Tailgate Event Adds to the Success of the Mids 4-Game Sweep at Holy Cross

What a terrific time everyone had at the baseball indoor tailgate on Saturday night, 31 March, after the Midshipmen sailed into Worcester and posted the first two victories in what turned out to be a four game sweep of the Crusaders at beautiful Fitton Field on the campus of The College of The Holy Cross. All four games were played in wonderful New England spring weather: blue skies, bright sun, and warm temperatures for the noon time start on Saturday, and getting a bit cooler as the second game finished at 6:20 PM. It was great to see Mark and Kathy Engdahl there on Saturday. They probably got sun-burned like the rest of us!

After the games, many of the assembled Navy crowd went with the team to the Crowne Plaza Hotel in downtown Worcester, where everyone enjoyed a tailgate-style meal in an indoor setting. The players completely drained the crock of clam chowder and emptied the pot of chilli, making chilli dogs and chilli cheesburgers, and went through a couple of large bowls of salad. Local parents and friends provided desserts including homemade whoopie pies (known by an assortment of different names by out-of-town parents and players), brownies, cookies, squares, and coffee cakes, plus a huge tray of assorted treats, including canoles. One of the players had never had a canole before and another had never before eaten an eclaire, so they were thrilled with their new favorite desserts! It was a great time and the players really enjoyed the meal and the chance to visit with family and friends.

Many thanks for support from this Club, which included the attendance of members John and Loren Kovalcik (parents of Daniel '07) and their daughters, Joe and Karen Curley (parents of Mathew '10) and their other sons, and Jay and Celeste Drake (parents of Oliver '10), along with many of Oliver's aunts, uncles, and one grandmother. Also in attendance was local Boston "All World Navy Baseball Fan" and official team "Aunt", Beth Carter, a family friend of Mathew Curley, and now a friend of all of the players after she spent the last month in Annapolis and attended every Navy baseball game. With apologies to any whose names we might omit, other parents who travelled from afar for the weekend series were Mark and Harriett McCoy (Mark '08), Brian and Lynn Berkowitz (Jonathan '10), Billand Patti Bickel (B.J. '07), and Bill Maugeri (Bill '08).

There were many family friends from the New England area in attendance on one or both of the days, cheering enthusiasticly and bringing a home-game atmosphere to an away-game for the Mids, who opened their Patriot League season in grand fashion. Sunday was partly cloudy, but an otherwise nice, early spring day in New England, with temperatures just right for the Mids, who followed Saturday's victories with two more to begin league play with a 4-0 record. Go Navy!!!

The game was something of a family event for some of the coaching staff as well: Coach Kostacopoulos' father and brother, both named Peter, and each very successful baseball coaches in their own right, were at the games. Pitching Coach Scott Freidholm's father-in- law, John, was also on-hand to enjoy the team's season-opening success.

Click on the following link for pictures of the tailgate event:

2007-03-31 Pics of the USNA Baseball Tailgate in Worcester, MA

Click on the following links for a fine article on the performance
of Oliver Drake '10, along with other coverage of the games:

Worcester Telegram & Gazzette: Drake Goes The Distance

Navysports.com: Harris Leads Navy To Four-Game Sweep Of Holy Cross

Navysports.com: Navy Opens League Slate with Doubleheader Sweep of Holy Cross