With the end of the semester giving me a chance to travel to Nationals for the first time, what better way to begin my maiden voyage than with a running diary of everything that happens. Join myself, LBC Athletic Trainer Nicki Plumbo, the voice of LBC Athletics Bob McMichael and LBC lacrosse star Rebekah Weidel as we take to the road to watch the LBC baseball team battle for its first National Title.

We will be leaving Tuesday afternoon between 2:00-3:00 p.m. and documenting our eight-hour trip to the Buckeye State. Whether we talk about the beautiful scenary along I-76 or how we think the baseball team will do in Cincinnati, we will be writing lots of things down.

Once we get to Ohio, we will be documenting our days and providing live updates from each LBC game.

So tune in and refresh the page from time-to-time to see what we are up to. The eight-hour trip that lasts deep into the night should provide some good humor for those studying for finals or those who simply want to laugh at us.

Go Chargers!

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3:47 p.m. - Waiting on Bob. He is under the impression we are actually working this afternoon. Just kidding.

4:12 p.m.- Left Sheetz with soda and snacks. Should be good until a turnpike stop in a couple of hours. Trucks, rain and traffic don't mix, but Bob used to be friends with Jeff Gordon so we are good. GPS says we will arrive in Mason, Ohio at 12:25 a.m...Bob, "We'll see about that."

4:25 p.m. - Just found out we have a working CB Radio...endless possibilities. 

4:40 p.m. - On the turnpike, still raining. 

4:46 p.m. - Just saw a yellow car, shoutout to Assistant A.D. Zack Long.

4:53 p.m. - Just realized it's 44 degrees on May 11...not a fan.

4:57 p.m. - Saw a yellow beetle with flower tail lights, then saw there was a guy driving...needless to say a comment was made. 

5:18 p.m. - Heading into the tunnel. See you on the other side.

5:21 p.m. - Made it through tunnels 1 and 2...Nicki informs us that this is the furthest west she has been in Pennsylvania...She is 28.

5:28 p.m. - Weidel thinks LBC should add football and go D-1...We then checked which D-1 school with football has the smallest number of undergrads and it is Tulsa with 2744 students...Yeah we have some work to do.

5:32 p.m. - Tunnel 3...check...good thing Central Pennsylvania has so many great things to look at.

5:34 p.m. - Bob and Nicki were just talking about their love for the show Night Court...Weidel and I don't know what they're talking about...bit of an age difference here in the jeep.

5:51 p.m. - Just passed the Breezewood exit on the turnpike...Raining pretty hard...Arrival time is now 12:06 a.m...Way to go Bob.

5:59 p.m. - Rachel Warren is our t-shirt winner, apparently this is the first time she has ever won something...Congrats...Discussing TV again, our guilty pleasure shows are as follows: Freeman - Gilmore Girls; Plumbo - NipTuck; Weidel - Smallville; McMichael - Top Chef.

6:01 p.m. - Soft Cell's "Tainted Love" is on the radio...the trip got that much better. Stay tuned for more give-aways...Apparently the LBC bookstore has everything 50% off, don't know many more details, but check it out.

6:09 p.m. - We struck a winner with this radio station...Top Gun's "Highway to the Danger Zone" is on...Our discussion of Top Gun led us to Nicki crying about when Anthony Evans was killed off of E.R...unreal.

6:16 p.m. - Turnpike stop in 20 miles...has a place called The Doggery...we are all intrigued....We have laid down 20-to-1 odds that Michael Vick works there...I'll be here all week.

6:24 p.m. - 4-for-4 in the tunnels. Closing in on Pittsburgh. 

6:27 p.m. - Just passed this sign, "Our land, Our cows, Our pride." from the Pennsylvania Dairy...Wow. We've decided to pass up The Doggery and the turnpike stop, going to stop after we get off the turnpike...we will always wonder what could have been at The Doggery...Arrival time is now 11:58 p.m...Love that gas pedal Bob, love it.

6:40 p.m. - Just went through a nice downpour...Oh western Pennsylvania. 

6:45 p.m. - Oddly enough, the sun just came out...good times...Bob just used the word "Redneckish."

7:00 p.m. - Haven't seen any thing other than a truck for 15 miles...many of them aren't happy about getting into the right lane...Almost at the three hour mark, we are just about to get off the turnpike...we might just head right to Indianapolis to enter Bob in the Indy 500 in two weeks. 

