Bombers attacking Fulton tonight

The first place Bombers are flying high on a 5 game winning streak and currently hold a 2 game lead over the Miners and Railroaders. The Railroaders are 1-2 against the Bombers thus far in this season and get a chance to even the score tonight at the Yard.

Despite Fulton’s loss last night against the Miners, the Railroaders will be working hard to get back on track and retake the second place position in the standings which remain tight. The Bombers may be hard to shoot down, but the Railroaders have the guns to it.  Timing of the shots are most important in order to take them out.

The last night of three straight days at home for the Railroaders ends tonight before they head to Hoptown on Tuesday for a game with the Hoppers. We’ll looking for good fan support for Monday Night Baseball at the Yard. There is still a lot of baseball left in the season to play and its still anyone’s race to win.  Let’s Fire It Up and take this one from the Bombers.  Roll Train…..!

Miners return to Fulton

The 3rd place Miners return to the Yard tonight to battle with the 2nd place Railroaders.  The two teams have met three times so for this season with the Railroaders taking 2 of 3 games.  The Miners started the season slow by losing their first 4 games before digging themselves out of a hole to win 4 straight games.  Now with their current 5-5 record, the Miners have won 5 of their last 6 games and are force to recon with.

Since their 3-0 season start, the Railroaders are 4-5 for their last 9 games and expect to improve even better at home tonight against the Miners.  Fulton’s pitching appears to be strong with a team 2.54 ERA.  Twice last week, Fulton saw two complete game shutouts pitched by Eddie Mathis (with a current 1.88 ERA) and Charlie Hecht with a 0.00 ERA on the season.  The Railroader defense is playing pretty good ball too.  In the last 5 games this past week, Fulton has won 3 games committing no errors, but did have 4 errors in 2 losses. Over the same 5 games, the Railroaders have 42 hits total and produced 31 runs. Nothing wrong with bats.

The Railroaders are one game behind first place Bombers who host the Oilers tonight in DC.  With the Miners are trailing Fulton by one game, tonight’s action will shake up the tight standings a bit while the fourth place Hoppers are idle.

Game time at 7 pm today.  See you at the Yard or online TeamLine.  Let’s keep the train rolling!

Strike Out Cancer Night - Railroaders vs Oilers

The boys have rested on Friday after a big win over the Hoppers on Thursday, and now its Saturday at home against the Owensboro Oilers.  In addition to a great ballgame tonight, it is also “Strike Out Cancer” night at the Yard.  The players and coaches will be wearing Pink Jerseys with their name and number to be auctioned off to the highest bidder.  The “silent” action includes a chance for folks at home to get in on the action.  Listen to the game on TeamLine for details.

Boilerstoker and I have thoroughly tested these shirts, but unfortunately ours will not be available to bid on.  Railroader management informed us the condition and smell of the material after our assessment was beyond acceptable health limits, sorry folks.  But we’ll be there at the Yard helping with auction.

Now on to our game tonight with Railroaders taking on the Oilers.  The Oilers were just here in Fulton last Monday and were handed a 8-0 loss by the Railroaders.  The two teams have met twice so far, each winning one game against the other.  The Railroaders need a win to keep pace in second behind the Bombers.  The Oilers are in a drought and looking for win.  It should be a great game.  Let’s fire it up and play ball!

Railroaders & Oilers at the Yard

After a day off on Sunday for all the OVL teams, it’s time to get back to some baseball.  When you look at the current standings, it is clear the race is tight early in the season.  All five teams are within a single game or less of each other.  With 18 games completed out of 100 scheduled, and it appears this could be one of the most competitive seasons we’ve ever seen.

Tonight in Fulton the Railroaders (4-3) and Oilers  (4-3) will see who gets first place bragging right for at least a day.  Both the Miners (3-4) and Hoppers (3-4) are scheduled in Hoptown tonight; one will end up with an even record.

When the dust clears, two teams will join the Bombers wedged in the middle one game behind the leader.  The Bombers (4-4) are currently behind by a half game and are idle tonight making them a non-factor for today.

The Railroaders have lost two straight games and the Oilers are ailing from dropping a doubleheader to the Miners on Saturday.  The recent losses by both teams have been close ones and some in extra innings.  Tonight may very well turn out to be the same (close that is, not hoping for extra innings though).

The Railroaders have had 2 days off and are rested.  It’s going to be a hot one at the Yard, both on the field and weather wise.  Scattered showers are in the area, but so far so good here in Fulton.  Hopkinsville has received a lot more rain, so field conditions could hamper efforts there to get that game in.  We’re a go for now.  See you at the Yard or online TeamLine!

