The Story of The Game That Might Never End

From last night, but tonight looked the same

The quarterfinal round of the 2019 Babe Ruth New England Regional Tournament opened yesterday at Cubeta Stadium in Stamford, CT.

The first game, between Stamford and Milford, isn't over.

The game began with storms rolling in yesterday afternoon, and the field umpire, working near first base, spotted a bolt of lightning around 5:00.

That was in the fourth inning.

After the mandatory half-hour lightning delay, player resumed with a total stoppage of 39 minutes.

It wasn't long before lightning with spotted again. That happened as the fifth inning began, just around 6:00.

We were gone not long after that with the promise of resuming the suspended game at 4 p.m. today.

So we all came back, ready to pick things up. Stamford led at the time 3-2.

New umpires were on the field. On the air, the broadcast was down to just me, and I set the corner of the booth to improve my sightlines.

Milford came back to tie it. Stamford took the lead. Milford took the lead. Stamford took the lead.

In the middle of that back-and-forth was a steal of home by Stamford that was part of a triple steal.

Milford tied it and had the go-ahead run at third when the steady mist that had been falling since the game resumed turned into a deluge.

The umpires quickly stopped play. I actually thought they could try to complete the inning but obviously, they know what they're doing.

A decision was made not long after the delay began.

The game would not be completed. Again.

So a game that was first played on Monday was suspended until Tuesday and is now suspended until Wednesday. The good news is that tomorrow looks better.

But there's still a second quarterfinal to be played, as Keene, NH and North Providence-Smithfield, RI have been sitting around for two days doing nothing.

Then there are still two semis to go. Neither Portland, ME or Pittsfield, MA have played since Sunday.

Plus a championship game, currently scheduled for Thursday at 6 p.m.

Teams and families have to extend hotels and miss work and make further arrangements.

So the bottom line is this tournament sort of needs to move along.

Plus Cubeta Stadium is a baseball factory with American Legion games sprinkled in. So the schedule is a factor.

Somehow they'll get it all done but I can't guarantee that Robcasting will be there for everything. I'm trying.

Anyway, baseball babbling is complete. Back to the Baseballapalooza tomorrow.