7:05 p.m. - Toll Collector Scott just scared us and made us laugh at the same time with his "Ohhhhh yeah," response to Bob's asking if he can have a receipt...Yikes.

7:16 p.m. - On seeing a golf course on our left, Weidel said, "The best thing about golf is driving the cart."...Stick with lacrosse Weidel.

7:25 p.m. - Burger King is the decision for dinner...not our first choice, but it's more we have to go to the bathroom than anything else...Be back in a few.

8:00 p.m.- Now out of sketchville PA with BK in our bellies we're on the road again!! I'm not gonna lie... Bob's driving is making me mildly sea-sick, not good after a bag full of grease. Zach has grown  little quiet in the front and I have hijacked the laptop for a quick post... Nicki :)

8:12 p.m. - Now entering, "West Virginia - Wild and Wonderful"...First adjective seems appropriate, second one seems like a stretch...Take Me Home Country Roads.

8:21 p.m. - Delilah just came on the radio, the jokes are flying around the jeep left and right...Welcome to Ohio, the sign reads, "So Much to Discover," ...Nicki quips, "They want us to discover it for them because they are convinced it a really boring state."

8:39 p.m. - The Seinfeld DVD's are going in...could get interesting. We are starting off with the Cigar Store Indian one...Good times. 

8:56 p.m. - Seinfeld has calmed us down, I may be coming in from the bullpen to relive Bob behind the wheel...We will see when he gives himself the hook. Stay tuned.

9:05 p.m. - GPS says 154 miles to go and our E.T.A. is 11:40 p.m...Just us and the trucks on 70 at this point...At that time in any long trip where the excitement of leaving has worn off and we aren't close enough to our destination to be excited, jusr sort of sitting here...Need our second wind.

9:20 p.m. - With our second wind not coming naturally, we reach into the candy bag...I went with the Snickers, while Bob reaches for the 3 Musketeers, Nicki and Weidel think the fruit snacks are the way to go...they are wrong.

9:25 p.m. - Just got a text from the wife...she has turned up the termostat in the house much to the chagrin of her traveling husband...Good thing there aren't two blankets in the living room she could use...oh wait, there are two blankets in the living room she could use. 

9:30 p.m. - Just drove through Licking County, Ohio...make your own joke.

9:37 p.m. - Shoutout to Taylor Dooley who just read the entire diary and then complained about it...don't act like you were studying or doing something constructive, we all know the truth...Heard from the Hollinger's, they are almost in Mason...We are all jealous.

9:40 p.m. - From Bob to all students, especially Taylor, make sure your room is clean. 

9:51 p.m. - Saw the Pirates lost 9-0 to the Reds tonight. Do we think the Pirates should be in the NCCAA Division II Tournament? And if so, would it be unfair to the NCCAA teams or the Pirates?...Good news is it is 70 degrees here now (it was 44 degrees when we left Lancaster), bad news is there is lots of lightning around...E.T.A. is 11:32 p.m.

10:01 p.m. - Almost to hour six and all is well...87 miles until we reach the hotel...Rain is back, but what else is new?...Good news though, Delilah is back on the radio and playing some classics...Could be the start of our second wind. 

10:08 p.m. - Just saw a sign for Circleville, Ohio and Ohio Christian...trying to find something we can throw at the next sign we see for those two places.

10:17 p.m. - Passed a sign for Harrisburg, Ohio and everyone got really confused...It's one thing to have town names that are the same, but state capitals? Come on Ohio, this is why no one likes you. Oh and Ohio State University, that's another reason too.

10:32 p.m. - 50 miles to go..."Had a Bad Day" is on the radio...hoping it's not an omen for the next few days...After hearing "Soul Sister" three times already today though, any song that isn't that one can come on...Hey Soul Sister is in our heads and it's just not a good feeling.

10:48 p.m. - 30 miles to go...just heard a commercial for the hotel and everyone is officially excited to get there and get out of the car...We are in Clinton County, Ohio, thought about making a joke, but couldn't think of one clean enough to say in the car...Delilah is still on and the stories are just ridiculous.

10:59 p.m. - "It's Raining Men" just came on the radio, two people in the jeep are happy, two aren't...you get one guess as to which pair does not like this song...15 miles to go.

