Divisions winners Raging B’s and Heavy Armour played a great Cleveland Indians Fantasy Camp championship game under the lights Thursday night at Goodyear Ballpark.  With the score tied going into the bottom of the seventh, Raging B’s won the thrilling walk-off, 6-5.  Click on the 1-20-12 Smoke Signals link for the full story and more.  Congratulations to both teams on an oustanding game!

Smoke Signals 1-20-12

Friday morning the remaining four camper teams faced off against the team of Indians Pros at Goodyear Ballpark.  That afternoon, eveyone enjoyed pool time at the hotel and other fun and relaxation.  Friday evening we enjoyed a great cocktail hour and dinner at the closing banquet.  Lots of fun and friendship, plus a great meal.

Rick Manning welcomed everyone and recognized all those who present the camp.  Many people and lots of well-deserved applause.  Indians executive Bob DiBiasio announced that Reunion Day at Progressive Field will be held on June 23rd.  He thanked all the campers and made special mention of the six father/son and six brother groups who participated.  Indians baseball is about connecting families and connecting generations.  These special campers did just that.

Team by team, the coaches individually recognized each camper in a touching tribute.  Each camper was presented with a custom bat emblazed with their autograph, which was also autographed by each Pro during camp.  Campers also received a commerative Fantasy Camp t-shirt.  Raging B’s and Heavy Armour players also received championship trophies.

Camp awards were announced and presented to the surprised recipients for best batting average (Silver Slugger Award), best defense (Gold Glove Award) best pitcher (Bob Feller Award), and most valuable player (MVP).  Winner’s names are on page one of Smoke Signals.

An annual Fantasy Camp tradition, Jim “Mudcat” Grant closed the evening with his famous poem, “Life”.

MUDCAT GRANT’S POEM

A great day!  Heavy Armour won morning game 3-2 to capture Legends Division crown and advance to the championship game vs. Heroes Division winner Raging B’s.

First group of camper vs. pro games at Goodyear Ballpark played this afternoon under glorious sunny blue skies.  Final four games Friday morning.

Championship game under the lights at Goodyear Ballpark came down to the wire.  A see-saw battle that Raging B’s won 6-5 in bottom of the seventh in dramatic fashion.  The full story will be in Friday’s Smoke Signals.

(SS will be disributed at the close of the banquet Friday night, not in the morning.  I will post here immediately after.  Camp award winners’ are announced at the banquet and printed in SS, so it cannot post sooner.)

Smoke Signals 1-19-12

The Legends Division race will come down to the wire Thursday morning between MoneyBallers and Heavy Armour, who holds the edge in the tie-breaker with their Game 3 head-to-head victory.  So as the saying goes:  If they win, they’re in.  Feller’s Gunslingers relishes playing the role of spoiler.  Both teams have a 3-3 record.

MoneyBallers must win, and Heavy Armour must lose, for MoneyBallers to gain the division crown.  They face Stanford & Suns, who won both their Wednesday games in strong fashion.  They, too, want to play spoiler.

Raging B’s defeated Cannons in Game 5 to clinch the Heroes Division title.  The outcome of their Thursday game vs. Indios will not affect their having the best record, which earns them home team advantage for the championship game to be played at 5:00 pm under the lights at Goodyear Ballpark.  The entire camp should be on hand to enjoy the game and a tasty ballpark BBQ in the right field pavilion.

During the day at Goodyear Ballpark, the first four games vs. the team of Indians Pros will start at 1:00 pm.  Set to do battle are Feller’s Gunslingers, Stanford & Suns, Indios, and Smooth Operators.  The weather forecast is sunny and 68 – ideal!

Smoke Signals 1-18-12

Great action under glorious weather conditions made for a terrific Tuesday.  Several games ended in dramatic fashion.  Smoke Signals will have the inside scoop.

Feller’s Gunslingers and Indios climbed into the win column.  Raging B’s and Heavy Armour each won two to hold their division leads.  Cannons at 3-1 faces 4-0 Raging B’s Wednesday morning in a key Heroes Division showdown.

No matter the team’s record, each camper is a winner.  Everyone is having fun and making friends with pros and campers alike.  The Bull Sessions have been great and Kangaroo Kourt is full of laughs.

Good morning!  The skies are blue, the sun is shining, and everyone looks great in their uniforms for photo day.  No rain is expected and temperatures are in the upper 40′s now, headed for mid-60′s this afternoon.

Game #3 will begin at 10 am Goodyear time.  The standings and stats are posted in today’s edition of Smoke Signals.  The link to the PDF file is Smoke Signals followed by the date.  Just position your mouse over the words and click.

More later ….

Smoke Signals 1-17-12

Taking a break from stats and story writing that will run in Tuesday’s Smoke Signals ….  

Good pitching turned in from several vets and rookies.  Some tight battles and some blowouts. 

Gary Tesch hit for the cycle.  Complete game W’s pitched by Willie Geiser, Ken Seelie, Eric Walsky, Bill Schubert, and Jim Batzel.

Some flashy leather and some other leather, too.

Smoke Signals 1-16-12