March 11, 2008 - Clearwater

As the spring training season moves on, I have come to realize that there are several very important pieces of equipment that are essential to a photographer in Florida. The first of course are the cameras, lenses, flashes and lights necessary to get photos. The second is a computer to download, save and send photos. The next is a good hat and good sunscreen. Being of Irish and Scottish decent, I am well aware of the nature of MY skin when sun hits it. So far I have been pretty good about applying the SPF 45 Coppertone and wearing my geeky Auzzie hat that covers my ears and my head.

On Sunday, I traveled to Orlando and the campus of the University of Central Florida. Monmouth University traveled from West Long Branch, NJ to take on the Black Knights of UCF in a three games set. I was scheduled to shoot the final game on Sunday afternoon at 1 pm. It was a fairly chilly day by Florida standards, so I wore a jacket and bluejeans. I dutifully applied my 45 Coppertone to my face and ears but did not wear the hat. Apparently, 45 Coppertone is good for nine innings, but when the game goes 16 innings the sun is no longer screened by the one layer of sunscreen alone. One look at my lobster red face will be ample proof of that. The Hawks dropped this one in 16 innings, 5-4, but Hawks freshman outfielder Nick Pulsonetti tied the game in the ninth in his first collegiate at bat with a two run homerun.

The future BlueClaw players in Clearwater begin games against the Yankees, Rays and BlueJay minor leaguers this week on the 15^th with an opening game against the Yankees. The AAA and AA teams will play in Tampa and the A teams will play in Clearwater. I will post some photos of these games on Thursday.

Another big story here in Florida this year is the weather. On Friday I drove from Ft. Myers to Clearwater, this is normally a 2.5 hour drive. On Friday, however, a huge thunderstorm came through this part of Florida. As I was driving over the Skyway Bridge, it began to rain and the skies were filled with some of the most impressive and scary lightening bolts I have ever seen! This is an impressive bridge to begin with, but when you add multi-fingered bolts of lightening, well that was a show I would have PAID to see!

Tomorrow the Phils play a night game against Cincinnati at Brighthouse Networks Park. As we enter into the third full week of spring training, the big teams will start sending players down to the minor league complex to start working with the teams they could be with in 2008.

In an email Lee Ann Voss asked me about Tuffy Gosewisch. He is doing great, catching a lot of bullpen in the big league camp and getting the occasional time at bat. So, Lee Ann, he is doing well, healthy, working hard and looking forward to starting the season. He says to say hello to everyone in Lakewood.

Thursday, I have a great job! At 8PM, I am shooting the USA vs. Panama U-23 World Cup soccer qualifier. I will report on that as well.

Till next time…..

Dave Schofield

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