11:13 p.m. - It looks like Night at the Roxbury in the front here with Bob and I rocking out to "Always Something There to Remind Me."

11:14 p.m. - The Resort is in sight...

11:17 p.m. - We have made it...Cut an hour off of the original E.T.A. (good work Bob)...Breezy, but not freezing, looking forward to sleeping. Thanks to all who followed along and we will see you in the morning. Hopefully the continental breakfast is good. Let's Go Chargers!!

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Wednesday, May 12, 2010
8:06 a.m. - Up and ready to go...We are hungry, but Saved by the Bell is on...Tougher choice than you think...Weather is not good...Not raining, but radar does not look good for later, we will see...All for now, will begin again once we get set-up at the game. Go Chargers!...And a quick shoutout to CCSN Online for giving us a shoutout and link on their website...Thanks guys.

10:10 a.m. - As expected, the rain got here and we are in a rain delay...Lightning and thunder aren't helping either...Not sure when we are going to start, could be a while, radar looks awful...Awesome opportunity for fellowship though as both teams are hanging out in a storage area away from the weather...Shoutout to all those LBC employees checking out the blog...Thanks for the support!

10:46 a.m. - Back at the hotel...Game won't start until at least 12:30 p.m., but honestly, it's not look good for a while...Only thing to do now is decide which late-morning show that is most likely a re-run we should watch...Top Chef for now, maybe Frasier.

11:28 a.m. - One of the louder booms of thunder I have ever heard...Found out when Iron Man 2 plays today at the local movie theater...Looking like a better option at this point.

12:08 p.m. - Just got word they might try to play at 2:00 p.m...the conversation turns to where we are going to eat lunch.

1:54 p.m. - Rain has stopped and we are ready to go...Coaches are getting the ground rules...We will update after big plays or at the end of each inning...Pizza Hut for lunch by the way...not the best idea.

1:56 p.m. - LBC starting line-up: Jacques, CF; Chamberlin, 2B; Erb, SS; Curcio, P; DiFilippo, C; Hollinger, RF; Tilley, 1B; Joel Butala, 3B; Benner, LF...Let's Go Chargers!

2:16 p.m. - LBC 1, OCU 0 - Bottom 1st - LBC's Caleb Erb scored on a wild pitch to open the scoring...LBC sent six players to the plate, but didn't have a hit in the opening frame. OCU is coming to bat.

2:20 p.m. - Curcio throws four pitches and gets three outs...Head to the top of the second...LBC 1, OCU 0.

2:32 p.m. - Benner drives home Tilley with an RBI-single...Left the bases loaded after Erb flew out an Curcio lined to short...Heading to the bottom of the second, LBC 2, OCU 0.

2:35 p.m. - Curcio retires the side in order...all three batters grounded out to Curcio...We've played two innings, LBC 2, OCU 0. 

2:42 p.m. - Chargers go down 1-2-3 in the top half of the third...LBC 2, OCU 0.

2:48 p.m. - Trailblazers get their first baserunner thanks to an error, but can't convert...After three innings, LBC 2, OCU 0.

2:57 p.m. - Jacques gets on with a walk and steals second, but the Chargers leave him stranded...Going to the bottom of the fourth...LBC 2, OCU 0.

3:02 p.m. - Curcio gets two more OCU batters to ground out to him, but also gives up his first hit...Trailblazers leave him stranded though and we move to the top of the fifth...LBC 2, OCU 0.

3:12 p.m. - Chargers have the bases loaded with two outs and Joel Butala at the plate...

3:13 p.m. - Butala grounds out to short...the very pro-OCU crowd loves and seems to be more into the game than the actual players...attribute Curcio's performance on the mound to that one...Heading to the bottom of the fifth, LBC 2, OCU 0.

3:17 p.m. - May have jinxed the Chargers...leadoff batter gets hit, next batter reaches on a Curcio throwing error...runners on second and third with no outs...

3:21 p.m. - Chargers get one out after a base running error, but OCU scores one on an infield hit with a rather questionable call from the first base umpire...next batter grounds out to Curcio, but scores the second run...runner on second, two outs...OCU's Keaton singles home the Trailblazers' third run...3-2 OCU...

3:24 p.m. - LBC gets out of the inning on a perfect pick-off play by Curcio...after five innings OCU 3, LBC 2.

