Touching the Bases With Nate Eastman: All Star Break

Today the NYCBL is hosting their annual All Star Game at Mcdoughn Park in Geneva New York.  The event will feature the league’s All-Star luncheon, Major League Baseball scout day, League Home Run Derby and All-Star Game.

The day will start with the Major League Scout Day where the selected players will showcase their talent in front of Major League Scouts with he hope of getting a chance to be drafted in the future. There will be a Homerun Derby that consist of the leagues top home run sluggers.  It will then wind down with the All Star game with all the selected all stars split into two teams, playing a nine inning game.

The Silversmiths will be sending first basemen Zack Kessinger, Outfielder’s Mike Bunal, and Blaze Tom, along with Pitchers Josh Webb, and Josh Griffith.  Blaze Tom will also be representing the Silversmiths in the Home Run Derby.  For the Major League scout day we are sending pitchers Kevin Carpinter and Skylar Geissinger.  I am thrilled for my teammates who were selected for the league events for the All Star break and all participants are very deserving of these honors.

I was also very excited to see my former high school teammate Chris Pindar who has had an outstanding year for the Oneonta Outlaws.  Its not surprise to see Chris as an All Star always being a hard worker, loves the game with a passion, and the kid can flat out play. Another former teammate from Saint Bonaventure University Joey Chittister was selected to the All Star team as well.  It's great to see all my current and former teammates succeed after playing with them during my career.

It's always nice to play against former teammates during the season making the summer ball experience a lot more fun.  Before the game catching up with them, reminiscing of the old times and hearing of their journey playing baseball.

With all the excitement with the All Star break we are continuing to try to stay sharp and carry the momentum from the last big win we had before the break.  We are currently a game and a half out of a playoff spot with much of the season left to play. Our record isn’t he best reflection of our team with numerous one run games that we have lost in the first half of the season.

As long as we all play our game with hitters working counts to their favor, driving the ball up the middle, along with our pitcher throwing strikes, we can put ourselves in a good position to win the championship.  It won’t be an easy task to achieve during the upcoming dog days of summer, but we have a great group of guys who I have thoroughly enjoyed coming to the ballpark with every day.  I believe team chemistry is crucial to a team’s success, and that is certainly something the Smithies’ have.