Saturday, June 03, 2006

Infielder Tanner Townsend And Outfielder Jermaine Allensworth


Niki Paton / Baseball Notions

GARY, Ind.- Infielder Tanner Townsend crosses home plate with a high five ready for Outfielder Jermaine Allensworth after hitting a home run against the Schaumburg Flyers during the 2006 home opener at the U.S. Steel Yard on May 26, 2006.

RailCats Coach Andy Haines And Infielder Tanner Townsend


Niki Paton / Baseball Notions

GARY, Ind.- RailCats Coach Andy Haines exchanges congratulations with infielder Tanner Townsend as he passes third base after hitting a home run at the U.S. Steel Yard on May 26, 2006.

Flyers Pause For National Anthem At Steel Yard


Niki Paton / Baseball Notions

GARY, Ind.- Schaumburg Flyers pause for the singing of the National Anthem at the U.S. Steel Yard in front of more than 6,000 eager fans before playing the Gary SouthShore RailCats in their 2006 Season home opener on May 26, 2006.

Managers Exchange Greetings At Gary Opener


Niki Paton / Baseball Notions

GARY, Ind.- RailCats Manager Greg Tagert exchanges greetings with Flyers Manager Andy McCauley at the RailCats 2006 season home opener on May 26, 2006.

RailCats Outfielder Anthony Iapoce


Niki Paton / Baseball Notions

GARY, Ind.- Former RailCats Outfielder Anthony Iapoce recieved his 2005 Northern League Championship Ring at a pre-game ceremony at the U.S. Steel Yard on May 26, 2006.

2005 Northern League Champions Banner









Niki Paton / Baseball Notions

GARY, Ind.- The RailCats 2005 Northern League Champions banner was unveiled on the center field wall at the U.S. Steel Yard on May 26, 2006.

Friday, June 02, 2006

Northern League Championship Flag Raised


Niki Paton / Baseball Notions

GARY, Ind.- Manager Greg Tagert (middle) and U.S. Steel Yard facility director Mike Figg (right) watch as the Northern League Championship flag is raised in a RailCats pre-game ceremony at the U.S. Steel Yard on May 26, 2006.

RailCats Coaches Celebrate


Niki Paton / Baseball Notions

GARY, Ind.- 2005 Northern League Champion RailCats Coaches Celebrate their winning 2005 season in front of the 5th largest Steel Yard crowd with a pre-game ceremony on May 26, 2006. (Pictured left to right First Base Coach Joe Gates, Hitting Coach Andy Haines, and Manager Greg Tagert.)

RailCats Manager Greg Tagert


Niki Paton / Baseball Notions

GARY, Ind.- RailCats Manager Greg Tagert (left) is introduced and congratulated by RailCats Vice President and General Manager Roger Wexelberg (right) at the U.S. Steel Yard during the pre-game 2005 Northern League Championship Ceremony on May 26, 2006.

Monday, May 01, 2006

The Gift Of A Brand New Season

Photograph Niki Paton / Baseball Notions

SAINT PAUL, Minn.- Spring is the gift of a brand new season overflowing with idealistic dreams for the future. Before dreams can begin to take shape, first there must be proper attention upon the lessons and heartbreaks still present from preceding seasons.

One should take care and consider the nuance of lost opportunities before a new slate enables a fresh chance to go after a dream. Those who have been around longer know that statistics speak volumes but do not reflect the pain, effort or challenges overcome by the end of a bad or good season.

As spring training commences the struggles of competing, whether it is for a new position or an old one are at hand. We have the opportunity to reflect on the past just long enough to see our personal truth, learn and put our best foot forward.

The first hard lessons of spring training are upon us and the question on every ones minds … do I honestly have what it takes to make it? Well isn’t that a fundamental question internalized by everyone in life. It is a journey of self-discovery. It is what drives us to try harder to prove ourselves.

For the next seventeen plus weeks players and coaches alike are aiming for the same goal and soon we will be underway on that ride we call independent baseball. No matter where everyone winds up in the end, they all start in the same place in the spring, the beginning.