Defs lose a heartbreaker 7-6 to Akron in the...

final franchise game played at Dodd. A press conference in Richmond next week will confirm up the worst kept secret in minor league ball.
CT had plenty of chances to win this game but the continued lack of that one big hit did them in tonight as the team is now down 2-0 in the best of five games league championship series.
A lot of turns and twists in this game but a fly ball over EME's head with the game tied at 4-4 with Matt Yourkin on the hill to start the top of ninth opened the floodgates. The next batter hit an infield single and then Josh Rodriquez, the next batter, crushed a ball to dead center--above the green batters eye-- for a 7-4 Akron lead.
CT fought back in the bottom half. Brock Bond singled, Mike McBrdye tripled him in to make it 7-5. Brett Pill (a solo homer earlier in the game) stuck out but Brad Boyer hit an infield single to second to score McBrdye to make it 7-6 and Boyer advanced to second on the 2B's throwing error. But EME flied out and Tyler LaTorre took a 3-2 pitch for strike three to end the game.
McBrdye had the big line for CT tonight going 4 for 5 with two doubles and a triple with two runs scored and a pair of RBIs. Brock Bond went 2 for 4 with 3 runs scored. Brad Boyer knocked in a pair of runs.

Misc fan notes: You know the last four home games, all weekday night games, the crowds have been just great. Lively, loud and just really into it.

Thanks for Brian Irizarry for the air time tonight. Brian will get to call the final games for CT along with Brian LaRiche who's going out to OH for the games.
Brian Irizarry will also get to spend time with my favorite all time UCONN basketball player, Jen Rizzotti, now Coach Rizzotti as he calls the games for the University of Hartford women's bb games.

Thanks to Joe Perez for spending time with us in Section 11! Always great getting Joe's perspective on all matters sports.

Thanks to the staff pictured here, no player pics tonight, these are just some of the folks that took care of Lance (aka LC), Skip, (aka the HondoHurricane) and myself this season and past seasons and these folks are as much part of the memories as the ball players have been.

Thanks go out to LC for always keeping us loose in Section 11. His love for the game his enthusiasm and generosity are unmatched.

Special thanks to Skip for his many baseball savvy insights that often made it's way onto this blog, his friendship and generosity and the passion he brings to the park. And his wife is smoking too.....

Richmond vs NB 2010......

HEY!! There's no crying in baseaball!! We're still alive with the best road record in the league! GO DEFS!!!!

Pics top to bottom: Joe Perez of the Norwich Bulletin, Bob P. inside guru of both Dodd Staduim and UCONN athletics, Brian I. adjusts the crowd mic while Brian L. vamps, and Tom the gatekeeper with a long time former colleague.