3:31 p.m. - LBC goes down in order...heading to the bottom of the sixth, OCU 3, LBC 2.

3:35 p.m. - Curcio gets OCU 1-2-3...going to the top of the seventh...Due up for LBC - Erb, Curcio, DiFilippo...Let's Go Chargers!

3:37 p.m. - In the dugout now, LBC guys really want this...Erb strikes out for out number one...

3:41 p.m. - Curcio draws a walk after a great at-bat...Josh Butala runs for Lou...DiFilippo hammers a double to the left-center gap, Butala scores on a close play at home and the dugout is going crazy...tied 3-3...

3:43 p.m. - Hollinger singles up the middle, Tim Landis (running for DiFilippo) scores and the roof just came off the dugout...I am receiving high-fives at this point...LBC 4, OCU 3...OCU changing pitchers...Tilley at the plate, Hollinger on first, one out.

3:46 p.m. - Tilley singles through the right-side, Hollinger to third...still one out.

3:50 p.m. - Two outs now...just asked Josh Chamberlin how he was doing, got this response, "I'm fine, just losing more hair."...Classic.

3:52 p.m. - Out number three, headed to the bottom of the seventh...LBC 4, OCU 3...6-7-8 batters up for OCU.

3:55 p.m. - Erb to Tilley for out number one...throwing error gives OCU a runner on first...

4:00 p.m. - A flyout to Benner ends the game...LBC 4, OCU 3...First ever win at Nationals for the LBC baseball program. Wahoo.

6:55 p.m. - Hanging out in the room before dinner with the team...Story from today's game should be up soon...Guys were pumped, but realize there is more work to be done...Not sure on times for tomorrow yet, still trying to figure that out...LBC will face Atlanta Christian...They beat Maranatha Baptist, 4-3 in game two.

10:45 p.m. - Got tired quick, Nicki is trying to look for a game to play...Went to Red Robin for dinner, great service, great burger...Just picked up Coach Yager from the field...I think he has been there since like 8 a.m. this morning, good work Doug, enjoy your night of sleep...New giveaway...Tell us what you think our favorite post from today's blog was and we will bring you back or send you a pennant from the tournament...first person to text 717-203-4088 wins the pennant...LBC plays at 1:00 p.m. tomorrow, follow the blog for updates.

11:44 p.m. - Playing Phase 10...Bob had a nose bleed and to stop it used a tissue...Weidel, not noticing any of this apparently looked over at Bob and yelped, "Look at you, nice tissue."...Nicki is winning Phase 10 by the way...

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Thursday, May 13, 2010
12:09 a.m. - Anna Steenstra is our pennant winner...Congrats...Nicki and Weidel are currently tied in our game of Phase 10...My eyelids are heavy, but I shall press on.

12:28 a.m. - Great episode of Seinfeld just ended...Marty Seinfeld just got impeached...Bob, Nicki, Weidel are on the 10th phase, I am on nine, not bad for the rookie...

12:35 a.m.- Listening to Macy Gray on Jay Leno... Weidel can't even get past her voice to "Give Peace a Chance"... Phase 10 is winding down, we'll update you with a winner!!

12:39 a.m. - Bob is your Phase 10 winner, came back just like the LBC baseball did...Watching Jimmy Fallon and going to sleep...Thanks for reading...See you in the morning and hopefully two more Chargers' victories. Goodnight!!

9:36 a.m. - Good morning! Just had the continental breakfast served here at the resort and now just catching up on some work...Bob is driving Coach Yager to the field and the girls...well we haven't heard much out of the girls room yet, good chance they are still sleeping...Pictures from yesterday's game should be up soon. I will post a link on here and on yesterday's story.

10:17 a.m. - Here is the link to some of yesterday's photos...Leaving the hotel in a little while, hope to make one more post before we pack up and head up to the field...photo_gallery.aspx

11:07 a.m. - Packed and ready to check-out of the resort...Heading over to the field to watch some of the other games...Will update prior to our game at 1:00 p.m. Let's Go Chargers!

12:42 p.m. - Game has been pushed back to 1:15 p.m. due to the last game going long...We are in the press box at Prasco Park...It's beautiful...And if you can find a nicer staff and great people to work with...good luck, you know better people then me...

