making for a miserable night in the stands. Luckily, there were virtually no Bluefish fans to be found. Paid attendance was somewhere around 700, in a stadium that seats over 5,000. It would've been funny if it wasn't so sad. Yeah, I get it, a weekday night, with miserable weather, but this is your HOME OPENER we're talking about, 'Fish.

Game 2, on Friday, wasn't hampered by rain. But it was bloody FREEZING in Bridgeport tonight.

Starter Sean Jarrett went 5 strong innings, and the offense blew up. Felix Pie hit a 2 run dinger in the 5th to put Camden up 4-0, and Drew Macias hit a bases clearing triple in the 7th to make it 7-0 Sharks. Shea Harris plated another run in the 8th with an RBI double.

Macias wasn't done. In the 9th he launched his first homer of the season over the centerfield wall to make the score 9-0. The bullpen combined for four shutout innings and the Sharks have their first win of 2012.

The 'Shea Harris Era' To Be Postponed For Yet Another Season

The Camden Riversharks have offered fans a first glimpse at 2012 team, announcing today via their website the signing of six players: Alvin Colina, Raul Padron, Jake Eigsti, Carlos Vasquez, Mike McGuire, and Mariano Gomez. All but Gomez played for the Sharks in 2011.

Burgamy, McGuire Go Down Under

from The Canberra Times

The Canberra Cavalry has added some young international talent to its roster for the 2011-12 ABL season.



It has signed five players from Major League clubs - three from Tampa Bay and two from Toronto - and two from from Japanese club Hanshin Tigers.

The Cavalry also boasts several players - including pitchers Steve Kent and Brian Grening - who have been released from Major League clubs. Such players can be a boon for ABL clubs because they strive to secure a new Major League deal, and face no restrictions on how many games they can play or innings they can pitch.

Pitcher Chris Oxspring was a standout for the Sydney Blue Sox last season, as was Justin Hughes for Perth. Both earned contracts in the USA after strong ABL seasons.

Cavalry assistant general manager Thom Carter said there were still five or six positions to fill, mainly offensive players, with several of those to come from Korean club Lotte Giants.

Cavalry squad - Pitchers: Hayden Beard (San Diego), Chris Morgan, Brian Grening, Steven Kent, Tim Atherton, Michael Laird, Chris Kimpton, Daiki Kiyohara (Hanshin), Mike McGuire, Alex Rogers, Mathew Fawcett, Jarrett Commane, Tristan Crawford, Nathan Crawford. Catchers: Travis Scott, Mark Thomas (Tampa Bay), Kyle Perkins, Alex Perkins. Infielders: Byron Aird, Brian Burgamy, Jean Carlos Diaz, Chris Curley, John Tolisano (Toronto). Outfielders: Ty Morrison (Tampa Bay), Todd Glaesmann (Tampa Bay), Yuhei Kai (Hanshin), Kenny Wilson (Toronto).

Goodbye. Farewell. Amen.

The Camden Riversharks closed out the 2011 season with a 10-0 shutout victory over the Somerset Patriots tonight at Campbell's Field. Newly acquired pitcher Zac Cline earned his first win as a Shark throwing six innings of 2 hit ball, while striking out three.

Shortstop Jake Eigsti went 2 for 4 with a home run and three RBI. Eigsti also made a spectacular stop in the 4th on a hard hit ball from Pats third baseman Jeff Nettles.

Camden began the scoring in the third inning when Noah Hall singled in Lloyd Turner to make it 1-0. In the fourth, the Sharks plated three more runs when Eigsti singled in Danny Richar, Toby Hall singled in Eigsti, and Turner's sac fly scored Jonel Pacheco to make it 4-0.

But the Sharks really broke it open in the seventh. Pats reliever Ron Villone was tagged for three runs, first an Alvin Colina single to left that scored Ruddy Yan and Turner, and next Brian Burgamy's single to right that scored Colina and made it 7-0.

The Riversharks weren't done. After a pitching change for Somerset, Danny Richar's ground out to first scored Colina. Then Jake Eigsti launched a 2 run home run over the left field wall to make it 10-0.

Relievers Joe D'Allesandro and Mike McGuire combined for 3 scoreless innings innings in relief of Cline.

Riversharks Add Three New Pitchers

POSTED: 9/16/2011 by Megan McLaughlin

The Camden Riversharks have added three righty pitchers to their roster for the final series of the 2011 season.

Mike McGuire was drafted by the Cleveland Indians in the 2008 MLB Amateur Draft. He was signed by the Philadelphia Phillies in 2010 and has spent the past two seasons playing in the Phillies’ farm system. Over three years of professional ball, McGuire has established a 4.68 ERA and has left 221 batters at the plate.

Chris Rollins arrived from the Frontier League and is making his Atlantic League debut with the Riversharks. He was drafted by the Chicago Cubs in the 2005 MLB Amateur Draft, but did not begin playing professional ball until 2009 with the Midwest Sliders of the Frontier League. Rollins has a 5.43 ERA and 2-2 record.

Kalen Gearhart is returning to the Riversharks after a two year hiatus. The 26 year old has a combined 4.83 ERA over five seasons of professional ball and has left 104 batters standing at the plate.

NO NO YES!!!!

The Camden Riversharks completed a double-header sweep over the Somerset Patriots including a combined no-hitter by five pitchers in Game 2. The no-hitter was the 5th and the second combined no-hitter in Atlantic League history.

No pitcher went more than two innings as Santos Hernandez, Mike McGuire, Joe D’Allesandro, Chris Rollins, and Kelan Gearhart combined to throw the first no-hitter in Riversharks history.

In Game 1, Camden trailed 2-1 heading into the bottom of the 5th inning before scoring four runs off starter Jim Magrane to take a 5-2 lead.

Danny Richar hit the go-ahead RBI single to give the ‘Sharks the lead and Brian Burgamy provided them with some insurance and he followed that up with a two-run double.

Eddy Camacho (7-7) picked up his first win since August 21st going all seven innings allowing two runs on six hits.

In addition to the no-hitter, the Riversharks pounded out 18 hits in Game 2 en route to a 10-0 destruction over the Patriots.

Already leading 1-0 in the bottom of the 3rd, the ‘Sharks added three more runs to push the lead to 4-0. Jake Eigsti hit a two-run single and Jonel Pacheco hit a sacrifice fly to cap off the scoring in the three-run frame.

Camden blew it open in the 4th inning with six more runs as they sent eleven to the plate in the inning. The ‘Sharks had eight hits in the inning highlighted by a two-run home run by Brian Burgamy.

Every Rivershark had a base hit in the game and Ruddy Yan, Alvin Colina, and Brian Burgamy each had three hits.