Spring training: Game 1

The Lake Erie Crushers, the newest franchise in the Frontier League, scored eight runs in the top of the sixth inning Friday to beat the Wild Things, 8-2, before a crowd of 2,800 school kids at Consol Energy Park.

Five Lake Erie pitchers combined on a six-hitter. Left fielder Jacob Dempsey had two of Washington's hits, including a home run to lead off the eighth inning.

Dempsey was the only Washington player who has locked up a spot in the starting lineup to play in the game. Lake Erie also held out several of its top hitters.

Lake Erie scored all of its runs against left-handed relief pitcher Dan Horvath. The Crushers had six hits in the big inning and combined them with two walks, a hit batsman and two errors.

Four other Washington pitchers - starter Michael Mondesir (3 innings), Josh Eachues (2 innings), Kalen Gearhart (2 innings) and Michael Lucas (1 inning) - combined to blank Lake Erie on four hits over the other eight innings.

Washington scored first on Alex Paluka's triple down the right-field line that drove in Joe Spiers, who had two hits and reached base three times.

The teams will play the nightcap of the day-night doubleheader at 7:05 p.m.

Letter from camp

Thoughts and observations from Thursday, the second day of spring training:

- Only saw the morning session, which was the intrasquad game. There were more relievers than potential starters on the mound. None of the pitchers stood out but none got lit up, either. Josh Eachuses, the converted catcher, and Dan Horvath got the best results. Justin Edwards, the former West Liberty pitcher, seemed to throw the hardest of the group and might be a candidate for a starting spot. Michael Mondesir struck out three of the six batters he faced.

- The story of the day had to be the field conditions, or to be more specific the outfield conditions. Water, water and more water. What a mess. Reminded me of some of those games last year against Midwest. Because W&J's Ross Memorial Park was hosting to the Presidents' Athletic Conference tournament, the Wild Things had little choice but to muddle through the muck at Consol Energy Park. Late in the scrimmage, shortstop Joe Spiers dove for a fly ball in shallow left centerfield and landed in a mud puddle. One batter later, Blake Butler was playing right field when a shallow fly was hit in his direction. Butler tried to make a face-first diving catch. After seeing the water fly, I was tempted to give Butler a 9.8 for his dive into the pool (the Russian judge would have given the dive a 7.5). When he stood up, Butler's uniform was soaked and covered in mud. It looked like he had just played four quarters in the rain at Heinz Field.

- Two rarities did happen during the intsrasquad game: a triple play was turned and Chris Sidick grounded into a double play. The triple play came with runners on second and third and the infield drawn in. The batter grounded out to second base, then Spiers took off late for home and was tagged out in a rundown. The runner on second base was then thrown out. The triple play would have never happened in a game situation. Had it been during a game with a coach at third base, Spiers would have been running on contact or staying put. Sidick's 6-4-3 DP was interesting only because he grounded into just four double plays in 1,096 at-bats the last three years.

- Sidick has changed his uniform number from 12 to 5.

- Second baseman Michael Parker, pictured, made the play of the day. He fielded a ball on the grass behind the bag and, as his momentum carried him toward left field, he threw out the batter. Washington's had some good defensive second basemen, but the only one I've seen make the play Parker did was Ryan Ellis.

- That Butler even attempted to dive into the water and catch the fly ball probably shouldn't come as a surprise. He seems to play full-tilt all the time, even on the basepaths.

_ Kris Rochelle should no longer be considered injured. His arm looks as strong as ever.

4 returnees, 2 newcomers, 1 retiree

The Wild Things announced several signings today and one retirement, which clears up the L2 roster problem.

Signing contracts for the 2009 season were shortstop Brett Grandstrand, designated hitter Jacob Dempsey (pictured), outfielder Tim Alberts and second baseman Chris Carrara. The Wild Things also announced the signing of two rookie pitchers, Brian Honeyman and Michael Mondesir, and that first baseman Nathan Messner has retired.

Grandstrand returns for his third season in Washington after posting career highs in batting average (.295), at-bats (295), runs (48), hits (87), home runs (4), RBI (47), and stolen bases (13). Grandstrand, who I consider best defensive shortstop in the Frontier League, has spent time in the Pittsburgh and Tampa Bay farm systems.

Grandstrand is currently the head baseball coach at Ringgold High School.

Dempsey was Washington's top offensive player last year and a league all-star. He hit .310 last season and led the league in games played (96), doubles (31), and RBI (88). He finished second in extra base hits (52) and fourth in total bases (203), walks (67) and on base percentage (.422). Dempsey's 31 doubles is a Wild Things single-season record, and his 88 RBI tied for the team record (Mike Arbinger 2005).

Carrara and Dempsey were teammates at Winthrop University and will be together for a second season in Washington. Carrara had a strong second half of the 2008 campaign and finished the year with a .285 batting average and 19 stolen bases.

Alberts also finished strong after signing with the Wild Things at midseason out of Niagara University. As a right fielder and DH, Alberts batted .289 with 11 home runs and 39 RBI. He hit nine home runs at Consol Energy Park. Only a handful of players have hit that many home runs at CEP in half a season.

Honeyman and Mondesir have no pro experience. Honeyman was the East Coast Conference Pitcher of the Year in 2008 at NCAA Division II Queens (NY) College. During his senior season, Honeyman had a 6-0 record with three saves and a 2.20 ERA. Mondesir joins the Wild Things from Division II Dominican (NY) College, where he led all D2 pitchers with a 1.12 ERA and 5.3 hits allowed per game last season. he had a 6-2 record.

Messner was a Frontier League All-Star in 2007. He appeared in 80 games last
season, batting .261 with 21 doubles, five triples, seven home runs, and
47 RBI.

The re-signing of Dempsey and Messner's retirement means the Wild Things will likely begin the season with Dempsey and closer Jonathan Lewis as their two L2 players and go with three Veterans and seven L1s.

An updated roster will be posted later.