12:43 p.m. - LBC line-up for today's game...Jacques, P; Chamberlin, 2B; Erb, SS; Curcio, 1B; DiFilippo, C; Hollinger, RF; Tilley, 3B; Josh Butala, CF; Benner, LF...LBC won the coin flip and will be the home team...LBC is wearing their home whites, while the Atlanta Christian Chargers are wearing their road navy blues...

12:51 p.m. - Guys at Prasco Park have live stats...here is the link...follow along and follow our commentary.

12:52 p.m. - Atlanta Christian guys are all growing mustaches...Weidel doesn't like it, says some of them look, "a little creepy."...quote of the day so far.

1:05 p.m. - Lancaster Bible College Chargers vs. Atlanta Christian College Chargers set to begin in 10 minutes...Battle of the Chargers...Let's Go LBC!!

1:09 p.m. - LBC senior Ben Markey led the entire park in prayer prior to the game...Awesome...LBC has taken the field, almost set to go.

1:12 p.m. - Not the best start with Tilley's throwing error, but an amazing diving catch by Caleb Erb surprises the runner at first and he doubles him off...2 outs.

1:14 p.m. - ACC's Sean Finn blasts a long home run to left field...ACC 1, LBC 0.

1:20 p.m. - ACC walk and an infield hit...They have runners on first and third...2 outs.

1:22 p.m. - ACC's Jeff Mitchell hits a two-run double to the center-field wall...ACC 3, LBC 0...2 outs.

1:23 p.m. - Benner catches the third out of the inning in left field...We've played a half inning, ACC 3, LBC 0...Jacques, Chamberlin and Erb due up for LBC.

1:30 p.m. - Erb draws walk, but Curcio strikes out...After one inning, ACC 3, LBC 0.

1:35 p.m. - Jacques gets ACC in order 1-2-3...DiFilippo, Hollinger, Tilley due up LBC.

1:41 p.m. - ACC pitcher KC Lorow has five strikeouts through two innings...three of them caught looking...Heading to the third, ACC 3, LBC 0.

1:45 p.m. - Some chatter in the press box...ACC has two pro prospects on their team...One of them homered in the first...There is talk that there is a scout from the Chicago Cubs here watching one of them...

1:47 p.m. - Jacques allows a hit, but gets out of the inning...going to the bottom of the third, ACC 3, LBC 0.

1:55 p.m. - Jacques draws a walk, but Chamberlin strikes out...No hits yet for LBC...probably just waiting for the late-game heroics again...home plate umpire is giving both pitchers a pretty wide strike zone, but ACC's pitcher is hitting it more often...He's good.

2:01 p.m. - LBC gets ACC in order again...great play by Curcio at first on a throw from Tilley...stretched the whole way out...proving that big men are flexible. Erb, Curcio, DiFilippo due up for LBC.

2:04 p.m. - Erb leads off with a double down the left-field line...breaks up the no-hitter...Curcio at the plate.

2:06 p.m. - LBC is on the board...after Erb advanced to third on a wild pitch, Curcio grounds to third, but ACC's third baseman's throw is high and Erb scores...Curcio on at first with no outs...DiFilippo at the plate.

2:08 p.m. - DiFilippo singles up the middle, Curcio moves up to 2nd base...Hollinger at the plate, no outs.

2:09 p.m. - Hollinger singles, runners move up...Bases loaded, no one out...Tilley at the plate.

2:10 p.m. - Ohhhhhh baby...Tilley doubles off the left-field wall, all three runs score...LBC 4, ACC 3!!!...Tilley at 2nd base, Josh Butala at the plate, no outs..

2:11 p.m. - Butala grounds out, Tilley to 3rd base...Benner at the plate...1 out.

2:14 p.m. - Benner strikes out, but Jacques follows with a single through the right side that scores Ryan Shannon who was running for Tilley...LBC 5, ACC 3...Pitching change for ACC...Chamberlin at the plate, 2 outs.

2:18 p.m. - Chamberlin walks...Erb coming up...LBC has batted around in the fourth.

2:19 p.m. - Erb grounds out...For the inning, LBC scored five runs on five hits...Jacques has allowed one hit since the first inning...Tilley re-enters at third base...Pro-Atlanta Christian crowd is quiet...aren't really sure what is happening to their top-ranked Chargers...Hollinger's, Jacques', Chamberlin's and Benner's are in attendance parent wise for LBC.

