Port Charlotte Sun from Port Charlotte, Florida • A18

Our Town Page 18 www.yoursun.com The Sun Sunday, June 11, 2017 Contact us Jordan Kroeger Staff writer or 941-206-1185 Bryan Levine Staff writer or 941-206-1122 Rick Nolte Sports editor or 941-206-1175 EMAIL: FAX: 941-629-2085 SunCoast Sports Now When news breaks, we blog it at www.suncoast sportsnow.com Like us and share our photos on Facebook: facebook.com/ SunCoastSports Follow us on Twitter for live updates and breaking news: How to Submit a story idea: Email or call Rick Nolte at 941-206-1175. Must contain name, address and number. Report a high school result: Call 877-818-6204 or 941-206-1175. To report an error: Call the sports department at 941-206-1175 or email he Rays took their fans and others on a trip down memory lane Saturday with a staple of the summer for anyone who was born before Richard Nixon hit the White House. Tampa Bay and Oakland played an honest-to-goodness doubleheader.

As in two games for the price of one, something become a relic in money-grabbing professional sports society. In the 1960s and early when most teams annually had a handful of doubleheaders on their schedule, the days came in two varieties growing up in West Virginia, about 150 miles from Cincinnati. In the it was hopping on a train early on a Saturday or Sunday morning along with hundreds of youth baseball players from Huntington and three or four other Ohio River towns on the way to Cincinnati for an to Crosley Field. The train arrived at Union Station late in the morning and out spilled would-be Reds, their coaches and some parents for the 15-minute walk to the ballpark and the 1:05 p.m. first pitch.

Two ballgames and seven hours or so later, a boxed dinner and soft drinks were waiting for everyone on the train to start the ride home. In the it was driving to Riverfront Stadium for games with high school buddies or later with college fraternity brothers. The Reds occasionally used one of their doubleheaders as in which a valid student ID to any college got you half off a ticket and a reduced price for beers. When the games were played Friday through Sunday, make a weekend of it by including the horse races at River Downs on the day before or after the twinbill. Sadly, the appearance of scheduled doubleheaders steadily began to decline as player salaries rose and TV, along with its dollars, became more involved, which necessitated the need for more revenue.

I think I was able to take my son, now 37, to one doubleheader as a youth. And likely never share one with his son or daughters. twinbill at Tropicana Field was first on the schedule in nearly six seasons. All others since have involved some act of nature or other outside force that necessitated teams to double up on the same day. But most of these been true offerings.

These twinbills have one game played in the afternoon and the other at night so still two games worth of revenue. Revenue certainly was a consideration for the Rays management when they pondered The fact the opponent was the Athletics, not a big draw under any circumstance in Florida (or anywhere else for that matter), and the series including a Monday game, made the decision to make the offer easier. The Rays then had to get the approval of the league and the players who were involved because of their union. Essentially, the teams traded two games on Saturday for a day off on Monday and by doing so allowed the Rays to take fans back to yesteryear. And they just stop with the games.

The team took a page from the past with its concessions, serving a beverage made with Tang, offering some items as while serving in a cone. They even had organ music, and between games, a parade of banners made by fans. The banner was worth a voucher for two complimentary tickets to a future game. Although the club exist in the days of real doubleheaders, they wore a retro-style uniform lettered and numbered like those of the San Diego Padres in the late 1970s. So congratulations to the Rays for deciding to go to the past in an effort to make the baseball experience of the 21st century a little more meaningful.

Hopefully, the leagues will notice and maybe give every team a chance to offer fans a bit of nostalgia other than simply wearing throw-back uniforms a game or two every season. Maybe then my grandson go his entire lifetime without a chance to experience a true doubleheader. Rick Nolte is Sports Editor of The Sun. Contact him at Rays should be lauded for offer of doubleheader COMMENTARY: Baseball Sports Editor Rick Nolte PORT CHARLOTTE Former Charlotte Stone Crabs have been invading the Tampa Bay roster this season. Starting pitcher Jacob Faria was the most recent ex-Stone Crab to reach the becoming the sixth to do so in 2017.

him pitch the other night, I got some Stone Crabs manager Michael Johns said. just a really good kid. a good human being first. He just happens to be a professional In a spot start on Wednesday, Faria picked up a victory against the Chicago White Sox, tossing 6.1 innings and allowing just one run on three hits while striking out five and walking just two. Faria joined fellow pitchers Austin Pruitt, Chih-Wei Hu, Jose Alvarado, Ryne Stanek and Hunter Wood as one-time Stone Crabs to make their debuts in 2017.

our track record with pitching is really good, but I think our position players have gotten really good, Johns said. Faria, the Rays 10th-round draft pick in 2011, went 10-1 when he was wearing a Charlotte uniform. His 1.33 ERA is good enough for second-best in Stone Crabs history for pitchers with a minimum of 50 innings pitched. For the six to debut this season, combined to toss 55.2 innings with 29 earned runs, 43 strikeouts and 19 walks. Pruitt has accounted for a majority of those numbers, totaling 23.2 innings with 20 runs and 22 strikeouts.

