Only Eight Players Show Up For Stars' Loss; Ghost of Satchel Paige Sought For Help

So it's come to this - after a staggering 20-odd people signed up for the inaugural season of the Super Channel Stars, only eight players managed to turn up for the Stars' 17-12 loss to New Cap Radio on Tuesday night. (Editor's note : This reporter should talk - he won't be able to attend another game until July...)

Still, the game was eventful enough, even without the lack of attendees. Team leader Reg Hagerman (indeed, a contemporary of Satchel Paige (pictured above)) had a running battle with one of the players from New Cap that lasted the whole game. Insults and jibber jabber were thrown back and forth with great aplomb. The Stars managed to turn another double play, their second in as many games, as the defence continues to round into shape. Poor Ian Holmes displayed the Nova Scotia-bred baseball instincts displayed by his brother Ron by striking out no less than three times. Ron, you will remember, famously whiffed on at least 79 straight pitches at the team's first practice in early May.

Hope appears to be not lost, though. Superstar pitcher Jeff Cowie is rumoured to be making his first appearance of the season for the team's next game (Editor's note: Cowie's debut will now be pushed back to June 17), and stalwarts Amanda and Terry will also be back in the fold to bring the squad back to a full roster and, no doubt, a crushing victory over whichever team they'll be playing.

Rainy Day Sun

Alas, the weather deities were not kind to outdoor sports on Wednesday night, forcing the Super Channel Stars and Le Franco to hunker under tarps (or, more likely, to just stay home) for their scheduled contest at Velma Baker Park.

The league is looking into rescheduling the game, perhaps even as early as June. Stay tuned to this site for an announcement and subsequent press conference about the rescheduling. Until then - the next game sees the Stars taking on New Cap Radio on Tuesday, May 27.

Beckham Homerless In Stars' Loss To Global

Well, really, he did almost everything else in this city on Tuesday night, didn't he? Including luring several Stars players to Commonwealth Stadium to catch Becks' 75 contractually obligated playing minutes in an exhibition match against the Vancouver Whitecaps*.

As a result, only nine (9) players were able to show up at St. Dominic Field, located in downtown Lamont (or near enough for those who had to trek from the south side to attend the game). The Stars dropped a tough 27-15 decision at the hands of their cross parking lot brethern, Global TV. The highlight of the night was a double play involving infielders Troy Wassill and Kim Vanstone, the (you guessed it) first ever double play in Super Channel Stars history.

Things should be returning to normal, lineup wise, for the team's next game on May 21 against Le Franco, as several regulars will be back in the lineup.

*I still own a Vancouver Whitecaps beach towel from my youth. The Whitecaps defeated David Beckham's LA Galaxy (which I'm sure is their official name by now) 2-1. Part of me smiled inside.

We're Winners!

Even with an injured and depleted lineup, the Super Channel Stars won their first ever game in franchise history Thursday night with a 29-13 win over Astral Media. Your humble reporter on these events must admit that he was not around for the bulk of the action, managing to stay at the contest long enough to see the Stars pound out 14 runs over the first two innings. And all this with only nine players in the lineup.

What did I say earlier? Yes, that's right. Dynasty.

Hopefully, though, more folks will show up for the team's next game on May 13 against the dreaded Global TV (dreaded!). However, I will, once again, be absent from the game, so I'll probably make up the post game writeup that glorifies our contribution, minimizes the damage, and alters the score to best suit our needs.

Stars Lose Season Opener

See that photo above? That is the first ever pitch in Super Channel Stars history, delivered to Reg Hagerman, who promptly placed it deftly into center field for the first ever hit in team history. After an inning and a half, the score was 9-1 Stars (the first ever 9-1 lead in team history), and, clearly, a dynasty was born....

Well, ok, so the Stars' opponents, the Express, came back and scored 22 of the next 23 runs scored in the game to eventually win the contest 23-14, but the Stars performed well in the loss. With 16 players to cycle in and out of the lineup, there were scribbles aplenty on the Stars' lineup card as everyone got to try their hand at BUILDING THE DYNASTY.

Amanda Lippert managed to avoid several line drives directed at her head whilst playing second base. Steven Schapansky managed to get his uniform dirty for the 37th consecutive game (dating back to the Mobsters era). And Jon Lee was rewarded for his two home runs in three plate appearances by being benched for the second half of the game - it's what good managers do to win ball games.

Check back here for photos from the game and even a box score, once we all figure out how to post such things on this here internet thingy.

Next game : Thursday, May 8 vs Astral Media at Argyll Park.

Practice!

Team,

There is a practice afoot - Sunday, May 4 at 1:00 PM at Argyll Park. We'll hit some balls around, maybe even catch some and, subsequently, throw them back, only to catch them again.

So I hope to see you all there (preferably with money, for those of you who have yet to pay) with yer ball gloves and enthusiasm.

Yay, team!