2:25 .m. - First two batters reach for ACC in the fifth...1st and 2nd, no one out. 

2:27 p.m. - Large gusts of wind play havoc with ball to center field...goes over Butala's head, run scores, runners on 1st and 3rd with no outs...Richard Westerlund now on the mound for LBC...Jacques moves to center field...Josh Butala is taken out...Toccoa Falls has won the other Championship Bracket game, 6-3 over Manhattan Christian.

2:34 p.m. - Westerlund strikes out Finn and Scott (ACC's best players) and we have two outs with ACC runners on 2nd and 3rd.

2:36 p.m. - Bases loaded for ACC...two outs.

2:38 p.m. - Richard Westerlund...defensive stopper for the LBC soccer team at Nationals in November and now clutch reliever for the LBC baseball team in May...Westerlund gets ACC batter swinging with bases loaded...heading to the bottom of the 5th...LBC 5, ACC 4.

2:44 p.m. - LBC goes down in order...heading to the top of the 6th...LBC 5, ACC 4...Westerlund still on the hill.

2:49 p.m. - ACC has a runner on third with one out...from the dugout Nicki said after Westerlund got out of the jam in the 5th, "The high-fives and hugs were pleantiful."...Touching.

2:50 p.m. - ACC pulls the suicide squeeze...run scores, batter out at first base...game is tied at 5-5, two outs.

2:52 p.m. - Westerlund gets the final out of the 6th...heading to the bottom half, score tied 5-5.

2:56 p.m. - This kid can do it all...In just his third at-bat of the season...Westerlund singles through the right-side...Tim Landis running for Westerlund.

2:57 p.m. - Benner sacrifices (althought first base coach T.J. Horn thought he was safe) Landis to 2nd...two outs, Jacques at the plate.

3:00 p.m. - Jacques strikes out...Head to the 7th, LBC 5, ACC 5...Westerlund back on the hill...Justin Long now at third after Tilley came up hobbling after grounding out in the 6th.

3:02 p.m. - Look for Lou Curcio on SportCenter's Top Ten tonight after that diving play at first...one out.

3:05 p.m. - ACC's Scott doubles off the centerfield wall, scoring Finn...ACC 6, LBC 5.

3:09 p.m. - Confusion on a flyball leads to runners on 2nd and 3rd, followed by a single through the left side...ACC 8, LBC 5.

3:10 p.m. - Two outs after Jacques makes a catch in center.

3:11 p.m. - After an ACC stolen base, another single through the right-side...ACC 9, LBC 5...Westerlund gets last out on a groundout to short...heading to the bottom of the 7th.

3:15 p.m. - Chamberlin grounds out, but Erb comes up and smacks a double to right field...1 out, Curcio at the plate, Erb at 2nd.

3:17 p.m. - Curcio grounds out to first, followed by DiFilippo flying out to right...Final score - Atlanta Christian 9, Lancaster Bible College 5...LBC will play Hillside Free Will Baptist around 4:15 p.m...Come on back around 4:00 p.m. for updates...Stats will follow tonight when we are driving back to Lancaster...One stat to pass along...Caleb Erb needs three hits to tie the LBC all-time mark for hits in one season...He currently has 48.

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Game 2 vs. Hillside Free Will Baptist
3:48 p.m. - Shoutout to the RAP Center back at LBC for their e-mail and yes we can hear you cheering all the way back in Lancaster...Also a shoutout to LBC Athletic Director Pete Beers who is following along...this blog and diary isn't possible without you letting me and Nicki miss a few days of work to come out here...Thanks.

3:49 p.m. - Talking with some of the guys in between games...Tilley's 3-run double was off of a hanging curveball from the ACC pitcher...Erb is ready to pitch whenever Coach Yager needs him...Overall guys are upset they lost, but are happy with the effort...Ben Markey will be on the hill for LBC in Game 2.

3:58 p.m. - Upcoming opponent Hillsdale Free Will Baptist is from Moore, Oklahoma...They lost to Toccoa Falls in round one, but beat North Central in round two...This is the third different state LBC has played thus far...Ohio Christian (Ohio), Atlanta Christian (Georgia) and Hillsdale F.W.B. (Oklahoma). 