Bombers sighted on radar heading towards Fulton

     The close win last night puts the Railroaders back on top with a half game led over the Oilers who were blasted by the Bombers on Wednesday.  Those same Bombers are headed our way tonight at the Yard and I believe we’ll need our guns to fend them off. 

     The Bombers, currently in third, are flying high on a 3 game winning streak after dropping their first 2 games.  The Oilers handed them their first loss to start the season in Owensboro.  The Bombers second loss the next night in Dubois County came at the hands of the Railroaders, spoiling DC’s home opener in front of 1300+ fans in the stands.  Since then the Bombers have rearmed and have taken out the Miners, Hoppers and the Oilers.

     The Railroaders, now 4-1, are just a game ahead of the Bombers.  Taking out the Railroaders tonight at the Yard will tie them up with Fulton, something I think would please them to no end.  The Railroaders will need to get their big guns going again to win this one I believe.  It should a tight contest between the two teams.  We know the Railroaders have it, time to load up and shoot them down.

     The second place Oilers will host the fourth place Hoppers tonight, another critical game as the Oilers can get back on top by a half game with a win.

       Weather is looking good today and tonight for another great night of baseball.  See you at Yard or online TeamLine.  Let’s Fire it Up!

More Railroaders & Miners at the Yard

     After barely losing our first game last, Boilerstoker is going to work a little bit harder tonight on the PA to stoke the Yard Fire as hot as he can get it.  I will say though, a 3-1 start on the season and a 2-1 road record is pretty darn good in my book.  Mr. Moore has the guys working pretty hard and has produced the best season beginning we’ve seen in years.  We can expect even more exciting baseball as the season continues tonight at the Yard.

     The Railroaders will be looking to rebound this evening at home with a repeat appearance from the Miners.  Madisonville (0-3) is still looking for their first season win. And the Miners will be hungry for victory after their heartbreaking loss to the Hoppers last night in an 18 inning game.

     Also today, the unbeaten Oilers (3-0), now in first place by a half game, will be taking on the Bombers (2-2) in Dubois County.  The Railroaders can regain the lead with a win and an Oilers loss.  Meanwhile the Hoppers (1-3) will be taking the day off and bask in the sun over their first season victory over the Miners.

     So if you’re in the area today, come on out to game for a great night of baseball and Food!  Hope they don’t run out of BBQ this time.  See you at game or on TeamLine.

Friday Night Opening at Home – Railroaders vs Miners

     Not since 2010 have the Railroaders had a season opening win at home or away.  Fulton has consistently been slow getting out of the gate to start the season.  Falling behind early in the standing, the Railroaders begin their run at mid season (give or take).  And in 2010 to present, Fulton finishes the season in second place, several games behind the leader.  The brightest spots during this time have been 2 Post Season Playoff titles in 2011 and 2013.  Both these 3 game series were come from behind Railroader victories over the Oilers and Hoppers.  The last 1^st place regular season standing for Fulton occurred in 2007.  Will this trend change in 2015 and begin this Friday when the Railroaders host the Madisonville Miners?

     The Miners are lead by Head Coach Jared Franklin, his 2^nd year with Madisonville.  He has 15 years coaching experience, and is also Head Coach for Webster County High School.  He is an associate Scout for the Texas Rangers, and coached a team to a 2013 title in the Mountain Collegiate Baseball League.  As skipper of the newly renamed Miners in 2014, Franklin’s first year was tough one with Madisonville finishing last with a 10-30 record, however the Miners did succeed to in Post Season to advance with a win in the 1^st round of the playoffs before being knock out by the Railroaders in the 2^nd round.  I’m sure Coach Franklin has different ideas for this year!

     The Railroaders, on the other hand, have newly appointed Head Coach Mikee Moore who has his own history with Fulton.  Mikee served as assistant coach for the Railroaders in 2014, and played as a Railroader in 2012 and 2013.  He is known for aggressive play, hitting and base stealing (see Mikee steal home).  His collegiate playing career was at both Georgia College and Maryville College.  He played three seasons at NCAA Division III where he earned several titles. My observations have him as a player’s coach and expect the team to follow his lead.  Teaming up with Moore is Tyler Saltsman serving as assistance coach.  Saltsman also returns this year after serving the Railroaders as an assistance coach for Fulton in 2014.  He is a former Railroader pitcher too, playing in the 2012 and 2013 seasons.

     The Railroaders have a completely fresh crew for 2015, all under the guidance of two former Railroaders players and coaches.  I’m expecting some great things to happen this year.  We’ll see what happens beginning this Friday at the Yard against the Miners.  See you there or online TeamLine.  Let Fire it Up!