A total of 41 Stone Crabs have now reached the majors, 25 of whom made it there as a member of the Rays. Faria also was the 25th Stone Crabs pitcher to be promoted to the highest level. Since Johns took over as manager in 2015, he has now seen seven members of his inaugural team called up to the Rays. In addition to Faria, Hu, Wood, Stanek, German Marquez, Junior Quercuto and Joey Rickard have also made it there. think it speaks volumes to not only our ability to get guys to the big leagues, but to do it at such a young Johns said.

goes back to drafting good players and where it all starts. Some times that goes Of all the players Johns has managed who have already made it to the majors, he pointed to Stanek as the most impressive. was a really, really good Johns said. things always noticed, but if he struggled in his outing, he was always cheering on his teammates after that. He never pouted.

He always listened to Stanek made nine starts with the Stone Crabs in that 2015 season, and pitched to a 1.78 ERA while going 4-2 with 38 strikeouts. Johns also noted two other former Stone Crabs who have impressed him, although yet to make it to the majors, sure-to-be major leaguers shortly. come to the field and they make your job easy because they like to Johns said of first baseman Jake Bauers and shortstop Willy Adames. guys need days off, some guys want days off, but those guys never wanted to sit. If they had to sit, they were mad.

loved that about them. They love playing and they love their Adames is the No. 1 prospect, and No. 16 in all of MLB. Bauers is No.

4 for the Rays, and No. 64 for the league, according to MLB Pipeline. Both of them were on the 2015 team. Contact Levine at By BRYAN LEVINE BASEBALL: Stone Crabs Pitchers having major impact on Tampa Bay season Ex-Crabs helping Rays AP PHOTO Jacob Faria was the most recent former Stone Crab to get the call from the Rays. The pitcher won his major league debut on Wednesday, pitching 6.1 innings and allowing just one run on three hits with two walks and five strikeouts.

SUN PHOTO BY TOM Jose Alvarado made the rare jump from Class AA to the majors early last month and has been a key component of the Rays bullpen. SUN PHOTO BY KATHERINE GODINA Austin Pruitt has worked more innings for the Rays this season than any other former Stone Crabs pitcher. FLORIDA STATE LEAGUE By The Associated Press North Division Pct. GB Clearwater (Phillies) 34 27 .557 Daytona (Reds) 31 27 .534 Tampa (Yankees) 32 30 .516 Dunedin (Blue Jays) 29 31 .483 Lakeland (Tigers) 23 33 .411 Florida (Braves) 24 36 .400 South Division Pct. GB Palm Beach (Cardinals) 36 21 .632 Bradenton (Pirates) 35 23 .603 St.

Lucie (Mets) 30 28 .517 Charlotte (Rays) 27 31 .466 Fort Myers (Twins) 27 33 .450 Jupiter (Marlins) 26 34 .433 Games Bradenton 8, Dunedin 4 Jupiter 2, Clearwater 0 St. Lucie at Lakeland, suspended Florida 10, Charlotte 3 Palm Beach 7, Daytona 6, 14 innings Tampa 2, Fort Myers 1 Games Clearwater at Jupiter, Late St. Lucie at Lakeland (2), Late Tampa at Fort Myers, Late. Florida at Charlotte, Late Bradenton at Dunedin, Late Palm Beach at Daytona, Late Games Florida at Charlotte, 12:35 p.m. Clearwater at Jupiter, 1 p.m.

St. Lucie at Lakeland, 1 p.m. Bradenton at Dunedin, 5 p.m. Palm Beach at Daytona, 5:35 p.m. SPORTS CALENDAR FOOTBALL Charlotte Warriors: The Pop Warner program is accepting registration for players and cheerleaders.

Ages 5-14 are eligible. Cost is $200. The program also is seeking coaches. Minimum ages are 21 (head coach), 18 (assistant) and 16 (coach trainee). A letter of intent to the program is required for coaches.

Email letters to for football and yahoo.com for cheering. For more information or registration, check the Facebook page at www.facebook.com/CharlotteWarriors. Englewood Cats: The Pop Warner program is registering youths 6-8 p.m. each Tuesday and Thursday at the Larry Nicol Field at Oyster Creek Park, 6791 San Casa Drive for football and cheerleading. Youths ages 5-15 are eligible.

Those who register and pay in full before June 29 get a $25 discount. All 2017 participants must have all documents in and registered by July 15 in order to participate in the jamboree. Practice starts Aug. 1. The organization also is looking for volunteers.

For more information and to download forms, visit www.englewoodcats.com. GOLF Father-Son Tournament: Deep Creek Golf Club holds its second annual event June 17. The 18-hole event which uses a modified alternate shot format, is open to any child or Cost is $100 per team, which includes cart and lunch. Deadline is June 15. Flights are 18-under, 19-30, 31-up according to age.

The winning team earns a spot in the Championship July 22-23 in Orlando. Call 941 625-6911. MODEL SAILING Club schedules: Sun Coast Club meets Monday, Wednesday and Saturday, to at South County Regional Park in Punta Gorda. Open to the public. Call Paul, 941-628-8802.

SAILING Charlotte Harbor Community Sailing Center: Year-round weekly sailing classes for youth and adults. Monthly Portsmouth racing second Saturday each month. Family membership $140 per year includes use of boats on days open. Discounts available for multiple family members taking a class. Classes open to public and include beginning learn to sail, learn to race, advanced race training, tactical racing, water safety.

Contact 941-456-8542 or email at thesailingcenter.org@gmail.com or web at www.thesailingcenter.org or Facebook page Charlotte Harbor Community Sailing Center..