4:07 p.m. - LBC line-up for game two: Jacques, CF; Chamberlin, 2B; Erb, SS; Curcio, 1B; DiFilippo, C; Hollinger, RF; Josh Butala, DH; Joel Butala, 3B; Benner, LF; Markey, P.

4:14 p.m. - We are under way, Jacques reaches on an error by the third baseman...close play at first, T.J. Horn loves the call...Chamberlin reaches on an error as well...this time by the catcher on a bunt.

4:17 p.m. - Erb singles through the right-side...scores Jacques from second...LBC 1, Hillsdale 0.

4:19 p.m. - Curcio doubles down the right field line and scores Chamberlin and Erb...LBC 3, Hilldale 0.

4:21 p.m. - DiFilippo reaches on an error, which allows Curcio to score from 2nd base...LBC 4, Hillsdale 0...First five batters have reached base.

4:25 p.m. - Hollinger grounds into a fielder's choice, but Josh Butala follows with a base hit that sends Hollinger to third...one out, runners on the corners.

4:27 p.m. - Joel Butala strikes out, but Marcus Benner lines a single to center, scoring Hollinger from third...LBC has batted around in the first...LBC 5, Hillsdale 0.

4:31 p.m. - Jacques reaches on an infield hit and is a bit hurt, causing Nicki to go out onto the field...Bob and I wonder if she paid Jacques to fake hurt so she could get onto the field...Not sure.

4:32 p.m. - DiFilippo scores on a wild pitch that bounces off the wall and Benner tries to score from second base, but is thrown out...After one half inning, LBC 6, Hillsdale 0.

4:38 p.m. - After fanning the first two, the third Hillsdale batter reaches on an error, followed by a double in the gap...LBC 6, Hillsdale1.

4:39 p.m. - Joel Butala makes a nice play at third to get LBC out of the inning...Heading to the top of the 2nd...LBC 6, Hillside 1.

4:43 p.m - Crazy play of the day: Erb flies out to right field, right fielder makes the catch, but the ball drops on the transfer, Erb turns away, but the umpire yells, "No catch."...Erb tries to dive into second, but is tagged out by the shortstop...No one really knows what happened, but he's out...LBC goes down in order...to the bottom of the 2nd we go...LBC 6, Hillsdale 1.

4:50 p.m. - Markey works through a Curcio error to retire the Hillsdale batters...Head to the third, LBC 6, Hillsdale 1.

4:57 p.m. - Chargers go down in order...Home Plate Umpire took a foul ball off of the arm and had to walk it off for a while...seems to be doing OK now...going to the bottom half of the 3rd...LBC 6, Hillsdale 1.

5:00 p.m. - Trouble for the Chargers after three straight Hillsdale hits, including a two-run double...LBC 6, Hillsdale 3.

5:09 p.m. - A popped up bunt by Benner turns into a double play after Joel Butala gets too far off of the bag at first...Jacques flies out to end the inning...going to the bottom of the 4th...LBC 6, Hillsdale 3.

5:06 p.m. - Markey works out of a jam with two strikeouts and a flyout...Chargers coming to the plate in the 4th...LBC 6, Hillsdale 3.

5:16 p.m. - Sloppy play from the Chargers leads to another Hillsdale run...runners on 2nd and 3rd, no one out...LBC 6, Hillsdale 4.

5:17 p.m. - Hillsdale scores again on a sacrifice to Curcio...runner at 3rd, one out...LBC 6, Hillsdale 5.

5:23 p.m. - Markey having trouble finding the zone...bases are loaded...LBC 6, Hillsdale 5.

5:26 p.m. - Markey walks in a run...Tied at 6-6...bases loaded, one out.

5:28 p.m. - Hillsdale batter doubles, scoring one, runner from second is thrown out at home on a great relay from Jacques to Erb to DiFilippo...runners on 2nd and 3rd...two out...Hillsdale 7, LBC 6.

5:30 p.m. - Benner makes an inning ending catch...going to the top of the 5th...Hillsdale 7, LBC 6.

5:36 p.m. - Chargers go down in order in the fifth...Hillsdale 7, LBC 6.

5:42 p.m. - Single through the left-side scores one...an error on the play by left fielder Marcus Benner leads to another run...runner at 2nd base, two outs...Hillsdale 9, LBC 6...Markey is replaced by Richard Westerlund...Could be Markey's final collegiate appearence if the Chargers don't pull this one out.

