Touching the Bases with Nate Eastman: Returning Home

So far the Sherrill Silversmiths have not started the season off the way we would have liked too dropping our first three games. In our first games we started off with a double header vs. the Syracuse Junior Chiefs, which is the reigning NYCBL Champion.

The Jr Chiefs first pitcher had thrown a no hitter into the fifth inning before it was broken up. We ended up finishing the game with a 7-0 loss through 9 innings.

In the second game being down 6-0 we started a 6th inning rally to put 5 runs on the board to bring us within a run but unfortunately we only played 7 innings, with the Chiefs handing us our second loss.

Our third Game of the season we played the Syracuse Salt cats, who were loaded with talent from the year before. Right from the first inning we were getting beat pretty bad giving up a lot of hits and a lot of walks.

From the hitting side we were putting ourselves in good counts, but we were not delivering or coming through with hits when we needed. Over all with starting our season 0-3 I think we are still in very good shape.

In our loss to the Salt Cats a teammate of mine by the name of Ka’ai “Blaze” Tom, hit two towering home runs into right field clearing the tree. He is one of the most fun players to watch whether he’s hitting fielding or throwing. He stands only 5’ 8” but makes up for his size with his power at the plate. I also found out he is has a brother who played with Darwin Barney and Jacoby Ellsbury on the 2006 and 2007 NCAA champion Oregon State Beavers.

This weekend will be the first time I have the chance to play in Oneonta since I played legion baseball in high school. I’m very excited to play against former teammates Sean Getman, Chris Pinder and Michael Calkins. I also get to face my former high school coach Joe Hughes who I had the pleasure of playing under for 3 years on varsity. Since I left he has won a state championship as a coach at Oneonta High School.

I’m mostly excited to play on one of my favorite fields of all time Damaski Field. I love playing there because of all the great memories that came from playing high school and legion games along with idolizing the Oneonta Tiger and Yankee players who have came up through the farm systems. We play the Outlaws on Friday at home in Sherrill and play in Oneonta on Saturday and Sunday night.