5:46 p.m. - Westerlund gets out of the jam with no further damage...LBC is huddling up outside the dugout to try and re-group...They've got two innings...Hillsdale 9, LBC 6.

5:51 p.m. - Josh Butala's quickness earns him an infield hit...two outs, runner on first, Tilley pinch-hitting for Joel Butala.

5:53 p.m. - Tilley grounds out...going to the bottom of the 6th...Hillsdale 9, LBC 6...Justin Long now at third for Joel Butala.

6:00 p.m. - Westerlund retires the side in order...what a great day of pitching for him...headed to the 7th...Hillsdale 9, LBC 6.

6:03 p.m. - Benner reaches on an error, Jacques singles to right...two on, nobody out...Chamberlin at the plate.

6:06 p.m. - Chamberlin strikes out, Erb flies to deep right field...Up to Curcio now.

6:08 p.m. - Curcio strikes out, ending a great season and three great careers for the LBC seniors (Jacques, Curcio, Markey).

6:11 p.m. - Great tournament for LBC...can't say enough about the senior leadership and the skill of the young guys...tough to replace three great seniors, but I would be shocked if this team wasn't back here next season...I will have stats and possibly a story for the website tonight. We are driving back tonight and will blog occasionally to make the trip go faster. Thanks for reading and following along...We all loved the e-mails and text messages we got...Thanks for making it a great trip...LBC finishes the season with a record of 17-18...Hopefully the seniors can make it back to LBC to walk at Graduation tomorrow...If Bob drove them they would make it. Ha. Signing off for now...Go Chargers.

7:04 p.m. - On the road to home... see you on the highway!

7:33 p.m. - Won't have stats online tonight because the computer program we use isn't on the computer that gets the internet...most likely will have a story up tonight though...got some good quotes from Coach Yager and Caleb Erb...drive is OK so far, not looking into the sun helps...have a great station on the radio at the moment...they say "we play anything" and frankly, they do, kind of cool...I think Fiona Apple "Criminal" is on right now...takes me back.

8:20 p.m. - Another good station... Lady Antebellum, Elton John... good stuff! Bekah continues to play "Motor Boat" on her phone... Bob's doing an excellent job driving... has cut about 20 minutes off the ETA already, and Zach just finished up being hard at work with all the stats. So far a pretty smooth ride, we hope to keep it that way!! We'll keep you updated with any fun happenings on the way home, but we're pretty tired...

9:31 p.m. - Story from today's games is now posted on the website...Check it out...some good quotes from the guys as well as some facts and figures...We are 25 miles from Wheeling, West Virginia...We are stopping there to get some food and Nicki has to use the bathrooms we have been informed...Weidel is watching a DVD, I am working and Bob is on cruise control (literally and figuratively)...Doesn't feel like 9:30 p.m., but we've been in a car so much lately, it doesn't really matter.


11:03 p.m. - Cindy Lauper "Time After Time" is on... good stuff. I would say Zach likes to sing along to stay awake, but Bob also gave his vocals a little tuning!! The conversation turned to "Minute to Win It"... good times. Took a quick pit stop at Sheetz for some food, some gas, and a change of driver-let's see if Zach can cut down on that ETA a little bit!! Scheduled to arrive at 2:47... we'll see about that!

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Friday, May 14, 2010
12:51 a.m. - This some how turned into a four day trip...ugh...anyway, Bob is back behind the wheel...I drove for 115 miles or so in about 1 hr. 35 min. (that's right)...anyway, we stopped at Sideling Hill on the Turnpike and our next stop is the LBC campus...Nicki is asleep, while Weidel continues to play games on her phone...says she can't sleep in cars...whatever...Anyway, Bob has re-entered and I'll be lucky to be awake in 10 minutes...gotta know when to pull a pitcher/driver and I think I made a good decision...We will update this a few more times before we conclude the trip.

2:20 a.m. - Arrive at LBC, thus concluding our journey...thanks to all of you who followed along...can't wait to do this again in the fall with another LBC team that makes Nationals...seems to be an every season thing for LBC these days...Love it. Signing off...Nicki, Weidel, Bob and Zach.

If you want us to answer any questions or make a shoutout to anyone, e-mail me at zfreeman@lbc.edu.